The Political Thread

[Chris]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/23/us/alabama-ivf-embryos-supreme-court-ruling-legislation/index.html

A bipartisan effort is underway in the Alabama House and Senate to draft “clarifying” legislation that would “protect” in vitro fertilization treatments following the court’s ruling, state legislative sources told CNN.

Alabama House Democrats introduced a bill Thursday that would establish fertilized human eggs stored outside a uterus are not considered human beings under state law.

 

[Bobby Barrows]

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/23/us/alabama-ivf-embryos-supreme-court-ruling-legislation/index.html

A bipartisan effort is underway in the Alabama House and Senate to draft “clarifying” legislation that would “protect” in vitro fertilization treatments following the court’s ruling, state legislative sources told CNN.

Alabama House Democrats introduced a bill Thursday that would establish fertilized human eggs stored outside a uterus are not considered human beings under state law.

Speaking of

Trump calls on Alabama legislature to protect IVF Services

This is gonna piss off a whole lotta hardline conservatives.

 

[Chris]

https://www.axios.com/2024/02/23/israel-settlements-blinken-pompeo-trump-illegal

Secretary of State Tony Blinken said on Friday that Israeli settlement expansion in the occupied West Bank is "inconsistent with international law," reversing a Trump-era decision that had overturned decades of U.S. policy on the issue.

 

[Chris]

National Rifle Association and Wayne LaPierre are found liable in lawsuit over lavish spending

Jurors ordered the former NRA chief to pay $4.3M in restitution.

www.politico.com

NEW YORK — The National Rifle Association and its former longtime leader were found liable Friday in a lawsuit centered on the organization’s lavish spending.

The New York jury found that Wayne LaPierre, who was the NRA’s CEO for three decades, misspent millions of dollars of the group’s money on pricey perks.

 

[Death By Looch]

The German Bundestag votes to legalise recreational usage of cannabis for adults, making Germany the third European country to do so after Malta and Luxembourg.

https://www.cnn.com/2024/02/23/europe/germany-cannabis-legal-parliament-intl/index.html

We did it.

 

[Bobby Barrows]

 

[Chris]

$1 Billion Donation Will Provide Free Tuition at a Bronx Medical School

Dr. Ruth Gottesman, a longtime professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, is making free tuition available to all students going forward.

www.nytimes.com

Dr. Ruth Gottesman, a longtime professor at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, is making free tuition available to all students going forward.

The 93-year-old widow of a Wall Street financier has donated $1 billion to a Bronx medical school, the Albert Einstein College of Medicine, with instructions that the gift be used to cover tuition for all students going forward.

 

[Canadian Dragon]

it's almost like the most wealthy humans on earth can actually fix all the problems if they actually want to, weird!

 

[Canadian Dragon]

wonderful story btw hope that college actually does it and doesnt pocket the money

 

[Chris]

Hungary votes to approve Sweden's NATO membership

The Scandinavian country will become the 32nd to join NATO.

www.cnbc.com

Hungary on Monday voted to approve Sweden’s NATO accession bid, ending months of diplomatic negotiations and finalizing Stockholm’s membership almost two years after it first applied to join the military alliance.

 

[Bobby Barrows]

With Finland, Sweden, and Ukraine making bids for NATO membership, it's definitely going to serve as the Bulwark against Russian influence, and a military alliance will ideally spook Russia from continuing their imperialist war against Ukraine.

 

[Chris]

Israel-Hamas war live updates: Biden is hopeful that cease-fire is coming

Follow live updates on NBC News for the latest coverage of the Israel-Hamas war on NBC News as the IDF presents a plan for civilian evacuations in Gaza.

www.nbcnews.com

President Joe Biden said today that he is hopeful that a cease-fire will be announced in the coming days. “We’re close," he said.

“My national security adviser tells me we’re close. We’re close. It’s not done yet,” Biden said during a stop in New York City to get ice cream. “And my hope is by next Monday we’ll have a cease-fire.”

Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said earlier today that even if there were a temporary cease-fire, "we will then continue fighting until the very last hostages return.”

 

[Chris]

https://www.nytimes.com/live/2024/02/27/us/trump-biden-michigan-primary-election

President Biden won Michigan’s Democratic primary election on Tuesday but was facing significant opposition over his support for Israel as it wages war in Gaza, with a substantial percentage of voters casting ballots for “uncommitted” as part of a protest movement against him.

Former President Donald J. Trump was also victorious in the Republican primary, again coasting past former Gov. Nikki Haley of South Carolina to continue his undefeated primary streak. The Associated Press called both races just as final polls closed at 9 p.m.

 

[Death By Looch]

Yea... looks like it's Biden vs. Trump II in November then? ...and with how Biden is doing and the polls are looking... I'm scared for y'all over there.

 

[Chris]

Mitch McConnell to step down as Republican Senate leader in November

Sen. Mitch McConnell is the longest-serving party leader in the Senate in history. He has had a complicated relationship with fellow Republican Donald Trump.

www.cnbc.com

Sen. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky said Wednesday that he will step down as Republican leader in the Senate in November.

McConnell, 82, revealed his plans in an address to the Senate, where he currently serves as minority leader.