Political Reckoning

America’s global standing is at a low point. The pandemic made it worse.

(Jabin Botsford/The Post)
(Jabin Botsford/The Post)
At home, President Trump’s handling of the pandemic has created division and confusion rather than a national strategy. The global community, is questioning the United States’ capacity for a leadership role at a time when the myriad crises call out for cooperation.

Why isn’t Trump showing greater effort to solve this? Supporters and foes agree that question dogs him.

The president has failed, allies and opponents agree, at the one task that could help him achieve all of his goals — confronting the pandemic with a clear strategy and consistent leadership.

About 4,000 federal employees say they contracted virus at work — and 60 have died

The total number of covid-19 claims for disability compensation or death benefits is expected to reach 6,000 within weeks.

Joe Biden to pay respects to John Lewis in D.C.

The former vice president, who has made limited trips outside his home for public events during the pandemic, will travel today to the Capitol, where Lewis will lie in state.
Retropolis
The Past, Rediscovered

At 88, he is a historical rarity — the living son of a slave

As the child of someone once considered a piece of property instead of a human being, Daniel Smith is a flesh-and-blood reminder that slavery wasn't that long ago.
Stories You’ll Want to Hear

A double down on federal force, a do-over on coronavirus

President Trump receives poor marks from Americans on two major issues: his handling of the coronavirus and anti-racism protests. Yet he's taking two starkly different approaches. Reporters Ashley Parker and Matt Zapotosky on Trump's evolving messages.
Listen
Most Read
  • Monday, Jul 27 at 2PM EDT
  • Tuesday, Jul 28 at 11AM EDT
More Top Stories

Congress prepares for epic clash with Big Tech

Long-simmering frustrations with Amazon, Apple, Facebook and Google are set to be at the heart of a hearing Wednesday that some Democrats and Republicans hope will usher in sweeping changes throughout Silicon Valley.

A trial for vaccine researchers: Making sure black and Hispanic communities are included in studies

Younger people of color die of the coronavirus at twice the rate of white people, and black, Hispanic and Native Americans are hospitalized at four to five times the rate of white people in the same age groups.
Councilman William McKoy outside of City Hall in Paterson, N.J. (Christopher Gregory for The Post)
Councilman William McKoy outside of City Hall in Paterson, N.J. (Christopher Gregory for The Post)

Trump touts N.J. fraud case to attack mail voting. Local leaders say he’s not telling the whole story.

Paterson’s city council race this spring has been roiled by claims that ballots were stolen from apartment mail rooms. Officials say the alleged scheme was a complicated one made possible by a series of unique circumstances that would be difficult to reproduce in other cities, much less on a national scale.
Don’t Miss

Sen. Hawley lays down new antiabortion marker for Supreme Court nominees

“I will vote only for those Supreme Court nominees who have explicitly acknowledged that Roe v. Wade is wrongly decided,” said the member of the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Fact Checker
Analysis

Joe Biden’s worst-ever campaign moment, revisited

A pro-GOP group is running a campaign ad that accurately reprises a moment that helped end Biden’s first run for the presidency more than three decades ago.
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn) speaks as U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) listens during a news conference in July 2019. (AP)
U.S. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-Minn) speaks as U.S. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.) listens during a news conference in July 2019. (AP)
The Trailer
Analysis

The ‘squad’ gears up for two tough primaries

Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D) is defending her seat against Brenda Jones, the Detroit City Council president she defeated by just 900 votes in 2018. Rep. Ilhan Omar (D) of Minnesota will face challenger Antone Melton-Meaux.
Colombian soldiers patrol a street during a curfew. (AFP/Getty Images)
Colombian soldiers patrol a street during a curfew. (AFP/Getty Images)

Colombian guerrillas are using coronavirus curfews to expand their control

Human rights groups, community leaders and government officials say a toxic slate of leftist guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries and drug cartels are using the outbreak to consolidate control over parts of a country still reeling from the aftermath of five decades of armed conflict.
Residents survey a destroyed camper trailer in the aftermath of Hurricane Hanna in Port Mansfield, Tex., on Sunday. (Reuters)
Residents survey a destroyed camper trailer in the aftermath of Hurricane Hanna in Port Mansfield, Tex., on Sunday. (Reuters)

Hanna hammers virus hot spot in Texas with flooding rains

Hanna has dumped more than 15 inches of rain in parts of South Texas, resulting in serious flash flooding. Totals may exceed 18 inches in some areas before rain ends late Sunday or Monday.
A sold sign stands in front of a house in Brighton, N.Y., on May 22. (Ted Shaffrey/AP)
A sold sign stands in front of a house in Brighton, N.Y., on May 22. (Ted Shaffrey/AP)

2020 is the summer of booming home sales — and evictions

The affluent are taking advantage of the lowest mortgage rates in history to buy bigger homes. Meanwhile, renters face far more job losses, and they fear eviction.
Perspective

A second $1,200 stimulus check is likely, but the IRS still hasn’t ironed out all the glitches from the first one

Many people complain they haven't received the first payment, including disabled federal beneficiaries who have sued the Treasury and IRS.
A group of about 30 protesters marches to the Alexandria home of acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf. (Justin George/The Post)
A group of about 30 protesters marches to the Alexandria home of acting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chad Wolf. (Justin George/The Post)

On a quiet Northern Virginia street, protesting DHS tactics in Portland

The demonstrators stood in a circle, listening to a range of speakers decry the department’s involvement in separating immigrant families, deporting longtime U.S. residents for immigration violations and for what many termed the “kidnapping” of Portland protesters.
Bartenders and activist Allison Lane, 34, stands in Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C. (Astrid Riecken for The Post)
Bartenders and activist Allison Lane, 34, stands in Black Lives Matter Plaza in Washington, D.C. (Astrid Riecken for The Post)

American exceptionalism was our preexisting condition

The most powerful nation in the world has proved uniquely vulnerable to covid-19.
A New York state ballot from 1895. (Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library)
A New York state ballot from 1895. (Rare Books Division, The New York Public Library)

A look back at the wacky, colorful history of election ballot design

Election ballots may look boring now, but that wasn’t always the case.
(Tom McCorkle for The Post; food styling by Lisa Cherkasky for The Post)
(Tom McCorkle for The Post; food styling by Lisa Cherkasky for The Post)

With a handful of ingredients and a smart technique, this sweet potato hash is ready in 20 minutes

With collard greens for more nutrition and texture, it makes an easy dinner, breakfast or brunch dish.
A fountain within a walled garden at the Stevens-Coolidge Place in North Andover, Mass. (Alexandra Pecci for The Post)
A fountain within a walled garden at the Stevens-Coolidge Place in North Andover, Mass. (Alexandra Pecci for The Post)

During the pandemic, a new appreciation for botanical gardens blooms

Americans can find refuge in quiet outdoor spaces near home.
  • 2 days ago
From Our Advertisers
This content is paid for by the advertiser and published by WP BrandStudio. The Washington Post newsroom was not involved in the creation of this content. Learn more about WP BrandStudio.