Politics

Florida Politics reports: On the 2024 campaign trail, Gov. Ron DeSantis is taking credit for delivering a Republican Congressional majority. The presidential candidate told a crowd in Greenville, South Carolina that by “leading a ticket,” he had a “responsibility to help the other candidates who are running.” And that help included redistricting, apparently, which ultimately changed the contours of the …

Politico reports: The first debate will be Aug. 23 on Fox News Channel, with a possible second date of Aug. 24 if enough candidates meet polling and fundraising criteria — and also commit to supporting the eventual Republican nominee and pledge that they will not participate in any outside debates. Candidates will have to garner donations from at least 40,000 …

Mediaite reports: DeSantis was speaking to the crowd about parent rights in education and said that his administration in Florida has fought against schools “superseding” the rights of parents when it comes to what materials their children are presented with. A woman’s voice could be heard then in the crowd shouting an objection about “kids healthcare” and screaming “you’re a …

NBC News reports: Former Vice President Mike Pence will not be charged in the discovery of classified documents at his Indiana home, according to a letter obtained by NBC News. On Thursday, the DOJ’s national security division formally informed Pence’s attorney that it had closed its investigation and that based on the “results” of that probe, no charges will be …

The New York Times reports: After weeks of political impasse, tense negotiations and mounting economic anxiety, the Senate gave final approval on Thursday night to bipartisan legislation suspending the debt limit and imposing new spending caps, sending it to President Biden and ending the possibility of a calamitous government default. The approval by the Senate on a 63-to-36 vote brought …

The Associated Press reports: Federal courts have issued desegregation orders for 32 school districts in Mississippi, the U.S. Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division’s assistant attorney general said Thursday. The desegregation orders fit into a broader body of civil rights work launched in Mississippi that is examining jails, police departments and hate crimes in the state, according to Assistant Attorney …

The Texas Tribune reports: Most Texas drivers will no longer be required to have their cars pass an annual safety exam after state lawmakers removed the rule from Texas code. Supporters of the bill called the safety inspections time consuming and inconvenient. Opponents of the bill say it could set Texas drivers, and future Texans, on a dangerous path. The …

ABC News reports: President Joe Biden took a fall on stage at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation ceremony in Colorado on Thursday. Biden, who delivered the commencement address and proceeded to shake hands with graduates, fell near the podium and was quickly assisted by those around him in returning to his feet. Biden, 80, walked away unassisted once he …

“My first full time job was, I think I was 18. I was an assistant for an electrician in an electrical company. And I actually learned something about government on that one because I showed up to work the first day. “I’m all decked out in what I thought was like good electrical garb. And they looked at me and …

The Associate Press reports: A lawsuit can go forward against a Michigan official who flashed a rifle during a public meeting over video conference, a federal appeals court said Wednesday. Patricia MacIntosh is suing Ron Clous, alleging he tried to silence her right to free speech when he displayed the rifle during a 2021 meeting of Grand Traverse County commissioners. …

The Washington Post reports: Senate leaders are working to tamp down any chance of last-minute issues in their ranks as Congress races to pass a debt ceiling suspension bill ahead of a Monday deadline. The House passed the bipartisan legislation late Wednesday night, giving the Senate just a few days to act on it before the government won’t have enough …

Axios reports: With a 314-117 House vote to lift the debt ceiling until 2025, Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) proved he could harness his narrow majority to force President Biden to make policy concessions on issues that are deeply important to both parties. McCarthy started his post-vote victory lap by thanking his negotiating team and then touting his accomplishment. “Tonight we …

CBS News reports: The House has passed legislation to suspend the debt ceiling and limit spending, as time runs short to avoid a catastrophic default. The bill will still need to pass the Senate. A majority of Democrats and a majority of Republicans voted “yes” on the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 on Wednesday night, for a final tally of …

ABC News reports: A deal to raise the nation’s debt ceiling is heading to a crucial vote in the House on Wednesday night, the next step in averting a potential default now just days away. The bill, titled the “Fiscal Responsibility Act,” cleared its first major hurdle Tuesday when the House Rules Committee advanced the bill in a 7-6 vote. …

The Texas Tribune reports: Gov. Greg Abbott on Wednesday appointed Fort Worth lawyer and former Secretary of State John Scott as interim Texas attorney general, temporarily replacing Ken Paxton, who was suspended as attorney general pending the outcome of an impeachment trial in the state Senate. Scott previously served as deputy attorney general for civil litigation when Abbott led that …

Florida Politics reports: Ron DeSantis’ super PAC is offering a sequel to a previous ad positing that Nikki Haley is too cozy with the Walt Disney Co. This time around Never Back Down is dragging Donald Trump. Literally, as the new digital spot includes female impersonators among its familiar denunciations of a 2024 opponent. The new spot from the super …

The New York Times reports: Speaker Kevin McCarthy toiled on Wednesday to lock down the votes to pass his deal with President Biden to suspend the debt ceiling and set federal spending limits, as a stream of defections from hard-right lawmakers raised the stakes for a climactic set of votes on the package. With the nation’s first-ever default looming in …

The Tulsa World reports: The Oklahoma Supreme Court on Wednesday tossed out two state laws outlawing abortion. The state’s high court found that Senate Bill 1503 and House Bill 4327 were unconstitutional. Both measures were passed and signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt in 2022. Senate Bill 1503 would have banned abortion when a fetal heartbeat was detected, which is usually …

The Denver Post reports: On the verge of the NBA finals, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has proposed a “friendly wager” with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, with a happy Disney ending should the Denver Nuggets beat the Miami Heat. The championship matchup starts on Thursday and Polis suggests that the Walt Disney World Resort pull up stakes from the Sunshine State …

The Messenger reports: Former Vice President Mike Pence is set to launch his run for the White House against his old boss, former President Donald Trump, within the coming two weeks, four sources familiar with the planning told The Messenger. The Georgia Republican Party may have tipped Pence’s hand Wednesday in an email explaining he could no longer deliver the …