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“The Harvard and UNC admissions programs cannot be reconciled with the guarantees of the Equal Protection Clause. We have never permitted admissions programs to work in that way, and we will not do so today,” Roberts wrote. During oral arguments, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar stressed the unique interests of the military and argued that race-based admissions programs further the nation’s compelling interest of diversity. Steve Vladeck, CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at the University of Texas School of Law, said the decision will still not end the legal fight over college admissions. The Supreme Court stepped in to consider the case before it was heard by a federal appeals court.

Persons: John Roberts, “, ” Roberts, Clarence Thomas, ”, ” Thomas, Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, Ketanji Brown Jackson, ” Sotomayor, Sotomayor, Martin Luther King, Jackson, “ ‘, Roberts, Elizabeth Prelogar, ” Jackson, Kevin McCarthy, Republican Sen, Ted Cruz, Donald Trump, ” Trump, Mike Pence, ” Pence, Chuck Schumer, Laura Coates, Steve Vladeck, ” Vladeck, ” Long, SSFA, Loretta C, Biggs, ” Biggs, SFFA, Cameron T, Norris, Harvard “, Prelogar, Lewis F, Powell Jr Organizations: CNN, Harvard, University of North, UNC, Supreme, GOP, Republican, America, Truth, New York Democrat, University of Texas School of Law, Asian, Fair, Court, Middle, Middle District of, University, US, University of California, Bakke Locations: University of North Carolina, Independence, United States, Lower, Middle District, Middle District of North Carolina

☆ Democrats Reach Milestone: 100 New District Court Judges
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Carl Hulse | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden and Democrats, largely stymied by Republicans from enacting their policy agenda, have transformed the Senate into a judicial confirmation factory that has just passed a major milestone in its drive to remake the federal courts, approving the 100th District Court nominee since Mr. Biden took office. The pace of the effort has surpassed the one set by Republicans when they pushed to reshape the courts during the administration of former President Donald J. Trump, putting the Biden administration 20 District Court nominees ahead of the Trump team at the same point in his term. “These judges will affect America long after just about every senator is out of here,” said Senator Chuck Schumer, the New York Democrat and majority leader, who has had a longtime interest in judicial confirmations. It’s hard.”Despite being slowed by absences and resistance from Republicans who see some Biden nominees as unacceptable, the Democrat-led Senate hit the 100 mark last week with a 50-49 vote to confirm Natasha Merle to a seat in the Eastern District of New York. She was one of a string of newly confirmed judges with civil rights backgrounds whose nominations had been slow to reach the floor given concerted Republican opposition.

Persons: Biden, Donald J, ”, Chuck Schumer, Natasha Merle Organizations: Democrats, Republicans, Trump, Biden, New York Democrat, Democrat, Senate, of Locations: America, Eastern, of New York

☆ Senate confirms Biden judicial nominee after Harris breaks deadlock
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-21 | by ( Andrew Goudsward | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

(Reuters) - Vice President Kamala Harris broke a deadlock in the U.S. Senate on Wednesday to secure confirmation for a civil rights lawyer nominated to be a federal judge in New York. The final vote was 50-49, but Harris was needed to break a 50-50 tie in an earlier procedural vote on the nomination. The vote marked the fourth time in recent weeks that Manchin has opposed one of President Joe Biden’s judicial picks. Merle is the 100th district court nominee selected by Biden to secure Senate confirmation and is the latest in a string of civil rights lawyers to be confirmed to the federal bench this month. She previously served as a federal public defender in New York and worked on a fellowship for a New York law firm.

Persons: Kamala Harris, Natasha Merle, Harris, Joe Manchin, Merle, Manchin, Joe Biden’s, Biden, Kirsten Gillibrand, litigator ”, Mitch McConnell, “, ” McConnell, Andrew Goudsward Organizations: Reuters, U.S . Senate, NAACP Legal Defense, Educational Fund, U.S, Eastern, of, New York Democrat, Republican, New, Thomson Locations: U.S, New York, of New York, Brooklyn, West Virginia

☆ JPMorgan's Jamie Dimon to meet with group of US House Democrats - Bloomberg News
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-06 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

June 5 (Reuters) - JPMorgan Chase & Co (JPM.N) Chief Executive Officer Jamie Dimon will meet privately with a group of moderate House Democrats on Tuesday, with banking and the U.S. economy on the agenda, Bloomberg News reported on Monday citing people familiar with the matter. Dimon will meet with the New Democratic Coalition in a closed-door lunch, the report said. JPMorgan and members of New Democratic Coalition did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comment outside business hours. Last month, Bloomberg reported that Dimon along with other banking executives met with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, to discuss the federal debt limit. Reporting by Jose Joseph in Bengaluru; Editing by Jacqueline Wong & Simon Cameron-MooreOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Jamie Dimon, Dimon, Chuck Schumer, Jose Joseph, Jacqueline Wong, Simon Cameron, Moore Organizations: JPMorgan Chase &, Democrats, Bloomberg, New Democratic Coalition, JPMorgan, New, New York Democrat, Thomson Locations: U.S, New York, Bengaluru

☆ AOC slams Elon Musk for promoting parody account after it joked she had a ‘crush’ on him — and he flirted back
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

AOC says she's assessing next steps after Elon Musk promoted a parody account, impersonating her. Musk responded with a fire emoji when the fake account tweeted that she had a crush on him. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez says she's assessing next steps after Twitter owner Elon Musk promoted a parody account that has been impersonating her. The parody account responded by copying and pasting the tweet and retweeting Ocasio-Cortez and writing, "I can't believe someone would do that to us." The account also wrote, "Parody should be illegal," and "If @elonmusk wants to have a chance with me, he'll immediately ban the parody account of me.

Persons: Elon Musk, Musk, Rep, Alexandria Ocasio, Cortez, —, I've, Linda Yaccarino, retweeting Ocasio, he'll Organizations: Twitter, Service, New, New York Democrat, Cortez Locations: Alexandria, New York

☆ Bank CEOs to huddle with Schumer on the debt ceilin
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-17 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

During Wednesday’s meeting, Schumer plans to raise the threat of default with the bank leaders, one of the sources told CNN. After leaving a Tuesday meeting at the White House with congressional leaders, Schumer said, “Default is disaster. Given that the trade group’s board includes regional bank CEOs, other issues including the banking crisis are likely to be discussed during Wednesday’s meeting. In addition to Schumer, bank CEOs are expected to meet with other lawmakers and officials. The meetings come as the White House and congressional Republicans struggle to reach a compromise on how to avoid the debt ceiling and avoid what economists warn would be a disastrous debt default.

CNN —Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who has been away from the Senate since February while recovering from shingles, will return to Washington on Tuesday, according to a spokesperson. Feinstein sits on the Senate Judiciary Committee, and without her vote on the panel, Democrats said that they would have to delay some of President Biden’s key judicial nominees. In April, Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California became the first member of Congress to call on Feinstein to resign. In April, the California senator asked Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace her on the Judiciary Committee, and he proposed that Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin take her spot. She needs to get well so she can get back to work,” Iowa Sen. Chuck Grassley, who is also 89, said.

☆ AOC says Feinstein should resign, won’t primary Gillibrand in 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-02 | by ( Haley Talbot | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

I think criticisms of that stance as ‘anti-feminist’ are a farce,” Ocasio-Cortez posted on Bluesky, a new social media app. Feinstein, who has been away as she recovers from shingles, is a member of the powerful Senate Judiciary Committee where her absence has created issues for Democrats as the panel works to process judicial nominees. Several other House Democrats have also expressed support or called for Feinstein to resign as a result. The spokeswoman also told CNN that Ocasio-Cortez will not primary New York Democratic Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand in 2024. Not long after, however, Republicans formally blocked a request from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to temporarily replace Feinstein on the committee.

☆ Hakeem Jeffries is enjoying an early honeymoon leading House Democrats. But one day, he'll have to make 'hard commitments.'
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +16 min

House Democrats say Hakeem Jeffries is a better listener and is more consensus-oriented than Pelosi. There's one big reason for it: House Democrats can't pass any of their own bills right now. Pelosi and Jeffries on the House floor after she announced she would step down from party leadership on November 17, 2022. 'He gets it'Jeffries, 52, has enjoyed a rapid ascent to the top of the Democratic caucus. "There were always very different views within the Democratic caucus on people who voted their district," said Slotkin.

CNN —A group of New York Democrats announced support for federal legislation aimed at regulating lithium-ion battery safety standards after a spate of fires caused by the batteries malfunctioning or overheating. Lithium-ion batteries, found in many popular consumer products like e-scooters and smartphones, have been under scrutiny amid increasing reports of explosive fires triggered by the batteries, which use flammable materials. The incident followed a Manhattan apartment building fire in November that injured at least 38 people and was blamed on a lithium-ion battery connected to a micromobility device. The new lithium-ion battery safety bill was announced last month by Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-NY, who said the legislation would save lives and protect property. Torres said the latest fire is another reminder “of the escalating threat lithium-ion batteries poses to the public’s safety,” according to a news release.

☆ Analysis: It's not 2020 anymore. Biden's re-election campaign faces new challenges
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-23 | by ( Jeff Mason | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

"It's quite shocking that Biden thinks he would be able to fill a second term, let alone the rest of this term," said Republican strategist Scott Reed. "An extensive travel schedule is not the measure of a candidate's ability to do the job," said Democratic strategist Karen Finney. CAMPAIGN REINVENTEDBiden campaign aides reinvented his 2020 campaign as COVID-19 spread across the country. But other issues may trip up the incumbent president on the campaign trail, including his handling of the economy. We don't need rah rah rallies," said Democratic strategist Joe Lestingi.

☆ The guy AOC crushed in her first election is back on the Hill — and this time he's trying to save TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-21 | by ( Eliza Relman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

TikTok has hired Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's predecessor to lobby on Capitol Hill. Former Rep. Joe Crowley reportedly helped TikTok's CEO set up meetings with lawmakers in DC. Ocasio-Cortez has come out against banning TikTok, breaking with the Biden administration. But this time, Crowley finds himself on the same side as Ocasio-Cortez, who recently announced her opposition to banning TikTok. The Trump administration similarly called for TikTok to be sold to an American buyer and former President Donald Trump signed an executive order in 2020 banning TikTok.

☆ Russian soldiers 'forced me to dig my own grave': US lawmakers hear accounts of Russian war crimes
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Jennifer Hansler | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —A 57-year-old Ukrainian woman from Kherson testified to US lawmakers that Russian forces beat her, threatened to rape her and forced her to dig her own grave. Lyubov’s story was one of two powerful and horrific testimonies shared with House Foreign Affairs Committee members at a hearing about Russian war crimes Wednesday. Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin, who also testified at the hearing, said his office registered around 80,000 incidents of potential war crimes, and to date has convicted 31 Russians for war crimes in Ukrainian courts. “These are more than war crimes. Roman was able to make his way back to Ukraine with the help of volunteers from the country, the representative said.

☆ US government tracking more than 650 potential UFO cases, Pentagon says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Jeremy Herb | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The US government is tracking more than 650 potential cases of so-called “unidentified aerial phenomenon,” commonly known as UFOs, according to the director of the office created last year to focus on the sightings. He played video from two of cases that had been declassified, one that had been resolved and the other unresolved. Kirkpatrick explained that this case was unresolved because there was no other evidence beyond the video. He said that in a small number of cases, he has concerns the episodes could be evidence of potential technological advancements. Those cases, he said, are handed off to the intelligence community to investigate further.

WASHINGTON — The top Democrat in the House slammed Republicans' plan to pass a bill later this month to suspend the debt ceiling for a year and impose broad federal spending cuts, rather than simply raise the $31.4 trillion limit and avoid any risk of potential U.S. debt default. "Even the flirtation with the default is going to hurt everyday Americans," House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries told CNBC's "Squawk Box" on Tuesday. "It risks raising car payments, it risks raising home mortgage payments, it risks raising student loan debt payments," he said. The New York Democrat said refusing to raise the debt ceiling for the first time in history would have "catastrophic" consequences. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Gary Gensler echoed Jeffries' concerns Tuesday, telling lawmakers that the debt ceiling fight has already affected the markets.

☆ AOC says there's an easy solution if Clarence Thomas wants a life of luxury: 'Resign from the court'
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez weighed in on Justice Clarence Thomas' undisclosed luxury trips. Public servants who want to live a luxury lifestyle "can resign from the court," she said. Thomas reportedly took undisclosed vacations with a GOP megadonor over the past 20 years. And if they want to live that kind of lifestyle, then they can resign from the court. Host Jordan Klepper asked who she thought would write the opinion if conflicting rulings on the abortion pill mifepristone make it to the Supreme Court.

☆ Donald Trump is no longer a New Yorker and got 'Florida man' treatment in the city, AOC says
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-18 | by ( Nicole Gaudiano | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Donald Trump isn't a New Yorker anymore, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said of the former president. That's why he got "Florida man" treatment from New Yorkers when he was arraigned in Manhattan. The New York Democrat said her fellow New Yorkers treated Trump "like a Florida man" when he returned to Manhattan this month to face felony charges of falsifying business records. Trump's arraignment at a Manhattan courthouse drew pro-Trump rallygoers, like far-right Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, but also protestors, too. Trump's indictment follows a probe into 2016 "hush-money" payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels during his presidential campaign.

☆ ‘Love is Blind’ live reunion delayed as Netflix pleads for patience
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-16 | by ( David Goldman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

New York CNN —Netflix’s highly anticipated live reunion Sunday for the season 4 cast of its reality dating show “Love is Blind” has been delayed, leaving fans waiting for over an hour. A couple minutes after its scheduled start time, Netflix tweeted: “Love is … late. — Netflix (@netflix) April 17, 2023The company isn’t used to airing live events like many of its streaming competitors. Netflix’s rivals have found success with live streaming. The company started experimenting with live broadcasts as the media landscape continues to shift.

☆ George Santos has a possible challenger, as ex-Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi considers a run for his old seat
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Brian Schwartz | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

Rep. Tom Suozzi, D-N.Y., left, and George Santos, (R-NY) conducts a news conference to advocate for inclusion of the state and local tax (SALT) deduction in the Build Back Better Act reconciliation bill, outside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, December 8, 2021. (Photo By Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)Former Democratic Rep. Tom Suozzi of New York is telling political leaders and wealthy donors that he is considering running for his old seat held by embattled Republican Rep. George Santos, according to people with direct knowledge of the matter. Suozzi defeated Santos during his last run for Congress in 2020. He has name recognition and is a prolific fundraiser, which could make him a frontrunner in a Democratic primary for Santos' seat. Democratic businessman Robert Zimmerman, who lost to Santos in 2022, has not ruled out running again for the seat.

☆ Virginia Rep. Jennifer Wexton reveals Parkinson's Disease diagnosis but says its not a 'death sentence' and vows to continue serving her district
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Warren Rojas | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Rep. Jennifer Wexton said Tuesday that she's been diagnosed with Parkinson's. The three-term Virginia Democrat plans to keep serving in Congress "for many years to come." "You are welcome to empathize, but don't feel sorry for me," the 54-year-old Wexton told supporters. Jennifer Wexton (@RepWexton) April 11, 2023"Parkinson's is not an untreatable disease, a cognitive impairment, or a death sentence. You are welcome to empathize, but don't feel sorry for me," the three-term Virginia Democrat said in a video she posted online.

☆ This former Trump White House official says Republicans are 'such nerds' for pushing a 'ridiculous' ban on TikTok
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-06 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

But John McEntee, a former Trump White House official, thinks that's "ridiculous." But John McEntee, who worked as a top White House staffer when former President Donald Trump attempted to ban the app via executive order, says he's unabashedly "pro-TikTok" and insists the push from the right to ban the Chinese-owned app is "ridiculous." "I think Republicans are such nerds for even doing this," McEntee, the one-time Director of the Official of Presidential Personnel, told Insider in an interview on Thursday. In that job, he reportedly scrutinized White House staffers for their perceived loyalty and played a significant role in the effort to pressure Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election results on January 6, 2021. In one widely-viewed TikTok, McEntee dances to Demi Lovato's "La La Land" while riffing on liberals attending their first protest, making hand-horns as Lovato sings the phrase "converse with my dress."

☆ Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez rejected banning TikTok in her first TikTok video, saying it 'just doesn't feel right to me'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Sam Tabahriti | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez discussed calls to ban TikTok in her debut on the app. The New York Democrat said the bipartisan push to ban TikTok in the US "doesn't feel right to me." AOC said America needed stronger data and privacy protection laws rather than a TikTok ban. The New York Democrat started her video by saying: "This is not only my first TikTok, but it is a TikTok about TikTok. She pointed out that the US doesn't have "significant data or privacy protection laws," before mentioning the European Union's data privacy law, known as the General Data Protection Regulation.

☆ Asian Americans are anxious about hate crimes. TikTok ban rhetoric isn’t helping
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-26 | by ( Brian Fung | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

And the Chinese government’s authoritarian approach to numerous other issues clashes with important American values, said many Asian Americans interviewed for this article. Concerns about China have gone mainstream as US national security officials and lawmakers have publicly grappled with state-backed ransomware attacks and other hacking attempts. People rallied during a "Stop Asian Hate" march to protest against anti-Asian hate crimes on Foley Square in New York, on April 4, 2021. But to Chu, the incident was an example of the way politics surrounding China, technology and national security have fueled anti-Asian sentiment. “Asian American issues are American issues, and all Americans deserve to be treated with respect.

☆ AOC said the story of Rosa Parks is 'too woke' for the GOP after mention of her race was removed from teaching materials
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-24 | by ( Kelsey Vlamis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Her comments came after a publisher in Florida removed mention of Parks's race from draft teaching materials. Look at these books that have already been banned due to Republican measures," Ocasio-Cortez said before holding up several books. "'The Life of Rosa Parks' — this apparently is too woke by the Republican Party," she said, referencing a book by Kathleen Connors. In another incident, a textbook publisher used in Florida schools removed references to Parks's race in a draft lesson plan in an effort to comply with the state's Stop WOKE Act, legislation pushed by Florida Gov. The Florida Department of Education later said the publisher was wrong to remove mention of Parks's race.

☆ Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus Supplier Paid California Workers $1.58
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-23 | by ( Charles R. Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Department of Labor randomly investigated 50 clothing companies in Southern California. It found that more than 80% were breaking one or more provisions of federal labor law. One garment maker was paying workers just $1.58 an hour. In what the department described as a "particularly egregious case," one garment manufacturer — making clothes for brands including Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Stitch Fix, and Von Maur, per investigators — was found to be paying some workers an hourly rate of just $1.58. It shows, she argued, "that strong federal action is needed to change the abusive pay rates in the American garment manufacturing industry."

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