The FBI's ‘investigation’ of Kavanaugh was laughable  —  The most laughable — and most telling — part of the FBI's recent letter to senators about its investigation of sexual assault allegations against Justice Brett M. Kavanaugh comes at the start: “This responds to your letter, dated August 1 …

The Delta Variant Will Drive A Steep Rise In U.S. COVID Deaths, A New Model Shows  —  The current COVID-19 surge in the U.S. — fueled by the highly contagious delta variant — will steadily accelerate through the summer and fall, peaking in mid-October, with daily deaths more than triple what they are now.

Mississippi asks the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade  —  (CNN)Mississippi's attorney general told the Supreme Court on Thursday that Roe v. Wade was “egregiously wrong” and should be overturned as she urged the justices to allow a controversial law that bars most abortions after 15 weeks to go into effect.

Suddenly, (Some) Republicans Are All In on the Vaccine  —  The new G.O.P. politics of the pandemic follow the grim new math of the pandemic for Red America.  —  Since the end of the Trump Presidency, Republicans have been ratcheting up the doom-and-gloom quotient in their rhetoric.

Pelosi calls Republican Party's bluff on Capitol riot committee  —  On Monday, House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., nominated Reps. Jim Jordan, Jim Banks, Rodney Davis, Kelly Armstrong and Troy Nehls to serve on the select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol riot.

The absolute farce that was the Biden-Lemon town hall  —  The activism that infects much of modern journalism was featured under the lights of primetime on Wednesday night during President Biden's CNN town hall in Cincinnati.  —  Exhibit A came when the topic turned to the filibuster …

Bill to Strip Social Media of Protections for Health Misinformation  —  Sen. Amy Klobuchar's legislation would create exception to law known as Section 230  —  WASHINGTON—Sen. Amy Klobuchar introduced a bill Thursday that would strip online platforms such as Facebook Inc. and Twitter Inc …

4 Reasons I'm Wearing a Mask Again  —  Earlier this month, I pulled a mask out of the bin of hats, scarves, and gloves I keep by the door; strapped it on; and choked.  I had inhaled a mouthful of cat hair—several weeks' worth, left by my gray tabby, Calvin, who has been napping on a nest …

Why Everyone Has the Worst Summer Cold Ever  —  As pandemic restrictions begin to relax, common viruses that cause drippy noses, stuffy heads and other cold symptoms have roared back to taunt your immune system.  —  Yes, the summer cold and cough season really is worse than usual.

LISTEN: Audio Clip Released Of Trump Blaming Capitol Police For Insurrection  —  In an audio clip from a new book, Donald Trump seemed to skate right up to the edge of admitting that January's insurrection attempt, carried out by his fans who hoped to overturn the election in his favor …

Thousands of bullets have been fired in this D.C. neighborhood.  Fear is part of everyday life.  —  Markeith Muskelly, a barber who has spent half his 52 years cutting hair in Southeast Washington, has seen people get shot on the street outside the shop where he works.  —  Last fall, he saw a man die there.

US Sen. Ron Johnson: ‘I may not be the best candidate’ for 2022  —  U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson is sending out some mixed signals on whether he'll run for re-election in 2022.  —  In an interview this week, Johnson, R-Oshkosh, said he “may not be the best candidate” for the 2022 U.S. Senate race …

Stop insulting Trump voters and their concerns.  Talk to them.  —  When supporters of former president Donald Trump hear media pundits analyze them with the usual collection of belittling observations, they must be tempted to respond, “Hey, we're right here!  We can hear you!”

Did Biden just commit an impeachable offense in Ukraine?  —  Remember when House Democrats impeached President Donald Trump for twisting the arm of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, allegedly conditioning a White House visit on his willingness to investigate Hunter Biden?

Los Angeles Times names Shani Hilton managing editor for new initiatives  —  Shani Hilton has been appointed to the newly created role of managing editor for new initiatives at the Los Angeles Times, effective immediately.  —  In making the appointment, Times Executive Editor Kevin Merida …

Inside Trump's intense search for a Cheney challenger  —  Former President Donald Trump's top political advisers have been holding quiet talks over the last several months with the primary challengers looking to take down his most prominent Republican nemesis: Wyoming Rep. Liz Cheney.

Ex-airman: Guilt over drone strikes prompted to leak secrets  —  ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — A former Air Force intelligence analyst said his guilt over participating in lethal drone strikes in Afghanistan led him to leak government secrets about the drone program to a reporter.

Republican politicians lost in Medicaid expansion standoff, and Missouri voters won  —  BY THE KANSAS CITY STAR EDITORIAL BOARD  —  Thursday, the Missouri Supreme Court — with a clear, unanimous voice — said expanded Medicaid is constitutional.  That means 275,000 people now eligible …

Sean Hannity assures audience he's “not urging people to get the COVID-19 vaccine”  —  Sean Hannity issues stern rebuke to those calling him “pro-vaccine”: “Why are they saying something I didn't say?”

Sleepaway camp in New York says 31 campers under age 12 tested positive for Covid-19  —  CDC warns of ‘pandemic of the unvaccinated’  —  (CNN)A co-ed sleepaway camp in New York said that 31 campers between 7 and 11 years old have tested positive for Covid-19 — but none of their vaccinated 12-and-up campers did.

The Murder Spike of 2020: When Police Pull Back  —  A criminologist argues that last year's unprecedented rise in killings was the result of treating policing as a problem to be solved, rather than an essential part of public order.  —  The rise in murders in the U.S. in 2020 was unprecedented.

A Grizzly Bear Terrorized a Man for Days in Alaska.  The Coast Guard Saw His SOS.  —  Down to his last rounds of ammunition, with bruises and a leg injury, the man was rescued by a helicopter crew that just happened by.  —  He was sleep-deprived and nearly out of ammunition, alone in the wilderness of Alaska.

EXCLUSIVE: Chaos at The View as show scrambles to replace Meghan McCain with a ‘Trump Republican’ like Kimberly Guilfoyle or Candace Owens to balance out the panel - leaving Joy Behar moaning she'll be stuck with someone tougher  — The View is scrambling to hire a conservative co-host to replace Meghan McCain