Barr distances himself from Trump-era subpoenas of Democratic lawmakers  —  Former Attorney General William Barr on Friday distanced himself from reports that the Trump Justice Department seized communications records belonging to two prominent Democratic lawmakers who were spearheading investigations into then-President Donald Trump.

‘I was completely inside’: Lobster diver swallowed by humpback whale off Provincetown  —  PROVINCETOWN — At a little before 8 a.m., Friday, veteran lobster diver Michael Packard entered the water for his second dive of the day.  —  His vessel, “the J 'an J,” was right off Herring Cove Beach …

In NBC interview, Putin calls Trump ‘colorful’ but says he can work with Biden  —  Russian President Vladimir Putin, in an exclusive interview Friday with NBC News, called former president Donald Trump a “colorful individual” and said he can work with President Joe Biden.

Here are the winners of the 2021 Pulitzer Prizes  —  The Pulitzers, regarded as one of the highest honors in journalism, were announced later than usual this year due to the pandemic.  —  The Pulitzer Prizes, usually announced at a ceremony at Columbia University, were announced remotely again …

Chicago Cop Arrested In Jan. 6 Attack Allegedly Texted ‘We Inside The Capital LMFAO’  —  Officer Karol J. Chwiesiuk allegedly breached the Capitol building, and told an acquaintance beforehand that he was going to D.C. to “f**k up some commies.”  —  Federal authorities arrested …

Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson suspended for a week from YouTube for COVID misinformation  —  A Milwaukee Press Club event has landed Republican U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wisc., in hot water with YouTube.  —  On Friday, Johnson was slapped with a one-week suspension from uploading videos …

Cobb County school board bans teaching critical race theory  —  The Cobb County School Board is the second in metro Atlanta to ban an academic concept usually reserved for college classrooms from being taught to its students.  —  A divided board voted Thursday to ban teaching critical race theory …

One worked for Trump.  The other for Obama.  This is their advice on unifying the country.  —  We must overcome political differences and honor our precious rights.  Otherwise, the country will fail entirely.  —  As President Joe Biden heads out to rally the world, our biggest vulnerability is ourselves.

EXCLUSIVE: 'It's a problem here in Puerto Rico - not with Washington.' AOC's aunt says Trump is NOT to blame for lack of aid to the struggling island after the congresswoman bashed the former president for damage to her grandmother's home  — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez shared images on social media …

Two Black Students Won School Honors.  Then Came the Calls for a Recount.  —  After two white families claimed a grade calculation error, a Mississippi school added their children as co-valedictorian and co-salutatorian, reviving questions about race and equity.  —  At first, it seemed a joyous occasion.

Inside the palace intrigue in Jordan and a thwarted ‘deal of the century’  —  President Donald Trump had a dizzying dream for a diplomatic “deal of the century” for Arab-Israeli peace that would unite his allies Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Jeff Brain, Whose Site Organized ‘Patriot Caravans’ On January 6, Is Threatening To Sue The Uprising  —  This is a special issue of The Uprising, a daily politics newsletter.  If you appreciated this story and want to help support this work, please sign up!

Netanyahu's last ditch bid to Gantz: 'I'll resign now, you'll be PM for 3 years'  —  Report says Blue and White chief's associates resolutely rejected multiple offers, with latest proposal for immediate resignation made as recently as the early hours of Friday

Attorney General Wanted Lockdown-Defying Restaurant Owner Arrested Before Going On Fox News  —  Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel: ‘We should just have her picked up before she goes on’  —  After learning that a Holland woman who defied state lockdown orders by keeping her restaurant open might …

Federal Reserve tells employees to avoid ‘biased terms’ like ‘Founding Fathers’  —  Source: Fed's Board of Governors issued the guidance for all employees on April 29,

Why Does Elena Kagan Keep Roasting Brett Kavanaugh?  —  The Supreme Court is quiet.  Too quiet.  It is almost mid-June, and the court has yet to release any blockbuster decisions.  What's going on?  —  The simple answer is also the obvious one: These cases have sharply divided the justices …

Wonking Out: Economic Nationalism, Biden-Style  —  If you're under 50, you probably don't remember when Japan was going to take over the world.  But in the late 1980s and early 1990s, many people were obsessed with Japan's economic success and feared American decline.

Law enforcement struggles to recruit since killing of Floyd  —  Law enforcement agencies across the country experienced a wave of retirements and departures and are struggling to recruit the next generation of police officers in the year since George Floyd was killed by a cop.

Emergency Department Visits for Suspected Suicide Attempts Among Persons Aged 12-25 Years Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic — United States, January 2019-May 2021  —  Ellen Yard, PhD1; Lakshmi Radhakrishnan, MPH2; Michael F. Ballesteros, PhD1; Michael Sheppard, MS2; Abigail Gates …

Trump's false Lafayette Square exoneration  —  Don't be fooled by the media's credulous acceptance of a new report  —  One of the most notorious events of the Trump presidency was the attack at Lafayette Square on June 1 last year.  Cops from numerous law enforcement agencies suddenly charged …

The War Over Reality and Control: Critical Race Theory As An Opening For Fascist Power  —  Governor Ron DeSantis opened a Florida Board of Education meeting on Thursday by voicing his opposition to critical race theory, painting it as an effort to teach America's students that …

The Drug That Could Break American Health Care  —  Earlier this week, the Food and Drug Administration overruled—to much criticism—its own scientific advisory committee and approved the Alzheimer's treatment Aduhelm.  The agency made this decision despite thin evidence of the drug's clinical efficacy …