The first presidential debate of 2024 is nearly upon us, with President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump set to meet in Atlanta on Thursday. CNN, which is hosting the debate, announced that Trump will have the final word after a coin flip gave Biden the choice between making the closing argument or choosing his lectern position (Biden chose the lectern on the right). Many of Trump's vice presidential hopefuls are planning to join him in Atlanta, including reported frontrunners North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, Ohio Sen. J.D. Vance and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio.
The gears of justice continued to grind slowly in Trumpworld. U.S. District Judge Aileen Cannon held a hearing Friday to determine whether special counsel Jack Smith was lawfully appointed in Trump's classified documents case. In New York, the top state court rejected Trump's appeal to lift the gag order, imposed by Judge Juan Merchan, that has remained in place following his conviction last month. And former Trump advisor Steve Bannon has asked the Supreme Court to keep him out of prison ahead of his July 1 report date after a lower appeals court rejected his request on Thursday night.
In a win for gun control advocates, the Supreme Court ruled on Friday to uphold a federal law that prohibits people subjected to restraining orders for domestic violence from owning firearms. Justice Clarence Thomas was the only dissent. Multiple consequential cases still remain on the docket this term, including Trump's presidential immunity case.
Russian President Vladimir Putin made a rare visit to North Korea Wednesday, where he met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to sign a new mutual defense pact. In response to the new alliance, South Korea said Friday it was considering providing weapons to Ukraine.
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