JQJO — Politics news · Page 779

Wisconsin Appeals Court Judge Chris Taylor, a vocal abortion rights supporter, announced her candidacy for the state Supreme Court. She challenges incumbent conservative Justice Rebecca Bradley, who sided with Trump in his 2020 election challenge. This race, though not impacting the court's overall liberal majority (4-3), is significant because a win for Taylor would expand that majority to 5-2. Taylor insists her judicial record proves impartiality, while Republicans label her 'radical'. The election is in 2026, and the court faces crucial cases on abortion and redistricting.

U.S. immigration authorities are fining thousands of migrants who failed to leave the country after deportation orders, with penalties reaching $1.8 million. The fines, stemming from a 1996 law, are part of the Trump administration's 'self-deportation' plan. Affected individuals, including Wendy Ortiz, a meatpacking plant worker fined $1.8 million, have 30 days to contest the penalties. Immigration lawyers express bewilderment at the high fines and the unclear process for collection, especially given the financial hardship on those fined, many of whom are low-income and have U.S. citizen family members.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio defended the Trump administration's decision to grant refugee status to 59 Afrikaner farmers from South Africa. Senator Tim Kaine criticized this, arguing it constitutes preferential treatment based on race, ignoring other persecuted groups like Uyghurs and Rohingyas. Rubio countered that the Afrikaners met refugee requirements and that the US can prioritize who it allows entry. Kaine highlighted the disparity, noting the lack of similar programs for Black South Africans during apartheid and the significant wealth gap between white and Black South Africans today. The exchange occurred ahead of a meeting between President Ramaphosa and President Trump.

The Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Maine House of Representatives from silencing Republican Rep. Laurel Libby, who faced punishment for social media comments about a transgender athlete. Libby's post drew criticism, leading to censure and a ban from speaking and voting. The Court intervened on an emergency request, arguing the ban violated her constituents' rights. Justices Sotomayor and Jackson dissented, questioning the urgency and the likelihood of Libby's success on the merits. The case now returns to a lower court.

President Trump urged House Republicans to pass his multitrillion-dollar tax cut bill, warning against altering Medicaid cuts and New York's local tax deduction. Despite Trump's lobbying and reported standing ovations, divisions remain among Republicans. Conservatives demand deeper spending cuts to offset tax revenue loss, while some New York Republicans seek larger tax breaks. The bill faces opposition from Democrats and risks failing due to the slim Republican majority. The bill includes tax breaks on tips, auto loans, and Social Security, along with increased standard deductions and child tax credits.

George Simion, a Romanian ultranationalist, alleges foreign interference in Romania's presidential election, claiming France and Moldova spent €100 million to manipulate the results. He cites claims by Telegram founder Pavel Durov of French government censorship and calls for an investigation, urging the court to compel Durov's testimony. Simion acknowledges low chances of election annulment but encourages further complaints.

Trump and Putin spoke for over two hours, yielding no progress on ending the Ukraine war. Trump, despite claiming Putin desires peace, prioritized resuming US-Russia relations, seemingly accepting a potential Ukrainian surrender. He ignored pleas to pressure Putin for a ceasefire and focused instead on future trade opportunities with Russia. Trump's foreign policy appears centered around trade, great-power relations, and peace at any cost, neglecting democratic values and broader US interests.

President Trump's attempt to persuade House Republicans to support a tax bill failed. The bill's proposed increase to the SALT deduction cap, from $10,000 to $30,000 (later proposed at $40,000 with income restrictions), is insufficient for a group of Republicans from blue states, who represent the "SALT Caucus". Their opposition threatens to block the bill's passage before Memorial Day. Despite Trump's urging and a further increase in the proposed cap, five members remain opposed, jeopardizing the GOP's House majority in 2026.

Three senators—Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Ron Wyden—warned Paramount Global chair Shari Redstone that a potential settlement of Donald Trump's $20 billion lawsuit against CBS might violate federal bribery laws. They allege Paramount is attempting to appease Trump to secure merger approval, citing content moderation and the recent departures of key CBS News figures as evidence. The senators' letter expresses concerns about journalistic independence being compromised and requests answers regarding content changes made to influence the merger approval. Paramount's spokesperson didn't immediately respond, while the Wall Street Journal reported Redstone's recusal from settlement talks.

Rep. LaMonica McIver, a New Jersey Democrat, denounced federal assault charges against her stemming from a clash outside an ICE detention facility as "absurd." The incident involved lawmakers attempting an oversight visit, leading to a physical altercation with officers. McIver maintains she was doing her job and rejects allegations of assault, stating she refused a plea deal requiring her to admit guilt. Prosecutors dropped trespassing charges against Newark Mayor Ras Baraka, but McIver faces charges for allegedly impeding officers. She insists the situation was unnecessarily escalated by ICE and views the charges as political intimidation.