Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned of a potential Russian invasion of key cities in eastern Ukraine if they seize control of Bakhmut. Last Thursday, Zelensky reported that Russia had unleashed a massive rocket attack on 10 regions of Ukraine, resulting in at least six deaths. He has called on the international community to support Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression and urged the Ukrainian people to remain strong and united.
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Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) was hospitalized Wednesday after tripping at a Washington, D.C. hotel. He has served in the Senate for nearly four decades, and is the chamber's longest-serving party leader in U.S. history. McConnell is currently receiving treatment in the hospital, though his spokesperson did not provide a timeline for his return.
Jenna Ellis, a former lawyer for former President Donald Trump, was censured by a Colorado Supreme Court judge on Wednesday for misconduct related to her spreading of false claims about the 2020 presidential election. The OARC said that Ellis had agreed to a censure agreement in a discipline case, in which she acknowledged that several claims she had made about the election were “misrepresentations.” Bryon M. Large, a presiding disciplinary judge for the state’s Supreme Court, approved the censure agreement, which was meant to reinforce that attorneys “cannot cross” a line when engaging in political speech. It is unclear if Ellis will face any further disciplinary action.
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell was admitted to a hospital on Wednesday evening after tripping at a local hotel during a private dinner. This is not the first time McConnell has suffered a fall, as he fractured his shoulder in 2019. His hospitalization comes at a time when the Senate is in the midst of a heated debate over President Joe Biden’s $2 trillion infrastructure plan.
Three Los Angeles Police Department officers were shot Wednesday evening while responding to a call in Lincoln Heights. The suspect was barricaded in the area before a confrontation occurred, resulting in the suspect's death. The three officers were taken to a local hospital and are expected to make a full recovery, with the Los Angeles Police Department expressing their gratitude for the officers' bravery.
House Republicans have announced plans to investigate the select committee that investigated the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot, with the Justice Department arguing that defendants should not be allowed to delay their criminal trials. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) has suggested the committee was politically biased and is looking into Capitol security and the legal treatment of the defendants. The outcome of the investigation is unknown and it is unclear how it will affect the Jan. 6 defendants.
On Tuesday, a data breach at the Washington, D.C. health insurance marketplace potentially exposed the personal identifiable information (PII) of hundreds of lawmakers and staff. House Chief Administrative Officer Catherine L. Szpindor informed recipients of the breach in an internal memo and warned them that their data may have been compromised. The FBI is currently investigating the breach and the House is providing additional security measures to protect the data of its members and staff.
Florida Republicans have introduced three bills to expand upon the state's "Don't Say Gay" law, which restricts classroom instruction on sexual orientation or gender identity in kindergarten through third grade. The bills, H.B. 1223, H.B. 1069, and H.B. 1320, all take aim at different aspects of gender and sexuality education in public schools. The bills have been met with criticism from LGBTQ advocacy groups, while supporters argue that they are necessary to protect the rights of parents. The bills are currently being considered by the Florida Legislature and are expected to be voted on during the 2023 session.