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The US Supreme Court in Washington, DC, on Friday, June 30, 2023. Anna Rose Layden/Bloomberg/Getty ImagesCNN senior Supreme Court analyst Joan Biskupic says that over the past day, "all of the tensions on so many issues" were on display among the justices. Justice Sonia Sotomayor, sitting right next to him, then drew a contrast in her dissent. And she said, 'At this kind of time, what does the Supreme Court do? On the student loans decision: In a "brisk voice and tone," Chief Justice John Roberts "cut to the chase," according to Biskupic.

Persons: Anna Rose Layden, Joan Biskupic, Biskupic, Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor, Sotomayor, Lorie Smith, John Roberts, —, Elena Kagan, Roberts, Kagan Organizations: Bloomberg, Getty, CNN, Civil Locations: Washington ,, Colorado, America

[1/3] Web designer Lorie Smith, plaintiff in a Supreme Court case who objects to same-sex marriage, poses for a portrait at her office in Littleton, Colorado, U.S., November 28, 2022. REUTERS/Kevin Mohatt/June 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court on Friday is poised to rule on whether a Christian web designer from Colorado has a right to refuse to provide services for same-sex marriages based on constitutional free speech protections - a case that could upend state anti-discrimination laws. The liberal justices during the argument said a decision favoring Smith could empower certain businesses to discriminate. Smith thus is free to sell whatever she wants, including websites with biblical passages stating an opposite-sex vision of marriage. The Supreme Court has supported religious rights and related free speech claims in recent years in other cases.

Persons: Lorie Smith, Kevin Mohatt, Smith, preemptively, Joe Biden's, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: REUTERS, U.S, Supreme, Alliance Defending, Thomson Locations: Littleton , Colorado, U.S, Colorado, Denver, Colorado's, Littleton, New York

☆ 303 Creative v. Elenis Is a Victory for Free Speech and Pluralism
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

This copy is for your personal, non-commercial use only. Distribution and use of this material are governed by our Subscriber Agreement and by copyright law. For non-personal use or to order multiple copies, please contact Dow Jones Reprints at 1-800-843-0008 or visit www.djreprints.com. https://www.wsj.com/articles/303-creative-llc-v-elenis-supreme-court-neil-gorsuch-lorie-smith-free-speech-first-amendment-5a443236

Persons: Dow Jones, gorsuch, lorie

☆ Sotomayor says Supreme Court is opening the door to racial discrimination and sending 'the message that we live in a society with social castes'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

In her dissent, Justice Sotomayor argued that the ruling could allow for racial discrimination too. She also said the court sends the symbolic message that "we live in a society with social castes." Sotomayor argued that the logic of the case could easily be extended to allow for racial discrimination as well. "A website designer could equally refuse to create a wedding website for an interracial couple, for example," Sotomayor wrote. "Apparently, a gay or lesbian couple might buy a wedding website for their straight friends," Sotomayor wrote.

Persons: Sotomayor, —, Sonia Sotomayor, Lorie Smith, Smith, — Sotomayor, George Organizations: Service, Creative, Black Americans Locations: Colorado, United States, Virginia

☆ The Supreme Court just allowed businesses to refuse to serve LGBTQ+ customers. A detail used to justify the case may be fake.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Sonam Sheth | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

The Supreme Court ruled that a wedding website owner in Colorado has the right to refuse service to LGBTQ couples. The New Republic spoke to the "gay" man in the case, who says he's straight and married with children. "I wouldn't want anybody to ... make me a wedding website?" But somebody's using false information in a Supreme Court filing document." The court's ruling in the case was 6-3, led by the conservative justices who now dominate the high court.

Persons: —, Lorie Smith, Stewart, Mike, I'm, Neil Gorsuch, Sonia Sotomayor Organizations: Service, New Locations: Colorado, Republic, New Republic

☆ Opinion | How Christians and Drag Queens Are Defending the First Amendment
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( David French | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

Last year, I wrote an amicus brief in a case called 303 Creative L.L.C. v. Elenis, arguing that a wedding website designer had a First Amendment right not to speak. This case was not, as it has been widely described, about whether a website designer could refuse gay customers. That would be both illegal and immoral, and I would not participate in such a case. The case was not about whether a business could refuse to provide goods or services but whether it could refuse to generate specific expressions with which it disagreed.

Persons: Lorie Smith, “ ‘, ‘, Smith, Neil Gorsuch, Bostock Organizations: Supreme Locations: Colorado, Clayton County

But under a Colorado public accommodations law, she said she cannot post the statement because the state considers it illegal. The ruling – rooted in free speech grounds – will pierce state public accommodation laws for those businesses who sell so-called “expressive” goods. It is the latest victory for religious conservatives at the high court and will alarm critics who fear the current court is setting its sights on overturning the 2015 marriage case. When the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case in February 2022, the justices sidestepped whether the law violated Smith’s free exercise of religion. In court, Waggoner said that the law works to compel speech in violation of the First Amendment.

Persons: Justice Neil Gorsuch, John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Amy Coney Barrett, Brett Kavanaugh, Clarence Thomas, Justice Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Lorie Smith, Gorsuch, ”, Smith’s, ” Gorsuch, Sotomayor, “, ’, Kristen Waggoner, Matthew Shepard, ” Sotomayor, Bostock, Trump, Kelley Robinson, Ritchie Torres, ” Torres, Waggoner, Smith, Smith –, –, ” Smith, ” Waggoner, Eric Olson Organizations: CNN, Chief, U.S, Supreme, Pride Month, Civil, American Civil Liberties Union, ”, Democratic, Twitter, Appeals Locations: Colorado, United States, Clayton County

☆ What the Supreme Court’s LGBTQ rights decision means
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Devan Cole | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

“So I think the category of businesses that will be able to claim free speech rights against anti-discrimination laws is not at all clear. Jennifer Pizer, the chief legal officer for Lambda Legal, an LGBTQ rights group, also said the court wasn’t clear on what types of businesses are included within the category the court mentioned. Sepper similarly said that the majority didn’t specifically limit the decision to LGBTQ people. So this opens the door to race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin discrimination – any kind of discrimination,” she said. But in the fallout of Friday’s decision, LGBTQ advocates and experts cautioned that, far from settling the issue at the center of the case, the ruling will likely embolden opponents of LGBTQ rights and spur a fresh wave of litigation that could strip away civil rights protections in other areas of life.

Persons: Neil Gorsuch, Lorie Smith, ”, Elizabeth Sepper, Sepper, “ There’s, Jennifer Pizer, “, ” Pizer, Sonia Sotomayor, ” Gorsuch, Sotomayor, Smith, Katherine Franke, ” Franke, Phil Weiser, Gorsuch, Pizer Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, University of Texas, Creative, Lambda Legal, Virgin Islands, Movement Advancement, Columbia Law School Locations: Colorado, Virgin, Washington

The case, though framed as clash between free speech and gay rights, was the latest in a series of decisions in favor of religious people and groups, notably conservative Christians. A Colorado law forbids discrimination against gay people by businesses open to the public as well as statements announcing such discrimination. But when the Supreme Court agreed to hear the case, 303 Creative L.L.C. He was the author of every major Supreme Court decision protecting gay rights under the Constitution. But he was also the court’s most ardent defender of free speech.

Persons: Neil M, Gorsuch, Lorie Smith, Smith, Smith’s, Mary Beck Briscoe, Judge Briscoe, “, ” Judge Briscoe, Timothy M, Tymkovich, George Orwell, ’ ”, ”, Anthony M, Kennedy, Justice Kennedy, Jack Phillips, Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Brett M, Kavanaugh, Amy Coney Barrett Organizations: Supreme, U.S ., Appeals, Circuit, Colorado Civil Rights Commission Locations: Colorado, Denver, “ Colorado

☆ Supreme Court rules for web designer who refused to work on same-sex weddings
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Lawrence Hurley | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Web designer Lorie Smith, plaintiff in a Supreme Court case who objects to same-sex marriage, poses for a portrait at her office in Littleton, Colorado, U.S., November 28, 2022. The Supreme Court on Friday ruled in favor of an evangelical Christian web designer from Colorado who refuses to work on same-sex weddings. The remaining 21 states do not have laws explicitly protecting LGBTQ rights in public accommodations, although some local municipalities do. Lower courts ruled against Smith, prompting her to appeal to the Supreme Court. The Supreme Court ruled on the baker case before the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy, who voted in favor of LGBTQ rights in key cases.

Persons: Lorie Smith, Colorado's, Neil Gorsuch, Smith, Samuel Alito, —, Jack Phillips, Eric Olson, Phillips, Anthony Kennedy, Donald Trump, Kennedy, — Organizations: Klux Klan, NBC News, Colorado Civil Rights Commission, Supreme, Civil Rights Commission, Alliance Defending, Catholic Church Locations: Littleton , Colorado, U.S, Colorado, United States, Philadelphia

☆ This safety net for the elderly and disabled comes with strict rules on savings. That may change
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Today, those thresholds are just one-sixth of their 1972 value, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities notes, and their worth declines further each year with inflation. How SSI's asset limits may be raisedIn new research, the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities considers the effects of raising or eliminating the asset limits SSI has for beneficiaries. That $100,000 threshold would be in line with the amount eligible SSI beneficiaries are currently allowed to hold penalty-free in ABLE accounts, tax advantaged savings programs for people with disabilities. Another change — excluding the consideration of retirement accounts — could also help bolster SSI program eligibility. Eliminating the asset test entirely would raise participation in the program by 6%, the nonpartisan research and policy institute found.

Persons: Tom Grill, Kathleen Romig, Romig, Sen, Sherrod Brown, Rob Portman, Portman, Brown, —, Kristen Dama Organizations: Center, Budget, Finance, GOP, Social Security, Sherrod Brown Democratic, Democrat, Republican, Community Legal Services of Philadelphia, Social Security Administration Locations: Ohio, Dama

☆ US Supreme Court's liberals warn of LGBT ruling's ripple effects
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( Andrew Chung | Industry Insight | Corporate Attorneys Don T Want To Pay Law Firms For Chatgpt When They Could Use It Themselves | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

June 30 (Reuters) - The U.S. Supreme Court's conservative-majority ruling letting certain businesses refuse to provide services for same-sex marriages could impact an array of customers beyond LGBT people, according to the court's liberal justices. Smith said, for instance, she would happily serve an LGBT customer who wants graphics for an animal shelter. Critics said that distinction between message and status was not so clear-cut and could quickly veer into targeting people instead. The ruling takes LGBT rights backwards, Sotomayor wrote. The ruling's rationale cannot be limited to discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity and could exclude other groups from many services, Sotomayor said.

Persons: Lorie Smith, Neil Gorsuch, Gorsuch, Colorado's, Smith, Critics, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, Sotomayor, Jim Bourg Sotomayor, Phil Weiser, of Jesus Christ, Weiser, Lambda, Jennifer Pizer, Amanda Shanor, Shanor, Andrew Chung, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, REUTERS, of Jesus, Lambda Legal, University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School, Thomson Locations: Denver, Colorado, Washington , U.S

[1/3] Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson listens to U.S. According to legal scholar Adam Feldman, who tracks court data, Jackson spoke more during oral arguments than any of the other current justices during their first terms. "She's just showed up from day one," said Terry Maroney, a Vanderbilt Law School professor who studies judicial decision-making and behavior. "She knows what she's doing, she's not shy, she's posing uncomfortable hypotheticals - and she's not afraid to do those things even if it's causing discomfort." Last year, rulings powered by the conservative justices ended recognition of a constitutional right to abortion and widened gun rights.

Persons: Ketanji Brown Jackson, Cory Booker, Elizabeth Frantz, Jackson, Lorie Smith, Smith, Santa Claus, Kristen Waggoner, Joe Biden, Adam Feldman, She's, Terry Maroney, she's, Stephen Breyer, Kent Greenfield, Greenfield, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Roman Martinez, John Roberts, Jackson's, Neil Gorsuch, Martinez, " Maroney, Andrew Chung, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S . Senate, U.S, Supreme, Capitol, REUTERS, WASHINGTON, Democratic, Vanderbilt Law, Environmental Protection Agency, Boston College, Thomson Locations: Washington , U.S, Colorado, United States, California, New York, Washington

☆ Social Security phone service disruptions led to dropped calls, longer wait times, report finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Callers who have sought help from the Social Security Administration in recent years have reported long wait times, dropped calls and inability to access the agency's services. A new report from the Social Security Administration Office of the Inspector General finds the agency experienced more than 40 telephone system disruptions between May 2021 and December 2022. During that time, the telephone was the "primary option" for the public to interact with the agency's employees, the report notes. The office oversees the Social Security Administration's programs and operations on the public's behalf. The unanswered rate reached its highest among the service disruption dates identified in the report — 80.4% — on Feb. 22 and 23.

Persons: General Gail Ennis Organizations: Social Security Administration, Social Security Administration Office, Finance, GOP, Social Security

☆ Republicans and Democrats agree Social Security reform needs to happen. But they're divided on how
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Advocates for a bipartisan commission argue the approach may help smooth out the differences between the parties. But whether a bipartisan commission is the answer to Social Security's funding woes is the subject of fierce debate. Social Security benefit cuts unpopular, poll showszimmytws | iStock | Getty ImagesA new poll from Social Security Works and Data for Progress of 1,191 likely voters highlights one big concern about that approach — that it would require benefit cuts. 'It has to be done in a bipartisan way'Any changes to Social Security will require bipartisan agreement. "You don't want Social Security to become a partisan issue," said Bill Hoagland, senior vice president at the Bipartisan Policy Center.

Persons: Tom Cole, Jake LaTurner, Cole, Danielle Deiseroth, Nancy Altman, Altman, Bill Hoagland, Hoagland Organizations: Istock, Getty, Social Security Commission, Democrats, Social Security, iStock, Progress, actuaries, Greenspan, Center Locations: Kansas

☆ Americans think they will need nearly $1.3 million to retire comfortably, study says. How to calculate your own 'magic number'
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-26 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

Respondents in their 50s expected to need the most when they retire — more than $1.5 million, the survey found. Calculating your own retirement 'magic number'Rather than think about a big goal number for retirement, Patel said he urges clients to identify their income needs. As you think about retirement, in an ideal world, you would have enough guaranteed zero risk income to cover your guaranteed expenses. Alap Patel wealth management advisor for Northwestern MutualEveryone typically has three types of expenses, Patel said. "As you think about retirement, in an ideal world, you would have enough guaranteed zero-risk income to cover your guaranteed expenses," Patel said.

Persons: Antonio Suarez Vega, It's, Alap Patel, it's, Patel, Gen Xers, Gen, Winnie Sun, Sun Organizations: Istock, Northwestern Mutual, Savings, Finance, Cerulli Associates, Sun Group Wealth Partners, CNBC's Locations: Chicago, millennials, Irvine , California

☆ 57% of people are uncomfortable with their level of emergency savings. Here's how much they think they need
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-23 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Having ample cash set aside can help prevent an unexpected emergency from turning into a financial catastrophe. But when it comes to emergency savings, more than half of Americans — 57% — are uncomfortable with the level of money they have set aside, according to a new Bankrate survey. Of those respondents, one-third are very uncomfortable, the May online and phone survey of 1,025 respondents found. Meanwhile, 22% have no emergency savings at all, the survey found. The Covid-19 pandemic helped raise awareness about the importance of having cash set aside.

Persons: —, Bankrate, they're, Greg McBride Organizations: Finance

Against this backdrop, the court is again poised to decide cases with the potential to reshape key areas of law and impact life for millions of Americans. The court began its term in October and typically finishes by the end of June each year. The Supreme Court already has ruled in two major race-related cases. In the student admissions cases, the challengers - a group founded by anti-affirmative action activist Edward Blum - accused the two schools of discriminating against white and Asian American applicants. The justices also are due to decide the legality of President Joe Biden's plan to cancel $430 billion in student loan debt.

Persons: Roe, Wade, Clarence Thomas, Edward Blum, Joe Biden's, Lorie Smith's, Andrew Chung, John Kruzel, Will Dunham Organizations: U.S, Supreme, Harvard University, University of North, Republican, Harvard, UNC, Colorado, U.S . Postal Service, Thomson Locations: University of North Carolina, Texas, Alabama, Arkansas , Iowa , Kansas , Missouri , Nebraska, South Carolina, Louisiana, U.S, Colorado, North Carolina, New York, Washington

☆ Mortgage points may help homebuyers lower monthly costs amid high interest rates. How to know if this strategy is right for you
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Other experts say buyers purchasing mortgage points can be a great strategy for the right situation. Being able to lower that monthly payment can really help give some more wiggle room in people's budgets and help them reach affordability. "Being able to lower that monthly payment can really help give some more wiggle room in people's budgets and help them reach affordability," Bachaud said. In addition to higher upfront costs, home buyers should also weigh other factors before buying mortgage points. But putting those sums toward a down payment likely will not make much of a difference on your monthly costs, Elliott said.

Persons: Getty, Grubbs, Nicole Bachaud, Bachaud, Kamila Elliott, Atlanta . Elliott, Elliott, Stephanie Grubbs Organizations: Fed, Zillow, Wealth Partners, CNBC, Douglas Locations: Atlanta ., Douglas Elliman

☆ Amid high inflation and pent-up demand, lower gas prices can help travelers save this summer. Here are some tips
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

For those who hit the road to travel this summer, there is good news: Gas prices are substantially lower than they were last year. As of Friday, the national average for a gallon of gas is $3.58, down from $5 one year ago, according to AAA. Last year's high prices made headlines, and even prompted politicians on the state and federal level to call for gas tax holidays. And barring any surprises during hurricane season, the outlook for gas prices is mostly stable, Gross said. The national average will probably stay in the range of $3.50 per gallon, he said.

Persons: Andrew Gross, Gross, Ted Rossman Organizations: AAA, Finance, Auto

☆ These early retirement advocates quit their jobs with plenty of money in the bank. Here are their tips for becoming financially independent
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-15 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Moyo Studio | E+ | Getty ImagesSaving enough money to comfortably retire later in life may seem like a daunting, out-of-reach goal. The FIRE movement — which stands for Financial Independence, Retire Early — is built on the idea that handling your money super efficiently can help you reach financial freedom earlier. Boost your savings rateToday, the average savings rate in the U.S. hovers around 2% to 5%, Sabatier noted. But by saving about 50% of your income, the average person can reach financial independence in 10 years or less, Sabatier said. Reduce your cost of livingTo achieve a high savings rate, you need to reduce your living costs.

Persons: Grant Sabatier, Alex Trias, Sabatier, Trias, It's Organizations: Financial Independence, CNBC's, D.C Locations: Portugal, U.S, Washington

☆ Social Security cost-of-living adjustment may be 2.7% in 2024, new estimate finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

New government data shows the annual rate of inflation dipped to the lowest level in about two years as of May. But that may be bittersweet news for Social Security beneficiaries, as they may receive a much lower cost-of-living adjustment in 2024 than they did this year. The Social Security COLA could be 2.7% in 2024 based on the latest consumer price index data, according to The Senior Citizens League, a nonpartisan senior group. The CPI rose 4% from a year ago as of May, the U.S. Department of Labor said Tuesday, and 0.1% for the month. The subset of the index used to determine next year's cost-of-living adjustment, the consumer price index for urban wage earners and clerical workers, or CPI-W, was up 3.6% year over year — the lowest level since March 2021, The Senior Citizens League noted.

Organizations: Social, Social Security, Senior Citizens League, Finance, GOP, U.S . Department of Labor

☆ Retirees' biggest fear is outliving their assets, research finds. These tips can help
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

But for retirement savers and retirees alike, there's one worry that stands out above the rest — the possibility they may outlive their assets, according to new research from research and consulting firm Cerulli Associates. More than half of retirees — 54% — rely on Social Security as their primary source of income. Of those respondents, 20% have no other source of income, Cerulli's first-quarter survey of 1,500 401(k) plan participants found. For workers and retirees, there is no silver bullet answer to fix their retirement worries. Yet many older workers ages 50 through 70 face difficult working conditions, recent research from the Economic Policy Institute found.

Persons: Cerulli's, David Kennedy Organizations: Cerulli Associates, Social Security, Finance, GOP, Economic Policy Institute

☆ Millionaires support raising Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. limits. They may be overlooking ways to access more coverage on deposits now
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Lorie Konish | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Currently, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. insures $250,000 per depositor for each ownership category for deposits held at an insured bank. That year, the standard maximum deposit insurance amount was temporarily raised to $250,000, from $100,000. How future deposit insurance may changeThe FDIC in May released a report that outlined three options for the future of the deposit insurance system. This may include an increased, yet also "finite," deposit insurance limit, the FDIC's report states. A third choice, targeted coverage, would provide different levels of deposit insurance coverage for different types of accounts, with higher coverage for business payment accounts.

Persons: Lauren Justice, First Republic —, Martin Gruenberg, Gruenberg, Ted Jenkin, Atlanta . Jenkin, Jenkin Organizations: Bank, Bloomberg, Getty, Valley Bank, Signature Bank, CNBC, Millionaire Survey, Federal Deposit Insurance Corp, First, Committee, Silicon Locations: Beverly Hills , California, First Republic, Atlanta .

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