Today’s edition of quick hits:
* More than 10 months later: “Puerto Rico’s electric utility said it completed restoration of power to all of its customers on Tuesday, more than 10 months after Hurricane Maria left 1.5 million homes and businesses in the dark.”
* Time for closing arguments: “Paul Manafort’s lawyers declined Tuesday to call any witnesses to defend him against charges of bank and tax fraud. Mr. Manafort, President Trump’s former campaign chairman, also told the judge that he did not want to testify, clearing the way for closing arguments from both sides and the start of jury deliberations on Wednesday.”
* The latest from Italy: “At least 23 people were killed when a highway bridge collapsed during a violent storm in Italy’s northern city of Genoa on Tuesday.”
* The latest from London: “A man has been arrested on suspicion of terrorism offenses after a car crashed outside the Houses of Parliament. The vehicle swerved into cyclists and pedestrians shortly after 07:30 BST, injuring three people. The 29-year-old suspect is not believed to be known to MI5 or counter-terrorism police, and is not cooperating with officers.”
* Turkey: “President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Tuesday that Turkey would boycott U.S.-made electronic products, escalating a feud with the Trump administration that has contributed to the rapid decline of the Turkish currency. “
* The Pentagon’s Dana White: “One of Defense Secretary James Mattis’ most senior civilian advisers is being investigated by the Defense Department Office of Inspector General for allegedly retaliating against staff members after she used some of them to conduct her personal errands and business matters, according to four sources familiar with the probe.” * CBO: “The Congressional Budget Office projects the economy to grow at a rate of 3.1 percent in 2018, a slight revision to the 3.3 percent growth rate the agency forecast in April. The CBO attributed the slight decline in its gross domestic product estimate this year to revised projections of discretionary spending and interest rates.” * This report is very well done: “How three conspiracy theorists took ‘Q’ and sparked Qanon.” Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past." Recommended
