A group of senators is preparing to introduce a bill that would extend the U.S. government's ability to expel migrants without court hearings beyond the expiration of a public health order. Arizona Democrat Ruben Gallego has expressed concern that border communities in his state are not prepared to handle the surge of migrants when Covid restrictions end. The proposed bill would allow the U.S. government to continue the soon-to-be terminated Title 42 border expulsion policy for two years without a public health justification.
Posts published in “Politics”
ProPublica has reported that wealthy Republican donor Harlan Crow paid for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas' grandnephew to attend two private schools in the late 2000s. Crow defended his actions, and the cost of the tuition could have been at least $150,000. This has sparked outcry and calls for ethics reform, as critics argue that the payments could be seen as a form of bribery and could be in violation of the Code of Conduct for United States Judges.
The United States has denied any involvement in a purported drone attack on Russian President Vladimir Putin, with John Kirby from the National Security Council stating that "Mr. Peskov is lying." Former intelligence officers, diplomats, military officials and analysts have expressed skepticism about Russia's narrative, and unnamed U.S. officials are working to determine whether the attack was orchestrated by Kyiv or a pro-Ukraine rogue group, or a false flag operation by the Kremlin. NBC News has viewed two videos of the incident, and the investigation is ongoing.
Four members of the far-right Proud Boys organization were found guilty Thursday of seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, including the rare charge of seditious conspiracy under a Civil War-era statute. Enrique Tarrio, Ethan Nordean, Zachary Rehl and Joseph Biggs were convicted of conspiring to prevent the peaceful transfer of power and obstructing Congress, marking the first convictions under the seditious conspiracy charge since the Civil War. The Justice Department has vowed to continue to pursue those responsible for the attack on the Capitol.
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas accepted private school tuition payments from conservative GOP megadonor Harlan Crow for his teenage grandnephew, Mark Martin, according to a new report from ProPublica. The total amount that Crow paid for Martin’s tuition over the years is unclear, but the news of Justice Thomas’ undisclosed gifts has raised questions about whether the payments were appropriate and if they violated the Code of Conduct for United States Judges. This has sparked a debate about the ethics of accepting gifts from those with a direct interest in a case before the court.
The U.S. is facing a potential default on its debt for the first time in history, with economists warning of dire consequences. Small business owners are particularly vulnerable, and President Biden is set to meet with congressional leaders to try and reach a deal to prevent a default. It is hoped that this meeting will result in an agreement that will prevent the U.S. from defaulting on its debt.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made an unannounced visit to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Thursday, one day after Russia accused the United States of being behind an alleged drone attack. The ICC recently issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin for alleged war crimes in Ukraine. Zelenskyy's visit is likely related to the warrant, as he was in The Hague to discuss the matter with the ICC and the International Court of Justice.
Brazilian Federal Police conducted a major operation on Wednesday, searching former President Jair Bolsonaro's home and seizing his phone as part of an investigation into alleged falsification of COVID-19 vaccine cards. Mauro Cid, one of Bolsonaro's closest allies, was arrested and several other locations were searched. The police said the "false data" were allegedly added to the database between November and December 2020, potentially undermining the government's efforts to contain the virus.