French Elections, Hurricane Beryl, and Chicken-Sizing

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France's Parliamentary Elections

French voters headed to the polls yesterday for the first round of parliamentary elections. Exit polls show the nationalist-populist National Rally in the lead with 33% of the vote as turnout approached 70%, the highest in 40 years. 

French President Emmanuel Macron called snap elections last month when the National Rally defeated centrists in the European Union's parliamentary elections (see previous write-up). Observers suggest that decision backfired, with Macron's centrist Together for the Republic coalition now trailing in third place (22%) after the left-wing New Popular Front (29%).

On July 7, leading candidates without an outright majority will advance to a second round of elections to determine the makeup of France's 577-member National Assembly (see overview). Macron has vowed to remain president until 2027 regardless of the results; however, if the National Rally places first on Sunday, Macron will appoint a prime minister from the party as part of a power-sharing system.

Beryl Barrels West

Hurricane Beryl strengthened into a Category 4 hurricane yesterday, becoming the earliest on record to reach Category 4 status in the Atlantic. The storm will pass directly over St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada, this morning.

The first hurricane of the season, Beryl rapidly picked up steam over the open ocean, intensifying from a tropical depression to a major hurricane (Category 3 or higher) in 42 hours. Meteorologists credited record warm ocean surface temperatures in the region with fueling the system. Beryl is expected to cross the Caribbean Sea midweek, potentially making landfall in Jamaica Wednesday before continuing on to Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula (see trajectory).

Hurricane season runs from June through November, but peaks in September—experts estimated this year to be particularly active (see previous write-up), with between four and seven Category 3 storms or higher. 

Presidential Immunity

The Supreme Court is set to rule today on whether a president is immune from prosecution over official acts conducted while in the White House. The case stems from former President Donald Trump's challenge to four felony charges over alleged interference with the 2020 election (see list).

Trump's legal team maintains current and former presidents must be impeached by the House and convicted by the Senate before facing criminal prosecution—an argument rejected by lower courts. Justices' questions during oral arguments in April suggest the court is unlikely to rule in favor of absolute immunity but may consider partial immunity. 

The Supreme Court is also set to rule on three other cases today, a rare session in which the court has extended rulings past June. Pending decisions include whether states can limit content on social media sites and a case on credit card swipe fees.

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