Headlines
Supreme Court Strikes Down Trump Order Ending Birthright Citizenship for Children of Illegal Aliens
The Supreme Court struck down President Trump’s executive order seeking to end automatic birthright citizenship, with Chief Justice John Roberts leading a 6-3 majority in ruling that the 14th Amendment guarantees citizenship to virtually all children born on U.S. soil. Trump said the ruling was “too bad” and called on Congress to act through legislation. Read More
President Trump traveled to Medora, North Dakota, aboard the newly retrofitted Boeing 747-8i— marking Air Force One’s inaugural flight under his administration. Trump presided over the grand opening of the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, where he signed the Great American Outdoors Act Reauthorization and interacted with an AI hologram of Roosevelt. See Details
Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are exchanging vows today at Madison Square Garden in New York City before a reported 1,000 guests in what has been described as “America’s royal wedding.” The couple held a 100-person rehearsal dinner at MSG’s Infosys Theater Thursday evening; security locked down surrounding blocks and the New York National Guard was deployed outside the venue. See Details
A life-threatening heat dome has pushed heat indices above 100°F across the Midwest and East Coast, with some interior areas expected to feel as hot as 110–115°F through Thursday and Friday. Amtrak warned of possible train slowdowns, cities opened cooling centers, and the U.S. Department of Energy declared an energy emergency to prevent grid blackouts. Read More
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that states may prohibit transgender athletes from competing on girls’ and women’s sports teams, upholding laws from West Virginia and Idaho. Justice Brett Kavanaugh wrote for the majority that such bans are consistent with Title IX and the Equal Protection Clause. Read More
More than 1,700 people have died and tens of thousands remain missing after twin earthquakes struck Venezuela last week, with rescue teams racing against time in La Guaira and Caracas. Read More
The official death toll from last Wednesday’s devastating twin earthquakes in Venezuela has climbed to at least 1,430, with more than 68,900 people still unaccounted for, as international rescue teams work around the clock to pull survivors from the rubble of collapsed buildings in Caracas and the coastal city of La Guaira. Source
The Trump administration announced Wednesday it will not renew the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement in its current form, ending a six-year review process and opening a decade of renegotiation that could expire the pact by 2036. The move is a sharp reversal for Trump, who signed and once called the deal “the greatest trade agreement ever made.” Link
Politics
Rep. Julia Letlow clinched the Republican Senate nomination in Louisiana Saturday night, defeating state Treasurer John Fleming 57-43 percent in the party runoff, putting her on track to become the first female Republican senator from the Pelican State in the November general election against Democrat Jamie Davis. See Details
The Supreme Court ruled Monday that Trump can fire FTC Commissioner Rebecca Slaughter but blocked his attempt to remove Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook, in a pair of rulings reshaping presidential authority over independent agencies. Link
House Republican leaders sent members home early for the Fourth of July recess after a bloc of conservatives blocked a procedural rule for the fiscal 2027 defense authorization bill over SAVE Act voter ID demands, stalling a raft of legislative priorities just days before the holiday. Link
New Jersey Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. returned to the House floor and revealed he had been sidelined for nearly four months due to a severe depression diagnosis, delivering an emotional speech about his experience and the importance of mental health awareness. Find out More
The Supreme Court ruled 5-4 Monday that states may count mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but received up to five days later, dealing Republicans a defeat in their challenge to Mississippi’s law. Find out More
At the Faith & Freedom Coalition’s “Road to Majority” conference, President Trump cast Democratic gains in recent New York City elections as an existential threat, calling progressive candidates “hard-core, godless Communists,” as Faith & Freedom chairman Ralph Reed acknowledged the GOP faces an enthusiasm gap of 11-14 points heading into November. See Details
Democratic Senator Michael Bennett of Colorado became the latest high-profile establishment figure to lose a primary to a progressive opponent when he lost a gubernatorial primary to state Attorney General Phil Weiser. See Details
A Roll Call analysis finds that most constitutional and immigration law experts believe the Supreme Court’s majority opinion in Tuesday’s birthright ruling requires a constitutional amendment — not mere legislation — to limit citizenship for U.S.-born children of undocumented or temporary-visa-holding parents. While Justice Kavanaugh’s concurrence left a narrow legislative door open, analysts said no other justice endorsed that view in writing. See Details
Growing frustration among House Republicans over internal party divisions has derailed progress on a third reconciliation bill that was supposed to include Pentagon funding and voting-reform incentives, with Speaker Johnson sending lawmakers home early and the August recess approaching, making passage by month’s end extremely unlikely. Trump has expressed private anger at the impasse, The Hill reported. Source
The House passed bipartisan legislation Monday requiring online platforms to adopt safeguards against threats, exploitation and drug sales targeting children, setting up further negotiation in the Senate. Read More
Democratic Socialist Melat Kiros defeated 15-term incumbent Rep. Diana DeGette in Colorado’s Democratic House primary Tuesday, continuing a surge by progressive insurgents. On the gubernatorial side, Attorney General Phil Weiser won the Democratic nomination over Sen. Michael Bennet. Link
U.S. News
Luigi Mangione’s federal court appearance was delayed Monday after he became trapped in an elevator at a lower Manhattan courthouse; a judge later postponed his federal trial to January. Read More
Parades, concerts, and fireworks displays have been canceled or postponed in communities from New Jersey to Pennsylvania as heat index values approach 110°F, with officials citing public safety. The U.S. Army Field Band concert at Philadelphia’s Independence Mall was scrapped Thursday, as were parade routes in Norristown, Haddon Township, and multiple other municipalities, though Trump’s Salute to America 250 fireworks show on the National Mall remains scheduled. See Details
A decomposing body was found by an exterminator in the chimney of P.S./I.S. 113 Anthony J. Pranzo in Glendale, Queens, after a school custodian reported a foul odor just days after summer break began. Police found the adult male’s remains and are investigating whether the victim may have been a construction worker, as the building has been under renovation. Find out More
U.S. Olympic canoeist David “Davey” Hearn was indicted Thursday by a Washington grand jury on a destruction of property charge related to alleged damage to the newly renovated Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool liner. Several others have also been charged in connection with the incident, which Trump had cited without evidence as intentional vandalism in remarks that drew criticism from legal observers. Read More
Firefighters battling the nation’s largest active wildfire in southern Utah face extreme winds, record-low humidity, and historic dryness that have pushed the blaze far beyond initial containment lines, with forecasters warning that the critical fire weather pattern is expected to persist through the weekend. Source
Federal authorities arrested and charged a New York woman accused of transferring more than $30,000 in cryptocurrency to Palestinian Islamic Jihad, in one of the latest terrorism financing prosecutions to emerge amid heightened scrutiny of crypto-based transfers to foreign organizations. See Details
President Trump announced that the Republican Party will hold an unprecedented midterm convention in Dallas on September 9-10, aimed at energizing the GOP base ahead of November’s elections. Trump framed the event as a showcase for his administration’s achievements and a rallying point for congressional Republicans. Link
A long-duration heat wave is expected to push temperatures into the 100s across the Northeast, South and Midwest this week, with extreme heat warnings posted ahead of the July Fourth holiday. Link
The Food and Drug Administration has elevated a recall of Zapp’s and Dirty brand potato chips to its Class I designation — the most serious category — due to possible salmonella contamination. Consumers who have purchased affected bags are urged to discard them immediately and not consume them, the FDA said. Source
The Trump Justice Department is threatening to take states to court to overturn gun control laws. Source
Business
Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh told reporters Wednesday that inflation expectations have eased but reaffirmed the central bank’s commitment to price stability, effectively cooling Wall Street’s hopes for near-term rate cuts. The remarks came alongside private-sector hiring data showing ADP payrolls grew by only 98,000 in June, below consensus expectations. Source
The June nonfarm payrolls report showed employers added only 57,000 jobs — less than half the Dow Jones consensus estimate of 115,000 and the second straight month of slowing growth — though the unemployment rate dipped slightly to 4.2% as more workers left the labor force. Economists cited tighter immigration controls and accelerating baby boomer retirements as structural headwinds compressing the workforce. Find out More
Crude oil prices slid toward $70 per barrel Wednesday as recovering Strait of Hormuz traffic and fresh Iranian export volumes flooded global markets, with Brent crude on pace for its worst quarter since 2020. Peace talks resuming in Doha and a report that Iran has shipped more than 40 million barrels since the U.S. lifted its naval blockade are driving the sell-off. Link
It has been just over a year since Japan’s Nippon Steel completed its $14.9 billion acquisition of U.S. Steel, committing to invest $11 billion in the Pittsburgh company through 2028 — but analysts note that nearly all of that money remains a promise rather than reality so far. See Details
Comcast announced Monday it plans to spin off NBCUniversal, including NBC News, Peacock and its theme parks division, into an independent publicly traded company within about a year. Source
President Trump threatened 100% tariffs on the Euopean Union if it moved ahead with a digital services tax targeting U.S. tech companies. Source
The average regular gasoline price reached $3.85 as of Thursday morning, the highest level heading into a July 4 weekend since 2022, when the national average was $4.80, per AAA data cited by Axios. Elevated energy prices have been linked, in part, to disruptions in Middle East oil flows tied to the war in Iran and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz. Read More
Bending Spoons, the Italian software company behind AOL and Vimeo, surged 42% in its first trading session on the Nasdaq on Wednesday after opening at $31 per share, well above its $29 IPO price. The Milan-based firm’s strong debut signals renewed investor appetite for European tech amid a volatile market environment. Source
World News
Former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, the only declared candidate to replace resigned Prime Minister Keir Starmer, laid out plans to decentralize power from Westminster in his first major policy speech — including establishing a “No. 10 North” hub in Manchester. Burnham is expected to formally take office around July 20 if his leadership bid goes unchallenged. Read More
Pakistani ground operations and airstrikes killed at least 36 civilians and wounded more than 160 others in Afghanistan, Afghan officials said, as tensions between the two countries escalated sharply. Read More
Russian forces launched a large-scale overnight attack on Kyiv with drones and missiles Thursday, striking residential buildings and causing multiple casualties, Ukrainian authorities reported. The assault came during a period of intensified Russian aerial operations across the country and drew condemnation from European allies. See Details
South Africa deployed thousands of police officers after anti-immigration demonstrations erupted in multiple cities, leading to violent clashes and property destruction. The protests, which have been building for weeks amid economic discontent and resentment toward migrant communities, have now spread from Johannesburg to other major urban centers. Source
Israel’s Cabinet approved a measure designating Ottoman-era violence against Armenians during World War I as a genocide, a move reflecting worsening relations between Jerusalem and Ankara. Source
Russian-appointed Crimean head Sergei Aksyonov declared a state of economic emergency on the peninsula Friday, citing disruption to civilian fuel supplies, tourism, and children’s summer camps in the wake of intensified Ukrainian drone and missile attacks on Crimean infrastructure. See Details
Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on Russian oil refineries are causing fuel shortages inside Russia, as videos circulated on social media showing brawls and long lines at gas stations across the country. The strikes represent a significant escalation in Ukraine’s campaign targeting Russian energy infrastructure. See Details
Entertainment
Stevie Nicks and Tim McGraw are confirmed as the musical entertainment for Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s weddings. Find out More
Lighting and production trucks arrived at Madison Square Garden on Monday ahead of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s reported July 3 wedding, with heavy security visible around the venue. Read More
Victor Willis, co-founder and original frontman of the Village People, died June 30 after a short but aggressive illness, his wife confirmed on social media. Willis co-wrote the group’s biggest hits, including “Y.M.C.A.,” “Macho Man,” and “In the Navy,” and had performed at Trump’s pre-inauguration rally just last year; President Trump paid tribute, calling Willis “a great and happy guy.” See Details
The Television Academy announced its 2026 Hall of Fame class: Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos, actress Jean Smart, actor Ted Danson, documentary producer Sheila Nevins, “South Park” co-creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and late journalist Ed Bradley (posthumous). The inductees will be enshrined August 13 at Televerse 26, the TV Academy’s flagship festival. Find out More
Construction crews were spotted erecting a massive castle-themed set inside Madison Square Garden ahead of the pop star’s July 3 wedding to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce, with sources telling TMZ the legendary arena is being transformed into a “full-blown fairytale” venue for the 1,000-plus-guest event. Source
King Charles III has voluntarily disclosed more than $39.6 million in tax payments since 2022, becoming the first reigning British monarch to make such information public. Find out More
Oprah continues to face backlash over claiming Whitney Houston relapsed before her final appearance on Oprah’s show in 2009. Link
King Charles calls for a rare family dinner ahead of Harry’s visit to the UK. Read More
Sources have informed TMZ that Taylor Swift’s wedding celebration is being split into two events on July 3 — the formal ceremony and a separate mega-reception — and they will not both take place at Madison Square Garden. The evening’s festivities kick off Thursday with a rehearsal dinner for roughly 100 guests, with the full 1,000-plus guest celebration at MSG to follow Friday. Find out More
Sports
Cristiano Ronaldo, 41, scored his first World Cup knockout-stage goal Thursday as Portugal rallied to beat Croatia 2-1 in a match that will be remembered for a controversial late offside call that wiped out a potential Croatia winner. Separately, Spain delivered a dominant 3-0 win over Austria — their most complete performance of the tournament — with Mikel Oyarzabal scoring twice and Pedro Porro adding a goal to punch their ticket to the Round of 16. Source
Following the trade for Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown, the Philadelphia 76ers are making a push to sign free agent LeBron James. Link
LeBron James officially informed the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday that he will not return for the 2026-27 NBA season, ending his eight-year stint in Los Angeles. The Golden State Warriors, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Miami Heat are all reportedly pursuing the 41-year-old, who is set to play in an unprecedented 24th NBA season. Link
Indiana Fever player Sophie Cunningham says opposing players are targeting Caitlan Clark for cheap shots. Find out More
Former NBA guard Malik Beasley has been indicted on federal charges related to a sports betting and point-shaving scheme tied to his time with the Milwaukee Bucks, his attorney confirmed Monday. Find out More
The Boston Celtics traded star Jaylen Brown to the Philadelphia 76ers for Paul George and multiple draft picks in a move that stunned the basketball world. Source
Off the Wall
An English National Soccer Team fan who vanished while on his way to watch the World Cup was found two weeks later in a pub in Barcelona. Link
Alabama authorities say a man suspected of strangling a woman appears to have died of a heart attack while disposing of her body, with both found together in a remote forest. Find out More
Officials in Lopburi, Thailand — famous for its free-roaming macaques and annual Monkey Buffet festival — scrambled to recapture nearly 100 long-tailed macaques that broke out of their enclosure Tuesday morning. Staff managed to keep more than 1,000 other primates from following their lead as local police and agencies worked to round up the escapees. Read More
