10 things you need to know today: July 5, 2015

Obama to free some nonviolent drug offenders, Greece faces referendum on bailout deal, and more

Alexis Tsipras
(Image credit: Petros Karadjias/Associated Press)

1. Obama will reportedly free dozens of prisoners with nonviolent drug charges

In the next few weeks, President Barack Obama is expected to free dozens of federal prisoners with nonviolent drug charges, aides told The New York Times. Many politicians on both sides of the aisle have criticized tough sentences for minor criminals, which disproportionately affect young Latino and black men. More than 30,000 prisoners have applied for clemency. Since December, Obama has freed 30 drug offenders. Officials estimate he may free more than 40 in the next batch of commutations.

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Julie Kliegman

Julie Kliegman is a freelance writer based in New York. Her work has appeared in BuzzFeed, Vox, Mental Floss, Paste, the Tampa Bay Times and PolitiFact. Her cats can do somersaults.