So long Khamenei! Funeral for slain Iranian supreme leader killed in US, Israeli strikes to begin July 4th

AI Divides Spiritual Leaders in the Wake of Magnifica Humanitas

AI forces religious leaders to reckon with the difference between ‘new’ and ‘novel’ technology.

Supreme Court has a 'self-serving' interest in helping the GOP win the midterms: expert

A Supreme Court expert warned on Sunday that the Court has a "self-serving" interest in helping Republicans hold their majority in Congress after the midterm election, and that this could influence how the court rules in a major upcoming case. Lisa Graves, executive director of True North Research and co-host of the "Legal AF" podcast, argued during a recent episode that the Supreme Court has already signaled to Republicans that it is willing to help them during the midterms. She noted that the court previously operated under the dictum that it would not interfere in the election process during election years, but threw that principle out when it decided to allow Louisiana to redraw its congressional map in Louisiana v. Callais. That raises the stakes for a forthcoming Supreme Court decision regarding a case from Mississippi that could determine when states are allowed to count mail-in ballots, Graves argued."All bets are off because we know the Roberts court has been actively, aggressively intervening in our elections while elections are underway to put their thumb or their fist on the scale of justice on the side of Republicans," Graves said. "I think not just because Donald Trump has wanted to change the maps and basically cheat to get an advantage in this midterm election, but also because John Roberts has a multi-decade antipathy for the Voting Rights Act."He's joined in that by people like Sam Alito who have been opposed to the apportionment cases and more," she continued. "And also, it cannot go unmentioned by me that if Congress were to become controlled by Democrats, there would probably be a robust investigation of this Roberts court. So, they have a self-serving interest as they are trying to move the law to aid what the RNC wants or what Republicans want." Graves noted that the Callais decision highlighted the Supreme Court's "self-serving" interest in helping Republicans, because a Republican majority would not investigate the court, whereas Democrats would.Graves added that there are several things Democrats could investigate the Supreme Court for. She noted that Justice Clarence Thomas has not yet answered questions about his financial disclosures and a recreational vehicle that he purchased on loan from a wealthy associate that was later forgiven. Justice Sam Alito has also not answered questions about trips he took that were funded by wealthy donors. "There's a lot of investigations that need to take place," Graves said.

Pence cast doubt on possibility of US, Iran peace deal before Trump announcement

Former Vice President Mike Pence cast doubt on the possibility of a deal between Iran and the U.S. over the two countries’ war shortly before President Trump announced a deal has been reached on Sunday. “My concern right now is not with the intentions of the president. Look, I think the president has earned a [...]

A message for the Iranian soccer team: You deserve freedom

Iran’s soccer team is arriving in LA on Monday to play its first match of the World Cup against New Zealand. It is a rare moment, a lull in war that might evoke memories of the Christmas truce of 1914. Back then, in the first winter of the First World War, German and British soldiers...

Oil prices fall on US, Iran deal announcement

Crude oil prices fell over 4% to their lowest levels in over three months Sunday after the U.S. and Iran agreed to a ceasefire extension that could lead to the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.Why it matters: Severe restrictions on oil traffic through the strait since the conflict began in late February have created an unprecedented energy shock that's a drag on the global economy.The oil price spike caused U.S. gasoline prices to soar to their highest levels since 2022, adding to GOP political peril ahead of the midterm elections.The latest: The global benchmark Brent crude is down 3.6% to $84.21 per barrel. It initially fell even more steeply before reversing some of the decline.WTI, the U.S. reference, is down over 4% to $81.38 per barrel.Sunday's decline follows prices that had already slid Friday on reports that an agreement was imminent.The apparent agreement could greatly expand tanker traffic through the narrow waterway that handles about a fifth of the global oil trade. Axios' Barak Ravid has the latest on the agreement. Catch up quick: The memorandum of understanding would mark the biggest diplomatic breakthrough of the war and buy time to settle the hardest questions over Iran's nuclear program.What we're watching: Average U.S. gasoline prices soared to a high of roughly $4.56 per gallon in May, but have retreated in recent weeks and now average $4.07, per AAA.That's still over $1 higher than pre-war levels at a time when affordability is front and center in midterm election battles. But prices will likely recede if crude oil prices — the largest variable in retail pump prices — continue to recede. What's next: The disrupted market will take months to fully untangle, but the apparent deal could enable a major increase in tanker transit.But it's not clear how many ship owners and operators will quickly have confidence to move through the waterway.Plus, even if the strait is fully open, Persian Gulf oil producers that cut production when the main export route was cut off will need time to revive it. Go deeper: Gas prices won't return to pre-war levels anytime soon

'Let's Not Blow It!': Trump Warns Israel's Lebanon Strikes Could Scuttle Iran Peace Deal (UPDATED)

Israelis slam proposed US-Iran peace deal as a ‘Bad Deal,’ say it fails to address security concerns

The frustration was summed up in the main headline of the Israeli newspaper Yediot Aharonot on Sunday, describing the agreement as a “bad deal."

Trump Leaves the Hard Part for Later in Long-Awaited Iran Deal

The US and Iran needed more than two months of fitful, strained negotiations to agree on a deal to halt their fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Now comes the hard part.