⚡ Today in History

On July 2, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act, expanding equal protection under federal law. In 1776, the Continental Congress voted to break from Britain, putting the question of who counts as a citizen at the center of a new nation. Today? The Supreme Court struck down an executive order that tried to narrow who is a citizen at birth.

Top News

Supreme Court strikes down Trump's birthright citizenship order 6-3

President Trump signed an order this year seeking to deny automatic citizenship to children born in the US to parents without permanent legal status. The Supreme Court ruled 6-3 on Tuesday that the order violates the 14th Amendment, with Chief Justice John Roberts writing the majority opinion. The ruling applies nationwide. Justice Clarence Thomas dissented, warning the decision devalues American citizenship.

US and Iran hold indirect talks in Doha as ceasefire wobbles 1/5 OF OIL

Iran and the US traded strikes over the Strait of Hormuz last weekend, testing the ceasefire reached under a June 17 memorandum of understanding. Iranian and American officials met separately with Qatari and Pakistani mediators in Doha on Wednesday, though Tehran has ruled out direct talks with Washington. The strait carries about one-fifth of the world's oil and gas supply. Brent crude fell to $72.25 a barrel Wednesday, its steepest quarterly drop since 2020.

Wall Street closes out its best quarter since 2020

Chipmakers and AI suppliers led a rally that lifted the Dow to a record close of 52,319 points on Tuesday. The S&P 500 gained 14% and the Nasdaq climbed nearly 20% for the second quarter. Nvidia, AMD and Intel posted some of the largest gains. Futures slipped Wednesday as investors weighed whether the rally can keep going.

Heat wave threatens World Cup knockout matches through July 4

A major heat wave is spreading across the eastern half of the country as the World Cup enters its knockout rounds. Philadelphia is under an extreme heat warning through Saturday, when temperatures near 100 degrees are expected for the Paraguay-France match. FIFA has added extra hydration breaks at every match this tournament. Forecasters warn the heat could also affect games in Kansas City and New Jersey through the weekend.

New federal loan caps take effect for grad students and parents

Congress passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act last year to slow rising tuition tied to unlimited federal borrowing. As of Wednesday, graduate students are capped at $20,500 a year and $100,000 total, while Parent PLUS loans are capped at $20,000 a year per child. The changes apply to new borrowers starting this week. Nursing programs left out of the higher professional-degree cap have pushed back, warning of a funding gap.

World

Iran and US technical teams meet separately in Doha $6B FROZEN

Qatar's Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al Thani, met separately with American and Iranian delegations in Doha this week to advance last month's ceasefire deal. US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner arrived Tuesday, while Iran's Foreign Ministry said its team came only to discuss $6 billion in frozen assets. Qatar's government confirmed no direct talks are scheduled between the two sides. Iran's parliament speaker said Tehran will not sign a final deal until fighting in Lebanon ends and US sanctions on Iranian oil are lifted.

Ebola outbreak in Congo passes 300 deaths in seven weeks

Health workers in the Democratic Republic of Congo have struggled to contain the Bundibugyo strain of Ebola since the outbreak was declared in mid-May. The World Health Organization has confirmed more than 1,150 cases and over 300 deaths as of late June, mostly in the eastern Ituri province. Nearly 80 health workers have been infected, including one evacuated to Germany for treatment. The outbreak is now the third-largest Ebola epidemic on record.

Europe's heat deaths top 1,300 since June 21

A record-breaking heat wave settled over Europe last month, killing mostly elderly residents in France and other countries with low rates of home air conditioning. The World Health Organization's Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said Tuesday that more than 1,300 heat-related deaths have been recorded across the continent since June 21. Only about 20% of European households have air conditioning, compared with roughly 90% in the US. Officials are debating whether to expand cooling access even as some resist air conditioning on environmental grounds.

World Cup heat risk grows as knockout rounds begin

Climate scientists at World Weather Attribution found that a quarter of this summer's 104 World Cup matches carry heat-stress conditions high enough that player associations recommend postponement. Only three of the tournament's stadiums, in Atlanta, Dallas and Houston, have full climate control. FIFA has added extra water breaks and allows fans to bring one sealed water bottle into stadiums. The highest-risk games remain in Miami, Kansas City and East Rutherford, New Jersey, site of the July 19 final.

Iran's Guard claims strikes on US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait

Iran's Revolutionary Guard said over the weekend that it struck eight US military facilities at Kuwait's Ali al-Salem base and Bahrain's Fifth Fleet headquarters, after the US hit Iranian missile and drone sites for a second straight day. No US casualties were reported. Gulf states including Saudi Arabia, the UAE and Qatar condemned the strikes on Bahrain as a violation of its sovereignty. President Trump warned on Truth Social that the US could be forced to militarily finish what it started.

Politics

Jackson rebukes Thomas over birthright citizenship dissent 91 PAGES

Justice Clarence Thomas argued in a 91-page dissent that the 14th Amendment's citizenship clause was meant only for freed slaves, not children of temporary visitors. Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson rebuked that reasoning in a concurring opinion Tuesday, accusing Thomas of applying a narrow, race-based reading he has long rejected in other cases. The 6-3 ruling closes off one of Trump's signature immigration policies. Vice President JD Vance called the decision a major mistake.

Supreme Court upholds bans on transgender athletes in girls' sports

The court ruled 6-3 on Tuesday that West Virginia and Idaho can require student athletes to compete based on sex assigned at birth. The decision capped a final opinion day that also saw the court strike down limits on coordinated political party spending, a rule dating to the post-Watergate era. The justices separately agreed to hear new challenges to assault-weapons bans in Illinois and Connecticut next term.

Trump's crypto ventures brought in $1.2 billion last year

President Trump's personal financial disclosure, released Tuesday, showed he earned close to $1.2 billion from crypto businesses in his first year back in office. The filing comes as Congress debates new rules for digital-asset trading. Watchdog groups have raised conflict-of-interest concerns about a sitting president profiting from an industry his administration regulates. The disclosure did not detail which crypto ventures generated the bulk of the income.

New Jersey congressman reveals reason for four-month absence

Republican Rep. Tom Kean Jr. of New Jersey missed nearly four months of House votes this year without a public explanation, prompting speculation among constituents. Kean told colleagues in an emotional floor speech Tuesday that a medical condition had kept him away from Congress. He did not name the condition. Kean has represented New Jersey's 7th District since 2023.

Colorado Democrats face insurgent challengers in Tuesday primaries

Progressive candidates backed by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's coalition tested whether that momentum extends to Colorado. Rep. Diana DeGette faced a primary challenge from the left in Colorado's 1st District on Tuesday. The results mark the latest round in a broader fight between the Democratic Party's establishment and insurgent wings heading into the November midterms. Polls closed at 9 p.m. Eastern.

Markets

Dow closes its best quarter since 2020, then dips +14% S&P

Chipmakers and AI suppliers drove a rally that pushed the S&P 500 up 14% and the Nasdaq nearly 20% for the second quarter, the strongest showing for both indexes since 2020. The Dow Jones Industrial Average notched a record close of 52,319 on Tuesday. Futures slipped Wednesday as traders weighed Federal Reserve Chair Kevin Warsh's remarks at a central banking forum in Sintra, Portugal. The S&P 500 and Dow each fell about 0.35% in early Wednesday trading.

Brent crude posts its worst quarter since 2020

Brent crude fell to $72.25 a barrel on Wednesday, down nearly 25% for the quarter, as oil tankers resumed transit through the Strait of Hormuz following last month's ceasefire. Iran has shipped more than 40 million barrels since the US lifted its naval blockade, adding to a global supply glut. Russian exports have also climbed to record levels. Analysts warn the extra supply could keep pressure on prices even if the Doha talks fail.

SpaceX set to join the Nasdaq-100 on July 7

SpaceX went public on the Nasdaq on June 12 at the largest valuation of any initial public offering in history. The company will officially join the Nasdaq-100 index before trading opens on July 7. JPMorgan estimates the addition could drive about $4.3 billion in passive investment inflows. SpaceX shares fell 1.74% in Tuesday premarket trading after a 7.2% jump the day before.

Kroger to buy Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion

Kroger announced Tuesday it will acquire regional grocery chain Giant Eagle for $1.65 billion. The deal follows Kroger's failed $25 billion merger attempt with Albertsons, which regulators and courts blocked in 2024. Kroger faces growing competition from Walmart and Amazon as it works to hold down grocery prices. Kroger shares fell 2.8% in premarket trading Tuesday on the news.

Gold and bitcoin slip as investors rotate into stocks

Gold fell to $4,027.50 an ounce and bitcoin dropped to $58,364 on Monday, both down for the session as investors moved money into equities. The VIX, Wall Street's fear gauge, eased to 17.60, signaling reduced anxiety about near-term swings. The Russell 2000 climbed to a new milestone in June despite mixed results from larger companies. Traders are watching Friday's jobs report for the next catalyst.

Entertainment

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce plan 1,000-guest wedding at MSG $4.5M WAGERED

Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce are planning to marry at Madison Square Garden over the July 4th weekend, according to a source close to the couple. The wedding is expected to draw about 1,000 guests, along with NYPD street closures and heavy security around the venue. Prediction market Kalshi says the event has already generated more than $4.5 million in wagers on details of the ceremony. Neither Swift nor Kelce has confirmed the date publicly.

Legally Blonde prequel series premieres on Prime Video

Prime Video released "Elle," a prequel series following Reese Witherspoon's Elle Woods character, on Wednesday. Lexi Minetree stars in the title role and said Witherspoon gave her guidance on stepping into the part. The series arrives more than two decades after the original 2001 film made Elle Woods a comedy touchstone. Streaming numbers for the premiere were not yet available.

Mbappe brace sends France past Sweden into round of 16

Kylian Mbappe scored twice on Tuesday to lift France past Sweden in the tournament's round of 32. The win sends France into the round of 16, continuing the team's push toward a third World Cup title in four tournaments. France will learn its next opponent as the knockout bracket fills out this week. The match was played under one of the tournament's mandatory heat-break rules.

Serena Williams makes emotional return to Wimbledon

Serena Williams appeared at Wimbledon this week for the first time since her 2022 retirement from professional tennis. Her return drew comparisons to past championship runs at the All England Club, where she won seven singles titles. Commentators described the appearance as both familiar and different without her competing on court. Wimbledon's fortnight continues through mid-July.

White House taps alien-theory astronomer for new UFO council

The White House named a Harvard astronomer known for high-profile theories about extraterrestrial visits to head a newly created UFO council this week. The pick has drawn criticism from scientists who call his past claims polarizing and unproven. The announcement lands on July 2, marked informally each year as World UFO Day. The council's mandate and funding have not yet been detailed.