China Escalates Military Drills Near Taiwan
China on Monday was conducting large-scale military drills that simulated sealing off the island of Taiwan. The exercises began last week in response to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen’s meeting in California with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA). On Thursday, China deployed three warships, several coastguard vessels and an anti-submarine helicopter near Taiwan. Since then, deployment […]
Dueling Rulings on Abortion Pill Mifepristone
Soon after a federal judge in Texas halted the FDA’s approval of the abortion pill mifepristone Friday, another judge in Washington state issued a conflicting injunction, preventing federal regulators from altering access to the drug. The ruling by U.S. District Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk in Amarillo, Texas, a 67-page opinion, said the FDA’s 20-year-old decision violated a […]
Secret Service Officials to Testify in Mar-a-Lago Probe
Several current and former U.S. Secret Service officials are set to testify Friday before the grand jury investigating the FBI search of former President Trump’s Mar-a-Lago residence in August, according to several reports. On August 8 the FBI acted on a search warrant to retrieve hundreds of White House documents—more than 100 of which were […]
Senators Seek Investigation into Justice Thomas’ Luxury Trips
Senate Democrats on Thursday called for an investigation into luxury trips Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas received from a Dallas businessman without disclosing them. The trips, from billionaire Republican donor Harlan Crow, were uncovered in an extensive investigative report released Thursday by ProPublica. According to the non-profit news outlet, the frequency of the gifts have […]
IRS: More Audits of Wealthy, Better Customer Service
The Internal Revenue Service on Thursday released details of how it plans to utilize some $80 billion in funding for improved operations. According to the IRS’ “Inflation Reduction Act Strategic Operating Plan,” the federal tax collecting department has pledged to invest in new technology, hire more customer service reps and expand audits on “high-income and high-wealth […]
China Sanctions Reagan Library over Taiwan President’s Visit
China on Thursday announced it was imposing sanctions on the Reagan Library and others after Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen met with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) there earlier this week. According to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Reagan library and the Washington think tank the Hudson Institute—from which Tsai has accepted a leadership award—were […]
White House Proposes New Rules for Transgender School Athletes
The Biden Administration proposed a rule on Thursday that would allow schools to bar some transgender athletes from competing on sports teams that match their gender identities—but schools could not enact across-the-board bans. “Categorically” barring all transgender athletes would violate Title IX, which ensures that all students have equal opportunity to take part in team […]
Tennessee House Officially Expels 2 of 3 Lawmakers After Calls for Gun Reform
Representatives in the Republican-led Tennessee House voted Thursday to expel two of three Democratic lawmakers accused of breaking House rules by calling for gun reform a week ago. Democratic state Reps. Justin Jones and Justin Pearson, both Black, were expelled while Rep. Gloria Johnson, who is white, survived the vote against her. Outside the chamber ahead […]
Bragg Responds to House Subpoena of Former Manhattan Prosecutor
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg responded Thursday to three House committee chairmen’s issuing a subpoena demanding testimony from former Manhattan prosecutor Mark Pomerantz. Pomerantz had previously led the investigation into former President Trump’s role in hush money payments made amid the 2016 Presidential election. Pomerantz stepped down last year after Bragg initially declined to pursue […]
White House Shares Reports of Afghanistan Withdrawal with Congress
The Biden Administration on Thursday was set to share with Congress its after-action reports on the 2021 military withdrawal from Afghanistan. “As you all know, over these many months departments and agencies key to the withdrawal, conducted thorough, internal after-action reviews, each of them examining their decision-making processes, as well as how those decisions were […]
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