Supreme Court Expands Presidential Power to Remove Independent Agency Officials in 6-3 Ruling
The Supreme Court voted 6-3 to strike down a 91-year-old precedent that had shielded members of independent federal agencies from presidential removal, significantly expanding executive authority. In a separate order, the court temporarily blocked the removal of a Federal Reserve governor.The Supreme Court issued a landmark ruling allowing the president to fire commissioners of independent federal agencies, overturning a precedent that had stood since 1935. The 6-3 decision, split along ideological lines, eliminates the legal protection that had prevented presidents from removing members of agencies such as the Federal Trade Commission without cause. The ruling represents a major shift in the constitutional balance between the executive branch and regulatory bodies that were specifically designed to operate with a degree of independence from presidential control. The 1935 precedent, known as Humphrey's Executor, had been the primary legal barrier preventing such removals. The court's three liberal justices dissented, characterizing the ruling as destabilizing to the structure of independent oversight. In a related but separate action, the same court issued a temporary order blocking the Trump administration from removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook while her legal challenge proceeds through lower courts. The Fed case turns on whether the Federal Reserve's governance structure is legally distinct from the agencies covered by the main ruling; the court affirmed that Fed officials can be removed only for cause, though the administration indicated it would continue to pursue action against Cook. The dual decisions together clarify that while the president now has broad removal authority over most independent agency officials, the Federal Reserve retains some legal protection — at least for now. Legal analysts expect extensive further litigation as the lower courts work through cases involving specific agencies and officials.
Supreme Court Upholds State Laws Allowing Mail-In Ballots Received After Election Day
The Supreme Court ruled in favor of a Mississippi law permitting mail-in ballots postmarked by Election Day but received up to five days afterward to be counted, rejecting a Republican National Committee challenge.The Supreme Court upheld a Mississippi state law that allows election officials to count mail-in ballots that are postmarked by Election Day but arrive up to five days later. The ruling preserves similar grace period laws in more than a dozen states. The Republican National Committee had challenged the Mississippi law, arguing it created opportunities for fraud and undermined election integrity. The court sided against the RNC and the Trump administration, which had supported the challenge. Justice Samuel Alito filed a dissent, expressing concern that the ruling could undermine public confidence in elections. Following the decision, President Trump called on Congress to pass the SAVE Act, which would require voter identification and proof of citizenship. Supporters of the ruling argue that mail delivery delays are often outside voters' control and that postmark-based deadlines are a reasonable standard. The decision leaves intact the practice of grace periods in states that have enacted them, and does not require states without such laws to adopt them.
Supreme Court Rules Geofence Warrants Constitute an Unreasonable Search Under the Fourth Amendment
The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 that law enforcement's use of geofence warrants — which compel tech companies to identify all devices in a given area at a given time — violates the Fourth Amendment's prohibition on unreasonable searches.The Supreme Court ruled that geofence warrants, a law enforcement technique that requires technology companies to provide data identifying all devices present within a defined geographic area during a specific time window, constitute a search under the Fourth Amendment. Writing for the six-justice majority, Justice Elena Kagan held that the practice is an unreasonable search and therefore requires more rigorous legal standards before law enforcement can obtain such data. Geofence warrants have been widely used in criminal investigations, including cases involving robberies and the January 6, 2021 Capitol breach, because they allow investigators to identify potential suspects even when the identity of the perpetrator is initially unknown. The ruling imposes new constitutional limits on this investigative tool and will require law enforcement agencies to meet a higher legal bar before using it. Three justices dissented. The decision has immediate implications for ongoing and future criminal cases in which geofence warrants were used to gather evidence.
Trump Administration Pays Duke Energy $129 Million to Cancel Offshore Wind Lease
The Trump administration agreed to pay Duke Energy $129 million to forfeit its offshore wind development lease, the fourth such deal the administration has struck to halt planned offshore wind projects.The Trump administration has reached an agreement to pay Duke Energy $129 million in exchange for the company surrendering its offshore wind development lease. This is the fourth transaction of its kind since the administration began working to halt offshore wind energy development, a policy priority that has included stopping construction on existing projects and unwinding development agreements made under prior administrations. Duke Energy had held the lease as part of planned offshore wind development along the Atlantic coast. The payments to wind developers to relinquish leases draw on federal funds and represent a direct cost to the government of reversing the previous administration's clean energy buildout. The administration has cited concerns about the cost, reliability, and environmental impact of offshore wind in justifying its opposition to the projects.
Supreme Court Ruling Gives Administration Authority to End Temporary Protected Status for More Groups
A Supreme Court ruling has given the Trump administration broad authority to terminate Temporary Protected Status for hundreds of thousands of additional people, effectively allowing the program to be wound down for most remaining qualifying countries.A recent Supreme Court decision has substantially expanded the Trump administration's ability to revoke Temporary Protected Status, a program that allows nationals of designated countries experiencing ongoing conflict, natural disasters, or other extraordinary conditions to live and work legally in the United States. The ruling gives the administration legal grounds to strip TPS from hundreds of thousands of people from the remaining countries whose nationals still hold the designation. Legal experts and immigration advocates say the decision effectively opens the door to ending the program as a functional protection for most current beneficiaries. TPS has historically shielded large populations from countries including Venezuela, Haiti, El Salvador, and others from deportation. The administration had already moved to terminate TPS for several countries, and the court's decision removes a significant legal barrier to extending those terminations further. People who lose TPS may face deportation or be required to find other legal immigration pathways.
Supreme Court Declines to Review $5 Million Verdict Against Trump in E. Jean Carroll Case
The Supreme Court rejected President Trump's final appeal of a $5 million jury verdict finding he sexually abused and defamed writer E. Jean Carroll, leaving the judgment and damages award in place.The Supreme Court has declined to review a $5 million civil verdict against President Trump stemming from a lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll. The court's refusal to take the case means the verdict stands and Trump will be required to pay the damages award. A jury previously found Trump liable for sexual abuse and defamation. Trump had sought to have the Supreme Court review the judgment, and the court's rejection of that request exhausts his appellate options in the federal court system for this case. Trump said he would continue to dispute the outcome by other means. The case is distinct from Trump's criminal legal proceedings and involves civil liability only.
US and Iran Agree to New Talks in Qatar After Weekend Exchange of Strikes Near Strait of Hormuz
The United States and Iran exchanged military strikes over the weekend near the Strait of Hormuz, disrupting a ceasefire. President Trump said the two sides have agreed to hold new talks in Doha; Iran did not confirm the meeting but said consultations with Qatar were continuing.The United States and Iran exchanged strikes over the weekend in and around the Strait of Hormuz, the narrow waterway through which a substantial portion of the world's oil supply passes. The exchange threatened to collapse a ceasefire agreement that had been intended to keep the strait open and pave the way for broader peace negotiations. Each side accused the other of violating the ceasefire terms. President Trump announced on Truth Social that Iran had agreed to hold peace talks in Doha, Qatar, on Tuesday. Iran did not independently confirm the scheduled talks but said consultations with Qatar were ongoing. Shipping traffic through the strait dropped sharply in the days following the strikes, with major carriers reassessing routes. Shipping company Hapag-Lloyd described the situation as a potential new baseline for operations in the region. Analysts note that Iran views its influence over the strait as its primary leverage in negotiations with the United States, which creates an inherent tension: Iran has an incentive to demonstrate control over the waterway even as it pursues a diplomatic settlement. Oman, which had previously played a mediating role in managing the strait's status, is reportedly competing with Iran for decision-making authority over access. The US has pledged to further restrict oil flows if talks do not progress. The situation has significant implications for global energy prices and supply chains.
Record Temperatures Spread Across Central and Eastern Europe as Heat Dome Shifts East
A heat dome that broke records in western Europe last week has shifted east, bringing temperatures above 40°C to Germany, Poland, Hungary, Czechia, and the Balkans. Red-level heat warnings are in effect across multiple countries.A sustained high-pressure system that drove record-breaking temperatures across western Europe last week has moved eastward, bringing extreme heat to central and eastern Europe. Germany, Czechia, Poland, and Hungary all recorded all-time high temperatures above 40°C on Sunday, and Budapest is forecast to exceed that threshold again on Tuesday. Red-level heat warnings have been issued in Hungary, Poland, Romania, and several Balkan countries, with authorities urging residents to remain indoors during peak afternoon hours. More than 191 million people across Europe experienced temperatures of 35°C or above. The heatwave has been linked to hundreds of deaths across the continent. Climate scientists have attributed the severity and frequency of such events to long-term warming trends. European Union officials used the heatwave to call for stronger action on climate policy. The heat dome is also affecting the United Kingdom, where a national campaign to reduce water consumption is being launched in response to the drought conditions the heatwave has produced.
Heat Wave Grips Central US with Dangerous Temperatures, Expected to Spread East Through Fourth of July Week
A prolonged heat wave is affecting the central United States with high temperatures and elevated humidity, prompting cooling center openings. Forecasters expect the heat to spread eastward through the Fourth of July holiday week.A significant heat wave has settled over the central United States, bringing high temperatures and elevated humidity that have prompted communities across the Midwest to open cooling centers and cancel or delay outdoor activities including summer camps and recreational events. The National Weather Service described conditions as impactful to anyone spending extended time outdoors. Forecasters expect the heat to expand eastward through the week, affecting a large portion of the central and eastern United States ahead of Fourth of July holiday celebrations and World Cup events. The heat follows a period of extreme temperatures in Europe and comes in the same week that parts of the northwestern United States received unseasonal snowfall from a strong Pacific cold front, illustrating the range of weather extremes occurring simultaneously across the country.
Markets have remained relatively flat before a modest uptick in recent sessions.
Comcast Plans to Separate Into Two Independent Public Companies by Spinning Off NBCUniversal and Sky
Comcast announced plans to spin off its NBCUniversal television and film division and its Sky satellite broadcasting business into a separate publicly traded company, leaving Comcast focused on its broadband and cable operations.Comcast has announced that its board and management have approved a plan to divide the company into two separate, independently traded public companies. One company would retain Comcast's core broadband, cable, and internet infrastructure business. The other would combine NBCUniversal — which includes broadcast and cable television networks, a major film studio, and theme parks — with Sky, the European satellite broadcasting service Comcast acquired in 2018. The announcement marks a significant strategic shift for one of the largest media and telecommunications conglomerates in the United States. The separation is intended to allow each company to pursue strategies better suited to its distinct business model. The broadband business faces competition from fiber and wireless providers, while NBCUniversal and Sky are navigating the ongoing transition from traditional television to streaming. The spinoff structure could also position either entity to pursue mergers or acquisitions more freely as standalone companies.
Ebola Outbreak in Democratic Republic of Congo Could Become Largest on Record, Africa CDC Warns
Africa's Centers for Disease Control has warned that the current Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo could become the largest in recorded history, with most new cases appearing outside the surveillance network and contact tracing falling significantly behind.The Africa Centers for Disease Control has issued a warning that the ongoing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo is on a trajectory that could make it the largest such outbreak ever recorded. The primary concern is that most people testing positive for the disease are not already known to health workers — meaning they have not been identified through contact tracing efforts and their exposure pathways are unknown. This pattern indicates that the virus is spreading through chains of transmission that public health authorities have not yet mapped, which is a significant indicator that containment is not keeping pace with spread. The current outbreak involves the Bundibugyo strain of the Ebola virus, which scientists believe persists in an animal reservoir that has not yet been identified. Periodic spillover from that unknown animal source into humans is thought to be the origin of outbreaks. The situation has direct relevance for global health surveillance, as the DRC has historically been the site of repeated Ebola outbreaks and is a major node in international travel and trade networks. The US government has in recent years contributed significantly to Ebola response and surveillance programs in the region.
Memphis Grizzlies Trade Ja Morant to Portland Trail Blazers
The Memphis Grizzlies have agreed to trade point guard Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers in exchange for two players, ending Morant's tenure in Memphis.The Memphis Grizzlies have reached an agreement to trade point guard Ja Morant to the Portland Trail Blazers, receiving two players in return. The trade ends Morant's time with Memphis, where he spent his entire NBA career after being drafted second overall in 2019. Morant was a two-time All-Star and one of the league's most dynamic players before a series of off-court incidents in recent years led to suspensions and complicated his relationship with the franchise.
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Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Passes 1,700 as Aftershocks Continue and Nearly 50,000 Remain Missing
The death toll from twin earthquakes in northern Venezuela has risen above 1,700, with nearly 50,000 people still unaccounted for. The US has pledged more than $300 million in aid, and a strong aftershock struck five days after the initial quakes.Twin earthquakes that struck northern Venezuela last week have killed more than 1,700 people, a figure that authorities describe as likely an undercount, with nearly 50,000 individuals still missing. A strong aftershock hit the region on Monday, five days after the original disaster, sending residents into the streets and complicating ongoing search and rescue operations. In the coastal state of La Guaira, which bore the heaviest damage, rescue teams have been working with crowbars, pickaxes, and their bare hands to reach people trapped under collapsed buildings. As of Monday, 33 survivors had been pulled from the rubble. One man was rescued after being trapped for 106 hours. The United States has pledged more than $300 million in emergency assistance, up from an earlier commitment of $150 million. The State Department said the funds will support emergency medical care, food, water and sanitation, shelter, and logistics. The US military has also been involved in relief efforts. A deportation flight from Miami arrived in Caracas hours before the earthquakes struck; of the 146 Venezuelans on board, more than 100 are currently unaccounted for. La Guaira was also the site of a catastrophic landslide disaster in 1999. The scale of casualties and the ongoing aftershock activity have placed significant pressure on Venezuela's government, which is managing the response with international assistance.
Pakistani Airstrikes in Afghanistan Kill Civilians, Taliban and UN Say; Pakistan Claims Militants Were Targeted
Pakistani airstrikes in Afghanistan killed at least 28 to 36 people, according to the Taliban government and UN. Pakistan said it was targeting militants near the border; accounts of casualties differ between sources.Pakistani military airstrikes inside Afghanistan killed a significant number of people, though the precise toll is disputed. The Taliban government stated that 36 civilians died in the strikes, while Pakistan claimed the operation killed 32 militants operating near the border. The United Nations cited a figure of at least 28 civilian deaths. Pakistan has been conducting periodic strikes inside Afghanistan as part of a monthslong conflict with militant groups it says use Afghan territory to launch attacks. The Taliban, which governs Afghanistan, condemned the strikes as an atrocity and denied that militants were the intended targets. The strikes reflect ongoing cross-border tensions between Pakistan and the Taliban-led government in Kabul, which have escalated over the past year. The discrepancy in reported figures between the two governments reflects a broader pattern of contested claims in this conflict.
Six People Killed in Shooting at Facility for Mothers and Children in Germany
Six people were shot and killed at a youth welfare facility housing mothers and children in Stade, Germany. A male suspect was arrested at the scene. Authorities say the shooting was connected to a child custody dispute.Six people died following a shooting at a facility for mothers and children in Stade, in northern Germany. Four women and one man died at the scene; a sixth adult died later at a hospital. German authorities arrested a male suspect at the scene. Police said the suspect was involved in a custody dispute over his infant daughter, who was residing at the facility. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier issued a public statement expressing condolences. The shooting took place at a facility operated within the country's youth welfare system, which provides housing and support services for families in need of assistance.
All 11 Aboard Skydiving Plane Killed in Crash Shortly After Takeoff in France
A skydiving aircraft carrying a pilot and ten parachutists crashed shortly after takeoff in northeastern France, killing all 11 people aboard. Investigators are examining a reported mechanical malfunction as a possible cause.A Pilatus PC-6 aircraft used for skydiving operations crashed shortly after takeoff at a dropzone in northeastern France, killing all eleven people on board, including the pilot and ten parachutists. Witnesses at the site, including family members of those aboard, observed the crash. French aviation investigators have opened an inquiry and are examining reports of a mechanical malfunction that occurred just after the aircraft became airborne. The Pilatus PC-6 is a single-engine turboprop commonly used in skydiving operations worldwide. No further details about the cause have been confirmed by investigators.