The Morning Dispatch: Donald Trump’s Inaction on January 6

Happy Friday! New York reported a case of polio yesterday—the country’s first since 2013. “We don’t want to see this,” Brown University epidemiologist Jennifer Nuzzo told the Associated Press. Agreed, Jennifer Nuzzo. Agreed.

Quick Hits: Today’s Top Stories

  • President Joe Biden tested positive for COVID-19 on Thursday and is “experiencing very mild symptoms,” according to the White House. Trips to Pennsylvania and Delaware this week have been canceled. Biden, 79, is fully vaccinated and being treated with the antiviral Paxlovid.

  • Italy’s president on Thursday accepted the resignation of Prime Minister Mario Draghi and dissolved Parliament, calling for new elections which will be held September 25. The president had rejected Draghi’s previous resignation attempt, but three conservative parties undermined Draghi’s political coalition and boycotted a confidence vote. Draghi is known for rescuing the Euro while the European Central Bank’s president and leaves Italy struggling with inflation and economic recovery from COVID-19. 

  • A spokesman for Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said Thursday that Ukraine and Russia will sign a deal today to restart grain exports from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports—blocked since Russia began its invasion. Turkey has been hosting negotiations but didn’t share details and Ukraine and Russia have not confirmed the agreement. Millions of tons of grain are trapped in Ukraine, raising prices and increasing global food insecurity. “Success in ending Russia’s blockade will of course depend not only on Russia agreeing to a deal, but on Russia actually implementing it,” the U.S. National Security Council said in a statement.

This content is available exclusively to Dispatch members
Try a membership for full access to every newsletter and all of The Dispatch. Support quality, fact-based journalism.
Already a paid member? Sign In
Comments (611)
Join The Dispatch to participate in the comments.
 
Load More