Russia's war in Ukraine and Iran's protests limited their respective abilities to interfere in America's midterm elections, according to a US military official. / Associated Press

The big takeaway from the final Jan. committee hearing: Though Trump and others will be referred to the DoJ for criminal charges, whether anything happens next is anyone's guess. / NPR

Once home to more Confederate statues than any other city, Richmond, Va., has now removed its last remaining city-owned monument. / Hyperallergic

In a settlement with the FTC, Epic Games will pay $520 million for violating child privacy laws and use of in-game dark patterns. / CNBC

Previously unreleased records show it wasn't only police that failed Uvalde schoolchildren—medical responders also had communication and authority lapses. / ProPublica

"Her primary characters refuse to deny the better aspects of their humanity." Jesmyn Ward on Octavia Butler and living through grief. / Literary Hub

The Morning News is reader-supported. Please consider making a one-time donation or joining us as a Sustaining Member today—thank you! / TMN Membership

How 1987's improbable, star-studded A Very Special Christmas Album happened. / The Washington Post

"The funnier the joke...the less activity there was in the prefrontal cortex of the person who created it." The science of humor. / Vox

A graphic designer explains his process for creating infographics at Time magazine in the pre-computer era. / The Washington Post

Based on recent testing, many popular dark chocolate bars contain unsafe levels of heavy metals, including cadmium and lead. / Consumer Reports

"The vibe was very '90s Trapper Keeper, or blacklight poster. Nothing could hurt me." Watching the new Avatar movie on mushrooms. / Rolling Stone

Musician and cancer survivor Justin Wright created a music video entirely out of his CT scans: "I was really determined to make something beautiful out of this whole ordeal." / The Morning News

Sad news this week: Terry Hall of the Specials died at 63, and Martin Duffy of Felt and Primal Scream died at 55. / The Guardian, Pitchfork

Listen: Alva Noto covers David Bowie's contemplative, atmospheric "Subterraneans" with Martin Gore on vocals and William Basinski on saxophone. / The Morning News