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U.S. military’s newest weapon against China and Russia: Hot air The Pentagon is quietly transitioning high-altitude balloon projects to the military services. #TopStories

New survey results underscore racial disparities in government relations According to the DGR Coalition results, 59 percent of staff of color reported feeling comfortable voicing their opinions, versus 75 percent of white staff. #Influence

The lore of ‘CODELs’: How foreign travel helps Congress at home For more than half a century, lawmakers have found untapped alliances and diplomatic opportunities during overseas trips that voters rarely hear about. #TopStories

U.S. ambassadors to Blinken: Send the weapons There’s a debate roiling inside the Biden administration: Delay or decline weapons sales to countries with poor human rights records, or sell anyway lest Russia and China fill the void? #Defense

The climate clock is ticking for Dems #Energy

Despite rebukes, Trump’s legal brigade is thriving Their claims were dismissed as baseless, but many attorneys have never faced discipline and have found new business as go-to MAGA lawyers. #TopStories

Meet the dealmakers-in-waiting #Huddle

CDC wants primary care providers to help convince parents on Covid-19 vaccine for kids Nearly 70 percent of kids ages 5 to11 are still unvaccinated. #Pulse

Abortion fight strains Democratic alliance with Gen Z “There’s a fine line between the recent events pushing someone to never vote again or pushing someone to vote ... and bring friends," Florida Democrat Maxwell Frost said. #TopStories

Why a blowout jobs number would be bad for Biden Spending adjusted for inflation dipped 0.4 percent, a potentially worrisome sign about consumers’ ability to keep up with an inflation rate still far above 2 percent. #Money

Griner sends letter to President Biden pleading for his help Most of the letter’s contents to President Biden remain private, though Griner’s representatives shared a few lines from the hand-written note. #TopStories

Take a number, sit in line: Canada troubleshoots passport line chaos with a bulk order for chairs ‘I will continue to direct staff to do all they can to create a more hospitable environment,’ Minister of Children, Families and Social Development Karina Gould said last week. #TopStories

6 dead, 30 hurt in shooting at Chicago-area July 4 parade Authorities said a man named as a person of interest in the shooting was taken into police custody after an hourslong manhunt in an affluent community of about 30,000 on Chicago’s north shore. #TopStories

Gunfire that killed Palestinian-American journalist likely came from Israeli military positions, U.S. says Experts said that the bullet was badly damaged, preventing a clear conclusion, and that the killing was most likely unintentional. #TopStories

No more whispers: Recession talk surges in Washington From Wall Street to Washington, whispers about a coming economic slump have risen to nearly a roar as the Federal Reserve ramps up its battle against the highest inflation in four decades. #TopStories

Last WWII Medal of Honor recipient to lie in honor at Capitol Hershel W. “Woody” Williams died last week at the age of 98. #TopStories

‘Remain in Mexico’ policy will continue for several weeks, Mayorkas says All the particulars must be sorted out. #TopStories

Mississippi's governor: Full speed ahead with new abortion restrictions “This entire court battle was never about winning a court case,” Gov. Tate Reeves said. #TopStories

Homeland Security chief: ‘We are in a heightened threat environment’ The country is on edge because of extremist rhetoric and real threats, Alejandro Mayorkas said. #TopStories

U.S. won't push Ukraine to negotiate, NSC's Kirby says "President Zelenskyy," John Kirby said, "he gets to determine how victory is decided and when and on what terms." #TopStories

John Kirby defends Biden’s tweet on gas prices The president urged companies to “bring down the price you are charging at the pump.” #TopStories

HHS was asked to seek an ‘aggressive strategy’ on abortion by Biden, Becerra says “But unlike the previous administration, we do intend to respect the law,” the HHS secretary said. #TopStories

Attacks on Cassidy Hutchinson were predictable, House committee member says Rep. Zoe Lofgren provided insight into the Jan. 6 hearings. #TopStories

POLITICO Playbook: GOP wonders if Trump’s endorsement still matters And the Jan. 6 committee is reportedly considering adding additional hearings to the calendar. #Playbook

Kemp racing to stay competitive with Abrams in fundraising The two candidates for Georgia governor are stuffing their campaign war chests for what is expected to be an expensive rematch. #TopStories

Opinion | How the Founders Intended to Check the Supreme Court’s Power The president and Congress can check SCOTUS' power when they believe the justices have exceeded their mandate. This might be the best way to save the court from itself. #TopStories

The metamorphosis of J.K. Rowling When it comes to trans rights, some fans believe the Harry Potter author is more Death Eater than Dumbledore. #TopStories

How a well-heeled Brooklyn enclave could decide New York's hottest congressional primary Nearly 60 percent of voters in the newly drawn district are white, highly educated and clustered in tony Brooklyn neighborhoods, where select candidates in the crowded field have long-standing ties. #TopStories

SCOTUS marshal asks Maryland, Virginia officials to enforce anti-picketing laws outside justices' homes “For weeks on end, large groups of protesters chanting slogans, using bullhorns, and banging drums have picketed justices’ homes in Maryland,” one letter reads. #TopStories

Dems meddle in Trump-Hogan proxy war in Maryland The former president and the moderate GOP governor have endorsed rival candidates in the Republican primary to succeed Hogan. #TopStories

Flawed oxygen readings may be behind Covid-19’s toll on people of color The Food and Drug Administration is convening an advisory panel later this year to investigate #TopStories

Opinion | The Rudy Giuliani Joke Isn’t Funny Anymore It was a bad week for Trump’s attorney, and that's saying something. #TopStories

New York passes strengthened gun laws in wake of SCOTUS ruling The measure, intended to counteract the Supreme Court's decision last week striking down a strict state gun law, strengthens permitting requirements and designates a slew of new gun-free zones. #TopStories

McCain, Giffords, Rapinoe and Biles: Biden names Medal of Freedom recipients "These 17 Americans demonstrate the power of possibilities and embody the soul of the nation," the administration wrote in a statement. #TopStories

The nation’s cartoonists on the week in politics Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker. #TopStories

Dems unite Jan. 6 and Roe for new battleground target: 'MAGA' Republicans The party's House campaigns chief, working against headwinds to try to save the majority, is going on offense against the GOP's most hardline candidates in the suburbs. #TopStories

POLITICO Playbook: SCOOP: Jan. 6 panel subpoenas unseen Trump tapes And Alabama’s GOP Senate runoff is the day’s biggest prize. #Playbook

The Democratic primary that could determine the future of abortion rights All four contenders for the nomination to challenge Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) are campaigning as the field's strongest defender of Roe. #TopStories

The Real Reason Washington Ignored Kavanaugh’s Would-Be Killer Hint: It’s scarier than media bias. #TopStories

There Are 11 Types of Donald Trump Enablers. Which One Are You? A taxonomy of the messiahs, demonizers and tribalist trolls of Trumpland. #TopStories

'We don’t have to pretend anymore': Greens ready to bail on D.C. Environmentalists and many of their Democratic allies are preparing to focus on state capitals as the places to press for action on climate change — going back to a strategy they employed during the Trump era. #TopStories

The Michigan Democrat Who Could Solve Her Party’s Identity Crisis The Michigan lawmaker’s viral rebuttal to Republican attacks is becoming a playbook for beleaguered Democrats in a dispiriting election year. #TopStories

State Department offers up to $10M reward for info on foreign election interference The most recent and high-profile instance of such interference occurred in the 2016 presidential contest. #TopStories

Biden handed big immigration win by Supreme Court but challenges remain Immigrant advocates and Democratic leaders pressed the Biden administration to swiftly end “Remain in Mexico” after a ruling cleared the path — at least temporarily — to do so. #TopStories

Jan. 6 committee rallies around Hutchinson amid Trump World onslaught Several members of the panel say the former White House aide turned star witness isn't the one with credibility problems — it's her doubters. #TopStories

K Street not dismissing McConnell threat on China bill There are only a handful of other must-pass bills that McConnell would be able to dangle as leverage. #Influence

Why Biden's climate push might not be doomed It wouldn't be easy, but Democrats could still look to Congress, other kinds of regulations or the states in their effort to cut greenhouse gases. #TopStories

NATO is unified now. Will 'war fatigue' set in later? NATO just showed unprecedented unity in the face of one of the alliance’s greatest-ever challenges. The question now is how long that unity will last. #Defense

Ukraine gets top billing at NATO, but questions mount over West’s resolve Domestic political and economic challenges could complicate the West’s efforts to keep the weapons and aid flowing to Ukraine through the winter — and beyond. #TopStories

The conservative Supreme Court is just getting warmed up Affirmative action, voting rights and state power over elections are on the line next. #TopStories

How many satellites are too many? #Tech

New details of Jan. 6 panel's mystery messages emerge Former Trump White House aide Cassidy Hutchinson told the committee she was contacted by an intermediary for Mark Meadows, according to a person familiar with her final deposition. #TopStories

POLITICO Playbook: How John Roberts could channel John Marshall And a gun deal could land shortly. #Playbook

U.S. official: Migrants who died cleared inland checkpoint The disclosure brings new attention to whether the roughly 110 inland highway border checkpoints are sufficiently effective at spotting people who enter the U.S. illegally. #TopStories

Biden notches wins in Europe — as challenges pile up at home The president basked in success and popularity at G-7 and NATO summits, a contrast to his weakened standing and challenges over abortion, gas prices and the economy awaiting his return. #TopStories

The Supreme Court Just Rolled Democracy Back. You Can Measure How Much. After last Friday, 14 million more Americans will be living under laws they disagree with. How did we get here? #TopStories

Hochul administration moves to shut gas powered cryptocurrency plant It denied a key permit for a gas powered cryptocurrency mining operation in the Finger Lakes. #TopStories

‘It Was All Just a Show’: Confessions of a Republican Campaign Hit Man Tim Miller’s new book reveals the ways he and his fellow GOP operatives poisoned the national discourse and helped enable the rise of Donald Trump. #TopStories

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson sworn in to Supreme Court The brief ceremony allowed Jackson to officially succeed Justice Stephen Breyer, who retired at noon Thursday. #TopStories

Opinion | A Bold Plan to Preserve Access to Abortion Here are four things Biden can do right now. #TopStories

Supreme Court to hear case on GOP ‘independent legislature’ theory that could radically reshape elections The case stems from the North Carolina Supreme Court's decision this year to throw out the Republican-drawn congressional map for gerrymandering. #TopStories

Former Harris aide will lobby for Airbnb Meaghan Lynch, a former aide to Vice President Kamala Harris, will join Airbnb as a public policy manager next month, joining a growing number of former Harris staffers downtown. Most recently, Lynch served as press secretary at HUD and as an aide to Secretary Marcia Fudge. #Influence

Supreme Court handcuffs Biden’s climate efforts The decision comes amid accumulating warnings from scientists that human-caused climate change is increasing the likelihood of more severe floods, droughts, storms and other calamities in the coming decades. #TopStories

What's left in Biden's climate toolbox? #Energy

Democrats push for campaign reset in the most pro-abortion rights swing state Sen. Maggie Hassan is releasing a new TV ad on abortion as the campaign in New Hampshire pivots hard to the issue. #TopStories

Turning up the heat on July’s agenda #Huddle

Biden officials stress climate change’s public health impact. Not all are convinced. Minutes after top Biden officials began a White House summit on climate change and health Thursday, the U.S. Supreme Court handed down a blow to the administration’s core climate change goals. #Pulse

Republicans who backed Trump Jan. 6 probe face fierce backlash at the polls The votes have fueled a growing anti-incumbent mood among GOP voters that has hit other incumbents too. #TopStories

No holiday break for crypto If you’re on a trading desk at a crypto lending platform, “unwind” will mean something very different to you this Fourth of July. #Money

The perils of blockchain analysis #Tech

Congress is trying to rein in Big Tech. This lawmaker could stand in their way. Tech lobbyists say Washington Rep. Suzan DelBene is the lawmaker they’re turning to as the largest tech companies face threats in Washington. #TopStories

POLITICO Playbook: Democrats’ dilemma And Ron DeSantis rakes in cash from Trump donors. #Playbook

What Dems can — and might — do in Congress to fight the end of Roe The party wants to campaign this fall on the Supreme Court's quashing of constitutional abortion rights. Here's how it plans to start on the Hill. #TopStories

Opinion | A Grand Compromise on Abortion Unless Congress steps in, a patchwork of state laws will tear the country apart. #TopStories

Trump Is in Trouble and He Knows It The two big stories of this week are more closely linked than meets the eye. #TopStories

Liz Cheney: 'Republicans cannot be both loyal to Donald Trump and loyal to the Constitution' She didn’t shy away from her newfound role as the face of the anti-Trump GOP. #TopStories

Andrew Giuliani had the name ID and his famous father. He just didn’t have the votes. The younger Giuliani was resolute that his father's outsized role in the campaign and his support of Trump didn't hurt his chances. #TopStories

1955 warrant in Emmett Till case found; family seeks arrest Carolyn Bryant Donham made the allegations that led to Till's lynching in Mississippi. #TopStories

Toll now at 53 in San Antonio as families wait for answers The driver along with two other men from Mexico remained in custody. #TopStories

Florida surgeon general tells lawmakers blocking orders to childhood vaccines could have led to delays His comments are the latest development in the ongoing fight between Florida and the White House over Covid-19 vaccines for young children. #TopStories

Dem groups see windfall following repeal of Roe Despite some flak about the party’s appeals for cash that arrived so soon after the decision was announced, the push has appeared to be at least somewhat successful. #Influence

Bannon seeks trial delay, citing House Jan. 6 hearings His attorneys cited "saturation" coverage of the televised hearings. #TopStories

The staggering toll of extreme heat #Energy

Secret Service: Jan. 6 panel didn’t reach out before Hutchinson’s explosive Trump testimony The agency says it got no outreach for 10 days before the committee aired testimony about Donald Trump’s behavior in the presidential vehicle Jan. 6. #TopStories

Congress faces abortion questions abroad #Huddle

Biden officials gear up for the fall vaccination campaign The administration has placed its first major order for a variant-tailored vaccine ahead of the expected fall push for boosters. #Pulse

Opinion | Why Are Democrats Letting Republicans Steamroll Them? For too long, the GOP has busted norms with no consequences. #TopStories

Where Jay Powell draws the line Powell echoed a point he made in congressional testimony last week: There are worse outcomes than a recession. #Money

The AI 'gold rush' in Washington #Tech

Pelosi receives Communion in Vatican despite abortion stance Pelosi’s home archbishop has said he will no longer allow her to receive the sacrament in his archdiocese because of her support for abortion rights. #TopStories

POLITICO Playbook: Exclusive: The words Luttig wants to be remembered And the FDA authorizes coronavirus vaccines for young kids. #Playbook

Opinion | How Democrats Can Win on a Culture-War Issue It’s time to run again on same-sex marriage. #TopStories

When the Supreme Court Makes a Mistake The history of the Supreme Court is replete with outrages and abominations, but they can be tough to overcome. #TopStories

Opinion | The Supreme Court is Retrenching. States Don’t Have To. It's a little-appreciated feature of our democracy that the U.S. Constitution only sets a minimum for individual rights — not a maximum. #TopStories

Roe jolts the midterms: 5 takeaways from the 2022 election midpoint Trump isn’t beaten, but he’s beatable. #TopStories

Trump made 17 endorsements in recent primaries. Here are the winners. The former president successfully intervened in a member-versus-member GOP primary in Illinois. #TopStories

Eastman drops bid to block phone records from Jan. 6 committee The former Trump lawyer is increasingly the subject of legal scrutiny. #TopStories

Casten beats Newman in matchup of Dem incumbents in Illinois Redistricting forced the incumbents to fight it out for the same seat in an intense, sometimes awkward, race for a Chicago-area seat. #TopStories

Aide's testimony that Trump was told of weapons could boost civil suits The revelation at a House Jan. 6 hearing could be fodder for cases arguing that Trump knew violence was likely when he sent backers to the Capitol. #TopStories

Lab-grown-milk startup adds lobbyist Biomilq was co-founded in 2020 by a cell biologist who struggled with breastfeeding and was inspired by news of the first lab-grown burger. #Influence