Monday, September 30, 2024

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1/ Biden may call Congress in for a special session to pass supplemental disaster funding to address the “broad and devastating impacts” of Hurricane Helene, a Category 4 storm that left at least 128 people dead and hundreds more unaccounted for across six states. Congress left last week for its preelection recess, and the House and Senate aren’t expected to return until Nov. 12 – after Election Day. Biden said it’s his “expectation” to ask for a supplemental funding bill, but that he didn’t have a price tag for it yet, adding “this is a historic storm, its devastating.” He added: “They’ve never seen anything like this before.” Trump, meanwhile, repeatedly lied and politicized the disaster, claiming that Biden was “sleeping” and not responding to Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp. Trump repeated the claim after being told Kemp had spoken to Biden. Despite claiming that “we’re not talking about politics now,” Trump said he had asked Elon Musk about using Starlink to help restore communication in the region. The Department of Homeland Security, however, has already provided 40 Starlink satellite systems to aid communications and recovery in North Carolina. (Politico / New York Times / USA Today / The Hill / CNN / Associated Press / ABC News / Washington Post / CNBC)

2/ A Georgia judge struck down the state’s abortion law that effectively banned abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy. Judge Robert McBurney wrote that a review of “of our higher courts’ interpretations of ‘liberty’ demonstrates that liberty in Georgia includes in its meaning, in its protections, and in its bundle of rights the power of a woman to control her own body, to decide what happens to it and in it, and to reject state interference with her healthcare choices.” Abortions are now legally allowed until about 22 weeks of pregnancy. Georgia’s law was passed and signed by Republican Gov. Brian Kemp in 2019, but it didn’t take effect until the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Meanwhile, at least 10 states will have ballot measures on abortion rights this November. Recent polls of the states with abortion rights on the ballot show Republicans support the measures between 28% and 54%. (Associated Press / NBC News / CNN / New York Times / Axios)

3/ Biden expanded his “temporary” asylum restrictions at the U.S.-Mexico border, effectively making the st...

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