The Afghan Military Was Built Over 20 Years.  How Did It Collapse So Quickly?  —  The Taliban's rapid advance has made clear that U.S. efforts to turn Afghanistan's military into a robust, independent fighting force have failed, with its soldiers feeling abandoned by inept leaders.

Scoop: Biden braces for brutal loss  —  The Biden administration is preparing for the fall of Kabul and a retreat from any U.S. diplomatic presence in Afghanistan — a stunning reversal of expectations.  — It's looking increasingly likely to high-ranking aides to President Biden that the U.S …

The Cuomo Touch How he lost the governorship.  —  In 2001, as he set out on his first, disastrous campaign for public office, Andrew Cuomo invited a columnist for this magazine to join him for a car ride through New York City.  Bill Clinton had just departed office, leaving Washington …

Powerful Earthquake Strikes Haiti  —  Seismologists reported that a magnitude 7.2 quake struck in the west of the country, and heavy damage was reported in at least two cities.  —  PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti — A magnitude 7.2 earthquake struck Haiti on Saturday morning, seismologists said …

The strange summer land rush in Peoria's dying south end  —  Buyers from all over America — some of whom had never heard of the Illinois town — came searching for wealth amid the Rust Belt ruins  —  PEORIA, Ill. — A block that had once been home to more than 100 people was down to six who lived amid the ruins of another era.

Biden administration offers aid to Florida schools defying DeSantis order  —  The Biden administration is stepping in to offer financial assistance to Florida educators defying Gov. Ron DeSantis' (R) law banning local K-12 mask mandates.  —  Why it matters: The battle over mask mandates in schools has been brewing for weeks.

Behold Barack Antoinette  —  WASHINGTON — Jay Gatsby gave big, lavish, new-money parties at his sprawling mansion on the water because he wanted to seem cool.  He wanted Daisy to notice him.  —  Barack Obama gave a big, lavish, new-money party at his sprawling mansion on the water because he wanted to seem cool.

Tap Dancing With Trump: Lindsey Graham's Quest for Relevance  —  The senator went from Donald J. Trump's public enemy to his impassioned defender.  Now he's a golfing regular at Mar-a-Lago, advising the former president on his future.  What is behind one of the unlikeliest partnerships in politics?

Family of D.C. officer who died by suicide after Capitol riot files lawsuit against alleged attacker  —  The lawyer for a D.C. police officer who fatally shot himself nine days after he was injured confronting rioters at the Capitol on Jan. 6 says a group of cybersleuths has identified one of his attackers.

‘Your child will wait for another child to die.’ Amid Covid-19 surge, Dallas County has no pediatric ICU beds left, county judge says  —  Covid-19 cases and hospitalizations are surging and in Dallas County, Texas, there are “zero ICU beds left for children,” county judge Clay Jenkins said in a news conference Friday morning.

‘Like Choosing a Pope’: How Succession Got Messy at ‘Jeopardy!’  —  The decades-old game show, TV comfort food for many, has been rocked by drama over who would replace the late Alex Trebek.  —  When Ken Jennings arrived at the “Jeopardy!” studios in November for the first day of his audition …

EXCLUSIVE: At least 74 people on Martha's Vineyard have tested positive for Covid-19 since Barack Obama's maskless 60th birthday bash - the most cases on the island since April  — A total of 74 people on Martha's Vineyard have tested positive for Covid-19 since former President Barack Obama's 60th birthday on Saturday

‘This is a very dangerous combination’: New study says wildfire smoke linked to increased covid cases, deaths  —  Harvard University researchers studied more than 90 counties in the West that were hit hard by wildfires in 2020.  —  In a new study published on Friday, a team of researchers …