Scheduling Note: After this edition, NextDraft will be on Summer Break for a couple weeks. Given the recent trends at the Supreme Court, today's unanimous decision to strike down a legal challenge to the abortion pill mifepristone might come as a surprise. The decision creates more of a holding pattern than a definitive outcome as judges ruled that the plaintiffs did not have standing to bring the case. NYT (Gift Article): Abortion Ruling Has Nothing to Do With the Pills’ Safety or Morality. "The opinion in the case focused entirely on standing, the legal doctrine that requires plaintiffs to show that they have suffered direct and concrete injuries in order to sue...Justice Antonin Scalia, who died in 2016, once succinctly summarized the standing doctrine, saying it requires plaintiffs to answer this question: 'What’s it to you?'" 2The Inside Job"I raised the vial into the air. The ceiling lights illuminated tiny splatters of slime, which looked almost like ants crawling up the sides of the glass. I marvelled at the simplicity with which the microscopic machines had been created, and at the complexity of the biology they were meant to influence. 'So that’s it?' I asked, turning to Li. The process had taken less than half an hour, and the ingredients had cost about a hundred dollars. He looked at me and smiled. 'That’s it.'" The New Yorker's Dhruv Khullar with an interesting look at the Rise of the Nanomachines. "Nanotechnology can already puncture cancer cells and drug-resistant bacteria. What will it do next?" Nano Nano. 3Insurrectionist Invades Capitol"Donald Trump made a triumphant return Thursday to Capitol Hill, whipping up House and Senate Republicans in his first meetings since the Jan.6, 2021 attacks, embraced by GOP lawmakers who find themselves newly energized by his bid to retake the White House ... A packed room of House Republicans sang 'Happy Birthday' to Trump in the private breakfast meeting at GOP campaign headquarters across the street from the Capitol. The lawmakers gave him a baseball and bat from the annual congressional game." I hate to quote an insurrectionist, but no other word quite summarizes this story better than, "Sad!" 4Dan is Not the Man"Dan has been described as the 'perfect man' who has 'no flaws.' He is successful, kind, provides emotional support, always knows just what to say and is available 24/7. The only catch?" Dan's the man: Why Chinese women are looking to ChatGPT for love. (Apple did the same thing and their stock price is up like 20 bucks since they made the first move.) 5Extra, ExtraA Can of Whoop-Assets: "Leaders of the Group of Seven wealthy democracies have agreed to engineer a $50 billion loan to help Ukraine in its fight for survival. Interest earned on profits from Russia’s frozen central bank assets would be used as collateral." This is not quite the "let's take Russia's frozen assets and give them to the country they invaded" plan that many envisioned. AP: G7 leaders agree to lend Ukraine billions backed by Russia’s frozen assets. Here’s how it will work. 6Bottom of the NewsI didn't see this twist coming in the Joey Chestnut hot dog eating crisis, but maybe I should have. "After organizers for Nathan’s Famous Fourth of July hot dog-eating contest said Joey Chestnut wouldn’t compete this year because of a deal with a rival brand, Netflix swiftly announced a new hot dog-eating competition that will feature Chestnut and his fiercest rival." Hot dog-eating champs Joey Chestnut and Takeru Kobayashi will go head-to head in a Netflix special.
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