politics

Summary

A Senate Democrat-led investigation into Supreme Court ethics concluded with a report criticizing justices for ethical lapses and calling for stricter oversight.

The 95-page report highlights issues like Justice Clarence Thomas’ undisclosed trips with billionaire Harlan Crow and failures to recuse from cases tied to personal conflicts.

While the court adopted a new ethics code in 2023, critics argue it lacks enforcement.

Democrats propose legislation for independent ethics reviews, but Republicans have blocked such efforts. With GOP Senate control in 2024, further action on judicial reform is unlikely for now.

Joe Biden must commute the sentence of Charles Littlejohn, the IRS whistleblower who leaked Donald Trump’s tax records, before Trump can get revenge

That doesn’t mean raising the minimum wage had no negative consequences. Reich and his co-author, Denis Sosinsky, found that the higher minimum wage caused menu prices in California fast-food chains to rise by about 3.7 percent. That number is far lower than the “$20 Big Macs” that critics of the law warned of, but it’s still significant at a time when many consumers are deeply upset over the post-pandemic spike in food prices. Even so, Reich points out that this number pales in comparison with the 18 percent raise that the average fast-food worker received because of the new law. (The authors calculated that about 62 percent of the wage increase was absorbed through higher prices, while the rest was likely absorbed by a mix of reduced turnover and, crucially, lower profits for franchisees—hence the massive industry resistance.)

“No, he’s not going to be president, that I can tell you,” Trump said. “And I’m safe. You know why he can’t be? He wasn’t born in this country.”

As you know a true leader has to keep saying they're the real leader

Summary

Indian Americans are poised to play key roles in Trump’s incoming administration, including Kash Patel, Vivek Ramaswamy, and Harmeet Dhillon, marking historic GOP representation.

This shift is attributed to Trump’s anti-China stance, support for India’s Modi right-wing government, and his appeal to wealthy, educated Indian Americans.

Despite Indian Americans traditionally leaning Democratic, their rise has sparked controversy, facing both far-right racism and criticism for supporting policies like anti-immigration stances.

Experts highlight caste privilege and alignment with right-wing ideologies as factors enabling their political ascent.

Summary

Elon Musk’s threats to fund primary challengers to Democrats in safe districts, following his role in nearly forcing a government shutdown, have reignited calls for campaign finance reform.

Musk, who spent $277 million backing Republicans, criticized a bipartisan spending bill and used his platform to sway GOP opposition, influencing legislative outcomes.

His intervention has sparked outrage among Democrats, with leaders like Bernie Sanders and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez warning of rising oligarchy and calling for reforms to limit super PAC and dark money influence.

The episode highlights growing concerns over Musk's political power and its impact on democracy.

Summary

Texas Republican Congresswoman Kay Granger, 81, has not voted in the US House since July while reportedly dealing with dementia and living in a senior facility.

Her absence, undisclosed until media investigation, raises concerns about representation in her district and her capacity to serve.

Granger, a long-time legislator and former House Appropriations chair, announced plans to retire in 2025.

Critics argue her condition may have impacted her 2022 re-election. Local Republicans called her absence troubling amid critical votes, prompting broader debates on aging lawmakers’ transparency and governance.

Donald Trump has demanded that the Panama Canal be given back to the US if Panama did not manage the waterway in a fashion that was acceptable to him – and he accused the central American country of charging excessive rates for use of the ocean-connecting ship passage.

“The fees being charged by Panama are ridiculous, especially knowing the extraordinary generosity that has been bestowed to Panama by the US,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform late Saturday, a little more than a month before the start of his second US presidency. “This complete ‘rip-off’ of our Country will immediately stop….”

Summary

House Speaker Mike Johnson angered both his Republican caucus and Donald Trump by negotiating a bipartisan budget deal with Democrats to avoid a government shutdown.

Trump, feeling “blindsided” and “furious,” reportedly encouraged Elon Musk to attack House leadership on X, leading to over 100 posts that derailed the deal temporarily.

While the budget ultimately passed with Democratic support, far-right Republicans were left fuming.

The incident highlights tensions within GOP leadership and Trump’s use of Musk to wield influence over congressional negotiations.

Summary

Lara Trump, daughter-in-law of Donald Trump, has withdrawn her name from consideration for Florida’s Senate seat, previously held by Marco Rubio.

Rubio, nominated for secretary of state, will have his replacement chosen by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

A prominent surrogate during Donald Trump’s campaign, Lara’s withdrawal follows speculation about her continued political ambitions.