Rep. Jamaal Bowman loses primary and CDC warns of dengue fever uptick: Morning Rundown (2024)

President Biden will pardon servicemembers convicted under a military law that prohibited gay sex. The CDC issues a health alert about dengue fever amid record cases in the U.S. And some online fandoms dedicated to pandas turn toxic.

Here’s what to know today.

George Latimer defeats Rep. Jamaal Bowman in New York

Progressive Rep. Jamaal Bowman, one of Congress’ fiercest critics of Israel, was defeated by Westchester County Executive George Latimer in the Democratic primary race for New York’s 16th District, NBC News projected. Latimer’s victory marking the end of a bitter and expensive primary that exposed the party’s divisions over the war in Gaza.

Bowman is also the first member of the so-called “squad” of progressive lawmakers of color to be ousted from power since the group was formed after the 2018 elections. Bowman unseated 16-term Rep. Eliot Engel in 2020 and won re-election in 2022, but opponents viewed him as more vulnerable this cycle after he committed a series of unforced errors.

Speaking to a roomful of his supporters last night, Bowman conceded defeat to his “opponents,” most likely a nod to big-spending outside groups, but he vowed that the broader fight for “humanity and justice” would go on.

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Latimer, who has been involved in local and state politics for more than 35 years, was a more moderate candidate compared to Bowman and garnered support from the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, a powerful pro-Israel lobby. As the Democratic nominee, Latimer will almost certainly be the next representative for the deep-blue district.

Read the full story here.

More primary results:

Rep. Lauren Boebert won her Republican primary after she decided to run in a different district from the one where she narrowly won re-election in 2022. The race for the GOP nomination in Colorado’s 4th District was crowded, with Boebert defeating five other candidates.Read more.

Biden to pardon veterans convicted under military law prohibiting gay sex

President Joe Biden will use clemency authority to pardon military veterans who were convicted of crimes because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, he announced this morning. Biden said the decision was aimed at “righting a historic wrong” for many former servicemembers who faced convictions “simply for being themselves.” The move also comes as his re-election campaignhas sought to shore up support from LGBTQ voters.

The pardon would apply to any eligible conviction from 1951 through 2013, when the law that criminalized sodomy was rewritten by Congress. Officials did not specify how many former servicemembers would be affected, but it estimated “thousands” were convicted under the provision.

One month and counting: The Paris Olympics are almost here

The Summer Olympics are finally in sight. In exactly one month, the most gifted athletes in the world will float down the Seine in Paris to celebrate the first Olympics since a world pandemic truncated the Tokyo Games in the summer of 2021 and Beijing in the winter of 2022. Now, thousands of fans will descend to the City of Lights (and millions will watch from home) to see the world’s fastest runners, most agile gymnasts and many more athletes compete for Olympic glory.

As Paris completes final preparations and athletes vie for remaining spots on Team USA,NBC News reporter David K. Ligives an update on where things stand — and what to look forward to.

🥇 What can we expect to see in Paris?

Of course the greatest moments of the Olympics are not knowing who will become a breakout star. But we do know a few of the biggest American names fans will hear in the coming weeks, including swimmers Caeleb Dressel and Kate Ledecky and gymnasts Simone Biles and Suni Lee.

And keep an eye on American Anna Hall as she eyes the gold medal in the heptathlon. Though she’s No. 1 in the world right now, a gold would feel like an upset since she missed out on the Tokyo Games due to an injury. She faces two-time gold medalist Nafi Thiam, of Belgium.

🤸‍♀️ What are the big qualifying events to watch in the next few weeks?

The must-see TV of qualifying will be the U.S. Olympics Gymnastics Trials in Minneapolis this weekend. It could be the most star-packed competition in memory, with gold medalists Simone Biles, Suni Lee and Jade Carey facing off in a two-day all-around competition.

🇫🇷 What’s left on Paris’ to-do list so the city is ready to host the Games?

Just walking around The City of Lights, you can see and feel everything rounding into shape with various temporary venues popping up. The only major question mark is the river Seine — is it clean though for open water swimming events?NBC News’ Keir Simmons will be speaking today with Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo, who canceled her own swim this past weekend in one of the world’s most famous waterways.

⚽ Which sports are you most excited to watch this year?

I’m fascinated by the U.S. women’s soccer team. They’ve never gone three straight World Cups or Olympics without winning it all. This could be the third, after a bronze in the Covid-delayed in 2021 Tokyo Olympics and being eliminated early in last year’s World Cup.

🏃🏻‍♂️ If you could compete in an Olympic sport, which one would you choose?

I’m the least athletic person at NBC News, but the 100 meters carries the ultimate title — world’s fastest man (or woman). That’s remarkable.

For more on what to look forward to in the next few weeks,read our previewof the Paris Olympics.

Is Russian President Putin's Ukraine obsession distracting him from a rising thread at home?

Nobody has yet claimed responsibility for the deadly attacks on two synagogues and Orthodox churches that shook southern Russia on Sunday.

Its attempts to distract from a possible connection may hint at the growing vulnerability of President Vladimir Putin, whose attention and resources are focused squarely on the war in Ukraine and those who oppose it inside Russia.

Instead of investigating how Russia’s intelligence services could have missed an attack of such significance, Moscow immediately accused Kyiv and its Western allies of helping to orchestrate it.

But two major terrorist attacks happening so close together “will raise questions about whether the war in Ukraine has distracted the Kremlin from what is happening inside Russia,” said Neil Melvin, the director of international security studies at a London-based think tank.

Read more on this story here.

CDC warns of dengue fever uptick in the U.S.

The CDC issued a health advisory warning of an increased risk of dengue fever infections in the U.S. after an unexpectedly higher number of cases reported across the nation. A total of 2,241 cases have been reported so far this year in the U.S., including 1,498 cases in Puerto Rico. For comparison, there were 3,036 dengue cases last year in the U.S. and its territories. The number of dengue fever cases reported this year globally is the highest on record.

Common symptoms among those who contract the mosquito-borne disease are fever, headaches, nausea, vomiting, rash and body pain.Here’s what to knowthe virus’ spread.

Politics in Brief

Trump gag order:The judge who presided over Donald Trump’s hush money trial haslifted some of the restrictionsfrom his gag order, including the ability to comment on the witnesses who testified against him and the jury.

Presidential debate:Which candidate — Joe Biden or Donald Trump — needs tomorrow’s debate more? A month ago, one could have argued the answer was Biden. “But one conviction on 34 counts later and it’s not nearly as clear now which candidate needs this debate more,”NBC News chief political analyst Chuck Todd writes.

Public education:The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled a school board’s approval of what would be the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter schoolis unconstitutional and must be rescinded.

Want more politics news? Sign up for From the Politics Desk to get exclusive reporting and analysis delivered to your inbox every weekday evening.Subscribe here.

Staff Pick: When panda fans turn toxic

Is it possible to love pandas too much? The black-and-white bears are popular worldwide, but some fans in China and elsewhere take their enthusiasm to the next level, glorifying individual pandas as if they’re pop idols. Fans can also take on a nationalistic tone, even calling for China to stop sending pandas to the United States. With “panda diplomacy” between the two nations resuming and a pair of bears expected to arrive in San Diego this week,we took a look at the extreme fandom. — Jennifer Jett,Asia digital editor

NBC Select: Online Shopping, Simplified

Want your summer vacation to be easier and more comfortable? NBC Select is here to help with its Best of Travel Awards. The Select team tested 120+ products for eight weeks, using them around the globe — from Tokyo and Paris to Washington D.C. and beyond — and landed on 25 winners in these categories:

• Best Travel Accessories:Think noise-canceling headphones, packing cubes, toiletry bags, Bluetooth trackers and more.
• Best Luggage:Including both hardshell and softshell suitcases
• Best Bags:Including weekenders, duffels and backpacks 

Sign up to The Selectionnewsletter for hands-on product reviews, expert shopping tips and a look at the best deals and sales each week.

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