Obama Acts on Immigration, New Ford

Executive in Action: Frustrated with Congress, President Obama says he will reform immigration by executive action. The president made his announcement after House Speaker John Boehner announced that Congress will not vote on immigration reform this year.

Obama said in the Rose Garden, “America cannot wait forever for them to act. That’s why today I’m beginning a new effort to fix as much of our immigration system as I can on my own.”

The president has been pushing for a path to legal citizenship for 11 million illegal immigrants while focusing the deportation process more on national security interests.

Strikes: Israel launched dozens of airstrikes in Gaza overnight to avenge the deaths of three abducted teenagers.The bodies of the three were found in an open field buried beneath a pile of rocks about 15 miles from where they were last seen. One of the boys was an American citizen. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said before the beginning of an emergency cabinet meeting, “They were kidnapped and murdered in cold blood by beasts. Hamas is responsible, and Hamas will pay.”

The Israelis have already blown up the homes of two Hamas suspects who disappeared at the time of the abduction.

The incident has also caused a rift among the Palestinians after Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas condemned the kidnappings.

Ukraine: Heavy fighting resumed in eastern Ukraine today. There’s been shelling around the rebel-held city of Slovyansk after President Petro Poroshenko called off a 10-day ceasefire. He says his troops will attack pro-Russian separatists. “The decision not to continue the ceasefire is our answer to terrorists, militants and marauders,” Poroshenko said. The separatists were using the ceasefire to solidify their positions. Both sides had been accused of breaking the truce before Poroshenko called it off.

Kickball: Millions of Americans are expected to be distracted from work today as the US plays undefeated Belgium in the World Cup. Both teams have lost important players to injury, but the Belgians have been playing under their game. It’s all in. Loser goes home. 4 PM EDT.

French Toast: Former French President Nicholas Sarkozy has surrendered for questioning in an investigation of illegal campaign fundraising. Sarkozy is suspected of accepting illegal donations from L’Oreal heiress Liliane Bettencourt, the country’s richest woman, and from the late Libyan dictator Muammar Kaddafi. Under the French system, Sarkozy may be held for 24 hours with a possible 24-hour extension. Sarkozy has hinted he might make a comeback run in 2017.

Face Time:The European Court of Human Rights has upheld France’s ban on women wearing the Muslim full-face veil. French law bans the public wearing of any clothing that conceals the face. The Court said the ban was acceptable because it targets the clothing, not the religious reason for wearing it.

Northern Enlightenment: Toronto Mayor Rob Ford, who became a drug-addled punch line, has returned from treatment saying rehab saved his life. Ford said his life had become controlled by drugs and alcohol, and he is “ashamed, embarrassed and humiliated” by his behavior. He said, “Like a lot of people dealing with substance abuse, I was in complete denial.” If he stays sober he’s going to be a lot less fun for journalists.

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It's Been Said

"Christians, get out and vote, just this time. You won't have to do it anymore. Four more years, you know what, it will be fixed, it will be fine, you won't have to vote anymore, my beautiful Christians. I love you Christians. I'm a Christian. I love you, get out, you gotta get out and vote. In four years, you don't have to vote again, we'll have it fixed so good you're not going to have to vote."

  • Donald Trump courting the vote of the Christian right

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