Oklahoma congressman threatened embassy staff as he tried to enter Afghanistan, U.S. officials say  —  The call to the U.S. ambassador to Tajikistan came in Monday.  On the line, two U.S. officials said, was Rep. Markwayne Mullin (R-Okla.) with an unusual and urgent request …

Has Delta Peaked?  —  We investigate Covid's mysterious two-month cycle.  —  Has the Delta-fueled Covid-19 surge in the U.S. finally peaked?  —  The number of new daily U.S. cases has risen less over the past week than at any point since June, as you can see in this chart:

With ban in effect, Texas abortion clinics will no longer terminate pregnancies after 6 weeks  —  AUSTIN — A Texas law that bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy went into effect Wednesday, as a midnight deadline for the Supreme Court to stop it came and went without action.

The Ashli Babbitt Standard  —  For those who have followed news coverage of police shootings of unarmed civilians in the last few years, Capitol Hill Police lieutenant Michael Byrd's interview with NBC News had a familiar ring.  The veteran officer voiced his fears about the situation he faced on Jan. 6 …

Texas parents accused a Black principal of promoting critical race theory.  The district has now suspended him.  —  At a heated Texas school board meeting in late July, a man accused a Black principal of promoting critical race theory and “the conspiracy theory of systemic racism.”

What Happened to the Babylon Bee?  —  Until a few years ago, the Babylon Bee was a niche humor site—the Onion for conservative Protestants.  The Bee was founded seven months before Donald Trump took office and became popular mostly because many of the jokes were very funny—but also …

Julie Pace named new Associated Press executive editor  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Julie Pace, a longtime Washington journalist who managed coverage of the U.S. government during a period of historic tumult, was named Wednesday as the executive editor and senior vice president of The Associated Press.

Police Say Demoralized Officers Are Quitting In Droves.  Labor Data Says No.  —  While other industries were devastated by the pandemic last year, police departments felt a much smaller impact.  —  Since last summer's Black Lives Matter protests, there's a popular refrain echoing through …

Arrest warrant issued for Ohio man accused of confronting NBC's Shaquille Brewster on live TV  —  Mississippi police issued an arrest warrant Tuesday for an Ohio man who they say confronted NBC News' Shaquille Brewster on live television.  —  The man, Benjamin Eugene Dagley, of Wooster …

52% of Voters Think Biden Should Resign Over Afghanistan Withdrawal  —  The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan was so badly handled that President Joe Biden should resign because of it, according to a majority of voters.  However, most don't think Vice President Kamala Harris is qualified to replace Biden if he leaves office.

The Trump News Show Is Over and We're All Healthier For It  —  What have you been doing with your time?  The numbers tell us that the average news consumer is watching a whole lot less cable news and has gone on a restricted online news diet.  Over the past year, the major cable channels …

Far-Right Propagandist Turns up in Moscow After Jan. 6  —  Russia Insider founder Charles Bausman traveled from his home in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, to Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6 and advanced as far as the Capitol's balustrades after Trump's speech, he said.  Soon after, he left the country for Moscow.

Long-Haulers Are Fighting for Their Future  —  Many people with long COVID feel that science is failing them.  Neglecting them could make the pandemic even worse.  —  While watching the scientific community grapple with long COVID, I have thought a lot about a scene in The Lord of the Rings.

A Former Top DOJ Official's Smooth Landing  —  John Demers, who served in both the Trump and Biden Administrations, is going back to Boeing—in an interesting new role.  —  John Demers, who served as assistant attorney general for the National Security Division (NSD) during …

NPR Trashes Free Speech.  A Brief Response  —  In an irony only public radio could miss, “On the Media” hosts an hour on the perils of “free speech absolutism” without interviewing a defender of free speech.  —  The guests for NPR's just-released On The Media episode about the dangers …

Mutually Assured Destruction, Nancy Pelosi's Plans and the Savviness of Bernie Sanders  —  Democrats finally have power.  So of course they're squabbling over what to do with it.  —  Lately, the drama has centered on the group of moderate House Democrats who threatened to tank approval …