Political News

by Ariana Figueroa, Florida Phoenix May 25, 2022 U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday implored Senate Republicans to work with Democrats to pass bipartisan gun control legislation, following a mass school shooting that took the lives of 19 children and two teachers in Texas. Tuesday’s massacre was the …

An Iraqi citizen living in Columbus, Ohio, has been charged federally with an immigration crime and with aiding and abetting a plot to assassinate former President George W. Bush. The Department of Justice (DOJ) said 52-year-old Shihab Ahmed Shihab, also known as “Abu Ahmed,” entered the United States in September 2020 …

Cable TV network MSNBC said Tuesday it has hired former White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, confirming reports that have been circulating for months. Psaki will host a new program on MSNBC’s streaming platform starting in early 2023, the network said. “The program, set to debut in the first quarter …

Attorney General Merrick Garland has revised rules governing the use of force by law enforcement agencies overseen by the Justice Department, requiring federal agents to intervene when they see officials using excessive force or mistreating people in custody. The memo states that the department’s policy is to “value and preserve …

By Sneha Dey, The Texas Tribune May 24, 2022 Nineteen children and two adults were killed in a shooting at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde County on Tuesday, making the massacre the deadliest school shooting in Texas’ history. [“We are in mourning”: As parents awaited news, Uvalde residents processed their …

A U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit on Monday ruled that a 2021 Florida law targeting social media platforms such as Facebook and Twitter unconstitutionally restricts the companies’ First Amendment rights. Monday’s decision by the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld most of a preliminary injunction imposed …

by Jennifer Shutt, Missouri Independent May 23, 2022 The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Monday it’s likely the United States will see additional cases of monkeypox in the coming weeks, but officials cautioned that it’s harder to transmit the virus than it is to spread respiratory illnesses like …

The House Ethics Committee has launched an investigation into GOP Congressman Madison Cawthorn of North Carolina. The subcommittee will examine whether Cawthorn had an undisclosed interest in a cryptocurrency he promoted. It will also investigate whether he had an improper relationship with a member of his congressional staff. The questions stem …

by Jacob Fischler, Georgia Recorder The U.S. House panel investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol on Thursday asked Republican Rep. Barry Loudermilk of Georgia to appear before the committee to answer questions about a tour of the Capitol that Loudermilk gave the day before the assault. …

The Department of Justice(DOJ) on Friday announced new initiatives to address and prevent hate crimes in the United States. Justice Department officials are calling the rise in hate crimes a crisis. “We know the threats we take are evolving and our strategies to confront them must involve, as well,” said …

The first flight of baby formula from Europe arrived in Indiana on Sunday as the White House tries to address a nationwide shortage. President Joe Biden authorized the use of Air Force planes for the effort, dubbed “Operation Fly Formula,” because no commercial flights were available. “Folks, I’m excited to tell …

by Jacob Fischler, Florida Phoenix May 21, 2022 Members of a U.S. Senate panel and election administrators are raising concerns about the challenges elections officials will face this fall, saying problems ranging from a lack of paper to coordinated misinformation campaigns could affect confidence in U.S. democracy. A bipartisan panel …

Rokeshia Renné Ashley, Florida International University A week before Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, 2022, Russian authorities arrested American basketball star Brittney Griner at the Moscow airport. She was charged with drug smuggling after Russian officials allegedly found vape cartridges containing oil derived from cannabis in her luggage. Since …

by Jennifer Shutt, Georgia Recorder May 19, 2022 WASHINGTON — U.S. Food and Drug Commissioner Robert Califf told Congress Thursday that the infant formula shortage will likely begin to improve in the coming days, though he declined to explain to unhappy lawmakers why his agency didn’t act sooner on a …

Former President Donald Trump has paid a $110,000 contempt of court fine stemming from his failure to comply with a subpoena by New York Attorney General Letitia James‘ office, her office said Friday. However, Trump’s payment of the fine on Thursday does not satisfy the underlying contempt charge or “purge” …