Let’s do a quick tally of what the Supreme Court accomplished this week, just as a warm-up before we get to the earthquakes. The Court: allowed Trump to block asylum seekers at the border; agreed to let him end temporary protected status for 350,000 Haitians and 6,000 Syrians; struck down a Hawaii gun law; blocked thousands of lawsuits against Bayer’s Roundup weed killer; and postponed considering Trump’s appeal of a $5 million sex abuse case. The Court’s conservative majority accomplished all of this in four days. The Court then took a long weekend.
On June 24, twin earthquakes struck northwestern Venezuela, killing over 500 people and trapping hundreds more in rubble in Catia La Mar. International rescue teams from Mexico, Brazil, Cuba, and the United States joined search operations — including, notably, the U.S., which also maintains active sanctions on Venezuela that have hampered the importation of rescue equipment and medical supplies. The State Department said it was “monitoring the situation.”
Also this week: The Washington Post published an exposé reporting that Tulsi Gabbard’s political rise was secretly guided by Chris Butler, the head of a cult-like breakaway Hare Krishna group in Hawaii. Butler allegedly directed her media appearances, social media posts, and legislation for years. Gabbard resigned as Director of National Intelligence the previous week. The Post has the memos. The memos are detailed. This is not a satirical addition to the paragraph. This is what happened.
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The Fake News Desk
AREA MAN DESCRIBES SIXTH DATE AS “VERY PROMISING,” HAS NOT BEEN ASKED A SINGLE QUESTION ABOUT HIMSELF
Austin resident Derek Fulbright, 34, described his ongoing courtship of Melissa Tanaka, 31, as “going really well” this week, noting that they had now been on six dates, shared multiple meals, and attended a concert together, during which Melissa had not once asked Derek what he did for work, where he grew up, or what he was looking for in a relationship.
“She’s very comfortable around me,” Fulbright told reporters. “Like, she doesn’t feel the need to fill silences with questions. That’s a sign of real connection.”
Melissa Tanaka, reached separately, said she was “pretty sure” Derek’s last name was Fulbright, “or maybe Fulton,” and that she had been meaning to ask what he did but “the conversation just never went there.” She described the relationship as “casual” and said she assumed Derek understood that.
Fulbright has begun researching engagement rings. He does not know Melissa’s middle name. He is not certain of her last name. He describes the whole thing as “organic.”
