JQJO — Politics news · Page 932

California's DMV is extending its operating hours at 18 offices this spring to help residents obtain Real IDs before the May 7th deadline. These offices will open at 7 a.m., Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, exclusively for Real ID appointments. The Real ID, required for domestic air travel and federal buildings from May 7th, can be applied for online, requiring documents proving identity and residency. Those with a passport can delay upgrading their license until renewal. The extended hours are not offered on Wednesdays.

An Idaho judge ruled that the state's near-total abortion ban includes an exception for situations where a pregnant woman's life is at risk, even if death isn't imminent. The ruling, while upholding the ban, allows abortions when a doctor believes the woman is more likely to die without the procedure. This offers broader access to abortion than previously interpreted, providing a partial victory for reproductive rights advocates who argued the strict ban endangered patients' lives. Doctors now have more flexibility in determining when the exception applies.

North Carolina Supreme Court Justice Allison Riggs, recused from a case involving contested ballots, criticized the court's decision to potentially discard thousands of overseas voters' ballots. She argued this disrespects voters and vowed to fight the ruling in federal court. The decision follows a state Supreme Court ruling that mostly upheld the votes, but sided with Republican Jefferson Griffin on specific arguments. While the NCGOP claims the ruling ensures only legal votes are counted, Justice Riggs maintains her commitment to ensuring all eligible votes are included.

President Trump, en route to Mar-a-Lago, hinted at potential exceptions to his 10% tariff baseline on most trading partners, calling it a 'floor' for negotiations. Despite market volatility stemming from the tariffs, Trump expressed confidence in the US economy's strength and his administration's handling of the situation. He also mentioned ongoing trade talks with numerous countries and a positive relationship with Chinese President Xi Jinping, while briefly discussing his recent physical examination results. China further escalated the trade war by raising retaliatory tariffs on US imports.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced $5.1 billion in cuts to Pentagon spending, targeting consulting contracts from firms like Accenture and Deloitte. He deemed these contracts "wasteful," asserting the work could be handled internally. The cuts include $1.8 billion in consulting fees, $1.4 billion in cloud services, and a $500 million Navy contract. Hegseth also canceled contracts related to diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, and funding to two universities. These actions are part of a broader effort to eliminate wasteful spending and refocus the department's budget, totaling nearly $6 billion in cuts over six weeks.

FBI analyst Brian Auten, a Russia expert, has been placed on leave. This follows his inclusion in FBI Director Kash Patel's book, "Government Gangsters," which names Auten among alleged "deep state" actors. Patel criticized Auten's role in the 2017 Russia investigation and handling of Hunter Biden's laptop information. While a Justice Department review found no political bias in the Russia probe, Auten also faced previous internal discipline recommendations. The FBI hasn't commented on the reason for Auten's leave, but the action follows a pattern of Trump administration targeting of FBI officials involved in Trump-related investigations.

The White House rejected North Carolina's plea for full FEMA reimbursement for Hurricane Helene recovery costs. Governor Josh Stein expressed deep disappointment, highlighting the significant unmet needs in Western North Carolina, including debris removal and home rebuilding. The state has 30 days to appeal the denial, with Stein urging the President to reconsider the decision. FEMA cited the request as unwarranted.

President Trump announced a plan to transform a 60-foot wide strip of federal land along the US-Mexico border into a military installation. The plan involves transferring control of the Roosevelt Reservation from other agencies to the Department of Defense, allowing military personnel to temporarily detain migrants for trespassing. This expands the military presence at the border, despite a decrease in illegal crossings. While troops can detain migrants, they cannot make immigration arrests; Border Patrol will handle those arrests. The plan may face legal challenges due to restrictions on using federal troops for domestic law enforcement.

Several Florida universities, including the University of Florida, University of South Florida, and University of Central Florida, have signed agreements with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to allow local law enforcement to act as immigration officers. This follows a state directive to cooperate with the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. The agreements allow officers to question individuals suspected of being in the country illegally and execute arrest warrants for immigration violations. This move comes amidst the revocation of visas for over 525 students, faculty, and researchers at 88 US universities this year, sparking protests on some campuses. The increased immigration enforcement has raised concerns among international students.

Florida's Hope Florida Foundation, spearheaded by First Lady Casey DeSantis, distributed $10 million from a Medicaid settlement to two organizations that subsequently contributed millions to an anti-marijuana campaign backed by Governor Ron DeSantis. This has raised concerns about potential misuse of public funds for political purposes. House Republicans are investigating, questioning the legality and ethics of the transactions. The governor defends the settlement, while some Republicans allege criminal fraud. The investigation is ongoing, with requests for relevant documents and communications from the DeSantis administration.