President Joe Biden has announced the establishment of a new national monument, Baaj Nwaavjo I'tah Kukveni — Ancestral Footprints of the Grand Canyon National Monument, to protect nearly 1 million acres of federal lands adjacent to Grand Canyon National Park from uranium mining and other development. The monument will preserve the ancestral land that is sacred to several Native American tribes, protect more than 3,000 mining leases, and help to protect the area’s natural beauty and cultural heritage. It is a major victory for conservationists and Native American tribes.
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The National Weather Service issued a tornado watch for the greater D.C. area on Monday, warning of dangerous hurricane-force winds, large hail, and tornadoes. At least two people died as a result of the storms, with thousands of flights canceled and more than 1.1 million homes and businesses losing power. The Weather Service urged people to take cover if they were in the path of the storms, and is continuing to monitor the situation.
The USWNT's run in the 2019 Women's World Cup ended with a loss to Sweden in a penalty shootout, which has been met with criticism from right-wingers. Megan Rapinoe missed a crucial penalty kick and explained her reaction afterwards. Despite the criticism, the team has been praised for their accomplishments in the tournament, including winning all four of their group stage matches and defeating Spain in the Round of 16.
Mike Pence and Asa Hutchinson have both qualified for the first Republican presidential primary debate in August. Seven GOP hopefuls spoke at a Cedar Rapids fundraising barbecue, discussing their vision for the future of the Republican party and their plans to unify the party. Candidates must hit the minimum threshold of 40,000 unique donors and the polling thresholds 48 hours prior to the debate to qualify for the debate.
A federal judge in New York has dismissed former President Donald Trump's countersuit against E. Jean Carroll, who won a $5 million verdict against him for battery and defamation earlier this year. The jury found Trump liable for sexually abusing Carroll during an encounter in the mid-1990s, and Judge Lewis Kaplan ruled that the jury found Trump had raped her "as the term is understood more broadly." This marks a victory for Carroll, who has been seeking justice for her allegations since 2019, and the case is set to move forward with a hearing scheduled for December.
Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has broken with former President Donald Trump, saying that he is "self-centered, self-possessed, and self-consumed". Florida Governor Ron DeSantis acknowledged that Trump had lost the 2020 election, while Trump spokesperson Steve Cheung accused DeSantis of being "Joe Biden's biggest cheerleader". Christie has said that if Trump were to become president again, he would take him at his word, as the Republican party continues to grapple with Trump's legacy.
Tou Thao, a former Minneapolis police officer, was sentenced to 57 months in prison on Monday for his role in the death of George Floyd. The incident sparked protests around the world and led to a national conversation about police brutality and racism. Judge Peter Cahill approved a Minneapolis police reform deal in the wake of Floyd's death, which includes a ban on neck restraints and chokeholds.
Former President Donald Trump's attorney, John Lauro, made the rounds on several news outlets to deny allegations that Trump knowingly spread lies about the 2020 election being stolen, arguing that Trump's attempts to pressure election officials were simply "free speech." Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) called Lauro's argument "deranged," and CNN's Dana Bash laughed incredulously at Lauro's suggestion that there was a "peaceful transfer of power" following the 2020 election. Lauro's media blitz was met with criticism from both sides of the aisle, with some arguing that Trump's actions were a violation of the Constitution and others feeling that Lauro's attempts to downplay the former president's actions were misguided.