United Airlines to Require All U.S. Employees to Get Covid-19 Vaccines  —  The airline is the first U.S. carrier to mandate vaccines for all employees  —  United Airlines will require its U.S. employees to be vaccinated this fall, the first major airline to take this step as the Delta variant drives …

Washington's hottest club is Joe Manchin's houseboat  —  Generally speaking, the first rule of visiting Joe Manchin III's houseboat is don't talk about Joe Manchin's houseboat.  —  This week, however, when Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) tested positive for the coronavirus after attending …

Gov. Cuomo accuser files criminal complaint with Albany Sheriff's Office  —  A former assistant to Gov. Andrew Cuomo who accused him of groping her while they took a selfie together has filed a criminal complaint against him with the Albany County Sheriff's Office, The Post has learned.

Tucker Carlson's Self-Loathing International Tourism  —  Tucker Carlson is spending a week in Budapest in order to annoy Americans and everybody else who believes in the ideals of America: the rule of law, a free press, free elections, the conviction that democracy is preferable to autocracy.

Mike Lindell got owned in the worst possible way on his ridiculous election fraud claims  —  (CNN)Mike Lindell is the single most prominent pusher this side of Donald Trump of the Big Lie — the idea that the 2020 election was somehow stolen despite zero evidence to back up that claim.

Employers Added 943,000 Jobs in July, Unemployment Rate Fell to 5.4%  —  Robust job growth last month reflects a strong labor market ahead of the Delta variant threat  —  Employers added jobs at the best pace in nearly a year in July and the unemployment rate fell sharply …

Biden administration considers withholding funds and other measures to spur vaccinations  —  The Biden administration is considering using federal regulatory powers and the threat of withholding federal funds from institutions to push more Americans to get vaccinated — a huge potential shift …

The Backstory: My brother is one of millions who won't get the COVID-19 vaccine.  I asked why.  Here are his reasons, my responses.  —  I'm USA TODAY editor-in-chief Nicole Carroll, and this is The Backstory, insights into our biggest stories of the week.  If you'd like to get The Backstory in your inbox every week, sign up here.

Judge rejects billionaire Phil Anschutz's tax lawsuit, reveals how much money he wanted  —  A Denver District Court judge Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by billionaire Phil Anschutz and his wife, Nancy, seeking a nearly $8 million tax refund from the Colorado Department of Revenue.

Biden's Ratings Slip, but It's More Than Just Delta Fears  —  Like Donald Trump before him, President Biden didn't get much of a political honeymoon.  Even before he finished his first full week of work at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, an early February Gallup poll found views of the former Vice President …

New York Magazine Writer Baffled by Support for the Rule of Law  —  At New York magazine, Ed Kilgore has penned a confession: He has no principles, and he doesn't understand people who do.  —  Kilgore is absolutely baffled that, in his words, “conservatives are freaking out about the eviction moratorium …

‘Occupy’ leader claims police ‘dragged’ him out of Kevin McCarthy presser for asking about Capitol riot commission  —  McCarthy spokesperson says ‘congressional staff had nothing to do [with] his removal’  —  Related video: Police officer hits out at ‘disgraceful’ attempts to downplay Capitol riots

Newsom tells campaign volunteers, donors that recall candidate Larry Elder will roll back California laws  —  Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday attacked the Republican topping the field of candidates trying to replace him in the September recall election, calling conservative talk show host Larry Elder …

'We're Going Back To The Capitol': Ex Trump Campaign Official Announces ‘Huge’ Protest  —  “We're going to push back on the phony narrative that there was an insurrection,” Matt Braynard told former White House strategist Steve Bannon.  —  The former data chief for Donald Trump's 2016 campaign …

'We're back to panicking': Moms are hit hardest with camps, day cares and schools closing again  —  Parents of children under 12 are once again struggling to juggle work and child care.  There's concern about another mass resignation of moms.  —  Sarah Mordecai just got the phone call that no parent wants …

Governor DeSantis blames FL COVID surge on Biden, immigrants  —  Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has failed to protect Floridians from COVID-19.  —  That fact alone is grounds for condemnation, but this week he's throwing into the mix a little xenophobia for political effect.

The Struggle to Vaccinate Springfield, Missouri  —  COVID cases continue to rise, but many residents remain reluctant to get the vaccine.  —  On February 18th, deep in a deadly covid-19 winter at Cox Medical Center South, in Springfield, Missouri, the last patient was moved from the treatment ward …

Rupert Murdoch hates Trump, but can't stop Trumpism on Fox News because he's lost control of the network, Murdoch biographer says in The 600-Word Interview  — Michael Wolff is the author of three books on Trump and one on Murdoch.  — Wolff says Murdoch hates Trump.

The GOP's Bad Infrastructure Deal  —  The bill is filled with financial gimmicks, waste and expansions of Washington power.  —  It isn't just the Biden administration that is keen to redefine the term “infrastructure.”  A growing number of Republican senators are getting in on the act, and more fool the party.

Call the COVID Hysteria What It Is  —  There's a reason why you might be noticing the tactics and effects of psychological torture in your everyday life.  —  Do you know what one of the most common psychological torture tactics is?  Isolation.  —  Other common tactics of psychological torture …

Glenn Kessler's hit-piece-in-progress on Christopher Rufo blew up in his face  —  I really don't dislike Glenn Kessler's work most of the time.  He's certainly head-and-shoulders above some of the other fact-checkers out there and not averse to taking on Democrats as well as Republicans.

Felt Alive Again  —  There was a glorious yet fleeting moment this summer, between waves, when the Covid case count was at its lowest since the beginning of the pandemic.  Before the Delta variant began heightening anxieties and led to increased calls for a return to wearing masks, the city felt, shockingly, almost normal.