Poli Alert Political & Civics

Jacob Fischler, Ohio Capital Journal The CEO of Norfolk Southern, the railroad operating the train that last month derailed and spilled toxic chemicals in East Palestine, Ohio, apologized for the derailment at a U.S. Senate hearing Thursday, but declined solicitations to endorse a bipartisan rail safety bill. Norfolk Southern CEO …

Jennifer Shutt, Iowa Capital Dispatch President Joe Biden’s budget request for the upcoming fiscal year asks Congress to boost funding for defense and domestic programs and levy a 25% minimum tax on billionaires, setting up a significant contrast with House Republicans, who hope to cut spending to last year’s levels …

Commentary Vanessa Gallman, Kentucky Lantern The fallout of the 2020 Breonna Taylor killing by police, resulting from an invalid warrant, made clear that the Louisville police department has serious problems in management and training. But a two-year federal investigation into the department exposed the depth of the bullying and overall …

Mitch Perry, Florida Phoenix Saying that it’s the time to address the housing crisis in Florida, the state Senate unanimously passed a more than $700 million affordable housing package on Wednesday, on the second day of the 2023 regular legislative session. The measure, called the Live Local Act, has been considered …

Quentin Young, Colorado Newsline Jenna Ellis, the Colorado attorney who was former President Donald Trump’s senior legal advisor as he tried to overturn his 2020 election loss, has been censured by a Colorado judge for misconduct. The public censure order was signed Wednesday by Presiding Disciplinary Judge Bryon M. Large, …

As right-wing politicians and pundits continue to peddle lies and conspiracies related to the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of then-President Donald Trump, Democratic Maryland Congressman Jamie Raskin on Wednesday delivered a passionate rebuttal of Republicans’ “nonsense.” Speaking on the House floor, Raskin asserted that …

After Fox News‘ Tucker Carlson falsely dismissed the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump as mostly nonviolent, numerous Republican senators including Minority Leader Mitch McConnell on Tuesday blasted the right-wing opinion host’s “whitewashing” of the deadly insurrection. Carlson—who publicly promoted former …

Brett Wilkins, Common Dreams Consumer and labor advocates on Tuesday welcomed a U.S. Department of Justice antitrust lawsuit seeking to block JetBlue’s proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of Spirit Airlines, its biggest competitor, a deal that critics say would harm passengers and workers. The Department of Justice (DOJ), along with the …

Diane Rado, Florida Phoenix The GOP-controlled Florida Legislature and Gov. Ron DeSantis approved a 15-week abortion ban just last year. On Tuesday, lawmakers filed a bill to reduce the ban to six weeks, creating significant new abortion restrictions in the state. State Sen. Erin Grall, who has been at the …

The Justice Department on Wednesday said that it found that the Louisville Metro Police Department and Louisville/Jefferson County Metro government violated the Constitution and federal law in various practices in dealing with the Black community. Following an investigation launched in April 2021, the DOJ said it has entered an agreement …

Jennifer Shutt, Michigan Advance Economists on Tuesday urged Congress to address the debt limit quickly, cautioning that simply because U.S. lawmakers have successfully brokered deals before doesn’t mean they will be able to this year. “There is a temptation to brush off the developing debt limit drama, thinking it will …

Texas Tribune Staff, The Texas Tribune Secession and independence have been perennial themes throughout the history of Texas, which broke away from Mexico in 1836 and was an independent republic before it was annexed by the United States in 1845. In 2009, then-Gov. Rick Perry made national headlines for jokingly …

The United States Senate will take an important step towards repealing a decades-old authorization of presidential war powers this week, as an effort to reassert Congress’ authority appears to have growing support. “Both Democrats and Republicans have come to the same conclusion: we need to put the Iraq war squarely …

Lindsey Toomer, Colorado Newsline Vice President Kamala Harris joined an audience of Colorado elected officials and other stakeholders in Arvada to talk about the Biden administration’s latest efforts to tackle climate change. In a panel discussion led by U.S. Rep. Brittany Pettersen of Lakewood as well as rock climber and …

Jerod MacDonald-Evoy, Arizona Mirror A trial court judge has said Republican secretary of state nominee Mark Finchem will be forced to pay attorney’s fees in what the judge called a “groundless” lawsuit that aimed to overturn his election loss. Finchem challenged his loss to Adrian Fontes, who won by about …