There’s a report now that South Africa’s Nelson Mandela is in a “permanent vegetative state” and doctors have advised his family to take him off live support.

Turns out Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has a pretty decent singing voice. Here he is singing the national anthem today at a Washington Nationals ball game.

Our quick look inside this morning’s not-too-bad jobs numbers.

AFP is reporting that troops have opened fire on Morsi supporters in Egypt:

#BREAKING Troops open fire as Morsi backers march on Republican Guard HQ: AFP

— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) July 5, 2013

Late Update: AFP nows reports three people have been killed in the shooting.

We’re going to be launching a books section at TPM later this year. But in advance of that, I wanted to tell you about a book I just read, After Tamerlane by John Darwin. Read More

For those who have eyes to see it, yet more evidence that the IRS ‘scandal’ to the extent it was about targeting conservatives, was basically a crock.

Here’s an interesting look at Morsi’s final days in office. ‘Isolated but defiant’ is the AP’s headline take. It seems to confirm the general sense that even ahead of the actual coup, Morsi had his hands on virtually none of the levers of state power. Beyond the crowds and the eventual military coup, his power had virtually collapsed.

Boy hit by stray Fourth of July bullet dies.

Presidents of Nicaragua and Venezuela each express readiness to grant Snowden asylum.

Multiple reports that Mohamed ElBaradei will become Egypt’s new Prime Minister.