The U.S. surpasses 40 million known coronavirus cases.  —  More than 40 million cases of the coronavirus have been recorded in the United States, according to a New York Times database.  —  The total number of known infections, more than the population of California, the nation's most populous state …

Texas governor signs new GOP voting restrictions into law  —  TYLER, Texas (AP) — Republican Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed an elections overhaul into law Tuesday that adds more voting restrictions in the booming state, after Democrats spent months protesting what they say are efforts …

Taliban Unveil New Afghan Government  —  Afghanistan's new rulers named prime minister, with senior post for leader of al Qaeda-linked Haqqani group  —  Breaking News:  —  *Taliban Announce New Afghan Government, Mullah Hassan Akhund as Prime Minister  —  *All Key Positions to Remain in Taliban Hands

‘Keep your head on a swivel’: FBI analyst circulated a prescient warning of Jan. 6 violence  —  An FBI intelligence analyst warned days after the 2020 election that Stop the Steal rallies — one of which metastasized into the ransacking of the Capitol — could turn violent.

These corporations bankrolled the sponsors of Texas' abortion ban  —  Texas just enacted the nation's most draconian abortion ban, prohibiting all abortions after six weeks — before many women even know they are pregnant.  There are no exceptions for rape or incest.

Mexico decriminalizes abortion, a dramatic step in world's second-biggest Catholic country  —  MEXICO CITY — Mexico's supreme court voted unanimously on Tuesday to decriminalize abortion, a striking step in a country with one of the world's largest Catholic populations and a move …

All White Men Are White Men  —  If “white men” does not mean white men, how can “white men” hurt white men?  —  Categorical claims about people carry a certain amount of rhetorical force.  They do so because we have a variety of psychological and political hang-ups about categories like race and gender …

The Non-Education of Ross Douthat  —  The New York Times columnist insists on defending a version of the Republican party that doesn't exist.  —  It's a tricky situation: How is one to be a loyal and energetic advocate of electing Republicans without joining the corrupt, authoritarian cult of Trumpism that has subsumed the party?

Lindsey Graham says United States ‘will be going back’ into Afghanistan  —  Graham predicts a clash between the Taliban and Islamic State will force Washington to re-engage.  —  Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.) says he believes the United States “will be going back into Afghanistan” …

Breaking Brett  —  Properly investigating Kavanaugh would be the right thing to do AND enormously popular.  Why won't the Dems act?  —  LAST WEEK, the Texas State Legislature passed one of the most repressive antichoice laws in the history of our nation.  The fine print is so hateful, so anti-woman, so infuriating—six weeks?

QAnon Is Harassing a Hospital Into Giving Bogus COVID ‘Cure’ Ivermectin  —  Some of the most powerful QAnon influencers are urging their hundreds of thousands of followers to harass a Chicago hospital into treating an anti-vaccine activist with ivermectin.  —  Veronica Wolski …

Biden to campaign for Newsom in California ‘early next week’  —  President Joe Biden will travel to California sometime next week to campaign in support of Gov. Gavin Newsom, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Tuesday.  —  Last week Newsom said the president would stump on his behalf …

Monica Lewinsky says Bill Clinton ‘should want to apologize’ in TODAY exclusive  —  In an exclusive interview with TODAY's Savannah Guthrie, Monica Lewinsky opened up about how she felt in the wake of her sex scandal with former president Bill Clinton.  —  Lewinsky, who joined the show …

Trump builds ‘turnkey’ campaign operation for 2024  —  Boots on the ground in Iowa.  Accelerated fundraising.  More national media interviews.  A flood of new press statements.  A rise in attack ads on the web.  —  With a flurry of activity from his main political committee and hints dropped …

The Zombie Trumpism of GOP governors gives Democrats a big opening  —  If there is one thing that might get Democratic voters to take state-level races more seriously, it's the Zombie Trumpism that continues to afflict GOP governors.  In states where covid-19 cases are surging …

How Professors Are Handling Unmasked Students Amid Delta  —  At universities, some instructors are finding the return to the classroom a nerve-racking experience.  A few have quit — one in the middle of class.  —  Matthew Boedy, an associate professor of rhetoric and composition …

Alphonso David, Who Advised Cuomo, Fired as Human Rights Campaign President  —  Mr. David, who previously worked as a lawyer for Andrew Cuomo, was identified in a report as having advised the former governor on how to handle sex harassment allegations.  —  Alphonso David, the president …

Infrastructure Summer: Joe Manchin's Symphony of Disingenuousness  —  He mumbles about inflation to try and stop a bill that's primarily concerned with reducing inflation.  —  Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) talks with reporters before a Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing …