Key takeaways: G7 nations, including the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, have announced a joint declaration of support for…
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The Iowa Legislature passed a bill banning most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy, with only Republican support. The bill includes narrow exceptions for rape and incest, and was passed despite vocal objections from Democratic lawmakers and abortion advocates. After the bill was approved, protesters in the gallery booed and yelled “shame” to state senators.
FBI Director Christopher Wray is set to face questioning from the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday regarding the alleged weaponization of law enforcement against conservatives. He is expected to defend his employees' work and address the controversy surrounding the arrest of Gal Luft, a dual U.S.-Israeli citizen who has claimed he was persecuted at the direction of the Biden family. The hearing is likely to be contentious, as both Republicans and Democrats clash over the FBI's role in the matter.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has stated that he would not be former President Donald Trump's running mate if given the opportunity, citing the lack of authority of the vice presidency. He also criticized both Trump and President Joe Biden for their ability to win over suburban women, and is currently 30 points behind Trump in the polls. It is unclear if DeSantis will run for president in 2024, but he has made it clear that he will not be Trump's running mate.
North Korea launched a long-range ballistic missile on Wednesday, which flew for 74 minutes before landing in the Sea of Japan. Japan has responded by strengthening its surveillance and maintaining military preparedness with the U.S., while the international community awaits a response from the U.N. Security Council. It is unclear how the U.S. and its allies will respond to the launch.
Iowa legislators passed a bill banning most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy late Tuesday night, with vocal objections from Democratic lawmakers and abortion advocates. Governor Reynolds will sign the bill on Friday, and if it is not blocked by a court, it will go into effect immediately. The bill's passage marks a major victory for pro-life advocates in Iowa, and could have far-reaching implications for abortion access in the state.
House members returned to Washington Tuesday to begin a three-week stint at the Capitol, but confusion remains over Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's membership in the House Freedom Caucus. Members of the right-wing group have refused to comment on the matter, and Greene herself is unsure of her status. Despite the three-week session, the issue is likely to remain unresolved until the House takes a six-week break at the end of the month.
The Justice Department has reversed its position on a lawsuit brought by writer E. Jean Carroll against former President Donald Trump, saying that Trump was not acting within the scope of his presidential duties when he allegedly defamed Carroll. The lawsuit, which was filed in 2019, accuses Trump of defaming Carroll when he denied her allegation that he raped her in the 1990s. The Department's reversal is based on a jury's determination in a separate civil lawsuit that Trump was liable for sexual abuse and defamation of Carroll. It is unclear what impact the reversal will have on the case.