Gloomy landscape for Democrats for midterms as Biden's approval drops to 38%: USA TODAY/Suffolk poll  —  A year before the 2022 midterm elections, Republicans hold a clear early lead on the congressional ballot as President Joe Biden's approval rating sinks to a new low of 38%.

Eric Adams says he wants to end NYC's school mask mandate, calls himself ‘conservative’ on crime  —  Mayor-elect Eric Adams took to the airwaves Sunday and declared he wants to nix mask mandates in the classroom and called himself “conservative” on public safety.

Russiagate has no rock bottom  —  The indictment of the Steele dossier's key source newly humiliates the Clinton campaign, FBI, and US media.  —  It did not seem possible for the Steele dossier - the collection of Trump-Russia conspiracy theories funded by the Clinton campaign …

Report from Las Vegas: Some Jewish Republicans have Trump fatigue, but they just can't quit him  —  LAS VEGAS (JTA) — The Republican Jewish Coalition conference was about 2022, and also 2024.  It was about how a near Republican sweep in state and local races last week revealed a way back to GOP control of the federal government.

A love letter to Kabul  —  This summer's Taliban takeover was a seismic moment for Kabul.  Those who call this city their own wonder if life has changed forever.  Much of what made Kabul special is now a cultural battlefield - evocative street murals have been painted over with Islamic verses …

Trump bashes Senate Republicans, McConnell over bipartisan infrastructure bill  —  Former President Trump on Sunday doubled down on his criticism of Senate Minority Leader Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and Senate Republicans who voted in favor of passing a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill.

Hackers have breached organizations in defense and other sensitive sectors, security firm says  —  (CNN)Suspected foreign hackers have breached nine organizations in the defense, energy, health care, technology and education sectors — and at least one of those organizations is in the US …

Sen. Josh Hawley defends speech on porn and video games  —  Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) told “Axios on HBO” he'll make masculinity a signature political issue, because he claims “the left” is telling men: “You're part of the problem. ...  Your masculinity is inherently problematic.”

Covid-19 Vaccines and Myocarditis Link Probed by Researchers  —  Several theories are under investigation seeking to explain heart-inflammation conditions among small numbers of vaccinated  —  As U.S. health authorities expand use of the leading Covid-19 vaccines, researchers investigating …

Columbia Campus Cleared After Bomb Threats At Ivy Schools  —  Columbia University said its buildings have been cleared for re-entry after bomb threats on Sunday were deemed “not credible” by the New York City Police Department.  —  Two other Ivy League universities — Cornell University …

Democrats can't keep ignoring the culture war.  They should fight it — and win  —  One bit from the great satirical newspaper-turned-website The Onion that has stayed with me more than any other is searingly funny, of course, but also the best-ever summary of the ugly turn that American politics has taken over the last 40 years.

Terry Bradshaw unloads on Aaron Rodgers: “You lied to everyone”  —  Fox viewers won't see the Kansas City defense try to sack Aaron Rodgers on Sunday.  Before the games began, however, Fox viewers got a chance to see a quartet of Hall of Famers verbally give him the business, from the Naval Academy in Annapolis.

Disgraced Fox News Anchor Quietly Resurfaces at Fringe Right-Wing Outlet  —  Real America's Voice boasts a roster of MAGA freaks like Steve Bannon and John Solomon.  It can now add to that list a former Fox News anchor accused of sexual misconduct.  —  More than a year after Fox News fired …

For Whom Do the Covid “Fact Checkers” Really Work?  —  I recently came across two tweets that caught my eye.  —  Here is the first one from the CDC director: … And here is the second one, from a couple months back: … Together they got me thinking.  What do they have in common?

Statement by President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. on Nicaragua's Sham Elections  —  What Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, orchestrated today was a pantomime election that was neither free nor fair, and most certainly not democratic.

POLITICO Playbook: What happens in Vegas ...  DRIVING THE DAY  —  MOVE OVER ALEC, THERE'S A NEW DONALD — You know you've arrived as a national political figure when you get impersonated on “Saturday Night Live.”  Last night, GLENN YOUNGKIN got the SNL treatment in a sketch …

Steve Bannon's popular podcast is a ‘dangerous’ fantasyland of election lies  —  ‘House Republicans hate Steve Bannon, but they fear him’ says former Trump comms director  —  Washington (CNN)Steve Bannon's aggressive campaign to undermine American democracy didn't stop on January 6.

Fears of Wider Instability in Iraq After Attack on Prime Minister's Home  —  Armed drones struck the Iraqi prime minister's home in what was seen as a warning as Iranian-backed groups dispute the results of parliamentary elections.  —  Iraq's prime minister survived a drone strike on his home early Sunday …