Trump unloads on Kavanaugh in new Michael Wolff book  —  Former President Donald Trump, in a book out Tuesday by Michael Wolff, says he is “very disappointed” in votes by Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, his own hard-won nominee, and that he “hasn't had the courage you need to be a great justice.”

‘I Alone Can Fix It’ book excerpt: Inside Trump's Election Day and the birth of the ‘big lie’ … Finally, Election Day had arrived.  The morning of Nov. 3, 2020, President Trump was upbeat.  The mood in the West Wing was good.  Some aides talked giddily of a landslide.

Trump said whoever ‘leaked’ info on his White House bunker stay should be ‘executed,’ new book claims  —  Then-President Donald Trump told a number of his advisers in 2020 that whoever leaked information about his stay in the White House bunker during protests last June had committed treason …

‘They will be arrested.’ Gov. Abbott responds to Texas Democrats' flight to Washington, D.C.  —  The Texas Legislature's special session started on July 8.  Among the issues that lawmakers are expected to address are bail reform and “election integrity.”  —  AUSTIN, Texas …

Cheney fundraising surge continues, as Wyoming congresswoman sets second straight record  —  Cheney, who was ousted as House Republican Conference Chair in May, hauls in nearly $1.9M in past three months  —  Liz Cheney speaks out after being ousted by Republican Party

Prices jumped 5.4 percent in June, the biggest rise since 2008.  —  A key measure of inflation jumped sharply in June, a gain that is sure to keep concerns over rising prices front and center at the White House and Federal Reserve.  —  The Consumer Price Index climbed by 5.4 percent …

The obscure foundation funding “Critical Race Theory” hysteria  —  Critical Race Theory (CRT), once a little-known academic concept, is now at the center of the national political discussion.  CRT is discussed incessantly on Fox News.  It is featured in campaign advertisements.

Bill O'Reilly's Accuser Finally Breaks Her Silence  —  HER STORY … In an exclusive interview, Andrea Mackris reveals the full scope of Bill O'Reilly's alleged harassment of her—and why she doesn't care if telling all means blowing up her NDA. … New York litigator David Ratner shouted at his client …

The Atlantic thrived through Trump and the pandemic.  The future is harder.  —  Nicholas Thompson, the chief executive of The Atlantic, gave a presentation to employees last month in which he disclosed some uncomfortable truths about the state of the magazine.

Manchin draws red line in infrastructure talks  —  Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) warned on Tuesday that he wants both a bipartisan infrastructure bill and a separate Democratic-only bill to be fully paid for.  —  “I think everything should be paid for.  We've put enough free money out,” Manchin told reporters.

Tennessee's former top vaccine official: ‘I am afraid for my state’  —  Editor's note: On Monday, July 12, the Tennessee Department of Health fired Dr. Michelle Fiscus, the top vaccine official in the Tennessee state government.  Fiscus said she was scapegoated to appease Republican state lawmakers …

Newsom won't be listed as a Democrat on recall ballot, judge says  —  Gov. Gavin Newsom cannot identify himself as a Democrat on the September recall ballot because he missed the deadline to designate his party affiliation, a superior court judge in Sacramento ruled Monday.

What the Hell Happened to the Claremont Institute?  —  [A printable PDF of this article is available here.]  —  Just before 11 o'clock on the morning of January 6—an hour before President Donald Trump began riling up his “Save America” rally in front of the White House …

Youngkin to skip marquee debate over moderator's donation to Clinton Bush Haiti Fund  —  RICHMOND — Republican Glenn Youngkin will skip what is typically the premier debate of the Virginia governor's race, saying he objects to the moderator, PBS NewsHour host Judy Woodruff …

REvil, Hacking Group Behind Major Ransomware Attack, Disappears  —  Just days after President Biden called President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia and demanded that he act to shut down ransomware groups that are attacking American targets, the biggest of them has gone off-line.  The mystery is who made that happen.

Lumber Wipes Out 2021 Gain With Demand Ebbing After Record Boom  — Wood prices often drift lower in the summer, rise in September  — Lumber futures still at historically elevated prices  —  Lumber, which at one point was among the world's best-performing commodities …

Biden to pick former West Virginia health official as nation's drug czar  —  Rahul Gupta, ally of Manchin, would oversee drug policy strategy if confirmed  —  President Biden has selected a former West Virginia health official as the nation's top drug policy official, according …

Fired and defiant, former Social Security chief is cut off from agency computers  —  Ousted Social Security commissioner Andrew Saul, the Trump appointee who declared Friday he would defy his firing by President Biden, on Monday found his access to agency computers cut off, even as his acting replacement moved to undo his policies.

Unions' Focus on Woke Over Work Rankles Rank and File  —  Los Angeles school teacher Glenn Laird has been a union stalwart for almost four decades.  He served as a co-chair of his school's delegation to United Teachers Los Angeles and proudly wore union purple on the picket line.  —  Pride at Work

Lawsuit targets Texas abortion law deputizing citizens to enforce six-week ban  —  Abortion rights advocates and providers filed a federal lawsuit in Texas on Tuesday seeking to block a new state law empowering individuals to sue anyone assisting a woman with getting an abortion …

Taliban fighters execute 22 Afghan commandos as they try to surrender  —  Dawlat Abad, Afghanistan (CNN)Over clear but unsteady video, the words ring out: “Surrender, commandos, surrender.”  Several men emerge from a building; they are clearly unarmed.  —  Gunfire erupts.

A Witch Trial at the Legal Aid Society  —  Maud Maron was a model public defender.  Then she was forced out of her job because of her political views and her race.  —  12 hr ago  —  If you google “bleeding heart liberal,” Maud Maron might well turn up as the first hit.