IE 11 is not supported. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser.

Tuesday's Mini-Report, 6.14.16

Today's edition of quick hits.
Today's edition of quick hits:
 
* Paris: "France's president called Tuesday for increased security in this tense nation after an apparent Islamic State-inspired attacker fatally stabbed a police officer and his partner before he was killed by police."
 
* Pakistani and Afghan forces "exchanged heavy gunfire on Sunday and Monday in an unusually serious escalation of tensions at the border, leaving at least 13 people wounded on the Pakistani side and killing at least one Afghan police officer, according to the police and military officials in both countries."
 
* Economy: "Retail sales rose more than forecast in May, showing consumer spending will help boost economic growth in the second quarter. The 0.5 percent increase in purchases followed a 1.3 percent jump the previous month that was the biggest gain in a year, Commerce Department figures showed Tuesday in Washington."
 
* True: "Department of Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson stipulated Tuesday that responsible homeland security entails passing meaningful gun control reforms."
 
* Good for him: "Centrist Rep. Bob Dold (R-Ill.) broke with members of his party on Tuesday and called on the House to take up legislation to increase scrutiny on gun purchases in the aftermath of a mass shooting in Orlando."
 
* Sadly predictable: "The National Rifle Association late Monday broke its silence on the slaughter of 49 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida, labeling calls for restrictions on assault-style weapons as a 'transparent head-fake.'"
 
* NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg today "dismissed criticism from Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump that the alliance is irrelevant. 'We are as relevant as ever,' said Stoltenberg on the first day of a two-day defense ministerial meeting at the alliance headquarters in Brussels."
 
* Republicans seem to think a lot about the names of things: "A Republican lawmaker has introduced legislation to keep Congress members' names off Navy ships if they haven't served as president or in the military. If passed, the proposal would block the naming of two ships -- one after civil rights leader Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.) and one after former Senate Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin (D-Mich)."
 
* A rare outcome: "[O]ne big city is now on the verge of defeating Big Soda. That's Philadelphia, whose City Council this Thursday is expected to finalize a new tax on sugary beverages."
 
Anything to add? Consider this an open thread.