Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer has officially repealed the state's abortion ban, which has been in place since 1931. This repeal is part of a larger trend of partisan struggles in state capitals across the country, which could have a greater impact on the future of America than the drama surrounding former President Donald Trump. These clashes between Democrats and Republicans over issues like abortion and guns could shape future voting laws and electoral maps, and foreshadow the great debates to come in the 2024 presidential election.
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Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and his wife, Ginni Thomas, have been taking luxury trips subsidized by GOP megadonor Harlan Crow for more than two decades without reporting them, according to a new report from ProPublica. This has sparked outrage from influential Democrats and judicial advocates, and calls for Congress to investigate potential ethical lapses. The report has raised questions about whether Thomas has violated federal ethics laws.
Kansas has passed a law banning transgender athletes from participating in girls' and women's sports from kindergarten through college, overriding the veto of Democratic Governor Laura Kelly. The law has been met with criticism from LGBTQ activists and the Kansas State High School Activities Association, who argue that it is discriminatory and difficult to enforce. It is the latest in a series of restrictions on LGBTQ rights in the state.
Over 250 legislators from across the United States have signed a letter condemning the proposed expulsion of three Democratic legislators in Tennessee for protesting gun violence on the state House floor. The letter calls the proposed expulsion an "anti-democratic" attempt to "silence" elected leaders on an important issue and a "clear violation of the First Amendment". It calls on the Tennessee House of Representatives to reconsider its actions and protect the right of its members to speak out on behalf of their constituents.
Governor Whitmer signed legislation to repeal the 1931 abortion ban in Michigan, which was passed by the Democratically controlled state legislature last month. The repeal follows a major victory for abortion rights advocates in neighboring Wisconsin, and is a result of a major ballot drive galvanized by the US Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade. The court is expected to decide a lawsuit challenging the state’s 1849 abortion ban, furthering the protection of women's rights in the region.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., the son of former New York senator and US attorney general Robert F. Kennedy and nephew of the late President John F. Kennedy, has filed paperwork to run for president in 2024 as a Democrat. He is a controversial figure due to his anti-vaccine views, and his campaign is a long shot. Kennedy Jr. plans to focus on issues such as healthcare, the environment, and economic inequality, and has promised to bring a “new generation of leadership” to the White House.
In response to his indictment by a Manhattan prosecutor, former President Donald Trump has called on Congress to "defund" federal law enforcement. Congressional Republicans have been quick to rally to Trump's defense, while Democrats argue that this is an attempt to undermine the rule of law. The debate over defunding federal law enforcement is likely to continue in the coming weeks, as Congress considers the implications of Trump's call to action.
Wisconsin has seen a major shift in its political landscape this week, with Janet Protasiewicz, a liberal backed by Democrats, winning a seat on the Wisconsin state Supreme Court and flipping the ideological balance of the court to the liberal bloc for the first time in 15 years. Meanwhile, Republicans won a supermajority in the state Senate's 8th District, but a newly elected Republican state senator is threatening to impeach Protasiewicz and challenge the GOP-gerrymandered maps. These results have the potential to shape the future of Wisconsin politics.