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 …

Tucker Carlson's fawning new Orban interview shows the right's dream future  —  The first segment of Tucker Carlson's long-anticipated Fox News interview with Viktor Orban has now aired, and it did not disappoint: It provides a deeply unsettling glimpse into the true nature …

Court ruling is final: Newsom may blame recall on ‘Republicans and Trump supporters’  —  A Sacramento judge refused Thursday to block Gov. Gavin Newsom from telling voters that the Sept. 14 recall election was organized by “Republicans and Trump supporters.”

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.

9/11 families to President Biden: Don't come to our memorial events  —  Nearly 1,800 Americans directly affected by the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks are opposing President Joe Biden's participation in any memorial events this year unless he upholds his pledge to declassify U.S. government evidence …

DeJoy maintains financial ties to former company as USPS awards it new $120 million contract  —  XPO Logistics pays DeJoy and family businesses at least $2.1 million annually to lease four office buildings in North Carolina  —  The U.S. Postal Service will pay $120 million over the next five years …

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.

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.

‘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

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 …

CNN: Suuure looks like Chipman's toast — even to the White House  —  It certainly does, and has for weeks, but why is the White House admitting it?  Today's CNN report doesn't offer much new on David Chipman's status with Senate Democrats, but it does speak volumes about the Biden …

Arkansas judge blocks state from enforcing mask mandate ban  —  LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) — An Arkansas judge on Friday temporarily blocked the state from enforcing its ban on mask mandates after lawmakers left the prohibition in place despite a rising number of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.

Andrew Cuomo's Last Play to Hold Onto Power “He is not resigning,” said one ally.  “It is just not in his nature to ever do that.”  —  There is almost no one left in Democratic politics in New York or across the country — not from the president of the United States to the lowest local ward heeler …

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 …

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

'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 …

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.

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.

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 …