US SHOOTS DOWN SYRIAN AIRCRAFT FOR FIRST TIME: “The U.S.-led coalition headquarters in Iraq said in a written statement that a U.S. F-18 Super Hornet shot down a Syrian government SU-22 after it dropped bombs near the U.S. partner forces, known as the Syrian Democratic Forces…‘The coalition’s mission is to defeat ISIS in Iraq and Syria,’ the Pentagon said, using an abbreviation for the Islamic State group. ‘The coalition does not seek to fight Syrian regime, Russian or pro-regime forces partnered with them, but will not hesitate to defend coalition or partner forces from any threat. ’”

ROGER KIMBALL: Trump vs the Deep State.

THE LEFT FLIRTS WITH TRUMPICIDE: From The American Spectator.

Liberalism, philosophically speaking, is proudly unprincipled, insofar as it recognizes no divine law prior to man’s will. The arrogant humanism underpinning liberalism, combined with fallen human nature, makes the temptation to violence irresistible, especially in times of political exile. When safely ensconced in positions of power, liberals demand “civility” and the like (remember the ludicrous “civility” commissions set up during the Clinton era to counter Rush Limbaugh and company). But once out of power, liberals flirt with ends-justify-the-means radicalism.

Many of the heroes of the left are figures of violence — from Fidel Castro and Che Guevera to Bill Ayers and the Black Panthers. The same New York Times that couldn’t bring itself to condemn Trumpicide in the Park ran an article on 9/11 (a grim coincidence) in which Bill Ayers gloated over his unpunished domestic terrorism. “Guilty as hell, free as a bird,” he said.

Read the entire commentary.

THE BREXIT TALKS OFFICIALLY BEGIN:

There are no expectations for groundbreaking negotiations to take place in the first day.

The primary aim, according to EU diplomats, is to have a first meeting where the atmosphere can be improved after some uncomfortable exchanges.

Stay tuned.

MY FAVORITE PART ABOUT THE MODERN NFL IS ALL THE RACIAL HEALING: NFL’s Kaepernick Compares Cops to Fugitive Slave Patrols.

Related: ESPN Writer Allows Seahawk Player Michael Bennett to Denigrate White NFL Fans.

(Classical allusion in headline.)

MAKE ARMS SALES GREAT AGAIN: Lockheed nears $37 billion-plus deal to sell F-35 jet to 11 countries.

This would be the biggest deal yet for the stealthy F-35 jet, set to make its Paris Airshow debut this week.

The sale represents a major shift in sales practices from annual purchases to more economic multi-year deals that lower the cost of each jet.

The pricing of the jets was still not final, although the average price of the 440 jets was expected to be $85 million, the people said on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations publicly.

Yet another indicator that the controversial jet is anything but “failed.”

RELATED: F-35 Demo Pilot: Paris Performance Will ‘Crush Years Of Misinformation’

I look forward to seeing what it can do.

A BIGGER AND STILL GOING BOEING: A new, stretched version of the venerable Boeing 737 will carry up to 230 passengers. The original 737 carried around 100 passengers (if memory serves). Looks like Boeing already has a lot of orders for this plane.

SHARYL ATTKISSON: Asking Chaffetz if Congress is Broken. Why hasn’t Congress done anything about IRS Commissioner John Koskinen? “Congress doesn’t stand up for itself. I think it’s, it’s really lost its way,” says Chaffetz.

Read the interview here.

BETTER CALL SAUL: Interrupting ‘Julius Caesar’ is straight out of the left’s playbook.

DO-NOTHING CONGRESS: GOP considers cancelling August recess to salvage agenda.

Senate Republican negotiators reported that they are not close to a deal on healthcare reform and that scheduling a vote by July 4, which Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has pushed, is likely unrealistic.

That impasse has held up work on a budget resolution, which is necessary to move tax reform and the annual appropriations bills.

Once Republicans vote on a budget resolution for 2018, it will wipe out the special vehicle they plan to use to pass healthcare reform with a simple majority vote – a vehicle that was set up by the budget resolution for 2017.

Lawmakers calculate there are only 45 legislative days until the end of the fiscal year, Sept. 30.

With the party still sharply divided on health and tax reform, it looks increasingly possible that Republican lawmakers will leave town in July for a month-long break without any major accomplishments under their belts.

This is not the GOP majority I was hoping for, but it is the one I’ve come to expect.

THE LATEST ON LONDON, THE SYRIA SHOOTDOWN, AND MORE: Liz Sheld’s morning brief has it covered.

GLENN’S USA TODAY COLUMN: We need a Robert Mueller resignation or a second special counsel.

Despite a clear requirement that Mueller be “disqualified” from this investigation, his dismissal by either Trump or Sessions on the heels of the president’s firing of Comey would create a political firestorm that the president — even if entirely innocent of any wrongdoing whatsoever—might be unable to survive.

And Mueller can’t fix things by simply recusing himself from the “obstruction” investigation, while delegating it to a subordinate. Perhaps unwisely, he has chosen lawyers who records show have contributed substantially to Democratic campaigns. Indeed, two have given the maximum $2,700 donation to Hillary Clinton last year, while another worked for the Clinton Foundation. No one could accept them as impartial towards the man who defeated her.

So if he cares about the rules, Mueller needs to resign.

Read the whole thing.

DEMOCRACY DIES IN DOXXING: ‘Can we pee on his lawn?’: Washington Post reporter tweets Sheriff David Clarke Jr.’s home address.

Flashback: The New York Times Published Ferguson Policeman Darren Wilson’s Home Address.

A VICTORY AGAINST RACISM: Non-Native American Couple Can Adopt a Native American Child, Ariz. Supreme Court Rules.

NO, MA’AM, IT’S VICTIM PREVENTING: Salon Columnist Says Encouraging Women to Carry Guns Is ‘Victim Blaming’.

MOVING OUR EGGS FROM THE ONE BASKET: SpaceX Mars Plan.

YOU THOUGHT OUR GOVERNMENT WOULD LET SPACE GO UNREGULATED? Procedural Protections of ASCFEA.

NOT  A GOOD MOVE: Amazon’s latest patent will enrage consumers.

YEAH, SURE, BUT ENVIRONMENTALISM IS COOL, AND LEFTISTS DON’T CARE IF LITTLE BROWN CHILDREN SUFFER: Millions Died Thanks to the Mother of Environmentalism.

NO. THAT WOULD BE MORE EDUCATIONAL: Teaching, My *ss.

DID ANYONE SEE MY EYES?  I ROLLED THEM SO HARD THEY FELL OFF: Oregon will offer gender-neutral option on driver’s license.

NOT EVERYTHING THE PUFFINGTON HOST POSTS IS CRAZY:  Some of it is pretty oh, hum.  Like for instance this article is pretty much “every Tuesday somewhere.” Which is why it’s still relevant, though it’s over a year old. Duck Wearing Bow-Tie Walks Into Pub, Drinks Pint, Fights Dog, Loses.