(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File)
House GOP fails to override Biden veto of ESG investing ban
WASHINGTON (AP) — The U.S. House failed Thursday to override President Joe Biden’s first veto — of a Republican-led bill that would have banned the consideration of environmental, social or governance issues in retirement and other investment decisions.
Senate Ethics admonishes Graham for campaign solicitations
The Senate Ethics Committee is admonishing South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham for soliciting campaign contributions inside a federal building after a November 2022 Fox News interview in which he asked viewers to donate to a GOP candidate.
apnews.com
Democrats race to Bragg’s defense: Congress ‘should stay the hell out of it’
House Democrats are racing to the defense of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) amid his criminal probe of former President Trump, saying the Republicans seeking to halt Bragg’s hush money…
thehill.com
Rioter charged in Pelosi laptop theft sentenced to prison
A Pennsylvania woman linked to a far-right extremist movement has been sentenced to three years in prison for storming the U.S.
apnews.com
Manhattan DA's Office blasts House Republicans' request for testimony about Trump probe
Donald Trump's Republican allies in Congress have rallied around him as the former president faces possible criminal charges in New York.
www.nbcnews.comDemocrats race to Bragg’s defense: Congress ‘should stay the hell out of it’
House Democrats are racing to the defense of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) amid his criminal probe of former President Trump, saying the Republicans seeking to halt Bragg’s hush money…
thehill.com
Ukraine signals counterattack to come 'very soon' as Wagner mercenaries suffer large losses
Ukraine is recovering from a barrage of missile and drone strikes unleashed on the country Wednesday after China's Xi Jinping left Moscow following talks.
Trump grand jury turns to other matters, done for the week
The Manhattan grand jury investigating Donald Trump over hush money payments turned to other matters on Thursday and is not scheduled to meet on Friday, delaying until next week at the earliest a vote on whether to indict the former president.
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Trump's intensifying legal drama could drag America closer to historic precipice | CNN Politics
Donald Trump’s legal limbo appeared to get more precarious on Wednesday.
www.cnn.com
Manhattan DA: Trump created false expectation of arrest, Republicans interfered
Manhattan prosecutors said Trump misled people to expect he would be arrested this week and prompted Republicans in Congress to interfere with a probe into his hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels.
Republicans invoke Soros to steer narrative on Trump probe
Republicans blasting a hush-money probe against former President Donald Trump as politically motivated are blaming a frequent target: George Soros.
apnews.com
Trump arrested? Putin jailed? Fake AI images spread online
Fake images of former President Donald Trump being arrested by New York City police and Russian President Vladimir Putin behind prison bars have flooded social media in recent days.
apnews.com
Republicans slam DeSantis's delayed attack on Trump
Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-FL) criticized former President Donald Trump's character in a recent interview with Piers Morgan. The interview included some of the governor's first comments against Trump in the 2024 cycle.
www.washingtonexaminer.comTrump mocks calls for his supporters to stay 'peaceful' and falsely claims that 'this is the Gestapo' in all-caps rant
Former President Donald Trump appeared to mock calls for his supporters to remain "peaceful" as he stares in the face of a potential indictment.
Putin, Xi pledge friendship but talks yield no Ukraine breakthrough
Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin emerged from two days of talks on Tuesday with warm words of friendship between China and Russia and joint criticism of the West, but no sign of a diplomatic breakthrough over Ukraine.
Donald Trump argues he deserves immunity from 3 lawsuits over Jan. 6 Capitol attack
Donald Trump's lawyer argued in a federal appeals filing he deserves immunity from three civil lawsuits seeking to blame him for the Capitol attack.
Russian mercenary group threatens to dump fighters' corpses on doorsteps of officials
Yevgeny Prigozhin, the leader of the Russian mercenary group Wagner, told the local authorities of a Russian city that he would dump the corpses of his fighters at their doorstep if the authorities attempted to prohibit a burial.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Top Trump attorney appeared before grand jury last December in classified docs probe: Sources
Trump attorney Timothy Parlatore gave previously undisclosed testimony to a grand jury probing Trump's handling of classified documents, sources tell ABC News.
Lawyer demands Fox apologize for Jan. 6 conspiracy theory
The lawyer for a one-time Trump supporter caught up in a Jan. 6 conspiracy theory is demanding that Fox News and Tucker Carlson apologize for the many “falsehoods” he says they have spread about his client.
apnews.com
Greene calls for Bragg’s arrest for ‘prosecutorial misconduct’ in Trump case
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) on Wednesday called for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) to be arrested for “prosecutorial misconduct,” amid speculation that he is nearing an indictm…
thehill.com
The FBI took a woman's life savings, but a new bill would end the 'lawless' seizure of Americans' property
A bipartisan bill seeks to overhaul the federal civil asset forfeiture laws and protect Americans from having their property seized by the government.
Carroll v. Trump jurors will be anonymous, judge says, citing Trump's reaction to hush money investigation | CNN Politics
The judge handling the civil lawsuit of E. Jean Carroll against Donald Trump says jurors' personal information will be kept confidential and other security measures will be taken to protect them, citing the former president's history of attacking the legal system.
www.cnn.com
Sinema Trashes Dems: ‘Old Dudes Eating Jell-O’
The Arizona senator courts GOP donors by ridiculing her former Democratic colleagues.
www.politico.com
DeSantis walks back 'territorial dispute' remark on Ukraine
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is walking back his characterization of Russia's war on Ukraine as a “territorial dispute."
apnews.com
Biden vows US will 'forcefully protect our people' as Iranian-backed groups launch more attacks on US troops in Syria | CNN Politics
President Joe Biden emphasized Friday afternoon that the US will “forcefully protect our people,” a day after approving retaliatory airstrikes in response to a drone attack by an Iranian-backed group in Syria that left one American dead and more injured.
www.cnn.com
Energy group asks Republicans to investigate Biden's interior secretary over ethics violations
A leading oil and gas industry group is raising the alarm on Interior Secretary Deb Haaland's potential conflicts of interest, asking Republicans to open an investigation.
Father of a Parkland victim arrested after interrupting congressional hearing on guns
Manuel Oliver, the father of a teen killed in the 2018 mass shooting in Parkland, Florida, was arrested after interrupting a congressional hearing.
www.usatoday.com
Trump's intensifying legal drama could drag America closer to historic precipice | CNN Politics
Donald Trump’s legal limbo appeared to get more precarious on Wednesday.
www.cnn.com
Zelenskyy calls on EU to give jets, missiles or expect a long war
Ukraine president’s comments on need for weapons represents an unusually open display of frustration with EU leaders.
Twitter to end verification system that gave blue check marks to notable accounts
The check marks are now available through a subscription service, Twitter Blue, though CEO Elon Musk later said inviduals associated with verified organizations would also be verified.
www.nbcnews.com
Manchin stands by Sinema despite private digs at his expense: 'We're friends'
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) is standing by his ex-Democratic colleague Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) despite reports the Arizona senator has made harsh criticisms about him in private conversations with GOP allies.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
China's military says US warship illegally entered waters in South China Sea
China's military said on Thursday it had monitored and driven away a U.S. destroyer that illegally entered waters around the Paracel Islands in the South China Sea.
Biden's Canada agenda stacked: NORAD, migration deals likely
President Joe Biden arrived in Canada on Thursday with a focus on big global issues. Two important areas of agreement already appear in hand: Canada will escalate its timeline for military upgrades to the North American Aerospace Defense Command, and the two nations will reach an agreement on migrat
apnews.com
Democrats lash out at James Comer for targeting Biden but not Trump family
Democrats are lashing out at House Oversight Chairman James Comer (R-KY) for scrutinizing the Biden family's business dealings, claiming he is running "political interference for Donald Trump and his family."
www.washingtonexaminer.com
State Department facing "unprecedented demand" for passports, Blinken says
A record number of passports — 22 million — were issued in 2022. The State Department is "on track to break" that record in 2023.
www.cbsnews.com
TikTok congressional hearing: CEO Shou Zi Chew grilled by US lawmakers
U.S. lawmakers on Thursday battered TikTok's CEO about potential Chinese influence over the platform and said its short videos were damaging children's mental health, reflecting bipartisan concerns about the app's power over Americans.
US secures deal with Canada to return illegal migrants crossing northern border
The U.S. and Canada have reached a deal to turn back illegal migrants amid an increase in illegal migration at the northern border, a U.S. official tells Fox News.
Gen Z voters concerned about China’s influence, but oppose full TikTok ban: poll
Most Generation Z voters in a new poll say that while they are concerned about the Chinese government’s potential influence over the popular video-sharing app TikTok, they oppose a full federal ban…
thehill.com
Rep. Tiffany asks why Hunter Biden hasn't been prosecuted for alleged gun crime at ATF hearing
Rep. Tom Tiffany, R-Wis., received pushback from Democrats after asking at a House hearing why Hunter Biden had not been charged with allegedly lying on an ATF gun form.
House China panel turns focus to plight of Uyghurs
Two women who experienced life in Chinese “reeducation” camps for Uyghurs were among the witnesses as a special House committee focused on countering China shines a light on human rights abuses in the country.
apnews.com
Key takeaways: TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testifies to US Congress
TikTok executive seeks to push back on legislators’ claims that the Chinese-based app poses a national security threat.
Trump calls for removal of every top official investigating him
President Trump on Thursday called for the removal of every law enforcement official currently leading investigations into him. A busy morning on social media for Trump was capped with a post sugge…
thehill.com
A look at the uranium-based ammo the UK will send to Ukraine
Russia has issued a full-throated warning that the West risks further escalation in Ukraine after the British government announced it's providing depleted uranium munitions to Ukraine.
apnews.com
Philadelphia to pay pregnant women $1K per month
The Philadelphia Department of Public Health said a city program slated for early 2024 aims to provide 250 pregnant residents with $1,000 in monthly guaranteed income.
AOC cries 'fascism' as Republicans advance parents bill of rights
House Democrats took to the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives Thursday to denounce a GOP bill on parental rights, saying the bill was fascist and would lead to book bans.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
US cyber officials make urgent push to warn businesses about vulnerabilities to hackers | CNN Politics
US cybersecurity officials are unveiling a new program to warn critical American companies that their systems are vulnerable to ransomware attacks before the hackers can successfully strike.
www.cnn.comPoll: President Joe Biden's approval dips near lowest point ahead of likely presidential bid
Only 38% of those surveyed said they approved of President Joe Biden, hovering just above Biden’s lowest rating of 36% last July, the poll finds.
Sen. Tuberville vows to continue hold on Biden defense nominees over 'illegal' Pentagon abortion funding
Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., said he would continue holding up President Biden's defense nominees over the Pentagon's "illegal" abortion funding policy.
Gwyneth Paltrow's lawyer asks about missing GoPro video
The specter of missing GoPro camera footage documenting the 2016 ski collision between Gwyneth Paltrow and a retired optometrist has been raised at trial in Park City.
apnews.com
White House chief of staff Jeff Zients gets frosty reception from Democrats
White House chief of staff Jeff Zients is not being received well by Democrats, with many progressives blaming him for undercutting their agenda.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
In New Hampshire, abortion activists score win as proposed restrictions fail in state House
The New Hampshire House on Thursday rejected multiple bills restricting abortion, including a proposed fetal heartbeat bill similar to those enacted in many red states.
Congress is kinda lame, TikTok-verse decides
What looked like a successful political attack in the Beltway came off as a punchline on social media.
www.politico.comRepublicans and Democrats team up to grill TikTok CEO
The CEO of TikTok came in for a bipartisan bashing during a congressional hearing Thursday, as both Republicans and Democrats denounced the company as an arm of the communist Chinese government.
Texas ‘preemption’ bills escalate war between liberal cities, conservative legislature
AUSTIN, Texas – New legislation is heating up the long-running cold war between Texas’ relatively progressive cities and its GOP-dominated legislature. Local officials across …
thehill.com
Pentagon probes security clearance issue for Boeing staff working on Air Force One
The Department of Defense has launched an investigation into why Boeing staff members were allowed to work on the current and future Air Force Ones with expired security clearances.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
US strikes Iran-backed facilities in Syria after drone kills American
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said the retaliatory strikes targeted facilities used by groups affiliated with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps.
Judge suspends Wyoming’s new abortion ban days after it takes effect
A Wyoming judge has temporarily blocked a new abortion ban days after it took effect, making the procedure legal again in the state. The suspension came amid a new lawsuit.
Violent French pension protests erupt as 1M demonstrate
More than a million people have demonstrated across France against unpopular pension reforms, with violence erupting in some places.
apnews.com
What does TikTok do with your data? CEO Shou Zi Chew pressed for answers in tense hearing: What you missed
The CEO of TikTok testifield for more than five hours in a House Energy and Commerce Committee hearing about the app's Project Texas and more.
www.usatoday.com
Trump hush money probe goes quiet after chaotic week | CNN Politics
The Manhattan grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump is not concluding this week, with questions swirling over how close the grand jury is to bringing an indictment -- or if it actually will at all.
www.cnn.com
Singapore push for all-EV future faces a love of crazy, rich combustion
Singaporean chip designer Eu Gene Goh is an electric-vehicle evangelist with two Teslas in the garage.
Matt Gaetz: Dems will move on guns by declaring firearm violence a public health emergency
Rep. Matt Gaetz, R-Fla., warned Thursday that Democrat would soon try to restrict guns by declaring a public health emergency related to gun violence.
Canada to roll back asylum access in reported agreement with US
Refugee groups condemn anticipated decision to expand Canada’s ability to reject asylum seekers at the US border.
Ron DeSantis forced into U-turn after calling Ukraine war ‘territorial dispute’
Likely Republican contender for White House says remark was ‘mischaracterised’ but calls Vladimir Putin a war criminal
TikTok chief 'evasive' on 'pretty easy question' about China's Uyghur abuses
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew faces criticism for "dancing" around questions and providing "nebulous" answers during the roughly four-hour-long congressional hearing.
TikTok CEO grilled by skeptical lawmakers on safety, content
A nearly six-hour grilling of TikTok’s CEO by lawmakers brought the platform’s 150 million U.S. users no closer to an answer as to whether the app will be wiped from their devices.
apnews.comTrump hush money case: Legal experts break down our FAQs
Yahoo News spoke with several current and former prosecutors to help break down the strengths and weaknesses of the potential case being brought by the Manhattan district attorney.
Chinese government says it will not allow forced sale of TikTok by US
Chinese government officials have come out in official opposition to any forced sale of TikTok, creating a road bump for the Biden administration's attempt to require a transfer of the platform to a domestic owner for it to stay in the United States.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Utah social media law means kids need approval from parents
Utah has become the first state to sign into law legislation that attempts to limit teenagers’ access to social media apps. Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed a pair of measures Thursday requiring parental consent before kids can sign up for sites like TikTok and Instagram.
apnews.com
Ron DeSantis walks back stance on Russia-Ukraine war, calls Putin a 'war criminal'
In a interview published Wednesday in the New York Post, Florida Gov. DeSantis took a much stronger stance on Russia and its war in Ukraine.
www.usatoday.com
Groups sue to stop Florida's gender-affirming care ban for kids
The rules, known as care standards for doctors, took effect last week and prohibit trans minors from receiving gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy or surgery.
www.politico.com
Four key takeaways as lawmakers grill TikTok CEO
Lawmakers from both political parties joined forces on Thursday during a committee hearing where TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew testified on ways his company plans to address recent security con…
thehill.com
Ethics committee admonishes Lindsey Graham for soliciting contributions for Walker
The Senate Select Committee on Ethics admonished Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) on Thursday for soliciting campaign contributions for former Georgia GOP Senate hopeful Herschel Walker from a Senate office building last November.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Fetterman expected back 'soon' after weeks of inpatient treatment at Walter Reed for post-stroke depression
Sen. John Fetterman, a Democrat from Pennsylvania, continues to receive treatment at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center for depression but is expected to return 'soon.'
Manhattan DA's office slams House GOP inquiry, says it was motivated by Trump creating 'false expectation' of imminent arrest | CNN Politics
The office of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg accused House Republicans of launching an "an unprecedent inquiry into a pending local prosecution," while defending the investigation into former President Donald Trump's alleged hush money payments to an adult film actress during the 2016...
www.cnn.com
Trump indictment won't happen this week as grand jury considers different case: Report
The grand jury deliberating whether former President Donald Trump will be indicted on charges related to a 2016 hush money payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels will not meet to discuss the case this week.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Top 4 moments from the TikTok hearing on Capitol Hill
The House hearing focused on the security issues surrounding TikTok saw a number of viral clashes between lawmakers and company CEO Shou Zi Chew.
Pentagon: Budget readies US for possible China confrontation
Pentagon leaders have told Congress that the U.S. military must be ready for possible confrontation with China.
apnews.comThe DeSantis Foreign Policy: Hard Power, but With a High Bar
When Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida made headlines recently by undercutting U.S. support for Ukraine, Republican hawks, many of whom cling to him as their only hope to defeat former President Donald Trump, wondered if they had misread him as an ideological ally. DeSantis ditched his previous...
Forgot to cancel that subscription? New rules could make it easier for customers to drop.
The Federal Trade Commission announced new proposals to require businesses and sellers to make canceling subscriptions and other services easier.
www.usatoday.com
Bernie Sanders presents bill to ban bank executives from Fed board roles
Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) unveiled legislation Thursday to ban bank executives from serving on Federal Reserve boards "that regulate the banks they run."
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Oil, gas industry comes out in support of new GOP energy bill, hits Biden for 'decimating' production
Leaders of the U.S. oil and gas industry endorsed a new Republican energy bill as a "welcome answer" to Biden administration policies and recent Democrat-backed legislation.
Universal school choice headed to DeSantis' desk after passing Florida Senate
Universal school choice legislation for Florida students will head to Gov. Ron DeSantis' desk to be signed after passing in the Florida Senate and House.
Informant didn't spy on Proud Boys defense, prosecutors say
As revelations that a defense witness was also an FBI informant roil the already contentious Capitol riot trial of members of the far-right Proud Boys group, prosecutors say the informant was never told to gather information about the defendants or their lawyers.
apnews.comNew York nears deal to ban gas stoves in new homes
Supporters see the potential law as a national model that they hope can spur similar action by other states and the federal government.
www.politico.comTrump lawyer M. Evan Corcoran to testify to grand jury on Friday as classified documents case heats up
Former President Donald Trump's mounting legal troubles got considerably worse this week when a federal appeals court ruled that one of his lawyers must appear for questioning before the Washington grand jury investigating the handling of classified documents after Trump left office.
Scientists 'solve' mystery of giant space anomaly Oumuamua
Scientists presented a plausible explanation for the first interstellar object to enter our solar system. The theory dispels far-reaching theories that it was an alien spacecraft.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Russian forces appear to lose steam as Ukraine prepares offensive
Putin strengthens his ties with China in 56th week of the war, but his forces seem to lose momentum on the battlefield.
The dark side of TikTok
TikTok calls itself “The Last Sunny Corner on the Internet.” But in reality, the app, which claims 150 million Americans among its 1 billion global users, is more than a harmless diversion for joke…
thehill.com
Artwork that secretly honored Hong Kong dissidents removed
A Hong Kong department store took down a digital artwork that contained hidden references to jailed dissidents, in an incident the artist says is evidence of erosion of free speech in the semi-autonomous Chinese city.
apnews.com
Pro-Trump protester Ray Epps seeks retraction of conspiracy theory from Tucker Carlson
Epps' lawyer demanded the Fox News host issue a "formal on-air apology for the lies” spread about his client.
www.nbcnews.com
North Korea tests new nuclear-capable underwater drone
During the test, the drone cruised underwater at a depth of 80 to 150 metres for over 59 hours and detonated a non-nuclear payload in waters off North Korea's east coast.
GOP House Foreign Affairs Committee chairman gives Blinken until Monday to turn over Afghanistan document or face subpoena | CNN Politics
Republican Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul gave Secretary of State Antony Blinken a deadline of Monday afternoon to turn over a key document related to the US withdrawal from Afghanistan or face a subpoena for the file.
www.cnn.com
U.S. and Canada announces northern border deal during Biden visit
Just as the U.S. southern border remains a vexing political issue for Joe Biden, the influx of migrants is also putting pressure on Canada.
www.politico.com
House fails to override Biden veto of ESG legislation
The House failed to override President Joe Biden’s veto of a congressional measure to cancel a controversial Labor Department rule.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Elon Musk trolls top House Dem: 'That's what she said'
Elon Musk wasn't shy to use Twitter to employ a double entendre made famous by Michael Scott, the main character of the beloved sitcom "The Office," in response to the top House Democrat taking an apparent swipe at Republicans.
House GOP eyes a new demand in debt talks: Energy permitting
Insisting on a link between the two topics, if party leaders embrace the idea, could give Republicans a near-guaranteed win on a signature issue.
www.politico.com
Hong Kong on watch for any 'spillover' from US regional banks
Hong Kong needs to watch carefully for any further "spillover" from U.S. regional banks, although the city has very little exposure to the situation in European and U.S. financial institutions, the Hong Kong Monetary Authority said on Friday.
Saudi Arabia, Syria may restore ties as Mideast reshuffles
Saudi Arabia is in talks with Syria to reopen its embassy in the war-torn nation for the first time in a decade.
apnews.com
Father of Parkland victim arrested after disrupting House hearing
The father of a victim of the Parkland school shooting was arrested on Thursday after disrupting a House Oversight and Accountability Committee hearing on gun regulation. Manuel Oliver — whose son …
thehill.com
Walmart to lay off hundreds of employees at five e-commerce centers
Walmart announced a layoff of hundreds of workers at five of its e-commerce fulfillment facilities across the nation Thursday. The company urged affected employees to find a job at a different one of its facilities within 90 days.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Newsom gets big win: California Senate approves first-of-its-kind ‘price gouging’ bill
California lawmakers voted on Thursday to advance a bill that would penalize oil companies for “price gouging” — a first-of-its-kind legislation pushed forward in recent months by Gov. Gavin Newsom…
thehill.com
‘PR campaign’: Rohingya activists slam Myanmar repatriation plan
Rights campaigners condemn ruling military’s plan saying no word on Rohingya’s rights and their safety in Myanmar.
Violence hits France in day of anger over Macron's pension changes
Police fired tear gas and fought with violent black-clad anarchists in Paris and across France on Thursday as hundreds of thousands of protesters marched against President Emmanuel Macron's plan to raise the pension age.
Prince William thanks Poland for generosity to Ukrainians
Prince William has paid tribute to Poles who lost their lives in past wars, and expressed gratitude to the nation for what it is doing today to provide humanitarian and military support to Ukraine.
apnews.com
Factbox: Why a broad US TikTok ban is unlikely to take effect soon
A recent ban of TikTok use on U.S. government-owned devices, coupled with new legislation in Congress seeking to block the app, have fueled expectations the popular Chinese-owned platform could soon be barred nationwide.
Pence blasts Biden for ‘vacuum of leadership’ on administration’s response to China, Russia
Former Vice President Mike Pence blasted President Biden for his administration’s response to China and Russia. “You’re witnessing a vacuum of leadership on the global stage, larg…
thehill.com
TikTok CEO finds no allies in Congress during House testimony
TikTok's CEO faced scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle in congressional testimony Thursday as he defended the company from the threat of a national ban.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Netanyahu vows to unite Israel but opponents dismiss pledge
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says he is determined to end the divisive crisis over his plan to overhaul the country's judiciary.
apnews.com
Japan's consumer inflation off 41-year high but cost pressure persists
Japan's core consumer inflation slowed in February but an index stripping away energy costs hit a four-decade high, data showed on Friday, suggesting cost-push pressures may persist longer than policymakers thought.
China says it has never deliberately pursued trade surplus with U.S.
China has never deliberately pursued a trade surplus with the United States, Shu Jueting, a commerce ministry spokesperson, said on Thursday, despite signs that China is continuing to reduce its reliance on American exports.
Russia’s Medvedev says Putin’s arrest would be ‘declaration of war’
Top Russian official Dmitry Medvedev on Thursday said that any attempt to arrest Russian President Vladimir Putin would be considered a “declaration of war” against the country amid Moscow’s ongoin…
thehill.com
New Mexico tribe keeps title to portion of national preserve
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A Native American tribe has been granted title to a portion of a national preserve in northern New Mexico following a yearslong court battle against the federal government, a ruling that could provide hope to other tribes seeking to regain rights to their traditional homelan
apnews.com
DeSantis clarifies Ukraine comments: No ‘sufficient interest’ for US to ‘escalate’ involvement
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) walked back his controversial comments characterizing Russia’s war on Ukraine as a “territorial dispute,” in a recent interview, but doubled down on his stance that th…
thehill.com
Carolyn Maloney comes around on Biden 2024, saying he's ‘too busy to die’
Once a public skeptic, former Rep. Carolyn Maloney (D-NY) is now changing her tune about President Joe Biden seeking reelection in 2024.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Kevin McCarthy met Ashli Babbitt's mom ahead of GOP visit with Jan. 6 prisoners
Micki Witthoeft said the House speaker "was delightful" in a meeting a day before congressional Republicans will visit Jan. 6 defendants at the D.C. jail.
www.nbcnews.com
Four things on the agenda for Biden’s first trip to Canada as president
President Biden is making his first trip across the northern border as president, seeking to bolster the U.S.-Canada alliance on issues like the war in Ukraine, migration and climate change. Biden,…
thehill.com
North Korea claims 'radioactive tsunami' weapon test at sea
North Korea claimed Friday to have tested a nuclear-capable underwater drone designed to generate a gigantic “radioactive tsunami” that would destroy naval strike groups and ports.
apnews.comFlorida Republicans hand DeSantis first major legislative win
Republican lawmakers, who hold supermajorities in the Legislature, are moving rapidly to carry out the governor’s wish list.
www.politico.com
Minnesota officials stump for legislative crackdown on 'forever chemicals'
Minnesota environmental and health officials on Thursday urged legislators to regulate nonessential use of "forever chemicals" and allocate $45.6 million toward their management.
Blinken suggests TikTok 'should be ended one way or another'
Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he believes the Chinese Communist Party-linked social media platform TikTok "should be ended one way or another."
Dueling TikTok creators take over Capitol Hill as battle over app heats up
A blockbuster House committee hearing with the CEO of TikTok was met with a wave of influencers and creators from both sides of the online culture wars coming to Capitol Hill. On Wednesday, TikTok …
thehill.com
Arizona Supreme Court rejects majority of Kari Lake's governor race appeal
The Arizona Supreme Court declined to hear the majority of Kari Lake's appeal of the 2022 governor's race, in which she lost to now-Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ), but it revived a claim that a trial court had dismissed.
www.washingtonexaminer.com
Nebraska trans health bill advances, despite filibuster vow
The Nebraska Legislature has advanced a contentious bill that would ban gender-affirming care for minors, despite threats from several lawmakers that they would filibuster the rest of the session.
apnews.com
Biden administration adds 14 Chinese firms to red flag list
The Biden administration on Thursday added 14 Chinese companies to a red flag list, forcing U.S. exporters to conduct greater due diligence before shipping goods to them because U.S. officials have been unable to inspect the listed entities.
Vietnam may resist diplomatic upgrade with Washington as U.S.-China tensions simmer
A push by the United States to upgrade ties with Vietnam this year is facing resistance in Hanoi, over what experts say are concerns that China could see the move as hostile at a time of tension between superpowers Beijing and Washington.
House GOP infighting is threatening their ability to get bills out the door
House Republicans vowed to open the floor to amendments. But on both education and energy legislation, they're finding that promise sparks its share of internal dissent.
www.politico.com
Pennsylvania judge dismisses latest GOP mail ballot lawsuit
HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania judge on Thursday dismissed a lawsuit filed by the Republican National Committee that had sought to prevent counties from helping voters ensure their ballots count by fixing minor, technical deficiencies on mail-in ballot envelopes.
apnews.com
ESPN blasts ethnic slur directed at Mina Kimes as ‘extremely offensive’
ESPN has denounced a Boston sports radio host who used an ethnic slur directed at network personality Mina Kimes, calling the comments “extremely offensive.” “There is no place for thes…
thehill.com
Indian court orders Rahul Gandhi to two years in jail for Modi comment
A lower court in India sentenced opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday to two years in jail on charges of defamation for a 2019 speech in which he referred to thieves as having the surname Modi.
US contractor killed, 5 service members wounded during drone strike in Syria
A U.S. contractor was killed in northeast Syria on Thursday after a suspected Iranian-origin drone struck a facility on a Coalition base near Hasakah, the Pentagon announced late Thursday evening. …
thehill.com
Judge allows anonymous jury for Trump rape lawsuit trial
Jurors’ names will be kept secret at the upcoming trial of a writer’s rape lawsuit against former President Donald Trump.
apnews.com
Michigan GOP chair not apologizing after comparing gun reform to Holocaust: ‘We’re a different Republican Party’
Kristina Karamo, the chairwoman of the Michigan Republican Party, has doubled down amid backlash surrounding a tweet her party posted in which they compared gun reform to the Holocaust. Speak…
thehill.com
Kemp signs bill banning some gender-affirming care for transgender youth
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) announced on Thursday that he signed a bill banning certain gender-affirming care for minors in the state. Kemp said he signed Georgia Senate Bill 140 — which prohibits …
thehill.com
Republicans at odds over DeSantis attacks against Trump
Welcome to The Hill’s Campaign newsletter {beacon} Campaign Report Campaign Report The Big Story Republicans at odds over DeSantis attacks against Trump While former President T…
thehill.com
Minnesota moves to strengthen status as 'trans refuge state'
Minnesota is moving to strengthen the state’s protections for children and their families who come for gender-affirming care by making itself a “trans refuge state,” bucking a national backlash against transgender rights.
apnews.comTrump to GOP firms: Stop using my image or your clients will suffer
A memo sent on Thursday makes clear, the Trump campaign wants the digital dollars going to them.
www.politico.comWith Biden's student loan debt forgiveness in limbo, lawmakers consider colleges' role
At a hearing meant to poke holes in the Biden administration's mass debt relief plan, both Republicans and Democrats agreed schools should have more skin in the game.
Trump, Pence urge judge to reject special counsel bid to obtain former VP’s testimony
It’s one of the weightiest constitutional fights for the special counsel.
www.politico.com
Arizona court declines most of Lake's appeal over gov's race
The Arizona Supreme Court has declined to hear most of Republican Kari Lake’s appeal in a challenge of her defeat in the governor’s race, but revived a claim that was dismissed by a trial court.
apnews.com
Utah becomes first state to require parental consent for minors using social media
Utah on Thursday became the first state to bar minors from using social media without consent from a parent or guardian after Gov. Spencer Cox (R) signed two bills aimed at regulating how…
thehill.com
U.S. aims for over $7 billion in aid for 20-year Pacific islands compacts
President Joe Biden's administration is seeking more than $7 billion over the next two decades for economic assistance to three Pacific island countries, a State Department official said on Thursday, funds seen as key to insulating the U.S. allies from growing Chinese government influence.
Maine chief justice says case backlogs 'hurt her heart'
Maine Supreme Judicial Court Chief Justice Valerie Stanfill said Thursday that the Pine Tree State's post-pandemic surge in backlogged court cases "hurts her heart."
Father of slain Parkland victim is arrested in fiery moment at House gun law hearing
Rep. Pat Fallon, R-Texas, mockingly equated the disruption with the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.
www.nbcnews.com
Other states are copying Florida's "Don't Say Gay" efforts
Florida's move to expand its prohibition on teaching sexual orientation or gender identity in the classroom comes as several states are pursuing similar bans.
apnews.com
Grindr sends Egypt users a warning after alleged entrapments and arrests
Human rights groups have been documenting the digital targeting of LGBTQ people through dating apps and social media in at least five Middle Eastern countries in recent years.
www.nbcnews.com
Jeffries waves aside plan to raise debt limit with House discharge petition
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) on Thursday signaled that Democrats have little interest in moving a discharge petition to force a House floor vote on a clean debt limit increase. &n…
thehill.com
Russian officials seek another opposition activist's arrest
MOSCOW (AP) — A Russian court on Thursday issued an order to arrest an opposition activist on charges of disparaging the military, and auhorities declared other activists and bloggers “foreign agents” amid efforts to muzzle criticism of Russia's action in Ukraine.
apnews.com
Democrats have a diverse bench waiting in the wings. They just need to pitch it to donors.
The national committee for states’ seconds-in-command is trying to boost its fundraising — and serve as a launching pad for members’ future ambitions.
www.politico.com
Explainer: What are depleted uranium weapons - and what are the risks?
Britain said it would supply armour piercing munitions containing depleted uranium to Ukraine to help destroy Russian tanks, a step President Vladimir Putin said would force a response from Moscow as the weapons had "a nuclear component".
China, Philippines should properly manage differences -Beijing
China and the Philippines should manage their differences properly, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday, after the first in-person meeting between senior diplomats from the countries since before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Georgia law will ban most transgender care for kids under 18
Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp has signed a ban on most gender-affirming surgeries and hormone replacement therapies for transgender people under 18.
apnews.comDemocrats have a diverse bench waiting in the wings. They just need to pitch it to donors.
The national committee for states’ seconds-in-command is trying to boost its fundraising — and serve as a launching pad for members’ future ambitions.
www.politico.com
Fish can sense fear in other fish and become afraid, too, study shows
The study, published in the journal Science, shows the ability is regulated by oxytocin, the brain chemical that underlies the capacity for empathy in humans.
www.nbcnews.com
World stocks swoon over bank contagion fears
Global stock markets swooned on Friday as fears about contagion among banks hobbled shares of lenders such as Deutsche Bank , with the flight from risk shoring up the dollar and driving bond yields lower.
Michigan department's first female cop alleges relentless harassment
Former Iron Mountain Police Officer Teresa Williams alleges in a federal lawsuit that her direct supervisor and a former patrol partner bet about who could have sex with her first.
www.nbcnews.com
Scientists say mine plan claiming no swamp harm has errors
Scientists for the federal government say documents that Georgia state regulators relied upon to conclude a proposed mine won't harm the nearby Okefenokee Swamp and its vast wildlife refuge are riddled with technical errors.
apnews.com
Wife of Connecticut Democrat involved in COVID fraud scheme gets 6 months
Lauren DiMassa, wife of former Democratic Connecticut state Rep. Michael DiMassa, has been sentenced to six months in federal prison for her role in a COVID-19 relief scam.
Judge sentences Jan. 6 defendant who breached Pelosi’s office to 36 months in prison
A jury convicted Riley Williams of civil disorder and resisting police but deadlocked on a charge that Williams obstructed Congress and abetted the theft of Pelosi’s laptop.
www.politico.com
Nearly half of parents with adult children still pay their bills
Nearly half of American parents with adult children continue to support them financially — to the tune of $1,442 a month on average, according to a new survey. Parents who pay bills for an ad…
thehill.com
'Unlawful’: Manhattan DA stiff-arms House GOP info request on Trump case
The general counsel to Alvin Bragg replied to three Republican committee chairs by raising questions about the legitimacy of their interest in the case.
www.politico.com
California may punish oil companies for high gas prices
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — A first-in-the-nation bill to punish oil companies for profiting from price spikes at the pump breezed through the California Senate on Thursday at the urging of Democratic Gov.
apnews.com
Jeff Zients discovers the thanklessness of the White House chief of staff gig
It’s early, but Biden’s new chief of staff and his leadership style have drawn some detractors.
www.politico.com
French unions strike over Macron's pension reform
Protests in France are intensifying as President Macron remains adamant over his plans for pension reform. NBC’s Meagan Fitzgerald reports from Paris on how major unions are calling for nationwide strikes impacting the country’s transportation, refineries, and schools.
www.nbcnews.com
Student who shot 2 high school administrators was on probation for weapons charge
The student who shot and wounded two Denver high school administrators and later took his own life was on probation at the time for a previous firearms offense, Reuters confirmed through a source with knowledge of the case on Thursday.
Protests erupt across the U.S. amid internet shutdown in India and manhunt for activist
Sikh activists have demonstrated in cities like Chicago, Sacramento and New York as Indian officials search for Sikh figurehead Amritpal Singh.
www.nbcnews.com
Court: Arizona governor not required to carry out execution
The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that state law doesn’t require Gov. Katie Hobbs to carry out the execution of a prisoner who is scheduled to be put to death on April 6.
apnews.com
Iowa governor signs transgender bathroom bill, bans gender-affirming care for youth
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds (R) on Wednesday signed into law two bills that will restrict the rights of transgender young people in the state. One of them, Senate File 538, prohibits doctors from provid…
thehill.com
GOP senators slam Biden, Austin over balloon timeline
The hearing comes almost two months after the Chinese surveillance balloon first emerged over the U.S.
www.politico.com
America Doesn't Wage War. Government Institutions Do.
Twenty years after the invasion of Iraq, mercenarism continues to have unpredictable consequences.
www.politico.com
Army: Decorated soldier killed in South Carolina shooting
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — A decorated 20-year member of the U.S. Army has been identified as one of the five people killed in a shooting Tuesday night at a South Carolina home.
apnews.com
18 state AGs urge Senate to reject Nancy Abudu’s judicial nomination: ‘She is an activist’
18 GOP state attorneys general wrote to Congress asking them to reject President Biden’s nominee to the 11th circuit court, Nancy Abudu, who works for the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Haiti, China and NORAD are on the agenda as Biden heads to Canada
Biden and Trudeau won't make a public show of their differences, but in private, they're expected to hash out places where the neighbors don't agree.
www.nbcnews.com
COVID left some with damaged immune response, study finds
Scientists found a "major reduction" in a part of T cell responses in people who were infected before being vaccinated.
www.cbsnews.com
Hospitals blame psych bed reopening delay on suicide precautions, staff shortages
Hundreds of hospital beds for psychiatric patients will remain offline past Gov. Hochul’s April 1 reopening deadline, according to records obtained by POLITICO.
www.politico.com
Court blocks COVID-19 vaccine mandate for US gov't workers
The White House is defending President Joe Biden’s order that federal employees get vaccinated against COVID-19 after a federal appeals court blocked it. The 5th U.S.
apnews.com
China’s huge quarantine camps standing months after ‘zero COVID’
Satellite imagery shows facilities are still intact nearly four months after end of Beijing’s draconian pandemic policy.
Recon: Moderna sets COVID vax price at $130/shot; Bancel defends decision at Senate hearing
Welcome to Regulatory Reconnaissance, your daily regulatory news and intelligence briefing.
www.raps.org
Hunting COVID's origins: New intelligence and scientific reports shift debate
Three years after COVID-19 forced the world to shut down, the origins of the virus that has claimed upwards of 7 million lives remains an enduring mystery.
Lawmakers advance hospital visitation protections
MONTGOMERY, Ala. (AP) — Alabama lawmakers on Thursday advanced legislation requiring hospitals and nursing homes to allow in-person visits, even during a pandemic.
apnews.comMedicare Tries to Combat Fraud. Now Insurers Are Fighting Back.
“How’s the knee?” one bowler asked another across the lanes. Their conversation in a Super Bowl ad focused on a Biden administration proposal that one bowler warned another would “cut Medicare Advantage.” “Somebody in Washington is smarter than that,” the friend responded, before a narrator...
Georgia House approves blocking COVID-19 vaccine mandates
ATLANTA (AP) — Any COVID-19 vaccine requirement by public schools, state agencies or local governments would be blocked under legislation given final approval by the Georgia House on Thursday.
apnews.com
NC approves Medicaid expansion, reversing long opposition
The Republican-controlled North Carolina legislature has given final approval to a Medicaid expansion agreement.
apnews.com
Autism now more common among Black, Hispanic kids in US
For the first time, autism is being diagnosed more frequently in Black and Hispanic children than in white kids in the U.S.
apnews.com
Global Review Finds Vaccination Cuts Odds of Long COVID in Half
THURSDAY, March 23, 2023 (HealthDay News) -- A review of studies from around the world finds that getting vaccinated halves the risk of long COVID-19.
Sanofi, Regeneron unveil 'blow-out' smoker's lung drug data
Sanofi's asthma drug Dupixent met all targets in a trial to treat "smoker's lung", potentially adding billions to the French drugmaker's growth prospects, but also underscoring a heavy reliance on its bestseller.
Many millions die without clean water or sanitation, UN says
A lack of drinking water and healthy sanitation infrastructure around the world is dire and getting worse, United Nations experts warned in a report issued Thursday.
apnews.comThese are the people at higher risk for long COVID, according to a massive new study
Factors like age, gender, BMI, and pre-existing conditions may put individuals at higher risk for the potentially debilitating post-viral condition, according to a new study.
Analysis: In US abortion pill case, FDA could soften blow of court-ordered restrictions
The agency's role in determining mifepristone's future has gotten little notice in a court battle that has drawn widespread attention as the most consequential abortion case since the overturning of Roe v. Wade.
Rare strain of parasite that killed 4 otters in California could pose danger to humans, researchers say
The otters were found on the state's central coast after contracting a parasite often found in cat feces.
www.nbcnews.com
Moderna signs licensing deal with Generation Bio in push beyond COVID
Moderna Inc has entered a licensing deal with Generation Bio Co to develop treatments targeting the immune system and liver, the latest such transaction by the vaccine maker as it expands beyond its COVID shots.
US FDA declines to approve AbbVie's Parkinson's disease therapy
AbbVie Inc said on Wednesday the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had declined to approve its Parkinson's disease therapy for adults and had requested for more information on the device used to administer the treatment.
