Welcome to America’s Newsletter from Tag The Flag, the best morning newsletter on the internet, bringing you nonpartisan news and every view of the Red, White, and Blue. Here’s what you need to know to start your day.
📌 BULLETIN BOARD
We’re off tomorrow and Friday so we’ll see you back in your inbox after the best day of the year. Be sure to follow us on Instagram(@tagtheflag) and send in any and all pictures of the American Flag throughout the weekend.
🦅 U.S. NEWS
Trump admin drops bid to add citizenship question to census
The Trump administration said Tuesday that it would be printing forms for the 2020 census without a question asking about citizenship, abandoning its quest to add the query after being blocked last week by the Supreme Court. Why it matters: The decision is a victory for critics who said the question was part of an administration effort to skew the census results in favor of Republicans. In a separate blow to the Trump administration, the House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal, D-Mass., sued Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and IRS Commissioner Charles Rettig to obtain six years of President Trump’s tax returns. – NYT / NPR
Navy SEAL found not guilty of murder in ISIS member’s killing
A jury found decorated Navy SEAL Edward “Eddie” Gallagher not guilty Tuesday on almost all charges he was facing, including murder and attempted murder, in the killing of an Islamic State member in Iraq. Background: Gallagher was accused of stabbing to death a 15-year-old ISIS fighter in 2017 and posing with the corpse for photos. Big picture: The case received national attention after a searing New York Times report detailed the gory accusations, including stabbing an injured teenage ISIS fighter and shooting an elderly man and a young girl. The report claimed the accusers were told to keep quiet about Gallagher’s actions or risk losing their tridents, the coveted badge identifying a sailor as a Navy SEAL. – Fox News / The Washington Examiner
Americans’ pride in U.S. hits a new low
Americans’ pride in the U.S. has hit its lowest point since Gallup first asked the question in 2001: 70% of U.S. adults say they’re proud to be Americans; fewer than half (45%) are “extremely” proud. What’s happening: Registered Democrats fall far behind Republicans when it comes to expressing “extreme pride in the U.S.,” Gallup reports. Yes, but: Strong majorities express pride in six of eight specific categories: American scientific achievements (91%) … U.S. military (89%) … American culture and arts (85%) … economic (75%) and sporting (73%) achievements … diversity in race, ethnic background, and religion (72%). But the American political system (32%) and health and welfare system (37%) aren’t sources of pride to most Americans. – Axios / Gallup
🤝 PRESENTED BY: EVA SOLO
Nothing is cozier than gathering around a bonfire with its beautiful flames and intense heat, and with the decorative FireGlobe fireplace, it is easy and safe to light a fire directly on the patio or elsewhere in the garden. We know tomorrow is the pinnacle of summer but FireGlobe is not just for cool spring evenings and the summer – it is also intended as a decorative and warming element in the autumn and winter. Click here to see what else Eva Solo has to offer…
🌎 WORLD NEWS
The ‘rock star’ of finance: Christine Lagarde to Succeed Draghi as ECB Chief as Economy Weakens
International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde will be the first woman to run the European Central Bank — and the first without central banking on her resume — after being nominated yesterday to replace Mario Draghi at the end of October. Why it matters: Inflation is running at barely half the ECB’s goal of just under 2% despite years of negative rates and 2.6 trillion euros ($3 trillion) of bond purchases. Ms. Lagarde – known as the “rock star” of international finance – said the new role was “an honor”. – Bloomberg / BBC
Rain Rain, Go Away: 13 people killed after wall collapses from heavy rains in India
A wall collapsed in India’s financial capital of Mumbai on Tuesday, killing at least 13 people as a second straight day of heavy rain disrupted rail and air traffic, forcing authorities to declare a public holiday. Why it matters: Mumbai is looking to turn itself into a global financial hub but large parts of the city struggle to cope with annual monsoon rains, as widespread construction and garbage-clogged drains and waterways make it increasingly vulnerable to chaos. – Business Insider
Unintended consequences: prostitution prosecution
Today Dutch politicians gather for a twice-yearly meeting about prostitution and sex-trafficking, with a view to recommending legislation to ministers. One measure under discussion is particularly controversial: prosecuting not sex workers, but the people who pay for them. Big picture: the “Swedish model” was introduced in 1999 and has since spread to Norway, Canada, France, Ireland, Israel and beyond. Why it matters: while the Swedish government cannot show conclusively that it drives down demand, supply, or even human trafficking, the law has made sex-work more dangerous. That might be because it pushes men to become more clandestine when buying sex, and thus less accountable. Zoom Out: while the law is unlikely to pass in the liberal Netherlands, the discussion shows how far the idea has spread. – The Economist
💼 BUSINESS
Tesla stock surges after setting new delivery and production records
Tesla shares surged Tuesday after the electric automaker said it shattered its previous production and delivery records during the second quarter, soundly beating analysts’ estimates. By The Numbers: The company delivered 95,200 cars during the three months ending June 30 — a 51.1% increase over an admittedly weak first quarter and besting its previous record of 90,700 deliveries set in the fourth quarter of 2018. Why it matters: Tesla’s deliveries are a closely watched industry number and the nearest reflection of sales, showing how many cars were actually delivered to customers. – CNBC
🏅 SPORTS
Nike pulls flag sneaker after Kaepernick complaint
Yesterday Nike pulled a flag-themed tennis shoe after former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick complained to the shoemaker. The shoe’s heel has a U.S. flag with 13 white stars in a circle on it, known as the Betsy Ross flag. Apparently, Kaepernick, a Nike endorser, told the company he and others found the flag symbol offensive because of its connection to slavery. Arizona Governor Doug Ducey lashed out at Nike’s decision to yank the sneaker, tweeting that he is asking the state’s Commerce Authority to withdraw all financial incentives for the company to locate there. Elsewhere: The defending champion U.S. women’s soccer team advanced to its third straight World Cup final after defeating England, 2-1. – AP
💻 TECHNOLOGY
Pesky Porch Pirates: How Amazon and the Cops Set Up an Elaborate Sting Operation
Documents obtained by Vice showed how Amazon Ring and other firms collaborated with law enforcement on a package theft sting operation in Aurora, Colorado. Details: the idea was to plant packages by front doors and catch thieves red-handed. So did it work? Eh not quite – the sting didn’t result in any arrests. Why it matters: “Porch Pirates” are a real problem. Nearly 26 million Americans reported having holiday packages stolen from their front porch or doorstep, one study last year found. – Vice / CBS
🚰 WATERCOOLER
+ 7,000 Dog Tags Create The Fallen Heroes Memorial
+ July Fourth food! How many hot dogs and hamburgers are consumed in your state?
+ Here’s how much money Americans will spend on beer this July 4th
📅 ON THIS DAY IN HISTORY
1863: Battle of Gettysburg ends
On the third day of the Battle of Gettysburg, Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s last attempt at breaking the Union line ends in disastrous failure, bringing the most decisive battle of the American Civil War to an end.
🇺🇸 TOP TAGS
Yesterday we had two top tags: One from veteran Jack Hanson, and another from the USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii…
💡 TRIVIA
Which state was the first to officially recognize the July 4th holiday?
📷 COVER PHOTO
Photo by Blake Wheeler on Unsplash
