Alarmed Louisiana Residents Turn to Vaccines in ‘Darkest Days’ of Pandemic  —  Louisiana is leading the nation in an explosion of new cases.  Hospitals are overflowing and admitting more young people than before.  But the crisis is also driving some to get vaccinated.

AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka dead at 72  —  Richard Trumka, president of the powerful AFL-CIO labor organization, has died unexpectedly, the federation announced Thursday.  —  Trumka, 72, had served as president of the AFL-CIO, which represents more than 12.5 million workers …

What Mike Fanone Can't Forget  —  It wasn't a cop bar; that was the point.  They weren't there to meet other cops.  They were there to meet girls.  The three police officers took seats at the wine bar in D.C.'s trendy Navy Yard neighborhood—exposed concrete walls, leather banquettes …

A critical ocean system may be heading for collapse due to climate change, study finds  —  ‘The consequences of a collapse would likely be far-reaching.’  —  Human-caused warming has led to an “almost complete loss of stability” in the system that drives Atlantic Ocean currents …

Exclusive: Going Down The ‘Big Lie’ Rabbit Hole With Former President Trump  —  The Uprising obtained the former president's purported evidence of election fraud.  Trump's statement reveals the origins of his conspiracy theories and how key conservative allies fuel them.

The Fox News Fallacy  —  It's Blinding the Democrats to Real Problems  —  The Fox News Fallacy is having a dire effect on many Democrats.  This is the idea that if Fox News (substitute here the conservative bête noire of your choice if you prefer) criticizes the Democrats for X …

CNN's Cuomo Conundrum: A Star Anchor With a Brother in Trouble  —  Chris Cuomo, the top-rated host, left some colleagues confused after he did not acknowledge the calls for Gov. Andrew Cuomo's resignation during his Tuesday show.  —  Earlier this year, CNN executives floated an idea to their star anchor Chris Cuomo.

Abbott calls new special session to push voting restrictions that Texas Dems have blocked by fleeing state  —  Texas Republicans will redouble their efforts to pass new voting restrictions by convening a second special House session this weekend, hardening a stalemate with Democratic legislators whose exodus …

Scoop: Inside a Kamala Harris crisis dinner  —  A group of the Democratic Party's most influential women met for dinner at a home in the nation's capital last month to game out how to defend Vice President Kamala Harris and her chief of staff, Tina Flournoy, against a torrent of bad press.

Another not-proud moment for Rudy Giuliani  —  By now, it's hardly a secret that Rudolph W. Giuliani's latest political act is essentially one of a glorified hype man and bare-knuckle provocateur — someone who just says a bunch of stuff and promotes baseless conspiracy theories (about Ukraine …

Graham says he's told Trump to ‘speak up’ on COVID vaccines  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — As he recovers from a breakthrough infection of the coronavirus, Sen. Lindsey Graham said Thursday that he has urged former President Donald Trump to press his supporters to get the COVID-19 vaccine …

As Florida hospitals fill, DeSantis tries changing the subject … It was on Tuesday afternoon when President Joe Biden sent a not-so-subtle shot across the bow of two prominent Republican governors, noting that Florida and Texas alone account for one third of the nation's new COVID-19 cases.

GOP fears grow over Herschel Walker as party leaders seek other candidates in Georgia Senate race  —  (CNN)Republicans from Georgia to Washington, DC, are searching for a viable candidate to mount a Senate bid in the Peach State next year, fearing that former President Donald Trump's choice …

Why it matters that Tucker Carlson is broadcasting from Hungary this week  —  The country has become a model for a rising kind of authoritarianism.  So, of course, the American right's most popular cable host is embracing it.  —  This week, America's most watched cable news host is broadcasting …

I went to a party with 14 other vaccinated people; 11 of us got COVID  —  I was sitting on an examination table at an urgent care clinic in Timonium, giving my history to a physician's assistant.  An hour later, she would call me to confirm that I was positive for COVID-19.

The Capitol Rioters Attacked Police.  Why Isn't the FOP Outraged?  —  On Tuesday, the National Fraternal Order of Police decided to “clear up confusion” about its position on the January 6 assault on the Capitol by enraged Donald Trump supporters.  “Those who participated in the assaults …

McConnell vows no GOP help with debt limit hike  —  Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell promised Thursday that Republicans will not support a debt ceiling hike, just as Democrats have signaled they plan to take a path that would require Republican support.

Mark Meadows Timeline: The Chief of Staff and Schemes to Overturn 2020 Election  —  Former White House chief of staff, Mark Meadows, was directly involved at major intersections of President Donald Trump's efforts to overturn the 2020 presidential election.  What follows is a detailed timeline of all the publicly available information.

A toxic legacy: Masculinity in the Republican Party requires subservience to Donald Trump  —  An old adage says that youth is wasted on the young.  Given Republican men's inability to grow up, it appears we are now wasting it on the old, too.  —  In 2015, Republican Party voters turned …

Lawyer: Capitol Cop Who Shot Ashli Babbitt ‘Ambushed’ Her on Jan. 6 Without Warning  —  Officer identified as Lt. Michael Byrd, top, in House chamber before the Ashli Babbitt slaying in the hall.  A Capitol Police officer says Byrd wasn't following firearms training.  (See photo detail below.)

Mike Richards in Advanced Negotiations to Become Permanent Host of ‘Jeopardy!’  (EXCLUSIVE) … “Jeopardy!” executive producer Mike Richards is in advanced negotiations with Sony Pictures Television to become permanent host of the venerable quiz show, taking the reins of the syndicated powerhouse …

Donald Trump wants his supporters to carry “Trump Cards.”  — Donald Trump wants his supporters to carry “Trump Cards.”  — The Trump camp sent an email on August 4 asking supporters to choose their favorite design.  — The cards come emblazoned with gold lettering and bear the former president's signature.

Fauci: If community spread doesn't get under control, US ‘may sooner or later get another variant’  —  If the virus can spread, it can mutate, Dr. Fauci said.  —  If the U.S. does not get control over community spread of the delta COVID variant, the nation will continue to see more variants …

WATCH: Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade Spar Over Vaccines and TV Anchors ‘Recommending Medical Advice’  —  Things got a little tense on the curvy couch Thursday morning as Fox & Friends co-hosts Steve Doocy and Brian Kilmeade had a spirited conversation about the Covid vaccine and the merits …