Apathy greets Iran presidential vote dominated by hard-liner – POLITICO
Apathy greets Iran presidential vote dominated by hard-liner – POLITICO

Balloting came to a close at 2.a.m. Saturday, after the government extended voting to accommodate what it called “crowding” at several polling places nationwide. Paper ballots, stuffed into large plastic boxes, were to be counted by hand through the night, and authorities said they expected to have initial results and turnout figures Saturday morning at the earliest.

“My vote will not change anything in this election, the number of people who are voting for Raisi is huge and Hemmati does not have the necessary skills for this,” said Hediyeh, a 25-year-old woman who gave only her first name while hurrying to a taxi in Haft-e Tir Square after avoiding the polls. “I have no candidate here.”

Iranian state television sought to downplay the turnout, pointing to the Gulf Arab sheikhdoms surrounding it ruled by hereditary leaders and the lower participation in Western democracies. After a day of amplifying officials’ attempts to get out the vote, state TV broadcast scenes of jam-packed voting booths in several provinces overnight, seeking to portray a last-minute rush to the polls.

But since the 1979 revolution overthrew the shah, Iran’s theocracy has cited voter turnout as a sign of its legitimacy, beginning with its first referendum that won 98.2% support that simply asked whether or not people wanted an Islamic Republic.

The disqualifications affected reformists and those backing Rouhani, whose administration both reached the 2015 nuclear deal with world powers and saw it disintegrate three years later with then-President Donald Trump’s unilateral withdrawal of America from the accord. Former hard-line President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, also blocked from running, said on social media he’d boycott the vote.

Voter apathy also has been fed by the devastated state of the economy and subdued campaigning amid months of surging coronavirus cases. Poll workers wore gloves and masks, and some wiped down ballot boxes with disinfectants.

If elected, Raisi would be the first serving Iranian president sanctioned by the U.S. government even before entering office over his involvement in the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988, as well as his time as the head of Iran’s internationally criticized judiciary — one of the world’s top executioners.

It also would put hard-liners firmly in control across the government as negotiations in Vienna continue to try to save a tattered deal meant to limit Iran’s nuclear program at a time when Tehran is enriching uranium at its highest levels ever, though it still remains short of weapons-grade levels. Tensions remain high with both the U.S. and Israel, which is believed to have carried out a series of attacks targeting Iranian nuclear sites as well as assassinating the scientist who created its military atomic program decades earlier.

Whoever wins will likely serve two four-year terms and thus could be at the helm at what could be one of the most crucial moments for the country in decades — the death of the 82-year-old Khamenei. Speculation already has begun that Raisi might be a contender for the position, along with Khamenei’s son, Mojtaba.

Khamenei cast the first vote from Tehran, urging the public to “go ahead, choose and vote.”

Raisi, wearing a black turban that identifies him in Shiite tradition as a direct descendant of Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, voted from a mosque in southern Tehran. The cleric acknowledged in comments afterward that some may be “so upset that they don’t want to vote.”

“I beg everyone, the lovely youths, and all Iranian men and women speaking in any accent or language from any region and with any political views, to go and vote and cast their ballots,” Raisi said.

But few appeared to heed the call. There are more than 59 million eligible voters in Iran, a nation of over 80 million people. However, the state-linked Iranian Student Polling Agency has estimated a turnout will be just 44%, which would be the lowest since the revolution. Officials gave no turnout figures Friday, though results could come Saturday.

Fears about a low turnout have some warning Iran may be turning away from being an Islamic Republic — a government with elected civilian leadership overseen by a supreme leader from its Shiite clergy — to a country more tightly governed by its supreme leader, who already has final say on all matters of state and oversees its defense and atomic program.

“This is not acceptable,” said former President Mohammad Khatami, a reformist who sought to change the theocracy from the inside during eight years in office. “How would this conform to being a republic or Islamic?”

For his part, Khamenei warned of “foreign plots” seeking to depress turnout in a speech Wednesday. A flyer handed out on the streets of Tehran by hard-liners echoed that and bore the image of Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone strike in 2020. A polling station was set up by Soleimani’s grave on Friday.

Some voters appeared to echo that call.

“We cannot leave our destiny in the hands of foreigners and let them decide for us and create conditions that will be absolutely harmful for us,” said Tehran voter Shahla Pazouki.

Also hurting a moderate like Hemmati is the public anger aimed at Rouhani over the collapse of the deal, despite ongoing talks in Vienna to revive it. Iran’s already-ailing economy has suffered since, with double-digit inflation and mass unemployment.

“It is useless,” said Ali Hosseini, a 36-year-old unemployed resident in southern Tehran, about voting. “Anyone who wins the election after some time says he cannot solve problem of the economy because of intervention by influential people. He then forgets his promises and we poor people again remain disappointed.”

Source Article from https://www.politico.com/news/2021/06/18/apathy-iran-presidential-vote-495189

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56 House Republicans urge Biden to remove Harris from leading role on migration crisis – Fox News
56 House Republicans urge Biden to remove Harris from leading role on migration crisis – Fox News
Video

VP Harris hosts dinner party after skipping border visit

Fox News’ ‘Outnumbered’ panel weighs in on Vice President Kamala Harris hosting a dinner party as she takes criticism for not visiting the southern border.

More than 50 House Republicans are urging President Biden to remove Vice President Kamala Harris from her role dealing with the migrant crisis that has overwhelmed the southern border in recent months — accusing her of “inaction” on the crisis due to her failure to visit the border.

“Despite being in the midst of a border crisis this country has not seen in two decades, Vice President Harris has not yet shown adequate interest in observing this crisis first-hand,” the 56 lawmakers, led by Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wis., wrote. “In the 85 days since the Vice President has been tasked with solving this crisis, she has yet to visit the border and meet with Border Patrol agents, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officials and local law enforcement officials.”

DEMOCRATIC REP. CUELLAR URGES KAMALA HARRIS TO VISIT BORDER AMID IMMIGRATION CRISIS

Harris was appointed more than 80 days ago to lead diplomatic talks to solve what the White House described as the “root causes” of the migrant crisis — such as poverty, climate change, and violence in Central America.

Harris recently visited both Guatemala and Mexico as part of her responsibilities, meeting with leaders and announcing a number of investments in both countries to tackle those root causes — while urging migrants not to come to the border. Harris described her trip as a success, though she was dogged by questions about her failure to visit the border

The White House and the administration have sought to clarify that Harris is not in charge of the border per se and is instead focused on diplomatic talks, but Republicans have said it is still important for her to visit the border to truly understand the crisis that saw more than 180,000 migrant encounters in May.

Republicans have blamed the crisis on the administration’s policies — particularly the rollback of Trump-era policies like border wall construction and the Migrant Protection Protocols (MPP).

TEXAS GOV. ABBOTT SAYS HARRIS HASN’T CALLED HIM ABOUT MIGRANT CRISIS SINCE VP WAS APPOINTED AS BORDER CZAR 

The lawmakers who wrote to Biden this week said that, even if root causes are to blame, “the exclusive focus on Central American countries ignores the fact that we see many migrants attempting to illegally cross our southern border from countries all over the world, including Russia, Brazil, Cuba and Haiti.”

Video

“We are also aware of no dramatic changes in Central American countries over the last few months that would result in such a wide gap of encounters at the southern border compared to last year,” they say.

DARRELL ISSA INVITES VP HARRIS TO VISIT THE CALIFORNIA-MEXICO BORDER

They also blast the administration for ignoring its own policies that they say enticed migrants to make the journey north.

“This country cannot afford another minute of inaction from Vice President Harris,” the lawmakers tell Biden as they urge him to replace Harris as the point-person for the crisis. “While you have publicly defended the Vice President, even you must be discouraged with her inaction.”

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The Biden administration defended its handling of the crisis this week, with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas saying its strategy was working.

“We have a strategy,” Mayorkas said. “We are executing that strategy, I am confident in the strategy and I am confident in the proposal we have submitted to this Congress to best resource that strategy.”

Source Article from https://www.foxnews.com/politics/house-republicans-biden-remove-harris-migrant-role-inaction-border

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How corporate America is approaching Juneteenth, the newest national holiday – NBC News
How corporate America is approaching Juneteenth, the newest national holiday – NBC News
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Georgia removes 100,000 names from voter registration rolls – CNN
Georgia removes 100,000 names from voter registration rolls – CNN

By Rachel Janfaza

Updated 7:57 PM ET, Fri June 18, 2021

Source Article from https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/18/politics/georgia-voter-registration-file-removal/index.html

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Biden says delta Covid variant is ‘particularly dangerous’ for young people – CNBC
Biden says delta Covid variant is ‘particularly dangerous’ for young people – CNBC

The president’s comments come as his administration’s latest goal – to get 70% of U.S. adults partially vaccinated by the Fourth of July – is on track to fall short as the pace of inoculations slows.

The World Health Organization’s chief scientist said earlier Friday that delta is becoming the dominant strain of the disease worldwide. That’s because of its “significantly increased transmissibility,” Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the WHO’s chief scientist, said during a news conference.

Studies suggest delta is around 60% more transmissible than alpha, the variant first identified in the United Kingdom that was more contagious than the original strain that emerged from Wuhan, China, in late 2019.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky also said Friday that she expects delta to become the dominant variant in the United States and urged people to get vaccinated. The variant now makes up 10% of all new cases in the United States, up from 6% last week, according to the data from CDC.

“As worrisome as this delta strain is with regard to its hyper transmissibility, our vaccines work,” Walensky told the ABC program “Good Morning America.” If you get vaccinated, “you’ll be protected against this delta variant,” she added.

Health experts say the delta strain is particularly worrisome for young people, many of whom have yet to get vaccinated. While scientists still don’t know whether delta causes more severe symptoms, there are signs that it could provoke different symptoms than other variants.

Dr. Paul Offit, director of the Vaccine Education Center at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, said the delta variant has essentially replaced alpha, the variant that swept across Europe and later the U.S. earlier this year. He said as the virus continues to mutate, the U.S. will need a higher percentage of the population vaccinated.

“How much more information do we need to see that this virus mutates and creates viruses that are more contagious?” said Offit, also a member of the FDA’s Vaccines and Related Biological Products Advisory Committee. “We need to vaccinate now. Get everyone vaccinated now.”

As of Friday, more than 176 million Americans, or 53.1% of the population, have had at least one shot, according to data compiled by the CDC. More than 148 million Americans are fully vaccinated, according to the agency.

States have offering incentives ranging from free beer to $1 million lotteries to try to convince Americans to get jabbed. 

On Friday, Biden touted some of those incentives, including that most pharmacies are offering 24-hour services on select days for the month of June.

Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/18/biden-says-delta-covid-variant-is-particularly-dangerous-for-young-people.html

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US Catholic bishops advance communion document, setting up potential rebuke of Biden – CNN
US Catholic bishops advance communion document, setting up potential rebuke of Biden – CNN

(CNN)The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops on Friday proceeded with a plan that could deny communion to public figures who support abortion rights, setting up a potential public rebuke of President Joe Biden.

        CNN’s Zachary B. Wolf, Eric Bradner, Arlette Saenz, Allie Malloy, Jasmine Wright, Chandelis Duster and Rachel Janfaza contributed to this report.

Source Article from https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/18/politics/catholic-bishops-biden/index.html

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What’s behind the heat wave in the American West? – NBC News
What’s behind the heat wave in the American West? – NBC News
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Tropical Storm Claudette likely to form Friday night, bringing heavy rains to Gulf Coast – USA TODAY
Tropical Storm Claudette likely to form Friday night, bringing heavy rains to Gulf Coast – USA TODAY

Source Article from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2021/06/18/tropical-storm-claudette-likely-form-gulf-coast-path/7744247002/

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Targeting Biden, Catholic Bishops Advance Controversial Communion Plan – The New York Times
Targeting Biden, Catholic Bishops Advance Controversial Communion Plan – The New York Times

That subtext was made plain as the bishops debated the topic for more than two hours on Thursday: “I can’t help but wonder if the years 2022 and 2024 might be part of the rush,” Bishop Robert M. Coerver of Lubbock, in Texas, said.

Bishop Kevin C. Rhoades, who leads the bishops’ Committee on Doctrine, which put forward the communion effort, replied in a news conference that the upcoming midterm and presidential elections “never entered my mind, or the committee’s.”

Anti-abortion advocates already see political opportunity in the bishops’ plan. The organization Students for Life held rallies in seven cities on Thursday to urge the bishops to vote “yes.” So far, Republicans are “not having much luck demonizing Biden,” so they are testing abortion as a potential issue on which to criticize him, as they did with transgender athletes in youth sports and critical race theory, said Mike Mikus, a political consultant in Pittsburgh who advises Democratic campaigns.

“The point is to mobilize Republicans; it is all a play to the base,” he said.

The United States Conference of Catholic Bishops, an assembly of the country’s 433 active and retired bishops, can issue guideline statements, but it does not have the authority to decide who can or cannot receive the sacrament of communion. That power is reserved for the local bishop, who has autonomy in his diocese, or the Pope.

Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, has made it abundantly clear that he does not support denying communion to Mr. Biden. Bishop-elect William Koenig of Wilmington, Del., Mr. Biden’s hometown, has remained largely quiet on the issue ahead of his installation next month.

Usually the bishops’ annual June meeting is a dry affair. But this week’s was the most riveting in years, not only because of the topic but also because it was contentious and revealed the stark divide, theologically and politically, among the church’s U.S. leaders.

Source Article from https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/18/us/targeting-biden-catholic-bishops-advance-controversial-communion-plan.html

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GOP needs new health care target; ‘Obamacare’ survives again – The Associated Press
GOP needs new health care target; ‘Obamacare’ survives again – The Associated Press
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WHO says delta is becoming the dominant Covid variant globally – CNBC
WHO says delta is becoming the dominant Covid variant globally – CNBC

Delta, the highly contagious Covid-19 variant first identified in India, is becoming the dominant strain of the disease worldwide, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist said Friday.

That’s because of its “significantly increased transmissibility,” Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the WHO’s chief scientist, said during a news conference at the agency’s Geneva headquarters. Studies suggest delta is around 60% more transmissible than alpha, the variant first identified in the U.K. that was more contagious than the original strain that emerged from Wuhan, China, in late 2019.

The situation globally “is so dynamic because of the variants that are circulating,” she added.

The variant has spread to more than 80 countries and it continues to mutate as it spreads across the globe, the WHO said Wednesday. It now makes up 10% of all new cases in the United States, up from 6% last week, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky on Friday urged Americans to get vaccinated against Covid, saying she expects delta to become the dominant coronavirus variant in the United States.

“As worrisome as this delta strain is with regard to its hyper transmissibility, our vaccines work,” Walensky told the ABC program “Good Morning America.” If you get vaccinated, “you’ll be protected against this delta variant,” she added.

The United Kingdom recently saw the delta variant become the dominant strain there, surpassing alpha, which was first detected in the country last fall. The delta variant now makes up more than 60% of new cases in the U.K.

The WHO declared delta a “variant of concern” last month. A variant can be labeled as “of concern” if it has been shown to be more contagious, more deadly or more resistant to current vaccines and treatments, according to the health organization.

WHO officials said Wednesday there were reports that the delta variant also causes more severe symptoms, but that more research is needed to confirm those conclusions. Still, there are signs that the delta strain could provoke different symptoms than other variants.

Swaminathan said Friday that scientists still need more data on the variant, including its impact on the efficacy of Covid vaccines.

German company CureVac earlier this week cited variants as one of the reasons its Covid vaccine proved to be just 47% effective in a 40,000-person clinical trial.

An analysis from Public Health England released Monday found two doses of the Pfizer–BioNTech or the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccines are highly effective against hospitalization from the delta variant.

“How many are getting infected and of those how many are getting hospitalized and seriously ill?” Swaminathan said Friday. “This is something we’re watching very carefully.”

– CNBC’s Holly Ellyatt and Rich Mendez contributed to this report.

Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/18/who-says-delta-is-becoming-the-dominant-covid-variant-globally.html

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California unveils electronic option for COVID vaccine records – Los Angeles Times
California unveils electronic option for COVID vaccine records – Los Angeles Times

Officials on Friday unveiled a new system through which Californians can access a digital copy of their COVID-19 vaccination record.

While everyone who’s been inoculated for COVID-19 should have received a white paper card from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention detailing where and when they got their shot, state officials said an electronic option will give residents an alternative.

Though the California Department of Public Health “recommends that vaccinated Californians keep their paper CDC card in a safe and secure place, we recognize that some people might prefer an electronic version,” state epidemiologist Dr. Erica Pan said in a statement. “And if one of the state’s nearly 20 million vaccinated Californians misplaces their paper card, the digital COVID-19 vaccine record provides a convenient backup.”

The system is accessible through myvaccinerecord.cdph.ca.gov. Once there, residents will be prompted to provide their name, date of birth, and an email or cellphone number they used when getting their vaccine.

Residents will also need to create a personal identification number that can then be used to access a digital copy of their inoculation record, as well as a scannable QR code.

“We worked with CDPH, tech industry leaders and consulted with California’s top businesses, service and event purveyors to create a system that works well for all sectors,” Amy Tong, the state’s chief information officer and director of the California Department of Technology, said in a statement. “We achieved our goal to quickly produce an intuitive portal that offers Californians another way, and an easier way, to access their own COVID-19 immunization history.”

Gov. Gavin Newsom hinted at the announcement earlier this week — saying an electronic version of a paper vaccination card would soon be available, though it wouldn’t be a “passport” or a requirement.

Under California’s reopening guidelines that went into effect this week, the only setting where the state might require someone to prove vaccine status as a condition of entry is an indoor event with more than 5,000 people — such as sporting events or a convention. However, in that case attendees also can submit documentation of a negative coronavirus test to enter.

Proof of vaccination or a negative test is also recommended, though not required, for outdoor events with at least 10,000 attendees.

However, county health officials — as well as individual businesses or venues — can implement more stringent requirements.

Source Article from https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2021-06-18/california-unveils-system-to-provide-digital-covid-19-vaccine-records

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Ronny Jackson said Trump aced a cognitive test. Now he’s demanding Biden take one, citing ‘mental impairment.’ – The Washington Post
Ronny Jackson said Trump aced a cognitive test. Now he’s demanding Biden take one, citing ‘mental impairment.’ – The Washington Post

Jackson, a former Navy admiral, began working as a White House physician in the mid-2000s. In 2013, President Barack Obama named him as his top physician, and Jackson remained largely nonpartisan in the role, according to former Obama staffers. Obama even promoted him to admiral.

Source Article from https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/06/18/ronny-jackson-biden-cognitive-test/

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For Juneteenth, NPR Staff Members Read The Emancipation Proclamation – NPR
For Juneteenth, NPR Staff Members Read The Emancipation Proclamation – NPR

A signed copy of Emancipation Proclamation.

AP


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AP

A signed copy of Emancipation Proclamation.

AP

The United States has a new national holiday to celebrate: Juneteenth, marking the day in 1865 — in the aftermath of the Civil War — when U.S. Army troops landed in Galveston, Texas, and informed some of the last enslaved Americans that they were free.

The troops enforced President Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation, which had taken effect in 1863.

The proclamation declared freedom for some enslaved people.

“It freed people who were a part of the Confederacy at the point at which the Emancipation Proclamation took effect,” Kay Wright Lewis, an associate professor of history at Howard University, tells Morning Edition host Noel King.

However, it did not apply to people who were enslaved in areas that the Union Army had conquered or in places that had not seceded but where slavery was legal. Instead of the proclamation being a moral decision, Wright Lewis says, Lincoln’s intent was to scare the South into surrendering.

“What Lincoln is responding to is the fact that enslaved people had already been freeing themselves,” she says. “We know that over at least 500,000 formerly or enslaved people freed themselves running to the union lines, running north during the Civil War. And so the Emancipation Proclamation is sort of putting a period on something, on an effort, on a movement that on the ground has already begun.”

Click on the audio link to hear NPR staff members read — in celebration of the June 19th holiday — the Emancipation Proclamation, and follow along below.

From left: Michel Martin, Noel King, Sam Sanders, Rodney Carmichael, Juana Summers, Dwane Brown, Audie Cornish, Tonya Mosley, Karen Grigsby Bates, Korva Coleman, Gene Demby, Cheryl Corley, Eric Deggans, Ayesha Rascoe and Walter Ray Watson

Photo illustration by Amna Ijaz/NPR


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Photo illustration by Amna Ijaz/NPR

From left: Michel Martin, Noel King, Sam Sanders, Rodney Carmichael, Juana Summers, Dwane Brown, Audie Cornish, Tonya Mosley, Karen Grigsby Bates, Korva Coleman, Gene Demby, Cheryl Corley, Eric Deggans, Ayesha Rascoe and Walter Ray Watson

Photo illustration by Amna Ijaz/NPR

The Emancipation Proclamation

Michel Martin

By the President of the United States of America:

A Proclamation.

Whereas, on the twenty-second day of September, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, a proclamation was issued by the President of the United States, containing, among other things, the following, to wit:

Noel King

“That on the first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, all persons held as slaves within any State or designated part of a State, the people whereof shall then be in rebellion against the United States, shall be then, thenceforward, and forever free;

Sam Sanders

and the Executive Government of the United States, including the military and naval authority thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of such persons, and will do no act or acts to repress such persons, or any of them, in any efforts they may make for their actual freedom.

Rodney Carmichael

“That the Executive will, on the first day of January aforesaid, by proclamation, designate the States and parts of States, if any, in which the people thereof, respectively, shall then be in rebellion against the United States;

Juana Summers

and the fact that any State, or the people thereof, shall on that day be, in good faith, represented in the Congress of the United States by members chosen thereto at elections wherein a majority of the qualified voters of such State shall have participated, shall, in the absence of strong countervailing testimony, be deemed conclusive evidence that such State, and the people thereof, are not then in rebellion against the United States.”

Dwane Brown

Now, therefore I, Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested as Commander-in-Chief, of the Army and Navy of the United States in time of actual armed rebellion against the authority and government of the United States, and as a fit and necessary war measure for suppressing said rebellion,

Audie Cornish

do, on this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty-three, and in accordance with my purpose so to do publicly proclaimed for the full period of one hundred days, from the day first above mentioned, order and designate as the States and parts of States wherein the people thereof respectively, are this day in rebellion against the United States, the following, to wit:

Tonya Mosley

Arkansas, Texas, Louisiana, (except the Parishes of St. Bernard, Plaquemines, Jefferson, St. John, St. Charles, St. James Ascension, Assumption, Terrebonne, Lafourche, St. Mary, St. Martin, and Orleans, including the City of New Orleans) Mississippi, Alabama,

Karen Grigsby Bates

Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Virginia, (except the forty-eight counties designated as West Virginia, and also the counties of Berkley, Accomac, Northampton, Elizabeth City, York, Princess Ann, and Norfolk, including the cities of Norfolk and Portsmouth[)], and which excepted parts, are for the present, left precisely as if this proclamation were not issued.

Korva Coleman

And by virtue of the power, and for the purpose aforesaid, I do order and declare that all persons held as slaves within said designated States, and parts of States, are, and henceforward shall be free;

Gene Demby

and that the Executive government of the United States, including the military and naval authorities thereof, will recognize and maintain the freedom of said persons.

Cheryl Corley

And I hereby enjoin upon the people so declared to be free to abstain from all violence, unless in necessary self-defence; and I recommend to them that, in all cases when allowed, they labor faithfully for reasonable wages.

Eric Deggans

And I further declare and make known, that such persons of suitable condition, will be received into the armed service of the United States to garrison forts, positions, stations, and other places, and to man vessels of all sorts in said service.

Ayesha Rascoe

And upon this act, sincerely believed to be an act of justice, warranted by the Constitution, upon military necessity, I invoke the considerate judgment of mankind, and the gracious favor of Almighty God.

Walter Ray Watson

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the United States to be affixed.

Done at the City of Washington, this first day of January, in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and sixty three, and of the Independence of the United States of America the eighty-seventh.

By the President: Abraham Lincoln

Source Article from https://www.npr.org/2021/06/18/1007632122/to-celebrate-juneteenth-listen-to-a-reading-of-the-emancipation-proclamation

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Here’s how big tech companies are celebrating new national holiday, Juneteenth – CNBC
Here’s how big tech companies are celebrating new national holiday, Juneteenth – CNBC

Big tech companies will observe Juneteenth by offering education resources during the week of the newly-official U.S. holiday.

President Biden signed a bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday on Thursday afternoon. The holiday, which lands on June 19th every year, commemorates the ending of slavery in the U.S.

Tech companies’ reactions come after a year of racial reckoning and increased scrutiny of recruiting practices and treatment of Black employees. Some, like Twitter and Square, began recognizing the holiday last year.

“Juneteenth is not just about Black History—it is American history” and a “complex” one, said Dr. Tiffany Bowden, program manager on Amazon’s Global Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion team in a company Juneteenth blog post.

“While rejoicing in progress, we must continue to educate ourselves about our history to help guide our future,” the Amazon blog stated. “We honor those who fought, endured, and continue to persevere in the fight for equality. We celebrate with the awareness that advocacy is still necessary in America’s pursuit of equality and, ultimately, equity.”

‘No Meetings’

To commemorate Juneteenth, Google has “instituted a no meetings day” on Friday June 18 and is “encouraging all Googlers to use this day for celebration, learning and reflection,” according to a spokesperson.

Facebook said its workers can use one of their paid “Personal Choice Days” if they want to celebrate the holiday. Employees can also participate in “a day of discussions” with known activists and public figures, including Dr. Henry Louis Gates and Tina Knowles-Lawson “who will share perspectives on the history and significance of Juneteenth.”

“A lot of meetings have been canceled so folks can go to that,” a Facebook spokesperson added.

Apple said it recognizes Juneteenth as a company holiday in the U.S. and gives employees the day off to observe on Friday, June 18. Apple Retail and AppleCare will remain open to support customers. The company said employees can participate in week-long events that are “designed to educate, build community, and celebrate.”

Black storytelling and education

Companies will also provide educational material on racial injustice to employees.

“Our approach is not to offer a vacation day; but instead use this day to create time and space for employees to better understand critical topics related to race, ethnicity and racial injustice,” said Lindsay-Rae McIntyre, Microsoft’s Chief Diversity Officer. “Recognizing this day with intention allows us to stay connected to the many challenges unresolved, violence unaddressed, and inequities unchanged for the Black and African American community worldwide.”

Microsoft did not specify what learning programs will be offered.

Google said it’s going to host a two-hour event “spotlighting Black music history and storytelling”  including a conversation and performance by Ms. Erykah Badu.

Amazon’s programming includes educational panels regarding the origins and importance of Juneteenth, remarks from Black History experts and a performance and Q&A with African-American Dancers of New York dance studio The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.

Facebook said it will feature a video by businesswoman (and mother to Beyoncé) Tina Knowles-Lawson and a “Lift Black Voices Hub” that includes curated mix of fundraisers, educational resources and “content that showcases how communities are reimagining Black freedom on Facebook platforms every day.”

Amazon will sponsor an inaugural celebration called Juneteenth Unityfest. Its bookstore will highlight a selection of books that show the history of Juneteenth in a feature called “Celebrate Juneteenth.” It also said Prime Video has a curated selection of movies and series to acknowledge and honor Juneteenth. 

Watch now: President Biden signs Juneteenth National Independence Day Act

Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/18/juneteenth-how-big-tech-companies-are-celebrating-the-new-holiday.html

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Democrats face divide over how to craft a multitrillion-dollar bill without GOP – NBC News
Democrats face divide over how to craft a multitrillion-dollar bill without GOP – NBC News
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Hannity questions why Biden’s staff doesn’t let him answer questions – Fox News
Hannity questions why Biden’s staff doesn’t let him answer questions – Fox News
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Hannity: Biden gave Russia a ‘roadmap’ to cripple America

‘Hannity’ discusses media fawning over Biden-Putin summit and the first son’s new art business

Sean Hannity took issue Thursday with the way President Joe Biden conducted his summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin and the way the media chose to cover what the “Hannity” host called a “trainwreck.” 

“As predicted by any objective measure, the meeting was an utter train wreck. Putin basically gave Joe nothing, the United States nothing. He made not a single concession. There were zero agreements and after the meeting, Putin held a solo press conference where, let’s see, he mocked and trashed the U.S. at length.”

Hannity criticized Biden’s remarks, which he believed to be prewritten by the president’s staff, not appearing to rebuke any of Putin’s lies.

“Biden gave a short, scripted speech, probably written before the summit, took a handful of questions from, as always, preselected reporters, and then got very cranky and lashed out at reporters.” Hannity added, “Which tends to happen when you don’t get your warm milky.”

Biden has also been criticized for giving Putin a list of critical areas not to hack in the United States. Hannity slammed the list as a “roadmap” to hurt the country.

“Don’t worry because Joe proudly announced that he presented Putin with a list of 16, now pay attention here this is important, 16 critical areas of American infrastructure that Vladimir and the Russians better not target with a cyberattack. That includes telecommunications, healthcare, food and energy. Okay, first point, how dumb is it to give a hostile act, an evil guy like Vladimir Putin 16 specific things, a road map that would cripple the USA? That’s pretty dumb.”

THE BIDEN-PUTIN SUMMIT: WINNERS AND LOSERS

Hannity also noted that Biden appeared not to respond to Russian cyber-attacks on a U.S. pipeline and meat processing facility. 

“What would stop Putin from going after the other 14 sectors?” Hannity asked. “All cyberattacks against America and Americans, Joe, that already should be off-limits. You should have lectured him loudly.”

Hannity called out the media’s fawning praise for the president’s meeting but noted that they were even having some trouble covering for him.

“But as per usual, the mob, the media, they are trying so hard to keep the Biden Protection Program going. Although we are starting to see cracks here and there, even late-night comics are beginning to realize this guy is not really with us, is he?”

Hannity also asked why Biden’s staff won’t allow him to take questions on his own, noting that the president called on reporters from a pre-selected list in Geneva, and got testy with CNN reporter Caitlan Collins who shouted a question at him.

“Why are they controlling him? ‘I’m going to get in trouble if I take another question. I can’t take another question.’ Why?” Hannity asked. “Because his own staff knows he’s not capable of giving a coherent answer. Anyone with common sense knows what’s going on here. Joe Biden gets agitated at the drop of a hat, he gets cranky without his warm milky and his sippy cup, frequently forgets what he is saying midsentence. At times he seems totally lost, dazed, and confused.”

Source Article from https://www.foxnews.com/media/hannity-bidens-staff-answer-questions

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Roberts, Kavanaugh and Barrett have seized the Supreme Court for now – CNN
Roberts, Kavanaugh and Barrett have seized the Supreme Court for now – CNN

(CNN)Chief Justice John Roberts, along with Justices Amy Coney Barrett and Brett Kavanaugh, demonstrated their collective power at America’s highest court on Thursday.

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    Source Article from https://www.cnn.com/2021/06/18/politics/roberts-kavanaugh-barrett-supreme-court/index.html

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    No matter who wins Iran’s election, ‘the Iranian people will certainly lose,’ expert says – CNBC
    No matter who wins Iran’s election, ‘the Iranian people will certainly lose,’ expert says – CNBC

    The Iranian people will be the losers in this election no matter which candidate wins because their votes are not important, according to a senior fellow at a U.S.-based research institute.

    In many ways, the outcome of the presidential race after Friday’s vote is a foregone conclusion, said Behnam Ben Taleblu of the Foundation for Defense of Democracies.

    “Iran really has only one important voter … and that’s the supreme leader,” he said, referring to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

    “So you could say whoever wins, of the candidates that you mentioned … the Iranian people will certainly lose,” he told CNBC’s “Capital Connection” on Friday.

    A spokesperson for the Iran Foreign Ministry wasn’t immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC.

    Ben Taleblu pointed to anti-government protests in recent years, where demonstrators called for their leaders to resign. They were “not seeking reform, as in years past — but seeking, really, revolution,” he said.

    ‘Agent of stasis’

    The frontrunner in the presidential race, Ebrahim Raisi, is “definitely an agent of stasis, not change,” added Ben Taleblu.

    Political analysts have been floating hardline judge Raisi’s name as a potential replacement for Khamenei in the future, he said. Raisi, if elected, would be the first serving Iranian president in recent memory to be sanctioned by Washington before entering office — the penalties being placed on him due to his involvement in the mass execution of political prisoners in 1988.

    “It’s likely that you’re going to see the Islamic Republic retain its aggression abroad, and repression at home with Raisi at the helm,” he said.

    Polls opened at 7 a.m. local time on Friday for the Iranian elections, with political pundits noting widespread apathy across the country.

    Instead of looking at who wins the election, Ben Taleblu said future U.S. policy should be based on voter turnout, which is expected to be very low.

    “It’s not about who is at the helm of the Islamic Republic … it’s about what the Iranian people are signaling towards their state,” he said. “In the past few years, the chasm between state and society could not have gotten any greater.”

    Voter turnout is one way to determine whether the Iranian people support their leaders, and that “should make its way into” U.S. policy.

    Nuclear deal

    Ben Taleblu also said there could be a return to the 2015 nuclear deal after the election, but before the inauguration of the new president.

    “It’s very important to note that even some of the hardest of the hardline candidates want to continue to talk,” he said.

    “Despite them bashing the (current) Rouhani government and bashing the nuclear deal, they would want it because ultimately … Iran’s economy is hurting,” he said.

    It’s “totally possible” that the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action could be slipped in during the “lame duck period” of the Hassan Rouhani government, he said.

    Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2021/06/18/no-matter-who-wins-the-election-the-iranians-certainly-lose-fdd.html

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    Supreme Court foster care ruling likely to prompt more tests of religion vs. LGBTQ rights – USA TODAY
    Supreme Court foster care ruling likely to prompt more tests of religion vs. LGBTQ rights – USA TODAY
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    Delta COVID-19 variant is now in more than 80 countries, WHO says – ABC News
    Delta COVID-19 variant is now in more than 80 countries, WHO says – ABC News

    The delta COVID-19 variant, which was first detected in India, has now been reported in more than 80 countries, according to the World Health Organization.

    The WHO declared the delta variant a “variant of concern” last month. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention this week upgraded its classification of delta from a “variant of interest” to a “variant of concern.”

    Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for COVID-19, said variants of concern have demonstrated “increased transmissibility.”

    “That means it has mutations that allow, for example, the virus to adhere to the cell and infect the cell more easily in the person,” Van Kerkhove said at a WHO briefing Wednesday. “If it can spread more easily than more people can get infected quickly. And if a system is overwhelmed, and many systems are overwhelmed already, it can overburden the health system and fill beds very quickly.”

    Dr. Ashish Jha, dean of the Brown University School of Public Health, told ABC News’ “Good Morning America” that the delta variant “is far more contagious than any variant we have seen throughout this entire pandemic.”

    “It also appears to be a little bit more deadly for people who get infected,” he said Wednesday. “And what we are seeing is, while our vaccines seem to generally hold up, we’re seeing a few more breakthrough infections.”

    Jha also noted, “Headaches and sore throat are the kind of key features of this variant. Whether that will hold up in larger data, we don’t know. But it’s something we should keep an eye on.”

    Vaccination is key to stopping the virus from circulating and more variants from popping up, according to experts.

    “We’re going to be dealing with these other variants in the future that the vaccines may or may not be able to control,” said Nevan Krogan, a molecular biologist at the University of California, San Francisco.

    “We’ve got to get everybody vaccinated, but we need to understand how these viruses are mutating and overcoming our defense mechanisms,” he said. “The virus has always been a couple of steps ahead of us. We’ve got to get a step ahead of it.”

    ABC News’ Erin Schumaker contributed to this report.

    Source Article from https://abcnews.go.com/Health/delta-covid-19-variant-now-80-countries/story?id=78339159

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