Justice Clarence Thomas told a group of judges and lawyers at the 11th Circuit Judicial Conference in Atlanta that “the events of earlier this week” show that if people cannot “live with outcomes we don’t agree with,” then the integrity of the judicial branch of government is undermined, CNN reports.
Russian Generals Turn on Each Other
Russian generals are “turning in on themselves” because the war in Ukraine is not going to plan, the Times of London reports.
The British defense chief said military leaders were blaming each other for the “disaster” and feared being purged if the “quagmire” turns into a panicked retreat.
Democrats Aim to Channel Anger Over Roe Toward GOP
Washington Post: “In the aftermath of the leaked draft of a Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe, Democrats are working hard to underline for voters which party is dismantling abortion protections and which one is defending them, hoping Republicans pay a price at the polls.”
“But the Democrats’ message also in a sense reflects how powerless they have been in Washington, even when they control the levers of power. They have failed to codify Roe, failed to prevent a conservative judiciary and failed to change the filibuster to enact their agenda.”
Loose Lips About Sinking Ships
Playbook: “The war in Ukraine has seen the U.S. share unprecedented levels of intelligence with Kyiv. And Western governments have stepped up preemptive public disclosures of intelligence to undermine Russian messaging.”
“But this week, the White House has started to worry that the intel is getting too public.”
Tom Friedman reports that Biden said “in the strongest and most colorful language that this kind of loose talk is reckless and has got to stop immediately — before we end up in an unintended war with Russia.”
“The staggering takeaway from these leaks is that they suggest we are no longer in an indirect war with Russia but rather edging toward a direct war — and no one has prepared the American people or Congress for that.”
U.S. Sends More Aid to Ukraine
The U.S. announced a new weapons package for Ukraine on Friday, encompassing “artillery munitions, radar and other equipment,” Reuters reports.
Meanwhile, the Washington Post reports the Pentagon also announced it’s purchasing “aerial drones, laser-guided rockets, binoculars” and more from American companies to send to Ukraine.
Idaho GOP Riven by Primary Civil War
“Idaho’s dominant Republican Party is at war with itself up and down the ballot ahead of its May 17 primaries,” Politico reports.
“It’s not just Gov. Brad Little, whose reelection campaign became national news when Donald Trump endorsed a primary challenge from Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin. The state attorney general is staring down a challenge from a former rabble-rousing member of Congress. The senior of Idaho’s two GOP House members is facing a primary that has drawn millions in spending. And contentious open races for lieutenant governor and the secretary of state — Idaho’s chief election official — echo some of the national divisions within the party.”
Taliban Orders Women to Wear Burqa in Public Again
“Afghanistan’s Taliban rulers on Saturday ordered all Afghan women to wear head-to-toe clothing in public, a sharp hard-line pivot that confirmed the worst fears of rights activists and was bound to further complicate Taliban dealings with an already distrustful international community,” Bloomberg reports.
“The decree, which calls for women to only show their eyes and recommends they wear the head-to-toe burqa, evoked similar restrictions on women during the Taliban’s previous rule between 1996 and 2001.”
White House Warns of Fall Surge
“The White House is stepping up its warnings about a coronavirus surge this fall and winter, and is making contingency plans for how it will provide vaccines to the American public if Congress does not allocate more money for the Covid-19 response,” the New York Times reports.
Washington Post: “Several experts agreed that a major wave this fall and winter is possible given waning immunity from vaccines and infections, loosened restrictions and the rise of variants better able to escape immune protections.”
Nature: Are Covid surges becoming more predictable?
Trump-Inspired Candidate Divides Nebraska GOP
New York Times: “Like his political role model — and chief backer — Mr. Herbster is proving to be a one-man political wrecking ball. In a state long known for genteel, collaborative politics and, for the last 24 years, one-party rule, Mr. Herbster’s bid has cracked his party into three camps, with Trump supporters, establishment conservatives and business-friendly moderates battling for power. A major donor for years to conservative candidates, Mr. Herbster has been abandoned by longtime political allies and seen his running mate quit his ticket to run for governor herself. The allegations of groping are coming from fellow Republicans.”
“Behind all the drama is a question with resonance far beyond Nebraska. Mr. Trump’s endorsement of Mr. Herbster, a major donor to Mr. Trump’s political career, isn’t just the first-time candidate’s top credential — it is his campaign’s entire rationale. Mr. Trump’s name is on Mr. Herbster’s lawn signs, ads and billboards.”
Trump Barely Mentioned Abortion at Rally
“In a nearly hour-and-a-half speech at a political rally in Pennsylvania on Friday night, former president Donald Trump made only a passing reference to the leaked Supreme Court draft opinion that would overturn a landmark ruling establishing the constitutional right to abortion across the country,” the Washington Post reports.
“Trump’s decision not to opine on the news that dominated headlines this week followed days of Republican reticence to engage on the issue, directing their ire at the leak itself rather than celebrate the draft opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade, the pivotal 1973 ruling that legalized abortion.”
Fauci Privately Miffed by Correspondents’ Dinner
Dr. Anthony Fauci this week “privately criticized the decision to hold the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, singling it out as a troubling sign that many Americans no longer view Covid as a serious threat,” Politico reports.
“Fauci expressed frustration with the growing perception that the pandemic is effectively over. He said he feared people are losing sight of the need to continue protecting the nation’s most vulnerable.”
Dr. Oz Booed at Trump Rally
Pennsylvania U.S. Senate candidate Mehmet Oz (R) was booed Friday night at a rally in the commonwealth headlined by former President Donald Trump.
DeSantis Fights ‘Bidenflation’ with Biden’s Stimulus
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) just signed several tax breaks into law in Florida, billing it as a way to fight “Bidenflation headwinds,” Insider reports.
But at least one portion of the tax relief package is being paid for by congressional Democrats’ $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief measure, called the American Rescue Plan, that Biden signed into law last year.
New Poll Reveals Warning Signs for GOP on Abortion
A new Yahoo News/YouGov poll found that registered voters initially preferred a generic Democrat over a generic Republican by 5 percentage points when asked how they would vote in their district if the congressional election were being held today, 44% to 39%.
But when voters were asked to choose instead between a “pro-choice Democrat” and a “pro-life Republican,” GOP support fell to 31% while Democratic support held steady — more than doubling the gap between the two candidates, to 13 percentage points.
Musk Denies Claim He Was Encouraged by Trump
“Elon Musk flatly denied a claim by the head of ex-President Donald Trump’s new social media company that Trump had encouraged Musk’s bid to buy Twitter,” CNBC reports.
Said Musk: “This is false.”
Trump’s Lawsuit to Lift Twitter Ban Dismissed
A judge on Friday dismissed a lawsuit by former President Donald Trump seeking to lift his ban from Twitter, CNBC reports.
Big Majority Want Roe v. Wade to Stay
A new CNN poll finds 66% of Americans say Roe v. Wade should not be completely struck down, and 59% would support Congress passing legislation to establish a nationwide right to abortion.
Something to watch: “The share of registered voters who say they are extremely or very enthusiastic about voting this fall rose 6 points between the first survey and the second, but that increase is about even across party lines.”
Mooney Opens Wide Lead Over McKinley In West Virginia
A new MetroNews West Virginia Poll finds Rep. Alex Mooney (R-WV) has a 15-point lead over Rep. David McKinley (R-WV) among likely voters in West Virginia’s newly-formed 2nd Congressional District, 48% to 33%.
Said pollster Rex Repass: “Donald Trump’s endorsement of Mooney and likely voters in the Eastern Panhandle appear to be delivering the Republican nomination for Mooney.”
