The Bulletin

• Donald Trump: The former president's fortunes appear to have reversed this week following a wave of positive polling, and being viewed by many as the winner of the first presidential debate.
• Joe Biden: The president's decision to run for re-election has been compared to the actions of the former California Senator Dianne Feinstein and former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who were both reluctant to retire.
• Medical debt: Loan forgiveness has become a hot topic in recent years following Joe Biden's policies to eradicate student debt for many Americans. But now, more Americans want to see action on medical debts, according to a new poll.
• Supreme Court: Justice Amy Coney Barrett has bucked her conservative colleagues on the Supreme Court in a major case involving a January 6 defendant. 
• China-U.S. relations: A Chinese official has said that the United States would not emerge victorious in a bilateral trade war after Donald Trump talked tough on Beijing in his debate against Joe Biden.
• Russian military: Naval forces from Russia and China stepped up maneuvers in the Western Pacific in June as their respective summertime training plans moved into high gear, according to Japanese government reports.

The rundown: Donald Trump crushed Joe Biden in the first head-to-head 2024 presidential debate, according to a poll conducted by CNN. Here's what the numbers reveal.

Why it matters: The survey of registered voters who watched the debate revealed that 67 percent believed that Trump performed better on Thursday evening in Atlanta, compared to 33 percent who thought the same about Biden. This marks a significant change from 2020, when Biden was seen to have outperformed Trump in both debates. Here are some of the key winners and losers from the debate.

Read more in-depth coverage:
Key Takeaways From Trump and Biden Debate

TL/DR: In the first debate of 2020, 60 percent of respondents believed Biden performed more strongly, compared to only 28 percent who thought the same for Trump.

What happens now? The results from Thursday evening were not fully reflective of the whole voting public, and respondents were five points likelier to be Republican aligned.

Deeper reading Donald Trump Crushes Joe Biden In First Debate Polls

The rundown: A Georgia appeal court is unlikely to remove District Attorney Fani Willis from Donald Trump's election interference case, legal experts have said. Here's why they think Willis should remain on the case.

Why it matters: Willis, D.A for Fulton County, Georgia, indicted Trump, former New York mayor, Rudy Giuliani, and 17 others for alleged fraud in Georgia in the 2020 presidential election. All of the accused pleaded not guilty but at least four are now cooperating with authorities. On March 15, the trial judge, Scott McAfee, heavily criticized Willis for her "tremendous lapse in judgment" and said that either she or Wade had to leave the case. Wade resigned from the case hours later.

Read more in-depth coverage: 
Fani Willis Suffers Blow in Trump Case

TL/DR: New York University law professor, Stephen Gillers, believes that Willis's wrongdoing is not serious enough to have her removed.

What happens now? Trump's lawyers are seeking to have the charges dismissed or to have Willis removed from the case.

Deeper reading Will Donald Trump's Move Against Fani Willis Pay Off?

The rundown: A trial date has been set for next summer in the quadruple-murder case against Bryan Kohberger, charged in the 2022 slayings of University of Idaho college students. Here are the key deadlines.

Why it matters: Kohberger, 29, has pleaded not guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and one count of felony burglary. Defense attorneys for Kohberger are pushing to have the trial moved out of Latah County. However, the judge wrote in his order on Thursday that a venue change would not impact the trial start date for next June. Under state law in Idaho, the punishment for first-degree murder is either life in prison or death.

Read more in-depth coverage: 
Bryan Kohberger Book Slammed By Victim's Family

TL/DR: Under a 2023 gag order issued by Judge, attorneys, law enforcement and others related to the case are not permitted to speak to the press.

What happens now? Judge John Judge of Latah County in Idaho set Kohberger's trial date for June 2, 2025. The court expects the trial to run until August 29, 2025. The judge also set a deadline of September 5 for defense team challenges to the use of the death penalty in sentencing.

Deeper reading Bryan Kohberger Update as New Trial Details Revealed

The rundown: Attacks on synagogues and churches in Russia's southern republic of Dagestan showed that President Vladimir Putin's emphasis on quashing dissent was leaving the country vulnerable to terror attacks, exiled Chief Rabbi of Moscow Pinchas Goldschmidt told Newsweek.

Why it matters: Wednesday saw the third day of mourning in the predominantly Muslim Caucasus republic where Sunday's attacks on two synagogues, two Eastern Orthodox churches and a traffic police post left at least 26 people dead. The Washington, D.C.-based think tank Institute for the Study of War said Wilayat Kavkaz, the Islamic State's Northern Caucasus branch, was likely responsible as concerns grow that Russia is facing a renewed militant Islamist threat that Putin cannot control. Meanwhile, Moscow has blamed the U.S. for the attack, saying that American-supplied missiles were used.

Read more in-depth coverage: 
Putin Complains that No One Will Help Russia

TL/DR: The ISW said Wednesday that the Kremlin is trying to give the impression of stability and normalcy following the attacks but was "so far failing to reassure the public" that further attacks would not take place.

What happens now? Goldschmidt has advised Jews to leave Russia because the climate toward them in Russia has worsened because of the wars in Ukraine and Gaza.

Deeper reading Putin Too 'Busy' Crushing Dissent to Deal with Terrorism: Exiled Top Rabbi

The rundown: A high pollution advisory for millions of residents in the Phoenix metropolitan area has been issued for Friday. Here's how to stay cautious.

Why it matters: The National Weather Service (NWS) said in an announcement that the alert has been released for Maricopa County, the most populated county in Arizona, which includes the cities of Phoenix, Mesa, Chandler and Scottsdale. High pollution advisories are issued when forecast "weather conditions combined with existing ozone levels are expected to result in local maximum 8-hour ozone concentrations that pose a health risk," read the announcement. Meanwhile, here are the cities that broke multiple weather records in 2024.

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Weather Warning Issued for Drivers

TL/DR: Friday's air quality index for Phoenix is forecast to reach moderate levels of ozone by 11 a.m. MST. By 1 p.m., the index is expected to rise and push the ozone levels to unhealthy marks for sensitive groups, according to the ADEQ.

What happens now? Maricopa County is also under a high pollution watch from Saturday to Monday. During the advisory, residents are "urged to car pool, telecommute or use mass transit." The NWS added that the "use of gasoline-powered equipment should be reduced or done late in the day." To help reduce ozone, residents should ensure their vehicles' engines do not idle and refuel vehicles in the evening or at night, when ozone levels have dropped.

Deeper reading Map Shows Where Millions Urged to Avoid Driving