…And the World:

We begin today in Britain, which as of this week will have a new Prime Minister. Andrea Leadsom, the only other last woman standing in the Conservative Party’s leadership election dropped out this morning, effectively ceding the race to Theresa May, the Home Secretary. The sudden turn of events led to a speed up in the handoff from incumbent premier David Cameron. After meeting with the Queen on Wednesday, May will become Britain’s leader. Though she opposed Brexit, she promised to follow through on it and build a better Britain. Her record conflicted with that speech. She has a rather harsh reputation.

Churn has formally begun on the Labour side, too. Angela Eagle, a former member of the Shadow Cabinet, declared she is challenging Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn after a collapse of peace talks within the party. Following the Brexit result, many in Labour were dissatisfied with Corbyn’s lackluster campaigning, but also feared for the party’s long term future. While May has indicated no interest in calling an early special election (though opposition parties have), it remains possible and Labour MPs fear a general election with Corbyn topping the ticket. Unfortunately for Eagle, her announcement was bigfooted by Leadsom’s withdrawal from the Tories’ leadership race.

Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe scored a victory over the weekend as his party and their coalition partners won elections to the country’s House of Councilors (upper house). Some now think it more likely than ever that Abe may now move to change Japan’s pacifist constitution.

Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull claims victory with a razor-thin 76(ish) majority in the House of Representatives. That’s down from the 90 won in the last election.

Warring factions in South Sudan call for a cease-fire.

Newly inaugurated Philippino President Rodrigo Duterte promised to get tough on crime during election by killing drug dealers. Now police are doing just that.

Concerns about Ireland’s political and economic future arise after Brexit.

The Israeli Attorney General opens an inquiry into Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The AG offered no further details.

The Feds:

Dallas Police Chief David Brown critiqued Texas’ open carry laws, leading to concerns about the difficulties of separating good and bad guys in a crisis. Brown also suggested protesters should join the force. More details about shooter Micah Johnson are coming into focus.

In the wake of two fatal police shootings of young black men and the murder of five Dallas police officers, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, real estate tycoon and provocateur Donald Trump has “strained” to react properly.

Philandro Castile had an carrying permit for a weapon when police shot him in Minnesota. But is the NRA protecting 2^nd Amendment rights regardless of race?

Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee, will appear at a rally with her former primary rival, Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, wherein he will endorse her. The move comes after the party’s platform committee wrapped up its world in Orlando.

Former Indiana Democratic Senator Evan Bayh is set to make a comeback six years after suddenly dropping his reelection bid in 2010. The Democratic nominee for the seat, Baron Hill, has dropped out. Whether Bayh, a somewhat conservative Dem, can win is uncertain, but he will divert resources Republicans had hoped to not spend on the Hoosier State. Bayh also has $9 million in the bank from his prior electoral career.

Florida Congresswoman Corrinne Brown was indicted Friday.

A retiring Connecticut lawmaker loses her battle with cancer.

The State of Things:

Massachusetts political leaders and luminaries rallied on the steps of the State House today to celebrate the passage of the Transgender Public Accommodations bill, which Governor Charlie Baker signed last week. Baker was not among the revelers.

Baker signed the state budget last week, but issued $256 million worth of vetoes in the process. The legislature will consider overrides over the next few weeks. Among the cuts was money to study future of the Hampden County Hall of Justice.

The new East Longmeadow Town Council holds its first meeting.

The Fourth Estatements:

Fox News chief Roger Ailes faces a sexual harassment lawsuit from former anchor Gretchen Carlson. The network’s combative response is in sharp contrast to parent company 21st Century Fox’s plans to investigate, perhaps representing a generational shift within the Murdoch empire. While some have defended Ailes, others are backing Carlson’s claims with their own and others resurface.

Politico has named European editor Carrie Budoff Brown as its new top editor following the departure of Susan Glasser after the 2016 election. Meanwhile Anna Palmer and Jake Sherman take over Politico’s stories Playbook from ever-on-the-move scribe Mike Allen.

The Economist may be losing print ad revenue, but better subscription and circulation revenue have kept its profits intact.

The Record of Bergen County, which blew open the Bridgegate scandal that felled New Jersey Governor Chris Christie’s political fortunes, is being sold to Gannett.

Polish State media edited out President Barack Obama’s admonition to settle the country’s crisis over its constitutional tribunal.

City Slickers:

Black Lives Matter activists and supporters rallied on the steps of Springfield City Hall today and then marched to the Federal Courthouse on State Street. Last week, Mayor Domenic Sarno and clergy held a vigil at City Hall.

At-large Councilor Justin Hurst objects to the process to establish what would be the city’s first medical marijuana dispensary.

The City Council’s Community Preservation Act study committee seems likely to recommend implementation of the act, but how much of a tax surcharge it will suggest is up in the air.

Twitter Chatter:

The murder of police in Dallas following the fatal shootings of young black men by police elsewhere in the country threatens to aggravate existing tensions. However justified the anger is, it cannot blind us to the humanity in our midst, as this blog argued in an editorial over the weekend. It is through peaceful protest and demonstration that the changes in our justice system and in our society (and therefore our law enforcement) shall take root. Today we award the tweet prize to civil rights icon and Georgia US Congressman John Lewis. His tweet about never hating cops as they beat him during civil rights demonstrations is particularly profound not just because he still saw the humanity in his attackers. Rather, it was also a firm commitment to the power of nonviolent activism—as opposed to Micah Johnson’s coldblooded murder. Even as he was assaulted, Lewis stayed true to a peaceful path forward. A timeless example in these troubled times.