NATO To Discuss Finland, Sweden Membership
Foreign ministers from NATO are gathering in Berlin as Finland and Sweden move closer to joining the Western military alliance despite warnings from Moscow amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Senate
DIA: Intel suggests COVID virus was lab-engineered
Army Lt. Gen. Scott Berrier, director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, revealed in prepared Senate testimony this week that some U.S. intelligence agencies — not identified by name — believe the virus behind the COVID-19 pandemic may have been genetically modified in a laboratory and not transmitted naturally from an animal host in China, where it was first identified.
Senate Democrats fail in effort to codify Supreme Court Roe decision into law
Senate Democrats’ effort to codify Roe v. Wade into federal law failed Wednesday.
U.S. Senate Democrats Put Abortion-Rights Bill to the Test Wednesday
Democrats in the U.S. Senate plan to force a vote on Wednesday on legislation codifying women’s rights to abortion nationwide, a protest gesture that is almost certain to fail ahead of an expected Supreme Court decision to end those protections.
U.S. Warns Ukraine War Will Last Long
United States intelligence officials warned Wednesday that Russia was preparing for a long war in Ukraine and that a victory in the eastern Donbas region may not mean the battle is over.
Missouri senate passes bill requiring voters to show photo ID
Missouri’s Republican-led state Senate has passed a bill that would require voters to show photo identification at polling stations, the Associated Press reports. Democrats added two weeks of no-excuse absentee ballot voting to the GOP Bill.
California legislation would allow teen vaccination without parental consent
A bill that would allow California youth ages 12 and older to receive vaccines without parental consent was advanced by state lawmakers.
Congress fires its first warning shot on Biden’s Iran deal
President Joe Biden’s bid to revive the Iran nuclear deal flunked its first test in the U.S. Senate.
Senate Democrats’ bill to codify Roe goes beyond many blue states on abortion
In response to a bombshell leak from the Supreme Court suggesting that a reversal of Roe v. Wade may be imminent, Senate Democrats said they will bring legislation to the floor to codify Roe in federal law. But the bill, which has little chance of passing since Senate Democrats cannot meet the 60-vote filibuster threshold to pass it, would go beyond what Roe permits by overriding nearly all state-level restrictions.
Democrats Try To Legalize Third Trimester Abortions In All 50 States
Democrats are trying to ram through a bill which would legalize abortion nationwide, including during the last three months of pregnancy when a child can survive outside the womb.
U.S. Supreme Court Abortion Move Sparks Calls for Ending Senate’s Filibuster
A draft opinion suggesting the U.S. Supreme Court was ready to overturn the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision establishing the right to abortion sparked a fresh call among progressive Democrats to scrap the Senate’s filibuster rule.
Trump touts that all candidates he endorsed won in Ohio, Indiana, predicts ‘tremendous season’ for GOP
Former President Trump touted victories for the nearly two dozen candidates he endorsed who won their primary races in Ohio and Indiana Tuesday night, predicting the night was just the beginning of a “tremendous season” for Republicans he supports.
Blinken: Iran plotting to assassinate top American officials while negotiating nuke deal
Secretary of State Antony Blinken indicated this week that Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps continues to plot the assassination of both current and former top United States officials while talks regarding the Iran nuclear deal are still underway.
House passes measure encouraging Biden to seize Russian assets to fund Ukraine aid
The House passed Wednesday a measure encouraging President Biden to tap the proceeds from assets seized from Russian oligarchs to provide aid to Ukraine.
Don’t Say Marijuana: Washington State Bans Use of ‘Racist’ Word for Cannabis
Washington State is banning the use of the word “marijuana” in state law, citing its historically racist connotations.
Taiwan Condemns China Military Drills
Taiwan has condemned China’s military for conducting military drills nearby while U.S. lawmakers visited the island.
Kemp signs constitutional carry bill into law for Georgia
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 319, a “constitutional carry” measure allowing Georgians to carry guns without the need for a state-issued license.
DeSantis Signs Bill To Provide $70 Million To Support Fatherhood In Florida
Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis signed a bill on Monday to provide more than $70 million to support fatherhood in his state.
Senate votes to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to U.S. Supreme Court
The U.S. Senate voted 53-47 Thursday to confirm President Joe Biden’s Supreme Court nominee, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, to replace retiring Justice Stephen Breyer.
Kentucky’s Democrat governor vetoes bill banning male-born athletes from female sports
Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear vetoed Wednesday legislation barring male-born athletes from female scholastic sports, setting up the possibility of an override in the Republican-controlled state legislature.