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But “Senator Menendez has made these sacrifices in the past to serve. “I believe stepping down is best for those Senator Menendez has spent his life serving." In the days after the indictment, calls for his resignation began, starting with members of the New Jersey congressional delegation (sans Rep. Bob Menendez Jr., the senator's son) and expanding to include New Jersey Gov. Absent from the initial push for Menendez's departure was Senate Democratic leadership and Booker, who works with Menendez on a regular basis representing New Jersey. A dozen more U.S. senators added their calls for their New Jersey Democratic colleague to leave.

Persons: Sen, Cory Booker, Bob Menendez, lauding, Booker, Menendez, ” Booker, underscoring, “, Nadine, Bob Menendez Jr, Phil Murphy, John Fetterman of, Eric Holder –, Nancy Pelosi, Fidel Castro, Tom Malinowski Organizations: New, New Jersey Democrat, Senate Foreign Relations, New Jersey Gov, Democratic, California Democrat, New Jersey Democratic, Tom Malinowski , New, Tom Malinowski , New Jersey Democrat, MSNBC Locations: New Jersey, Jerseyans, Egypt, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, California, Union City , New Jersey, Cuba, Tom Malinowski ,, Tom Malinowski , New Jersey

At one point, the indictment said, Menendez Googled the phrase "price of a kilo of gold." "People are salivating at the opportunity to have an open Senate seat, which might lead to an open congressional seat, which might lead to an open state Senate seat, which might call into question who might be the state Senate president," Harrison says. Democratic members of Congress from neighboring states – including a Latina, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, have called on Menendez to resign. "It is hard for me to believe that Sen. Menendez can be effective in his job, given these allegations. But I think I want to get back and talk to my colleagues on the Foreign Relations Committee before I recommend a path forward for Sen. Menendez,” Sen. Chris Murphy, Connecticut Democrat, told MSNBC in an interview on Sunday.

Persons: Andrew Cuomo, Cuomo, Anthony Weiner wasn't, Weiner, –, Nancy Pelosi, Sen, Bob Menendez, Jersey pols, Brandon Rottinghaus, Menendez –, Menendez, Nadine, Fidel Castro, Menendez's, Robert Menendez Jr, Phil Murphy, Andy Kim, Murphy, Brigid Harrison, Harrison, Alexandria Ocasio, Summer Lee of Pennsylvania, John Fetterman of, Donald Trump, ” Sen, Chris Murphy, Mark Kelly, Pelosi, didn't, Joe Biden, James Traficant, Traficant, Gary Condit, Chandra Levy, Condit, George Santos, ” Santos, they’re, ”, Rottinghaus Organizations: Democratic, New, Twitter, Bob Menendez of New, Senate Foreign Relations, University of Houston, Foreign, Prosecutors, Foreign Relations, Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs Committee, Gov, Democratic Party, Montclair State University, Latina, Connecticut Democrat, MSNBC, United State Senate, Arizona Democrat, CBS, James Traficant , Ohio Democrat, House, Capitol Locations: New York, Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Jersey, New Jersey, Union City , New Jersey, Cuba, Alexandria, Cortez, John Fetterman of Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Arizona, James Traficant , Ohio, California, Rock Creek

CNN —A Red Cross convoy of humanitarian aid entered Nagorno-Karabakh on Saturday, officials said, the first since a Russian-brokered ceasefire ended Azerbaijan’s offensive this week. The aid had been transported along the Lachin corridor, the only road connecting Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh, the ICRC said. The ICRC added that it carried out the medical evacuation of 17 people who were wounded during fighting and had delivered medical supplies and body bags as aid. ICRC vehicles transport humanitarian aid for residents of Nagorno-Karabakh towards the Armenia-Azerbaijan border on September 23. “They know they have been suffering as a result of the blockade over many months, shortages of food, medical supplies, basic gasoline and petrol,” he added.

Persons: Cross, “, Irkali Gedenidze, Gary Peters, Armenia Kristina Kvien, Robert Ghukasyan, “ I’ve, ” Peters, ” Organizations: CNN, International Committee, Twitter, ICRC, Reuters, RIA Novosti, US Congressional Locations: Nagorno, Karabakh, Russian, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Reuters Nagorno, Artsakh, Azerbaijan’s, Russia, Stepanakert, Armenia’s Syunik

☆ Bob Menendez is rejecting the wave of calls for him to resign after his federal indictment, arguing that 'some are rushing to judge a Latino and push him out of his seat'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey has defiantly stated that he is not stepping down from office. Menendez on Friday was charged with taking hundreds of thousands of dollars worth of bribes. "I am not going anywhere," he said in a statement, while also referencing his Latino heritage. "Bob Menendez is a disgrace who abused his Senate seat and allegedly betrayed his country for a couple hundred thousand dollars," Senate Republican campaign committee spokesman Philip Letsou said in a statement. AdvertisementAdvertisementThe indictment alleges that the senator "provided sensitive US government information and took other steps that secretly aided the Government of Egypt."

Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez, Menendez, Damian Williams, Andy Kim, he's, Phil Murphy, Josh Gottheimer, Donald Norcross, Frank Pallone Jr, Bill Pascrell, Mikie Sherrill, Jon Corzine, Philip Letsou, — Nadine Menendez — Organizations: Bob Menendez of New, Service, Democratic, Foreign Relations, Southern, of, Garden State, Saturday, Senate, Republican Locations: Bob Menendez of, Bob Menendez of New Jersey, Wall, Silicon, of New York, New Jersey, Trenton, Egypt, Florida

Kim’s surprise announcement came as a growing number of Democrats are calling for Menendez to step down. Pennsylvania Sen. John Fetterman became the first Democratic senator to do so, and several members of New Jersey’s congressional delegation, along with the state's Democratic governor, have said he should resign. “This is not something I expected to do, but I believe New Jersey deserves better,” Kim said in a statement. But given the gravity of these charges, I do not believe that Senator Menendez can continue to carry out the important duties of his office for our state.”New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy also demanded Menendez’s immediate resignation, saying the allegations were “so serious" that they compromise the senator’s ability to serve.

Persons: Andy Kim of, Sen, Robert Menendez, Menendez, Pennsylvania Sen, John Fetterman, ” Kim, ”, Nadine, Menendez —, Chuck Schumer, Fetterman, Donald Norcross, Josh Gottheimer, Frank Pallone, Bill Pascrell, Mikie Sherrill, Bonnie Watson Coleman, Pascrell, Phil Murphy, Menendez’s, Democratic Sen, Cory Booker, Rob Menendez, David Schertler, “ Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Democratic, Senate, Senate Foreign Affairs Committee, Foreign Relations, Democrat, New, ” New, ” New Jersey Gov, New Jersey Democrats, Authorities, Prosecutors, New Jersey Attorney Locations: Andy Kim of New Jersey, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Egypt, Jersey, New Jersey’s, ”, ” New Jersey

☆ U.S. Senator Peters expresses concern about Nagorno-Karabakh situation
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

NEAR KORNIDZOR, Armenia, Sept 23 (Reuters) - A U.S. senator, leading a congressional delegation to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border on Saturday, said international observers were needed to monitor the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, adding that people were "very fearful" about what was happening there. Gary Peters, a U.S. senator leading a congressional delegation to the Armenia-Azerbaijan frontier to monitor the situation in Nagorno-Karabakh, uses binoculars to look at a border-crossing point on a road near the village of Kornidzor, Armenia, September 23, 2023. REUTERS/Irakli Gedenidze Acquire Licensing Rights"I am certainly very concerned about what’s happening in Nagorno-Karabakh right now, I think there needs to be some visibility," Gary Peters, a Democrat from Michigan, told reporters on the border. Russia said earlier that Armenian fighters in Karabakh had started to give up arms as some humanitarian aid reached the 120,000 Armenians living there after Azerbaijan defeated their forces. Reporting by Felix Light; Writing by Alexander Marrow Editing by Gareth JonesOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gary Peters, Irakli, Felix Light, Alexander Marrow, Gareth Jones Organizations: REUTERS, Democrat, Azerbaijan, Thomson Locations: KORNIDZOR, Armenia, U.S, Azerbaijan, Nagorno, Karabakh, Kornidzor, Michigan, Russia

☆ Republican Dave McCormick jumps into the critical Pennsylvania Senate race
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-21 | by ( Allan Smith | Bridget Bowman | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

"Obviously, he's a candidate who has completely united the grassroots," a national Republican strategist, speaking on condition of anonymity as he was not authorized to discuss the candidacy, said. In a background call with reporters, a McCormick campaign strategist said the candidate "will address" those concerns "head on and directly." And the McCormick campaign strategist said the candidate will enter the race with the support of each Republican member of Pennsylvania's congressional delegation. "Dave McCormick has done a remarkable job of unifying the grassroots in Pennsylvania," Montana Sen. Steve Daines, chairman of the National Republican Senatorial Committee, said in a statement. "His ability to unite both the grassroots and the establishment is extremely impressive," the national Republican strategist said.

Persons: Dave McCormick, Sen, Bob Casey, McCormick, Republican Mehmet Oz, I've, Doug Mastriano, he's, Casey, McCormick —, George W, —, Oz, Donald Trump, Trump, Pat Toomey, John Fetterman, Fetterman, Mastriano, Montana Sen, Steve Daines, Dave, Bob Casey Sr, Joe Biden Organizations: Republican, GOP, Keystone State, United States Senate, Republican Party, Army's, Airborne Division, Wall Street Republican, Associated Press, AP, National Republican Senatorial, Republicans, Trump, Washington , D.C Locations: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S, New Jersey, Connecticut, Montana, West, Washington ,, Harrisburg

☆ Opinion | Nancy Pelosi, on the 1973 Coup in Chile
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-18 | by ( ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

To the Editor:Re “The Coup That Shattered Democracy in Chile 50 Years Ago” (news article, Sept. 15):Thank you for telling the story of the Sept. 11, 1973, coup in Chile. I write to note the role of the House of Representatives in shining a light on the United States’ activities surrounding the coup. documents regarding the death of President Salvador Allende during the coup; the ascension of Gen. Augusto Pinochet; and human rights violations by General Pinochet’s henchmen. In May 2016, I led a bipartisan congressional delegation to Chile, where we visited the Museum of Memory and Human Rights. It was emotional and gratifying to see on display some of the documents that we had declassified, which have helped bring the truth to light.

Persons: Maurice Hinchey, declassify, Salvador Allende, Augusto Pinochet, Pinochet’s, Hinchey’s, Clinton’s Organizations: United, House Intelligence, Museum Locations: Chile, United States, New York

☆ US delegation to discuss Putin's war crimes warrant in The Hague
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The delegation led by Representative Michael McCaul, Republican chairman of the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee, will talk with ICC chief prosecutor Karim Khan - the latest sign of improving ties between Washington and the world's top war crimes court. The ICC issued an arrest warrant against Putin in March accusing him of the war crime of illegally deporting hundreds of children from Ukraine. Russia has repeatedly denied its forces have engaged in war crimes, or forcibly taken Ukrainian children. In July, U.S. President Joe Biden asked his administration to begin sharing evidence of alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine with the ICC. It has supported the ICC's work in investigating war crimes in Ukraine since Russia invaded in February of 2022.

Persons: de, Vladimir Putin, Michael McCaul, Karim Khan, Putin, McCaul, Washington, General Merrick Garland, Joe Biden, Trump, Anthony Deutsch, Philippa Fletcher Organizations: Criminal, REUTERS, Representatives Foreign, Committee, ICC, Russia, West, NATO, Thomson Locations: The Hague, Netherlands, Washington, Ukraine, Russia, indoctrinated, Hague, United States, China, Nazi, Europe, Sweden, Finland

Litigation over the approval of the Willow project is pending. Many of those same voices pressed Biden to approve the Willow project for the same reason. “Once again, the Arctic Refuge is free of oil leases. Haaland later in 2021 ordered a new environmental review after concluding there were “multiple legal deficiencies” underlying the Trump-era leasing program. Major oil companies sat out the sale, held after prominent banks had announced they would not finance Arctic oil and gas projects.

Persons: Biden, Willow, “, Biden's, Deb Haaland, —, ”, Mary Peltola, Jamie Williams, Sen, Dan Sullivan, Haaland, Bernadette Demientieff, ___, Bernadette Demientieff's, Daly Organizations: Republicans, Wildlife Refuge, Trump, National Petroleum Reserve, The, ConocoPhillips, Democratic, Wildlife, U.S, Rep, Willow, Wednesday, Wilderness Society, Alaska Republican, Alaska Industrial Development, Export Authority Locations: JUNEAU, Alaska, ConocoPhillips Alaska, ANWR, America, Alaska Republican U.S, Washington ,

The state population is 27% Black, but the districts are drawn so that white voters are a majority in six of Alabama's seven congressional districts. The judges said they were reluctant to get involved in a task typically left to the states. In Georgia on Tuesday, a judge began hearing a no-jury trial on whether the GOP-controlled state legislature wrongly drew congressional and state legislative lines to dilute Black voting power. Louisiana – which has a Republican state legislature and a Democratic governor – has a population that is about one-third Black. But five of the state's six congressional districts are majority-white.

Persons: didn't, –, couldn't, Purcell, Julie Ebenstein, Ebenstein, Dan Vicuna, Steve Jones, Jones, Charles Bullock, J, Lee Marsh, Ron DeSantis Organizations: Representatives, GOP, Democratic, Peach State, Alabama, Black, Supreme, Republicans, U.S, District, University of Georgia, Leon County Circuit, voters, Florida Gov, Republican Locations: Alabama, Georgia, Peach, Black, Yellowhammer State, Florida, Leon County, In Louisiana, Louisiana, New York

☆ A Florida judge struck down a DeSantis-drawn congressional map because it diminished the voting power of Black residents
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

A Florida judge has tossed the North Florida redistricting plan engineered by Gov. Judge J. Lee Marsh ruled that DeSantis' congressional map violated the state constitution. Lawson, who ran for reelection in 2022 and lost to Republican Rep. Neal Dunn in the conservative 2nd congressional district, praised the judge's ruling. "I am pleased the Court struck down the DeSantis congressional map, finding that his office and the Legislature violated the Constitution. My only goal right now is to ensure that fair representation is returned to the people of North Florida," he added.

Persons: Ron DeSantis, Judge J, Lee Marsh, Al Lawson, J, DeSantis, Al Lawson's, Cord Byrd, Jasmine Burney, Clark, Duval County —, Lawson, Neal Dunn Organizations: Gov, Democratic, Service, Republican Gov, Black, GOP, Congressional, Republican, Florida Supreme, Politico, League of Women Voters, Jacksonville — Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon, North Florida, Tallahassee, Jacksonville, Lawson's, Duval County, Gadsden County

☆ AOC says the US should apologize for its history of interventions in Latin America: 'It's very hard for us to move forward when there is this huge elephant in the room'
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-03 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Ocasio-Cortez said the US has to reckon with its history of interventions in Latin America. "I believe that we owe Chile, and not just Chile but many aspects of that region, an apology," Ocasio-Cortez told the publication. "I don't think that apology indicates weakness; I think it indicates a desire to meet our hemispheric partners with respect." "It's very hard for us to move forward when there is this huge elephant in the room and a lack of trust due to that elephant in the room," she continued. "Latin America, I believe, due to its proximity, was absolutely unique in US interventionism during the cold war, and that was under [secretary of state] Henry Kissinger and President Nixon," the congresswoman said.

Persons: Cortez, Alexandria Ocasio, New York Democrat —, Salvador Allende, —, Jacobo Árbenz, João Goulart, Fidel Castro, Castro, Henry Kissinger, Nixon, Augusto Pinochet, We're Organizations: Guardian, Service, New York Democrat, US, Operation Condor Locations: Latin America, Wall, Silicon, Alexandria, Chile, Cuban, Cuba, America, United States, Brazil, Colombia

☆ Amy Klobuchar and other powerful Minnesota politicians enjoy their photo ops with shirtless firefighters at State Fair
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

There's nothing politicians love more than a good, old-fashioned state fair. Three Democratic congresswomen encountered a group of shirtless firefighters in Minnesota. On Friday, Sen. Amy Klobuchar tweeted out her must-sees of the 2023 Minnesota State Fair. "State Fair pro tip: You don't want to miss the Minnesota firefighters at the @MNAFLCIO," she tweeted. Tim Walz should make it real), goes to Minnesota's senior senator, Tina Smith.

Persons: Democratic congresswomen, Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Paul ., Ilhan Omar, Tim Walz, Tina Smith Organizations: Democratic, Service, Committee, American Federation of, Minnesota, vikings Locations: Minnesota, Wall, Silicon

☆ Inside the White House response to the Maui wildfires
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-19 | by ( Priscilla Alvarez | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

After the fires began, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients immediately briefed the president on what became a rapidly evolving situation, according to White House officials. Within the administration, a White House official told CNN, there have been multiple staff calls each day focused on response and recovery. Criswell, who surveyed the damage last weekend, regularly briefed Biden and will be traveling with the president to Maui on Monday. FEMA has also provided more than $2.3 million in assistance, according to White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. While focus remains on search and rescue and later, debris removal, Cabinet and senior administration officials also met at the White House with Homeland Security Adviser Elizabeth Sherwood-Randall this week to chart a path forward on other issues like housing and the making the state’s energy grid more resilient with the help of the Department of Energy, according to a senior White House official directly involved.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Jeff Zients, ”, Biden, “, I’ve, ” Biden, Biden’s, Donald Trump, they’ve, Deanne Criswell, ” Criswell, Karine Jean, Pierre, Elizabeth Sherwood, Randall, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, Hawaii, Federal Emergency Management Agency, White, White House, FEMA, Fire Management, US Coast Guard, Navy, Fleet, US Army, US Department of Defense, Small, Administration, Homeland, Department of Energy Locations: Houston, Hawaii, Maui, Milwaukee, “

☆ Blinken’s Toughest Challenge Might Not Be Coups but Passport Delays
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-16 | by ( Michael Crowley | More About Michael Crowley | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken has a crisis on his hands. But unlike the foreign coups, hostage-takings and military threats that the nation’s top diplomat routinely faces, this one comes from within the vast bureaucracy he commands — and may be even more difficult to solve. The problem is a huge backlog of passport applications that is creating summer travel nightmares for Americans who find that getting a new passport or renewing an expired one can take months, forcing them into panicked races against their planned travel date through an often bewildering bureaucratic maze. Senator Mark Warner, Democrat of Virginia, has called the situation a “crisis.” Senator Rick Scott, Republican of Florida, has said it is “an unacceptable failure.” And Utah’s entire congressional delegation told Mr. Blinken in a letter this spring that their offices were “struggling to handle all incoming emergency requests due to the sheer volume” of pleas from their constituents. “While running a competent passport application process may not make a panel at Davos, this is an important function of the federal government that directly affects the lives and plans of millions of Americans,” Senator Eric Schmitt, Republican of Missouri, said in a letter to Mr. Blinken, referring to the elite economic forum held annually in the Swiss Alps.

Persons: Antony J, Blinken, —, Mark Warner, Rick Scott, Eric Schmitt Organizations: Democrat, Republican Locations: Virginia, Florida, Davos, Missouri, Swiss

CNN —President Joe Biden has decided that the headquarters of US Space Command will remain in Colorado and not move to Alabama, two US officials told CNN on Monday, reversing a decision by then-President Donald Trump. US Space Command, which is a joint command and separate from the US Space Force military branch, is currently housed in Colorado Springs, but the Air Force recommended near the end of Trump’s presidency that the command be moved to Huntsville, Alabama. Former Air Force Secretary Barbara Barrett also chose Huntsville as the preferred location for SPACECOM headquarters in 2021. Colorado Springs is home to Peterson Space Force Base, previously known as Peterson Air Force Base. Rep. Doug Lamborn, a Republican from Colorado and chair of the House Armed Services subcommittee on strategic forces, hailed Biden’s decision to keep Space Command headquarters at Peterson Space Force Base, calling it “the most viable option” and the “best permanent home” for the military’s newest combatant command.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump ., Frank Kendall, Biden, Barbara Barrett, James Dickinson, Defense Lloyd Austin, Kendall, ”, Republican Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Tuberville, SPACECOM, Tuberville’s, ” Tuberville, “, Katie Britt, Biden “ irresponsibly, yank, Robert Aderholt, Doug Lamborn Organizations: CNN, US Space Command, Donald Trump . US Space Command, US Space Force, Air Force, Huntsville , Alabama . Air Force, Force, Former Air Force, Huntsville, Space Command, Defense, of, Republican, The Department of Defense, Alabama, Department of Defense’s, ” Republican, Arsenal, Missile Defense Command, Colorado Springs, Peterson Space Force Base, Peterson Air Force Base, House Armed, “, Associated Press, SPACECOM Locations: Colorado, Alabama, Colorado Springs, Huntsville , Alabama, SPACECOM, Huntsville

Elon Musk’s Unmatched Power in the Stars The tech billionaire has become the dominant power in satellite internet technology. Today, more than 4,500 Starlink satellites are in the skies, accounting for more than 50 percent of all active satellites. 53% of active satellites are Starlink.” The Starlink satellites are highlighted and are all operating in low-Earth orbit. How Starlink customers connect to the internet Starlink satellites orbit at much lower altitudes than traditional satellite internet services. “Everywhere on earth will have high bandwidth, low latency internet,” Mr. Musk predicted on the Joe Rogan podcast in 2020.

Persons: Elon Musk’s, Mark, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, Elon Musk, Zaluzhnyi, General Zaluzhnyi, Musk, Musk’s, ”, Starlink’s, ” Mykhailo Fedorov, Mr, Biden, ” Dmitri Alperovitch, Sir Martin Sweeting, Sweeting, Mike Blake, Patrick Seitzer, Rafael Schmall, Joe Rogan, Jeff Bezos, Starlink, Russia —, Fedorov, —, Clodagh Kilcoyne, Nancy Pelosi, Colin H, Kahl, Lynsey Addario, messaged Mr, Lloyd Austin, Gregory C, Allen, we’ve, Mykhailo Podolyak, Volodymyr Zelensky, Jason Hsu, Hsu, “ Elon, Michael McCaul of, Tsai Ing, Tsai, Audrey Tang, Mariana Suarez, Thierry Breton, SpaceX, Chérif El, Amazon Organizations: Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ukraine’s Armed Forces, SpaceX, Tesla, Twitter, Mr, U.S . Defense Department, NASA, Senior Pentagon, The Defense Department, Starlink, European Union, Silverado, Accelerator, Surrey Satellite Technology, Reuters, Airbus, Earth, Getty, Satellite, University of Michigan, National Science Foundation, Rivals, Amazon, Origin, Viasat, Pentagon, CNN, The New York Times, U.S, Defense Department, Center for Strategic, International Studies, Elon, Harvard Kennedy School, Republican, House Foreign Affairs, OneWeb, Agence France, European, United Nations Locations: Ukraine, United States, Iran, Turkey, Japan, Starlink, Crimea, Russian, Starlinks, Europe, Taiwan, China, Beijing, British, Colorado, Cape Canaveral, Fla, —, California, Florida, Latin America, Africa, Nigeria, Mozambique, Rwanda, Ukrainian, Russia, Kreminna, Aspen, Colo, Kherson's, Kherson, Dnipro, Shanghai, Taipei, Michael McCaul of Texas, del, Uruguay, European Union

☆ Knives are out for the congressman long held to be tapped as DeSantis's successor in Florida after he questioned state teaching standards about slaves learning skills they could 'benefit' from
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-27 | by ( Madison Hall | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Florida middle schoolers will be taught that some Black "slaves developed skills" they could benefit from. In response, DeSantis' campaign staffers compared Donalds to Vice President Kamala Harris. Wednesday evening, hours after Donalds' tweet was published, Florida Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. took a jab at the congressman online. "Supposed conservatives in the federal government are pushing the same false narrative that originated from the White House," DeSantis press secretary in the Executive Office of the Governor, Jeremy Redfern, tweeted. Christina Pushaw, the DeSantis presidential campaign's rapid response director, simply responded to Donalds' original tweet with a GIF of the vice president.

Persons: Byron Donalds, DeSantis, Donalds, Kamala Harris, tweeting, Ron DeSantis, Manny Diaz Jr, Diaz, Jeremy Redfern, Christina Pushaw, Donald Trump, Donald J, Trump, who's, Kevin McCarthy, He's Organizations: Rep, GOP, Service, Florida Gov, Black GOP, Black, White Locations: Florida, Wall, Silicon, Florida's, United States

☆ Alabama's redrawing of its congressional map defies US Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-24 | by ( Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —It was a legitimate surprise when the conservative-dominated US Supreme Court ordered Alabama’s conservative-dominated state government last month to redraw its congressional map and include either a second majority-Black congressional district or something quite close to it. CNN’s Dianne Gallagher noted in her report that the old congressional map was invalidated by a three-judge federal district court panel that included two judges nominated to the bench by former President Donald Trump. “Outright defiance of the Supreme Court’s order,” is how Janai Nelson, president of the NAACP Legal Defense Fund, described the new map to CNN’s Dana Bash Monday. The Supreme Court’s unexpected decisionAlabama had asked the Supreme Court to essentially nullify Section 2 of the Voting Rights Act, something many court watchers thought the conservative majority was primed to execute. The Supreme Court also rejected out of hand the idea that the Gulf Coast area represents a community of interest on par with the Black Belt.

Persons: Milligan, Terri Sewell, Kay Ivey, “, ”, CNN’s Dianne Gallagher, Donald Trump, Alabamians, Gallagher, CNN’s Tierney Sneed, Allen, Janai Nelson, CNN’s Dana Bash, Joe Biden, Nelson, John Roberts, Brett Kavanaugh, Sewell Organizations: CNN, Supreme Court, Democratic, Alabama, Republican, NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Black, Civil Rights Movement, National Heritage Area, Democrat Locations: Alabama, Allen, New York, Gulf

☆ Alabama Republicans refuse to draw a second Black congressional district in defiance of Supreme Court
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Jane C. Timm | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Alabama Republicans on Friday defied a U.S. Supreme Court order by passing a new congressional map that includes only one majority-Black district. But on Friday, state Republicans approved a new map with just one majority-Black seat and a second district that is approximately 40% Black. "There was never any intent in this building to comply with their court order," said state Rep. Chris England, a Democrat from Tuscaloosa. "There was never any intent in this building to comply with the Voting Rights Act." "We've chosen to outright, blatantly disobey the law and to further attempt and vote to bury the Voting Rights Act."

Persons: Chris England, Juandalynn, We've, Kevin McCarthy, Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Nathan Ledbetter, Steven Stafford, McCarthy, Ledbetter, Tuberville Organizations: Alabama, U.S, GOP, Republican, Auburn University, NBC News Locations: Black, Tuscaloosa, England, Birmingham, Washington, Alabama , New York, North Carolina , Georgia, Texas, Alabama, New York

The winning candidate must receive at least 270 of the 538 total electoral votes. Each of the 50 states is assigned a number of electoral votes that match the size of their congressional delegation. In all but two states, the winner of the popular vote receives all of the state's electoral votes. In most elections, the winner of the national popular vote has also won the Electoral College vote. Those electors met on Dec. 14, 2020, to cast their votes for Trump - the same day when legitimate electors cast their ballots for Biden.

Persons: John Eastman, Donald Trump's, Rudy Giuliani, Read, Dana Nessel, Republican Donald Trump, Democrat Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Joe Biden, Kenneth Chesebro, Trump, Biden, Mike Pence, Congress's, Pence, JAN, Jeffrey Clark, Andy Sullivan, Scott Malone, Grant McCool Organizations: Trump, U.S, Congress, Michigan, Republican, Democrat, U.S . Constitution, of Columbia, Senate, Electoral, Trump's, U.S . Capitol, White, Capitol, U.S . Justice, Washington . Eastman, Justice Department, Thomson Locations: U.S, Washington , U.S, WASHINGTON, U.S ., California, Vermont, Wyoming, Maine, Nebraska, The Michigan, Michigan , Pennsylvania, Arizona, Georgia, New York, Washington

☆ Mountain Valley Pipeline Halted as Legal Wrangling Heats Up
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-12 | by ( Coral Davenport | More About Coral Davenport | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The LatestA federal court in Richmond has halted construction of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, setting off a battle with Congress that could end up at the Supreme Court. It was a highly unusual provision that was tucked into legislation that had nothing to do with pipelines — the law to raise the debt ceiling. Congress also included provisions to expedite construction of the pipeline and insulate it from judicial review. Those elements were added as a concession to Senator Joe Manchin III, the West Virginia Democrat whose vote has been crucial to President Biden’s domestic agenda. But environmentalists, Democratic members of the Virginia congressional delegation and some constitutional law experts argue that by directing a change in courts, Congress has violated the separation of powers clause in the Constitution.

Persons: Joe Manchin III, Biden’s Organizations: Supreme, U.S, Appeals, Fourth Circuit, Congress, U.S ., District of Columbia Circuit, West Virginia Democrat, Democratic Locations: Richmond, West Virginia, Virginia

☆ Taiwan says 11 Chinese aircraft crossed the Taiwan Strait median line
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-30 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

TAIPEI, June 30 (Reuters) - Eleven Chinese aircraft crossed the median line of the Taiwan Strait on Friday morning, an unofficial barrier between the two sides, Taiwan's defence ministry said, as China ramps up military pressure on the democratic island. Taiwan, which China claims as its own territory despite the island's objections, has complained in recent years of almost daily missions by the Chinese air force, often in the southwestern part of its air defence identification zone. A total of 24 Chinese war planes including fighter jets and bombers were spotted near Taiwan on Friday morning from around 8 a.m. (00:00 GMT), the defence ministry said, adding five Chinese battleships also joined a "joint war readiness patrol." Taiwan sent aircraft and ships to warn away the Chinese activities, while missile systems monitored them, the ministry said, using standard wording for its response. Taiwan's government strongly objects to China's sovereignty claims and vows to defend itself if China attacks the island.

Persons: Mike Rogers, Tsai Ing, Taiwan's, Yimou Lee, Ben Blanchard, Shri Navaratnam Organizations: Reuters, U.S, Armed, U.S . House, Representatives, The U.S . State Department, Thomson Locations: TAIPEI, Taiwan Strait, China, Taiwan, Taipei, The, Lincoln

☆ Bipartisan lawmakers visit Taiwan as Biden seeks to stabilize China relationship
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-27 | by ( Christina Wilkie | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

Taiwan is a self-ruling democracy, but China views Taiwan as a province of the Chinese mainland. The visit comes at a sensitive time for America's relationship with China, its largest trading partner and strategic competitor in political, economic and security arenas. WASHINGTON — A bipartisan congressional delegation led by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers landed in Taiwan on Tuesday for a three day visit, according to the American Institute in Taiwan. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reportedly plans to visit China in July, Bloomberg News reported this week. But while visits by senior Biden administration officials to China may help normalize the U.S.-China relationship, visits like Rogers' delegation to Taiwan tend to have the opposite effect.

Persons: Mike Rogers, Tsai Ing, Adam Smith, WASHINGTON —, Rogers, Biden, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Janet Yellen Organizations: Republicans, U.S, Capitol, Taiwanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, The Alabama Republican, House Armed Services, American Institute, Congressional, United, Bloomberg News, Treasury, Biden, ., National Security Council Locations: Afghanistan, Taiwan, Washington, Pacific, China, Beijing, WASHINGTON, Taipei, United States

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