Mike Pence has decided not to appeal a federal judge's order to testify in the special counsel's probe of Donald Trump's attempt to overturn the 2020 election. This decision will provide the special counsel access to key evidence related to Trump's actions leading up to and during the Capitol riot. Judge James Boasberg's ruling largely dismissed efforts by Pence and Trump to limit his testimony and avoid handing over documents.
Posts published in “Politics”
Key takeaways: Tsai Ing-wen and Kevin McCarthy are meeting in California at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. The meeting is being attended by a bipartisan…
North Carolina state Rep. Tricia Cotham recently switched her party affiliation from the Democratic Party to the Republican Party, giving the GOP a veto-proof majority in the state House. Cotham said the modern-day Democratic Party had become unrecognizable to her, and the move is the latest in a series of party switches across the country. The switch has been celebrated by GOP leaders, who are thrilled to have Cotham join the Republican Party.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is hosting a bipartisan meeting with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-Wen in California on Wednesday, drawing condemnation from China and a vow of "resolute countermeasures". The meeting is seen as a show of support for the self-governing island, and both McCarthy and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have expressed their desire to demonstrate support for Taiwan. Several Democratic and Republican lawmakers are expected to join the meeting, including GOP Rep. Mike Gallagher, in order to demonstrate American unity in support for the island.
Idaho Governor Brad Little has signed a bill into law that criminalizes gender-affirming medical care for transgender minors, including puberty blockers, hormone treatment, and gender-affirming surgeries. Opponents argue that the bill is an unnecessary and harmful restriction on the rights of transgender minors, while supporters argue that it is necessary to protect minors from making irreversible decisions about their health and wellbeing. The bill is set to go into effect on July 1, 2021, making Idaho the twelfth state to ban or restrict transition-related care for minors.
State Rep. Tricia Cotham has changed her party affiliation from Democrat to Republican, giving the GOP a supermajority in the state House. This switch will give Republicans the ability to override any veto from Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper, and Cotham is now open to restricting abortion care in North Carolina. This decision could have major implications for the state's political landscape.
NPR has denounced Twitter's decision to label them as "state-affiliated media", arguing that it is inaccurate and inappropriate. Twitter CEO Elon Musk appeared to endorse the designation, and the labeling system has been seen as an attempt to limit the reach of certain news outlets. NPR President and CEO John Lansing has said that the non-profit media organization will continue to provide unbiased coverage of news and events.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken has expressed grave concern over the detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich in Russia on espionage charges, and has called for his immediate release. The Journal and Dow Jones have denied the unsubstantiated allegations and the U.S. government is closely monitoring the situation, with the safety and security of American citizens around the world a top priority.