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Wednesday, June 16, 2021

Wake-Up Call: Biden, Putin Meet

President Biden will be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Geneva today in the final event of his eight-day European trip. Biden plans to bring up a range of issues, including cyberattacks on U.S. companies, arms control, and the treatment of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who has been jailed after earlier being poisoned. Biden met yesterday with European Union officials, with an agreement reached to ease a 17-year trade dispute over subsidies for aircraft manufacturers.


 ➤U-S PASSES 600,000 CORONAVIRUS DEATHS: The U.S. reached another sad pandemic milestone yesterday, passing 600,000 deaths from Covid-19, according to Johns Hopkins University's count, a figure that's about equal to the number of Americans who died of cancer in 2019. The milestone came as vaccinations have dramatically brought down cases, hospitalizations and deaths from the worst weeks in January. Reflecting that, Covid restrictions are being lifted across the country, with New York and California the latest states to remove most of their restrictions yesterday. Just under 65 percent of U.S. adults have had at least one dose of a vaccine.

➤ISRAEL LAUNCHES AIRSTRIKES IN GAZA: Israel launched airstrikes at what it said where Hamas facilities in the Gaza Strip early Wednesday, the first since a cease-fire ended the 11-day war with the militants last month. There were no immediate reports of casualties. The strikes came after Palestinians in Gaza sent incendiary balloons into southern Israel Tuesday afternoon, causing at least 10 fires. They were acting in response to hundreds of Israeli ultranationalists parading in east Jerusalem, some of them chanting, "Death to Arabs!" Yair Lapid, the foreign minister in Israel's new coalition government, said those marchers shouting racist slogans were, quote, "a disgrace to the Israeli people."

➤eMAILS SHOW TRUMP PRESSURED JUSTICE DEPT. TO INVESTIGATE UNSUPPORTED FRAUD CLAIMS ABOUT 2020 ELECTION: Emails released yesterday by the House Oversight Committee show that then-President Donald Trump, his White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, and other allies pressured the Justice Department to investigate unsubstantiated claims of widespread fraud in the 2020 election, even though his former attorney general, Bill Barr, had said there wasn't evidence for it, as had Justice Department and Homeland Security Department officials repeatedly. Emails sent to then-acting Attorney General Jeffrey Rosen urged investigating debunked conspiracy theories and false information about voter fraud. One email sent by a Trump assistant from him included a draft legal brief for the Supreme Court, that asked it declare that the Electoral College votes case in six states Trump lost, quote, "cannot be counted," and asking for the high court to order a special election in those states. That didn't happen, and Trump considered replacing Rosen with an ally, Jeffrey Clark, and even investigated whether the White House could appoint a special counsel on its own.

➤POLL..VOTERS SAY POLITICAL DIVISION IS TOP ISSUE FACING THE COUNTRY:  Americans are concerned about the political divides in the country, with a new poll out yesterday finding that voters view political division as the top issue facing the U.S. About 32 percent see the nation's divides as one of their top two issues, ahead of those who said the same about the pandemic, health care, and economic issues like jobs and taxes. The Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Public Service's poll further found that more than two-thirds of voters, 69 percent, prefer politicians who are willing to compromise to get things done, compared to just 27 percent who said they'd prefer politicians stand by their values and ideology instead. Voters believe that President Biden is trying to end the divisions, even if they don't approve of his job performance. The poll found that 52 percent approve of Biden's job performance, but an even higher 60 percent believe he's working at least somewhat hard to heal the nation's political divisions.


➤TWH TO HOST THOUSANDS FOR THE 4TH:  Coronavirus rules are being removed across the country as Covid-19 vaccinations continue to climb, with New York and California on Tuesday the latest to lift most of their remaining restrictions. The Biden administration is celebrating the opening up again too, with the White House to host thousands of essential workers and military families on the South Lawn of the White House for the Fourth of July, to also celebrate, quote, "independence from the virus," CNN reported, citing a White House official. It will be the biggest in-person event at the White House since President Biden took office. Biden had hoped that 70 percent of U.S. adults would be vaccinated by Independence Day, but it looks like we may not reach that goal until the end of July.

➤SENATE PASSES LEGISLATION TO MAKE JUNETEENTH NEW FEDERAL HOLIDAY: 
We may soon be getting another federal holiday, after the Senate passed legislation Tuesday that would make Juneteenth, which is June 19th, a federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the U.S. Juneteenth marks when the last slaves learned that they were free on June 19, 1865. Union soldiers brought the news of the Confederate surrender two months earlier to enslaved Black people in Galveston, Texas. That also came about two-and-a-half years after the Emancipation Proclamation freed the slaves in the Southern states. The bill passed in the Senate under a unanimous consent agreement, and it's expected to easily pass the House, which would send it to President Biden to sign. Most states recognize Juneteenth as a holiday or have an official observance, and it's a paid holiday for state employees in Texas, New York, Virginia and Washington.

➤CHRISSY TEIGEN'S APOLOGY:

The Daily Mail Screenshot 6/16/21



➤ZILLENNIALS ARE OBSESSED WITH DECADE DAYDREAMING, EXPERT EXPLAINS WHAT THEIR NOSTALGIA MEANS:  If you look at TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube, you’ll find Zillennials (born between 1993 and 1998) creating content pining for eras gone by—but some eras they weren’t even alive for. So what’s the deal with this type of escapism? Psychologist Dr. Krystine Batcho says this is on par for the course for anyone transitioning from adolescent to a young adult. She explains, “Research has shown that this age group is especially likely to feel nostalgic. For teens and young adults, there is considerable conflict in abandoning childhood.” She also says this is a time of identity exploration, and there’s a “tension between wanting to be ‘like everyone else’ to be accepted, and ‘wanting to be different’ to be a unique independent person.” So this is where the interest in past decades comes in, and the internet gives them significantly more access to browse and cherry-pick the trends and cultural moments they connect with the most. Dr. Batcho adds, “Historical nostalgia is longing for the way things were in a prior time in history, even predating one’s birth. This type of nostalgia is associated with a degree of dissatisfaction with current circumstances.” Also, Zillennials are exploring new territory in a way, as their entire lives have been in “digital” which creates “stress from social and interpersonal changes” often times in the so-called “public eye of social media.”


 ➤STUDY..WATERPROOF MASCARA, LIQUID LIPSTICKS, AND FOUNDATION MAY CONTAIN CANCER-LINKED ‘FOREVER CHEMICALS’:  Time to clean out your makeup collection. Scientists from the Green Science Policy Institute tested 231 cosmetic products from stores and brands across the U.S. and Canada, and found some contained potentially toxic chemicals called PFAS. These chemicals break down slowly, and therefore can build up in water and food, stay in our bodies, and cause health issues. Exposure to the two most well-studied PFAS has been linked to increased risk of some cancers, low birth weight, and problems with the thyroid and immune system. The study found that more than three-quarters of waterproof mascaras, nearly two-thirds of foundations and liquid lipsticks, and more than half of eye and lip products had high fluorine levels, suggesting the presence of PFAS. The team found nearly 90% of the products with high fluorine levels—including 29 confirmed to contain PFAS—did not list PFAS on the ingredients label. Since there’s not much people can do to avoid unlabeled PFAS, the study authors are calling on the government to ban PFAS in makeup and other personal care products.


➤MACKENZIE SCOTT, BEZOS' EX-WIFE, DONATES $2.7 BILLION: MacKenzie Scott, the ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is continuing to give away big chunks of her fortune, announcing yesterday that she's given $2.7 billion to 286 organizations. As high as that amount is, it's actually the third round of major philanthropic gifts Scott has made, after two batches in 2020 for a total of $6 billion. Scott wrote in a Medium post that she and her husband, Dan Jewett, worked with researchers and advisers, quote, "to give away a fortune that was enabled by systems in need of change," making clear she's troubled by the increasing concentration of huge fortunes among a very small percentage of the population. Many of the recipients of her philanthropy are organizations led by minorities, women or others from vulnerable populations. Forbes has estimated Scott's wealth at some $60 billion, and it's grown since she received a four percent stake in Amazon in her 2019 divorce.

➤ROYAL CARIBBEAN DELAY INAUGURAL SAILINGS OF NEW CRUISE SHIP AFTER EIGHT CREW MEMBERS POSITIVE FOR COVID: Royal Caribbean is delaying the inaugural sailings of its newest cruise ship, the Odyssey of the Seas, after eight crew members were positive for Covid-19 in routine testing. The Odyssey of the Seas' inaugural sailings were going to be six- and eight-night Southern and Western Caribbean cruises from Fort Lauderdale, Florida, from July 3rd to July 31st. They will now begin on July 31st, with four cruises scrapped. All 1,400 crew members were vaccinated on June 4th, but the positive cases were found before the vaccines would be considered fully effective. Cruise lines are trying to return to normal operations as they emerge from their long pandemic shutdown.

➤JARED KUSHNER HAS BOOK DEAL: Former President Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, who was a top White House adviser during Trump's administration, has a book deal with Broadside Books, a conservative imprint of HarperCollins Publishers, which announced yesterday (June 15th) that it will be out early next year. Broadside said of the as-yet untitled book, "His book will be the definitive, thorough recounting of the administration -- and the truth about what happened behind closed doors." Financial terms weren't disclosed.

➤WOMAN WINS $867K AFTER USING SAME LOTTERY NUMBERS FOR YEARS: A Michigan woman won an $866,890 jackpot from the Michigan Lottery's Fantasy 5 drawing by using the same numbers she has played for years. The 47-year-old Kent County woman, who chose to remain anonymous, bought a ticket for the May 10th drawing using her regular numbers: 03-07-17-36-38. Her plans for the winnings include fixing up her home, paying bills, and taking a vacation.

🏀DURANT LEADS NETS TO GAME 5 WIN OVER BUCKS: Kevin Durant delivered what Brooklyn Nets coach Steve Nash called a "historic performance" for the team in Game 5 of their second-round playoffs match-up against the Milwaukee Bucks last night, scoring 49 points with a triple-double to lead them to a 114-108 win and 3 games to 2 lead in the series. The two-time NBA Finals MVP had 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists, becoming the first player to have at least 45 points, 15 rebounds and 10 assists in a playoff game. With Kyrie Irving out and James Harden returning but not putting up much on offense, Durant gave his all, playing the entire 48 minutes and shooting 16 for 23 from the field. Game 6 is on Thursday.

🏀NBA PLAYOFFS: Results from second-round games yesterday:
  • Brooklyn Nets 114, Milwaukee Bucks 108 - Brooklyn leads series 3 games to 2

🏒NHL PLAYOFFS: Results from Conference Finals yesterday:
  • Tampa Bay Lightning 4, New York Islanders 2 - Series tied 1-1

⚾ALTUVE HITS WALK-OFF GRAND SLAM FOR ASTROS IN 10TH INNING: The Houston Astros' Jose Altuve won yesterday's (June 15th) game against the Texas Rangers with a 10th-inning walk-off grand slam for a 6-3 victory. That came after the Astros made it into extra innings with a game-tying homer by Carlos Correa in the ninth. It was MLB's first walk-off grand slam this season.
 

⚾DIAMONDBACKS LOSE 21ST STRAIGHT ROAD GAME, ONE AWAY FROM RECORD: The Arizona Diamondbacks blew a seven-run lead to lose 9-8 to the San Francisco Giants last night (June 15th), getting their 21st straight loss on the road. Arizona is now just one road loss short of the MLB record, currently shared by the 1963 New York Mets and the 1943 Philadelphia Athletics.

⚾MLB TO GIVE 10-GAME SUSPENSION TO PITCHERS FOR DOCTORING BALLS: MLB is cracking down on pitchers using illegal substances to doctor baseballs, saying Tuesday (June 15th) that they will be ejected and suspended for 10 games if they do it. Under the policy, which will start Monday, umpires will start regular checks of all pitchers, even if not requested by opposing managers. The crackdown comes in a season so far of record strikeouts and a league batting average at a more than half-century low. Commissioner Rob Manfred said in a statement that it was, quote, "needed to level the playing field," after what he said has been "an extensive process of repeated warnings without effect.

➤SIMONE BILES' BROTHER ACQUITTED OF MURDER: The 24-year-old brother of Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. gymnast Simone Biles was acquitted of murder charges in a retrial yesterday in Ohio after a mistrial last month. Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court Judge Joan Synenberg granted a judgment of acquittal by the defense for lack of evidence, dismissing Tevin Biles-Thomas' murder charges and acquitting him of voluntary manslaughter and felonious assault. Biles-Thomas was arrested in 2019 in connection with a New Year's Eve shooting in Cleveland. According to authorities, a group of uninvited guests walked into a home that night and a fight began that led to the shooting in which three people were killed. Police had said Biles-Thomas was the shooter, but he has maintained his innocence.
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