Calista241
Calista241's JournalScoop: Manchin outlines BBB deal requirements
Source: Axios
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) told a group of climate activists and energy executives he's open to supporting revised Build Back Better legislation narrowly addressing three issues: climate change, prescription drug prices and deficit reduction.
Why it matters: Manchin’s private comments during a closed-door dinner Monday are a clear indication he’s serious about returning to the negotiating table, but for a much smaller version of President Biden's initial $3.5 trillion proposal, people familiar with the matter tell Axios.
His comments at the closed-door dinner, hosted by the American Clean Power Association, the trade association for the renewable energy industry, are consistent with conversations Manchin has had with Senate colleagues.
In those informal talks, he's outlined a deal that includes roughly $500 billion for climate and $1 trillion in new revenue.
...
The bottom line: Any skinnier Build Back Better legislation still faces numerous hurdles.
They include agreement from Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) on the revenue side, and acceptance from progressives that $550 billion on energy and climate is the only deal they'll get.
Read more: https://www.axios.com/manchin-outlines-bbb-deal-requirements-723696b5-c602-42ef-907c-fcf08bab96f6.html
Judge orders Justice Dept to hand over certain internal legal records to ex-Trump adviser Bannon
Source: Reuters
A U.S. judge on Wednesday ordered the Justice Department to provide former President Donald Trump's adviser Steve Bannon access to certain sensitive internal legal opinions or other related records that could potentially help bolster his defense against criminal contempt of Congress charges.
U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols told prosecutors they must produce "statements or writings reflecting official DOJ policy," including nonpublic opinions, that relate to "the department's policy on prosecuting or not prosecuting government or former government officials raising executive privilege claims or defenses of immunity."
Bannon, a prominent adviser to Trump, is facing criminal charges for defying a subpoena issued by a congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol. His trial is tentatively set to begin on July 18.
He has refused to provide testimony or documents, citing Trump's insistence that the material is protected under a legal doctrine called executive privilege.
As part of his defense, his attorneys hope to argue that Bannon relied on legal advice from his lawyer Robert Costello.
Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/judge-orders-justice-dept-hand-over-certain-internal-legal-records-ex-trump-2022-03-16/
Appeals Court Springs Jussie Smollett from Jail Because His Appeal Will Take Longer Than His Sentenc
Source: Law & Crime
An Illinois appeals court has ordered that actor Jussie Smollett be released from jail pending an appeal.
Two justices signed the requisite Wednesday document; one dissented. The order was a response to a motion by Smollett’s attorneys to stay the actor’s sentence while the appellate justices considered a broader appeal on the merits and technicalities of the case.
The court agreed Smollett should remain free for the time being because he was “convicted on non-violent offenses” and because the appellate justices would “be unable to dispose” of the matter “before the defendant would have served his entire sentence of incarceration.”
“The defendant, Jussie Smollett, shall be released from the custody of the Cook County Sheriff upon the posting of a personal recognizance bond . . . in the amount of $150,000,” the document reads.
Justices Joy Cunningham and Thomas E. Hoffman signed the order in agreement. Justice Maureen E. Connors disagreed via a signature in the dissent column of the one-page order; she said simply that she “would deny the defendant’s motion.”
Read more: https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-trials-current/jussie-smollett/appeals-court-springs-jussie-smollett-from-jail-because-his-appeal-will-take-longer-than-his-sentence/
Rents Rise Most in 30 Years, Signaling More Pain for Americans
Source: Bloomberg
A measure of rents in the U.S. posted the largest monthly increase in three decades, underscoring an increasingly high cost of living that’s poised to contribute even more to inflation this year.
The index for rent of primary residence increased 0.6% in February from the prior month, the most since 1987, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data released Thursday. It was part of an acceleration across the broader shelter category, which accounted for more than 40% of the monthly increase in an index of consumer prices excluding food and energy.
Rents, which have been in rising in the U.S. for the past year, are reported with a lag in the CPI report. That means they’ll contribute even more to inflation going forward, which already stood at a 40-year high in February. Prices are set to climb further as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine disrupts supply chains and availability of key commodities including oil.
“There’s still further strength to be seen,” Sarah House, senior economist at Wells Fargo & Co., said of rent prices. “We don’t expect that to peak until maybe the third quarter of this year.”
Read more: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2022-03-10/rents-rise-most-in-30-years-signaling-more-pain-for-americans
Prosecutor seeks incarceration, restitution for Smollett
Source: AP
The special prosecutor who brought the criminal case against Jussie Smollett that led to a guilty verdict against the actor asked a judge Thursday to include “an appropriate amount of prison time” when sentencing Smollett for his conviction of lying to police in a staged hate crime.
Dan Webb said during the sentencing hearing that he would not ask for a specific amount of time, leaving that to Cook County Judge James Linn’s discretion. He also asked that Smollett be ordered to pay $130,000 in restitution to the city of Chicago.
Smollett’s defense attorney Nenye Uche asked Linn to limit the sentence to community service. He said Smollett “has lost nearly everything” in his career and finances and asked that Linn give him time to make restitution if that is part of the sentence.
“Why are we jumping up and down as if this is a murder case?” Uche said. “It’s not.”
Witnesses for both the state and Smollett testified at Smollett’s sentencing at the Cook County Courthouse. Chicago Police Supt. David Brown, who was called by the state, submitted a statement that was read aloud by Samuel Mendenhall, a member of the special prosecution team.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/jussie-smollett-sentencing-live-updates-dca736b72447363711dbda548f13d79d
Putin: No-fly zone would be seen as "participation in the armed conflict"
Source: Axios
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Saturday that Moscow will consider a declaration of Ukraine as a no-fly zone by any third-party as "participation in the armed conflict."
Driving the news: Russia would view "any move in this direction" as an intervention that "will pose a threat to our service members," Putin said Saturday, speaking at a meeting with female pilots, AP reports.
"That very second, we will view them as participants of the military conflict, and it would not matter what members they are," Putin said.
The big picture: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Western leaders to impose a "no-fly zone" over Ukraine, but the U.S. and other major powers have ruled out doing so as it could trigger a widespread war with nuclear power Russia.
"It would require, essentially, the U.S. military shooting down Russian planes and causing ... a potential direct war with Russia — something we want to avoid," White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Thursday in ruling out creating a NFZ.
Read more: https://www.axios.com/russia-putin-no-fly-zone-declaration-of-war-f7979ba5-1925-4b49-86d2-70089a6c7e2f.html
DeSantis announces Florida first lady is cancer-free
Source: The Hill
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) announced on Thursday that his wife, first lady Casey DeSantis, is cancer-free.
DeSantis revealed in October that the first lady had been diagnosed with breast cancer. In January, the governor said she completed her chemotherapy treatment.
“I have a positive update about my wife, Casey DeSantis. After going through both treatment and surgery for breast cancer, she is now considered cancer-free,” the governor said in a video posted to Twitter.
The governor said the first lady “still has more to do,” but he said he is “confident she’s gonna make a full recovery.”
In a retweet of the governor’s video, Casey DeSantis said “There are no words to express how truly blessed, grateful and humbled I am to hear the words cancer free.”
Read more: https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/596781-desantis-announces-that-florida-first-lady-is-cancer-free
Federal judge upholds Georgia redistricting for 2022 elections
Source: AJC
A federal judge has ruled that Georgia’s redrawn political maps can remain in place for this year’s elections, deciding that it’s too close to the state’s May 24 primary election to make court-ordered redistricting changes.
The decision allows this year’s elections to proceed with new congressional districts designed for Republicans to gain a north metro Atlanta seat.
U.S. District Judge Steve Jones’ ruling late Monday denied an effort by plaintiffs who argued that Georgia’s redistricting discriminated against Black voters by weakening their ability to elect candidates who represent them.
“The court finds that the public interest of the state of Georgia would be significantly undermined by altering the election calendar and unwinding the electoral process at this point,” Jones wrote in a 238-page order. “Elections are complex and election calendars are finely calibrated processes, and significant upheaval and voter confusion can result if changes are made late in the process.”
Read more: https://www.ajc.com/politics/federal-judge-upholds-georgia-redistricting-for-2022-elections/I636NTBGMBEOHCI54A6RBXSTNU/
My rep, Lucy McBath, is the one that's going to lose out in this redistricting process.
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Member since: Sat Jun 1, 2013, 01:19 AM
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