Nicole Lafond
Where Things Stand: Native Tribes Have Been Bucking Anti-Mask Rules For A While 
We’ve watched and covered public school districts in red states around the U.S. defying Republican governors’ orders against universal masking in schools for the past several weeks. But as sovereign nations, many Native American tribes around the country have been taking school-related COVID mitigation measures into their own hands for some time.
Where Things Stand: Mississippi Guv Blames Everything And Everyone But Himself For Deadly COVID Spike
Back in April of this year, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves (R) blamed the lackluster vaccination situation in the Magnolia State on “a very large African American population” and “a lot of rural people.”
Where Things Stand: Giuliani Makes The Case That He’s ‘A Functioning’ Person
It’s not me, it’s you.
America’s former mayor gave a rather blunt interview to NBC New York this week, addressing head on the fact that everyone thinks he’s basically lost his mind.
Where Things Stand: Bernie May Make A Few Pointed Pitstops On His Reconciliation Bill-Hyping Tour
While Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) centrist colleagues in the House try to flex their muscles ahead of the party’s $3.5 trillion reconciliation package reaching their chamber, Sanders is planning to spend the next few weeks selling the bold legislation to Americans — specifically, Republican voters in the Midwest.
Where Things Stand: Abbott’s New Vax Mandate Ban Is Clearly Aimed At Big Schools
We spent a good chunk of last week covering various school districts in Florida, Texas and elsewhere that are standing up to their governors’ bans on mask policies in schools. The defiance has been interesting to watch play out — most are maintaining their mask policies, despite ongoing threats from the state level.
In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott just issued an executive order that looks like another escalation of that battle.
Where Things Stand: Another One Of Nunes’ Nutty Lawsuits Was Just Dismissed
Throwback to simpler times, when I was given the greenlight to spend many a TPM workday covering which Twitter farm animal Rep. Devin Nunes (R-CA) was suing next.
Where Things Stand: The Little Guys Are Holding The Front Line
The school districts fighting back against Republican governors’ efforts to prolong the life of the pandemic in their states have shown pretty remarkable strength this week.
Where Things Stand: Washington State Finally Does It — All School Workers Must Be Vaccinated
Being vaccinated is now a condition of employment in all Washington state schools. And that includes public, charter and private.
Where Things Stand: Election Officials Are Searching For A Plan To Avoid The Next MAGA ‘Audit’ Disaster
The National Association of Secretaries of State is trying to put the toothpaste back in the tube.
Where Things Stand: Contender For Worst COVID Governor Gets COVID
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who has distinguished himself with his incredibly lax approach to handling the COVID-19 outbreak in his state, has tested positive for COVID-19.