[karah rucker]

MORE THAN 100 VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF HAMAS’ OCTOBER 7-TH ATTACK ON ISRAEL ARE SUING IRAN, SYRIA, AND NORTH KOREA — SAYING THE COUNTRIES SUPPLIED THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION WITH THE MONEY, WEAPONS, AND INSTRUCTION TO CARRY OUT the DEADLY ATTACK.

THE LAWSUIT — WHICH WAS FILED IN FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK — SEEKS AT LEAST 4 BILLION dollars IN DAMAGES FOR THE ATTACK.

THE SUIT WAS FILED BY THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE — a jewish ADVOCACY organization — AND IS THE LARGEST CASE AGAINST FOREIGN COUNTRIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE ATTACK.

THE UNITED STATES HAS DEEMED IRAN, SYRIA AND NORTH KOREA as STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM.

THIS COMES AS THE ISRAELI ARMY ORDERED A MASS EVACUATION OF PALESTINIANS FROM MUCH OF THE SOUTHERN GAZA CITY KHAN YOUNIS (YOU-NISS) ON MONDAY — SIGNALING TROOPS ARE LIKELY TO LAUNCH A NEW GROUND ASSAULT INTO THE STRIP’S SECOND-LARGEST CITY.

STEVE BANNON | FMR. ADVISER TO DONALD TRUMP

“I’m proud to go to prison. I am proud of going to prison today.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

STEVE BANNON TURNED HIMSELF IN TO SERVE FOUR MONTHS IN A FEDERAL PRISON on MONDAY.

THE LONGTIME TRUMP ALLY WAS CONVICTED OF CONTEMPT FOR DEFYING A CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENA FROM THE january sixth house COMMITTEE.

BANNON WILL SERVE HIS SENTENCE AT THE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN DANBURY, CONNECTICUT.

BANNON SPoke with reporters BEFORE he was TAKEN INTO CUSTODY.

STEVE BANNON | FMR. ADVISER TO DONALD TRUMP 

“If this is what it takes to stand up to tyranny, if that’s what it takes to stand up to the Garland corrupt criminal DOJ, if this is what it takes to stand up to Nancy Pelosi, if this is what it takes to stand up to Joe Biden, to Joe Biden, I’m proud to do it.”

“I was on a destroyer for four years in the Navy. I am prepared for whatever prison has, right? Our prisons are run very well. The Bureau of Prisons does a great job. I’m prepared to do this, whatever task I do, I’m totally prepared mentally, physically, everything for prison.”

[KARAH RUCKER]

IN A RADIO INTERVIEW MONDAY — WHEN ASKED ABOUT BANNON’S SENTENCING — FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BLAMED PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN FOR WHAT HE called “WEAPONIZATION” OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM.

[KARAH RUCKER]

IT WAS A LANDMARK RULING BY THE SUPREME COURT. 

IN A 6-3 VOTE ALONG IDEOLOGICAL LINES – THE JUSTICES RULING FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP IS ENTITLED TO SOME IMMUNITY FOR OFFICIAL ACTS HE TOOK WHILE IN OFFICE. 

THE EFFECTS OF THE COURT’S DECISION WILL BE SEEN IN THE COMING DAYS. 

BUT IT TOOK LITTLE TIME FOR THE TWO PRESUMPTIVE NOMINEES IN THE 2024 PRESIDENTIAL RACE TO REACT. 

AFTER THE HIGH COURT’S RULING  – GIVING TRUMP SOME IMMUNITY FROM BEING CRIMINALLY PROSECUTED ON CHARGES OF ATTEMPTING TO OVERTURN THE 2020 ELECTION – WHILE NOT TOTALLY DISMISSING SPECIAL COUNSEL JACK SMITH’S CASE — 

THE FORMER PRESIDENT IS REPORTEDLY LOOKING TO HAVE HIS NEW YORK TRIAL CONVICTION OVERTURNED BASED ON THE SUPREME COURT’S DECISION. 

ACCORDING TO TRUMP’S LEGAL TEAM – THE MANHATTAN JURY’S VERDICT THAT FOUND HIM GUILTY OF FALSIFYING BUSINESS RECORDS — SHOULD BE OVERTURNED BECAUSE THE JURORS SAW EVIDENCE DURING TRIAL THAT THEY CONSIDER NOW TO BE PROTECTED. 

TRUMP’S LAWYERS ARE SEEKING A DELAY IN TRUMP’S SENTENCING – WHICH IS CURRENTLY SCHEDULED FOR JULY 11TH -SO THEY CAN HAVE MORE TIME TO MAKE THEIR CASE. 

IN THE SUPREME COURT’S OPINION, CHIEF JUSTICE JOHN ROBERTS WROTE – “THE PRESIDENT IS NOT ABOVE THE LAW. BUT… THE PRESIDENT MAY NOT BE PROSECUTED FOR EXERCISING HIS CORE CONSTITUTIONAL POWERS.” 

AFTER THAT DECISION CAME DOWN – TRUMP POSTED ON HIS TRUTH SOCIAL SITE – “BIG WIN FOR OUR CONSTITUTION AND DEMOCRACY. PROUD TO BE AN AMERICAN.” 

MEANWHILE PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN DECIDING THE HISTORIC RULING WARRANTED A PRIMETIME ADDRESS —  WARNING OF WHAT HE CALLED A “DANGEROUS PRECEDENT.” 

BIDEN CALLING THE RULING A “DISSERVICE TO THE PEOPLE OF THIS NATION” SAYING THE DECISION MEANS THAT THERE IS “VIRTUALLY NO LIMITS ON WHAT A PRESIDENT CAN DO.” 

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN 

“This nation was founded on the principle that there are no kings in America. Each, each of us is equal before the law. No one, no one is above the law, not even the president of the United States. [With] today’s Supreme Court decision on presidential immunity, that fundamentally changed for all practical purposes.” 

[KARAH RUCKER]

BIDEN REPEATING JUSTICE SONIA SOTOMAYER’S DISSENT – SAYING THE RULING MAKES THE PRESIDENT QUOTE “NOW A KING ABOVE THE LAW.”  

IN RESPONSE — TRUMP POSTING THAT THE PRIMETIME ADDRESS WAS JUST MEANT TO DEFELECT FROM BIDEN’S QUOTE “HORRIBLE CAMPAIGN PERFORMANCE.” 

STEVE BANNON REMAINING DEFIANT AS HE TURNED HIMSELF IN TO SERVE FOUR MONTHS IN A FEDERAL PRISON MONDAY. 

STEVE BANNON | TRUMP ALLY 

“I’m proud to go to prison. I am proud of going to prison today.” 

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE LONGTIME TRUMP ALLY WAS CONVICTED OF CONTEMPT FOR DEFYING A CONGRESSIONAL SUBPOENA FROM THE COMMITTEE THAT PROBED THE JANUARY 6-TH U.S. CAPITOL ATTACK. 

BANNON WILL SERVE HIS SENTENCE AT THE FEDERAL CORRECTIONAL INSTITUTION IN DANBURY, CONNECTICUT. 

AND HE HAD TO GET THE LAST WORD BEFORE OFFICIALLY BEING TAKEN INTO CUSTODY. 

STEVE BANNON | TRUMP ALLY 

“If this is what it takes to stand up to tyranny, if that’s what it takes to stand up to the Garland corrupt criminal DOJ, if this is what it takes to stand up to Nancy Pelosi, if this is what it takes to stand up to Joe Biden, to Joe Biden, I’m proud to do it.” 

“I was on a destroyer for four years in the Navy. I am prepared for whatever prison has, right? Our prisons are run very well. The Bureau of Prisons does a great job. I’m prepared to do this, whatever task I do, I’m totally prepared mentally, physically, everything for prison.” 

[KARAH RUCKER]

CONT VOIN AN INTERVIEW YESTERDAY — FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BLAMED PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN FOR WHAT HE CLAIMS IS A “WEAPONIZATION” OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM — SAYING BIDEN IS “GOING TO PAY A BIG PRICE” FOR IT. 

MORE THAN 100 VICTIMS AND FAMILIES OF VICTIMS OF HAMAS’ OCTOBER 7-TH ATTACK ON ISRAEL ARE SUING IRAN, SYRIA, AND NORTH KOREA — SAYING THE COUNTRIES SUPPLIED THE TERRORIST ORGANIZATION WITH THE MONEY, WEAPONS, AND INSTRUCTION TO CARRY OUT the DEADLY ATTACK. 

THE LAWSUIT — WHICH WAS FILED IN FEDERAL COURT IN NEW YORK — SEEKS AT LEAST 4 BILLION dollars IN DAMAGES FOR THE ATTACK. 

THE SUIT WAS FILED BY THE ANTI-DEFAMATION LEAGUE — a jewish anti-hate organization — AND IS THE LARGEST CASE AGAINST FOREIGN COUNTRIES IN CONNECTION WITH THE ATTACK. 

THE UNITED STATES HAS DEEMED IRAN, SYRIA AND NORTH KOREA as STATE SPONSORS OF TERRORISM. 

THIS COMES AS THE ISRAELI ARMY ORDERED A MASS EVACUATION OF PALESTINIANS FROM MUCH OF THE SOUTHERN GAZA CITY KHAN YOUNIS ON MONDAY — SIGNALING TROOPS ARE LIKELY TO LAUNCH A NEW GROUND ASSAULT INTO THE STRIP’S SECOND-LARGEST CITY. 

HURRICANE BERYL IS NOW A CATEGORY 5 STORM — 

THIS IS THE EARLIEST ON RECORD THAT A HURRICANE HAS REACHED THE HIGHEST CATEGORY THERE IS WITH WINDSPEEDS ABOVE 160 MILES PER HOUR.  

IT MADE LANDFALL ON THE CARIBBEAN’S WINDWARD ISLANDS ON MONDAY AS A CATEGORY 4 STORM –  

MANY ARE STILL WITHOUT POWER OR WATER AND AT LEAST ONE DEATH HAS BEEN REPORTED.  

THE HURRICANE IS EXPECTED TO HIT JAMAICA BY WEDNESDAY AFTERNOON WITH LIFE-THREATENING WINDS AND STORM SURGE. 

BERYL IS ONLY THE SECOND CATEGORY 5 ATLANTIC STORM TO BE RECORDED IN JULY. 

IN A SMALL VICTORY FOR THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION — A FEDERAL APPEALS COURT WILL ALLOW THE DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION TO MOVE FORWARD WITH LOWERING MILLIONS OF STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS’ MONTHLY PAYMENTS THIS MONTH… AS THE ADMINISTRATION FACES TWO LEGAL BATTLES OVER THE REPAYMENT PLAN KNOWN AS SAVE, WHICH LAUNCHED LAST YEAR. 

LAST WEEK, A FEDERAL JUDGE IN KANSAS ISSUED AN INJUNCTION BLOCKING THE PLAN FROM TAKING EFFECT ON JULY 1-ST. 

THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE QUICKLY APPEALED. 

UNDER SAVE — MANY BORROWERS WILL PAY ONLY 5 PERCENT OF THEIR DISCRETIONARY INCOME TOWARD THEIR DEBT EVERY MONTH… AND ANYONE MAKING 32-THOUSAND 800 DOLLARS OR LESS WILL HAVE *NO* MONTHLY PAYMENT. 

ON THE OTHER INCOME-DRIVEN REPAYMENT PLANS — BORROWERS PAY AT LEAST 10 PERCENT OF THEIR DISCRETIONARY INCOME. 

ANOTHER OLYMPIAN IS MAKING HISTORYAT JUST 16 YEARS OLD. 

THE TEEN SPRINTING PHENOM’S NAME IS QUINCY WILSON. 

AFTER TWICE BREAKING THE U.S. RECORD FOR UNDER-18 RUNNERS AT THE OLYMPIC TRIALS — IT WAS CONFIRMED MONDAY WILSON WILL BE JOINING TEAM USA AT THE PARIS SUMMER GAMES LATER THIS MONTH. 

WILSON WILL BE PART OF THE TEAM THAT RUNS THE 4 BY 400 RELAY – MAKING HIM THE YOUNGEST AMERICAN MALE ATHLETE TO APPEAR AT AN OLYMPICS. 

WILSON’S TEAM WILL FORMALLY BE ANNOUNCED NEXT WEEK. 

[WHITE NOISE]

[KARAH RUCKER]

IT’S A FAMILIAR, SOOTHING SOUND.

[WHITE NOISE]

[KARAH RUCKER]

MORE THAN HALF OF ALL AMERICANS USE SOME SORT OF BACKGROUND NOISE TO HELP THEM FALL ASLEEP.

–

FROM BOX FANS TO YOUTUBE, OR EVEN DESIGNATED WHITE NOISE MACHINES – THE POINT IS TO DROWN OUT UNWANTED INTERRUPTIONS THAT MIGHT DISTURB OUR SLEEP.

AND FOR MANY NEW PARENTS – THESE MACHINES CAN BE A LIFESAVER. 

BUT NEW RESEARCH SHOWS A HOST OF WHITE NOISE MACHINES ON THE MARKET ARE POTENTIALLY TOO LOUD FOR THE EARS OF INFANTS. 

A RECENT STUDY PUBLISHED IN THE JOURNAL SLEEP MEDICINE, MEASURED THE DECIBEL LEVELS OF 24 WHITE NOISE MACHINES AND APPS. 

ALL OF WHICH WERE NOT FEDERALLY REGULATED. 

THE STUDY FOUND THE DEVICES LACKED A SPECIFIC DECIBEL CUTOFF –

A NECESSITY FOR PARENTS LOOKING TO SAFEGUARD THEIR CHILDREN’S HEARING.

THE AUTHORS OF THE STUDY TELLING ABC NEWS, “Those devices exceeded what is appropriate for hearing health for any individual, just walking around and living their life.”

A SEPARATE STUDY BY BEHAVIORAL SCIENTISTS FOUND THAT WHITE NOISE COULD EVEN BE THE WRONG “COLOR” OF NOISE FOR SLEEP.

THE SPECTRUM OF COLOR NOISE CLASSIFIES EVERYDAY NOISES AND FREQUENCIES INTO COLORS.

A RUNNING FAN IS CONSIDERED WHITE NOISE, BLOWING WIND IS PINK NOISE, AND THE RUMBLE OF DISTANT THUNDER IS BROWN NOISE.

IN A RECENT STUDY, RESEARCHERS FOUND WHITE NOISE IS A HARSH FREQUENCY THAT “WAKES THE BRAIN,” ACTING AS A STIMULANT, WITH MINOR IMPROVEMENTS IN TASK PERFORMANCE.

THE RESEARCHERS SUGGEST IF YOU CHOOSE TO USE NOISE WHILE YOU SLEEP, USE PINK NOISE, AS IT MORE CLOSELY RESEMBLES THE FREQUENCIES YOUR BRAIN GIVES OFF DURING SLEEP.

HOWEVER, THERE IS EVIDENCE SHOWING THAT USING NOISE, LIKE MANY OTHER SLEEP AIDS, IS ADDICTIVE, AND CAN LEAD TO POOR SLEEP HABITS.

AND EXPERTS SAY STOPPING ANY SLEEP AID COLD TURKEY CAN HAVE NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON YOUR EVERYDAY SLEEP QUALITY.

THE RECOMMENDED METHOD TO WEEN YOURSELF OR YOUR CHILD OFF OF WHITE NOISE IS TO DECREASE THE VOLUME INCREMENTALLY UNTIL YOU NO LONGER NEED IT TO SLEEP.

I’M KARAH RUCKER.

FOR MORE UNBIASED STRAIGHT FACTS,

DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP, OR VISIT OUR WEBSITE, SAN.COM

[RAY BOGAN]

The Supreme Court on Monday sent two cases that could forever change how social media companies moderate content back to the lower courts. 

Florida and Texas passed what they described as anti-censorship laws in 2021 in response to what their state governments said was an anti-conservative bias from the social media platforms.  

The justices unanimously ruled that the Fifth and Eleventh circuit courts failed to conduct a proper analysis of the first amendment challenges in the case. 

The Justices wrote that lower courts need to first assess the laws’ scope, and whether the provisions violate the first amendment, or in this case – intrude on protected editorial discretion. 

The Justices said that’s the lower courts job, not theirs, because the Supreme court is a quote “court of review, not of first view.”

The Florida law bans social media companies from deplatforming a political candidate or a journalistic enterprise. The Texas law states a social media platform or interactive computer service may not censor a user based on their viewpoint.

Now, both cases will separately go back to their respective lower courts for further consideration using the justice’s new instructions. All previous rulings about the two laws have been vacated. So the laws will remain under an injunction while this plays out.

TENS OF THOUSANDS OF HOMES CAN NOW BE POWERED WITH JUST A SINGLE WIND TURBINE.

IT’S JUST ANOTHER RENEWABLE MILESTONE FOR CHINA, AS THE NATION CONTINUES ITS DOMINANCE IN THIS SECTOR.

BEIJING’S LATEST WIND ENERGY INSTALLMENT IS ABOUT 36 TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN THE INDUSTRY AVERAGE-
MAKING IT THE LARGEST TURBINE EVER BUILT IN TERMS OF POWER OUTPUT.

ITS BLADES MEASURE OVER EIGHT HUNDRED AND FIFTY FEET, AND WHEN IN MOTION THEY COVER AN AREA EQUIVALENT TO MORE THAN SEVEN FOOTBALL FIELDS.

CHINA ALREADY ACCOUNTS FOR MORE THAN HALF OF THE PLANET’S TOTAL WIND POWER-
RANKING FIRST GLOBALLY FOR FOUR CONSECUTIVE YEARS NOW.

THE ADDITION OF THIS NEW 18-MEGAWATT TURBINE TO THEIR ENERGY PORTFOLIO COULD FURTHER INCREASE THAT WORLDWIDE LEAD-
BUT A RIVAL COULD BE ON THE WAY.

SIEMENS ENERGY IS CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF BUILDING ITS OWN MASSIVE TURBINE THAT WOULD ACTUALLY BEAT OUT THE POWER PROVIDED BY WHAT CHINA JUST BUILT.

JACK ALYMER: ITS A PROJECT THE EUROPEAN UNION INVESTED OVER 30 MILLION DOLLARS IN LAST YEAR-
SAYING THIS MONEY WOULD HELP CREATE the WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL WIND TURBINE PROTOTYPE.

THE EU WANTS ITS DOMESTIC MANUFACTURERS TO BECOME MORE COMPETITIVE WITH CHINA IN THIS INDUSTRY.

CHINESE WIND TURBINES ARE SOMETIMES OFFERED IN EUROPE AT UP TO HALF THE PRICE OF LOCALLY-MADE PRODUCTS-
BUILDING BIGGER SINGLE TURBINES INSTEAD OF EXPANSIVE WIND FARMS COULD BECOME A MORE COST EFFICIENT SOLUTION FOR EUROPEAN ENERGY COMPANIES.

CHINA OUTPACES THE REST OF WORLD BY A SIZEABLE MARGIN WHEN IT COMES TO RENEWABLE ENERGY, AS WESTERN NATIONS TRY AND DEVELOP NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO KEEP UP. TO LEARN MORE ABOUT STORIES LIKE THIS, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR ALERTS FROM ME – JACK AYLMER – SO YOU NEVER MISS A THING.

[RYAN ROBERTSON]

MEXICO’S NEW PRESIDENT, CLAUDI SHEINBAUM, TAKES OFFICE IN LESS THAN 100 DAYS–BUT SHE ALREADY HAS A MONUMENTAL TASK WAITING FOR HER. 

FOR STARTERS–MEXICAN DRUG CARTELS ARE NOW SAYING THEY HAVE U.S.-MADE JAVELIN MISSILES…FOR THOSE NOT IN THE KNOW–

JAVELIN’S ARE USED TO BLOW UP STUFF LIKE TANKS AND HELICOPTERS–

THE U-S MILITARY USES THE INFRARED GUIDED MISSILE LAUNCHERS–AND UKRAINE’S FORCES ARE ROUTINELY DECIMATING RUSSIAN ARMOR WITH THEM [ANCHOR]

U-S OFFICIALS DENY CARTELS HAVE THE JAVELINS BUT DAVID SAUCEDO SAYS THEY DO.

SAUCEDO IS A MEXICAN SECURITY ANALYST WITH EXTENSIVE KNOWLEDGE OF THE CARTELS, THEIR NETWORKS AND OPERATIONS. 

ALSO, A MEXICAN SECURITY OFFICIAL SPEAKING ANONYMOUSLY TO USA TODAY–SAID TWO JAVELINS WERE RECENTLY CONFISCATED FROM A MAJOR CARTEL.

AND THERE MAY BE SOME PHYSICAL EVIDENCE AS WELL

A HELICOPTER CRASH THAT KILLED A CENTRAL MEXICAN SECURITY CHIEF AND FOUR OTHERS IN NOVEMBER 2022 DOESN’T APPEAR TO BE AN ACCIDENT.

AT LEAST ACCORDING TO SAUCEDO…WHO SAYS THE SHRAPNEL ANALYZED BY FORENSIC EXPERTS MATCHED ONLY ONE WEAPON– THE JAVELIN.

ANOTHER ANALYST CONFIRMED THE CHOPPER WAS DOWNED BY AN “EXPLOSIVE PROJECTILE” BUT DID NOT VERIFY WHAT KIND OF WEAPON WAS USED. 

ANALYSTS SAY THE CARTELS ARE REVEALING THIS INFO AS A “SHOW-OF-FORCE” TO MEXICO’S INCOMING PRESIDENT. 

SINCE 2018, THE MEXICAN MILITARY FOUND MORE THAN 28-HUNDRED LANDMINES AND THE ATF CONFIRMS CARTELS NOW HAVE CHAIN-FED MINIGUNS…WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF EXTREME DESTRUCTION.

SOME U-S POLITICIANS ARE PUSHING FOR MILITARY ACTION AGAINST THE CARTELS.

THESE LATEST REVELATIONS COULD ADD FUEL TO THAT FIRE AND MAY RISK A MILITARY CONFLICT.

A SELF-PROCLAIMED MEXICAN MERCENARY ONLY KNOWN AS “EL FLACO” INTERVIEWED BY USA TODAY SAID CARTELS WON’T HESITATE TO FIGHT BACK IF THE U-S INTERVENES.

RYAN ROBERTSON–

STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.

FOR MORE STORIES LIKE THIS–

DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP AND SIGN UP FOR NEWS UPDATES.

[KARAH RUCKER]

THE RESULTS FROM FRANCE’S FIRST ROUND OF “SNAP PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS” SUGGEST THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE OF FRANCE COULD BE TAKING A SIGNIFICANT TURN.

THE COUNTRY COULD BE LOOKING AT ITS FIRST FAR-RIGHT MOVEMENT SINCE WORLD WAR TWO –

AFTER MARINE LE PEN’S “NATIONAL RALLY PARTY” SECURED 34% OF THE VOTES SUNDAY – SEEN AS A VICTORY – THOUGH NOT SECURING THE MAJORITY.

THERE ARE 577 SEATS IN FRANCE’S “NATIONAL ASSEMBLY” UP FOR GRABS –

AFTER FRENCH PRESIDENT EMMANUAL MACRON CALLED FOR THESE “SNAP ELECTIONS”.

THE CONTROVERSIAL DECISION CAME AFTER HIS CENTRIST ALLIANCE SUFFERED A HEAVY DEFEAT IN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT ELECTIONS.

MACRON DISSOLVED THE FRENCH PARLIAMENT AND CALLED FOR NEW ELECTIONS –

BELIEVING VOTERS WOULD CHANGE THEIR DIRECTION.

HOWEVER –

THE SNAP ELECTIONS ARE SO FAR STILL FAVORING THE RIGHT-WING PARTY.

THERE ARE TWO ROUNDS OF VOTING.

FOR ALL RACES THAT CONCLUDED SUNDAY WITHOUT A CANDIDATE WINNING THE OUTRIGHT MAJORITY –

THEN THE TOP **TWO CANDIDATES FOR EACH SEAT WILL FACE A RUN-OFF JULY 7TH.

STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS SPOKE WITH DAN HAMILTON WITH JOHN HOPKINS UNIVERSITY WHO SPECIALIZES IN TRANSATLANTIC ISSUES.

HAMILTON TELLS US **WHY FRANCE COULD BE SEEING THIS POLITICAL SHIFT TO THE RIGHT.

I think the Europeans are dealing with a lot of issues very similar to ones that preoccupy most Americans. Migration is a big issue in Europe, illegal migration, in particular, the economy, inflation. 

“when you have country like in France, where it wasn’t seen as tough on migration, Macron, then he gets, you know, slammed.

SO WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?

NO MATTER WHAT – MACRON’S PRESIDENCY IS NOT IN JEOPARDY. HE’S IN UNTIL 2027.

HOWEVER THE ELECTION WILL DETERMINE CONTROL OF PARLIAMENT AND THE NEXT PRIME MINISTER.

IF THE RIGHT-WING PARTY DOES COME OUT ON TOP –

HAMILTON SAYS AREAS OF ANTICIPATED FRICTION BETWEEN MACRON AND AN OPPOSITION PARTY –

WOULD BE OVER THE BUDGET AND FOREIGN POLICY –

SPECIFICALLY – AID FOR UKRAINE.

WE’LL HAVE A CLEARER PICTURE OF FRANCE’S FUTURE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE AFTER SUNDAY’S SECOND ROUND OF VOTES ARE TALLIED.

Simone Del Rosario: As of now, July 1, a California law requires credit card networks to give banks a code that can track purchases at gun stores.

Yet on the same day, Georgia, Iowa, Tennessee and Wyoming have laws taking effect that block the use of a gun shop code in those states.

Dan Eldridge, Maxon Shooter’s Supplies owner: This is an effort to use the private sector to do an end run around the prohibition on the federal government’s building of a registry of gun owners.

Simone Del Rosario: Merchant category codes are meant to provide a global standard for financial transactions. And this reaction to a code for gun stores is anything but standard.

Mechant category codes are used wherever we shop. Swipe your card at an antique store? That’s 5932. Charge your latest visit to the dentist? That’s 8021. 

According to Visa’s merchant data standards manual, guns and ammunition shops will sport MCC 5723. 

Hudson Munoz, Guns Down America: What we’re advocating for with this code is closing one of those exemptions where the gun industry is not treated like every other business, even though it should be.

Simone Del Rosario: That 4-digit code came about in 2022 after the International Organization for Standardization – the ISO – voted to add the unique ID. Credit card companies had been pushing back on it for years, but the big ones appeared ready to accept the global standard. 

Then came the lawmakers. Seventeen states have passed measures prohibiting or limiting the use of a gun store code, while California, Colorado and New York are in the process of requiring it.  

At this point, California’s law just requires credit card companies to provide the code to banks, 5723, which we see here, Visa has done. 

California banks now have until May 1, 2025 to decide which of its business clients are gun-and-ammo shops and assign this code to them.

While Dan Eldridge’s Illinois store is not yet impacted, Illinois’ attorney general has come out in support of the merchant code. 

Dan Eldridge: How is an operation that crosses state lines, say a big box store or a chain of retailers, how are they supposed to comply with colliding state laws? I don’t know how you do that.

Simone Del Rosario: I reached out to Visa, Mastercard and American Express this morning to ask how they plan to abide by these competing state laws. 

Mastercard tells me, “We will only require use of the MCC where required by law. We are committed to complying with local legal requirements.”

If I hear back from the rest, I will update the text of this article at SAN.com, so you can check there for an answer. 

Last year, Visa had said, “These legislative actions disrupt the intent of global standards and create significant confusion and legal uncertainty in the payments ecosystem…”

Advocates for the merchant code hope banks can use it to flag suspicious buying behavior ahead of a mass shooting. 

Guns Down America says in 2016, the Pulse nightclub shooter, who killed 49 people in Orlando, Florida, charged $26,000 on credit cards to buy guns and ammo in a 12-day span. 

In 2017, the Las Vegas shooter who killed 60 at a country music festival, charged $94,000 on credit cards to buy guns and ammo over a 12-month period.

Hudson Munoz, Guns Down America: Our hope and belief is that because of that oversight, we’ll see a decline in active shooter situations, and we’ll see the banking system closing its door to gun traffickers.

Simone Del Rosario: But those against the code see it as a way to target law-abiding gun buyers. 

Dan Eldridge: This is a normal, protected, lawful activity. And to carve it out as something that needs to be identified and data-mined for evil really sets a very bad tone for how gun ownership, lawful gun ownership, is viewed, while simultaneously adding zero predictive value in its stated purpose of detecting patterns that the mass shooters may engage in.

Simone Del Rosario: The code would not reveal to banks and credit cards what a person buys, only where they buy it. And there’s no set standard to flagging what is considered suspicious behavior. 

For his part, Eldridge has put an ATM in his store for customers who’d prefer to pay in cash. 

I’m Simone Del Rosario for Straight Arrow News.