Briefing

‘It is not our job to protect the people from the consequences of their political choices.’

1. JOHN ROBERTS, Chief Justice of the U.S., in the opinion he authored that upheld President Obama’s health care law; he was joined by four other Supreme Court Justices in the 5-4 decision

‘For all of you who saw me as a groundbreaker, I’m sorry I couldn’t carry the ball over the finish line.’

2. ANN CURRY, telling viewers she would be leaving the Today show after less than a year as co-host; Curry has said her departure was not her idea but NBC’s

‘In some places, you cannot tell the blood from the vegetables.’

3. AHMED NOURI, Iraqi police officer, after bombs in and around Baghdad killed 13 and wounded more than 50 in one day

‘There is no sense in conducting theoretical debates when the house is on fire.’

4. MARTIN SCHULZ, president of the European Parliament, urging European officials to move on from discussing euro bonds and find a sensible solution to the euro zone’s fiscal crisis

‘Whatever the politics, today’s decision was a victory for people all over this country.’

5. PRESIDENT OBAMA, after the Supreme Court upheld his health care law

65%

Percentage of Americans who believe President Obama could handle an alien invasion better than Republican rival Mitt Romney could

$6 BILLION

Estimated losses from JPMorgan’s bad trades, up from an initial $2 billion estimate

17%

Increase in U.S. corn prices in June, as heat and drought plagued the Midwest

300,000

Population of Stockton, Calif., which became the largest American city to file for bankruptcy

Sources: Supreme Court; NBC; Reuters, ZDF; White House