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Supreme Court, Disney, Unions: Your Wednesday Evening Briefing

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Here’s what you need to know at the end of the day.
(Want to get this briefing by email? Here’s the sign-up .)
Good evening. Here’s the latest.
1. Big news from the Supreme Court. In the morning, justices dealt a heavy blow to labor unions, saying that nonmembers are not required to pay agency fees.
Public-sector unions, including those for teachers, could lose major funding and see membership drop, but our analysis is that labor will not necessarily become weaker.
In the afternoon, Justice Anthony Kennedy, above, made even bigger headlines by announcing his retirement. A Reagan appointee, he was the court’s leading champion of gay rights and often a crossover vote. Our Supreme Court correspondent called the news a “judicial earthquake.”
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2. The readout from Tuesday’s primaries and runoffs in seven states: upsets for the Democratic establishment and shows of loyalty for Republicans.
We looked at the stunning insurgent victory of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, above. A 28-year-old political newcomer, she won a New York primary against a longtime incumbent who was lined up as a possible replacement for Nancy Pelosi as Democratic leader.
Here are the major takeaways from the day’s voting, and the full results .
(Have a question for our politics editor? Tell us what you’d like to know .)
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3. It was the World Cup’s biggest day so far, the last day of group play.
Germany, the 2014 World Cup champion, suffered a humiliating 2-0 defeat by South Korea. Above, a German player after the loss. It was the first time since 1938 that his country failed to advance out of the first round.
And Mexico lost 3-0 against Sweden, but both progressed.
Keep up with all our World Cup coverage here .
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4. Rifts among House Republicans sank a major immigration overhaul, embarrassing the House leadership and President Trump.
It was the latest congressional failure to resolve the fate of the young, unauthorized immigrants knows as Dreamers.
Separately, the Trump administration said it would be difficult to meet the family reunification conditions a federal judge ordered on Tuesday: that children must be able to speak to their parents within 10 days and most families reunited within 30.
We’ll listen for Mr. Trump’s comments on these topics at his rally in North Dakota this evening.
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5. The Justice Department approved Disney’s $71 billion bid to take over 21st Century Fox assets.
Disney and Fox first agreed to a deal in December. But two weeks ago, Comcast made a rival offer worth about $64 billion, prompting Disney to hit back with an even richer proposal.
The governmental approval could thwart Comcast’s efforts to take over Rupert Murdoch’s entertainment empire.
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6. Speaking of Fox, one of its alumni may become the White House communications director soon.
Bill Shine, above, the former Fox News executive who was ousted over his handling of sexual assault scandals at the network, has been offered the job by President Trump, two people familiar with the decision said.
White House officials say they are bracing for blowback for appointing a figure so closely tied to Fox’s culture of harassment. The post has been vacant since Hope Hicks departed in March.
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7. President Trump and the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, will have a private meeting soon, officials said.
The prospective encounter, possibly in Finland, is stirring anxieties among European leaders. And it could overshadow a NATO summit meeting in July.
Asked why the meeting was taking place, John Bolton, the national security adviser, above right, said, “I’d like to hear someone say this is a bad idea.”
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8. Overlooked no more: Emma Gatewood, the first woman to hike the Appalachian Trail in one season, alone.
When she accomplished the feat in 1955, she was 67, a mother of 11, a grandmother and a great-grandmother. Her citation at the Appalachian Trail Museum concludes: “She inspired two distinct movements in long distance hiking, women thru-hikers and the ultra-lite movement.”
But it took many years for a crucial element of her story to emerge: decades of severe beatings and sexual abuse by her husband.
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9. Planning your summer vacation?
We’ve collected tips and techniques from our writers and experts, touching on everything from frugal travel philosophy, packing pointers and more.
And happy second anniversary to Smarter Living, helping you make the most of the world. This week: tips on managing envy and how to clean your (probably filthy) laptop.
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10. Finally, some good news. About bees.
You may know about the falling populations of these all-important pollinators.
But a new study in Britain notes that they seem to be able to adapt to urban settings — even the very center of London.
With that, have a great evening.
Your Evening Briefing is posted at 6 p.m. Eastern.
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