Good morning. It’s Tuesday, June 30, and D.C. residents might want to invest in some earplugs ahead of the late and long firework spectacle planned for Saturday. Let’s catch up.
The Supreme Court will issue the final decisions of its term this morning.
What to expect: A ruling on President Donald Trump’s effort to limit birthright citizenship, the principle that almost everyone born in the U.S. is a citizen. See all remaining cases here.
Trump is using a secret $500 million contract to build his White House ballroom.
Construction continues on the East Wing ballroom on Monday. (Aaron Schwartz/Reuters)
Last year: Officials awarded a no-bid contract for the project, according to a copy of the agreement seen by The Post. Find all the details of the unusual arrangement here.
Why it matters: The contract sidestepped typical procedures designed to control costs. Soliciting bids would have helped to ensure the best price for taxpayers, experts said.
U.S. and Iranian negotiators are set to travel to Qatar today.
Trump said the sides will meet: But Iran said no talks are scheduled. Over the weekend, U.S. and Iranian strikes further strained a ceasefire deal agreed earlier this month.
Iran is flexing its leverage: It has little obvious incentive to surrender its grip on global shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, making it difficult for Trump to secure concessions.
With little help, Venezuelans are trying to rescue themselves.
Nearly a week after devastating earthquakes: People are digging neighbors out from the rubble using their bare hands due to insufficient government help and a lack of tools.
The death toll stands at more than 1,700 people: The window for finding survivors is shrinking. Thousands have been left homeless and it’s not clear where they will go.
Severe heat and strong winds are fueling wildfires in the West.
Wildfires burn across drought-stricken Utah, Colorado, Arizona and New Mexico late Sunday. (Ben Noll/The Post; NOAA)
As of yesterday: Thousands of personnel were battling 79 total fires (including 52 large, uncontained blazes) across 10 states. Three firefighters were killed in Colorado on Saturday.
Wildfire season could be severe: In a normal June, mountain snowpacks are still melting and releasing water that curbs fire spread. That’s not the case after a historically dry winter.
Is your “stress mindset” worsening your anxiety? There are ways to fix it.
In a stressful world: Many people try to avoid stressful situations. But research suggests that what we believe about stress has an important role in helping us deal with it.
How to shift your mindset: Experts recommend following these six steps. Start by noticing what is stressing you and saying it aloud, instead of trying to suppress your feelings.
Paraguay knocked Germany out of the World Cup in a stunning twist.
It was the latest surprising exit by Germany, a four-time champion that has struggled at the World Cup since it won the trophy in 2014. (Alexander Hassenstein/Getty)
We didn’t see that coming: The 2014 champions were defeated after missing three times in a thrilling penalty shootout. It was the biggest upset of this World Cup so far.
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