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Jerome Odenthal, 85 passed away this afternoon. He is survived by wife Bonnie,four sons and wives, numerous grandchildren and nieces and nephews.

Seventh-day Adventists supports liberty of conscience for all. Ellen White was proud of our churches allowing others to worship in our buildings on Sunday. Mrs. White herself went from being a shut-door Adventist into becoming a very popular preacher in non-Adventist churches, often giving the Sunday sermons. By the way, her sermons were not on the Sabbath or the Mark of the Beast, but she preached on the beauty of Jesus, how much Jesus loves them, and the health message. Mrs. White wrote Steps to Christ for the general Christian world published at a popular non-Adventist publishing house. Another non-Adventist publishing house had requested her to write a series of books for them. As they came to work out the contract, Mrs. White said that she saw her angel indicating that she needed to wait and pointed to one clause. This clause would have given an unusual amount of rights to the book and exclusive printing of the book to the company. Mrs. White said that she could not sign with that clause. They tried to pressure her into signing anyway, but said that they could not back off that clause, and the contract was never signed. It turned out that the company was in a very bad financial condition. They were hoping that this series of books from her would place them back on solid financial ground. They soon went out of business and the way that clause was written would have caused it to be extremely difficult to reprint, if at all, as well as making it difficult if not impossible for her to say/write anything similar to what those books had. Even though that clause prevented Mrs. White from signing the contract and writing those books, it shows her willingness to work with the Christian world as a whole. Of course, as a business, many of our leaders are looking for winning as many tithe and offering paying members as possible. We have subgroups who want to present their version of Adventism as the only truth, and want to first of all make Adventists, but then make their version of Adventism. But that is them, and from what I understand from looking at Mrs. White herself and Adventist History, I don't see this spirit to be Seventh-day Adventism itself. In the 1800s as we were forming, many wanted our church name to be something like "The true church of God" or similar exalted titles. Mrs. White did not like this and said that Seventh-day Adventists tells the world who we are, a humble name, that we are Adventists who worship on the Seventh-day. Mrs. White tells us that the Sabbath-Sunday issue and the potential of Sunday laws will bring the final test to the Christian world. But I have not found where she makes the Sunday issue THE final test in an of itself and to the whole world. She points to a larger issue on liberty of conscience, and that the test itself, the mark of the beast itself is to come to the same conclusions as the beast when it comes to conversion [justification] and sanctification. And that all the details are not yet known and will not be known until the unrolling of the scroll and the sounding of the trumpets. Also, when it comes to how we relate to other religions, she pictures the Seventh-day Adventist Church, not as an exclusive church that everyone else needs to join to be saved, but as playing a pastoral role among the churches. We see this lived out in her life in her using her perspective as a Seventh-day Adventist to preach in other churches about the beauty of Jesus and how much Jesus loves them and to describe to people a Jesus who wants to be with them and present Jesus in a way that they want to with him (as opposed to a message of turn to Jesus to be saved from being burned forever in hell) and to encourage them to live healthier and longer lives. Mrs. White would take goodies and give them to migrant workers and encourage them that Jesus loves them, even though their response would most likely attend near by Catholic churches when they were able to attend services.

At least 117 dead dogs found in ‘horrific scene’ at California ‘no-kill’ shelter FORTUNA, Calif. (AP) — The remains of at least 117 dogs were found on the grounds of a California “no-kill“ animal shelter, many of them with gunshot wounds, authorities said. https://apnews.com/article/dog-remains-animal-rescue-california-92545f7942f1f8663d5665c3b5bafec8? ps:How sad is this??

Fewer Americans are proud of US achievements: AP-NORC poll Americans’ pride in the U.S. on several key attributes has dropped since 2017 — including the nation's military and its political influence around the globe — according to a new AP-NORC poll. Read more. What to know: The findings point to a broad decline in patriotic sentiment over a tumultuous decade. Much of the falling positivity comes from Democrats, who have become increasingly disenchanted with the country since President Donald Trump’s first term. A new Gallup poll also finds that only 53% of U.S. adults are “extremely” or “very” proud to be an American, the lowest reading in the trend dating back to 2001.

A look at the Trump administration’s challenge to birthright citizenship President Donald Trump has repeatedly, and falsely, said the U.S. is the only country that has birthright citizenship, calling the practice “a disgrace.” While it's true that the practice, which grants automatic citizenship to nearly everyone born on U.S. soil, isn’t the norm around the world, dozens of other countries have unrestricted birthright citizenship. Read more. What to know: Most of these countries are in the Americas, including Canada, Mexico and many nations in Central and South America. Dozens of other countries, from Germany to Australia, have a mixed approach, using a variety of principles, including parenthood, place of birth, residency and ethnicity, to decide a child’s citizenship. The Supreme Court is expected to address the issue in the coming days, ruling on a Trump executive order that would upend more than a century of constitutional and legal history. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ The Supreme Court nears the end of its term with momentous cases about Trump’s power to be decided Some paid the ultimate price to enact voting rights. Their survivors see America turning backward

Iran’s president says $6B in frozen assets in Qatar to be released as US talks challenged Speaking on Monday, President Masoud Pezeshkian is the highest-ranking official within Iran to reference the release of Iranian funds held by Qatar, a key mediator along with Pakistan in the negotiations. Read more. Why this matters: Pezeshkian’s mention of the funds appear aimed at selling the Iranian public on the interim deal, which he called a “great victory for the Iranian people,” as Iran’s grip on the Strait of Hormuz has been challenged. So far, U.S. officials say no frozen Iranian assets have been released. Qatar as well has not acknowledged any such transfer. Pakistan has said talks will resume Tuesday between the U.S. and Iran on the terms of their interim deal. The Trump administration on Sunday said nothing has been canceled and technical talks are on track for the coming days. Iran has yet to say whether it will take part. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ WATCH: AP explains why preliminary agreement between Iran and US appears to be unravelling

June 29, 2026 By Sam Sifton Good morning. Rescue efforts continue in Venezuela. And a U.S. official said the U.S. and Iran had agreed to stop attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. There’s plenty more below. But I want to start today in South Africa. Malawian nationals wait outside a migrant camp in Durban, South Africa. Joao Silva/The New York Times Migration woes Xenophobic violence has been mounting in South Africa recently, as mobs of anti-immigrant protesters march in Johannesburg and elsewhere, threatening African migrants and attacking foreign-owned businesses. (This link is free.) One anti-immigration group has set an arbitrary deadline for all undocumented migrants who are in the country to leave. That’s tomorrow, June 30. It’s unclear what will happen if the migrants don’t leave — the group hasn’t said — but many in South Africa are worried. I reached out to John Eligon, our bureau chief in Johannesburg, to ask what’s happening, and why. Sam: Let’s take this back to basics. Can you help us understand what things are like in South Africa these days? John: In a word, tense! Over the past several months we’ve had a lot of protests against immigrants, and they’ve just been growing and growing. And there’s been a few instances of violence in which mobs have chased and attacked immigrants out of their homes and businesses. Recently, an immigrant from Malawi was killed. Already this year, we’ve seen thousands of immigrants leave South Africa because of the threats and the attacks. Migration has long caused tensions in South Africa, because it has the continent’s largest economy. The fact is, most African migrants aren’t crossing the Mediterranean in search of greener pastures in Europe. Most go to other African countries. And South Africa is about as attractive a destination as any on the continent, because people think they can find work here. Officially, about three million immigrants live in South Africa, or about 5 percent of the population. But there are a lot more who are undocumented. Have you noticed a change recently? One thing I’ve found particularly startling in recent weeks is that we’ve essentially had migrant camps spring up on streets of major cities around South Africa. This is the wealthiest country on the continent and you don’t expect to see that here. But with so many immigrants scared to stay in their homes and rushing to leave the country, thousands have gone to these makeshift camps where the authorities are processing them and trying to get them out of the country. Where does this anger at migrants come from? Many South Africans blame foreigners for taking their jobs, committing crime and straining public resources. For all its economic might on the continent, South Africa is also one of the most unequal countries in the world. Poverty and unemployment are high. So is crime. Even though research and data suggest that immigrants are hardly drivers of these problems, they are often scapegoated. One survey found that seven out of 10 South Africans believe immigrants are bad for the economy. A fence separates a migrant from Malawi from his South African girlfriend and their son. Joao Silva/The New York Times What’s most fascinating to me is that it’s Black South Africans targeting other Black Africans. No one’s marching against or attacking the white Germans in Cape Town. In fact, there was a clip circulating on social media of one of the anti-immigrant leaders telling a white German who’s lived in the country for 20 years, “You are a part of us now.” These are the same activists telling Black Zimbabweans who have lived most of their lives in South Africa to go back to their country. And now this is all coming to a head. What is this Tuesday deadline? Who set it? The deadline is most closely tied to Nkosikhona Ndabandaba, one of the leading anti-immigrant activists, who is also a prominent Zulu leader. Ndabandaba has been leading groups of men dressed in traditional Zulu warrior regalia in demonstrations against immigrants. He has been most vocal about the June 30 deadline. But other anti-immigrant groups closely tied to him — most notably, a relatively new group called March and March — have also adopted that date. It goes without saying that they have no official authorization to force immigrants out of the country. But this deadline has taken on a life of its own, stirring panic among South Africans across the board. How is the South African government responding to the violence? President Cyril Ramaphosa has warned South Africans not to take the law into their own hands, saying that the country rejects xenophobia and Afrophobia. But the messages have been somewhat mixed. His government has also instituted a harsh crackdown on illegal immigration, with new workplace inspections, more stringent border controls and other measures that seemed meant to appease the anti-immigrant groups. It has also touted the fact that it’s been processing all the migrants who want to return to their native nations — and making a point to say that they’re issuing five-year bans to undocumented migrants on their way out. The issue of migration isn’t going anywhere anytime soon — not with the world’s population continuing to grow and climate change and economics driving people from their home countries. What does that mean for Africa? Africa is the youngest and fastest-growing continent. By 2050, it’s expected to have 2.5 billion people. Some analysts say internal migration can be good for the continent if government leaders manage it properly. Migrants can help balance labor needs across countries, increase productivity and grow the economy continentwide. But many African officials feel that supporting too many migrants will make it difficult to manage internal challenges like poverty, joblessness, and already-strained electricity and water supplies, which can fuel unrest and backlash. With all that Africa has to offer in terms of human capital and natural resources, the last thing the world wants to see is the continent growing unstable. THE LATEST NEWS Venezuela Earthquakes Fabiola Ferrero and Adriana Loureiro Fernandez for The New York Times Emergency crews in Venezuela are racing against the clock to find survivors, more than four days after twin earthquakes struck. More than 100 trained dogs from 21 countries are helping with the search. A Colombian team rescued an 11-year-old boy alive from under nearly 10 feet of rubble. Families and forensic specialists are working to identify victims at the state morgue in Caracas. Politics Graham Platner has a slight edge over Senator Susan Collins in the Maine Senate race, a new poll indicates. But any lead looks too small for polls to measure reliably. Divisions inside both parties over support for Israel and the war in Iran are making the midterms more unpredictable. War in the Middle East Iran seems willing to risk the cease-fire to maintain control over the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian officials have not confirmed agreeing to halt attacks there. China is emerging as a relative winner from the crisis in the strait. OPINIONS Kelly Nano-Miranda This photo essay by Kelly Nano-Miranda, with text by Binyamin Appelbaum, highlights the immigrant labor that makes Hamptons luxury possible. Pope Leo is taking on just war theory. It’s past time for an overhaul, James Grimaldi writes. (This link is free.) Self-destructive decisions, not Chinese competition, might be the biggest threat to America’s position in the A.I. race, Dan Wang and Julian Gewirtz write. Subscribers always win. Here’s why. You can now save 75% on your first year of a New York Times Games subscription. Discover all of our word and logic games (and play past puzzles), earn badges for your achievements, plus more. Time is running out though, so subscribe today. MORNING READS Zohran Mamdani during his campaign for mayor of New York. Amir Hamja for The New York Times In the club: The hottest venues in New York have drinks, dancing, D.J.s and the occasional democratic socialist campaign event. Hold the doilies: Traditional bed-and-breakfasts are revamping their décor and emphasizing personalized services to compete with Airbnb. Your pick: The most clicked link in The Morning yesterday was a video about attacks on volunteers helping with burials during an Ebola outbreak. Metropolitan Diary: A Robert Moses special. Lives lived proudly: Many transformative figures in L.G.B.T.Q. history worked under the radar to bring about change. Here are a few of their stories. (This link is free.) TODAY’S NUMBER $5.7 million — That is how much money was at stake in a Polymarket bet about whether a player’s nickname, “Donk,” would be said during an e-sports tournament in Romania. Wait, what? (This link is free.) WORLD CUP Canada is through to the round of 16 for the first time with a very late win over South Africa, 1-0. Before this tournament, the Canadian men hadn’t won (or drawn) a single World Cup match. A video showing three of Japan’s players taking on 100 schoolkids could provide clues to the team’s strategy against Brazil. South Korea’s president called for the sports ministry to investigate the national team’s group-stage exit. The team’s head coach is resigning. RECIPE OF THE DAY David Malosh for The New York Times. Food Stylist: Simon Andrews. Prop Stylist: Paige Hicks. Here’s an easy win for a weeknight dinner and you don’t even really need a recipe. It’s just fettuccine with ricotta and a fistful of mint. While the pasta cooks, fold a healthy stream of olive oil into the cheese, along with a little lemon juice, a minced shallot, some salt and pepper and an aggressive amount of chopped mint. That’s your sauce. Drain the pasta and put it into a warm bowl, add the cheese mixture, then swirl. Serve to applause. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MEL BROOKS Martin Mills/Getty Images On the occasion of his 100th birthday, the Times critics Manohla Dargis and Jason Zinoman present 100 reasons to love Mel Brooks. (No. 11: “All definitions of comedy are terrible, but his is the least bad: ‘Tragedy is when I cut my finger. Comedy is when you fall into a sewer and die.’”) More on culture Bill Maher, a frequent Trump critic, received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center last night. Our report. Johnny Knoxville’s “Jackass” franchise turns 25 this year, with “Jackass: Best and Last” in theaters now. Our critic Alissa Wilkinson takes the measure of the series, “a documentary about an endangered species: enduring, weirdly healthy, bizarrely supportive male friendships in the 21st century.” Also, so much poop. THE MORNING RECOMMENDS Caroline Tompkins for The New York Times Listen to Gracie Adams’s new single, “Hit the Wall.” Then watch her in conversation with our Joe Coscarelli and Jon Caramanica on “Popcast.” Eat chickpeas to help keep your cholesterol in check. Also because they’re delicious. Upgrade your bath towels. It’s a relatively inexpensive way to feel luxurious. Take our news quiz. GAMES Here is today’s Spelling Bee. Yesterday’s pangrams were delving, deviling and inveigled. And here are today’s Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections, Crossplay and Strands. Thanks for spending part of your morning with The Times and me. See you tomorrow. — Sam Sign up here to get this newsletter in your inbox. Reach our team at themorning@nytimes.com. Host: Sam Sifton Editor: Adam B. Kushner News Editor: Tom Wright-Piersanti Associate Editor: Lauren Jackson News Staff: Evan Gorelick, Brent Lewis, Lara McCoy, Karl Russell Saturday Writer: Melissa Kirsch Editorial Director, Newsletters: Jodi Rudoren

THIS DAY IN HISTORY June 29 1995 U.S. space shuttle docks with Russian space station On June 29, 1995, the American space shuttle Atlantis docks with the Russian space station Mir to form the largest man-made satellite ever to orbit the Earth. read more Sponsored Content by REVCONTENT American Revolution 1776 South Carolina’s Edward Rutledge opposes independence Arts & Entertainment 1967 Actress Jayne Mansfield dies in car crash 2003 Academy Award-winning actress Katharine Hepburn dies at age 96 1967 The Rolling Stones fight the law, and the law wins 1613 The Globe Theatre burns down 1956 Marilyn Monroe weds playwright Arthur Miller 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival begins Cold War 1974 Soviet dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov defects from USSR Crime 2001 Boston doctor found guilty of killing wife Latin American & Caribbean History 1974 Isabel Perón takes office as Argentine president Sports 1950 U.S. World Cup team wins unlikely victory over England 1958 Pelé leads Brazil to first World Cup title U.S. Government and Politics 1972 Supreme Court strikes down death penalty World War I 1917 Greece breaks diplomatic ties with the Central Powers World War II 1941 Germans capture Lvov—and slaughter ensues

⛳ Trump's D.C. golf overhaul Wielding blueprints, President Trump toured a D.C. municipal golf course, East Potomac Golf Links, that he plans to renovate into a longer one capable of hosting major championships. Trump wrote on Truth Social that work on the Potomac River course will start Sept. 1: "When completed, this Course will have the ability to host Major Golf Tournaments, including The U.S. Open, The Ryder Cup, The PGA Championship, and other top PGA Tour events." Tom Fazio, who was hired to lead the renovation, has designed several of Trump's golf courses, including ones in Northern Virginia and Bedminster, N.J. The president's motorcade also drove along the roundabout outside Arlington National Cemetery, where Trump plans to build a massive triumphal arch. Go deeper: "Trump envisions a championship golf course. Locals are skeptical" (N.Y. Times gift link).

🗳️ Trump hits wall on voter fraud Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Ron Sachs/CNP/Bloomberg via Getty Images President Trump's voter fraud crusade is crashing into the limits of his power ahead of November's midterms, Axios' Brittany Gibson reports. 🏛️ His legislative fix is stuck in the Senate: Senate Republicans have defied Trump on the SAVE America Act, which would require proof of U.S. citizenship to register to vote. ⚖️ He's also been stonewalled by the courts. Between the lines: Voter fraud is rare. But searching for cases has become an executive-branch priority. Keep reading.

🏛️ Washington becomes AI's gatekeeper AI proponents are splitting over a huge question: whether national security concerns outweigh the need to keep American AI companies ahead of Chinese rivals, Axios' Madison Mills writes. The fight is happening in public, in real time. Catch up quick: David Sacks, President Trump's former AI and crypto czar, warned yesterday that restricting access risks undercutting the AI strategy Trump laid out just a year ago for "Winning the Race." His post came after the White House asked OpenAI to delay its latest model, GPT-5.6, which will now be released in stages. That follows a directive that forced Anthropic to suspend access to Fable 5 and Mythos 5. Mythos went back online for a limited group of users on Friday. Fable could return soon. Between the lines: U.S. labs could face a government-imposed speed limit that Chinese rivals don't. Two security evaluations show Chinese AI systems have already caught up to the best U.S. models on cybersecurity, Axios' Sam Sabin reports. Open-source Chinese model usage has surged in recent weeks amid a focus on minimizing AI costs, as seen on OpenRouter. 💰 Follow the money: For investors, this is "hugely bearish," Paul Kedrosky, a venture capitalist, told Axios via text. "The AI party now has a hall monitor who is also diluting the punch. That causes, as the capital markets kids say, re-rating pressure," he said. Translation: Investors may value AI labs less if their most valuable products face government-controlled delays. Yes, but: AI labs and investors say they want rules instead of ad hoc decisions. Mark Pincus, Zynga founder and an investor in OpenAI and Anthropic, tells Axios he supports clear regulation but said it's "hard to build when there's a moving target." Read more.

⚖️ Blockbuster SCOTUS week: Watch this case Photo illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios. Photo: Mark Wilson/Getty Images As the Supreme Court wraps up a term focused on executive power, here's a remaining case being hotly watched in Trumpworld: Republicans challenged limits on how much money political parties can spend in coordination with candidates. The justices upheld coordinated party expenditure limits in 2001. Why it matters: Top Republicans tell me the ruling could affect midterms if the Trump machine's bursting coffers could suddenly be deployed more freely. The RNC's massive cash advantage over the DNC would also matter more. 🔮 The next rulings are due today. Terms typically finish around the end of June, sometimes spilling into early July. Go deeper: Axios' Avery Lotz sketches the top remaining cases.

New Dem rebellion Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios. Stock: Getty Images Democratic leaders are increasingly alarmed that they're facing their own brewing version of the GOP's Tea Party rebellion 17 years ago, Axios' Alex Thompson and Holly Otterbein write. Why it matters: The wave of primary victories by democratic socialists and party outsiders has shocked establishment Democrats. But the rage has been building in the party for a decade. It's not just progressives vs. moderates. It's also insiders vs. outsiders, with many Democratic voters angry at their own party. Some Dems now believe a Trump-esque figure could take over the party in 2028 as an outlet for grassroots rage. Dan Pfeiffer, a former top aide to President Obama and now "Pod Save America" co-host, writes: "It is very clear that the groups of the left — Justice Democrats, Democratic Socialists of America, Our Revolution — are out-organizing, out-fundraising, out-working, out-maneuvering the traditional party institutions." 🔎 Zoom in: Democrats' growing distrust of party leaders — and embrace of left-wing outsiders and populists — is rooted in Donald Trump's 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton. Trump's 2024 victory radicalized some Dems who'd previously seen his first term as a fluke. 🗳️ State of play: Left-wingers, outsiders and Democratic Socialists of America members have racked up victories coast to coast during Trump's second term. Democratic socialists and progressives followed last year's election of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani by beating two incumbent House Democrats and winning an open seat's primary in the city last week. Democratic socialist Janeese Lewis George won D.C.'s Democratic primary for mayor, making her mayor-in-waiting. She energized young voters by promising to tackle affordability and take on Trump. 🔮 What's next: Democrats are watching several upcoming primaries to see how deeply the anti-establishment feelings run. These races include: Colorado's governor's race, plus a Denver-based House primary where a democratic socialist is challenging a longtime incumbent. Wisconsin's gubernatorial primary, where democratic socialist Francesca Hong could win. Michigan's Senate primary, where Abdul El-Sayed could beat the establishment's pick, Rep. Haley Stevens.

The drum patting sound you hear, is your heat beat, when you lay your head sideways on your pillow. (Thanks Jackie) James

The Democratic Party Gets Its Populist Takeover All three congressional candidates that New York City Mayor Zohran Mamadani endorsed won their primaries on Tuesday. The races were widely viewed as a test of just how much influence the left would have in charting the next chapter for the Democratic Party — and a referendum on Mamdani’s power. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/25/mamdani-new-york-primaries-analysis-dsa/? Cops Warn CEO Bodyguards That Luigi Mangione Fever Could Spark Class War A law enforcement intelligence hub in New Jersey fretted that the growing class divide in the U.S. could drive a wave of lone-wolf attacks on high-flying corporate executives, according to a report obtained by The Intercept. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/25/police-luigi-mangione-wealthy-ceos-threat/? Online Age Verification Law Could Kill Whistleblowing Democrats and Republicans in Congress have struck a deal on a bill they say will help keep children and teens safe online. The KIDS Act could pass on the House floor as soon as next week; if enacted, it would fundamentally change the way everyone — not just kids — accesses the internet. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/28/age-verification-privacy-surveillance-journalists-whistleblowers/? 30-Year Sentence for Transporting Zines Is a Five-Alarm Fire for Free Speech The Trump administration attacking the right to publish or report information is a given at this point. The president has threatened journalists for everything from questioning the wisdom of his failed war with Iran to touching the peeled lining of his renovated reflecting pool. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/26/daniel-sanchez-estrada-zines-prairieland-free-speech/? Trump Claimed to Run Venezuela. After Earthquakes, He’s Walking That Back. After abducting Venezuela President Nicolás Maduro, U.S. President Donald Trump declared that America would “run” Venezuela. When asked in January who was leading Venezuela, Trump said, “We’re in charge.” https://theintercept.com/2026/06/25/trump-venezuela-earthquakes-aid-sanctions/? ps:It's truly pathetic that anyone is surprised that this is happening! Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Wades Into Tennessee Primary, Endorsing Justin J. Pearson After rattling some observers by staying out of a slew of competitive congressional primaries in her home state this week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., endorsed a candidate in Tennessee on Thursday. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/25/aoc-endorses-justin-pearson-tennessee-congress/? The Left Just Keeps Winning. It’s Time for Democrats to Bend the Knee. When Hakeem Jeffries, who’s positioning himself to be House speaker if the Democrats retake the chamber come November, was shown on the screen at an election party full of socialists in Brooklyn Tuesday night, the crowd chanted, “You’re next! You’re next!” Before polls closed on the night that would see the Jeffries-endorsed candidates fall and Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s candidates win, the New York congressman told reporters that he and the mayor have “agreed to strongly disagree” and that “a handful of primaries that go in one direction or the other in a given state or two aren’t going to reshape who we are as House Democrats.” https://theintercept.com/2026/06/25/democrats-socialist-left-midterms-centrists-new-york/? Keir Starmer’s Downfall Is the Only Reward for Simpering Centrism Keir Starmer, the U.K.’s sixth prime minister in a decade, has resigned. Even allowing for the weariness of repetition, this should theoretically be a big deal. https://theintercept.com/2026/06/27/britain-keir-starmer-resign-labour-left/?

👷‍♂️ Moore's labor problem 🦀 Maryland Gov. Wes Moore has cast himself as a champion of workers, but behind the scenes his relationships with some labor unions are increasingly rocky. Several union officials tell us that the potential 2028 presidential candidate says the right things to them but often doesn't follow through — and that he's even combative toward organized labor at times. 😬 Why it matters: The tension with labor officials is latest obstacle that Moore, an Afghanistan veteran and former investment banker, faces in his backyard as he builds a national profile ahead of a possible run for the White House. Moore is a self-described political outsider who won public office for the first time only four years ago, and he's acknowledged some growing pains. 😑 One of the clearest signs of that friction has come from unions. The Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO hasn't endorsed Moore's reelection campaign this year, after backing him in the 2022 general election. Zoom in: Donna Edwards, president of the Maryland State and D.C. AFL-CIO, told Axios that Moore's team didn't return an endorsement questionnaire, "and we must have a questionnaire returned by a candidate in order to consider anything." But sources told us that the issue goes deeper than that — and that no one at the group's spring meeting spoke up in favor of backing Moore. 🍔 Meanwhile, Baltimore/Washington International Airport food service workers launched a "Poor Because of Moore" campaign this month, saying he hasn't done enough to help them win higher wages with companies. Moore has "been pretty antagonistic," said Tracy Lingo, a vice president of the state AFL-CIO and president of Maryland's Unite Here Local 7, which represents the airport employees. "It's hard to say whether it's because they don't actually care about working people's interests or they're just too busy running for president to actually be governing the state." 💥 "He's been godawful," another state labor leader said of Moore, "and I think it's been a combination of, like, he has bad politics, and his administration just doesn't seem to function very well." Multiple union officials told us that it can be difficult to reach the governor's team, including Dyana Forester, Moore's senior director of labor relations. Forester said her personal and work phone numbers "have always been public. Labor leaders call me at sometimes 5am in the morning till 10 o'clock at night." She added that the state AFL-CIO leadership advised Moore's team not to submit a questionnaire because "we were unlikely to secure an endorsement." Another Moore aide said Forester "is wrong" and that the campaign has had "productive" conversations recently about a general election endorsement. Moore also has had friction with some in the building trades over a lack of clarity over whether the Francis Scott Key Bridge is going to be rebuilt with a project labor agreement, which unions prefer. And AFSCME Maryland Council 3, which represents public service workers, did not reach an agreement on salary increases with the Moore administration, blowing past a December deadline. The union said it rejected an offer from the state because members thought the proposed wages were too low. Zoom out: Organized labor is a key part of the Democratic coalition, and Moore's union feuds could come back to haunt him if he runs for president in 2028. Maryland is deep blue, but labor officials in more competitive early primary states have close relationships with those in Maryland. The other side: Not all Maryland unions are upset with Moore. The firefighters union, the Maryland State Education Association and some others have endorsed his reelection campaign. "We have been more successful under Gov. Moore than any governor that I can remember in recent memory," said Jeff Buddle of the Professional Fire Fighters of Maryland. Moore also has some allies in the state AFL-CIO. Raymond Jackson, a vice president there and president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 689, urged those in unions to contrast Moore's record with that of his predecessor, Republican Larry Hogan, who often clashed with labor. 🗣️ What they're saying: Moore spokesman Ammar Moussa said his administration "has worked closely with organized labor since day one to improve wages, strengthen workplace protections, expand collective bargaining rights" and more. "Like every administration, we do not agree with every stakeholder and partner on every issue. Our focus remains on negotiating in good faith, governing responsibly, and continuing to deliver." Flashback: Some Maryland insiders said Moore's labor conflicts partly trace to the 2022 Democratic primary, when most state unions endorsed Tom Perez over Moore. Perez was the U.S. labor secretary under President Obama. Some bad blood remains on both sides, the insiders said. But Moore has improved his relationships with some of the unions that backed Perez since then, such as SEIU Local 500. Read more. — Holly Otterbein

NASA races to save Swift telescope from falling back to Earth with daring rescue mission CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) — NASA is racing to save an aging telescope from falling back to Earth with a daring rescue mission. https://apnews.com/article/nasa-swift-satellite-rescue-mission-f715e10a93c1015e280a7ccd1028a9c4?

3 firefighters killed in Colorado as wildfires stoked by heat, wind rage across the West BEAVER, Utah (AP) — Blistering heat and strong winds Sunday stoked wildfires across the West after three firefighters were killed a day earlier in Colorado while battling a blaze along the state’s border with Utah. https://apnews.com/article/western-wildfires-wind-dry-weather-a5fb3b05719d2a6b77feacffd2cbdba9?

Ukrainian drones set another Russian oil refinery ablaze as Putin admits fuel shortages KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Ukraine kept up its heavy drone assault on Russia, setting fire to a major oil refinery in the south, as President Vladimir Putin acknowledged for the first time on Sunday that the country was facing a “certain deficit” of fuel and vowed to strengthen protection of oil facilities and boost fuel output. https://apnews.com/article/ukraine-russia-war-oil-refinery-drones-88370faa1a49504438388f2854d7afd3? ps:This could've all been avoided had trump allowed Ukraine to get the money and equipment that the congress and approved! also had Biden as soon as he got into office given them that stuff and not waited 2 yrs for the congress to become maga republicans and follow trumps bidding, etc.!!

France records around 1,000 additional deaths as extreme heat breaks European records BERLIN (AP) — France saw around 1,000 additional deaths last week at the height of its record-smashing heat wave, the country’s public health agency said Sunday, as the head of the World Health Organization warned that Europe is now the fastest-warming continent and needs to do more to protect its citizens. https://apnews.com/article/europe-heat-temperature-records-france-deaths-germany-61f444317600cf1bd9af5af84cb582bd?

America split from monarchy 250 years ago. Trump’s presidency is testing how far it’s come The 250th anniversary of America’s liberation from a king kicked off with a campaign-style rally on the National Mall by President Donald Trump, whose face already stares down from banners fluttering from federal buildings across the nation’s capital. The images illustrate how the Republican president has dominated daily life since returning to power and, to some, evoke more the style of a monarch than the leader of the world’s oldest democracy. But it’s also how he has wielded that power that has led to comparisons of an imperial reign. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ At the Great American State Fair, you can find a dinosaur's rib cage. Unity is another matter A Reflecting Pool that has long enticed visitors now gains police scrutiny under Trump Humor laurels for comedian Bill Maher as the Kennedy Center navigates Trump-era upheaval US Rep. Julia Letlow, endorsed by Trump, wins the GOP primary for Senate in Louisiana Man with same name as US Sen. Dan Sullivan is eligible for Alaska's primary ballot, judge rules A new law could create a list of immigrants illegally living in Mississippi. Advocates are alarmed Bible stories are approved as required reading in Texas public schools States seek to lower drug prices by targeting the companies that manage them for health plans Millions drop Obamacare health coverage after subsidies expire and costs rise

Iran attacks Bahrain and Kuwait following US strikes and threatens to halt talks to end the war Iran launched drone and missile attacks Sunday targeting Bahrain and Kuwait in response to U.S. airstrikes that hit the Islamic Republic, and threatened a “complete halt” in negotiations to end the war if Washington continues its attacks. Efforts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz without Iran’s direct oversight sparked the crossfire now gripping the region and have imperiled negotiations for a lasting ceasefire. Read more. RELATED COVERAGE ➤ Trump presses Syria to take on Hezbollah, raising alarm in Lebanon and Israel WATCH: Iran video said to show missiles being launched in response to US strikes

BBC Demands Trump’s Diary and Phone Logs in $10B Court Battle The fight over a Jan. 6 documentary has entered a new phase. President Donald Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against a British broadcaster has hit a surprise twist that may not sit well with the president. The BBC has reportedly requested that Trump, 80, hand over his phone records and private schedules from around the time of the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, according to The Telegraph. Trump is suing the British broadcaster, claiming it defamed him by “intentionally, maliciously, and deceptively” editing two parts of his Jan. 6, 2021, speech to make it seem as though he had encouraged his supporters to storm the Capitol.The BBC’s Panorama program spliced together Trump saying, “We’re going to walk down to the Capitol” and “fight like hell, if you don’t fight like hell, you’re not gonna have a country anymore,” despite the two remarks actually being made nearly an hour apart. In a statement in March, a BBC spokesperson said the broadcaster would “robustly defend the case” and noted that the documentary never aired in the U.S., adding that it had “challenged the jurisdiction of the Florida court and filed a motion to dismiss the president’s claim.” According to The Telegraph, which first reported on the Panorama editing controversy, the BBC’s lawyers are seeking the disclosure of a range of documents for the court case, including the president’s telephone logs, calendars, schedules, and diaries from Nov. 3, 2020, to Jan. 20, 2021. The broadcaster is also seeking that Trump’s legal team provide a list of individuals with whom the president communicated regarding the Jan. 6 rally, including discussions about planning the event, his speech, and what was said in the aftermath. A spokesperson for Trump’s legal team said in response to a request for comment from the Daily Beast that “President Trump will continue to hold accountable the BBC and all those who traffic in fake news,” adding that the BBC is liable for “intentionally and maliciously defaming him,” and that “no amount of attempted legal maneuvers can change that fact.” In filings in the Southern District of Florida, Trump lawyer Alejandro Brito said the BBC is “attempting to use this action as a vehicle to conduct a trial as to the events that occurred on January 6,” The Telegraph reported. In earlier filings, the BBC pointed to court records showing that over 100 defendants charged over the Jan. 6 Capitol riot said they understood Trump’s speech as encouraging them to act. Since 2021, the president has said that the thousands who traveled to Washington, D.C. on Jan. 6 and stormed the Capitol did so because “they thought the election was a rigged election,” described it as a “day of love,” and, during his second presidency, pardoned rioters. Trump’s lawyers have reportedly rejected requests to hand over financial information as part of the court battle, after the BBC subpoenaed the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, which holds the president’s business interests and assets. The subpoena came as the president seeks $10 billion in damages, alleging the BBC program damaged “the value of his brand, properties, and businesses.” The BBC sought evidence to assess the financial impact of the Panorama documentary, which first aired in October 2024. Court filings from the trust’s legal team state that it has raised “multiple objections” to requests for financial documents, accusing the BBC of conducting a “fishing expedition.” A Financial Times report earlier this month said Trump has not turned over any documentation in his $10 billion lawsuit, while the BBC has produced more than 45,000 documents during discovery. https://www.thedailybeast.com/bbc-demands-trumps-diary-and-phone-logs-in-10b-court-battle/?

Trump, 80, Roasted After Desperate Obama Attack Backfires “We all know who the better hang is,” one user commented. A nostalgic post from Donald Trump comparing himself to a White House predecessor appears not to have landed as he had hoped. The 80-year-old president spent Saturday flooding Truth Social with AI-generated imagery, including one depicting himself as God holding the world on his shoulders. But it wasn’t the divine self-portrait that got people talking. Instead, attention shifted to a side-by-side post showing Trump at the New York Military Academy. Although he labeled the image as him at age 20, the photo is actually his high school graduation portrait from the school’s 1964 yearbook, taken when the future president was 17. Trump had better luck getting the age right on the picture he paired it with: a photo of Barack Obama at 18, pictured with a cigarette in his mouth during his freshman year at Occidental College in Los Angeles. It’s unclear why Trump labeled himself as 20 years old in the photo. The post sparked meme-style reactions online, with one user joking that Obama was “aura mogging” Trump in the comparison image, a slang term meaning someone who appears more confident and dominant.“We all know who the better hang is,” another user commented on the image, while others pointed out that Trump’s image showed him in a military uniform despite his never having served in the military.“His parents sent him to a military boarding school for behavioral issues & bullying,” one user wrote on X, adding, “Now he uses the photo to pretend he was in the military.” The president received five draft deferments: the first four for education and a fifth after he claimed to have bone spurs on his foot, which exempted him from service during the Vietnam War. He did, however, attend New York Military Academy, a boarding school about an hour north of New York City, which his father, Fred Trump, reportedly sent him to after concerns over his behavior. “He was an egomaniac when he was 16,” his former roommate at the academy, Art Davie, told the Daily Beast. “He was a great flag waver for himself. He wanted everyone to recognize he was the GOAT in everything he did out there.” While the president’s photo shows him in a military uniform, the image of Obama, 64, that he compares himself to depicts the future president in his college years, posing for a series of candid black-and-white portraits taken by a fellow student in her Los Angeles apartment. The cigarette in Obama’s mouth reflects a habit he has been open about trying to quit over the years. One user on X compared images of the two presidents not in their early adulthood, but in middle age, showing Obama at 46 during his 2008 presidential campaign alongside Trump at 46 with his former friend, convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. “Obama Derangement Syndrome,” one person commented on X in response to the comparison, referencing the president’s own use of the term “Trump Derangement Syndrome” to describe political opponents who speak critically of him. “He talks about ‘TDS’ but he has ‘ODS,’” another person commented, referring to the so-called syndrome, adding: “Barack Obama lives rent-free in Donald Trump’s clouded, decompensating, rotting brain.” The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Trump’s frequent mentions of Obama have only increased since the former president first left office, according to CNN, which reported that Trump mentioned Obama’s name an average of 1.8 times per day. The comments made by the president appear not to have shifted American opinion, with a CNN/SSRS survey conducted in June showing 57 percent of Americans hold a favorable view of Obama, compared with 34 percent for Trump. The former president has addressed Trump’s “constant” references to him during an appearance on the All The Smoke podcast this month, saying he found it “very strange.” “Obviously, you know, I have a room in his head—a suite in his head,” Obama said. https://www.thedailybeast.com/trump-80-roasted-after-desperate-obama-attack-backfires/? ps:Obsessed with Obama!! And for what? Because he roasted him some years ago?? How pathetic!!