Gaetz and Greene Hold Bizarre Outdoor ‘Protest’ After Multiple Venues Bailed  —  The controversial pair were forced to address supporters on the street outside the Riverside City Hall, after three California venues turned their planned “protest” away.  —  Republican Reps. Matt Gaetz …

Biden team fumbled early response to Cuban unrest  —  The Biden administration has been far from stellar in its reaction to the unrest in Cuba, but at least its tepid message is improving.  —  As Biden at first took far too long to comment on the wave of protests against Cuba's vicious communist regime …

In Undervaccinated Arkansas, Covid Upends Life All Over Again  —  While much of the nation tiptoes toward normalcy, the coronavirus is again swamping hospitals in places like Mountain Home, in a rural county where fewer than one-third of residents are vaccinated.

3 Texas Democrats test positive for COVID-19 in Washington, D.C.  —  Nicole Cobler Madlin MekelburgAustin American-Statesman  —  WASHINGTON — Three Texas House Democrats have tested positive for COVID-19 from Washington, D.C., according to Texas House Democratic Caucus leadership.

GOP governor's vaccination tour reveals depths of distrust  —  TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) — Free lottery tickets for those who get vaccinated had few takers.  Free hunting and fishing licenses didn't change many minds either.  And this being red-state Arkansas, mandatory vaccinations are off the table.

Moving Past the Finger Pointing  —  At a time when COVID-19 cases are rising in America, the Biden administration has chosen to blame a handful of American social media companies.  While social media plays an important role in society, it is clear that we need a whole of society approach to end this pandemic.

‘Shadow State’: Embracing corporate governance to escape constitutional limits  —  Teddy Roosevelt gave a speech in 1902, “The Control of Corporations,” which warned of the danger of corporate power over citizens' lives.  Calling corporations “creatures of the state,” he said they must be controlled by …

As Frozen Land Burns, Siberia Fears: 'If We Don't Have the Forest, We Don't Have Life'  —  Northeastern Siberia is a place where people take Arctic temperatures in stride.  But 100-degree days are another matter entirely.  —  MAGARAS, Russia — The call for help lit up villagers' phones …

Death of a legend: Louisiana's Edwin Edwards didn't stoop to racism  —  There may be no Southern politician who was more colorful, controversial and consequential than Edwin Edwards, who dominated Louisiana politics for more than three decades.  —  Everything about Edwards, who died this week at 93 …

National Review Says the Vaccines Are Good: A Collection  —  I interned at The Weekly Standard and harbor none of the same visceral anger toward Bill Kristol that his most vigorous critics do — even if I can't profess to fully understand or remotely agree with the increasingly sharp left turn he's taken.

U.S. diplomats in Afghanistan face daunting, dangerous mission with little military backup  —  The conclusion of the Pentagon's two-decade effort in Afghanistan lays bare the challenges facing U.S. diplomats and aid workers who remain behind, as a modest civilian force attempts …

New York City politicians reveling in new Black power surge  —  It's not quite Chocolate City, but recent election wins by African-American politicians has the Big Apple on the verge of being the hub of Black Power.  —  Not only is the nation's largest city poised to elect …

South Africa's leaders fear fresh wave of violence by Zuma loyalists  —  Attacks by supporters of jailed former president ‘are bid for pardon or to unseat government’  —  South African authorities fear a new wave of attacks aimed at undermining the economy, investment and the rule of law …

FACT FOCUS: A false narrative of 74K extra votes in Arizona  —  Cyber Ninjas, the cybersecurity consulting firm hired by Arizona Senate Republicans to oversee a partisan review of the 2020 election, on Thursday pushed a false narrative that Maricopa County received thousands of mail-in ballots …

Say goodbye to your carefree Covid summer  —  A version of this story appeared in CNN's What Matters newsletter.  To get it in your inbox, sign up for free here.  —  (CNN)Summer is only halfway done, but the carefree Covid season is over.  —  Case numbers and hospitalizations are up.