Poli Alert Political & Civics

Errin Haines Originally published by The 19th Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson’s confirmation process, watched this month by many Americans, particularly stung for Black women who identified her treatment, despite her credentials, as demeaning and disrespectful. But before Jackson, there were Marcia Fudge and Lisa Cook, sitting in Senate …

by Danielle J. Brown, Florida Phoenix April 15, 2022 Friday afternoon heading into a holiday weekend, statewide education officials announced that they rejected 54 math textbooks out of 132 — that’s 41 percent — claiming that some of the materials attempt to “indoctrinate” kids with references to so-called critical race …

by Jennifer Shutt, Virginia Mercury April 12, 2022 WASHINGTON — Restaurants and other businesses that have survived more than two years of COVID-19 restrictions could see an infusion of federal dollars in the coming months, as long as U.S. lawmakers reach final agreement on a multibillion-dollar package. The U.S. House …

Shefali Luthra Originally published by The 19th Kentucky is the first state where clinics will completely stop providing abortions. The state legislature enacted a far-reaching abortion law Wednesday with so many restrictions, including a 15-week ban, that clinics said they have been forced to stop performing the procedure. The law, …

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted emergency use authorization to a new COVID-19 test that can detect infections with only a sample of a patient’s breath, using a device that can yield results in less than three minutes. The agency says the InspectIR COVID-19 Breathalyzer will only be available for …

The Republican National Committee (RNC) voted unanimously Thursday to withdraw from the Commission on Presidential Debates (CPD). The RNC claims the commission is biased and “refused to enact simple and commonsense reforms to help ensure fair debates.” The RNC clarified that it is not moving away from the presidential debate …

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis held a news conference in Osceola County on Thursday, where he signed Florida’s bill that bans abortions after 15 weeks into law. The new law, which goes into effect July 1, significantly reduces access to late-term abortions in the southeast — North Carolina will become the only southern state to permit …

Mark Meadows, chief of staff for former President Donald Trump and a former N.C. congressman, was removed from North Carolina voter rolls this week after officials confirmed he was also registered to vote in Virginia. Macon County Board of Elections Director Melanie Thibault confirmed to the Asheville Citizen Times this week that …

The Justice Department said Wednesday that settlements have been reached in four civil cases after protesters were removed from D.C.’s Lafayette Square during civil rights demonstrations in June 2020. As part of the settlements, the United States Park Police and Secret Service will “update and clarify” policies on demonstrations “within …

Georgia Governor Brian Kemp signed Senate Bill 319, a permitless carry or “constitutional carry” measure allowing Georgians to carry guns without the need for a state-issued license. “There is no doubt that we are living in challenging times,” Kemp said during a Tuesday bill signing ceremony. “Across the country, we’re witnessing …

President Joe Biden announced five new federal judicial nominees Wednesday, three for district court positions and two of them former Obama appointees now being vaulted to the appellate circuits. Judge John Z. Lee has been judge in the Northern District of Illinois since 2012. Biden is nominating him to be …

The Biden Administration announced it has extended the federal transportation mask mandate another two weeks due to rising COVID-19 case numbers across the country. The mask mandate, which requires face coverings on public transportation, including planes and trains and in airports, was initially put in place in January 2021 and set …

The South Dakota House of Representatives on Tuesday voted to impeach Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg over his actions before and after a fatal car crash in 2020 in which he initially told authorities he thought he had struck a deer or another large animal. The final vote was 36 to 31. The …

by Katie Akin, Iowa Capital Dispatch April 12, 2022 MENLO, Ia. — In response to rising gas prices, President Joe Biden announced Tuesday that fuel stations may sell cheaper, higher-ethanol blend fuels through the summer.  “I’m here today because home-grown biofuels have a role to play right now… as we …

Shefali Luthra Originally published by The 19th Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a law Tuesday criminalizing all abortions with narrow exceptions to save the pregnant person’s life. Under the law, medical providers who perform abortions could be punished with up to 10 years in prison. “We want Oklahoma to be …