(Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP, File)
Immigrants and advocates are urging Democrats and President Joe Biden to quickly act on legislation to protect young immigrants after a federal judge in Texas on Friday ruled illegal an Obama-era program that prevents the deportation of thousands of them brought into the U.S. as children.
AP: Few AZ voter fraud cases, discrediting Trump's claims
PHOENIX (AP) — Arizona county election officials have identified fewer than 200 cases of potential voter fraud out of more than 3 million ballots cast in last year's presidential election, further discrediting former President Donald Trump's claims of a stolen election as his allies continue a...
apnews.com
Biden says DOJ to appeal DACA ruling he calls 'deeply disappointing'
President Joe Biden said the DOJ will appeal a federal judge's ruling that the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, program is unlawful.
Biden: Social media platforms 'killing people' with misinfo
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden said Friday that social media companies are “killing people” by failing to police misinformation on their platforms about COVID-19 vaccines. Biden’s comments came a day after U.S.
apnews.com
Attempted crossings at southern U.S. border hit 21-year high in June
The numbers were the highest since March 2000, when more than 223,000 immigrants were stopped by the Border Patrol at the southern border.
www.nbcnews.com
Texas Republicans pressure state's House Democrats to come back to Austin
As Texas House Democrats close the first week of their quorum break in Washington, D.C., their Republican colleagues are trying to compel them to return home.
Chaos reigned in wake of Haitian president's assassination
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — The attackers raided the private compound of Haiti's president before dawn, yelling “DEA operation!” and wielding high-caliber weapons. They tied up a maid and houseboy and ransacked Jovenel Moïse's office and bedroom.
apnews.com
Trump says Milley should be court-martialed ‘if he said what was reported’
Former President Trump said Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley should be court-martialed if it’s true that, as reported, Milley thought Trump would orchestrate a coup…
thehill.com
Biden admin now plans to evacuate 2,500 Afghans directly to the U.S.
Another 10,000 whose background checks are still pending will go to “a U.S. military base overseas or to third countries," said a State Dept. spokesperson.
www.nbcnews.com
Bolton: Trump lacked enough ‘advance thinking’ for a coup
Former national security adviser John Bolton on Friday dismissed the suggestion that former President Trump might have tried to stage a coup after losing the 2020 election, saying his for…
thehill.com
Pence, in Iowa, charges Biden trying to turn America into a ‘secular welfare state’
Former Vice President Mike Pence, making his first visit to Iowa since the end of the Trump administration, took aim at President Biden and spotlighted his social conservative credentials as he addressed a major gathering of Christian conservatives in the state whose caucuses for half a century...
Trevor Reed, ex-Marine held 'hostage' by Russia, moved to prison camp
Trevor Reed one of two American former Marines held as a suspected hostage by Russia has been moved to a prison camp from Moscow.
Florida boaters could risk fines, prison by going to Cuba
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security is warning organizers planning to launch a flotilla next week from South Florida to waters near Cuba that they could risk breaking the law
Federal judge orders Biden administration to end new DACA applications
A federal judge on Friday ordered the Biden administration to stop all applications for the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, ruling that the Obama-era program was illegal – dealing a blow to the Biden administration's efforts to protect the program.
Workers plan to sue Florida for ending unemployment early — part of a growing movement
Workers in Florida are the latest jobless Americans to sue their governors for opting out of unemployment programs earlier than the federal expiration.
Struggling federal firefighters could see pay increase in new energy package
“These are not your grandfather's fires. They are bigger, they’re hotter, they’re more powerful," Sen. Ron Wyden said this week.
www.nbcnews.com
AP: Arizona county election officials find fewer than 200 potential voter fraud cases, undercutting Trump claims
An Associated Press investigation found 182 cases where problems were clear enough that officials referred them to investigators for further review.
www.usatoday.com
Noem says she’s ‘counting’ on Trump running again in 2024
Republican Gov. Kristi Noem of South Dakota - speaking with Fox News during a trip to Iowa - says she’s “counting” on former President Trump to run again for the White House in 2024.
Blinken to diplomats: It’s OK to admit U.S. flaws when promoting rights
The secretary of State shared details of his human rights and democracy priorities in a cable sent to U.S. embassies around the world.
www.politico.com
Watchdog: FBI must improve gun sale checks after one that led to Denver school closings
The DOJ inspector general review comes after a Florida woman who was obsessed with the Columbine mass shooting flew to Denver and bought a shotgun in 2019.
www.nbcnews.com
Cuban president responds to Biden on 'failed state' comments
Miguel Díaz-Canel said on Friday the United States, not Cuba, was a failed state, "which, to please a reactionary and blackmailing minority, is capable of doing damage to 11 million humans.”
www.nbcnews.com
Rescuers race to prevent more deaths from European floods
BERLIN (AP) — In one flooded German town, the ground collapsed under family homes. In another, floodwaters swept through an assisted living center, killing 12. Rescue workers across Germany and Belgium rushed Friday to prevent more deaths from some of the Continent's worst flooding in years as...
apnews.com
Potential 2024 Republican presidential candidates to speak at Family Leader forum Friday in Des Moines
Former U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, former Vice President Mike Pence and Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds will attend.
www.usatoday.com
Alcohol Use Linked To Over 740,000 Cancer Cases Last Year, New Study Says
Most people don't realize alcohol consumption can cause cancer. A report in Lancet Oncology shows how big a risk factor it is for esophageal, mouth, larynx, colon, rectum, liver and breast cancers.
www.npr.org
House GOP's 10 Trump critics raise piles of cash in battle to hang on to their seats
Former President Donald Trump made his return to campaign politics last month by trekking to northern Ohio to take revenge on one of the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach him: Rep. Anthony Gonzalez.
www.cnn.com
US intel assessments on Afghanistan warn of 'accelerating pace' of Taliban hold on country
US Intelligence assessments paint an increasingly bleak picture of the Taliban's quickening advance across Afghanistan and the potential threat it poses to the capital of Kabul, warning the militant group could soon have a stranglehold on much of the country in the wake of the US withdrawal of...
www.cnn.com
Senate report: 'Rogue' Commerce security unit targeted Asian-American employees
The unit, named the Investigations and Threat Management Service (ITMS), conducted unauthorized — and oftentimes “overzealous” — investigations.
www.usatoday.com
South African riots over Zuma jailing pre-planned - Cyril Ramaphosa
At least 212 people are now known to have died in unrest sparked by the jailing of Jacob Zuma.
www.bbc.com
'We certainly trust the path': White House expresses support for Schumer's aggressive infrastructure strategy
White House press secretary Jen Psaki projected guarded optimism about the ongoing infrastructure negotiations on Friday, saying the administration has faith in Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s aggressive plan to push the bill forward.
Chinese law threatens U.S. firms doing business in Hong Kong, federal agencies warn
U.S. direct investment in Hong Kong totaled $82 billion in 2019, approaching the amount invested in all of mainland China.
www.politico.com
Feds crack down on brothers behind 45 million illegal robocalls
Unlawful telemarketing campaign included millions of calls to those on FTC's Do Not Call Registry, agency says.
www.cbsnews.com
Texas attorney general says bar probe is unconstitutional
Lawyers for Texas' embattled attorney general have asked the state bar association to drop its investigation into whether the Republican's failed efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election amounted to professional misconduct, arguing the probe is an unconstitutional overreach. In late...
Psaki criticizes ‘loaded and inaccurate’ question from Fox’s Doocy
White House press secretary Jen Psaki called a question from a Fox News reporter “loaded and inaccurate” on Friday when asked about the topic of vaccine misinformation on social media.Fox̵…
thehill.com
Matt Gaetz's campaign paid $20,000 to Trump crony Roger Stone's company, which the DOJ is suing
Rep. Matt Gaetz's campaign paid $20,000 to a company that the DOJ alleges has been used by Trump crony Roger Stone to avoid paying taxes, an FEC filing shows.
U.S. warns companies about the risks of doing business in Hong Kong as China clamps down on rights
Washington has openly criticized Beijing's sweeping national security law passed in June 2020 aimed at limiting Hong Kong's autonomy.
Judge won't let contractor see Capitol Riot grand jury evidence
Ruling could complicate hundreds of prosecutions over storming of Congress on Jan. 6
www.politico.com
Gov. Ron DeSantis, Florida GOP leaders to visit Texas-Mexico border
Gov. Ron DeSantis will lead a Florida delegation to Texas for a weekend briefing with state and local officials.
www.usatoday.com
WIDER IMAGE The Tenacious Unicorn Ranch made a transgender haven. Then the violent threats began
The ranch hand walks along rocky ground, the beam of her flashlight cutting through the moonlit night. She holds a shotgun loosely at her side during her patrol of an alpaca ranch founded as a haven for transgender and non-binary people.
www.reuters.com
Biden says platforms like Facebook are 'killing people' with Covid misinformation | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden said Friday social media platforms like Facebook are "killing people" with misinformation surrounding the Covid-19 pandemic as the White House ramps up its rhetoric around false information on social media regarding the pandemic.
Justice in legal knot in Mo Brooks, Trump case
The Department of Justice (DOJ) is facing a decision over whether to help insulate Rep. Mo Brooks from a civil lawsuit claiming the Alabama Republican was among those responsible for inciting …
thehill.com
Bolton: U.S. didn’t lose war in Afghanistan
“You have to be defeated to lose a war,” the former Bush and Trump administration official argued.
www.politico.com
Biden moves to drop Trump showerhead rule
The Biden administration is moving forward with a plan to drop a Trump-era rule that sought to loosen restrictions on showerhead water flow — something the former president was known to c…
thehill.com
Schumer's challenge: Wooing moderate Democrats on $3.5 trillion Biden plan | CNN Politics
Sen. Maggie Hassan, a New Hampshire Democrat who is running for a second term next year, has been working behind the scenes to help craft a bipartisan infrastructure deal that could be popular in her swing state.
Man accused of bomb plot against Democrats abused steroids, proclaimed 'REVOLUTION,' prosecutors say
Two men have been indicted for allegedly plotting to attack the Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento.
New poll finds confidence in science has plunged among some groups
Republicans now tend to distrust science more, poll reports.
thehill.com
Rescuers rush to help as Europe’s flood toll surpasses 150
Unprecedented floodwaters devastate Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands with hundreds of people still missing.
Roof of Miami-Dade apartment partially collapses, had already passed 40-year inspection
The roof of a Miami-Dade apartment building partially collapsed on Thursday despite the fact that the building had already passed its 40-year inspection.Miami-Dade Fire Rescue responded to the inci…
thehill.com
Arizona election auditors say they don't have enough information to finish report
Auditors in the partisan review want legislators to subpoena more records and survey tens of thousands of voters at home.
www.cbsnews.com
A midterm report on the 2022 midterms
www.politico.com
The Warthog and the senator: The politics of retiring a warplane
The U.S. Air Force is desperate to get rid of some of its fleet of expensive, slow and outdated A-10 Warthog airplanes, but politicians have blocked the move, aiming to keep the local dollars flowing.
www.reuters.com
Commerce office used racial profiling operating as ‘rogue’ police force: Senate report
A new Senate report into a security office within the Department of Commerce found that officials used racial profiling and for more than a decade operated as “a rogue, unaccountable police force,”…
thehill.com
Members of multimillion-dollar opioid drug ring sentenced
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — The final legal chapter of a multimillion-dollar online opioid drug ring ended Friday as a group of millennials who helped run the dark-web operation based in suburban Salt Lake City were sentenced to prison.
apnews.com
Why are China’s billionaires suddenly feeling so generous?
Behind the surge in private gift-giving looms the hand of the Chinese government.
21 conservative AGs push back on Education Department's Title IX guidance
The attorneys general largely took issue with the Biden administration’s decision to craft its guidance around the landmark Supreme Court opinion in<i> Bostock v. Clayton County</i>.
www.politico.com
Klobuchar, Stacey Abrams to team up on voting rights event
Senate Rules Committee Chairwoman Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) is slated to team up with Stacey Abrams for a voting rights event in Georgia this weekend.Klobuchar and Abrams are sche…
thehill.com
Oklahoma suing Biden admin, claiming federal overreach of mining lands
Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt is suing the Biden administration over the Department of Interior's decision to strip the state's ability to regulate mines, arguing it is an unlawful act of federal overreach.
Rents are going through the roof across much of the U.S.
With crowds of newly remote workers fleeing large metros, smaller cities are seeing the biggest rent hikes.
www.cbsnews.com
Pence says he's 'had enough' of Biden as he looks to escape Trump's shadow in Iowa
Former Vice President Mike Pence crisscrossed Iowa on Friday, assailing President Joe Biden's administration for unleashing "a tidal wave of left-wing policies that threaten to wipe out all the progress that we made" in speeches that could preview his potential 2024 message.
www.cnn.com
Jen Psaki to throw out first pitch at Washington Nationals game
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki is set to throw out the first pitch at an upcoming Washington Nationals baseball game.
Two men charged in alleged scheme to attack Democratic headquarters in Sacramento inspired by Trump defeat, DOJ says | CNN Politics
Federal authorities have arrested two men in California who allegedly wanted to start a movement to overthrow the government and discussed blowing up the Democratic headquarters in Sacramento in a new, major case of would-be domestic terrorists motivated by former President Donald Trump's...
First case of monkeypox detected in Texas resident
A rare case of human monkeypox was detected in Texas, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Friday, making it the first case of the virus seen in the state.
www.reuters.com
Hobbled Hubble Telescope Springs Back To Life On Its Backup System
"There was cheering in the control center" when word came that NASA had brought a key computer back, says James Jeletic, the Hubble project's deputy project manager.
www.npr.org
Iraq PM announces arrests for murder of prominent analyst Hashemi
Friday’s announcement marks the first reported arrests made over a killing that shocked the country.
Gov. Andrew Cuomo to be questioned in sexual harassment investigation: Reports
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo will be questioned Saturday by investigators by the New York State Attorney General’s office in the sexual harassment probe.
NFL star Richard Sherman says he's "deeply remorseful" after DUI and other charges
"I behaved in a manner I am not proud of," the NFL star wrote on Twitter.
www.cbsnews.com
Education Department eases federal student aid verification, for now
The department said its move carries particular importance after the Covid-19 pandemic hammered college undergraduate enrollment.
www.politico.com
Federal judge blocks new DACA applications
A federal judge in Texas on Friday ruled that Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, the Obama-era program shielding certain undocumented immigrants from deportation, is illegal and blocked new applicants.
www.cnn.com
Oregon wildfire forms 'fire clouds' that pose danger below
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Smoke and heat from a massive wildfire in southeastern Oregon are creating giant “fire clouds” over the blaze — dangerous columns of smoke and ash that can reach up to 6 miles (10 kilometers) in the sky and are visible from more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) away.
apnews.com
House Republicans close money gap with majority at stake
More than 40 GOP incumbents and candidates raised more than $500,000 in the second quarter of this year, a sign of momentum.
www.politico.com
Virginia Shifts $700 Million In Relief Funds To Boost Rural Broadband Access
Virginia will direct $700 million drawn from pandemic relief funds to boost broadband access and help close the digital divide for some of the poorest regions of the state.
www.npr.org
Europe floods: At least 120 dead and hundreds unaccounted for
As many as 1,300 people are still unaccounted for after the worst flooding in decades.
www.bbc.com
Maine police sentenced to jail time for beating porcupines to death while on duty
Two Maine police officers are set to serve jail time after pleading guilty to charges of animal cruelty over several instances of beating porcupines to death while on duty. According…
thehill.com
NY prosecutors seek cooperation from Trump Organization executive Matthew Calamari | CNN Politics
New York prosecutors have continued to pressure top Trump Organization executive Matthew Calamari to cooperate since charging the company and its chief financial officer earlier this month, according to a person familiar with the matter -- the latest sign that the inquiry is continuing.
Pompeo: Afghan fight against Taliban 'a matter of will'
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday he believes Afghan forces can secure the country as the U.S. withdraws, but success will depend on whether they have the will to put up a fierce fight against the Taliban.
apnews.com
The one vaccine strategy the Biden administration isn’t considering
The officials say packaging Covid shots in smaller vials would help, but administration officials believe that poses too many challenges for now.
www.politico.com
Former Sen. Tom Udall is Biden's pick as ambassador to New Zealand and Samoa
The two-term lawmaker was one of four choices named Friday.
www.politico.com
Judge orders U.S. to close DACA program to new applicants, calling it illegal
U.S. Judge Andrew Hanen blocked tens of thousands of immigrant teenagers and young adults from accessing the Obama-era legal protections.
www.cbsnews.com
Campaign finance takeaways: Corporate PACs reenter the political fray and Democratic incumbents build big war chests | CNN Politics
Some of the country's biggest corporations have resumed political giving to the Republicans who objected to certifying Joe Biden's White House victory -- underscoring the fleeting nature of their well-publicized donation boycotts, along with their growing interest in swaying policy on Capitol Hill.
Mystery Surrounds Florida Company Suspected In Assassination of Haiti's President
Mystery has surrounded a Florida security company with suspected ties to the assassination of Haiti's president. Court records reviewed by NPR suggest financial trouble at the company in recent years.
www.npr.org
Swing-district House Republicans kept up with or surpassed Democrats in fundraising for 2022
Republicans say digital fundraising and an excited donor base are helping close any cash gap with Democrats.
www.cbsnews.com
Congress approved billions for Americans behind on rent. The race is on to make sure it reaches them before the eviction moratorium ends.
Officials are scrambling to ramp up rental assistance as the end of the eviction moratorium looms.
www.cbsnews.com
Manchin signals he’ll be team player on spending deal
Sen. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), a crucial centrist vote in the Democratic caucus, is signaling to colleagues that he won’t derail a $3.5 trillion budget resolution that contains many of President Biden’s…
thehill.com
Trump opines on coup while rejecting fears about his actions
WASHINGTON (AP) — Former President Donald Trump insisted Thursday that he wouldn’t have used the military to illegally seize control of the government after his election loss. But he suggested that if he had tried to carry out a coup, it wouldn’t have been with his top military adviser.
apnews.com
Top Senate Dem sets infrastructure vote, pressures lawmakers
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is pressuring lawmakers to reach agreement by next week on a pair of massive domestic spending measures, signaling Democrats’ desire to push ahead aggressively on President Joe Biden’s multitrillion-dollar agenda.
apnews.com
Kasie Hunt announces she is leaving NBC
NBC News Capitol Hill correspondent Kasie Hunt on Friday announced she is leaving the news outlet and her daily show on MSNBC, “Way Too Early.”“Some personal news, as they say — thank y…
thehill.com
The long, 'surreal' days of the runaway Texas legislators
WASHINGTON (AP) — Sheltered in a downtown D.C. hotel, the Democratic lawmakers who left Texas to block a restrictive voting bill are living a life of stress and scrutiny. After bolting the state Monday in order to sabotage the bill by denying a quorum in the Texas House of Representatives...
apnews.com
Trump showerhead rule on more water flow goes down the drain
WASHINGTON (AP) — So much for Donald Trump’s quest for “perfect” hair. The Biden administration is reversing a Trump-era rule approved after the former president complained he wasn’t getting wet enough because of limits on water flow from showerheads.
apnews.com
Biden bids Merkel farewell: Friends — with disagreements
WASHINGTON (AP) — Welcoming Angela Merkel to the White House for a final time, President Joe Biden renewed his concerns to the German chancellor Thursday about a major, nearly complete Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline but said they agreed Russia must not be allowed to use energy as a weapon.
apnews.com
Senate negotiators scramble to defang GOP criticism
Senators negotiating the bipartisan infrastructure package are trying to defang potential GOP criticism about the funding mechanisms for their $1.2 trillion deal and whether they can fully cover th…
thehill.com
Democrats pursue ambitious immigration changes in $3.5 trillion budget measure
It's unclear what policy shifts will pass muster under Senate rules that would allow the party's senators to approve the measure without Republican support.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden and Merkel 'united against Russia aggression'
"Good friends can disagree," Mr Biden says of their dispute over a Russia-to-Germany pipeline.
www.bbc.com
Gaetz enlists Trumpworld for scandal-ridden re-election fight
The campaign committee for Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) has enlisted a crew of prominent Trumpworld figures as he seeks re-election amid scandal and possible legal jeopardy, records reviewed by Axios show.Why it matters: For a Republican in a party still dominated by the former president, little...
Pro-impeachment Republicans outpace GOP rivals in second-quarter fundraising
Republicans who voted earlier this year to impeach former President Trump are outpacing their primary challengers in the money race. Now the 10 House Republicans who broke party lines in the c…
thehill.com
Biden and Sanders, once rivals, are now partners in power
WASHINGTON (AP) — Talkers both, Joe Biden and Bernie Sanders stayed for an hour in the Oval Office , just two former rivals for the White House now acting as potential partners, negotiating a compromise both could live with.
apnews.com
Child Tax Credit's Future, Delta Variant Surges, South Africa Violence: News You Need To Start Your Day
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen talks taxes and getting Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. Also: the delta variant is surging where vaccination rates are low and South Africa has seen a week of violence.
www.npr.org
Gen. Milley warned Trump on possible Iran strikes: ‘You’re gonna have a f—— war’
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley issued a stark warning to former President Trump about a possible strike against Iran in the final months of his presidency, telling him such…
thehill.com
Black Lives Matter glorified Cuban dictator Fidel Castro: 'Fidel Vive!'
Black Lives Matter's recent praise of Cuba's government isn't the first time that BLM has praised the country's communist regime.
Since Jan. 6 attack, Trump’s grip on the GOP has only grown stronger
First Read is your briefing from "Meet the Press" and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.
www.nbcnews.com
South Africa’s Ramaphosa says deadly unrest was ‘instigated’
In first visit to area affected by weeklong unrest, president says ‘anarchy and mayhem’ will not be allowed to unfold.
Kevin McCarthy's trip shows House Republicans see the path back to power is with Donald Trump
The House GOP's plan to win back power is becoming increasingly centered on one man: Donald J. Trump.
www.cnn.com
Durham report may not be 'broad' as hoped but prosecutions in play, Nunes says
Any report compiled by special counsel John Durham "may not be as broad as we want it to be," warned a leading Republican congressman, who nevertheless expects more prosecutions.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
U.S. House committee advances China bill without Republican backing
A U.S. House of Representatives committee advanced legislation on Thursday intended to boost competitiveness with China, without support from Republicans who objected to some climate-related provisions and said it was too soft on Beijing.
www.reuters.com
‘Normal is not good enough’: After Trump, pressure’s on Biden to create new ethics rules
Government watchdog groups are urging Biden to hire an ethics director at the White House the way George W. Bush and Barack Obama did.
www.politico.com
Pelosi, McCarthy big-money donors start giving early toward House races, with chamber up for grabs
Big-money donors have already started giving massive checks to committees linked to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy.
Schumer, Tim Scott lead as Senate fundraising pace heats up
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) raised more than $11.5 million between April and June as he builds a mammoth $27 million war chest in advance of his bid for a fifth term in office, …
thehill.com
AOC's Cuba tweet draws fiery response from Florida Dem
“We also must name the U.S contribution to Cuban suffering: our sixty-year-old embargo," Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted.
www.politico.com
What Taliban advances could mean for the future of Afghanistan - "The Takeout"
On "The Takeout," host Major Garrett talks with senior foreign correspondent Charlie D'Agata, who's been covering the U.S. drawdown in Afghanistan.
www.cbsnews.com
Biden supports Senate push on military justice overhaul, Gillibrand says
President Joe Biden is "110 percent" behind a legislative push to overhaul the military justice system to better serve victims of sexual assault and other major crimes, the bill's champion, Democratic Senator Kirsten Gillibrand, said on Thursday. Gillibrand's remarks to defense reporters came...
Exclusive: New caucus shows GOP split on tech regulations
The top Republican on the House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee is launching a new GOP caucus on Big Tech as he seeks to build support for antitrust changes despite a divide among Republicans.The big picture: Republicans eager to take on Big Tech are at a crossroads between working with...
Pacific Rim leaders discuss economic way out of pandemic
CANBERRA, Australia (AP) — U.S. President Joe Biden, his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and Russian President Vladimir Putin are among Pacific Rim leaders gathering virtually to discuss strategies to help economies rebound from a resurgent COVID-19 pandemic.
apnews.com
Biden says Cuba is a 'failed state' and calls communism 'a universally failed system' | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden said on Thursday that Cuba is a "failed state" and called communism a "failed system" as protests play out against the Caribbean nation's repressive regime.
Deputy indicted in shooting of man who called 911 for help
A Virginia sheriff’s deputy was indicted Thursday on a felony charge related to the shooting of a Black man at his home after he called 911 for help
Why is South Korea developing an Israeli-style Iron Dome?
North Korea has an estimated 10,000 artillery pieces dug in along its frontier, aimed at the South Korean capital.
Dynamic flip: Democrats warm to budget tool Schumer once dubbed ‘fake math’
Democrats are preparing to use projected “long-term economic growth” as one of the ways to pay for their massive social spending bill, a dramatic shift from criticizing the tool as “fake math” when Republicans used it to balance tax cuts.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Gaetz campaign hired law firm used by Jeffrey Epstein, campaign filing shows
Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz’s (R) campaign in June paid $25,000 to a law firm used by Jeffrey Epstein, the campaign’s Federal Election Commission filing shows.Gaetz’s campaign gave the money to th…
thehill.com
Child Tax Credit's Future, Delta Variant Surges, South Africa Violence: News You Need To Start Your Day
Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen talks taxes and getting Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. Also: the delta variant is surging where vaccination rates are low and South Africa has seen a week of violence.
www.npr.org
Convicted terrorists lead religious services in federal prisons: IG
Convicted terrorists – some associated with al-Qaeda, the Islamic State and Al-Shabaab – were allowed to lead religious services in federal prisons because of a shortage of chaplains, according to a recent inspector general report evaluating the Bureau of Prisons.
Lindsey Graham declares 'big win' after Notre Dame says it will open Chick-fil-A
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham claimed a "big win" after the University of Notre Dame said it would go through with plans to build a Chick-fil-A on campus despite objections from some students and faculty.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Two men charged in plot to attack Democratic Party headquarters in Sacramento
Federal authorities allege the two were "specific, detailed and serious" in a plan to carry out an attack on the Democratic headquarters.
www.nbcnews.com
Retired investigator: Biden nominee stonewalled 1989 probe
BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — President Joe Biden’s pick to oversee U.S. lands in the Western states stonewalled a 1989 investigation into the sabotage of an Idaho timber sale, a former federal law enforcement officer alleged in a letter released Thursday.
apnews.com
Rescuers race to prevent more deaths from European floods
BERLIN (AP) — In one flooded German town, the ground collapsed under family homes. In another, floodwaters swept through an assisted living center, killing 12. Rescue workers across Germany and Belgium rushed Friday to prevent more deaths from some of the Continent's worst flooding in years as...
apnews.com
Records reveal Tennessee's claims for firing vaccine leader
As controversy raged on over the firing of Tennessee's vaccination leader after state lawmakers complained about efforts to promote COVID-19 vaccination among teenagers, state officials released documents Thursday that for the first time offer other reasons for her dismissal. Tennessee's chief...
China criticizes US for abandoning Afghanistan, warns against 'shirking its responsibility'
Chinese foreign minister Wang Webin criticized the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan during a joint meeting with the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) and called on the Eurasian alliance to “prevent the United States from shirking its responsibility.”
Taliban offer three-month ceasefire in exchange for release of 7,000 prisoners
Afghan government negotiator Nader Nadery announced on Thursday that the Taliban offered the Afghan government a ceasefire in exchange for the release of thousands of captured Taliban fighters.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Civil disobedience returns to Capitol Hill
www.politico.com
The Warthog and the senator: The politics of retiring a warplane
The U.S. Air Force is desperate to get rid of some of its fleet of expensive, slow and outdated A-10 Warthog airplanes, but politicians have blocked the move, aiming to keep the local dollars flowing.
www.reuters.com
N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo to be interviewed in state sexual harassment inquiry
He'll meet Saturday with lawyers leading Attorney General Letitia James' investigation into staff allegations of his inappropriate comments, touching
www.nbcnews.com
Marco Rubio offers to help Black Lives Matter activists move to Cuba
Sen. Marco Rubio offered to help Black Lives Matter activists move to Cuba after the organization posted a message appearing to side with the country’s communist regime instead of the anti-government protesters.
Pulitzer Prize-winning Reuters journalist Danish Siddiqui killed in Afghanistan
Reuters says, according to Afghan army, Danish Siddiqui was killed in the crossfire as he covered a battle between Taliban militants and Afghan forces.
www.cbsnews.com
GOP wants Biden to beam internet down to Cubans: 'It’s communism versus capitalism'
Republicans are putting pressure on the Biden administration to provide internet access to the Cuban people after the country's communist regime blocked its citizens from expressing themselves online earlier this week.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden to warn US companies about doing business in Hong Kong
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration is expected to issue a blanket warning to U.S. firms about the risks of doing business in Hong Kong as China continues to clamp down on political and economic freedoms in the territory.
apnews.com
Suspect who shot 4 officers, killed 1 after barricading himself inside Texas home, in custody
The shooting took place near Lubbock, Texas.
Biden promises answers on European travel ban 'in the next several days' | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden said Thursday he'll soon be able to answer persistent questions about travel to the US from Europe after German Chancellor Angela Merkel raised the matter in the Oval Office.
Hunter Biden’s prosecutor rejected moves that would have revealed probe earlier
Veteran U.S. attorney David Weiss, known for his willingness to take on powerful Delaware figures, kept his investigation into Biden’s son out of the 2020 campaign.
www.politico.com
Texas Democrat’s photo of drying clothes leads to new accusations of phony ‘sacrifice’
A Texas Democrat who was among more than 50 state lawmakers to fly from Austin to Washington, D.C., earlier this week to block a GOP voting bill by denying quorum was called out by critics on social media Thursday night over a post about her hand-washed clothes.
More than 100 dead, as many as 1,500 missing after floods hit Europe
Officials said they hoped the high number of people still unaccounted for was due to mobile networks and internet connections going down, making it difficult for many to reach loved ones.
www.nbcnews.com
Fired Tennessee vaccine official got glowing reviews before being terminated
Fiscus' firing and the state's about-face on youth immunization outreach came as Tennessee's COVID-19 infection rates tripled in weeks.
www.usatoday.com
The rocket engine that could transform space travel
www.politico.com
What's in the restrictive voting bills being pushed by Texas GOP lawmakers?
Texas Democrats' dramatic trip to Washington, DC, this week stemmed from uniform opposition to two voting bills being pushed by state GOP lawmakers: Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 3.
www.cnn.com
Biden's ICE nominee angers all sides, says drop in illegal immigrant arrests is 'concerning'
President Joe Biden’s pick to lead Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) said Thursday the drop in arrests by the agency in recent months is "concerning" -- while saying he wanted to move "aggressively" against illegal immigrants who pose a threat to communities in the U.S.
South African riots over Zuma jailing pre-planned - Cyril Ramaphosa
At least 212 people are now known to have died in unrest sparked by the jailing of Jacob Zuma.
www.bbc.com
Iowa, New Hampshire fight to stay atop the 2024 GOP nomination
GOP chairs in Iowa and New Hampshire team up to protect their states cherished position kicking off the presidential nominating calendar.
Sarah Sanders raises $4.2M for Arkansas governor bid
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — Former White House press secretary Sarah Sanders' campaign on Thursday said she had raised another $4.2 million for her bid for Arkansas governor. Sanders' campaign said the latest figures over the past three months mean she has raised $9 million total since launching...
apnews.com
Secret Service intel briefings ahead of January 6 concluded there was no indication of civil disobedience | CNN Politics
The US Secret Service tracked groups planning to hold events at the US Capitol or the White House to support then-President Trump on January 6 but concluded there was no indication of possible civil disobedience, according to newly released documents obtained by the watchdog group Citizens for...
Recovery effort at collapsed building could end soon
SURFSIDE, Fla. (AP) — Efforts to recover human remains from the debris of a South Florida condo building are nearing an end. Miami-Dade police identified six more victims of last month’s Surfside condo collapse on Thursday, meaning that 92 of the 97 confirmed dead have been identified.
apnews.com
Garland lets immigration judges put off deportation cases
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland tossed a Trump administration policy Thursday that barred immigration judges from putting off the deportation cases of immigrants waiting on green cards and visas.
apnews.com
Pope reverses Benedict, reimposes restrictions on Latin Mass
ROME (AP) — Pope Francis cracked down Friday on the spread of the old Latin Mass, reversing one of Pope Benedict XVI’s signature decisions in a major challenge to traditionalist Catholics who immediately decried it as an attack on them and the ancient liturgy.
apnews.com
FBI agrees to consider upgrading criminal background checks to prevent sale of guns to underage and out-of-state buyers | CNN Politics
The FBI has agreed to consider modifying its criminal background check system after the Justice Department's inspector general found the system did not cross check the buyer's age with legal requirements of their home state, according to a report released on Thursday.
Congressional Black Caucus Chair Joyce Beatty arrested at voting rights protest | CNN Politics
Rep. Joyce Beatty was arrested by US Capitol Police on Thursday afternoon after participating in a voting rights protest that culminated in a march inside the Senate Hart Office Building atrium.
Elon Musk admits Tesla’s Cybertruck could 'flop,' says he loves it anyway
"I don’t care. I love it so much even if others don’t. Other trucks look like copies of the same thing, but Cybertruck looks like it was made by aliens from the future,” Musk said.
www.nbcnews.com
Greenland suspends oil exploration because of climate change
COPENHAGEN, Denmark (AP) — The left-leaning government of Greenland has decided to suspend all oil exploration off the world’s largest island, calling it is “a natural step” because the Arctic government “takes the climate crisis seriously.”
apnews.com
USA Basketball cancels exhibition against Australia amid health and safety concerns
USA Basketball announced on Thursday it would be canceling its exhibition match against Australia amid health and safety concerns.“Out of an abundance of caution, the USA Men’s Nati…
thehill.com
Manchin meets with Texas Dems and says he wants pared-down voting rights bill
Sen. Joe Manchin, a key vote in the effort to pass federal voting rights legislation, on Thursday said he and a group of Texas House Democrats, who have fled their state in an effort to block restrictive voting bills, have come to a "total agreement" on what they want, which is "basically to...
www.cnn.com
Senior Biden officials finding that Covid lab leak theory as credible as natural origins explanation | CNN Politics
Senior Biden administration officials overseeing an intelligence review into the origins of the coronavirus now believe the theory that the virus accidentally escaped from a lab in Wuhan is at least as credible as the possibility that it emerged naturally in the wild -- a dramatic shift from a...
'Pandemic of the unvaccinated' burdens busy US hospitals
The COVID-19 comeback across the U.S. is putting pressure on hospitals at a time when some of them are busy just trying to catch up on surgeries and other procedures that were put on hold during the pandemic.
apnews.com
Fired Tennessee vaccine leader rebuts claims point-by-point
Days after she was fired under pressure from Republican legislators, Tennessee’s former vaccinations director has issued a point-by-point rebuttal to a letter that recommended her removal
Covid-19 'is becoming a pandemic of the unvaccinated,' CDC director says | CNN
With Covid-19 cases rising in all 50 states, health officials say it's clear that unvaccinated people are both driving the increase in cases and are most at risk.
Joe Biden accuses Facebook of 'killing people' with vaccine misinformation
President Biden accused the social media platform of “killing people” by allowing what he deems as misinformation on coronavirus vaccines to be shared on the site.
U.S. COVID Deaths Are Rising Again. Experts Call It A 'Pandemic Of The Unvaccinated'
Reversing a months-long downward trend, deaths from COVID-19 have begun rising steadily this week. More than 99% of the recent fatalities were among people who had not been vaccinated.
www.npr.org
Ex-FDA chief warns spread of delta variant is being ‘vastly underestimated’
“We don’t know what the denominator is right now,” Scott Gottlieb told CNBC’s “Squawk Box” Friday.
thehill.com
Covid: Fully jabbed arrivals from France must still quarantine
A planned relaxation of England's rules from Monday will not apply due to cases of the Beta variant.
www.bbc.com
COVID-19 patient discharged from hospital after 187 days
A man who was hospitalized with COVID-19 was released Friday after more than 6 months, AL.com reports.Ricky Hamm, 50, was the longest-staying COVID-19 patient at the UAB Hospital in …
thehill.com
Scientists round on UK over plan to end COVID curbs
‘I believe that the strategy of herd immunity is actually murderous,’ US scientist William Haseltine said.
CDC warns Covid-19 vaccines might not protect people who are immunocompromised | CNN
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Friday warned people who are immunocompromised that the Covid-19 vaccine may not have been effective for them and encouraged them to take precautions as if they were not vaccinated.
Indiana restarts pandemic unemployment benefits after judge's order | CNN Politics
Indiana once again began paying pandemic unemployment benefits -- including the $300 weekly supplement -- on Friday after the state Court of Appeals earlier this week denied the state's attempt keep them halted.
Biden grappling with 'pandemic of the unvaccinated'
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two weeks after celebrating America’s near “independence” from the coronavirus, President Joe Biden is confronting the worrying reality of rising cases and deaths — and the limitations of his ability to combat the persistent vaccine hesitance responsible for the summer backslide.
apnews.com
As COVID-19 surges again, what experts say about the millions of unvaccinated
Health officials are warning that they are seeing more unvaccinated patients who are becoming severely ill.
Freedom or folly? UK's end to mandatory masks sows confusion
LONDON (AP) — For many, it’s common courtesy or a sensible precaution. For others, it's an imposition, a daily irritation. The face mask — a highly charged source of debate, confusion and anger around the world during the coronavirus pandemic — is now dividing people as the crisis eases.
apnews.com
WHO warns of 'strong likelihood' of new, possibly more dangerous variants
As cases surge worldwide, more variants are likely to emerge.
Eiffel Tower reopens; COVID passes required as of next week
PARIS (AP) — With “Welcome” messages in multiple languages, the Eiffel Tower greeted tourists Friday for the first time in nearly nine months, reopening to the public even as France introduces new virus rules aimed at taming the fast-spreading delta variant.
apnews.com
CDC defends U.S. transit mask mandate as some call for scrapping
A senior U.S. health official who signed a sweeping order for masks to be worn on nearly all forms of public transport said they were a key tool in preventing COVID-19 transmission even as some lawmakers call for ending the rules.
www.reuters.com
COVID-19 complications could strain health system for years
Half of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 developed complications associated with the virus, and experts worry those problems could strain the health system for years.
Covid: Younger adults still at risk of serious organ damage - study
Adults below the age of 50 are almost as likely to suffer from medical complications as the over-50s.
www.bbc.com
WaPost gives Ron Johnson four ‘Pinocchios’ for ‘peddling’ vaccine misinformation
The Washington Post fact-checker has given Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) four “Pinocchios” for “peddling” vaccine misinformation during a Fox News appearance. The outlet fact-checked two claims th…
thehill.com
What's fueling COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy in young adults?
Why young adults remain hesitant about the COVID-19 vaccine, and what health officials are doing to combat it.
Cases of respiratory virus surge in young children amid rare summer outbreak
Parents across the country are being warned about a rare summer outbreak of a virus that attacks the lungs — usually in winter.
www.cbsnews.com
With virus cases rising, mask mandate back on in Los Angeles
Los Angeles County will again require masks indoors even when people are vaccinated
COVID-19 heightened racial issues in the US: Report
A new report from the National Urban League spotlights racial injustice amid the pandemic.
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