Morning headlines: Tucker Carlson interview with Putin focuses on talks with Ukraine, possible prisoner swap

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Tucker Carlson interview with Vladimir Putin released

Russian President Vladimir Putin used an interview with former Fox News host Tucker Carlson to urge Washington to recognize Moscow's interests and persuade Ukraine to sit down for talks.

Putin also said that Russia stands ready to negotiate a potential prisoner exchange that would free Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who was detained last March on espionage charges he denies, and hinted that Moscow wants the release of its agent imprisoned in Germany.

Most of the interview, released Thursday, focused on Ukraine, where the war is nearing the two-year mark. Putin repeated his claim that his invasion of Ukraine, which Kyiv and its allies described as an unprovoked act of aggression, was necessary to protect Russian speakers in Ukraine and prevent the country from posing a threat to Russia by joining NATO.

Read more:

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Biden and Trump: How the two classified documents investigations came to different endings

The special counsel who concluded that criminal charges were not warranted against President Joe Biden over his handling of classified information says there are “clear” differences from Donald Trump's case.

Special counsel Robert Hur found evidence that Biden willfully retained classified information. But Hur concluded in a report released Thursday that it did not meet the standard for criminal charges. Trump, meanwhile, is accused in his criminal case of not only hoarding classified documents, but also trying to hide them from investigators and working to block the government from clawing them back. Trump has denied any wrongdoing in the case.

At look at the similarities and differences between the Biden and Trump investigations:

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The Supreme Court seems poised to reject efforts to kick Trump off the ballot over the Capitol riot

The Supreme Court seems poised to reject attempts to kick former President Donald Trump off the 2024 ballot, with conservative and liberal justices in apparent agreement in a case that puts them at the heart of a presidential election.

A definitive ruling for Trump, the leading Republican candidate for president, would largely end efforts in Colorado, Maine and elsewhere to prevent his name from appearing on the ballot.

The justices could act quickly, possibly by Super Tuesday on March 5, when Colorado, Maine and 13 other states will hold primaries.

Here's more on the case:

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MORNING LISTEN

"Genius: MLK/X" is a National Geographic series exploring the contrasting approaches of civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X in achieving their common goals.

Bruce Miller talks with Aaron Pierre, who portrays Malcolm X, and Kelvin Harrison Jr., who plays Martin Luther King Jr., as well as producers Gina Prince-Blythewood and Reggie Rock Blythewood.

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TODAY IN HISTORY

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