Putin and Biden: Superpowers face off
Welcome to Wednesday, Daily Briefing readers! It's one of the biggest days in Joe Biden's presidency, when he'll meet with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Geneva. Is a "bromance" in the cards? It's unlikely. Earlier, Israeli aircraft carried out a series of airstrikes at militant sites in Gaza, the first such raids since a shaky cease-fire ended the war last month.
Steve and Jane are here with Wednesday's news.
🌎 New this morning: Amid a reckoning over law enforcement that is roiling the nation, Milwaukee residents give low ratings to the city's police department, a new Suffolk University/USA TODAY Network Poll finds. The survey is the first in a series in major American cities.
🔵The legal struggle over school bathrooms begun by transgender student Gavin Grimm is back at the Supreme Court, years after he finished high school.
💉 The CDC has classified the delta variant of the coronavirus as a “variant of "concern." Tap here for all the latest coronavirus updates.
🔵 "The family asked for help": The former spouse of the man police say killed two people in a Publix supermarket expressed frustration with law enforcement insinuating she did not do enough to stop the tragedy.
🌎 The "Juneteenth National Independence Day Act": The Senate passed a bill to recognize June 19, or "Juneteenth," as an official holiday.
🎆 Could a fireworks shortage silence July 4th celebrations? A leading fireworks retailer is urging people to shop early, just in case.
🛒 Amazon Prime Day is nearly upon us. Can't wait to shop? We got you. Reviewed's done all the hard work to find you the best early deals.
🎧 On today's 5 Things podcast, international correspondent Kim Hjelmgaard previews Biden’s meeting with Putin. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.
Here's what's happening today:
Biden, Putin to meet with US-Russia relations at low point
When President Joe Biden meets with Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Wednesday, the West's favorite geopolitical bogeyman is not likely to get the easy pass he got from former President Donald Trump. The meeting at a one-day summit in Geneva comes amid tensions over democratic values, human rights and allegations that Moscow was behind a series of cyberattacks in the U.S. In 2018, Trump stood side by side with Putin in Helsinki, Finland, and dismissed assessments from his own intelligence agencies about Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 U.S. election.
"I don't expect (the) kind of bromance that Trump aspired to," said Eugene Rumer, director of the Russia and Eurasia program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, a Washington think tank. "I have modest expectations about what this immediate meeting can deliver in practical terms."
🤝 It's a delicate diplomatic dance when American presidents meet with Russian leaders.Check out our gallery of historic photos.
Israeli airstrikes target Gaza sites, first since cease-fire
Israeli aircraft carried out a series of airstrikes at militant sites in the Gaza Strip early Wednesday, the first such raids since a shaky ceasefire ended the war with Hamas last month. There were no immediate reports of casualties. On Tuesday, hundreds of Israeli ultranationalists, some chanting "Death to Arabs," paraded in east Jerusalem in a show of force that threatened to spark renewed violence. Palestinians in Gaza responded by launching incendiary balloons that caused at least 10 fires in Israel. The march posed a test for Israel's fragile new government – with Naftali Bennett replacing Benjamin Netanyahu as prime minister – as well as the tenuous truce that ended last month's 11-day war between Israel and Hamas.
Newsmakers in their own words: Southern Baptists' new president speaks out
Southern Baptists elected Alabama pastor Ed Litton to serve as the next president of their network of conservative evangelical churches.
The convention is divided over its future direction: Some are concerned there is a leftward drift within the network while others disagree, saying this faction is pushing toward fundamentalism, and it could chase out minority pastors and churches.
Democrats to discuss next steps for 'two-track' infrastructure plan
Democrats will meet Wednesday to discuss possible next steps for a massive "two-track" infrastructure plan. Democratic lawmakers said they would negotiate with Republicans on a bill that focuses on traditional transportation. However, if a deal can't be reached, Democrats would fold those programs into a larger climate bill using "budget reconciliation," a strategy that bypasses the filibuster process and allows a simple majority to pass legislation. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y,. told reporters he would meet Wednesday with Democrats on the Senate Budget Committee to map out a resolution spelling out a reconciliation pathway.
What else people are reading:
🔵 A first-of-its-kind dinner: Vice President Kamala Harris is hosting an event at her Washington D.C. residence next week, and all 24 of her female colleagues in the U.S. Senate are invited.
🔵 Southwest Airlines in news double whammy: On the good side, it's offering half off fall airfares as part of its 50th anniversary sale. On the bad side, "intermittent performance issues" led to the cancellation of about 500 flights Tuesday.
🔴 "Offended" NFL MVP: Star quarterback Aaron Rodgers used his attire to send some not-so-subtle jabs to the Green Bay Packers amid their rift.
🔵 Color Simon Cowell impressed: On "America's Got Talent," the judge dubbed the Olympic-worthy World Taekwondo act "one of the most extraordinary things I’ve seen" in all the years he's been on the show.
🔴 "MLB doesn't understand": Tampa Bay Rays star pitcher Tyler Glasnow blames Major League Baseball's foreign-substance crackdown for his significant elbow injury.
Fed could signal earlier interest rate hike as economy surges
The Federal Reserve on Wednesday could signal it's likely to move up the timetable for easing back the stimulus measures it has enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. With the economy rolling along and inflation jumping amid strong demand and supply-chain shortages, policymakers could push up their forecast for an interest rate hike to 2023 from 2024 at the earliest. Fed Chair Jerome Powell may also hint that the Fed will begin tapering its $120 billion a month in Treasury and mortgage bond purchases – which help hold down long-term interest rates – earlier than expected.
NBA playoffs: Kevin Durant's historic night leads Nets to win, series lead
In one of the all-time great performances in postseason history, two-time NBA Finals MVP Kevin Durant had 49 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists to propel the Brooklyn Nets to a 114-108 win over the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 5 of the Eastern Conference semifinals.
On Wednesday, two Game 5s that will break 2-2 series ties are on tap. First, the Atlanta Hawks will face the Philadelphia 76ers (7:30 p.m. ET, TNT). All eyes will be on 76ers star Joel Embiid, who is dealing with a knee injury. Out west, the Utah Jazz will host the Los Angeles Clippers (10 p.m. ET, TNT) in a series where the home team is 4-0.
Ex-Michigan athletes, students to demand action from school over sex abuse allegations
Dozens of former Michigan football players and other students who say they were sexually assaulted by Dr. Robert Anderson will hold a news conference to demand action from the school's leadership. Anderson has been accused of sexually assaulting hundreds of Michigan students during his tenure at the school, which spanned from the late 1960s until 2002 and included time as the head medical doctor for the football team. Anderson died in 2008. Last week, two former Michigan players, along with Matt Schembechler, the son of iconic coach Bo Schembechler, publicly detailed the abuse they say they suffered as patients of Anderson. They also said Bo Schembechler was told about the abuse but did nothing to stop it. Schembechler's family denied the allegations.
ICYMI: Some of our top stories Tuesday
⚕ "We deeply regret any concern and inconvenience": Philips is recalling sleep apnea machines and ventilators that could put users at risk of cancer or other health issues.
🌎 "A day to celebrate": California, once the epicenter of COVID-19 pandemic with some of the strictest measures to counter the virus, has reopened and shed most restrictions.
💰 They can "spend it however they choose": MacKenzie Scott, the billionaire philanthropist and ex-wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, has donated $2.7 billion to 286 groups.
📸 Photo of the day: Heat wave in the West smashes records 📸
More than 50 million Americans in eight different states were under heat warnings and watches Tuesday as the National Weather Service urged people to remain hydrated and to stay indoors. And Tuesday's temperature in Phoenix tied a record set in 1974. The Arizona city is set to hit that high for the rest of the week, fueling wildfires in the state.
For more photos of areas out west where the heat wave is smashing records, click here.
Contributing: The Associated Press