Facebook whistleblower, Navalny on human rights, Mayorkas on immigration: ICYMI

In today's fast-paced news environment, it can be hard to keep up. For your weekend reading, we've started in-case-you-missed-it compilations of some of the week's top USA TODAY Opinion pieces. As always, thanks for reading, and for your feedback.

— USA TODAY Opinion editors

1. They can't let 'stolen' election claims go: Now Trump has endorsed liberal Stacey Abrams

By Brad Raffensperger 

"In the months since November's election, Trump and his allies have followed almost the exact same post-election playbook that Abrams and her allies originated in 2018. Both Abrams and Trump used over-the-top rhetoric to generate headlines and attention; both filed lawsuits that weren’t supported by evidence; and both raised hundreds of millions of dollars off of stolen election claims to keep their political operations going."

2. Navalny from prison: Corruption flourishes when there's disregard for human rights

By Alexey Navalney 

"When I speak to the leaders of the human rights movement, they, more than anyone else, have the full right to say a massive “I told you so.” It is true. You did tell us so. You did warn us. And you were absolutely right, and those who did not listen to you were immeasurably wrong. And I believe that every state leader should repeat these exact words to you."

3. Why I'm still on Facebook, even though it's dividing and inciting America for profit

By Jill Lawrence

"For years I have been angry at Facebook and its pathetic efforts to police anger, unrest and potentially lethal misinformation on its platforms, but I haven’t quit it. How else would I keep up with my cousins, nieces and their families – the graduations, the jobs, the triumphs and travels and birthdays, the comedy (“Lederhosen? Seriously?” I asked one cousin of her new profile picture) and the tragedy (the death of a cousin who waited too long to seek care)."

4. President Greg Abbott? Wake up, America, Orwell Abbott is gunning for the White House

By Bill Minutaglio 

"It’s Abbott’s base and his advisers routinely pitch him fresh, daily ways to expand it by painting him as the gunslinger who’ll free Americans to take the law into their own hands: His new Texas abortion law deputizes citizens by offering $10,000 rewards if they successfully go after an abortion provider. Abbott’s voting bill deputizes Texans by giving poll watchers expanded autonomy to roam around voting sites. Abbott’s gun bill deputizes almost the entire adult population in Texas by allowing people to carry guns without a permit."

5. Biden's new immigration policy will be as short-lived as those of his predecessors

By Louie Villalobos

"He made sure to point out that the new guidelines are not entirely due to the fact that there are an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants living in the United States and about 20,000 Border Patrol agents. The new approach, he said, is needed if he has any chance of changing the culture of the department and how that department is perceived. A huge part of that will be being more strategic about who gets deported, instead of just removing everybody."

6. Despite skewed media image, Black men are more likely to be victimized than other groups

By Thaddeus L. Johnson and Natasha N. Johnson

"Recently released FBI data confirms that Americans endured two public health crises last year: COVID-19 and deadly violence. Although the murder rate remains below the 1990s high, the number spiked in the United States spiked by nearly a third in 2020. Undoubtedly, an escalation of this magnitude is alarming. But simply focusing on this staggering tally doesn’t tell the whole story and gives the false impression that all Americans are equally affected by the surge in killings."

7. COVID delta variant: Biden needs to make rapid tests easily available to all Americans

By The Editorial Board 

"Instances when Americans might need to know whether they have COVID-19 and need to know now are legion, especially with a winter season of the delta variant and flu approaching. Examples? Your child's elementary school reports another student with COVID. Your employer wants proof of vaccination or twice weekly testing. There's an upcoming indoor wedding with elderly attendees. Or a vaccinated member of your household has a sore throat and worries about a break-through infection."

8. 'What keeps me up at night? Everything': Homeland Security Secretary Mayorkas to USA TODAY

By Kristen DelGuzzi

"As Mayorkas, the first Latino and first immigrant DHS secretary, talked about the families, he described some of the "wraparound services" his department provides and how it is committed "to providing enduring relief." "I take great pride in being a different government than the government that inflicted such cruelty," he said. "Nevertheless, that difference may not be well understood amongst those who suffered."

9. There is no proof that involved, concerned parents are a dangerous threat to school boards

By Nicholas Tampio

"What will likely happen when the FBI trains school administrators and school board members to be on the lookout for threats? Odds are, they will call the FBI to report parents who are irate about things like masks or the curriculum. Just as people are more likely to use a weapon if it is in easy reach, irate administrators and school board members may call the FBI on parents who are bothering them."

10. Navigating holiday visitation schedules can be war. Before firing the next shot, think of the kids.

By Connie Schultz

"My son was grown at the time of my divorce, but my daughter was still a little girl. I know how hard it is to imagine a holiday without your children, but I learned that I could endure their absences by building new traditions with friends. I also learned that the human face never suffers permanent damage from a forced smile, and that love for our children could turn me into Sister Maria swinging her suitcase as she sings her way to the Von Trapps."