Good afternoon, everyone. A shorter update today, and my apologies for any typos. I am currently on a four-hour shuttle from Aspen to Denver after flight disruptions turned today into a travel nightmare. If all goes well, I’ll make it home tonight.
Despite the chaos, coverage doesn’t stop. We have Donald Trump’s response to today’s major Supreme Court decisions, and he is not happy. There are new developments surrounding the Great American State Fair, updates on the housing bill, and much more.
Tomorrow is another huge day. The Supreme Court will hand down its decisions on birthright citizenship and two other major cases. I will be covering every ruling in real time with immediate analysis, no matter where I am. That is my commitment to you.
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Here’s the news:
President Donald Trump received a mixed day at the Supreme Court as the justices both expanded and limited aspects of his agenda. In a 5-4 ruling, the Court upheld Mississippi's law allowing timely mailed ballots to be counted after Election Day, rejecting an RNC challenge and dealing a setback to Trump's push for stricter voting rules. Trump responded by blasting the Supreme Court:
The Court also declined to hear Trump's appeal in the E. Jean Carroll case, leaving in place the $5 million civil judgment after a jury found him liable for sexual abuse and defamation. He also blasted the Court:
At the same time, the justices expanded presidential authority to remove leaders of many independent federal agencies while preserving protections for Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, ruling Trump cannot remove her under the current circumstances. This was Trump’s response:
The Supreme Court's decision giving presidents broad authority to fire leaders of independent federal agencies is drawing sharp criticism from labor groups, legal scholars, and consumer advocates, who warn it significantly expands executive power. The ruling in Trump v. Slaughter overturned nearly 90 years of precedent established by the 1935 Humphrey's Executor decision, allowing President Trump and future presidents to remove officials at agencies such as the FTC without the longstanding protections that limited political interference. Critics argue the decision weakens the independence of federal watchdog agencies and could fundamentally reshape the balance of power between the White House and independent regulators for decades to come. While the Court carved out an exception for the Federal Reserve by blocking Trump's attempt to remove Governor Lisa Cook, dissenting Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned the broader ruling grants presidents "far greater power than ever before" and dismantles longstanding constitutional safeguards.
Trump said he has not decided whether he will sign the bipartisan housing bill, arguing that it is far less important than the SAVE America Act. He criticized the housing measure, saying Democrats support it because it contains provisions he would not necessarily agree with, and reiterated that his priority remains advancing his election legislation. Trump also referenced his background in real estate, saying, "I made a lot of money with housing."
The State Fair debacle gets worse for Trump today. Dr. Oz and Dean Cain praised the crowd at the Great American State Fair while on stage. Then a journalist with TMZ panned his camera across the audience, revealing a much smaller crowd than their comments suggested.
The U.S. military is rushing to vaccinate new recruits against the flu before current vaccine supplies expire on June 30, following a two-month pause in mandatory vaccinations and a growing outbreak at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas. The outbreak has sickened at least 275 recruits, hospitalized four, and remains under investigation after one recruit died earlier this month. Military officials reinstated the flu vaccine requirement last week, but new doses are not expected until late August, raising concerns about protecting recruits during the gap. Health experts warn that crowded basic training conditions make military camps especially vulnerable to rapid disease outbreaks, forcing officials to rely on additional measures such as smaller group activities and enhanced hygiene once vaccine supplies run out.
Trump made more remarks about the reflecting pool this afternoon:
Washington, D.C., has agreed to pay $50,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by resident Sam O’Hara, who was detained after following a National Guard patrol while playing Darth Vader’s "Imperial March" from Star Wars on his cellphone during a 2025 protest. O’Hara alleged police violated his First and Fourth Amendment rights by handcuffing him for 15 to 20 minutes before releasing him without charges. The settlement covers attorney's fees and costs and does not include an admission of wrongdoing by the District, while O’Hara’s claims against an Ohio National Guard sergeant remain pending. O’Hara said he was satisfied with the outcome but argued that officials responsible for violating constitutional rights, rather than taxpayers, should be held financially accountable.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas made an unexpected visit to the U.S. Capitol on Monday, declining to say why he was there when questioned by reporters. When asked who he was meeting, Thomas replied, "Nobody," before adding, "None that I'm going to tell you about." According to reports citing Republican sources, Thomas was believed to have visited the Capitol's Office of the Attending Physician, which provides medical care to members of Congress and Supreme Court justices, though no official reason for the visit has been confirmed. The Supreme Court did not immediately comment on the visit.
According to NBC News, the Senate Ethics Committee has dismissed a misconduct complaint against Sen. Ruben Gallego after concluding its investigation found no evidence that he violated federal law, Senate rules, or standards of conduct. In a June 26 letter, the bipartisan panel said it investigated allegations of campaign finance violations and inappropriate sexual conduct brought by Rep. Anna Paulina Luna, reviewing witness statements and financial records before dismissing the complaint. Gallego called the accusations "right-wing conspiracies" and demanded an apology from Luna, while Luna rejected the findings and continued to stand by her allegations. Although the case has been closed, the committee said it could reopen the matter if new evidence emerges.
Five days after Venezuela's devastating twin earthquakes, a powerful aftershock struck Caracas and the hard-hit city of La Guaira, sending terrified residents into the streets as rescue efforts continued. The death toll has climbed to at least 1,719, with thousands injured, tens of thousands still missing, and millions in need of food, shelter, water, and medical care. While rescuers continue searching for survivors, hopes are fading as the humanitarian crisis deepens, looting spreads in some areas, and residents criticize the government's response as slow and inadequate. International aid has expanded, with more than 2,700 rescue personnel deployed from 24 countries and the United States doubling its emergency assistance package to $300 million.
Alex Murdaugh returned to court Monday for a pretrial hearing after the South Carolina Supreme Court overturned his 2023 murder convictions last month. A judge set his retrial to begin on April 5, 2027, while establishing deadlines for evidence exchanges and other pretrial motions. Murdaugh's attorneys are seeking access to a laptop in prison, additional DNA testing on evidence found under his wife's fingernails, and a change of venue, arguing he cannot receive a fair trial in Colleton County. Prosecutors allege Murdaugh murdered his wife Maggie and son Paul in 2021 to distract from his mounting financial crimes, allegations he continues to deny despite admitting to extensive fraud.
The Colorado Supreme Court unanimously blocked three Democratic-backed ballot initiatives that sought to redraw the state's congressional map before the 2028 elections. The court ruled the proposals violated Colorado's constitutional "single subject" requirement because they combined changes to the state's independent redistricting process with the creation of new congressional maps. The measures, if approved, could have increased Democrats' potential advantage from four to as many as seven of Colorado's eight congressional seats. The decision marks another setback for Democratic efforts to counter Republican-led redistricting initiatives ahead of the 2028 election cycle.
Israeli strikes in Gaza killed at least eight people Monday, including two children, and wounded at least 20 others, according to health officials and emergency responders. The strikes hit tents and residential areas in Khan Younis, Al-Mawasi, Qarara, and Deir al-Balah, with Israel saying at least one strike targeted a militant. Although the heaviest fighting has eased since an October ceasefire, Israeli forces have continued near-daily strikes, which Gaza health officials say have killed more than 1,000 Palestinians since the ceasefire began. In the occupied West Bank, Palestinian officials said Israeli forces also killed a 15-year-old near Ramallah during raids across the territory.
A 31-year-old Florida woman died after an alligator attacked her while she was swimming with friends in the Econlockhatchee River at Little Big Econ State Forest near Orlando. According to Florida wildlife officials, the alligator bit off one of her arms and severely mauled the other before her boyfriend and friend were able to pull her away and call 911. Authorities have captured two large alligators, measuring 12 and 13 feet, near the scene and are using DNA testing to determine which animal was responsible. Officials said serious alligator attacks are rare but warned that mating season, low water levels, and Florida's large alligator population increase the risk of encounters.
A JetBlue flight from Las Vegas to New York reported striking a drone while on final approach to John F. Kennedy International Airport Monday morning. The pilot told air traffic control the drone hit the aircraft “right above the cockpit” at about 3,000 feet, roughly two miles before landing. The plane landed safely, passengers deplaned without incident, and JetBlue removed the aircraft from service for inspection, later saying there was no visible damage or evidence of a collision. The Federal Aviation Administration is investigating the incident, which comes as unauthorized drone flights near airports remain illegal and can result in fines or criminal charges.
Around 162 million Americans across 35 states are under heat alerts this week as an intense heat wave settles over much of the country ahead of the July Fourth holiday. Temperatures are expected to climb into the upper 90s and 100s, with heat index values reaching as high as 115 degrees in parts of the Midwest, Great Plains, Northeast, and Mid-Atlantic. At the same time, more than 50 major wildfires are burning across the West, including Utah's 93,000-acre Cottonwood Fire, while fire danger remains elevated across the Four Corners region. Officials are urging residents to limit outdoor activity, stay hydrated, use cooling centers if needed, and remain alert as extreme heat and wildfire conditions continue through the holiday weekend.
See you soon.
— Aaron
