U.S. and world news for June 28

Air quality worsens: Air quality alerts have been issued that apply to 80-million people in parts of the Midwest and Northeast due to smoke from the Canadian wildfires. The world’s worst air quality was reported last night in Chicago and Detroit. Visibility has been reduced to slightly more than a mile in many parts of the Midwest with people advised to stay inside and if they go outside wear an effective mask such as an N95.

Supreme Court decision: The Supreme Court by a 6-3 vote ruled that state legislatures cannot decide the outcome of federal elections. It was a unique legal theory that Trump loyalists, among others, had been promoting. If it had been in effect for the 2020 Presidential Election, state legislatures would have been able to throw out the results that gave the election to Joe Biden and instead award the election to Trump. Conservative Justices Thomas, Alito and Gorsuch were in the minority in saying that state legislatures should have the power to decide who wins a federal election.

Biden on the economy: President Biden went to Chicago today for what the White House described as a major speech on the economy. Progress in reducing inflation, increasing employment, raising wages and increasing manufacturing activity are being branded under the name Bidenomics. The theme that Bidenomics is working is expected to be used throughout the upcoming presidential campaign.

Russian missile: A Russian missile hit a pizzeria in the city of Kramatorsk in the eastern region of Ukraine killing 10 people and wounding more than 60. Ukrainian authorities have arrested a man who lives in the city and charged him with helping direct the Russian missile attack. It’s charged that the man provided the Russians with information about the pizzeria including the times it normally is crowded.

Trump files lawsuit: Donald Trump has filed a lawsuit accusing journalist E. Jean Carroll of defaming him. Trump was convicted by a jury of sexually assaulting Carroll and ordered to pay her $5 million. Trump alleges that Carroll defamed him by claiming in a TV interview that he did rape her after the jury determined that what he did was sexual assault, not rape. Carroll has another lawsuit pending against Trump alleging he defamed her and seeking at least $10 million in damages.

Giuliani meets with prosecutors: A political advisor for Trump confidant and advisor Rudy Giuliani has told CNN that Giuliani has been interviewed by investigators for Special Counsel Jack Smith who have been looking into schemes to keep Donald Trump in power despite his loss in the 2020 election. Giuliani’s political advisor, who was not named by CNN, is reported to have said the appearance was voluntary and conducted in a professional manner.

Cover photo by Gage Skidmore / Flickr Creative Commons