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Democracy Dies in Darkness

(Chase Daok)

Pentagon expects alleged Chinese spy balloon to stay over U.S. ‘for a few days’

Where is the balloon now? Here’s what we know.

By Victoria Bisset, Andrew Jeong, Lyric Li, Claire Parker and John Hudson27 minutes ago

Blinken postpones China trip as U.S. probes balloon

By Cate Cadell, John Hudson and Yasmeen Abutaleb58 minutes ago

What China wanted out of Blinken’s postponed visit

Seasonally adjusted; the figures for the most recent two months are preliminary. (Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics)

U.S. added 517,000 jobs last month in astonishing labor market growth

The unemployment rate dropped to 3.4 percent, reaching a new longtime low, despite widespread tech layoffs.

By Lauren Kaori Gurley and Rachel Siegel1 hour ago

Restaurants can’t find workers because they’ve found better jobs

By Abha Bhattarai and Maggie Penman

Post ReportsPodcast

Why so many industries have too many jobs and not enough workers

(Matt McClain/The Post)

These Black women are changing TV weather, a field long dominated by White men

The data confirms what Black women in the industry have described: they are grossly underrepresented in meteorology – especially in television.

By Amudalat Ajasa

MORE COVERAGE

Listen: Who’s in charge in the 118th Congress?

Play: Today’s crossword puzzles and other games

Carolyn Hax: Caregiver is publicly blamed for father-in-law’s death

Cook: Chocolate-covered peanut butter pretzels are best made at home

Live: Reader Q&a

Should I hire tax help? What if we were supposed to pay quarterly taxes but never did?

By Michelle Singletary41 minutes ago

LIVE: READER Q&A

My husband is an alcoholic but not abusive. How can I show him that it still hurts?

By Carolyn Hax41 minutes ago

(Getty Images)

Despite prior sexual harassment probe, executive hired to senior federal job

POST POLITICS NOW

(AP)

An investigative reporter was slain. What about his unfinished story?

Las Vegas journalist Jeff German was killed before finishing a story about a Ponzi scheme targeting Mormons. So a Washington Post reporter stepped in to help.

MORE COVERAGE

Stricter U.S. school nutrition guidelines will reduce sugar, fat, sodium in kids’ meals, a move sure to spark pushback

By Laura Reiley41 minutes ago

A pregnant runner’s open letter to the Boston Marathon helped spur change

Well+BeingAdvice

3 ways to stop waking up frequently during the night and improve sleep

By Lisa Strauss

LATEST HEADLINES

Why the Chinese spy balloon case isn’t as simple as ‘just shoot it down’

Just now

We keep trying to make AI therapists. It’s not working.

11 minutes ago

The punishing, historic cold invading the Northeast in five maps

13 minutes ago

Capitals sign Dylan Strome to five-year, $25 million extension

15 minutes ago

Man arrested in case of missing Dallas Zoo monkeys, police say

38 minutes ago

USDA announces rigorous new school nutrition standards

41 minutes ago

GOP Rep. Clyde hands out assault-rifle lapel pins to House colleagues

50 minutes ago

Organs-for-freedom leads this week’s nonpolitical political stories

1 hour ago

Upcoming Live Events

Chat with David Ignatius about the war in Ukraine and foreign affairs

Monday, February 6, at 12:00 p.m. EST

Washington Post Live

Jelani Cobb on debate over how race and history are taught

Monday, February 6, at 11:00 a.m. EST

Most Read

Republicans have a big Kari Lake problem

Arizona Republicans are once again on track to lose a winnable Senate seat.

Need advice? Join columnist Carolyn Hax’s weekly chat (Feb. 3 | 12 p.m. ET)

3 ways to stop waking up frequently during the night and improve sleep

What to know about the suspected Chinese spy balloon

Is it time to revisit the U.S. Constitution? Jennifer Rubin answers your questions.

Don’t Miss

Nikole Hannah-Jones isn’t done challenging the story of America

By Wesley Lowery

A closer look at the tanks the U.S. and allies are sending Ukraine

By Ellen Francis, Adam Taylor, Samuel Granados and Naomi Schanen

This free fitness equipment is hidden in plain sight

By Bob Brody

How New Zealand plans to tackle climate change: Taxing cow burps

By Rachel Pannett

Kari Lake, former Republican nominee for Arizona governor. (David Blakeman for The Post)

Republicans rally around conservatives who lost their elections

By Ashley Parker

Pleas for police reform meet bleak reality

By Mark Berman and David Nakamura

Trump ‘totally’ disagrees with McCarthy on death of Jan. 6 rioter Babbitt

What made George Santos lie so much? Experts weigh in on his deception.

By Roxanne Roberts

The things that cost George Santos precisely $199.99

Carolyn Hax: What kind of friend gives a weight-loss book as a gift?

By Carolyn HaxFebruary 3

How to repair gaps between vinyl flooring planks

By Jeanne HuberFebruary 3

Friend or fraud: Seven ways to spot a Ponzi scheme, and other scams

By Michelle SingletaryFebruary 3

We still use appliances like it’s 1970. There’s a better way.

By Michael J. CorenFebruary 2

Miss Manners: Solo diner feels shamed by host’s ‘just one?’ question

February 3

Ask Amy: Grandma-to-be doesn’t want to host baby shower for unmarried couple

February 3

For YouRecommended stories

Well+BeingNews and advice to live well every day

(iStock/Getty Images/ iStock)

Should you be worried about infection from eye drops?

By Marlene Cimons

Did your resolutions slide? It might be the ‘what the hell’ effect.

By Tara Parker-Pope

Want to potentially lower the risk of getting dementia? Take in nature.

By Meeri Kim

Fallopian tube removal advised for more women to prevent ovarian cancer

By Teddy Amenabar, Amy Goldstein and Lindsey Bever

This free fitness equipment is hidden in plain sight

By Bob Brody

ClimateExpanded coverage of a changing planet

(Tim Meko/The Washington Post)

From snowy West to snow-starved East, a map of winter winners and losers

By Tim Meko and Bonnie Berkowitz

Will the world run out of critical minerals?

By Shannon Osaka

Land-dwelling rats are upending life for coral reef fish

By Dino Grandoni

Punxsutawney Phil is wrong: Spring is arriving early in some places

By Kasha Patel and Scott Dance

The gas industry is under fire. It’s hiring Democratic politicians to help.

By Maxine Joselow

(Aleph Farms/via REUTERS)

Is lab-grown steak kosher? Religious leaders weigh the sensitive question.

By Laura Reiley

Nikole Hannah-Jones isn’t done challenging the story of America

By Wesley Lowery

Gisele Bündchen at the end of Tom

By Monica Hesse

Shop for bargains at HomeGoods like an interior designer

By Michelle Brunner

‘Sushi tero’: The latest viral Japanese trend that is turning stomachs

By Michelle Ye Hee Lee and Julia Mio Inuma

BLACK HISTORY MONTH

(Joshua Lott/The Washington Post)

Post-ABC poll: Confidence in police drops after Tyre Nichols beating

By Mark Berman and Scott Clement

Man arrested in case of missing Dallas Zoo monkeys, police say

By Praveena Somasundaram and Timothy Bella38 minutes ago

She was presumed dead. Then she woke up in a body bag gasping for air.

By Timothy Bella

College Board faces storm of criticism over AP African American studies

By Nick Anderson

Pete Buttigieg says U.S. can fix the most dangerous thing in transportation

By Michael Laris

Winter weather guide

What is wind chill? Here’s how it makes the air feel colder.

By Matthew Cappucci

4 things to do now to prepare yourself and your home for extreme cold

By Scott Dance and Amudalat Ajasa

5 tips to stay safe in winter weather

By Tara Parker-Pope

How to dress to stay warm when it’s super cold

By Angela Fritz

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT

Natasha Lyonne soars in ‘Poker Face.’ If only the mysteries did.

By Lili Loofbourow

Meagan Good didn’t make it to ‘Harlem’ alone

By Helena Andrews-Dyer

New movies to stream this week: ‘Pamela, a Love Story’ and more

By Olivia McCormack and Lucas Trevor

Her parents devoted their lives to supporting North Korea from Japan. Her films explore that tension.

By Michelle Ye Hee Lee

D.C., MD. & VA.

(John McDonnell/The Washington Post)

Mom describes Potomac Avenue Metro shooting suspect’s downward spiral

By Peter Hermann

Others saw a rusty old lighthouse. This man saw opportunity.

By Ellie Silverman

Man fatally shot at shopping center in Southeast Washington

By Peter Hermann

As a rapist seeks freedom, a victim’s plea moves a D.C. judge to tears

Town of Pound emerges from death sentence in Virginia Assembly

By Gregory S. Schneider

Capital Weather Gang

D.C.-area forecast: Arctic blast is here, with numbing wind chills through tonight

By A. Camden Walker

By never veering from its recipe, Obelisk remains a top draw in D.C.

By Tom Sietsema

At least three red states could make it harder for voters to keep abortion legal

By Rachel Roubein and McKenzie Beard

Long-term exposure to pollution linked to depression, study finds

By Kelly Kasulis Cho

CDC warns EzriCare eyedrops may be linked to bacterial infections, 1 death

By Kelsey Ables

NASA and DARPA are working on a nuclear-powered rocket that could go to Mars

By Christian Davenport1 hour ago

How will ‘couch potato’ humans evolve? Idle cavefish offer clues.

By Mark Johnson

How to see the green comet — from the astronomer who discovered it

By Amudalat Ajasa

(John McDonnell/The Washington Post)

Behind the scenes with the Wizards and all that dirty laundry

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander headlines four first-time NBA all-stars

By Ben Golliver

Before Patrick Mahomes vs. Jalen Hurts, there was Doug Williams

By Nicki Jhabvala

Brian Mitchell isn’t in the Hall of Fame. It’s time to right that wrong.

By Barry Svrluga

How a Tom Brady-loving grandma inspired the making of ‘80 for Brady’

(iStock)

Work Advice: My employer is reneging on its remote-work promise

By Karla L. Miller

Three moves to get your tax refund faster in 2023

By Michelle Singletary

Biden announces departure of top economic adviser

As the U.S. deals with the Great Resignation, these countries have pushed for the ‘right to disconnect’

Boeing delivers last 747 as fans celebrate plane that changed air travel

By Andrew Jeong

10 ways to streamline meal prep for more efficient weeknight cooking

By Aaron Hutcherson

By never veering from its recipe, Obelisk remains a top draw in D.C.

By Tom Sietsema

This fizzy red wine conjures up an Italian vacation

By Dave McIntyre

Naturally sweetened pine nut cookies are a treat worth smiling about

By Ellie Krieger

A free night in Sicily sounds amazing. Booking it is complicated.

By Andrea Sachs17 minutes ago

Hong Kong offers 500,000 free plane tickets to lure tourists back

Getting married in Vegas? Pick up your license at the airport.

By Hannah Sampson

We asked: What happens if TSA finds weed in my bag?

By Natalie B. Compton