Good Monday morning.

This has been a big summer for sharks. It feels like every time you turn around, there’s another story about the supposed monsters of the deep. Here are just a few examples of what I’m talking about:

  • The movie “Jaws” celebrated its 50th anniversary on June 20. In case you live under a rock and are not familiar with the movie, which, for the record, I never saw (I was three years old when it came out in 1975), was inspired by a series of shark attacks that took place along the Jersey shore in 1916, which were memorialized in a novel titled – what else? – “Jaws”, written by Peter Benchley in 1974. “Jaws” the movie was the first-ever summer blockbuster and redefined how Hollywood marketed and distributed movies. It also was a pop culture phenomenon that left a significant and lasting mark that is still felt today.
  • This past May, Lewis Pugh, a 55-year-old British-South African endurance athlete, became the first person to swim around Martha’s Vineyard. He undertook the 60-mile challenge in 47-degree water (with no wetsuit, mind you) in which “Jaws” was filmed to raise awareness about the plight of sharks, which he believed the film wrongly characterized as “villains” and “cold-blooded killers.” It took Pugh about 24 hours of swimming spread over 12 days to complete his task, which was complicated by rough waters, wind, and rain.
  • The deployment of drone technology along New York’s shoreline to detect sharks has resulted in an uptick in beach closures, including over the busy – and hot – Fourth of July holiday weekend. This probably bummed out a lot of would-be beachgoers, but officials are feeling squirrelly given a likely shark bite incident that occurred in late June at Jones Beach, coupled with a number of shark encounters along the Long Island coast in recent years.
  • Next door to New York in Massachusetts – specifically Cape Cod – a great white shark sighting was confirmed in Woods Hole for the first time in more than two decades, and that was just one of several such sighting off the Cape’s coast. These sightings are actually increasing, experts say, thanks in part to a growing population of gray seals, which provide the sharks an attractive meal option. (Interestingly, a bill is moving through Congress that would create a sort of amber alert system for sharks, pushed in part by the family of a man, Arthur Medici, 26, who was fatally attacked by a great white in 2016 while boogie boarding at a Wellfleet beach).

Side note: I took a break halfway writing this post to go to the supermarket to pick up some cherries, which are my latest summer obsession, and while waiting in line at the checkout counter I spotted Life magazine’s special edition entitled “Sharks: Fear and Fascination.” This only further convinced me that sharks are indeed having a moment.

All this attention is a double-edged sword, as shark advocates like Pugh say that the “silent hunters of the sea”, as they’re sometimes known, are getting a bad rap.

While this ancient species, which has existed on the planet for at least 450 million years (predating both trees and dinosaurs) and can live for hundreds of years, is indeed an apex predator and the number of attacks overall has increased, it still doesn’t present much in the way of a threat – assuming you’re not out there provoking sharks in some way.

On average, there are between 50 and 60 unprovoked shark attacks every year across the globe, which means you’re about 3,000 more times likely to drown when you step into the ocean than you are to be killed by a shark. The truth is, we as humans are far more dangerous to sharks overall than they are to us.

More than one-third of shark (and ray) species are threatened with extinction, thanks largely to overfishing and habitat loss. If they DO become extinct, the impact would be severe and catastrophic over time.

Today is Shark Awareness Day, which provides another good opportunity to debunk shark myths and educate people about the important role sharks play in the ecosystem. They help with fish population control and also play a role in preserving the ocean’s delicate carbon dioxide balance.

After a mixed bag of a weekend from a weather standpoint, today will bring…more of the same. We’ll see scattered thunderstorms in the morning, followed by clouds in the afternoon with the possibility of more thunderstorms.

Sigh.

Sorry to be the bearer of bummer news. Temperatures today will top out in the low-to-mid 80s, but hang onto to those tank tops, because the mercury is only headed up from here.

In the headlines…

President Donald Trump has signaled a “major” statement on Ukraine today, amid what appears to be his increasing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Trump said that “sophisticated” military equipment will be heading to Ukraine, including Patriot air defense missiles.

EU ministers are meeting this morning for urgent talks after Trump threatened to impose 30% tariffs on the bloc – despite what they believed were promising talks with the US administration on how to avoid them.

In an effort to shrink the federal government, Trump and congressional Republicans are diluting the country’s ability to anticipate, prepare for and respond to catastrophic flooding and other extreme weather events, disaster experts say.

Pounding rain and strong winds battered Central Texas yesterday, prompting rescuers to halt search operations for victims of the deadly floods that roared through the region just over a week ago.

The president and First Lady Melania Trump visited Central Texas on Friday to meet with families, first responders and community members affected by the deadly Fourth of July floods.

The Trump administration is working carefully to stamp out conspiracy theories about “weather modification,” wading into a viral, recurring debate that reignited in the wake of Texas’ deadly flooding.

Trump yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of a failed attempt on his life, joining family, friends and close advisers to witness Chelsea’s dominating FIFA Club World Cup final victory over Paris Saint-Germain.

A United States Senate inquiry into an attempt to assassinate Trump at a campaign rally last year has blamed the Secret Service for “inexcusable” failures in its operations and response and called for more serious disciplinary action.

Former Secret Service Director Kimberly Cheatle was adamant that she directed “additional assets to be provided” for Trump’s Butler, Pa., rally a year ago and refuted Sen. Rand Paul’s blistering report.

In many ways, the assassination attempt at a Pennsylvania campaign stop was a perfect storm of failings coming together that allowed Michael Thomas Crooks, 20, to climb on top of a nearby building and take eight shots at the once and future president.

Former President Joe Biden is escalating his battle against Republican claims that he might not have been in control of clemency decisions issued under his name at the end of his term and that his cognitive state impaired his functioning in office.

In an interview with The New York Times, Biden said he had orally granted all the pardons and commutations issued at the end of his term, calling Republicans “liars” for claiming his aides used an autopen to do so without his authorization.

Trump said last week that he plans to impose blanket tariffs of 15% or 20% on most trade partners, dismissing concerns that further tariffs could negatively affect the stock market or drive inflation.

The Trump administration will restrict immigrants in the country illegally from enrolling in Head Start, a federally funded preschool program, the Department of Health and Human Services announced last week.

King Charles has invited Trump for an unprecedented second state visit in September, scheduling the trip for three days when parliament is not sitting and removing the possibility of the US president addressing parliament.

Trump will make a two-day state visit to Britain from Sept. 17 to 19, Buckingham Palace confirmed yesterday, making him a rare head of state to be accorded a second such visit.

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is being accused of defaming Trump by calling him a “rapist” on social media amid controversy over the Department of Justice’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein case.

Trump defended Attorney General Pam Bondi over the weekend amid criticism from some in his base over a memo about accused sex trafficker Epstein, writing on Truth Social that Bondi is doing “a FANTASTIC JOB” in her role.

Trump’s weekend post defending Bondi marked the first time the president has been “ratioed” (when a post has received more replies than likes or shares, indicating more disagreement or criticism than support) on his own social media platform.

Comedian and actor Rosie O’Donnell, who is living in Ireland, has responded to Trump’s threat to have her U.S. citizenship revoked, the latest move in a years-long back-and-forth between the two New York-born former TV stars.

Writing on Truth Social, Trump called O’Donnell a “ Threat to Humanity” adding that she “should remain in the wonderful Country of Ireland, if they want her. GOD BLESS AMERICA!”

Taking to her Instagram on Saturday, hours after Trump’s threat, O’Donnell uploaded a picture of the president with Epstein, and wrote: “You are everything that is wrong with America—and I’m everything you hate about what’s still right with it.”

Gov. Kathy Hochul addressed the resignation of her press secretary, Avi Small, on Friday, saying she “would expect a different analysis from the press” about how the situation is handled.

“I think what you’re misunderstanding is that the culture was changed, the system worked,” Hochul insisted to reporters Friday.

Hochul says the federal government is putting the safety of New Yorkers at risk as it withholds hundreds of millions of dollars for emergency management and counterterrorism efforts.

Hochul shared a warning to New York residents in Tioga and Broome counties last night as heavy rains and flooding threaten the region.

New York officials on Friday highlighted recent investments they’ve made to improve the state’s response to severe weather events, and blasted the federal government for cutting funding to support the programs in light of last week’s deadly floods in Texas.

John A. Sarcone III told WNYT that a panel of federal judges had voted to extend his tenure as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of New York beyond the 120-day limit of his current interim status. But the panel begged to differ.

More than a million New Yorkers could soon find out they’re being kicked off their health insurance plan as state officials untangle the impacts of Washington’s new tax policy bill.

Hochul has published an online resource guide to help navigate Trump’s new tariffs. The website includes details on how imports and exports may be affected. It will also tell New Yorkers and small business owners what products are subject to tariffs. 

A Republican-led Congressional oversight committee has launched an investigation of allegations that New York “unlawfully abused taxpayer funds” connected to Medicaid.

A federal judge Friday upheld a decision to deny Mayor Eric Adams roughly $3.4 million in public money for his 2025 re-election campaign.

The court’s decision by Brooklyn federal judge Nicholas Garfaufis is yet another kick in the teeth to Adams’ reelection bid. 

As Zohran Mamdani mulls staffing up as mayor, the Democratic nominee has an obvious starting point: people from the administration of former Mayor Bill de Blasio, who swept into City Hall a decade ago with a singular focus on economic inequality.

Mamdani’s father, Mahmood, sits on the advisory council of an anti-Israel organization that supports boycotts and sanctions of Israel, routinely accuses the Israeli government of committing “genocide”, and has expressed sympathy for suicide bombers.

Former Democratic Party advisor Dan Turrentine blasted Mamdani for his recently resurfaced comments on law enforcement.

New York City pols Mamdani for mayor are just “recruiting people to move to Florida,’’ Sen. Rick Scott, a Florida Republican, said, calling the situation “insanity.’’

In the People’s Republic of New York City, an empowered DSA is strategizing about how to convert electoral clout into state policy, should Mamdani win the general election in November.

Mamdani, the Democratic nominee, has vowed to strictly enforce the measure, Local Law 97, which calls for potentially expensive upgrades to buildings to curb greenhouse emissions.

A former top aide to Ocasio-Cortez said Mamdani — who has already sent Democrats into “absolute panic” — should support primary challengers against lawmakers who refuse to support his proposed $9 billion in tax hikes on millionaires and corporations.

Former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo is expected to announce this week that he is staying in the race as an independent for the mayor of New York City – but there’s a catch.

After his announcement, Cuomo is going to ask all of the candidates — except for Mamdani — to vow to drop out of the race come mid-September if they are not in the lead, himself included.

Adams said at the Bolivian Day Parade in Queens that Cuomo’s ego-driven plan to stay in the race is doing more harm than good, noting the previous front-runner was already trounced once by both men’s Dem foe, Mamdani.

Former New York Gov. David Paterson said his family was flooded with “vitriolic” calls from rabid Mamdani supporters after he suggested Adams or Cuomo should drop out of the mayoral race — to block the socialist from winning.

A new Times Square ad debuting today will encourage New Yorkers to “flee” Mamdani and move to Ohio. It’s paid for by “Vivek Super PAC — Victors, not Victims”, which supports Vivek Ramaswamy’s Republican gubernatorial candidacy in the Buckeye State.

Columbia University and the Trump administration are nearing a deal in the contentious fight over allegations that the school had failed to protect Jewish students from harassment, with Columbia potentially agreeing to pay hundreds of millions of dollars.

The City Council today is set to  approve legislation that would formally require Rikers Island personnel to notify family and the public within 24 hours if an incarcerated person dies in custody. 

The City Council is expected to pass a package of bills to include nearly 20,000 grocery delivery workers in legislation that improved working conditions for food delivery workers.

Furious city teachers are reportedly threatening to pull their cash from the United Federation of Teachers’ political activities fund after union leaders blindsided them and endorsed Mamdani.

Comptroller Brad Lander has aided boycott efforts against Israel by withdrawing union pension funds from bonds issued by the Jewish state, Adams’ top deputy claims.

The NYPD is expanding its new Quality of Life Division, sending “Q-Team” officers focused on cracking down on everyday neighborhood nuisances to every precinct in Manhattan starting today.

Former New York City Police Department Chief of Department Jeffrey Maddrey ordered the removal of tracking devices from department vehicles assigned to him and his subordinates.

The city’s largest police union is fighting the NYPD in court over the potential firing this week of dozens of police officers agency officials say should never have been approved for the force.

City Councilman Yusef Salaam owes between $100,000 and $250,000 to the IRS in unpaid federal taxes, his 2024 annual financial disclosure to the city Conflicts of Interest Board shows, despite making big money from speaking fees.

The final-round game to secure a lucrative license to open a casino in the New York City area begins now. By the end of this year, a specially-created state board will give a green light to three proposals for commercial casinos in the five boroughs and Yonkers.

A bill meant to ensure that New York City doubles its number of public bathrooms became law Saturday. Another bill that would boost the number of drinking fountains is also on the books as is a measure to increase overdose prevention training in city jails.

Police arrested a Manhattan woman for allegedly stealing nearly $90,000 through the seldom enforced crime of fortune telling, according to police and court documents.

PATH train riders were fuming yesterday after a series of equipment failures upended commutes across the system throughout the weekend.

A bat-wielding Rochester man is going viral for the TV interview he gave after he saw what is reported to be a mountain lion roaming the city streets. “It when right over there, and it said ‘Rawr!’” Curtis Jones insisted.

Nassau County, which recently barred residents from wearing masks, is now making an exception for police officers so they can obscure their identities while helping the federal authorities detain immigrants.

Suffolk County on Friday reached a $225,000 settlement with a Muslim woman who said she had been forced by police officers to remove her hijab and then held in custody bareheaded for nine hours.

A message sent to patients at Planned Parenthood of Greater New York clinics in cities like Schenectady and Saratoga Springs reassured those with Medicaid coverage that, as of now, there would be no changes to their care.

A video posted to NY-21 Democratic candidate Blake Gendebien’s campaign social media platforms last week used an AI-generated version of GOP Rep. Elise Stefanik to mock what it characterizes as an overlong prelude to her gubernatorial campaign. 

“Elise Stefanik is not fooling anyone,” Gendebien wrote on X. “While she ‘considers’ running for Governor, the people of the North Country lack adequate leadership in Congress. It’s time to change that.” 

The Pine Hills Land Authority is considering the $6 million sale of five buildings on the former College of Saint Rose campus to Albany County.

In light of concerns over EMS response times, Brunswick town officials are poised to create an ambulance tax district in August and go out to bid for an outside contractor to run it in September.

James Davis, the trailing candidate in the Democratic Party primary for the Albany Common Council’s Third Ward, filed a lawsuit last week requesting a judge toss out potentially fraudulent ballots and declare him the winner of the June 24 election.

Excelsior University has renamed its Albany headquarters after Lt. Gen. Arthur J. Gregg, commemorating the life and legacy of the U.S. Army’s first Black three-star general who also served as a founding trustee of the university. 

Albany has seen over a dozen incidents involving flare guns in the past year, many of them involving minors, city police say.

 City officials are urging residents not to be alarmed if they spot people walking around Troy dressed in Nazi-like uniforms over the next two weeks. The costumes are a part of a historical period film set in 1939 Germany that is being shot in Troy.

The Trump administration’s efforts to restrict immigration, curb immigrant rights and broaden the powers of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement could have drastic effects on the agriculture industry.

More than six months after pleading guilty to disorderly conduct, Cambridge-Greenwich police Chief Robert Danko has fully transitioned back to work.

Photo credit: George Fazio.