The U.S. Justice Department has filed a motion in a federal court to order the state of Texas to remove a floating barrier covered in razor wire, which was installed by the state to deter migrants from crossing into the United States. The motion argues that the barrier poses a threat to navigation and public safety, and could potentially harm or kill migrants seeking asylum in the United States. The court is expected to make a decision soon on the Justice Department's request for a preliminary injunction to prevent "irreparable harm" to foreign relations, public safety and navigation.
Posts published in “Politics”
A group of mutinous soldiers attempted a coup d'etat in Niger on Wednesday, claiming to have overthrown the democratically elected President Mohamed Bazoum. The African Union and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have condemned the attempted coup and Benin President Patrice Talon is heading to Niger on a mediation bid. The international community is closely monitoring the situation and hoping for a peaceful resolution.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has signed legislation banning conversion therapy for minors, making Michigan the 22nd state to outlaw the practice. The legislation is supported by a number of organizations, and is seen as a major victory for the LGBTQ+ community in Michigan, as it protects minors from a practice that has been widely discredited by the scientific community. Whitmer said the legislation was necessary to make Michigan a place “where you can be who you are and love who you love.”
At a House Oversight Subcommittee hearing on Wednesday, witnesses and lawmakers discussed the issue of unidentified aerial phenomena (UAPs or UFOs). Former U.S. intelligence official David Grusch claimed that the government has a long-standing program to retrieve UAPs, while former Navy Commander David Fravor and former Navy pilot Ryan Graves reported their own experiences with UAPs. Lawmakers called for more information from the federal government and urged them to address the stigma surrounding UFO reporting.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) experienced a health scare on Wednesday during a press conference, causing concern among his colleagues and raising questions about his health. His office has not released any further information, but he has continued on with his duties as usual.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was briefly escorted away from a press conference on Wednesday after freezing up mid-sentence while giving his opening remarks. Concerned aides and colleagues came to his side, and he returned a few minutes later to take questions as normal. McConnell's office released a statement saying he was "feeling fine" and had simply "lost his train of thought," raising questions about his health and ability to continue to serve in the Senate.
Rudy Giuliani, the former New York City mayor and outside lawyer for former President Donald Trump, has admitted to making false statements about two Georgia election workers in a court filing. This could potentially allow Giuliani to avoid handing over a batch of records related to his communications during the 2020 election, and potentially help him avoid "severe discovery sanctions" from the judge in the case. The judge has yet to rule on the matter, and Giuliani has not commented on the filing.
Hunter Biden, the second son of President Joe Biden, is expected to appear in a Delaware federal court Wednesday morning to accept a plea deal for two misdemeanor counts of failing to pay his taxes. The agreement, reached last month with U.S. Attorney David Weiss, includes an admission of felony gun possession, but the charges will be dropped if Biden fulfills the terms of the plea deal. Republicans have criticized the plea deal, arguing that Biden should face jail time, but it is expected that he will be able to avoid prison.