The Hill Articles: July 23, 2021

US women’s soccer team hosts its own Olympics opening ceremony Biden authorizes up to $100M for Afghan refugees JD Vance takes aim at culture wars, childless politicians Former South Dakota House majority leader dies Poll: 73 percent of Democratic voters would consider voting for Biden in the 2024 primary Abbott slams Ben & Jerry’s for Palestine support: ‘Disgraceful’ Fox News: ‘Entirely unacceptable’ for ‘NSA to unmask Tucker Carlson’ Biden flexes presidential muscle on campaign trail with Virginia’s McAuliffe Louisiana governor encourages all residents to wear masks Mercedes-Benz says it’s going all-electric within the decade US women’s national soccer team players appeal equal pay decision Surfside condo recovery mission ends 29 days after collapse Illinois becomes one of the first Midwest states to allow over-the-counter birth control Has Trump beaten the system? Former Sallie Mae CEO calls the cost of higher education ‘criminal’ Overnight Health Care: St. Louis reimposes mask mandate | Florida asks Supreme Court to block CDC’s limits on cruise ship industry DOJ drops charges against five visiting researchers from China Hillicon Valley: Amazon employees petition company to investigate discrimination allegations | ACLU calls for investigation into Alaska official over tweets | Electric cars to outsell combustion vehicles by 2036 Equilibrium/ Sustainability — Presented by NextEra Energy — Clean power repurposes dirty power On The Money: Yellen to Congress: Raise the debt ceiling or risk ‘irreparable harm’ | Frustration builds as infrastructure talks drag Overnight Defense: US launches another airstrike in Somalia | Amendment to expand Pentagon recusal period added to NDAA | No. 2 State Dept. official to lead nuclear talks with Russia Advancing T-cell testing can help parents can make informed decisions on COVID vaccinations What America’s Thinking: July 23, 2021 Dallas Cowboys quarterback declines to disclose vaccine status, cites HIPAA Brood X is gone, but larger cicadas that ‘like to scream’ are emerging Secretary Haaland, Colorado’s epic drought highlights the need to end fossil fuel extraction Christine Blasey Ford’s lawyers blast FBI’s Kavanaugh investigation as ‘sham’ Overnight Energy: Dakota Access Pipeline fined over safety violations | Electric cars to outsell combustion vehicles in US by 2036 | Montana governor mobilizes National Guard to assist with wildfires California cities are defying new mask mandate De Blasio urges NYC businesses to require coronavirus vaccines Longer periods between first and second Pfizer vaccinations could boost antibodies: study GM recalls Chevy Bolts again over fire risk Florida asks Supreme Court to block CDC’s limits on cruise ship industry St. Louis County, city reimposes mask mandate as COVID-19 cases surge GM recalling nearly 70,000 Bolt cars over fire risk from batteries Act 10 benefited education in Wisconsin — and may empower workers elsewhere Blinken to travel to India, Kuwait next week Bipartisan congressional commission urges IOC to postpone, relocate Beijing Games An obscure UN agency guides digital communications — Congress must endorse US leadership Australia’s Great Barrier Reef avoids ‘in danger’ rating for now US launches second Somalia strike in week Abortion rights face most difficult test yet at Supreme Court How severe is the megadrought in the West? UK sanctions son of Equatorial Guinea’s president over corruption ‘to fund a lavish lifestyle’ Critical Race Theory and the threat to Democrats Biden hits new low in Gallup poll Ocasio-Cortez calls on CDC to extend eviction ban Unvaccinated nursing instructor urges COVID-19 shot from hospital bed after infection Provider relief fund dollars aren’t up for grabs Commerce dept allocates $3B for economically vulnerable communities Biden misunderstands basic economics No. 2 State Dept. official to lead nuclear talks with Russia next week Trump ally Tom Barrack secures $250 million bail deal to leave jail COVID-19 vaccine inventor describes feeling helpless as people opt-out of shot: ‘I don’t have the words’ NFL’s Vikings assistant coach leaves team after refusing COVID-19 vaccine Treasury: US digital commerce firm Payoneer pays $1.4M over sanctions violations How drones are fighting fire with fire in the American West How an ‘integrated postal network’ represents cronyism at its worst White House on Cleveland Indians’ name change: ‘We certainly support their change of name’ Biden to nominate Caroline Kennedy as ambassador to Australia: report Huckabee Sanders vows not to impose mask, vaccine mandates if elected governor of Arkansas After a century of central planning, Americans deserve health care freedom Warren-backed amendment to expand Pentagon recusal period added to defense bill US delegation departs Haiti after reports of gunshots at ex-president’s funeral DHS terminating two border wall contracts Lobbyist Tony Podesta returns to work for Huawei NFL players in vaccine process reaches 80 percent Ready or not, it’s time for America to answer workers’ calls for change Large majority of unvaccinated say they don’t intend to get the shot: poll Majority of unvaccinated Americans unlikely to get shots: poll White House on unvaccinated Americans: Our role is not to ‘place blame’ China sanctions Wilbur Ross, others after US warns of doing business in Hong Kong Key Biden ally OK with dropping transit from infrastructure package NYPD sergeant charged with attacking suspects who called him racial slurs Yellen to Congress: Raise the debt ceiling or risk ‘irreparable harm’ ​​Body-camera footage shows 75-year-old tased without warning by police officer Tennessee resuming nearly all adolescent vaccine advocacy Delta outbreak could peak by late August: former FDA director Trump criticizes Cleveland Indians name change Biden got a lot done in a short time Lil Nas X fundraises for bail relief with new ‘Industry Baby’ music video Freedom Caucus presses McCarthy to force vote to oust Pelosi Transportation Department fines Dakota Access Pipeline operator $93K over safety violations Texas begins arresting migrants for trespassing As Biden’s America becomes less safe, the violence and crime could cost Democrats Six-time Paralympic medalist withdraws after she’s told her mother can’t be her medical accommodation Naomi Osaka lights Olympic flame to start Tokyo Games Tokyo 2020 becomes most gender equal Olympics in history California lawmaker quotes ‘Apocalypse Now’ while bulldozing Asian-run pot farms Cases of the plague confirmed in Colorado, including in the death of a 10-year-old Chrissy Teigen’s cyberbullied victim says they haven’t heard from her despite public apology The Hill’s 12:30 Report – Presented by Goldman Sachs – Tokyo Olympics kick off with 2020-style opening ceremony COVID was a boon for autocrats — future pandemics must prioritize democracy Maryland’s GOP governor slams ‘whitewashing’ of Jan. 6 riot Cleveland MLB team announces new name Freedom from restrictions means COVID is free to run rampant New study finds drinking too much coffee can shrink your brain, increase dementia risk significantly Chimpanzees killing gorillas in unprecedented attacks, scientists report These lightweight and comfortable bone conduction headphones are currently 50% off Bust of former Confederate general, KKK leader removed from Tennessee Capitol Article II should not be a blank check for the president Federal appeals court finds CDC eviction moratorium unlawful Controversial Biden nominee linked to eco-saboteurs moves forward Social media reacts with praise, derision for Cleveland Guardians name Chinese COVID-19 vaccine offers poor protection to elderly: study Mexico to deliver medical supplies, food to Cuba GOP Rep. Cawthorn says he wants to ‘prosecute’ Fauci Americans saw increases in time spent relaxing, thinking in 2020: report About 100 US Olympic athletes are unvaccinated Social media has given voice to the Cuban awakening Study finds COVID-19 95 percent lower in vaccinated Philadelphia school employees Algerian athlete withdraws from Olympics over possible judoka matchup with Israeli opponent Photographer and her rescue brown bear go fishing together in a boat Plummeting test scores are a symptom; remote instruction is the disease Alabama governor on rising COVID-19 cases: ‘Time to start blaming the unvaccinated folks’ Large Iranian navy ship in Baltic approaching Russia NFL announces teams could forfeit games if unvaccinated players cause COVID-19 outbreak Cleveland Indians change name to ‘Guardians’ Watch live: White House press briefing Another heat dome: Why the social cost of greenhouse gases is so important Rising: July 23, 2021 ’13 Reasons Why’ actress Tommy Dorfman comes out as transgender Electric cars to outsell combustion vehicles by 2036: analysis ACLU calling for investigation into Alaska official over controversial tweets Amazon employees petition company to investigate allegations of discrimination Americans divided on whether to increase immigration levels: Gallup Here’s evidence the Senate confirmation process is broken Man rescued from bear attack after putting SOS sign on remote mining shack US diplomat says she’s concerned about North Korea food shortages linked to pandemic Country singer Morgan Wallen says issue of race stretches across the industry Russian archer faints in heat at Olympics Simone Biles planning Olympics move so dangerous her coach doesn’t want her to do it Public spaces closed in Bangkok as coronavirus surges 64 percent say racism against Black people is widespread in US: Gallup Taliban says no peace in Afghanistan unless President Ghani is removed: report CIA watchdog to review handling of ‘Havana syndrome’ cases New York gun rights case before Supreme Court with massive consequences  Shontel Brown gaining ground against Nina Turner in Ohio: poll Almost half of new COVID-19 cases are happening in three states Scientists uncover 28 new viruses frozen in ice for thousands of years Improve your memory and boost your brainpower with this 50% off NeuroNation US building infrastructure needs 21st century upgrades New York Jets assistant coach dies following bicycle accident Olympics suddenly reverses ban on showing athletes in racial protests ‘QAnon shaman’ negotiating plea deal following mental health diagnosis: report Gunman hijacks ambulance in Houston with patient inside Jill Biden attends Tokyo Olympics opening ceremony More than 200 people in 27 states now being monitored for monkeypox Toxic forever chemicals are in our blood: Senate must vote to regulate them as hazardous substances Health officials warn of fungus ‘superbug’ outbreaks in Dallas, DC US carries out strikes against Taliban in support of Afghan forces Just how dangerous is Iran to the world? At least 100 US Olympic athletes are unvaccinated as 2020 Games begin Ex-Trump adviser Barrack set for bail hearing Friday Noem to travel to South Carolina for early voting event Biden announces delegation to attend Haitian president’s funeral Rep. Hank Johnson among demonstrators arrested at voting rights protest Xi Jinping’s Himalayan misadventure Why Biden’s Interior Department isn’t shutting down oil and gas The Hill’s Morning Report – Pelosi considers adding GOP voices to Jan. 6 panel Frustration builds as infrastructure talks drag GOP, business groups snipe at Biden restaurant remarks Biden hits trail for McAuliffe in test of his political brand McConnell pushes vaccines, but GOP muddles his message