EFTA00150782.pdf

From: To: Subject: [EXTERNAL EMAIL] - FBI Public Affairs News Briefing Tuesday, August 10, 2021 Date: Tue, 10 Aug 2021 10:28:59 +0000 c Importan e: Normal Mobile version and searchable archives available at fbi.bulletinintelligence.com. ; t2IFBI News Briefing TO: THE DIRECTOR AND SENIOR STAFF DATE: TUESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2021 6:30 AM EDT TODAY'S TABLE OF CONTENTS LEADING THE NEWS • DO) To Review 9/11 Records With Eye Toward Making More Public. • Schumer: Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill On A "Glide Path" For Passage Tuesday Morning. • Taliban Seize Control Of More Provincial Afghan Capitals. CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS • Judge Questions Why Capitol Rioters Not Ordered To Pay More Restitution. • Colorado Man Pleads Guilty To Role In Capitol Siege. • Virginia Capitol Siege Suspect Charged With Assaulting Relative. • Florida Man Charged With Helping Plan Capitol Siege. • Appeals Court Orders Release Of Man Charged With Assaulting Police During Capitol Siege. COUNTER-TERRORISM • Federal Prosecutors Say Accused Whitmer Kidnap Plotters Also Discussed Attacking Ohio Governor. COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE • Continuing Coverage: Haines Led "Havana Syndrome" Meeting Friday. • Continuing Coverage: Officials Say IC Investigation Into COVID Origins Likely To Be Inconclusive. • State Department Fines Firm For Unauthorized Exports Of Sensitive Materials To China And Russia. CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS • New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty To Threatening Lawmakers. • Colorado Man Accused Of Killing Wife Appears In Court. • FBI Offers Reward For Information On Killing Of Kentucky Deputy. • FBI Probing Death Of California Lottery Winner. • Reward Money Doubles For Information On California Soldier's Death. • Seven Arrested For Child Exploitation In Louisiana. • Three Puerto Rican Men Charged With Hate Crime After Allegedly Shooting Transgender Woman With Paintball Gun. • Man Arrested In Probe Of Robberies In Nebraska, Iowa. • Three Arrested In Probe Of Virginia Bank Robbery. • Panel Rejects Convictions Challenge In Drug Case Involving Two Former Police Officers. EFTA00150782 • Oregon Man Gets 70-Month Prison Sentence After Pleading Guilty In Drug Case. • Former Police Officer Pleads Guilty In Drug Case. • North Carolina Drug Investigation Leads To Prison Time For 14 People. FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS • Fake COVID-19 Vaccination Cards Worry Authorities. • Federal Probe Of Alabama Virtual Schools Continues. • FBI Continues Probe Of Lordsburg, New Mexico Police Department. CYBER DIVISION • Unregulated Cryptocurrency Exchange To Pay $10M To Settle SEC Probe. • Senators Demand Explanation For Facebook's Reaction To Misinformation Researchers. • WPost: Users "Deserve To Better Understand" Social Media Algorithms, "More Control To Curate For Themselves." LABORATORY • DNA Identifies Suspected Killer In 1980 California Cold Case. LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES • Lawmakers Ask DO) To Stop Seeking Death Penalty. • Some Experts Questioning Law Enforcement Officer's Fentanyl Exposure Claim. • WPost Calls On US To Crack Down On Airplane Misbehavior. • Balko: Federal Review Of State Convictions Needed To Protect Rights Of Accused. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS • Prince Andrew Sued By Epstein Accuser Over Alleged Sexual Abuse. OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS • Austin To Mandate Vaccines For Military Personnel By Mid-September. • US Again Tops 100K COVID Cases As Delta Variant Surge Continues. • Fauci: Full FDA Approval Likely To Empower Local Governments To Mandate Vaccines. • Texas, Florida Districts Defy Governors' Order Against Mask Mandates. • HHS Whistleblower Settles With Federal Government. • Senate Democrats Unveil $3.5T Budget Resolution. • Warren To Propose 7% Tax On Corporate Earnings In Excess Of $100M. • Filing Claims Administration Violating Flores Settlement At Two Texas Shelters For Minors. • Cuomo Determined To Resist Pressure To Resign. • Federal Judge Suggests CDC's New Eviction Moratorium Amounts To Legal "Gamesmanship." • Dixie Fire Approaches 500K Acres With Containment Still Weeks Away. • Judge Temporarily Bars Texas From Arresting Democratic Legislators. • WSJournal Criticizes Lhamon's Nomination. INTERNATIONAL NEWS • Canada Opens Border To Fully Vaccinated Americans. • UN Panel Releases Climate Change Report. • Lopez Obrador, Harris Discuss Migration, COVID, Boosting Central American Economies • NYTimes Analysis: Biden's Tough Cuba Policy Reflects Sen. Menendez's Influence. • Sullivan Pressures Brazil To Avoid Using Huawei 5G Equipment. • Administration Urged To Maintain Anti-Corruption Pressure On Guatemala. • In Retaliation, Nicaragua Recalls Ambassadors From Four Regional Nations. • Blinken Criticizes China's Behavior In South China Sea. • US, South Korean Drills Starting Tuesday As Kim Yo Jong Decries Them. EFTA00150783 • Biden Under Pressure To Label Treatment Of Burma's Rohingya "Genocide." • WPost: No "Glorification" Of Chinese Regime At Beijing Olympics. • WSJournal: Chinese Buildup Highlights Need For US Nuclear Modernization. • US, UK Hit Belarus With New Sanctions On Anniversary Of Fraudulent Election. • Biden Taps Opponent Of Nord Stream 2 To Implement Deal Allowing Completion. • Axios Report: Burns In Israel For Talks Focused On Iran. • Bloomberg Report: Return To Iran Deal May No Longer Be "Feasible." • Three Lebanese Men Killed In Disputes Amid Fuel Shortage, Source Says. • Violence Prompts Concerns About Stability Of South Sudan's Coalition Government. THE BIG PICTURE • Headlines From Today's Front Pages. WASHINGTON'S SCHEDULE • Today's Events In Washington. LEADING THE NEWS DO) To Review 9/11 Records With Eye Toward Making More Public. The AP (8/9, Tucker) reports that the Justice Department "said Monday that it would work toward providing families of 9/11 victims with more information about the run-up to the attacks as part of a federal lawsuit that aims to hold the Saudi government accountable." The AP adds, "The disclosure in a two-page letter filed in federal court in Manhattan follows longstanding criticism from relatives of those killed that the U.S. government was withholding crucial details from them in the name of national security." According to the AP, "Nearly 1,800 families, victims and first responders objected in a letter last week to President Joe Biden's attendance at Sept. 11 memorial events as long as key documents remained classified. Monday's move failed to placate at least some victims' relatives, who said the FBI and Justice Department have already had years to review the documents." The Washington Post (8/9, Sonmez, Wang, 10.52M) reports, "An advocate for some of the families responded by criticizing the move as insufficient and calling for the Biden administration to 'provide the information the 9/11 community has waited to receive for 20 years, so we can stand together with the president at Ground Zero on 9/11.'" The Post adds, "The developments come days after the families sent a letter to the White House declaring that President Biden is not welcome at this year's memorial events marking the 20th anniversary of the attacks unless he declassifies investigative evidence uncovered by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission that they say implicates Saudi Arabian government officials in supporting the attacks." Reuters (8/9, Hosenball) reports, "James Kreindler, a lawyer for some families, said he and his clients hoped the FBI and Justice Department moves indicated 'we will be getting documents we have been seeking for years.' He said such documents include reports on the investigation of the attacks as well as documents related to Operation Encore, a review by the FBI of its Sept. 11 probe conducted in 2016." The New York Times (8/9, Rogers, Murphy, Savage, 20.6M) reports, "In a court filing in long-running litigation brought by the victims' families against Saudi Arabia, the Justice Department said that the F.B.I. 'recently' closed a portion of its investigation into the terrorist attacks and was beginning a review of documents that it had previously said must remain secret with an eye toward disclosing more of them. 'The F.B.I. has decided to review its prior privilege assertions to identify additional information appropriate for disclosure,' the department said in a letter to two federal judges in Manhattan overseeing the case. 'The F.B.I. will disclose such information on a rolling basis as expeditiously as possible.' The terse letter provided no EFTA00150784 further details about what additional information might become public, or when disclosures would begin." CNBC (8/9, Constantino, 7.34M) reports, "Biden welcomed the Justice Department's decision. 'As I promised during my campaign, my Administration is committed to ensuring the maximum degree of transparency under the law, and to adhering to the rigorous guidance issued during the Obama-Biden Administration on the invocation of the state secrets privilege,' Biden said in a statement. 'In this vein, I welcome the Department of Justice's filing today." Schumer: Bipartisan Infrastructure Bill On A "Glide Path" For Passage Tuesday Morning. Politico (8/9, Snyder, 6.73M) reports the Senate "appears to be headed toward greenlighting its bipartisan infrastructure bill by Tuesday morning." Senate Majority Leader Schumer said Monday that bill is on a "glide path for passage tomorrow morning." While the Senate's procedural clock technically "won't allow a final vote until 4 a.m. Tuesday," senators "are working on an agreement that would instead allow the vote to come later Tuesday, during more normal business hours." Reuters (8/9) reports Senate Minority Whip Thune "told reporters that the vote on the infrastructure bill could come at a 'normal' time on Tuesday, rather than the middle of the night." Said Thune, "I think that gets done at a normal time. That has to, because that cloture ripens and it can get pushed from 4 a.m. in the morning, probably to mid-morning tomorrow." The AP (8/9, Mascaro) says "some 70 senators appear poised to carry the bipartisan package to passage, a potentially robust tally of lawmakers eager to tap the billions in new spending for their states and to show voters back home they can deliver." Schumer said it's "the first time the Senate has come together around such a package in decades." ABC World News TonightVi (8/9, 6:42 p.m. EST, story 5, 1:00, Muir, 6.23M) reported the President is "a major step closer now to passage of his $1.1 trillion infrastructure plan." The New York Times (8/9, Cochrane, 20.6M) says that "as soon as the bipartisan bill clears the Senate, Democratic leaders plan to turn attention to their $3.5 trillion budget plan, which would unlock a second expansive legislative package that includes health care, child care and education provisions." According to the Times, "Liberal Democrats in the House have said they will not support the bipartisan bill without passage of that far larger package." But, at the same time, "half a dozen moderate Democrats, including Representatives Jared Golden of Maine and Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey, circulated a letter over the weekend calling" on House Speaker Pelosi "to ensure a swift vote on the bipartisan deal." Transportation Secretary Buttigieg said on CNBCVi (8/9, 175K), "It looks like it's going to happen. We don't know exactly what hour, but we know that we're within hours of seeing this through in the Senate and then onto the House and the sooner it can get to the President's desk for his signature, the better. My department is ready the moment this bill becomes law to start deploying these resources and getting them out to communities." Hagerty Used Procedural Maneuver To Slow Infrastructure Bill. In a separate story, the AP (8/9, Slodysko) reports Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-TN) "spent the weekend using a procedural maneuver to essentially grind the chamber to a halt." While "the legislation will almost certainly pass despite Hagerty's protest," his effort "could raise the profile of a one-time Trump administration official eager to align himself with the former president, who has stepped up efforts to derail the package." Sen. Jon Tester (D-MT) said, "I think he's doing Trump's bidding. I don't think there's any doubt about it. ... I think they want to try to draw this out as long as they possibly can and hope and pray that Congress fails." But, Hagerty argues that "his reasoning for taking a stand has less to do with Trump and more about the measure increasing the federal deficit by about $256 billion over the next decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office." Bipartisan Agreement On Cryptocurrency Tax Reporting Fails. The Washington Post (8/9, Stein, 10.52M) reports a "last-minute push to limit new cryptocurrency tax-reporting EFTA00150785 requirements" in the package failed Monday "despite a bipartisan agreement and a frenzied lobbying push." In late July, the Administration and Sen. Rob Portman (D-OR) agreed "to increase tax-reporting requirements for cryptocurrency brokers...as a way to pay for the infrastructure deal," but "the effort faced blowback in recent days from cryptocurrency investors who joined Sens. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.), Patrick J. Toomey (R-Pa.) and Cynthia M. Lummis (R- Wyo.) in arguing that it could effectively cripple the burgeoning industry." Following "a weekend of frenzied negotiations, the two sides came together on a bipartisan agreement announced Monday to specifically exempt other cryptocurrency participants, including miners and software developers, from the new requirements." But, Roll Call (8/9, Weiss, 130K) says "dueling objections on procedural grounds scuttled hopes" for the bipartisan agreement. Toomey "sought unanimous consent for a compromise amendment negotiated with lead negotiators on the underlying infrastructure bill as well as the Treasury Department to be added to the broader package." But, Sen. Richard Shelby (R-AL) "then sought consent for his own unrelated amendment, which would add $50 billion in defense spending to the infrastructure bill. Toomey was ready to accept that, but Democrats were not, and Budget Chairman Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., objected to that arrangement." Politico (8/9, Faler, 6.73M) reports, "The upshot is the Senate is likely to approve infrastructure legislation with the original cryptocurrency provisions intact, despite the compromise winning support from across the political spectrum." Taliban Seize Control Of More Provincial Afghan Capitals. On CBS This MorningVi (8/9, 2.3M), Jericka Duncan reported that the Taliban "have seized some of the largest areas yet just weeks before the final withdrawal of US troops" from Afghanistan. According to Duncan, "Taliban fighters overran three major cities, including the strategic city of Kunduz in the north. ... A local lawmaker in Kunduz says the Taliban took over key office buildings after heavy fighting and planted their flag in the main square." The New York Times (8/9, Hassan, 20.6M) says, "Since the Taliban emerged in the 1990s, Afghanistan's north has been the heart of resistance to the insurgents - predominantly ethnic Pashtun and from the south - and a bulwark against a complete takeover. But as the insurgents have carried out their sweeping military offensive this summer, they have pushed deep into northern Afghanistan." The AP (8/9, Faiez) reports that on Monday, the Taliban "took control of another provincial capital in Afghanistan" amid a "weekslong, relentless Taliban offensive as American and NATO forces finalize their pullout from the war-torn country." Citing "the council chief of northern Sar- e Pul province," the AP says the Taliban "overran the provincial capital after over a week of resistance by the Afghan security forces, after which the city of Sar-e Pul collapsed." According to the AP, "The city of Sar-e Pul joins three other provincial capitals now fully under Taliban control: Zaranj, the capital of western Nimroz province, the city of Shibirghan, the capital of northern Zawzjan province, and Taleqan, the capital of another northern province with the same name." The AP says the Taliban are "also fighting on for control of the city of Kunduz, the capital of northern Kunduz province." Reuters (8/9) reports that also on Monday, the Taliban "took Aybak, capital of the northern province of Samangan." The New York Times (8/9, Gibbons-Neff, Rahim, Hassan, 20.6M) reports that Aybak "sits on the main highway that connects Kabul...to Afghanistan's northern provinces," and says its "fall means that the Taliban have effectively placed a stranglehold on much of Balkh Province and its immensely important capital, Mazar-i-Sharif." According to the Times, "Contributing to the collapse of the city on Monday was the defection of a former member of Parliament and prominent militia commander who joined the Taliban, bringing hundreds of fighters with him." The Times reports that the defections "spread panic in the ranks of the Afghan forces as Taliban fighters closed in." The New York Times (8/9, Gibbons-Neff, Abed, Huylebroek, 20.6M) says that "since the U.S. withdrawal began in May, the Taliban have captured more than half of Afghanistan's 400- EFTA00150786 odd districts. And for the past month, Kandahar, the second largest city in Afghanistan, has been under siege by Taliban fighters in what may be the most important fight for the country's future so far." The Times says the Taliban is "desperate to capture Kandahar," and the government is "desperate to defend Kandahar, a symbol of the state's reach and an economic hub essential for trade to and from Pakistan through its checkpoints, bridges and highways." According to Reuters (8/9), the Taliban's string of victories "have sparked recriminations over the withdrawal of foreign forces. British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace told the Daily Mail that the accord struck last year between the United States and the Taliban was a 'rotten deal." Wallace "said his government had asked some NATO allies to keep their troops in Afghanistan once the U.S. troops departed, but failed to garner enough support. 'Some said they were keen, but their parliaments weren't. It became apparent pretty quickly that without the United States as the framework nation it had been, these options were closed off,' Wallace said." Reuters (8/9) reports that German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer "rejected on Monday calls for its soldiers to return to Afghanistan after Taliban insurgents took Kunduz city where German troops were deployed for a decade." According to Reuters, Germany "had the second largest military contingent in Afghanistan after the United States, losing more troops in combat in Kunduz than anywhere else since World War Two. ... 'The reports from Kunduz and from all over Afghanistan are bitter and hurt a lot'...Kramp-Karrenbauer said on Twitter." However, Kramp-Karrenbauer added: "Are society and parliament prepared to send the armed forces into a war and remain there with lots of troops for at least a generation? If we are not, then the joint withdrawal with the partners remains the right decision." Reuters (8/9) also reports that UNICEF announced on Monday that "at least 27 children have been killed and 136 injured across three provinces of Afghanistan over the past three days." ABC News Report: Biden Prepared To Allow Taliban To Regain Control Of Afghanistan. Stephanie Ramos, on ABC's Good Morning AmericaVi (8/9, 2.81M), said, "This devastating blow to the Afghan government comes just three weeks before the US is set to end its combat mission in the country," and "despite the surge of violence, American forces are speeding ahead with the draw down ordered by President Biden. ... Ninety-five percent of US troops and equipment have withdrawn." Ramos added, "While the US is providing air support, it's possible it may not be enough to stop the Taliban." George Stephanopoulos interjected: "We still don't see President Biden rethinking his strategy in any way, right?" Ramos replied, "Exactly. ... It seems as though the President is prepared to stay the course, even if it means losing all of Afghanistan to the Taliban." According to the New York Times (8/9, Goldbaum, Rahim, Gibbons-Neff, Huylebroek, 20.6M), the Biden Administration "has made it clear that America's 20-year war in Afghanistan is over. But the scale of the humanitarian crisis is likely to grow in the coming days and weeks, especially as the Taliban extend their reach over more territory." The Times goes on to report that the Afghan government is "still trying to promote the impression that it has the upper hand against the Taliban," and "has been relatively silent on the enormous losses suffered across the country in recent days." Some Foreign Contractors Who Helped The US In Afghanistan Are Stranded In Dubai. According to the AP (8/9, DeBre), "Some of the foreign contractors who powered the logistics of America's 'forever war' in Afghanistan now find themselves stranded on an unending layover in Dubai without a way to get home." The AP adds, "In the rushed evacuation, scores of these foreign workers trying to get home to the Philippines and other countries that restricted international travel because of the pandemic have become stuck in limbo at hotels across Dubai." Media Analyses: Situation In Afghanistan Continues To Deteriorate, Government Situation Growing Desperate. NBC Nightly NewsVi (8/9, 6:43 p.m. EST, story 7, 1:30, Holt, 4.92M) reported, "With the US mission in Afghanistan ending this month, the Taliban [is] moving very quickly to take control. The Pentagon saying today the security situation is not EFTA00150787 going in the right direction." NBC (Cobiella) added, "There are reports again tonight of heavy fighting, though still more than 100 miles from Kabul and across a mountain range. The capital for now remains firmly in government control." The CBS Evening NewsVi (8/9, 6:42 p.m. EST, story 6, 1:45, Garrett, 3.6M) reported "provincial capitals are falling as the Taliban speeds up its weeks long offensive. This as the US military and NATO forces exit." CBS (D'Agata) added, "As Taliban militants raise their flag in Kunduz, Afghans can only brace for more cities to follow and wonder how long before Kabul itself is in their sights. The Taliban have already proven the capital is within reach, stepping up targeted assassinations." The AP (8/9, Faiez) reports the Taliban "took control of two more provincial capitals in Afghanistan on Monday, officials said. Their fall marked the latest development in a weekslong, relentless Taliban offensive." The Taliban "have also not heeded appeals to return to the negotiating table and continue long-stalled peace talks with the Afghan government." The New York Times (8/9, Gibbons-Neff, Rahim, Hassan, 20.6M) reports the Taliban seized control of Aybak, the capital of Samangan Province, over the course of Monday "and most government forces had fled." A local businessman told the Times, "The Taliban entered without a gunshot." CNN (8/9, Khadder, Walsh, Yeung, 89.21M) reports on its website the Taliban have seized the city of Taloquan, the capital of Takhar Province, "in northeastern Afghanistan, marking the fifth provincial capital to fall under their control in just a matter of days, a local journalist confirmed to CNN on Monday." The New York Times (8/9, Hassan, 20.6M) reports Afghanistan's north "has been the heart of resistance to the insurgents — predominantly ethnic Pashtun and from the south — and a bulwark against a complete takeover. But as the insurgents have carried out their sweeping military offensive this summer, they have pushed deep into northern Afghanistan." Experts "fear that if government forces are unable to stop their advances in the north, Afghanistan's capital is more vulnerable than ever." In another piece, the New York Times (8/9, Goldbaum, Gibbons-Neff, Hassan, Rahim, 20.6M) reports experts "warn that if the insurgents are able to conquer the north — squashing the country's best hope for a grass roots resistance strong enough to take on the Taliban — the country could fall in their hands completely." Meanwhile, the Wall Street Journal (8/9, Trofimov, Cullison, Amiri, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) reports that the series of rapid battlefield defeats has resulted in calls for President Ashraf Ghani to change his governing style or step aside. Pentagon: Responsibility To Defend Afghanistan Belongs To Afghans. Despite the Taliban's gains, Reuters (8/9) reports the US "said it was up to Afghan security forces to defend the country." Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said, "These are their military forces, these are their provincial capitals, their people to defend and it's really going to come down to the leadership that they're willing to exude here at this particular moment." US officials, "speaking on condition of anonymity, said that while the military had warned Biden earlier this year that provincial capitals would fall with a withdrawal of troops, they were still surprised at how quickly some of them were being taken by the Taliban." ABC World News TonightVi (8/9, 6:46 p.m. EST, story 8, 1:30, Muir, 6.23M) reported the Pentagon is "acknowledging Afghanistan is clearly not headed in the right direction." Kirby was shown saying, "The Secretary continues to believe that the Afghan forces have the capability, they have the capacity to make a big difference on the battlefield." ABC (Ramos) added, "the Afghan Government clearly struggling to make that difference." The Hill (8/9, Kheel, 5.69M) reports the "rapidly deteriorating security situation" in Afghanistan is "putting pressure on President Biden as he sticks to his plan to pull America out of its longest war." Administration officials "briefed senators on the situation behind closed doors Monday and faced what Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) described as 'tough' questions." Battle For Kandahar Emerging As Key To Conflict. Looking at the situation in Kandahar, the New York Times (8/9, Gibbons-Neff, Abed, Huylebroek, 20.6M) reports the Taliban "are desperate to capture Kandahar, as the Taliban first took root in its neighboring EFTA00150788 districts in the 1990s before seizing the city itself and announcing their emirate." The government is "desperate" to defend the city, "a symbol of the state's reach and an economic hub essential for trade to and from Pakistan through its checkpoints, bridges and highways." Similarly, CNN (8/6, Swails, Smith-Spark, 89.21M) reports the city "of close to half a million people is almost entirely cut off from the rest of the country. Kandahari MP Gul Ahmad Kamin, hunkered down in a villa on the city's eastern outskirts, told CNN the situation had deteriorated badly over the past four weeks, with the Taliban pushing in on all sides." Germans Will Not Send Troops Back. Reuters (8/9) reports German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer on Monday rejected calls for its soldiers to return to Afghanistan to stem the Taliban advance. Reuters adds, "Some within her own conservative party want German troops to participate in an intervention against the Taliban, but Kramp-Karrenbauer said defeating them would require a long and hard campaign." Some Former US Contractors Still Stuck In UAE. The AP (8/9, DeBre) reports that some foreign contractors who provided logistic support to the US in Afghanistan are now stranded in the UAE. The AP says that the contractors, such as those from the Philippines, have not been able to return home due to pandemic-related restrictions. CAPITOL VIOLENCE NEWS Judge Questions Why Capitol Rioters Not Ordered To Pay More Restitution. The Washington Post (8/9, Hsu, 10.52M) reports a federal judge on Monday "questioned why US prosecutors are asking Capitol riot defendants to pay only $1.5 million in restitution while American taxpayers are paying more than $500 million to cover the costs of the Jan. 6 attack by a pro-Trump mob." Chief US District Judge Beryl A. Howell's comments came during a "plea hearing for a Colorado Springs man who admitted to one of four nonviolent misdemeanor counts of picketing in the US Capitol." Howell "pressed the U.S. attorney's office in Washington on why it was seeking to require only $2,000 in each felony case and $500 in each misdemeanor case," saying he was "accustomed to the government being fairly aggressive in terms of fraud when there have been damages that accrue from a criminal act for the restitution amount." Politico (8/9, Gerstein, 6.73M) reports that Judge Howell's comments "signaled she had broader concerns about prosecutors' approach than just the way they handled Croy's fairly typical case. Croy initially agreed with Howell that his actions on Jan. 6 were taken with what the judge called 'the purpose of stopping Congress from certifying the electoral vote from the 2020 presidential election," but "a short time later his defense attorney, Kira Anne West, added that there was no agreement with prosecutors that was Croy's intent that day. In fact, West said, his client said he had 'no intention of stopping any vote' and didn't actually know that the Electoral College votes were scheduled to be tallied at the time the historic building was stormed. Those claims didn't appear to sit well with Howell. 'This is the puzzle for this petty offense charge. ... It's to parading, demonstrating or picketing. ... That is typically for an end,' the judge said. 'Demonstrating is typically about something. It's parading about something." Colorado Man Pleads Guilty To Role In Capitol Siege. The AP (8/9) reports from Colorado Springs, Colorado, "A Colorado man has pleaded guilty to his role in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol building that disrupted the certification of the presidential election." Glenn Wes Lee Croy, of Colorado Springs, "pleaded guilty Monday to demonstrating inside the Capitol. He reportedly bragged on social media that he had been at the Capitol on Jan. 6 and sent someone a photo of himself as proof. The person sent the photo to the FBI, according to court documents. The photo shows Croy and another man posing with a bust of Abraham Lincoln located around the Small House Rotunda in the Capitol's south wing." EFTA00150789 The Denver Post (8/9, Schmelzer, 660K) reports, "Croy is one of 10 Colorado residents charged with crimes in connection to the Jan. 6 riots. Croy, 46, was arrested Croy on Feb. 17. Croy told someone on Facebook that he was in the Capitol the day of the riots and sent the person a photo and video from inside the building, Croy's arrest affidavit states. The recipient of the photo and videos then sent the information to the FBI. The person told agents that Croy had a Twitter account with posts about traveling to Washington. The FBI found Croy's Twitter account, which has since been deleted. On it, he had responded to a tweet from GOP Rep. Lauren Boebert that asked `Who is going to be in DC on January 6th to stand with President Donald Trump?' with `fellow Coloradan we will be there; the affidavit states. FBI agents were also able to access records that showed Croy's phone was in the Capitol on the day of the riot, the affidavit states." Virginia Capitol Siege Suspect Charged With Assaulting Relative. The AP (8/9) reports, "A Virginia man charged in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a relative, prompting federal prosecutors to seek his pretrial detention in the riot case." According to the AP, "Prosecutors are asking a federal judge in Washington, D.C., to keep Joshua Dillon Haynes jailed while he awaits trial on charges that he damaged journalists' video camera equipment outside the Capitol during the siege. A video later captured Haynes inside the Capitol, the FBI said." Haynes, 39, of Covington, Virginia, "was being held in the Allegheny Regional Jail on charges of malicious wounding, strangulation and multiple misdemeanor charges of assaulting a family member." Florida Man Charged With Helping Plan Capitol Siege. The South Tamp (FL) Patch (8/9, White, 1.44M) reports, "A Florida man has been indicted for conspiring with the Oath Keepers to plan the siege on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6." David Moerschel, 43, of Tampa "(the FBI previously listed him as being from Punta Gorda), along with Brian Ulrich, 43, of Guyton, Georgia, were indicted Monday on charges of conspiracy, obstruction of an official proceeding, and entering or remaining in a restricted building or grounds. Moerschel is additionally charged with destruction of government property and aiding and abetting." Ulrich and Moerschel "are the latest of 18 defendants to be charged with planning and participating in the siege. Moerschel, a self-proclaimed member of the Oath Keepers, was originally arrested and charged with conspiracy and obstruction of an official proceeding on July 6. The Oath Keepers are a far-right anti-government militia group that the FBI describes as 'loosely organized.' Appeals Court Orders Release Of Man Charged With Assaulting Police During Capitol Siege. The Hill (8/9, Choi, 5.69M) reports, "A U.S. appeals court on Monday ordered the release of a man accused of macing a police officer at the Jan. 6 Capitol riot and attacking Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick who died in the wake of the attack." According to The Hill, "The three- judge panel determined that the district court had 'clearly erred' when it determined that George Pierre Tanios could not be released into the community without risk to safety." The Hill adds, "According to an FBI affidavit, Tanios was seen in video with Julian Elie Khater 'working together to assault law enforcement officers with an unknown chemical substance by spraying officers directly in the face and eyes.' A West Virginia judge ordered that Tanios be detained in March pending his trial. Tanios was indicted in Washington, D.C. that same month." The Washington Post (8/9, Hsu, 10.52M) reports that the three-judge panel of the Circuit Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit said in an order filed Monday night, "The record reflects that Tanios has no past felony convictions, no ties to any extremist organizations, and no post- January 6 criminal behavior that would otherwise show him to pose a danger to the community within the meaning of the Bail Reform Act." The court "gave prosecutors seven days to appeal or seek rehearing before the full appeals court. The ruling came two weeks after a different EFTA00150790 three-judge panel of the same appeals court upheld the continuing detention of Tanios's co- defendant, Julian Khater. Both men, who have pleaded not guilty, have been jailed since their arrest in March, when they were arrested on nine counts, including in the assaults on Sicknick, a fellow Capitol Police officer and a D.C. officer." COUNTER-TERRORISM Federal Prosecutors Say Accused Whitmer Kidnap Plotters Also Discussed Attacking Ohio Governor. The Detroit News (8/9, Snell, 1.16M) reports, "FBI agents did not entrap five men accused of plotting to kidnap Gov. Gretchen Whitmer because the defendants were predisposed to commit the crime and attack other politicians, including Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine, federal prosecutors said Monday." According to the News, "The DeWine connection to a high-profile federal criminal case involving alleged violent extremism has not been previously disclosed and reveals accused plotters discussed a broader, bipartisan attack on politicians from several states. Prosecutors leveled the new allegation in a court filing Monday while fighting what has emerged as a central defense strategy that involves accusing the FBI of entrapment." The News adds, "The government was responding four weeks after defense lawyers leveled a broad attack on the government case built with help from at least one dozen informants and undercover FBI agents." COUNTER-INTELLIGENCE Continuing Coverage: Haines Led "Havana Syndrome" Meeting Friday. CNN (8/9, Bertrand, Williams, 89.21M) reports top national security and "intelligence officials met on Friday to assess the progress of investigations into the mysterious illness that has impacted dozens of US spies and diplomats in the last few years - but they still don't have an answer as to what is causing the incidents." The meeting of the "Joint Intelligence Community Council, confirmed to CNN by an administration official, was led by Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines and attended by other senior officials including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, CIA Director Bill Burns and FBI Director Chris Wray." DNI Haines "convened the meeting late Friday, according to a press release." According to the release, the meeting included briefings from "a wide range of experts." Meeting participants "made clear that they will support those affected by AHI to ensure they are believed, heard, and respected, and will work together, including through the sharing of relevant information and by following agreed upon, standardized medical protocols," according to the release. CBS News (8/9, Gazis, 5.39M) reports that the Cabinet-level meeting "is the latest in a series of government engagements on the issue, which achieved new prominence in recent months as former U.S. officials who have suffered symptoms shared more details about their experiences and, in some cases, their difficulty obtaining proper medical care." Even after "months of intensified effort by multiple government agencies, evidence pinpointing the origin of the illness remains inconclusive, U.S. officials familiar with the matter said." Officials familiar with the "intelligence being evaluated say the origin of the incidents is an area of 'active inquiry' and that several hypotheses - including that it is the work of Russian operatives using directed- energy technology to collect information from electronic devices - are still being investigated." AFP (8/9) also reports. Ranking Republican On Foreign Affairs Committee Seeks Sanctions For "Havana Syndrome" Attacks. The Hill (8/9, Beitsch, 5.69M) reports the top Republican on the "House Foreign Affairs Committee is calling on the Biden administration to sanction those responsible for the mysterious 'Havana Syndrome' attacks against U.S. officials across the globe." Legislation introduced by Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) would require President Biden to impose EFTA00150791 such sanctions "within 60 days after receiving persuasive information that a foreign government is responsible for such attacks." Continuing Coverage: Officials Say IC Investigation Into COVID Origins Likely To Be Inconclusive. McClatchy (8/9, Wilner, 29K) reports a 90-day intelligence review "into the origins of COVID-19 ordered by President Joe Biden is expected to end largely where it began, without high confidence in how the coronavirus first emerged, government officials told McClatchy." Biden will receive a classified briefing "in the last week of August on the findings of the report," but when the review began, "intelligence agencies did not expect it to end with a 'high confidence assessment." The 17 intelligence agencies "conducting the review, coordinated by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), are unlikely to come to dramatically different conclusions than they had in May, although progress has been made over the past seven weeks, several officials familiar with the review said." All of the intelligence agencies "agree there are two main possibilities: that COVID-19 was the result of a lab accident in Wuhan, China, or that it spread from animal to human." State Department Fines Firm For Unauthorized Exports Of Sensitive Materials To China And Russia. On Monday, the Wall Street Journal (8/9, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) reports, the State Department fined Keysight Technologies, a technology testing company, $6.6 million for exporting sensitive software and equipment to China, Russia and 15 other countries. The State Department said in a statement, "The settlement demonstrates the Department's role in strengthening U.S. industry by protecting technical data from unauthorized exports." CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS New Hampshire Man Pleads Guilty To Threatening Lawmakers. The Boston Herald (8/9, Tiernan, 327K) reports, "A New Hampshire man pleaded guilty to federal charges stemming from threats to hang and kill members of Congress if they didn't 'get behind' former President Donald Trump." Ryder Winegar, 34, of Amherst, New Hampshire, "entered guilty pleas Friday to six counts of threatening members of Congress and one count of transmitting threatening communications across state lines, the U.S. attorney's office for the state of New Hampshire said Monday. Winegar was accused of leaving phone messages in the early-morning hours of Dec. 16 where he threatened to hang lawmakers if they didn't support Trump. In some messages, he identified himself by name or left his telephone number, officials said. 'I got some advice for you. Here's the advice, Donald Trump is your president. If you don't get behind him, we're going to hang you until you die,' Winegar said in one message." WFXT-TV Boston (8/9) reports, "According to court documents and statements, in the early morning of December 16, 2020, Winegar left voicemails at the offices of six members of Congress. Within these messages, Winegar identified himself by name and identified his phone number. After his arrest on January 11, 2021, investigators learned of an email threatening a member of the New Hampshire State House of Representatives sent on December 14, 2020, that also listed aggressive, violent acts. 'Ryder Winegar crossed a line when he threatened to hang six members of Congress and a New Hampshire State lawmaker if they didn't conform to his beliefs. His actions, to which he admitted to today, are crimes, not protected speech,' said Joseph R. Bonavolonta, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Boston Division." Colorado Man Accused Of Killing Wife Appears In Court. The AP (8/9, Tucker) reports from Salida, Colorado, "Investigators on Monday provided glimpses of a troubled marriage between a Colorado woman who vanished on Mother's Day EFTA00150792 2020 and her husband, who is charged in her death after pleading on social media for her safe return." The AP adds, "Before she was reported missing by a neighbor after failing to return from a bicycle ride, Suzanne Morphew used a 'spy pen,' a device that looks like a pen and can automatically record conversations when sound is detected, because she feared her husband Barry Morphew was having an affair, Chaffee County Sheriff's Commander Alex Walker said. The testimony came at the start of a hearing in the mountain community of Salida to determine whether Barry Morphew, 53, will stand trial in his wife's death." The Daily Beast (8/9, Melendez, 933K) reports that Suzanne Morphew "had a prolonged affair before her disappearance, investigators revealed in court on Monday. The shocking revelation came during the start of a two-day preliminary hearing for the trial of her husband, Barry, who is accused of killing the 49-year-old on May 10, 2020. According to Dru Nielsen, Morphew's defense attorney, Suzanne was 'spying' on her husband because she believed he was having an affair. In reality, Chaffee County Sheriff's Commander Alex Walker said during cross-examination, the mother of two was having a two-year affair with a man named Jeff Libler, with whom she had attended high school in Indiana. FBI Special Agent Ken Harris also attested to the affair on the stand on Monday, stating that he heard two recordings that were made on a 'spy pen' investigators believed belonged to Suzanne." FBI Offers Reward For Information On Killing Of Kentucky Deputy. The Louisville (KY) Courier-Journal (8/9, Goodman, Tobin, 554K) reports, "Federal and local law enforcement officials pleaded with Louisville residents Monday morning to come forth with any information on who killed Jefferson County Sheriff's Office Deputy Brandon Shirley." Shirley, 26, "was shot and killed early Thursday while working an off-duty security job at Rockford Lane Auto Sales in Shively. Officials have described the shooting as an 'ambush.' Besides the ATF, representatives of the sheriff's office, Louisville Metro Police and the FBI issued the call for community help in the case at a press conference Monday at LMPD headquarters in downtown Louisville. The Louisville field offices of the FBI and ATF announced a reward Friday of up to $50,000 for 'information leading to the identification, arrest and conviction of the individual(s) responsible' for killing Shirley." FBI Probing Death Of California Lottery Winner. SFGate (CA) (8/9, Robertson, 1.9M) reports, "A woman who won more than $2 million in the California Lottery last year has been murdered in Oklahoma along with her 1-year-old daughter, according to multiple reports." The FBI "is investigating the suspected murder of Tiffani Hill, 31, and her daughter, Leanne. Hill was found dead in her Calera, Oklahoma home along with her husband, 42-year-old John Donato, who reportedly turned the gun on himself after allegedly shooting Hill and her daughter, according to local news reports. An FBI spokesperson confirmed that the agency is investigating the deaths. The FBI does not release names of victims or causes of death during ongoing investigations, the spokesperson said. The FBI, rather than local police, is investigating the murders because they occurred on tribal land. Hill was a registered member of the Choctaw Nation, the spokesperson said." Reward Money Doubles For Information On California Soldier's Death. The Chino (CA) Champion (8/9, Thompson) reports, "The reward money for information on the May 2020 murder of U.S. Army Spec. Enrique Roman-Martinez of Chino has doubled to $50,000 after hundreds of interviews, 100 warrants and subpoenas and extensive searches have not turned up any answers." The Champion adds, "U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Command special agents, the FBI and the FBI's Behavioral Analysis Unit has conducted more than 400 interviews and have returned to the North Carolina island seven times trying to find additional evidence on how the Chino man was killed. An autopsy last year showed the soldier was a victim of a homicide." EFTA00150793 Seven Arrested For Child Exploitation In Louisiana. The Baton Rouge (LA) Advocate (8/9, Nicholson, 255K) reports, "Eight men have been arrested following a three-day operation including federal, state and local law enforcement to find individuals soliciting sex from minors, Attorney General Jeff Landry announced Monday." The Advocate adds, "The operation, named Operation Home School, included members of the FBI; Louisiana Bureau of Investigations; Louisiana State Police; the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office and several other local law enforcement agencies. The Louisiana Bureau of Investigations conducted the majority of arrests for the operation, along with the FBI and the East Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office." KNOE-TV Monroe, LA (8/9) and WVLA-TV Baton Rouge, LA (8/9) also report. Three Puerto Rican Men Charged With Hate Crime After Allegedly Shooting Transgender Woman With Paintball Gun. The Washington Examiner (8/9, 888K) reports, "Three Puerto Rican men were charged with a hate crime after allegedly committing assault with a paintball gun." The Examiner adds, "Jordany Rafael Laboy Garcia, Christian Yamaurie Rivera Otero, and Anthony Steven Lobos Ruiz were allegedly driving in Toa Baja on Feb. 24, 2020, when they saw the victim, a biological male who identifies as a woman, walking on the side of the road. They recognized her from a social media post identifying her as a man who tried to enter the women's bathroom at a nearby restaurant, according to the indictment. The three men began to harass her verbally, then obtained a paintball gun to shoot at her, according to a Department of Justice press release. They allegedly accosted her again and began shooting paintballs at her and recorded their actions on video using their phone." Man Arrested In Probe Of Robberies In Nebraska, Iowa. WOWT-TV Omaha, NE (8/9, 59K) reports from Council Bluffs, Iowa, "A 21-year-old was arrested after being identified in multiple July robberies in Omaha and Iowa." Mario Quiroga "was arrested for a fugitive from justice on an Omaha warrant and a robbery charge in Council Bluffs. After being identified in two Omaha robberies that happened last month by the Robbery Unit and the FBI Safe Streets Task Force, there was a search warrant and an arrest warrant at a residence in Carter Lake. The two Omaha robberies were at a Kwik Shop and QuikTrip gas station early morning on July 21. In both robberies, he showed a gun, demanded money, and left after receiving an unknown amount of cash." Three Arrested In Probe Of Virginia Bank Robbery. The Lynchburg (VA) News & Advance (8/9, 102K) reports, "Three people were arrested in connection with a robbery Friday at Bank of America on Wards Road, police said." The News & Advance adds, "Lazaros Cardenas, 39, of Richmond; Suzanne Inman Marshall, 56, of Madison Heights; and Sheri Elizabeth Bayes, 54, of Lynchburg are charged with robbery. Cardenas also is charged with attempted robbery in connection with an incident Saturday at Wells Fargo on Candlers Mountain Road." According to the News & Advance, "In a news release, the Lynchburg Police Department thanked the FBI, U.S. Marshals, Amherst County Sheriff's Office, and the Liberty University Police Department as well as the community for helping." Panel Rejects Convictions Challenge In Drug Case Involving Two Former Police Officers. Courthouse News (8/9, 21K) reports a panel of US Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit judges "unanimously rejected two former Miami police officers' challenge to their drug- trafficking convictions." The former officers, James Archibald and Kelvin Harris, "were caught as part of an undercover FBI sting operation designed to root out dirty cops in the Miami Police Department." EFTA00150794 Oregon Man Gets 70-Month Prison Sentence After Pleading Guilty In Drug Case. The Oregonian (8/9, Bernstein, 1.02M) reports the FBI was involved with an investigation that led to a 70-month prison sentence for an Oregon man. The sentence was handed down on Monday to Aumontae Wayne Smith, who "pleaded guilty to possession with intent to distribute fentanyl and possessing a firearm in the course of drug trafficking." Former Police Officer Pleads Guilty In Drug Case. On its website, KVIA-TV El Paso, TX (8/9, Parker, 52K) reports a former officer with the El Paso Police Department in Texas "has admitted helping her stepfather deal drugs in the Borderland." The former officer, Monica Lisette Garcia, "pleaded guilty to a charge of conspiracy to aid cocaine distribution." The DEA was involved with the investigation that led to Garcia's plea, according to the KVIA article and a similar El Paso (TX) Times (8/9, Martinez, 168K) story. The Border Report (8/9, Ortiz) does not mention the DEA in its Garcia guilty plea coverage. North Carolina Drug Investigation Leads To Prison Time For 14 People. The Mount Airy (NC) News (8/9, Peters, 32K) reports 14 people have received prison sentences as the result of a North Carolina drug investigation that was conducted by the DEA and other law enforcement organizations. FINANCIAL CRIME & CORPORATE SCANDALS Fake COVID-19 Vaccination Cards Worry Authorities. The AP (8/9, Romero) reports from San Luis Obispo, California, "As the delta variant of the coronavirus sweeps across the United States, a growing number of colleges and universities are requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccination for students to attend in-person classes," but "the mandatory requirement has opened the door for those opposed to getting the vaccine to cheat the system, according to interviews with students, education and law enforcement officials." The AP adds, "Both faculty and students at dozens of schools interviewed by The Associated Press say they are concerned about how easy it is to get fake vaccine cards. Across the internet, a cottage industry has sprung up to accommodate people who say they won't get vaccinated for either personal or religious reasons." KRBC-TV Abilene, TX (8/9, Ross, 125K) reports, "This spring, the FBI warned about false vaccination cards for sale that were circulating online. In July, the Department of Justice announced the arrest of a naturopathic doctor in Northern California. The agency said the doctor gave patients false vaccine cards and homeopathic remedies claiming they would help the body fight off COVID-19. The DOJ said that misrepresenting the official seal of a U.S. agency, like the CDC logo on vaccine cards, could be a violation of federal law. Violators could face up to five years in prison or a $5,000 fine. Local health officials are encouraging people to take care of their paper vaccine cards, which is currently the best proof of vaccination against the virus." Newsweek (8/9, Marnin, 2.67M) reports, "In July, the U.S. Department of Justice announced its first federal criminal fraud prosecution involving a fake COVID-19 immunization and vaccination card scheme. Juli A. Mazi, 41, a naturopathic physician in Napa, California, was arrested and charged with one count of wire fraud and one count of false statements related to health care matters. Court documents allege she sold fake vaccination cards to customers that appeared to show that they had received Moderna vaccines. In some cases, the documents show Mazi herself filled out the cards, writing her own name, and purported Moderna 'lot numbers' for a vaccine she had not in fact administered. For other customers, she provided blank CDC COVID-19 vaccination record cards and told each customer to write that she had administered a Moderna vaccine with a specified lot number." EFTA00150795 Federal Probe Of Alabama Virtual Schools Continues. The Alabama Political Reporter (8/9, Moon) reports, "The investigation into corruption within Alabama's virtual schools remains active, with investigators from the FBI, Department of Education and the U.S. Attorney's Office conducting interviews with a variety of school officials, lawmakers, former legislators and other government officials." The APR adds, "According to two sources with direct knowledge of the interviews, the investigators remained focused on issues involving Athens City Schools and Limestone County Schools, but also were concerned about virtual schools oversight throughout the state. Additionally, the questions indicated that the officials were concerned that lobbyists had undue influence over the legislation that allowed virtual schools in the state and possibly over potential investigations into wrongdoing." FBI Continues Probe Of Lordsburg, New Mexico Police Department. KOB-TV Albuquerque, NM (8/9, O'Neal, 69K) reports from Albuquerque, New Mexico, "Following an FBI raid of the Lordsburg Police Department, federal agents are now searching smartphone data connected to former police leadership - that includes former police chief Arthur De La Garza and his younger brother Elijah. The brothers are the target of a public corruption investigation involving thousands of dollars in questionable overtime payments." KOB-TV adds, "The money in question comes from the federal program, Operation Stonegarden, which gives local agencies money to help with border security. However, unsealed search warrants suggest the brothers took overtime pay — at times when they weren't working. The FBI subpoenaed GPS records from a popular hunting app in order to gather evidence. Court records suggest Elijah actually hunted during periods of time when he claimed he was working for the Lordburg Police Department." CYBER DIVISION Unregulated Cryptocurrency Exchange To Pay $1.OM To Settle SEC Probe. The Wall Street Journal (8/9, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) reports Boston-based cryptocurrency exchange Poloniex LLC will pay $10 million for not registering with federal regulators, the Securities and Exchange Commission announced on Monday. Senators Demand Explanation For Facebook's Reaction To Misinformation Researchers. TechCrunch (8/9, Hatmaker, 502K) reports Facebook's decision to close "accounts connected to a misinformation research project last week prompted a broad outcry from the company's critics - and now Congress is getting involved." In a new letter, "a trio of Democratic senators are pressing Facebook for more answers." Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), Chris Coons (D-DE) and Mark Warner (D-VA) wrote "to Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg asking for a full explanation on why the company terminated the researcher accounts and how they violated the platform's terms of service and compromised user privacy." The lawmakers sent the letter on Friday. WPost: Users "Deserve To Better Understand" Social Media Algorithms, "More Control To Curate For Themselves." A Washington Post (8/9, 10.52M) editorial about a new "crowdsourced report by the Mozilla Foundation" about online radicalization contends that "because 70 percent of all video views on YouTube are algorithmically recommended, these things matter. Because an estimated 700 million hours of video are watched on YouTube every day, they matter a lot." The Post concludes lawmakers are "considering regulations to prompt platforms to open up the black boxes of their algorithms to outside scrutiny - or at least to provide aggregated data sets about the outcomes those algorithms produce," but recent studies "drive home" the "critical truth" that users EFTA00150796 "deserve to understand better how platforms curate their personal libraries of information, and they deserve more control to curate for themselves." LABORATORY DNA Identifies Suspected Killer In 1980 California Cold Case. The Orange County (CA) Register (8/9, Rasmussen, 594K) reports, "A man who died 22 years ago was publicly identified by police on Monday, Aug. 9, as the suspected killer in a 1980 case in Newport Beach after they used DNA, genetic genealogy and a process that never before had been used to solve a murder in the United States." Kenneth Elwin Marks "was the man who shot and killed Judith 'Judy' Nesbitt, 42, while showing him her family's boat on Nov. 26, 1980, Newport Beach police said." The OCR adds, "In 2002, investigators first tried to use DNA taken from roots of the hair and entered that information into the FBI's Combined DNA Index System, but the profile did not find a match. About three years ago, a more expanded DNA profile was taken from the remaining hair shafts. That type of extraction was the first of its kind used to identify someone in a murder investigation in the nation, police said." KCAL-TV Los Angeles (8/9) reports, "In 2018, Green Laboratories, an independent testing lab, extracted DNA from the suspect's hair shafts to create a more expanded DNA profile. According to Newport Beach police, it was the first such DNA extraction of its kind ever used. Investigator then used genetic genealogy techniques to identify Marks as the murderer." The Newport Beach (CA) Patch (8/9, Ludwig, 1.44M) also reports. LAW ENFORCEMENT SERVICES Lawmakers Ask DO) To Stop Seeking Death Penalty. Reuters (8/9) reports Reps. Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Ayanna Pressley (D-MA), Jerrold Nadler (D-NY), and Cori Bush (D-MO) on Monday sent a letter to Attorney General Garland urging him to "order Department of Justice attorneys to stop seeking the death penalty." According to Reuters, "Garland has already ordered a pause on scheduling execution dates for any of the 46 men on federal death row, saying in his July announcement a moratorium was necessary while his department reviewed whether the government's protocols for capital punishment were fair and humane," but the lawmakers "say he and his department's attorneys should go further and 'halt all participation in the capital punishment system." Reuters adds President Biden "took office in January as the first president to promise to end capital punishment, but has not yet issued any orders related to the practice." Some Experts Questioning Law Enforcement Officer's Fentanyl Exposure Claim. An online NBC News (8/7, Romero, 4.91M) article said some experts are questioning a fentanyl- related claim that was made by a representative of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department in California. The department released a video in which Cpl. Scott Crane can be heard saying that one of the department's deputies "was exposed to fentanyl and nearly died." Lt. Amber Braggs, a San Diego County Sheriff's Department spokesperson, commented on this matter. Braggs "pointed to information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the US Drug Enforcement Administration to support the department's contention that the deputy was a victim of rare skin or airborne exposure." The New York Times (8/7, Paz, 20.6M) reported that some medical and substance use disorder experts have had a skeptical reaction to a "dramatic video" that the San Diego County Sheriff's Department released. The Times linked to a research report "about the risks of incidental exposure to fentanyl." The report "found that the police and other authorities, including the US Drug Enforcement Administration, have published false information about how fentanyl can become present in the body as well as what leads to an overdose." EFTA00150797 McClatchy (8/6, Wolford, 29K) coverage of the San Diego County Sheriff's Department video did not mention that some are questioning its content. McClatchy reported, "Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid that is between 80 and 100 times more potent than morphine, according to" the DEA. The ABC News (8/6, 2.44M) and KGTV-TV San Diego (8/6, Saunders, 131K) websites published similar stories. WPost Calls On US To Crack Down On Airplane Misbehavior. The Washington Post (8/9, 10.52M) editorializes that amid "what the Federal Aviation Administration has described as an unprecedented surge in bad behavior by passengers," the US needs to do more "to crack down." According to the Post, "The numbers are tiny when viewed against the tens of millions of domestic air passengers who travel every month. But the potential for danger 35,000 feet up shouldn't be minimized." The Post expresses concern that the FAA has "seemed ill-prepared to back up its tough words with the organization, resources and efficiency needed to deal with the problem." Balko: Federal Review Of State Convictions Needed To Protect Rights Of Accused. Radley Balko writes in the Washington Post (8/9, 10.52M), "When Congress passed the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act (AEDPA) in 1996, severely restricting the ability of federal courts to review state convictions, proponents argued that federal review was unnecessary because state courts, prosecutors and attorneys general could be trusted to prevent wrongful convictions." Balko argues that claim was wrong. He writes that "as the law was being debated, the states themselves were further restricting access to their own courts, cutting funds for public defense and restructuring their judicial systems to limit appeals." State attorneys general "routinely defend bad convictions by default. They oppose DNA testing, and fight even when there's overwhelming evidence of innocence or prosecutorial misconduct." Balko says there is a "at the heart of AEDPA's restriction on federal court review - that state courts and state officials can be trusted to protect the innocent and respect the rights of the accused. The record is clear: They can't." INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS Prince Andrew Sued By Epstein Accuser Over Alleged Sexual Abuse. Reuters (8/9, Stempel) reports Britain's Prince Andrew was sued in US court on Monday "for having allegedly on three occasions sexually abused a woman who says she was trafficked for sex by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein." In a civil complaint, said the Duke of York, Queen Elizabeth's second son, sexually assaulted and battered her about two decades ago, when she was 17 and Epstein was also abusing her." OTHER WASHINGTON NEWS Austin To Mandate Vaccines For Military Personnel By Mid-September. The New York Times (8/9, Cooper, Steinhauer, 20.6M) reports the Pentagon "will seek to make coronavirus vaccinations mandatory for the country's 1.3 million active-duty troops 'no later' than next month, the Biden administration announced Monday." Defense Secretary Austin "said in a memo to the staff Monday that he would seek to speed up a vaccine mandate if the F.D.A. approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine before the middle of September, which the agency aims to do." The Wall Street Journal (8/9, Al, Siddiqui, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) reports that Austin wrote in his memo, "I strongly encourage all DoD military and civilian personnel - as well as contractor personnel - to get vaccinated now and for military service members to not wait for the mandate." CNN (8/9, Starr, Collins, Cohen, 89.21M) reports Chairman of the Joint EFTA00150798 Chiefs Gen. Mark Milley "also communicated a related message to the troops, saying in a memo that the 'health and readiness of our force is critical to America's defense." The AP (8/9, Baldor) reports in a statement Monday, the President "said he strongly support's 'Austin's message to the Force today on the Department of Defense's plan to add the COVID-19 vaccine to the list of required vaccinations for our service members not later than mid-September." Roll Call (8/9, Clevenger, 130K) reports the President added, "Secretary Austin and I share an unshakable commitment to making sure our troops have every tool they need to do their jobs as safely as possible. These vaccines will save lives." The Washington Post (8/9, Lamothe, Knowles, Pietsch, Suliman, Goldstein, 10.52M) reports the Biden Administration "has directed agencies throughout the federal government to devise plans for requiring workers to get vaccinated." Fox News (8/9, Blitzer, 23.99M) reports that so far, "more than 74% of the Navy have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. Other branches of the military lag behind, with 65% of active duty Air Force members and 60% of Air Force reserves having had at least one shot. In the Army, that number is closer to 50%, the AP reported." Politico (8/9, Custodio, 6.73M) looks at what happens to troops who refuse the vaccine. Those military members "should expect a range of penalties for doing so, military law experts said, ranging anywhere from a reprimand to confinement and getting kicked out of the military." US Again Tops 100K COVID Cases As Delta Variant Surge Continues. Reuters (8/9, Caspani, Bernstein, Shumaker) reports that across the nation, "COVID-19 cases have averaged 100,000 for three days in a row, up 35% over the past week, according to a Reuters tally of public health data. Louisiana, Florida and Arkansas reported the most new cases in the past week, based on population. Hospitalizations rose 40% and deaths, a lagging indicator, registered an 18% rise nationwide in the past week." The CBS Evening NewsVi (8/9, 6:36 p.m. EST, story 2, 2:40, Garrett, 3.6M) reported, "Tonight more troubling numbers in the COVID pandemic. The US is now averaging more than 100,000 new cases each day, with every state reporting high or substantial community transmission. Fewer than 59% of Americans 12 and older are fully vaccinated." NBC Nightly_ NewsVI (8/9, 6:31 p.m. EST, lead story, 3:00, Holt, 4.92M) reported that the country "looks a lot more like last winter when it comes to COVID. That's how much ground we've lost in the fight against the pandemic." In "some parts of the country, hospitals themselves are on the critical list. Available ICU beds counted in single digits, or worse yet, patients turned away." However, "more Americans are getting vaccinated," with the "number well above 166 million, finally edging above the 50% mark." ABC World News TonightVI (8/9, 6:32 p.m. EST, lead story, 4:30, Muir, 6.23M) reported, "The states with the highest COVID rates across much of the South tonight. Louisiana, Florida and Arkansas topping the list." Still, the US "is now seeing a steady increase in the vaccination rate again. More than 68% of Americans over 12 now receiving at least one dose." In another segment, ABC World News TonightVi (8/9, 6:37 p.m. EST, story 2, 1:45, Muir, 6.23M) showed Dr. Ashish ]ha, ABC medical contributor, saying, "I don't expect a peak in the United States any time in the next few weeks. Maybe by the end of August or early September, but that's a lot more people who are going to get infected and sick in the weeks ahead. So we have to be very careful right now." Florida Again Hits New Daily Record For Cases. Looking at the situation in Florida, Kerry Sanders reported for NBC Nightly NewsVi (8/9, 6:34 p.m. EST, story 2, 1:40, Holt, 4.92M) that "the COVID crisis has gone from bad to worse. The Florida Department of Health revealing a single day record, 22,903 COVID cases. That's the third time in a week Florida's surpassed its all-time high." Sanders added, "At least eight Florida counties say they will defy Florida's governor and mandate masks with an option to opt out. But tonight Florida's governor says any school superintendent that mandates masks risks losing their salary." EFTA00150799 Cases Surging Among Children. Kristen Dahlgren reported for NBC Nightly NewsVi (8/9, 6:36 p.m. EST, story 3, 2:00, Holt, 4.92M), "Seventy-three million children in the US now at the center of the COVID debate, and why COVID protocols aren't the same as those for the seasonal flu." Dr. Kavita Patel, NBC News medical contributor: "There are more differences between the seasonal flu and COVID-19 than there are similarities. The only similarity is they're both airborne." Dahlgren added, "Two-thirds of American children get the seasonal flu vaccine, and 90% of child flu deaths are among the unvaccinated. More children have now died from COVID than any flu season in recent memory, about 400 so far. On average, between 34 and 200 children die from the seasonal flu each year. As schools return, COVID case counts are surging." Fauci: Full FDA Approval Likely To Empower Local Governments To Mandate Vaccines. NIAID Director Fauci was asked on MSNBCVi (8/9, 1.98M) if he believes full FDA authorization of the vaccines will mean more Americans getting vaccinated. Fauci said, "I think two things are going to happen when you get the full authorization and go beyond the emergency use. There are going to be some people who really do feel that they're concerned that we don't have enough information and when you get the full approval, then they would change their mind. ... But importantly, I think, the greater impact will be that you will have, at the local level, the kind of feeling of empowerment to do the things that they were a little bit hesitant to do because they didn't have the cover, as it were, of a full approval. ... So, I think...we will see a lot more local mandates for vaccination as a requirement to do whatever particular function you are talking about." Washington State To Mandate Vaccinations For Government, Healthcare Workers. The New York Times (8/9, Hassan, 20.6M) reports Washington Gov. Jay Inslee (D) "announced Monday that most state employees and all health care workers must be fully vaccinated against the coronavirus by Oct. 18, or risk losing their jobs." He "went beyond similar orders issued by other states by saying that a refusal could lead to being fired. This would apply to both private and public sector workers, including 60,000 state employees, as well as 14,000 that work for King County and 10,000 employed by Seattle." Rampell: Vaccine Mandates Desperately Needed. Catherine Rampell writes in the Washington Post (8/9, 10.52M) that the government must sometimes "be willing to play bad cop. Now - when the United States desperately needs more and stricter coronavirus vaccination requirements - is one of those times." Nearly "a fifth of Americans say they're unlikely to ever get vaccinated against the coronavirus. The risk that more contagious variants will develop grows each day," which is "why we need government to step in. Public officials must be willing to make unpopular, sometimes controversial decisions that take the heat off private industry and protect the public welfare. ... Where's that 'nanny state' when you need it?" Texas, Florida Districts Defy Governors' Order Against Mask Mandates. The New York Times (8/9, Slotnik, 20.6M) reports the Dallas Independent School District "said on Monday that everyone — students, employees and visitors — must wear a mask while on school property, starting Tuesday. The mandate, which officials said was temporary, was imposed in defiance of an executive order by Gov. Greg Abbott that prohibits school districts from requiring masks." Politico (8/9, Atterbury, 6.73M) reports that "at least two Florida school districts want students to get permission from a health care professional before opting out of wearing masks this fall through new policies that 'violate' rules created by the DeSantis administration to thwart mandatory face coverings on K-12 campuses." Bloomberg: Re-Opening Schools Must Be Top Priority. In a piece for Bloomberg Opinion (8/9), Michael R. Bloomberg writes that "research on pandemic-related school closings suggests that the harm imposed on kids could last a lifetime," and that re-opening schools this year must be a top priority. EFTA00150800 HHS Whistleblower Settles With Federal Government. Reuters (8/9, Wolfe) reports that the US government "government has agreed to compensate a scientist who filed a whistleblower complaint that said former President Donald Trump's administration botched its early response to the coronavirus pandemic, the scientist's lawyer said on Monday." Former HHS employee Dr. Rick Bright "reached a settlement with the agency, lawyer Debra Katz said." In a statement, Katz said the settlement resolves Bright's "allegations that HHS retaliated against him for blowing the whistle about the Trump Administration's inadequate and irresponsible response to the coronavirus pandemic." Senate Democrats Unveil $3.5T Budget Resolution. Axios (8/9, Treene, 1.26M) reports that on Monday, Senate Majority Leader Schumer "released the full text of Democrats' $3.5 trillion budget resolution, which the Senate is expected to pass without any Republican votes as early as this week." Schumer "also released reconciliation instructions for Senate committees to write different sections of the final spending bill as it relates to their policy areas. The resolution provides a target date of Sept. 15 for the committees to submit their reconciliation legislation." The Washington Post (8/9, Al, Romm, 10.52M) says the blueprint "paves the way for new funding to enroll students in universal prekindergarten, help immigrants obtain legal residency and lower prescription drug prices for seniors, along with a slew of additional efforts that coincide with promises Biden and his allies made during the 2020 election campaign." Roll Call (8/9, Krawzak, 130K) reports Senate Budget Chairman Bernie Sanders said in a statement introducing the resolution that once it is adopted, it will "allow the Senate to move forward on a reconciliation bill that will be the most consequential piece of legislation for working people, the elderly, the children, the sick and the poor since [Franklin Delano Roosevelt] and the New Deal of the 1930s." The Hill (8/9, 5.69M) lays out "some of the key areas the newly released budget framework would approve spending for." Bloomberg (8/9, Dennis, Davison, 3.57M)says the plan "gives the Senate Finance Committee wide latitude to draft policies that would increase taxes on corporations and those making more than $400,000 a year, and instructs lawmakers to provide tax cuts for those making less." It also "asks the committee to find additional revenue to pay for the $3.5 trillion in spending from health care savings and a new fee on carbon polluters." Bloomberg says, "While the Finance panel would have to reduce the deficit by at least a nominal $1 billion, other committees, including ones covering health, energy, the environment, agriculture and so on, would be allowed to craft provisions adding about $1.75 trillion in red ink over a decade." The New York Times (8/9, Al, Cochrane, 20.6M) says Democrats "plan to take up the measure as soon as the Senate approves a separate $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill as early as Tuesday morning. Together, the measures could secure virtually all of President Biden's $4 trillion economic agenda, rebuilding the nation's roads, bridges, rail lines, water systems and electricity grid while expanding public education, social welfare and health care — and remaking the federal tax code." But the effort "will test the president's ability to keep the razor-thin Democratic majorities in both chambers united as his party's leaders both work with Republicans and maneuver around them." Package Instructs Lawmakers To Create Pathway To Citizenship For Qualified Migrants. The Hill (8/9, Beitsch, 5.69M) reports the measure "instructs lawmakers to chart a pathway to citizenship for millions of people while investing in border security. The bill text unveiled Monday includes some $107 billion for the Senate Judiciary Committee to spend on each, giving lawmakers a soft deadline of Sept. 15." It "does not specify how many people or which groups would be covered by the legislation, instead directing the committee to provide `lawful permanent status for qualified immigrants.' A summary of the bill also states it will provide green cards `to millions of immigrant workers and families." But, the AP (8/9, Fram) says, "Such provisions will have to pass muster with the Senate parliamentarian, who can bar provisions that are not primarily related to the budget." EFTA00150801 Budget Does Not Address Debt Ceiling, Setting Up Possible Showdown With Republicans. Politico (8/9, Scholtes, Emma, 6.73M) reports that the budget "doesn't tackle the imminent need to raise the debt ceiling, setting the stage for a dramatic standoff with Republicans this fall. The exclusion of debt limit language amounts to a political gamble." Senate Republicans have "warned that they won't give Democrats the votes needed to approach the issue on a bipartisan basis, which means that the debt limit's omission from the budget tees up a future cross-aisle fight over the debt." The Hill (8/9, Carney, 5.69M) reports Senate Minority Leader McConnell "doubled down Monday on his warning that Republicans won't help raise the debt ceiling." McConnell said, "Here's the comedy, they won't let Republicans have any say in this monstrosity but they want our help raising their credit card to make it happen. ... Democrats want Republicans to help them raise the debt limit so they can keep spending historic sums of money with zero Republican input and zero Republican votes." But, in a separate story, Politico (8/9, Everett, Caygle, Ferris, 6.73M) says Democrats "are counting" on McConnell "to provide them the GOP votes they need to overcome a filibuster and avert economic disaster." But "advisers and colleagues" say McConnell "is as dug-in as can be." Democrats "are betting Republicans will have a different view in a few weeks, declining to explain how they will overcome GOP resistance but instead predicting McConnell's side will blink." Warren To Propose 7% Tax On Corporate Earnings In Excess Of $1OOM. The New York Times (8/9, Cochrane, 20.6M) reports Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) will "propose a minimum tax on the profits of the nation's richest companies, regardless of what they say they owe the government, as part of Democrat's $3.5 trillion economic and social- policy package." The "so-called 'real corporate profits tax' was a key part of her presidential campaign, and she has enlisted Senator Angus King, the Maine independent, to help press her case that profitable companies should be taxed, regardless of loopholes and maneuvers that have allowed many of them to avoid federal corporate income taxes altogether." According to the Times, Warren's measure "would require the most profitable companies to pay a 7 percent tax on the earnings they report to investors...above $100 million." Filing Claims Administration Violating Flores Settlement At Two Texas Shelters For Minors. The New York Times (8/9, Sullivan, 20.6M) reports the Administration is "violating the terms" of the Flores settlement "that requires certain protections for migrant children in government custody, lawyers said in a motion filed on Monday in a federal court." The filing describes "shockingly deplorable" conditions at two emergency shelters in Texas that house children caught crossing the border with Mexico. While "many of the conditions described in the new motion have been previously reported, Monday's action carries the weight of the Flores case, whose plaintiffs last filed a motion at the beginning of the pandemic." Cuomo Determined To Resist Pressure To Resign. The New York Times (8/9, Ferre-Sadurni, 20.6M) reports that as New York Gov. Andre Cuomo (D) "determined in recent days that his best chance at political survival is to drag out the process of his possible impeachment over allegations that he sexually harassed nearly a dozen women, according to three people with knowledge of the matter." According to these people, as "members of the State Assembly met on Monday to lay the groundwork for impeachment proceedings, Mr. Cuomo remained focused on buying himself time, believing that events are moving too quickly and that to stay in office he and his lawyers would need to slow things down." The Washington Post (8/9, 10.52M) says Cuomo "remains determined to resist growing pressure on him to resign, according to people familiar with his state of mind." While "seven people in Cuomo's orbit said Monday that they do not think he can survive this crisis," none of EFTA00150802 them "expect him to acknowledge that yet." For NBC Nightly NewsVi (8/9, 6:39 p.m. EST, story 5, 1:30, Holt, 4.92M), Kathy Park reported Cuomo "is showing no signs of stepping down." On its website, CNN (8/9, Morales, Lee, Krieg, Cole, 89.21M) cites "a source" who said Cuomo "can't come to grips with the end of his time in office, telling his inner circle: 'I need more time." According to the Rev. Al Sharpton, "who spoke with multiple people close to Cuomo over the weekend," the Governor was in a "fighting mood." Sharpton said of his conversations with Cuomo advisers over the weekend, "I said to them - I don't see how he survives." Assembly Speaker: Lawmakers Will Move On Impeachment "With All Due Haste." Politico New York (8/9) says legislative leaders announced Monday that lawmakers "will take the next few weeks to review the evidence and hear from experts." Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie told reporters, "Our goal is now to bring this matter to a conclusion with all due haste." Politico says members of the Assembly's Judiciary Committee "will hold two private meetings over the next two weeks to review the evidence against Cuomo that has been gathered by their own investigators as well as the AG's office. They'll then convene later in August to hear from experts on sexual harassment and impeachment." It is "unlikely that articles of impeachment could be approved by the full Assembly until the last few days of August or some point in September." Cuomo "has the statutory right to have at least 30 days to prepare for a trial in the state Senate," which means "such a proceeding likely couldn't conclude until October." USA Today (8/9, 12.7M) says "critics of the governor and advocates for harassment victims have criticized the timeframe of the Assembly's process, urging them to put impeachment to an up-or-down vote as soon as possible." But Heastie and Assembly Judiciary Committee Chair Charles Lavine "said the Assembly needs to act quickly but cautiously to ensure the potential impeachment process can stand up to scrutiny." The Wall Street Journal (8/9, Vielkind, Paul, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) provides similar coverage. ABC World News TonightVi (8/9, 6:43 p.m. EST, story 6, 1:35, Muir, 6.23M) reported that the state Assembly's impeachment investigation goes beyond the harassment allegations. Charles Lavine, chair of the Assembly's Judiciary Committee, said, "Including allegations that the governor improperly used state resources to write and produce a book, allegations concerns COVID-19 and nursing homes, allegations that he provided for preferential access to COVID-19 testing." Former Cuomo Aide Who Filed Criminal Complaint Details Allegations. Meanwhile, the AP (8/9) reports Brittany Commisso, an aide who accused Cuomo of groping her, "said in her first televised interview that she was initially afraid to identify herself because she worried the governor's 'enablers' would destroy her if she spoke up." Commisso "detailed her interactions with the Democrat in a joint interview with CBS and The Times Union of Albany that was broadcast Monday." She said, "I was afraid that if I had to come forward and revealed my name, that the governor and his enablers, I like to call them, would viciously attack me, would smear my name, as I had seen and heard them do before to people." Jericka Duncan reported in the lead story for the CBS Evening NewsVI (8/9, 6:31 p.m. EST, lead story, 4:00, Garrett, 3.6M) Commisso says Cuomo "groped her breast at the Governor's Mansion last year." Commisso: "He came back to me and that's when he put his hand up my blouse and cupped my breast over my bra. I exactly remember looking down, seeing his hand, which is a large hand, thinking to myself, 'Oh, my God, this is happening?" Reuters (8/9) reports Commisso, who "reported Cuomo to the Albany County sheriff's office last week," told CBS News, "The governor needs to be held accountable ... What he did to me was a crime. He broke the law." In the interview, Commisso "described how Cuomo's advances grew bolder over time and explained that she was afraid to come forward due to his power." New York Democrats Discuss Possible Cuomo Successors . The New York Times (8/9, Lerer, Glueck, 20.6M) says "New York Democratic officials, activists and strategists have begun privately discussing around a half-dozen politicians capable of succeeding Mr. Cuomo, with some potential candidates or their allies starting to gauge interest and identify possible EFTA00150803 sources of support." Among them are "several who national Democrats believe would easily win a general election in the lopsidedly Democratic state," including "women and people of color whose ascension to the governor's office in Albany could burnish the party's image for inclusiveness." Politico New York (8/9) says "no Democrats have yet declared their intentions to run to succeed" Cuomo, but provides a list of "some of the officials worth keeping an eye on as New York seems poised to rapidly transition from an impeachment trial to the commencement of a busy primary season." Time's Up Leader Resigns Over Ties To Cuomo. The AP (8/9, Villeneuve) reports Roberta Kaplan, the "leader of Time's Up, the #MeToo-era organization founded by Hollywood women to fight sexual harassment, resigned under fire Monday for advising...Cuomo's administration behind the scenes in its effort to discredit one of Cuomo's accusers." Kaplan "counseled the administration last winter when Cuomo was hit with the first of the harassment allegations, leveled by a former economic development adviser, Lindsey Boylan. Both Kaplan and Alphonso David, leader of the Human Rights Campaign, were consulted over a letter the Cuomo administration had drafted attacking Boylan's credibility." Federal Judge Suggests CDC's New Eviction Moratorium Amounts To Legal "Gamesmanship." Politico (8/9, Gerstein, O'Donnell, 6.73M) reports US District Court Judge Dabney Friedrich "suggested Monday that the Biden administration was engaging in legal `gamesmanship' in order to resurrect a pandemic-related eviction ban despite an indication from the Supreme Court that the measure was unlawful." Politico says Friedrich "made the pointed remark at a hearing on a request by real estate brokers and landlords to block the new policy the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention rolled out last week," but also "seemed skeptical" of arguments "that an opinion from Justice Brett Kavanaugh coupled with the votes of other justices in an emergency ruling the Supreme Court issued in June amounted to definitive guidance from the high court about how to handle the Biden administration's new iteration of the ban." Politico reports the Trump appointee "noted that while Kavanaugh indicated he was inclined to block any extension of the previous ban beyond July 31, the four justices who voted to block the eviction moratorium never explained their positions." Bloomberg (8/9, Yaffe- Bellany, 3.57M) reports Friedrich "said she would rule `in the near future' on the request by landlords to overturn the new moratorium." The Hill (8/9, Kruzel, 5.69M) reports that since Friedrich in May "ruled that a previous version of the CDC's eviction suspension was an illegal exercise of the agency's authority" and "agreed to delay enforcement of her ruling, citing the risk to public health if evictions were allowed to proceed," the following months "have seen a flurry of political and court activity related to the eviction freeze as the delta variant of the coronavirus has spread through some of the most eviction-vulnerable communities in the U.S." The Hill adds the end of the first moratorium "drew fire from progressives and set off finger-pointing between congressional Democrats and the White House over who bore responsibility for renewing protections for renters, many of whom have not received federal aid from their state governments." A Wall Street Journal (8/9, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) editorial agrees with Judge Friedrich that the Administration is seeking to use the new eviction moratorium to play for time even as it recognizes that the policy will probably eventually be struck down by the courts. Husband's Death To COVID Leads Missouri Family To Lose Their Home. A nearly 3,500-word Washington Post (8/9, Wan, 10.52M) article covers how the death of a 37-year-old man to COVID in Missouri nine months ago has since cost his 33-year-old widow and her two children their home. The Post says his death "had not only devastated their family emotionally, it had broken them financially," and "like tens of thousands of other families shattered by the pandemic," they are "now facing a cascade of secondary losses: income, home, school friends, long-held plans for the future." EFTA00150804 Dixie Fire Approaches 500K Acres With Containment Still Weeks Away. The Los Angeles Times (8/9, Smith, 3.37M) reports 26 days "since the Dixie fire ignited in the dense forest of Plumas County," the fire "grew to 489,287 acres Monday and was only 21% contained, the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection said," and "officials are warning that it could take several more weeks to contain the monstrous blaze, which is the second-largest wildfire in California's recorded history." The Times adds the fire "has destroyed more than 400 structures and sent tens of thousands of residents fleeing for safety." While the AP (8/9, Weber) reports the "thick smoke...cleared Monday from scenic forestlands, allowing firefighting aircraft to rejoin the battle to contain the massive Dixie Fire," the San Francisco Chronicle (8/9, Ravani, 2.44M) reports "warmer weather conditions threatened to fuel more explosive behavior by mid-week, Cal Fire said." Judge Temporarily Bars Texas From Arresting Democratic Legislators. The Washington Post (8/9, 10.52M) reports that Texas State District Judge Brad Urrutia (D) on Sunday "temporarily blocked the arrest of Democratic lawmakers who fled the state to stop the legislation, a move that will allow members of the group to return from Washington without the threat of being detained." The Post casts the 14-day restraining order from Urrutia as "prolonging a showdown over proposed new voting restrictions." WSJournal Criticizes Lhamon's Nomination. A Wall Street Journal (8/9, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) editorial criticizes President Biden's nomination of Catherine Lhamon as assistant secretary for civil rights at the Education Department. The Journal argues that if she manages to be confirmed, Lhamon would likely again use Title IX to attempt to enforce progressive policies and in the process endanger Democratic lawmakers seeking reelection. INTERNATIONAL NEWS Canada Opens Border To Fully Vaccinated Americans. Politico (8/9, Allan, 6.73M) reports Canada "opened to fully vaccinated Americans on Monday, increasing pressure on the Biden administration to respond in kind to its northern neighbor." Politico says the Administration has "rolled over U.S. restrictions on nonessential travel until at least Aug. 21." While the New York Times (8/9, Austen, 20.6M) says if the Administration's decision not to open the border "frustrated the Canadians, they did not say so, at least publicly," Tom Costello said on NBC Nightly NewsVI (8/9, 6:44 p.m. EST, story 9, 1:50, Holt, 4.92M) that "in Canada (there is] widespread frustration that America won't let non-Americans in for at least another two weeks even as Canada welcomes their vaccinated American neighbors." The Wall Street Journal (8/9, Vieira, Mackrael, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) reports Canada plans to reopen its borders to fully vaccinated travelers from other counties in early September. UN Panel Releases Climate Change Report. The New York Times (8/9, Plumer, Fountain, 20.6M) reports the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) "concluded" in a "major new United Nations scientific report" released Monday that "nations have delayed curbing their fossil-fuel emissions for so long that they can no longer stop global warming from intensifying over the next 30 years, though there is still a short window to prevent the most harrowing future." The Times adds the report found "humans have already heated the planet by roughly 1.1 degrees Celsius, or 2 degrees Fahrenheit, since the 19th century, largely by burning coal, oil and gas for energy. And the consequences can be felt across the globe: This summer alone, blistering heat waves have killed hundreds of people EFTA00150805 in the United States and Canada, floods have devastated Germany and China, and wildfires have raged out of control in Siberia, Turkey and Greece. But that's only the beginning." While the Wall Street Journal (8/9, Al, Lee Hotz, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) reports the IPCC said some of the effects of climate change may be irreversible for centuries and US Climate Envoy John Kerry called for "real action," the AP (8/9, Borenstein) says that the report "also eased back a bit on the likelihood of the absolute worst climate catastrophes" as it "makes more precise and warmer forecasts for the 21st century than it did last time it was issued in 2013." The Washington Post (8/9, Al, Dennis, Kaplan, 10.52M) says that the "landmark" IPCC report "states that there is no remaining scientific doubt that humans are fueling climate change. That much is `unequivocal.' The only real uncertainty that remains, its authors say, is whether the world can muster the will to stave off a darker future than the one it already has carved in stone." The Post adds that the "sprawling assessment" produced by "234 authors relying on more than 14,000 studies from around the globe...bluntly lays out for policymakers and the public the most up-to-date understanding of the physical science on climate change." On ABC World News TonightVI (8/9, 6:38 p.m. EST, story 3, 2:10, Muir, 6.23M), Zohreen Shah reported, "More than 230 experts from 66 nations [are] urging a rapid reduction in greenhouse gases. They now predict the planet will rise an average of 2.7 degrees Fahrenheit by 2040. Less than 20 years from now, an a decade before they initially believed, bringing with that, more heat waves, droughts and fires." However, Richard Engel said on NBC Nightly NewsVi (8/9, 6:41 p.m. EST, story 6, 1:40, Holt, 4.92M) that the IPCC report, "the world's largest and most up to date study on climate change," is "not entirely without hope, finding that temperatures can be stabilized if we act decisively over the next several decades." On the CBS Evening NewsVi (8/9, 6:38 p.m. EST, story 3, 2:25, Garrett, 3.6M), Ben Tracy reported scientists "say immediate and rapid reductions in greenhouse emissions, mostly from fossil fuels, are necessary to avoid catastrophic impacts." Reuters (8/9, Chestney, Januta) reports President Biden "tweeted Monday: `We can't wait to tackle the climate crisis. The signs are unmistakable. The science is undeniable. And the cost of inaction keeps mounting." While The Hill (8/9, Frazin, 5.69M) reports "environmentalists and their allies on Capitol Hill are seizing on a new United Nations (U.N.) report on greenhouse gas emissions to argue that the $3.5 trillion spending plan from Democrats unveiled Monday is vital to help combat climate change," but Politico (8/9, Colman, Mathiesen, 6.73M) says the IPCC report "comes as world leaders grapple with policies to wring carbon dioxide and methane emissions from their economies — and as the Senate moves forward on an infrastructure plan with $550 billion in new spending that takes only modest steps toward addressing climate change." Transportation Secretary Buttigieg said on CNBCVi (8/9, 175K), "Transportation is the biggest sector in our economy when it comes to emitting greenhouse gases. So to me, that means we have to be the biggest part of the solution. What's exciting about that, even though it's daunting, is that we can also create a lot of jobs as we go. Whether it's jobs making the electric vehicles of the future that are going to provide clean transportation or whether it's the jobs in the transit systems that we are funding that are going to help give people alternatives and take cars off the road. This is where we really get to break the old false choice of climate versus jobs and demonstrate that the only way to a safe, sustainable future is to create jobs through climate action and clean transportation." Energy Secretary Granholm said on Fox News' Special Report (8/9, 1.53M) that the UN climate report is an "exclamation point on what we already know. All you have to do is look at what is happening in California. We are approaching hurricane season. These hurricanes every single year are getting more intense. And the fact that there is a sense of urgency in this report that has not previously been as evident. It is a red flashing light. So, it's why the President has EFTA00150806 put forward a really bold effort to invest in our country to make sure that we create jobs in America to solve this problem." Citing the "alarming new U.N. report," Eugene Robinson writes in the Washington Post (8/9, 10.52M), "We're out of time. ... If the world immediately takes bold, coordinated action to curb climate change, we face a future of punishing heat waves, deadly wildfires and devastating floods." But, if "we continue down the road of half-measures and denial that we've been stuck on since scientists first raised the alarm, the hellscape we leave to our grandchildren will be unrecognizable." Robinson writes, "At the rate we're going, the world could warm by nearly 8 degrees Fahrenheit - by the end of this century," according to the IPCC. While "relatively few of us who are alive today would still be around to witness what we have wrought," we "know we need to change our ways. Our descendants will curse our memory if we fail to act." USA Today (8/9, 12.7M) editorializes that Biden "won the presidency promising broad new policies to cut America's greenhouse gas emissions. But Congress needs to act on those ideas this year." USA Today asserts Democrats "cannot risk losing narrow control of one or both chambers of Congress in the 2022 elections to a Republican Party too long resistant to meaningful action on the climate." USA Today identifies some "ideas worth considering" from the President and concludes that when Biden "attends a U.N. climate conference in November, he can use American progress on climate change as a mean of persuading others to follow our lead. Further delay is not an option." New York Times (8/9, 20.6M) column Paul Krugman asserts "many of the attitudes that have characterized the right-wing response to the coronavirus pandemic — refusal to acknowledge facts, accusations that scientists are part of a vast liberal conspiracy, refusal to address the crisis - were foreshadowed in the climate debate," but "from the response to Covid-19 among Republican officials - especially the opposition to lifesaving vaccines - it's hard to escape the conclusion that the paranoid, anti-rational streak in American politics isn't as bad as we thought; it's much, much worse." He adds the conclusions of the IPCC report "won't surprise anyone who has been following the issue," but "influential conservatives" will "react the same way they've reacted to past warnings - or the way they've reacted to Covid-19." Meanwhile, a Wall Street Journal (8/9, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) editorial contends the IPCC report is a "political document" filled with rhetoric. The Journal criticizes the media coverage as overly apocalyptic and argues there are better policies available for addressing climate change than giving control over to the government. German Climatologist Playing Key Role In Determining Impact Of Climate Change On Disasters. Politico Europe (8/9, Mathiesen, 15K) profiles German climatologist Friederike Otto, who "along with her colleagues at the World Weather Attribution (WWA) service...is using what's called attribution science to help answer the question of whether climate change made a heat wave, hurricane or drought more likely." According to Politico, "The solution developed by Otto and her team circumvents the slow-by-necessity peer review system; if a weather event is the same type as one they have already studied and had reviewed, they don't wait for independent scientists to scrutinize the findings. Instead, WWA will release a partial, rapid analysis, sometimes within days of an event. A peer-reviewed study then follows. That allows their science to fit within the news cycle of a major event." Lopez Obrador, Harris Discuss Migration, COVID, Boosting Central American Economies Reuters (8/9) reports Vice President Harris and Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador "spoke on Monday about migration, the battle against COVID-19, and the need to strengthen Central American economies, the White House said in a statement." The White House "said the two leaders discussed ongoing bilateral cooperation to address 'irregular migration' to the shared U.S.-Mexican border, and agreed to focus on bolstering Central American economies through investment in agriculture and climate resilience," while Harris "updated Lopez Obrador on U.S. efforts, including the July 29 release of the U.S. strategy for EFTA00150807 addressing the root causes of migration in Central America." Reuters adds Harris "also told Lopez Obrador that Washington was committed to sending additional doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Mexico, on top of the 4 million doses already delivered, the White House said." NYTimes Analysis: Biden's Tough Cuba Policy Reflects Sen. Menendez's Influence. The New York Times (8/9, London°, Robles, 20.6M) says President Biden's presidency "raised expectations among many Cubans of a return to the Obama days, when the United States sought to bury the last vestige of the Cold War by restoring diplomatic relations with Havana and calling for an end to the embargo." However, Biden is "taking an even harder line" on Cuba than Donald Trump. The Times says that "to may Cubans," Biden's "approach has been a blow." Cuba experts and US officials, the Times adds, "say that Mr. Biden's policy shift reflects the ascendant influence of Sen. Robert Menendez, who as chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee wields enormous power over administration nominees and other administration priorities." Cuban Exile Community In US Concerned Over Fate Of Friends, Family Detained After Protests. The Washington Post (8/8, Rozsa, 10.52M) reports that "hundreds of activists, journalists and other citizens have been detained since last month's historic demonstrations," and their fate is causing worry about the Cuban-exile community in the US. The Post adds that "activists and lawyers in Miami's Cuban community are doing what they can to help through legal representation, and donations of cellphones and cards with prepaid minutes for calling." Investigation Finds Cuban Protests Originated On San Antonio Community Forum. Reuters (8/9) reports the recent protests in Cuba "appeared largely spontaneous as Cubans vented frustrations over long lines for food, power outages, medicine shortages as well as curbs on civil freedoms," but "an investigation by non-state Cuban outlet El Estornudo - cited by state television and confirmed by Reuters - recently showed that the first protest was convened online by a San Antonio community forum for local people and those who had emigrated." According to Reuters, "The backstory shows how the recent expansion of web access in Cuba has been a gamechanger in fostering forums on social media to share criticism and to mobilize," and it "shows how strengthening relations with the Cuban diaspora — thanks to the internet and greater freedom of movement - is influencing politics on the island at a grassroots level." Sullivan Pressures Brazil To Avoid Using Huawei 5G Equipment. Reuters (8/9, Mason, Martina) reports National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan raised concerns "about Huawei equipment in Brazil's 5G telecoms network during his visit to the country last week, a White House official said on Monday, but Brazil made no promises about whether it would use products from the Chinese company." US officials also pressed Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro "on his efforts to call Brazilian election integrity into question and said the United States had confidence in Brazil's ability to carry out free elections, the National Security Council's senior director for the Western Hemisphere, Juan Gonzalez, told reporters on a conference call." Gonzalez denied "reports that the United States had offered support for a NATO partnership with Brazil in exchange for cooperation over 5G equipment made by China's Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, saying the two issues were not related" and there was no "quid pro quo." Administration Urged To Maintain Anti-Corruption Pressure On Guatemala. Politico (8/9, Rodriguez, Daniels, 6.73M) reports during her visit to Guatemala in June, Vice President Harris "delivered a clear message alongside the country's president: The U.S. would work to root out corruption in the country, even at the highest level of government." President Alejandro Giammattei "underscored his commitment to working with Harris on the task. But two months later, his administration is proving itself to be part of the problem." The situation EFTA00150808 "has placed Harris and the Biden administration writ large in a tricky political perch: The U.S. has been leaning on Guatemala as a focal point in its efforts to tackle the destabilizing conditions that push migrants to head to the U.S. border. Now, they need to show their commitment to fighting corruption abroad is more than just talk." Politico says, "U.S. and Guatemalan civil society leaders and experts are urging it to remain committed to a long-term strategy to fight corruption." In Retaliation, Nicaragua Recalls Ambassadors From Four Regional Nations. Reuters (8/9) reports the Nicaraguan government announced it had recalled its ambassadors to Mexico, Argentina, Colombia and Costa Rica for "consultations" in response "to similar moves by the four countries against Nicaragua." Blinken Criticizes China's Behavior In South China Sea. Reuters (8/9, Nichols) reports Secretary of State Blinken "called out bullying in the South China Sea on Monday and warned the U.N. Security Council that a conflict `would have serious global consequences for security and for commerce,' sparking a strong rebuke from China." Blinken told the UNSC, "Conflict in the South China Sea, or in any ocean, would have serious global consequences for security, and for commerce." He continued, "When a state faces no consequences for ignoring these rules, it fuels greater impunity and instability everywhere." Blinken added, "We have seen dangerous encounters between vessels at sea and provocative actions to advance unlawful maritime claims." He also said the US is concerned by actions that "intimidate and bully other states from lawfully accessing their maritime resources." US, South Korean Drills Starting Tuesday As Kim Yo Jong Decries Them. Reuters (8/9, Shin) reports that the US and South Korea are set to begin "preliminary military drills" on Tuesday, "despite North Korea's warning that the exercises would dent signs of an inter-Korean thaw." The drills "were designed to examine the allies' readiness to respond to a potential contingency, and will be held until Friday before switching to full-scale exercises scheduled for Aug. 16-26, Yonhap said, citing unidentified military and government sources." In a second piece, Reuters (8/9, Shin, Smith) reports Kim Yo Jong, sister of Kim Jong Un, warned, "The United States and South Korea will face a more serious security threat by ignoring our repeated warnings to push ahead with the dangerous war exercises." She "accused South Korea of `treacherous treatment' for going ahead with the drills shortly after a hotline between Pyongyang and Seoul was reconnected in a bid to ease tensions." Biden Under Pressure To Label Treatment Of Burma's Rohingya "Genocide." Politico (8/9, Toosi, 6.73M) reports President Biden and Administration officials have declined to describe the treatment of Burma's Rohingya as "genocide" despite the fact that "multiple investigations, including by United Nations officials, have determined the Rohingya were victims of genocide or that there was strong evidence of it." Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) said, "This administration is undermining the legitimacy of its human rights policy by failing to make this declaration." With the fourth anniversary of the Burmese military's crackdown on the Rohingya coming this month, "Rights activists hope Secretary of State Antony Blinken will use the occasion to declare that the Rohingya were genocide victims." However, Politico says "there's no sign...that the Biden team is willing to make the call." WPost: No "Glorification" Of Chinese Regime At Beijing Olympics. In an editorial entitled, "Will The Next Olympics Be A Celebration Of Dictatorship And Genocide?," the Washington Post (8/9, 10.52M) says that the US should not boycott the 2022 Beijing Winter Games, but "countries and companies must deny China the unchallenged showcase it craves." The Post says, "No government, company or individual should be complicit in the glorification of the Chinese regime's crimes." EFTA00150809 WSJournal: Chinese Buildup Highlights Need For US Nuclear Modernization. In an editorial, the Wall Street Journal (8/9, Subscription Publication, 8.41M) hails the inclusion of concerns about China's nuclear arms buildup in readout on Friday of Secretary of State Blinken's meeting with Southeast Asian leaders. The Journal says that China's decision to move beyond a minimum-deterrent force highlights the need to modernize the aging US nuclear weapons capability. US, UK Hit Belarus With New Sanctions On Anniversary Of Fraudulent Election. Bloomberg (8/9, Sink, 3.57M) reports that the Administration "imposed new sanctions Monday targeting a Belarusian state-owned potash producer, the country's Olympic committee, and business leaders and companies with ties to President Alexander Lukashenko." The New York Times (8/9, Kanno-Youngs, 20.6M) reports President Biden "signed a sweeping executive order expanding the number of sectors the United States can target in Belarus, while also issuing the largest tranche of sanctions against the country to date." Biden said in a statement, "Rather than respect the clear will of the Belarusian people, the Lukashenko regime perpetrated election fraud, followed by a brutal campaign of repression to stifle dissent." Meanwhile, the AP (8/9) reports the UK targeted Belarus with new sanctions, which "target trade with Belarusian state-owned companies, government finance and aviation, including a ban on British firms providing technical assistance to Lukashenko's fleet of luxury aircraft, the U.K. Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office said Monday." Reuters (8/9, James, Piper) reports Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab said, "These sanctions demonstrate that the UK will not accept Lukashenko's actions since the fraudulent election. The Lukashenko regime continues to crush democracy and violate human rights in Belarus." In Marathon News Conference, Lukashenko Defends Regime. Reuters (8/9, Zinets, James, Piper) reports that a "defiant" Lukashenko "said on Monday a Belarusian sprinter defected at the Olympic Games only because she had been 'manipulated' by outside forces and shrugged off a coordinated barrage of new Western sanctions." In an "hours-long news conference," Lukashenko "denied being a dictator and said he had defended Belarus against opponents plotting a coup." The New York Times (8/9, Nechepurenko, Hopkins, 20.6M) reports that while Lukashenko "has worked hard to support his view of events, it is widely dismissed as nonsense by Belarusian activists, Western governments and independent analysts. In fact, they say, after blatantly stealing the election he ordered his law enforcement agencies to crack down on protesters using violence unseen in Europe for decades." The AP (8/9, Karmanau) reports that Lukashenko "has vaguely promised to step down after Belarus adopts a new constitution but kept quiet about when it might happen. On Monday, Lukashenko said it would happen 'very soon." Migrants From Belarus Continue To Flood Across Polish, Lithuanian Borders. Reuters (8/9) reports a "record number of migrants have crossed the Polish border with Belarus since Friday, the Border Guard said on Monday, amid accusations Minsk is using illegal crossings to pressure European Union states." Poland and Lithuania "have seen a surge in illegal migration in recent weeks that is so severe the countries have appealed to the EU for help." Biden Taps Opponent Of Nord Stream 2 To Implement Deal Allowing Completion. Axios (8/9, Swan, Basu, 1.26M) reports that President Biden has appointed "close former adviser" Amos Hochstein to be the State Department's "energy envoy charged with implementing a U.S.-Germany deal allowing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline to be completed." According to Axios, Hochstein "has been a leading voice against Nord Stream 2." Nevertheless, Axios adds, "Implementing the pipeline deal will be an immediate priority for Hochstein, who's known by key players in Eastern Europe as 'Biden's guy." Axios notes that Hochstein served on "the supervisory board of the Ukrainian gas company Naftogaz" from 2017 to 2020. Axios Report: Burns In Israel For Talks Focused On Iran. EFTA00150810 Barak Ravid reports for Axios (8/9, 1.26M) that CIA Director Burns is visiting Israel on Tuesday "for the first time since assuming office for talks that are expected to focus on Iran, Israeli officials tell me. He's also expected to meet Palestinian Authority officials in Ramallah." The Hill (8/9, Schnell, 5.69M) reports Burns "will reportedly meet with David Barnea, the director of the Mossad intelligence agency, and Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett, in addition to other senior defense and intelligence personnel." Bloomberg Report: Return To Iran Deal May No Longer Be "Feasible." Bloomberg (8/9, Wadhams, Wainer, 3.57M) reports that the Administration is facing the "sobering reality" that a return to the nuclear deal with Iran "may no longer be feasible." US officials are "reviewing their options after months of talks on reentry into the accord failed to produce an agreement, according to people familiar with the discussions." The US is considering the "interim step of limited sanctions relief in exchange for Iran freezing its most provocative proliferation work, they said." Similarly, Walter Russell Mead, in his column for the Wall Street Journal (8/9, Subscription Publication, 8.41M), writes that this is the week that the "optimistic" case for restoring the deal died, primarily due to the accession of new president Ebrahim Raisi. Swedish Case Involves 1988 Crackdown On Dissidents Allegedly Overseen By Iran's New President. Politico Europe (8/8, 15K) reports that a Swedish case involving Iraj Mesdaghi, a former political prisoner, could "offer a rare insight into atrocities allegedly committed by the Iranian state during one the darkest periods in its modern history - summer 1988 - when reports by human rights organizations say thousands of members of political opposition groups were executed on the orders of supreme leader Ruhollah Khomeini." Politico adds that "the case is particularly sensitive" for Iran because Raisi "has long stood accused of being a central figure in the massacre." Three Lebanese Men Killed In Disputes Amid Fuel Shortage, Source Says. Reuters (8/9) reports three Lebanese men "died in altercations on Monday related to scarce fuel supplies, an army statement and security source said, as the country reels from a long-running economic crisis." According to Reuters, the deaths occurred as "the crisis deepened this week, with acute shortages of the fuel needed to run generators and lines returning to gasoline stations." Violence Prompts Concerns About Stability Of South Sudan's Coalition Government. The New York Times (8/9, Dahir, 20.6M) reports a decade after its creation, South Sudan's "path to lasting stability remains fragile as infighting tears at the shaky coalition governing the world's youngest nation." According to the Times, clashes over the weekend within one faction "may have left as many as several dozen people dead." The Times says the "flare-up of violence inflamed long-simmering divisions and raised concerns about the future of the tenuous peace agreement signed three years ago by rival ethnic factions led by the country's president and vice president." THE BIG PICTURE Headlines From Today's Front Pages. Wall Street Journal: Some Climate Change Effects May Be Irreversible, UN Panel Says Canadian Pacific Plans New, Higher Bid For Kansas City Southern Oil Prices Slide On Worries That Delta Variant Will Crunch Demand Pentagon To Mandate COVID-19 Vaccine For US Service Members Sending Smiley Emojis? They Now Mean Different Things To Different People EFTA00150811 New York Times: Senate Democrats Begin $3.5 Trillion Push For 'Big, Bold' Social Change Climate Change Is A 'Hammer Hitting Us On The Head,' Developing Nations Say A Defiant Cuomo Seeks To Buy Time As Lawmakers Prepare For Impeachment On Afghanistan's Front Line, There Are No Good Choices The Ashes Of The Dixie Fire Cast A Pall 1,000 Miles From Its Flames A Yearlong Cry For Help, Then Death After An Assault Washington Post: Cuomo Digs In As Impeachment Inquiry Proceeds Delta Is Derailing Plans For Normalcy As Schools Reopen For A Missouri Widow, The Losses Keep Coming Panel Says Pace Of Climate Change Is 'Unprecedented' Democrats Unveil Vast Spending Blueprint Financial Times: Global Warming Will Hit 1.5C By 2040, Warns Report From World's Scientists China's Tech Tycoons Lose $87bn Of Wealth After Beijing Crackdown Peru's Businesses On Edge As New President Castillo Sets Leftward Course Story Lineup From Last Night's Network News: ABC: US COVID Surge; US COVID Rates Among Children; US Fires/Climate Change; Greece Wildfires; US Infrastructure Bill; Andrew Cuomo Impeachment; Prince Andrew Sexual Abuse Allegations; Taliban Advancing Through Afghanistan; US Severe Weather; US Job Market; Homecoming For US Olympians. CBS: Andrew Cuomo Impeachment; US COVID Surge; US Wildfires/Climate Change; Severe Weather; Prince Andrew Sexual Abuse Allegations; Taliban Forces Advancing Through Afghanistan; US Medical Debt; Omaha Elevator Rescue; USS Gerald Ford; Sabrina Cohen Adaptive Beach Days. NBC: US COVID Surge; COVID Rates in Florida; COVID Rate Among Children; Andrew Cuomo Impeachment; Global Climate Crisis; Taliban Forces Advancing Through Afghanistan; Chicago Police Officer Killed; Canada Reopens Borders To Vaccinated Americans; Interview With United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby; Credit Card Promotions; US Women Olympic Basketball. Network TV At A Glance: US COVID Surge - 10 minutes, 10 seconds Andrew Cuomo Impeachment - 7 minutes, 5 seconds US Fires/Climate Change - 6 minutes, 15 seconds Taliban Advancing Through Afghanistan - 4 minutes, 45 seconds US COVID Rates Among Children - 3 minutes, 45 seconds Interview With United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby - 2 minutes, 30 seconds WASHINGTON'S SCHEDULE Today's Events In Washington. White House: President Biden — receives the President's Daily Brief, receives a briefing from the FEMA Administrator and his Homeland Security and COVID-19 Response teams on how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting hurricane preparedness. Vice President Harris — will visit a community health center in Washington, DC and deliver remarks. US Senate: EFTA00150812 • Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee hearing on U.S. security assistance in the Middle East - Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism Subcommittee hybrid hearing on 'U.S. Security Assistance in the Middle East', with testimony from Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Regional Affairs Mira Resnick; and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the Middle East Dana Stroul * Held via videoconference and in- person Location: Rm 419, Dirksen Senate Office Building, Washington, DC; 10:00 AM US House: The House of Representatives is on recess from July 30 to August 30. General Events: • National Institute of Standards and Technology Advisory Committee on Earthquake Hazards Reduction meeting Location: Virtual Event; 1:00 PM • Wilson Center hosts 'Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border' conference - Wilson Center hosts the seventh annual 'Building a Competitive U.S.-Mexico Border' conference, focusing on improving border management in order to strengthen the competitiveness of both the U.S. and Mexico. Featured speakers include Democratic Rep. Henry Cuellar, Republican Sen. Mike Crapo, Global Trade Compliance Director Kathleen Neal, index Nacional President Luis Manuel Hernandez, U.S. Embassy in Mexico Health Attache Maria Julia Marinissen, DESEC President Sergio Mendoza, International Bank of Commerce President and CEO Hector Cerna, Rio Grande Valley Partnership President and CEO Sergio Contreras, Canada Institute Director Christopher Sands, former Career Ambassador to Afghanistan, Argentina, and Mexico Earl Anthony Wayne, San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria, and Tijuana Mayor Karla Ruiz McFarland Location: Virtual Event Copyright 2021 by Bulletin Intelligence LLC Reproduction or redistribution without permission prohibited. Content is drawn from thousands of newspapers, national magazines, national and local television programs, radio broadcasts, social-media platforms and additional forms of open-source data. Sources for Bulletin Intelligence audience-size estimates include Scarborough, GfK MRI, comScore, Nielsen, and the Audit Bureau of Circulation. 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