On Friday, mutinous soldiers in Niger declared their leader the new head of state, raising concerns that it could hinder the nation's fight against jihadists and boost Russia's influence in West Africa. The White House National Security Council has expressed concern over the unconstitutional seizure of power, and warned that it could put at grave risk the continued security cooperation with the government of Niger. Russia has the opportunity to increase its influence in West Africa, as the international community watches to see how the situation in Niger develops.
Posts published in “Politics”
The Supreme Court has temporarily intervened in a legal battle over the Biden administration's restrictions on so-called "ghost guns," reviving a regulation from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) that requires anyone who manufactures or assembles a firearm for personal use to obtain a serial number from the ATF and be subject to a background check before they can be sold or transferred. A group of gun owners, manufacturers and firearms advocacy organizations challenged the rule in court, but the Biden administration has sought emergency relief from the Supreme Court to put on hold the lower court's ruling while it appeals the decision. The court's decision is a temporary victory for the Biden administration, freezing the litigation until the justices decide whether to hear the case.
Democrats have pushed a Supreme Court ethics legislation through a Senate committee, which has been met with opposition from Justice Alito, who is the first member of the court to take a public stand against it. The legislation is in response to Justice Alito's interview with two Wall Street Journal writers, including one who is an attorney representing plaintiffs in a key case before the Supreme Court. Its prospects in the full Senate remain uncertain.
President Joe Biden has publicly acknowledged his seventh grandchild, Navy, who is the daughter of his son Hunter Biden and Arkansas woman Lunden Roberts. Biden and his wife Jill Biden stated that they want what is best for all of their grandchildren, including Navy, and that the matter is a family issue, not a political one. This marks the first time Biden has publicly acknowledged Navy, and serves as a reminder that the Biden family is still a family first.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has suggested that he would consider pardoning former President Donald Trump if he is elected to the White House next year. DeSantis cited the example of former President Gerald Ford pardoning former President Richard Nixon in 1974, saying that it was a decision made in order to move the country forward. The suggestion has been met with criticism, but DeSantis has maintained that the decision would be made in the best interests of the country.
President Joe Biden has signed an executive order to implement reforms passed by Congress that will significantly strengthen how the military handles sexual assault cases. The order transfers the decision to prosecute certain major crimes, including sexual assault, out of the chain of command and assigns them to independent military attorneys. It also requires the military to provide training to all personnel on the new system and to review and update policies and procedures to ensure that victims are treated with dignity and respect. This order is a major step forward in the effort to ensure justice for victims of sexual assault in the military and to hold perpetrators accountable.
Rep. Dean Phillips (D-Minn.) is reportedly considering a long-shot primary challenge to President Joe Biden in 2024, meeting with donors in New York next week to discuss the possibility. Phillips, a moderate Democratic member of House leadership, has called for a contested primary featuring younger candidates rather than handing the 2024 nomination to the 80-year-old Biden. He is highly unlikely to mount a primary challenge unless Biden's health worsens or his political standing drops precipitously.
A third person has been charged in the federal case involving classified material taken from the White House to former President Donald Trump's Florida estate, Mar-a-Lago. Carlos De Oliveira, a Mar-a-Lago maintenance worker, is accused of helping Trump's aide Walt Nauta move boxes of classified documents stashed at Mar-a-Lago, and then lying to federal investigators about it. The charges against De Oliveira, Trump, and Nauta could have serious implications, and former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance believes that De Oliveira's charges could be the “final nail in the coffin” for Donald Trump if he flips.