The Bulletin
World in Brief
Welcome to the Bulletin,
- US reacts to Iran nuclear program: The U.S. has vowed to "respond accordingly" after Iran's recent nuclear advancements, which Washington says lack a "credible peaceful purpose." Learn more about Iran's escalation.
- G7 summit: President Biden on Thursday touted a new 10-year security agreement with Ukraine, saying the pact sent a clear message to Russia that the United States and its allies would support Kyiv for the long term. Here's what we know.
- Ohio nightclub mass shooting: A mass shooting has taken place at a nightclub in Ohio, with at least one person believed to have been killed and three injured, according to a local report. Find out more about the incident.
- IVF protection bill: Senate Republicans blocked a bill put forth by Democrats on Thursday to codify broad federal protections for in vitro fertilization (IVF) nationwide. Find out which Republicans voted to protect IVF.
- Newsom boosts border security: California Governor Gavin Newsom has more than doubled the number of National Guard troops along his state's southern border with Mexico in efforts to crack down on "deadly drugs." Learn more.
- James secures major convictions: New York Attorney General Letitia James announced Thursday that her office convicted 14 people for trafficking "major" amounts of fentanyl in the northwestern portion of her state. Find out more.
- In the ongoing war in Ukraine, NATO aircraft were scrambled Thursday overnight as Russian drones and missiles again struck targets inside Ukraine, reaching as far west as the Khmelnytskyi region less than 200 miles from the Polish border.
What's Behind Biden's Risky Gaza Ceasefire Gamble
With the odds of a permanent ceasefire appearing remote for now, former U.S., Israeli, and Palestinian officials who played active roles during previous rounds of Israeli-Palestinian peace talks outline the strategy and stakes behind the Biden administration's big bet to Newsweek.
Why it matters: The White House claimed the proposal was backed by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's government. However, Netanyahu has not publicly supported it, and his officials emphasized that the deal's acceptance depended on achieving Israel's wartime goals, including defeating Hamas. Secretary of State Blinken noted the agreement mirrored a previous one with Hamas, which had collapsed last month.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Biden's Israel-Hamas Ceasefire Proposal, Explained
TL/DR: "Even if you get these two to agree on a more comprehensive proposal, they'll never get beyond phase one," Aaron David Miller said. "That's where we are. And that's not a good place."
What happens now? Aaron David Miller, who today serves as a senior fellow for the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, warned that the Biden administration today faces a triple threat of a rise in domestic and foreign terrorism directed toward the U.S., instability in the Persian Gulf region and Iran potentially recalibrating its hesitance to obtain nuclear weapons, all exacerbated by a Middle East war that has commanded the attention of voters like never before.
Deeper reading What's Behind Biden's Risky Gaza Ceasefire Gamble
New Clarence Thomas Allegations Spark Democrat Backlash
New allegations about Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas were revealed on Thursday, alleging that Justice Thomas "never disclosed" additional trips he took, which were gifted by Republican donor Harlan Crow, according to the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Why it matters: Justice Thomas and Crow previously faced criticism after a ProPublica report published in April 2023 detailed "luxury trips" accepted by Justice Thomas. These undisclosed trips include flights in 2017, 2019, and 2021, raising further questions about Thomas's financial disclosures. Justice Thomas defended his actions, citing early guidance on personal hospitality from close friends who did not have business before the Court.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Clarence Thomas: Full List of Free Luxury Trips Revealed
TL/DR: Numerous people on social media have reacted to the news on Thursday.
What happens now? Reactions online have been divisive, with calls for his resignation and defenses of his integrity.
Deeper reading New Clarence Thomas Allegations Spark Democrat Backlash
US Nuclear Attack Submarine Surfaces in Cuba Behind Russian Fleet
A U.S. Navy fast-attack submarine arrived in Cuba's Guantanamo Bay on Thursday, hard on the heels of a Russian flotilla's arrival in Havana 24 hours earlier.
Why it matters: The USS Helena, a Los Angeles-class nuclear-powered, conventionally armed boat, was making a routine port visit during its global maritime security mission, according to the U.S. Southern Command. On Wednesday, Cuban armed forces welcomed the Russian Northern Fleet missile frigate Admiral Gorshkov with a 21-cannon salute as it led the Yasen-M-class cruise missile submarine Kazan into Havana Bay for a stopover from June 12-17. The visit, roughly 100 miles south of the Florida Keys, "does not represent any threat to the region," the Cuban government said.
Read more in-depth coverage:
US 'Submarine Hunters' Converge on Russian Flotilla off Florida: Time-Lapse
TL/DR: Given the sub's arrival time, it is conceivable to have traveled the same waters the Russian Northern Fleet ships used.
What happens now? Joe Biden and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky met on the margins of the G7 summit in Italy on June 13 and signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement. U.S. national security adviser Jake Sullivan said, "By signing this, we'll also be sending Russia a signal of our resolve.”
Deeper reading US Nuclear Attack Submarine Surfaces in Cuba Behind Russian Fleet
Putin Has a Gas Problem
The bad news for Gazprom is flowing as freely as the fuel it once pumped to Europe after it was ordered to pay €13bn ($14bn) for failing to fulfill natural gas orders, delivering the latest blow to Vladimir Putin's major revenue generator.
Why it matters: The Russian energy giant is one of the big business losers of Putin's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. On Wednesday, German energy company Uniper announced it had terminated its long-term gas supply contracts with Gazprom Export after an arbitration hearing, Gazprom was accused of disrupting supplies following Putin's invasion. Two days earlier, Gazprom's annual report had said its natural gas production had been cut from 412.94 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2022 to 359 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 2023—a decline of 13 percent.
Read more in-depth coverage:
Russian Economy Forced into China Pivot after Sanctions Bombshell
TL/DR: It posted its first loss in a quarter of a century while facing a stalled pipeline to China as it struggles to find new markets for its products.
What happens now? The Financial Times said it had seen a report commissioned by Gazprom leaders, which concluded exports to Europe will average 50bn-75bn cubic meters per year by 2035, barely a third of prewar levels. Russia is also developing production of LNG, which is transported by ship, offering a route for otherwise stranded pipeline gas. But it cannot probably build enough ice-capable LNG carriers.
Deeper reading Putin Has a Gas Problem
Californians Warned of $12 Billion Nuclear Bill
California-based utility company Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) is looking to spend nearly $12 billion to extend the life of its Diablo Canyon Power Plant until 2030, according to environmental group the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility, a claim that has now been supported by campaign organization the Environmental Working Group (EWG).
Why it matters: Diablo Canyon nuclear facility, based in San Luis Obispo County, operates two nuclear units that produce 18,000 gigawatt-hours of clean and reliable electricity annually. The EWG is urging Governor Gavin Newsom to withdraw his backing for a "limited-term extension" to the facility, now the only operational nuclear power station in California. Despite PG&E's claim that the maximum extension cost will be $8.3 billion, concerns over rising expenses led the California legislature to cancel a $400 million loan for the plant's extension from 2025 to 2030.
Read more in-depth coverage:
US To Announce Bold New Nuclear Strategy
TL/DR: Speaking to CBS News, a PG&E spokesperson contested the $11.8 billion figure, which they said included costs unrelated to extending Diablo Canyon.
What happens now? In 2018, legislation came into effect requiring California to become completely reliant on clean energy sources, a category that includes nuclear, by 2045. To help achieve this, the state has backed plans that would see the sale of new gasoline-powered vehicles phased out by 2035.
Deeper reading Californians Warned of $12 Billion Nuclear Bill
I Joined a Gang With Neo-Nazis in Jail—Then Revealed I'm Jewish
I got into a fight at a Panda Express in Los Angeles. Another homeless person mugged me there and stole my cell phone. We fought and I took out a knife and asked for my phone back. When I arrived, it was very scary. There are the Black gangs, the Hispanic gangs, and the white gangs. Some people in the white gangs have swastikas and are pretty serious.
I knew that I had to join the Peckerwoods, a notorious white supremacist gang. But I am by birth half-Jewish. I have a Jewish last name too, so I was fearful. My plan was to pretend I was German since my last name is Yiddish, so pretty similar sounding. It's probably not politically correct to say this, but I also don't look like a stereotypical Jewish person, at least in the eyes of neo-Nazis.
I also think my image played into it. They saw a crackhead from Skid Row who weighed 130 pounds and just didn't connect that with a Jewish guy. So, I got away with it. Click below to read his full experience. Want more personal essays like this? Subscribe to My Turn newsletter.
