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

With bulk of their agenda on the line, Democrats gird for battle over $3.5 trillion budget package  —  Lawmakers will try to assemble major planks of Biden's agenda, including health care, climate change and anti-poverty programs  —  The fate of President Biden's $3.5 trillion economic agenda hinges …

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” …

Ex-FBI official says law enforcement needs to take upcoming right-wing rally in DC ‘very seriously’  —  Washington (CNN)Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe said Monday evening that law enforcement needs to take the upcoming right-wing rally in support of jailed January 6 rioters …

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.

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?

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?

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 Latest: Taliban disperse Kabul rally, arrest journalists  —  KABUL, Afghanistan — The Taliban have fired gunshots to disperse a rally on Tuesday in Kabul and arrested several Afghan journalists who were covering the demonstration, witnesses and Afghan media outlets said.

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 …

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 …

Schools become political ‘battlefield’ in culture wars Trump cultivated … Schools have become the focal point for culture war fights that animated former President Donald Trump's base and have been advanced by conservative activists and influencers since he left office.

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 …

Brandy Melville employees describe racism, Hitler memes, and sexual exploitation at the ‘evil’ cult teen brand … According to Brandy Melville employees, CEO Stephan Marsan wants his staffers to be young, thin, pretty, and white.  —  Every day, girls who work at the fast-fashion stores …

Elizabeth Holmes's Last Pitch She now faces her greatest challenge: convincing a jury that she is not to blame for a massive fraud.  —  Over the course of what must have been several uncomfortable days for her in the summer of 2017, Elizabeth Holmes sat in a San Francisco conference room …