From 2h ago
A Texas federal judge appointed by Donald Trump appeared sympathetic today to arguments from a far-right group trying to get abortion pills banned in the United States, according to reporters who attended the hearing in Amarillo, Texas:
We’ll have more on this story as it develops.
In a hearing today, Matthew Kacsmaryk, a Texas federal judge appointed by Donald Trump, appeared open to a far-right group’s arguments that could lead to the nationwide banning of medication abortion. Kacsmaryk said he’d rule on the case “as soon as possible.” Meanwhile, the feud between Trump and Ron DeSantis continues. Trump’s campaign is making plans to attack the Florida governor’s record, and a group linked to the ex-president has filed a formal complaint over DeSantis’s “shadow presidential campaign”.
Here’s what else has happened today so far:
A Chinese tycoon linked to Steve Bannon and other Trump allies was indicted by the federal government.
The Senate’s Democratic leader condemned DeSantis for his opposition to military aid to Ukraine.
Wisconsin Republicans have proposed exceptions to the state’s abortion ban for rape and incest, and to protect the life of the mother.
Joe Biden stumped for his trademark legislation in a visit to swing-state Nevada, arguing it lowered prescription drug costs.
Defense secretary Lloyd Austin spoke to his counterpart in Moscow a day after an American drone was downed following a collision with a Russian plane over the Black Sea.
Mitt Romney was once so powerful in the Republican party that he was their nominee for the presidency in 2012, a contest he ended up losing to Barack Obama.
Today, the GOP has changed so dramatically – thanks in large part to Donald Trump – that Semafor reports the Utah senator declined to share his views on whether Florida’s Republican governor Ron DeSantis should run for president:
Joe Biden is delivering a speech in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he is cheering lower prescription drug prices he credits to last year’s passage of the Inflation Reduction Act.
The legislation passed by Biden’s Democratic allies in Congress is the biggest piece of legislation Washington has enacted to fight climate change, and also contained provisions to lower the cost of medications. The White House today released data on the progress made by the legislation since its passage, while Biden has traveled to the swing state’s largest city to stump for its reforms.
You can watch the speech live below:
The Guardian’s Cecilia Nowell was in the room where a Texas judge was considering a case brought by far-right groups seeking to ban medication abortion today. Here’s what she had to say:
A Texas court heard a closely watched case on Wednesday on the future of a key abortion medication amid protests against the presiding judge’s decision not to publicize the hearing.
Justice department officials, drug company attorneys and lawyers from the anti-abortion Alliance Defending Freedom gathered in the remote city of Amarillo, Texas, for a hearing before Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk, who has been asked by anti-abortion groups to grant a preliminary injunction revoking the Food and Drug Administration’s approval of mifepristone, one of two medications used in more than 50% of all abortions in the US.
In a hearing that lasted more than four hours, the judge asked both sides questions about the administrative law governing the FDA and whether the plaintiffs had standing to bring the case. Appearing neutral, he gave little inclination of how he would rule, but promised a decision would come “as soon as possible”. He offered nothing beyond that in terms of a timeline.
A Texas federal judge appointed by Donald Trump appeared sympathetic today to arguments from a far-right group trying to get abortion pills banned in the United States, according to reporters who attended the hearing in Amarillo, Texas:
We’ll have more on this story as it develops.
At his press conference, defense secretary Lloyd Austin said he had spoken to his Russian counterpart and insisted Moscow operate military flights in a “safe and professional” manner, while underscoring that the United State will continue flying where international law allows.
For the latest on the downing of the US drone and the war in Ukraine in general, follow the Guardian’s live blog:
Top Pentagon officials are due to hold a press briefing shortly, a day after a Russian aircraft hit a US drone flying over the Black Sea.
US defense secretary Lloyd Austin vowed a little earlier today that America will continue to “fly and to operate wherever international law allows”.
Austin said: “This hazardous episode is part of a pattern of aggressive, and risky, and unsafe actions in international airspace. So make no mistake, the United States will continue to fly and to operate wherever international law allows. And it is incumbent upon Russia to operate as military aircraft in a safe and professional manner.”
You can follow all the details of the Guardian’s coverage of the diplomatic fallout from this incident, and Russia’s invasion itself in our Ukraine war live blog and our other stories.
The US Senate has cleared a crucial hurdle in the nomination process for former Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti to become US ambassador to India, after being nominated by Joe Biden.
There was bipartisan support in the upper chamber earlier today to advance Garcetti’s nomination and he is now set for a confirmation vote this afternoon.
Garcetti’s process from nomination to confirmation has been unusually long and rocky, following allegations that he had not acted on sexual assault and harassment accusations against a top aide, Politico reports. Garcetti denied he knew of the accusations before they became public.
Republican lawmaker Greg Steube has introduced legislation to install weapons lockers in the buildings used by the House of Representatives, so that employees can carry weapons on their commute and store them at work.
Here he is on Fox News explaining his proposal:
A Trump-appointed federal judge in Amarillo, Texas, has convened a hearing that could result in a nationwide ban on medication abortion at the request of far-right groups opposed to the procedure. There’s no telling when a decision in the case could come, but it may be as soon as today. Meanwhile, the feud between Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis continues, with Trump’s campaign planning to attack the Florida governor’s record and a group linked to the ex-president filing a formal complaint over DeSantis’s “shadow presidential campaign”.
Here’s what else has happened today so far:
A Chinese tycoon linked to Steve Bannon and other Trump allies was indicted by the federal government.
The Senate’s Democratic leader condemned DeSantis for his opposition to military aid to Ukraine.
Wisconsin Republicans have proposed exceptions to the state’s abortion ban for rape and incest and to protect the life of the mother.
The abortion pill hearing in Texas isn’t the only major court case going on this week. As the Guardian’s Sam Levine reports, North Carolina’s supreme court may soon decide to overrule itself. Why? So it can get rid of state legislative districts that aren’t as advantageous for Republicans as they would like:
The North Carolina supreme court heard oral arguments on Tuesday in a major gerrymandering case that could have significant implications for US voting rights.
In a highly unusual move, the North Carolina court appears poised to overrule itself and get rid of congressional and state legislative districts it approved last year. The GOP-drawn map that was struck down could have produced a 11-3 advantage for Republicans in the congressional delegation. The one that replaced it was far less advantageous to the GOP and wound up producing a 7-7 split in the 2022 midterm elections. The court’s decision would probably allow Republicans to get a more advantageous map back in place.
Protesters have gathered outside the federal courthouse in Amarillo, Texas where a judge could as soon as today issue a ruling that would stop sales of abortion medication nationwide.
The group includes Jaime Cruz, who dressed up like a kangaroo:
As well as others who chose more traditional tactics:
Besides protesters, there was also a lengthy line just to get into the building, where seats for the public are limited:
Source: US Politics - theguardian.com
