Alabama Governor Kay Ivey has signed a bill into law that bans transgender women from playing on female sports teams in college, expanding the state's existing 2021 ban on transgender athletes on K-12 sports teams. The bill has been met with criticism from LGBTQ+ advocacy groups and the NCAA, who have argued that it is discriminatory and dangerous. It is the latest in a series of restrictions on transgender people in Alabama, including a bill that would make it a crime for doctors to provide gender-affirming care to transgender minors.
Posts published in “Politics”
Key takeaways: The Texas Senate is set to begin a historic impeachment trial in August to determine whether Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton should be…
Middlesex County officials have arrested Rashid Ali Bynum, 28, of Portsmouth, Virginia, in connection with the murder of Sayreville Borough Councilwoman Eunice Dwumfour, who was shot multiple times in her car on February 1. Bynum has been charged with first-degree murder, second-degree unlawful possession of a handgun, and second-degree possession of a handgun for unlawful purpose. The Sayreville community is mourning the loss of Dwumfour, who was remembered by her colleagues as a passionate advocate for her constituents.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) is facing criticism from members of the House Freedom Caucus over a budget deal he struck with President Joe Biden. Members of the group are considering using a motion to vacate the chair, which would allow any member of Congress to force a vote to remove the speaker, as a way to pressure McCarthy to allow members to amend the bill. Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas) said Tuesday that "there's going to be a reckoning" about the deal, and Bishop suggested the motion is inescapable.
The U.S. has been attempting to restore high-level communications with China, and extended an invitation for Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin to meet with PRC Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore. However, China has declined the invitation, signaling limits to their willingness to ease tensions. It remains to be seen if the two sides can come to an agreement and move forward with their relationship.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton (R) will face an historic impeachment trial beginning no later than August 28, with his wife, Sen. Angela Paxton, potentially part of the jury. The proceedings stem from a long investigation into abuse of office by the state ethics panel, and the Republican-led House voted to impeach him on Saturday. The trial will be a test of the state's legal system and have major implications for the state and nation, as both sides of the political aisle watch to see if one of the GOP's conservative legal stars will be removed from office.
President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy have reached an agreement in principle on legislation to increase the national debt ceiling, which includes capping non-defense spending and providing medical care for veterans. The agreement has been met with mixed reactions from Congress and criticism from the public, who have noted the lack of specifics on the debt ceiling hike. The agreement is a step forward in avoiding a federal default, but it remains to be seen how the details of the bill will be received.
On Monday, President Joe Biden paid tribute to fallen U.S. troops at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day, joined by House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. Biden acknowledged the pain of those who have lost loved ones and the ceremony concluded with a 21-gun salute and the playing of “Taps.” This was Biden's first visit to the cemetery since taking office and he is the fourth consecutive president to honor the fallen on Memorial Day.