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The Daily Briefing

YOUR MORNING NEWS ROUNDUP

Wed Jun 12 2024

Nicole Fallert | Newsletter Writer

@nicolefallert

The Southern Baptist Convention will vote on reproductive rights and women in leadership at its annual meeting in Indiana on Wednesday. Hunter Biden's felony conviction could continue to distract President Joe Biden during pivotal weeks of his reelection bid and the U.S. plays India in a major cricket match-up.

🙋🏼‍♀️ I'm Nicole Fallert, Daily Briefing author. Here's the latest beef on the National Hot Dog eating contest.

SBC to vote on controversial resolutions

The Southern Baptist Convention is scheduled to vote Wednesday morning on a proposed measure to enshrine a ban on women pastors and a resolution condemning the use of in vitro fertilization. The outcome of votes in Indianapolis on both items will be a turning point for the nation's largest Protestant denomination. The resolution on IVF is the first-of-its-kind for the staunchly anti-abortion faith group, which has major political sway. Meanwhile, the constitutional ban on women pastors is expected to fuel greater division among Southern Baptists over its governance standards. Read live coverage from The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network.

Heather Deal, left, and Nikki Hardeman, with the Baptist Women in Ministry, protest for the right for women to be clergy, while standing outside the Southern Baptist Convention, Tuesday, June 11, 2024.

Kelly Wilkinson/IndyStar

A growing list of woes for Joe Biden

Although not a part of his father's campaign and not on the ballot himself, Hunter Biden's conviction on three gun related charges could complicate President Joe Biden's reelection campaign.

Within an hour of the verdict, the president issued a heartfelt statement that expressed his love for Hunter, saying he is "proud of the man he is today."

•	Trump and Biden are deciding what this means for their respective campaigns as the candidates prepare to face each other for the first time in a presidential debate June 27.
•	The verdict may make it difficult for Biden to label his opponent Donald Trump as a felon who should not return to office.
•	Trump has largely avoided discussing the trial proceedings, potentially keeping voters' focus on his 34-count felony conviction.

President Joe Biden talks with his son Hunter Biden upon arriving in Delaware on June 11, 2024.

Andrew Caballero-Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

More news to know now

•	Here's where the economy stands as the Fed makes its interest rate decision this week.
•	House Republicans are gearing up to hold Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress.
•	Groundwater contamination in Arizona is increasing, prompting federal actions.
•	A popular banana brand was found liable for funding a Colombian paramilitary group.
•	*Time for a break! Play today's USA TODAY Crossword. Our expert, Sally, breaks it down.*

What's the weather today? Check your local forecast here.

Here's the latest on cease-fire negotiations

Hamas and Israel expressed contrasting views of cease-fire negotiations Tuesday. Hamas indicated "readiness to positively" reach a deal after making some modifications to the latest proposal while an Israeli official said the plan had been "rejected." The diverging stances appeared to once again dash hopes for an agreement that will stop fighting in Gaza and gain the release of more than 100 hostages after encouraging signs earlier in the day. Read more

Florida's ban on youth transgender health care blocked

A federal judge on Tuesday blocked Florida's ban on health care for transgender children and restrictions for transgender adults. The ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Robert Hinkle, an appointee of President Bill Clinton, comes as a blow to Gov. Ron DeSantis' agenda, which has included anti-LGBTQ legislation in health care saying gender-affirming care is experimental and lacks evidence. Read more

Keep scrolling

•	These are the last-minute Father's Day gifts you need now.
•	How common are shark attacks in the U.S.?
•	Yet another example of bad optics from Aaron Rodgers.
•	These WNBA players are also mothers.
•	Here are 11 LGBTQ+ books you should be reading this Pride Month.

Why do people age faster during space travel?

Humanity's future may involve getting to a planet other than Earth ‒ but first people will have to survive the journey. That's why in a new series of papers scientists explore the impact of space travel on the human body from skin to kidneys to immune cells to genes. Researchers studied the bodies of four civilian as they circled in low-Earth orbit for three days aboard the 2021 SpaceX Inspiration4 mission and then returned to their normal lives. One of the most important observations was that although their bodies were stressed and showed dramatic signs of aging during the journey, 95% of the indicators studied returned to normal within a few months. Read more

Photo of the day: Do you know the rules of cricket?

After winning back-to-back matches, the top two teams of Group A in the ICC T20 Men's Cricket World Cup, United States and India, are set to face off. The U.S. cricket team has numerous players of Indian origin, which could present an interesting dynamic on the field in Wednesday's match. Read more

Harmeet Singh of USA celebrates with teammates during the ICC Men's T20 Cricket World Cup at Grand Prairie Cricket Stadium on June 1, 2024 in Dallas, Texas.

Robert Cianflone / Getty Images

Nicole Fallert is a newsletter writer at USA TODAY, sign up for the email here. Want to send Nicole a note? Shoot her an email at NFallert@usatoday.com.