Trump Pressed Justice Dept. to Declare Election Results Corrupt, Notes Show  —  “Leave the rest to me” and to congressional allies, the former president is said to have told top law enforcement officials.  —  WASHINGTON — President Donald J. Trump pressed top Justice Department officials late …

CDC study shows three-fourths of people infected in Massachusetts covid-19 outbreak were vaccinated  —  A sobering scientific analysis published Friday of an explosive Massachusetts covid-19 outbreak fueled by the delta variant found that three-quarters of the people who became infected were fully vaccinated.

‘I should have gotten the damn vaccine’: Las Vegas father of 5 dies from COVID-19  —  LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — Two weeks ago, life was great for Jessica DuPreez.  She was on vacation in San Diego with her fiancé Michael Freedy, (better known as Big Mike at the M Resort where he worked) …

Justice Department says Trump's tax returns should be released  —  The Justice Department on Friday said the Treasury Department must turn over former President Trump's long-sought tax returns to the Democratic-led House Ways and Means Committee.  —  In a memo from the Justice Department's Office …

Fact check: Is Kevin McCarthy a ‘moron’?  —  After Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy this week decried the House's new face mask requirement, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) replied with a considered response: “He's such a moron.”  —  Mean!  But if the dunce cap fits ...

Breakthrough Covid cases: At least 125,000 fully vaccinated Americans have tested positive  —  WASHINGTON — At least 125,000 fully vaccinated Americans have tested positive for Covid and 1,400 of those have died, according to data collected by NBC News.  —  The 125,682 “breakthrough” …

What's in it for McConnell?  Why the ‘grim reaper’ is backing a Biden priority … WASHINGTON — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, the self-proclaimed “grim reaper” of progressive priorities, broke character Wednesday to advance a major $550 billion deal on infrastructure.

Mike Lindell says he's pulling MyPillow ads from Fox News.  Here's what that means.  —  MyPillow CEO and conspiracy theorist Mike Lindell is reportedly pulling his company's ads from Fox News after the network allegedly rejected an advertisement for his cyber symposium scheduled for mid-August.

POLITICO Playbook: Sinema's vacation plans, Manchin gets booed and megadonor drama  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  On Thursday night, as President JOE BIDEN boarded Marine One, he made some news.  — First, he reiterated that immigration reform should be included in the reconciliation bill.

Everyone presumes a backlash is coming for the Democrats.  The electorate has changed, though  —  Consider “law and order.”  —  2 hr ago  —  There had been a question of whether the Republicans were going to stick with the losing president.  That question seems settled now.

What Philadelphia Reveals About America's Homicide Surge  —  ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.  Sign up to receive our biggest stories as soon as they're published.  —  Reported with Miles Bryan and Jillian Weinberger as part of a collaboration for Vox's “Today, Explained” podcast.

Covid in Sydney: Military deployed to help enforce lockdown  —  Australia has deployed hundreds of soldiers to Sydney to help enforce a Covid lockdown.  —  A Delta outbreak which began in June has produced nearly 3,000 infections and led to nine deaths.  —  Australian Defence Force soldiers …

The Senate Has Confirmed The First Woman Of Arab And Mexican Descent To Direct US Citizenship and Immigration Services  —  Ur Jaddou will become the first woman and first person of Arab and Mexican descent to be sworn in as director of US Citizenship and Immigration Services after the Senate confirmed her nomination on Friday.

Yep, We Need More Blame  —  We're now getting more information about what new data was behind the CDC's revised guidance on COVID-era masking.  An internal power-point presentation was shared with The Washington Post and the CDC will apparently be making a public presentation today.

Trump's false election fraud claims fuel Michigan GOP meltdown  —  Joe Biden defeated Donald Trump by more than 150,000 votes in Michigan last November.  —  Trump and the Michigan Republican Party still aren't over it.  —  The outcome — and the former president's obsessive efforts to dispute it …

German coach sent home from Olympics after racist comments  —  A German cycling coach is being sent home from the Tokyo Olympics after he was caught on camera making racist remarks about athletes from African nations.  —  The German Olympic Sports Confederation on Thursday said Patrick Moster …

The great mask debate is back.  The answer depends on where you live.  —  As COVID-19 cases surge, especially in states with low vaccination rates, the country is once again in the throes of a fraught cultural and political debate over face masks.

People are dressing in disguise for COVID-19 vaccines, Missouri doctor says  —  Some people in Missouri are dressing in disguise and begging doctors to not publicly reveal they've received a COVID-19 vaccine, a doctor said.  —  Priscilla Frase, Ozarks Healthcare hospitalist …

Democrats fall short of votes for extending eviction ban  —  House Democratic leaders failed to round up enough votes Friday to pass legislation extending the federal ban on evictions just two days before it is set to expire.  —  Two Democratic lawmakers said that a possible House floor vote …

White House: National vaccine mandate ‘not under consideration at this time’  —  The White House is not presently considering a national requirement for the COVID-19 vaccine, principal deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Friday.  —  “A national vaccine requirement is not under consideration at this time.

Backsliding Into Mask Mandates  —  The CDC brings 2020 pandemic policies in a vaccinated 2021.  —  7 hr ago  —  The CDC wants us to go back to wearing masks indoors, even if you've been vaccinated.  This is where I get off.  —  If you'll forgive a little testifying, I've tried hard to be reasonable throughout the pandemic.

Broadway Audiences Will Need Proof of Vaccination and Masks  —  Children under 12, who cannot be vaccinated, can show a negative test to attend.  But the Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall plan to bar them for now.  —  Broadway's theater owners and operators, citing the ongoing dangers …