Why so many people find Biden an easy target  —  The vehemence with which many politicians and media pundits on the left and right have attacked President Biden should not be surprising.  Given the chaotic and heart-wrenching scenes in Afghanistan, the commander in chief becomes an obvious target …

Cuomo's dog Captain left at mansion after governor departed  —  ALBANY — Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, who has been staying with one of his sisters in Westchester County in the final days of his third term, recently has asked staff members at the Executive Mansion if anyone would like to keep his dog …

Sinema: I simply won't back a $3.5T spending bill  —  Kyrsten Sinema still opposes her party's plans for a $3.5 trillion, party-line spending bill.  And she's not up for a negotiation about it.  —  As House Democratic leaders hold back Sinema's own Senate-passed bipartisan infrastructure bill …

FDA Approves First COVID-19 Vaccine  —  Approval Signifies Key Achievement for Public Health  —  For Immediate Release:  —  Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first COVID-19 vaccine.  The vaccine has been known as the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine …

USCP Completes Internal Investigation into the January 6 Officer-Involved Shooting  —  After interviewing multiple witnesses and reviewing all the available evidence, including video and radio calls, the United States Capitol Police has completed the internal investigation into the fatal shooting …

Afghan visa applicants told to stay away from Kabul airport as US races to meet exit deadline  —  Kabul, Afghanistan (CNN)Afghans who have applied for special immigrant visas to the US were told to stay away from Kabul's airport on Monday, as American officials ramped up evacuation flights …

Third Pfizer dose significantly lowers risk of infection in seniors, Israeli data shows … PLEASE NOTE  —  The Washington Post is providing this important information about the coronavirus for free.  For more free coverage of the coronavirus pandemic, sign up for our Coronavirus Updates newsletter where all stories are free to read.

Stop Blaming Biden for Afghanistan.  He's Cleaning Up Trump's Mess  —  , EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE DEMOCRATIC COALITION  —  The images coming out of Afghanistan have been disturbing.  But let's be clear: The Trump Administration led us straight into this mess.

Here are two sentences of truth about the US and Afghanistan |  The Kansas City Star  —  What we are seeing in Afghanistan right now shouldn't shock you.  It only seems that way because our institutions are steeped in systematic dishonesty.  It doesn't require a dissertation to explain what you're seeing.

Armed protests are picking up, and a new study says they're more likely to turn violent  —  Corrections/clarifications: This story originally mischaracterized the uptick in armed protests.  The number of armed protests increased from February to June; the proportion doubled.

N.Y.C. Will Mandate Vaccines for Teachers and School Staff  —  New York City will require every Department of Education employee — including teachers, principals, custodians and all central office staff — to have received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine by Sept. 27 …

No vaccination?  Americans back tough rules and mask mandates to protect the common good  —  As a fourth wave of the coronavirus surges, Americans by a wide margin say protecting the common good is more important than ensuring personal liberty when considering whether to require people …

Escape From Afghanistan  —  Even those with a visa must endure harrowing conditions on their way to freedom.  —  About the author: George Packer is a staff writer at The Atlantic.  He is the author of Last Best Hope: America in Crisis and Renewal, Our Man: Richard Holbrooke and the End …