We should soon stop catering to the vaccine holdouts  —  When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration announced a “pause” in the use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine because of a tiny number of instances in which women developed blood clots after getting the shot, many recoiled in horror.

Do We Still Need to Keep Wearing Masks Outdoors?  —  Science shows that the risk of viral transmission outside is very low.  The “two-out-of-three rule” can help you decide whether to mask up.  —  As more people get vaccinated and spring weather and sunshine beckon us outdoors …

White House signals cool reception to Senate Republicans' calls to trade spending cuts for debt ceiling increase  —  Senate Republicans issued their aspirational policy stance on Wednesday after largely backing away from deficit worries during the Trump administration.

America scrambles for restaurant workers  —  Vaccinations keep climbing, and restaurants are ready to roar back this summer.  But eateries from Miami to Martha's Vineyard to Los Angeles are facing the same problem: not enough workers.  —  The big picture: Millions of restaurants are hiring all at once and …

Investigation suppressed by Trump administration reveals obstacles to hurricane aid for Puerto Rico  —  A watchdog report uncovers bureaucratic hurdles the Trump administration erected for the struggling island to receive aid after Hurricanes Irma and Maria  —  The Trump administration put …

‘No opportunity’ to de-escalate: Use-of-force experts say Columbus officer obeyed training in shooting Ma'Khia Bryant  —  An Ohio criminal-justice professor who studies the fatal use of force by law-enforcement officers didn't hesitate to render an opinion after watching body-camera video …

Navalny Has a Lesson for the World  —  When Alexei Navalny boarded a plane to Moscow on January 17, he turned his life into a metaphor.  He knew it, his wife knew it, and everybody else on the plane knew it.  So did the millions of people who had watched his documentary videos …

Biden Will Seek Tax Increase on Rich to Fund Child Care and Education  —  The president's American Family Plan, which remains in flux, does not currently include an effort to expand health coverage, as administration officials had previously planned.  —  WASHINGTON — The next phase …

Pelosi offers equal subpoena power, even partisan split on Jan. 6 commission  —  Talks for the commission had stalled after disagreements over its makeup.  —  US Capitol riots: Tracking the insurrection  —  On Jan. 6, rioters coming from a pro-Trump rally broke into the U.S. Capitol …

Pentagon investigated suspected Russian directed-energy attacks on U.S. troops  —  The Pentagon has briefed top lawmakers on intelligence surrounding suspected directed-energy attacks against U.S. troops, and officials identified Russia as a likely culprit, according to two people with direct knowledge of the matter.

Arizona Senator Mark Kelly's Commitment to Keep SCOTUS at Nine Justices, Even if Roe Is Overturned  —  In the Capitol on Tuesday, I asked Arizona senator Mark Kelly about Massachusetts senator Ed Markey's bill to increase the number of justices on the Supreme Court from nine to thirteen.

The Postal Service is running a ‘covert operations program’ that monitors Americans' social media posts  —  The law enforcement arm of the U.S. Postal Service has been quietly running a program that tracks and collects Americans' social media posts, including those about planned protests, according to a document obtained by Yahoo News.

Liz Cheney vs. MAGA  —  The Wyoming congresswoman challenged Republicans to turn away from Trump after Jan. 6.  Instead, they turned on her.  —  The regular conference meetings of the Republican lawmakers in the House of Representatives, held most weeks behind closed doors in the Capitol Visitor Center …

RNC chair McDaniel floated possible Michigan governor run  —  Republican National Committee Chairwoman Ronna McDaniel told party officials Wednesday that she's considered stepping down from her post to challenge Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2022.  —  McDaniel's remarks came during …

With Trump's backing, Walker freezes Senate GOP field in Georgia  —  (CNN)Former President Donald Trump's backing of football great Herschel Walker to run for the Georgia Senate seat has been enough to effectively freeze the GOP field in place — even though some Republicans privately worry …

Black Democrats urge party to shift its voting rights push  —  Democrats have spent months touting an expansive proposal that would reshape U.S. elections.  But with the bill's Senate prospects growing more dire, key members of the Congressional Black Caucus are pushing to narrow their strategy.

Welcome to Popping Tins  —  This is a newsletter about tinned seafood; in its inaugural issue, Bela-Olhão Lightly Smoked Sardines in Olive Oil are reviewed.  —  5 hr ago  —  Long written off in the United States as a food of grim necessity when not actively reviled …

Biden's USPS nominees face confirmation hearing as Democrats consider paths to oust DeJoy  —  Even if all three are confirmed, giving Democrats an edge on the governing board, it remains to be seen whether the majority would be in sync when it comes to the postmaster general

Checking in on Biden's Approval Rating as Hundred Days' Mark Nears  —  Steady on average, but individual pollsters vary greatly  —  KEY POINTS FROM THIS ARTICLE  — Joe Biden's approval rating has been steady and positive, though many other presidents had better early numbers.

Activists dump ‘bulls—’ at White House ahead of Biden climate summit  —  Climate activists on Thursday morning dumped wheelbarrows full of manure at the White House, ahead of President Joe Biden's climate summit with more than 40 world leaders.  —  The activists, affiliated …

Biden Preparing to Declare That Atrocities Against Armenia Were Genocide  —  The designation for the World War I-era killings would further fray U.S. relations with Turkey, but it is a risk the president appears willing to take to further human rights, officials said.

GOP Stands Up to ‘Cancel Culture’ by Criminalizing Dissent  —  In January, Ron DeSantis argued that combating the repression of political speech was “the most important legislative issue” of 2021.  —  During an appearance at the Texas Public Policy Foundation, the Florida governor delivered …

Sexual Assault Allegations Against Biographer Halt Shipping of His Roth Book  —  W.W. Norton, citing the accusations that the author, Blake Bailey, faces, said it would stop shipping and promoting his new best-selling book.  —  Earlier this month, the biographer Blake Bailey was approaching …

US Capitol Police officer allegedly told units to only monitor for ‘anti-Trump’ protesters on January 6  —  Washington (CNN)A US Capitol Police officer directed “all outside units” on the morning of January 6 to only monitor for anti-Trump agitators “who want to start a fight,” not any …

A Troubled Rule of Law  —  The pervasive sense that cities would burn if Derek Chauvin were not convicted raises questions about whether the jury's verdict was reached dispassionately.  —  Public safety  —  Politics and law  —  The Social Order  —  America's cities did not burn last night.

“Hindsight Is 20/20”: An Internal Report Shows How Facebook Failed To Prevent The “Stop The Steal” Movement  —  Last month, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified in front of a House of Representatives committee that his company had done its part “to secure the integrity of the election.”

LeBron James's moral bankruptcy is showing  —  The public persona of LeBron James is one of a socially conscious, brave leader who speaks against injustice.  The reality is that he pushes detestable, repulsive political talking points and uses his platform to defend genocide and spread racial hatred.