[KARAH RUCKER]

FINALLY THIS MORNING —

FOUR NASA VOLUNTEERS EMERGED FROM A YEAR-LONG MARS SIMULATION AT HOUSTON’S JOHNSON SPACE CENTER, TESTING LIFE ON THE RED PLANET WITHOUT EVER LEAVING EARTH.

INSIDE A 3D-PRINTED 1,7000 SQUARE-FOOT HABITAT FOR 378 DAYS, THE CREW TACKLED CHALLENGES LIKE ISOLATION, RESOURCE LIMITS AND EVEN CONDUCTED SIMULATED SPACEWALKS —  MIMICKING WHAT A REAL MARS MISSION WOULD FEEL LIKE.

NASA HAS ANNOUNCED PLANS FOR TWO MORE SIMULATED “MARS” MISSIONS — WITH THE NEXT SET TO BEGIN IN THE FIRST HALF OF 2025.

[RAY BOGAN]

The Democratic party is not the happiest place on earth right now. Mega-donors are withholding funds in the wake of President Biden’s poor debate performance. 

That includes Abigail Disney, granddaughter of Disney co-founder Roy Disney, who said she intends to stop all contributions to the party until President Biden is replaced at the top of the ticket. 

She said Vice President Kamala Harris is a viable alternative. 

In a statement to CNBC, Disney said: “If Biden does not step down the Democrats will lose. Of that I am absolutely certain. The consequences for the loss will be genuinely dire.” 

Disney has made six figure donations to Democrats and progressive causes during previous election cycles. 

On Wednesday, Netflix founder Reid Hastings told the New York Times Biden needs to step aside. 

The President has also lost support of much of the media – exhibit A – the latest cover of The Economist. 

Moriah Fund President Gideon Stein is also withholding more than three million dollars in donations. Stein told CNBC: “Joe Biden has been a very effective president, but unless he steps aside my family and I are pausing on more than $3 million in planned donations to nonprofits and political organizations aligned with the presidential race, with the exception of some down ballot work.” 

That aligns with Endeavor CEO Ari Emanuel’s view. 

Ari Emanuel:

“I talked to a bunch of bid donors and they’re moving all their money to Congress and the Senate. I mean I cannot believe we’re in this situation.” 

[RAY BOGAN]

Stein added that nearly every major donor he’s spoken to thinks they need to replace Biden in order to defeat Trump. There are others who have donated six, seven, even eight figures during this election cycle and previous election cycles, who agree to pausing donations. 

Biden said on the Fourth of July that he isn’t going anywhere. His campaign had strong fundraising in June. Supporters gave $127 million, including $38 million in the three days after the debate. 

For more unbiased reporting on the 2024 election, download the straight arrow news app.

NEW YORK CITY IS GOING TO BE GIVING OUT MORE PREPAID DEBIT CARDS TO 7,300 MIGRANT FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN STAYING AT CITY-RUN SHELTERS.

THE PROGRAM STARTED THREE MONTHS AGO – WHEN THE CITY DISTRIBUTED 3,000 DEBIT CARDS TO MIGRANTS – ALLOWING THEM TO PURCHASE ESSENTIALS – LIKE FOOD AND BABY PRODUCTS – FROM APPROVED GROCERY STORES AND BODEGAS.

NEW YORK CITY MAYOR ERIC ADAMS’ OFFICE SAID THE CITY IS PARTNERED WITH MOBILITY CAPITAL FINANCE TO DISTRIBUTE THE “IMMEDIATE RESPONSE CARDS” – THE INITIAL PILOT PROGRAM COST THE CITY $53-MILLION DOLLARS.

THE DEBIT CARDS REPLACE A MEAL PROGRAM THAT PROVIDED BOX FOODS TO ASYLUM SEEKING FAMILIES – STAYING AT HOTELS, NOW CONVERTED TO MIGRANT SHELTERS ACROSS NEW YORK CITY – AND OFFICIALS HAVE SAID THE DEBIT CARDS WILL SAVE NEW YORK CITY TAXPAYERS $4.5 MILLION DOLLARS THIS YEAR.

IT’S UNCLEAR HOW MUCH EACH FAMILY WILL RECEIVE. THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTS – A MIGRANT FAMILY OF FOUR WITH CHILDREN CAN RECEIVE ABOUT $350 A WEEK – DEPENDING ON OTHER INCOME.

THE CITY’S DEPUTY MAYOR FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES CALLED THE CITY’S PILOT DEBIT CARD PROGRAM A “SUCCESS” – SAYING IT GIVES ASYLUM SEEKERS A CHANCE TO “MAKE CHOICES FOR THEMSELVES AND THEIR CHILDREN.”

HOWEVER, CRITICS OF THE PROGRAM – LIKE REPUBLICAN NEW YORK CITY COUNCILMAN JOSEPH BORELLI – SAY THE CITY-FUNDED CARDS ARE UNFAIR TO LOW INCOME NEW YORKERS WHO DON’T RECEIVE SIMILAR BENEFITS.

JOSEPH BORELLI / NYC COUNCIL MEMBER:

“WE’RE JUST GIVING THIS MIGRANT POPULATION MORE FREE STUFF AT THE EXPENSE OF NEW YORK CITY TAXPAYERS.”

LAUREN TAYLOR:

MORE THAN 180-THOUSAND MIGRANTS SEEKING ASYLUM HAVE WOUND UP IN NEW YORK CITY IN THE LAST YEAR – LEADING REPUBLICANS TO ARGUE THAT MORE HANDOUTS WILL DRAW MORE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS TO THE CITY – WHEN THE CITY HAS ALREADY SPENT MORE THAN A BILLION DOLLARS ON THE MIGRANT CRISIS.

FOR SAN, I’M LT..

IF YOU WANT MORE UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACTS, DOWNLOAD THE SAN APP.

Simone Del Rosario: June’s jobs report came back a bit of a mixed bag. On the one hand, the U.S. economy added slightly more jobs than expected at 206,000. On the other hand, the unemployment rate ticked up to 4.1%. That’s the first time unemployment’s been above 4% since late 2021. Analysts had expected unemployment to stay at 4%. 

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised the previous two months’ jobs data. April was revised down by 57,000 while May was revised down by 54,000, a combined 111,000 fewer jobs over two months.

Charles Schwab Chief Fixed Income Strategist Kathy Jones said: The big downward revisions to April and May are the story. Job market is slowing down.

Historically, the unemployment rate around 4.1% is very strong. But since we’ve been below that for 2.5 years and reached a 5-decade low of 3.4% unemployment last year, the upward trend is definitely catching attention. 

The Federal Reserve last projected unemployment would be at 4% for 2024 and 4.2% for 2025, so already exceeding that 2024 number makes a rate cut look all the more likely. The Fed is now projecting one rate cut this year. The market is betting the Fed will hold steady for its July meeting and cut in September.

Back in May, Fed Chair Jerome Powell said there are two paths to cutting rates.

Jerome Powell: That we do gain greater confidence that inflation is moving sustainably down toward 2% and another path could be unexpected weakening in the labor market, so those are paths in which you could see us cutting rates.

Simone Del Rosario: I’d categorize what we’re seeing as definite softening, but softening from one of the strongest labor markets in history. 

An unemployment rate between 4-5% is considered “full employment,” when a country’s available labor is being used in the most efficient way. 

Full employment does not mean zero unemployment. Economists believe there needs to be some level of unemployment to minimize inflation and allow people to move between jobs, pursue education or improve their skills.

The idea of full employment is that people looking for full-time work should be able to find it, although it might not be their preferred job.

But we are finding initial unemployment claims are trending up, and the number of people who are unemployed for more than half a year is also climbing. More than a fifth of the unemployed fall under that category, while the median amount of time people are unemployed is nearly 10 weeks. 

I’m SDR for SAN. 

[JACK AYLMER]

TENSIONS CONTINUE TO RISE IN THE SOUTH CHINA SEA FOLLOWING A RECENT CLASH BETWEEN THE PHILIPPINE NAVY AND CHINA’S COAST GUARD. DURING THE INCIDENT, CHINESE PERSONNEL, WIELDING MACHETES AND SPEARS, INJURED FILIPINO NAVY PERSONNEL AND DAMAGED TWO OF THEIR BOATS.

THE PHILIPPINES NOW VOWING TO FIGHT BACK IF THE CHINESE TRY ANYTHING LIKE IT AGAIN.

MANILA IS DEMANDING ABOUT $1 MILLION FROM CHINA FOR DAMAGES AND THE RETURN OF SEIZED MILITARY EQUIPMENT AFTER A FILIPINO OFFICER LOST HIS THUMB IN THE INCIDENT. PHILIPPINE OFFICIALS REPORTED THAT AT LEAST EIGHT CHINESE SHIPS ATTACKED WHILE THEY WERE DELIVERING SUPPLIES TO THEIR FORCES AT THE SECOND THOMAS SHOAL OUTPOST.

BOTH NATIONS BLAME EACH OTHER FOR PROVOKING THE CLASH, WITH CHINA ASSERTING THAT THE FILIPINO VESSELS ENTERED ITS TERRITORIAL WATERS WITHOUT PERMISSION.

PHILIPPINES MILITARY CHIEF  GENERAL ROMEO BRAWNER JR. TOLD A CHINESE DELEGATION TUESDAY THAT HIS FORCES WILL DEFEND THEMSELVES WITH “THE SAME LEVEL OF FORCE” IF ASSAULTED AGAIN.

MANILA ANNOUNCED THAT BOTH SIDES AGREED TO DE-ESCALATE TENSIONS WHILE MAINTAINING THEIR STANCES, MAKING PROGRESS ON MANAGING MARITIME SITUATIONS BUT SAID SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES REMAIN.

THIS INCIDENT IS PART OF THE BROADER MULTI-NATION DISPUTE OVER THE SOUTH CHINA SEA, INVOLVING VIETNAM, MALAYSIA, BRUNEI, TAIWAN, AND CHINA. THE U.S. HAS REITERATED ITS COMMITMENT TO DEFEND THE PHILIPPINES, ITS OLDEST TREATY ALLY IN ASIA.

WHILE THE U.S. HAS NO TERRITORIAL CLAIMS, IT HAS DEPLOYED WARSHIPS AND FIGHTER JETS TO ENSURE FREEDOM OF NAVIGATION AND REASSURE ALLIES LIKE JAPAN, WHICH HAS ITS OWN DISPUTES WITH CHINA IN THE EAST CHINA SEA.

FOR STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS, I’M JACK AYLMER.

FOR MORE OF OUR UNBIASED, STRAIGHT FACT REPORTING, DOWNLOAD THE STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS APP OR VISIT US AT SAN – DOT – COM.