Biden at G-7; gun bill now law; SCOTUS abortion fall-out; RBG in her words on Roe; why RBG is being attacked by the left; Russia bombs Ukraine Mall; U.S. purchases missile defense system for Ukraine
Juul gets a stay; Brian's "gabby" confession; Prince Charles' non story; Norway & Turkey "Pride" attacks; McCartney, Springsteen and Grohl together; Vienna most livable city; Colorado wins cup
Good Tuesday morning from Jerusalem where I am working this week.
My take: Random thoughts while acknowledging that the news will not get a summer break…The United States airline transportation system is falling apart — from labor to service to plane equipment, all is broken. Has anyone seen or heard from Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg. No…The Supreme Court once again went 6-3 on a decision on whether a public school coach could pray on field after a football game. The conservative bloc said this did not violate the division between church and state. In my opinion, there are sometimes we simply need to let people take their own path. Some kneel and some pray…The Democrats are ready to implode while the Republicans aren’t very different. Several stories today show how splintered U.S. parties are…The President is using a new missile defense system for Ukraine as his PR move at the G-7 summit. Remind me why this couldn’t have been done months ago…The streets were filled with Abortion protests this weekend. What is sad, if not pathetic is the far left going after the late Justice Ginsberg for not retiring while President Obama was in office. Also read the piece about RBG’s critical thoughts on the Roe decision and how it could be overturned…Well if you need an abortion, Israel is loosening up on its restrictions. Makes you wonder why with these policies and being very LBGTQ positive, the far left including AOC, Ilan Omar and others so despise Israel…The New Yorker has a fascinating profile of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Worth the read…Is it really surprising that there is a huge exit of Prosecutors from the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office? Prosecutors understand that new DA Alvin Bragg is weak on crime…That’s AOC out there threatening other Democrats who don’t believe as she does. She is a political terrorist and needs to realize a majority is more important than creating a Stepford party…Trump fatigue has set in. 2024 would be great with two young, vibrant and passionate candidates who stay on message and remain positive. The United States is done with the sideshows in both parties…Putin wants us to worry about nuclear war. While I don’t see it coming, he does have the capacity and if pushed up against a wall may see no other way out…The biggest non-story of the day is that Prince Charles took millions of dollars in bags full of cash for a charity from a controversial Qatari politician. Yes, not for himself. Prince Charles is enormously generous to those in need and issues that should be examined…The attacks at Pride parades in Norway and Turkey are reprehensible. But when the United States makes aa habit of negotiating with Iran and other outlaw nations who hang those who are gay from crane’s on city streets, this will continue to happen…Netflix is laying off more employees. I don’t believe that the streaming service is declining. I just believe it needs stronger management and to continue to look at creating content to be competitive…
Now to your “1 to…”
Start with a smile: Eagle snatched baby hawk for dinner but ended up adopting it instead, says conservationists: Wildlife volunteers were shocked by the surprise adoption: ‘Its beautiful’.
Breaking: Supreme Court rules for former coach in public school prayer case: Former coach Joseph Kennedy argued that the Bremerton School District in Washington state violated his religious freedom by telling him he couldn’t pray on the field after games.
What we care about: Travelers endure another weekend of mass flight cancellations across America: As many as 868 journeys were wiped Sunday, marking the fifth straight day of 500-plus lost flights.
'Give us a plan or give us someone to blame': Inside a White House consumed by problems Biden can't fix: House Democrats' anxiety bubbled to the surface as they awaited the belated arrival of White House officials. The three top advisers to President Joe Biden arrived 13 minutes late for a meeting with the caucus on, according to the invitation sent to members, "messaging on the economy." The presentation and question-and-answer period that followed only served to exacerbate their frustration.
Storm clouds at home dampen Biden’s return to Europe: The president kicked off the G-7 summit in Germany hoping to rally the world’s leading democracies, but turmoil in Washington hangs over the proceedings.
Russia slides into historic debt default as payment period expires: Interest payments totaling $100 million were due on May 27 and subject to grace period which expired on Sunday night. Sweeping sanctions imposed by Western powers in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, along with countermeasures from Moscow, have effectively ostracized the country from the global financial system.
G7 face battle for unity as cost of Ukraine war mounts: The Russian war against Ukraine will inevitably dominate the summit of G7 nations in Bavaria.
And the leaders of the US, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Canada and Japan face a difficult challenge. They are aiming to put on a show of unity and resolve over the war. In recent months, the Western alliance has shown signs of strain and fatigue. Some voices - particularly in France, Germany and Italy - have asked if it might not be better for the war to end, even if it came at the cost of Ukraine having to cede territory. A recent cross-Europe opinion poll suggested some voters put solving the cost-of-living crisis ahead of punishing Russia.
Others argue about the need to salvage some kind of relationship with Russia in the future.
Biden signs gun bill into law, ending years of stalemate: The bill is the most significant gun measure to clear Congress in nearly three decades, though it falls short of more restrictive gun control proposals that Democrats favor.
Biden commits $200 billion to global infrastructure plan meant to counter China: President Biden on Sunday relaunched a global infrastructure initiative meant to counter China’s growing influence, saying the U.S. would commit $200 billion to the effort in public and private financing to boost projects in developing and middle-income countries. Describing the globe as at an inflection point, Biden said the initiative by the Group of Seven (G-7) nations would help set the world on a strong path for the future by investing in sustainable projects that are “grounded in our shared values.”
Majority of Americans disapprove of overturning Roe v. Wade: Fifty-nine percent of Americans disapprove of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and take away the federal protections of abortion rights, according to a new CBS News/YouGov reaction poll. Among women polled, 67% disapprove. The new polling upholds what surveys before the decision showed us — that the majority of Americans support Roe. 52% call the court's decision a "step backward" for America, 31% say it's a "step forward," and 17% say neither. Opinion is starkly divided along party lines. 78% of Republicans approve of the decision, compared with 38% of independents and 17% of Democrats.
Roe v Wade: The world reacts to US abortion ruling
Roe v Wade: What the Supreme Court decision means for US mid-terms.
Protests continue across US to voice anger over supreme court ruling:
Protests over a US supreme court decision that overturned abortion rights continued across the country this weekend. In New York, thousands marched to voice their anger at the ruling that came at the end of a dizzying week around not just reproductive rights but also gun carry laws and the US Capitol attack. The court’s ruling is a rare reversal of long-settled law that will fracture the foundations of modern reproductive rights in the US.
US supreme court overturns abortion rights, upending Roe v Wade
Read more“Not your uterus, not your choice,” many shouted as the demonstrations progressed in Washington DC., New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Atlanta and Austin.
In wake of Roe v. Wade ruling, liberals slam late Justice Ruth Baden Ginsburg for not retiring:Some liberals are blaming the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg after the court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade case that federally protected a woman’s right to an abortion on Friday.
Ginsburg notoriously decided to not retire during the Obama administration when she could have been replaced with a liberal justice, only to die at the age of 87 in September 2020 during the Trump administration.
She was replaced by Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who was one of three conservative justices appointed by former President Donald Trump — all three of whom were among the six justices who voted in favor of overturning the half-century-old decision.
Why Ruth Bader Ginsburg wasn’t all that fond of Roe v. Wade:
The late Supreme Court justice believed the landmark ruling was too sweeping and vulnerable to attacks, explains Professor Mary Hartnett, co-author of Justice Ginsburg’s authorized biography.
Israel eases access to abortion, canceling key decades-old mandatory formalities: New rules allow drug-induced early-term abortions at clinics, remove need for approval of intrusive committees; health minister hails reform as opposite to US Supreme Court ruling.
South Dakota governor says she will ban abortion pills prescribed online: South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) on Sunday said she will ban telemedicine appointments with abortion care providers who prescribe pills online in the GOP-controlled state in the wake of the Supreme Court’s decision overturning Roe v. Wade. Noem told host Margaret Brennan on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that she brought a bill forward in her state to ban the telemedicine appointments in order to block women from being prescription abortion pills online and receiving them through the mail.
Arkansas Guv brushes off rape and incest exceptions to abortion ban: Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson said the state has no plans to add more exceptions to its abortion ban—even if a minor is assaulted by a family member. The Republican governor appeared on NBC’s Meet The Press on Sunday where he was pressed by host Chuck Todd on the state’s sole exception to its abortion ban: only a medical emergency threatens a mother’s life. “If a 13-year-old in Arkansas is raped by a relative, that 13-year-old cannot get an abortion in Arkansas,” Todd asked. “Are you comfortable with that?” Hutchinson said the matter was “not the debate today in Arkansas.” “This is going to continue to be discussed, but the only exception in Arkansas is to save the life of the mother.”
AOC wonders if pro-life Democrats should continue to serve: 'We really need to reassess': AOC instructed Instagram followers to vote out pro-life Democrats at municipal, state and federal levels.
CVS, Walmart and Rite Aid Limit Purchases of Plan B Pills After Surge in Demand: Retailers’ websites show the emergency contraceptive in short supply after Supreme Court’s abortion decision.
Trump World wants to ‘burn DeSantis down’: 5 takeaways from New Yorker’s DeSantis profile.
Russia to send Belarus nuclear-capable missiles within months, as G7 leaders gather in Germany: Vladimir Putin again raises nuclear threat during Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, as Olaf Scholz hosts G7 leaders to discuss energy and food crisis
Juul gets temporary reprieve to keep selling its E-cigarettes: The company is appealing the F.D.A.’s decision to ban sales of its vaping products.
Trump fatigue sets in: ‘Some donors are getting sick of the sh--show': Few, if any, conservatives are turning on the former president. But they’re tiring of the drama. At least for now.
NYC prosecutors flee in droves amid soft-on-crime policies, burdensome state reforms: Manhattan has hemorrhaged about 12% of the staff so far this year.
Biden's Title IX reforms would roll back Trump-era rules, expand victim protections: The Department of Education said Thursday that it plans to reinstate Title IX regulations tossed out by the Trump administration. Proposed changes would combat sexual discrimination in schools by boosting victim protections and modifying language to include sexual orientation and gender identity for LGBTQI+ students. Thursday marked the 50th anniversary of the Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, more commonly known as Title IX, which protects students from sexual discrimination in educational programs and activities.
‘I ended her life’: Brian Laundrie’s confession note revealed as he claimed he wanted to ‘take away’ Gabby Petito’s pain: ‘I thought it was merciful, that it is what she wanted, but I see now all the mistakes I made’
Fox News commentator Gianno Caldwell’s younger brother shot dead in Chicago: Fox News political analyst Gianno Caldwell’s teenage brother was murdered in Chicago on Friday, kicking off a bloody weekend that also saw a 5-month-old baby killed — as progressive cities nationwide are gripped by rising crime. “Yesterday was the worst day of my existence. I received a call informing me that my teenage baby brother was murdered on the south side of Chicago,” Caldwell revealed Saturday on Twitter.
Rudy Giuliani attacked by worker at Staten Island supermarket, sources say: Rudy Giuliani was attacked by a worker at a ShopRite on Staten Island on Sunday while campaigning for his son, leaving the 78-year-old former New York City mayor shaken, witnesses and law-enforcement sources said.
Giuliani told The Post he almost went down when he was hit but regained his composure — even as his attacker kept cursing at him.
“My dad is tough as nails,” Giuliani’s gubernatorial-candidate son, Andrew Giuliani, said.
At least 16 dead as Russian missile hits shopping centre in Ukraine: Scores of people injured and at least 40 feared missing after strike in central city of Kremenchuk.
US to announce purchase of medium- to long-range surface-to-air missile defense system for Ukraine: The US plans to announce as soon as this week that it has purchased an advanced, medium-to-long range surface-to-air missile defense system for Ukraine, a source familiar with the announcement tells CNN. President Joe Biden, who is currently meeting with G7 leaders in Germany for a summit primarily focused on Ukraine, announced recently that the US would provide Ukraine with "more advanced rocket systems and munitions" as its war with Russia grinds on. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is slated to virtually address Biden and other G7 leaders on Monday.
Russia bombs Kyiv in a weekend missile barrage across Ukraine: A Russian missile slammed into the top floor of a 9-story apartment building in Ukraine's capital Kyiv early Sunday morning, killing one person and injuring several more, according to Ukrainian officials. The attack in Kyiv was just one of dozens of long-range Russian strikes over the weekend that targeted places in northern and western Ukraine that are not often hit. Some Russian attacks were aimed at military facilities. But others, like the one in Kyiv, hit civilian areas and had no apparent military objective. Ukraine says the strikes are a message to the G-7 The Russian barrage came as President Biden and other leaders of the Group of Seven nations were meeting in Germany. Biden said the G-7 nations would ban imports of Russian gold in the latest move designed to squeeze Russia's economy.
What the ban on Russia’s gold imports means for its increasingly isolated economy: The move by the United States, Britain and others builds on steps to cut off Russia from the international financial system.
Iran launches rocket into space as nuclear talks to resume: State-run media aired dramatic footage of the blastoff against the backdrop of heightened tensions over Tehran’s nuclear program.
Qatar to host indirect Iran-U.S. talks on reviving 2015 nuclear deal-media: Qatar will host indirect talks between Iran and the United States in coming days, Iranian media reported on Monday, amid a push by the European Union to break a months-long impasse in negotiations to reinstate a 2015 nuclear pact.
"Iran has chosen Qatar to host the talks because of Doha's friendly ties with Tehran," Mohammad Marandi, a media adviser to Iran's top nuclear negotiator, told the ISNA news agency.
South Africa President says 22 killed in South African tavern incident: South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa on Sunday expressed his condolences to the families of 22 people who died at a tavern in East London. Ramaphosa said the victims were teenagers but it is unclear exactly how old they were. Earlier on Sunday, Siyanda Mananaa, a spokesperson for the Eastern Cape provincial health department, said the bodies of the victims were between 18 to 20 years old.
Prince Charles took bags stuffed with millions in cash from controversial Qatari sheikh: Prince Charles personally accepted suitcases and shopping bags stuffed with millions of dollars’ worth of cash from a controversial Qatari politician between 2011 and 2015, according to an explosive new report.
“Everyone felt very uncomfortable about the situation,” a former adviser to the Prince of Wales told the Sunday Times of London. The “only thing we could do was to count the money and make a mutual record of what we’d done,” the source said. “And then call the bank.”
Chairing his final cabinet meeting, Bennett hails government’s ethos of unity:
PM points to relative calm on border with Gaza Strip and economic recovery after pandemic as achievements of his diverse 8-party coalition
At least 4 dead, 30 seriously injured after collapse at stadium in Colombia: At least four people were killed and about 30 seriously injured after part of a stadium in El Espinal in Colombia's western state of Tolima collapsed during a bullfight Sunday, the state's governor said. "At this moment, we have four (dead) victims confirmed -- two women, an adult man and a minor -- plus about 30 people seriously injured. Of course, we have activated all the hospitals and ambulances we can work with," Gov. Ricardo Orozco said on BluRadio Colombia, a local radio outlet. Video posted by Colombia's President-elect Gustavo Petro shows a stand full of spectators collapsing as people run from the area.
Gunman Kills 2 during Oslo Pride festival in suspected 'Terror Act': A gunman opened fire in Oslo’s nightlife district early Saturday, killing two people and leaving more than 20 wounded in what the Norwegian security service called an “Islamist terror act” during the capital’s annual LGBTQ Pride festival. Investigators said the suspect, identified as a 42-year-old Norwegian citizen originally from Iran, was arrested after opening fire at three locations in downtown Oslo.
Arrests in Istanbul as LGBTQ marchers try to defy Pride ban: Dozens of people were detained in central Istanbul after city authorities banned an LGBTQ Pride march, organizers said Sunday. Turkey’s largest city has banned the march since 2015, but large crowds nonetheless gather every year to mark the end of Pride Month. Organizers called the ban unlawful. “We do not give up, we are not afraid! We will continue our activities in safe places and online,” the Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week Committee said on Twitter.
Netflix begins second round of layoffs, 300 positions cut: Layoffs have hit Netflix again, with the streamer letting go of roughly 300 staffers on Thursday, Variety has learned exclusively. The cuts are across multiple business functions in the company, with the bulk of the jobs lost in the U.S. These new layoffs, which Variety first reported earlier this week would be coming, hit just a few weeks after the streaming giant — which has a global workforce of roughly 11,000 staffers — made an initial round of reductions of similar size in May. At that time, Netflix laid off 150 employees, and dozens of contractors and part-time workers. The streamer indicated more rounds of layoffs would be coming this year following that first group, as the company tries to adjust for its heavily weakened stock price.
Amazon shows off impressive new warehouse robot: It’s a lot of progress over just one year.
How three sisters (and their mom) tried to swindle the CRA out of millions: The Saker women were the model of rural ingenuity, running a successful restaurant and gourmet food businesses on Cape Breton Island. What they were mostly cooking? The books.
'F*** America': Green Day Star Billie Joe Armstrong says he's renouncing his U.S. citizenship during London concert in wake of SCOTUS overruling Roe: He made the declaration during a London concert Friday, saying: 'F**k America'
The musician said he was staying in the UK and that 'there's just too much f***ing stupid in the world to go back to that miserable f***ing excuse for a country'. Armstrong's remarks came in response to SCOTUS overturning Roe v Wade. Green Day is known for using its musical platform to protest political issues.
Vienna was just ranked the world's most livable city. No US cities made the top 10: Vienna is the world's most livable city, per rankings by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU). No US cities made the top 10, which was dominated by western Europe and Canada. Auckland topped the list in 2021 because of its rapid pandemic response.
A surprising link between immune system and hair growth: Salk scientists have uncovered an unexpected molecular target of a common treatment for alopecia, a condition in which a person’s immune system attacks their own hair follicles, causing hair loss. The findings, published in Nature Immunology on June 23, 2022, describe how immune cells called regulatory T cells interact with skin cells using a hormone as a messenger to generate new hair follicles and hair growth. “For the longest time, regulatory T cells have been studied for how they decrease excessive immune reactions in autoimmune diseases,” says corresponding author Ye Zheng, associate professor in Salk’s NOMIS Center for Immunobiology and Microbial Pathogenesis.
94-year-old NJ crossing guard retires after 57 years: Claire Bauman, a crossing guard at Horace Mann Elementary School in Cherry Hill, NJ, has retired at age 94.
70-year-old grandmother returns to lifeguard chair to give Philly kids some help this summer: Despite a lifeguard shortage, the city of Philadelphia will be able to open 80% of its pools this summer, and that is, in large part, thanks to the city’s senior workforce. When she was 16 years old Robin Borlandoe worked as a lifeguard in Philadelphia. Since then, she has become a mother, a grandmother, a city employee and then a retiree. But now the 70-year-old is going back to work — as a lifeguard.
Box Office: ‘Elvis’ Opening and ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ Battling for No. 1, ‘Black Phone’ Ringing Up $23 Million.
‘General Hospital,’ ‘Kelly Clarkson Show’ top winners at Daytime Emmys 2022: Full List.
Paul McCartney joined by Springsteen, Grohl in epic Glastonbury show: Opening with "Can't Buy Me Love", McCartney entertained a capacity crowd with songs spanning more than half a century. Foo Fighters frontman Dave Grohl joined him for "I Saw Her Standing There" and "Band on the Run."
McCartney introduced another surprise "from the east coast of America": Bruce Springsteen. The two played "Glory Days" and "I Wanna Be Your Man."
Colorado Avalanche unseat Tampa Bay to win the Stanley Cup: The Avalanche took the lead in the second period to win their first title since 2001 and end the Lightning’s bid for a third consecutive title. They did it convincingly, never facing elimination.
Grandmother plays pickup pickleball game with strangers who turn out to be T.J. Watt and his teammates: The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette posted a fun story about Pittsburgh's Meg Burkardt, an avid pickleball player who jumped in to compete with three strangers who turned out to be members of the Pittsburgh Steelers. Among them was T.J. Watt, the Pewaukee native who just earned the NFL Defensive Player of the Year award. Burkardt saw two of the players playing one-on-one and jumped on the court for doubles. “I could tell they were beginners. Don’t tell them I said that,” Burkardt told the PG on Monday. “But I thought, ‘Oh, this is great. Probably the guy on the bench doesn't have a paddle, that’s why he’s not playing.’ So I grabbed my extra paddle, rolled on up and plopped down next to him. ‘Hey, do you want to take these guys on?’”
Have a great Tuesday!