Key takeaways: U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor has struck down a requirement that private insurers cover a variety of preventive services for free. The ruling…
News Mash
The Manhattan district attorney's office is reportedly investigating a "catch and kill" deal involving former President Donald Trump and a former Playboy model before the 2016 presidential election. The grand jury is asking witnesses questions about a $150,000 payment the publisher of the National Enquirer made to the model, Karen McDougal, to buy her story about the alleged affair with Trump. It is unclear if the investigation will lead to any charges against Trump or any other individuals.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has announced that House Republicans are prepared to pass their own debt ceiling bill if President Joe Biden does not agree to negotiate with them. McCarthy proposed a borrowing limit extension with provisions to cut and cap discretionary spending, recapture unspent Covid relief funds, and introduce new work requirements for federal benefits. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-Wash.) jokingly asked what McCarthy would bring to the White House for lunch, to which he replied he would bring lunch.
Abby Grossberg, a former Fox News producer, has accused the network of pressuring her into giving false testimony in a defamation case. In her first television interview with NBC News, Grossberg said she was “bullied, intimidated and coerced” into protecting the network in order to keep her job. Grossberg was fired from Fox News earlier this month after filing a lawsuit against the network, and the full interview is set to air Thursday on “NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt.”
Joseph Fisher, a former Boston Police K-9 officer, was arrested on Thursday by the FBI and charged with a litany of offenses, including assaulting a law enforcement officer, in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Fisher allegedly pushed a chair into an officer chasing a rioter who had used a chemical irritant on police. If convicted, he could face up to 20 years in prison.
After more than five decades in captivity, Lolita the orca may soon be returned to her native waters in the Pacific Northwest. The plan to return her was announced at a news conference held by the Miami Seaquarium, Friends of Lolita, and philanthropist Jim Irsay. The project is still in its early stages, but if all goes according to plan, Lolita will soon be able to live out the rest of her days in her natural habitat.
On Wednesday evening, Reps. Bowman (D-NY) and Massie (R-KY) had a heated exchange in the Capitol, two days after a deadly shooting in Nashville. Bowman, a former educator, expressed his frustration with the lack of action from Republican lawmakers, referencing a crime scene photo of a little girl sobbing outside the school. He called on Congress to take action to prevent future tragedies, highlighting the stark divide between Democrats and Republicans on the issue of gun control. The shooting in Nashville is yet another reminder of the need for Congress to pass meaningful legislation to protect our children.
A federal judge in Texas has ruled that some provisions of the Affordable Care Act (ACA) cannot be enforced nationwide, potentially jeopardizing coverage for preventive services such as screenings for cancer, reproductive health, and mental health. The ruling has been met with criticism from healthcare advocates and could have a major impact on the healthcare industry. The decision is expected to be appealed, and the ACA remains in effect until then.