President Joe Biden speaks about infrastructure spending at the La Crosse Municipal Transit Authority. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Climate activists and their Democratic allies in Congress are pressing with renewed urgency for huge investments to slow global warming, after a bipartisan infrastructure plan cut out some of President Joe Biden’s key climate initiatives.
China’s Xi throws down gauntlet to US
Insofar as the West wants China to conform to the rules of a rules-based international order, Xi is indicating that those rules must be ones that China has forged.
thehill.com
Biden gun and police policies threaten Democrats' 2022 midterm prospects
With violent crime on the rise in cities across the country, President Biden is attempting another high-wire act with a renewed push for gun control measures that could embolden his critics on both the right and the far left ahead of the critical 2022 midterm elections.
Bipartisan spending deal meets fresh resistance from key Democrats
The bipartisan infrastructure deal endorsed by President Biden is facing fresh skepticism from key Senate Democrats who are concerned about plans to pay for the $973 billion package.Two major finan…
thehill.com
Trump could be called to testify before House Jan. 6 panel, Clyburn says
Trump held a rally on Saturday where he asked for more information into the death of a woman who was fatally shot while storming the Capitol.
www.nbcnews.com
Pro-Trump social media app briefly hacked hours after launch
Gettr, a new social media site launched by allies of former President Trump, was briefly hacked on Sunday when it first went online.”The problem was detected and sealed in a matter of mi…
thehill.com
Michael Cohen Moves To Sue Prison Bureau For Trump Book 'Retaliation'
Cohen claims he was sent back to prison after release to home detention because he was working on a book critical of Donald Trump.
Progressives ramp up Medicare expansion push in Congress
Progressives are ramping up their push to expand Medicare in an upcoming legislative package, with the goal of lowering the eligibility age and adding new benefits.The Congressional Progressive Cau…
thehill.com
What's keeping democracy experts up most at night? An overturned election
Analysis: Amid all the voting changes in state laws, giving more power to partisan officials to overturn an election is at the top of the list of concerns.
www.nbcnews.com
Demolition of Surfside, Florida condo near Miami that partially collapsed in June
The Surfside, Florida high-rise that collapsed in June has been demolished. Plans for the implosion were pushed up as a tropical storm neared.
www.usatoday.com
Clyburn: Trump could be called to testify before Jan. 6 panel
House Majority Whip James Clyburn (D-S.C.) said Sunday that former President Trump could be called to testify before the new House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack…
thehill.com
Biden administration still weighing CIA drone strike policy amid Afghanistan withdrawal
As President Joe Biden's withdrawal from Afghanistan nears completion, his administration still hasn't finalized its policy for pursuing terrorists in the country once US troops have departed.
www.cnn.com
Beyond DC partisanship, Warnock makes broad pitch in Ga.
On Capitol Hill, Sen. Raphael Warnock assails Republicans’ push for tighter voting rules as “Jim Crow in new clothes,” while his campaign operation blasts emails bemoaning dire risks to democracy. Back home, Georgia’s first Black senator is more subtle, pitching a “comprehensive view of...
Hackers demand $70 million to end biggest ransomware attack on record
Russia-linked group REvil infected thousands of victims in at least 17 countries via software company Kaseya, experts say.
www.cbsnews.com
'A political Rubik's Cube': Democrats work to keep Biden's economic agenda alive
Progressives and moderates have struck an uneasy alliance to give each side what they want. Republicans are working to derail it.
www.nbcnews.com
Afghanistan: Soldiers flee to Tajikistan after Taliban clashes
More than 1,000 soldiers retreat to Tajikistan as fighting with the militants intensifies.
www.bbc.com
McManus: Yes, Democrats are bickering. But Biden's wish list is gaining traction
Biden has been squeezed by Republicans, moderate Democrats and progressives. But he's still pushing for massive federal spending.
The 10 Senate seats most likely to flip in 2022
Congress is out of session with lawmakers back home for the holiday recess -- a traditional time for fireworks, parades, and yes, politicking.
www.cnn.com
Waters cites 'voter suppression laws,' SCOTUS, George Floyd in July 4th post about equality: 'Equal to what?'
The California Democrat was highly critical of the U,S, in a Fourth of July Twitter thread. She cited the existence of slavery when the U.S. was established in 1776 as well as issues such as the current voting laws and the deaths of Black people during police encounters.
Canada Battles More Than 180 Wildfires With Hundreds Dead In Heat Wave
About 90% of the village of Lytton was destroyed by fire. It comes while hundreds have died in a massive heat wave that's affecting British Columbia and the western U.S.
www.npr.org
McCaul: Biden will ‘own’ the ‘ugly images’ from Afghanistan withdrawal
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) on Sunday said President Biden is “going to own” the “ugly images” resulting from the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan.“When we fully withdraw, the devastati…
thehill.com
Exxon faces heat after lobbyists' comments on climate change cause furor
CEO apologizes after lobbyist caught on video saying oil company views carbon tax as a "talking point" that "is not going to happen."
www.cbsnews.com
Elon Musk praises CCP while courting business and handling US space flights
Elon Musk praised the Chinese Communist Party this week for its 100th anniversary as the Tesla CEO seeks to expand his business dealings in China, even though the United States relies on the SpaceX founder to launch satellites and astronauts into space.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Bill Cosby defends TV wife Phylicia Rashad after she celebrated his release
Phylicia Rashad tweeted her joy at co-star Bill Cosby's sexual assault conviction being overturned.
www.bbc.com
Moderate Senate Dems still undecided on Biden's ATF pick, nomination at risk
Some of the key moderate Democratic senators needed to confirm President Biden's pick to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, David Chipman, are still undecided about whether they will vote for the controversial nominee who has a history of working with high-profile gun control groups.
Top US general in Afghanistan says 'we should be concerned' about Taliban | CNN Politics
Army Gen. Austin Scott Miller, the top US military official overseeing the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan, said that there should be concern about the Taliban advances on the ground there.
Search back on after rest of South Florida condo demolished
Rescuers continue search for 121 people believed to be trapped under the fallen wing of the Champlain Towers South.
www.politico.com
Israel to vote on renewing law that keeps out Palestinian spouses
Law bars Palestinian citizens of Israel from extending citizenship to spouses from occupied West Bank and Gaza.
Military plane crash leaves at least 52 dead in Philippines
Most of the 96 people on board the C-130 Hercules transport plane were recent army graduates heading in to join the fight in an Islamist militant stronghold.
www.cbsnews.com
How much money could Biden raise for infrastructure through tougher IRS enforcement? It's not clear
President Joe Biden wants to raise money for his ambitious economic agenda by ramping up enforcement at the Internal Revenue Service -- a way for the federal government to spend more money without raising taxes or adding to the deficit, making it a win-win in the eyes of lawmakers.
www.cnn.com
Abbott holds slight lead over potential challenger Matthew McConaughey: poll
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) holds a slight lead in a new poll over potential challenger Matthew McConaughey, as the actor mulls a bid against the two-term governor.The poll, released Sunday by …
thehill.com
Scale, details of massive ransomware attack emerge
An affiliate of the notorious REvil gang infected thousands of victims in at least 17 countries.
www.politico.com
Clyburn states he is 'always for voter ID' after previously calling it 'suppression'
House Majority Whip Rep. Jim Clyburn, D-S.C., has expressed strong opposition to voter identification requirements in the past, but now that Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., is pushing for it in an effort to reach a voting reform compromise, he claims he has "always" been a fan.
White House urges companies affected by recent ransomware attack to report to the Internet Crime Complaint Center
The White House on Sunday urged companies who believe their systems were compromised in the ransomware attack that targeted software vendor Kaseya to immediately report it to the Internet Crime Complaint Center.
www.cnn.com
Terry Donahue, winningest UCLA football coach and former 49ers general manager, dies at 77
Donahue was the first to appear in a Rose Bowl game as a player, assistant coach and head coach.
www.cbsnews.com
Juan Williams: How the Supreme Court eroded voting rights
OPINION: In a famous case in 2013, and again last week, the justices trampled on the right to vote.
thehill.com
Ron DeSantis: is the Trump-aligned Florida governor plotting a White House run?
The fast-rising Republican is topping polls and raising millions of dollars – but what if the former president wants his job back? DeSantis in Miami early in June. All the signs are that any DeSantis presidency would push a fresh, hard-right Trumpian agenda, only without Trump in office...
140 students missing after gunmen raid Nigerian school
Police said gunmen shooting wildly attacked the Bethel Baptist High School in the south of Kaduna state overnight.
Russian food firm VkusVill triggers row over lesbian family ad
There is fury after VkusVill posted an ad showing a lesbian family, then removed it.
www.bbc.com
Tropical Storm Elsa makes landfall in Cuba, edges toward US
Tropical Storm Elsa has landed in Cuba and set its sights for the U.S. after it wreaked havoc on islands in the Caribbean.
Trump wanted to chop up and sell off Mar-a-Lago's grounds in the '90s. This is how preservationists and officials stopped him.
In 1991, Donald Trump attempted to subdivide his Mar-a-Lago property and build mansions, but a group of preservationists had other ideas.
Georgia: Tbilisi Pride cancelled amid violent protests
Protesters stormed LGBT offices and attacked journalists ahead of the planned march in Tbilisi.
www.bbc.com
Western governors make bipartisan plea as states battle record heat and drought | CNN Politics
A pair of governors on Sunday called on the federal government for help and pushed for solutions as their states grapple with recording-breaking temperatures, drought and wildfires that officials have said is being driven by climate change.
Republicans revive soft-on-crime rhetoric amid rise in US homicides
Biden rolls out fresh policy proposals to try to counter rising crime as Democrats look to bat away Republican attacks New York police officers in Times Square. Lawmakers in Washington are edging toward a bipartisan police reform bill. Photograph: Erik Pendzich/Rex/Shutterstock Rising crime...
3 Shot To Death At A Georgia Country Club; Suspect Hasn't Been Caught Yet
Gene Siller, a golf pro at Pinetree Country Club in Kennesaw, Ga., was found dead at the 10th hole of the course. Two other men's bodies were found in the back of a pickup truck nearby.
www.npr.org
Hunter Biden proposed unionizing prostitutes, according to laptop texts
Hunter Biden came up with a plan to unionize prostitutes for their protection after “telling strippers for 25 years that they should unionize,” according to texts found on his alleged laptop.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
POLITICO Playbook: We hope you ignored this July Fourth advice
And what's on the other side of the pandemic for lower-wage workers.
www.politico.com
‘A sacred day’: Biden’s July 4th party celebrates COVID-19 fight, recognizes lives lost
President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden are hosting military families and essential workers on the White House's South Lawn.
The new circus comes to town: fiery support for Donald Trump at rain-soaked Florida rally
Fireworks, a Trump impersonator and undying belief in the former president at his second rally after leaving office Former President Donald Trump speaks to his supporters during the Save America Rally in Sarasota, Florida. Photograph: Octavio Jones/Reuters Their trust in Trump remains unshaken...
Earlier experiences affect our moods more than later events, new study suggests
Participants reported their mood during experiments involving gambling games.
thehill.com
‘Rampant issues’: Black farmers are still left out at USDA
Black farmers are far behind in obtaining grants and loans, a POLITICO analysis of data shows.
www.politico.com
The Vatican Says The Pope 'Reacted Well' To Intestinal Surgery
The Vatican said the 84-year-old pope had been diagnosed with "symptomatic diverticular stenosis of the colon," a reference to a narrowing in the large intestine.
www.npr.org
Report details ESPN's struggles to deal with fallout from Rachel Nichols' leaked 'diversity' rant
According to leaked phone call, ESPN reporter Rachel Nichols cited 'diversity' as reason ESPN passed on her for key role in favor of Maria Taylor.
www.usatoday.com
Matthew McConaughey says US ‘going through puberty’ in July 4 message
Matthew McConaughey shared a 4th of July video message on Sunday in which he said the U.S. is “basically going through puberty,” and called for Americans to “keep maturi…
thehill.com
Azerbaijan mud volcano triggers huge blast in Caspian oil and gas fields
The explosion sent plumes of black smoke and flames into the sky in an oil and gas field.
www.bbc.com
Woodward book on last days of Trump presidency expected in September: report
A book detailing former President Trump’s last days in the Oval Office from renowned investigative journalist Bob Woodward is reportedly set to be published in September.CNN reports that the …
thehill.com
UAE-Saudi Arabia oil spat: All you need to know
Saudi-led plan to extend a deal capping oil production triggers a dispute between two OPEC heavyweights.
80 People Missing, 4 Dead As Huge Mudslide Wrecks Japanese Resort Town
The landslide hit Atami after days of heavy rain. The end of Japan's rainy season is often a time of deadly flooding and mudslides, and many experts say climate change is making it worse.
www.npr.org
Biden administration 'erasing the borders' of biological sex, women's sports activist says
The first half of 2021 has been marked by a series of fierce cultural and legal battles over policies relating to transgender athletes participating in girls’ and women’s sports. More battles loom as the Biden administration and some states take significantly divergent positions on the hot button…
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Capitol attack: what Pelosi’s select committee is likely to investigate
The body created by the speaker will have a broad mandate to examine the facts, circumstances and causes of the Capitol attack Pro-Trump supporters clash with police outside the Capitol. Photograph: Leah Millis/Reuters Nancy Pelosi’s creation of a House select committee to investigate the 6...
The Food Industry May Be Finally Paying Attention To Its Weakness To Cyberattacks
A ransomware attack that shut down several big beef plants is raising concerns about cybersecurity at food companies. Critics say industry consolidation makes the food supply chain more vulnerable.
www.npr.org
How JFK’s Lifelong Friend Helped Shape U.S. Foreign Policy
A 25-year relationship that would change the trajectory of the Cold War.
www.politico.com
Focus shifts to EPA on methane regulation after Biden action
President Biden’s restoration of Obama-era rules on methane emissions is shifting all attention to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as regulators indicate they plan to clamp down further o…
thehill.com
Biden’s new dilemma: How to slash housing costs for low-income borrowers
A long-awaited Supreme Court decision last month gave President Joe Biden the ability to remove the Trump-era leader of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, and he wasted no time.
www.politico.com
U.S. celebrates July Fourth as nation emerges from devastating Covid pandemic
The White House has encouraged people to come together and watch fireworks displays to mark the country's "independence" from the coronavirus.
Afghan forces plan counterattack against Taliban in north: Report
Counteroffensive planned after forces lose ground in northern areas, Russia’s RIA cites president’s adviser as saying.
Pressure grows for Biden to ease pandemic travel bans
The Biden administration is coming under pressure to ease travel bans for international tourists that were originally put in place to stem the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic.With Europe opening it…
thehill.com
Jim Clyburn Has Plenty of Power With Joe Biden. Is He Actually Using It?
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast / Photos GettyJim Clyburn has so much clout these days that he may not know what to do with it all.Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-MO), a longtime ally of Clyburn’s, had a quick answer when asked how the No. 3 House Democrat was handling his increased profile and...
DC convenience store owners brace for hit from ban on menthols
Convenience store owners in Washington, D.C., are speaking out against the city council’s proposed ban on flavored tobacco products, arguing it will further hurt their business while doing little to drive down tobacco use.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Workers are reaping benefits in the post-Covid economy. But their power may not last.
“I think the gains of workers will be evanescent,” said Rep. Andy Levin (D-Mich.), a former labor organizer and a strong voice in Congress for workers. “They will not last.”
www.politico.com
Pope alert after intestinal surgery, Vatican says
The Vatican on Monday said Pope Francis is alert and breathing on his own following surgery to remove part of his large intestine.Pope Francis was taken to the hospital on Sunday for the planned su…
thehill.com
Poll: Biden approval steady, vaccination defiance lingers
WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden has earned high marks for his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, but the government's effort to vaccinate as many Americans as possible continues to face hurdles, including resistance among people who identify as Republicans, according to a Washington Post-ABC...
Harris drops by her local fire station on 4th of July
Vice President Kamala Harris and her husband, Doug Emhoff, dropped off cookies at their neighborhood fire station in the Brentwood section of Los Angeles on Sunday.The big picture: Harris is home in California after speaking in Las Vegas on Saturday. Meanwhile, President Biden is returning to...
Biden is gun salesman-in-chief, threats driving surge in purchases
President Joe Biden’s latest round of attacks on guns is helping to drive a historic sales surge that continues to leave store shelves bare of firearms and ammunition.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
England sticks to plan for lifting restrictions on 'Freedom Day'; fake vaccines administered to thousands in India: Latest COVID-19 updates
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says England still plans to lift restrictions July 19, even though new cases may rise to 50,000 a day by then.
Biden ties battle against Covid to American traditions
He touts success but says the battle is not yet over.
www.politico.com
Virus restrictions reimposed as delta variant spreads in Iran
Iran is set to reimpose restrictions in its major cities as the delta variant of the coronavirus spreads.In a Sunday announcement, Iran’s government ordered nonessential businesses in 275 cit…
thehill.com
Luxembourg prime minister hospitalized following positive COVID-19 test
Luxembourg Prime Minister Xavier Bettel was hospitalized with COVID-19 on Sunday, more than a week after testing positive for coronavirus.The Associated Press reported that Bettel was coughing and …
thehill.com
Getting vaccinated is 'the most patriotic thing you can do,' Biden said, as the US missed its goal to inoculate 70% of adults by July 4
Speaking at July 4 celebrations on the White House lawn, Biden said America was "coming back together" after "a year of pandemic and isolation."
As COVID Vaccinations Slow, Parts Of The U.S. Remain Far Behind 70% Goal
Vermont and Massachusetts lead the nation, with more than 70% of adults having had at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. Southern states such as Tennessee lag far behind.
www.npr.org
Analysis: Even with our 'darkest days' gone, Biden can't declare full independence from virus
President Joe Biden conjured a vision of Americans coming back together and reclaiming their freedom from the worst ravages of the pandemic as a nation long silenced by sickness and death exploded back to life on the Fourth of July.
www.cnn.com
Covid: Mask law and one metre rule set to end in England
Boris Johnson is ready to announce most remaining Covid restrictions can be eased from 19 July.
www.bbc.com
Kate, duchess of Cambridge, self-isolating after coronavirus contact
Kate, the duchess of Cambridge, is reportedly self-isolating after coming in contact with a person who tested positive for COVID-19.Kensington Palace made the announcement on Monday, noting th…
thehill.com
Fauci: COVID deaths among unvaccinated are "avoidable and preventable"
Anthony Fauci expressed sadness at the "avoidable and preventable" coronavirus-related deaths among unvaccinated people during an appearance Sunday on NBC's "Meet the Press." Why it matters: The Biden Administration missed its goal to have at least 70% of U.S. adults vaccinated with at least one...
