Biden's convoluted new trans athlete rule

The White House introduces its first rules for trans athletes; China sanctions the US over the Taiwan leader’s visit.

Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin

Biden’s trans athlete "compromise"

Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images

• The Biden administration has proposed a rule that would in some cases allow bans on transgender student athletes joining teams consistent with their gender identity. [Associated Press / Collin Binkley]
• Under the rule, schools and universities receiving federal funding would have to consider age, sport, and other factors before banning trans players. If they fail to do this, they would face penalties. [NPR / Sequoia Carrillo]
• The proposal comes as Republican-led states are passing legislation to prevent trans people from participating in sports and receiving gender-affirming care. [Vox / Nicole Narea and Fabiola Cineas]
• This week, Kansas became the 20th state to bar trans athletes from participating in girls’ and women’s sports after Republicans overrode a veto from Democratic Gov. Laura Kelly. [Washington Post / Laura Meckler]
• Also, the Supreme Court decided not to enforce a West Virginia law that bases sports eligibility on “reproductive biology and genetics at birth,” amid a challenge from a 12-year-old trans girl. [Reuters / Andrew Chung]
• Biden’s proposal will undergo a 30-day public comment process before going into effect in July. [Axios / Sareen Habeshian]

📍 If you read just one story

Vox's Aja Romano explains how the anti-trans movement overcame mainstream media — and why trans people deserve better journalism.  [Vox / Aja Romano]

China sanctions the US

• China imposed sanctions on the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and the Hudson Institute think tank for hosting Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen during her visit to the US. [CNN / Simone McCarthy and Jake Kwon]
• Despite China’s objections, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other lawmakers greeted Tsai at the library in California, showing solidarity with the self-governing island. [Associated Press / Huizhong Wu]
• In response, Beijing froze financial assets belonging to the library and think tank leadership, and banned them from entering China. [Reuters / Liz Lee and Ben Blanchard]
• China views Taiwan as its territory and is willing to exert force to unite the island with the mainland, raising tensions with the US over Taiwanese sovereignty. [Guardian / Helen Davidson]

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Friday said he did not disclose decades of luxury gifts from a GOP donor because of advice from fellow justices. [Vox / Li Zhou]

• The Pentagon is investigating the reported leak of classified documents detailing US and NATO plans for aiding Ukraine that appeared on Twitter and Instagram. [Guardian / Lorenzo Tondo]
• Friday, two Israeli sisters were killed in a West Bank shooting attack, capping a week of violence in the region. [Vox / Nicole Narea]
• Thursday, Tennessee Republicans expelled two Black lawmakers who participated in a peaceful protest against gun violence. A 2020 paper argues Tennessee is the least democratic state. [Vox / Zach Beauchamp]

New York's ____ Field. 
Solve today's new Vox crossword puzzle, and stay tuned for more puzzles coming out Monday through Saturday.

Help keep Vox free!

“My 14-year-old daughter has learned that she can rely on Vox for information and your publications provide her primary source of news. We often discuss your work and appreciate it tremendously.” 

—Vox contributor

“I have a hard time feeling relief when positive stuff happens at the national level because there’s still so much at the state level from the South Carolina Legislature that is antagonistic and sends a really harmful message to trans youth.”

[Eli Bundy, an 18-year-old transgender resident of Charleston, South Carolina, on the new White House rules / AP]

Your brain isn't so private anymore

Guest host Sigal Samuel talks with professor of philosophy and law Nita Farahany about her new book The Battle for Your Brain. In it, Farahany details the new brain-scanning tech that has already arrived, and the risks this poses to our privacy and freedom of thought. 

Read more from Vox

The allure of the entrepreneur movie, from Air to Tetris to BlackBerry

A renter’s guide to the Inflation Reduction Act

Why this toxic algae is quietly ruining all your beach days

Tesla’s cameras are reportedly spying on customers, but it’s not just a Tesla
problem

The tricky plan for “negative emissions”

This email was sent to you. Manage your email preferences or unsubscribe. If you value Vox’s unique explanatory journalism, support our work with a one-time or recurring contribution.

View our Privacy Notice and our Terms of Service.

Vox Media, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Floor 12, Washington, DC 20036.
Copyright © 2023. All rights reserved.