Read: Rep. Liz Cheney's opening statement before the January 6 select committee  —  (CNN)Rep. Liz Cheney, one of two Republicans on the new select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection, said Tuesday that the panel needs to rise above politics and overcome efforts to “obscure the facts.”

The C.D.C. will recommend that some vaccinated people wear masks indoors again.  —  Reversing a decision made just two months ago, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is expected to recommend on Tuesday that people vaccinated for the coronavirus resume wearing masks indoors in certain areas of the country.

Trump officials can testify in inquiries into efforts to subvert election outcome and Jan. 6 riot, Justice Dept. says.  —  The Justice Department notified former officials this week that they could testify to the various committees investigating the Trump administration's efforts to subvert …

The Biden administration is considering mandating federal employees to be vaccinated, or face testing and other requirements.  —  WASHINGTON — The Biden administration is considering requiring all federal employees to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or be forced to submit to regular testing …

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 …

Likely California voters now almost evenly split on Newsom recall, poll finds  —  Californians who say they expect to vote in the September recall election are almost evenly divided over whether to remove Gov. Gavin Newsom from office, evidence of how pivotal voter turnout will be in deciding …

Rare Cuneiform Tablet Bearing Portion of Epic of Gilgamesh Forfeited to United States  —  Auction House Sold the “Gilgamesh Dream Tablet” to Hobby Lobby Using a False Provenance  —  The U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York ordered the forfeiture of a rare cuneiform tablet bearing …

Simone Biles Says She Wasn't Right Mentally During Olympic Final  —  Biles left the women's gymnastics final at the Tokyo Games because she was afraid she would be injured if she continued in a rattled state of mind.  It is not clear whether she will compete in her individual events.  —  Key Updates:

'What's Covid?'  Why People at America's Hardest-Partying Lake Are Not About to Get Vaccinated  —  OSAGE BEACH, Mo.—  The petite blonde bartender in ripped jean shorts bounced to each side of a square-shaped bar as women in bikinis and shirtless men lined up on a sweltering afternoon …

United States Sells Unique Wu-Tang Clan Album Forfeited by Convicted Hedge Fund Manager Martin Shkreli  —  Defendant Forfeited His Interest in the Album, “Once Upon a Time in Shaolin,” Following Conviction for Engaging in Securities Fraud Schemes  —  Proceeds from the Sale Will be Applied to Forfeiture Money Judgment Against Shkreli

Scoop: 50,000 migrants released; few report to ICE  —  About 50,000 migrants who crossed the southern border illegally have now been released in the United States without a court date.  Although they are told to report to an Immigration and Customs Enforcement office instead, just 13% have shown up so far, Axios has learned.

Med Schools Are Now Denying Biological Sex  —  Professors are apologizing for saying ‘male’ and ‘female.’ Students are policing teachers.  This is what it looks like when activism takes over medicine.  —  1 hr ago … During a recent endocrinology course at a top medical school …

Study: American Abortion Laws Closer to North Korea Than Europe  —  America's abortion laws are closer to North Korea's than they are to democratic countries', a fact the Supreme Court should consider as it weighs the constitutionality of Mississippi's abortion law, according to a new study.

'It's Painful': Infrastructure Talks Near Either a Deal or Collapse  —  The negotiations have entered that most excruciating of phases: tantalizingly close to an agreement, but with none in hand.  And patience is wearing thin.  —  WASHINGTON — A key Republican senator grumbled publicly …

As Virus Cases Rise, Another Contagion Spreads Among the Vaccinated: Anger  —  Frustrated by the prospect of a new surge, many Americans are blaming the unvaccinated.  A tougher stance may backfire, some experts warn.  —  As coronavirus cases resurge across the country …

Frequent Fox News guest calls officer testifying to January 6 commission a crisis actor  —  The January 6 select committee finally got underway, and just moments into the first testimony, a frequent Fox News guest claimed that Metropolitan police officer Michael Fanone is a crisis actor.

Crest Hill couple charged in January 6 US Capitol attack … CHICAGO (WLS) — A couple from south suburban Crest Hill are facing federal charges for breaching the U.S. Capitol on January 6, as Congress certified election results naming Joe Biden president.  —  Amy Schubert and her husband John …

Chuck Todd on why Meet the Press can't survive on just one platform … This week, I'm talking to Chuck Todd, the political director at NBC News and moderator of Meet The Press, the longest-running television show in the country.  Seriously: Meet the Press started in 1946, and Chuck is only the 12th moderator the show's ever had.

Swastika found etched into State Department elevator  —  A swastika was found on Monday etched into the wall of a State Department elevator near the office of its special envoy to monitor and combat anti-semitism, according to a person familiar with the discovery and a picture obtained by Axios.