
(AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will look to sell voters on the economic benefits of the $973 billion infrastructure package while in Wisconsin on Tuesday, hoping to boost the bipartisan agreement that is held together in large part by the promise of millions of new jobs.

After Biden's cleanup effort on infrastructure deal, McConnell presses for more
After President Joe Biden's weekend cleanup effort on the infrastructure deal, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell on Monday pressed Democratic leaders for more.

McConnell calls on Democratic leaders to follow Biden on separate infrastructure and spending bills
"The president cannot let congressional Democrats hold a bipartisan bill hostage over a separate and partisan process," McConnell said.


US airstrikes follow a spate of sophisticated attacks by Iranian drones that can avoid US surveillance | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden’s decision to conduct airstrikes against Iran-backed militia groups on the Iraq-Syria border Sunday night follows a recent spate of attacks against US military assets in Iraq by a new class of Iranian-made drones that US officials say can evade US surveillance and defenses.

Republicans can win the next elections through gerrymandering alone
Even if voting patterns remain the same, Republicans could still win more seats in Congress through redistricting ‘Republicans won’t have to win more votes next year to claim the US House.’ Photograph: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images In Washington, the real insiders know that the true outrages are...

Clarence Thomas says federal laws against marijuana may no longer be necessary
"The federal government's current approach is a half-in, half-out regime that simultaneously tolerates and forbids local use of marijuana,” the conservative Supreme Court justice wrote.


Pence faces fierce resistance from GOP's pro-Trump base
Former Vice President Mike Pence is facing strong resistance from members of his party's pro-Trump base over his role in certifying the Electoral College results in the 2020 election.

Biden, Pelosi on collision course
President Biden and Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) are on a collision course, at least at the moment, as they race to realize their sweeping infrastructure agenda heading into next year's midterm elections.

Analysis: Biden’s frantic weekend saves infrastructure deal | CNN Politics
That Joe Biden’s cherished bipartisan infrastructure plan was nearly destroyed by a few of his own ill-chosen words highlights both the fragility of the deal and his own hopes for a productive domestic presidency.

US judge: Rep. Boebert can block people on personal Twitter
A federal judge ruled last week that Republican U.S. Rep. Lauren Boebert does not have to unblock a former Democratic Colorado state lawmaker from her personal Twitter account. U.S. District Court Judge Daniel D. Domenico said in his decision Thursday that Boebert, who represents the state's...

Trump screamed at Milley over military crackdown on protests: book
Former President Trump got into a shouting match with Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Army Gen. Mark Milley after Trump tried to force the nation’s top general to r

Trump lawyer: Manhattan DA won't charge former president
Cy Vance's team plans to bring narrowly focused charges in its probe of the Trump Organization, Ron Fischetti claims.


Trump blasts McConnell over claims in book about election
Former President Trump on Monday lashed out at Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), incensed by a forthcoming book that reports McConnell urged former Attorney General William Barr to push back on Trump's falsehoods after November'
'Nothing there': More Republicans are calling out Trump’s election lies
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.


White House defends airstrikes as ‘necessary, appropriate and a deliberate action’ | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden viewed precision airstrikes against Iran-backed militia groups on the Iraq-Syria border region as “necessary, appropriate and a deliberate action,” press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday, defending the administration’s legal justification for the strikes under Article II of...


Pelosi may include Republican on Jan. 6 select committee
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) is "seriously considering" including a Republican among her appointments to the new select committee dedicated to investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, an aide said Monday.

Senate committee headed to Georgia for fight over voting rights
The Senate Rules Committee, led by Democratic chair Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, announced on Monday that the panel will head to Georgia next month to hold a hearing on the combustible issue of voting rights.

Crews spend 5th day atop shaky pile of collapsed concrete
More than 150 remain missing in the Florida condo collapse.


McConnell warns Democratic tactics to push Biden priorities could sink bipartisan infrastructure deal | CNN Politics
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell called on Democrats to back off their plans to tie a bipartisan infrastructure deal to a larger bill filled with their priorities, warning that both efforts could collapse if they carry through with their plans.


Psaki stands by claims that Republicans are responsible for defunding the police - Washington Examiner
White House press secretary Jen Psaki stood by claims made by President Joe Biden adviser Cedric Richmond that Republicans defunded America’s police departments."'Republicans defunded the police,'" Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy quoted Richmond as saying in a question to Psaki...

Obama says Trump election 'hooey' violated core tenet of democracy
Former U.S. President Barack Obama said on Monday his successor in office, Donald Trump, violated a core tenet of democracy when he made up a "bunch of hooey" about last year's election and refused to concede he lost. Speaking at his first virtual fundraiser since the 2020 election, Obama, a...

‘Trump isn’t the dictator’: Wisconsin GOP inches away from Trump
Trump tried to blow up a top state lawmaker for failing to vigorously pursue his false election claims. But the attack was a dud.


‘Joe Biden is destroying our nation’: Trump holds first rally since leaving office
Former President Trump appeared at his first rally in Ohio since leaving the Oval Office, where he criticized the Biden administration and looked ahead to 2024.


US forces in Syria came under rocket fire, a day after US carried out airstrikes on Iranian-backed militias | CNN Politics
Rockets landed at a US military base in eastern Syria, prompting US forces to return fire on Monday, a day after the US carried out airstrikes on Iranian-backed militias, according to a spokesman for the US-led military mission in Syria.


Biden won’t attend Tokyo Olympics
Public health experts have expressed concern over Japan hosting a potential superspreader event amid low Covid vaccination rates in the country.


Is it a sluggish labor market — or workers positioning themselves for better opportunities?
“There's been a lot of talk about ‘people don’t want to work,’ and that’s not the case. People are trying to figure out what’s stable,” said one economist.

Senators to watch as Dems debate changing filibuster rules
Looming over Senate Democrats this year is a decision that could fundamentally change Congress: whether to change or eliminate the rules of the filibuster to enact President Joe Biden's agenda. Liberal advocates have pushed hard for the change, urging the Senate to modify or eliminate rules...

Federal court tosses antitrust suits against Facebook, in huge blow to D.C.'s fight with tech
It's a massive blow to Washington regulators' attempt to rein in Silicon Valley's giants.


Biden under increasing pressure to fire housing inspector general
President Biden is coming under increasing pressure to fire the inspector general at a housing finance agency more than two months after a government report determined she had created a toxic work environment and ev

House Ethics panel upholds $5,000 metal detector fine against GOP lawmaker
The House Ethics Committee on Monday upheld a $5,000 fine levied against Rep. Lloyd Smucker (R-Pa.) for failing to complete a security screening before entering the House chamber.

Facebook Gets Reprieve As Court Throws Out Major Antitrust Complaints
The decision is a blow to the Federal Trade Commission and 48 state attorneys general, who were pushing for the federal court to break up the social media giant.

"I said you're in f---ing charge!": Trump and Gen. Milley's Situation Room shouting match
Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, repeatedly blew up at President Trump over how to handle last summer's racial-justice protests, The Wall Street Journal's Michael Bender writes in his forthcoming book, "Frankly, We Did Win This Election."The backdrop: Trump wanted to...

Psaki casts GOP as party of 'defund the police' after slogan backfires on Democrats
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki accused Republicans of being the party of defunding the police on Monday.

Progressive groups unite to oppose Texas GOP's voting restrictions
The new coalition of local and national groups launches as state Republicans are expected to revive a measure fiercely opposed by Democrats and voting rights advocates.


Obama says Senate will vote again on voting rights
Former President Obama said Monday he believes the Senate will hold a new vote on the Democratic voting rights bill that Republicans in the upper chamber blocked last week.

Biden's assurances on infrastructure deal not enough to satisfy McConnell
The White House is fighting to keep a deal with Republicans while also trying to push a larger, partisan package through Congress.


EXPLAINER: Infrastructure deal targets lead pipes
Included in the bipartisan infrastructure deal with President Joe Biden are plans to replace the country's remaining lead pipes and service lines

Buttigieg, Schumer voice commitment to completing long-delayed Gateway Program
The project entails building a new tunnel under the Hudson River — adding two tracks into Penn Station — before beginning repairs on the existing passages that were damaged in Sandy.


Buffalo mayor announces write-in challenge to India Walton after losing primary
Buffalo, N.Y., Mayor Byron Brown (D) announced Monday that he will run in the city’s mayoral race later this year after a high-profile loss in the primary to self-identified socialist India Walton.

US airstrikes fuel congressional debate over war powers | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden’s decision to launch airstrikes targeting Iran-backed militia groups in the Iraq-Syria border region injects new urgency into the congressional debate over whether Congress should put curbs on the Executive Branch’s war powers around the globe.


YouTube reinstates channel devoted to exposing conservative extremism
Right Wing Watch got notice Monday that YouTube had banned its channel with videos of preachers and politicians. Hours later, the service reinstated it.


Supreme Court won't allow New Hampshire to sue Massachusetts over income tax fight
The income tax dispute involves people who have been working from home during the coronavirus pandemic.

Poll: 6 in 10 GOP voters favor new $1.2 trillion infrastructure plan, boosting Biden’s hopes of a big bipartisan win
The results of a new poll could be an auspicious sign that Congress might finally come together to pass the first major increase in public works spending in over a decade.
McConnell gives 'kudos' to Bill Clinton's Treasury Secretary for warning about hyperinflation
Since Biden took office, his economic agenda has been criticized by Larry Summers, who served under both Clinton and Obama. McConnell appreciates it.

U.S. releases footage of airstrikes in Iraq and Syria at fragile moment for Iran nuclear talks
Sunday's strikes were the second time President Joe Biden has ordered a U.S. military response in the region against Iranian-backed militia groups.

US troops come under fire in Syria after weekend airstrikes
U.S. forces in Syria came under fire on Monday, a day after the Pentagon launched airstrikes on Iran-backed militia groups on the Iraq-Syria border.

Obama stresses protecting voting rights to avoid ‘further delegitimizing’ democracy | CNN Politics
Former President Barack Obama said Monday that action to protect voting rights is even more important in the wake of the 2020 election, taking a swipe at his immediate successor as having violated a “core tenet” of the American election system and for spreading baseless claims of voter fraud.


Police presence to ramp up in Times Square after Marine shot
Times Square will see an increased police presence following the shooting of a 21-year-old bystander who became caught up in an altercation among street vendors.

Psaki: No plans right now for Biden to visit collapsed condo building
The White House press secretary said that while the president supports an investigation, he doesn’t want to divert law enforcement from search operations.


McConnell attacks Democrats' infrastructure strategy, threatening deal despite Biden's olive branch to GOP
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said Democrats should separate a bipartisan infrastructure plan from their broader bill, threatening passage of both.

Ilhan Omar says every illegal immigrant in US should have 'pathway to citizenship'
The Minnesota Democrat published a tweet on Monday commemorating her meeting with activists from the immigrant and refugee advocacy group CHIRLA.

Pride marchers pepper sprayed by NYPD, witnesses say
A department spokesperson said eight people were arrested near Washington Square Park after Sunday's Queer Liberation March.


New border fight pits Texas against Biden over care for 4,500 migrant kids
Officials in several other GOP-led states have declined to aid HHS’ months-long effort to arrange housing and services for tens of thousands of migrant children in federal care.


Meghan McCain calls 'defund the police' the 'stupidest thing I ever heard'
"The View" co-host Meghan McCain said on Monday that when she first heard the term "defund the police," she thought it was "the stupidest thing I ever heard."

Biden will travel to Michigan over July 4th weekend to celebrate progress in Covid-19 fight | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden will travel to Traverse City, Michigan, on Saturday as the White House looks to use the July Fourth holiday weekend to mark progress in the fight against Covid-19 after more than a year of the pandemic, according to a White House official.


White House says bipartisan deal will get rid of all of the country's lead pipes
The bipartisan infrastructure agreement reached last week will get rid of all of the country's lead pipes and service lines, according to a new White House memo, but it's not clear how long it will take.

Minnesota man charged in securities fraud may have tried to seize Florida shell company, records suggest
A Minnesota man criminally charged with securities fraud may have recently seized control of a Florida penny-stock company, court filings suggest.

GOP senator jams up Pentagon pick over Biden’s Navy plan
The nominee on hold, Susanna Blume, had been tapped to run the Pentagon’s Cost Assessment and Program Evaluation office.


Supreme Court returns St. Louis excessive force case involving death in jail to lower court
The Supreme Court case came at a time of tension following high-profile incidents of suspects killed in interactions with police officers.
www.usatoday.com

White House stands by BLM nominee despite eco-terrorism links, views on population control
The White House continues to stand by Tracy Stone-Manning, President Biden's nominee to lead the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), despite controversies over her links to an ecoterrorist plot and her views on population control.

Gosar's siblings want their brother kicked out of Congress. They think Democrats are moving too slow.
"I consider him a traitor to this country. I consider him a traitor to his family," Dave Gosar said. "He doesn't see it. He's disgraced and dishonored himself."


POLITICO Playbook: Manchin vs. Sanders: Let the staring contest begin
And the United States carries out three airstrikes in Iraq and Syria.

Revealed: neo-Confederate group includes military officers and politicians
Leaked data shows other high-profile members have overlapping membership in more explicitly racist or violent groups Donald Trump supporters stand gather for his first post-presidency campaign rally in Wellington, Ohio, on Saturday. Photograph: Shannon Stapleton/Reuters Leaked membership data...

Supreme Court turns away transgender bathroom dispute in win for student Gavin Grimm
Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito said they would have heard the case.


11 confirmed dead, 150 still missing after Florida building collapse
More information was emerging about those who lost their lives in the disaster, and new clues about what may have caused it.


Russia, China declare friendship treaty extension, hail ties
The leaders of Russia and China have hailed increasingly close ties between their countries and announced the extension of a 20-year-old friendship treaty, a show of unity amid their tensions with the West

Judge dismisses federal antitrust suits against Facebook
Ruling deals a significant blow to efforts by the FTC and state prosecutors to rein in tech giants.


What is 'reconciliation,' and why is it holding up the infrastructure package?
What the congressional process of passing a bill by reconciliation means and how it impacts a bipartisan infrastructure package announced recently.
www.usatoday.com

Facebook hits $1 trillion market cap after federal court dismisses FTC antitrust complaint | CNN Business
A federal court has dismissed the Federal Trade Commission’s antitrust complaint against Facebook, saying the agency had failed to provide evidence for its claim that the social media giant holds a monopoly in social networking.


Moscow court rejects appeal by Trevor Reed, American ex-Marine held 'hostage' by Russia
A Moscow court rejected an appeal by Trevor Reed one of two American former Marines the U.S. says Russia is holding hostage on trumped up charges.

Ethiopia's Tigray conflict: Street celebrations as rebels seize capital
Supporters celebrate in Mekelle as officials flee the city and the government calls for a ceasefire.


Justin Trudeau says Pope Francis should apologize on Canadian soil for church's role in residential schools
Hundreds of bodies were buried in unmarked graves at two residential schools for Indigenous children that were run by the Catholic Church.

Hamas wins Palestinian hearts as Gaza conflict threatens broader shift
“Now the Palestinian street is pro-resistance, not pro-negotiations,” said Fadi Ellayan.


Ukraine, NATO launch joint Black Sea drills
Ukraine and NATO are launching drills in the Black Sea that will involve dozens of warships

New York GOP backs Zeldin for governor
New York Republican officials voted Monday to name Rep. Lee Zeldin (R) as the party’s presumptive gubernatorial nominee in an early test of establishment strength ahead of a primary to come next year.

Tropical Storm Danny makes landfall in South Carolina
Tropical Storm Danny made landfall near South Carolina Monday.

California bans state-funded travel to five new states over anti-LGBTQ laws | CNN Politics
California will ban state-funded travel to five new states over their “discriminatory” LGBTQ laws, state Attorney General Rob Bonta announced Monday, citing the importance of “aligning our dollars with our values.”

Gen. Milley 'repeatedly blew up' at Trump over racial justice protests, new book reports
Gen. Milley 'repeatedly blew up' at Trump over racial justice protests, new book reports

U.S. Supreme Court revives excessive-force suit against St. Louis police
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday revived a lawsuit filed by the parents of a homeless man who died in police custody in Missouri that accused officers of using excessive force in the moments before their son died handcuffed and shackled in a cell.

U.S. consumer watchdog approves new foreclosure protections, but not blanket ban
The U.S. consumer watchdog on Monday finalized new protections for homeowners who are struggling to make mortgage payments due to the pandemic, but said foreclosures will be allowed to resume in coming months once those extra protections have been met.

Report estimates major cyberattack could cost more than recovering from natural disasters
The cost of a major cyberattack on a critical major U.S. utility or service provider could equate to that of a natural disaster such as a hurricane, a report released Monday found.

Virginia transgender student wins as Supreme Court rebuffs bathroom appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday declined to take up a major transgender rights case, leaving in place a lower court's ruling that a Virginia public school board acted unlawfully in preventing transgender student Gavin Grimm from using a bathroom at his high school that corresponded with his...

The White House’s centrists strike back


Gas stations are running out of gas ahead of the holiday weekend | CNN Business
When tens of millions of Americans hit the road this holiday weekend, they’re going to find the highest prices for gasoline in nearly seven years. But many will also find stations that don’t have any gas at all.


Dems prepare for messy budget fight that could upend Biden’s infrastructure deal
“Unity is our only chance,” the House Budget chair said as his party tries to please leery moderates and ambitious progressives.


NCAA panel recommends letting players profit off name, image, likeness
The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) on Monday announced that the NCAA Division I Council had recommended the organization temporarily "suspend amateurism rules," allowing athletes to profit off their name, image and

Pacific Northwest is in one of the most intense heat waves ever, with the worst still to come
A heat wave so extreme it stopped Olympians in their tracks, buckled roadways and brought public transportation to a standstill.


SCOTUS vacates ruling that said officers used reasonable force in pinning prisoner before he died
Days after Derek Chauvin was sentenced for murdering George Floyd by kneeling on him until he died, the Supreme Court vacated a ruling in Lombardo v. City of St. Louis that had said officers acted reasonably when engaging in similar behavior.

DeSantis ‘very wary’ of upsetting Trump
The Florida governor is crisscrossing the country to deliver red-meat speeches — and his travels have him on a collision course with the most powerful man in the GOP.


3 major US cities rocked by weekend gun violence as cops brace for 4th of July
"They want to get street justice," the Chicago mayor said.

Pope voices 'affection' for Americans as he meets Blinken
Pope Francis has met privately with U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and expressed “affection” and “attention” for the U.S. people

Clark County sheriff launches GOP run for Nevada governor
The sheriff of Nevada’s most populous and best- known county on Monday formally launched a Republican campaign for governor in the hopes of challenging Democratic incumbent Gov. Steve Sisolak in next year’s election.

IRS says it's sending millions more additional stimulus checks
Another 2.2 million payments are landing in bank accounts and mailboxes, with some people getting "plus-up" payments.


State TV: NKoreans heartbroken over Kim's 'emaciated looks'
North Korean state TV has cited an unidentified resident as saying that citizens are heartbroken because of leader Kim Jong Un's “emaciated looks.”

20 people, including 2 children, found dead on boat drifting in Turks and Caicos
"My investigators are working to establish their identities and how they met their death," the police commissioner said.


U.S. Supreme Court rejects defense contractor's Abu Ghraib torture appeal
The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday put CACI International Inc (CACI.N) a step closer to facing a trial in a lawsuit by three Iraqi former detainees who have accused employees of the defense contractor of directing their torture at the Abu Ghraib prison near Baghdad.

Juul reaches $40 million settlement in North Carolina for alleged role in 'teen vaping epidemic'
North Carolina's attorney general announced Monday that a $40 million settlement had been reached with e-cigarette maker Juul.

Jamie Lynn Spears says she supports sister, Britney Spears, amid conservatorship accusations
A number of tweets and TikTok videos cited court documents to accuse Jamie Lynn Spears of using her sister’s legal situation to her own advantage.


Republican senators say bipartisan infrastructure deal can move forward after Biden clarifies position
President Joe Biden has walked back comments that he'd refuse to sign the infrastructure deal unless it came in tandem with a reconciliation package.

On Capitol Hill, a rough month ends in a glimmer of hope for Biden’s agenda
The president's legislative ambitions are on shaky ground. But there remains a path to success for his top priority.


Last foreign scientist to work at Wuhan lab: ‘What people are saying is just not how it is’
The last foreign scientist to work at the Wuhan Institute of Virology spoke out for the first time in an interview with Bloomberg published on Sunday, telling the publication, “What people ar…


Biden orders airstrikes on Iran-backed militias near Iraq-Syria border in response to UAV attacks
"The strikes were both necessary to address the threat and appropriately limited in scope," Kirby said.
Portland, Ore., leaders walk tightrope between calls to defund police, escalating violence
“I see it as a tremendous crisis. It’s not going to go away in a year or two," said Maria Haberfeld, a professor of police science at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.


Romney ‘totally confident’ Biden will sign infrastructure after attempted walk back | CNN Politics
Sen. Mitt Romney, a key Republican negotiator in infrastructure talks, said Sunday that he’s “totally confident” President Joe Biden will sign a bipartisan bill a day after the President attempted to clean up comments that threatened the deal.

In Arizona, GOP Lawmakers Strip Power From a Democrat
WASHINGTON — The Republican-controlled state Legislature in Arizona voted Thursday to revoke the Democratic secretary of state’s legal authority in election-related lawsuits, handing that power instead to the Republican attorney general. The move added more discord to the politics of a state...

Biden adviser says Lindsey Graham 'doesn't have a clue' on crime
Cedric Richmond said Republicans are to blame for crime spike.


William Barr calls Trump's election fraud claims: 'bulls---' in new book
Former Attorney General William Barr reportedly called former President Trump’s false claims of election fraud “bullshirt,” according to a new book on the final days of the Trump administration.

Wallace has contentious interview with GOP lawmaker: Aren't you the ones defunding the police?
"Fox News Sunday" host Chris Wallace sparred with Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) over Banks's vote against an emergency relief bill that would have allocated funds to police and first responders.

Surfside building collapse: Death toll climbs to 9, more victims identified
Death toll climbs to 9 as search for survivors goes on in collapsed condo building
The GOP’s Trump-less blueprint to winning back the House
Republicans, defined by one thing and one man for four-plus years, see a new, unifying platform to run on in the 2022 elections and potentially beyond. The blueprint: Republicans tell us the work-in-progress plan argues that Biden Democrats are soft on crime, soft and ineffective on illegal...

152 still unaccounted for in Florida building collapse, Miami-Dade County mayor says
With four more bodies identified, the death toll stands at nine. Search and rescue efforts are still underway.


McConnell urged Barr to speak out on Trump's election claims
Then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) privately urged former Attorney General William Barr to refute unsubstantiated claims of widespread voter fraud in the 2020 presidential election, in part because he thought it would ensure

Republicans are watching their states back weed — and they’re not sold
Montana, South Dakota and Mississippi are among the states that have recently passed legalization referendums.

Senators to watch as Dems debate changing filibuster rules
Looming over Senate Democrats this year is a decision that could fundamentally change Congress: whether to change or eliminate the rules of the filibuster to enact President Joe Biden's agenda. Liberal advocates have pushed hard for the change, urging the Senate to modify or eliminate rules...

Republican senators say bipartisan infrastructure deal can move forward after Biden clarifies position
President Joe Biden has walked back comments that he'd refuse to sign the infrastructure deal unless it came in tandem with a reconciliation package.
Trump mocks army generals who care more about being 'woke' than 'fighting enemies'
Donald Trump called military leaders "weak and ineffective" after several top officials voiced their support for critical race theory this week.
Romney: Trump’s lie that he lost 2020 election from voter fraud ‘like WWF’
‘It’s entertaining. But it’s not real’, says Utah senator, referring to artificial world of professional wrestlingFaithful out in force as Trump gets back on campaign trail Senator Mitt Romney speaks to news reporters before attending a vote on Capitol Hill on 23 June 2021. Photograph: Tom...

Brain trauma suffered by U.S. diplomats abroad could be work of hostile foreign government
Since 2016, dozens of American officials have come home from Cuba and China with unexplained brain trauma. Evidence shows it may be the work of another government using a weapon that leaves no trace


Romney: I take Biden ‘at his word’ after president walked back veto threat - Washington Examiner
Republican Sen. Mitt Romney insisted that he trusts President Joe Biden after the commander in chief walked back a conditional veto threat of the bipartisan infrastructure deal announced on Thursday. The Utah senator said on Sunday that he "take[s] the president at his word" that he will...


Trump calls Barr ‘a disappointment in every sense of the word’
Former President Trump on Sunday lambasted his former Attorney General William Barr after Barr described Trump’s repeated unsubstantiated claims about the 2020 election as “bullshi…


Romney on Trump's rally rhetoric: 'The election is over. It was fair.'
The Utah Republican said questioning the 2020 election results is looking more and more like the WWF — "a lot of show and bombast but it's going nowhere."


FEMA chief in Florida to coordinate building collapse federal support efforts
The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in south Florida on Sunday, coordinating with officials as the official death toll in the Miami-area condominium collapse rose to at least nine people, with some 152 building occupants remaining unaccounted.

Retired Black officer, Black Air Force veteran killed in possible hate crime: DA
A retired Massachusetts state trooper and a woman were shot by a man who allegedly rammed a stolen truck into a house, police said.

Trump has Georgia revenge on his mind as he returns to campaign-style rallies
Republicans who embraced Trump's false fraud claims are challenging top GOP state officials who rebuffed Trump's efforts to subvert the election.


Biden approval above water but gets thumbs down on immigration, China, Russia
President Biden’s approval ratings remain healthy five months into his presidency. But on some important issues, including immigration and relations with China and Russia, the latest Fox News poll indicates that the president’s approval rating is underwater with voters across the nation.

GOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger Slams Trump's 'Rally Of A Loser President'
The Illinois Republican said it was high time that others in his party "say the simple thing that Joe Biden was elected president."

POLITICO Playbook: Biden brings bipartisan deal back from the brink
And former President Donald Trump returns to rally in Ohio.

D.C. Prosecutors Set Their Targets on Don Jr.’s Posse
Photo Illustration by The Daily Beast/GettyThe District of Columbia’s attorney general will have to wait just a little longer to find out if three more people in the Trump family circle can be forced to testify, as investigators continue to look into whether Donald Trump’s 2017 inauguration...

Biden’s walk-back appears to put infrastructure back on rails | CNN Politics
The infrastructure deal President Joe Biden heralded this week alongside Republicans and Democrats – and subsequently imperiled with a rogue comment afterward – appeared back on track Sunday, even as its durability going forward remained an open question.


AOC slams filibuster: Nations around globe ‘pass legislation with majorities, and they’re fine’ - Washington Examiner
New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez slammed the Senate filibuster on Sunday and insisted nations around the globe are “fine” with using simple majorities.Debate over the use of the filibuster has intensified with Democrats in recent weeks after stiff challenges to H.R. 1, a Democratic bill to...


‘No one can protect us, even the law can’t protect our rights’
Lawyers in Myanmar say situation becoming ‘very VERY difficult’ as regime steps up arrests and harassment.
Israeli ambassador to United States resigns
Israel’s ambassador to the U.S. resigned on Sunday, hours after welcoming Israeli President Reuven Rivlin to D.C., where he will meet on Monday with President Biden at the White House.Why it matters: Gilad Erdan's decision comes as the Biden administration and new Israeli Prime Minister Naftali...

NY prosecutors give Trump Org lawyers Monday deadline: report
New York prosecutors have given former President Trump's attorneys until Monday afternoon to provide an argument as to why the Trump Organization should not face criminal charges,

White House ready to "fight hard" for second infrastructure proposal, top Biden aide says
President Biden announced Thursday a deal on a $1 trillion infrastructure package had been reached.

‘Republicans are defunding the police’: Fox News anchor stumps congressman
Chris Wallace quizzes Jim Banks of Indiana on Fox News SundayBiden: $350bn in bill opposed by GOP is for law enforcementUS politics – live coverage Chris Wallace of Fox News speaks at the first presidential debate in Cleveland, Ohio last year. Photograph: Olivier Douliery/AP The Fox News anchor...
‘First of all, I’m taller’: AOC dismisses Greene’s ‘little communist’ attack
Marjorie Taylor Greene has harassed Ocasio-Cortez on Capitol Hill, prompting the progressive to raise concerns for her security Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaking at a Senate Climate Change Taskforce discussion in Washington, on 23 June. Photograph: Michael Brochstein/SOPA...

Harris postpones trip to Detroit
Vice President Harris has delayed a trip to Detroit that was originally scheduled for Monday as part of her ongoing tour to encourage people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.

Bill Cassidy: My wife says roads and bridges are ‘a woman’s problem’ because women are ‘doing the shopping’ - Washington Examiner
Sen. Bill Cassidy says his wife would support the new bipartisan infrastructure proposal because roads and bridges are a "woman's problem."The Louisiana Republican, an architect of the bipartisan infrastructure deal negotiated by 21 senators and championed by President Joe Biden, said his wife...

New coalition forms to fight Republican legislature in Texas
Texas advocacy and political groups will launch a new coalition Monday to fight Republican efforts to change voting laws in their state and support Texans in need after the pandemic and last winter's paralyzing storm, Axios has learned.Why it matters: While Democratic lawyers are fighting...

US military airstrikes target militias backed by Iran in Syria, Iraq
The U.S. military launched airstrikes against Iranian-backed militias at three locations in Syria and Iraq, the Pentagon announced Sunday evening.
www.usatoday.com

Toyota defends donations to lawmakers who objected to certifying election
Automaker Toyota defended its donations to Republican lawmakers who voted against certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election, saying it did not believe it was “appropriate …


'Un-American': Mike Pence uses strongest language yet on refusal to deny election results
"There's almost no idea more un-American than the notion that any one person could choose the American President," Pence said Thursday evening.
www.usatoday.com

An exhausting year takes toll on nation’s mayors
Almost a year and a half after the first person in the United States tested positive for the coronavirus in her backyard, and eight months after protesters showed up outside her home on Halloween, …


Republicans back on board after Biden's infrastructure clean-up
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) also indicated he would join his party's work on a bigger, separate bill.


Hong Kong police arrest former Apple Daily journalist at airport
Fung Wai-kong’s arrest comes as pro-democracy outlet Stand News halts fundraising amid concerns over security law.

Florida condo building collapse death toll rises to 9, dozens still missing
Officials are working to identify additional sets of human remains found at the site of the Champlain Towers South in Surfside early Thursday.


US carries out air raids on Iran-backed militias in Syria, Iraq
Attacks mark second time US President Joe Biden has ordered retaliatory bombing of armed groups since taking office.

Case files on 1964 civil rights worker killings made public
Case files, photographs and other records documenting the investigation into the infamous slayings of three civil rights workers in Mississippi are now open to the public for the first time

Trump at Ohio rally: ‘I told you so’ - Washington Examiner
Former President Donald Trump took a victory lap during his first rally since departing office, saying of President Joe Biden, "I told you so."Trump expressed vindication during his Saturday rally in Wellington, Ohio, held to support Max Miller, a Trump-endorsed candidate running a primary...


Green groups shift energy to reconciliation package
Environmental advocates are shifting their focus to a multi-trillion, Democrat-led spending package after seeing that a smaller bipartisan infrastructure deal is unlikely to include many of their priorities.

Madison Cawthorn, self-described ‘big history buff,’ keeps getting historical facts wrong | CNN Politics
Rep. Madison Cawthorn, a freshman Republican from North Carolina, has called himself a “big history buff” and a “lover of history.”

Biden campaigned on cancelling and reforming student debt. Here's where those promises stand.
Biden campaigned on cancelling $10,000 in student debt and reforming student-loan programs, among other things. Here's where those promises stand.

Pacific Northwest bakes under once-in-a-millennium heat dome
The heat is being caused by a combination of a significant atmospheric blocking pattern on top of a human-caused climate changed world.

Mark Warner emerges as moderates' dealmaker-in-chief
As Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain navigate the legislative minefield of the next few months, they'll often turn to a moderate Democrat who gets far less ink than Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) or Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.).The big picture: Sen...

Israel and Poland in diplomatic row over Holocaust property bill
Two countries summon each other’s envoys over Polish legislation that might block World War II restitution claims.

What we know about the victims of the Surfside building collapse
Local police have released the names of all but three of the victims.

Minnesota lawmakers reach deal on policing measures
Provisions in the bill's draft include regulating the use of no-knock warrants and a police misconduct database to create an early warning system to keep bad officers off the streets.


Noem visits Mount Rushmore, slams Biden administration for blocking fireworks
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem took aim at the Biden administration from Mount Rushmore Sunday after federal officials this year rejected her bid to host a Fourth of July fireworks show at the famed monument.

Death toll climbs to 11 in Florida condo collapse, 150 missing
Search-and-rescue teams pulled two more bodies from the concrete and steel rubble of a partially collapsed Florida condominium tower on Monday, bringing the death toll to 11 with 150 people still listed as missing four days after the disaster.
Capitol Hill staffers divulge how a cutthroat workplace with low pay and lots of bad bosses shape their lives
From low pay to burnout and lack of sufficient channels to address workplace issues, Insider is covering Congress as a workplace.

French far right beaten in regional elections
Mainstream candidates have delivered a stinging setback to the anti-immigration far right in regional elections in France

Political campaigns worry they're next for ransomware hits
Political campaigns are ramping up their protections, worrying the next in a rising number of ransomware attacks could target them.

We 'hope' building collapse 'is an anomaly': Full Miami-Dade Co. Mayor interview
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava talks to Chuck Todd about the building collapse in Surfside, Florida, during an interview with Meet the Press.


Sen. Barrasso slams Biden for flip-flopping position on signing bipartisan infrastructure bill
Sen. John Barrasso argued during an exclusive interview on “Sunday Morning Futures” that “there’s no way” Republicans are going to support the nearly $1 trillion infrastructure package “if it is any way linked and connected to” the broader Democratic spending package, which the Wyoming senator...

New Israeli government seeks to reset relationship with US
Israeli Foreign Minister Yair Lapid met with Secretary Blinken and sought to reset a relationship with the U.S. after the removal of Prime Minister Benjamin Netayahu.

GOP struggles with diversity test on powerful finance panel
"I've always said the Republican Party is the Grand Opportunity Party," said Young Kim, who flipped a House seat to GOP control in 2020.


Trump Organization lawyers to meet Monday with Manhattan DA prosecutors | CNN Politics
Lawyers for the Trump Organization are expected to meet Monday with prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney’s office in an effort to convince them not to pursue charges against the company, according to a source familiar with the matter.


Physicist launches Democratic campaign for Arkansas governor with viral video
Physicist launches Democratic campaign for Arkansas governor with viral video.

AOC slams Kyrsten Sinema's filibuster 'defeatism': 'Our job is to help people'
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is taking aim at a fellow Democrat’s opposition to scrapping the Senate’s legislative filibuster, which is stymying President Biden and congressional Democrats from passing much of their agenda.
Allies of Rudy Giuliani have created a 'Freedom Fund' to aid the former Trump lawyer with legal issues
Giuliani has come under intense legal scrutiny for his efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election that Trump lost to now-President Joe Biden.

Families of the missing visit site of Florida condo collapse
Buses brought several groups of relatives to a place where they could view the pile and the rescuers at work.


Record-breaking heat delays U.S. trials
Competition at the U.S. Olympic trials in Eugene, Oregon, was suspended on Sunday after temperatures topped 109 degrees Fahrenheit (43 Celsius), officials said, the hottest ever recorded in the town.

Gay marriage won rare support. Will other LGBTQ rights follow suit?
In a country that is divided on a long list of cultural and societal issues, the acceptance of gay marriage stands out as a remarkable exception.


US and Canada heatwave: Pacific Northwest sees record temperatures
The National Weather Service has issued heat warnings for Washington, Oregon, California and Idaho.


Mike Gravel, former U.S. senator from Alaska and longshot presidential candidates, has died at 91
Gravel read the Pentagon Papers into the Congressional Record and confronted Barack Obama about nuclear weapons.


Palestinian protests: Crowds clash with police after death of activist
Protests took place in Ramallah after the death of an activist and critic of the Palestinian Authority.


Transcript: Senator Marco Rubio on "Face the Nation," June 27, 2021
The following is a transcript of an interview with Senator Marco Rubio that aired Sunday, June 27, 2021, on "Face the Nation."


After Chauvin sentence, Minn. AG warns what steps should be taken to avoid ‘difficult summer’ of violence
A year after cities across the U.S. saw riots following the death of George Floyd, Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison said faith and community leaders can help avert a spike in violent crime this summer.

Transcript: Cedric Richmond on "Face the Nation," June 27, 2021
The following is a transcript of an interview with White House senior adviser Cedric Richmond that aired Sunday, June 27, 2021, on "Face the Nation."


Transcript: Senator Jon Tester on "Face the Nation," June 27, 2021
The following is a transcript of an interview with Senator Jon Tester that aired Sunday, June 27, 2021, on "Face the Nation."


Transcript: Governor Asa Hutchinson on "Face the Nation," June 27, 2021
The following is a transcript of an interview with Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson that aired Sunday, June 27, 2021, on "Face the Nation."


Transcript: Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava on "Face the Nation," June 27, 2021
The following is a transcript of an interview with Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava that aired Sunday, June 27, 2021, on "Face the Nation."



Mixing Covid jabs has good immune response, study finds
Any combination of Pfizer or AstraZeneca for first and second doses works, a study suggests.


Researchers pinpoint possible sign you have COVID-19 after being vaccinated
The ZOE COVID Study app is tracking symptoms in vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

Disney delays test cruise over 'inconsistent' virus results
Disney Cruise Line is postponing its first test cruise since the pandemic brought the cruise industry to a standstill after a handful of participants had inconsistent test results for COVID-19

More people looking for – but not taking – jobs after their unemployment benefits end early | CNN Politics
Jason Smith thought he’d have an easier time filling jobs at his three auto repair shops after Indiana’s governor announced that pandemic unemployment benefits would end in mid-June.


Amish put faith in God's will and herd immunity over vaccine
The COVID-19 vaccination drive is falling far behind in the deeply religious and conservative Amish communities across the U.S. The Amish don’t have any religious beliefs that forbid them from getting vaccines

Washington has no plans to change July 4 celebration as Delta variant cases rise
The Biden administration is confident science supports its plans for a July 4 celebration in Washington, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday amid renewed worries about spread of the coronavirus.

Biden to visit Michigan Saturday to mark progress against coronavirus
President Biden will travel to Michigan during the upcoming Fourth of July weekend as part of an effort by the White House to mark the progress against the coronavirus pandemic.

Gottlieb says parts of U.S. could see "very dense outbreaks" as Delta variant spreads
"It's going to be hyper-regionalized, where there are certain pockets of the country [where] we can have very dense outbreaks," Gottlieb said.


Puerto Rico to receive nearly $4B in US pandemic funds
U.S. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona says Puerto Rico will receive nearly $4 billion in federal education pandemic relief funds to help boost the U.S. territory’s fight against COVID-19

How vaccines could cause trouble for international students
Biden calls transgender athlete laws 'bullying' — NEA reaches tentative agreement with staff organization


Vaccine slam dunk: Nearly every WNBA player has been immunized against Covid-19
Nearly halfway through the season, no one has tested positive in the 12-team league.


Speaker Trump? He will need to secure an absolute majority in the House
It’s unclear if former President Trump will again run for the Oval Office in 2024.

First on CNN: US ships first Pfizer vaccine doses abroad, donating 2 million to Peru | CNN Politics
The United States on Monday will begin shipping its first doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine abroad as part of the Biden administration’s pledge to donate millions of vaccine doses to other countries, a White House official told CNN.


Cruz calls for CDC to 'follow the science' and scrap airline mask mandate before July 4 holiday
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, is urging the Biden administration to lift its long-standing requirement for people to wear masks on airplanes and other forms of mass transit ahead of the upcoming Fourth of July holiday weekend.

Covid-19: End of England's Covid rules still set for 19 July
Ministers "see no reason to go beyond" their "target date", the new health secretary confirms.


Offices after COVID: Wider hallways, fewer desks
Many companies are rethinking their office space in COVID’s wake and making changes to help employees feel more comfortable about returning in person

Public health workers report being threatened and harassed during the pandemic
Politically charged response to COVID-19 added to the stress on medical professionals, researchers say.


Australia Covid: Outbreaks emerge across country in 'new phase' of pandemic
For the first time in a year, Australia is battling outbreaks in different parts of the country.


Analysis: Why Republicans are so focused on Covid-19’s origins | CNN
Elise Stefanik has showed her party’s plan to put the origins of the pandemic at the center of next year’s midterm elections. Republicans are calling on Democratic Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi to hold hearings on whether the virus was naturally transmitted from animals to humans or leaked...


Calls rise for FDA to fully approve COVID-19 vaccines
Calls are rising from some experts for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to move faster to fully approve the COVID-19 vaccines, in what could be a key step to address vaccine hesitancy.

Transcript: Scott Gottlieb on "Face the Nation," June 27, 2021
The following is a transcript of an interview with former FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb that aired Sunday, June 27, 2021, on "Face the Nation."

Biden administration targeting 'movable middle' in major vaccine push
The Biden administration is sending their A-list officials — and actual celebrities — across the country, devising ads for niche markets and enlisting community organizers in a major vaccine push, the Associated Press reports. Why it matters: President Biden had previously set a goal of...

The Delta variant will cause ‘very dense outbreaks’ in these five states, expert says | CNN
The Delta variant, a strain of Covid-19 believed to be more transmissible and dangerous than others, is likely to break out in some US communities, a health expert told CBS’s “Face the Nation.”


AOC dismisses concern over crime spikes in major cities as 'hysteria'
"We are seeing these headlines about percentage increases," Ocasio-Cortez said. "Now, I want to say that any amount of harm is unacceptable and too much, but I also want to make sure that this hysteria...doesn’t drive a hysteria and that we look at these numbers in context..."

Wuhan lab-leak theory fuels Trump comeback rally
Supporters say the former president was "dead on", as the theory about the origins of Covid gains respectability.


Arkansas governor says final FDA approval of COVID-19 vaccine would help fight hesitancy
The three COVID-19 vaccines being administered in the U.S. received emergency use authorizations from the FDA.


I tested positive for Covid-19 twice in two cities. The responses were vastly different | CNN
As someone who has tested positive for Covid-19 in both Britain and Hong Kong, I’ve experienced the worst of both worlds.


South Africa tightens restrictions to battle latest COVID-19 surge
South Africa will be bringing back strict COVID-19 restrictions to combat the most recent surge in cases believed to be driven by the more infectious delta variant.

Arkansas governor trying to reverse his state's trends on vaccination
Gov. Asa Hutchinson said incentives to get people vaccinated aren't working.

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