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| Trump demands Nascar driver Bubba Wallace apologize over noose incident – live | Trump demands Nascar driver Bubba Wallace apologize over noose incident – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Trump also seems to complain about ban of Confederate flag causing low ratings for the sport | Trump also seems to complain about ban of Confederate flag causing low ratings for the sport |
| It looks like we will have to wait at least another day to hear the supreme court’s decision on Trump’s financial records. | |
| The court is done issuing rulings for the day and has not yet provided an update on when its next opinion day will be. | |
| There are still five cases left for the court to decide, which means there will likely be one or maybe two more opinion days. | |
| The supreme court has issued its ruling on so-called “faithless electors,” members of the electoral college who try to vote for a presidential candidate who did not win their state. | The supreme court has issued its ruling on so-called “faithless electors,” members of the electoral college who try to vote for a presidential candidate who did not win their state. |
| In a unanimous decision wrtten by justice Elena Kagan, the court said, “We now affirm the Washington Supreme Court’s judgment that a State may enforce its pledge law against an elector.” | In a unanimous decision wrtten by justice Elena Kagan, the court said, “We now affirm the Washington Supreme Court’s judgment that a State may enforce its pledge law against an elector.” |
| The ruling will allow states to punish electors who do not support the winning candidate in their state, likely bringing an end to faithless electors. | The ruling will allow states to punish electors who do not support the winning candidate in their state, likely bringing an end to faithless electors. |
| The supreme court will soon start issuing today’s decisions, marking the first time in 24 years that the court has issued opinions in July. | The supreme court will soon start issuing today’s decisions, marking the first time in 24 years that the court has issued opinions in July. |
| Congressional Democrats and prosecutors in New York are waiting to see if the court will rule on allowing them access to Trump’s financial records. | Congressional Democrats and prosecutors in New York are waiting to see if the court will rule on allowing them access to Trump’s financial records. |
| The Democratic lawmakers and the prosecutors have issued subpoenas for the records in connection to investigations of the president and his businesses, but Trump has repeatedly blocked them from receiving the documents. | The Democratic lawmakers and the prosecutors have issued subpoenas for the records in connection to investigations of the president and his businesses, but Trump has repeatedly blocked them from receiving the documents. |
| This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam. | This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam. |
| Trump’s tweet attacking Bubba Wallace, Nascar’s only top black driver, also overlooks the fact that it was not Wallace who discovered and reported the pull rope resembling a noose. | Trump’s tweet attacking Bubba Wallace, Nascar’s only top black driver, also overlooks the fact that it was not Wallace who discovered and reported the pull rope resembling a noose. |
| Congress is not in session this week, which means Republican lawmakers will likely be able to avoid questions about whether they agree with Trump that Nascar was wrong to ban the Confederate flag from its races. | Congress is not in session this week, which means Republican lawmakers will likely be able to avoid questions about whether they agree with Trump that Nascar was wrong to ban the Confederate flag from its races. |
| Donald Trump has just launched an attack on Nascar driver Bubba Wallace, that is breathtaking even by the president’s usual standards. | Donald Trump has just launched an attack on Nascar driver Bubba Wallace, that is breathtaking even by the president’s usual standards. |
| While seeming to complain about Nascar’s decision to ban the Confederate flag, and criticising the sports’ TV ratings, Trump is asking if Wallace has apologised after a noose found in his garage sparked an investigation. | While seeming to complain about Nascar’s decision to ban the Confederate flag, and criticising the sports’ TV ratings, Trump is asking if Wallace has apologised after a noose found in his garage sparked an investigation. |
| An FBI investigation into the incident concluded that what had been reported as a noose was a garage door pull, that had been there some time before the garage was assigned to Wallace. | An FBI investigation into the incident concluded that what had been reported as a noose was a garage door pull, that had been there some time before the garage was assigned to Wallace. |
| However, Nascar released a photograph of the noose, and said their checks showed that out of 1,684 garage stalls at 29 tracks, only 11 had a garage door pull-down rope tied in a knot. The only one fashioned in a noose was the one discovered by a crew member in Wallace’s No43 garage stall. | However, Nascar released a photograph of the noose, and said their checks showed that out of 1,684 garage stalls at 29 tracks, only 11 had a garage door pull-down rope tied in a knot. The only one fashioned in a noose was the one discovered by a crew member in Wallace’s No43 garage stall. |
| President Steve Phelps said: “As you can see from the photo, the noose was real, as was our concern for Bubba. Based on the evidence we had, we thought our drivers – that one of our drivers had been threatened, a driver who had been extremely courageous in recent words and actions. It’s our responsibility to react and investigate, and that’s exactly what we did.” | President Steve Phelps said: “As you can see from the photo, the noose was real, as was our concern for Bubba. Based on the evidence we had, we thought our drivers – that one of our drivers had been threatened, a driver who had been extremely courageous in recent words and actions. It’s our responsibility to react and investigate, and that’s exactly what we did.” |
| Atlanta’s Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has pleaded for an end to violence in the city, after a weekend which saw the deadly shooting of a young girl. A $10,000 reward for information has been offered as authorities searched for at least two people who opened fire on the car she was riding in. | Atlanta’s Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms has pleaded for an end to violence in the city, after a weekend which saw the deadly shooting of a young girl. A $10,000 reward for information has been offered as authorities searched for at least two people who opened fire on the car she was riding in. |
| The victim, identified on Saturday night as Secoriea Turner, was just 8 years old. “You shot and killed a baby,” the mayor said. “And there wasn’t just one shooter, there were at least two shooters.” | The victim, identified on Saturday night as Secoriea Turner, was just 8 years old. “You shot and killed a baby,” the mayor said. “And there wasn’t just one shooter, there were at least two shooters.” |
| Authorities said Secoriea was in the car with her mother and another adult when the driver attempted to drive through illegally placed barricades to get to a parking lot in the area Saturday night. A group of armed individuals had blocked the entrance. | Authorities said Secoriea was in the car with her mother and another adult when the driver attempted to drive through illegally placed barricades to get to a parking lot in the area Saturday night. A group of armed individuals had blocked the entrance. |
| Police said in a statement that someone in the group opened fire on the vehicle, striking it multiple times and striking the child. The driver took Secoriea to Atlanta Medical Center but she did not survive. | Police said in a statement that someone in the group opened fire on the vehicle, striking it multiple times and striking the child. The driver took Secoriea to Atlanta Medical Center but she did not survive. |
| The incident took place near to where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by police, which had become a focus for Black Lives Matter protesters. Bottoms appealed directly to them over the violence, saying: | The incident took place near to where Rayshard Brooks was shot and killed by police, which had become a focus for Black Lives Matter protesters. Bottoms appealed directly to them over the violence, saying: |
| “An 8-year-old girl was killed last night because her mother was riding down the street,” Bottoms added. “If Secoriea was not safe last night, none of us are safe.” | “An 8-year-old girl was killed last night because her mother was riding down the street,” Bottoms added. “If Secoriea was not safe last night, none of us are safe.” |
| The mayor said the city’s 911 system was flooded with calls Saturday night. Atlanta police said two other people, in addition to the 8-year-old, were killed and more than 20 people were injured in incidents of gunfire and violence during the long holiday weekend. | The mayor said the city’s 911 system was flooded with calls Saturday night. Atlanta police said two other people, in addition to the 8-year-old, were killed and more than 20 people were injured in incidents of gunfire and violence during the long holiday weekend. |
| Donald Trump has weighed straight in as his first tweet of the day on the tearing down of the Frederick Douglass statue in Rochester claiming it shows “these anarchists have no bounds!” | Donald Trump has weighed straight in as his first tweet of the day on the tearing down of the Frederick Douglass statue in Rochester claiming it shows “these anarchists have no bounds!” |
| As yet police have established no motive for the removal of the statue - and there was no graffiti nearby which might point in any direction. | As yet police have established no motive for the removal of the statue - and there was no graffiti nearby which might point in any direction. |
| The statue was removed by vandals on the weekend of the anniversary of one of the most famous Douglass speeches, in which he said: | The statue was removed by vandals on the weekend of the anniversary of one of the most famous Douglass speeches, in which he said: |
| Lauren Aratani has been reporting for us in New York on the economic impact of Covid-19 on Gen Z, many of whom are at the formative years of trying to start careers and adult lives, just as the economy has been shattered by the pandemic. | Lauren Aratani has been reporting for us in New York on the economic impact of Covid-19 on Gen Z, many of whom are at the formative years of trying to start careers and adult lives, just as the economy has been shattered by the pandemic. |
| Lauren has spoken to people hoping for internships, new job prospects, or looking to enter college, about how the coronavirus shutdown has impacted their plans. | Lauren has spoken to people hoping for internships, new job prospects, or looking to enter college, about how the coronavirus shutdown has impacted their plans. |
| Read it here: Why the Covid-19 financial crisis will leave lasting scars on Gen Z | Read it here: Why the Covid-19 financial crisis will leave lasting scars on Gen Z |
| With so much focus on the coronavirus outbreak at home, it is sometime easy to forget that geopolitics is going on. There’s a reminder today for the Trump administration, after China opted to again criticise US military actions in the South China Sea. | With so much focus on the coronavirus outbreak at home, it is sometime easy to forget that geopolitics is going on. There’s a reminder today for the Trump administration, after China opted to again criticise US military actions in the South China Sea. |
| Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said joint exercises involving two US aircraft carrier groups in the strategic waterway were performed totally out of ulterior motives and undermined stability in the area. | Foreign ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said joint exercises involving two US aircraft carrier groups in the strategic waterway were performed totally out of ulterior motives and undermined stability in the area. |
| “Against such a backdrop, the US deliberately dispatched massive forces to conduct large-scale military exercises in the relevant waters of the South China Sea to flex its military muscle,” Zhao said at a daily briefing. | “Against such a backdrop, the US deliberately dispatched massive forces to conduct large-scale military exercises in the relevant waters of the South China Sea to flex its military muscle,” Zhao said at a daily briefing. |
| The US Navy said over the weekend that the USS Nimitz and the USS Ronald Reagan, along with their accompanying vessels and aircraft, conducted exercises. | The US Navy said over the weekend that the USS Nimitz and the USS Ronald Reagan, along with their accompanying vessels and aircraft, conducted exercises. |
| China claims almost all of the South China Sea and routinely objects to any action by the US military in the region. Five other governments claim all or part of the sea, through which approximately $5 trillion in goods are shipped every year. Washington does not officially take a stand on the rival territorial claims in the region, but is closely allied with several of the claimants, and insists that the waters and the airspace above be free to all countries. | China claims almost all of the South China Sea and routinely objects to any action by the US military in the region. Five other governments claim all or part of the sea, through which approximately $5 trillion in goods are shipped every year. Washington does not officially take a stand on the rival territorial claims in the region, but is closely allied with several of the claimants, and insists that the waters and the airspace above be free to all countries. |
| More details are emerging about Summer Taylor, the protester who was killed when a car was driven into them in Seattle at the weekend. | More details are emerging about Summer Taylor, the protester who was killed when a car was driven into them in Seattle at the weekend. |
| Taylor, 24, spent the last six weeks “tirelessly standing up for others while working full time and supporting everyone around them,” wrote Urban Animal on Instagram, the veterinarian clinic where Taylor worked in Portland, Oregon. | Taylor, 24, spent the last six weeks “tirelessly standing up for others while working full time and supporting everyone around them,” wrote Urban Animal on Instagram, the veterinarian clinic where Taylor worked in Portland, Oregon. |
| Taylor was described as “a positive force of nature” and someone brought joy. “Anyone that works for Urban Animal will tell you that Summer Taylor’s laugh makes any bad day better.” | Taylor was described as “a positive force of nature” and someone brought joy. “Anyone that works for Urban Animal will tell you that Summer Taylor’s laugh makes any bad day better.” |
| Katelyn Hoberecht, who worked with Taylor at the veterinary clinics, told the Seattle Times that Taylor had been a frequent presence at protests. | Katelyn Hoberecht, who worked with Taylor at the veterinary clinics, told the Seattle Times that Taylor had been a frequent presence at protests. |
| “Summer has been there since day one standing up for Black lives. Staying out all day and night, while still working full time taking care of animals,” Hoberecht said. “Summer talked to me about the protests, and how incredible it was to be a part of something so huge. A part of history.” | “Summer has been there since day one standing up for Black lives. Staying out all day and night, while still working full time taking care of animals,” Hoberecht said. “Summer talked to me about the protests, and how incredible it was to be a part of something so huge. A part of history.” |
| Diaz Love, who was also injured in the incident, remained in serious condition Sunday in the intensive care unit at Harborview Medical Center, but a spokesperson said her health is improving. | Diaz Love, who was also injured in the incident, remained in serious condition Sunday in the intensive care unit at Harborview Medical Center, but a spokesperson said her health is improving. |
| The driver of the car that struck them faces a second hearing on Monday in connection with the incident. | The driver of the car that struck them faces a second hearing on Monday in connection with the incident. |
| Here’s our full report: Summer Taylor honored for ‘standing up for black lives’ following death at protest | Here’s our full report: Summer Taylor honored for ‘standing up for black lives’ following death at protest |
| Our Joan E Greve has been looking at whether swing states may be up for grabs as Covid-19 hits Republican strongholds. While the coronavirus outbreak may have initially hit coastal metropolitan areas solidly seen as Democratic strongholds, the picture has changed. | Our Joan E Greve has been looking at whether swing states may be up for grabs as Covid-19 hits Republican strongholds. While the coronavirus outbreak may have initially hit coastal metropolitan areas solidly seen as Democratic strongholds, the picture has changed. |
| The piece has a look at what is going on in Texas, Florida, Arizona. Read it here: Swing states may be up for grabs as Covid-19 hits Republican strongholds | The piece has a look at what is going on in Texas, Florida, Arizona. Read it here: Swing states may be up for grabs as Covid-19 hits Republican strongholds |
| Axios this morning are reporting on a new Joe Biden campaign initiative - chats with celebs on Insta. | Axios this morning are reporting on a new Joe Biden campaign initiative - chats with celebs on Insta. |
| Republicans have made much of the fact that Biden has been in his basement running a virtual campaign while Donald Trump is back to the shock and awe tactic of his mass rallies, but the Biden campaign are betting that during a pandemic, it is their approach that will pay dividends. | Republicans have made much of the fact that Biden has been in his basement running a virtual campaign while Donald Trump is back to the shock and awe tactic of his mass rallies, but the Biden campaign are betting that during a pandemic, it is their approach that will pay dividends. |
| Especially if they get directly at young voters through the massive Instagram followings of celebrities. TV actor Misha Collins has 4.2 million followers, and this afternoon will be chatting with Biden senior adviser Karine Jean-Pierre. | Especially if they get directly at young voters through the massive Instagram followings of celebrities. TV actor Misha Collins has 4.2 million followers, and this afternoon will be chatting with Biden senior adviser Karine Jean-Pierre. |
| Read it here: Axios - Biden campaign using Instagram to mobilize celebrity supporters | Read it here: Axios - Biden campaign using Instagram to mobilize celebrity supporters |
| Here’s our updated tracker of the countries with the most cases of the coronavirus - showing the US way out ahead. | Here’s our updated tracker of the countries with the most cases of the coronavirus - showing the US way out ahead. |
| The New York Times has done a deep data dive into the racial inequality behind those numbers. | The New York Times has done a deep data dive into the racial inequality behind those numbers. |
| While the Times admits that the federal data is flawed - they say race and ethnicity information is missing from more than half the cases, and it only goes up to May - they say it is the best picture yet from the data. | While the Times admits that the federal data is flawed - they say race and ethnicity information is missing from more than half the cases, and it only goes up to May - they say it is the best picture yet from the data. |
| You can read it in full here: New York Times - the fullest look yet at the racial inequity of Coronavirus | You can read it in full here: New York Times - the fullest look yet at the racial inequity of Coronavirus |
| Here’s more from the Associated Press on the removal of the Frederick Douglass statue overnight. It was ripped from its base in Rochester on the anniversary of one of his most famous speeches, delivered in that city in 1852. | Here’s more from the Associated Press on the removal of the Frederick Douglass statue overnight. It was ripped from its base in Rochester on the anniversary of one of his most famous speeches, delivered in that city in 1852. |
| Police said the statue of Douglass was taken on Sunday from Maplewood Park, a site along the Underground Railroad where Douglass and Harriet Tubman helped shuttle slaves to freedom. | Police said the statue of Douglass was taken on Sunday from Maplewood Park, a site along the Underground Railroad where Douglass and Harriet Tubman helped shuttle slaves to freedom. |
| The statue was found at the brink of the Genesee River gorge about 50 feet (15 meters) from its pedestal, police said. There was damage to the base and a finger. | The statue was found at the brink of the Genesee River gorge about 50 feet (15 meters) from its pedestal, police said. There was damage to the base and a finger. |
| In Rochester on July 5, 1852, Douglass gave the speech “What to the slave is the Fourth of July”, in which he called the celebration of liberty a sham in a nation that enslaves and oppresses its Black citizens. | In Rochester on July 5, 1852, Douglass gave the speech “What to the slave is the Fourth of July”, in which he called the celebration of liberty a sham in a nation that enslaves and oppresses its Black citizens. |
| To a slave, Douglass said, Independence Day is a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. | To a slave, Douglass said, Independence Day is a day that reveals to him, more than all other days in the year, the gross injustice and cruelty to which he is the constant victim. |
| Carvin Eison, a leader of the project that brought the Douglass statue to the park, told the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle another statue will take its place because the damage is too significant. | Carvin Eison, a leader of the project that brought the Douglass statue to the park, told the Rochester Democrat & Chronicle another statue will take its place because the damage is too significant. |
| “Is this some type of retaliation because of the national fever over confederate monuments right now? Very disappointing, its beyond disappointing,” Eison told the local WROC-TV channel. | “Is this some type of retaliation because of the national fever over confederate monuments right now? Very disappointing, its beyond disappointing,” Eison told the local WROC-TV channel. |
| Incidentally, yesterday we had an interesting piece looking at the Frederick Douglass’ own contemporary thoughts on one of the contested Lincoln statues in the spotlight at the moment. | Incidentally, yesterday we had an interesting piece looking at the Frederick Douglass’ own contemporary thoughts on one of the contested Lincoln statues in the spotlight at the moment. |
| Good morning, welcome to our rolling coverage of US politics, which understandably is still very much focussed on both the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and the ongoing Black Lives Matter protest movement. Here’s a quick catch-up | Good morning, welcome to our rolling coverage of US politics, which understandably is still very much focussed on both the impact of the coronavirus outbreak and the ongoing Black Lives Matter protest movement. Here’s a quick catch-up |
| The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday reported 52,228 new coronavirus cases, and said the number of deaths had risen by 271 to 129,576 | The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Sunday reported 52,228 new coronavirus cases, and said the number of deaths had risen by 271 to 129,576 |
| The mayors of Houston and Austin have warned that hospitals in the two Texas cities are in danger of being “overwhelmed” by coronavirus patients in the coming weeks | The mayors of Houston and Austin have warned that hospitals in the two Texas cities are in danger of being “overwhelmed” by coronavirus patients in the coming weeks |
| A statue of abolitionist Frederick Douglass has been ripped from its base in Rochester on the anniversary of one of his most famous speeches - “What to the slave is the Fourth of July” | A statue of abolitionist Frederick Douglass has been ripped from its base in Rochester on the anniversary of one of his most famous speeches - “What to the slave is the Fourth of July” |
| The Libertarian party’s presidential candidate, Jo Jorgensen, has appeared on a podcast associated with the anti-government “boogaloo” movement, which has been linked to at least five killings. | The Libertarian party’s presidential candidate, Jo Jorgensen, has appeared on a podcast associated with the anti-government “boogaloo” movement, which has been linked to at least five killings. |
| The Ghislaine Maxwell legal proceedings continue - prosecutors ask for Friday court appearance in New York | The Ghislaine Maxwell legal proceedings continue - prosecutors ask for Friday court appearance in New York |
| Seattle police are seeking a motive after a driver hits protesters, killing one of them, Summer Taylor | Seattle police are seeking a motive after a driver hits protesters, killing one of them, Summer Taylor |
| The president’s official diary is empty today, save a meeting with secretary of state Mike Pompeo in the morning. | The president’s official diary is empty today, save a meeting with secretary of state Mike Pompeo in the morning. |
| I’m Martin Belam and I’ll be running this live blog for the next few hours - you can get in touch with me at martin.belam@theguardian.com | I’m Martin Belam and I’ll be running this live blog for the next few hours - you can get in touch with me at martin.belam@theguardian.com |