Key National and World Briefs
Online Safety Bill Debated, Archdiocese Settles Abuse, DeSantis Vetoes Project, Putin Open to Ukraine Talks
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The House passed a bipartisan online safety bill for minors by a vote of 267 to 117, according to Reuters. The "Kids Internet and Digital Safety Act" sets default limits on messaging, location tracking, and algorithmic targeting for young users. But critics warn the bill falls short by dropping a key protection called "duty of care" — a legal standard that would force platforms to prevent harm by design.
Meanwhile, the San Francisco Archdiocese announced a $395 million settlement covering roughly 530 survivors of clergy sexual abuse, The Associated Press reported. In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $750,000 for coastal habitat restoration while signing a $117.6 billion state budget. And Russian President Vladimir Putin said he is open to talks on Ukraine — but rejected any halt on long-range strikes.
House Kids Safety Bill Sparks Fight Over 'Duty of Care'
The House bill, known as H.R. 7757, combines more than 10 prior proposals into a 115-page package. It requires platforms to use safe default settings for minors. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL), the bill's lead author, said, "Protecting our kids must always come before protecting corporate profits," according to The Washington Times.
But the bill's biggest gap is what it leaves out. The Senate's version — which passed 91 to 3 in 2024 — included a "duty of care" rule forcing companies to fix harmful algorithms. The House dropped that rule to avoid First Amendment legal challenges, according to Broadband Breakfast. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said the House bill "guts" key protections. Kristin Bride, founder of Parents RISE, called it "worse than having no bill at all."
San Francisco Archdiocese Reaches Record $395M Abuse Settlement
The San Francisco Archdiocese filed for bankruptcy in August 2023 after California opened a window for older abuse claims. The $395 million deal is the largest bankruptcy settlement ever reached by a U.S. Catholic diocese, according to the National Catholic Register. Archbishop Salvatore Cordileone promised personal apology letters to all 530 survivors.
The deal includes a 14-point child protection plan. It requires a public list of "credibly accused" clergy, an independent child-protection consultant, and a ban on one-on-one texting between church staff and minors, according to the SF Standard. Lead attorney Jeff Anderson called the plan "monumental." Survivor Margie O'Driscoll said, "Today, shame is going to change sides." The Archdiocese said it has no plans to close schools or parishes.
DeSantis Cuts Environmental Funds While Signing Florida Budget
DeSantis signed Florida's $117.6 billion budget for fiscal year 2026-27 in Tampa on June 29, according to the Tampa Bay Times. He cut roughly $800 million in line-item spending. One cut hit Tampa Bay Watch, a nonprofit that had sought $750,000 to restore shoreline habitats damaged by the 2024 hurricane season.
Tampa Bay Watch CEO Dwayne Virgint said the group was "extremely disappointed." Other vetoes included $2 million for advanced water metering in Hillsborough County and $1.5 million for flood relief on South Howard Avenue, according to Florida Politics. DeSantis said he was "not trying to set a veto record" but was focused on fiscal responsibility.
Putin Claims Openness to Ukraine Talks but Rejects Strike Halt
Putin said Russia is ready to continue talks based on 2022 Istanbul-era protocols. But in a television interview, he rejected Ukraine's proposal to stop long-range strikes on each other. He said Russian strikes are "more destructive" and vowed that "saving the Kyiv regime is not part of our plans," according to Al Jazeera.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War say Putin's "readiness" amounts to a demand for Ukrainian surrender, not a real compromise. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed Russia still demands Ukraine withdraw from four regions: Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia. Putin also acknowledged a fuel shortage inside Russia caused by Ukrainian strikes on energy infrastructure, with some Siberian regions limiting fuel purchases to 50 liters per visit, according to The Guardian.
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