It’s Tuesday. And it’s a busy one, so let’s get to it. Here’s what’s happening today: - A jury found Hunter Biden guilty on all three federal gun charges(!)
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A progressive filmmaker secretly recorded conservative Supreme Court justices. They spoke candidly about politics and religion.
- Republicans are jumping to WNBA superstar Caitlin Clark’s defense after she was snubbed for the Olympic team this summer.
- Apple announced a big iOS update, including its own AI. Keep reading for a list of upcoming iPhone software changes.
I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send tips, commentary, feedback and cookie recipes to cmartel@digital-release.thehill.com. Did someone forward this newsletter to you? Sign up here. |
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Hunter Biden found guilty: |
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After roughly three hours of deliberation, a jury found Hunter Biden guilty of all three felony gun charges.
Why this is historic: This is the first-ever criminal conviction of a sitting president’s child.
The case: Hunter Biden allegedly lied about his drug use on a form while buying a gun — and then unlawfully possessed the firearm for 11 days.
What to expect in sentencing: He faces a maximum of 25 years in prison and $750,000 in fines, but the younger Biden is a first-time offender, so the maximum penalty is unlikely.
Could his father pardon him?: President Biden has said he *would not* pardon his son.
JUST NOW — the president commented on the verdict: “I will accept the outcome of this case and will continue to respect the judicial process as Hunter considers an appeal,” President Biden said in a statement. “Jill and I will always be there for Hunter and the rest of our family with our love and support. Nothing will ever change that.” Read Biden’s full statement
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Telling us how they really feel:
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➤ WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE CONVERSATIONS: |
On religion in politics: Alito agreed with the sentiment that people must fight to “return our country to a place of godliness.” But Roberts didn’t agree and brushed off the idea that the U.S. is inherently Christian.
On the country’s morals: “Would you want me to be in charge of putting the nation on a more moral path?” Roberts rhetorically asked Windsor. “That’s for people we elect. That’s not for lawyers.”
On the country’s polarization: “One side or the other is going to win,” Alito said.
Alito’s wife vows revenge for the flag controversy: She said she wants to get back at the people who raised the flag-flying controversy. “You come after me, I’m gonna give it back to you,” Alito said. “There will be a way, it doesn’t have to be now, but there will be a way they know. Don’t worry about it.” |
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These recordings come after a series of recent controversies over the court’s ethics code. -
Data last week found that Thomas has accepted more than $4 million in gifts since 2004 and Alito received more than $140,000.
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Alito is in hot water over controversial flags being flown outside his homes. An inverted American flag was flown outside his home in the aftermath of the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. An “Appeal to Heaven” flag, which has been associated with far-right politics, was later flown at another one of their homes.
Seeing this list is disconcerting: Forbes published a list of all of the ethics controversies surrounding the Supreme Court.
💡 Why this matters: The Supreme Court’s impartiality has come into question with the recent controversies. The court has several major cases left on the docket for this term, including former President Trump’s immunity claims, abortion, guns and Jan. 6 obstruction. |
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Democrats have their chess move ready: |
Senior Senate Democrats are debating holding up the Supreme Court’s annual funding bill as a way to force Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts to adopt ethics reforms for the court.
Read more from The Hill’s Alexander Bolton: ‘Democrats see Supreme Court leverage in spending bills’ | Conservatives are rallying behind Caitlin Clark: |
WNBA rookie Caitlin Clark, who broke records in her NCAA basketball career and landed at the Indiana Fever as the No. 1 draft pick, was left off Team USA for this summer’s Olympics.
This news was surprising: The 22-year-old has continued her star power in the pros — she tied the WNBA rookie record for 3-pointers in a game just last week. Plus, her fame has been drawing massive crowds at arenas. That’s what makes her exclusion from the Olympic team so surprising.
When Clark found out she was excluded from the team: She told the Fever’s head coach Christie Sides, “Hey coach, they woke a monster.” This is a quote I have seen all over social media. Clark also described her exclusion as “motivation” for the next Olympics.
A number of conservatives have jumped to Clark’s defense, questioning why the rookie, who has injected a huge amount of interest and enthusiasm into the WNBA, was skipped over. Here are some examples: -
Nikki Haley publicly slammed the Olympic selection committee for excluding the star: “Let me get this straight,” Nikki Haley, the former South Carolina governor and Trump-era United Nations ambassador, posted on the social platform X, while rattling off some of Clark’s recent eye-catching stats. “And the US is not going to include her on the Olympic team? I think the Olympic selection committee should be asked do we want the best team to represent our country or not?”
- Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) called the decision ‘really crazy’: “At the end of the day, nobody can deny the fact that she has completely transformed fans’ interest and enthusiasm for women’s basketball,” Youngkin said on the “Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show.”
- The House Judiciary Committee even weighed in: “Caitlin Clark should be on the Olympic team,” the Republican committee posted.
Conservative commentator Jason Whitlock has been vocal about his theory: “Women’s basketball decision-makers are not dumb. They’ve been bullied by the BLM-LGBTQIA+Silent P Alphabet Mafia bigots,” Whitlock posted on X.
Comedian and liberal commentator Bill Maher speculated that it’s because of her race and sexual orientation: “It’s women are catty,” the comedian and political commentator theorized. “The league is very lesbian and she’s not. And, there’s race. There’s a lot going on here.”
A new update: Clark is reportedly a top alternate if one of the Olympic team members drops out. |
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➤ RELATED READS ON THE CAITLIN CLARK SNUB:
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Take a peek under the curtain of dark money:
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The Hill’s Taylor Giorno reports that “the U.S. Chamber of Commerce received an $800,000 wire transfer from billionaire donor Hank Meijer days after it endorsed his son, then-Rep. Peter Meijer (R-Mich.), in a contentious 2022 primary, according to previously unreported internal emails reviewed by The Hill.” And then: “Within days of the transfer, the Chamber spent $381,000 on ‘Media Advertisement – Energy and Taxes – Mentioning Rep. Peter Meijer,’” according to a report filed with the Federal Election Commission (FEC).” Read more: ‘$800,000 wire transfer from billionaire donor to US Chamber raises curtain on dark money’ |
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🌽 Celebrate: Today is National Corn on the Cob Day and National German Chocolate Cake Day. “It’s corn! A big lump with knobs. It has the juice. I can’t imagine a more beautiful thing.” 🎵
📱The new iPhone features are taking over my social media feeds: Apple announced the big iOS 18 update on Monday, which will be released in the fall. Here are the highlights: - Apple is introducing its own AI, “Apple Intelligence.”
- The Photos app will be redesigned.
- Phone calls can be recorded and automatically transcribed. (Don’t worry, it notifies the other person on the call.)
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Apps will be more customizable on the home screen.
More new features, via CNN |
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The House and Senate are in. President Biden and Vice President Harris are in Washington. (all times Eastern) |
Today: Nevada, South Carolina, Maine and North Dakota are holding primaries today for congressional, state and local races. 👀 Five things to watch 1:30 p.m.: Biden speaks at Everytown’s Gun Sense University at the Washington Hilton. 💻 Livestream 1:45 p.m.: Harris holds a press call to announce a new action on medical debt. 2:30 p.m.: White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre briefs reporters. 💻 Livestream
5:30 p.m.: The Senate holds a cloture vote on a nomination. 📆 Today’s agenda
6:30 p.m.: First and last House votes. 📆 Today’s agenda
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