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 …

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 …

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.

Simone Biles is a quitter  —  Even with her many mistakes during the qualifying round, Biles still posted the highest score in the competition  —  Just a few days before the Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony, my mom and I watched the gymnastics comedy Stick It.

Newsom pulls kids from summer camp with no mask requirement  —  SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsom's office said Tuesday he pulled his children out of a summer day camp that did not require kids to wear masks, a violation of state policy that Newsom's spokeswoman …

An anti-Trump Pa. Republican is warning against ‘MAGA extremists’ in new Senate campaign  —  Next year's race to represent Pennsylvania in the U.S. Senate will help shape the direction of the Republican Party.  And Craig Snyder thinks there's still time to take a sharp turn away …

The New Moral Code of America's Elite  —  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.  What the truly exceptional ones have in common is the ability to connect not only with their superiors …

Least persuadable unvaccinated Americans are largely white and Republican  —  Parents are heavily resistant to the vaccine.

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 …

The Pandemic Hurt These Students the Most  —  New research shows that all groups are behind in math and reading after disruptions during the pandemic.  But it's the most vulnerable students who experienced the steepest setbacks.  —  How much did the pandemic affect students?

'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 …

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 …

GOP Rep. Clyde stands by comparison of Jan. 6 mob to ‘tourists’ when pressed by Democratic Rep. Raskin  —  Rep. Andrew S. Clyde (R-Ga.), who infamously compared the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol to “a normal tourist visit,” steadfastly stood by his contention Tuesday night during …

The intellectual right contemplates an ‘American Caesar’  —  Jan. 6 was a badly planned rehearsal for the real deal  —  How does ideological change happen?  Why do certain political ideas and possibilities that appear outrageous and even unthinkable at one moment in history come to be considered options worth taking seriously?

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 …

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.