Supreme Court to hear case involving disclosure of alleged CIA detention sites
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear a case that could reveal new details about CIA detention facilities in foreign countries.
Washington
Supreme Court declines religious liberty dispute between California and Texas
The Supreme Court declined a case challenging California’s ban on state-funded travel to Texas and other states that allow Christian adoption and foster care agencies to refuse service to gay and transgender couples on Monday.
Appeals court allows abortion waiting period; SCOTUS does not have to intervene
In a ruling which means the US Supreme Court does not have to immediately get involved, a federal appeals court temporarily reinstated Tennessee’s 48-hour waiting period for abortions, the Washington Free Beacon reports. The appeals court decision overturned a 2020 trial court decision which determined the waiting period instituted in 2017 to be unconstitutional.
Judge recuses himself in Arizona election audit case
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Christopher Coury on Sunday recused himself from presiding over a challenge to a Republican 2020 election audit Arizona requested by state Senate Republicans, the Washington Examiner reports.
‘There are six sexes,’ lawmaker tells Public Education hearing
During a hearing before the US Public Education Committee last week, Texas Democratic Rep. James Talarico asserted that there are six sexes, not two, the Washington Times reports. The Harvard-educated lawmaker made his assertion during a hearing on House Bill 4042, a measure that would prevent transgender pupils from competing in girls’ K-12 school sports.
Fully vaccinated US tourists to be allowed into EU this summer
Vaccinated tourists from the United States will be permitted to visit the European Union this summer, according to a European Commission official.
Turkey’s genocide blackmail: Threats to work closer with Iran and Russia
The US decision to finally recognize the Armenian genocide comes after decades in which Turkey and its lobbyists in Washington threatened the US. Their narrative was that if Washington would just use the term “genocide” – for a crime committed 106 years ago by a former government in what is now Turkey – then Ankara would rapidly move to sanction the US, close its bases, threaten its citizens and ally with Iran, China and Russia, or other US enemies.
House passes bill that would make D.C. the 51st state
The House of Representatives voted 216-208 on Thursday to pass a bill that would grant statehood to Washington, D.C.
Senate OKs bill to fight hate crimes against Asian Americans
The Senate on Thursday overwhelmingly passed a bill that would help combat the rise of hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, a bipartisan denunciation of such violence during the coronavirus pandemic and a modest step toward legislating in a chamber where most of President Joe Biden’s agenda has stalled.
10 states sue Biden over ‘social cost’ executive order on climate change
Ten Republican-led states sued Thursday to block President Biden’s executive order that would require agencies to calculate the social cost of carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide when enacting regulations.
Stocks drop after reports that Biden wants to double capital gains tax for wealthy
Stocks dropped Thursday amid reports that the Biden administration will propose a large hike of the capital gains tax in order to pay for his childcare and family spending plan.
China engaged in ‘breathtaking’ nuclear expansion, STRATCOM commander warns
China’s military is engaged in a “very rapid” expansion of nuclear forces, which threatens U.S. security and is complicating efforts to deter both Russia as well as China, the commander of the Strategic Command told Congress on Wednesday.
Montana Democratic Party challenges new state Voting ID laws
The Democratic Party in Montana has filed suit challenging state voting laws that end election day voter registration and require college students to produce proof of residency besides student ID to register and vote, the Washington Times reports. In filing suit against Secretary of State Christi Jacobsen, the party argues the laws place an unnecessary and unconstitutional burden on the right to vote for Native Americans, the elderly, the disabled, and students.
U.S. warns hackers actively exploiting remote access software used by federal agencies
A number of U.S. government agencies have been compromised by hackers exploiting both known and newly found software flaws, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency warned Tuesday.
US Postal Service running secret program that tracks people’s social media and flags government agencies: Report
The United States Postal Service is apparently tracking social media posts as part of a clandestine program searching for “inflammatory” messages.
Important disagreements between US and Iran in nuclear talks persist
Important disagreements between the United States and Iran persist after the latest round of indirect nuclear talks in Vienna this week, with the negotiations still far from conclusion and the outcome uncertain, a senior State Department official said on Wednesday.
White House backs D.C. statehood in official statement, final House vote set for this week
The White House is officially backing a congressional effort to make Washington, D.C., the country’s 51 state, saying residents of the nation’s capital not having full representation is Congress is an “affront to the democratic values.”
Arizona governor declares state of emergency and surges National Guard to border
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey declared a state of emergency on Tuesday and surged the National Guard to the United States-Mexico border as unprecedented numbers of migrants continue to enter the country.
New version of Idaho ‘fetal heartbeat’ abortion ban advances
A Senate panel on Tuesday advanced a measure that would outlaw nearly all abortions in conservative Idaho by banning them once a fetal heartbeat can be detected.
Ex-Vice President Walter Mondale Dies At 93
Former U.S. Vice-President Walter F. Mondale, who current President Joe Biden called his “dear friend and mentor,” has died. He passed away Monday in Minneapolis at age 93, his family said. No cause was cited.