Politics
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States aim to chip away at abortion rights with Supreme Court in mind
When Rep. Lola Sheldon-Galloway introduced a bill in the Montana House two years ago that would have prohibited abortions after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the Republican legislator knew it was unlikely to survive the veto pen of the Democratic governor.
Sure enough, then-Gov. Steve Bullock vetoed that bill and two other anti-abortion measures ...Read more

Commentary: How the riot and the HR 1 debate are fueling the crusade against dark money
Amid false claims of voter fraud and very real instances of voter suppression, the 2020 election showed that our democracy is in need of an overhaul to create an electoral process that is fair, free of corporate influence and protected from discrimination.
That is why we the people are pushing Congress to pass the For the People Act, a ...Read more

Threats to lawmakers have nearly doubled in 2021, police chief says
WASHINGTON — Threats to members of Congress have nearly doubled in the first two months of this year compared to the same time period last year, according to the acting head of the U.S. Capitol Police.
In testimony prepared for a Wednesday House hearing, acting Chief Yogananda Pittman said there has been a 94% increase in threats to lawmakers...Read more

Exiled to Mar-a-Lago, Trump and his grievances drive Florida Legislature's agenda
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — As they start their two-month session, Republicans in the Florida Legislature are seeking to address some of Donald Trump’s biggest grievances, showcasing that the former president’s political clout remains immense in his home state.
Trump’s favorite targets — Big Tech, China, antifa and election fraud — are ...Read more

Sweeping climate bill aims for zero carbon emissions by 2050
WASHINGTON — High-ranking House Democrats unveiled legislation Tuesday to zero out domestic greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, including deep cuts in the next decade, a deadline that has support from the world’s leading climate scientists.
The draft bill would set a U.S. goal to reduce greenhouse emissions by at least 50 percent, from 2005 ...Read more

Biden's sanctions on Russia, Saudis spark grumblings of weakness
WASHINGTON — Twice in the last week, the U.S. announced new sanctions against Russia and Saudi Arabia over what it called human rights abuses. Twice, critics said President Joe Biden pulled his punches.
Financial markets and rights groups were unimpressed by Biden’s move Tuesday to sanction senior Russian law enforcement officials over the ...Read more

Supreme Court leans toward approving Arizona GOP voting rules challenged by Democrats
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court confronted the growing partisan divide over voting rights Tuesday in an Arizona case in which Democrats are challenging two Republican-sponsored rules that appeared likely to win approval from the justices.
One calls for throwing out ballots cast on Election Day by voters who arrive at the wrong precinct but ...Read more
Biden says US will have vaccines faster, prioritizes teachers
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden said Tuesday that the United States would have enough COVID-19 vaccines to inoculate every American adult by the end of May, two months earlier than previously expected.
The increased supply would help schools reopen faster, he said, by allowing states to prioritize inoculating teachers and other staff. ...Read more

Supreme Court ponders limits of Voting Rights Act enforcement
WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Tuesday appeared ready to make it more difficult for voting rights advocates to prove that state election laws should be struck down as discriminatory.
In an oral argument centered on lawsuits over two Arizona election laws, the justices grappled with how to balance state laws with the anti-discrimination ...Read more
Ethics report details questionable spending, decisions by Rep. Palazzo
WASHINGTON — An Office of Congressional Ethics report released Monday outlines questionable campaign spending by Rep. Steven Palazzo to repair an investment property he wanted to sell, his attempts to use his position of power to help his brother get back into the Navy, and details instances in which the Mississippi Republican had his ...Read more

GOP senators seek to curtail powers of state election officials
WASHINGTON — A group of Republican senators wants Congress to restrict the authority of state election officials to expand vote-by-mail measures without the explicit backing of state lawmakers — the latest volley in the brewing clash over voting rules, access and rights.
The bill, known as the Protect Electoral College Act, will be ...Read more

Commentary: Blessed are the listeners
President Joseph R. Biden has already had much of the membership of the United States Senate to the White House for meetings, consultations and conversations.
That's a natural thing for someone who is a creature of the Senate — he served there from 1973 to 2009.
It's also a natural thing for Biden, the man.
He went to visit an ailing, 97-...Read more

Editorial: Biden follows Trump's bad example in downgrading the American Bar Association's role on judges
President Joe Biden has rightly reversed many of the policies pursued by Donald Trump, but in one respect he is following Trump's lead — and it's a mistake. Like Trump, but unlike former President Barack Obama, Biden won't seek advice from the American Bar Association in advance of nominating candidates to the federal courts.
As we observed ...Read more

Commentary: Trump's not-quite-triumphant return
The former president made a semi-Trumphant return on Sunday. Donald Trump’s rapturous reception at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, Florida, made clear that the conservative movement, as well as the Republican Party, belongs to him. Yet there were also signs that his brand is tarnished.
Trump made the expected attacks...Read more

Biden's trade goals contrast with Trump's on climate, allies
President Joe Biden’s trade policy priorities include climate change, social impact and global cooperation, a stark contrast with Donald Trump’s “America First” mantra and focus on negotiating new bilateral deals.
Biden’s trade strategy will look to incorporate sustainable environment goals, advance racial equity and partner with ...Read more

In Georgia, Fulton County DA's investigation into Trump heads to grand jury
ATLANTA — Fulton County prosecutors are expected to appear before a grand jury this week seeking subpoenas for documents and witnesses related to their investigation of former President Donald Trump and some of his top associates for possible election fraud, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution has learned.
Legal experts are split as to whether ...Read more

House Ethics Committee continues probe of Guam delegate
WASHINGTON — After more than a year of investigating, the House Ethics Committee is still working to determine whether Guam Delegate Michael F.Q. San Nicolas misused campaign funds, accepted improper contributions and engaged in an inappropriate sexual relationship with a member of his congressional staff.
The ethics panel is not usually ...Read more

Elizabeth Warren, other progressives propose 'ultra-millionaire' tax
Senator Elizabeth Warren, joined by Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Brendan Boyle, proposed a new wealth tax on households with a net worth of more than $50 million.
The lawmakers said Monday the new tax, dubbed the Ultra-Millionaire Tax Act, would create a “fairer” economy with a 2% annual tax on households and trusts valued at between...Read more

Trumps were vaccinated in January before leaving White House, adviser says
Before leaving the White House on Jan. 20, then-President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine earlier in the month, a Trump adviser said Monday.
The former first couple received their second shot while in Florida as private citizens. The adviser did not, however, disclose whether the ...Read more
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