Comment on Sen. Mark Kirk to skip Republican National Convention - and Trump circus

“President Biden has been a coalition-builder on the world stage. But as he seeks re-election, he is facing the re-emergence of the far right—and the specter of the strongman—both at home and abroad,” the Wall Street Journal reports. “Biden’s ability to hold together a Western alliance, central to the defense of Ukraine in its war against Russia, will be at the forefront when he arrives Wednesday in southern Italy’s Puglia region for the Group of Seven industrialized nations summit.” “The meetings fall at a perilous time for Biden’s campaign and his efforts to promote democracy and alliances abroad.

Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — A federal judge on Tuesday struck down a 2023 Florida law that blocked gender-affirming care for transgender minors and severely restricted such treatment for adults, calling the statute unconstitutional. Senior Judge Robert Hinkle said the state went too far when it barred transgender minors from being prescribed puberty blockers and hormonal treatments with their parents’ permission.

Central Islip, N. Y. — The Poconos are set to get another summering New Yorker: George Santos. The former congressman, currently facing federal fraud charges, has won a bid to make regular visits to the low-key Pennsylvania vacation destination after a judge on Tuesday granted his request to make excursions there. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] An attorney for Santos last week asked Judge Joanna Seybert if Santos could make weekly trips to the Mt.

New York Times: “Jill Biden, the first lady and Mr. Biden’s stepmother who attended most days of the trial, was not able to get to the courtroom in time for the verdict because of security delays.” “But she held Mr. Biden’s hand as he left the courthouse and got into a waiting vehicle without speaking to reporters.”

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) called Hunter Biden’s conviction on federal gun charges “kinda dumb.”

This article is part of The D. C. Brief, TIME’s politics newsletter. Sign up here to get stories like this sent to your inbox. As Joe Biden was preparing for his first debate against Donald Trump over the summer of 2020, staying largely secluded in his Delaware home as he and the country marathoned through the Covid-19 pandemic, he looked down to see his son, Hunter, calling. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] Hunter told the man he called “Pop” that he knew the younger Biden’s struggle with drugs and alcohol were certain to come up when he faced the then-President Trump.