LETTER

Welcome back to the workweek! It’s Monday. Over the weekend, The New York Times reported that President Trump’s son Donald Trump, Jr. met with a Russian lawyer offering damning information about Hillary Clinton during the 2016 campaign. The story broke after President Trump held a private meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin at the G20 summit and left stating his goals of partnering with the Russian government on cyber security matters.
Elsewhere, the Iraqi government declared victory over the Islamic State in the battle for Mosul; Japan and the European Union unveiled a new free trade agreement; and protests rocked the G20 summit in Hamburg.
As always, good luck with the week ahead, enjoy the home run derby, and read this primer of tips for dealing with the Summer of Hell — which begins today — for commuting through Penn Station.
Cheers,
The Wonks Team
Politics and Public Policy
- The New York Times reports on the rebranding of the Islamic State as a terrorist recruitment network, as the group continues to lose territory and resources in the Middle East.
- FiveThirtyEight examines the Trump administration’s current policy agenda, including analysis on proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act insurance markets, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, summer education, and the environment.
Business, Science, and Health
- The Atlantic complies the renewable energy promises and self-driving vehicle goals of major automakers, assessing the plausibility of each company’s sustainability plans.
- Quartz writes about information overload, noting the amount of words or articles the average individual reads in a day along with suggestions for improving focus to overcome fatigue from internet viewing.
Sports and Culture
- Zach Lowe of ESPN recaps the opening period of NBA free agency, listing winners and losers among teams looking to build depth, as well as players seeking big contracts.
- The Ringer profiles the appeal of Spider-Man, tracing the origins of the character’s popularity in pop culture while remarking on its slumping comic book sales.

