Biden unveils plan for Supreme Court changes; ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ smashes R-rated record

Hot Off The Wire

On the version of Hot off the Wire posted July 29 at 7:45 a.m. CT:

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has unveiled a long-awaited proposal for changes to the U.S. Supreme Court. The Democratic president is calling on Congress to establish term limits and an ethics code for the court’s nine justices. Biden also is pressing lawmakers to ratify a constitutional amendment that would limit presidential immunity. The White House has detailed the contours of Biden’s court plan. But it appears to have little chance of being approved by a closely divided Congress with just 99 days to go before Election Day. Biden is expected to speak about his proposal Monday during an address at the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vice President Kamala Harris’ campaign has raised $200 million since she emerged as the likely Democratic presidential nominee last week. The campaign announced the eyepopping fundraising total on Sunday for Harris, saying about 66% of the donations come from first-time contributors in the 2024 election cycle.

FOREST RANCH, Calif. (AP) — Wildfires across the western United States and Canada have put millions of people under air quality alerts, as thousands of firefighters battle the flames, including the largest wildfire in California this year.

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s opposition and President Nicolas Maduro’s government are locked in a high-stakes standoff as each side claims victory in a presidential vote that millions in the long-suffering nation saw as their best shot to end 25 years of single-party rule.

PARIS (AP) — The French government says multiple telecommunications lines have been hit by acts of vandalism, affecting fiber lines and fixed and mobile phone lines as cities around France are hosting events for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

Marvel is back on top with “Deadpool & Wolverine.” The comic-book movie made a staggering $205 million in its first weekend in North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. It shattered the opening record for R-rated films previously held by the first “Deadpool” ($132 million) and notched a spot in the top 10 openings of all time.

In other news:

• USDA moves to limit salmonella in raw poultry products.
• US-Japan security talks focus on bolstering military cooperation, underscores threat from China.
• After years of fighting Iowa's strict abortion law, clinics also prepared to follow it.
• Two meteor showers will flash across the sky around the same time in late July.
• Two former FBI officials settle lawsuits with Justice Department over leaked text messages.
• Justice Dept. says TikTok collected US user views on issues like abortion and gun control.
• North Carolina Democrats sue to reverse decision that put RFK Jr. on ballots.
• NYC mayor issues emergency order suspending parts of new solitary confinement law.
• Life and death in the heat. What it feels like when Earth's temperatures soar to record highs.
• Day 2 of the Olympics is successful for the United States with the men's basketball team starting in fine fashion, a busy day in baseball on the field with a couple of trades sprinkled in and a return to the winner's circle for a couple of golfers.
• Dutch beach volleyball player who was convicted of rape is booed before losing first Olympic match.
• FIFA strips Canada of 6 points in Olympic soccer, bans coaches for 1 year in drone spying scandal.
• Lawmakers from 6 countries say Beijing is pressuring them not to attend summit in Taiwan.
• Rivals Hamas and Fatah sign a declaration to form a future government as war rages in Gaza.
• On this week's religion roundup, athletes integrate faith and performance at the Olympic games.

—The Associated Press

About this program

Host Terry Lipshetz is managing editor of the national newsroom for Lee Enterprises. Besides producing the daily Hot off the Wire news podcast, Terry conducts periodic interviews for this Behind the Headlines program, co-hosts the Streamed & Screened movies and television program and is the former producer of Across the Sky, a podcast dedicated to weather and climate.