Good morning. We’re covering Trump’s big legislative win and the heat wave in Europe. Plus, North Korea’s new beach resort.
The House passed Trump’s domestic policy billThe House of Representatives yesterday narrowly passed a sweeping bill to fulfill President Trump’s domestic agenda by extending tax cuts and slashing social safety net programs. The final vote was 218 to 214. All but two Republicans voted in favor and Democrats were uniformly opposed. Representative Hakeem Jeffries, Democrat of New York, referred to the bill as “an all-out assault on the health care of the people of the United States of America.” While the bill’s passage is a major win for Trump and his Republican Party, it’s also a big political gamble ahead of next year’s midterm elections. Vulnerable Republican lawmakers will certainly find themselves open to sharp attacks over their support of an agenda that slashed benefits. Here’s more on the spending cuts. Analysis: “The passage of the bill is just the latest example of Trump’s seemingly unlimited control over the Republican Party,” our White House correspondent Tyler Pager said. “For weeks, lawmakers from across the ideological spectrum had been publicly complaining about various aspects of the bill,” Tyler said. “For some, the cuts were too steep. For others, the cuts were not steep enough. And despite all of that, Trump ratcheted up the pressure — and the charm — to push it across the finish line. And Republicans did it by the deadline he set: July 4.” What’s next: Trump is expected to swiftly sign what he has frequently referred to as his “big, beautiful bill,” making it law.
Europe’s dangerous heat wave is moving eastSome parts of Western Europe were starting to cool off yesterday as the extreme heat that has gripped the continent moved east. Forecasters warned of dangerous temperatures in Central Europe. Four people have died in Spain, which along with France bore the brunt of the severe conditions at the start of the week. The high temperatures, coupled with drought conditions, have fueled wildfires in Spain and other parts of Europe. About 1,500 people, many of them tourists, were evacuated from hotels and homes on the Greek island of Crete as firefighters battled the blaze. Nuclear shutdown: Nuclear power operators in France and Switzerland shut down at least three reactors because of the extreme heat. For more: These maps show the path of the heat wave.
How the U.S. is using Vietnam to squeeze ChinaTrump is pressuring countries to squeeze China out of their supply chains, and a preliminary trade pact with Vietnam is the first step toward that goal. Full details about the pact are sparse, but we do know that Vietnamese exports to the U.S. would face a 20 percent tariff. Any export from Vietnam classified as a transshipment — goods that originated in another country but just passed through Vietnam — would be hit with a 40 percent tariff. China has used Vietnam and neighboring countries to circumvent U.S. tariffs on its goods. A similar penalty would pressure those countries to reduce the Chinese content in their supply chains.
Trade and the Economy
North Korea used to fill Kalma Beach with pieces of artillery during military drills. Now, it’s one of Kim Jong-un’s most ambitious projects to attract foreign tourists. A new waterfront resort opened for business this week. According to North Korea’s state media, the resort is already a hit. It released photos of families bathing, water skiing and riding water slides, saying that “the joy and optimism of the tourists were overflowing.” But there were no foreign tourists in sight. Lives lived: Michael Madsen, known for his indelible performances in Quentin Tarantino’s “Reservoir Dogs” and the “Kill Bill” series, died at 67.
We hope you’ve enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times.
Oasis is back after 16 years of brotherly warOasis is kicking off its global reunion tour today in Cardiff, Wales. These shows will be the Briti |
