Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has called for the resignations of four McCurtain County officials after an audio recording was released that allegedly captured them making racist remarks and discussing the killing of journalists. The audio was obtained legally by the McCurtain Gazette-News and has sparked outrage in the community, with many calling for the officials to be held accountable. Governor Stitt has stated that he is "both appalled and disheartened" by the comments and is seeking the resignations of Sheriff Kevin Clardy, Sheriff's Capt. Alicia Manning, District 2 Commissioner Mark Jennings, and Jail Administrator Larry Hendrix.
News Mash
Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News are set to face off in a $1.6 billion defamation trial in Wilmington, Delaware, which will shine a spotlight on Fox's election denialism and the role of its disinformation in American politics. If the 12 jurors side with Dominion, it would be one of the largest defamation defeats ever for a US media outlet. The trial is expected to be long and arduous, and the outcome is still uncertain.
A 65-year-old man from New York has been charged with second-degree murder after allegedly shooting and killing a 20-year-old woman in a car that mistakenly pulled into his driveway. Sheriff Jeffrey Murphy stated that the incident was a "tragic accident" and that Monahan had no intention of harming anyone. Friends and family of the victim have expressed their grief and disbelief over the tragedy, and Monahan is expected to appear in court soon.
American journalist Evan Gershkovich appeared in a Moscow court on April 18th to appeal his detention on espionage charges. Gershkovich, the first U.S. journalist to be detained in Russia since the Cold War, is facing up to 20 years in prison if convicted. U.S. Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan has expressed his hope that Gershkovich will be released soon, and the Wall Street Journal and the Committee to Protect Journalists have both called for his immediate release. Gershkovich’s appeal hearing is set to continue on April 20th.
Vladimir Putin visited command posts of the Kremlin’s forces fighting in Ukraine on Tuesday, chairing meetings with his military top brass in an apparent demonstration of authority. The visit is seen as a show of support for the Kremlin’s forces in Ukraine, and is likely to be seen as a sign of Russia’s commitment to the separatists in the conflict which has killed over 10,000 people since April 2014.
The high-stakes trial between Dominion Voting Systems and Fox News is set to begin in Delaware state court on Tuesday, testing the bounds of the First Amendment. Ex-Fox News producer Abby Grossberg has recently found more evidence relevant to the case and will turn it over to the court. The outcome of the trial could have a major impact on the future of the First Amendment and the way news outlets report on political matters.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) delivered a speech at the New York Stock Exchange on Monday, advocating for stricter "work requirements" for federal programs and criticizing President Joe Biden for not meeting with Republicans. McCarthy said the Republican spending plan will "restore work requirements" but did not provide any details on how they would be enforced. It is unclear how the Republicans plan to move forward with their proposal, and the Biden administration has yet to respond.
U.S. Embassy vehicles in Sudan came under fire on Monday, but those inside were unharmed. Students, faculty members, and staff at the University of Khartoum have been trapped inside campus buildings for more than three days due to the fighting between the country’s army and a paramilitary group. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has called on all sides to cease fire and work towards a peaceful resolution.