The new board appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis to oversee Disney's special taxing district is considering legal action over a multi-decade agreement that gives Disney control over much of its vast footprint in Central Florida for 30 years. The agreement has been met with criticism from local residents and activists, who argue that it gives Disney too much control, and the board is now exploring its legal options to challenge the agreement.
Posts published in “Politics”
NFL player Ryan Hamlin recently joined Representatives Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick and Bill Posey on Capitol Hill to introduce the Access to AEDs Act, which seeks to raise awareness of the dangers of sudden cardiac arrest in children and increase access to Automated External Defibrillators (AEDs) in schools. Hamlin, who experienced sudden cardiac arrest himself, shared that more than 7,000 children under the age of 18 experience sudden cardiac arrest every year in the US, and that 1 in every 300 youth have an undetected heart condition that puts them at risk. The Act is supported by organizations such as the American Heart Association and the National Athletic Trainers’ Association, and would provide grants to schools to purchase AEDs and provide training for staff and students on how to use them.
The Biden administration has auctioned off 73 million acres of waters in the Gulf of Mexico to offshore oil and gas drilling, drawing criticism from environmentalists who argue it contradicts the president's campaign pledge to ban new fossil fuel development on public lands. The sale is expected to generate over $1 billion in revenue and major oil companies like Chevron, Shell, and BP are expected to submit the highest bids. The Biden administration has defended the sale, arguing that it will help the U.S. transition to a clean energy economy.
Dominion Voting Systems' presentation has revealed an email sent by Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott to the company's chairman, Rupert Murdoch, warning of the financial fallout if the network continued to fact-check Donald Trump's lies after the 2020 election. The presentation is part of Dominion's $1.6 billion defamation lawsuit against Fox News, and Fox has responded by saying they will "vigorously defend" themselves against the "baseless claims." Murdoch had said Trump's claims were "pretty much a crime," and Scott had said the documents "demonstrate Dominion's continued reliance on cherry-picked quotes without context."
Mike Pence has signaled that he may drop efforts to avoid testifying in the Justice Department's criminal probe into former President Donald Trump's attempts to overturn the 2020 election. A federal judge ruled that Pence must comply with a subpoena and testify before the federal grand jury, and Pence has stated that he will obey the law. His testimony could provide important insight into the events of Jan. 6.
Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs' press secretary, Josselyn Berry, has resigned after posting a meme on Twitter that some interpreted as advocating for violence against transphobes. This has sparked a debate about the use of social media by public officials, with some arguing for a higher standard and others advocating for free expression. Berry has not commented publicly on her resignation and it is unclear who will replace her.
At a Senate hearing chaired by Senator Bernie Sanders, Howard Schultz, the former CEO of Starbucks, denied the company had violated workers' rights. Senator Sanders argued that Starbucks had engaged in illegal anti-union activities and had retaliated against workers who had tried to unionize. The hearing is part of a larger effort by Senate Democrats to ensure companies comply with labor laws and protect workers' rights, and it remains to be seen whether Schultz and Starbucks will be held accountable.
A Manhattan grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump's role in a $130,000 hush money payment to Stormy Daniels is scheduled to take a break in April, halting the wave of anticipation of a possible Trump indictment. The grand jury is currently scheduled to break after April 5 and restart later in the month, with the outcome of the proceedings remaining unknown until the jury reconvenes.