Our democracy is under attack.  Washington journalists must stop covering it like politics as usual.  —  Back in the dark ages of 2012, two think-tank scholars, Norman Ornstein and Thomas Mann, wrote a book called “It's Even Worse Than It Looks” about the rise of Republican Party extremism and its dire effect on American democracy.

Trump-backed candidate loses in Texas special election  —  Voters in North Texas delivered an upset Tuesday, picking GOP state Rep. Jake Ellzey to fill a vacant House seat over a candidate endorsed by former President Donald Trump.  —  Ellzey beat fellow Republican Susan Wright …

Simone Biles Isn't Fearless.  That's A Good Thing.  —  By demanding robotic perfection, Biles's detractors are denying her humanity.  —  Simone Biles pulled out of the Tokyo Olympic gymnastics finals for the women's artistic team all-around on Tuesday morning, citing mental health concerns.

Debunked claims Officer Sicknick died from Capitol riot injuries reemerge at Day One hearing  —  The evidence-free claim that Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick died from injuries suffered in the Jan. 6 riot reemerged Tuesday during the first day of hearings in the Democratic-led House select committee's inquiry of the event.

The CDC's Hysterical Delta Flip-Flop Might Be Its Final Undoing  —  The crazy, convoluted, mixed up messaging from the CDC - it's been this way from the beginning of the pandemic until now - has taken yet another turn.  Now the CDC is recommending masks not just for the unvaccinated but for the vaccinated too.

Gov. Newsom pulls son from summer camp after maskless photos surface  —  California announced earlier this month that all students will wear masks when they return to the classroom  —  Fox News Flash top headlines for July 27  —  Gov. Gavin Newsom removed his children from a summer camp …

The most and least popular US presidents, according to Americans  —  YouGov ranks all US presidents according to how the US public feels about them  —  The respective excellence of US presidents is always being debated.  Many academics have put together rankings over the years to demonstrate …

Israel appears to have committed war crimes in May conflict with Hamas, Human Rights Watch says  —  According to a leading human rights group, Israel violated international law during the 11 days of fighting with Hamas militants in the densely packed Gaza Strip in May, in what “apparently amount to war crimes.”

‘America is not racist’ becomes a GOP 2024 mantra  —  Democrats made structural racism a centerpiece of the 2020 presidential primary.  —  Now the Republican rebuttal is emerging as an early plank of the 2024 GOP contest: America is not a racist country.  —  The mantra, used by nearly …

Biden will announce vaccination requirement across federal government on Thursday  —  Mandatory vaccines?  The V.A., New York City, and California roll out new vaccine mandates for government employees, health care workers  —  (CNN)President Joe Biden will announce on Thursday a requirement …

A Confusing Message  —  The C.D.C. recommends indoor masking for the vaccinated, but only in some places.  —  The C.D.C. has both a polarization problem and a communication problem.  —  Let's start with the polarization problem: The parts of the country that would benefit most from a new crackdown …

Ed Buck convicted in meth overdose deaths of Gemmel Moore and Timothy Dean  —  Ed Buck, a longtime fixture of West Hollywood politics, was convicted Tuesday of charges that he supplied the methamphetamine that killed two men during “party-and-play” encounters at his apartment.

The New Moral Code of America's Elite  —  Two students went to Amy Chua for advice.  That sin would cost them dearly.  —  Every striver who ever slipped the rank of their birth to ascend to a higher order has shared the capacity to ingratiate themselves with their betters.

Former President Barack Obama joins NBA Africa as strategic partner … President Obama will help advance the league's social responsibility efforts across the continent, including programs and partnerships that support greater gender equality and economic inclusion.

Democratic Leaders Are Betraying Black Voters  —  Democratic leaders have a plan for overcoming the Republican Party's attempts to restrict the franchise: Just vote harder.  —  Civil-rights leaders expressed their frustrations to The New York Times last week, telling the outlet that …

Julian Assange stripped of citizenship by Ecuador  —  Authorities cite unpaid fees and problems in naturalisation papers relating to WikiLeaks founder  —  Ecuador has revoked the citizenship of Julian Assange, the founder of WikiLeaks who is currently in a British prison.

Chuck Todd: There is no liberal media bias  —  NBC's Chuck Todd gave a lengthy interview to the Verge in which he was asked about media bias.  Specifically, the discussion started with whether or not Todd would allow Sen. Ted Cruz to appear on Meet the Press.

DOJ: Ala. Rep Brooks should not be dismissed from Capitol riot lawsuit; actions not ‘within scope’ of duties  —  The Justice Department concluded late Tuesday that Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., did not warrant exclusion from a Capitol riot lawsuit that claims that the congressman …

'He's a Great Guy': Trump's Favored Aide Has Troubled Past  —  “Max Miller,” said Donald Trump.  —  “You know Max?”  —  The former president stood behind the microphone at the lectern at one of the most recent of his trademark rallies late last month at the county fairgrounds here and told …

The Vaccine Aristocrats  —  Covid-19 cases are rising, but the “Pandemic of the Unvaccinated” blame-game campaign is the worst way to address the problem  —  Then there was the educated Texan from Texas who looked like someone in Technicolor and felt, patriotically, that people of means …