Today’s edition of quick hits.
* SCOTUS news: “The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a tax on foreign corporate investments in a case some worried could imperil any future attempts to enact a wealth tax on the super-rich. The case had previously attracted scrutiny after conservative Justice Samuel Alito refused to recuse himself over his ties with one of the lawyers challenging the one-off tax imposed in 2017. Alito was part of the 7-2 majority that rejected the challenge to the measure.”
* Aid to Ukraine: “The White House announced Thursday that it will rush delivery of air defense interceptor missiles to Ukraine by redirecting planned shipments to other allied nations, as Washington scrambles to counter increased Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.”
* A notable rift: “A television interview followed by a sharp government response is the latest evidence of a deepening rift between Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the military over whether Hamas can be eliminated and the lack of a broader day-after plan for the end of the war in Gaza.”
* Yellen takes aim at cartels: “In Atlanta to promote the Biden administration’s efforts to quell the import of illegal drugs into the U.S., Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen announced new sanctions against members of a Mexican drug cartel accused of trafficking fentanyl, cocaine, meth and migrants through the southern border.”
* Putin goes from Pyongyang to Hanoi: “Mr. Putin’s visit to Vietnam is part of an effort by the Russian leader to show that despite Western attempts at isolating him over his invasion of Ukraine, he is still accepted by world leaders. … Vietnam has stopped short of voicing support for Russia’s war on Ukraine but has also been careful not to alienate Moscow.”
* A story worth keeping an eye on: “The Republican chair of the House Intelligence Committee is demanding the Biden administration declassify all relevant intelligence about the status of Russia’s nuclear anti-satellite program, saying it would allow for a full public debate on the threat posed by Moscow’s project.”
* TikTok’s case is just getting started: “The Biden administration’s new law forcing the sale or ban of TikTok is the unconstitutional result of “political demagoguery” and should be overturned, TikTok attorneys said in a court brief Thursday marking the start of one of the most consequential legal battles in American internet history.”
See you tomorrow.
