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First LookConservative divide: Oklahoma high court blocks public funds for religious charter schoolThe Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled that the approval of what would be the nation鈥檚 first state-funded Catholic charter school violates the U.S. and state constitutions. It reflects a broader split within conservatives on the separation of church and state.
The ExplainerDo presidential debates really matter? What history shows.As Joe Biden and Donald Trump face off Thursday for their first 2024 presidential debate, a veteran Washington reporter assesses the value of these election-season staples.
Kids as cooks and dog walkers? How one elementary school encourages independence.What does being independent look like for children? A school in Las Vegas encourages students to take on hobbies and activities on their own 鈥� in hopes of building more confidence and growth.聽
First LookA Georgia state trooper fatally shot a Black motorist in 2020. Why is footage just coming out?Nearly four years after a state trooper fatally shot Julian Lewis, a Black man, in rural Georgia a dashcam video of the shooting has been released. The trooper was jailed but never prosecuted after a grand jury failed to indict him.
First LookJulian Assange to enter US plea deal ending years-long WikiLeaks legal sagaThe WikiLeaks founder is set to plead guilty to conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified information relating to the national defense of the United States. Rather than prison time in the U.S., he is expected to return to Australia.
First LookMaui鈥檚 mayor says island residents should be prioritized over tourists for rentalsOn Hawaii鈥檚 tourist island of Maui, the mayor wants to curtail the number of vacation rental properties to address a housing shortage for residents. Some critics warn that reducing the supply of lodging for visitors could ruin the tourism industry.
Wars of the future will be awash with drones. The Pentagon is trying to keep up.Conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East highlight the growing role of inexpensive drones in battle 鈥� pushing the Pentagon to rethink war-fighting strategy.聽
First LookAs book bans surge, LGBTQ+ library employees say the workplace no longer feels safeLGBTQ+ library workers say they are encountering hostile patrons even as lawmakers are increasingly considering lawsuits, fines, and even imprisonment for distributing books some regard as inappropriate.
Monitor BreakfastEven for Senate Intelligence Committee chair, all politics is localAt a Monitor Breakfast, Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Mark Warner weighed in on AI, China, and border security. Then I asked the Virginia Democrat if he鈥檇 run for reelection.聽
Rebels with a religious cause: Meet New York鈥檚 avant-garde conservativesNew York has long been a haunt for underground artists. A growing number have become more conservative 鈥� and religious.
Two years after Dobbs, Americans tilt toward abortion rights 鈥� with limitsTwo years after the Dobbs ruling that overturned Roe v. Wade, public support for abortion has grown but tension remains within and among states.
First LookAbortion access wins when it鈥檚 on the ballot, but half the states can鈥檛 get it thereAbortion-rights supporters in several states have used the citizen initiative process to protect access to the procedure. But voters in half the states don't have that right.
After years of expanding gun rights, Supreme Court sets a limit on Second AmendmentThe 21st century has so far seen a steady expansion of U.S. gun rights. On Friday, the Supreme Court said that domestic abusers could be temporarily barred from owning firearms.
FocusAs Black churches see emptier pews, Democrats may lose a key turnout weaponAs President Joe Biden tries to shore up Black support, a decline in church attendance may deprive the party of an unofficial organizational arm.
First LookLouisiana public schools must display Ten Commandments. Opponents promise lawsuits.Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed a bill on June 19 mandating a poster of the Ten Commandments in 鈥渓arge, easily readable font鈥� in all public classrooms, from kindergartens to state-funded universities. Civil rights activists say that鈥檚 unconstitutional.
First LookA bed of their own: Cities embrace micro-communities as a solution to homelessnessFaced with years of rising homelessness rates and failed solutions, city officials across the United States believe that micro-communities, unlike shelters, offer residents stability that can put them on the path to secure housing.聽
The ExplainerBiden鈥檚 immigration announcement explained in 3 questionsPresident Joe Biden鈥檚 back-to-back executive actions appear designed to thread a needle on immigration 鈥� to be seen as both tough and humane.- The ExplainerBiden鈥檚 immigration announcement explained in 3 questionsPresident Joe Biden鈥檚 back-to-back executive actions appear designed to thread a needle on immigration 鈥� to be seen as both tough and humane.
Monitor BreakfastSenate intelligence chair sees 鈥榃ild West鈥� election risks from AI and disinformationAt a Monitor Breakfast, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia talked about threats to U.S. elections and to national security, from the border to TikTok.聽
Criticized, doubted, and now champions. How two Celtics rewrote their story.Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown repeatedly came close to an NBA title. On Monday, they won their first, together, showing their character.聽聽
