July 1, 2026
Supreme Court Rulings, Colorado Elections, and Robert Caro's LBJ
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Today, we will look at yesterday’s Supreme Court rulings, a series of U.S. political developments, and the situation in the Middle East.
Let’s get to it.
United States
-The Supreme Court issued a series of rulings yesterday to conclude its current term.
In a highly anticipated ruling, the Court rejected President Donald Trump’s effort to end birthright citizenship.
Meanwhile, the Court upheld state laws banning transgender girls and women from participating in school athletics teams.
The high court also struck down longtime campaign finance limits on how much a national political party committee can spend in coordination with individual candidates.
Find the full text of the rulings here.
Separately, the nine justices agreed to review whether states and cities can ban individuals from owning semiautomatic weapons.
-NPR retracted a story reporting that Justice Samuel Alito was retiring.
-Justice Amy Coney Barrett has faced backlash from several conservative commentators and online personalities following her recent rulings.
Meanwhile, Justice Elena Kagan made a rare appearance on Capitol Hill yesterday.
-Colorado held a statewide primary election yesterday.
In the state’s 1st Congressional District, democratic socialist candidate Melat Kiros defeated 15-term Congresswoman Diana DeGette in the Democratic primary, a race closely watched as the latest test for the rising progressive movement.
DeGette, who was first elected to her Denver-based district in 1996, is the fifth incumbent House Democrat to lose to a primary challenger in this year’s election cycle.
Meanwhile, Attorney General Phil Weiser defeated incumbent Senator Michael Bennet in the Democratic gubernatorial primary.
Weiser will likely face off in the general election against Barb Kirkmeyer, who is leading in the Republican primary field.
Democratic Senator Michael Hickenlooper staved off a progressive challenger and will now face off against Republican Mark Baisley.
View full results here.
-The average U.S. gas price stood at $3.84 yesterday amid the ongoing tensions in the Middle East, according to AAA.
-House Republicans held a press conference yesterday at the U.S. Capitol, where Speaker Mike Johnson took several questions from reporters.
View it here:
Meanwhile, House Democrats held a press conference where they discussed Trump’s signature Big Beautiful Bill Act just ahead of the anniversary of its passage.
View it here:
-New Jersey Congressman Tom Kean delivered remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives yesterday, saying a depression diagnosis was the cause for his four-month absence.
View his full remarks here:
-House members began a nearly two-week recess early yesterday after Republican leadership canceled votes on multiple major bills following a revolt by a gang of conservative members.
The 14 lawmakers voted with all Democrats to oppose a procedural measure setting up further votes this week, with the members expressing frustration over Trump’s stalled “SAVE America” elections bill.
Separately, the House rejected a Democratic-backed war powers resolution that directed Trump to remove U.S. troops from hostilities in Lebanon.
-A shouting match broke out between Maryland Democratic Congressman Jamie Raskin and New York Republican Congressman Mike Lawler at an immigration hearing yesterday.
View the contentious exchange here:
-Trump said yesterday that the Republican Party would hold a first-ever midterm election year national convention in Dallas in September.
-Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell has now been hospitalized for more than two weeks.
-Democrat James Talarico and Republican Ken Paxton are locked in a dead heat in the race for U.S. Senate in Texas, according to a New York Times/Siena poll.
-On this day in 1863, the Battle of Gettysburg began.
In 2024, the Supreme Court issued its ruling in Trump v. United States, determining that former presidents hold absolute immunity from prosecution in regard to “official acts” taken while in office.
In a scathing dissenting opinion, Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote, “In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.” She concluded, stating, “With fear for our democracy, I dissent.”
In remarks from the White House that day, President Joe Biden said the ruling effectively “means that there are virtually no limits on what a President can do” and that “The American people have to render a judgment about Donald Trump's behavior” in the wake of the decision.
Other Links:
Trump’s annual financial disclosure shows more than $580M in crypto-related income - CNBC
After Supreme Court rejects Trump’s appeal, attorneys for E. Jean Carroll say ‘time for him to pay’ $5M - ABC
Trump taps Keith Sonderling, a longtime ally of business, for Labor Secretary - The Washington Post
Massie bill on Israel funding splits Democrats: ‘Never seen anything like it’ - The Hill
Dem candidates form ‘Blue Collar Brigade’ to boost fundraising - Politico
Mayor Wilson delivers left hook to try to knock out progressive incumbents - The Seattle Times
Africa
-Anti-immigrant protesters took to the streets across South Africa yesterday to mark a “deadline” they had set for migrants to leave the country.
The anti-migrant movement has grown in recent months, drawing international condemnation.
Thousands of foreigners in the country have already fled in anticipation of the protests, where some have descended into violence and looting.
-The United Nations said yesterday that the outbreak of Ebola in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda could cost up to $3.6 billion and cause a development crisis.
-Heavy rains in Ghana have killed at least 12 people.
-The Democratic Republic of Congo will assume the rotating presidency of the United Nations Security Council today.
-On this day in 1960, Somalia gained independence from Britain and Italy.
In 1962, Rwanda and Burundi declared and gained their independence from Belgium.
Other Links:
African teams celebrate World Cup successes - Semafor
Rights lawyers sue Ghana over third-country deportation deal with the US - AP
DR Congo bans mass gatherings in the capital to prevent spread of Ebola - BBC
Uganda crackdown deepens as opposition leader faces treason trial - Africa News
At least 37 students missing after school kidnapping in Northeastern Nigeria - Africa News
Americas and the Caribbean
-Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said yesterday that talks with the United States have shown “no progress.”
The assessment comes months after Washington levied a heightened pressure campaign on the Communist-run island nation in the wake of its capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro, a critical ally to Havana.
In the preceding months, Washington levied stiffer sanctions on the island and a near-total oil embargo, causing widespread power outages and food shortages.
At the same time, President Trump declared that “Cuba is next” following his effort to disable Iran’s nuclear program.
Last month, the Cuban government approved sweeping economic reforms to privatize major sectors of the country’s economy in an effort to appease the Trump administration.
-On this day in 1867, Canada was founded.
In 2019, the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) went into effect.
Other Links:
New arrest made in double homicide of Mexico City mayor’s aides - Mexico News Daily
Rio bus drivers and workers throughout Brazil demand shorter work week as lawmakers examine proposal - AP
Brazil detains Spanish citizen in the latest detention of a foreigner for racism - AP
China-Canada trade thaw falters as Beijing levies penalties for dumping pea starch - South China Morning Post
Canada braces for western floods, eastern heat wave on national holiday - Reuters
Asia/Indo-Pacific
-In remarks at a military graduation ceremony yesterday, Taiwanese President William Lai urged graduates to defend “our nation’s sovereignty and security” by resisting Chinese espionage efforts.
The remark comes as the self-governing island has reported an uptick in espionage efforts by Beijing, particularly in its military ranks.
China regards Taiwan as a renegade province and has pledged to bring it under its control by force if necessary. The Chinese military operates daily around the island, which Taipei views as rehearsals for a potential invasion.
Beijing has refused all contact with Lai’s government, which it calls a dangerous “separatist.”
-Today marks 105 years since the Chinese Communist Party was founded.
-On this day in 1997, Britain officially returned Hong Kong to Chinese control after 156 years.
Other Links:
China Increases Military and Economic Pressure on Japan - The New York Times
US House committee opens investigation into Merck, AbbVie China drug trials - Reuters
China’s Plan to Save Jobs From A.I. - The New York Times
Pakistan warns India against water weaponization at Indus Waters Treaty seminar - AP
Millions in India’s Bengal risk losing welfare benefits over voter deletion - Al Jazeera
Europe
-British Prime Minister Keir Starmer unveiled a $20 billion supplemental defense spending plan yesterday, saying he sought to equip his country “to fight the wars both of today and tomorrow.”
View his full remarks here:
Last month, Starmer’s ally, John Healey, resigned as defense minister while saying the government’s proposed military budget “falls well short” of what is needed to defend the country.
The policy pronouncement by Starmer is likely his last as prime minister, following his announcement last week that he would resign following the selection of his successor.
-The British government indicated yesterday that it could act to prevent Paramount Skydance Corp’s bid to take over Warner Bros Discovery.
-More than one million undocumented immigrants in Spain have applied to legalize their status under a new program push by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
-Pope Leo is contending with a rebel group of traditionalist Catholics who say they plan to ordain bishops without his approval, a move that the pontiff has said would constitute a “sin of extreme gravity.”
-On this day in 1961, Princess Diana of Wales was born.
Other Links:
Ukraine launches major drone attack on Moscow, hitting a satellite center and killing a baby - CNN
Manhunt after bomb injures Ukrainian oligarch in Monaco - BBC
Prosecutors raid EU far-right offices over alleged misuse of funds - Euronews
‘Absolute madness’: Row over plan to demolish Nazi bunker under Berlin - BBC
EU diplomats clash with Trump administration over top Bosnia and Herzegovina post - The Guardian
Middle East
-U.S. and Iranian officials gathered in Doha, Qatar, yesterday but passed on holding a high-level meeting. President Trump said on Monday that Washington agreed to the talks, saying that they were “requested” by Tehran.
The lull comes after the two sides exchanged fire in the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend, threatening a tenuous ceasefire deal.
Instead of senior-level negotiations, technical talks will be held, according to Qatar.
Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and Steve Witkoff traveled to the Gulf capital to lead the U.S. delegation.
-Hundreds of thousands of Lebanese citizens who fled their homes amid the four-month conflict between Israel and Hezbollah are returning home as fighting has eased.
Since the start of the conflict in March, around 1 million people have been uprooted from their homes.
-United Nations Secretary General António Guterres warned yesterday that the U.N. agency for Palestinian refugees is approaching a “breaking point” due to funding cuts.
-On this day in 1999, President Bill Clinton hosted Egyptian leader Hosni Mubarak in the Oval Office to discuss the Middle East peace process.
Other Links:
After U.S.-Iran War, Oman Said to Propose Hormuz Fee Plan - The New York Times
Iran heads home after a heartbreaking World Cup knockout, but fans say players should be proud
Erdogan rejects Israel’s Armenian genocide move and points to Gaza deaths - AP
Turkey says NATO adjusting to security landscape, US not withdrawing - Reuters
UAE exports record oil volumes after OPEC exit, ship-tracking data shows - Reuters
That’s all for today. See you tomorrow.