Joe Biden, the U.S. president who in Geneva didn't shame America like Trump in Helsinki  —  Our View: Whether real progress ensues remains to be seen.  But America needed to witness its leader engage in necessary diplomacy without humiliating himself.  —  The Editorial BoardUSA TODAY

House passes bill to make Juneteenth a federal holiday … The House on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly in favor of making Juneteenth a national federal holiday with a 415-14 tally, and Democrats are hopeful President Joe Biden will sign the measure into law by Saturday.

Leaked Audio of Sen. Joe Manchin Call With Billionaire Donors Provides Rare Glimpse of Dealmaking on Filibuster and January 6 Commission … West Virginia Sen. Joe Manchin, in a private call on Monday with a group of major donors, provided a revealing look at his political approach to the most thorny issues confronting lawmakers.

White House tries to privately calm Democratic fears on infrastructure deal  —  After being pummeled by progressives for continuing to pursue infrastructure talks with Republicans, the White House is now being offered what's likely the best bipartisan deal it's going to get.

Justice Dept. Ends Criminal Inquiry, Lawsuit on John Bolton's Book  —  President Donald J. Trump had pressured the department to use its legal powers to stop his former national security adviser from publishing embarrassing details about him.  —  The Justice Department has closed …

2 South Carolina executions halted until firing squad formed  —  COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The South Carolina Supreme Court on Wednesday blocked the planned executions of two inmates by electrocution, saying they cannot be put to death until they truly have the choice of the firing squad option set …

Marjorie Taylor Greene's insincere apology  —  On Monday, Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene apologized for comparing former mask mandates to the Holocaust.  —  “The Holocaust is — there's nothing comparable to it,” said the Georgia Republican following a visit to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on Monday.

POLITICO Playbook: The inside view from the West Wing on infrastructure  —  DRIVING THE DAY  —  JUST POSTED: Friend of Playbook Olivia Nuzzi profiles New York gubernatorial candidate ANDREW GIULIANI for the next issue of New York magazine.  Lots of juicy details: DONALD TRUMP is mad at him.

EXCLUSIVE: ‘No yellow!’  Hunter Biden used slur to refer to Asians in 2019 texts with his cousin Caroline who asked if he preferred ‘foreign or domestic’ women - as he's already been blasted as racist for using the n-word  — Hunter Biden referred to Asians with the offensive term 'yellow …

GOP congressman refuses to shake hands with D.C. police officer who protected the Capitol on Jan. 6  —  Rep. Andrew S. Clyde (R-Ga.), who voted against awarding police officers the Congressional Gold Medal for their bravery in protecting the U.S. Capitol against violent, pro-Trump rioters on Jan. 6 …

In secret recording, Florida Republican threatens to send Russian-Ukrainian ‘hit squad’ after rival  —  “I really don't want to have to end anybody's life for the good of the people of the United States of America. ...  But if it needs to be done, it needs to be done,” William Braddock says in the clip.

IT IS OBSCENE: A TRUE REFLECTION IN THREE PARTS  —  When you are a public figure, people will write and say false things about you.  It comes with the territory.  Many of those things you brush aside.  Many you ignore.  The people close to you advise you that silence is best.  And it often is.

On the Campaign Trail With Andrew Giuliani The Son of Rudy is working out his father issues on the road to Albany.  —  Andrew Giuliani was holding a silver spoon.  He just was.  There's no getting around it.  Sitting in a booth at Mansion Diner on 86th and York — about a thousand feet …

American College Student Freedom, Progress and Flourishing Survey  —  The American College Student Freedom, Progress and Flourishing Survey is an annual survey conducted by the Sheila and Robert Challey Institute for Global Innovation and Growth.  The survey assesses student perceptions …

CIA Names David Marlowe to Run Espionage Operations  —  Will oversee undercover officers who recruit foreign spies, from foreign government officials to members of terrorist networks  —  WASHINGTON—In his first major personnel move, CIA Director William Burns has tapped a 30-year agency veteran …

The Forever-Trump Movement Has Won  —  The 45th president lost an election and incited a failed insurrection, but his grip on the GOP is absolute.  What's next for a party at war with democracy — and the future?  —  The heretics left the champagne and orange juice untouched, but the conversation flowed freely all the same.

Aide says former Homeland Security head Tom Ridge had stroke  —  HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — Former U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge suffered a stroke Wednesday at his home in suburban Washington, D.C., a longtime aide to the former Pennsylvania governor said.

Biden administration cancels Trump limits on asylum eligibility  —  Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday rolled back a pair of Trump administration legal decisions that had narrowed access to the U.S. asylum system, where caseloads have ballooned in recent years from soaring numbers of claims.

Earth is now trapping an ‘unprecedented’ amount of heat, NASA says  —  New research shows that the amount of heat the planet traps has roughly doubled since 2005, contributing to more rapidly warming oceans, air and land  —  The amount of heat Earth traps has roughly doubled since 2005 …

Scardina v. Masterpiece Cakeshop  —  Description: The same attorney who filed an unsuccessful complaint with the Colorado Civil Rights Commission in 2017 commenced a lawsuit in state court over the same custom cake request the attorney made at that time.  The request was for a custom-designed cake …

Victoria's Secret Swaps Angels for ‘What Women Want.’ Will They Buy It?  —  The embattled lingerie giant is attempting the most extreme brand turnaround in recent memory: an effort not just to redefine itself but also the very idea of what “sexy” is.  —  The Victoria's Secret Angels …

To truly build back better, we need a Justice 100 solution  —  The Biden administration has ushered in a new progressive era.  Its “build back better” playbook of policies and initiatives address the serious challenges of our generation: climate change, economic recovery, racial justice and a safety net for struggling families.

Jean Guerrero to join The Times as an Op-Ed columnist  —  The following announcement was sent on behalf of Editorial Page Editor Sewell Chan and Op-Ed Editor Terry Tang:  —  We're delighted to announce that Jean Guerrero, an award-winning journalist, essayist and author, is joining the Los Angeles Times as an opinion columnist.

Inside Tom Cotton's Insane World Of DNA Theft, Olympic Athletes, And Anti-China Conspiracies  —  In the minds of the right, the international communist threat is back.  And this time, it's not just personal — it's genetic.  —  At least, that's according to a letter that Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR) sent to President Biden this week.