1
Ukraine is still holding its last foot in Mariupol.
- The latest news from the key port city: Fighters and civilians entrenched in a steelworks refused to surrender to Russian forces. Russia said today it would not attack the facility but would prevent anyone from escaping.
- What else to know: Russia expands its campaign in eastern Ukraine, capturing several small towns.
2
The Biden administration will fight to restore the transit mask mandate.
- The last: The Justice Department said yesterday it would appeal a ruling that abruptly ended the warrant on planes and other transportation this week.
- Does this change anything? Not immediately. The battle could eventually end in the Supreme Court, which has been skeptical of federal pandemic restrictions.
- In other transit news: The FAA has made permanent its “zero tolerance” policy for unruly airline passengers, a growing pandemic problem.
3
Republicans continue to suggest that gay rights advocates care for children.
- What is happening? In recent weeks, politicians have escalated baseless attacks on the LGBTQ community. In a fundraising email, a state senator accused a Democrat of wanting to “sexualize kindergarteners.”
- Why? They are trying to piss off voters ahead of November’s midterm elections.
- Larger image: It’s part of a larger movement, which has included a nationwide wave of anti-LGBTQ bills.
4
Thousands of student loans could have already been forgiven.
- Numbers: About 7,700 federal loans may have been eligible for cancellation since September 1, 2020, according to a new report. Only 157 had been pardoned last June.
- The problem: The Department of Education has not accurately tracked some income-driven repayment plans that offer cancellation after 20 or 25 years, according to the report.
- And now? The Biden administration on Tuesday announced a new student loan forgiveness waiver to address those failures.
5
Supply chain issues aren’t the only reason food prices are rising.
- A huge factor: The war in Ukraine. This drives up the prices of corn, fertilizer and meat.
- How? It’s complex. But one factor is the US decision last week to allow the sale of high-ethanol gasoline this summer. This means that more corn will be used for fuel rather than animal feed.
- What else? The California drought, bird flu and more mean prices are rising at rates not seen since the 1980s.
6
Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II celebrates her 96th birthday today.
Rudy Giuliani appeared on “The Masked Singer” last night.