BY EXECUTIVE ORDER: In a big win for President Trump and an increase in his power, the Supreme Court ruled yesterday that a single federal district judge cannot put a nationwide hold on the executive orders of a president.

  What this means is that even if a presidential order is illegal or unconstitutional, it could take years in court to stop it and even more time to reverse the effects. 

  The court’s conservatives ruled 6 to 3 in the case of President Trump’s order ending birthright citizenship, which is guaranteed in the 14^th amendment.   The ruling did not deal with the constitutionality of Trump’s order denying citizenship to babies born of non-citizens, just the power of a judge to block it.  Until the birthright issue comes back around to the Supreme Court, birthright citizenship could end for now in the 28 states that have not challenged the order.

  Trump called the decision a “monumental victory for the Constitution, the separation of powers and the rule of law.” He said, “In recent months we’ve seen a handful of radical left judges trying to overrule the rightful powers of the president” and that it was a “grave threat to democracy.”

  Trump said he now has the power to dictate on such issues as birthright citizenship, sanctuary cities, ending refugee resettlement, and ceasing to pay for transgender surgeries.

    In her blistering dissent, Justice Sonia Sotomayor called the majority’s decision quote “a travesty for the rule of law.”

  Presidents of both parties have complained about their executive orders being blocked by a single judge, but Trump is ruling by executive order more than just about any previous president. The ruling is likely to encourage Trump to rule by executive fiat.

  The court majority said that if you want to challenge a presidential order, you’ll have to file a class action lawsuit that covers the whole country. 

— The Supreme Court also yesterday ruled that public school systems, for now, must give parents an “opt-out” provision that excuses their children from class when course material conflicts with their religious beliefs.

  A group of parents in Montgomery County, Maryland sued the school system demanding that they be allowed to keep their elementary school children out of classes when the reading material included books with LGBTQ characters. The parents argued that without an opt-out provision, their First Amendment religious freedoms were violated.

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE:

— Immigration arrests are up all across the country since Donald Trump took office and dramatically in some states, The NY Times reports: Mass., +331%, Virginia, +358%, New Mexico, +349%, Oregon, +32%, and Alaska, +585%.

   By raw numbers, the most arrests have been in Texas, 20,150; Florida, 9,080; and California, 5,860.

  The Trump administration announced that it is terminating long-running deportation protections for Haitians, declaring that the violence-plagued Caribbean country is now safe enough for the program to end by September. The Haitian government is struggling to establish stability against the chaotic rule of criminal gangs. 

— The Senate rejected a Democratic measure that would have forced President Trump to get Congressional approval for another military strike against Iran. Trump said he would “absolutely” bomb Iran again if it looked like they were enriching uranium for a bomb.

— Miffed that Canada placed a tax on digital services, President Trump announced that he’s ending all trade discussions with Canada, “effective immediately.” Trump described Canada’s new tax as “an attack.” 

— The president of the University of Virginia resigned under pressure from the Justice Department campaigning against diversity, equity initiatives at the school.

— Federal Judge Loren AliKhan in Washington ruled yesterday that an executive order Trump signed imposing penalties on the law firm Susman Godfrey was unconstitutional, permanently barring the government from enforcing its terms. The order might end, for now, President Trump’s effort to bring major law firms into line with his political agenda.

— President Trump is touting … among other things on his Truth Social feed … that his Big, Beautiful Bill includes “NO TAX ON SOCIAL SECURITY.” It does not.

SEX RAP: Closing arguments concluded yesterday in the lurid sex trafficking and racketeering of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs. The jury should begin deliberations on Monday. 

  Prosecutors argued that Combs is guilty of drug distribution, kidnapping, arson, bribery, sex trafficking, witness tampering and obstruction, interstate transportation for prostitution, and forced labor.

  The testimony was graphic and so was the 40 minutes of video the jury was shown. Diddy’s defense lawyers said he’s just a guy who likes to have a good time. The NY Times reported that, “As he packed up before leaving the courtroom, Mr. Combs’s hands were shaking.”

THE SPIN RACK:  California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a budget bill that pares back healthcare for immigrants to help close a $12 billion deficit. — Florida is building an immigrant detention center in the Everglades they’ve nicknamed “Alligator Alcatraz.” — A new Trader Joe’s grocery store opened in Sherman Oaks, California. You can’t miss it. It’s just across the street from a Trader Joe’s. 

BELOW THE FOLD:  The weeklong pre-wedding celebration for Amazon founder Jeff Bezos  and former journalist Lauren Sanchez finally ended in Venice yesterday with actual vows. 

    All the five star hotels were booked and some of the locals protested that it was just another thing making their tourist infested city difficult to live in.

   All you need to know about the crowd is that Oprah, Tom Brady, and the Kardashians were there.

  By one estimate, the weeklong bacchanal cost about $47 million. They rented an island for the ceremony. Imagine what they would have spent if it had been the first marriage for both of them.

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