In the News

Here is some stuff in the news today...

Welp: "The European Union will not hold informal talks with the UK until it triggers Article 50 to leave, Germany, France, and Italy have insisted." As always, the Guardian has terrific live coverage of all the news regarding the Brexit fallout here.

If there's anyone you want to read on today's Supreme Court abortion decision, it's Jessica Mason Pieklo!

"Thousands of people, many waving paper fans to fend off the humidity and heat, gathered at Cocolí locks outside Panama City on Sunday to watch a colossal container ship bearing 9,472 containers become the first vessel to officially pass through the newly expanded Panama canal and, hopefully, usher in a new era of trading prosperity for the Central American country."

[CN: White supremacy; violence] Goddammit: "An alleged Nazi rally in downtown Sacramento turned violent Sunday, forcing riot gear-clad police to break up fights between the white supremacists and counter-protesters. According to ABC10, police were forced to use batons and pepper spray as they chased down suspects after wading into the crowd. ...According to the LA Times, multiple stabbings were reported with several victims rushed to the hospital with what were described as critical injuries."

[CN: Domestic violence; death; guns] Everything about this story is gutting me: "A mother fatally shot her two daughters on a public street near Houston, Texas, on Friday afternoon, before she too was shot dead by police. ...On her Facebook profile, Christy Sheats routinely praised her daughters. 'Happy Daughter's Day to my two amazing, sweet, kind, beautiful, intelligent girls,' she wrote in September last year. 'I love and treasure you both more than you could ever possibly know.' She also posted messages in support of the Second Amendment. 'It would be horribly tragic if my ability to protect myself or my family were to be taken away,' she wrote in March, 'but that's exactly what Democrats are determined to do by banning semi-automatic handguns.'"

"Bernie Sanders' national press secretary, one of the most prominent women of color and young people in presidential politics, said Sunday that she has left the campaign. Symone D. Sanders revealed the decision to Fusion before appearing on a panel of women in politics at Politicon, a convention in Los Angeles. She said that she was not let go and that leaving the campaign was her decision. On the panel, she identified herself as the former press secretary 'as of today.'" At this point, Sanders' fundraising may have dwindled to the point where he can't fund payroll, which will oblige high-level staffers to start leaving, irrespective of their feelings about the direction of the campaign.

Whooooooooops! "A slot at the Republican National Convention used to be a career-maker—a chance to make your name on the big stage and to catch the eye of the Republican donors and activists who make or break campaigns. In the year of Trump: Not so much. With the convention less than a month away, POLITICO contacted more than 50 prominent governors, senators, and House members to gauge their interest in speaking. Only a few said they were open to it, and everyone else said they weren't planning on it, didn't want to, or weren't going to Cleveland at all—or simply didn't respond."

[CN: White supremacy; racist violence] "Jesse Williams was honored Sunday night at the 2016 BET Awards with the Humanitarian Award. The actor/activist, best known for his role on Grey's Anatomy, has been a visible part of the Black Lives Matter movement since the 2014 events in Ferguson, Mo." He gave an incredible speech, the full text of which is at the link.

[CN: Video may autoplay at link] "NASA's Juno probe is only one week away from its arrival at Jupiter, where it will execute a daring maneuver in order to get closer to the giant planet than any other spacecraft in history. Getting up-close and personal with Jupiter is a serious challenge for space probes, because the Jovian giant is surrounded by a belt of very intense radiation that can quickly fry most spacecraft electronics. So rather than orbiting the planet, Juno will make a series of 37 loops between Jupiter and the radiation ring. On July 4, Juno's engines will burn for about 35 minutes to slow down the probe so it can enter into its loopy orbit in the Jupiter system. But if the maneuver doesn't go as planned, Juno could fly right past Jupiter, putting an end to the $1.1 billion mission." GOOD LUCK, JUNO!

And finally! "British photographer Christopher Swann captures stunning shots of cetaceans like whales and dolphins both above and beneath the surface of the ocean. With over 25 years of experience diving and running whale- and dolphin-watching holidays around the world, the photographer has become finely attuned to the behaviors of these majestic creatures, enabling him to venture close to them for intimate and eye-opening portraits." Amazing.