The Texas Senate has begun deliberations in the impeachment trial of Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, with the impeachment managers arguing that he abused his power to protect a political donor and his defense team arguing that the charges were politically motivated and baseless. Former senior aides testified to their concern and alarm over Paxton's actions, with the jury of senators now deliberating whether to convict and remove him from office. The outcome of the trial will be closely watched in the coming days, as it could have a major impact on the state's political landscape.
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The Wisconsin Senate, controlled by Republicans, voted Thursday to remove Meagan Wolfe, the state's nonpartisan top elections official, ahead of the 2024 presidential election. This has caused instability for the more than 1,800 local clerks who run elections in the state and has been met with criticism from Democrats who say it was done improperly. GOP leaders cited conspiracy theories and threats from election skeptics as the reason for their decision.
Planned Parenthood of Wisconsin will resume abortion care services next week after a judge ruled that a centuries-old state law does not apply to abortions. Meagan Wolfe, administrator of the Wisconsin Elections Commission, is expected to stay in her post despite Republicans voting to fire her, a lingering outgrowth of Donald Trump's 2020 big lie campaign. Planned Parenthood's President and CEO, Tanya Atkinson, said their priority is patients and the community, and they are eager to provide essential care to people in the state.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) issued a challenge to his right-wing detractors during a closed-door House GOP meeting on Thursday morning, daring them to file a motion to vacate the speaker's chair. This challenge comes as McCarthy faces pressure from members to comply with their demands, but he has the support of the majority of the House Republican caucus and is expected to remain in the position for the foreseeable future. It is unclear if any of his detractors will take him up on his challenge and file the motion to vacate the speaker's chair.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) announced on Tuesday that the House Republicans would begin an impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden and his son Hunter Biden. Longtime Democratic political consultant James Carville responded to the announcement by saying he was actually “happy” about it, as he wanted to let the American public see how “nonexistent” the case is that the president did anything wrong. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) pushed back on McCarthy's statement, citing her own precedent in 2019 when she opened an inquiry into then-President Donald Trump.
Wisconsin Republicans have announced a plan to address the controversy surrounding the 2011 gerrymander, including the potential impeachment of newly elected Supreme Court Justice Janet Protasiewicz. Assembly Speaker Robin Vos has created a panel of three former Wisconsin Supreme Court justices to investigate impeachment criteria, and Governor Tony Evers has spoken out against the plan, calling it an attempt to "circumvent the will of the people". The panel is expected to make a recommendation to the Assembly, though it is unclear when action will be taken.
Hundreds of gun-rights advocates gathered in Albuquerque, New Mexico on Tuesday to protest Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham's 30-day ban on the conceal and open carry of guns in and around the city. New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez has since announced he cannot defend the order, prompting a number of lawsuits challenging the governor's order. The issue of gun rights has become a contentious issue in the state, with Governor Lujan Grisham defending her order as necessary to protect public safety, and some Democrats arguing that it infringes on the Second Amendment rights of New Mexicans.