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Good morning readers. England’s soccer team continues to score goals in the dying minutes of their games as they advance to the Euro final with a 2-1 victory against the Netherlands yesterday. For context: since the round of 16, England has scored a goal in the final minutes in 2 out of their 3 games.

• With 6 minutes of stoppage time against Slovakia, England scored in the 95th minute to advance to the quarter final

• They won in penalty shootouts against Switzerland in the quarter finals

• And then with 6 minutes of stoppage time against the Netherlands, Ollie Watkins scores within the first minute of being subbed in for captain Harry Kane (at the 90 minute mark)

The Three Lions are set to take on Spain in the championship final this Sunday, July 14 at 3PM Eastern Time. Who you got?

Let’s jump into today’s storylines.

In today’s digest:

• Day 1 of Alec Baldwin’s eight-day trial began in Santa Fe

• Headline Hustle: George Clooney asks Joe Biden to drop out of presidential race, Japans’ Nikkei index hits all-time highs on rate cut hopes, Senators establish new rule banning members of Congress from trading stocks

• Could MrBeast be president? He’s thinking about it

• Pulse Points: What’s Trending

LAW

Alec Baldwin's “Rust” trial begins amid career crossroads

As the lights dim in Santa Fe’s courtroom, Alec Baldwin steps into a role far removed from the bright lights of Hollywood. Nearly three years after the tragic shooting on the set of "Rust," Baldwin faces the gravity of an involuntary manslaughter charge in a real-life drama that has gripped audiences worldwide.

The eight-day trial, overseen by Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, plunges into the heart of an incident that has seen Baldwin—from esteemed actor to a figure shadowed by controversy—struggle to reclaim his narrative. Baldwin, who has consistently claimed innocence, now faces the possibility of 18 months behind bars.

How this all began

The incident in question unfolded during rehearsals for “Rust,” when Baldwin discharged a firearm that fatally wounded cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza. Despite initial charges being dropped in 2023 after debates about the gun’s functionality, a renewed indictment was secured when further tests declared the weapon fully operational, dismissing any notion of accidental discharge.

Prosecutor Erlinda Johnson minced no words in her opening, accusing Baldwin of negligent behavior with a loaded gun. In contrast, Baldwin’s defense, led by attorney Alex Spiro, painted him as merely an actor performing his duties, arguing that the responsibility for safety lay elsewhere.

As Baldwin’s defense points to systemic failures rather than individual negligence, the court will decide whether this was a tragic accident or something that could have been prevented. Meanwhile, the actor’s involvement in new projects, including a reality show with his wife, highlights his determination to move forward, even as the legal and emotional ramifications of Hutchins's death continue to unfold.

Big picture: The trial will not only determine Baldwin’s fate but also casts a long shadow over Hollywood’s handling of on-set safety, echoing a call for strict measures.

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IN THE KNOW

Headline Hustle

🙏 George Clooney asks Joe Biden to bow out of presidential race. Hollywood superstar George Clooney called for President Joe Biden to drop out of the presidential race after Biden’s poor debate performance and a fundraiser Clooney co-hosted in June. In a New York Times op-ed, Clooney noted, "The Joe Biden I was with three weeks ago was not the Joe ‘big F-ing deal’ Biden of 2010." He urged Democratic leaders like Nancy Pelosi to ask Biden to step aside, stressing the need for a new candidate to win in November.

🇯🇵 Japan’s Nikkei hits a new all-time high on tech rally and rate cut hopes. Japan’s Nikkei 225 hit a new high on Thursday, surpassing the 42,000 mark for the first time. The surge followed a U.S. Big Tech rally and optimism over potential Federal Reserve rate cuts after the Fed’s Jerome Powell’s two-day testimony gave a more positive outlook moving forward. Chip stocks like Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company and Nvidia saw significant gains. Other Asia-Pacific markets also rose, with South Korea’s Kospi up 0.75% and Hong Kong’s Hang Seng index gaining 1.41%. Meanwhile, all three major U.S. indexes posted gains overnight.

🛑 Senators roll out new deal that bans members of Congress from trading stocks. A bipartisan group of senators announced a renewed effort to ban members of Congress from trading stocks. The proposed bill would forbid members of Congress, the president, and the vice president from purchasing stocks and other covered investments, with lawmakers given 90 days to sell their stocks. The bill also includes a penalty for violations and extends the ban to lawmakers' spouses and dependent children starting in 2027. The Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs Committee will consider the proposal on July 24.

CULTURE

Is YouTube’s MrBeast eyeing the White House? He’s just kidding...maybe

Is America ready for a YouTube President? Jimmy Donaldson, better known as MrBeast, the mastermind behind viral challenges and philanthropic stunts, has cheekily hinted he might throw his hat into the presidential ring—if only the age requirements bent his way.

From MrBeast to Mr. President?

After witnessing a debate that left many calling for fresh faces, Donaldson suggested a shakeup. The 26-year-old YouTube megastar proposed a political platform of centrism and non-partisanship. His promise? A presidency free from the strings of political affiliations and the influence of money. In other words, kick political parties to the curb and go middle-of-the-road on everything. "I wouldn't be buyable," he claimed in a post that quickly went viral.

While his declaration might be more speculative than serious—he's nine years shy of the constitutional age requirement—the buzz it's generated speaks volumes about the current desire for change among America's youth. With seasoned politicians struggling to resonate with younger demographics, the notion of a younger leader, even one from YouTube, sparks a tantalizing question: what if?

So, is America (and the rest of the world) ready for a President from YouTube? Probably not. But MrBeast’s playful poke at running shows just how much people want something new. And who knows? In a world where celebrities can become presidents, anything’s possible.

SNIPPETS

Pulse Points

• Starting September 1, Costco will increase its membership fees in the U.S. and Canada by $5, raising annual memberships to $65 and the "Executive Membership" to $130 from $120.

• Archegos Capital Management founder Sung Kook “Bill” Hwang was convicted of fraud and other charges on Wednesday by a Manhattan federal court jury, following accusations of market manipulation leading up to the 2021 collapse of his $36 billion private investment firm.

• Starting July 15, Target will stop accepting personal checks, joining other retailers in eliminating this rare form of payment to streamline the checkout process for shoppers.

• Ellen DeGeneres has reportedly announced she's ready to retire from performing, as revealed during a recent standup show at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, California.

• Microsoft has relinquished its board observer seat at OpenAI, which had drawn regulatory scrutiny, stating it was no longer necessary due to significant improvements in OpenAI's governance over the past eight months.

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