Poli Alert Political & Civics

Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams Government watchdog groups on Monday blasted plans by U.S. House Republicans to gut an independent, nonpartisan ethics office that was established 15 years ago to review allegations of misconduct against members of the chamber and their staffers. The GOP is set to have a narrow House …

The Marine Corps has a Black woman commanding in its ranks as a two-star general for the first time in history. President Joe Biden nominated Brig. Gen. Lorna Mahlock for the promotion to major general earlier in December and the Senate later confirmed her nomination by voice vote. Mahlock, 54, …

Andrew Roth, Michigan Advance Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer outlined her vision for her second term during her inaugural address Sunday, kicking off complete Democratic control of the state for the first time in four decades. Whitmer promised additional details in her upcoming State of the State address and budget proposal, …

President Joe Biden granted full pardons to six individuals, the White House announced Friday. The individuals receiving pardons were mostly convicted of drug- and alcohol-related crimes as well as a woman convicted of murder for killing her abusive partner. “Today, President Biden is granting six full pardons for individuals who …

President Joe Biden has announced six new judicial nominees, who will be among the first nominees sent to the Senate this year once the new Congressional session begins. The Biden administration looks to continue to reshape the federal courts during the final two years of this presidential term as Democrats …

Margaret M. Russell, Santa Clara University After 18 months investigating, the House Select Committee to Investigate the January 6 Attack on the United States Capitol held its final public meeting on Dec. 19, 2022. The panel recommended that the U.S. Department of Justice bring criminal charges against former President Donald …

The Biden administration is facing mounting pressure from states to let them import medicine from Canada to help lower prescription drug costs. Colorado on Dec. 5 became at least the fourth state to seek federal permission to use the strategy, following Florida, New Hampshire, and New Mexico. President Joe Biden has endorsed the approach, …

Originally published by The 19th Jennifer McClellan, a veteran state legislator, could soon become the first Black woman to represent Virginia in the U.S. House in what would be a stunning first for a district that was home to the capital of the Confederacy. McClellan on Thursday handily defeated three opponents …

Jessica Corbett, Common Dreams The Biden administration on Thursday filed suit against one of the nation’s largest pharmaceutical distributors, AmerisourceBergen, and two of its subsidiaries for allegedly violating federal law and contributing to the opioid epidemic. Filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the complaint …

Caitlin Sievers, Arizona Mirror Kari Lake and her lawyers will not face sanctions for bringing a suit that challenged her loss in the race for Arizona governor, a Maricopa County Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday. Judge Peter Thompson on Christmas Eve ruled in favor of defendants, Gov-elect Katie Hobbs and …

A Long Island prosecutor on Wednesday launched an investigation into George Santos after the Republican congressman-elect admitted to telling a litany of campaign trail lies about his religious background, education, and employment history. “The numerous fabrications and inconsistencies associated with Congressman-Elect Santos are nothing short of stunning,” Nassau County District …

Rebekah Barber Originally published by The 19th On January 1, Illinois will become the first state in the country to officially eliminate its cash bail system when the Pretrial Fairness Act goes into effect. Under the new system, a person will only be detained before trial if a judge determines …

Karen Brooks Harper, The Texas Tribune Dallas-based Southwest Airlines faces a federal investigation into whether it violated its own legally required customer service plan amid a blizzard of flight cancellations that ruined plans and angered travelers over the Christmas holiday. In a statement late Monday, officials at the U.S. Department …

Uriel J. García and Alexa Ura, The Texas Tribune The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday to keep in place the emergency health order the federal government has used for more than two years to quickly turn away migrants, including those seeking asylum, at the southwest border. The latest ruling replaces …

Jon King, Michigan Advance The man called the “driving force” behind a plot to kidnap and assassinate Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020 has been sentenced to prison, although not nearly as long as prosecutors had sought. Adam Fox, 39, was ordered by U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker on Tuesday …