A weeklong heat wave threatens millions from the East Coast to the Midwest. The U.S. surgeon general wants tobacco-style health warnings on social media. And there were some big first-time wins at the Tony Awards.
Here’s what to know today.
Major heat wave to expand from Midwest to East Coast and could last a week or more
With Thursday’s seasonal solstice taking place amid a weeklong heat wave expected for the East Coast and the Midwest, the summer of 2024 is coming in hot. Extreme heat was forecast for Chicago, St. Louis, Indianapolis, Detroit, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Boston, New York City and Albany, New York.
Models show the heat could last through Friday and beyond. “The duration of this heat wave is notable and potentially the longest experienced in decades for some locations,” the federal Weather Prediction Center said.
A high pressure system called an upper-level ridge is expanding over the Midwest and the East Coast and will produce clear skies, warm, stable air and record-breaking temperatures in the 90s and beyond, forecasters say. Some areas will experience temperatures as high as 105, according to the weather service. Forecasters say temperatures will reach as high as 25 degrees above normal for many areas under the summer system.
‘If we stop, we die:’ Ukraine’s struggling frontline soldiers emboldened by renewed U.S. support
For the Ukrainian soldiers battling Russia’s offensive, signs of renewed Western support are more than just diplomatic results. “I can tell you that your money is not wasted here,” said First Sgt. Dmytro Pryimak, a tank commander in the eastern Donetsk region where Kyiv’s troops are struggling to hold back Moscow’s military.
He spoke to NBC News on the ground from a remote area several miles from the frontlines, where Abrams tanks provided by the United States are being repaired and refitted for battle. The Kremlin’s forces are pushing forward in a number of hotspots across this industrial heartland.
Ukraine has been buoyed by a 10-year security pact and new military aid from the U.S., the loosening of restrictions on its use of Western weapons, and by allied support at the G-7 summit then a weekend peace conference.
Zelenskyy will see this flurry of activity as a significant show of support, a galvanized response after months in which his country’s backers seemed to be wavering. The war’s front lines have scarcely shifted in 18 months, but Ukrainian soldiers say this is only down to their continued fight — and the support they now feel once again in both words and weapons.
Renaissance painting once stolen and found at bus stop could sell for $32 million at art auction
A Renaissance painting once stolen from a nobleman’s home in southwest England and found at a bus stop in London may sell for $32 million at an art auction next month.
Tiziano Vecellio, otherwise known as Titian, painted the early masterpiece “The Rest on the Flight Into Egypt” at the age of 20 in Venice. The work has had many homes since it was painted, presumably in the first decade of the 16th century, according to the auction house Christie’s. The painting depicts Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus resting while en route to Egypt to seek safety from King Herod, who Joseph dreamed wanted to kill Jesus.
The painting was stolen from its owners’ house in 1995. Seven years later, the early work was found in a bag at a bus stop in southwest London by art detective Charles Hill. It’s not clear who stole the painting or where it was during the years it disappeared.
U.S. surgeon general calls for tobacco-style warnings about social media
This morning, U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called on Congress to require a tobacco-style warning for visitors to social media platforms. In an op-ed published in The New York Times, Murthy said the mental health crisis among young people is an urgent problem, with social media “an important contributor.” He said his vision of the warning includes language that would alert users to the potential mental health harms of the websites and apps.
“A surgeon general’s warning label, which requires congressional action, would regularly remind parents and adolescents that social media has not been proved safe,” he wrote. In 1965, after the previous year’s landmark report that linked cigarette smoking to lung cancer and heart disease, Congress mandated unprecedented warning labels on packs of cigarettes, the first of which stated, “Caution: Cigarette Smoking May Be Hazardous to Your Health.”
Murthy said in the op-ed, “Evidence from tobacco labels shows that surgeon general’s warnings can increase awareness and change behavior.” But he acknowledged the limitations and said a label alone wouldn’t make social media safe.
Big wins at a star-studded Tonys
“The Outsiders” and “Stereophonic” took top honors at the 77th Annual Tony Awardslast night, winning for best musical and best play.
It was also a big night for some first-time wins, especially Daniel Radcliffe, whose Tony for “Merrily We Roll Along” was his first major acting award. TV stars Jeremy Strong and Sarah Paulson also won for their lead roles in the plays “An Enemy of the People” and “Appropriate,” respectively.
The long list of presenters included Idina Menzel, Angelina Jolie and even former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, a producer on best musical nominee “Suffs.” Highlights from the musical performances were Alicia Keys and Jay-Z performing “Empire State of Mind,” and Pete Townshend of The Who joining the cast of “The Who’s Tommy” on stage.
You can check out highlights from NBC News’ live coverage here.
Politics in Brief
Ad blitz: The Biden campaign announced a $50 million advertisement investment Monday as part of efforts to contrast the president with his rival, former President Donald Trump, leading up to their first debate next week.
Supreme Court: At a fundraiser over the weekend, President Joe Biden warned about the possibility of former President Donald Trump appointing two new Supreme Court justices if he wins the presidency in November.
State races: The Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee will spend more than $10 million to boost down-ballot candidates in key states, the first time the DLCC has allocated this much money this early in the cycle.
Trump conviction: On “Meet the Press” Sunday, Florida GOP Rep. Byron Donalds said the Supreme Court should “step in” on Trump’s conviction in New York.
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Staff Pick: Goodbye to the traditional ‘Tiger Mom’
Amid all the modern parenting debates, Asian Americans are carving out their own conversation. Let’s face it — Asian Americans have been grappling with this “Tiger Parent” stereotype for some time. They’re perceived as harsh disciplinarians, primarily concerned with academic achievement. Today’s parents, though, look a bit different. Though they’ve preserved some aspects of their parents’ generation, they’re also injecting more verbal affirmations and honoring children’s feelings to ultimately encourage their kids to find who they are as people. This story is a look at the Asian Americans behind this parenting evolution.
— Kimmy Yam, reporter, NBC Asian America
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