Judge blocks Louisiana Congress map with 1 majority-Black district
A federal judge has blocked the use of Louisiana congressional maps that have only one majority-Black district. Gov. John Bel Edwards said there should have been a second majority-Black district approved since the state’s population is almost one-third Black.
news.yahoo.comJudge mulls lawsuit seeking to kick Trump backers off ballot
Attorneys representing two Republican congressmen and a GOP state House member running to be Arizona’s top election official urged a judge in Phoenix Wednesday to dismiss lawsuits that allege they are ineligible for the November ballot because they participated in or helped organize the Jan. 6, 2021, rally in Washington that ended with an unprecedented attack on Congress. Lawsuits seeking to disqualify Reps. Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs and state Rep. Mark Finchem filed on behalf of a handful of Arizona voters allege that they are ineligible to hold office because they participated in an insurrection.
news.yahoo.comRussian attacks batter Ukraine as Putin warns of 'traitors'
A Russian airstrike has ripped apart a theater where hundreds of people had been living in the besieged city of Mariupol, Ukrainian officials say, as Russian President Vladimir Putin calls for a “self-purification” to rid his country of anyone who questions the invasion
washingtonpost.comFederal Reserve raises interest rates to help combat inflation
The Federal Reserve Board announced plans to raise interest rates a quarter-point in the first hike since 2018. New York Times Dealbook editor Stephen Gandel and Kroll Institute global chief economist Megan Greene join CBS News' Lana Zak and Enrique Acevedo with their insights on the breaking news.
news.yahoo.comAfter Trump endorses opponent, state Rep. Steve Carra drops out of race for U.S. Congress
THREE RIVERS, MI -- State Rep. Steve Carra announced today he will seek re-election to the state house, changing his earlier plans to run for U.S. Congress. “It’s an honor to have his support, it’s amazing,” Carra said about Trump. Since he no longer lives in the district, running for state house is his route forward, he said. Carra was elected to represent the 59th District in the Michigan House of Representatives in November 2020. He then worked as a legislative aide for State Rep. Steve Johnson, before running for state office himself.
mlive.comUkrainian American Rep. Spartz takes on leading role in Republican response to Russian invasion of her home country
Rep. Victoria Spartz, 43, has joined her Republican colleagues in harshly criticizing Biden for his handling of the Ukrainian crisis, including for not imposing sanctions on Russia before the invasion.
washingtonpost.comBlack History Month: Smithsonian showcases 19th-century photos from Saginaw’s eldest Goodridge brother
SAGINAW, MI — The histories of Saginaw, Black America and photography intersect today in a museum considered the world’s largest. Glenalvin Goodridge was a member of the Goodridge brothers, known in Saginaw for photographing some of the community’s earliest images, beginning in the late 19th century. In August 2021, the work specifically of Glenalvin Goodridge was introduced as part of the L.J. Photography was in its infancy in 1847 when an 18-year-old Glenalvin Goodridge opened the family’s original studio in Pennsylvania. The Goodridge brothers’ photos of Blacks — including their self-portraits — showed them in the same dignified manner displayed in many photos of Whites at the time.
mlive.comTrump cancels event planned for anniversary of Jan. 6 Capitol riot
Tear gas is released into a crowd of protesters, with one wielding a Confederate battle flag that reads "Come and Take It," during clashes with Capitol police at a rally to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, U.S, January 6, 2021. Former President Donald Trump on Tuesday canceled an event billed as a press conference that was set to be held on the first anniversary of the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot. Trump had reportedly planned to defend the rioters during that event, which was going to be held at his golf club Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. This is breaking news. Please check back for updates.
cnbc.comFox hosts, Donald Trump Jr., GOP reps begged Mark Meadows in texts to get Trump to stop Capitol riot on Jan. 6
President Donald Trump waited hours to call for supporters to end the Capitol riot on Jan. 6. Texts reveal how desperate Fox News hosts and Donald Trump Jr. were to get him to act that day.
cnbc.comTennessee State Senator and Nashville Social Club Owner Indicted for Alleged Campaign Finance Scheme
A federal grand jury in Nashville, Tennessee, returned an indictment Friday charging Tennessee State Senator Brian Kelsey and a Nashville social club owner with violating campaign finance laws as part of an alleged scheme to benefit Kelsey’s 2016 campaign for U.S. Congress. Kelsey is also charged with making excessive contributions to a federal campaign and accepting excessive contributions. A federal district court judge will determine any sentence after considering the U.S. Attorneys Mary Jane Stewart for the Middle District of Tennessee and Joseph C. Murphy Jr. for the Western District of Tennessee made the announcement. Attorneys Amanda Klopf of the Middle District of Tennessee and David Pritchard of Western District of Tennessee are prosecuting the case.
justice.govTrump sues to block White House records from Jan. 6 riot probe committee
Pro-Trump protesters storm the U.S. Capitol to contest the certification of the 2020 U.S. presidential election results by the U.S. Congress, at the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington, D.C., U.S. January 6, 2021. Former President Donald Trump on Monday filed a lawsuit seeking to block White House records from his tenure there being obtained by the congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol riot by Trump supporters. The suit accuses the select committee and its chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson, of harassing Trump and senior members of his administration with "an illegal, unfounded, and overbroad records request to the Archivist of the United States." The suit also accuses President Joe Biden of "a political ploy" by refusing to assert executive privilege over the records to keep them from going to the committee. The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
cnbc.comSenate passes a short-term debt limit extension
The U.S. Senate passed a short-term extension of the debt ceiling on Thursday night. The bill allows the nation's borrowing limit to be increased by $480 billion, which the Treasury Department says will be enough to cover the country's debt obligations until December 3. CBS News political contributor and Washington Post White House reporter Sean Sullivan joins CBSN anchor Lana Zak to discuss what's next for this bill and what hurdles Congress needs to overcome to reach a long-term agreement.
news.yahoo.comPutin: US Capitol unrest was a 'stroll'
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks during a meeting via video conference with officials and government cabinet members in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 11, 2021. “Some of the people who took a stroll to the U.S. Congress — 150 people were arrested, they face imprisonment from 15 to 25 years. We do not know, but we want it to end, because we are interested in stable relations with all our main partners,” Putin said. More than 300 Trump supporters have been charged with a range of crimes stemming from the siege, which resulted in the deaths of five people, including a police officer. AdThe rioters, who contended that Trump was the true winner of the 2020 election, were trying to prevent the U.S. Congress from certifying President Joe Biden’s win.
Judge dismisses lawsuit by Democratic AGs to recognize ERA
(AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)A federal judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit filed by three Democratic state attorneys general that had sought to force the federal government to recognize Virginia's vote last year to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment and add it to the Constitution. Constitutional amendments must be ratified by three-quarters of the states, or 38, but Congress enacted a ratification deadline for the ERA that passed decades ago. An emailed message seeking comment from the press office of the National Archives and Records Administration was not immediately returned. Ford in Nevada said in a statement Friday that women have always been endowed with equal rights but it's past time for the country to recognize that. Opponents of the measure warn it could be used to erase protections such as workplace accommodations during pregnancy.
High Court rules for city of Chicago in vehicle impound case
A person walks by newly-placed barricades around the Supreme Court Building, the day after violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Congress in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court says that when a person's car has been impounded and they file for bankruptcy, the car does not have to be immediately returned. The case involved several people whose cars were impounded by the city of Chicago who then filed for bankruptcy and hoped to get their vehicles back. Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote separately and singled out the situation of George Peake, whose 2007 Lincoln MKZ was impounded in 2018 for unpaid parking and red-light tickets. The case is City of Chicago v. Fulton, 19-357.
Supreme Court wrestles with Georgia college free speech case
(AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Tuesday wrestled with whether to revive a lawsuit brought by a Georgia college student who sued school officials after being prevented from distributing Christian literature on campus. The school, Georgia Gwinnett College, has since changed its policies and the student has graduated. A lower court dismissed the case as moot and an appeals court agreed, but the student, Chike Uzuegbunam, is urging the justices to allow the case to move forward. He's seeking just $1 and says he wants the Lawrenceville, Georgia, school to be held accountable for its past policies. Uzuegbunam and another student, Joseph Bradford, sued, and the college changed its policy in 2017.
Congress members could face $1,000 fine for not wearing a face mask under proposed legislation
A second Democratic member of the House who was forced to go into lockdown during last weeks violent protest has tested positive for COVID-19. Rep. Pramila Jayapal of Washington says she has tested positive. She criticized Republican members of Congress who declined to wear a mask when it was offered to them. (Graeme Jennings/Pool via AP)Lawmakers are proposing that members of Congress should be fined if they do not wear a face mask on Capitol grounds after several representatives tested positive for COVID-19 this week. The legislation comes after multiple lawmakers tested positive for the virus this week following the attack on the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6 -- a potential super-spreader event.
The Latest: House urges Pence to remove Trump from power
__10:40 p.m.Michigan Rep. Fred Upton has become the fourth Republican to back the impeachment of President Donald Trump. ___8 p.m.Vice President Mike Pence is ruling out invoking the 25th Amendment to remove President Donald Trump from power, less than a week after the president fomented the violent insurrection at the Capitol. That word comes as GOP divisions emerge over Democrats’ plan for a House vote Wednesday. As rioters were still in the Capitol, Trump released a video seemingly excusing the events, saying of the rioters: “We love you. On impeachment, Trump said it’s “a really terrible thing that they’re doing.” But he said, “We want no violence.
Supreme Court rejects fast track for Trump election cases
A person walks by newly-placed barricades around the Supreme Court Building, the day after violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Congress in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Monday formally refused to put on a fast track election challenges filed by President Donald Trump and his allies. The court rejected pleas for quick consideration of cases involving the outcome in five states won by President-elect Joe Biden: Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. The court still could act on appeals related to the Nov. 3 election later this winter or in the spring. But even if the court were to take up an election-related case, it probably wouldn't hear arguments until the fall.
The Latest: Pelosi ties rioters' actions to 'whiteness'
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., holds a news conference on the day after violent protesters loyal to President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Congress, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. “It has been an epiphany for the world to see that there are people in our country led by this president, for the moment, who have chosen their whiteness over democracy,” Pelosi said. Pelosi says, “The complicity, not only the complicity, the instigation of the president of United States, must and will be addressed.”___1:25 p.m. Flight attendants have expressed concern that their flights could be carrying supporters of President Donald Trump who took part in Wednesday’s violent protest and siege of the U.S. Capitol. ___2:25 a.m.Democrats in Congress are laying the groundwork to impeach President Donald Trump.
Dems' momentum builds to impeach Trump, Pelosi hits rioters
Pelosi, addressing her hometown San Francisco constituents during an online video conference, shed no fresh light on Democrats' plans. Trump has not publicly made such threats, but officials warn of grave danger if the president is left unchecked. A person on the call said Pelosi also discussed other ways Trump might be forced to resign. ”Democratic leaders have called on Vice President Mike Pence and the Cabinet to invoke the 25th Amendment to force Trump from office. The House impeached Trump in 2019, but the Republican-led Senate acquitted him in early 2020.
EXPLAINER: How Trump could be impeached again, but faster
There's little chance that the Republican-led Senate would hold a trial and vote on convicting Trump in less than two weeks. Still, action by the House would still make Trump the first president in history to be impeached twice. That’s what happened in 2019, when the House impeached Trump over his dealings with the president of Ukraine. “In all of this, President Trump gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of government,” the Democratic draft reads. WHAT IMPEACHMENT WOULD MEANRepublicans, even those who have criticized Trump, say impeachment would be unhelpful.
Democrats plan lightning Trump impeachment, want him out now
“We must take action,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi declared on a private conference call with Democrats. Trump has not publicly made such threats, but officials warn of grave danger if the president is left unchecked. Asked about impeachment, he said, “That’s a decision for the Congress to make.”The Democrats are considering lightning-quick action. Another leading Republican critic of Trump, Sen. Ben Sasse of Nebraska, said he would “definitely consider” impeachment. The House impeached Trump in 2019, but the Republican-led Senate acquitted him in early 2020.
EXPLAINER: Breaking down the uncertainty after Capitol siege
But given what we saw at the Capitol, people are very concerned that this could go in a much different direction. We’re at one of these moments where you’re going to see a transfer of power from not just one man to the next but one party to another. You’re going to see a significant shift in priorities from one administration to another. You’re going to see a changeover on Capitol Hill. But there are already some real concerns about what the Trump administration will leave the Biden administration, and whether that will hamper them at the start.
The Latest: Capitol Police says officer dies after ‘riots’
The U.S. Capitol Police says an officer who was injured after responding to riots at the Capitol has died. ___7:20 p.m.President Donald Trump is conceding to President-elect Joe Biden and condemning the violent supporters of his who stormed the nation’s Capitol. He was a web developer and founder of Trumparoo, a social media site for supporters of President Donald Trump. ___2:35 p.m.House Speaker Nancy Pelosi says she’s seeking the resignation of Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund a day after supporters of President Donald Trump stormed the Capitol. ___2:30 p.m.Canadian-based e-commerce company Shopify Inc. has removed online stores affiliated with U.S. President Donald Trump, saying his actions have violated the company’s policies.
Asian shares mostly up on Wall Street rally, stimulus hopes
Asian shares mostly rose Friday on hopes for additional economic stimulus after U.S. Congress confirmed Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)Asian shares were mostly higher Friday on hopes for additional economic stimulus after U.S. Congress confirmed Joe Biden as the winner of the presidential election. Japan's state of emergency to combat surging coronavirus cases, which kicked in Friday, did little to dampen market optimism. The rally was broad-based, though the S&P 500′s technology sector notched the biggest gain, recouping losses after a pullback a day earlier. Hopes are also growing about the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines to help daily life around the world get closer to normal.
World watches US chaos with shock, dismay and some mockery
She stayed up all night, watching and worrying at her home in Delhi as the chaos unfolded many time zones away. Both have to play their role with decency and responsibility so that democracy itself remains the winner,” Merkel said. Iran, which faces routine U.S. criticism over violations of human rights and democratic values, jumped on the chaos as proof of American hypocrisy. Ally after ally expressed shock, followed by affirmations that U.S. democratic institutions would withstand the turmoil. “American democracy is obviously limping on both feet,” said Konstantin Kosachev, head of the foreign affairs committee in Russia’s upper house of parliament.
House Democrats prepared to defend Michigan election results in Congress
LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s house Democrats said they plan to defend Michigan’s election results if there is an objection Wednesday in Congress. President-Elect Joe Biden, who won the Electoral College 306-232, is set to be inaugurated Jan. 20. WATCH: Congress holds Electoral College confirmation vote for BidenThe process is ceremonial and is typically a smooth and easy process. Some members of congress who may object were on the ballot in the same election,” said Michigan Rep. Dan Kildee. “As they continue to sow doubt in Michigan’s election results when it comes to the presidential election, they have no issue taking their own oath of office a few days ago.
2 Michigan congressmen plan to object to Electoral College vote
READ: Where Michigan GOP lawmakers stand on effort to challenge Electoral College count“We will not stand idly by without taking every lawfully available option to ensure the outcomes of our elections can be trusted. This includes objecting to the electoral votes from disputed states where there is evidence warranting an investigation,” the pair said in a joint statement. EXPLAINER: How Congress will count Electoral College votesWednesday’s congressional joint session to count electoral votes has taken on added importance this year as congressional Republicans allied with President Donald Trump are pledging to try and undo Democrat Joe Biden’s victory and subvert the will of the American people. They say they will officially object to the results, forcing votes in the Republican-run Senate and the Democratic-controlled House that will almost certainly fail. Neither Trump nor any of the lawmakers promising to object to the count have presented credible evidence that would change the outcome.
The Latest: Nancy Pelosi reelected speaker of the House
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., speaks to the media, Wednesday Dec. 30, 2020, on Capitol Hill in Washington. The group of House and Senate Republicans are echoing President Donald Trump’s baseless claims of widespread voter fraud. Democrat Nancy Pelosi was set to be reelected as House speaker by her party, which retains the majority in the House but with the slimmest margin in 20 years. Hawley specifically defended himself against criticism from GOP Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania as he challenges that state’s election results. Rep. Nancy Pelosi is set to be reelected as House speaker by fellow Democrats, who retain the House majority but with the slimmest margin in 20 years.
Asian stocks sink after Wall St hits record on stimulus hope
In this photo provided by the New York Stock Exchange, trader Edward Curran works on the floor, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020. (Colin Ziemer/New York Stock Exchange via AP)Asian stock markets declined Friday after Wall Street hit a new high on optimism about economic stimulus and coronavirus vaccine development despite a spike in U.S. unemployment claims. Market action suggested investors see “bad data is good news” for progress toward a stimulus, said Mizuho Bank in a report. The Labor Department reported the number of Americans applying for unemployment benefits rose to 885,000 last week, the highest level since September. In energy markets, benchmark U.S. crude lost 13 cents to $48.23 per barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.
Asian shares climb on hopes US to finally get more stimulus
Asian shares are higher Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020 on hopes the U.S. Congress may finally deliver fresh aid to help businesses and families weather the pandemic. (AP Photo/Koji Sasahara)Shares were mostly higher in Asia on Thursday, buoyed by hopes the U.S. Congress may finally deliver fresh aid to help American businesses and families weather the pandemic. Benchmarks rose in Tokyo, Hong Kong and Shanghai but fell in South Korea. Congressional leaders appeared late Wednesday to be on the brink of a COVID-19 economic aid package that would extend help to individuals and businesses and ship coronavirus vaccines to millions. Negotiators were working on a $900 billion package that would revive subsidies for businesses hit hard by the pandemic, help distribute new vaccines, fund schools and renew soon-to-expire jobless benefits.
Michigan electors unanimously seal election win for Joe Biden, Kamala Harris
LANSING, Mich. – Michigan electors gathered on Monday to fulfill their constitutional duty to elect the winner of the popular vote for the office of U.S. president and vice president. On Monday afternoon, Michigan electors unanimously cast 16 Electoral College votes for Joe Biden for president. They also unanimously cast 16 votes for Kamala Harris for vice president. The meeting was a formality, as Michigan electors are required by law to vote for the winner of the popular vote. Michigan has 16 electors to reflect the number of senators and representatives it has in the U.S. Congress.
Michigan electors unanimously vote for Biden, Harris
LANSING, Mich. – Michigan’s electors gathered Monday to cast Electoral College votes to officially seal the presidential election win for Joe Biden. UPDATE: The Michigan electors have unanimously cast 16 Electoral College votes for Joe Biden for president. They also unanimously cast 16 votes for Kamala Harris for vice president. Watch national coverage here beginning at 10 a.m.:Michigan has 16 electors to reflect the number of senators and representatives it has in the U.S. Congress. More: What’s in store when the Electoral College meetsAccording to Michigan law, all 16 Michigan electoral votes automatically go to the presidential candidate who won the popular vote, which in this case was Joe Biden.
Top central bankers: Economy needs help despite vaccine news
Speaking at an online conference held by the European Central Bank, Powell, Bank of England governor Andrew Bailey and European Central Bank head Christine Lagarde all emphasized the long-term threat to the economy from the pandemic while welcoming the preliminary results showing a vaccine by BioNTech and Pfizer was highly effective. "We have said from the beginning that the economy will not fully recover until people are confident it is safe to resume activities involving crowds of people." The failure of lawmakers to agree on any new aid has clouded the future for the unemployed, for small businesses and for the economy as a whole. “We’re recovering to a different economy,” he said, and there will be a substantial number of workers who will need support as the economy is changed by the pandemic. All three central banks have deployed large-scale stimulus such as interest rate cuts and bond purchases that aim to keep borrowing costs affordable for businesses.
Asian shares lower after tech-driven rally on Wall Street
Shares were mostly lower in Asia on Tuesday as investors awaited the release of Chinese trade data. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)TOKYO – Shares were mostly lower in Asia on Tuesday as investors awaited the release of Chinese trade data. Tokyo's Nikkei 225 index edged 0.1% lower to 23,525.64, while the Shanghai Composite index shed 0.6% to 3,339.76. Wall Street extended its gains Monday from last week's rally, the market's best in three months. The S&P 500 rose 1.6% to 3,534.22, with Big Tech stocks, including Apple and Microsoft, powering much of the gains.