South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster (R) has sparked outrage with his remark that he looks forward to the day Democrats are so rare they have to be hunted with dogs. The Anderson County Democratic Party has started a petition calling for an apology and an investigation, and the South Carolina Democratic Party has issued a statement condemning the comments as "unacceptable" and "dangerous". Hundreds of South Carolina residents have signed the petition, and McMaster has yet to respond.
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John Manchec, a 78-year-old millionaire held in the Indian River County jail since 2019, was foiled in his attempt to escape after a two-month investigation by the sheriff's office. The elaborate plan involved waiting until Manchec had a doctor's visit and then taking out the corrections staff while he was at the medical facility. Manchec and the other individuals involved in the plan have been charged with conspiracy to escape and aiding and abetting, respectively. The sheriff's office is reminding the public that any attempt to assist an inmate in escaping from jail is a serious crime.
Republican donor Harlan Crow has refused to provide information to Senate Judiciary Democrats about his relationship with Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, arguing that doing so would exceed Congress' authority and violate separation of powers principles. The request was made in response to questions about gifts Crow has given to Thomas that have not been disclosed, raising concerns about potential influence on Thomas' decisions. Crow's refusal is likely to fuel the controversy surrounding their relationship, with it yet to be seen if the committee will take any further action.
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is set to announce his candidacy for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination on Wednesday night in a live appearance on Twitter with the platform's owner, Elon Musk. The announcement will be hosted by David Sacks, a technology executive and DeSantis supporter, and will be followed by a launch video from DeSantis' campaign. The relationship between Musk and DeSantis could be a significant boost for the governor, as it will give him an introduction to Musk’s massive following.
Donald Trump made a virtual appearance in New York criminal court on Tuesday, his first since pleading not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. Judge Juan Merchan issued a protective order barring Trump from publicly disclosing evidence, which the Manhattan district attorney's office will be turning over to his lawyers. The setup is rare and was used to avoid the disruption of a security operation that accompanied Trump's in-person arraignment on April 4.
House Republicans and the White House are in negotiations to raise the debt ceiling, but remain far apart in their discussions. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is optimistic that a deal can be reached before the June 1 deadline, when Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has said the nation will run out of money to pay its bills. Negotiators Steve Ricchetti, Shalanda Young and Louisa Terrell met with McCarthy Tuesday morning to resume talks, but Republican Rep. Garret Graves said the two sides are still far apart.
Hamburger Mary's, a popular Florida burger joint, is challenging a new law signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis in federal court that restricts drag show performances and subjects businesses in violation of the law to liquor license revocation and hefty fines. The lawsuit alleges that the law violates the First Amendment rights of Hamburger Mary's to free expression, and the restaurant is asking the court to halt enforcement of the law until the case is resolved.
The CDC released a report showing that the rate of new HIV infections in the US has decreased by 12% between 2017 and 2021, despite a sharp drop in HIV testing in 2020. Other wealthy Western nations have seen even greater success, with annual infection rates dropping by more than 70% in the Netherlands, 68% in Italy and 44% in Australia. The CDC report is a positive sign of progress, but there is still much work to be done to ensure all Americans have access to HIV testing, treatment, and prevention.