Today’s edition of quick hits.
* In Texas: “More than 1.6 million customers in Texas were still without power Wednesday afternoon, depriving many of air conditioning during a dangerous heat wave, 48 hours after Hurricane Beryl made landfall on the Gulf Coast.”
* On a related note, this seems like a deeply odd angle to the broader story: “President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the federal government could not distribute emergency relief supplies, including power generators, after Hurricane Beryl hit Texas until the White House was able to “track down” state leaders and get their formal request for a major disaster declaration. Biden’s comments came as Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick is serving as acting governor while Greg Abbott is on an economic development trip in Asia.”
* Speaking of the White House, these were compelling remarks: “With the eyes of the world on him, President Joe Biden delivered a forceful speech to open the NATO summit in Washington, aiming to reverse doubts about his fitness for the job domestically while boasting that his leadership revitalized the storied alliance and saved Ukraine.”
* Speaking of NATO’s future: “Ukraine is on an ‘irreversible’ path to NATO membership, U.S. and European officials said Wednesday, advancing assurances from allies that it will be allowed to join the Western military coalition after its war with Russia ends.”
* In Russia: “A court in Russia ordered the arrest of the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny during a hearing Tuesday that was conducted in absentia as part of a sweeping Kremlin crackdown on the opposition. Yulia Navalnaya, who lives abroad, would face arrest if and when she returns to Russia.”
* A legislative effort worth watching: “A bipartisan group of senators announced a deal Wednesday on a congressional stock trading ban aimed at preventing members from profiting from insider knowledge. Sens. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., Gary Peters, D-Mich., Josh Hawley, R-Mo., and Jeff Merkley, D-Ore., announced their legislative proposal, dubbed the ETHICS Act, on Capitol Hill.”
* Trump’s pal in Sao Paulo: “Brazil’s Federal Police allege former President Jair Bolsonaro embezzled jewelry worth 6.8 million Brazilian reals (about $1.2 million) during his time in office, according to the investigative report unsealed Monday by the Supreme Court.”
See you tomorrow.
