Trump played tough with Putin when cameras were around, but a new book details his insecurities  —  Little is known about what happened in the 90-minute conversation between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Osaka, Japan, two years ago.

N.C. hospital system fires about 175 workers in one of the largest-ever mass terminations due to a vaccine mandate  —  A North Carolina-based hospital system announced Monday that roughly 175 unvaccinated employees were fired for failing to comply with the organization's mandatory coronavirus …

Biden opposes changing Senate rules to raise debt limit  —  The White House said Tuesday that President Joe Biden opposes changing the filibuster to suspend or raise the debt ceiling, closing off a break-the-glass option to avoid financial calamity.  —  White House press secretary Jen Psaki confirmed …

Top generals contradict Biden, say they urged him not to withdraw from Afghanistan  —  Top generals told lawmakers under oath on Tuesday that they advised President Joe Biden early this year to keep several thousand troops in Afghanistan — directly contradicting the president's comments …

Youngkin caught saying he ‘can remove’ Virginia vaccine requirement ‘on Day One’  —  In an exclusive video, Republican Virginia gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin said he could eliminate the state's COVID-19 safety measures for state employees if elected.  —  The Republican candidate …

131 Federal Judges Broke the Law by Hearing Cases Where They Had a Financial Interest  —  The judges failed to recuse themselves from 685 lawsuits from 2010 to 2018 involving firms in which they or their family held shares, a Wall Street Journal investigation found

Pelosi Tries to Bulldoze Progressives on the Infrastructure Bill  —  But she claims it must pass to avoid an expiration of highway funding.  That's just not true.  —  House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) speaks about the infrastructure and budget legislation during her weekly press conference, September 23, 2021, on Capitol Hill.

Woman Accused of Starting Fawn Fire Was Attempting To Boil Bear Urine to Drink  —  SHASTA COUNTY (CBS SF) — According to court documents, the Bay Area woman accused of starting the Fawn Fire in Shasta County last week was attempting to boil bear urine so she could drink it when she allegedly set off the destructive blaze.

‘No major incidents of illegal activity’: DHS told Pentagon as pro-Trump mob breached Capitol  —  On Jan. 6, more than 30 minutes after the first attackers breached barricades erected to protect the Capitol, the Department of Homeland Security sent an incongruous update to the Pentagon.

51% Of Texas Voters Say Abbott Doesn't Deserve To Be Reelected, Quinnipiac University Poll Finds; President Biden's Approval Numbers Head South  — mail_outline  —  As Governor Greg Abbott faces reelection in 2022, a slight majority of voters say 51 - 42 percent that he does not deserve …

NY Times' cluelessness is wrecking journalism  —  I know, I know, you're probably sick of “anniversary journalism,” but it must be noted that this week marked the 32nd anniversary of Billy Joel's last big hit, the unforgettable “We Didn't Start the Fire.”  I'm thinking there's plenty of material …

Milley admits to speaking with authors of best-selling Trump books  —  Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Mark Milley admitted at a Senate hearing Tuesday that he spoke with Bob Woodward and other journalists for their recent books about the Trump presidency.

Facebook's Effort to Attract Preteens Goes Beyond Instagram Kids, Documents Show  —  It has investigated how to engage young users in response to competition from Snapchat, TikTok; ‘Exploring playdates as a growth lever’  —  Facebook Inc. has come under increasing fire in recent days …

What Went Wrong with Conservatism?  —  Two important pieces of the puzzle: mindless anti-leftism and hackish popularizers.  —  Conservatism in its postwar incarnation was, for the most part, a coalition of ideologies.  Chances are you know them by heart: the anti-Soviet hawks, the free marketeers, and the traditionalists.

Unpacking Sexism and White Privilege in Pursuit of Racial Justice: A Workshop  —  As we strive toward racial justice, there's an opportunity for people who identify as white women to examine how they have navigated sexism and misogyny and internalized white superiority.

Hundreds ordered released as Texas border operation comes under fire  —  More than 200 people jailed under Texas Gov. Greg Abbott's border enforcement operation are being released after weeks of detainment in state prisons without charges and far from lawyers.

Eleven Madison Park Explores the Plant Kingdom's Uncanny Valley  —  Now vegan, Daniel Humm's acclaimed restaurant does strange things to vegetables.  —  8 PhotosView Slide Show  —  ›  —  Daniel Krieger for The New York Times … When you make a reservation at an independently …

Dianne Feinstein to return to D.C. following husband's hospitalization  —  WASHINGTON — Sen. Dianne Feinstein was absent from the Senate for a week due to her husband's hospitalization, but the California Democrat is returning to Washington in the midst of a tumultuous legislative session.

The feared eviction ‘tsunami’ has not yet happened.  Experts are conflicted on why.  —  Eviction filings have fallen or remained flat in many areas after the moratorium was struck down.  —  When the Supreme Court decided to strike down a federal ban on evictions in August …

We've reached the ‘Red Covid’ phase of the pandemic  —  (CNN)In his victory speech after the 2020 election, Joe Biden said this: “I pledge to be a president who seeks not to divide, but to unify.  Who doesn't see red and blue states, but a United States.”  —  Roughly nine months into his presidency …

MacArthur will give 25 new fellows $625,000 each to pursue ‘high-risk, high-reward’ work  —  Reginald Dwayne Betts was at home in New Haven, Conn. when his phone rang with a number he didn't recognize.  The stranger on the other end of the line asked if he was alone.  Betts replied that his two sons were downstairs.

Network of Right-Wing Health Care Providers Is Making Millions Off Hydroxychloroquine and Ivermectin, Hacked Data Reveals … A network of health care providers pocketed millions of dollars selling hydroxychloroquine, ivermectin, and online consultations, according to hacked data provided to The Intercept.

Kyrie Irving wants to leave a legacy.  With his stance on vaccination, he just might.  —  Kyrie Irving is too smart for you.  He's so smart, he can outwit germs and governments.  He's so smart, you can't understand a word he's saying.  That's how smart he is.