A primer on false narratives about Afghanistan  —  There are many alarmist headlines pronouncing with certitude what has occurred or will occur in Afghanistan.  Many are premature — or alternatively, out of date.  Others ignore information now available to us that debunks fanciful explanations …

Israeli data: How can efficacy vs. severe disease be strong when 60% of hospitalized are vaccinated?  —  A surge involving the rapidly-transmitting Delta variant in heavily vaccinated countries has led to much hand-wringing that the vaccines are not effective against Delta, or vaccine efficacy wanes after 4-6 months.

CIA's Former Counterterrorism Chief for the Region: Afghanistan, Not An Intelligence Failure — Something Much Worse  —  While it's certainly convenient to depict the shock and miscalculation U.S. officials claim over Afghanistan's tragic, rapid fall to the Taliban as an intelligence failure, the reality is far worse.

Joint Statement from HHS Public Health and Medical Experts on COVID-19 Booster Shots  —  Today, public health and medical experts from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released the following statement on the Administration's plan for COVID-19 booster shots for the American people.

U.S. Households Paying No Income Tax Hit 61% of Total Last Year  — Stimulus payments, other aid slashed federal tax bills  — Zero-tax filers to return to pre-pandemic levels in 2022  —  Nearly 61% of U.S households paid no federal income taxes during pandemic-stricken year of 2020 …

Latest Polls Of The California Recall Election  —  Voters will decide whether to remove Gov. Gavin Newsom and — if removed — whom to replace him with  —  Opponents of Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom of California have gathered enough signatures to trigger a recall election for him on Sept. 14 …

Georgia board to review Fulton elections, takeover possible  —  ATLANTA (AP) — Georgia's State Election Board on Wednesday took a step toward a possible eventual takeover of elections in the state's most populous county under a process outlined in the state's sweeping new voting law.

Vaccines' protection against virus infection is waning, C.D.C. studies suggest.  —  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released three studies on Wednesday that federal officials said provided evidence that booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna coronavirus vaccines …

Federal officials press GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert over apparent personal use of campaign funds  — Federal officials are pressing Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., for answers on the apparent personal use of campaign funds.  — A letter from the Federal Election Commission to the treasurer …

Biden to require nursing homes get staff vaccinated or lose federal funds  —  Surgeon general on Covid-19 boosters: The time is now  —  (CNN)The Biden administration will direct all nursing homes to require their staff be vaccinated against Covid-19 in order to continue receiving Medicare …

The hidden way Biden will salvage value from the Afghanistan debacle  —  A narrative is taking shape around the Afghanistan debacle that goes like this: The failure of our mission, and the terrible humanitarian consequences of the botched withdrawal, badly complicate President Biden's claim that “America is back.”

Mississippi eighth grader dies a day after positive coronavirus test  —  (CNN)A 13-year-old Mississippi girl has died just one day after testing positive for coronavirus, according to Smith County School District Superintendent Nick Hillman.  —  The girl wasn't feeling well last Thursday and her mother kept her home, Hillman said.

2022 Florida Gubernatorial Poll … FLORIDA GOVERNOR RON DESANTIS MAINTAINS EDGE IN RE-ELECTION EFFORTS  —  TALLAHASSEE, FL - The BUSR/Susquehanna Polling and Research survey of Florida registered voters finds Governor Ron DeSantis leading Congressman and former Governor Charlie Crist 46% …