#1: Migrant Tragedy at Mexican Border:
A group of migrants smuggled across the border from Mexico to San Antonio, Texas were abandoned in a tractor trailer. They were discovered on Monday night by a city worker who heard cries for help and notified police. Forty-eight people were found dead and others were hospitalized with heat-related injuries. At least two of the hospitalized victims have died. There was no water or air conditioning in the trailer and temperatures in San Antonio have been over 100 degrees. It is unknown at this point how long the migrants were there before being discovered, and why they were left there. Police and fire personnel held a press conference on Monday night.
#2: Judge Says No Abortion Ban In Louisiana For Now:
A New Orleans Civil District judge issued a temporary restraining order on Monday, stopping Louisiana from enforcing the abortion ban that went into effect when the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade.
The ban is on hold until further notice and will be re-addressed on July 8, while Judge Robin Giarrusso reviews a lawsuit by a group of abortion service providers and reproductive rights groups.
As a result, abortions may continue at the three remaining abortion clinics, in Shreveport, Baton Rouge and New Orleans, which had been forced to stop offering abortions after the Supreme Court’s ruling.
#3: Biden Says No To Expanding Supreme Court:
Fellow Democrats are pushing President Biden to expand the Supreme Court by adding more justices to even the playing field. Biden says he doesn’t want to go that route.
Several outspoken lawmakers have let their opinions be known, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Rep. Mondaire Jones of New York, Sen. Ed Markey of Massachusetts and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
“This court has lost legitimacy, they have burned whatever legitimacy they may have still had,” said Senator Warren on an ABC News broadcast. “I believe we need to get some confidence back in our court, and that means we need more justices on the United States Supreme Court.”
The White House Press Secretary, Jean-Pierre, said the Biden Administration is looking at strategies and reviewing what can be done legally.
Democrats tried to release a bill last year to expand the number of court seats to 13, but the bill was stalled in Congress. House Speaker Pelosi pointed out that expansion of the court has happened before in our history, but she has no plans to bring legislation to the floor right now.
#4: January 6 Hearings:
At 1pm today, a previously unscheduled live public session of the January 6 Committee will broadcast and livestream. The committee wasn’t planning on holding another session this month but unexpectedly added today’s session. On the agenda to testify is an aide to former White House Chief of Staff, Mark Meadows. Cassidy Hutchinson was a witness to many events in the final days of the Trump administration and could bring to light more information on Trump’s behaviors during the attack on the Capitol.
#5: Russian Luxury Yacht Seized:
As part of the pressure on Russia to end the war in Ukraine, the US seized a luxury yacht worth at least $300 million from a sanctioned Russian oligarch, Suleiman Kerimov. The effort by the Task Force KleptoCapture began in March. The capture had some obstacles and legal hurdles, but the Amadea yacht traveled over 5,000 miles in the Pacific Ocean from Fiji and docked in San Diego Bay in California on Monday. The Department of Justice said in a statement that it will be in government possession and sold.
