Democrats Descend on Iowa:

Sixteen Democratic Presidential Candidates to Speak on Gun Issues at Iowa Forum (Radio Iowa)

Saturday’s forum is sponsored by Mike Bloomberg’s Everytown for Gun Safety Action Fund, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action. Bloomberg will speak at the event which will be livestreamed the Facebook pages for Everytown for Gun Safety and Moms Demand Action.

Virginia Voters Have First Say on Guns Issue (New York Times)

The Virginia elections will pit the resources of the gun safety movement’s biggest supporter, Michael R. Bloomberg, against the National Rifle Association, the long-dominant Virginia-based gun rights organization that faces internal turmoil and a steady loss of influence.

Iowa Today: How the Iowa State Fair Can Make — or Break — a Presidential Candidate (Washington Post)
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Recession Watch:
-First U.K. Contraction Since Wake of Financial Crisis Raises Brexit Stakes (Bloomberg)
-German Exports Slump Most in Three Years on Trade Conflicts (Bloomberg)

Climate of Hope.

Santiago Chile’s Electric Bus Fleet Cuts Costs and Cleans the Air (Bloomberg Businessweek)

New Zealand Endorses Task Force for Climate Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) Recommendations (New Zealand Ministry for the Environment)

Today in Political Fundraising.

Trump’s Hamptons Fundraisers Put High-Profile Donors in a Bind (Bloomberg)

Did Steve Ross risk a huge deal to host a fundraiser? Facebook in Talks to Take Space at Manhattan’s Hudson Yards (Bloomberg)

Equinox and SoulCycle Competitors Try to Cash In on Boycott Over Trump Hamptons Fundraiser (Page Six)

Celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson is enticing disaffected Equinox members by promising to donate 20% of her weekend class revenue to Trump-battling charities such as the Human Rights Campaign, Everytown for Gun Safety and the Martin Luther King Foundation.

Weekend reads.

Incredible Tech Read from Joel Stein: How to Hide from Silicon Valley (Bloomberg Businessweek cover)

This is the ultimate roadmap to any quest to hide from big tech. A fascinating and funny read, in addition to a buying guide for gadgets to combat efforts to track you, including glasses called Reflectacles that block facial recognition to a small cloth bag with silver metal lining that silences all signals to and from your mobile phones.

Communications Breakdown: In Search of Perfection at the New York Times (Andrew Kirtzman)

Sign up for one of my favorite new newsletters about politics and communications here.

How Bill de Blasio Went From Progressive Hope to Punching Bag (New York Times magazine cover)

Summer Art Trek: Gallery Hopping in New York’s Hudson Valley (New York Times)

Best of late night.

On two United Airlines pilots being arrested on suspicion for being intoxicated before flying a plane:

“It was a beautiful day here in New York City. It was so nice that over at LaGuardia, United pilots switched from whiskey to piña coladas.”
— Jimmy Fallon

On President Trump’s visit to El Paso this week:

“A local television station released video today showing President Trump bragging about the crowd size at his rallies while talking to medical staff treating victims of the El Paso shootings. Said one doctor, ‘That’s very interesting. Have I shown you our psych ward?’”
— Seth Meyers

On boycotts of SoulCycle and Equinox gyms over the majority owner Stephen Ross hosting a Donald Trump fundraiser in the Hamptons:

“There are growing calls for people to boycott these fitness brands and all I can say is … Good luck! Have you ever tried to get out of a gym membership? It’s impossible!”
–Trevor Noah