Over 250 legislators from across the United States have signed a letter condemning the proposed expulsion of three Democratic legislators in Tennessee for protesting gun violence on the state House floor. The letter calls the proposed expulsion an "anti-democratic" attempt to "silence" elected leaders on an important issue and a "clear violation of the First Amendment". It calls on the Tennessee House of Representatives to reconsider its actions and protect the right of its members to speak out on behalf of their constituents.
Posts published in “Politics”
Gleb Karakulov, a former captain and engineer in Putin's elite security unit, has defected and labeled the Russian leader a "war criminal" for his actions in Ukraine. Karakulov said he had witnessed the "inhumanity and cruelty" of the Russian military in Ukraine, and that he could no longer remain silent. His defection and criticism of Putin is a rare event and is likely to be seen as a major blow to the Russian president's reputation.
Idaho Governor Brad Little has signed a bill into law making it a felony crime for adults to help minors travel to other states for abortion care without parental consent. The law creates a new crime called "abortion trafficking" with a minimum sentence of two years in state prison, and a maximum sentence of life in prison. The bill has been met with criticism from pro-choice advocates, while proponents argue it is necessary to protect minors from making decisions with long-term consequences.
Governor Whitmer signed legislation to repeal the 1931 abortion ban in Michigan, which was passed by the Democratically controlled state legislature last month. The repeal follows a major victory for abortion rights advocates in neighboring Wisconsin, and is a result of a major ballot drive galvanized by the US Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The court is expected to decide a lawsuit challenging the state’s 1849 abortion ban, furthering the protection of women's rights in the region.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of former New York senator and US attorney general Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, has filed paperwork to run for president in 2024 as a Democrat. He is a controversial figure due to his anti-vaccine views, and his campaign is a long shot. Kennedy Jr. plans to focus on issues such as healthcare, the environment, and economic inequality, and has promised to bring a “new generation of leadership” to the White House.
In response to his indictment by a Manhattan prosecutor, former President Donald Trump has called on Congress to "defund" federal law enforcement. Congressional Republicans have been quick to rally to Trump's defense, while Democrats argue that this is an attempt to undermine the rule of law. The debate over defunding federal law enforcement is likely to continue in the coming weeks, as Congress considers the implications of Trump's call to action.
Wisconsin has seen a major shift in its political landscape this week, with Janet Protasiewicz, a liberal backed by Democrats, winning a seat on the Wisconsin state Supreme Court and flipping the ideological balance of the court to the liberal bloc for the first time in 15 years. Meanwhile, Republicans won a supermajority in the state Senate's 8th District, but a newly elected Republican state senator is threatening to impeach Protasiewicz and challenge the GOP-gerrymandered maps. These results have the potential to shape the future of Wisconsin politics.
Mike Pence has decided not to appeal a federal judge's order to testify in a special counsel investigation into Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election. D.C. Chief Judge James Boasberg rejected Trump's argument that Pence should be immune from testifying, and Pence's decision to comply marks a historic moment in the investigation. It is unclear when Pence will testify or what information he will provide.