Scoop - Manchin: Delay Biden plan to '22  —  Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is privately saying he thinks Congress should take a “strategic pause” until 2022 before voting on President Biden's $3.5 trillion social-spending package, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.

Low dose of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is safe and effective in children ages 5 to 11, companies' study finds  —  A lower dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine — one-third the amount given to adults and teens — is safe and triggered a robust immune response in children as young as 5 years old …

Democrats unlikely to get immigration measure in $3.5 trillion budget proposal after Senate parliamentarian ruling  —  ‘Absolutely not acceptable’: Sanders on Manchin's push to cut Dems' $3.5T bill  —  Washington (CNN)Senate Democrats likely will not be able to include a pathway to legalization …

Tate Reeves and the high cost of covid incompetence  —  When naming the poster child for irresponsible leadership on covid-19, there are plenty of governors to choose from.  You could make a strong case for South Dakota Gov. Kristi L. Noem (R) or Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R).

How the U.S. Helped, and Hampered, the Escape of Afghan Journalists  —  The secretary of state cites a “massive effort” by the government, but people involved in the evacuation instead describe bureaucratic snags.  —  As American news organizations scrambled to evacuate their Afghan journalists …

The Indictment of Hillary Clinton's Lawyer is an Indictment of the Russiagate Wing of U.S. Media  —  The DOJ's new charging document, approved by Biden's Attorney General, sheds bright light onto the Russiagate fraud and how journalistic corruption was key.  —  A lawyer for Hillary Clinton's …

Eric Adams' Townhouse Trouble: Tax Filing ‘Mistake’ and Blown-Off Buildings Inspector  —  Campaign says mayoral nominee will amend tax returns for a second time after THE CITY pointed out irregularities concerning filings on his Bed-Stuy residence.  Adams also overlooked …

In the Heart of Nashville, Rolling Parties Rage at Every Stoplight  —  As Nashville's popularity has grown, so has the “transportainment” business — a motley assortment including old buses, farm tractors and a truck with a hot tub.  Many think it has gotten out of hand.

US launches mass expulsion of Haitian migrants from Texas  —  DEL RIO, Texas (AP) — The U.S. flew Haitians camped in a Texas border town back to their homeland Sunday and tried blocking others from crossing the border from Mexico in a massive show of force that signaled the beginning …

Gabby Petito's Disappearance: a Timeline  —  The authorities said they had found human remains in Wyoming consistent with a description of Gabrielle Petito, 22.  The search continues for her fiancé, Brian Laundrie.  —  Here's what you need to know:

After 20 years of waging religious guerrilla warfare, Taliban fighters in Kabul say they miss the battle  —  KABUL — Since celebrating the fall of Kabul a month ago, after years of waging a holy war to overthrow the U.S.-backed government, the 250 Taliban fighters under Abdulrahman Nifiz's command …

The Afghanistization of America  —  We are doing our best to become a Third-World country of incompetency, constitutional erosion, a fractious and politicized military elite, and racially and ethnically obsessed warring tribes.  —  The United States should be at its pinnacle of strength.

Lindsey Graham and Mike Lee personally vetted Trump's fraud claims, new book says.  They were unpersuaded.  —  “Peril,” by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, reveals the lengths the two Republicans went to in examining the president's baseless claims.  —  Sen. Lindsey O. Graham agreed to hear Rudolph W. Giuliani out.

Bats in Laos Caves Harbor Closest Relatives to Covid-19 Virus  — Pasteur Institute scientists tested hundreds of horseshoe bats  — Finding moves researchers closer to pinpointing Covid origins  —  Bats dwelling in limestone caves in northern Laos were found to carry coronaviruses …

Biden seeks a phone call with France's Macron to calm the waters  —  REHOBOTH BEACH, Del. — President Biden is pressing to set up a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron in coming days, U.S. officials said Sunday, hoping to end a frantic stretch of public snubs and behind-the-scenes exchanges between the two allies.

This Doc Stoked the COVID Crisis.  These Women Are Paying the Price  —  Here's what happens when you need hospital care but live in a misinformation wasteland, and sick anti-vaxxers are taking up all the beds.  —  Even as the coronavirus pandemic ravages her state of Idaho …