
(ABC)

President Joe Biden signed a bill Thursday making Juneteenth a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States -- just in time for Saturday's June 19 anniversary.
Putin says Biden is of 'sound mind,' walking back on Russian disinformation about the president's mental acuity
Biden's performance at the summit with Putin in Geneva undermined Russia's past propaganda on the president and his mental health.
For Republicans, 'Crisis' Is the Message as the Outrage Machine Ramps Up
WASHINGTON — House Republican leaders would like everyone to know that the nation is in crisis. There is an economic crisis, they say, with rising prices and overly generous unemployment benefits; a national security crisis; a border security crisis, with its attendant homeland security crisis...

Manchin circulates list of demands for voting legislation
Manchin circulated a list of provisions he would support in the sweeping voting and elections bill up for consideration in the Senate.


Supreme Court rules for religious liberty in case involving foster care, same-sex couples
The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled unanimously for religious liberty in case involving foster care and Philadelphia's anti-LGBTQ discrimination policy.

Senate Democrats 'encouraged' on voting rights bill, McConnell opposed
U.S. Senate Democrats scrambled to unite around a sweeping election reform bill they hope to begin debating next week, in the face of Republican opposition and moves by several states to pass laws placing new restrictions on voting.

Lawmakers react to Supreme Court decision upholding Obamacare
President Joe Biden and Democratic lawmakers praised the Supreme Court decision Thursday to uphold the Affordable Care Act in a case challenging its individual mandate.
"Same rotten core": McConnell rejects Manchin's voting rights compromise
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) announced Thursday that he opposes the compromise on Democrats' sweeping voting rights bill proposed by Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.).Why it matters: Voting legislation requires 60 votes to pass in the Senate. Without Republican support, it is unlikely...

Putin praises Biden, calling him a 'professional' following Geneva summit
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised US President Joe Biden Thursday, describing him as a "professional" who is "completely knowledgeable on all issues," according to a Kremlin transcript of Putin's televised remarks.

Schumer to force vote Tuesday on sweeping election bill
Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) will force a vote Tuesday on a sweeping bill to overhaul federal elections.Schumer informed his caucus of the schedule during a closed-door meeting o…


Missouri Has Declared Federal Gun Laws Invalid. Can It Do That?
Legal experts say the state's law is unconstitutional. But it could have a chilling effect on the state's law enforcement officers anyway.


Senate Democrats' warnings about Justice Barrett proven wrong by Obamacare ruling
Senate Democrats repeatedly claimed that Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett would strike down the Affordable Care Act (ACA) — also known as Obamacare — if she was confirmed, but those predictions were proven false on Thursday.
Senate Democrats 'encouraged' on voting rights bill, McConnell opposed
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -U.S. Senate Democrats scrambled to unite around a sweeping election reform bill they hope to begin debating next week, in the face of Republican opposition and moves by several states to pass laws placing new restrictions on voting. Several Democrats expressed optimism...

Putin: You think we're the unpredictable ones?
Russian President Vladimir Putin responds to US President Joe Biden's calls for "stable and predictable" relations.
www.bbc.com
Louisiana to drop enhanced unemployment benefits
It joins 25 GOP-led states to end the $300-per-week federal enhanced unemployment benefits ahead of their September expiration.

5 takeaways from the summit between Biden and Putin
President Joe Biden's meeting Wednesday with his Russian counterpart came after months of diplomatic wrangling over the details, days of preparation with reams of research and the elaborate construction of two separate lakeside venues for the leaders to appear afterward.


GOP-led states slam ObamaCare ruling, say Supreme Court ducked on constitutionality
Texas and other Republican-led states ripped the Supreme Court’s decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act, arguing Thursday’s ruling ignored the core issue of whether “ObamaCare” was constitutional.

Prosecutors seeking 'very substantial' prison sentence on Michael Avenatti
Manhattan federal prosecutors are seeking to impose a "very substantial" prison sentence on lawyer Michael Avenatti for his attempted extortion scheme on Nike.


U.S. Justice Dept. calls state laws restricting trans rights unconstitutional
The U.S. Justice Department on Thursday made its most forceful statement against a wave of Republican-backed state laws that restrict transgender rights, saying measures enacted in West Virginia and Arkansas should be struck down in the courts.

Senate bill to require hack reports within 24 hours and punish violators
After a spate of high-profile ransomware attacks, momentum is growing on Capitol Hill to force companies to quickly report breaches.


Meghan McCain, Whoopi Goldberg spar over Biden’s outburst at CNN reporter
“The View” co-hosts Meghan McCain and Whoopi Goldberg got into a heated exchange Thursday after McCain criticized President Biden for snapping at a reporter following a press confe…


Five takeaways on the Supreme Court’s Obamacare decision
In what has become something of a Washington tradition, the Supreme Court again upheld the Affordable Care Act on Thursday, in the third major case from Republican challengers to reach the high cou…


Prosecutors have charged a fourth Capitol riot defendant with a firearms violation
The defendant, Guy Reffitt, is accused of carrying a semi-automatic handgun while on U.S. Capitol grounds on January 6.


GOP crushes Manchin’s hopes for elections compromise
Joe Manchin wants to remake Democrats’ sweeping elections reform bill. Republicans plan to take it down before he can try.


11 GOP senators back bipartisan infrastructure plan, boosting its chances of moving forward
Broader Republican support boosts the chances of a bipartisan plan passing, but lawmakers would still need to win over skeptical Democrats.

Request to conserve energy shows year-round vulnerability of Texas grid
Some energy experts warn that the recent failings of the state's grid may portend additional shutdowns should temperatures continue to climb this summer.

Pennsylvania governor says Republican voting bill is based on 'fringe conspiracy theories'
Gov. Tom Wolf, a Democrat, has promised to veto a Republican measure that would restrict voting by mail.

Elise Stefanik’s post on democracy group board sparked a staff uproar
The congresswoman maintains her post at the National Endowment for Democracy despite criticism over how she cast doubt on Biden’s election.


Iowa governor signs 'Back the Blue' bill to crack down on rioting, establish qualified immunity
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds vowed to support law enforcement after signing legislation Thursday to make rioting a felony and establish qualified immunity that would protect police officers and state employees from being held responsible for monetary damages.


St. Louis gun-waving couple pleads guilty to misdemeanors
Mark McCloskey, who announced in May that he was running for a U.S. Senate seat in Missouri, was unapologetic after the hearing.


McCarthy slams Biden for giving 'Putin a pass' after years of silence on Trump's relationship with Russian president | CNN Politics
House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy criticized President Joe Biden’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying in a statement on Thursday that Biden “gave Vladimir Putin a pass.”


McConnell shuts down Manchin’s voting rights compromise ahead of vote
Ahead of next week’s Senate vote, activist Stacey Abrams has endorsed Sen. Joe Manchin’s voting rights legislation compromise. The West Virginia senator released the amended bills on Wednesday in hopes of garnering bipartisan support for the reforms. However, Senate Republicans continue to...


Officer injured in Capitol riot blasts GOP lawmaker's behavior as 'disgusting' after tense exchange
A DC Metropolitan Police officer who defended the US Capitol on January 6 blasted GOP Rep. Andrew Clyde on Wednesday evening for what he called "disgusting" behavior during a tense exchange.


‘Alito was just pissed’: Trump’s Supreme Court breaks down along surprising lines
Thursday’s decisions laid bare an emerging rift within the court’s conservative majority.


Senate confirms Chris Inglis as first White House cyber czar
The Senate on Thursday unanimously confirmed former National Security Agency (NSA) Deputy Director Chris Inglis as the first White House national cyber director.Senate Majority Leader Charles …


Court's foster care ruling has experts, advocates split on potential LGBTQ impact
Critics of the ruling say it will embolden other religious social services providers to discriminate, while others say its impact will be muted.


Ex-Trump doctor turned GOP lawmaker wants Biden to take cognitive test
Rep. Ronny Jackson (R-Texas), who stirred controversy as former President Trump’s White House physician, said Thursday he is circulating a letter among House GOP colleagues that calls on President …


California Gov. Newsom launches first major ad blitz in bid to survive recall
Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom’s first major ad blitz touts that the governor "has California roaring back" and charges that "right-wing Republicans" are behind recall campaign.

Kyrsten Sinema reportedly the only Democrat to skip Kamala Harris's dinner for female senators
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema was the only Democrat absent from Vice President Kamala Harris’s bipartisan dinner for women of the Senate.


Maricopa County's partisan ballot review in final stages
The audit won't change the 2020 election results, but it has inspired conservatives in other battleground states to call for similar recounts.


Trump birthday rally driver arrested for vandalizing Pride street art
Florida police have arrested a driver for vandalizing Pride street art during a Trump birthday rally, Yahoo! News reported on Thursday.


Israel bombs Gaza City in 2nd day of strikes since breaking cease-fire
The two sides agreed to a cease-fire that was approved on May 20.

Fox News senior correspondent Rick Leventhal leaving network
Rick Leventhal, a senior correspondent for Fox News, is leaving the cable channel, the organization confirmed Thursday.The move comes after Leventhal relocated to Los Angeles to be with his wife, K…


Sullivan rejects argument U.S. gained little in Biden-Putin summit
“I just don’t buy the argument which says this was not worth it for the United States," Sullivan said on CNN.


'Impending wave of evictions' looms as pandemic moratorium nears expiration, Harvard study warns
Census survey data says some 4 million Americans fear eviction or foreclosure.
Texas joins list of states dropping permit rules for guns
Texas will now let people carry handguns without first getting a background check and training, becoming the latest and largest on a growing list of states to roll back permitting requirements for carrying guns in public. Republican Gov. Greg Abbott held a ceremonial bill signing Thursday at...

Abbott signs trigger-bill outlawing abortion completely if Roe v. Wade is overturned
Texas will become the first state to outlaw abortion procedures completely after Gov. Greg Abbott signed a new trigger-bill into law.


Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh's Rise Continues To Fascinate In 'Dissent'
Kavanaugh's confirmation hearing for the top court still sticks in the minds of those all along the political spectrum; it's the subject of several books, including a new one by Jackie Calmes.


US Supreme Court rejects Trump-backed challenge to Obamacare
The justices' 7-2 ruling preserves medical insurance for millions of low-income Americans.
www.bbc.com

Senate confirms first White House cyber director
The Senate confirmed Chris Inglis as the first White House cybersecurity director on Thursday, on the heels of President Biden’s summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and sharp concerns over a recent spate of cyber attacks on U.S. infrastructure.

POLITICO Playbook PM: SCOTUS sticks a fork in GOP's war on the ACA
And Sen. Joe Manchin finds a new ally for his voting rights proposal.


Supreme Court upholds Obamacare health care law, rejecting GOP challenge
The Supreme Court on Thursday, in a long-anticipated decision, upheld the Affordable Care Act in a case challenging the individual mandate in Obamacare.

Postal Service to deliver mail Friday and Saturday, despite new Juneteenth federal holiday
Mail delivery will go on as scheduled on Friday and Saturday even though Friday is a federal holiday under a new law signed Thursday by Joe Biden.
www.usatoday.com

DOJ to states: Bans on transgender youth health care are unconstitutional
The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Thursday filed court documents saying recently passed laws in Arkansas and West Virginia restricting transgender rights are unconstitutional.The legal briefs…


Obamacare now appears safe. The battle over its future continues.
The new Supreme Court ruling guarantees the law's survival, but Democrats and Republicans are set to clash over efforts to expand government health coverage.


Shelby signals GOP can accept Biden’s $1.5T with more for defense
Senate Republicans negotiating spending levels for 2021 say they are willing to accept President Biden’s $1.5 trillion price tag for discretionary spending provided that more of those funds are all…

Stacey Abrams says she supports Manchin's voting rights compromise
The leading voting rights activist said Thursday that she supported the West Virginia senator’s compromise.

Manchin Offers A Voting Bill Compromise, But Key Republicans Swiftly Reject It
The West Virginia Democrat, who holds a crucial centrist position in the divided Senate, has offered a new series of voting and election provisions he said he'd support.


AOC says Puerto Rico self-determination bill ‘does not oppose statehood’
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez was responding to criticism from statehood advocates who support a competing bill.

A Florida Republican reportedly compared his political rival to a 'f---ing speed bump' and threatened to send a hit squad to make her 'disappear'
"She's gonna be gone. Period. That's end of discussion," GOP candidate William Braddock said of his rival Anna Paulina Luna, per Politico.

Iranian ships once believed to be headed toward Venezuela change course, U.S. officials say
People familiar with the matter believe diplomatic efforts may have made a difference.


Vince Wilfork's son arrested for allegedly stealing his Super Bowl rings
Former New England Patriots defensive tackle Vince Wilfork was missing some important jewelry from his collection at his Texas home this week after police reported his son allegedly stole at least five championship-related rings belonging to him.


1 dead, 12 injured in series of drive-by shootings in Arizona; suspect in custody
At least one person was killed in at least eight shootings northwest of Phoenix.


‘It’s still a BFD’: Democrats applaud ruling upholding ObamaCare
Members of the Biden administration and Democratic lawmakers took to social media Thursday to praise the Supreme Court’s decision upholding ObamaCare against the latest Republican challenge. W…


Florida panel paves way for law enforcement to appeal local police budget cuts
"This is hypocritical interference with cities and counties managing their budgets and doing their jobs,” Fried said.


AOC: Bipartisan deals often ‘underserve the communities that are already underserved’
Progressives have expressed concerns that infrastructure talks between Democrats and Republicans could yield an insufficient package.


House Democrats seek records from Justice Department on data seizures in leak probes
The request for documents made to Attorney General Merrick Garland is the first issued as part of the House Judiciary Committee's investigation.


House votes to repeal 2002 AUMF in effort to rein in presidential war powers
The House voted Thursday to repeal the 2002 Authorization for Use of Military Force.
A blockbuster Supreme Court day
The Supreme Court will give conservatives a lot of what they want — but not quite everything. Driving the news: It voted 9-0 to carve out religious objections to same-sex marriage, saying foster-care agencies have a First Amendment right to turn away same-sex couples. But it also voted 7-2 to...

Texas governor: State, crowdsourcing will fund border wall
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has divulged some details on his emerging proposal to build more barriers along the U.S. border with Mexico in his ongoing political fight over immigration with the Democratic Biden administration

'A huge relief': Obamacare patients hopeful, wary after Supreme Court upholds law
"Nobody in this country should go bankrupt for medical care. Nobody should have to forgo their pills or not get that surgery they need or go to their follow-up," said a cancer survivor.

Supreme Court throws out child slave labor suit against Nestlé, Cargill
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of Nestlé USA and Cargill in a lawsuit that accused the corporations of helping perpetuate child slave labor in the Ivory Coast, Reuters reports. Why it matters: The ruling is yet another example of courts imposing "strict limits on lawsuits brought in federal...

Hunter Biden was banned from Chateau Marmont for 'drug use'
LOS ANGELES — Hunter Biden was banned from the legendary celebrity hangout Chateau Marmont because of "drug use," and the then-soon-to-be first son had to send someone to retrieve his personal belongings still on the property, according to texts from his laptop.


House votes to repeal 2002 war resolution that paved way for Iraq invasion
The Senate's Democratic leadership has vowed to take up the measure, and the White House has also endorsed it.
www.usatoday.com

Poll: Majority back blanket student loan forgiveness
Fifty-two percent of Americans said that they are in favor of blanket student loan forgiveness “for all borrowers,” according to a new Go Banking Rates poll released Thursday.…


House votes to repeal Iraq War authorization | CNN Politics
The House voted Thursday to repeal the 2002 legal authorization for the war in Iraq, marking what the bill’s backers hope is a first step to curbing the President’s expansive war powers enacted after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.


What now? Congress eyes new era of health policy after Obamacare survives
Democrats want to build on the law, add a public option and expand Medicare. Republicans say they still support rolling back parts of the ACA.

Education Department says Title IX protects transgender students
In a reversal from the Trump Administration, the Department of Education under President Biden on Wednesday issued an updated interpretation of Title IX, the law that protects students from sex-based discrimination in federally-funded schools, determining that the law applies to LGBTQ students.

Milley downplays report of 1,900 lost or stolen military firearms
The U.S. military’s top general on Thursday downplayed a recent Associated Press report that found at least 1,900 military firearms had gone missing or stolen over the past decade, claiming the rea…

Militant groups could pose threat to U.S. in two years from Afghanistan -Pentagon leaders
WASHINGTON (Reuters) -Top U.S. military leaders said on Thursday that international militant groups like al Qaeda could pose a threat from Afghanistan to the U.S. homeland and American allies in two years. President Joe Biden's decision to withdraw troops completely from Afghanistan by...

Louisiana will be the first Democrat-led state to end $300-a-week pandemic unemployment benefit early | CNN Politics
Louisiana will stop paying the $300-a-week federal boost to pandemic unemployment benefits at the end of July – the first Democrat-led state to drop the assistance.


Chicago mayor declares racism a public health crisis
Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot declared racism a public health emergency Thursday, pointing to systematic racism as a leading factor in the city’s life expectancy discrepancies.

Justice Department releases harrowing new bodycam footage from January 6 attack | CNN Politics
The Justice Department on Thursday released horrifying new police body camera footage from the January 6 assault on the US Capitol, after CNN and other outlets requested the tapes.

O'Rourke to host Texas voting rights rally as U.S. Democrats push reforms
Former presidential candidate Beto O'Rourke will headline a voting rights rally in Texas on Sunday, a day before Democrats in the U.S. Senate take up a sweeping bill aimed at combating new Republican-backed voting restrictions in that state and others across the country. Democratic lawmakers in...

Texas governor signs bill allowing concealed handguns without permit
The governor of Texas has signed into law a bill allowing people to carry concealed handguns without any permit, joining 20 other states that already have such measures.

Supreme Court sides with Catholic foster agency that excludes same-sex couples in 9-0 ruling
The Supreme Court sided unanimously with a Catholic foster agency in a dispute against the city of Philadelphia over whether it should be banned from participating in the city's foster program because it excludes same-sex couples.

Crisis at the border: How it happened and what is being done
The number of arrests at the border are the highest in two decades.

Arizona sheriff says 'no distinct' border changes from Biden administration despite Sec. Mayorkas meetings
An Arizona sheriff says there have been no changes in policy, messaging or results from the Biden administration on the crisis at the southern border -- despite multiple meetings between sheriffs and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

Scotch whisky distillers toast end to high U.S. tariffs on single malts
After "eye-watering" losses, "it will take time for the industry to get back on its feet," a Scottish lawmaker said.


After a year of pining, visitors are overcrowding national parks like Yellowstone and Yosemite
Half a dozen national parks have instituted online reservation systems to spare visitors from hours-long wait times.


In a new lawsuit, more than 30 women accuse Pornhub of profiting from videos posted without their consent
An underage girl's private video for her high school boyfriend. A woman's alleged rape while drugged by her husband. The lawsuit alleges Pornhub exploited nonconsensual video uploads — including child abuse imagery — for profit.


Supreme Court sides with Catholic foster care agency that refused to work with same-sex couples
The court ruled unanimously in favor of the agency, Catholic Social Services.


Here's what the Supreme Court's Affordable Care Act ruling means for you | CNN Politics
The Affordable Care Act remains the law of the land.


The First 'Murder Hornet' Of 2021 Has Been Discovered In Washington State
Because of its withered condition and the fact that male giant hornets don't typically emerge until July, officials believe the hornet was likely from a previous season and just recently found.


Pelosi punts question on unborn babies, says she's a 'big supporter of Roe v. Wade'
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi didn’t directly answer a yes-or-no question about whether an "unborn baby at 15 weeks is a human being," instead reaffirming a woman’s right to choose.

Ted Cruz hopes Matthew McConaughey doesn’t run for Texas gov because he’s a ‘formidable candidate’
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, a self-described “big fan” of Gov. Greg Abbott, said he hopes Matthew McConaughey doesn’t run for governor because he’d be a “formidable candidate.”

Unemployment applications rise from a pandemic low, even as economy strengthens
About half a million people applied for some sort of jobless aid last week, while 15 million still collect benefits.


NJ congressman appears to be caught wearing boxer shorts in virtual hearing
Rep. Donald Payne, D-N.J., appeared to be oblivious to the fact that his camera was on during a virtual House of Representatives hearing on Thursday.

Hope dims for American hostage as US hastily exits Afghanistan
As American military forces withdraw from Afghanistan, the family of hostage Mark Frerichs fears time is running out to secure his release from the Taliban.

Hong Kong police raid pro-democracy paper Apple Daily and arrest 5, magnifying concerns over erosion of press freedom
Apple Daily's editor-in-chief, Ryan Law, and four directors were detained on suspicion of colluding with foreign forces

Rift on Communion policy as US Catholic bishops open meeting
Divisions have flared up among U.S. Catholic bishops as they opened a national meeting highlighted by a sensitive agenda item: a possible rebuke of Catholic politicians, including President Joe Biden, who receive Communion while supporting abortion rights

U.S. Mint to issue quarters honoring notable American women
Poet and author Maya Angelou, astronaut Sally Ride and revered Cherokee Nation leader Wilma Mankiller are among those whose likenesses will appear on the U.S. quarter.



US embassy in Afghanistan on strict lockdown amid 'surging COVID cases, full ICU
The U.S. embassy in Afghanistan is suffering from a COVID-19 crisis amid a devastating third wave destabilizing the already fractured country.
As COVID-19 crisis ebbs, some seeking 9/11-style commission
With more than 600,000 Americans dead of COVID-19 and questions still raging about the origin of the virus and the government's response, a push is underway on Capitol Hill and beyond for a full-blown investigation of the crisis by a national commission like the one that looked into 9/11. It is...

CureVac: Vaccine data are 'sobering,' full results in weeks
The chief executive of CureVac says interim results from late-stage testing of its coronavirus shot are “sobering.”

CDC eases COVID-19 cruise restrictions, recommends only fully vaccinated people travel
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has amended its travel advisory guidance on cruise ships, recommending that only vaccinated individuals travel.The announcement Wednesday&n…


As COVID-19 crisis ebbs, some seeking 9/11-style commission
A push is underway on Capitol Hill and beyond for a full-blown investigation of the coronavirus outbreak by a national commission like the one that looked into 9/11

White House officials won’t say if US will meet July vaccine goal
White House officials won’t say whether they believe the U.S. will meet President Biden’s goal of getting 70 percent of adults partially vaccinated against COVID-19 by July 4.But even i…


Massie scolds reporter for questioning him on decision to decline vaccine: 'First of all, it's none of your business'
Rep. Thomas Massie had a heated exchange with a reporter over the Kentucky Republican declining to take the COVID-19 vaccine.


CDC eases warning for cruises, recommends only fully vaccinated travel
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) eased its warnings for cruises by a notch from the highest level that led to a sailing hiatus, and recommended only fully vaccinated people take trips when sailings resume from U.S. ports in a few days.

Biden administration to invest $3 billion for Covid-19 antiviral medicines | CNN Politics
The Biden administration on Thursday announced it would invest more than $3 billion from the American Rescue Plan to accelerate the discovery, development and manufacturing of Covid-19 antiviral medicines – ideally like a pill someone could easily take at home early in an illness.


Texas man who declined COVID-19 vaccine speaks out after undergoing double lung transplant
Joshua Garza had a chance to get vaccinated against COVID-19 but passed it up. Now, the Texan is hoping to inspire others to get the shot after a double lung transplant.

Unproven Lab Leak Theory Brings Pressure On China To Share Info. But It May Backfire
In the wake of heated debate over the unproven lab leak theory, the world is calling on China to cooperate with investigations. But efforts to delve into this matter seem to be stalling.


U.S. motor vehicle travel jumped by 55% in April over 2020 levels
U.S. motorists drove 55% more miles in April over pandemic levels in 2020 as more Americans return to offices and resume trips.