Today’s edition of quick hits.
* It’s difficult to imagine how Cheatle will remain in her position: “Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle was skewered by a visibly frustrated House oversight committee Monday after she said she took responsibility for security failures that led to the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump but sidestepped several major questions.”
* Menendez hasn’t resigned yet: “Senate Ethics Committee leaders on Monday notified convicted Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) that panel members have voted to ‘initiate an adjudicatory review of his alleged violations of Senate Rules,’ setting the stage for a possible future vote to expel or censure him.”
* Stay tuned: “U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday a long-sought cease-fire between Israel and Palestinian militant group Hamas was within sight, saying negotiators were ‘driving toward the goal line.’”
* Philadelphia’s latest mass shooting: “Three people were killed and six others were injured at a shooting in west Philadelphia early Sunday morning, according to police. … All of the deceased victims were men, according to the news release, including a 33-year-old who was pronounced dead on the scene. A 23-year-old who was shot in the chest, leg and stomach was taken to a medical center, where he died.”
* In Iowa: “The Iowa Supreme Court on Monday denied a rehearing request for Iowa’s six-week abortion ban, meaning enforcement of the law will likely begin soon. Planned Parenthood of the Heartland filed the petition for a rehearing to the Iowa Supreme Court earlier in July, asking justices to reconsider the 4-3 decision on the law in June that paved the way for enforcement of the law. The ruling ordered the district court to lift a temporary injunction on the measure restricting abortions, as well as setting a lower legal standard for testing the constitutionality of state abortion laws.”
* Despite the political tumult, the Biden administration is still governing as it should: “The Environmental Protection Agency is awarding $4.3 billion in grants to fund projects in 30 states to reduce climate pollution. The money will go to 25 projects targeting greenhouse gas emissions from transportation, electric power, commercial and residential buildings, industry, agriculture and waste and materials management.”
* In related news: “President Biden announced a new goal Friday to phase out the purchasing and use of single-use plastics across the federal government by 2035. … The announcement follows a 2022 U.S. Department of Interior Secretarial Order aimed at phasing out single-use plastics in national parks and other public lands — including Yosemite, Yellowstone and Grand Canyon — as well as a rule issued last month by the General Services Administration to reduce single-use packaging in federal purchasing.”
See you tomorrow.
