Intelligence Warned of Afghan Military Collapse, Despite Biden's Assurances  —  Even as the president was telling the public that Kabul was unlikely to fall, intelligence assessments painted a grimmer picture.  —  WASHINGTON — Classified assessments by American spy agencies over the summer painted …

Taliban strikes conciliatory tone, consolidates power as de facto leader returns to country … At a wide-ranging news conference in Kabul on Tuesday, Taliban leaders in Afghanistan offered conciliatory messages, met with skepticism by experts, promising not to discriminate against women …

Office Of The Governor Statement Concerning Governor Abbott  —  Office of the Governor Communications Director Mark Miner today issued a statement after Governor Greg Abbott tested positive for COVID-19:  —  “Governor Greg Abbott today tested positive for the COVID-19 virus.

Pelosi loses patience with centrists on infrastructure deal  —  With Heather Caygle and Sarah Ferris.  —  ‘AMATEUR HOUR’ — As the world watches the fallout from Afghanistan, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and her leadership team are busy planning for the House's return next week.

Bad News  —  In the beginning, there were ABC, NBC, and CBS, and they were good.  Midcentury American man could come home after eight hours of work and turn on his television and know where he stood in relation to his wife, and his children, and his neighbors, and his town, and his country, and his world.

The latest GOP anti-mask lunacy is stirring a backlash.  New polling reveals it.  —  The other day, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis likened mask and other health mandates to “medical authoritarianism.”  The Republican added that we may be witnessing “the most significant threat to freedom in my lifetime …

What I Learned About the United States After Ten Years in Ireland  —  This is an anniversary, of sorts, for me.  I have now lived in Ireland for ten years.  They were ten good years.  During that time, I made some friends and worked with colleagues, who later became friends, and befriended some students, who later befriended me.

Sen. Andre Jacque of De Pere hospitalized after testing positive for COVID-19  —  MADISON - One of the Legislature's most active lawmakers who has opposed mask and vaccine mandates has received hospital care after testing positive for COVID-19.  —  Sen. Andre Jacque, a Republican from De Pere …

DC Tunnel History Site Flagged Suspicious Activity Before Capitol Insurrection  —  The founder and administrator of an obscure website about underground infrastructure in Washington, D.C., saw a sudden and suspicious spike in traffic in the days before the U.S. Capitol insurrection.

Teammate of soccer star Megan Rapinoe accuses her of ‘bullying’ team into kneeling for anthem  —  “I've seen Megan Rapinoe almost bully players into kneeling because she really wants to stand up for something in her particular way.”  —  Story at a glance  — Former U.S. Women's National …

Instagram Posts Help FBI Nab Trump-Loving Romance Novel Model Who Beat Capitol Cops  —  The FBI has arrested Logan Barnhart, whom online sleuths dubbed “CatSweat,” with the help of the Sedition Hunters community.  —  When former President Donald Trump sent a tweet early this year promoting Jan. 6 as a …

U.S. Retail Sales Fell 1.1% in July as Spending Fell Across Categories  —  Sales are well above pre-pandemic levels, but spending on goods retreated over the month  —  Spending at U.S. retailers fell sharply in July, amid cooling purchases of goods and signs of some pullback in consumer demand …

As Taliban takes over, some swap iconic AK-47s for made-in-America rifles  —  The Russian Kalashnikov AK-47 and its derivatives have long been the assault rifle of choice for militant groups because of their rugged design, but some Taliban fighters are trading them in for captured U.S. guns as Afghanistan's government collapses.

The Taliban Have Seized U.S. Military Biometrics Devices … The Taliban have seized U.S. military biometrics devices that could aid in the identification of Afghans who assisted coalition forces, current and former military officials have told The Intercept.