(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden on Thursday announced sweeping new pandemic requirements for millions of federal workers as he denounced an “American tragedy” of rising-yet-preventable deaths among unvaccinated U.S. employees and others..
Biden to allow eviction moratorium to expire Saturday
BOSTON (AP) — The Biden administration announced Thursday it will allow a nationwide ban on evictions to expire Saturday, arguing that its hands are tied after the Supreme Court signaled the moratorium would only be extended until the end of the month.
apnews.com
After police rip Trump for Jan. 6, McCarthy again blames Pelosi
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) on Thursday repeated his claims that Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and the Democrats should be faulted for the violent insurrection carried out by …
thehill.com
US economy surpasses pre-pandemic size with 6.5% Q2 growth
WASHINGTON (AP) — Fueled by vaccinations and government aid, the U.S. economy grew at a solid 6.5% annual rate last quarter in another sign that the nation has achieved a sustained recovery from the pandemic recession.
apnews.com
Conservatives want to boot Cheney, Kinzinger from House GOP
WASHINGTON (AP) — Conservative lawmakers made a push Thursday to boot Republican Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger out of the House GOP because the two defied party leaders and joined the chamber's special committee investigating the Jan.
apnews.com
Trump blows fuse over GOP moving forward on infrastructure deal
Former President Trump lashed out at Senate Republicans on Thursday after the upper chamber voted to take up debate on a bipartisan infrastructure package, accusing Senate Minority Leader Mitch McC…
thehill.com
Congress passes bill to fund Capitol security, Afghan visas
WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress overwhelmingly passed emergency legislation Thursday that would bolster security at the Capitol, repay outstanding debts from the violent Jan. 6 insurrection and increase the number of visas for allies who worked alongside Americans in the Afghanistan war.
apnews.com
228 GOP lawmakers call on Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade
Nearly 230 Republican members of Congress told the Supreme Court on Thursday that it should overturn Roe v. Wade and release its "vise grip on abortion politics."
www.cnn.com
House Republicans spar with Pelosi over return of mask requirements
In an alert to representatives Tuesday, the attending physician of Congress said masks must be worn again inside the chamber and office buildings and in committee meetings.
www.nbcnews.com
Harris releases strategy to tackle migration’s root causes
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris said Thursday that efforts to address root causes of migration from three Central American countries won't produce immediate results as she unveiled a broad strategy that expands on principles the Biden administration previously outlined.
apnews.com
McCarthy says country would be better off if Biden had 'done nothing' since taking office
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy said President Biden's policies have put the "country in crisis" and Americans would be better off if Biden had done absolutely "nothing" since taking office.
First on CNN: President Biden to meet with 7 governors Friday to discuss devastating wildfires | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris will meet with seven governors on Friday to talk about how states are responding to a devastating Western wildfire season -- and how the federal government can assist.
These states cut unemployment aid early to supercharge hiring. It isn't working.
States that cut jobless aid early aren't recovering jobs any faster than those that kept the benefit, a study finds.
www.cbsnews.com
House GOP stages mask mandate protest
Nearly 40 maskless House Republican lawmakers walked across the Capitol and onto the Senate floor in protest of the Capitol physician’s decision to reinstate a mask mandate in the lower chamber but…
thehill.com
Harris’s bad polls trigger Democratic worries
Vice President Harris has some ground to make up in order to be perceived more favorably by the public, a complicating factor for the Biden administration as it maps out its midterm strategy. …
thehill.com
Gunfight, crash after man calls police to say he killed his parents
Violence unfolded Thursday in Pennsylvania when a man called police to say he killed his parents and wanted to surrender but instead started a gunfight, police said.
Pelosi says Biden doesn’t hold power to cancel student loan debt, breaking with top Dems
Both Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Elizabeth Warren disagree and have repeatedly called on Biden to cancel student debt.
www.usatoday.com
RNC builds army of field staffers to flip Virginia governor’s race
The national party is sending more than 100 organizers to work in the race between Republican Glenn Youngkin and Democrat Terry McAuliffe.
www.politico.com
College football move rocks Texas legislature
In the midst of heated debates over voting rights, abortion access and critical race theory, a new partisan grenade will hit the Texas state legislature next week as it takes up an issue that at on…
thehill.com
Democrats at odds over extending eviction ban despite Biden plea
In the interim, the White House is calling on state and local governments to “urgently accelerate their efforts” to disburse rental funds.
www.politico.com
Attorney General Merrick Garland threatens to sue Texas over governor's order targeting migrants | CNN Politics
Attorney General Merrick Garland threatened legal action against Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order targeting migrants in a Thursday letter, calling it "both dangerous and unlawful" and urging the governor to immediately rescind it.
Climate crisis ‘will be worse than COVID’: Schumer
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said Wednesday that the climate crisis will be worse than the coronavirus pandemic and that Democrats are ready to respond with "big, bold action" unlike anything the U.S. and "this world has ever seen before."
A radio host, a YouTuber and a guy with a bear. Meet California's top recall contenders.
The GOP hasn't won a governor's race in California since 2006, but the party sees an opening this year amid lingering resentment over pandemic closures and job losses.
www.politico.com
Top Democrat: ‘A lot of spin’ coming from White House on infrastructure
The leading House Democrat on infrastructure policy is leery of the message coming out of the White House as it races to rally support behind a major bipartisan spending deal.Rep. Peter DeFazio (D-…
thehill.com
House Democrats push leadership to vote on slimmed-down voting bill
A group of Senate Democrats is also negotiating a smaller voting bill they hope may get more support.
www.nbcnews.com
Chief DC federal judge questions misdemeanor deals for US Capitol rioters
The chief judge in DC's federal court questioned the Justice Department's decision to offer misdemeanor plea deals to nonviolent US Capitol rioters, saying at a hearing Thursday that the relatively light punishment might not be enough to deter similar attacks in the future.
www.cnn.com
Democrats say they have the votes to advance $3.5T budget measure
Senate Democrats say they have the votes needed to pass a $3.5 trillion budget resolution, which would green light a massive spending measure packed with President Biden’s top legislative prioritie…
thehill.com
With eviction moratorium expiring Saturday, Biden calls on Congress to act
President Joe Biden is calling on Congress to extend the federal moratorium protecting renters in the United States from eviction, set to expire in just two days.
Desperate renters ask daunting question: Will I be homeless in August?
"Do not evict," one Mississippi official cautioned landlords. "Please wait, the money is coming."
www.nbcnews.com
Mike Pence joins conservative groups in jumping into abortion debate at Supreme Court
Mike Pence’s group is one of dozens filing briefs in the most significant abortion case to come become before the Supreme Court in decades.
www.usatoday.com
Texas voting standoff jeopardizes pay for up to 2K workers
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Donovon Rodriguez pursued a career with the state of Texas seven years ago because he viewed the work as public service and a steady income to provide for his family. But lately, his government job hasn't looked so stable.
apnews.com
First group of evacuated Afghan interpreters arrives in US
About 200 interpreters and their families land near Washington DC as the US withdraws from Afghanistan.
www.bbc.com
Van linked to Nina Turner's campaign calls for 'dismantling the Pentagon'
A van associated with the campaign of progressive congressional candidate Nina Turner called for health care to be paid for by “dismantling the Pentagon,"
U.S. refusal to defend lawmaker in Capitol riot a signal to Trump -experts
The U.S. Justice Department's refusal to defend a Republican congressman accused in a civil lawsuit of helping to incite the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol could hamper former President Donald Trump's legal defense in the same case, experts said.
www.reuters.com
Senators Go After Unemployment Fraud — But Not Tax Cheats — To Pay For Infrastructure
Under pressure from conservative groups, GOP senators refused to strengthen IRS enforcement to pay for the bipartisan infrastructure deal.
Clean energy, aging grid to get big boosts under infrastructure deal
Measure includes funding for electric vehicle charging stations across the U.S., thousands of miles of new high-voltage transmission lines.
www.nbcnews.com
Arkansas becomes third state where court blocks cuts to unemployment aid
A judge ruled the state must restart pandemic jobless benefits that had been cut on June 26, citing potential harm.
www.cbsnews.com
US defense secretary broadens cooperation with Vietnam
HANOI, Vietnam (AP) — U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin met his Vietnamese counterpart on Thursday to deepen cooperation in security and pandemic recovery, after Washington vowed support for Southeast Asian nations embroiled in territorial rifts with China.
apnews.com
House Democrats pass earmark-packed $600B spending bundle
Congress is no closer to a bipartisan funding deal that would stave off a government shutdown in two months.
www.politico.com
Raffensperger 'confident' Georgia election law will 'prevail' after seeking dismissal of DOJ lawsuit
Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said the state is prepared to fight the Justice Department's lawsuit against its election law up to the United States Supreme Court and is "confident" it will "prevail" after the state sought to dismiss the case altogether this week.
Homicide rise continues in major US cities, report says | CNN
The number of homicides continues to rise in major American cities following a year that saw a record increase in homicides across the country, according to a report published Thursday by the Council on Criminal Justice.
Surfside collapse claims three generations of Puerto Rican Jews, devastating the island
The Champlain Towers South building collapse killed three generations of a Puerto Rican Jewish family. Those who remember them want "to honor the memory and the legacy of the people we lost."
www.nbcnews.com
Climate bid faces tricky path over money for electric cars
WASHINGTON (AP) — The bipartisan compromise on infrastructure cuts in half President Joe Biden’s call for $15 billion to build 500,000 electric vehicle charging outlets, raising the stakes as the administration seeks to win auto industry cooperation on anti-pollution rules to curb climate change.
apnews.com
Biden to host Cuban American leaders at the White House to discuss administration's response to Cuba's protests
The historic protests erupted in the Caribbean country this month, leading to a crackdown by security forces and the detentions of over 700 people.
www.nbcnews.com
White House calls on Congress to extend eviction ban, saying Biden can't
With millions of renters behind on payments, the CDC's order pausing some evictions will expire after July 31.
www.cbsnews.com
They joked she trained with whales and sea lions, then she won gold
Tourists would "just as easily believe Lydia trains every day out there with the whales and sea lions," cafe co-owner Judy Odhner said.
www.nbcnews.com
Navy charges sailor with starting days-long fire that destroyed USS Bonhomme Richard
The Navy said it is bringing arson charges against a sailor in last July’s four-day fire on the USS Bonhomme Richard that ended up destroying the amphibious assault ship.On Thursday, the Navy…
thehill.com
Former officer charged in Capitol riot jailed after 'shopping spree' for dozens of firearms
A federal judge called his purchases "a remarkable shopping spree for high-powered assault weapons."
www.nbcnews.com
Freedom Caucus ups pressure on McCarthy to move against Pelosi, Cheney, and Kinzinger
Members of the House Freedom Caucus are upping the pressure on House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy to make tangible moves in retaliation to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi as well as Republican Reps. Liz Cheney and Adam Kinzinger over the select committee to investigate Jan. 6.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Judge dismisses one sexual assault charge against Weinstein
Disgraced movie mogul and convicted sex offender Harvey Weinstein achieved a small win in Los Angeles court on Thursday when a judge agreed to dismiss one of the sexual assault charges against…
thehill.com
New York judge finds Cuba Gooding Jr liable in rape accuser's civil lawsuit
A U.S. judge on Thursday found Cuba Gooding Jr liable in a civil lawsuit by a woman who accused the Oscar-winning actor of raping her twice in a Manhattan hotel room in 2013, after Gooding failed to respond to the accusations in court.
www.reuters.com
Nebraska largely scraps gender identity lessons after uproar
Nebraska education officials announced Thursday that they have largely scrapped plans for gender identity lessons in public school curriculum after an uproar from conservatives who argued that the topics weren't appropriate for children. The new draft of the proposed sexual standards from the...
House Freedom Caucus wants Cheney, Kinzinger kicked out of Republican conference
The effort to remove the lawmakers comes after the two Republicans accepted appointments from Pelosi to be on the Jan. 6 select committee.
www.nbcnews.com
‘Blue wave’ Democrats eye comebacks after losing reelection
Democrats who helped their party recapture the House majority in 2018 only to lose reelection two years later are jumping back into the political fray ahead of next year’s midterm elections.
thehill.com
Tom Cotton vows to block Biden US attorney nominee Rachael Rollins, who has lengthy do-not-prosecute list
Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., on Thursday vowed to block President Biden's nominee to lead the U.S. attorney's office in Massachusetts, saying her soft-on-crime approach as a district attorney would only add to the rising crime wave across the country.
Trump pumps $348,000 into Ohio GOP primary after Texas loss to avoid going 0-2
Trump's PAC bought $348,000 of ads in a small Ohio GOP primary to boost Mike Carey, the same day a Trump-endorsed candidate lost in Texas.
Trump supporters raise $5.7M for Arizona election audit
Groups connected to prominent supporters of former President Donald Trump's movement to cast doubt on the 2020 election results have raised $5.7 million for Arizona Republicans' election audit. Doug Logan, CEO of Cyber Ninjas, the little-known firm hired to lead the audit, ended months of...
Pennsylvania Republican blasts election audit, rebukes fraud claims
(Reuters) -A Republican lawmaker in Pennsylvania has come out against his colleagues' "forensic" audit of the 2020 election, becoming the party's first statewide official to publicly call for an end to the effort and warn of electoral consequences. In an op-ed on Thursday, state Senator Dan...
NBA's Jaxson Hayes taken down with stun guns during arrest, police say
Hayes was charged with resisting arrest, police said. The New Orleans Pelicans said they are working with the NBA and Hayes' representatives to gather information.
www.nbcnews.com
Colorado web designer who refused to make same-sex wedding websites loses appeal in court | CNN
A Colorado web designer who didn't want to create wedding websites for same-sex couples has lost her appeal of the state's anti-discrimination law.
Johnson & Johnson Targeted Black Women With Products Linked To Cancer, Lawsuit Says
The complaint claims the New Jersey-based company made Black women a "central part" of its business strategy but failed to warn them about the potential dangers of the powder products it was selling.
www.npr.org
Largest US quake in half-century causes Alaska little damage
The largest earthquake in the United States in the last half century produced a lot of shaking but spared Alaska any major damage in a sparsely populated region
Briahna Joy Gray: White House thinks extending student loan pause is a ‘bad look’
Briahna Joy Gray, a former press secretary for Sen. Bernie Sanders’s (I-Vt.) 2020 presidential campaign, suggested Wednesday that the Biden administration is not interested in extending …
thehill.com
New bill could be a ‘game changer’ for kids’ privacy
Google tries to give Texas courts the slip — Senate sets aside $65B to keep Americans connected
www.politico.com
Austin matches number of homicides in all of 2020, McCaul blames 'defund the police'
Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, blamed the "defund the police" movement as Austin is seeing what's been described as a "grim milestone" for homicides in 2021.
Blinken urges Tunisian president to return country to ‘democratic path as quickly as possible’
Secretary of State Antony Blinken told Al-Jazeera in an interview Thursday that he had spoken with the Tunisian president and “urged him to make sure that Tunisia returns to the democratic path as …
thehill.com
READ: Garland letter to Texas Gov. Abbott on migrant executive order | CNN Politics
Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday threatened legal action over Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's executive order targeting migrants and urged the governor to immediately rescind it. Read the letter here:
Slimmed down infrastructure bill advances in Senate, faces opposition in House
While the Senate voted to move forward with a bipartisan infrastructure deal, President Biden and congressional leadership must still navigate rifts between the caucus’ ideological wings.
Pacific Northwest braces for another heat wave as dozens of wildfires continue to burn
The Pacific Northwest is bracing for another heat wave as large wildfires continue to burn through the region.
Jill Biden treated for puncture on foot after Hawaii visit
WASHINGTON (AP) — First lady Jill Biden underwent a medical procedure Thursday to flush out debris from a puncture wound on her left foot, her spokesperson said. Michael LaRosa said Jill Biden's foot was punctured while she walking on a beach in Hawaii last weekend, but it was “unclear what...
apnews.com
Biden to headline DNC fundraiser Monday
The president is ramping up fundraising for Democrats ahead of 2022 midterms.
www.politico.com
Group: Jailed Belarus journalist needs urgent hospital care
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Belarusian Association of Journalists on Thursday called on authorities in Belarus to transfer a jailed journalist to a civilian hospital so he could get treatment for a coronavirus-induced pneumonia he has reportedly developed in detention.
apnews.com
Daphne Caruana Galizia: Malta responsible for journalist death - inquiry
The results of an inquiry say officials could have prevented Daphne Caruana Galizia's 2017 murder.
www.bbc.com
Space station mishap prompts NASA to postpone launch of Boeing Starliner
NASA on Thursday postponed a planned launch of a Boeing (BA.N) CST-100 Starliner capsule to the International Space Station after the orbiting outpost was briefly thrown out of control by jet thrusters inadvertently activated on a newly docked Russian module, NASA said.
www.reuters.com
Senators chart next steps on infrastructure after clearing key hurdle
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the Senate is on track to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill and the $3.5 trillion budget resolution before leaving for the August recess.
www.cbsnews.com
Jackson Lee is third CBC member in three weeks to be arrested protesting for voting rights
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) on Thursday became the third member of the Congressional Black Caucus in as many weeks to be arrested for civil disobedience to bring attention to Congress’s curre…
thehill.com
U.S. jobless claims down 24,000 to 400,000 as economy recovers
The rollout of vaccines this year has encouraged businesses to reopen or expand their hours.
www.politico.com
The case against Tom Barrack could draw classified material into court
The national security-related charges against Tom Barrack have all the hallmarks of a case where classified material could become relevant.
U.S. senators upbeat on prospects for bipartisan infrastructure bill - for now
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Senate on Thursday prepared to tackle the details of a $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill backed by President Joe Biden, with the possibility of weekend work looming after lawmakers agreed to advance the measure. Another vote was scheduled for 11:30 a.m...
International Olympic Committee praises transgender woman weightlifter's 'courage and tenacity' ahead of Olympic debut
The International Olympic Committee praised New Zealand athlete Laurel Hubbard, a biological male who identifies as a woman, ahead of her debut in Olympic women's weightlifting.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
GOP senators meet with female athletes to discuss physical, mental risks of competing with biological males
Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., and Cindy Hyde-Smith, R-Miss., discussed preserving women's sports with three-time Olympic cyclist Inga Thompson, Team USA World Masters track athlete Cynthia Monteleone and her daughter, high school track athlete Margaret Oneal.
Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon joins protest outside AOC's office: 'We’re losing hope here that you represent us'
Hollywood actress Susan Sarandon protested outside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's office in New York, saying she was "losing hope" in the Democrat's leadership.
Is Biden overlooking Bureau of Prisons as reform target?
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden took quick action after his inauguration to start shifting federal inmates out of privately run prisons, where complaints of abuses abound. “It is just the beginning of my administration’s plan to address systemic problems in our criminal justice system,”...
apnews.com
DOJ launches task force to address violent threats against election workers
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday launched a task force aimed at combating violent threats against election workers following a spike in such incidents tied to the 2020 presidential elect…
thehill.com
Wisconsin storms bring 3 tornados; 1 man dies in crash
Tornadoes touched down in Pennsylvania and Wisconsin amid powerful thunderstorms that caused widespread damage that contributed to the death of a man who crashed into a fallen tree and power line
Lawmakers demand NBA players cut ties with Chinese firms accused of "human slavery"
Some Republican lawmakers are demanding that NBA players end their endorsement contracts with Chinese sports retailers Anta and Li-Ning, which continue to source cotton from the Xinjiang region, Politico reports.Why it matters: The U.S. government has warned that businesses with supply chains...
Justices Ginsburg, O'Connor could be honored with Capitol statues
The Capitol has 14 statues of women alongside 252 of men.
www.nbcnews.com
Factbox-Biden's new COVID push: vaccine rules, testing plans, hard cash
The White House is battling https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-biden-strategy-ana/analysis-bidens-covid-19-strategy-thwarted-by-anti-vaxxers-delta-variant-idUSKBN2EZ17Q a resurgence in COVID-19 cases, and anti-vaccine messages and misinformation that have put the U.S...
‘No security, no respect’: Anger with Palestinian Authority soars
A protest movement against Palestinian Authority corruption and authoritarianism gains momentum in occupied West Bank.
Menendez: Democratic package best chance for immigration reform
Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said Thursday he doubts there is a Plan B for immigration reform if attempts to include provisions through the b…
thehill.com
As bipartisanship reigns in U.S. Senate, Republicans rage in House
A day after the U.S. Senate passed a major bipartisan milestone on infrastructure, Republicans in the House of Representatives lapsed into bitter partisanship and infighting, attacking both Democrats and Republican opponents of former President Donald Trump.
www.reuters.com
Cuomo said AG probe would clear him. Now his aides say it’s political.
One of the governor’s top advisers referred to the “transparent political motivation of the attorney general’s review.” Tish James, Cuomo’s office insists, wants to be the next governor of New York.
www.politico.com
House Democrats' mask flip-flop reflects COVID-19 'hypocrisy,' says GOP leadership member
Republicans could use the Biden administration’s recent shift back to recommending masks in some indoor settings as an opportunity to paint their party’s coronavirus messaging as more firmly rooted in science than the Democrats’.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Hunter Biden's art massively overpriced, experts say: 'What is being sold is the Biden name'
Hunter Biden's artwork, the prices for which range between $75,000 and $500,000, are highly overpriced and indicate that buyers will be paying for the Biden last name, rather than the art itself, experts say.
Donald Trump's hilarious attempt to suggest he actually won in a special election loss | CNN Politics
The facts are indisputable: Donald Trump endorsed Susan Wright in Tuesday's special election in Texas. He recorded a robocall for her. His PAC spent at least $100,000 on ads supporting her. And then she lost to Rep.-elect Jake Ellzey.
Forgotten oil and gas wells linger, leaking toxic chemicals
There are about 2 million abandoned oil and gas wells nationwide that haven't been properly plugged with cement
Bill Hwang nonprofit saw assets soar by over $100 million 2 years before trades from his office led to market sell-off
Bill Hwang's nonprofit saw its assets jump by over $100 million just two years prior his office set off a market meltdown.
Rights group calls for moratorium on the use of spyware in Mexico
Amnesty International says its analysis found that ‘mass and selective surveillance’ has been taking place in Mexico.
Texas Democrats to meet with Clintons, Stacey Abrams
Quorum-breaking legislators said they would seek strategic advice from the party leaders and urge the Clintons to lobby on their behalf.
www.nbcnews.com
POLITICO Playbook: McConnell’s Herschel Walker problem
And the Senate clears the first hurdle on the bipartisan infrastructure bill.
www.politico.com
NFL quarterback says he was pressured to get vaccinated by league: 'If you don't fall in line, they'll make your life miserable'
Tennessee Titans quarterback Ryan Tannehill said the NFL is pressuring players to get the coronavirus vaccine.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Blinken says Tunisian president promised ‘democratic path’
The top US diplomat says Kais Saied promised him he was committed to democracy, as he urged him to restore parliament.
Ex-Cardinal McCarrick charged with sexually assaulting teen
BOSTON (AP) — Former Cardinal Theodore McCarrick, who was defrocked after a Vatican investigation confirmed he had sexually molested adults as well as children, has been charged with sexually assaulting a teenage boy during a wedding reception in Massachusetts in 1974, court records show.
apnews.com
Biden's prisoner's dilemma
www.politico.com
Here's How The Olympics Decide What Sports To Include — And Which To Leave Out
This year it's skateboarding. In 2024, breakdancing will be an Olympic sport. Wondering how those decisions are made? Here's what it takes for a new sport to make the Games.
www.npr.org
Biden's COVID plan: Federal workers must report shot status
WASHINGTON (AP) — Key points in President Joe Biden's plan to increase COVID-19 vaccination among federal employees and encourage more Americans to get shots:
apnews.com
Unsure of the U.S., Ukraine turns to China and shuts up about Uyghurs
Without explanation, Ukraine took its signature off a statement asking China to let observers into Xinjiang to investigate allegations of persecution of Uyghurs.
www.nbcnews.com
IRS expands employer tax credit for Covid vaccine paid time off to include workers’ families
The IRS will expand tax credits for employers who give workers paid time off for Covid vaccines to include those workers' families.
Robinhood CEO tells AP it's eyeing expansion beyond trading
NEW YORK (AP) — Robinhood has already changed how people trade stocks and who's doing it. Now its sights are on the rest of the financial industry. Shares of Robinhood Markets traded for the first time on the Nasdaq Thursday, following the highly anticipated initial offering by the company...
apnews.com
Jill Biden had a sharp object removed from her foot at Walter Reed hospital
Jill Biden visited Walter Reed hospital to have a sharp object removed from her foot.
Biden calls on students to keep campuses 'safe from a threat of abuse and assault as well' as Covid-19 as they return this fall | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden on Thursday highlighted the responsibility that college students have to ensure their campuses are safe not just from the Covid-19 pandemic, but also "safe from a threat of abuse and assault as well," in remarks to young people at a summit hosted by It's On Us, the college...
Israeli forces kill Palestinian during West Bank funeral protest
Israeli troops shoot dead Shawkat Awad, 20, during the funeral of a Palestinian boy killed by army fire the previous day
Jan. 6 select-panel Dems confident they can corral ex-Trump aides
But it won't be easy for them to shake off potential stonewalling, and their Capitol riot probe is still taking shape.
www.politico.com
Man with double insurance still owes nearly $150,000 in medical bills after bike crash
"You can just wake up in a hospital and then later find out you owe them $150,000," Phil Gaimon said.
www.cbsnews.com
US gymnast Suni Lee wins Olympic all-around after injuries, tragedies and a horrific accident | CNN
Suni Lee's historic performance -- highlighted by the most difficult, astonishing uneven bars routine in the world -- capped an immensely difficult journey.
Survey: 85 percent of flight attendants dealt with unruly passengers
More than 85 percent of flight attendants dealt with unruly passengers in the first half of 2021, according to a survey conducted by the Association of Flight Attendants-CWA (AFA).Nearly 1 in&…
thehill.com
Opinion | Simone Biles and the New Black Power of ‘No’
Admitting vulnerability has long been anathema to Black Americans striving to win in all kinds of hostile environments, including athletics. Finally, that’s changing.
www.politico.com
Poll: 60 percent say child tax credits are too expensive and not needed anymore
A majority of voters said the newly expanded Child Tax Credit as a part of the American Rescue Plan is too expensive and no longer needed, according to a new Hill-HarrisX poll.Sixty percent of…
thehill.com
Vaccinated prisoners, unvaccinated guards illustrate Biden's tricky road
A federal prison in Oakdale, Louisiana, grabbed national headlines in March 2020 after a COVID-19 outbreak killed at least eight inmates and sickened more than 100 people.
www.reuters.com
FDA approves use of biosimilar insulin as automatic substitute for costly brand-name
The FDA agreed that Viatris Inc.'s Semglee was interchangeable with widely used Lantus, a fast-acting insulin.
www.cbsnews.com
Homes lose water as wells run dry in drought-ravaged basin
Dozens of homeowners' wells have gone dry, leaving them with no running water in an area near the Oregon-California border where the American West's worsening drought has taken a dramatic toll
Taliban admits to killing Afghan comic, to try alleged killers
Nazar Mohammad’s body was found in Kandahar province after a video showed he was abused by two gunmen in a car.
A New Alzheimer's Drug Comes With Lots Of Questions About How To Use It
Weeks after the Food and Drug Administration approved the Alzheimer's drug Aduhelm, doctors are struggling to figure out who should get the drug and how to use it safely.
www.npr.org
Scarlett Johansson sues Disney over ‘Black Widow’ release
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Scarlett Johansson is suing the Walt Disney Co. over its streaming release of “Black Widow,” which she said breached her contract and deprived her of potential earnings. In a lawsuit filed Thursday in Los Angeles Superior Court, the “Black Widow” star and executive producer...
apnews.com
Infrastructure deal: Senate suddenly acts to take up bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted Wednesday night to begin work on a nearly $1 trillion national infrastructure plan, acting with sudden speed after weeks of fits and starts once the White House and a bipartisan group of senators agreed on major provisions of the package that’s key to President...
apnews.com
Senate votes to advance bipartisan infrastructure bill as Democrats forge ahead with ambitious economic agenda
The Senate voted to move forward with a bipartisan infrastructure spending bill, which starts the process of debate and amendment.
Infrastructure deal: Senate suddenly acts to take up bill
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted Wednesday night to begin work on a nearly $1 trillion national infrastructure plan, acting with sudden speed after weeks of fits and starts once the White House and a bipartisan group of senators agreed on major provisions of the package that’s key to President...
apnews.com
Georgia Republicans set process in motion for state takeover of Fulton County elections
Georgia Republicans requested a performance review of the top elections official in Fulton County, the first step toward a possible state takeover of Atlanta-area voting contests.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Fed's Powell downplays delta variant's threat to the economy
WASHINGTON (AP) — The spread of the COVID-19 delta variant is raising infections, leading some companies and governments to require vaccinations and raising concerns about the U.S. economic recovery.
apnews.com
Trump slams Romney, Senate GOP over infrastructure deal
Former President Trump lambasted Senate Republicans for reaching a deal with their Democratic counterparts on “major issues” involving an infrastructure proposal, dubbing Sen. Mitt…
thehill.com
"I'm terrified": Millions in U.S. face eviction as moratorium nears end
Lavita Harvey, a single mother in Nevada, said she's facing eviction as she waits for $9,000 in federal assistance.
www.cbsnews.com
Kinzinger says 'a lot' of Republicans have privately conveyed support for his January 6 stance
Rep. Adam Kinzinger, one of just two Republicans on the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection, said Wednesday that "a lot" of GOP lawmakers have privately conveyed support to him, as he stressed that "nobody actually believes" the election was stolen from former...
www.cnn.com
Here's what's in the $550 billion bipartisan infrastructure deal
The legislation would pour federal money into physical infrastructure projects such as roads, bridges, passenger rails, drinking water and waste water systems.
Subpoena fight looms over Trump as House committee plots extensive January 6 probe
Investigators on the House's January 6 select committee, vowing a deep dive into the attack on the US Capitol, may soon be confronted with a grim reality: A battle over subpoena requests and the prospect they could end up in protracted legal fights.
www.cnn.com
OnPolitics: Is Trump losing his endorsement appeal?
Trump is trying to use endorsements as a way to maintain control of the Republican Party, but that strategy depends on wins.
www.usatoday.com
Tim Ryan slams McCarthy for mocking Capitol physician, mask mandate
Rep. Tim Ryan (D-Ohio.) criticized House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) for mocking the Capitol physician and mask mandate. During a House floor meeting on Wednesday, Ryan used his …
thehill.com
Jared Kushner to leave politics, launch investment firm - sources
Jared Kushner, a top adviser to former President Donald Trump, plans to launch an investment firm in coming months, a move that will take him away from politics for the foreseeable future, sources familiar with the plan said on Wednesday.
www.reuters.com
AOC tangles with Sinema over $3.5 trillion spending package
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema's statement that she'll want changes to Democrats' $3.5 trillion spending package provoked progressive anger.
www.politico.com
Trump called acting attorney general almost daily to push election voter fraud claim: report
Former President Trump reportedly called his acting attorney general almost every day following his defeat in the 2020 presidential election in an attempt to push a probe into unsubstantiated claim…
thehill.com
Fact checking claims January 6 was not an armed insurrection | CNN Politics
The question of whether rioters were armed on January 6 has been among the most debated issues surrounding the insurrection -- with some Republicans claiming the assailants were not armed, despite court documents alleging otherwise.
Plan to honor Trump with banquet becomes flashpoint at one of America's most elite golf clubs
The former president has been a member of Winged Foot, one of the country's top golf clubs and host of the 2020 U.S. Open, for more than 50 years.
www.nbcnews.com
Elizabeth Warren backs Newsom in recall fight, accuses 'Trump Republicans' of 'coming to grab power'
California Gov. Gavin Newsom received the backing of Sen. Elizabeth Warren in a fiery ad released Wednesday by the top progressive who accused “Trump Republicans” of “coming to grab power in California.”
Pro-Sanders group rebranding into 'pragmatic progressives'
WASHINGTON (AP) — Stinging from the disappointment of Bernie Sanders' loss in the 2016 Democratic presidential primary , supporters pumped millions into the powerful advocacy group Our Revolution to keep the progressive fight alive and prepare for another swing at the White House.
apnews.com
Key details of the Senate's bipartisan infrastructure plan
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate voted Wednesday night, 67-32, to take up a nearly $1 trillion national infrastructure plan after President Joe Biden and a bipartisan group of senators reached agreement on major provisions of the package.
apnews.com
Washington, DC mayor announces plan to hire 170 additional police officers amid crime spike
Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Wednesday that she plans to add 170 police officers to the city’s force amid rising violence and several high profile shootings in the city.
GOP, Democrats battle over masks in House, Senate
Masks are once again emerging as a flash point on Capitol Hill after Congress’s top doctor issued new guidance and cases ramp back up due to the delta variant of COVID-19.More than half a dozen Rep…
thehill.com
State audits of 2020 election could violate federal law, DOJ warns
The Justice Department on Wednesday issued a second warning to states that so-called audits of the 2020 election could violate federal laws, emphasizing the agency's intent to protect voting rights.Why it matters: Several counties and states across the U.S. have completed or considered audits...
Top House Republicans drop new bill to rein in Big Tech censorship
Top House Republicans dropped new legislation Wednesday to overhaul a controversial law that gives social media platforms legal immunity for content, attempting to reduce what they say is rampant censorship of conservatives.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Arizona Senate's liaison to ballot audit says he's stepping down
"I cannot be locked out of a process that is at its most critical phase," Bennett told a talk show host on Wednesday.
www.cbsnews.com
McCarthy knocks Pelosi, mask mandate: ‘This House has broken the country’s trust’
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) took a jab at Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) over a newly reinstated mask mandate in the chamber, saying the move was not based on science.”Th…
thehill.com
Trump threatened to primary GOP lawmakers who favor the bipartisan infrastructure plan. 17 Republicans just voted to advance it, including Mitch McConnell.
Before a pivotal Senate vote to advance the deal, Donald Trump railed against GOP cooperation, saying it made them look "weak, foolish, and dumb."
Afghan civilian deaths, Taliban attacks rising as U.S. withdraws
The Taliban launched an offensive in May after U.S. and coalition military forces began withdrawing. The offensive accelerated in June and July.
www.nbcnews.com
AOC accused of judging legislation by skin color of its supporters
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, the influential New York Democrat, received some backlash over a tweet that showed profile pictures of the bipartisan group of senators behind the infrastructure bill advanced on Wednesday.
Blinken warns Afghanistan could become 'pariah state' if peace not made with Taliban
Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Wednesday that Afghanistan could become a “pariah state” if a peace deal is not reached between the government and the Taliban.
Biden ignores the ‘shiny objects’ and nears a bipartisan win
“Maybe professional politicians are actually good at politics.”
www.politico.com
Blinken warns of 'deeply, deeply troubling' reports of atrocities in Afghanistan amid US withdrawal
Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged Wednesday that the situation in Afghanistan is headed in the wrong direction.
Senate votes to move forward with bipartisan infrastructure bill
The Senate secured enough votes to move ahead with a bipartisan infrastructure agreement.
www.cbsnews.com
Depression plagues migrant children in U.S. border camp, whistleblowers say
Unaccompanied migrant children detained in the U.S. Fort Bliss Army base in Texas live in poor mental and physical conditions, according to a whistleblower complaint submitted to Congress and government watchdogs on Wednesday.Why it matters: The complaint corroborates reports of migrant...
House passes spending bill to boost Capitol Police and Hill staffer pay
The House on Wednesday passed a bill to increase funding for the Capitol Police months after the Jan. 6 insurrection and boost Capitol Hill staffer pay as part of a spending measure for legislative…
thehill.com
GOP senator clashes with radio caller who wants identity of cop who shot Babbitt
North Dakota Sen. Kevin Cramer (R) clashed with a radio caller demanding to know the identity of the officer who shot Ashli Babbitt, one of the supporters of former President Trump who forced their…
thehill.com
White House touts broadband part of new infrastructure deal
"It will deliver high speed internet to every American," President Joe Biden said Wednesday.
Clean energy, aging grid to get big boosts under infrastructure deal
Measure includes funding for electric vehicle charging stations across the U.S., thousands of miles of new high-voltage transmission lines.
www.nbcnews.com
Feds investigate after USA TODAY report on massage school accused of ties to prostitution
The Education Department plans to review an accrediting agency that approved a college with possible ties to sex trafficking after a USA TODAY report.
www.usatoday.com
U.S. Senate approves union lawyers to NLRB, giving Democrats control
The U.S. Senate on Wednesday confirmed union lawyers Gwynne Wilcox and David Prouty to seats on the National Labor Relations Board, paving the way for a Democratic majority that is likely to reverse a series of employer-friendly Trump-era decisions.
www.reuters.com
'A big deal': $550 billion infrastructure spending deal passes key test vote in Senate
Senators struck the deal just hours earlier. The chamber may work into the weekend to finish up passage.
www.nbcnews.com
Man accused of using bear spray on police pleads not guilty in U.S. Capitol riot
A California man accused of attacking police with bear spray and a large metal sign during the Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol assault by supporters of then-President Donald Trump pleaded not guilty on Wednesday to federal charges including riot-related felonies.
www.reuters.com
Biden to meet with Democratic lawmakers on DACA
President Biden will meet with 11 Democratic members of Congress at the White House Thursday to discuss the next steps for providing a pathway to citizenship for undocumented migrants brought to the U.S. as children, a White House official told Axios. Why it matters: Congressional Democrats plan...
Opinion | The Biden Era Has Surprisingly Little of Joe Biden in It
The president’s low-key media strategy is working to his advantage, while the country debates culture-war issues largely outside his control. But that might not last.
www.politico.com
Bipartisan group reaches agreement on $1.2 trillion "hard" infrastructure bill
After weeks of long nights and endless Zoom calls, a bipartisan group of senators finally reached a deal on "the major issues" in their $1.2 trillion "hard" infrastructure package, GOP senators involved in the talks announced Wednesday.Why it matters: It could be days before the group finishes...
Justice Department escalates warning to states over GOP voting laws and election audits
The Justice Department fired a fresh round of warning shots at Republican-led state voting laws and GOP-led 2020 election audits on Wednesday.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
GOP liaison to Arizona reverses course after vowing to resign
Twitter recently suspended a number of pro-election-audit accounts — including one that's been cited as the partisan ballot review's official page.
www.nbcnews.com
Living up to the hype: Dressel wins 1st individual gold
TOKYO (AP) — Caeleb Dressel climbed atop the lane rope, a look of wonder in his eyes. He gazed all around the Tokyo Aquatics Centre, eager to soak up every last moment of something he’s never done before.
apnews.com
Midwest prepares for intense severe storms, threat of derecho
A derecho moving through Iowa last year killed four people.
Leftist political novice sworn in as Peru's president
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Pedro Castillo, a leftist political novice who has promised to be a champion of his country’s poor, on Wednesday became Peru’s new president. The rural teacher who has never held political office before was sworn in less than two weeks after he was declared the winner of the...
apnews.com
Former Cuomo staffer considers running against governor in Democratic primary next year
New York state Sen. Alessandra Biaggi is considering a potential primary challenge against fellow Democrat Gov. Andrew Cuomo next year.
Big Tech starts requiring vaccines; Twitter closes re-opened U.S. offices
Twitter Inc (TWTR.N) is shutting its reopened offices in United States, while other big tech companies are making vaccination mandatory for on-campus employees, as the highly infectious Delta COVID-19 variant drives a resurgence in cases.
www.reuters.com
Fetterman slams Sinema over infrastructure: ‘Democrats need to vote like Democrats’
Pennsylvania Lt. Governor John Fetterman (D) on Wednesday publicly criticized Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) for voicing opposition to a $3.5 trillion price tag on a spending package …
thehill.com
FDA allows automatic 'generic' swap for brand-name insulin
U.S. regulators took action Wednesday that will make it easier to get a cheaper, near-copy of a brand-name insulin at the drugstore. Doctors now have to specifically prescribe what’s called a biosimilar or OK substituting it for a more expensive brand-name insulin.
apnews.com
Bob Odenkirk in stable condition after experiencing a "heart-related incident"
Odenkirk, the 58-year-old "Better Call Saul" star, was rushed to a hospital after collapsing on set Tuesday.
www.cbsnews.com
Judge revokes pre-trial release of former Virginia cop facing Jan 6 charges
A federal judge on Wednesday ordered pre-trial detention of a former Virginia police officer who had 34 firearms on order at a gun dealership months after his arrest and initial pre-trial release on charges related to the January 6 U.S. Capitol riot.
www.reuters.com
The 17 Republicans who voted to advance the Senate infrastructure bill
Seventeen Republican senators voted with all 50 Democrats on Wednesday to advance a bipartisan infrastructure deal, in a win for President Biden and the bipartisan group of negotiators.The vote — t…
thehill.com
Outspoken billionaire Sun Dawu jailed for 18 years in China
Sun Dawu has in the past been vocal in criticising authorities and has spoken out about human rights.
www.bbc.com
Reggie Bush won't get his Heisman Trophy reinstated despite new NCAA rule
The NCAA said they will not re-evaluate or reconsider previous name, images and likenesses penalties.
www.cbsnews.com
Houston man pleads guilty in scheme to sell $317 mln bogus masks to Australian state
A Texas man has pleaded guilty to involvement in a scheme to fraudulently sell 50 million N95 respirator masks he did not have for $317.6 million to the government of New South Wales in Australia, U.S. prosecutors said.
www.reuters.com
Why cannabis is still a banned Olympics substance
US sprinter Sha'carri Richardson won't compete due to a positive marijuana test. People are asking why.
www.bbc.com
Lollapalooza To Require Vaccination Card Or Negative Test To Attend The Festival
The four-day event starts Thursday and is expected to be back at full capacity, with roughly 100,000 daily attendees after missing last summer because of the threat of the coronavirus.
www.npr.org
Dusty Hill: ZZ Top bassist dies aged 72
Dusty Hill played bass for the iconic US blues rock band for more than five decades.
www.bbc.com
A Wisconsin Officer Will Be Charged In The 2016 Slaying Of A Black Man
A Wisconsin judge on Wednesday found probable cause to charge a police officer in the slaying of a Black man who was sitting in a parked car. Prosecutors had declined to charge the officer.
www.npr.org
Ron Popeil, inventor and king of TV pitchmen, dies at 86
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ron Popeil, the quintessential TV pitchman and inventor known to generations of viewers for hawking products including the Veg-O-Matic, the Pocket Fisherman, Mr. Microphone and the Showtime Rotisserie and BBQ, has died, his family said.
apnews.com
An Olympic Swimmer Who Battled COVID-19 Twice Is Now A Gold Medalist
Great Britain's Tom Dean was diagnosed with COVID for a second time just a few months ahead of the Olympic trials. Now he has two gold medals in Tokyo.
www.npr.org
Vast majority of ICU patients with COVID-19 are unvaccinated, ABC News survey finds
Dozens of hospitals surveyed by ABC News across the country report that very few fully vaccinated people are ending up in the ICU with COVID-19.
Capitol Police ordered to arrest staff and visitors not wearing masks after new House mandate
U.S. Capitol Police were ordered to start arresting visitors and staff who refuse to wear a mask on the House side of the Capitol complex starting Thursday.
Biden to urge Americans to 'stay vigilant' amid COVID threat as he pushes federal workers to get vaccinated
President Biden is expected to deliver a "strong message" to vaccinated and unvaccinated Americans Thursday afternoon about the "need to stay vigilant" as the nation deals with the spread of the COVID-19 delta variant, sources told Fox News.
Washington, DC, is back to requiring masks be worn indoors
WASHINGTON (AP) — In the face of rising regional COVID-19 infection numbers, the nation’s capital is returning to mandatory indoor mask requirements, regardless of vaccination status. Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser says the new regulations will kick in on Saturday and apply to everyone...
apnews.com
House Republicans stage protest in Capitol over new COVID-19 mask rules
A group of House Republicans marched to the Senate floor Thursday to protest the new House mask mandate imposed by the Capitol's attending physician.
www.usatoday.com
McConnell cites experience with polio in ad pushing Kentuckians to get vaccinated | CNN Politics
Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell is taking his coronavirus vaccine plea directly to his constituents.
EXCLUSIVE: Republican senators raise questions after receiving unredacted Fauci email about Wuhan lab
Five Republican senators are questioning why the Department of Health and Human Services redacted a portion of an email between Dr. Anthony Fauci and Peter Daszak, the president of a research organization that worked with the Wuhan Institute of Virology on coronavirus studies before the pandemic.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Surge raises suspicions migrants are propelling COVID-19 outbreaks
The large number of sick and unvetted migrants entering the country has raised fears among Republican governors that the Biden administration's handling of the crisis at the U.S.-Mexico border is propelling COVID-19 outbreaks.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden snaps at reporter who questions mask flip-flop
President Joe Biden snapped at a reporter who asked him about past assurances that those who have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer need to wear protective face masks.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Show on the road: In Utah, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis rails against 'Faucian dystopia'
DeSantis flew to Utah to draw a line in the sand against a "Faucian dystopia" at a gathering of hundreds of conservative lawmakers.
www.usatoday.com
What to know about kids KN95 masks
Medical experts explain what to consider when shopping for kids KN95 masks, and whether they should wear them.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden defends previously saying vaccinated don't need masks: 'That was true at the time'
President Biden was involved in a heated exchange with Fox News reporter Peter Doocy after he pressed Biden on whether or not vaccinated Americans still need to wear masks.
Florida school board to require masks in fall, defying DeSantis's stance
A Florida school board voted Wednesday to require all students and faculty to wear masks inside schools for the fall semester, a policy at odds with Gov. Ron DeSantis's stance against making face covers compulsory.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
U.S. attorney general tells Texas to rescind immigrant COVID-19 order
U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland on Thursday warned Texas Governor Greg Abbott to "immediately rescind" a new executive order aimed at curbing the travel into the state of undocumented immigrants who may pose a risk of transmitting COVID-19.
www.reuters.com
DC Mayor’s new mask mandate sparks immediate backlash
Just minutes after Washington, D.C., Mayor Muriel Bowser announced Thursday that masks will again be required in all indoor places in the district beginning Saturday, regardless of c…
thehill.com
Tokyo's Coronavirus Cases Are Soaring, But Japan's PM Says The Games Are Not To Blame
Daily coronavirus cases in Tokyo have set records for three days straight, but Japan's prime minister denies that the Olympic Games are causing the spike.
www.npr.org
Capitol physician called out for not wearing mask while briefing House members on new mask mandate
A GOP congressman accused the Capitol attending physician of hypocrisy for going maskless in a Capitol meeting shortly after imposing new coronavirus mask mandates on lawmakers and staff.
Netflix US cast and crew must be vaccinated to work
The online streaming firm is the latest company to make Covid jabs mandatory for workers.
www.bbc.com
Fully vaccinated people make up quarter of new COVID-19 infections in Los Angeles County
Health authorities in Los Angeles County, California, said more than 25% of new COVID-19 cases are among the population fully vaccinated against the virus.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Big Tech turns to vaccine and mask mandates
Big Tech companies including Facebook, Google, and Netflix announced this week that employees that want to return to working together in the office must get vaccinated before doing so, a sign of new public alarm over the spread of the delta variant of the coronavirus.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
More states and cities, including Washington DC, bring back mask mandates after controversial CDC guidance
More states and cities – most recently Washington D.C., on Thursday afternoon – are bringing back full mask mandates or strong masking recommendations in the wake of the new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance that most vaccinated people should wear masks in indoor public...
U.S. expected to keep border expulsions policy as Delta variant cases surge
The United States is expected to delay a partial rollback of a controversial migrant expulsion policy, according to three people familiar with the matter, citing fears related to the fast-spreading Delta variant of the coronavirus. The administration of President Joe Biden had planned to exempt...
How restaurants are reacting to CDC guidance: Masks indoors, proof of vaccination
The spread and rise of the COVID-19 delta variant has prompted some restaurants to create mask and vaccination policy changes.
‘Sellout’: Anti-vax conservatives come for DeSantis
The GOP governor is urging people to get vaccinated as Florida’s Covid infections spike. But some in DeSantis’ base are openly questioning him.
www.politico.com
De Blasio to announce new NYC mask policy as delta variant spreads
Mayor Bill de Blasio will issue local guidance next week on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s new advice that both vaccinated and unvaccinated people should wear masks indoors to protect against the virulent delta variant of the coronavirus.
White House won't rule out future lockdowns, school closures if CDC says so
White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said Thursday that the Biden administration will continue to “listen to the scientists” when it comes to potential future lockdowns and school closures.
WH dodges question on why vaccinated Americans must wear masks while infected migrants released into TX towns
White House principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre declined to directly answer a question from Fox News’s Peter Doocy as to how the Biden administration justifies asking vaccinated Americans to wear masks while the Border Patrol releases coronavirus infected patients into rural...
Covid-19: Biden tells states to offer $100 vaccine incentive as cases rise
The US president also announced that all federal workers must be vaccinated or subjected to testing.
www.bbc.com
Republican governor signs ‘medical freedom’ law preventing COVID-19 vaccine mandates
New Hampshire residents will not be forced to receive a coronavirus vaccination despite other states and businesses requiring one.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden will require federal workers to get the Covid vaccine or submit to testing
The Biden administration will require federal workers to be vaccinated for the coronavirus or else submit to strict testing measures, NBC News reported.
Many Republicans reject latest CDC mask guidance
Republican lawmakers across the United States are speaking out in opposition to Tuesday's recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that fully vaccinated people wear face masks in areas with high COVID transmission rates. Why it matters: The Delta variant is driving up...
Biden's new weapon against Covid-19: Don't call it a mandate
President Joe Biden is due to issue a directive Thursday requiring some 2 million federal employees to attest they’ve received the shot or submit to weekly testing.
www.politico.com
Democrats press Zuckerberg on Facebook COVID-19 vaccine misinformation
Congressional Democrats on Wednesday said that Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is not doing enough to remove coronavirus vaccine misinformation on the platform, saying it lowered vaccination rates.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
4 Washington Nationals players and 8 staff members test positive for COVID-19
"Some of the guys are asymptomatic, some are symptomatic. It's unfortunate this happened but we've got to follow MLB protocols," the team's manager said.
www.cbsnews.com
Biden enters challenging stretch in coronavirus fight
President Biden and his administration are entering a difficult stretch as they try to get the coronavirus and its highly transmissible delta variant under control.The White House and public health…
thehill.com
What is a COVID-19 vaccine 'breakthrough' case?
What is a COVID-19 vaccine “breakthrough” case? It’s when a fully vaccinated person gets infected with the coronavirus. In studies, the two-dose COVID-19 vaccines by Pfizer and Moderna were around 95% effective at preventing illness, while the one-shot Johnson & Johnson shot was 72% effective...
apnews.com
COVID Symptoms May Linger In Some Vaccinated People Who Get Infected, Study Finds
A small Israeli study of vaccinated health care workers found that a handful who got infected developed headaches, muscle pain, fatigue and other symptoms of long COVID that lasted for weeks.
www.npr.org
CDC mask guidance met with hostility by leading Republicans
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — As he rallied conservatives on Wednesday, one of the Republican Party's most prominent rising stars mocked new government recommendations calling for more widespread use of masks to blunt a coronavirus surge.
apnews.com
Senators press President Biden to take new steps to uncover origins of COVID-19
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., is among those urging the Biden administration to dig deeper into the origins of the COVID-19 pandemic.
www.usatoday.com
White House tells agencies to mandate masks in federal buildings in hot spots
Numerous U.S. federal agencies on Wednesday mandated masks at federal buildings in COVID-19 hot spots in line with instructions issued by the White House Office of Management and Budget (OMB), according to an OMB email seen by Reuters.
www.reuters.com
Abbott aims to restrict immigrant travel through Texas, citing rising Covid-19 infections
The Texas governor said border crossings have "led to a dramatic rise in COVID-19 cases."
www.politico.com
Whistleblowers: We were told to downplay Covid spread at kids shelter
At the Fort Bliss migrant shelter in Texas, "hundreds of children contracted Covid in the overcrowded conditions," whistleblowers said in a complaint filed Wednesday.
www.nbcnews.com
CDC can’t stop the spread of mask politics
www.politico.com
Olympics Latest: US women's volleyball reaches quarterfinals
TOKYO (AP) — The Latest on the Tokyo Olympics, which are taking place under heavy restrictions after a year’s delay because of the coronavirus pandemic: ___ The U.S. women’s volleyball team won its third straight match at the Olympics and is assured of a spot in the quarterfinals.
apnews.com
CDC says nearly 67% of U.S. counties have substantial, high COVID-19 transmission
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday that 66.6% of U.S. counties had transmission rates of COVID-19 high enough to warrant indoor masking and should immediately resume the policy.
www.reuters.com
The vaccine tourists heading to the US to get their jab
Some tourists are spending thousands of dollars to travel to the US to get a coronavirus vaccine.
www.bbc.com
Fear and loathing in the House over mask mandate
“It’s pretty bad,” House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer said in an arguable understatement of the chamber's mood as Covid cases spike.
www.politico.com
The Latest: Filipino leader says unvaccinated may be shut in
MANILA, Philippines — Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte is warning that Filipinos who refuse to get vaccinated against the coronavirus will not be allowed to leave their homes as a safeguard against the more contagious delta variant.
apnews.com
From Apple and Google to Indeed, COVID-19 variants delay the return to office
Some employers are moving their return-to-office dates to January 2022, citing the rise of new strains of the virus.
www.cbsnews.com
Texas Gov. Abbott clamps down on migrant transports to stop COVID-19 spread in communities
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott issued an executive order restricting the transport of migrants in the Lone Star State after news that COVID-positive illegal immigrants were being dumped in a small border community.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
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