The Supreme Court is seen in Washington, Thursday, July 1, 2021. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)
WASHINGTON (AP) — An unusually agreeable Supreme Court term ended with conservative-driven decisions on voting rights and charitable-donor disclosures that offered a glimpse of what the coming years of the right’s dominance could look like for the nation’s highest court.
Democrats face pressure to act on voting rights after Supreme Court ruling
Congressional Democrats are facing pressure to act after the Supreme Court upheld voting restrictions in Arizona.
www.cbsnews.com
Ted Cruz holding up all State Department nominees over Russian pipeline
Thirteen nominees approved by the Senate Foreign Relations Committee are in indefinite limbo.
www.nbcnews.com
White House goes into damage control mode after reports of dysfunction in Kamala Harris' office | CNN Politics
Editor’s Note: This piece originally published on July 2, 2021.
www.cnn.com
Challenging new GOP election limits just got harder, voting rights advocates say
The Supreme Court decision to uphold two laws in Arizona has put fresh pressure on the Democratic-controlled Congress to pass federal voting legislation.
www.nbcnews.com
GOP divided on anti-Biden midterm message
McALLEN, Texas — Elevate the border crisis or a throw-everything-at-the-wall approach?The 2022 elections are still more than a year away, but congressional Republicans are wrestling with their stra…
thehill.com
Supreme Court won’t overturn ruling against business that refused service for gay weddings
The court said it would not take up the florist's appeal, leaving the state court rulings against her intact and again ducking the hot-button issue.
www.nbcnews.com
Death toll from Northwest heat wave expected to keep rising
There were 1,792 emergency room visits for suspected heat-related illness since June 25, the Washington state Department of Health said.
www.nbcnews.com
McCarthy slams Dems for trying to 'defund the borders' by slashing CBP funding
The House Appropriations Committee released this week a draft of their Homeland Security funding bill providing $14.11 billion in net discretionary funding for Customs and Border Protection — down $927 million from fiscal year 2021.
US hiring accelerated in June as workers earned higher pay
America’s employers added 850,000 jobs in June, well above the average of the previous three months and a sign that companies may be having an easier time finding enough workers to fill open jobs
Why the Trump Organization indictment may be far less consequential than the media think
As a private family business whose figurehead has been notorious for many years, the Trump Organization may be vaccinated against scandal.
thehill.com
Trump's Hill allies could be ensnared in January 6 probe as GOP preps strategy | CNN Politics
House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy has asserted he’d “have no problem talking to anybody” about his conversations with then-President Donald Trump on January 6. That proposition may soon be put to the test.
www.cnn.com
As the Taliban gain ground, how long can the U.S. Embassy in Kabul stand?
An embassy “Emergency Action Plan” warns of scenarios likely to arise as Afghanistan's security deteriorates.
www.politico.com
Justices Gorsuch and Thomas call to revisit landmark First Amendment case New York Times v. Sullivan | CNN Politics
They say the Supreme Court should explore how it applies to social media and technology companies.
www.cnn.com
Biden backs removing sexual assault, harassment cases from military chain of command
President Joe Biden has announced his support for the removal of sexual assault and sexual harassment prosecutions from the military chain of command.
Bagram: Last US and Nato forces leave key Afghanistan base
The sprawling airbase has been the centre of operations against the Taliban and al-Qaeda for almost 20 years.
www.bbc.com
'She has a great, supportive team': White House stands by Harris amid staff mutiny
The White House is standing behind Vice President Kamala Harris after reports said that her staff members believe they are treated like "s***."
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Social platform with Trump ties gets surprise debut
FTC takes public comments, and the public has plenty to say — Global tax deal is a go
www.politico.com
Surfside building collapse: Death toll rises to 24 as search effort pauses during demolition prep
At least 24 people have been confirmed dead and 121 others remain unaccounted for since a 12-story residential building partially collapsed in Florida last week.
Capitol rioter accompanied members of Congress on trip to US-Mexico border | CNN Politics
A conservative YouTuber who participated in the January 6 riot accompanied Republican members of Congress on a trip to the border Tuesday night, serving as a translator at times.
www.cnn.comHow ranked-choice voting helps women
www.politico.com
John Roberts takes aim at the Voting Rights Act and political money disclosures, again | CNN Politics
The Supreme Court under Chief Justice John Roberts has hollowed out the historic Voting Rights Act, curtailed regulation of big political donors and limited challenges to partisan gerrymandering.
www.cnn.comThe beginning of the end for ‘surprise’ medical bills
The vaccine sprint gives way to a marathon — J&J vaccine holds promise against Delta variant
www.politico.com
Southwest Airlines canceled 2,600 flights in June; crews say they're exhausted
Southwest vows to do better as cancellations and delays plague its network.
US sprinter Richardson banned for cannabis
US sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson receives a one-month ban after testing positive for marijuana - and is set to miss the Tokyo Olympics.
www.bbc.com
Supreme Court won't hear defamation claim over book that became 'War Dogs' movie
The son of Albania's former prime minister sued over his portrayal in the book, which claimed he was a key figure in the Albanian mafia.
www.nbcnews.com
Trump-appointed judge rejects US Capitol rioter's claim he was 'selectively charged' because he supports Trump | CNN Politics
A Trump-appointed federal judge on Friday rejected claims from a US Capitol riot defendant that he had been “selectively charged” because he is a supporter of former President Donald Trump.
www.cnn.com
Ohio GOP attorney general prevails in lawsuit alleging Biden relief bill unconstitutionally bars tax cuts
A federal judge has ruled that a provision in President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 relief bill limiting state tax cuts is unconstitutional, handing a victory to Republicans.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Black TikTok Creators Are On Strike To Protest A Lack Of Credit For Their Work
Black creators on TikTok say that for years, non-black creators have risen to fame performing dances that Black influencers on the app created.
www.npr.org
U.S. job gains surge, easing pressure on Biden over labor market
The U.S. economy added 850,000 jobs in June, a significant improvement over May’s 583,000 job gain and beat Wall Street expectations of about 700,000.
www.politico.com
A 'gut decision': Inside Biden's defense of Afghanistan withdrawal amid warnings of country's collapse | CNN Politics
Sitting alongside Afghanistan’s President in the Oval Office last week, President Joe Biden didn’t try to sugarcoat the situation: Things were not looking great for his guest’s country.
www.cnn.com
US races to find safe haven for Afghan translators in Central Asia as troop withdrawal nears | CNN Politics
With the US withdrawal from Afghanistan just days away, the Biden administration is asking countries in Central Asia to temporarily house thousands of Afghan interpreters and translators while they wait for visas to the United States, according to a US official and another source familiar with...
www.cnn.com
Biden to push millions of immigrants to apply for US citizenship
The Biden administration launched a government-wide effort aimed at encouraging millions of immigrants to apply to become U.S. citizens, the Department of Homeland Security announced Friday.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Hospitals Have Started Posting Their Prices Online. Here's What They Reveal
Since January, hospitals were supposed to be disclosing true prices for their services, as a way to empower patients to shop around. Turns out, compliance is spotty and the data can be hard to find.
www.npr.org
Images from Hunter Biden’s laptop call into question Joe Biden’s denial of talking business with son
Images obtained by Fox News on Thursday seem to cast new doubts on President Biden’s adamant claims during the 2020 presidential campaign that he never discussed overseas business dealings with his son Hunter.
White House calls Sha'Carri Richardson an ‘inspiring woman’ but stops short of opposing suspension
The American sprinter was suspended after a positive marijuana test.
www.politico.com
Restaurant aid from Biden rescue plan ends with majority of applicants still lacking help
The program provided grants for 101,000 restaurants – significantly less than the 278,000 eligible applications submitted.
www.usatoday.com
One of the most Biden-connected firms in D.C. is exploring a sale
Precision Strategies is a powerhouse. It's also weighing new ownership.
www.politico.com
Trump ally in Pennsylvania raises 2020 election audit plan
Pennsylvania’s Republican-controlled Senate is considering an investigation into how last year’s presidential election was conducted
White House says people are 'overreading' Biden's snippy responses to Afghanistan questions
White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended prickly Friday comments President Joe Biden made in response to questions about the military withdrawal from Afghanistan that he ordered.
www.washingtonexaminer.com2 pilots alive after plane crashes few miles off coast of Hawaii
Two pilots are alive after their 737 Cargo jet crashed several miles off the coast off Oahu, Hawaii, following an emergency, according to the Hawaii Department of Transportation. The plane was en route from Honolulu to Maui when the pilots reported that one engine was down and they were having...
More than a dozen US Capitol rioters have now pleaded guilty | CNN Politics
San Antonio loan officer Matthew Mazzocco pleaded guilty Friday to a misdemeanor charge related to the US Capitol insurrection.
www.cnn.com
Dems’ July Fourth is no vacation when it comes to infrastructure talks
The effort by Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to please everyone in their caucuses gets tougher almost by the day.
www.politico.comNYPD hunting for man involved in apparent broad daylight sexual assault of woman: Video
The New York City Police Department is hunting for a suspect captured on video groping a woman in broad daylight on a borough sidewalk, authorities said.
New Hampshire Supreme Court strikes down 2017 law requiring proof of residence to vote | CNN Politics
The New Hampshire Supreme Court on Friday voted in a 4-0 decision that a 2017 state law requiring proof of residence to vote is unconstitutional, saying that it “imposes unreasonable burdens on the right to vote.”
www.cnn.com
Supreme Court sides with Amish who argued septic systems violate their religious beliefs
The Supreme Court overruled a state court that held a county could require an Amish community to install septic systems over its religious objections.
www.usatoday.com
Nevada county votes to rename road ‘Pres. Trump Way’
A county in Nevada has voted to rename a road “Pres. Trump Way” after former President Trump.The Lyon County Board of County Commissioners voted Thursday to pass the measure with only one commissio…
thehill.com
As U.S. leaves Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, one family fears a U.S. hostage will be left behind, too
Mark Frerichs was kidnapped more than a year ago, and as American troops pack up to leave Afghanistan, his family want Mr. Biden to make sure he's not left behind, too.
www.cbsnews.com
White House does not rule out Medicare expansion via infrastructure reconciliation bill
The White House will not stop Sen. Bernie Sanders from trying to expand Medicare as part of a possible $6 trillion infrastructure-plus reconciliation bill, according to a top aide to President Joe Biden.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Child tax credit checks will start arriving this month, Biden says
A middle-class family with two young children can expect a monthly check of $600 for the next 12 months.
www.nbcnews.com
Alabama police: Nearly two dozen shots fired into Democratic state senator’s home
The home of an Alabama state senator was shot at 23 times on Thursday morning, The Associated Press reports.The home, belonging to state Sen. Vivian Davis Figures (D) was attacked around 5 a.m…
thehill.com
Supreme Court to hear case on Maine tuition program that bars money for religious education
The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to take up a case on a tuition assistance program in Maine that bars the use of state money for religious schools, setting up yet another battle in the high court on the intersection of religious freedom and school choice.
President Biden had some surprise news for Miami-Dade’s mayor on the Surfside collapse
President Joe Biden seemed to surprise Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava Thursday when he said the federal government could handle the first 30 days of county and state’s costs in the Champlain Towers South condo collapse.
Biden Cabinet set to ramp up push as Democrats enter critical stage in infrastructure negotiations | CNN Politics
As Democrats enter a critical stage in the negotiations over the shape of a sweeping, multi-trillion dollar social safety net expansion, President Joe Biden plans to lean on a key group to sell the proposal, according to an internal White House memo: his Cabinet secretaries.
www.cnn.com
One-month-old among 32 people shot in Chicago as gun violence continues to rise
Chicago experienced one of its bloodiest days of the year on Thursday as four people were killed and several dozen were seriously injured, including several young children.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden on June jobs report: 'Our economy is on the move, and we have Covid-19 on the run'
President Joe Biden said the strong June jobs report proves his economic plan and his nationwide vaccination plan are working better than expected.
Biden names more ambassadorships, including Amy Gutmann for Germany
Gutmann is an expert in political philosophy and has served as the president of the University of Pennsylvania since 2004.
www.politico.com
Gorsuch slams Minnesota county for violating religious beliefs of Amish over septic system dispute
Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch on Friday tore into a Minnesota county for trying to force an Amish community to install septic systems in their homes against their religious beliefs, citing the court's recent high-profile decision in a religious liberty case as a major precedent.
Hurricane Elsa latest: Track may spare Surfside, rescue effort from worst weather
Hurricane Elsa could take many paths when it reaches the United States, from the East Coast to the Gulf Coast to Florida -- including Surfside.
Family: Grandparents who died in Florida building collapse were found together in bed
An older couple who lived in the condo building that collapsed last week died in their bed together, their grandson says.Antonio Lozano, 83, and Gladys Lozano, 79, were among the first to be found …
thehill.com
Michigan state rep appears to cheer Bill Cosby release as a 'good day'
Michigcan state Rep. Jewell Jones, a Democrat, made a post on his Instagram profile that appears to applaud Bill Cosby's release from prison on Wednesday.
A Commission Finds 'Quite A Lot Of Tolerance' For Sexual Harassment In The Military
A new report says commanders need training to learn how to stop what an official described as "daily acts of demeaning language and sexual harassment" in the military.
www.npr.org
Gay couple wins case against florist after Supreme Court rejects appeal
The Supreme Court rejected an appeal from a Washington State flower shop charged with violating state anti-discrimination law for refusing to serve a same-sex couple.
Alvin Bragg set to become new Manhattan DA, take over Trump Organization probe
Alvin Bragg is poised to become the next district attorney for Manhattan, a position that includes overseeing various high-profile investigations including one into the Trump Organization and …
thehill.com
Biden grows visibly frustrated with questions on Afghanistan: 'I want to talk about happy things' | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden grew visibly irritated Friday when questioned about the state of Afghanistan, where a formal withdrawal is nearly complete, and a major US air base was officially handed over even as US generals warn of a looming civil war.
www.cnn.com
Army upgrades heroism awards for special forces soldiers in 'Black Hawk Down' battle
The Army upgraded heroism awards Thursday for 60 operators who took part in Operation Gothic Serpent, better known as "Black Hawk Down," in the 1990s in Mogadishu, Somalia.
www.washingtonexaminer.com72 units of Central Florida condo complex deemed unsafe, residents relocated
Walkways at risk of collapsing could pose a threat at the Kissimmee complex, officials warned a week after a condo building near Miami Beach partially collapsed.
Biden on Dodgers’ visit: ‘We need sports more than we ever realized’
President Biden on Friday welcomed the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House, praising their 2020 title run as a glimmer of hope during a difficult year.”When the seaso…
thehill.com
State, local officials disbursed less than 4 percent of rental aid through May
Even as officials picked up the pace of disbursal, the delivery of the funds remained well behind demand.
www.politico.com
Woke culture is ‘racializing’ France, Macron says
French President Emmanuel Macron said a new wave of “woke culture” that has migrated from the United States is “racializing” his country.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
The SEC should have approved a bitcoin ETF a long time ago, regulator Peirce says
A bitcoin ETF is long overdue, SEC Commissioner Hester Peirce said.
Five takeaways from the Supreme Court’s term
The Supreme Court just completed its first term with former President Trump’s nominees accounting for a third of the justices.The dozens of cases decided this term, which included landmark rulings …
thehill.com
McCaskill shares new July 4 family tradition: Watching Capitol riot video
Former Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) said she and her family will start a new Fourth of July tradition on Friday — watching video of the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. McCaskill, an MSNBC co…
thehill.com
Marine convicted of involuntary manslaughter in death of Army Green Beret
The trial brings closure to a case that has fractured the Special Operations community since Logan Melgar was found dead in 2017.
www.cbsnews.com
Swimming caps designed for natural Black hair banned from Tokyo Olympics
A company that specializes in making swimming caps to cover natural Black hair said the International Swimming Federation (FINA) had rejected an application for its products to be certified for com…
thehill.com
George Washington is America's favorite Founding Father — CBS News poll
In a rare example of partisan unity, Republicans, Democrats and independents agree.
www.cbsnews.comChina's ruling party grooms new members for its next century
Backs straight, heads high, three dozen Communist Party members in red neckties who hope for leadership posts belt out a poem by revolutionary leader Mao Zedong at a historic mountainside battle site in central China. “We stay upright even as we’re surrounded by countless enemy forces!” declare...
Miami-Dade mayor signs order to demolish rest of partially collapsed Florida condo building
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava signed an emergency order authorizing the demolition of a 12-story condominium building that partially collapsed.
Biden unveils push to encourage US citizenship
The Biden administration is kicking off an effort to encourage longtime residents to apply for U.S. citizenship, launching a cross-agency campaign to reach some 9 million people eligible to become …
thehill.com
Elsa strengthens into first hurricane of Atlantic season off Florida
Elsa, previously classified as a tropical storm, strengthened into the first hurricane of the Atlantic season on Friday as it's set to make landfall in Florida.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Watch live: Biden gives remarks at education association’s annual meeting
President Biden and first lady Jill Biden are scheduled to deliver remarks at the National Education Association’s Annual Meeting and Representative Assembly.The remarks are scheduled to begin at 5…
thehill.com
Hurricane Elsa Could Complicate Surfside Search Efforts
Hurricane Elsa is expected to affect Florida early next week. Officials have begun preparations for potential impact as teams work at the condo site looking for those who remain unaccounted for.
www.npr.org
Psaki defends Biden snapping at reporters over Afghanistan questions: He was 'done'
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that President Biden snapped at reporters questioning him on the Afghanistan drawdown because he was “ready to be done answering questions.”
Poll: More Americans Are Concerned About Voting Access Than Fraud Prevention
Fifty-six percent are more worried that those who want to vote can, but the latest NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist poll also found that most agree that voters should have to present photo ID at the polls.
www.npr.org
Maryland Gov. Hogan tears into Pelosi, Schumer for holding infrastructure bill 'hostage'
During a video town hall with No Labels Citizens on Thursday obtained by Fox News, Hogan spoke about the bipartisan $953 billion infrastructure bill in Congress that was endorsed by Biden, saying the plan “will put Americans back to work” and improve American infrastructure.
Trump rolls out his defense for all seasons: It's all politics | CNN Politics
No matter the charge, the defense is the same: Donald Trump is the victim of a vicious political vendetta.
www.cnn.com
Washington lawmaker apologizes for wearing yellow Star of David to protest Covid mandates
Before he apologized, state Rep. Jim Walsh said about his decision to wear the yellow star, "It’s an echo from history. ... In the current context, we're all Jews.”
www.nbcnews.com
Space station astronauts welcome civilian space travel as billionaires prepare to launch
As billionaires Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson prepare for space flights, professional astronauts say bring it on.
www.cbsnews.com
Howard University says Phylicia Rashad's celebration of Cosby release 'lacked sensitivity toward survivors'
Howard University tried to distance itself from a statement made by Dean Phylicia Rashad, who has a long-standing relationship with Bill Cosby, for celebrating the news of his release from prison over a previously made prosecutorial agreement.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Kamala Harris allies rush to play damage control amid White House infighting
Allies of Vice President Kamala Harris are making efforts to play damage control amid reports of White House infighting and staff complaints.
Richardson will miss Olympic 100 after marijuana test
American champion Sha’Carri Richardson cannot run in the Olympic 100-meter race after testing positive for a chemical found in marijuana
A Cambodian village ripped apart by a bad batch of rice wine
At least 30 Cambodians died recently in less than a month after drinking toxic home-brewed alcohol.
www.bbc.com
Takeaways from the Trump Organization and Allen Weisselberg indictment | CNN Politics
On Thursday, New York prosecutors charged the Trump Organization and its chief financial officer, Allen Weisselberg, with running a 15-year alleged tax scheme designed “to compensate Weisselberg and other Trump Organization executives in a manner that was ‘off the books.”
www.cnn.com
Bill Cosby rep floats return to comedy clubs
Bill Cosby’s spokesperson says the disgraced comedian is considering returning to stand-up after being released from prison on Wednesday.Cosby has been “been talking to a number of promoters a…
thehill.com
'There's just no legal defense': Trump Organization in jeopardy, experts say
Attorneys for the company downplayed the criminal charges, but analysts warned that the firm and a top aide face serious allegations.
www.nbcnews.com
The newest MAGA app is tied to a Bannon-allied Chinese billionaire
GETTR has existed as a Chinese language social media network linked to Guo Wengui. It was unveiled as a new platform by Jason Miller on Thursday.
www.politico.com
US vacates key Afghan base; pullout target now 'late August'
U.S. forces have vacated Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan after nearly 20 years, bringing the U.S. military closer to a final withdrawal that the Pentagon says will be completed by late August
Biden calls for bipartisan action on pathway to citizenship
President Joe Biden called for bipartisan action on a pathway to citizenship for some migrants during a naturalization ceremony Friday at the White House in which he celebrated the contributions immigrants have made to the U.S. The president said there should be a pathway to citizenship for...
Democrats renew court packing calls, blast the Supreme Court's final two decisions of term
Democrats on Thursday expressed their displeasure with the Supreme Court's final decisions of its 2020-2021 term, accusing the justices of doing "severe damage" to the political system and in some cases re-upping their calls to pack the court with liberal justices appointed by President Biden.
TAKEAWAYS: Trump's safe for now, but company's in hot water
With Thursday's arraignment of Donald Trump's company and his longtime finance chief on tax fraud charges, New York authorities notched their first indictment in a two-year ongoing investigation of the former president. Trump and his lawyers say the Democrats who brought the case against the...
Trump calls indictment against his company and long-serving CFO 'shameful' and a 'disgrace'
Former President Trump called the criminal charges unsealed Thursday against his company's CFO "shameful" -- but the CFO's former daughter-in-law called them "justice."
The long, underwhelming arm of the law comes down on the Trump Organization
Legal experts differ on whether the charges are relatively minor, and whether the Manhattan DA has more coming.
www.politico.comAs troops leave, US to keep airstrike option in Afghanistan
The U.S. military will remain involved in the Afghanistan war into September, keeping the option of launching airstrikes against the Taliban to defend Afghan forces, U.S. officials said Thursday, even as the final combat troops prepare to leave the country in coming days. For weeks, officials...
Capitol rioters smashing media equipment prompt several new criminal cases | CNN Politics
The Justice Department has rounded up several new defendants this week accused of destroying thousands of dollars’ worth of professional broadcast equipment outside the US Capitol on January 6, in a scene captured on multiple videos showing Trump supporters gleefully taking out their anger at...
www.cnn.com
"Off the books": How prosecutors allege Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg structured payments to avoid taxes
In a criminal indictment unsealed Thursday, prosecutors called Weisselberg "one of the largest individual beneficiaries" of the alleged scheme to understate certain employees' compensation.
www.cbsnews.com
‘Unlike anything I’ve seen at the FTC’: Biden’s chair makes her public debut
Under Biden nominee Lina Khan, the agency met in public for the first time in decades — and split along party lines on an aggressive enforcement agenda.
www.politico.com
The Memo: Dangers intensify for Trump as Vance brings charges
The legal and political dangers facing former President Trump became a lot more real Thursday, when his closest lieutenant in running his businesses, Allen Weisselberg, gave himself up to prosecuto…
thehill.com
Garland orders halt to any further federal executions
The attorney general has ordered a temporary halt to the DOJ advocating any scheduling of further executions of federal inmates, according to a memo.
Florida's DeSantis rises as possible 2024 alternative to Trump
A Republican firebrand who relishes partisan warfare, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has tried to abstain from politics in the wake of a fatal building collapse near Miami, spending much of his week meeting with rescue workers and grieving families at the disaster scene. But politics will be...
'We've come together': Biden meets with DeSantis, families missing loved ones in deadly condo collapse in Florida
A week after a 12-story condo building collapsed, leaving 18 people dead and dozens missing, Biden is meeting with officials, responders and families.
www.usatoday.com
Judge rules in favor of Minneapolis group that sued for more police officers
A judge has ruled in favor of a conservative group of Minneapolis activists who filed a lawsuit against the city in an effort to bring in more police officers after calls for police reform gai…
thehill.com
Months behind schedule, Arizona election auditors extend lease again
“The hand count’s done, but in my opinion the audit is just starting,” said Ken Bennett, the state Senate's liaison to the audit.
www.nbcnews.com
Israel strikes Gaza after Hamas launches incendiary balloons
The Israeli military says fighter jets struck a weapons manufacturing site in Gaza in response to incendiary balloons launched over the frontier into Israel
Analysis-Serious tax charges test loyalty of longtime Trump ally
The sweeping tax-fraud indictment unsealed on Thursday against Donald Trump's longtime accountant Allen Weisselberg threatens the 73-year-old executive with years in prison and puts heavy pressure on him to implicate the former U.S. president. Prosecutors allege that Weisselberg, the Trump...
Commerce secretary waves off Xi’s comments about China’s adversaries
Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo on Thursday pledged that the United States will continue to operate as normal, waving off Chinese President Xi Jinping’s warning to h…
thehill.com'A direct trail of blood drops' leads from a Twitter hack to Jamal Khashoggi's murder
An extraordinary corporate espionage operation to plant two Saudi spies inside Twitter is the subject of Episode 6 in the new season of Yahoo News’ “Conspiracyland” podcast: “The Secret Lives and Brutal Death of Jamal Khashoggi.”
Ron DeSantis praises Biden for being on top of Surfside tragedy 'since day one'
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis thanked President Joe Biden on Thursday for his immediate support of the state's response to the deadly Surfside condominium tragedy.
Navy ditches futuristic railgun, eyes hypersonic missiles
The U.S. Navy has pulled the plug on research on a futuristic weapon that fires projectiles at up to seven times the speed of sound using electricity
Arizona GOP legislator, a Vietnamese refugee, rebuts claim white nationalism a bigger threat than communism
Republican state lawmakers in Arizona passed legislation last week that will require K-12 students be exposed to stories of people who fled communism, but not all lawmakers agreed the political ideology is the biggest threat facing the nation.
Biden administration issues first in a series of rules to eliminate surprise medical billing
The Biden administration has issued its first in a series of rules to eliminate surprise billing practices and high out-of-network cost-sharing for emergency and non-emergency healthcare services.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Biden, DeSantis, put politics aside as president tours Florida building collapse
Amid the horrific building collapse in Surfside, Florida – with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) working side by side with Florida authorities on the response efforts – partisan politics melted away on Thursday as Democratic President Biden and GOP Gov. Ron DeSantis sat side by...
Loudoun County school culture war blowup fuels Virginia governor's race
The Loudoun County Public Schools building recently was the site of a heated board meeting protest over transgender policy and critical race theory, which resulted in an arrest.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Search resumes for missing in Florida condo collapse amid fears that rest of building could fall
Crews are trying to figure out how to demolish the standing building while search efforts continue, the mayor said.
www.cbsnews.com
J.D. Vance joins already chaotic Ohio Senate primary
The "Hillbilly Elegy" author's entrance amps up what is already a competitive and nasty primary battle.
www.politico.comActivists, journalists included in Myanmar prisoner release
Myanmar's government began releasing about 2,300 prisoners on Wednesday, including activists who were detained for protesting against the military's seizure of power in February and journalists who reported on the protests, officials said. Buses took prisoners out of Yangon’s Insein Prison...
NFL ends racism claim investigation after former coach won't publicly name accused
Eugene Chung, who is Korean American, alleged he was told he was “not the right minority” during a job interview but refused to publicly reveal the perpetrator’s identity.
www.nbcnews.com
US journalist to remain in Myanmar jail after trial delayed
An American journalist who was detained in Myanmar will remain detained after his trial was delayed. Danny Fenster, the managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, appeared in court for a second time…
thehill.com
Video taken minutes before Miami building collapse shows leak in garage
Investigators have not determined what caused 55 of the 136 units in the northeast corridor of the 12-floor building to crumble.
www.nbcnews.com
'Humbling': 2 generations of soldiers reflect on historic Afghanistan withdrawal
Chief Warrant Officer 2 Jose Leal described being in Afghanistan as the U.S. troop presence comes to an end as "a humbling experience."
GOP rep warns ‘no operational control’ of border after seeing migrants stream in, board flights
Rep. Bob Good, R-Va., on Thursday warned that the U.S. has "no operational control" of the border after a trip to Texas in which he and a number of other Republicans saw migrants streaming into the U.S. and being put on flights to other states.
Consultants found extensive concrete deterioration at Surfside building in 2020: report
A group of consultants contracted to survey the Champlain Towers South building in Surfside, Fla., for updates reportedly said in a 2020 report that there was major concrete deterioration near the …
thehill.comProgressives distance from Bernie Sanders
Some progressives are distancing themselves from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) — leader of their revolution.The big picture: Three factors are fueling the shift. Some feel he's not pushing President Biden far enough to the left anymore. Some believe his time as the movement leader has simply...
Tropical Storm Elsa is the latest evidence climate change is happening now
Tropical Storm Elsa became the earliest fifth named storm on record Thursday, the latest weather-related record this year that climate scientists warn is linked to climate change.
Texas sheriffs and ICE officers sue Biden for not deporting criminal illegal immigrants
Texas sheriffs have filed a lawsuit accusing the Biden administration of preventing federal officials from arresting or deporting criminal illegal immigrants.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
"He'll never be innocent": Bill Cosby accuser who says he drugged, assaulted her reacts to overturned conviction
Baker-Kinney told "CBS This Morning" that she does not regret coming forward, even now.
www.cbsnews.com
Supreme sendoff: The nine justices end term with unanimity and uncertainty
The Supreme Court has wrapped up its tumultuous term with a surprising degree of consensus that masked underlying tensions over the extent to which its nine members should flex their political and judicial muscle.
China building 100 missile launchpads across desert in 'incredible' expansion of nuclear capabilities
China is building 100 new missile silos in the northwestern desert, according to satellite imagery, raising fears of an 'incredible' expansion of its nuclear capabilities. The satellites picked up construction work on a site near Yumen, including underground bunkers, cable trenches, roads and a...
Secretary of State Blinken gets warm welcome in Europe, but did he get agreement on China?
Biden and Blinken toured Europe to restore alliances damaged by Trump, but did they make progress on a united front against China?
Supreme Court gives Republican-led states green light to impose restrictive new voting laws | CNN Politics
The restrictive voting laws that Republican-led states are implementing this year are more likely to withstand legal challenges, experts said, after the Supreme Court on Thursday gave states the tacit green light to go as far as they want in imposing measures they say are intended to combat...
www.cnn.com
Biden visits Florida to meet with first responders, families impacted in Surfside collapse
President Joe Biden is traveling Surfside, Florida, Thursday on the eighth day of a massive search and rescue operation following the devastating condo collapse.
Boy Scouts of America reaches $850M agreement with victims
The Boy Scouts of America have reached an $850 million agreement with attorneys representing some 60,000 victims of child sex abuse in what could prove to be a pivotal moment in the organization’s bankruptcy case
Boy Scouts reach $850 million settlement with tens of thousands of sexual abuse victims
The settlement is the largest in a child sexual abuse case in United States history.
www.nbcnews.com
Chamber of Commerce chief says labor shortage is top business problem, praises infrastructure deal
U.S. Chamber of Commerce CEO Suzanne Clark said the No. 1 problem facing American employers is a lack of qualified workers.
Major 6-3 rulings foreshadow a sharper Supreme Court right turn | CNN Politics
All term long the Supreme Court has been the target of political players as members of Congress called for a “legislative solution,” the Biden administration launched a commission to study court reform and progressive groups claimed that court packing measures were necessary to “save” the...
www.cnn.com
Wildfire consumes small British Columbia town that hit 121 F
A wildfire that forced people to flee a small town in British Columbia that had set record high temperatures for Canada on three consecutive days is burning out of control as relatives desperately seek information on evacuees
Trapped worker rescued from collapsed Washington building
Search and rescue crews on Thursday freed a construction worker who had been trapped for more than 90 minutes inside a partially-built five-story building that collapsed during a rain storm in Washington.
Gunman in 2018 Thousand Oaks shooting motivated by hatred of college students, report says
Marine veteran Ian David Long hated his college classmates, who he thought were "entitled, liberal civilians" that should be "wiped off the map," the report found.
www.nbcnews.com
All US forces have left Bagram Air Base, as US withdrawal from Afghanistan nears completion | CNN Politics
The last US troops have left Bagram Air Base, according to a US defense official, marking the end of the American presence at the sprawling compound that became the center of military power in Afghanistan.
www.cnn.com
Firefighters make progress against California forest fires
Firefighters are making some progress against Northern California forest fires that burned homes and forced people to flee communities
Golden Dawn fugitive Christos Pappas arrested in Greece - reports
Golden Dawn deputy leader Christos Pappas had evaded capture since being sentenced in October.
www.bbc.com
Disgraced doctors, unlicensed officials: Prisons face criticism over health care
Prisons were accused of bungling the pandemic. In the federal prison system, the issues start at the top, critics say.
www.nbcnews.com
Pioneering pilot Wally Funk flew to space at age 82 on 1st crewed Blue Origin flight
Wally Funk, a pioneering female pilot, flew to space with Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos on the first crewed flight for his space-faring firm Blue Origin.
Who is 'Unindicted Co-conspirator #1' in Trump Organization indictment?
A subject of mystery in the criminal indictment returned by a Manhattan grand jury this week in the Trump Organization case is the identity of "Unindicted Co-conspirator #1."
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Woman Who Wrongfully Accused A Black Teen Of Theft Is Charged With A Hate Crime
Miya Ponsetto pleaded not guilty to the charges. She wrongly accused a Black teen of taking her phone at a New York City hotel late last year and grabbed at him as he tried to leave.
www.npr.org
Betty White, Harry Reid, John Madden and other notable people who died in 2021
Slideshow of celebrities and trailblazers who left their mark on society and passed away in 2021.
Olympian says an abortion caused her to miss doping test that got her suspended
Olympic track and field star Brianna McNeal said that a missed doping test in January 2020, which led to a five-year suspension from competition, occurred while she was recovering from an abortion.…
thehill.com
Richard Branson reveals spaceflight details, thoughts on 'competition' with Jeff Bezos
The billionaire will take flight as early as July 11.
The delta variant: Everything you need to know
The coronavirus variant is on track to become the dominant version of the virus in the U.S. Here's what you need to know about it and the delta plus variant.
www.nbcnews.com
Here are the summer hotspots in the US where COVID-19 is resurging
COVID-19 hotspots are emerging in California, Nevada, Missouri and Arkansas fueled by the highly transmissible delta variant and lagging vaccination rates.
The vaccination gap still looks a lot like America’s political divide
First Read is your briefing from "Meet the Press" and the NBC Political Unit on the day's most important political stories and why they matter.
www.nbcnews.com
White House to trumpet return to normalcy despite delta variant
The Biden administration is spreading the message far and wide this holiday weekend that the United States is getting back to normal after a grueling 16 months from the coronavirus pandemic that ha…
thehill.com
Air travel exceeds pre-pandemic levels for 1st time heading into July 4th weekend
Thursday marked a major pandemic milestone -- air travel exceeded pre-pandemic levels for the first time as travelers took to the skies for the July 4th holiday.
Expert weighs in on how safe it is to gather for the Fourth of July this year
The U.S. is currently averaging about 12,600 new COVID-19 cases per day.
thehill.com
To fight the Delta variant, better understanding of unvaccinated Americans is critical
The U.S. can beat back the Delta variant, stop others from emerging and finish what we started, but our research indicates that to do so, we need to shift our thinking and our policies.
thehill.com
What the delta variant means for Americans this summer
The delta variant now makes up more than 26% of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S. and has been detected in all 50 states.
Sen. Ron Johnson sends letters to Moderna, Pfizer CEOs seeking answers about COVID-19 vaccines
Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., has sent letters to the CEOs of Pfizer and Moderna seeking answers about adverse reactions to the COVID-19 vaccine following a June 28 press conference with affected individuals
How are the COVID-19 vaccine and booster campaigns going in your state?
The U.S. is striving to vaccinate as many people as possible against COVID-19 — and keep them up-to-date with boosters. But some states are lagging behind. See how yours is faring.
www.npr.org
Fauci says it doesn't seem the CDC will change mask recommendations despite growing concern about Delta variant
"The good news," Dr. Fauci said, "is that the vaccines that are used in this country do very well against the Delta variant."
www.cbsnews.com
Johnson & Johnson vaccine seems to stand up against delta variant, preliminary research suggests
A growing body of evidence suggests that COVID-19 vaccines may offer longer-lasting protection than some scientists initially anticipated.
Covid: Australia to halve arrivals and trial home quarantine
Australia will accept just over 3,000 people a week - a measure likely to last until next year.
www.bbc.com
Arkansas coronavirus cases reach new high for second day since the winter
Arkansas on Thursday reported its largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases for the second time in a row in four months amid urging from Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) for residents …
thehill.com
Covid: India logs 400,000 deaths amid vaccine ramp-up
The country has recorded 30 million cases - second only to the US.
www.bbc.com
Japan says Olympics with no fans still possible as COVID spreads
Vaccination efforts stepped-up as Tokyo, set to host the Olympics in just over 3 weeks, sees 12 straight days of rising week-on-week coronavirus cases.
www.cbsnews.com
Vaccine hesitancy: Your job or the jab?
Health workers once on the frontline of the pandemic are now embroiled in a row over vaccine mandates.
www.bbc.com
Nearly 2,000 COVID-19 cases in Scotland linked to people who gathered to watch soccer
Nearly 1,470 cases were people between 20 and 39 years old and 90% of the cases were men.
www.cbsnews.com
Florida banned vaccination proof requirements. Not all cruise lines appear to care.
Some cruise lines are weaving a path that accommodates Florida's law and CDC sailing requirements. Others are not.
www.nbcnews.com
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