☕ Iran cracks down on spy suspects

Good morning!

It’s the final day of work for the Supreme Court before a summer break, and it’s a blockbuster session. The Court is aiming to cover six separate judgments, including a key case on whether federal judges have the power to block birthright citizenship while litigation brought by the Trump administration continues.

The Court is set to come back to work in October - but can be called back for an emergency session any time.

I’ve got 30 seconds

Some headlines from this morning:

The U.S. and China signed a deal Thursday resuming rare earth mineral exports after months of trade war tariffs exceeding 100%. The agreement implements May's Geneva framework, ending critical material shortages for American car, computer, and aerospace manufacturers who've faced supply disruptions since Beijing halted shipments. President Trump announced the breakthrough but didn't provide specifics, promising a similar deal with India was "imminent." The resumption could ease production bottlenecks at companies like Tesla and Apple, which rely on Chinese rare earths for batteries and electronics after exhausting emergency stockpiles.

At least 29 students have been killed and more than 280 have been injured following a crowd crush at a high school in the Central African Republic. The Associated Press has reported an estimated 5,000 students were sitting their exams when an explosion occurred on school premises, prompting panic, which resulted in the stampede. Education Minister Aurelien-Simplice Kongbelet-Zingas said in a statement that restoring electricity for repair work resulted in an explosion on school premises, which “triggered a panic and caused several serious injuries, unfortunately resulting in some loss of life.”

After nearly 40 years in charge of American Vogue Magazine, Anna Wintour is stepping down as Editor in Chief. Wintour, who is considered one of global fashion’s most influential figures, became Vogue editor in 1988. She has also chaired the annual Met Gala since 1995. While the 75-year-old is finishing up with the U.S. magazine, she’s not retiring altogether. Wintour will stay on as Vogue’s global editorial director and Condé Nast's chief content officer, overseeing publications including Vanity Fair and GQ. Vogue said it will begin the process of finding a new head of editorial content to “lead the magazine’s daily operations.”

Nike warned Thursday that President Trump's tariffs could increase costs by nearly $1 billion, forcing the company to raise prices and shift production from China. The announcement came as Nike reported its worst quarterly earnings in three years, with revenues dropping 12% and shares falling 5% in after-hours trading. Chief Financial Officer Matt Friend said Nike would "minimize the overall impact to consumers" but shoppers would see higher prices by fall. The company plans to reduce Chinese manufacturing from 13% to single digits within a year while maintaining China as a crucial market for global sales.

I’ve got 1 minute

Iran executed three people and arrested over 700 others during its recent military exchanges with Israel, raising concerns that Tehran is using the conflict to suppress domestic opposition. The crackdowns have intensified in regions with ethnic minorities who have historically opposed the government.

Arrests

State-aligned Iranian news agency Fars reported Wednesday that more than 700 people were arrested on accusations of being "Israeli mercenaries." Separately, three individuals were executed after being accused of spying for Mossad, Israel's intelligence agency, according to Revolutionary Guard-affiliated outlet Tasnim.

Iranian authorities said the executed individuals had brought "assassination equipment" into the country that was used to kill a public figure, though they provided no additional details.

The arrests coincided with increased Revolutionary Guard presence on Iranian streets, particularly in Kurdish regions. Security forces have established additional checkpoints throughout the country and deployed guards to Iran's borders to "prevent terrorists from infiltrating," according to Iranian officials.

Who’s being targeted?

Iranian authorities are focusing on three main groups, according to an official quoted by The Guardian: alleged Israeli agents, ethnic separatists, and members of the People's Mujahedin of Iran, a political opposition group.

The crackdown has particularly intensified in areas populated by ethnic minorities, including Sunni Muslim Kurds and Baluch communities. These groups have historically been sources of opposition to Iran's current government.

"The focus is on preventing any movement that could challenge the regime before it can begin," said one regional analyst.

Some context

Iran has a documented history of suppressing dissent through executions and mass arrests. The current crackdown follows violent suppression of nationwide protests in 2022 that challenged the government's authority.

UN human rights bodies reported Iran executed 901 people in 2023, one of the highest totals globally. The 2022 protests, which began over mandatory hijab laws, resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of arrests.

Some U.S. and Israeli officials had hoped their targeted strikes on Iranian military leaders would spark domestic movements that could lead to regime change in Tehran.

What’s next

Iranian officials have placed security forces on "high alert" for possible unrest, suggesting the government expects continued domestic tensions. The Revolutionary Guard's expanded presence indicates authorities plan to maintain heightened security measures beyond the immediate conflict with Israel.

The international community continues monitoring Iran's human rights record, with the UN and Western governments regularly condemning the country's use of capital punishment and suppression of minorities.

Iran's strategy appears aimed at preventing any domestic opposition from capitalizing on the current regional tensions to challenge government authority.

I’ve got 2 minutes

A group of religious parents in Texas is suing to stop the state from forcing all public school classrooms to display the Ten Commandments.

The lawsuit is being brought by an unlikely coalition of protestant parents and members of the Nation of Islam, who argue the Ten Commandments law breaches their First Amendment Rights.

Texas is the second state to attempt to mandate the display of Old Testament Christian guidelines in government-funded schools, with Louisiana currently preparing for a Supreme Court challenge to two federal court rulings that banned the law. Here's what you need to know.

The context

Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed a law last week requiring every public school classroom to display the Ten Commandments starting September 1. The state followed Louisiana, which passed similar legislation in June.

The law mandates displaying the King James Bible version of the commandments, which Christians believe were given to Moses by God to guide their actions. They include passages like "Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's wife" and "Honor thy father and thy mother."

Texas lawmaker Candy Noble, who sponsored the bill, said: "Government was not made for man. It was made by God, for man… and we would love for our school children to understand that God gave us the right and privilege of governing."

The lawsuit

Protestant Christian parents are leading the lawsuit, joined by members of the Nation of Islam. The Nation of Islam is a Black nationalist organization not affiliated with mainstream Islam. The Southern Poverty Law Center classifies it as a hate group due to antisemitic and homophobic statements by leader Louis Farrakhan.

For almost half a century, it has been well settled that the First Amendment forbids public schools from posting the Ten Commandments in this manner," the parents argued in their filing.

First Amendment Test

This case tests the First Amendment's protection of religious freedom. The amendment says Congress can't make laws about religious establishments or stop people from practicing religion.

The parents cite a 1980 Supreme Court ruling that struck down a similar law in Kentucky. Courts have repeatedly ruled states can't create "excessive entanglement between government and religion."

Louisiana's version was blocked twice by federal courts last year. The state's attorney general is appealing to the Supreme Court.

Supreme Court

The current Supreme Court has six conservative justices, three of whom were appointed by Trump. Political analysts say the Court has sided with religious groups more often than not over the past 15 years.

This conservative majority overturned Roe v. Wade, removing federal abortion protections. Some observers believe states are pushing religious legislation now because they expect favorable Supreme Court rulings.

The law takes effect on September 1, unless blocked by the courts. If lower courts strike it down, Texas will likely appeal to the Supreme Court, a process that could take years.

TDU asks