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☆ Opinion | Give Me Liberty or Give Me … What?
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-21 | by ( Carlos Lozada | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +2 min

If the American experiment finally decides to call it quits, how might a national breakup begin? Perhaps California moves toward secession after the U.S. Supreme Court strikes down the state’s strict gun control measures. Or Texas rebels when disputes over abortion laws grow deadly and the state’s National Guard remains loyal to the second Texan republic. These scenarios are not of my own creation; they all appear in recent nonfiction books warning of an American schism. We never learn exactly who or what started the new American civil war, or what ideologies, if any, are competing for power.

Persons: David French’s “, Barbara F, Stephen Marche’s “, “, Alex Garland’s Organizations: U.S, Supreme, state’s National Guard, statehouse, America, ” Locations: California, Texas, Barbara, ” Marche

CNN —While the 2024 presidential race seems set in stone as a rematch between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, it’s also true that things happen. Back in November 1872, for instance, the newspaper publisher and Democratic presidential candidate Horace Greeley died after Election Day but before the casting of Electoral College votes. No one knows for sure what would happen if a candidate died or for some reason needed to withdraw from the race. The process of replacing a presidential candidate very much depends on when the vacancy occurs – during the primary process and before the party convention; during the convention or after the convention; or before or after people vote in November. When he dropped out of the presidential race, it set off a chaotic dash to replace him.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, it’s, Horace Greeley, Ulysses S, Grant, – Greeley’s, Greeley, Biden, Trump, Elaine Kamarck, Nikki Haley, Kamala Harris, ”, Lyndon B, Johnson, Sen, Robert F, Kennedy, Hubert Humphrey, Republicans –, Thomas Eagleton, Sargent Shriver, George McGovern’s Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Electoral College, Electoral, New York Tribune, MPI, Trump, Republicans, Democrats, Republican, Democratic National Committee, Brookings Institution, South Carolina Gov, California, Democrats – The Democratic National Committee, Republican National Committee, Service, CRS, Democrat, DNC, Congress Locations: Milwaukee, Chicago, New, Los Angeles

There's broad agreement that some kind of public comment time management is necessary in Virginia's sessions, which generally run no longer than 60 days. When the opponents' six minutes ran out after only three speakers, Watts attempted to cut the group off. Gilbert also suggested the limited public comment could have been by design in this instance. By the end of the public comment, then-sponsor Sen. Chap Petersen, a Democrat, threw up his hands and said: “Do what you want with the bill. She also questioned why the Senate is not taking online public comment in subcommittees or allowing the submission of written public comments.

Persons: —, “, ”, Sally Hudson, Del, Vivian Watts, Watts, Michael Grey, Melinda Wallin, Ryan Mehaffey, I'd, Wallin, We've, ” Watts, ” Wallin, legislates, capitols, can’t, Todd Gilbert, Gilbert, Sen, Chap Petersen, Megan Rhyne, Joan Porte, she’s, Creigh Deeds, Deeds, “ there's Organizations: Capitol, University of Virginia, GOP, Democrat, Delegates, Virginia Coalition, Open Government, League of Women Voters, Democratic Locations: RICHMOND, Va, Spotsylvania County, Richmond, Virginia

And Rowden penalized prominent Freedom Caucus members by stripping them of their committee chairmanships and prime Capitol parking spots. Political Cartoons View All 253 ImagesAn outgrowth of the group, the State Freedom Caucus Network, launched in 2021 in Georgia. Like in Missouri, Idaho's top Republican senator removed certain Freedom Caucus members from committee leadership posts last November and denounced their disparaging rhetoric against other senators. For a year now in South Carolina, Freedom Caucus members have been excluded from the House Republican caucus — since they refused to go along with party rules that bar them from campaigning against other Republican members. Meanwhile in Georgia, the Senate Republican caucus booted an outspoken Freedom Caucus member who tried to pressure colleagues into impeaching a Democratic prosecutor for indicting Trump.

Persons: Pro Tem Caleb Rowden, —, Donald Trump, Kevin McCarthy —, it's, “ We’re, ”, Sen, Bill Eigel, Rowden, indicting Trump, Colton Moore, Moore, Fani Willis, Trump, Andrew Roth, they’re, Roth, Katie Hobbs, Adam Morgan, ” Morgan, Micah Caskey, Caskey, ” Caskey, James Pollard, Pollard Organizations: JEFFERSON CITY, Pro, Washington , D.C, Caucus, Republican, U.S, U.S . House, State Freedom Caucus Network, Freedom Caucus, National Guard, GOP, Democratic, The, State Freedom Caucus, Democratic Arizona Gov, Department of Health Services, Republicans, South Carolina Freedom Caucus, Republican governor’s, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: Mo, Washington ,, U.S, Georgia, Missouri, Texas, Mexico, South Carolina, The Georgia, Fulton County, Wyoming, Montana, Mississippi, Pennsylvania, Illinois, South Dakota, Republican governor’s State, Columbia , South Carolina

☆ Truck Makers Team Up to Push for Electric Vehicle Chargers
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-30 | by ( Jack Ewing | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

There are more than four million electric vehicles on American roads, but fewer than 1,000 of them are heavy-duty trucks. On Tuesday, the three largest truck makers plan to announce a push to remedy that deficit by calling on governments and utilities to help them build many more places to charge big rigs. Daimler Truck, which owns Freightliner; Navistar, which is controlled by Volkswagen; and Volvo Trucks have formed an association to push for chargers, improvements to the electricity grid and other measures they say are needed to promote battery- or hydrogen-powered trucks. The new organization, Powering America’s Commercial Transportation, will be based in Washington and also be open to suppliers, nonprofit organizations and other groups. The Inflation Reduction Act, which Democrats passed in 2022, provides $1 billion for electric trucks, including tax credits of up to $40,000 for companies that buy them, as well as subsidies for charging infrastructure.

Organizations: Daimler, Freightliner, Volkswagen, Volvo Trucks, Transportation Locations: Washington

☆ Swatting Is a Political Problem - The New York Times
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Barbara Mcquade | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +3 min

In a year with so much political and legal tension, law enforcement is seeing a disturbing trend: targeting public officials with swatting, or false emergency calls intended to draw a heavily armed police response. Recent incidents involving officials who have taken stands seen as hostile to Donald Trump and bomb threats in multiple state capitols are signs of a troubling escalation in political violence. In addition, swatting diverts law enforcement resources from real emergencies. But more insidiously, these tactics are tools of intimidation, designed to silence voices in the political process. The frequency and visibility of these incidents suggest that swatting and political violence require prosecutors to prioritize their efforts to stop it.

Persons: Donald Trump, swatting, Tanya S, Chutkan, Trump, Jack Smith, ”, Gabriel Sterling, Trump’s, Arthur Engoron, Shenna Bellows, isn’t, Michigan’s, Gretchen Whitmer Organizations: Republican, ” Locations: Kansas, Georgia, York, New Jersey

☆ Opinion: The fear of physical harm that keeps even Trump’s supporters in line
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Opinion Frida Ghitis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The fact that Trump’s team seemed at best ambivalent over what anyone else could clearly see would be a shocking abuse of power was not one of those far-fetched hypotheticals put forth in the law to frame an argument. And it resonated because Trump is once again sending very clear signals that he endorses and even encourages political violence to support his cause. Trump’s adamant refusal to reject political violence strongly suggests that his choice of language is a deliberate tactic. But the real impact of the willingness of Trump’s supporters to use violence on his behalf can be seen inside his own Republican Party. As he leaves the door open to political violence, Trump recently sent an email to supporters falsely accusing Biden of a most egregious crime.

Persons: Frida Ghitis, Florence Pan, Donald Trump’s, hypotheticals, Trump, “, —, Trump’s, We’ve, White supremacists, ”, Rachel Kleinfeld, Kleinfeld, Eric Swalwell, Tanya Chutkan, Maine’s, Biden, Jack Smith, Donald Trump, he’s Organizations: CNN, Washington Post, Politics, Trump, Capitol, ABC, Republican Party, GOP, Carnegie Endowment, International, Democrat, Police, Seal Locations: Florida, demagogues, Washington

ATLANTA (AP) — Jimmy Carter has always been a man of discipline and habit. The latest round includes a flood of messages from world leaders and pop culture figures donning “Jimmy Carter 99” hats, with many of them focusing on Carter’s four decades of global humanitarian work after leaving the Oval Office. The year Carter was born, Congress passed sweeping immigration restrictions, sharply curtailing Ellis Island as a portal to the nation. As governor and president, Carter set new marks for appointing Black Americans to top government posts. At 99, Carter’s Sunday online church circuit includes watching Georgia’s first Black U.S. senator, the Rev.

Persons: Jimmy Carter, Rosalynn, it’s, ”, Jason Carter, Carter, Donna Brazile, “ He’s, ” Jill Stuckey, “, Jimmy, Rosalynn Carter, He’s, Katie Couric, Bill Clinton, ” Clinton, It’s, Peter Gabriel, concertgoers, Republican Ronald Reagan’s, —, Roslaynn Carter, Joe Biden, Biden, Ellis, Reagan, Jim Crow, Georgia’s, Raphael Warnock Organizations: ATLANTA, Georgia Senate, The Carter, White, Democratic, Plains, White House, Habitat, Carter Library & Museum, Republican, House, Ku Klux Klan, Black, U.S, Ebenezer Baptist Church, Supreme Locations: Georgia, U.S, Guinea, United States, Madison, Atlanta, Iran, Delaware, Washington, Ebenezer, Carter’s

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — For nearly a week, families whose lives were upended by a Nashville elementary school shooting took turns sharing dark details to Tennessee lawmakers. Meanwhile, families have waded into the legislative process, uncovering and reliving personally painful details before lawmakers — privately, publicly or both — with mixed results. The inaction this year in Tennessee was markedly different than how Florida reacted five years ago to a massive school shooting. Parents offered similar pleas in Tennessee last month during a brief special legislative session called by Republican Gov. For many parents, it signaled they would likely retell and relive these dark moments for many more months, as they pledged to seek change next legislative session and in the 2024 statehouse elections.

Persons: —, ”, Melissa Alexander, reliving, “, Melissa Brymer, Marjory Stoneman, “ I’ve, Max Schachter, Alex, I’m, Kimberly Mata, Rubio, Lexi, ” Mata, Bill Lee, Jeremy Faison, Sarah Shoop Neumann, audibly, Chris Todd, Becky Hansen, sobbed, Abby McLean, ” McLean, ” Alexander, Paul Weber Organizations: Covenant School, Republican, General Assembly, Democratic, UCLA, Duke University National Center for, Florida's Republican, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, Parkland, Robb Elementary School, Texas Capitol, Texas House, Republican Gov, Capitol, Covenant, House Republicans, Senate, Associated Press Locations: Tenn, Tennessee, United States, Florida, Parkland, Texas, Uvalde, Austin , Texas

☆ Canada, citing potential dangers, warns LGBTQ travelers of US risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-29 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

OTTAWA, Aug 29 (Reuters) - Canada, citing the risk of potential dangers, is advising LGBTQ travelers planning trips to the United States to check how they might be affected by recently passed laws in some states, Ottawa said on Tuesday. Anti-LGBTQ demonstrations in the United States last year rocketed 30-fold compared with 2017 and legal moves to restrict LGBTQ rights are on the rise. Canada's travel advisory for the United States now includes a cautionary message for those who consider themselves two-spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning or intersex - or 2SLGBTQI+ for short. The overall risk profile for the United States remains at green, indicating a normal security precautions requirement. The United States is Canadians' top travel destination, and in June residents returned from about 2.8 million trips south of the border.

Persons: Chrystia Freeland, Biden, Ismail Shakil, David Ljunggren, Jonathan Oatis Organizations: OTTAWA, Human Rights, Thomson Locations: Canada, United States, Ottawa, Atlantic Canada, The U.S

☆ Judge Mostly Blocks Indiana Ban on Transition Care for Minors
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-16 | by ( Mitch Smith | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Families of transgender children sued to block the law, saying that it would have put transgender youth at immediate risk of unwanted changes to their bodies, which would have lifelong consequences. Their lawyers noted that major medical organizations, including the American Academy of Pediatrics, support gender-transition care and have said that bans pose serious mental health risks to young people, infringing not only on their rights but also on the rights of doctors and parents. At least 17 states have passed laws this year banning or severely limiting transition care for minors as Republicans have made restrictions on transgender people a legislative focus. Still, supporters of transgender rights have had success countering those laws in the courts. Judge Hanlon, who heard arguments on the injunction on Wednesday in a wood-paneled courtroom in downtown Indianapolis, was appointed to the Federal District Court by President Donald J. Trump.

Persons: Kenneth J, Falk, Judge Hanlon, Donald J, Trump Organizations: American Academy of Pediatrics, American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana, Federal, Court Locations: capitols, Indianapolis

☆ Opinion | States Are Stifling the Voices of Cities and Their Voters
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-03 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

By reducing the right of localities to make their own decisions, Texas has joined dozens of other states that have asserted their dominance over cities in recent years through a practice known as state pre-emption. One watchdog group has counted more than 650 pre-emption bills in state legislatures this year; the large majority have been introduced by Republican lawmakers to curb policymaking in cities run by Democrats. But conservatives used to champion ideas like local autonomy, devolution and even block grants as a way of weakening centralized control. What’s now become clear is that Republicans dislike local control if they are not in charge of it. Restricting these ballot measures is fundamentally about depriving voters of a way to put a check on legislators, regardless of ideology.

Persons: It’s, What’s, ”, Clarence Anthony, we’ve, that’s, MAGA Organizations: Republican, Republicans, Democrats, National League of Cities, “, Florida Legislature, Nashville Metro Council, Republican Party Locations: Texas, South Bay, Fla, Florida, Tennessee, Nashville, In Ohio, Arkansas, Kansas, Kentucky

☆ Her son said his stepdad was sexually abusive. A judge gave the stepdad custody anyway. Then she found the photographs.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-18 | by ( Olivia Gentile | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +58 min

Robert confronted Winenger with the allegations that November, and within weeks Winenger denied the claims in family court. In a family court hearing in Vista, California, on October 28, 2021, Commissioner Patti Ratekin chastised Jill Montes for allegedly alienating her kids from her ex-husband. From a list provided by the Delaware Family Court, Kelly chose a psychologist, William Northey. Their father cited the report in asking a Delaware family court judge to order the boys to change schools. Family Court of the State of Delaware, New Castle CountyCiting the email and a subsequent report, Michael pressed Ostroski to order the transfer.

Persons: he'd, Robert, stepdad, Thomas Winenger, Winenger, Robert's, Jill Montes, Montes, Patti Ratekin, she'd, Ratekin, Richard Gardner, Gardner, Lynn Steinberg, she's, Maya, shrieks, Joan Meier, They'd, —, Meier, Tom Brenner, Paige, Maggie Shannon, Claire, Eden, Weeks, Hester Prynne, Mitra Sarkhosh, Sarkhosh, San Diego Robert, Tom Winenger, Tamatha Clemens, Miguel Alvarez, Alvarez, overreact, Alvarez didn't, Bridges, Janell Ostroski, Linda Gottlieb, Ostroski, Michael D, Ashton, Alfield Reeves, Michael, Kelly D, Kelly, who've, Randy Rand, Chris, Rand, he's, Rand isn't, Jane Shatz of, Joann Murphey, Murphey, Steinberg, Ally Toyos, Kit R, Toyos, Emily, Richard Warshak, Elizabeth Loftus, Harvey Weinstein's, Loftus, Hannah Rodriguez, Linda Gottlieb's, Gottlieb, Rodriguez, Yvonne Parnell, Brian Ludmer, Ludmer, Parnell, aren't, Daniel Barrozo, Mom, Jean Mercer, Mercer, who'd, Michael Saini, Saini, Hannah Yoon, — Ashton, Judge Ostroski, William Northey, Northey, O, Addie Asay, mistreating Ashton, Rachel Brandenburg, Brandenburg, I've, Michael's, Gardner's, Gardner dosed, Dr, Paul Fink, Fink, Warshak, William Bernet, Patrick Clancy, doesn't, She'd, Brian Fitzpatrick, Sen, Susan Rubio, Meier's, Rebecca Connolly, didn't, Connolly, Heidi Simonson, Rubio, Theresa Manzella Organizations: Investigations, San, Business, Child Welfare, of, American Psychiatric Association, World Health Organization, American Professional Society, George Washington University, Violence Law, George Washington University Law School, Columbia University, PAS, Sarkhosh, San Diego County Sheriff's Department, California Health, Welfare Agency, Psychology, Bridges, Texas, Roane, Stockton University, University of Toronto, Families, Delaware Family Court, Family, Delaware Family, Association of Family, Conciliation, Newsday, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, HarperCollins, Family Bridges, Vanderbilt University, Disorders, The Justice Department, WHO, of Social Welfare, Family Law, Winenger, Montes, Superior Locations: San Diego County, Vista , California, of California, Family Bridges, United States, Santa Cruz , California, Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Diego, toddlerhood, Ratekin, San, California, Eden, New Castle County , Delaware, New York, Ashton, Delaware, Jane Shatz of California, Seattle, Southern California, Texas, Kansas, Toyos, Bozeman , Montana, Family, Tampa , Florida, New, Hudson Valley, Chino , California, Wilmington , Delaware, of Delaware, New Castle County, Denver, Washington, Pennsylvania, Susan Rubio of Los Angeles County, statehouses, Watsonville , California, Santa Cruz, Michigan , Kansas, Utah, Colorado, Montana

☆ Details in the drone incident the Kremlin says aimed to assassinate Putin 'don't quite add up.' Experts have 3 theories on what happened.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-03 | by ( Mia Jankowicz | Sophia Ankel | Ryan Pickrell | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

Russia claimed Wednesday that Ukraine tried to assassinate Putin with a drone attack at the Kremlin. James Patton Rogers, a military historian and adviser to NATO on drones and warfare, said that "there's a few things that don't quite add up in this situation." Its ability to fly comparatively low, and slowly, would potentially help it evade some radar, Patton Rogers said. Claiming that Ukraine tried to assassinate Putin would potentially "open up a new norm in the war," Patton Rogers said. Patton Rogers said he hasn't "seen any indication" that such groups have the capacity to use drones in their attacks.

☆ Factbox: Abortion battles in U.S. state capitols to watch in 2023
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-09 | by ( Gabriella Borter | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

KANSAS: Although Kansans voted in favor of state abortion rights on a ballot measure last year, Republican lawmakers have proposed measures including a near-total ban on abortion and prohibitions on prescribing abortion pills over telemedicine. MONTANA: Republican lawmakers have introduced a bill seeking to overturn a 1999 state supreme court ruling, which found that the state constitution protected a right to abortion. SOUTH CAROLINA: Despite the fact that the state supreme court recently struck down a six-week abortion ban in a 3-2 vote, Republicans have introduced a near-total abortion ban and a 6-week ban this year. The success of that legislation may depend on the outcome of the state's appeal of the supreme court decision. PROTECTIONSMICHIGAN: Abortion rights advocates scored big wins in Michigan in the November 2022 election, securing a Democratic majority in the legislature and enshrining abortion rights in the state constitution.

Former House Speaker John Boehner paid a tearful tribute to Nancy Pelosi on Wednesday at the unveiling of her official portrait in the U.S. Capitol. "My girls told me tell the speaker how much we admire her," Boehner said, choking back tears as he spoke. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., greets former Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, during a portrait unveiling ceremony for Pelosi in the U.S. Capitols Statuary Hall on Dec. 14, 2022. Tom Williams / CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty ImagesPelosi, who in 2007 became the first female speaker of the House, had joked about Boehner’s penchant for tears when she spoke at his portrait ceremony in 2019. She will be succeeded by Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, the first Black lawmaker to lead a congressional caucus.

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