China and Russia have both taken steps to end the conflict in Ukraine, with China sending an envoy to discuss a possible "political settlement" and Russia praising a framework proposed by China and Brazil. Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have both expressed their support for a peaceful resolution to the conflict, which has been ongoing since 2014. It is hoped that the Chinese envoy's visit will help to bring an end to the conflict.
Posts published in “Politics”
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) is making progress on his $4.8 trillion package, which would enable the House GOP to use the debt-ceiling as a bargaining chip in negotiations with the Senate and White House. After making changes overnight to win over holdouts, McCarthy is inching closer to passing the bill on the House floor, with a vote expected as early as today. This vote is a major test for McCarthy, who must not lose more than four GOP votes for the bill to pass, and will be a key indicator of his ability to lead the House GOP and negotiate with the Senate and White House.
On Wednesday, President Joe Biden and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol will sign the "Washington Declaration," a new agreement to strengthen the U.S. commitment to defend South Korea against nuclear threats from North Korea. The agreement will include plans for U.S. nuclear-armed submarines to dock in South Korea for the first time in more than 40 years, as well as a greater role for South Korea in any response to a potential nuclear attack. The agreement is intended to signal Washington's commitment to deter North Korea from carrying out an attack on its neighbor.
Harvard University has announced that former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern will be joining the school later this year. Douglas Elmendorf, Dean of the Harvard Kennedy School, praised Ardern for her “strong and empathetic political leadership” and said her presence at the school will “generate vital conversations about the public policy choices facing leaders at all levels of government.” Ardern’s appointment to Harvard is a testament to her leadership and commitment to public service.
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) has requested documents from Harlan Crow, a Texas billionaire who has donated millions to conservative causes, to investigate whether his gifts to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas violated federal tax law. Chief Justice John Roberts has responded to a request from Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) for Roberts to testify about Thomas’s relationship with Crow by providing a statement of ethics principles and practices to which all current Supreme Court members subscribe. Wyden's letter to Crow requests documents and communications related to the gifts, as well as any records of payments made to Thomas or his wife, to investigate whether the gifts violated federal tax law.
Chief Justice John Roberts has declined an invitation from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin to testify before the committee on May 2, citing judicial independence and separation of powers concerns. The revelations about Justice Thomas' close ties to a billionaire Republican donor have “contributed to a crisis of public confidence” in the nation’s highest bench. Roberts' decision to decline the invitation is likely to add to the controversy surrounding the court and will be met with further action to address the ethical issues raised by the reports on Justice Thomas.
Key takeaways: The amendment would change the language of the “resign to run” law so that the resignation requirement would not apply to “Persons seeking…
Jury deliberations began Wednesday in the seditious conspiracy trial of former Proud Boys national chairman Enrique Tarrio and four co-defendants, who are accused of plotting to keep President Donald Trump in the White House after the 2020 election. Attorneys for the Proud Boys placed blame for the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol on Donald Trump during closing arguments on Tuesday. If convicted, the defendants could face up to 20 years in prison, and the jury's decision will be closely watched by both sides of the political aisle.