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) …

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 ...

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 …

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” …

A Not So Grand Infrastructure Deal  —  The GOP gets roads and bridges.  Democrats a green bonanza and more.  —  By The Editorial Board  —  Senate Republicans, or at least some of them, are taking a victory lap for striking a $1 trillion infrastructure deal with the White House.  Hurrah!

Let It Rip  —  How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Live With The Virus  —  It started with a text. … He asked me to be on call if he needed something.  A day later, he wrote, “Felt cruddy last night — chills, a little sweats, but slept 10 - 11 hours and slightly better so far today.”

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.

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.

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 …

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.

Texas just passed New York in COVID-19 deaths, despite once trailing by 29,000.  Here's how.  —  Texas has passed New York to become the state with the second-most COVID-19 deaths, a feat experts say was driven by an inability to control transmission of the virus here.

After 8-month COVID-19 battle, GOP Rep. David Byrd urges vaccines, says they ‘should not divide us’  —  The moment before Rep. David Byrd was put under, he realized it might be the last he'd ever see of this world.  —  From a COVID-19 intensive care bed at Saint Thomas Hospital in December …

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.

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.

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 …

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 …

House adjourns for recess without passing bill to extend federal eviction ban  —  House Democratic leaders failed to round up enough votes on Friday to pass legislation extending the federal ban on evictions just two days before it is set to expire, ultimately adjourning the chamber …

Wisconsin Republican expands 2020 election investigation  —  MADISON, Wis. (AP) — The highest ranking Republican in the Wisconsin Assembly said Friday that he was expanding a probe into the 2020 presidential election, saying it will take more investigators and time than originally planned.

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 …

DHS Statement on Expedited Removal Flights for Certain Families  —  Asylum and other legal migration pathways should be readily available to those who need them, and this Administration is committed to fairly and efficiently considering asylum claims.  Those not seeking protection …

United States Seizes Oil Tanker Used to Violate Sanctions Against North Korea  —  A New York federal court today entered a judgment of forfeiture regarding the M/T Courageous, a 2,734-ton oil-products tanker used to make illicit deliveries of petroleum products through ship-to-ship transfers …

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 …