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Ginni Thomas privately praised religious-rights group working against Supreme Court reform

Ginni Thomas privately praised religious-rights group working against Supreme Court reform

ProPublica and Documented report: Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, privately heaped praise on a major religious-rights group for fighting efforts to reform the nation’s highest court — efforts sparked, in large part, by her husband’s ethical lapses. Thomas expressed her appreciation in an email sent to Kelly Shackelford, an influential litigator whose clients have won cases at the Supreme Court. Shackelford runs the First Liberty Institute, a $25 million-a-year organization that describes itself as “the…

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Christian group recruits ‘Trojan horse’ election skeptics as U.S. poll workers

Christian group recruits ‘Trojan horse’ election skeptics as U.S. poll workers

The Guardian reports: A Christian political operative has teamed up with charismatic preachers to enroll election skeptics as poll workers across the country, using a Donald Trump-aligned swing state tour to enlist support in the effort. Joshua Standifer, who leads the group called Lion of Judah, describes the effort as a “Trojan horse” strategy to get Christians in “key positions of influence in government like Election Workers”, which will help them identify alleged voter fraud and serve as “the first…

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U.S. announces plan to counter Russian influence ahead of 2024 election

U.S. announces plan to counter Russian influence ahead of 2024 election

The New York Times reports: The United States on Wednesday announced a broad effort to push back on Russian influence campaigns in the 2024 election, trying to curb the Kremlin’s use of state-run media and fake news sites to sway American voters. The actions include sanctions, indictments and seizing of web domains that U.S. officials say the Kremlin uses to spread propaganda and disinformation about Ukraine, which Russia invaded more than two years ago. Attorney General Merrick B. Garland on…

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How politics hung up a $42 billion Biden internet buildout

How politics hung up a $42 billion Biden internet buildout

Politico reports: President Joe Biden’s 2021 infrastructure law promised to help Virginia expand broadband internet to hard-to-reach corners of the commonwealth — investing nearly $1.5 billion to improve a key service across a swing state crucial to Democrats’ hopes in the November election. But so far, Virginia, like many states, hasn’t seen a cent of that money put to use. The state got news only in July that it was approved for funding — more than 10 months after completing…

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In an epic cosmology clash, rival scientists begin to find common ground

In an epic cosmology clash, rival scientists begin to find common ground

Science News reports: The biggest clash in cosmology might be inching closer to resolution, thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope. Scientists disagree over the universe’s expansion rate, known as the Hubble constant. There are two main methods for measuring it — one based on exploding stars called supernovas and the other on the universe’s oldest light, the cosmic microwave background. The two techniques have been in conflict for a decade, in what’s known as the “Hubble tension.” If this…

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Israel destroyed 70% of Jenin’s streets, infrastructure, says municipality

Israel destroyed 70% of Jenin’s streets, infrastructure, says municipality

Anadolu Agency reports: The Israeli army destroyed about 70% of the streets and infrastructure in Jenin city in the northern West Bank during its ongoing military offensive for the fourth consecutive day, the local municipality said on Saturday. “The occupying (Israeli) forces have demolished more than 70% of the city’s streets completely (…) to a depth of approximately one to one-and-half meters, which has led to the destruction of water and sewage networks, as well as communication and electricity cables,…

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Official says Netanyahu’s press briefing ‘torpedoed’ hostage deal efforts

Official says Netanyahu’s press briefing ‘torpedoed’ hostage deal efforts

CNN reports: Following the news of the killing of the six hostages in Gaza, officials involved in the mediation of the ceasefire talks have been on the phone discussing ways to push the ceasefire and hostage deal forward, a source familiar with the discussions told CNN. But then Netanyahu gave his press conference Monday evening, arguing that Israel will never leave the Philadelphi corridor, “and this guy torpedoed everything in one speech,” the source said in an initial reaction. Mossad…

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Judge Cannon should be removed from Trump case, watchdog group argues in new legal filing

Judge Cannon should be removed from Trump case, watchdog group argues in new legal filing

ProPublica reports: Judge Aileen M. Cannon has shown bias in handling criminal charges against former President Donald Trump and should be reversed and removed from the case to “preserve the appearance of justice,” a public interest group argued in a legal filing on Tuesday. The brief filed by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington and joined by a retired federal judge and two constitutional lawyers is a direct legal assault on Cannon’s decision to throw out special counsel Jack…

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House Democrats ask Trump if he illegally accepted $10 million from Egypt

House Democrats ask Trump if he illegally accepted $10 million from Egypt

The Washington Post reports: Democratic leaders on the House Oversight Committee released a letter Tuesday asking former president Donald Trump if he ever illegally received money from the government of Egypt, and whether money from Cairo played a role in a $10 million infusion into his 2016 run for president. Rep. Jamie Raskin (Md.), the ranking Democrat on the committee, and Rep. Robert Garcia (Calif.), the top Democrat on its subcommittee for national security, the border and foreign affairs, wrote…

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How Ted Cruz’s abortion record could cost him a historic election in Texas

How Ted Cruz’s abortion record could cost him a historic election in Texas

The Guardian reports: The notoriously verbose Ted Cruz has gone largely silent on abortion, one of his favorite topics to legislate on and bloviate about, during his Senate re-election campaign in Texas – an ominous sign both for Cruz and the anti-abortion movement writ large. Indeed, Texas representative Colin Allred has mounted an unusually strong campaign for Cruz’s Senate seat at a time when Texas has become ground zero in the grisly maternal health disaster unfolding across the country since…

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Harris campaign, DNC, announce unprecedented down-ballot spending as GOP faces huge financial gap

Harris campaign, DNC, announce unprecedented down-ballot spending as GOP faces huge financial gap

Politico reports: Kamala Harris’ campaign and the Democratic National Committee said Tuesday they are sending nearly $25 million to support down-ballot Democrats — an earlier investment and far more money than the top of the ticket has sent in past election years. The funding in part reflects the Harris operation’s ability to spread money around after record fundraising over the past six weeks. But it is also a recognition of the importance of this year’s down-ballot races — which overlap…

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Safety threats undermine the freedom of science

Safety threats undermine the freedom of science

An editorial in Science says: An accommodating and supportive environment is essential to conducting scientific research. Yet, in almost every country, researchers can experience harassment, threats, prosecution, or even violence for opinions they express or for their work in relation to high-profile issues. Although many international and regional reports on this issue are patchy in terms of comprehensiveness and representation, they reveal clear and worrying trends—namely, that researchers working in politically charged fields such as public health, climate, and sexual…

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‘This is also America’s war’: Why the U.S. isn’t stopping Israel’s Gaza onslaught

‘This is also America’s war’: Why the U.S. isn’t stopping Israel’s Gaza onslaught

Meron Rapoport interviews Daniel Levy: In the wake of Hamas’ October 7 massacres, U.S. President Joe Biden traveled to Israel for a solidarity visit. But a few days before he arrived, as the war effort intensified, he issued a blunt warning: “I made it clear to the Israelis I think it’s a big mistake for them to think they’re going to occupy Gaza and maintain Gaza,” he told reporters. Since then, Biden has reiterated that Israel must prevent a humanitarian crisis…

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UK suspends 30 arms export licences to Israel after review

UK suspends 30 arms export licences to Israel after review

The Guardian reports: The UK has moved to immediately suspend 30 arms export licences to Israel after a review by the new Labour government found a “clear risk” that UK arms may be used in serious violation of humanitarian law relating to the treatment of Palestinian detainees and the supply of aid to Gaza. The suspension will cover components for military aircraft including fighter aircraft, helicopters and drones. The Foreign Office said the two-month review had raised concerns about the…

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