(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden made a quick foray to the Capitol on Wednesday hunting support for his multitrillion-dollar agenda of infrastructure, health care and other programs, a potential landmark achievement that would require near-unanimous backing from fractious Democrats.
Time on their side, Texas GOP waits for Democrats to return
Texas Republican lawmakers are still showing up at the state Capitol even though more than 50 Democrats who bolted for Washington say they have no plans to return soon.
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AP FACT CHECK: Trump stokes Jan. 6 conspiracy theories
Former President Donald Trump is casting the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol as a patriotic act.
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US-Mexico border arrests in June are the highest in at least a decade | CNN Politics
US border authorities in June arrested or turned away the highest monthly number of migrants at the US-Mexico border in at least a decade, according to a Department of Homeland Security official familiar with the figures and to previously published data.
www.cnn.com
Clyburn: Biden likely working on changing filibuster rules
U.S. House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn says he feels President Joe Biden is likely working behind the scenes to tweak Senate rules so the filibuster can’t be used on legislation pertaining to election law or other constitutional changes.
apnews.com
House committee on January 6 attack to hold first hearing with law enforcement
The committee's first hearing at the end of the month will feature testimony from law enforcement officers.
www.cbsnews.com
McConnell condemns Biden fury over GOP voting reform as 'utter nonsense'
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Wednesday condemned a fiery speech by President Biden as “utter nonsense” for alleging GOP voting reform laws were comparable to the Civil War.
Merkel brings message of stability to US on farewell visit
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has left for Washington on what is likely to be her last official visit.
apnews.com
‘It will be remembered’: Trump allies cross him in special election
Debbie Meadows, the wife of ex-Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows, and Sen. Rand Paul have endorsed candidates opposing a Trump pick in Ohio.
www.politico.com
Cuba protests: Tax on food and medicine imports lifted
In response to rare protests, Cuba will temporarily allow travellers to bring in some goods tax-free.
www.bbc.com
Joe Manchin says he’s ‘very, very’ disturbed about reconciliation proposals on climate change | CNN Politics
Sen. Joe Manchin, the Democrats’ most pivotal swing vote, expressed his most serious concerns yet about a key element in their party’s $3.5 trillion sweeping economic plan: Provisions dealing with climate change that have been sought by progressives.
www.cnn.com
Courts side with unemployed workers in two states, forcing Indiana and Maryland to keep pandemic-related $300 supplemental benefits
Lawsuits have also been filed in Ohio, Oklahoma and Texas over those states ending the expanded benefits for unemployed and gig workers.
www.cbsnews.com
GOP messaging guru Luntz advised Biden's Covid task force
Andy Slavitt, who helped the task force, said that of all the informal advisers, Luntz was “among the best.”
www.politico.com
US to begin evacuating Afghans who aided American military
The Biden administration says it is prepared to begin evacuation flights for Afghan interpreters and translators who aided the U.S. military effort in the nearly 20-year war.
apnews.com
Family files $30M suit over deputies' shooting of Black man
The family of an unarmed Black man who was fatally shot by sheriff’s deputies in North Carolina has filed a $30 million civil rights lawsuit
Fact check: Biden’s dubious claim that ‘the law doesn’t allow’ Afghan translators to be evacuated to US while they wait for visas | CNN Politics
Thousands of Afghans who worked with American troops face grave danger as a result of the ongoing US military withdrawal from Afghanistan.
www.cnn.com
Oversight Democrats launch investigation into GOP Arizona election audit
Democrats on the House Oversight and Reform Committee are launching an investigation into the Republican-led audit of the 2020 presidential election vote in Maricopa County, Ariz.Republicans in the…
thehill.com
Texas Dems fled the state in dramatic move to stall GOP election bills, but why to Washington, DC?
Dozens of Democratic state lawmakers from Texas have skipped out on a special legislative session in order to break a quorum and stall Republican efforts to fast track new election integrity bills, which critics on the left claim amount to voter suppression.
Arizona county to spend $3M on voting machines after audit
Arizona’s largest county has approved nearly $3 million for new vote-counting machines to replace those given to legislative Republicans for a partisan review of the 2020 election.
apnews.com
Judge blocks Maryland governor from ending federal unemployment benefits early
The governor sought to curtail pandemic jobless aid, citing a worker shortage.
GOP senators urge Biden to keep Trump-era border restrictions
Senate Republicans on Wednesday urged the Biden administration to keep a Trump-era policy in place that allows border agents to swiftly expel those who cross into the U.S. from Mexico amid reports …
thehill.com
Michigan GOP executive who blamed Trump for election loss resigns leadership post
The move comes after Jason Roe faced some pushback from Michigan Republicans over comments that Trump was to blame for his election loss.
www.usatoday.com
Vulnerable House Democrats call for sweeping drug pricing reforms in spending plan
A pricing overhaul plan has faced new resistance this year even as its prospects of becoming law grow more real.
www.politico.com
Trump's AG Bill Barr denies he blocked election fraud probes in Pennsylvania
The former U.S. attorney general says he never blocked former U.S. Attorney William McSwain from investigating election fraud claims in Pennsylvania.
www.usatoday.com
Sen. Warnock: “Shame on us” for protecting filibuster over voting rights
Sen. Raphael Warnock tells Axios he won't let the Senate's fixation on passing a pair of infrastructure bills prevent it from also protecting the voting system that narrowly allowed him to win his new job.What they're saying: "We can walk and chew gum at the same time," the Georgia Democrat...
Watchdog: FBI mishandled Nassar-USA Gymnastics abuse case
The FBI made significant errors in investigating sexual abuse allegations against former USA Gymnastics national team doctor Larry Nassar and didn’t treat the case with the “utmost seriousness."
apnews.com
Lindsey Graham backs Chick-fil-A after Notre Dame students protest food chain on campus
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) threw his support behind Chick-fil-A this week after reports emerged that some students at the University of Notre Dame voiced opposition to the school considering…
thehill.com
Johnson & Johnson recalling 5 sunscreen products due to discovery of cancer-causing chemical
Johnson & Johnson issued a recall on Wednesday for five aerosol sunscreen products after finding low amounts of a substance that could cause cancer with enough exposure.Four Neutrogena pro…
thehill.com
DeSantis calls on Florida companies to provide internet to Cuba after government shuts it down
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis suggested Tuesday that Florida based companies should attempt to provide internet access to Cuba after the communist country shut off the internet to suppress recent protests and dissent.
'God opened the door': Mystery surrounds US asylum picks
Small numbers of migrants are allowed into the U.S. every day under an opaque system that the Biden administration cobbled together to start opening up the asylum system
‘They’re not going to f**king succeed’: Top generals feared Trump would attempt a coup after election, according to new book | CNN Politics
The top US military officer, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley, was so shaken that then-President Donald Trump and his allies might attempt a coup or take other dangerous or illegal measures after the November election that Milley and other top officials informally planned for...
www.cnn.com
What we know so far about the $3.5 trillion budget deal
Top Senate Democrats on Wednesday pitched their colleagues on a $3.5 trillion budget resolution that would pave the way to pass a wide-ranging spending package without any Republican votes.Senate M…
thehill.com
Joint Chiefs chairman fretted over coup attempt after Trump lost 2020 election: Book - Washington Examiner
A top military official talked to confidants about the possibility of a coup in the aftermath of the 2020 election, according to a new book. Gen. Mark Milley, picked by former President Donald Trump to be chairman of the Joint Chiefs of staff, said he felt he had to be "on guard" after President Joe
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Senate Democrats seek carbon tax on imports from countries with high pollution
Democrats have agreed to add a carbon tax on imports from polluting countries to their $3.5 trillion budget plan.
Trudeau stresses caution after state legislators demand immediate U.S.-Canada border reopening
In a resolution, U.S. lawmakers wrote, "Fully vaccinated people do not provide a threat of Covid-19 transmission."
www.politico.comLindsey Graham backs Chick-fil-A after Notre Dame students protest food chain on campus
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) threw his support behind Chick-fil-A this week after reports emerged that some students at the University of Notre Dame voiced opposition to the school considering…
thehill.com
Part of the Amazon is emitting more carbon dioxide than it absorbs — and it's a "really big warning" for the planet
Carbon dioxide is already at its highest levels in 3.6 million years. Now, a new study found the Amazon is losing its ability to balance out the atmosphere.
www.cbsnews.com
Lawmakers introduce bill allowing higher ethanol blend in gasoline after ruling
A bipartisan group of lawmakers introduced a bill Wednesday that aims to allow the year-round sale of gasoline containing 15 percent ethanol after a court nixed a regulation allowing such…
thehill.comBiden vowed to end the death penalty. Can he keep his promise?
As a presidential candidate, Joe Biden vowed to work to end the death penalty at the federal level. Now, about halfway into his first year as president, death penalty opponents want him to follow through on his promise.
Biden rallies Democrats: ‘We’re going to get this done’
President Biden received a warm welcome from Senate Democrats on Capitol Hill, where he met with lawmakers just off the Senate floor on Wednesday to rally them to support his infrastructure agenda,…
thehill.com
Former Oklahoma City Thunder employee pleads guilty to illegal demonstration during Capitol riot
An ex-employee of the Oklahoma City Thunder basketball team pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge on Wednesday for her role in the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, after her former employees turned h…
thehill.com
President Biden celebrates "life-changing" monthly Child Tax Credit payments as first checks go out
Democrats push for payments to extend beyond 2021 as the first checks hit bank accounts July 15
www.cbsnews.com
Biden administration wants to permanently extend Child Tax Credit expansion past the end of 2021
Senior officials within the Biden administration said the extension was agreed upon during a Senate Budget Committee meeting Tuesday.
www.usatoday.com
Texas Speaker calls on state Democrats who fled to Washington to forfeit their pay
Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan on Wednesday called on state Democratic lawmakers to give up their daily stipend of $221 as they bunker in Washington, D.C. to avoid passing a voting reform bill.
U.S. Treasury pays out $15 billion in Child Tax Credit installment
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The U.S. Treasury said on Wednesday that about $15 billion was paid to families in the first monthly installment of the Child Tax Credit that was expanded under President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 legislation known as the American Rescue Plan. Treasury said that...
U.S. Senate passes bill to ban all products from China's Xinjiang
The U.S. Senate passed legislation on Wednesday to ban the import of products from China's Xinjiang region, the latest effort in Washington to punish Beijing for what U.S. officials say is an ongoing genocide against Uyghurs and other Muslim groups.
Amid delayed Larry Nassar sex abuse probe, FBI agent sought Olympics job, inspector general says
Former FBI Indianapolis head W. Jay Abbott was blasted in a new report for his handling of allegations against USA Gymnastic team doctor Larry Nassar.
www.usatoday.com
Poll: Without Trump in the race, DeSantis dominates 2024 GOP White House hopefuls
Nationally, the Florida governor’s popularity among Republican voters has skyrocketed.
www.politico.comLindsey Graham vows ‘to go to war for the principles Chick-fil-A stands for’ after boycott threat - Washington Examiner
Sen. Lindsey Graham sees a fox in the henhouse, and he's willing to declare war over it.In a Twitter thread on Wednesday, the South Carolina Republican voiced his displeasure about a letter from roughly 180 students at the University of Notre Dame opposing the opening of an on-campus Chick-fil-A...
www.washingtonexaminer.comTrump DOJ Sought Washington Post Reporters’ Email Records On Day Before Barr Resigned
The Washington Post's discovery adds new information to former President Trump’s aggressive efforts to clamp down on leaks.
NFL star Richard Sherman arrested in Seattle on domestic violence charge
Sherman, 33, was booked in a Seattle jail and is suspected of crashing his vehicle earlier in the night.
www.cbsnews.com
GOP seeking White House documents on Biden family members trying to 'profit off the presidency'
EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans on Wednesday launched an effort to probe the business ventures of President Biden's family members, especially Hunter Biden's newfound art career, and document how the Bidens have sought to "profit off the presidency."
Idaho man who dangled from Senate gallery pleads guilty in Capitol riot case
The man admitted that as senators were being evacuated, he forced his way past Capitol Police into the viewing area above the Senate floor.
www.nbcnews.com
911 calls from Surfside residents convey panic, disbelief in wake of collapse
911 calls from Surfside residents convey panic and disbelief in wake of the condo building's partial collapse last month.
Top US general warned of ‘Reichstag moment’ in Trump’s turbulent last days
Gen Mark Milley drew comparison to Nazi Germany as Trump tried to overturn election defeat, new book I Alone Can Fix This says Gen Mark Milley with Donald Trump at the White House. Photograph: Alex Brandon/AP Shortly before the deadly attack on the US Capitol on 6 January, the chairman of the...
FBI probe of Larry Nassar: An 8-point breakdown of the 119-page watchdog report
The Justice Department inspector general's 119-page report said the FBI's field office failed in its handling of the Larry Nassar sexual abuse claims.
www.usatoday.com
Biden administration launches operation to help Afghans who aided U.S.
The operation will support relocation flights for individuals and their families who applied for Special Immigrant Visas.
www.cbsnews.com
Tucker Carlson reports Biden administration using Texas Air Force base to transport illegal immigrants ‘secretly’ - Washington Examiner
Tucker Carlson reported President Joe Biden's administration is using Laughlin Air Force Base in Texas to transport illegal immigrants "secretly," citing leaked correspondence. The Fox News host posted an image of an email, which appeared to be from Lt. Colonel Matthew Burrows, that alerted...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden kicks off Democrats' arduous path forward with Senate 'homecoming'
Senate Democrats left a lunch with President Joe Biden upbeat, but they acknowledge there's a long road ahead to pass their sweeping spending plans.
www.politico.com
Top Senate Democrats make push to decriminalize weed
NBC News’ Gabe Gutierrez sat down for an exclusive interview with three key Senate Democrats to discuss their plan to legalize marijuana at the federal level. The push calls for removing cannabis from the Controlled Substances Act, expunging federal records of nonviolent cannabis offenders, and...
www.nbcnews.com
Afghanistan: Reporting streets away from the Taliban in Kunduz province
The BBC's Yogita Limaye travels to Afghanistan's Kunduz province, most of which has fallen to the Taliban.
www.bbc.com
POLITICO Playbook PM: Progressive brawl over antitrust measures gets personal
And more details emerge about Democrats’ $3.5 trillion spending plan.
www.politico.com
Climate activists hail Dem budget spending on clean energy
Environmental groups hailed a sweeping $3.5 trillion domestic spending plan announced by Democrats, saying it would make “transformational investments” in clean energy and put the nation on a path to cut greenhouse emissions by at least 50% by 2030.
apnews.com
Minnesota Gov. Walz to ban gay conversion therapy, bypassing legislature: report
Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz will sign an executive order Thursday bypassing the state legislature and banning the controversial practice of 'gay conversion therapy.'
Democrats confident their plans are coming together
President Biden’s visit to Capitol Hill Wednesday, his first visit to the Senate Democratic lunch since his election, was hailed by lawmakers as an early celebration of the progress his infrastruct…
thehill.com
Olivia Rodrigo boosts White House youth vaccine push
Olivia Rodrigo wants people to know that the COVID-19 vaccines are “good 4 u.” The 18-year-old pop star and internet sensation was at the White House on Wednesday to meet with President Joe Biden and Dr.
apnews.com
$3.5 trillion reconciliation bill to include PRO Act, undoing state right-to-work laws - Washington Examiner
Sen. Bernie Sanders said that the organized labor-backed PRO Act will be included in a $3.5 trillion spending package set to be pushed through the Senate by Democrats. When asked by reporters on Wednesday if the Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act, would be included in Democrats’...
www.washingtonexaminer.comPOLITICO Playbook PM: Progressive brawl over antitrust measures gets personal
And more details emerge about Democrats’ $3.5 trillion spending plan.
www.politico.com
Numbers explain how and why West bakes, burns and dries out
The US West is getting hit with a triple whammy of record heat, megadrought and wildfires — and just a handful of numbers explains the how and why of this wild and deadly weather.
apnews.com
Pro-Trump Senate hopeful J.D. Vance called then-President a ‘moral disaster’ in 2017 messages | CNN Politics
Ohio Republican Senate candidate J.D. Vance, a venture capitalist and author of the bestselling book “Hillbilly Elegy,” disparaged then-President Donald Trump as a “moral disaster” whose administration had “no domestic policy agenda besides tax cuts” in Twitter direct messages from summer 2017.
www.cnn.com
Democrats press SBA on employees linked to loan fraud
The problems highlighted by the lawmakers are just the latest in controversy surrounding the SBA's handling of the Covid-19 disaster loans.
www.politico.com
Harris says Democrats who fled Texas 'in line' with legacy of Frederick Douglass, Selma marchers, suffragettes
Vice President Kamala Harris said Democratic lawmakers who fled Texas in an effort to block the state’s new election legislation from passing are "in line" with the legacy of civil rights and voting rights leaders and activists, while praising them for their "bold, courageous action."
Mnuchin dodges CNBC questions on whether Trump lying over election
Former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin dodged questions from CNBC on Wednesday over whether former President Trump is lying when he claims the 2020 election was stolen. During an interview on CNB…
thehill.comMichael Wolff's 'Landslide' recounts Trump's Brett Kavanaugh rant, fury at Netanyahu
A new book describes an increasingly paranoid and isolated Donald Trump during and after the election.
Filibuster changes merely one of many issues Harris discussed with senators, White House says - Washington Examiner
Tasked with advocating for the White House's agenda on voting rights, Vice President Kamala Harris is under pressure to advance legislative filibuster reform after Democrats' voting rights legislation collapsed in the Senate.Activists have urged the White House to prioritize the issue, charging...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Justice Department watchdog blasts FBI’s handling of allegations against Larry Nassar | CNN Politics
FBI officials investigating allegations of sexual abuse by disgraced USA Gymnastics doctor Larry Nassar violated the agency’s policies by making false statements and failing to properly document complaints by the accusers, resulting in a delay in the probe into the claims, the Justice...
www.cnn.com
Woman accused of aiding in Vanessa Guillen's death indicted by grand jury
Cecily Ann Aguilar was indicted on 11 federal charges including accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence Tuesday in the death of Vanessa Guillen.
Devastating wildfire conditions in West expected to worsen
The already-devastating wildfire conditions in the West are expected to worsen on Wednesday as the region sees an increase of gusty, dry winds.
Florida Dems to Biden: Don’t blow ‘golden opportunity’ on Cuba
The president’s Cuba policy could have a big political impact in a state where Democrats are reeling.
www.politico.com
Senate leader lends clout to marijuana legalization push
The Senate’s top Democrat is backing a bill that would strike down a longstanding federal marijuana prohibition.
apnews.com
French police fire tear gas as anti-vaccine protest turns violent
Protesters, many of them unmasked, are unhappy with vaccine mandate for health workers and health pass in public places.
Mexico abandons fishing-free zone for endangered porpoise
The Mexican government has officially abandoned the policy of maintaining a fishing-free zone around the last ten or so remaining vaquita marina.
apnews.com
Official: U.S. still wants to revive nuclear deal, despite Iran kidnap allegations
Prosecutors have charged five people, including four Iranian intelligence operatives, in the alleged plot to kidnap an American journalist.
www.politico.com
Britney Spears-inspired bill introduced to rein in conservators' birth control authority
Inspired by the singer's plight, U.S. Rep. Jason Smith's bill would stop conservators from being able to force birth control on their charges.
www.nbcnews.com
DACA recipients lose permission to work amid application backlog | CNN Politics
Nearly a decade after being allowed to work legally in the US, Ju Hong was back at square one this month, scrambling to obtain a work permit and seeking continued protection from deportation under the Obama-era Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
www.cnn.com
Judge denies request by pro-Trump lawyers to release video of Detroit sanctions hearing - Washington Examiner
A federal judge denied the request of a group of seven lawyers, including Sidney Powell and Lin Wood, who petitioned through their legal counsel on Wednesday to release the footage of a Detroit sanctions hearing on Monday over concerns about misinformation. Linda Parker, a judge for U.S...
www.washingtonexaminer.comIt's starting to look like Republicans aren't going to support the bipartisan infrastructure deal
Republicans are criticizing how the plan is funded and a Democrat-only spending bill that would pass alongside it.
Biden nominee claims Trump-era Title IX regs protecting due process allow students to 'rape with impunity'
President Biden's pick to head the civil rights division under the Department of Education (DOE) testified Tuesday that she would uphold a Trump-era Title IX regulation even though she claimed it lets students "rape and sexually harass students with impunity."
Liberal lawmakers praise Senate Democratic budget deal
Progressive lawmakers are praising the Senate’s $3.5 trillion budget deal, arguing that if it moves through Congress along with a separate $1.2 trillion bipartisan deal, it would amount to a histor…
thehill.com
Group founded by Stacey Abrams launches voting rights initiative
Fair Fight Action is trying to mobilize voters of color and young progressives around two federal voting rights bills.
www.cbsnews.com
House select committee will hold first hearing July 27 with Capitol Police | CNN Politics
The House select committee investigating the Capitol riot will hold its first hearing on July 27 to hear directly from Capitol and DC police officers who responded to the deadly attack, Democratic leaders announced Wednesday.
www.cnn.com
Britney Spears tells court she wants her father to be charged with conservatorship abuse
Britney Spears told a Los Angeles County judge on Wednesday that she wants her father to be charged with conservatorship abuse, as the singer continues to battle the 13-year legal arrangement, whic…
thehill.com
More than 300 Afghans flee into Tajikistan as Taliban advances
Tajikistan border guards say the refugees ‘fled from the Taliban to save their lives’.
Device taps brain waves to help paralyzed man communicate
In a medical first, researchers have harnessed the brain waves of a paralyzed man unable to speak to help him communicate better.
apnews.com
Bernie Sanders lost the presidency. But he's shaping the agenda.
Analysis: Progressives are thrilled at the $3.5 trillion bottom line on a major spending deal that makes room for much of their agenda. But there's a long way to go.
www.nbcnews.com
US running 30,000 radio ads a month to deter Central American migration | CNN Politics
The United States is running more than 30,000 radio ads a month in Central America to deter migration amid a renewed focus on the region and the root causes pushing people to journey north, a State Department spokesperson told CNN.
www.cnn.com
Iran’s attempted kidnapping of American journalist not the first nefarious plot on US soil - Washington Examiner
Iran's attempt to kidnap Masih Alinejad, an American journalist and human rights activist, is not the first time the Islamic regime allegedly coordinated violence against a target on American soil. In 2013, Manssor Arbabsiar, a naturalized American citizen hired by Iranian terrorists, received...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
More than 150 companies call on Congress to strengthen Voting Rights Act
Amazon, Starbucks and Pepsi are among the companies that signed on to a letter calling on Congress to pass legislation that would expand the Voting Rights Act.
Over two million Americans sign up for Obamacare under Biden drive
The Biden administration re-opened the country's online health insurance marketplace earlier this year to give more Americans a chance to opt for benefits provided under the Affordable Care Act (ACA), also known as Obamacare. The special enrollment period is set to conclude on Aug. 15. In...
Judge denies adding rape charges in Kristin Smart case
A judge has denied a prosecutor’s bid to file rape charges against the man accused of killing California college student Kristin Smart, who went missing 25 years ago
Bezos donates $200M to Smithsonian for Air and Space Museum
Amazon founder and soon-to-be-space traveler Jeff Bezos is donating $200 million to the Smithsonian Institution to boost its National Air and Space Museum.
apnews.com
Biden administration to relocate Afghans who aided US military effort as they await visa process
The Biden administration is launching an operation to relocate Afghan nationals who aided the U.S. military effort in Afghanistan and are in the process of applying for residency in the United States.
Most Oregon heat wave victims were elderly, had no central AC
“Many of them were our elders, those who need our care the most and many were all alone.”
thehill.com
Progressives see room to get more out of budget package | CNN Politics
Senate Budget Chairman Bernie Sanders and Progressive Caucus Chair Pramila Jayapal both wanted the top line for Democrats’ sweeping spending plan to be higher, in fact nearly double the $3.5 trillion framework that was announced Tuesday.
www.cnn.com
2 men found dead at former South Beach Versace mansion
Police are investigating after two bodies were found at a South Florida hotel that was once the mansion of the late fashion designer Gianni Versace
Scientists develop pain-free blood sugar test for diabetics
Australian researchers hope low-cost saliva test will replace current needle-based test for diabetes sufferers.
Britney Spears retains a high-powered attorney
Everything that has happened since Britney Spears' fiery testimony during her conservatorship hearing on June 23.
Border Patrol seizes more than $4 million in Puerto Rican cocaine bust - Washington Examiner
Border Patrol officials seized a massive amount of cocaine during a drug bust in Puerto Rico this week.Border Patrol agents in the Ramey sector and Puerto Rico Police Joint Forces for Rapid Action seized 343 lbs. of cocaine on Monday, which has an estimated street value of $4.6 million...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Brazil's Bolsonaro in hospital amid concern over chronic hiccups
The Brazilian president is undergoing tests and may need emergency surgery in Sao Paolo.
www.bbc.com
Senate Democrats reach $3.5 trillion budget agreement
Senate Democrats say they’ve reached a budget agreement envisioning spending an enormous $3.5 trillion over the coming decade.
apnews.com
Texas Senate passes election bill that is stalled until House Democrats return
"It's a little like Groundhog Day here, senator," Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick said before the bill passed.
www.cbsnews.com
Biden pitches huge budget, says Dems will 'get a lot done'
President Joe Biden has made a quick trip to the Capitol to seek support for his multitrillion-dollar domestic agenda.
apnews.com
McConnell responds to Trump’s ‘Old Crow’ insult: ‘It’s quite an honor’ | CNN Politics
Former President Donald Trump took a whack at Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell last weekend, calling him an “Old Crow” as he railed against the Kentucky Republican.
www.cnn.com
Texas Democrats defy arrest threats after fleeing to block voting law
Democrats say they fled in an effort to stop Republicans from passing a law to tighten voting rules.
www.bbc.com
Democrats put 'big lie' front and center for voters: The Note
What Democrats are doing is coalescing around a message -- arguing that falsehoods about the last election are driving changes in voting laws.
Texas’ Abbott says Biden, Dems must stop ‘misinformation’ spread on voting bill
Gov. Greg Abbott, the Texas Republican, took to Twitter late Tuesday to blame President Biden for willfully spreading “misinformation” about the state GOP’s sweeping elections overhaul bill.
Voting rights: How the battle is unfolding across the US
Democrats push expansive federal reforms while Republicans plan sweeping changes in US states.
www.bbc.com
Iranian intelligence officials indicted in attempted kidnapping of U.S.-based journalist
The government in Tehran allegedly directed the state actors to plot the abduction and conduct surveillance on American soil.
www.politico.comMore than 150 companies urge U.S. Congress to pass voting rights act
More than 150 companies including Apple Inc, Best Buy Co Inc and PepsiCo urged U.S. lawmakers to introduce and pass a voting reform act in a letter signed on Wednesday, as other efforts have stalled in Congress. The companies called on lawmakers to reintroduce the John Lewis Voting Rights...
Lin Wood may face punishment after sharing clip of Michigan election sanctions hearing
Although Lin Wood says he removed the clip from his social media account, the initial posting appears to be a violation of local court rules.
www.usatoday.com
Cheney: ‘My obligation is to the Constitution’ | CNN Politics
Rep. Liz Cheney has a strong admonition for House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy: any Republican still challenging the legitimacy of the 2020 election results or whitewashing the January 6 insurrection is not fit to serve on the select committee investigating it.
www.cnn.com
Police pursuits and 'Killer Bees': What happened when Texas Democrats broke quorum in the past
Legislators have run for the state line more than once before in attempts to block Republican-backed measures in Texas.
www.nbcnews.comTrump DOJ Sought Washington Post Reporters’ Email Records On Day Before Barr Resigned
The Washington Post's discovery adds new information to former President Trump’s aggressive efforts to clamp down on leaks.
POLITICO Playbook: What we’re watching for as Biden starts twisting arms
And new polling finds a wide partisan split on Biden's pullout from Afghanistan.
www.politico.com
Biden blasts 'un-American' voting limits; Texas Dems act
President Joe Biden is declaring that preserving voting rights is “a test of our time” as he urges passage of federal legislation to combat efforts by Republican-led state legislatures to restrict access to ballots.
apnews.com
DOJ charges 5 members of same family for allegedly joining Capitol riot
Five members of the same Texas family were arrested Tuesday and charged for their alleged participation in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol.
Afghanistan: Taliban flag raised above border crossing with Pakistan
Controlling the crossing into Pakistan would be a major prize and comes after a rapid Taliban advance.
www.bbc.comFox News Personality Reminds 'Fearmongering' Ingraham What She Once Said About Vaccines
Jonah Goldberg compared Laura Ingraham's current vaccination skepticism with her Operation Warp Speed cheerleading when Donald Trump was president.
Biden wanted a climate alliance with Europe. He's getting a fight.
The European Union’s leadership is set to unveil a proposal on Wednesday to tax imports from countries — including the U.S. — that lack aggressive carbon-reducing policies.
www.politico.comCan Texas Democrats be forced back to the Austin Capitol? Recent walkouts didn't result in arrests
The Texas House voted to use arrest warrants, if necessary, to force dozens of Democratic House members back to Austin.
Biden elevates voting rights as 2022 Democratic rallying cry
First Read is your briefing from "Meet the Press" and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.
www.nbcnews.com
"This summer is nuts": Travelers face soaring prices and crowded vacation spots
Americans desperate for vacation are facing increasing prices in hotel rooms, airfare, gas and car rentals.
www.cbsnews.com
‘The consequences are going to be unbelievably bad’: Bush slams Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal
The former president’s criticism comes amid warnings from western officials that the Taliban could soon topple the U.S.-backed government in Kabul.
www.politico.comTrump emailed supporters an 'official poll' about Biden's Cuba policies where both answers linked to his fundraising page
"Do you agree that Joe Biden MUST stand up to Cuba's Communist regime?" the email said. Both "yes" and "no" answers take you to his fundraising page.
Lindsey Graham torches NY Dems for targeting Chick-fil-A
Sen. Lindsey Graham slammed New York state Democrats over their attempt to stop Chick-fil-A from operating in rest stops due to concerns over the company’s religious-based opposition to gay marriage.
Biden administration looks to set up ‘red phone’ to China for emergency communications | CNN Politics
The Biden administration is examining the possibility of setting up an emergency hotline with the Chinese government similar to the so-called “red phone” established between the US and the Soviet Union during the Cold War, which allowed for direct communication with the Kremlin as a way to avert...
www.cnn.com
Arizona Senate president says 2020 election audit’s ballot count differs from Maricopa tally - Washington Examiner
Ballots counted in the Arizona Senate's audit of the 2020 election differs from the tally by Maricopa County officials.That's what Senate President Karen Fann said in an interview on Tuesday, in which she also noted the discrepancy prompted the state Legislature to acquire new machines — "not...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Harris emerges as main GOP foil on campaign trail
Republicans on the campaign trail are zeroing in on Vice President Harris as their political target of choice as the midterm battle draws closer.The attacks against Harris come as Republicans have …
thehill.comCitigroup sees lending recovery after profit eases past Q2 estimates
(Reuters) -Citigroup Inc management on Wednesday flagged a revival in consumer spending on the back of a roaring U.S. economy, predicting a recovery in loan growth by year end after quarterly profits comfortably beat estimates. Citi's second-quarter profits were boosted by the bank's decision...
'Breaks my heart': Former President Bush says Afghanistan troop withdrawal is a mistake
President Biden has defended ending the longest U.S. war, saying nation building was not the goal.
www.nbcnews.com
Senate Democrats hit speedbumps with big spending plans
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) is urging Democrats to stick together as his ambitious plan to move a scaled-down bipartisan infrastructure bill and a much larger budget reconciliat…
thehill.com
Senate Democratic candidates in key races fundraise off scrapping filibuster
Leading Democratic Senate candidates in three key races where their party aims to flip a red seat blue in the 2022 midterm elections are hauling in campaign cash as they spotlight their opposition to the legislative filibuster.
Feds say Iran backed plot to kidnap US-based journalist
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has charged four Iranian nationals over an alleged plot to kidnap a Brooklyn-based journalist and human rights activist who published material critical of the Irania…
thehill.com‘Did Donald Trump lose?’ Fox News host won’t answer Texas Democrat
In interview James Talarico challenges Fox News host Pete Hegseth to say Trump lost the 2020 presidential election In an interview on Tuesday night, a Texas Democrat who fled the state for Washington DC in an attempt to stop a restrictive voting rights law challenged a Fox News host to say...
Senate Democrats announce $3.5 trillion go-it-alone reconciliation budget agreement - Washington Examiner
Senate Democrats said they reached a framework for a $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation proposal they will attempt to move in the upper chamber without Republican support alongside a bipartisan infrastructure proposal. "The budget resolution with instructions will be $3.5 trillion," said Senate...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Pool deck, garage ceilings of collapsed Surfside building were problematic as early as 1996, documents show
There are at least 95 confirmed deaths from the collapse.
Why Republicans want to pack the California recall ballot
To drive turnout, recall backers are encouraging any and all GOP entrants to join the race.
www.politico.com
Poll: McAuliffe holds 2-point lead over Youngkin in Virginia governor’s race
Democrat Terry McAuliffe holds a two-point lead over his Republican opponent, Glenn Youngkin, in the Virginia governor’s race, according to a new survey from the Trafalgar Group.The polls…
thehill.com
Massive flight delays, cancellations prompt finger-pointing
Airlines are racking up an unprecedented number of delays and flight cancellations just months after Congress gave the industry $54 billion so that carriers could retain their employees and facilit…
thehill.com
China expert Matt Turpin on Beijing's strategic objectives - "Intelligence Matters"
Host Michael Morell and Turpin discuss changes that accompanied Xi Jinping's rise to power, as well as the gradual shift in U.S. policy towards Beijing.
www.cbsnews.comAnalysis - Electric bus maker BYD shows China complications in Biden climate push
A California electric bus factory just north of Los Angeles looks like a vision of President Joe Biden's battery-powered, American-manufactured, climate-friendly future. Some 500 unionized workers assemble battery packs, weld frames and install seats, steering wheels and fare boxes, making...
After San Francisco shoplifting video goes viral, officials argue thefts aren't rampant
The city has been gripped by a perception of lawlessness after a string of videos featured people openly shoplifting, seemingly without repercussion.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden calls on GOP to protect voting rights 'for God's sake' in fiery address
In a fiery address Tuesday, President Biden called on Republican lawmakers to protect voting rights and counter laws that place restrictions on the ballot.
Democrats' next political high-wire act: Selling their $3.5T budget deal
Senate Democrats knew that a deal among Budget panel members wouldn't guarantee support among their entire caucus.
www.politico.comTed Cruz, who fled Texas for Cancún during a winter storm, was mocked for criticizing Democratic lawmakers who left the state to block GOP bills
Democratic lawmakers in Texas left the state earlier this week to deny the legislative quorum needed to move Republican-sponsored bills.
Bush calls Afghanistan withdrawal a mistake, says consequences will be ‘unbelievably bad’ | CNN Politics
Former President George W. Bush on Wednesday called the US troop withdrawal from Afghanistan a mistake and predicted that the consequences, especially for Afghan women and girls, will be “unbelievably bad.”
www.cnn.com
‘Where is Biden?’ chant breaks out at Florida protest in support of Cuba
A protest broke out in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday in support of the anti-government protesters in Cuba and participants appealed to the Biden administration to take a firmer stance on the crackdown in Havana.
Senate negotiators remain far apart on security funding but they are talking | CNN Politics
With time running out, Republicans and Democrats remain at odds over how to move forward on a funding package designed to improve security on Capitol Hill and fill a massive funding gap for Capitol Police and the National Guard that was created in the wake of the January 6 insurrection.
www.cnn.comSeven months and ticking, the case for keeping Powell as Fed chair builds
With the U.S. Federal Reserve in the midst of a complicated policy shift, central bank watchers see a renomination of Jerome Powell to a second 4-year term as Fed chief as increasingly likely, a view bolstered by Powell's standing within the Biden administration and a closely divided Senate...
Feds charge 4 in Iran plot to kidnap activist in US, others
An Iranian intelligence officer and three members of an Iranian intelligence network have been charged in Manhattan with plotting to kidnap a prominent Iranian opposition activist and writer in exile and take her back to Tehran.
apnews.com
House panel advances $706B Pentagon bill on party-line vote
The House Appropriations Committee on Tuesday advanced a $706 billion Pentagon spending bill on a party-line vote.The panel voted 33-23 to approve the fiscal year 2022 defense spending bill, settin…
thehill.com
Biden administration inviting UN racism, human rights envoys to visit US
The State Department announced Tuesday that it invited the United Nations’s racism and human rights envoys for a visit to the U.S. amid a national debate on racial injustice, police reform an…
thehill.com
Trump dismissed Buttigieg, Bloomberg as serious contenders: book
A new book claims to shed light on former President Trump’s mindset in February of 2020 when his approval rating was surging and contains several quotes encapsulating the fierce contempt he held toward various Democratic presidential candidates.
Fox News Host Slammed On His Own Show For ‘Spewing Lies And Conspiracy Theories’
TV personality Pete Hegseth was repeatedly asked if Donald Trump lost the 2020 election. He dodged Texas state Rep. James Talarico's questions.
Idaho governor warns of ‘mega-fires,’ urges public help
Idaho Governor Brad Little (R) is warning of mega-fires that could potentially impact the state this summer and is asking the public to help prevent them.Little conducted a press conference on Tues…
thehill.com
President meets Democrats on Capitol Hill as pressure ramps up on infrastructure talks | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden returned to Capitol Hill Wednesday to meet with Senate Democrats during their luncheon as he makes the case for both the bipartisan infrastructure proposal and a more sweeping package that can be pursued through reconciliation.
www.cnn.comNew Book Details Eric Trump ‘Flipped Out' On Election Night
Donald Trump’s son reportedly screamed at campaign aides as his father’s lead against Joe Biden narrowed, according to Carol Leonnig and Philip Rucker’s new book.
Inflation has 'increased notably,' but Fed won't alter its policies yet, Powell says
Inflation "will likely remain elevated in coming months before moderating,” the Federal Reserve Chairman said.
www.nbcnews.com
House GOP reelection committee smashes fundraising records, outpacing Democrats
Building up resources as it aims to recapture the House of Representatives majority in the 2022 midterms, the House Republican reelection arm says it hauled in a record $20.1 in fundraising last month.
GOP opposition to defense bill hardens
Warren releases hold on nominees — SAIC enlists Trump Pentagon leaders
www.politico.comRomney 'felt a pit in his stomach' at 'surprisingly good' early Trump election night numbers, book says
Romney took note of Trump's "surprisingly good" numbers in Florida, as opposed to now-President Joe Biden underperformance in Miami-Dade County.
McCarthy not yet sold on naming Republicans to Jan. 6 investigation
The House minority leader accused Speaker Nancy Pelosi of "playing politics" with the select committee on the Capitol riot.
www.politico.com
HUD walks back some proposed safety rules for public housing
Housing industry groups said some of HUD's proposed requirements would be too costly. But they now fall short of nationally adopted safety codes.
www.nbcnews.com
Activists rail against Chinese Communist Party, call for 2022 Beijing Olympics to be moved - Washington Examiner
WASHINGTON, DC — Dozens of activists protested on the National Mall against the Chinese Communist Party and the genocide of ethnic minorities, calling for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics to be moved.The coalition of activist groups at Tuesday's rally in front of the Capitol Building in...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Republicans winning money race as they seek to take over House in 2022 | CNN Politics
The National Republican Congressional Committee announced Wednesday that it had raised $45.4 million in the second quarter of 2021, the most it has ever raised in three months of a non-election year, as Republicans seek to take over the House in 2022.
www.cnn.com
Watch live: Fed chair Powell delivers monetary policy report
Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell on Wednesday is scheduled to deliver a monetary policy report to the House Financial Services Committee.The hearing is scheduled to begin at noon EDT.Watch th…
thehill.com
Senate Democrats reveal $3.5 trillion plan to invest in health care, climate change and more
"If we pass this, this is the most profound change to help American families in generations," said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
www.nbcnews.com
3 Senate Democrats draft plan to end federal ban on marijuana
They also aim to implement a series of programs to help communities that have been harmed by the war on drugs.
www.cbsnews.com
Blinken lays out pillars for cyber diplomacy, says ‘our democratic values and way of life’ are at stake | CNN Politics
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Tuesday of the importance of diplomacy in dealing with cybersecurity and technology matters, noting that “our democratic values and way of life” are “fundamentally what’s at stake here.”
www.cnn.com
Number of migrants who died traveling to Europe has doubled, U.N. says
At least 741 people have died crossing the Central Mediterranean route between Libya and Italy alone.
www.nbcnews.com
House Republican demands Biden admin reveal cost of canceling border wall construction
The ranking Republican on the House Budget Committee is pressing the Biden administration to account for how much money it is costing taxpayers in litigation and settlement costs after President Biden halted construction on the wall at the U.S.-Mexico border, canceling government contracts in...
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene misgenders Caitlyn Jenner, calling her a 'man in a dress'
"GOP support & consultants working to elect Jenner for Governor in CA are playing the left's stupid identity politics game," Greene wrote on Twitter.
GOP leans into racial issues ahead of midterms
Critical race theory. Migrants at the border. Election fraud. A COVID-19 lab leak. Urban crime and calls to defund the police.On its surface, the Republicans’ nascent campaign strategy features a m…
thehill.com
EU unveils sweeping climate change plan
It proposes taxing jet fuel and effectively banning the sale of petrol cars within 20 years.
www.bbc.com
Biden takes on multiple crises without key confirmed officials at the helm | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden is facing a border crisis without a confirmed border commissioner, spending fights without an official budget director and a pandemic without a confirmed Food and Drug Administration commissioner.
www.cnn.com
Texas House OKs arrests for Democrats who walked out; Senate takes up GOP elections bill
The Texas House on Tuesday voted to send for the Democrats in the chamber who left the state for Washington D.C., using arrest warrants if necessary.
www.usatoday.com
Conservative in Virginia jumps into 2022 House race in district of vulnerable Democrat
With the Democrats in control of the White House and Congress in Washington and the governor’s office and legislature in Richmond, Va., conservative Republican Taylor Keeney launches a GOP challenge against Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger.
Election depicts two Californias: Rising star or catastrophe
Gov. Gavin Newsom and two leading Republican rivals in the California recall election painted disparate pictures of the nation’s most populous state, with the first-term Democrat describing it Tuesday as an economic powerhouse leading the country’s pandemic recovery and his opponents saying it’s...
Lawsuit says Alabama blocking solar power with unfair fees
Environmental groups and homeowners have filed a federal lawsuit against state regulators for approving Alabama Power’s fees on customers with rooftop or on-site solar
Pandemic fueled deadliest year for drug overdoses, CDC data shows
Health officials and experts worry that the pandemic has sapped the political will to tackle the drug crisis.
www.politico.com
Facebook asks for U.S. FTC Chair Lina Khan’s recusal
The FTC sued Facebook in December, alleging that the social media giant broke antitrust law in buying photo-sharing site Instagram and messaging app WhatsApp.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden takes big break from habit of avoiding Trump talk
President Biden has made a habit of not talking too much about his predecessor, former President Trump. That changed big time on Tuesday, when Biden gave a spirited voting rights speech in Ph…
thehill.com
'I came here to fight': Rare footage of Ethiopia's Tigray
Video obtained by The Associated Press and smuggled out of Ethiopia's Tigray region gives a rare look at the dramatic turn in a conflict that has threatened to destabilize one of Africa’s most populous and powerful countries.
apnews.com
Cuba confirms 1 man dead during antigovernment protests
Cuban officials say one person has died during demonstrations that have shaken the island in recent days by protesting over food shortages, high prices and other grievances against the government.
apnews.com
Texas Senate passes Republican-backed voting reform bill
Texas state Senators passed a GOP-led voting reform bill Tuesday, following Democrat’s departure from the state in a move to stall passing the House's version of the bill.
Blinken lays out pillars for cyber diplomacy, says ‘our democratic values and way of life’ are at stake | CNN Politics
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke Tuesday of the importance of diplomacy in dealing with cybersecurity and technology matters, noting that “our democratic values and way of life” are “fundamentally what’s at stake here.”
www.cnn.comTrump ethics antagonist Walter Shaub becomes top Biden critic
The biggest critic of the Biden White House's ethics program isn't a Republican, congressional investigator or whistleblower — it's an ex-federal employee with a huge social media following.Driving the news: Walter Shaub — who directed the Office of Government Ethics from 2013 to mid-2017, and...
Black Americans’ confidence in police recovers post-Floyd: Gallup
Confidence in police among polled Black American adults appears to have recovered after dipping to an all-time low in 2020 following the killing of George Floyd.According to the results of a Gallup…
thehill.comMissing: White House interns
www.politico.com
REvil: Ransomware gang websites disappear from internet
The REvil group has been blamed for cyber-attacks on hundreds of businesses worldwide.
www.bbc.com
After 16 months, reopening of U.S.-Canada border may come too late for hundreds of businesses
The restrictions have devastated the economy of some remote border towns.
www.nbcnews.com
Transit union chief breaks with Cuomo amid scandals - Washington Examiner
A major union boss came out in opposition to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, signaling eroding support among the New York labor base for the Democrat amid mounting scandals.John Samuelsen, the international president of the Transport Workers Union, announced he would no longer support Cuomo, saying his union...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Democrats to take on Supreme Court after justices uphold Arizona election laws - Washington Examiner
When the Supreme Court concluded its most recent term by upholding two controversial Arizona voting laws, Democrats vowed to override the 6-3 decision that split the court’s conservatives and liberals along ideological lines.In the case, Brnovich v. Democratic National Committee, the court’s...
www.washingtonexaminer.comIn setback to Trump ally, Pennsylvania county will not comply with vote probe
One of the three Pennsylvania counties asked to provide access to voting machines for a Republican lawmaker's probe of the 2020 election has decided it cannot comply due to a directive from the state's top election official, the county's solicitor told Reuters. Tioga County's three Republican...
Manchin signals support for immigration in budget deal
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.), a key moderate, on Wednesday said he supports including immigration provisions in a budget reconciliation bill, easing the path toward resolution on an issue that threat…
thehill.com
Fires threaten Indigenous lands in desiccated Northwest
Fierce wildfires are threatening Native American lands in the Pacific Northwest. In north-central Washington, hundreds of people in a town on Colville tribal land have been ordered to leave because of fires ignited by lightning.
apnews.com
D.C. judge orders Capitol riot defendant Doug Jensen of Des Moines released to 'home incarceration' until trial
Widely viewed photos and videos show Jensen confronting police and pursuing Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman up stairs inside the Capitol.
www.usatoday.com
Residents of Gates, Oregon, aim their ire at Pacific Power nearly a year after their town burned
Despite high wind warnings, Pacific Power chose not to shut off electricity. Now hundreds of people have joined class action lawsuits against the utility.
www.opb.org
Here's what is actually in the Texas election bills Democrats keep comparing to Jim Crow
The proposals come as Texas looks to join more than 15 other states where Republicans who control the state government have passed laws tightening voting access rules.
Democrats under new pressure to break voting rights stalemate
Senate Democrats are getting squeezed by members of their own party to pass voting rights legislation, amid growing frustration that GOP-led states are moving forward with their own laws.Congressio…
thehill.com
YouTube fined more than $100,000 for censoring lockdown protest video - Washington Examiner
YouTube was fined 100,000 euros (around $118,115) over the weekend in a German court for removing a video of a coronavirus lockdown protest in Switzerland.After the Dresden Higher Regional Court in Germany ordered an injunction directing YouTube to restore the video in April 2020, the video...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
McCarthy raises $43.6 million in first half of 2021
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) raised more than $43 million in the first half of 2021, his campaign said Wednesday, a staggering sum that will help bolster Republicans as they look…
thehill.com
Man convicted of Mollie Tibbetts' murder wants new trial, claims real killer confessed
With his sentencing hearing just days away, Cristhian Bahena Rivera, the man convicted of murdering Mollie Tibbetts is asking for a new trial.
Suburban mothers face off in Virginia’s 7th as GOP woman enters race against Spanberger - Washington Examiner
The race for Virginia’s 7th Congressional District is shaping up as a battle of suburban mothers, with Republican Taylor Keeney entering the race against Democratic Rep. Abigail Spanberger.Keeney, 34, announced her campaign Wednesday with a splashy video that takes aim at Spanberger, 41, for...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
At Least 600 Tons Of Dead Fish Have Washed Up Along Tampa Bay's Shore
The hordes of fish were killed by a red tide, a large "bloom" of toxic algae that appears on Florida's Gulf Coast about once a year. Experts say the bloom shouldn't be happening right now.
www.npr.org
Democrats seek to counter GOP attacks on gas prices
Democrats are looking to counter GOP attacks on rising gas prices by talking up job gains and wage growth heading into a crucial midterm election year where both the House and Senate are up for gra…
thehill.com
Illinois becomes first state to mandate teaching Asian American history
Illinois' first-in-the-nation measure gained support after a wave of anti-Asian violence in the US.
www.bbc.com
Mayorkas to Cubans, Haitians: Do not come to the U.S.
There isn't a surge in Cuban or Haitian migrants by sea so far, but the U.S. Coast Guard has deployed officials to monitor the situation given upheaval in both countries.
www.politico.com
Cuba, Haiti stir fresh political pressures for US president
The problems of two tiny Caribbean states, Cuba and Haiti, have vexed U.S. presidents for decades. Now, Haiti and Cuba are posing a growing challenge for President Joe Biden that could have political ramifications.
apnews.com
Biden nominating former GOP Senator Jeff Flake to be ambassador to Turkey
Flake said he is "honored and humbled by the trust President Biden has placed in me with this ambassadorial nomination."
www.cbsnews.com
Americans facing massive passport processing delays, lawmakers urging State Dept. to act
For Americans planning to travel abroad, the State Department warned they should submit an application at least six months in advance.
President Joe Biden's speech on voting rights: TRANSCRIPT
Read what President Joe Biden said in a major speech on voting rights from Philadelphia on Tuesday afternoon.
U.S. Senate Democrats agree to $3.5 trln for budget reconciliation bill
U.S. President Joe Biden's drive for big new infrastructure investment got a boost on Tuesday when leading Senate Democrats agreed on a $3.5 trillion investment plan they aim to include in a budget resolution to be debated soon, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said.
Oregon wildfire becomes biggest in the nation, burning over 200,000 acres
The Bootleg Fire, which started in Klamath County, has destroyed 54 structures and 21 homes.
www.cbsnews.com
Biden speech unlikely to quash progressive angst
Progressives perked up after hearing President Biden call passing sweeping voting rights legislation known as the For the People Act a “national imperative” in a speech from Philadelphia. Now …
thehill.com
Republicans, Dems find rare common ground at Iran summit as dissidents protest regime
The largely virtual event included hundreds of Iranian activists appearing from inside Iran at key monuments, their faces blurred, to show the continued resistance within Iran.
Schumer on filibuster carve-out for voting legislation: 'Everything is on the table'
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer Tuesday didn't rule out eliminating the legislative filibuster for voting rights legislation as Democrats are getting increasingly frustrated with state-level efforts to tighten voting rules.
Cornel West Has Announced He's Leaving Harvard And Says The School Has Lost Its Way
In a resignation letter posted to Twitter on Monday, West says the university is suffering from "intellectual and spiritual bankruptcy of deep depths."
www.npr.org
Larry Summers, White House officials meet to discuss Biden agenda
Larry Summers, who served as a top economic adviser to former President Obama, met with top White House economic officials Brian Deese and Cecilia Rouse on Tuesday to discuss President Biden’s agen…
thehill.com
Mayorkas says migrants fleeing Cuba, Haiti by sea will not be allowed to enter US
Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said on Tuesday that those fleeing Cuba or Haiti by sea would not be allowed into the U.S. -- and would either be returned or, if they were found to have a fear of persecution, referred to a third country.
Roy Moore loses lawsuit against Sacha Baron Cohen
A federal judge in New York on Tuesday handed a defeat to former Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore in his lawsuit against actor and comedian Sacha Baron Cohen, of “Borat” fame. In a …
thehill.com
Senate Democrats unveiling push to legalize marijuana at federal level
Senate Democrats on Wednesday are unveiling a renewed push to legalize marijuana at the federal level. Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron …
thehill.com
Tom Cotton creates investigation into critical race theory training at Raytheon - Washington Examiner
Sen. Tom Cotton is investigating defense contractor Raytheon's use of training materials that promote critical race theory, he said in a letter from the senator addressed to the company's chairman and CEO.The company allegedly uses training materials that "rely heavily on racial stereotypes and...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Why Clearing Brazil's Forests For Farming Can Make It Harder To Grow Crops
Clearing natural forests in Brazil in order to grow crops like soybeans has actually made it harder to grow those crops. That's because deforestation makes the weather hotter and drier.
www.npr.org
Hospitality industry struggling as workers look for jobs elsewhere post-pandemic - Washington Examiner
The hospitality and leisure industry is facing a desperate struggle to recruit and hire workers as the pandemic wanes and economic demand grows. Restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic took a wrecking ball to restaurants, casinos, bars, and movie theaters. Many were forced to close their doors...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Mississippi health department blocks Facebook comments over COVID-19 misinformation
Mississippi’s health department is aiming to combat misinformation on COVID-19 by limiting users’ ability to comment on its Facebook posts related to case numbers and vaccine distribution.&nb…
thehill.com
Biden condemns Republican-backed efforts to restrict voting access
In his remarks, President Biden denounced former President Trump’s false claims that he won, saying “the big lie is just that — a big lie.” Biden’s comments come amid a heated fight over voting rights in Texas, where Democratic state legislators left the state to prevent the passage of new bills.
www.nbcnews.com
Biden condemns 'selfishness' of stolen election lie pushed by Trump
"Have you no shame?" he asked Republicans in a speech Tuesday as federal voting rights legislation stalled and a wave of restrictive new laws passed in GOP states nationwide.
www.nbcnews.comBiden denounces GOP's election bills as 'un-American' restrictions grounded in 'autocracy' in his first major voting-rights speech
Biden's Philadelphia speech came as lawmakers in Texas left the state in droves to block the passage of two election omnibus bills.
Harris meets with Texas lawmakers who left state to block GOP voting bill
Vice President Kamala Harris met with Democratic quorum-breakers from Texas who fled to Washington, D.C.
www.usatoday.com
European sporting body asks for probe of England fan violence
The Union of European Football Associations (UFEA) governing body is asking for a probe into the violence perpetrated by England fans during the European Championship final on Sunday. The Asso…
thehill.comA Turkish fitness influencer said she was barred from an American Airlines flight because her denim shorts were 'too short'
The Turkish model and influencer Deniz Saypinar said American Airlines barred her from a flight for wearing shorts that were "too short."
Law banning handgun sales to Americans under 21 violates Second Amendment, court rules
A divided appeals court in Virginia ruled that banning handgun sales to Americans under 21 is arbitrary. The decision will likely be appealed.
www.usatoday.com
Dispiriting setback: COVID deaths, cases rise again globally
COVID-19 deaths and cases are on the rise again globally in a dispiriting setback that is triggering another round of restrictions and dampening hopes for a return to normal life.
apnews.com
Anti-vaxxers gain power on right, triggering new fears
Public health experts are growing increasingly concerned about a rise in anti-vaccination rhetoric among elected officials and right-wing media as a new wave of coronavirus infections begins to was…
thehill.com
As COVID rises, a vexing hunt for nursing home vaccine stats
With COVID-19 on the rise again and many nursing home staffers unvaccinated, families still lack easy access to crucial Medicare immunization data that will help them pick the right facility for their loved one.
apnews.com
Here's what we know about possible COVID-19 vaccine booster shots
As early as this fall, U.S. regulators could decide whether some people should get booster shots.
www.cbsnews.com
In White House visit, singer Olivia Rodrigo urges youth get vaccinated
Pop star Olivia Rodrigo, whose album "Sour" is No. 1 on the charts, took to the podium at the White House on Wednesday to encourage young people to get vaccinated against COVID-19.
Mike Pence: Evidence 'strongly suggests' COVID-19 came from a Chinese lab
Ex-VP Mike Pence points to a Chinese lab as COVID's source, but doesn't elaborate on the evidence he's citing. In a new paper, virologists disagree.
www.usatoday.com
Olivia Rodrigo visits White House to urge young people get vaccinated
Olivia Rodrigo visited the White House Wednesday to partner with the Biden administration in encouraging young people to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Argentina breaches 100,000 COVID deaths amid deepening crisis
Argentina, which saw recent surge of coronavirus infections, is fifth Latin American nation to reach 100,000-deaths.
Vaccinated former E! correspondent contracts COVID-19: ‘Don’t let your guard down’
Entertainment reporter Catt Sadler posted a warning about COVID-19 to Instagram on Wednesday, urging her vaccinated followers not to get too comfortable.The fully vaccinated former E! News cor…
thehill.com
Moderate Democrats call for 9/11-style panel to probe COVID-19 origins
A bloc of moderate House Democrats on Wednesday called for the creation of a bipartisan, 9/11-style commission to investigate the origins of the COVID-19 virus in China and assess the United States…
thehill.com
Risk of ‘catastrophic’ coronavirus surge in Middle East: WHO
Significant increases in cases in Libya, Iran, Iraq and Tunisia, with sharp rises expected in Lebanon and Morocco.
CDC official says more information needed on boosters
Health officials need more information on whether COVID-19 booster vaccines would increase the risk of serious side effects, a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) official said on Tues…
thehill.com
Delta variant now accounts for about 58% of COVID-19 cases in US, CDC says
The so-called delta variant is estimated to account for about 58% of all COVID-19 cases in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Mississippi health officials warn about delta 'surge' as 7 children in ICU due to COVID-19
Of the seven children diagnosed with COVID-19 currently in the intensive care unit, two are on ventilators, Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs said.
A new poll shows why some vaccine-hesitant Americans decided to get the Covid-19 shot | CNN Politics
Roughly one-fifth of Americans were initially hesitant about or squarely against getting the Covid-19 vaccine but have since gotten their shots, according to polling released Tuesday by the Kaiser Family Foundation.
www.cnn.com
Superspreader 'explosions' plague efforts to curb pandemic
Even as the pandemic evolves and new variants emerge that are more transmissible or can make people sicker, human behavior remains one of the biggest pieces of the equation.
www.nbcnews.com
She Says She Was Fired For Saying That Teens Don't Need Parental Consent For Vaccines
In addition to her ouster, Dr. Michelle Fiscus says Tennessee is stopping all of its vaccination outreach efforts for teens and children – not only for COVID-19 but also for other illnesses.
www.npr.org
Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca researching vaccine modification to address rare blood clot risk
Johnson & Johnson (J&J) and AstraZeneca are researching vaccine modification to address the rare blood clot risk associated with the companies’ coronavirus vaccines. People familiar wi…
thehill.com
DeSantis selling ‘Don’t Fauci My Florida’ koozies
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) is selling merchandise on his campaign website taking shots at Anthony Fauci, the nation’s leading infectious diseases expert, and other coronavirus restrictions. …
thehill.com
Norwegian Cruise Lines sues state of Florida over vaccine passport ban
Norwegian Cruise Lines is suing Florida after the state banned vaccine passports, saying it cannot safely resume sailings without ensuring people are vaccinated.
Go away: Biden’s ‘door-to-door’ hunt for unvaccinated rejected - Washington Examiner
President Joe Biden’s plan to have teams go door-to-door to urge those unvaccinated for COVID-19 to get the shot is being rejected by the public even before it begins.By a 53%-37% margin, likely voters consider the aggressive tactic to be “a bad idea.”In the latest Rasmussen Reports survey, only...
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Clarence Thomas shuts down challenge to CDC transportation mask mandate - Washington Examiner
Justice Clarence Thomas shut down an appeal to the Supreme Court challenging the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's mandate requiring masks on public transportation.In an order handed down Tuesday evening, Thomas rejected the request for an injunction without referring the case to the...
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Bach meets Suga as Tokyo virus cases approach 6-month high
Tokyo has reported its highest number of new COVID-19 cases in almost six months
France celebrates Bastille Day amid virus fears, tensions
France has celebrated its national holiday with thousands of troops marching in a Paris parade and traditional parties around the country.
apnews.com
Pfizer sparks thorny debate over COVID-19 booster shots
A divide between Pfizer and the Biden administration over the need for a third dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is sparking a debate over booster shots, with a minefield of complications.Pfizer made wa…
thehill.com
Indonesia reports 54,000 virus cases, becomes Asian hotspot
Indonesia has reported more than 54,000 new coronavirus cases for the first time, surpassing recent daily infections in India, whose disastrous outbreak is declining, and becoming Asia’s new virus hotspot.
apnews.com
Justice Clarence Thomas rejects longshot bid to disrupt Biden’s mask mandate for public transport | CNN Politics
Justice Clarence Thomas on Tuesday rejected an emergency request to block Biden administration’s Covid-19 mask requirement for public travel.
www.cnn.com
Tokyo governor says medical system ready, vows ‘safe and secure’ Olympics
Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike says the medical system is ready as Japan prepares to host the Olympics in ten days.The Olympics can be held in a “safe and secure” way as hospitals are prepared and mor…
thehill.com
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