Good Thursday afternoon. The Supreme Court struck down affirmative action programs, former Vice President Mike Pence made a surprise visit to Ukraine, and new air quality and heat alerts affect tens of millions of Americans. Here is what’s in our Nightly Rundown. |
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Supreme Court strikes down college affirmative action programs |
The Supreme Court issued a groundbreaking ruling on the use of race in college admissions today, striking down affirmative action programs at Harvard University and the University of North Carolina. In a 6-3 opinion, the court ruled that the programs violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Constitution. Chief Justice John Roberts said in the majority opinion that the programs "lack sufficiently focused and measurable objectives warranting the use of race, unavoidably employ race in a negative manner, involve racial stereotyping, and lack meaningful end points, those admissions programs cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause." Roberts added: “At the same time, nothing prohibits universities from considering an applicant’s discussion of how race affected the applicant’s life, so long as that discussion is concretely tied to a quality of character or unique ability that the particular applicant can contribute to the university. Many universities have for too long wrongly concluded that the touchstone of an individual’s identity is not challenges bested, skills built, or lessons learned, but the color of their skin.” In her dissenting opinion in the Harvard case, Justice Sonia Sotomayor said: “Today, this court stands in the way and rolls back decades of precedent and momentous progress,” adding that it “subverts the constitutional guarantee of equal protection by further entrenching racial inequality in education, the very foundation of our democratic government and pluralistic society.” |
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Biden, Trump react to the court’s affirmative action ruling |
President Joe Biden said he strongly disagrees with today’s ruling, saying that the court has “walked away from decades of precedent.” He said the ruling “effectively ends affirmative action in college admissions.” The president argued that colleges only view race after candidates qualify for admission based on grades, test scores and other criteria. He said they should not abandon their commitment to student bodies with diverse backgrounds. Among other things, he said colleges should take into account “the adversity” that students have overcome. For his part, former President Donald Trump said in a statement that "this is a great day for America.” adding: "People with extraordinary ability and everything else necessary for success, including future greatness for our Country, are finally being rewarded. This is the ruling everyone was waiting and hoping for and the result was amazing." |
Pence visits Ukraine, meets with Zelenskyy |
Former Vice President Mike Pence met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv today and visited three cities occupied and hit hard by Russian forces. “I truly believe that now, more than ever, we need leaders in our country who will articulate the importance of American leadership in the world,” Pence told NBC News.
As Dasha Burns and Abigail Brooks report on NBCNews.com: “Pence has been outspoken about his support for Ukraine, and the move sends a resounding message that he believes the U.S. should play a leading role in the country’s fight against Russia. It also puts Pence in a unique position with the GOP — a party once dominated by hawks who advocated against growing Russian influence but is now led by a man who has repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin, and whose base is largely uninterested in supporting Ukraine.” |
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Air quality alerts continue in much of U.S. |
More than 100 million people were under air quality alerts today in the Midwest, the Mid-Atlantic and parts of the Northeast. Winds were pushing the smoky air from Canadian wildfires south and east, making the worst areas from Chicago to Washington, D.C. The National Weather Service says there appears to be no end in sight to the smoke from the wildfires, which are expected to burn through the summer. |
Tens of millions still under heat alerts |
It was another dangerously hot day in much of the country, with temperatures in the 100s possible in much of Texas and parts of the West, South and Midwest. More than 70 million people were under heat alerts, including many in California, Nevada, Arizona, Texas, Louisiana and Tennessee. Heading into the weekend, areas in the East are expected to cool slightly while parts of the West will get hotter. |
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What else we're watching: |
There was a second night of rioting in France after the deadly police shooting of a 17-year-old driver during a traffic stop in Nanterre, a Paris suburb. Protesters burned cars and set buildings on fire. Officials said about 150 people were arrested around France and that 170 police officers were injured. Prosecutors said a police officer involved in the shooting was preliminarily charged with voluntary homicide. |
After being treated for a bacterial infection in the hospital, Madonna has returned home and is “feeling better,” a source close to Madonna told NBC News. |
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Watch us this evening at 6:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. CT on NBC, or check your local NBC station listing. After the broadcast, access Nightly News video on NBCNightlyNews.com or the NBC News app. |
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