How Republican States Are Expanding Their Power Over Elections  —  In Georgia, Republicans are removing Democrats of color from local boards.  In Arkansas, they have stripped election control from county authorities.  And they are expanding their election power in many other states.

The Simple Remedy for Jan. 6 Trutherism  —  Just because Arizona Republican Rep. Paul Gosar voted against establishing a commission to investigate the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol doesn't mean he's not ready to use the power of his office to stage an inquiry into the topic by other means.

The Delta Variant Could Create “Two Americas” Of COVID, Experts Warn  —  If you are fully vaccinated, you are most likely to be safe.  But in parts of the US where few people have gotten COVID vaccine shots, the Delta variant could trigger renewed deadly surges.  —  Copy

Don't Ban CRT.  Expose It.  —  There's a liberal way to fight illiberalism.  And it's beginning to work.  —  17 hr ago  —  The stories in the mainstream media this past week about the broadening campaign to ban critical race theory in public schools have been fascinating — and particularly in how they describe what CRT is.

‘Keep an Eye on This Guy’: Inside Eric Adams's Complicated Police Career  —  Mr. Adams's police credentials have helped him rise to the top of this year's mayoral field.  But his relationship with the department is complex.  —  As Eric Adams lined up for graduation at the New York City Police Academy …

Trump Commerce Boss Wilbur Ross Hoovered Up $53 Million While In Public Office  —  Then he slipped out of public life and into a business he set up in the Cayman Islands while reportedly still commerce secretary.  —  Donald Trump's commerce secretary, Wilbur Ross, earned at least $53 million …

She Fell Nearly 2 Miles, and Walked Away  —  At 17, biologist Juliane Diller was the sole survivor of a plane crash in the Amazon.  Fifty years later she still runs Panguana, a research station founded by her parents in Peru.  —  On the morning after Juliane Diller fell to earth …

Biden, deeply Catholic president, finds himself at odds with many U.S. bishops  —  There was a time when President Biden could have been Father Joe.  —  For long stretches of his childhood, as he was educated by nuns in Catholic schools, Biden considered entering the priesthood, eventually convinced by his mother to try college first.

First on CNN: Biden administration moves to make gender confirmation surgery available through Veteran Affairs health care system  —  (CNN)Veterans Affairs Secretary Denis McDonough is moving to make gender confirmation surgery available to transgender veterans through Veterans Affairs health care coverage …

The Supreme Court's Newest Justices Produce Some Unexpected Results  —  In the term so far, including two major decisions on Thursday, the court's expanded conservative majority is fractured and its liberals are often on the winning side.  —  WASHINGTON — The arrival of Justice Amy Coney Barrett …

Critical race theory becomes a top issue in Virginia governor's race  —  The power of critical race theory as a political issue will be put to the test in the Virginia governor's race this year, as Republican Glenn Youngkin promises to eradicate the racially based education curriculum …

Civil rights leaders to Biden: less bipartisanship, more action  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  Happy Saturday and, more importantly, Happy Juneteenth, y'all!  —  For 156 years, June 19th has been celebrated by millions of Black folks in the U.S. to mark the real day that many of our ancestors …

Democrats will need to make Congress spend a lot more time in Washington if they want to get Biden's agenda passed  —  One of the toughest jobs on Capitol Hill has always been the scheduler: that aide who helps lawmakers juggle their committee meetings and votes, their constituent work back home …

EXCLUSIVE U.S. triples vaccines for Taiwan with 2.5 million-dose shipment  —  The United States will ship 2.5 million COVID-19 vaccine doses to Taiwan on Saturday, a senior administration official told Reuters, more than tripling Washington's previous allocation of shots for the island …

For Juneteenth, America needs a new flag that all of us can honor  —  Singer Macy Gray says the flag should be redesigned to represent all Americans  —  The Confederate battle flag, which was crafted as a symbol of opposition to the abolishment of slavery, is just recently tired.  We don't see it much anymore.

Moral Panic Attack  —  “It's not what you say, it's what people hear.”  —  20 hr ago  —  I began this newsletter, in part, as a way to better understand the power of language and how our world is shaped by the specific words used to describe issues and objects, places and people.

Voting debate roils Washington but leaves many voters cold  —  PLANO, Texas (AP) — Brenda Martinez, a 19-year-old community college student, thinks the government should help immigrant students more.  Donald Huffman is worried about turning 50 next week with no work available …

Video: Children narrowly missed in Bronx sidewalk shooting  —  MOUNT EDEN, the Bronx — Shocking video released by the NYPD Friday shows the moment two young children were nearly caught in the crossfire on a Bronx street when a gunman shot a man multiple times at close range.

Victoria's Secret Angel Megan Rapinoe Is Under Fire For Anti-Asian Tweet  —  Earlier this week, Victoria's Secret clipped its own wings by leaving attractive women in the dust for Megan Rapinoe, who looks like Tony Hawk's sister.  Now the new face of Victoria's Secret is in hot water for some iffy tweets back in 2011.

Washington Society Steps Back Out  —  Like a grizzly waking from hibernation, the ruling class is coming out of this thing with an appetite.  —  WASHINGTON — Something surreal was happening on the Potomac one recent night.  A big white tent erected outside the Kennedy Center seemed to be a portal back in time.

Why Shutdowns and Masks Suit the Elite  —  Covid restrictions seem less onerous from the standpoint of ‘expressive individualism,’ which defines the self in terms of ‘its will and not its body.’  —  A marvelous review in these pages last November inspired me to read a new book by O. Carter Snead …