The President And First Lady’s Day

President Barack Obama, surrounded by Cabinet officials and members of Congress, signs a series of bills during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House. Included in the bills signed is the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015

****

****

President Barack Obama’s signature is seen on H.R. 1295 Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015. The president signed into law two hard-fought bills giving him greater authority to negotiate international trade deals and providing aid to workers whose jobs are displaced by such pacts

****

The two trade bills @POTUS signed today will put American workers first → go.wh.gov/gMn4fm #LeadOnTrade snpy.tv/1JtpxdM

—
The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 29, 2015

President Obama's trade deal will lock in the strongest labor protections ever → go.wh.gov/gMn4fm #LeadOnTrade http://t.co/6ASH30MPqS

—
The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 29, 2015

****

****

President Obama's trade deal will: Protect our oceans. Combat illegal wildlife trafficking. Combat illegal logging. http://t.co/e3xxmqMy3X

—
The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 29, 2015

"The second bill...renews and expands the Trade Adjustment Assistance program" —@POTUS #LeadOnTrade http://t.co/tdDdVJTWyE

—
White House Live (@WHLive) June 29, 2015

****

President Barack Obama and President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff  visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

First Lady Michelle Obama speaks at 2015 MORE Impact Awards Luncheon at The Newseum

****

Video Here

****

Check out @FLOTUS' remarks about #LetGirlsLearn. What are YOU going to do to help? whitehouse.gov/the-press-offi…

—
Valerie Jarrett (@vj44) June 29, 2015

****

Actress Robin Wright

Chat Away

On This Day: President Barack Obama and President of Brazil Dilma Rousseff visit the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial

What Did SCOTUS Do Today?

SCOTUS grants review in 4 cases, including affirmative action (the Fisher University of Texas case).

—
  (@SCOTUSblog) June 29, 2015

SCOTUS denies review 14-410 in Google v. Oracle regarding copyright protection for computer software.

—
  (@SCOTUSblog) June 29, 2015

****

SCOTUS 5-4 upholds use of midazolam in lethal injection. Breyer & Ginsburg would reconsider constitutionality of the death penalty.

—
  (@SCOTUSblog) June 29, 2015

SCOTUS 5-4 upholds independent state commission that draws federal congressional districts, taking that power from the state legislature.

—
  (@SCOTUSblog) June 29, 2015

****

Truly shows the pettiness and privilege of Fisher. She was not qualified, but because she’s white, the heavens must always grant her everything. At the end of the day, more whites benefited but she’s butthurt because 5 Black and Latino students were granted admission. The privilege is disgusting

****

A reminder that Fisher was a mediocre student who never would have gotten in. propublica.org/article/a-colo… http://t.co/7p1aJMnzhf

—
Jamelle Bouie (@jbouie) June 29, 2015

SCOTUS 5-4 invalidates EPA regulations refusing to consider costs in determining whether to regulate power plants' air pollution.

—
  (@SCOTUSblog) June 29, 2015

****

Supreme Court rules 5-4 in favor of Arizona's redistricting commission: buff.ly/1KktIas

—
National Journal (@nationaljournal) June 29, 2015

#BREAKING Supreme Court shoots down EPA clean air regulation usat.ly/1InMTjt

—
USA TODAY (@USATODAY) June 29, 2015

****

Note: today's EPA ruling involves different section of law than upcoming climate regs on power plants legal-planet.org/2015/06/24/wha…

—
Bill Scher (@billscher) June 29, 2015

#SCOTUS says EPA must take cost into account when setting pollution limits for coal-burning power plants. #CleanAirAct

—
NPR News (@nprnews) June 29, 2015

****

In dissent, Justices Breyer & Ginsburg question whether the death penalty remains constitutional.

—
Brent Kendall (@brkend) June 29, 2015

Supreme Court Says Use Of Lethal Injection Drug Is Legal n.pr/1C1FqFY

—
NPR News (@nprnews) June 29, 2015

****

Another 5-4 #SCOTUS decision: Arizona may use a commission to draw lines for congressional districts (as opposed to by legislature).

—
NPR Politics (@nprpolitics) June 29, 2015

Breaking: SCOTUS rules Commissions to battle gerrymandering ARE constitutional Ginsburg 5-4 opinion, big victory for campaign reformers

—
Ari Melber (@AriMelber) June 29, 2015

****

Just in: Justices Breyer and Ginsburg call for broader evaluation of whether the death penalty is constitutional at all, in dissent.

—
Ari Melber (@AriMelber) June 29, 2015

.@SCOTUS overturns Obama administration mercury air pollution rule yhoo.it/1InOqWS

—
Yahoo News (@YahooNews) June 29, 2015

****

SCOTUS denies review 14-410 in Google v. Oracle regarding copyright protection for computer software.

—
  (@SCOTUSblog) June 29, 2015

A lot of people are going to write a lot of hot-take tweets and articles acting like the EPA case is more momentous than it is.

—
Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) June 29, 2015

****

@studentactivism isn't it just basically saying they have to consider costs earlier in the process?

—
Arya Underfoot (@mzbitca) June 29, 2015

Yes, and I'm told that plays a significant role in shaping the policy, but it's not earth-shattering. @mzbitca

—
Angus Johnston (@studentactivism) June 29, 2015

****

Trust and believe President Obama is not going to be waiting years to fix this BS from the SCOTUS

****

Emily Atkin: BREAKING: The Supreme Court Will Allow Coal Plants To Emit Unlimited Mercury

Power plants will continue to able to emit unlimited mercury, arsenic, and other pollutants thanks to the Supreme Court, which on Monday invalidated the first-ever U.S. regulations to limit toxic heavy metal pollution from coal and oil-fired plants. In a 5-4 ruling, the Supreme Court struck down the Environmental Protection Agency’s Mercury and Air Toxic Standards, commonly referred to as MATS. The EPA had been trying to implement a rule that cut down on toxic mercury pollution for more than two decades. But the Supreme Court majority opinion, written by Justice Antonin Scalia, said the EPA acted unlawfully when it failed to consider how much the regulation would cost the power industry before deciding to craft the rule.

“EPA must consider cost — including cost of compliance — before deciding whether regulation is appropriate and necessary,” the opinion reads. “It will be up to the [EPA] to decide (as always, within the limits of reasonable interpretation) how to account for cost.” The decision doesn’t mean power plants will never be subject to regulations on toxic air pollutants. Instead, it means the EPA will have to go back to the drawing board, and find some mechanism to consider how much it will cost the power industry. Until another version of MATS is approved — a process that often takes years — power plants will have no limits on their emissions of mercury, arsenic, chromium, and other toxins. In other words, the rule is effectively delayed.

More here

****

The Supreme Court is in recess for the summer. #SCOTUS

—
Chris Geidner (@chrisgeidner) June 29, 2015

@chrisgeidner DETENTION FOR SCALIA CHRIS

—
darth!™ (@darth) June 29, 2015

Rise and Shine

On This Day: President Obama looks out the window from the cell where Nelson Mandela, an anti-apartheid legend, was once jailed on Robben Island, on June 30, 2013

****

Today (all times Eastern)

2:05: President Obama Signs the Defending Public Safety Employees’ Retirement Act & the Trade Preferences Extension Act of 2015

6:0: Hosts a working dinner with President Rousseff of Brazil

****

.@TheObamaDiary: Your west coast peeps are at it again! Almost makes you want to accept that Amk private plan ride? http://t.co/rc3NmmzTmR

—
Vick C. (@sonamie) June 29, 2015

Our beauuuuuuuuuuutiful westie TODers (and LL)!!!!

****

On This Day

President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama in the Green Room prior to the Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Pride Month reception in the East Room of the White House, June 29, 2009 (Photo by Pete Souza)

****

President Barack Obama listens to former prisoner Ahmed Kathrada as he stands in former South African President Nelson Mandela’s cell during a tour of Robben Island Prison on Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa, June 30, 2013. (Official White House Photo by Pete Souza)

President Obama and First lady Michelle Obama tour the cell block on Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held captive near Cape Town, June 30, 2013

President Obama greets Archbishop Desmond Tutu as he arrives at the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation Youth Centre in Cape Town, South Africa, June 30, 2013 (Photo by Pete Souza)

President Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama and their family tour a limestone quarry where prisoners would work at Robben Island outside Cape Town, South Africa, on June 30, 2013

****

Morning everyone!

Early Bird Chat

On This Day – Pete Souza: “A quiet moment inside Nelson Mandela’s former prison cell as the President embraced Sasha while the Obama family was listening to Ahmed Kathrada recount his years spent imprisoned here on Robben Island in Cape Town, South Africa. Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for 27 years, initially in this prison cell. Kathrada was imprisoned at Robben Island for 18 years.” June 30, 2013

****

MoooOOOooorning!