The FBI put an end to speculation that Hillary Clinton will face charges for her use of a private email server. Director James Comey said today at a press conference that no reasonable prosecutor would file charges. He said there was no evidence she intended to send or receive classified emails. The FBI press release is here.

Even Bernie Sanders knew the email issue wasn't worth the hype. But it's good that they made the announcement before the convention. [More....]

Another 4th of July weekend comes to a close. Fireworks here are about to begin (it's not quite dark at 8:00 pm.)

Some thoughts on freedom:

For me, I keep seeing our freedom slip away. As in 2011, the holiday rings a little hollow to me this year.

In TV news, a new female character is introduced tonight on Senor de los Cielos (which has only two weeks left.) She is Emiliana Contreras, the daughter of one of Aurelio's rivals, Lencho Contreras, one of the "old guard" narcos who ended up in prison supposedly because of Aurelio. Her role is to get Aurelio to fall in love with her and then take him down. [More...]

Snatched: From Drug Queen to Informer to Hostage--A Harrowing True Story

I have always been fascinated by the story of the Princess and the DEA. My computer is filled with thousands of pages I downloaded from PACER in her civil lawsuit against the DEA in the Federal Court of Claims: Case No. 97-cv-00579-MCW. In this overly long post about the DEA and money laundering stings, at the very end I wrote:

I hope the Princess gets $10 million or more from the Government for what the DEA did in her case. Her expert witness, former DEA Agent Michael Levine, filed an 861 page report (97-cv-00579-MCW, Document 196, Filed 05/31/11). I''m surprised there hasn't been a made for TV movie of the case yet. It's filled with tales of informant and agent-induced money laundering schemes,cops picking up money and sending it around the world, kidnappings, agents breaking rules and even stealing the traffickers' money, and corrupt foreign officials.

Now there's a book out about her case. It's called Snatched: How the DEA Got a Cartel Queen to Flip by Bruce Porter, the author of "Blow," which became a hit movie. The Daily Beast published an excerpt this week. The Daily News recaps the story here, along with photos of the Princess and some others. [More...]

There are several interesting articles on ISIS this week. Here are two so far:

• Turkey Did Nothing About Jihadists... Until It Was Too Late

• The Messaging and Concepts Behind Islamic State Execution Propaganda

ISIS has taken credit for the attack at the Holy Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, Bangladesh in which 28 people were killed, many of whom were foreigners.

At least three of the attackers attended a private English immersion school in Dhaka. They have been identified as Rohan Imtiaz, Shameem Mubasher, and Nibras Islam. According to witnesses, the attackers gave the people in the restaurant a test:[More...]

Enjoy the weekend.

Who is behind the attack at the airport in Turkey? Many signs point to ISIS, but they haven't taken credit. Here's why they may not claim credit.

Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman has filed two temporary writs of amparo against extradition -- both were granted on a temporary basis. There are varying reports of the grounds for the amparo on the San Diego case. I've read the "sinthesis" on the Mexico court website and can't figure out what it says, even with Google translate.

Not much has changed in the Presidential campaign. Here's ABC's list of potential veep choices for Hillary and Donald Thump. (I'm calling him Thump instead of Trump this week because I think he's going to land with a dull thud in November. I also don't like sending more web traffic his way than I have to.) Nate Silver today says Hillary has a 79% chance of winning in November.

I've never even heard of some of ABC's picks. Right now I'm thinking Hillary will pick Elizabeth Warren, who I think would be a great choice. I also like Julian Castro. If Thump picks Chris Christie, at least we don't have to worry about Christie being Attorney General. I didn't care for Jeff Sessions when he was U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Alabama -- I'd like him even less as VP, but Thump isn't going to win so I don't think it matters much.

Hillary spoke in Denver yesterday, right in my neighborhood. Unfortunately, I didn't get to see her.

This is an open thread, all topics welcome.

Today on Kagro in the Morning, in the midst of a discussion with David Waldman on the Supreme Court’s decision in Whole Women’s Health v Hellerstedt (PDF) (discussion begins (begins at 46 minute mark of the discussion linked above), David and I segued to an exploration of what exactly is meant by the idea of “institutionalists v. insurrectionists”. the starting point was this interview of Chris Hayes:

The Supreme Court ruled today that a Texas law limiting access to abortions was unconstitutional:

The Supreme Court’s 5 to 3 decision ruled unconstitutional a 2013 Texas law that required all abortion providers to meet ambulatory surgical standards and physicians to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. Supporters of the regulations under House Bill 2 said they aimed to protect women’s health. Abortion advocates called the mandates unnecessary, expensive and an “undue burden” on women’s rights.

...In the court opinion, the justices said lawmakers couldn’t prove the rules actually protected women’s health. The move suggested restrictive abortion measures won’t stand unless policy designers prove they keep women from harm.

The opinion is here. [More...]

The Supreme Court has vacated the conviction of Former Virginia Gov. Robert McDonnell:

A jury in September 2014 found unanimously that McDonnell used the governor’s office to help Jonnie R. Williams Sr., a wealthy dietary supplement company executive, advance his business interests. In exchange, Williams gave McDonnell and his wife, Maureen, $177,000 in loans, luxury vacations and a Rolex watch.

Four months later, a federal judge sentenced McDonnell to two years in prison... McDonnell argued that simply referring a constituent to another state official was not among the “official actions” that are barred by the federal law.

The Supreme Court agreed, ruling that setting up a meeting, talking to another official, or organizing an event, without a more specific action, is not “official action.”

[More...]

FYI, I'm still #WarrenforVP.

Open Thread.

Hollywood Reporter:

"And Brexit? Your position?" I ask.

"Huh?"

"Brexit."

"Hmm."

"The Brits leaving the EU," I prompt, realizing that his lack of familiarity with one of the most pressing issues in Europe is for him no concern nor liability at all.

"Oh yeah, I think they should leave."

To my knowledge, this was Trump’s only statement on Brexit before the referendum. Now of course he sees himself as its inspiration and originator:

Crooked Hillary Clinton, who called BREXIT 100% wrong (along with Obama), is now spending Wall Street money on an ad on my correct call.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) June 26, 2016

I guess he’s saying he said “they should leave” is his “correct call.” Interesting that.