The Presidential Daily Brief

After Manchester Attack, UK Mourns, Hunts Bomber’s Network

There was a monster in their midst. After Salman Abedi, 22, detonated a suicide bomb at an Ariana Grande concert on Monday, killing 22 people and injuring 64, British officials questioned whether he was working alone. So far police have arrested 13 people in connection with the crime, while Mancunians mourn the dead — a vigil Thursday included crowds singing Oasis’ “Don’t Look Back in Anger.” Meanwhile, Manchester’s Libyan community is questioning how to identify or help those like Abedi, born to Libyan parents, who may be on the verge of radicalization.

Russia Investigation Turns to Jared Kushner

It’s a family affair. Reports have surfaced that the president’s son-in-law, already a “person of interest” in the Russia inquiry, proposed setting up a secret communication channel with Moscow in December that would have used Russian hardware and avoided scrutiny from the Obama administration. Kushner, still a White House senior adviser, has already agreed to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee, where senators may probe his role in James Comey’s firing. Meanwhile, some experts want to know: If Comey was ousted to impede investigation of President Trump, what might that inquiry still uncover?

Cavs, Warriors Charge Into NBA Finals

This one was for his legacy. LeBron James scored 35 points and passed His Airness Michael Jordan as the all-time NBA playoff top scorer as he led Cleveland to a 135-102 blowout against the Boston Celtics. Now, Cleveland, the reigning champions, will face the Golden State Warriors on Thursday for Game 1 of the NBA Finals. Will the off-season addition of new Warrior Kevin Durant be enough for Steph Curry, Draymond Green and Klay Thompson to reclaim the throne — or are King James and Kyrie Irving due for another ring sizing?

New Orleans’ Lead Cases Yield Diluted Justice

Enough’s enough. Along with the nation’s highest murder rates, discrimination and Hurricane Katrina, residents of New Orleans’ public housing projects also suffered long-term effects of ingesting lead – from paint, water and even the smog-tainted dirt. Crusading attorneys fought from the 1990s — when the metal’s toxicity became better understood — and kept fighting until they reached a settlement with the city in 2011. But that compromise meant the 2,000 eligible victims collected a fraction of the poisoning’s cost, while others will receive nothing after Katrina destroyed their medical records.

The Indy 500, 2020 Campaign Vision and Hate Speech

The Week Ahead: Indianapolis is preparing for the 101st Indy 500 on Sunday.  Penguin Vs. Predator, a.k.a. Game 1 of the Stanley Cup finals, kicks off Monday. And President Trump will hold one of his campaign rallies in Iowa Thursday, with 41 months until election day 2020.  

Know This: Two men were fatally stabbed yesterday on a Portland, Oregon train when they tried to intervene as another passenger spewed hate speech at nearby Muslim women. Deeply influential national security adviser Zbigniew Brzezinski, who served under President Jimmy Carter, has died at age 89. And pop star Ariana Grande says she’ll return to Manchester to give a benefit concert for the victims of Monday night’s arena bombing. 

Answer This: Tell us how you really feel. OZY’s next TV show is premiering on PBS this fall. The Third Rail will tackle hot topics typically taboo for television. In anticipation, we’ll be posting a provocative question right here each week, focusing on topics that might make it onto the show. First up: Do you think it’s OK to have a racial preference in dating? Why or why not? Email thirdrail@ozy.com with your thoughts or a personal story. We’ll publish the most intriguing answers Tuesday on OZY.com.