Cuomo Resigns: Facing certain impeachment and bowing to a hopeless political future, New York’s third-term Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced his resignation yesterday in the wake of last week’s devastating attorney general’s report that found he sexually harassed 11 women in his office and political orbit.

  In a speech that was at times maudlin, Cuomo denied he did anything wrong, claimed the accusations against him were political, professed his love for the State of New York, and said that even by resigning he was continuing to serve the people of the state. As he leaves in disgrace, he’s trying to preserve his political legacy.

  Cuomo did admit about his overly friendly and handsy approach with women that, “There are generational and cultural shifts that I just didn’t fully appreciate, and I should have, no excuses.” 

  But, he said, “If I could communicate the facts through the frenzy, New Yorkers would understand. I believe that.” Cuomo said his instinct is to fight but, “This situation, by its current trajectory, will generate months of political and legal controversy.” He said, “It will consume government. It will cost taxpayers millions of dollars. It will brutalize people.”

  In a bit of an ironic slip he said, “I never would intentionally disrespect a woman, or treat any woman differently than I would want them treated.”

  Cuomo’s resignation was preceded with a nearly 40-minute defense by his lawyer, Rita Glavin, who picked holes in the attorney general’s report and said investigators failed to dig up evidence that might have undermined the claims of several accusers. She said, “They started with a presumption that he had done some terrible things, and it went from there.” It looked like she was preparing New Yorkers for a long fight on behalf of the governor, so it came as a surprise when Cuomo appeared to announce he’s quitting.

  In a note published online before the resignation, former Cuomo aide Lindsey Boylan, one of the primary accusers, protested that women who speak up about sexual harassment are often not believed. “The universal refrain of congratulations for telling ‘our truths’ doesn’t bring me much comfort. In some ways, it simply confirms that women are believed only when an investigative report is made public and the evidence is overwhelming.”

Next Up: Cuomo’s resignation doesn’t take effect for two weeks, but when he’s gone, Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul will step up to become New York’s first woman governor. She’s been a county clerk and a member of Congress before serving with Cuomo. Reports say she’s been preparing to take over and even assembling a political team to run for governor next year.

If You Build It: In what would otherwise have been the lead story of the day, the Senate yesterday approved a roughly $1.2 trillion proposal to fix and improve the nation’s roads, bridges, pipes, ports, and internet connections. The historically cooperative deal between the two political parties passed 69-30, a sign that more than a third of Senate Republicans realize that spending big money is good for them and their voters as well. 

  The bill still needs to pass in the house where Democrats have a clear majority, but some of them are unhappy because they think the bill doesn’t do enough.

  Party cooperation ended after the infrastructure vote. The Democrats later passed a $3.5 billion budget blueprint without a single Republican vote. 

Viral News: In the political battle over public health policy, two courts in Texas have ruled that local schools may require mask wearing despite of Gov. Greg Abbott’s order to the contrary. The rulings came in the counties that include Dallas and San Antonio.

  “Dallas County citizens will be irreparably harmed” if local leaders cannot require face coverings to stop transmission of the virus, Judge Tonya Parker, wrote in her ruling.

  In Florida, the Broward County School Board voted 8-1 to keep the school district’s mask mandate in defiance of Gov. Ron DeSantis, who threatens to punish districts with such a mandate. School starts Tuesday.

  A leader among the stupid states, Florida is averaging 20,000 new cases a day and ambulance services are strained. Nearly half of intensive care beds are occupied by Covid patients.

The Spin Rack: — The Taliban have occupied three more provincial capitals in what appears to be an inevitable march to re-take the entire country. — American, Delta, and Southwest airlines say they will not require their employees to be vaccinated against Covid-19. United requires vaccines. — Texas House Speaker Dade Phelan signed arrest warrants for 52 House Democrats who fled the state to block a vote that would  impose restrictions on voting rights and access. — The Perseid meteor shower is expected to peak tonight with about 75 meteors per hour.

The Obit Page: The great professional hockey goalie Tony Esposito, master of the “butterfly” technique for the Chicago Blackhawks, has died at age 78 of pancreatic cancer.

  Goalies used to stand straight up with their shin pads close together, even when the shot was low. Esposito would drop to the ice, splitting his legs with knees together, making a wider barrier for the puck. It became the standard goal tending technique.

  Esposito’s older brother Phil was a star with the Boston Bruins. 

Chilling Out: ABC News weekend anchor Dan Harris is quitting  the business after 21 years with the network to focus on his meditation company, Ten Percent Happier. Harris wrote a best-selling book with that title and has since developed an app with the same name to instruct people in meditation.

  Harris said on Sunday, “I’ve been here for 21 years. In effect, I became an adult here, although some of my co-hosts may dispute that.”

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