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 …

Gov. Abbott: Abortion bill won't force rape victims to have babies, Texas will ‘eliminate’ rapists  —  AUSTIN (KXAN) — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott weighed in on a burning question related to the state's recently passed bill banning abortions after six weeks: what about victims of rape?

Mexico's Supreme Court Votes to Decriminalize Abortion  —  The ruling sets a landmark legal precedent for potential legalization nationwide in the conservative Catholic country of some 120 million people.  —  MEXICO CITY — Mexico's Supreme Court on Tuesday ruled that making abortion a crime …

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

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 …

We Found Rage In A Hopeless Place  —  People had big ideas for this summer that's now coming to an end.  This one would be normal, verging on fun and sexy, in a country now 18 months deep into a pandemic that keeps killing and denying, and six years into an extended surreal experience.

The lead proponent of Newsom's recall has been sidelined with the coronavirus.  —  As the pandemic-fueled campaign to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom of California heads into its last week, its lead proponent said he has been sidelined with the coronavirus.  —  Orrin Heatlie, 52 …

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.

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?

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 …

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 …

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 escalates shutdown stare-down with hurricane aid, Afghan resettlement plea  —  The White House asked Congress on Tuesday to include hurricane relief and money for Afghan resettlement in a package to fund the government later this month, upping the ante in the latest shutdown scare.

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 …

Poll: School mask mandate fight goes beyond battleground states  —  Most parents back mask mandates, but the states where GOP parents are most opposed aren't the ones we always hear about, according to a new Axios/Momentive poll.  —  Why it matters: While plenty of attention …

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 …

Americans' Ratings of CDC Communication Turn Negative  —  WASHINGTON, D.C. — More Americans now disagree (41%) than agree (32%) that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has communicated a clear plan of action in response to the COVID-19 situation.

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 …

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?

Miami mayor on possible White House bid: I think people are ‘thirsting’ for a ‘next-generation candidate’  —  Miami Mayor Francis Suarez (R) isn't ruling out a potential presidential bid, saying that he believes Americans are “thirsting” for a new generation of leadership in the White House.

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 …

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 …

In major win for animals, Mexico bans animal testing for cosmetics  —  Even in our age of advanced technologies, rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats continue to have chemicals and substances forced down their throats, dripped into their eyes or slathered on their skin to satisfy new regulatory demands …