Weather: As the eastern part of the country watches a heat dome move closer, bringing temperatures in the mid-90s, hundreds of people have been evacuated in Los Angeles County to escape a wildfire that so far has consumed 15,000 acres and is only 2% controlled. Dry conditions, high temperatures and winds of up to 70 miles per hour are expected to continue according to the National Weather Service, adding to the fire’s spread. Â
Trump gaff: After telling a rally in Detroit that President Biden is cognitively impaired and he, Donald Trump, is perfect, Trump called his former White House doctor by the wrong name. Trump pointed to a man in the audience at the rally who he identified as Congressman Ronnie Johnson and said he was the former White House physician who gave Trump a perfect score on a cognitive test. However, the man’s name is Ronnie Jackson, not Johnson. Trump’s 78th birthday was on Friday. Â
Internet warnings: U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy in an op-ed in today’s New York Times calls for warning labels to be applied to social media applications on the internet. He said the warning labels should alert parents that social media use can result in mental health problems for young people. Murthy urged Congress to take action and pass legislation requiring the warnings. He said most parents are unaware of mental health problems that have been found to be linked with excessive social media use.
Tax cuts: The conservative Cato Institute today called on Congress to cut tax rates for corporations and wealthy individuals who pay the highest personal rates. Cato says that the corporate tax rate should be reduced from the current 21% to 12% and the top personal tax rate should be cut to 25% with a capital gains tax rate of 15%. CNN reports that in a meeting with chief executive officers of key businesses, Donald Trump promised to push through business tax cuts that would save them $4.6 trillion a year.
War cabinet: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has dissolved his war cabinet, which was formed to manage the war with Hamas. The government’s regular security cabinet will now make decisions regarding the war. Benny Gantz, who has been a leader of political opposition to Netanyahu, quit the war cabinet after sharply criticizing Netanyahu’s handling of the war.
Tony Awards: The Tony Awards were handed out last night. The award for best musical went to “Stereophonic,” while the award for best play went to “The Outsider.” “Suffs” won for best book of a musical and best original score written for the theatre. Best revival of a musical was Stephen Sondheim’s “Merrily We Roll Along,” which generally was considered among his least successful works.
