Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced some new details of his plan for Texas to build its own border wall, starting with the hiring process for a program manager and providing $250 million in state funds as a “down payment,” the Texas Tribune reports.
Democrats Grow Impatient with Merrick Garland
“Hill Democrats are intensifying pressure on Attorney General Merrick Garland to clean house at the Justice Department following revelations that Donald Trump’s DOJ secretly seized communication records belonging to Democratic lawmakers, congressional staffers and journalists,” Politico reports.
“Garland, who served as a federal judge for two decades, has worked to reassure Democrats that he’s taking the issue seriously and pledged to support an independent inspector general’s investigation into the matter. But Democrats are quickly growing impatient and already taking matters into their own hands — opening a formal probe this week to determine who was responsible and hold them accountable.”
Calls Grow for Commission to Investigate Pandemic
New York Times: “Bipartisan bills have been introduced in both the House and the Senate, and have the backing of three former homeland security secretaries — two Republicans and a Democrat — as well as health groups and victims and their families.”
“Unlike the rancorous debate that doomed the proposal for a panel to investigate the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, discussion of a Covid-19 commission has not produced partisan discord — at least, not yet.”
Congress Votes to Make Juneteenth a Federal Holiday
“Congress on Wednesday voted overwhelmingly to establish Juneteenth as a federal holiday, elevating the day marking the end of slavery in Texas to a national commemoration of emancipation amid a larger reckoning about America’s turbulent history with racism,” the Washington Post reports.
“It is the first new federal holiday created by Congress since 1983, when lawmakers voted to establish Martin Luther King Jr. Day after a 15-year fight to commemorate the assassinated civil rights leader.”
The Hill: 14 Republicans vote against making Juneteenth a federal holiday.
The Debate That Could Decide New York’s Next Mayor
“New York City’s eight leading mayoral candidates will take the stage Wednesday night in the last debate of the primary — and with less than a week until election day, none can claim to be the undisputed front-runner. But a few hope to be, by the end of the night,” Politico reports.
The debate will be held from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. ET.
You can watch online via NBC New York.
10 GOP Senators Say They Support Bipartisan Plan
“Ten Republican senators support a bipartisan infrastructure framework, enough for a potential bill to get through the chamber if all skeptical Democrats back it,” CNBC reports.
“In a statement Wednesday, 20 Democratic and GOP senators endorsed the roughly $1 trillion proposal, which would not raise taxes on corporations or wealthy individuals. The plan would revamp transportation, broadband and water, but would not meet many Democrats’ goals for investments in clean energy and social programs.”
Media Melee Leaves Journalists Outside Summit
Politico: “Journalists from both countries rushed to the site of the meeting — the Villa La Grange, an 18th century building located in a park near Lake Geneva — but were stopped by U.S. and Russian security and government officials and told to line up separately and in single file. … Instead, journalists and officials screamed as a Swiss official kept urging journalists and officials to be quiet. Eventually nine U.S. journalists and an unknown number of Russian journalists were allowed inside the villa’s library, where Biden and Putin were seated.”
“The shoving didn’t stop. Journalists pushed and yelled at each other to move. After just a minute or two, Russian security pulled the red rope separating the media from the leaders to try to keep the media further away … Russian security yelled at journalists to get out of the room, and began pushing journalists. U.S. journalists and White House officials began screaming that the Russian security should stop touching them.”
Garland Reverses Trump Ruling on Seeking Asylum
“Attorney General Merrick Garland on Wednesday reversed a Trump-era immigration ruling that made it all but impossible for people to seek asylum in the United States over credible fears of domestic abuse or gang violence, marking one of the Justice Department’s most significant breaks with the previous administration,” the New York Times reports.
“Attorneys general can overturn decisions made by immigration judges because immigration courts are housed under the Justice Department, not the judicial branch.”
Activists Delay Opening of Obama Library
“Former President Barack Obama, once a community organizer, has gotten a taste of community organizing himself as preservationists and other activists have slowed the construction of his presidential center,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library welcomed visitors just more than 1,000 days after Mr. Reagan’s last day in office. Bill Clinton’s took 1,398 days.”
“It is likely the Obama center will open more than 3,100 days after the 44th president left the White House.”
Biden Extends Title IX Protections to LGBT Students
Associated Press: “The U.S. Education Department on Wednesday expanded its interpretation of federal sex protections to include transgender and gay students, a move that reverses Trump-era policy and stands against proposals in many states to bar transgender girls from school sports.”
Justice Department Ends Criminal Probe Into Bolton’s Book
“The Justice Department has closed its criminal investigation into whether a disparaging memoir by President Donald Trump’s national security adviser John Bolton illegally disclosed classified information and dropped its lawsuit aimed at recouping profits from the book,” the New York Times reports.
Fed Eyes Earlier Interest-Rate Increase
“Federal Reserve officials signaled they expect to raise interest rates by late 2023, sooner than they anticipated in March, as the economy recovers rapidly from the effects of the pandemic and inflation heats up,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
CNBC: “Though the Fed raised its headline inflation expectation to 3.4%, a full percentage point higher than the March projection, the post-meeting statement continued to say that inflation pressures are ‘transitory.'”
Ohio Lawmakers Oust Former GOP Speaker
“Lawmakers in the GOP-controlled Ohio House removed former Speaker Larry Householder (R) from the chamber, ousting the former leader in a 75-21 vote,” the Cincinnati Enquirer reports.
“After a brilliant political comeback to lead the Ohio House of Representatives, Householder leaves his beloved chamber under the cloud of a federal indictment for the second time.”
Senate Will Vote to Repeal Iraq War Authorization
“Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced his support on Wednesday for repealing the 2002 war authorization for Iraq, vowing to hold a vote on scrapping the outdated measure later this year,” Politico reports.
Biden and Putin Take Questions
In case you missed it, watch the solo press conferences by President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin after they met for more than three hours today in Geneva.
NBC News has some key takeaways from the summit.
Manchin Offers Compromise on Voting Rights Bill
“Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) opened the door to a compromise on voting legislation Wednesday with a memo outlining provisions of federal voting and campaign finance legislation that he would support,” NBC News reports.
“Manchin’s compromise proposals include making election day a public holiday, offering 15 consecutive days of early voting for federal elections, and automatic voter registration through state departments of motor vehicles.”
“He also proposes requiring voter identification, but allowing alternatives like utility bills to suffice as proof of identity.”
Rick Hasen: “Democrats should grab the deal, even though it is not perfect, is still unlikely to pass, and doesn’t yet address the greatest threat in upcoming elections: the danger of election subversion.”
Ranked-Choice Gives Democrats a Shot In Alaska
Henry Olson: “Alaska has eliminated party primaries entirely. Instead, all candidates from all parties will appear together on one primary ballot, and the top four candidates regardless of party advance to the general election.”
“This system opens the way for 2020 candidate Al Gross, or another strong Democrat, to win even if Tshibaka gets a plurality on the first count. Both the 2016 election results and polling show that Murkowski’s support overlaps with voters who would normally vote Democratic.”
Biden Warned Putin of ‘Consequences’ If Navalny Dies
“President Joe Biden said he warned Russian President Vladimir Putin Wednesday of consequences if jailed Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny were to die in prison,” CNN reports.
Said Biden: “I made it clear to him that I believe the consequences of that would be devastating for Russia.”