A Grim Week for America

If you only read one thing: It’s been a grim week in America. Two black men, Alton Sterling and Philando Castile, were killed by police officers in recent days, reigniting tensions over police violence directed at people of color. Both shootings were captured on video, providing a potent visual. Within hours, protests and vigils sprang up across the country, as political leaders offered statements of condolence and calls for ending such violence. President Obama spoke on the shootings just after arriving in Warsaw for a NATO summit. Then the situation went from bad to worse. Five police officers were killed Thursday night after at least one gunman opened fire from an elevated position toward the end of a peaceful Black Lives Matter protest, turning one of the nation’s largest cities into a war zone. Dallas Police said they detonated a explosive device with a robot Friday in order to kill the suspect after protracted a gun battle, with the shooter saying he acted alone, declaring frustration after the recent police-involved shootings of black men, and expressing a desire to kill white officers. The shootings are still too raw to determine their long-term impact. Speaking again from Warsaw again Friday morning, Obama called it “a vicious, calculated and despicable attack on law enforcement.” Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton have called off their scheduled campaign stops Friday.

Donald Trump‘s visit to Washington Thursday to unite the party didn’t work out so well for him, as his meeting with Senate Republicans turned sour. Sen. Jeff Flake, a noted critic, introduced himself to Trump as the other senator from Arizona, the one who wasn’t captured–a reference to Trump’s criticism of Sen. John McCain last year. Trump went on the attack against Sen. Mark Kirk, who withdrew his endorsement of Trump following a parade of controversial statements and promised he’d win Illinois while Kirk would not. (N.B. There is no way Trump wins deep-blue Illinois. It’s not going to happen. Kirk is fighting for his political life, but he at least stands a chance there—in part because of his Trump rejection.)

In hopes of finally putting the Democratic primary behind her, Hillary Clinton embraced parts of Bernie Sanders‘ free college plan Thursday—proposals she has been a leading critic of. Meanwhile. her email troubles aren’t going away, even though the FBI and DOJ investigations are concluded. Gingrich makes his move to be Trump’s veep. And Indiana Republicans want to get rid of Pence.

Here are your must-reads:

Must Reads

Bomb Squad’s Robot Killed Dallas Sniper Who Targeted White Officers to Avenge Police Shootings
A peaceful protest becomes a killing ground [Dallas Morning News]

Obama on Deadly Police Shootings of Black Men: ‘We Can Do Better’
Emotional statement in Warsaw after two shootings [LA Times]

Trump Visits the Hill to Mend Fences With GOP — And Brings His Hammer
Divisive meeting with Senate Republicans [Washington Post]

Hillary Clinton’s E-Mail Case Will Live on in Civil Suits
TIME’s Massimo Calabresi on the pitfalls ahead for Clinton’s team

State Department Reopens Probe Into Clinton Emails
FBI probe’s conclusion doesn’t end saga [CNN]

The Toughest Critic of Hillary Clinton’s College Plan? Herself
TIME’s Haley Sweetland Edwards on Clinton’s about-face

Sound Off

“When people say black lives matter, that doesn’t mean blue lives don’t matter. It just means all lives matter but right now, the big concern is the fact that the data shows black folks are more vulnerable to these kinds of incidents.” — President Obama Thursday evening responding to the Sterling and Castile shootings

“This must stop — this divisiveness between our police and our citizens. We don’t feel much support most days. Let’s not make today most days. Please, we need your support to be able to protect you from men like these, who carried out this tragic, tragic event.” — Dallas Police Chief David Brown at a somber press conference Friday morning

Bits and Bites

How Hillary Clinton Is Hitting Donald Trump’s Business Record on Two Fronts [TIME]

D.C. Lobbyist Who Once Supported Trump Now Says He’ll Raise Money For Anti-Trump Effort [BuzzFeed]

Trump and Gingrich connect as outsiders who live on the inside [Washington Post]

Indiana GOP to Trump: Take Mike Pence, please [CNN]