🐤 Going out with a bang

Seventeen Medals: President Joe Biden presented 17 individuals with the nation’s top civilian honor on Thursday. Among the recipients were athletes Simone Biles and Megan Rapino. Posthumous honors went to former Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. Tying the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the recent holiday, Biden said: “The Fourth of July week reminds us what brought us together long ago and still binds us, binds us at our best.”

More Jail Time: Former Minneapolis cop Derek Chauvin, who is already serving more than 22 years behind bars for his role in suspect George Floyd’s 2020 death, received another sentence this week on federal charges of violating Floyd’s civil rights. District Judge Paul Magnuson took the opportunity to rebuke Chauvin, stating: “I really don’t know why you did what you did, but to put your knee on another person’s neck until they expire is simply wrong – and for that conduct you must be substantially punished.”

Remembering a Legend: Actor James Caan, whose storied Hollywood career spanned several generations, died this week at the age of 82. He is best known for his prominent roles in hit films including “The Godfather,” “Brian’s Song,” “Misery,” and “Elf.” A cause of death was not immediately available and his loved ones released a statement expressing thanks for “the outpouring of love and heartfelt condolences” they have received from fans.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson held out as long as possible, but a string of high-level resignations and increasing pressure from within his own Conservative Party left him no choice but to announce on Thursday that he would be stepping down from his post.

Johnson withstood mounting backlash and calls to resign in response to a variety of scandals including multiple parties held during COVID-19 lockdowns.

Despite the circumstances that paved the way for him to call it quits, the embattled prime minister is reportedly planning a final party at the government-owned home he will be able to access until the end of his term.

He and his wife, who were married last year in a small ceremony at Westminster Cathedral, are preparing for a lavish gathering at the Chequers residence located about 40 miles outside of London. The party is set for July 30 and numerous critics have blasted his decision to leave on such an opulent note.

According to one source in Johnson’s party, the prime minister appears to be staying in office primarily so he will have access to Chequers for his celebratory bash.

“It’s a national asset, not his personal home,” the individual argued, calling on the couple to “do the decent thing and find a different venue” and urging Johnson to leave office “immediately.”

In his resignation speech on Thursday, Johnson indicated that he would remain in office as a placeholder until his replacement can be confirmed.

The 4th of July shooter's father, whose son (which we will not name) is accused of killing seven people and injuring dozens more in a shooting at an Independence Day parade in Illinois, has faced backlash over reports that he helped the 21-year-old suspect obtain a firearm license prior to the attack.

The elder publicly addressed the situation this week and denied he played any role in the actions of his son. Nevertheless, he provided one chilling detail about the last conversation he had with the suspect just hours before the deadly incident in Highland Park.

He said that he and his son discussed a mass shooting in Denmark on Sunday evening, recalling that the suspect said: “Yeah, that guy is an idiot.”

According to the father, the suspect claimed that gunmen like the shooter who killed three people in Copenhagen carry out such massacres “to amp up the people that want to ban all guns.”

As for his own son’s mental state and motivation for the deadly shooting, the father said he has no clear answers.

“Like, did he have a psychiatric [sic] break or something?” he asked.

Reports indicate the father has hired attorney Steven Greenberg, who recently defended disgraced R&B singer R. Kelly during his sex trafficking trial, to represent him in the wake of his son's arrest.

He reacted to criticism by insisting that his son “bought everything on his own” and that all the guns were “registered to him.”

He confirmed that he wants to see his son face “a long sentence,” though he lamented the fact that he has “lost a son” in the process.

“They make me like I groomed him to do all this,” the father complained. “I’ve been here my whole life, and I’m going to stay here, hold my head up high because I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Months after she was arrested for possession of cannabis oil at an airport in Moscow, WNBA player Brittney Griner appeared in court on Thursday and pleaded guilty to the charges against her.

The 31-year-old athlete faces a decade behind bars as teammates, friends, and relatives are pressuring the U.S. government to help facilitate her release.

In a statement shortly after her appearance in court, defense attorney Alexander Boikov attempted to explain the reason that his client packed the vaporizer cartridge containing the illegal oil.

He called Griner a “responsible person” who “was in a hurry as she was packing” and accidentally included the cartridge in her suitcase.

Griner’s other attorney, Maria Blagovolina, said that the basketball star’s actions in response to her arrest reveal her true character.

“Considering her personality, that she is a role model to many people, to many young people, she just thinks she should be responsible for her actions,” the defense lawyer said.

Back at home, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken referenced Griner and another American in a Russian prison after being convicted of espionage, insisting: “We will not relent until Brittney, Paul Whelan, and all other wrongfully detained Americans are reunited with their loved ones.”