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☆ Alito says leaked abortion opinion made conservative justices 'targets for assassination'
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-26 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito said Tuesday night that the leak of the draft opinion to overturn Roe v. Wade this year endangered the lives of justices by putting a target on their backs. Alito, who was nominated by former President George W. Bush and is part of the court’s 6-3 conservative majority, authored the draft and the final opinion that removed constitutional protections for abortion. Now we're in a new term," Alito said Tuesday, adding that the justices and staff members "want things to get back to normal, the way they were before all of this last term, before Covid." Additional security measures were put in place in the aftermath of the leak and in response to demonstrations outside several justices’ homes. Last week, a Georgia man was arrested on weapons charges after police said they found two handguns and a shotgun in a van he was driving in Washington with plans to “deliver documents” to the Supreme Court.

☆ Top Arizona election official refers more cases of potential voter intimidation to law enforcement
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

Arizona Secretary of State Katie Hobbs has referred six reports of possible voter intimidation to law enforcement in the past week, as well as an allegation of harassment of an election worker, her office said Monday. The cases were referred to the state attorney general’s office and the U.S. Justice Department for further investigation. Early voting got underway Oct. 12 in the battleground state, where Hobbs is the Democratic nominee for governor. Hobbs’ office said it also referred a report of election worker harassment to law enforcement Saturday. The case is being pursued by the Justice Department’s Election Threats Task Force, which was launched in June 2021.

☆ Right-wing operatives plead guilty to 2020 election robocall scheme
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-25 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

A pair of right-wing provocateurs pleaded guilty on Monday to telecommunications fraud stemming from robocalls made shortly before the 2020 election. Jacob Wohl, 24, and Jack Burkman, 56, each pleaded guilty to one felony count, a spokesperson from the Cuyahoga County Prosecutor’s Office confirmed. Both men were indicted in October 2020 on eight counts of telecommunications fraud and seven counts of bribery in connection with trying to influence voters through robocalls on Aug. 26, 2020, that contained disinformation about mail-in voting ahead of the November election. The remaining charges were dismissed Monday, according to Wohl’s attorney, Mark Wieczorek, who declined to comment on his client's guilty plea. Assistant Prosecuting Attorney James Gutierrez said Burkman and Wohl were "held accountable" for infringing on voters' rights.

☆ NBA roundup: Zion Williamson injured in Pelicans' OT loss to Jazz
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-24 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

CJ McCollum had 28 points and 12 assists to lead the Pelicans, who overcame a 17-point fourth-quarter deficit to force the extra period despite losing Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson to injury. James had 31 points, eight rebounds and eight assists, Anthony Davis had 22 points and 10 rebounds and Lonnie Walker IV scored 15 points for the Lakers. Rudy Gobert added 15 points and 15 rebounds for Minnesota, while Karl-Anthony Towns also scored 15. Jeremiah Robinson-Earl added 15 points. Curry had six 3-pointers to account for a majority of his 28 points in the first two periods, contributing to the 89 first-half points, which were the fifth-most in NBA history.

☆ The organization using A.I. to mitigate the impact of future pandemics
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailThe organization using A.I. to mitigate the impact of future pandemicsCommunity Jameel works alongside academic institutions to promote the use of science, data and technology to help solve what it describes as pressing human challenges and supports governments in evidence-based policy making. Speaking to CNBC's Dan Murphy in Dubai, Community Jameel's Director George Richards discusses the organisation's work in the health space.

☆ Community Jameel: Food insecurity could spread to the Global North
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-21 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailCommunity Jameel: Food insecurity could spread to the Global NorthGeorge Richards, director of Middle East based philanthropic organization Community Jameel which uses data and science to mitigate the impacts of poverty, tells CNBC's Dan Murphy that food insecurity could become more widespread due to current economic and geopolitical challenges.

Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett on Thursday denied a request by a Wisconsin taxpayers group to halt the implementation of President Joe Biden’s federal student loan forgiveness program. She did not provide an explanation for rejecting the emergency request, which is not uncommon. The taxpayers group had argued in a 29-page filing to the Supreme Court that Biden’s program would cost taxpayers more than $1 trillion and that it bypasses Congress, which oversees federal spending. Biden's student debt relief program would provide up to $10,000 in debt cancellation for borrowers earning less than $125,000 a year and couples who file taxes jointly and earn less than $250,000 annually. Pell Grant recipients, who comprise the majority of borrowers, would be eligible for an additional $10,000 in debt relief.

☆ NBA roundup: Suns hit late shot to cap rally from 22-point hole
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-20 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +9 min

Lee hit a 10-foot fallaway jumper over Spencer Dinwiddie to cap an electric Phoenix comeback in the season opener for both teams. Cameron Johnson added 15 points, Mikal Bridges had 13 points and 11 rebounds and Lee scored 11 points off the bench. Christian Wood added 25 points and eight rebounds in his Dallas debut while Dinwiddie added 15 points. D'Angelo Russell added 20 points and Jaden McDaniels had 19 for Minnesota. Santi Aldama (18 points, 11 rebounds) and John Konchar (12 points, 11 rebounds) each posted double-doubles while Jones had 15 points off the bench.

☆ Rubio and Demings spar over inflation and abortion in fiery Florida Senate debate
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-19 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and his Democratic challenger, Rep. Val Demings, dueled over inflation, abortion rights and immigration Tuesday night in what is expected to be their only debate before the election. The hourlong debate held at Palm Beach State College was punctuated by persistent interruptions and insults as the candidates each criticized the other's legislative record on Capitol Hill. Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., debates Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., at Duncan Theater on the campus of Palm Beach State College on Tuesday. Thomas Cordy / Pool/The Palm Beach Post via APHeading into the debate, Demings had targeted Rubio on abortion, an issue that Democrats nationwide have highlighted to drive turnout in November. Rep. Val Demings, D-Fla., at Tuesday’s debate.

☆ Ex-Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard to campaign for Trump-backed Kari Lake in Arizona
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-18 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +1 min

Former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard is scheduled Tuesday to campaign for Kari Lake, the Republican nominee for governor of Arizona, just days after she announced she was leaving the Democratic Party. Lake's campaign said Gabbard would introduce Lake at a GOP forum in Chandler. But she will now campaign for a Trump-endorsed candidate who has become a prominent election denier in Arizona. All three of the candidates scheduled to take the stage Tuesday have denied the results of the 2020 election. Doug Ducey and former Vice President Mike Pence, who both rebuffed former President Donald Trump's pressure to overturn the 2020 election results, backed Lake and Masters.

☆ Education Department launches beta website for student loan forgiveness applications
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-15 | by ( Zoë Richards | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Shannon-Pettypiece-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The Department of Education launched a beta test of its website Friday allowing federal student loan borrowers to begin submitting applications for some debt relief. Applications won't be processed until the site officially launches later this month, but borrowers who submit an application during the beta testing period will not need to reapply, an Education Department spokesperson said. Biden announced his student debt relief plan in August. NBC News has reached out to the Education Department for comment. The Education Department previously said that applications would available in early October.

☆ Texas sheriff puts Martha’s Vineyard migrants on path to apply for special visa by declaring them crime victims
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-14 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

A Texas sheriff has certified that dozens of migrants who were flown from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, last month under a new program by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis were crime victims, boosting their eligibility for a special visa. Bexar County Sheriff Javier Salazar said Thursday he had filed certification forms that immigration lawyers say can be used to obtain visas reserved for crime victims or people who witness certain crimes. Salazar, an elected Democrat, said last month that his office had opened a criminal investigation into the flights from Texas to Martha's Vineyard. Self said: "No matter what your political beliefs are, these people are all crime victims.

☆ A Trump employee told the FBI that the former president ordered staff to move boxes of documents at Mar-a-Lago
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-13 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Dilanianmug.Jpg | Ken Dilanian | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

One of Donald Trump's employees told FBI agents the former president ordered boxes of documents at Mar-a-Lago to be moved before federal agents searched the property, according to a source familiar with the matter. The source also told NBC News that the FBI obtained security video showing people moving boxes out of a storage room at Trump's Florida estate. When reached by NBC News, the FBI and Justice Department declined to comment. But the witness’ account suggests that the boxes were moved to Trump’s private residence at Mar-a-Lago after the subpoena was issued. She said that Trump officials added a lock to the facility and that FBI agents broke the lock when they searched the property.

☆ The Treasury Department’s internal watchdog is looking into how DeSantis paid for migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

An internal government watchdog is looking into whether Florida misused federal funds to pay for migrant flights to Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, last month under a program backed by Gov. Delmar also said the inspector general’s office would review what restrictions are in place for using the money, including interest earned, for immigration-related activities. Markey, who was among the group that signed on to the Sept. 16 letter demanding a probe, applauded the inspector general in a statement Wednesday. DeSantis has insisted that no laws were broken and pledged to continue his administration’s $12 million program to relocate migrants. "Reviews by Treasury are typical and, as stated by the OIG, are ‘part of its oversight responsibilities.’”NBC News has asked the Treasury Department for comment.

☆ Teddi Mellencamp announces stage 2 melanoma diagnosis: ‘Such a wake-up call’
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Chrissy Callahan | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Teddi Mellencamp is sharing an update on her melanoma scare in the hopes that her fans will take sun protection seriously. In March, the former star of “The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills” announced that she had a suspected melanoma removed after her former co-star Kyle Richards noticed some alarming discoloration on her back. On Tuesday, the 41-year-old revealed that her dermatologist diagnosed her with stage 2 melanoma during a recent follow-up appointment. “Despite my anxiety, I listened to the doctors and went in for my 3-month skin check last week since my previous melanoma. I got the call this morning: Stage 2 melanoma,” she wrote on Instagram.

☆ Biden warns there will be 'consequences' for Saudi Arabia after oil production cut
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-12 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

President Joe Biden warned Tuesday that Saudi Arabia would face "consequences" after OPEC+ last week announced the biggest cut in oil production since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Senior Democrats on Capitol Hill have condemned the decision by Saudi Arabia, the de facto leader of the oil-producing alliance, to reduce the global supply of petroleum. "There’s going to be some consequences for what they’ve done with Russia," Biden said of Saudi Arabia in an interview with CNN's Jake Tapper. Asked by Tapper whether it's time for the U.S. to rethink its relationship with Saudi Arabia, Biden said, "Yes." Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., who chairs the Foreign Relations Committee, called on the Biden administration Monday to "immediately freeze" U.S. cooperation with Saudi Arabia.

☆ Democratic senator seeks 'freeze' on U.S.-Saudi cooperation after OPEC cuts production
▼ + stars: | 2022-10-11 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

The top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee is calling on the Biden administration to "immediately freeze" U.S. cooperation with Saudi Arabia after OPEC+ announced it would reduce daily oil production. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia chose the latter in a terrible decision driven by economic self-interest," Menendez said. “The United States must immediately freeze all aspects of our cooperation with Saudi Arabia, including any arms sales and security cooperation beyond what is absolutely necessary to defend U.S. personnel and interests,” he added. The alliance said it would cut oil production by 2 million barrels a day, which is likely to increase gas prices. 2 Democrat in the Senate, accused Saudi Arabia of “conspiring with Vladimir Putin to punish the U.S. with higher oil prices” last week.

A senior member of the Proud Boys, a far-right extremist group, pleaded guilty Thursday to seditious conspiracy, the most serious charge that has been leveled against individuals tied to the Jan. 6 riot. Five other members of the Proud Boys, including the group's former national chairman, Enrique Tarrio, were indicted in June on seditious conspiracy and other charges. Donohoe, of Kernesville, North Carolina, pleaded guilty in April to conspiracy to obstruct an official proceeding and assaulting, resisting or impeding officers. Few defendants have pleaded guilty to seditious conspiracy in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, riot at the U.S. Capitol. More than 850 people have been charged in connection with the Jan. 6 insurrection, and over 350 have pleaded guilty.

☆ Biden asks whether deceased congresswoman is at White House event
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-29 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

President Joe Biden on Wednesday mistakenly asked whether the late Rep. Jackie Walorski, who died in a car accident last month, was at a White House event that she helped convene. Biden made the gaffe as he delivered remarks at the White House Conference on Food, Nutrition, and Health, where he publicly acknowledged elected officials like Walorski, R-Ind., who helped organize the gathering. At one point Biden asked, “Jackie, are you here? She had been a co-chair of the House Hunger Caucus, and she was one of four members of Congress who introduced the bipartisan bill that convened Wednesday's White House conference. Jackie Walorski speaks at the Republican National Convention in Tampa, Fla., on Aug. 28, 2012.

The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol postponed a public hearing scheduled for Wednesday, citing a major hurricane that is expected to make landfall on Florida's Gulf Coast. The select committee’s investigation goes forward and we will soon announce a date for the postponed proceedings." The panel's leaders did not immediately provide a new date for the hearing, which would have been its first in roughly two months. After hitting Cuba early Tuesday, the hurricane was gaining strength as it headed toward Florida. The postponement of the Sept. 28 hearing, comes just over a month before the midterm elections.

☆ Biden administration to propose nutrition labels on front of food packaging in push to improve health
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-27 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

The Food and Drug Administration will research and propose a standardized front-of-package labeling system to help consumers more readily understand nutrition information, the White House said Tuesday. The administration also said it would propose an update to the nutrition criteria for the “healthy” claim on food packages. Several congressional Democrats have been particularly focused on food labeling. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey called for greater transparency in food packaging labels in a letter to the Domestic Policy Council’s director, Susan Rice, last month. The Biden administration is also taking steps to improve food access and affordability, senior administration officials told reporters.

The Justice Department on Monday filed a revised inventory of items seized from former President Donald Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort last month, in addition to a declaration supporting the accuracy of the new list. A federal appeals court recently ordered that the classified documents should not be included in the special master’s review. In some instances, the Justice Department's revised inventory adds documents, while in other places it subtracts. While the original inventory list noted two empty folders with “CLASSIFIED” banners in the box, a revised entry removes those folders; similar empty folders are still listed for other boxes. His lawyers can also note any items they say were seized but not itemized in the inventory.

☆ GOP nominee jokes about 2020 plot to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-24 | by ( Zoë Richards | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

Tudor Dixon, Michigan’s GOP nominee for governor, joked about a 2020 kidnapping plot against rival Gov. Gretchen Whitmer during a pair of campaign events Friday, sparking swift denunciations from Democrats. For someone so worried about getting kidnapped, Gretchen Whitmer sure is good at taking business hostage and holding it for ransom,” Dixon said at one event. Later that day, in describing a recent appearance by Whitmer, Dixon said, “The look on her face was like, ‘Oh, my gosh, this is happening. “Multiple people were convicted in a domestic terrorist plot to kidnap the Governor and Tudor Dixon thinks it’s a laughing matter,” Newton tweeted.

☆ Appeals court lifts hold that prevented Justice Department from using classified documents in Mar-a-Lago probe
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-22 | by ( Zoë Richards | Daniel Barnes | Zoë Richards Is The Evening Politics Reporter For Nbc News. | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +3 min

A federal appeals court on Wednesday said the Justice Department can resume using classified documents seized from former President Donald Trump’s Florida estate in its criminal investigation. The appeals court panel, comprised of two Trump appointees and one Obama appointee, thoroughly rejected Trump’s position on the classified documents and parts of Cannon’s reasoning for issuing her original order. The appeals court said that among the factors under consideration were whether or not Trump had individual interest or need for the classified documents, which the district court had not mentioned in its analysis. The Justice Department previously said that its criminal investigation would look into identifying anyone who accessed the classified materials, whether they had been compromised and whether additional classified materials were missing. The ruling by the appeals court was the second legal blow to Trump on Wednesday.

The Jan. 6 committee has reached an agreement with Ginni Thomas to be interviewed in the coming weeks, a source close to the House panel told NBC News on Wednesday. CNN first reported the planned meeting with Thomas. Thomas first came under scrutiny for messages to former President Donald Trump’s chief of staff Mark Meadows and state lawmakers that questioned 2020 election results. The agreement comes after weeks of back and forth and a letter asking Thomas to speak with the panel. Please check back for updates.

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