Tuesday, June 4, 2024

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1/ Wisconsin charged three people involved in the “fake elector” scheme to overturn the results of the 2020 election to keep now-convicted felon Trump in office. Attorney General Josh Kaul charged Kenneth Chesebro, Jim Troupis, and Michael Roman with one felony count each of conspiracy to commit forgery. The three will make their initial appearances in Dane County Circuit Court on Sept. 19. Each charge carries a sentence of up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000. Chesebro is also one of the 18 co-defendants named in Trump’s criminal racketeering case in Georgia. Similar slates of fake electors to overturn the results of the 2020 election to keep Trump in office were organized in several states and charges have been brought in Arizona, Michigan, Nevada, and Georgia. (Washington Post / New York Times / CNN / Associated Press / CBS News / NBC News / Politico / Axios)

2/ Speaker Mike Johnson floated a “three-pronged approach” to punish the Department of Justice for Trump’s felony conviction. With House Republicans’ push to impeach Biden going nowhere, Johnson announced a plan to use the appropriations process, legislation, and Congressional oversight to rein in Trump’s prosecutors at both the federal and state levels by limiting funding for the FBI, federal prosecutors, and “state prosecutors or state attorneys general involved in lawfare.” Johnson suggested that “All those things will be happening vigorously, because we have to do that, because the stakes are too high and because people are losing faith in our institutions.” Some Republicans, however, acknowledge that they don’t have enough votes to pass legislation in the House. And even if they could pass a bill, it’s unlikely to go anywhere with the Democratic-controlled Senate. (Politico / The Hill / Politico / CNN)

3/ Attorney General Merrick Garland condemned the “repeated attacks” from Republicans on the Justice Department, calling them “unprecedented,” “unfounded,” and “extremely dangerous” during a House Judiciary Committee hearing. “I will not be intimidated,” Garland said in his opening statements. “The Justice Department will not be intimidated. We will continue to do our jobs free from political influence. And we will not back down from defending our democracy.” House Republicans have advanced a conspiracy theory that the Manhattan district attorney, which convicted Trump on 34 felon counts of orchestrating an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election by falsifying business records, “was somehow controlled by the Justice Department.” Garland emphasized that the Ju...

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Monday, June 3, 2024

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1/ Biden will issue an executive that would allow him to temporarily “shut down” the southern border when crossings surge. The order echoes Trump’s 2018 effort to ban migrants who cross the border illegally from claiming asylum, which was later blocked by federal courts. It also mirrors the bipartisan border deal struck earlier this year, which Republicans killed at Trump’s direction, who is making the border a campaign issue. The order will rely on section 212(f) of the Immigration and Nationality Act to allow border officials to prevent migrants from claiming asylum and quickly turn them away when border crossings meet a certain threshold. Biden is expected to issue the order Tuesday. (Politico / New York Times / Associated Press / CNN / Axios / Wall Street Journal)

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Friday, May 31, 2024

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1/ Trump, a former U.S. president and the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, is a convicted felon. A jury of 12 New Yorkers found Trump guilty on all 34 felon counts of orchestrating an illegal conspiracy to influence the 2016 presidential election by falsifying business records – a crime that carries a possible sentence up to four years in prison. The verdict – both unprecedented and historic – makes Trump the first former president in American history to be convicted of a felony. Judge Juan Merchan denied Trump’s motion for an acquittal and set a sentencing hearing for July 11 – four days before the Republican National Convention. The Biden campaign said the verdict illustrates that “no one is above the law,” but added: “There is still only one way to keep Donald Trump out of the Oval Office: at the ballot box. Convicted felon or not, Trump will be the Republican nominee for president.” Trump, meanwhile, declared the outcome a “disgrace,” proclaimed “we didn’t do a thing wrong. I’m a very innocent man,” falsely claimed that the case was “done by the Biden administration in order to wound or hurt a political opponent,” and promised that the “real verdict is going to be Nov. 5 by the people.” He added: “Our country has gone to hell, we don’t have the same country anymore.” Trump is expected to appeal the verdict, which could take months or years to resolve. (New York Times / Washington Post / NBC News / CNN / NPR / Politico / Axios / Wall Street Journal / Bloomberg)

2/ Biden gave Ukraine permission to strike inside Russia with U.S.-made weapons. The approval – a significant reversal for Biden – is intended for Ukraine to strike military targets in Russia that are being used to attack Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. Putin, meanwhile accused NATO of “unending escalation,” and warned this could lead to “serious consequences.” (Politico / Washington Post / New York Times / Bloomberg / CNN)

3/ Chief Justice John Roberts refused to meet with the Senate Judiciary Committee to discuss “the Supreme Court’s ethics crisis” related to Justice Samuel Alito and Justice Clarence Thomas. Alito has faced scrutiny over reports that two of his properties displayed

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Wednesday, May 29, 2024

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1/ Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito refused to recuse himself from cases involving Trump and the Jan. 6 insurrection despite revelations that flags associated with Trump’s far-right supporters flew at his homes in Virginia and New Jersey. Alito told lawmakers he had “nothing whatsoever to do with the flying of” an upside-down U.S. flag at his Virginia home days before Biden’s inauguration. Alito also said he had “no involvement” in flying a flag bearing the “Appeal to Heaven” symbol, a flag associated with the “Stop the Steal” movement. Alito blamed his wife for flying the controversial flags, saying “She was solely responsible for having flagpoles put up at our residence and our vacation home and has flown a wide variety of flags over the years” and that he was powerless to remove the flags because his wife “has the legal right to use the property as she sees fit.” The Supreme Court is currently weighing Trump’s presidential immunity claim in the federal election interference case brought by special counsel Jack Smith, and an appeal brought by a man prosecuted for his role on Jan. 6. Rulings are due by the end of June. (Washington Post / New York Times / CNN / Axios / NBC News / Associated Press / CNBC / Bloomberg)

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Tuesday, May 28, 2024

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1/ The judge presiding over Trump’s classified documents case denied a request from federal prosecutors to block Trump from making false claims that FBI agents were prepared to kill him during the search of Mar-a-Lago for classified documents in 2022. Special counsel Jack Smith had asked Judge Aileen Cannon to limit Trump’s ability to comment on law enforcement that searched Mar-a-Lago, calling Trump’s statements “intentionally false and inflammatory” and said they could “expose those agents, some of whom will be witnesses at trial, to the risk of threats, violence, and harassment.” Cannon, however, denied Smith’s request, calling the request “wholly lacking in substance and professional courtesy.” Cannon accused prosecutors of not discussing with Trump’s lawyers before making their request for a potential gag order after Trump baselessly claimed that FBI agents were “authorized to shoot” him while executing a court-authorized search warrant at Mar-a-Lago “Because the filing of the Special Counsel’s Motion did not adhere to these basic requirements, it is due to be denied without prejudice,” adding, “it should go without saying that meaningful conferral is not a perfunctory exercise.” (Politico / CNN / Axios / USA Today / CBS News / Associated Press / Washington Post / New York Times / NBC News)

2/ Trump was repeatedly booed and heckled at the Libertarian National Convention after he asked members for their support. Within minutes of speaking, Trump turned on the third party, mocking its poor electoral record in presidential elections even as asked attendees to “nominate me or at least vote for me […] What’s the purpose of the Libertarian Party of getting 3 percent […] You should nominate Trump for president only if you want to win.” Both Trump and Biden have expressed concern about third-party threats, including Robert F Kennedy Jr., in an election expected to be decided by a narrow margin in a handful of states. (CNN / Axios / Reuters / Politico / Washington Post)

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Thursday, May 23, 2024

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1/ The Supreme Court approved a white-dominated congressional district drawn by the Republican-controlled South Carolina legislature, reversing a lower court decision that found the map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander that resulted in the “bleaching of African American voters” from a district. The decision, however, won’t have a direct effect on the 2024 election. South Carolina had asked the justices to issue a decision by Jan. 1, but after that deadline passed the lower court ordered the state to use the map deemed unconstitutional this year no matter how the Supreme Court ruled. (New York Times / NBC News / NPR / Politico / Associated Press / Washington Post / CNN / Wall Street Journal)

2/ A second flag carried by rioters on Jan. 6 was flown outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s vacation home in New Jersey. The “Appeal to Heaven” flag has been embraced by Christian nationalists and, like the inverted U.S. flag, was carried by rioters at the Capitol on Jan. 6. It dates back to the Revolutionary War. The flag was displayed at Alito’s New Jersey vacation home in July and September of 2023. An upside-down American flag – a symbol of the “Stop the Steal” movement – was hung outside Alito’s home days after the Jan. 6 attack. Democrats, meanwhile, called for Alito to recuse himself from cases related to Trump and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. In the coming weeks, the Supreme Court will rule on whether those who stormed the Capitol can be prosecuted for obstruction, and whether Trump is immune from prosecution for actions he took while president. (New York Times / Associated Press / CNN / Axios)

3/ House Republicans temporarily banned a Democrat from speaking in the chamber after he listed off Trump’s criminal charges. “Donald Trump might want to be a king, but he’s not a king,” Rep. Jim McGovern said. “We have a presumptive nominee for president facing 88 felony counts, and we’re being prevented from even acknowledging it. These are not alternative facts. There are real facts […] And yet, in this Republican-controlled House, it’s OK to talk about the trial, but you have to call it a sham.” McGovern went on to list the counts Trump was facing, including that he was “on trial for sendin...

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Thursday, May 23, 2024

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1/ The Supreme Court approved a white-dominated congressional district drawn by the Republican-controlled South Carolina legislature, reversing a lower court decision that found the map was an unconstitutional racial gerrymander that resulted in the “bleaching of African American voters” from a district. The decision, however, won’t have a direct effect on the 2024 election. South Carolina had asked the justices to issue a decision by Jan. 1, but after that deadline passed the lower court ordered the state to use the map deemed unconstitutional this year no matter how the Supreme Court ruled. (New York Times / NBC News / NPR / Politico / Associated Press / Washington Post / CNN / Wall Street Journal)

2/ A second flag carried by rioters on Jan. 6 was flown outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s vacation home in New Jersey. The “Appeal to Heaven” flag has been embraced by Christian nationalists and, like the inverted U.S. flag, was carried by rioters at the Capitol on Jan. 6. It dates back to the Revolutionary War. The flag was displayed at Alito’s New Jersey vacation home in July and September of 2023. An upside-down American flag – a symbol of the “Stop the Steal” movement – was hung outside Alito’s home days after the Jan. 6 attack. Democrats, meanwhile, called for Alito to recuse himself from cases related to Trump and the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. In the coming weeks, the Supreme Court will rule on whether those who stormed the Capitol can be prosecuted for obstruction, and whether Trump is immune from prosecution for actions he took while president. (New York Times / Associated Press / CNN / Axios)

3/ House Republicans temporarily banned a Democrat from speaking in the chamber after he listed off Trump’s criminal charges. “Donald Trump might want to be a king, but he’s not a king,” Rep. Jim McGovern said. “We have a presumptive nominee for president facing 88 felony counts, and we’re being prevented from even acknowledging it. These are not alternative facts. There are real facts […] And yet, in this Republican-controlled House, it’s OK to talk about the trial, but you have to call it a sham.” McGovern went on to list the counts Trump was facing, including that he was “on trial for sendin...

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Wednesday, May 22, 2024

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1/ Biden canceled $7.7 billion in student loans for another 160,000 borrowers. This latest round of forgiveness brings the total student debt relief approved by the Biden administration to $167 billion. More than one in 10 Americans with federal student loans have been approved for some form of debt relief under Biden. (Axios / Bloomberg / Associated Press)

2/ The Senate confirmed Biden’s 200th federal judge. At this point in his term, Trump had secured 196 judges. Trump ultimately confirmed 234 judges. If Biden and the Democrats exceed 234 confirmed judges, they’ll have replaced about one-quarter of the federal judiciary. (Politico / NBC News / Associated Press)

3/ Spain, Norway, and Ireland said they would recognize an independent Palestinian state. While a largely symbolic move, the group said they were “confident that further countries will join us in taking this important step in the coming weeks.” More than 140 countries currently recognize a Palestinian state, including more than two-thirds of the United Nations. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu denounced the move, calling it “a reward for terrorism” that would “not stop us from reaching a victory over Hamas.” The White House also rejected unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, saying “a Palestinian state should be realized through direct negotiations between the parties.” Still, the announcement comes days after the International Criminal Court requested arrest warrants for Netanyahu, Israel’s defense minister, and the leaders of Hamas for war crimes stemming from the Oct. 7 attacks and the Israeli offensive in Gaza. (New York Times / Washington Post / Wall Street Journal / Associated Press / NPR / NBC News / CNN)

4/ Months before Trump was indicted for mishandling classified documents, a federal judge said the Justice Department had “strong evidence” that Trump “intended” to hide classified documents at Mar-a-Lago. After Trump was informed by his attorney of a government subpoena for video footage from his Mar-a-Lago club, he realized that the security cameras could capture his employees moving classified government information that officials were attempting to retrieve. Trump allegedly instructed aides to then return several boxes they had previously removed – without being caught on camera. And, four months after the FBI searched Mar-a-Lago, four documents marked “classified” were...

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Tuesday, May 21, 2024

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1/ Israel’s Communications Ministry confiscated camera and broadcasting equipment from the Associated Press, claiming the news agency had violated a new broadcasting law for providing a live feed of Gaza to Al Jazeera. The Associated Press said the seizure was “not based on the content of the feed but rather an abusive use by the Israeli government of the country’s new foreign broadcaster law.” Following swift condemnation from the Biden administration and journalism organizations, Israeli officials said the equipment would be returned. Israeli opposition leader Yair Lapid also denounced the decision to seize press equipment, calling it “an act of madness.” Lapid added: “This government acts as if it has decided to make sure at any cost that Israel will be shunned all over the world. They went crazy.” Earlier this month, Israel shut down Al Jazeera’s operations in the country, accusing the Qatari-based news network of harming Israel’s security and inciting violence against its soldiers. (Associated Press / CNN / Axios / Washington Post / New York Times)

2/ Trump’s campaign adopted Nazi rhetoric in a social media post that referred to “the creation of a unified Reich” if he becomes president again. In a 30-second video posted to Trump’s personal social media platform, a narrator discusses “what’s next for America” if Trump wins again while a series of hypothetical headlines flash across the screen, including “BORDER IS CLOSED — 15 MILLION ILLEGAL ALIENS DEPORTED,” “ECONOMY BOOMS,” and “INDUSTRIAL STRENGTH SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED BY THE CREATION OF A UNIFIED REICH.” The term “reich” is associated with Nazi Germany under Adolf Hitler, who designated his Nazi regime as the “Third Reich.” The White House denounced the post, calling it “dangerous and offensive” and that it’s “abhorrent, sickening, and disgraceful for anyone to promote content associated with Germany’s Nazi government under Adolf Hitler.” Trump’s campaign responded, calling Biden “the real extremist” and that “this was not a campaign video, it was created by a random account online and reposted by a staffer who clearly did not see the word, while the President was in court” facing 34 felony counts of election interference. (Politico / New York Times / NBC News / NPR / ABC News / Associated Press / Washington Post /

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Monday, May 20, 2024

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1/ The International Criminal Court will seek arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar for alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza. A panel of three judges will decide whether to issue the arrest warrants and allow a case to proceed against Netanyahu, Sinwar, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant, and two other senior Hamas officials. The judges are expected take two months to decide. ICC prosecutor Karim Khan said he has evidence that Netanyahu and Gallant are responsible for the “starvation of civilians […] willful killing or Murder […] intentionally directing attacks against a civilian population as a war crime,” and “intentionally and systematically deprived the civilian population in all parts of Gaza of objects indispensable to human survival.” Netanyahu called the ICC’s decision “an utter distortion of reality” that “will not stop us from waging our just war against Hamas.” Biden, meanwhile, called the decision “outrageous,” saying “there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas.” (Axios / CNN / Associated Press / Politico / Washington Post / New York Times / NBC News)

2/ Prosecutors, who charged Trump with 34 felony counts, rested their case in the election interference trial involving falsified business records. After the prosecution rested, Trump’s lawyers called two witnesses, including Robert Costello, a lawyer who has publicly accused Michael Cohen of lying. Separately, Cohen admitted that he stole $30,000 from the Trump Organization as a form of “self-help” after his bonus had been cut by two-thirds. At one point, Judge Juan Merchan briefly cleared the courtroom after Costello repeatedly made comments under his breath from the stand during objections by prosecutors. Costello is set to return to the stand tomorrow for cross-examination, and the defense said they do not expect to call any more witnesses. Once the defense rests, Merchan said he plans to send the jury home until closing arguments the day after Memorial Day. Meanwhile, Trump’s lawyer asked Merchan to dismiss the case. (New York Times / Washington Post / CNN / Bloomberg / Associated Press / Politico / NBC News / ABC News)

3/ Rudy Giuliani was...

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