Biden Takes Dominant Lead as Voters Reject Trump on Virus and Race  —  A New York Times/Siena College poll finds that Joseph R. Biden Jr. is ahead of the president by 14 points, leading among women and nonwhite voters and cutting into his support with white voters.  —  Biden  —  Trump  —  Other

Madison protesters tear down Capitol statues, attack state Senator from Milwaukee as fury erupts again  —  MADISON - Fury exploded outside the Wisconsin State Capitol on Tuesday night as protesters smashed windows at the statehouse, attacked a state senator, and tore down two iconic statues …

U.S. appeals court orders judge to dismiss case against former Trump national security advisor Michael Flynn  — A federal appeals court ordered a lower-court judge to dismiss the criminal case against Michael Flynn, who briefly served as President Donald Trump's first national security advisor.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wins Democratic primary against Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, CNN projects  —  Washington (CNN)Freshman Democratic Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez will defeat former longtime CNBC correspondent and anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera in a Democratic primary election on Tuesday …

Abbott: Texas facing ‘massive’ COVID-19 outbreak, 5,000+ new cases for 2nd straight day  —  Gov. Greg Abbott on Monday, June 22, 2020 said he has no plans to shut down the state again.  “We must find ways to return to our daily routines as well as finding ways to coexist with COVID-19,” …

The inside story of Trump's embarrassing endorsement  —  Madison Cawthorn, the 24-year-old who stunningly defeated the candidate President Trump endorsed in the Republican runoff for North Carolina's 11th congressional district, got a congratulatory call last night from the president himself — on Air Force One flying back from Arizona.

Trump national security adviser compares Xi Jinping to Josef Stalin  —  PHOENIX, Ariz. — Robert O'Brien, President Trump's national security adviser, equated Chinese President Xi Jinping to Soviet dictator Josef Stalin on Wednesday in an aggressive speech that lambasted China for what he described as a malevolent role in world affairs.

Live updates: N.Y. N.J. and Conn. order quarantine for travelers from Florida, other states hit hard by coronavirus  —  The Washington Post is providing this important information about the coronavirus for free.  For more free coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, sign up for our Coronavirus …

How Long Can William Barr Get Away With Laughing at Justice?  —  The attorney general has corrupted the Department of Justice.  It's unclear if he will ever pay a price.  —  William Barr has a distinguished resume: Aside from being one of America's top lawyers, he has twice served as attorney general …

BREAKING: All 3 suspects indicted in Ahmaud Arbery shooting death  —  A grand jury has indicted the three suspects accused in the death of 25-year-old Ahmaud Arbery, the Cobb County District Attorney said Wednesday.  —  Travis and Greg McMichael and William “Roddie” Bryan were previously charged …

Students for Trump co-founder pleads guilty to $46,000 fraud scheme  —  The co-founder of Students for Trump pleaded guilty Tuesday to scamming consumers and businesses out of $46,000 by posing as a lawyer online and dispensing legal advice, federal prosecutors said.

A Softball Team's Tweet to Trump Leads Players to Quit Mid-Series  —  The players said they did not want a photo of them standing during the national anthem to be used for political purposes.  —  For a few hours this week, softball had a shot at something it has pursued for decades: the spotlight.

Senate Democrats block GOP policing bill, calling it ‘irrevocably flawed’ and ‘partisan’  —  WASHINGTON — Senate Democrats on Wednesday blocked Republicans from taking up a bill to overhaul policing, calling the legislation flawed and a nonstarter.  —  A motion to open debate on the measure, which needed 60 votes, failed 55-45.

Politico fantasizes about Dems losing the black vote and Trump coasting to victory  —  The worst political journalism results from a reporter parachuting into a community he or she isn't familiar with, interviewing a handful of colorful characters and spinning what they say into a counter-intuitive …

GOP senator blocked China sanctions bill he supports, at request of White House  —  On June 2, Sen. Kevin Cramer (R-N.D.) signed on as a co-sponsor of a bill to punish China for undermining Hong Kong's independence.  Two weeks later, he turned around and blocked it — at the request of the White House.

Facebook creates fact-checking exemption for climate deniers  —  This is a special joint edition of Popular Information and HEATED, a climate newsletter by journalist Emily Atkin.  HEATED is a must-read for anyone who cares about the future of the planet earth.  Sign up HERE.

‘Crush This Lady.’ Inside eBay's Bizarre Campaign Against a Blog Critic.  —  Security employees allegedly orchestrated deliveries of live cockroaches, pornographic videos and a mask of a bloody pig's head  —  The box of live cockroaches delivered to their door was the last straw for David and Ina Steiner.

US virus cases surge to highest level in 2 months  —  BEIJING (AP) — New coronavirus cases in the U.S. have surged to their highest level in two months and are now back to where they were at the peak of the outbreak.  —  The U.S. on Tuesday reported 34,700 new cases of the virus …

A Minneapolis Neighborhood Vowed to Check Its Privilege.  It's Already Being Tested.  —  Blocks from where George Floyd drew his last breaths, residents have vowed to avoid the police to protect people of color.  The commitment is hard to keep.  —  MINNEAPOLIS — When Shari Albers moved three decades ago …

Gregory Katz, acclaimed AP journalist, dies at 67  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Gregory Katz, an acclaimed correspondent for The Associated Press in London who recently led the news cooperative's coverage of Brexit and the election of Boris Johnson as prime minister, died Tuesday.

State Health Officer Warns in Interview: Prepare For Overwhelmed Hospitals by Fall … State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs has led Mississippi's response to COVID-19 since the first days of the crisis.  Now, facing spiking metrics in all of the state's key indicators for the spread of the virus …

Kosovo President Hashim Thaci indicted on war crimes charges ahead of planned White House meeting  —  BRUSSELS — Kosovo President Hashim Thaci was indicted for a range of war crimes, including nearly 100 murders, a special prosecutor in The Hague announced Wednesday, just three days …

The Decline of the American World  —  “He hated America very deeply,” John le Carré wrote of his fictional Soviet mole, Bill Haydon, in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy.  Haydon had just been unmasked as a double agent at the heart of Britain's secret service, one whose treachery was motivated by animus …