Already Distorting Jan. 6, G.O.P. Now Concocts Entire Counternarrative  —  In the Republicans' disinformation campaign, the arrested Capitol rioters are political prisoners and Speaker Nancy Pelosi is to blame for the attack.  —  In the hours and days after the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol …

WATCH: Mark Meadows Says Trump Meeting with ‘Cabinet Members’ at Jersey Golf Club About ‘Moving Forward in a Real Way’  —  Former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows said that former President Donald Trump has been meeting with “cabinet members” at his New Jersey golf resort …

Florida sets a record with 21,683 new COVID-19 cases reported Saturday, the CDC says  —  Saturday, the state of Florida reported more new COVID-19 cases to the Centers for Disease Control than any previous day in the coronavirus pandemic, 21,683.  —  That's a jump over the previous record …

1 big thing: Biden's quick-trigger COVID problem  —  The Biden administration's handling of the Delta surge has left Americans confused and frustrated, fueling media overreaction and political manipulation.  — Why it matters: The past year and a half have left Americans cynical …

Chart: Less than 0.1% of vaccinated Americans infected with COVID-19  —  Of the 164 million vaccinated Americans, less than 0.1% have been infected with the coronavirus, and 0.001% have died, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

A lawyer hoped history books would help her Capitol riot clients grow.  She was called a traitor — and worse.  —  Defense attorney Heather Shaner said her first client from Jan. 6 wanted to invoke “the Constitution from 1776.″ When she tried to explain that the document was ratified years later …

Rep. Madison Cawthorn tried to board plane with gun; could face fine, status loss  —  ASHEVILLE - U.S. House member Madison Cawthorn had his gun taken by airport police and will likely face a federal fine and loss of a special security status, local and federal officials said.

Body of Reuters Photographer Was Mutilated in Taliban Custody, Officials Say  —  The body of Danish Siddiqui, a Pulitzer Prize winner killed in Afghanistan, was unrecognizable when it was brought to a Kandahar hospital, one official said.  —  NEW DELHI — The body of Danish Siddiqui …

‘A rush to get shots’  —  Vaccine holdouts in coronavirus hot spots including Louisiana, Arkansas, and Missouri are rolling up their sleeves as the delta variant hits home.  —  They were unmoved by the urgings of President Biden to get vaccinated.  They've spurned calls from the nation's leading doctors …

AOC has spent thousands on security, including $4k-plus to ex-Blackwater contractor  —  Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez paid thousands for personal security to a former Blackwater contractor, a review of Federal Election Commission records shows.  —  AOC's campaign dropped at least $4,636 …

Progressives' New Racialism Isn't Just Repulsive.  It's Dangerous  —  This week, a bipartisan group of Senators came to an agreement over a new infrastructure bill that totals $550 billion, offering some hope to Americans that excessive partisanship won't doom the legislation America needs …

Local Outrage at Trump Winged Foot Gala Goes National  —  Protests Expected Over Westchester Golf Club Flap  —  Larchmont resident Jenny Geer may see a security detail of cars snaking its way past her house heading to the nearby Winged Foot Golf course next Wednesday, August 4.

All hands on deck for democracy - with special guest Marcy Wheeler  —  Marcy Wheeler's website: EmptyWheel.net  —  Marcy Wheeler at EmptyWheel.net: DOJ unimpressed by Mo Brooks' kickass conspiracy defense  —  Marcy Wheeler at EmptyWheel.net: Like all his co-conspirators, Donald Trump would be charged for obstruction, not incitement

Rudy Giuliani Says He's ‘More Than Willing To Go To Jail’ But Did Nothing Wrong in Amazing Interview with NBC New York  —  NBC New York's Melissa Russo interviewed former NYC mayor and former Donald Trump attorney Rudy Giuliani this week, and in very on-brand fashion the outspoken attorney made multiple startling declarations.

Activist Shaun King lives lavishly in lakefront New Jersey home  —  Shaun King has built his image on being a champion of the poor and disenfranchised, but the controversial civil rights activist lives like a one-percenter in a sprawling lakefront home, records show.

Who Are the Unvaccinated in America?  There's No One Answer.  —  One segment of people who have avoided shots is vehemently opposed to the idea.  But there is a second group, surveys suggest, that is still deciding.  —  As coronavirus cases rise across the United States …

McConnell stirs GOP intrigue with support for Biden's infrastructure bill  —  Moments before the Senate took a pivotal vote on its bipartisan infrastructure deal, negotiators zeroed in on the most important undecided member: Mitch McConnell.  —  The Senate minority leader stayed quiet …

Augusta County School Board votes against VDoE transgender model policies  —  AUGUSTA COUNTY, Va. (WVIR) - The Augusta County School Board voted unanimously Thursday night not to adopt model policies for the treatment of transgender students put forth by the Virginia Department of Education.

Maher: Maybe the “woke Olympics” shouldn't have taken its cues from the Oscars  —  Is that why the ratings for this Summer Olympiad have fallen to nearly half of those for the Rio Olympics in 2016?  Bill Maher diagnoses wokery as the culprit, but he has a tough slog bringing his audience along on the argument.

Biden appoints Muslim Gold Star father to religious freedom post after he gave speech to Dems about his dead Army Captain son and Trump attacked him  — Biden announced Friday the appointment the Muslim father of a Gold Star veteran whose son died while fighting in Iraq to a religious freedom post

Cawthorn vs. McKinley: Another intra-GOP spat breaks out on House floor  —  “I said, ‘Your district will remember that,’” the North Carolina conservative freshman recalled telling his West Virginia Republican colleague.  —  Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.) speaks during the Conservative …

Trump's candidate lost a Texas special election.  NC political operatives were watching.  —  The loss of a Donald Trump-backed candidate in a Texas special election is giving pause to some political operatives in North Carolina's Senate race.  —  On Tuesday, a Navy veteran supported …