Michael Zack III was executed in Florida on Tuesday for the murder of Ravonne Smith in 1996, despite his lawyers arguing he had an intellectual disability. His death warrant was signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, and his execution was the first in the state since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Florida's death penalty statute unconstitutional. Zack's execution has reignited the debate surrounding the death penalty in the United States.
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The Supreme Court heard arguments on Tuesday in a case challenging the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) funding mechanism, which is provided directly by the Federal Reserve. The plaintiffs, two trade groups representing payday lenders, argue that this is unconstitutional. Both conservative and liberal justices seemed skeptical of the plaintiffs' theory, with Justice Stephen Breyer noting that the CFPB's funding structure is similar to other independent agencies. The outcome of the case will have a significant impact on the CFPB's ability to protect consumers from predatory lenders.
The House of Representatives voted 216 to 210 to remove California Republican Kevin McCarthy from his position as House Speaker, the first time a Speaker has been ousted through a vote of the full House in the middle of a congressional term. This comes after McCarthy reached an 11th-hour deal to avert a government shutdown with the help of House Democrats, but a faction of his own party forced his ouster. It is unclear who will take his place as House Speaker, and the vote is a reminder of the deep divisions within the Republican Party.
Lady Gaga has won a lawsuit filed against her by Jennifer McBride, one of the five people involved in the theft of Gaga's dogs. Judge Holly Fujie ruled in favor of Gaga, noting McBride's involvement in the theft and her plea of no contest. McBride had attempted to sue Gaga for the reward money offered for the return of Gaga's two French bulldogs, Koji and Gustav, which were stolen in February and later recovered unharmed.
Frederick Douglass Moorefield Jr., a senior Defense Department official, and Mario D. Flythe have been arrested and charged with running a dogfighting ring in Maryland. The FBI and other agencies discovered veterinary steroids, weighted vests, collars and chains, and an apparatus used for electrocution at their homes. If convicted, they face up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine, and the case has sparked outrage among animal rights activists.
Grimes, the Canadian musician best known for her hit single “Oblivion”, has filed a petition in San Francisco Superior Court to establish a parental relationship with her three children with ex-boyfriend Elon Musk. The petition is typically used when the parents of a child are unmarried, and it is usually accompanied by requests for custody rights or child support. However, it does not appear that Grimes has made such requests as of Tuesday. A notice of alternative dispute resolution methods was also filed on the same day, and the outcome of the case remains uncertain.
After a five-month hiatus, late-night television returned on Monday, with Stephen Colbert being the first to return. Donald Trump took to his Truth Social website to express his opinion of the shows, calling them “talentless, low rated CREEPS” and claiming they were a “major” campaign contribution to Democrats. The writers strike was settled on Tuesday, allowing writers to go back to work and the shows to start airing new episodes again.
On Monday night, a shooting at a Pop Warner football practice in Apopka, Florida left two 13-year-olds injured. An 11-year-old suspect was arrested and charged with second-degree attempted murder. Apopka Police Chief Mike McKinley expressed his concern about the incident, noting the need for better gun safety measures, especially when it comes to children.