Here’s what you need to know to Start Your Week Smart.
1. Coronavirus
The ban stands. Late yesterday morning, the Supreme Court upheld President Donald Trump’s travel ban in a contentious 5-4 ruling. What does it mean? Ultimately, it means people from seven countries will have limited entrance into the United States, and those already here may have trouble getting back in if they leave. Those countries include Iran, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Syria, Venezuela and Yemen.
Yes, we said North Korea. Believe it or not, the restrictions are not expected to chill the US’s warming relationship with the reclusive nation. Still, protests over the SCOTUS decision were swift and strong. Crowds in New York chanted, “Shame!” and some Democratic leaders are already publicly considering legislative action.
MONDAY
Chemical weapons experts still can’t enter the Syrian city of Douma, the site of the suspected chemical attack on civilians. The UK says Syria and Russia are blocking the UN-cleared investigators, and the US believes Russia has tampered with evidence at the site. A Russian military official said investigators would be allowed to enter the city tomorrow.
In other primary election news, two Trump-backed candidates had big wins yesterday (and the President wasted no time taking some victory laps on Twitter). Gov. Henry McMaster held off his opponent in South Carolina’s Republican gubernatorial runoff, and Dan Donovan, New York City’s only Republican congressman, beat out his primary challenger.
3. Spa shootings
Trump has vowed to end his administration’s “zero tolerance” policy that effectively separated families at the border, but the consequences of the decision are still brewing. A coalition of 18 attorneys general filed a lawsuit yesterday over the separation of undocumented children and parents. The lawsuit argues the practice of family separations is “irrationally discriminatory” since it only targets the southern border and, thus, overwhelmingly affects migrants from Latin America. Also on Tuesday, a federal judge in California issued a strong rebuke to the policy by ordering a halt to most border separations and called for the reunification of all separated families.
5. Abortion
“Some days I can’t do anything but sit and cry as the grief overtakes me.”
5. Campground murder
Investigators are asking the public for help as they try to figure out who fatally shot a 35-year-old scientist last Friday as he slept in a tent with his 2- and 4-year-old daughters at a California state park. So far, there are no suspects in Tristan Beaudette’s murder, nor any known motive. The sheriff’s department said it’s also investigating three other shooting incidents over the past year at Malibu Creek State Park, though investigators so far see no link to Beaudette’s death.
BREAKFAST BROWSE
Good night, Your Honor
Oddly enough, they all kind of have the same hair …
Bourbon leaking from a warehouse collapse killed hundreds of fish
Yes, it’s sad. But they probably would have tasted delicious.
Aston Martin reveals $300,000 supercar
Supercar?! For $300K, it better FLY.
Here are the best and worst US states for children
Whatever you’re doing, New Hampshire, you’re doing it right.
A Spanish town is livid – and amused – over a botched statue restoration
It’s supposed to be St. George, if St. George were a Disney prince on quaaludes.
TODAY’S QUOTE
I need a doctor
The percentage of the “criminal investigator population” (special agents at the FBI, the ATF, the DEA and deputy marshals) that is female, according to a new report on gender representation in the Justice Department
TODAY’S QUOTE
“The silence is deafening when it comes to men talking about this issue because you’re talking about a complicit system.”
Actor Terry Crews, who discussed his experience as a sexual assault survivor at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, and called on men to speak out more on the issue
AND FINALLY
‘Don’t worry, I got you!’
This police dog is the very best boy. (Click to view.)