June 30:
- The Supreme Court ruled that Presidents have immunity from prosecution for “official acts”, making it virtually certain that Trump’s January 6th case will not now go to trial before the election.
In an historic 6-3 ruling, the court’s conservative majority, including the three justices appointed by Trump, narrowed the case against him and returned it to the trial court to determine what might be left of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s indictment.
In her dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor warned: “The relationship between the president and the people he serves has shifted irrevocably. In every use of official power, the president is now a king above the law.”
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June 29:
- None of the fallout from last night’s debate has been good for President Biden, even though he delivered an invigorated speech at a campaign event in North Carolina almost immediately afterwards. Meanwhile, his opponent used an appearance in Virginia to again argue that his supporters imprisoned for their role in Jan 6th should be freed.
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June 28:
- This morning’s political narrative has Democrats in various degrees of “panic” after President Biden’s debate performance. The coming days will see moves within the Biden campaign and across the party to address what could – should – be a strategic tipping point.
Rachel Leingang writes in The Guardian that:
“Biden had challenged the former president to a debate, set earlier than normal, to shift the momentum of the race. He had delivered a strong State of the Union speech in which he appeared sharp and energetic. A debate could give his campaign some lift at a time when he is polling behind Trump.
“Instead of a victory march, or even the more common volleying over who claims to have won the debate, it was clear that Democrats saw Biden’s performance as a liability.”
There’s a good breakdown by James Fallows on what he calls a “bad night for America.” He writes:
“The moderators, Jake Tapper and Dana Bash, are both fully capable of very tough follow-up questioning. They did almost zero of that tonight, presumably because of whatever pact CNN had to sign to make the debate happen.
“As a result, Trump could reel off one preposterous, defamatory, easily disprovable lie after another—for instance, that Biden is a “Manchurian Candidate” paid by the Chinese government, or Trump’s repeated claim that Democratic governors favored making it legal to kill babies “even after birth”—and Bash or Tapper would respond with, “Thank you. And now to you, President Biden…”
In the New York Times, Tom Friedman was in no doubt that the President must step aside.
***
June 27:
- The first Presidential debate is – for now, at least – set to take place tonight on CNN.
According to Pew Research, the two candidates are the least-liked pairing in three decades, with more Americans viewing both major-party options negatively than at any time in the past ten elections.
Dan Pfieffer writes on why scheduling the first debate this early is a gamble for the Biden campaign.
“Traditionally, the debates all happen in the final six weeks of the campaign when people are tuned into the race and casting their ballots in the many states that offer early voting.
“This debate, however, is happening in June during the summer months, which are often the doldrums of the campaign as people enjoy the warmer weather and focus on ferrying their kids to various camps. Engagement with all forms of media — even during an election year — tends to drop during the summer. It’s why TV networks used to air reruns during the summer…
“The race has remained stagnant for months. Yes, Biden picked up a few points in the national polls since Trump’s conviction, but the fundamental dynamics stayed the same. Most voters are unengaged, portions of Biden’s 2020 coalition have yet to coalesce, and memories of Trump’s disastrous presidency are far too distant and rose-colored.”
Margaret Sullivan writes that even people who might say they won’t watch will likely pay attention to the high-stakes face-off.
“After all, the fate of the nation — and to some extent the world — rests on November’s presidential election. The stakes are extremely high. Biden needs to appear energetic and vigorous; Trump needs not to appear as unhinged as he has been in his recent rallies.”
- A new survey finds that seven-in-ten Americans believe the Supreme Court puts ideology over impartiality. The not-entirely surprising finding comes as the Court ruled in Snyder vs US that, well, it’s ok for state officials to engage in corruption, as long as they’re paid after the fact…
Meanwhile, the Court also acknowledged inadvertently publishing a decision on emergency abortions in the state of Idaho, which could have the effect of delaying a ruling until after the election.
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- After recent (and ongoing) upheavals at the Washington Post, Brian Stelter takes a deep dive into the situation at the top of the paper.
***
June 26:
- Rep Jamaal Bowman lost his Democratic primary contest in New York – the most expensive House primary ever.
According to David Weigel at Semafor “The congressman and his allies describe his race as a test of whether the most expensive House primary in history — more than $21 million on Latimer’s behalf, $14.5 million of it from the pro-Israel group AIPAC’s super PAC — can break what the left spent years building.”
- Russia’s trial of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich began with a two-hour hearing. His next court date is set for August 13.
And just a reminder, if any were needed, that Donald Trump is fundamentally transactional about, literally, everything…
- Anti-government protests continue to grow across Kenya despite President William Ruto agreeing to backtrack on a controversial tax plan.
***
June 25:
- Reuters reported that Donald Trump’s foreign policy advisers were promoting a plan that would make any further US aid to Ukraine conditional on Ukraine negotiating a peace settlement with Russia.
The International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for two senior Russian officials in connection with alleged crimes committed in Ukraine.
Meanwhile, formal negotiations began on membership of the EU for both Ukraine and Moldova.
***
June 24:
- Julian Assange agreed to a plea deal that would see him freed after a 14-year legal battle. He is set to appear in front of a US court on Wednesday to plead guilty to a single charge related to the disclosure of classified information.
He remains a hugely divisive figure in political and media circles.
***
June 23:
- Well, well…
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June 21:
- Fundraising reports show that Tim Mellon, a reclusive Republican donor, made the biggest contribution of the 2024 campaign so far when he gave $50million to a Trump superPAC.
***
June 20:
- The state of Louisiana, which ranks 47th in the nation in education, passed a law requiring its public schools to display the 10 commandments.
- Florida Judge Aileen Cannon, long under fire for her handling of former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago documents case, reportedly rejected suggestions by two federal judges that she should step aside when the case was assigned to her.
There continues to be no trial date in sight in the case, as Judge Cannon continues to hear time-consuming motions moved by the defense team.
***
June 19:
***
June 18:
- The US says it is “concerned” about the deepening relationship between Russia and North Korea as President Vladimir Putin arrives to meet with Kim Jong Un. It is the Russian leader’s first visit to Pyongyang for 24 years. Putin thanked North Korea for its support for Russia’s war in Ukraine despite “US pressure, blackmail and military threats”.
- As he marked the 12th anniversary of the DACA programme, President Biden announced sweeping measures to protect the spouses and children of US citizens from deportation.
- It’s primary day in Virginia, with GOP leader of the conservative Freedom Caucus Rep Bob Good embroiled in a fractious contest with national implications.
***
June 17:
- Israel’s war cabinet was disbanded, a week after opposition leader Benny Gantz withdrew from the body citing PM Netanyahu’s failure to lay out plans for post-war Gaza. Decision-making in the conflict will now be concentrated in Netanyahu’s main security cabinet.
***
June 15:
- The rules have been set for the first Presidential Debate, should it actually take place.
***
June 14:
- The White House said it considered the US-backed ceasefire deal for Gaza as still possible, based on Hamas’s latest response to the plan.
- Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, who has been in a Moscow prison since March 2023, was indicted on espionage charges and referred to a trial court, Russian authorities said. The US government deems him to be wrongfully detained.
- Donald Trump turns 78 today and to “celebrate” visited Capitol Hill for the first time since he encouraged its storming on Jan 6th 2021. The former president trashed the site of the GOP convention and was, of course, feted by his congressional acolytes and enablers.
***
June 13:
- President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a long-term security agreement on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy. “We’re going to stand by Ukraine,” Biden said. While the 10-year deal could be undone by future US administrations, Zelensky was confident the pact will serve as a bridge to Kyiv’s efforts to join NATO.
- The Supreme Court unanimously rejected a lawsuit challenging the FDA’s approach to regulating the abortion pill mifepristone, allowing the drug to stay on the market.
- Apple is now the most valuable US public company after its announcements on generative AI features for iPhones sent its stock climbing. The company’s market cap closed at roughly $3.29 trillion.
***
June 12:
- World leaders have gathered in Italy for the G7 meeting, with some EU leaders digesting the implications of a recent rightward shift in election results.
***
June 11:
- A jury found Hunter Biden guilty on three federal felony gun charges, concluding that he violated laws meant to prevent drug addicts from owning firearms. The conviction marks the first time a president’s immediate family member has been found guilty of a crime during their father’s term in office, though his offences predate Joe Biden’s tenure as President.
President Biden has said he will not pardon his son.
- It’s primary day in four states, including South Carolina, where Rep Nancy Mace is under pressure in the state’s most expensive primary contest.
Update:
June 10:
- The UN Security Council voted to adopt a US-drafted resolution backing a proposal outlined by the US for a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. President Biden had laid out a three-phase ceasefire plan at the end of last month, describing it then as an “Israeli initiative”.
- Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito – still under fire after refusing to recuse himself in January 6th cases in the wake of his “upside-down flag” row – was apparently captured on tape agreeing that the US “should return to a place of Godliness” and that the country’s polarization prevented political compromise. “One side or the other is going to win,” he said.
- Former President Donald Trump met by video link with his court appointed NYC probation officer in a pre-sentencing conference. Trump is set to be sentenced on July 11th.
***
June 9:
- Benny Gantz and a number of other ministers resigned from Benjamin Natanyahu’s war cabinet and called for new elections, accusing the Israeli leader of “mismanaging” the war in Gaza and saying the PM was “preventing victory over Hamas”.
- In EU elections in a number of larger Union countries, far-right parties appeared to have made significant gains. French President Emmanuel Macron called a snap election. In other countries, though, Green and leftist parties looked to be on the rise.
- And, yeah, virtual would probably be good…
***
June 8:
- Israel rescued four hostages who had been held by Hamas since the attacks on Oct 7 last year. In the operation to free them, however, more than 200 Gazans were reported to have been killed.
The rescue may have – at least temporarily – altered the dynamics affecting both internal pressure on Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, but also for broader US moves towards a ceasefire.
More than 100 Israeli hostages remain missing.
***
June 7:
In his second powerful speech in two days, President Biden spoke at Pointe Du Hoc – site of remarkable bravery by American forces 80 years ago – to urge a people who inherit their legacy to reject isolationism and strengthen support for Ukraine.
***
June 6:
- World leaders gathered in France for the 80th anniversary of D-Day amid a modern-day resonance around the threat to European peace posed by Russia’s war in Ukraine.
- Around 40 people are reported to have been killed after an Israeli air strike on a UN school in Gaza.
- Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon was ordered to report to prison by July 1 to serve his four-month sentence for defying a subpoena from the January 6th committee.
***
June 5:
- Speaker Mike Johnson appointed two prominent pro-Trump election deniers to the House Intelligence Committee. The move didn’t go down well with Democrats.
Meanwhile, the grift continues…
***
June 4:
- President Biden issued an executive action concerning the southern border, restricting asylum protections if average daily crossings exceed 2,500.
But a Washington Post editorial says it will take more to fix what’s wrong with America’s outdated immigration system.
“The laws governing asylum were not designed for today’s world. They didn’t envisage people fleeing multiple failed states en masse, or states largely controlled by brutal criminal organizations. They didn’t imagine climate change. Nor did they anticipate advances in transportation and social media, which have helped migrants navigate journeys — from as far away as Central Asia — to the U.S. southern border that would have been impossible just a quarter-century ago.”
- Generationally performative. Rep John Rose of Tennessee’s six-year-old son stole the show as his father spoke in front of an almost empty chamber.
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- Well, that was fast… After Shohei Ohtani’s interpreter Ippei Mizuhara’s guilty plea, MLB cleared Ohtani and closed its investigation, citing the thoroughness of the federal investigation and the criminal proceedings not being contested.
“MLB considers Shohei Ohtani a victim of fraud and this matter has been closed.”
***
June 3:
- New reporting by ProPublica details the extent to which witnesses against the former President have benefitted from his businesses.
“Nine witnesses in the criminal cases against former President Donald Trump have received significant financial benefits, including large raises from his campaign, severance packages, new jobs, and a grant of shares and cash from Trump’s media company.”
***
June 2:
- Physicist and climate scientist Claudia Sheinbaum will become Mexico’s first female President after a landslide victory in that country’s election, succeeding her mentor, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador.
- China successfully landed a lunar vehicle on the surface of the moon, another step in the country’s plans to land astronauts there by 2030 and build a research base at its south pole.
Because he can.
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MLB celebrates Lou Gehrig Day
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June 1:
- With Israel apparently giving “tentative approval” to the three-phase ceasefire plan urged by President Biden, Congressional leaders invited Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu to address a joint session of Congress.
- More than 100 million Indian voters head to the polls amid searing heat on Saturday in the final phase of the World’s biggest election.
- MLB marked the beginning of Pride Month, and the online reaction was pretty much exactly what you’d expect… (check the comments).
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