There’s a new chief judge in DC who could help determine the fate of Donald Trump

A new chief judge in the federal courthouse in Washington, DC, is poised to take over as that position has become one of the most influential in the nation’s capital, playing a key role in deciding issues that could factor into whether former President Donald Trump is indicted.

Rate of women dying in childbirth surged by 40%. What’s to blame for these preventable deaths?

This post was originally published on this sitePregnant women are dying at even higher rates thanks to COVID, racial inequities and a flawed health care system.     

Why did the Biden administration approve the Willow Project’s oil drilling in Alaska?

The Biden administration has approved a large oil drilling project in Alaska known as the Willow Project. The move quickly sparked outrage and debate among climate advocates and Indigenous communities. Here’s everything you need to know:
What is the Willow Project?
The Willow Project is a multi-billion dollar oil drilling proposal by the oil company ConocoPhillips. The drilling is planned to take place in northern Alaska and is expected to produce approximately “180,000 barrels of oil per day at its peak,” according to ConocoPhillips.
According to The New York Times, the petroleum reserve is located 200 miles north of the Arctic Circle and “is the country’s largest single expanse of pristine land.” The oil company had originally proposed five pads for drilling, but negotiations brought it down to three pads, still “a site large enough for them to move forward,” per ConocoPhillips officials.
When the project was announced, a fierce debate broke out on whether the administration should approve it. Many climate advocates staunchly disapproved, citing that it could produce an additional 9.2 million metric tons of carbon pollution per year. TikTok had #StopWillow as a trending hashtag and the public created a Change.org petition with close to three million signatures, CNN writes. 
On the other hand, many Indigenous groups as well as Alaska native Rep. Mary Petolta (D-Alaska) were in favor of the proposal. Petolta along with Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) and Dan Sullivan (R) wrote in an opinion for CNN that, “clean energy cannot manifest overnight,” and “we have to work our way there,” claiming “a major gap between our capability to generate [clean energy] and our daily needs.”
Why did the Biden administration approve the project?
Negotiations over the Willow Project took place over months, but the project itself was in the works for decades. The decision comes despite President Biden’s campaign promise of “no more drilling on federal lands, period.” This is largely due to lobbying and the courts.
ConocoPhillips as well as the Alaska legislature reportedly lobbied heavily in favor of the project. Also, the project had already been approved by former President Donald Trump and “had few options to cancel or significantly curtail the project” legally. Biden had initially hoped to only approve two pads for drilling but was told that it would not be sufficient to meet the goals of the project.
To curb the criticism from environmental groups, the Department of the Interior made three million acres “indefinitely off limits” in the Beaufort Sea in the Arctic Ocean to protect wildlife “in perpetuity from extractive development,″ BBC reports. The protections are to create a “firewall” against future oil leasing projects.
What was the reaction?
Many environmental groups condemned the decision. Greenpeace USA called the approval a “betrayal to our planet & people,” on Twitter. “The climate crisis does not compromise.”
“We are too late in the climate crisis to approve massive oil and gas projects that directly undermine the new clean economy that the Biden administration committed to advancing,” said Abigail Dillen, president of environmental group EarthJustice. “We know President Biden understands the existential threat of climate, but he is approving a project that derails his own climate goals.” 
Others, including the Alaska legislature, applauded the decision. Petolta thanked the Biden administration “for listening to the voices of Alaskans when it mattered most” citing “consistent, determined advocacy for this project, from people all across the state and from every walk of life.” Sullivan celebrated the approval but criticized Biden’s measures to protect part of the land saying it “demonstrates that the Biden administration’s unprecedented lock-up of [Alaska] will continue.” 
“This is in direct conflict with the Biden-Harris administration’s goals of cutting climate pollution in half by 2030,” commented Tiernan Sittenfeld for the League of Conservation Voters. “The new protections announced for the threatened Arctic are important, but they do not make up for Willow’s approval.”

Some seniors could start paying less for certain drugs whose prices rose faster than inflation

Starting next month, some Medicare beneficiaries will pay less out of pocket for 27 prescription drugs whose prices rose faster than inflation late last year, the Department of Health and Human Services said Wednesday.

What to watch for at Wednesday’s hearing in medication abortion lawsuit

A federal judge in Texas will consider at a high-stakes hearing on Wednesday whether he should block the US government’s approval of the drug used for medication abortions.

Can Biden’s executive action on background checks curb gun violence?

President Biden signed an executive order on Tuesday aimed at “increasing the number of background checks conducted before firearm sales,” per a White House statement. The administration called the action “as close to universal background checks as possible without additional legislation.” The executive order also seeks to increase public knowledge of “red flag” orders, which allow people to “temporarily remove an individual’s access to firearms” if they are found to be dangerous. Lastly, the order hopes to promote better firearm storage.
The order does not change any current laws, reports The Associated Press, and instead “directs federal agencies to ensure compliance with existing laws and procedures,” acknowledging that Congress is divided on the issue. “You’ll absolutely hear [Biden] call for legislation,” a White House official said. “But in the meantime, he wants the federal government to be doing all we can with existing authority to reduce gun violence and that’s what this executive order does.”
The president’s order builds on Bipartisan Safer Communities Act passed in 2022, which required “anyone who sells guns for profit to be licensed and conduct background checks on buyers,” reports Politico. It was introduced as a response to the shooting in Uvalde, Texas. “He is directing key members of his Cabinet to develop a proposal for how we can structure the government to do a better job supporting those impacted by gun violence,” an administration official told reporters.
Biden announced his executive order in Monterey Park, the location of the Lunar New Year shooting that left 11 dead. He has emphasized that he “will do everything he can to reduce gun violence and save lives.” 
What are commentators saying?
The order is a “home run for public safety,” John Feinblatt, president of Everytown for Gun Safety told AP. He added that the action will “keep weapons out of the hands of dangerous people and save lives.” Grassroots group Moms Demand Action commented that the law would “double down on the progress made” by the previous bill. 
“Wielding his wide-ranging presidential powers are an important way the president can cut through congressional gridlock and demonstrate action on gun safety,” added David Hogg, co-founder of March for Our Lives and Parkland shooting survivor. “It’s the morally right thing to do, and it will win the youth vote in 2024.”
Nicole Lee Ndumele, senior vice president for Rights and Justice at the Center for American Progress believes the action will “curb both rampant mass shootings and daily gun violence.”
The National Association for Gun Rights, on the other hand, called the executive order Biden’s “latest unconstitutional escapade,” alleging on Twitter that it infringes on the Second Amendment. The new regulations will not reduce violent crime, the National Rifle Association argued. “Until President Biden and his allies decide to go after violent criminals, violence will continue to spiral out of control as it has.”
What’s next for gun legislation?
Historically, Biden has referred to gun violence as an “epidemic,” making it a key issue during his campaign. The new executive order may succeed in more widely enforcing gun regulations without requiring legislation, however, “only Congress can impose many sweeping measures that gun control advocates have pushed for,” Alison Durkee writes for Forbes. 
“These are not controversial solutions anywhere except for in Washington, D.C., in Congress,” a Biden administration official said. “The majority of kitchen tables across the country — they support universal background checks.” Biden said that he would “continue to call on the Congress to take additional action,” adding that his “administration will continue to do all that [it] can, within existing authority, to make our communities safer.” 
The New York Times assesses that Biden’s timing on the order is linked to a potential re-election bid in an attempt “to win the support of voters who believe that the government should do more to limit gun violence.” Axios reports gun violence is still a pressing issue for American voters, citing a recent report by Brookings.
“Too many lives have been taken by gun violence,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre. “But [Biden] believes we need to do more.”

Consumer price inflation rate slows to 6% in February, but prices post strong monthly gain

This post was originally published on this siteFebruary CPI report shows annual inflation eased again but prices increased sharply on monthly basis. Core CPI gain slowed to 5.5%     

CNN Poll: Most Republicans care more about picking a 2024 GOP nominee who agrees with them on issues than one who can beat Biden

Republicans hold a dour outlook on the country and prioritize finding a 2024 nominee who shares their views on major issues over one with a strong chance to defeat President Joe Biden, according to a new CNN poll of Republicans and Republican-leaning independents conducted by SSRS. The survey suggests sharp divisions within the potential GOP electorate by age, education, ideology and geography, as well as between Donald Trump backers locked into their choice and a more movable group in search of an alternative.

DeSantis: Protecting Ukraine not one of America’s ‘vital national interests’

This post was originally published on this siteFlorida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) this week responded to a questionnaire to argue that protecting Ukraine against Russia’s year-long invasion should not be one of America’s “vital national interests,” knocking the Biden administration for indicating it’ll support Kyiv as long as it takes. “While the U.S. has many […]

Republican legislators will defend Arizona law banning abortion due to ‘genetic abnormalities’

This post was originally published on this siteThe lawsuit might have folded because Democratic Attorney General Kris Mayes wouldn’t defend what she has called an “unconstitutional” law.     

Tagged abortionarizonaArizona Medical AssociationArizona National Organization for WomenKris MayesNational Council of Jewish Womenroe v wadesupreme court