Obama takes on Trump, redefining the ‘gig’ economy and voices from the past

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Top Republicans have joined President Obama and other Democrats in sharply condemning Donald Trump’s reaction to the nightclub massacre in Orlando, decrying his anti-Muslim rhetoric and his questioning of Mr Obama’s allegiances as divisive and out of step with America’s values.

In his most direct attack on the real estate magnate turned politician, the president had said Mr Trump’s comments would play into the propaganda of groups such as Isis and al-Qaeda. A visibly angry Mr Obama had asked: “Do Republican officials actually agree with this?”

Mr Obama’s “ringing defence of his approach to terrorism” and “stinging denouncement of Donald Trump and all that he stands for” turned into perhaps the most important address he has given this year, wrote the New Yorker’s John Cassidy. “Indeed, historians may look back on it as one of the defining speeches of his presidency.”(WaPo, FT, New Yorker)

Keep track of the race with our daily US politics newsletter. Sign up here. (FT)

In the news

Orlando gunman’s wife under investigation Noor Salman, the wife of the Orlando nightclub gunman, has told authorities she tried to stop her husband from committing the attack, a law enforcement source told CBS News. According to investigators, Omar Mateen’s wife has been co-operating but could face criminal charges. There appears to be no evidence she contacted police to warn that her husband was planning an attack. (CBS)

Bank of America slashes retail jobs As many as 8,000 more jobs are set to go at Bank of America’s consumer arm as the digital banking revolution gathers pace and reduces the need for back-office staff and bank tellers. The biggest US retail bank by deposits also plans to add sales staff, including mortgage loan officers, small business bankers and personal investment advisers, as part of its efforts to improve revenues. (FT)

Democrats suffer Russian hack attack The Democratic National Committee’s computer systems were compromised by hackers linked to the Russian government, in one of the largest known breaches of a US political organisation, party officials said. Two groups with ties to the Russian intelligence services hacked the party’s information-technology infrastructure, accessing opposition research on Donald Trump, said CrowdStrike, a security firm hired by the party after the intrusion was discovered. (WSJ)

News by algorithm on the rise A sharp move to the consumption of news selected by algorithm on social media and the widespread use of ad-blocking are putting severe pressure on the business models of traditional publishers and new digital outlets, according to the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. The good news for the old media is it is still producing far more of the heavyweight news stories read by the online audience, however users notice the original news brand behind social media content less than half of the time. (BBC)

Jack Ma: fakes are better than originals The Alibaba founder said many counterfeit goods were now of better quality than the genuine articles, in comments set to infuriate luxury goods makers who accuse the Chinese ecommerce group of profiting from the sale of knock-offs. (FT)

Nato looks east Nato defence ministers have fleshed out a plan to send troops to the alliance’s eastern flank in a bid to deter potential Russian aggression by placing forces near its borders. The US, UK, Canada and Germany will lead four battle groups to be based in Poland and the Baltics. (FT)

Uber to tap debt markets Uber plans to raise up to $2bn in leveraged loans, as the disruptive car-hailing app builds financial firepower for its rapid global expansion. However, the turn to debt markets is unusual because Uber already has about $9bn in cash plus $2.3bn in convertible debt, making it the best funded start-up of all time. (FT)

LDP pulls plug on Tokyo governor Yoichi Masuzoe, Tokyo governor, was forced to resign after members of the ruling party in the Tokyo assembly backed a no-confidence motion against him. The LDP had been dragging its feet, but as public outcry grew over Mr Masuzoe’s questionable spending habits, the party considered his resignation inevitable, according to LDP sources. (NAR)

It’s a big day for

Rate watchers The Fed is set to meet and, while recent disappointing economic data make it unlikely the central bank will raise rates, investors will be watching Fed chair Janet Yellen’s tone. (FT)

Food for thought

Redefining the sharing economy The gig economy is neither “sharing” nor “collaborative”, argues Sarah O’Connor. Rather, it is a handful of companies trying to make money by creating and controlling markets for our labour or our stuff. (FT)

Electric motorcycles are coming American motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson is known for chrome, freedom and big, beefy V-twin engines — but soon, it will also be known for something very different. In an interview with the Milwaukee Business Journal, Harley senior VP Sean Cummings says that it will put an all-electric motorcycle on the road within five years. (The Verge)

Guns, slavery and the lessons of history “The best thing that can come out of the Orlando massacre is not hand-wringing; it’s political action. And I think that’s the lesson we can take from abolitionists — political abolitionists, Garrisonians and anti-slavery politicians — who in their own ways were trying to effect political change,” writes Rebecca Onion. (Slate)

Mixing drinks Combining the corporate cultures of Japanese whisky group Suntory and US spirits maker Beam after a $16bn merger has proved far from easy. (FT)

Voices from the past Although archaeology provides details of daily life, the voices of medieval commoners are largely silent. However, the past five or six years have seen a massive rise in one area of medieval studies: medieval church graffiti. New digital imaging technologies, and the recent establishment of numerous volunteer recording programmes, have transformed the field. (Aeon)

Video of the day

John Authers analyses MSCI’s decision to delay again the inclusion of Chinese A-shares in its benchmark indices and finds that capital must still be allowed greater freedom to leave China. (FT)