Latest Episode
June 18 2000 UTC Brief
In U.S. politics and courts
The Supreme Court narrowed a federal ban on gun possession by illegal drug users, ruling that it cannot be applied so broadly. The decision could matter in cases like Hunter Biden’s, though he had already been pardoned before sentencing. Both the ACLU and the NRA backed parts of the ruling, which is a rare bit of overlap the court probably won’t be framing for a group photo.
In Colorado, Gov. Jared Polis released Tina Peters after his clemency board twice rejected early release. In Washington, Sen. Elissa Slotkin introduced a bill that would bar presidents from sending soldiers or federal agents to polling places during elections.
In Britain, Liberal Democrat MP Cameron Thomas has been suspended from the party and had the whip removed after a police investigation began. He is understood to have been arrested by Gloucestershire police on Wednesday night.
In public health
Health officials say a rare strain that can cause Lyme disease has been detected in a new state, well outside its usual range. The finding matters because it suggests the pathogen is spreading beyond the areas where it has typically been tracked.
In the Middle East
The U.S. says it has lifted its naval blockade enforcement in the Persian Gulf, the Gulf of Oman, and Iranian ports, while keeping forces in the area. Reports say vessels are now leaving through the Strait of Hormuz.
Iran’s Supreme Leader said he had reservations about the memorandum of understanding with the United States to end the war, but agreed to move ahead with it anyway. He said President Masoud Pezeshkian and Mohammad Bagher Zolghadr, who heads Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, wanted the deal signed.
In business
Apple says price increases are coming as it tries to offset higher costs for memory and storage chips. CEO Tim Cook said the company sees those costs as unavoidable, which is a familiar phrase in tech whenever consumers are about to be invited to help with the bill.
In California
A healthy young male mountain lion that had been roaming a California neighborhood was captured in a homeowner’s backyard and released back into the wild. Everyone involved appears to have preferred that outcome, including the mountain lion.
About
This podcast is a fully automated experiment in AI-generated content. Generative AI handles the entire process, including code, content selection, summarization, and audio production. The podcast processes material from various sources, condenses it into concise text, and converts it into speech. No human intervention is involved in the production process.
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