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| BREAKING NEWS OF THE MORNING | |
It's all about the cake: |
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The Supreme Court sided with the Colorado baker who refused to make a custom wedding cake for a same-sex couple, in one of the most highly anticipated rulings of the year. http://bit.ly/2JfVWHt
Why the court ruled in the baker's favor: "The court held that the Colorado Civil Rights Commission showed hostility toward the baker based on his religious beliefs." The ruling: 7-2. Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg and Sonia Sotomayor were the only two to dissent. The other two liberal justices -- Stephen Breyer and Elena Kagan -- agreed with the majority in the narrow ruling. The question everyone is asking -- why did two liberal justices side against the gay couple?: The ruling, written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, focused on how the Colorado Civil Rights Commission acted, not necessarily the baker who refused to make the cake. The ruling found that the commission showed hostility to Jack Philips, the baker, who had sincere religious beliefs. This is important -- why this ruling doesn't mean much going forward: This ruling was written very specifically, so it's unlikely to set wide-ranging precedent in future cases. That means a future baker who refuses to make a cake for a same-sex couple may not win in the courts. |
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| It's Monday. The Washington Capitals are playing Game 4 of the Stanley Cup finals in D.C. tonight, so expect to see a lot of red and excitement in the city. I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send comments, story ideas and favorite recipes that involve cheese :) to cmartel@thehill.com, @CateMartel and on Facebook. |
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| MAJOR STORIES TO WATCH THIS WEEK | |
| -- North Korea summit: President Trump says the June 12 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore is back on. https://cnn.it/2LXWPpD -- G-7 summit: Leaders from Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union will meet in Quebec, Canada on Friday and Saturday for the Group of Seven summit. --Primary Super Tuesday: Eight states are holding congressional primaries: Alabama, California, Iowa, Mississippi, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico and South Dakota. Top line: California is the most-watched. Democrats will need to flip Republican seats in the state if they intend to retake the House. Seven GOP-held districts voted for Hillary Clinton in 2016. Here are seven things to watch: http://bit.ly/2Jcl55S |
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It's called 'untouchable.' Get used to it: |
| This morning, President Trump insisted he can pardon himself but has no reason to do so. A half hour later: Trump claimed that the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller is "UNCONSTITUTIONAL." Expect to hear a lot about this story over the next few weeks. http://bit.ly/2sDwu7y |
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How I imagine President Trump while drafting these tweets: |
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A ruling in the immigrant teen's abortion case: |
| The Supreme Court just ruled in President Trump's favor to wipe away a lower court ruling that allowed an undocumented teen in federal custody to get an abortion. http://bit.ly/2Jb5dEI Why it's controversial: Right before a lower court's ruling on whether the undocumented teen could have an abortion, opposing lawyers snuck her off at 4:15 a.m. to get the abortion before the government could appeal. The Supreme Court ordered the lower court to dismiss the case as moot since the abortion had already been done. How did the Supreme Court handle the lawyers who helped the teen get an abortion?: The justices decided not to punish those attorneys, despite the government's request. Government lawyers had argued they were misled by the opposing lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union. The justices said: "Lawyers have ethical obligations to their clients and not all communication breakdowns constitute misconduct." |
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This a.m. -- Serena Williams drops out: |
| Tennis star Serena Williams pulled out of the French Open because of an arm injury, right before she was set to play Maria Sharapova . https://es.pn/2Hm8vzi Keep in mind about the match: "The two players were coming back from time away -- Williams after having a baby daughter; Sharapova after a doping ban." |
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Bill Clinton's back in the news!: |
| NBC's Craig Melvin asked former president Bill Clinton if he ever apologized to his then-intern Monica Lewinsky. Melvin asked: "Through the lens of #MeToo now, do you think differently or feel more responsibility? Did you ever apologize to her?" Clinton's response: "I apologized to everybody in the world. Melvin: "But you didn't apologize to her?" Clinton: He said that he does not feel like he owes Lewinsky an apology and that he "never talked to her." "But I did say, publicly, on more than one occasion, that I was sorry. That's very different. The apology was public," Clinton said. Watch the full back and forth: http://bit.ly/2JcFFXy Reaction from Twitter -- pretty merciless: http://bit.ly/2kNYJwK |
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Imm-i-gra-tion, clap, clap, clap, clap, clap: |
| Via The Hill's Jordain Carney and Melania Zanona, House Republicans return to the major hot-button issue of immigration. What lawmakers are debating: What legal protections should be extended to those living in the country illegally and to whom they should apply. http://bit.ly/2svlSbI Happening Thursday: GOP members meet to reach a consensus on immigration votes. If no consensus is reached: "Then more Republicans are expected to sign on to a discharge petition that would force a series of contentious immigration votes on the House floor as early as June 25." How many more signatures are needed?: Just two more GOP signatures. Keep in mind: President Trump has said he will veto any legislation on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program without border wall funding. The Senate would be very unlikely to pass legislation they know Trump will veto. |
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| WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING IN CONGRESS THIS WEEK: |
| Trade: Republicans are back for the first time since President Trump announced steel and aluminum tariffs against Canada, Mexico and the European Union. August recess: Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) will likely make an announcement about August recess. What's expected: Shortening the four-week break so senators can keep working on confirming Trump's nominees and reaching a funding deal. Infrastructure: On Wednesday, House lawmakers are expected to consider bipartisan legislation to authorize water-related infrastructure projects -- including U.S. ports, dams, locks and waterways. No! *clap* More! *clap* omnibus!: The House is expected to work on legislation to avoid another massive omnibus spending bill later this year. Nominations: The Senate will vote on a few of President Trump's judicial nominees. Context and details for each: http://bit.ly/2svlSbI |
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| The firearms industry welcomes participation in the national conversation to make our communities safer. Our trade association, the National Shooting Sports Foundation, has long advocated for effective solutions to prevent access to firearms by criminals, children and the dangerously mentally ill. We run programs that make a real difference. Practical solutions that protect lives and preserve our citizens’ liberties – making a difference for a safe America. Click here to learn more. |
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Yikes: |
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Watch: http://bit.ly/2LVH5DT
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This sign brings a happy tear to my eye: |
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| The House is out. The Senate will meet this afternoon. Fifty years ago today: Presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was assassinated. Op-ed: http://bit.ly/2HiFcgW 11:30 a.m. EDT: President Trump received his daily intelligence briefing. 12:45 p.m. EDT: President Trump has lunch with Vice President Pence and Defense Secretary James Mattis. 2:45 p.m. EDT: President Trump meets with World Economic Forum founder Klaus Schwab. 3 p.m. EDT: The Senate meets. Their schedule today: http://bit.ly/2JtCDOe 3:30 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence swears in the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg. 5:30 p.m. EDT: President Trump and first lady Melania Trump host Gold Star families for a Memorial Day reception. Keep in mind: This is the first lady's first public appearance since she was hospitalized last month for kidney surgery. https://cnn.it/2kJpdQ2 5:30 p.m. EDT: The Senate has three cloture votes on Trump nominees. June 8-9: The Group of Seven summit in Quebec, Canada. Participants: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States and the European Union. Keep in mind: President Trump's stance on trade is complicating this summit. Via Reuters, a source said French President Emmanuel Macron and Trump could have a side meeting during the summit to discuss the issue. A recent phone call between the two on trade reportedly went badly. https://reut.rs/2swhrNL |
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| 8 p.m. EDT: Vice President Pence speaks at an Organization of American States reception. The topic: Promoting a hemisphere of freedom. Livestream: http://bit.ly/2JgaV47 Tuesday morning: NBC's Hoda Kotb sits down with Joshua Holt for his first television interview since his release from Venezuelan prison. 9:30 a.m. EDT Wednesday: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) speaks at a Washington Post event. Details and livestream: https://wapo.st/2xFo7hL |
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| Today is National Cheese Day! |
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Today in things I thought I'd never have to say: No doing backflips while armed!: |
| An FBI agent did a backflip at a bar and his gun accidentally went off. https://cnn.it/2sB2YAn Video -- wow: https://wapo.st/2LWy4dD |
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| And to break up your Monday afternoon, here are two savage hamsters that should not play together: http://bit.ly/2kLCZSd |
Dear SMX Enthusiast,
