Biden concedes debate fumbles but declares he will defend democracy. Dems stick by him — for now
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is working to quell Democratic anxieties over his unsteady showing in his debate with ex-President Donald Trump. He’s not the debater he used to be, Biden conceded at a rally Friday in North Carolina. But he added: “The choice in this election is simple: Donald Trump will destroy our democracy. I will defend it.” Democratic lawmakers are expressing plenty of concern but sticking by him for now. Meanwhile, Trump’s attacks on critics and his policy falsehoods served as a reminder of the daily turbulence of his Republican presidency.
Here’s why it would be tough for Democrats to replace Joe Biden on the presidential ticket
WASHINGTON (AP) — It would be nearly impossible for Democrats to replace President Joe Biden as their 2024 presidential nominee unless he chooses to step aside following his halting debate performance against ex-President Donald Trump. Democratic rules say that the delegates Biden won in state primaries should support him at the party’s upcoming national convention unless he tells them he’s leaving the race. Biden’s performance Thursday has led some in his own party to begin questioning whether he should be replaced on the ballot before November. Vice President Kamala Harris is Biden’s running mate, but that doesn’t mean she can swap in for him at the top of the ticket by default.
Supreme Court makes it harder to charge Capitol riot defendants with obstruction, charge Trump faces
WASHINGTON (AP) — Attorney General Merrick Garland says he’s disappointed the Supreme Court has made it harder to charge Capitol riot defendants with obstruction. The charge also has been brought against former President Donald Trump. The justices ruled Friday that the charge of obstructing an official proceeding must include proof defendants tried to tamper with or destroy documents. Only some of the people who attacked the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, fall into that category. Garland says the court’s decision “limits an important federal statute” but cases against the “vast majority” of people charged for Jan. 6 won’t be affected. Trump calls the ruling “Big News!” The Republican ex-president says it’s a “massive victory” for those arrested on Jan. 6.
Divided Supreme Court rules in major homelessness case that outdoor sleeping bans are OK
WASHINGTON (AP) — California Gov. Gavin Newsome says a Supreme Court ruling that cities can enforce bans on people sleeping outdoors in West Coast areas will give local officials more freedom to address the crisis. But an attorney for homeless people says it could allow people to be punished simply because they have nowhere to go. The Oregon case decided Friday is the most significant to come before the high court in decades on homelessness, an issue affecting a rising number of people in the U.S. The high court ruled 6-3 along ideological lines to strike down a ruling that found outdoor sleeping bans amount to cruel and unusual punishment.
Chevron takeaways: Supreme Court ruling removes frequently used tool from federal regulators
WASHINGTON (AP) — Federal rules that impact virtually every aspect of everyday life, from the food we eat and the cars we drive to the air we breathe and homes we live in, could be at risk after a wide-ranging Supreme Court ruling. The court on Friday rejected a 40-year-old legal doctrine colloquially known as Chevron, effectively reducing the power of executive branch agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency and shifting it to the courts. The doctrine has been the basis for upholding thousands of federal regulations, but it has long been targeted by conservatives and business groups who argue it grants too much power to the executive branch.
This is how the US-built pier to bring aid to Gaza has worked — or not
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. military-built pier has been pulled again from the Gaza shore due to rough seas, and its future role in the distribution of aid to Palestinians is uncertain. Humanitarian aid groups stopped distributing supplies that arrived by sea on June 9 due to security concerns and have not started again. U.S. officials say the pier may not be reinstalled unless aid agencies reach an agreement to begin distributing the aid again. Meanwhile, food and other provisions shipped from Cyprus are piling up on shore, and soon the the secure area on the beach in Gaza will reach capacity. It’s been a long and difficult road for the pier, which has been battered by weather and troubled by security problems.
Alec Baldwin’s case on track for trial in July as judge denies request to dismiss
SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — The involuntary manslaughter case against Alec Baldwin is on track for trial in July after a judge denied a request to dismiss the case on complaints that key evidence was damaged by the FBI during forensic testing. The judge sided with prosecutors Friday in moving the case forward. Defense attorneys had argued that the gun in the fatal shooting was heavily damaged during FBI forensic testing before it could be examined for possible modifications that might exonerate the actor-producer. The ruling removes one of the last hurdles before prosecutors can bring the case to trial.
Families say those detained in Bolivia failed coup were tricked. President says it’s not his problem
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Families of the 21 people detained on accusations that they participated in a failed coup attempt appear visibly confused and anxious in the jail where they’re being kept. They say they knew nothing of a plot in the lead-up to Wednesday’s spectacle. Many families of those detained say their loved ones were simply following orders, or were told they were carrying out a “military exercise.” On Friday, the government announced additional arrests of soldiers, bringing the total up to 21, including former Gen. Juan José Zuñiga, who led the failed coup.
Polls close in Iran presidential election held after hard-liner’s death and as Mideast tensions rise
DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Iranians have voted in a snap election to replace the late hard-line President Ebrahim Raisi. The race’s sole reformist candidate vowed to seek “friendly relations” with the West in an effort to energize supporters in a vote beset by apathy. Voters faced a choice on Friday between hard-line candidates and the little-known Masoud Pezeshkian. As has been the case since the 1979 Islamic Revolution, women and those calling for radical change have been barred from running, while the vote itself will have no oversight from internationally recognized monitors. The voting comes as wider tensions have gripped the Middle East over the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. Initial results were expected on Saturday.
Martin Mull, hip comic and actor from ‘Fernwood Tonight’ and ‘Roseanne,’ dies at 80
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Comedian and actor Martin Mull has died. Mull’s daughter says her father died Thursday after a long illness. He was 80 years old. Mull became known for his hip, droll comic stylings in the clubs on Hollywood’s Sunset Strip in the 1970s. He had a small role in the Norman Lear-created TV series “Mary Hartman, Mary Hartman,” and became the star of its spinoff, the satirical talk show “Fernwood Tonight.” In the 1980s he appeared in films including “Mr. Mom” and “Clue,” and in the 1990s was a regular on “Roseanne.” He later had acclaimed guest roles on “Arrested Development” and “Veep,” which got him an Emmy nomination.
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