'It's Nowhere Near Over': A Beach Town's Gust of Freedom, Then a U-turn  —  Provincetown, Mass., the quirky community at the tip of Cape Cod, thought it was safe to return to prepandemic partying.  It wasn't.  —  PROVINCETOWN, Mass. — By the Fourth of July, Provincetown's tourist season had built to a prepandemic thrum.

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 …

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 …

Former RNC chairman to Jim Jordan on Jan. 6: ‘You know, b****, what time you called the president’  —  Former Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele called Ohio Rep. Jim Jordan a “son of a b****” for his recent remarks that he wasn't certain whether he spoke to former President Donald Trump on Jan. 6.

Florida breaks record with more than 21,000 new COVID cases  —  ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Florida reported 21,683 new cases of COVID-19, the state's highest one-day total since the start of the pandemic, according to federal health data released Saturday, as its theme park resorts again started asking visitors to wear masks indoors.

Bacon may disappear in California as pig rules take effect  —  DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — Thanks to a reworked menu and long hours, Jeannie Kim managed to keep her San Francisco restaurant alive during the coronavirus pandemic.  —  That makes it all the more frustrating that she fears …

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 …

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 …

Trump political groups raised $82M in first half of 2021  —  Led by Save America PAC, the former president's new political outfit, the three groups have over $100 million in the bank.  —  In this July 11, 2021, photo Donald Trump speaks at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Dallas, Texas.

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.

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 …

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.

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.

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 …

Sarah Palin teases 2022 Senate run in Alaska  —  Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin said she may yet jump back into politics, teasing the possibility of a Senate run in 2022 against incumbent Lisa Murkowski.  —  “If God wants me to do it I will,” Palin told an enthusiastic audience during …

‘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 …

Source: Pandemic protocol that expels migrant families halted; RGV already feeling impact  —  Title 42, a federal public health code used to expel a large portion of migrants seeking asylum, is as of late this week no longer in effect for migrant families across the country …

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 …

Murder Trial in Sweden Could Shine Unsavory Light on Iran's New President  —  Nearly 3,000 miles from Tehran where mass executions were carried out in 1988, a murder trial in Sweden could produce new revelations that complicate life for Iran's president-elect.

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

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.

Emails Show UM Officials' Concern Over Fired Historian Criticizing Private Prison Ties  —  Before the University of Mississippi terminated Dr. Garrett Felber, an anti-racist history professor, his public criticisms of its ties to the private-prison industry drew concern from administrators …