Effective tomorrow, France will implement a ban on smoking in various public spaces, including beaches, parks, public gardens, bus shelters, libraries, swimming pools, and schools. This measure, outlined in a new government decree, aims to shield children from the dangers of passive smoking. Violators of the ban will be fined €135, while e-cigarettes are not specifically addressed in the decree. The initiative, supported by a majority of French citizens, excludes café terraces and is intended to reduce the approximately 75,000 tobacco-related deaths occurring annually in the country.
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The U.S. Senate voted against a war powers resolution that would have restricted President Trump’s ability to conduct further attacks on Iran, with the vote largely along party lines. The resolution, proposed by Senator Tim Kaine, aimed to prevent offensive measures while preserving the ability to defend U.S. forces, drawing support from most Democrats but facing opposition from Republicans, except for Senator Rand Paul. This measure faced criticism for potentially hindering the defense of Israel, despite amendments addressing this concern. The resolution’s failure highlighted divisions within the Democratic caucus, with some members supporting military action and others advocating for a stronger anti-war stance.
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In a joint operation, Ukraine’s Security Service (SSU), Armed Forces, and Special Operations Forces successfully targeted the Marinovka airfield in Russia’s Volgograd Oblast, resulting in the destruction of two Russian Su-34 fighter-bombers and damage to two others. Long-range drones were employed in the attack, which also ignited a fire in the airfield’s technical maintenance area, a key location for aircraft preparation and repairs. The General Staff noted that Su-34s are the primary tactical aircraft used by Russia for strikes on Ukrainian positions and civilian areas, often equipped with guided aerial bombs.
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Russia has concentrated 110,000 troops near Pokrovsk, a strategic city in eastern Ukraine, making it the “hottest spot” along the front line. Despite ongoing offensives for almost a year, Moscow has struggled to capture the city, likely due to Ukrainian defenses and the use of drones. Pokrovsk’s importance lies in its location on a key supply route and as a strategic target for Russia’s goal of controlling the Donetsk region. Ukrainian actions, including a counteroffensive in the Kursk region, have forced Russia to change tactics and now attempt to encircle the city.
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The Supreme Court has sided with Texas in the case of *Free Speech Coalition v. Paxton*, upholding a law requiring age verification for adult websites. The court ruled that the First Amendment does not protect the right of adults to access content deemed obscene for minors without first providing proof of age, opening the door for similar age-gating measures nationwide. This decision, reached with a 6-3 majority, effectively revisits a 2004 ruling and attributes the change to advances in technology. The ruling highlights the absence of a strict scrutiny standard for age verification, potentially affecting privacy.
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On June 28th, Ukrainian Defence Intelligence (DIU) drones targeted military facilities in Bryansk, Russia. Local reports indicated loud explosions and gunfire, sparking discussion amongst Russians. While authorities remained silent, a Ukrainian intelligence source confirmed the DIU attack hit facilities of the 120th Arsenal. This follows a previous DIU strike on June 26th targeting fuel and lubricant warehouses in the same city.
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The Supreme Court’s conservative majority has paved the way for potential federal enforcement of an executive order restricting birthright citizenship. This ruling, though not addressing the order’s legality, limits federal courts’ power to issue nationwide injunctions, preventing policies from taking effect during litigation. In dissent, Justices Sotomayor and Jackson criticized the decision, accusing the court of undermining its role in checking government power and warning of broader threats to constitutional protections, including the potential for executive overreach and creation of a “zone of lawlessness.” The justices emphasized that the principle of birthright citizenship has stood unchallenged for over a century.
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Mamdani and Other Younger Democrats Are No Longer Waiting Their Turn. It’s a sentiment that’s been brewing for a while, a realization that the old rules of political succession just don’t apply anymore, or perhaps, never did. Mamdani, at 33, is a prime example, and the fact that someone of his age is making serious waves in the political arena is a testament to the changing tides. The idea of “turns” in the Democratic Party seems like a relic of the past, a system that has, for many, become a stagnant and ineffective mess.
The core of the problem lies in seniority, a system that’s kept a generation of potential leaders on the sidelines.… Continue reading
The Supreme Court’s ruling in Trump v. CASA, effectively dismantling nationwide injunctions, has unleashed legal chaos. This decision removes the ability of lower courts to issue broad injunctions, empowering Trump to potentially violate constitutional rights on a case-by-case basis, varying by state or even county. The ruling’s consequence could mean that citizenship status will depend on where a person is born, mirroring the pre-Civil War era, which is a step backward. By targeting nationwide injunctions in this context, the court paves the way for Trump to implement policies previously blocked, including those related to birthright citizenship, thus pulling the country back to a neo-Confederate legal landscape.
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood