Kerry Kennedy, sister of Robert F. Kennedy Jr., has publicly condemned his false and offensive claims about COVID-19 being "ethnically targeted" to attack certain ethnic groups. Kennedy Jr. is still scheduled to testify before the House panel on Thursday, and his false claims have sparked accusations of antisemitism and racism. The controversy has highlighted the need for social media companies to take a stronger stance against the spread of misinformation, and raised questions about the responsibility of public figures to be mindful of the impact of their words.
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No Labels is working to create a viable third-party option for the 2024 presidential election, with the goal of breaking the partisan gridlock in Washington. The organization is close to reaching its fundraising goal of $70 million and has recruited Democratic Senator Joe Manchin to join the effort. If successful, No Labels' efforts could have a major impact on the election and the future of American politics.
House Democrats are pushing for a vote on a resolution to censure Republican Rep. George Santos of New York for lying about his background during his successful 2020 campaign. The resolution, introduced by Rep. Ritchie Torres, would be a formal reprimand of Santos and requires a floor vote within two legislative days. If passed, it would be the latest in a series of actions taken by House Democrats to hold Santos accountable for his misconduct.
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate, joining a crowded Republican primary field in the race for the seat currently held by Democratic incumbent Sherrod Brown. LaRose expressed his concern for the direction of the country and his commitment to defending the values that made America the hope of the world. The Ohio Senate race is expected to be one of the most competitive in the country next year, with the winner of the Republican primary facing Brown in the general election in November 2024.
Senator Tommy Tuberville, a Republican from Alabama, is blocking hundreds of military promotions over a Pentagon abortion policy, causing a potential national security crisis. President Joe Biden and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan have denounced the move, and Senator Tammy Duckworth has warned it will jeopardize the U.S.' ability to lead the free world. Sullivan has warned that the blockade could soon leave the U.S. without a chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff or a chief of Naval Operations.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has been criticized by the scientific community for claiming that Covid-19 is targeted to attack Caucasians and Black people due to their genetic makeup. He has since clarified his comments, saying that he was not suggesting any ethnic group is immune or more likely to be infected. The World Health Organization has also weighed in, saying there is no evidence to suggest any particular ethnic group is more or less likely to be infected.
Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) proposed an amendment to the House-passed National Defense Authorization Act, which was adopted in a 214-210 vote. The amendment aims to prohibit the Defense Department from considering race, gender, religion, political affiliations or “any other” when making decisions. During the floor debate, Crane referred to Black people as “colored people”, sparking a debate over the use of language when discussing race and ethnicity. Crane has since apologized for his remarks and the bill is expected to pass the House this week.
The House of Representatives is set to vote Friday on the annual defense policy bill, which has been a bipartisan effort for more than six decades. However, the bill is now facing an uncertain future due to Republican amendments that would cut funding for abortion- and gender transition-related services, causing sharp opposition from congressional Democrats. The Pentagon had previously announced that it would provide travel allowances for troops to access “non-covered reproductive health care”, but the NDAA amendments would reverse this decision. It remains to be seen if the bill will pass with the amendments intact, or if the two parties can come to an agreement on a compromise.