Politics

The Associated Press reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis is now planning to address former President Donald Trump’s nominating convention next week, an apparent reversal from just one day earlier when he was expected not to give a speech. DeSantis’ speaking role at the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee was confirmed Wednesday by a person familiar with the schedule who spoke …

Reuters reports: Burkina Faso’s military junta said it has adopted the draft of an amended family code that criminalises homosexuality. The West African nation has been among just 22 out of 54 countries on the continent that allow same-sex relations, which are punishable by death or lengthy prison terms in some states. Burkina Faso has been under military rule since …

The Daily Beast reports: Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas has been accused of not disclosing a yacht trip to Russia and a private helicopter flight to a palace in President Vladimir Putin’s hometown, among a slew of other gifts and loans from businessman Harlan Crow. Buried on page 14 of a letter that two Democratic senators sent to Attorney General …

Politico reports: Rep. Earl Blumenauer became the ninth House Democrat to call for President Joe Biden to drop his bid for reelection. “While this is a decision for the president and the first lady, I hope they will come to the conclusion that I and others have: President Biden should not be the Democratic presidential nominee,” he said in a …

Just in via press release: Today, July 10, 2024, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14) introduced articles of impeachment against United States Supreme Court Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito. “The unchecked corruption crisis on the Supreme Court has now spiraled into a Constitutional crisis threatening American democracy writ large. “Justices Clarence Thomas and Samuel Alito’s pattern of refusal to recuse from …

The Voice Of America reports: Mixed reactions are swirling in Cameroon since Brenda Biya, the daughter of President Paul Biya, declared she is a lesbian. While LGBTQ activists see her declaration as an opportunity to push for greater rights in a country where same-sex relations are outlawed, anti-gay groups say they want Brenda Biya prosecuted. Brenda Biya, the 26-year-old daughter …

Politico reports: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, whose bid for president ended following a distant second place finish in Iowa, will join thousands of Republicans when they gather next week in Milwaukee. Just don’t expect to see him up on stage at the Republican National Convention. DeSantis, once seen as a rising conservative star, is not scheduled to have a main …

“I have heard from people in my district who are united in their concern for our country and our future. They want a leader who can continue to build on our successes but is also able to turn the nation’s attention to the urgent threat that Trump presents to our democracy, to our freedoms, and to our country. “When I …

The Associated Press reports: A solid majority of Americans oppose a federal abortion ban as a rising number support access to abortions for any reason, a new poll finds, highlighting a politically perilous situation for candidates who oppose abortion rights as the November election draws closer. Around 6 in 10 Americans think their state should generally allow a person to …

The Hill reports: Democrats emerging from a closed-door meeting Tuesday to discuss President Biden’s political future offered support for their party leader a day after the White House’s full-court press to beat back critics within his party, even as some detractors pushed for a reset. In a meeting that ran for roughly two hours, the debate was lopsided in favor …

The Oklahoman reports: James Inhofe, the firebrand Republican Senator whose political career covered six decades, has died, the Tulsa World reported Tuesday. Inhofe, 89, served in the Oklahoma Legislature, as mayor of Tulsa, in the U.S. House of Representatives and in the the United States Senate. Funeral services are pending. Inhofe was the definition of a career politician, had served …

Playbook reports: The newest member of the House, Rep. Greg Lopoz (R-Colo.), is destined for a truly obscure congressional trivia question. He was sworn in yesterday for a term that will last less than six months, warming the seat for Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.), who is likely switching districts pending November’s election. But his vote counts the same as any …

ABC News reports: It was supposed to be a show of strength — the leaders of NATO’s member countries gathering in Washington, D.C., to display their remarkable unity in the face of some of the most serious threats to the alliance in its 75-year history. But as former President Donald Trump edges ahead in some polls, the looming U.S. election …

Alaska Public Media reports: Joshua Kindred, who resigned as a U.S. District Court judge for Alaska last week, had an “inappropriately sexualized relationship” with one of his law clerks, engaged in “unwanted” sexual conduct and then lied about it to the chief judge, according to the Judicial Council of the Ninth Circuit. The findings are summarized in a 30-page order, …

The Washington Post reports: Smartmatic, the voting technology company enmeshed in complex defamation lawsuits against Fox News and Newsmax, has a powerful new financial ally: billionaire tech entrepreneur Reid Hoffman. Hoffman, a co-founder of LinkedIn, has made a multimillion-dollar investment intended in part to help the company sustain its costly litigation. Smartmatic has said the two news outlets smeared it …

The Orlando Sentinel reports: State officials said they passed up millions of dollars in new federal food assistance money because they have more than enough programs to feed Florida’s hungry children this summer. But advocates for the hungry say the numbers tell a different story. “The perception put forward by the state is that there is no need for other …

CNN reports: The Republican National Convention in Milwaukee next week could be an “attractive” target for violent extremists or other people looking to sow chaos by disrupting a high-profile political event, according to a threat assessment from federal agencies and the Milwaukee Police Department obtained by CNN. This election season has seen a “resurgence in disruptive tactics targeting election symbols” …

Politico reports: Prime Minister Viktor Orbán of Hungary effectively endorsed Donald Trump for president in an interview and, on the eve of this week’s NATO summit, blasted the United States for having a “war policy” in Ukraine rather than a strategy for achieving peace. Orbán contrasted U.S. policy unfavorably with what he described as a credible “peace plan” from China. …

Axios reports: Senate Democrats won’t meet Monday to discuss their support for President Biden continuing his re-election bid, despite an effort by Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) to organize such a meeting, Axios has learned. Warner’s meeting had been seen as a potential watershed moment for Senate Democrats, who have remained largely silent on Biden’s future amid calls for him to …

First, a report from Al Jazeera: France’s left-wing leader Jean-Luc Melenchon says the left is “ready to govern” after emerging as the largest political bloc in parliament, but the country faces a political deadlock as no party won a clear majority. The New Popular Front (NFP) coalition led by Melenchon won a plurality in France’s National Assembly in the second …