The Hill Articles: August 20, 2021

California state ballot measure declaring ride-share drivers independent contractors unconstitutional: judge UK’s Euro 2020 final spurred thousands of COVID-19 cases: officials AP tells DeSantis to stop aide’s ‘harassing behavior’ HASC chair says plans to evacuate citizens from Afghanistan were ‘wholly inadequate’ Mississippi officials warn against using ivermectin for COVID-19 amid spike in poisonings US military faces growing calls to do more to evacuate Afghanistan Infowars host faces misdemeanor charges over Capitol riot Medicaid’s improper payments show why the program needs reform  Overnight Defense: Afghan flights restart as Biden vows to complete evacuation Biden calls newly elected AFL-CIO president Biden officials offer lawmakers details on challenges with Afghan evacuation efforts On The Money: Biden’s eviction moratorium kept in place for now by court UVA disenrolls 238 students who violated vaccine mandate CNN’s Clarissa Ward departs Afghanistan after Taliban coverage GM expands Bolt electric car recall to include 73,000 more vehicles Tropical Storm Henri to hit East Coast over the weekend AstraZeneca antibody treatment reduces severe COVID-19 cases: study Trump says he ‘single-handedly’ picked Alabama for Space Command, contradicting Pentagon Full FDA approval for Pfizer vaccine could come next week: reports Overnight Health Care: Battle over masks in Florida escalates as two school districts given 48 hours to comply Hillicon Valley: Key QAnon influencer ‘GhostEzra’ identified OVERNIGHT ENERGY: Drought hits Colorado River — but the politics won’t stay there Biden asks Supreme Court to block order reinstating ‘Remain in Mexico’ policy First ‘murder hornet’ nest of the year found in Washington Florida orders school districts to drop mask mandates or face financial penalties Pacific Islands wildfires highlight vulnerability to climate change and how to address it Mayorkas meets with parents of separated families The Hill’s Sustainability Report: In Haiti, a struggle to bury earthquake victims Boris Johnson says ‘working with Taliban’ will happen if necessary Countries partner with US to help transport and relocate Americans, at-risk Afghans President Biden must sign the PAWS Act to expand service dog access for suffering veterans Biden told allies in June US would ensure Kabul’s stability: report The unraveling of Afghanistan is a lesson for the Western Balkans Journalists dispute Biden’s Taliban claim: ‘Reality and the rhetoric are miles apart’ Sleep better with this luxury hotel pillow set for under $60 Biden nominates Nicholas Burns as ambassador to China Internal probe clears Capitol Police officer who shot Ashli Babbitt: report Harris to campaign for Newsom in California next week Biden to nominate Rahm Emanuel for ambassador to Japan COVID variants won’t wait — we need to fund better vaccines ASAP Capitol bomb threat suspect charged in court GOP lawmaker aims to block Taliban from accessing international funds Republican to depart energy commission, leaving it evenly divided US Chamber of Commerce backs Democrats threatening to derail budget resolution Tech billionaire gives American hermit $180k to help him find a new home Perhaps this is what a peaceful transition looks like in Afghanistan Britney Spears investigated for allegedly attacking her own staffer Florida gives two school districts 48 hours to comply with mask rule or lose funding Russian ambassador: ‘There is no alternative to the Taliban in Afghanistan’ Afghan karate champion: ‘Everything is finished’ for female athletes California’s animal welfare law caused hysteria on both sides — here are the real impacts Biden denies allies are questioning US credibility amid Afghanistan withdrawal Photos of the Week: Afghanistan, an earthquake in Haiti and the Iowa State Fair Accusations mount against Tony Award-winning Broadway actress Biden vows to complete Afghan evacuation, but admits risks The intelligence community’s silence is deafening Kentucky governor: Sending unmasked, unvaccinated kids into class like holding ‘chicken pox party’ Biden EPA loosens Trump rule limiting states’ ability to reject pipelines Israeli prime minister receives COVID-19 booster shot What America’s Thinking: August 20, 2021 Americans burdened with medical debt — the government needs to step up Appeals court rejects effort to halt Biden eviction moratorium Progressive group urges DOJ to investigate ex-Trump Justice official U.S. extends travel limits to Canada, Mexico Forests and climate change solutions Texas Democrats criticize colleagues who returned to state House floor Elon Musk unveils Tesla robot that will do the work humans don’t want to State Department sanctions more Russians over Nord Stream 2 Biden administration moves to replace Trump public charge rule Regulatory overhaul is key to the clean energy transition BTS cancels world tour that had been set to start in April 2020 Support the budget resolution to ensure a critical investment in child care Several members of Afghanistan’s female robotics team evacuated safely to Qatar Brace yourself — inflation’s coming back stronger than ever David Sirota: Sackler family’s attempts for legal immunity are ‘part of a larger story in America’ Biden administration announces new sanctions on anniversary of Navalny poisoning NATO to Taliban: ‘We will not allow any terrorists to threaten us’ Afghanistan evacuation flights resume after pause Watch live: President Biden delivers remarks on Afghanistan evacuations Afghanistan’s culture is not like ours — and that’s just one lesson we failed to learn The Hill’s 12:30 Report — Presented by AT&T — The troubling normalization of political violence COVID-19 anxiety hits five month high: report Texas lt. governor faces backlash after claiming unvaccinated African Americans responsible for COVID-19 surge Amid debate over boosters, we can’t forget about global vaccine equity Biden scraps plans to spend night in Delaware Apple delays employees’ return to office until January Majority favor vaccine mandates for certain workplaces, crowded events: poll China passes strict data privacy law protecting personal data Vaccinated man dies in Florida, daughters share their anger and urge people to get vaccinated  Fulbright: The 75-year citizen diplomacy experiment Multiple shark sightings closed down parts of Nantucket Baby hoisted over wall at Kabul airport by US Marine Barrett rejects bid to stop Obama library construction For the sake of our mental health, the next lockdown has to be different AFL-CIO elects first woman as president Three fully vaccinated US Senators have COVID-19 There’s no place in the US safe from the heat Rising: August 20, 2021 Mike Richards steps down as ‘Jeopardy!’ host following controversy over past statements City hosting Trump rally in Alabama declares COVID-19 emergency AstraZeneca antibody cocktail 77 percent effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 among the high-risk Land your dream job with a help from this discounted resume-boosting subscription US extending travel restrictions with Mexico, Canada Thrilling video shows cop rescue man moments before train roars into station Melissa Joan Hart reveals breakthrough COVID-19 case Greta Thunberg, youth climate activists slam adults over climate crisis Did Defense (mis)management of contractors contribute to the Afghan debacle? Researchers identify key QAnon influencer ‘GhostEzra’ 3,00 fake vaccine cards seized at airport Tesla developing human-like ‘friendly’ robot to perform menial tasks FBI finds scant evidence Jan. 6 attack was coordinated: Reuters Over 20 groups urge Biden to ‘redouble’ efforts to combat anti-Asian hate How Trump uses fundraising emails to remain undisputed leader of the GOP NATO pledges to expedite evacuation efforts in Afghanistan amid chaos: report Protecting the outdoors: Three cheers for America’s best idea Afghan man who helped US soldiers says he fears beheading by Taliban White House: ‘Heartbreaking’ scenes from Afghanistan ‘not acceptable’ to Biden Restraining order denied to woman who accused Dodgers pitcher of assault Watchdogs asleep? Some rating agencies not barking amidst debt ceiling standoff Customs seized more than 3,000 counterfeit vaccine cards in Alaska Officials probing if Moderna vaccine linked to higher risk of heart inflammation in young adults: report ‘Strikingly sophisticated’ Taliban thrive on Twitter while Trump still banned The Hill’s Morning Report — Presented by AT&T — COVID-19 infects inoculated senators; Kabul evacuations drag Colorado River cutbacks set stage for decade of drought politics School boards become ground zero for country’s culture wars Candidates in military districts tailor message to Afghanistan withdrawal CNN’s Clarissa Ward has breakthrough media moment in Afghanistan