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Abortion rights expected to be key issue for many voters in November
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Donald Trump has said that the Arizona court ruling outlawing abortion unless a patient’s life is in danger went too far. He made the remarks at a campaign event in Atlanta.
Access to abortion is set to galvanise voters in November — as it has in all elections since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. The former president said on Monday he wants states to decide on the issue.
Meanwhile, the judge overseeing Mr Trump’s criminal case over his alleged mishandling of classified documents has sided with special counsel Jack Smith’s office and agreed that the names of government witnesses in the case should remain secret.
In a new filing on Tuesday, US District Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that potential witnesses’ names and identifiable information must be redacted due to concerns for their safety.
The ruling came after the former president lost two last-ditch bids to delay his hush money trial just days before the 15 April start date — but then filed another appeal on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg has been sentenced to five months at New York’s notorious Rikers Island prison after pleading guilty to perjury.
President Joe Biden may now miss the deadline to appear on Alabama’s presidential ballot, election officials in the state have said, citing the timing of the Democratic National Convention.
Both the president and the vice president may be certified as the nominees of their party past the deadline.
This comes after the office of the Ohio secretary of state sent a similar message last week. The state also has a certification deadline before the Democratic convention.
Here’s what’s happening:
State wants confirmation of nominees by 15 August – four days before the Democratic convention officially chooses its candidate
In another blow to Republican leadership in Congress, the House of Representatives has failed to pass a rule that would have allowed for consideration of the renewal of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a federal law that establishes procedures for the surveillance and collection of foreign intelligence on domestic soil.
Donald Trump wanted the bill killed as he claims FISA was illegally used against him to spy on his 2016 campaign over fears of Russian interference.
The Independent’s White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg reports:
President Joe Biden on Wednesday said America would remain steadfast in its’ commitment to Israel’s defence amid Iranian threats of what he called a “significant attack” in recent days.
Speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio during a joint press conference in the White House Rose Garden, Mr Biden said he and the Japanese leader discussed “developments in the mideast including our shared support for a cease fire and a hostage deal, and urgent efforts to deal with the humanitarian crisis that exists in Gaza”.
He also said he and Mr Kishida both wanted to “address the threat” posed by Iran and said Tehran is “threatening to launch a significant attack on Israel”.
Continue reading…
US President is facing calls to condition aid to Israel on improving the humanitarian situation in Gaza
He’s known to love fast food, so Donald Trump took the opportunity to greet diners at an Atlanta-area Chick-fil-A on Wednesday lunchtime.
A woman came up to the former president and said: “I don’t care what the media tells you, Mr. Trump. We support you.”
Mr Trump ordered 30 milkshakes which he then handed out to people in the restaurant.
Katie Hawkinson reports:
A Florida woman who stole the journal of President Joe Biden’s daughter and sold it to a conservative advocacy group will face jail time and home detention, a US district judge ruled on Tuesday.
Harris stole Ashley Biden’s journal, among other possessions, from a friend’s home in Florida in 2020. The president’s daughter had kept them in the home for safekeeping. Harris later received $20,000 from Project Veritas, a far-right-wing group, in exchange for the journal.
Read on…
Aimee Harris made $20,000 after selling Ashley Biden’s journal to a right-wing organisation
President Joe Biden faulted former president Donald Trump for the chaos at the US-Mexico border in an interview with Univision, and hinted that he might take executive actions to reduce migrant crossings.
Mr Biden made the remarks in an interview with Mexican journalist Enrique Acevedo as part of his efforts to improve his standing with Latino voters.
Eric Garcia has the story:
President hinted he may take executive action to reduce migrant crossings
A new ad released by the Biden campaign on Monday ripped into Donald Trump’s stance on abortion, blaming the former president for the near-death of a Texas woman who was denied the procedure due to the state’s ban.
The 60-second ad, titled “Willow’s Box”, featured an emotional interview with Amanda Zurawski, who discussed the miscarriage of her baby – whom she wanted to name Willow – and the infection that almost killed her twice when she was denied an abortion.
In the video, Ms Zurawski is seen sobbing as the ad’s text explains doctors were forced to send her home after she had a miscarriage because of a state law banning abortions even if medically necessary following the repeal of Roe v Wade by the Supreme Court in June 2022.
Martha McHardy has the story:
The ad was released just hours after Mr Trump laid out his stance on abortion rights
Tennessee teachers could soon carry concealed handguns in the classroom after Republican state senators passed a bill amid angry protests.
The bill’s passing comes a few weeks after the first anniversary of the mass shooting at The Covenant School in Nashville, which left six students and staff dead.
Around 200 gun-reform advocates disrupted proceedings on Tuesday as they voiced their opposition to the bill from the Senate’s gallery, according to The Tennessean, with some eventually removed from the room.
They were angry at the plans which would allow teachers and other school staff to carry guns, with the legislation also including a ban on anyone else carrying firearms on school property.
Dan Gooding reports:
Campaigners argue that arming teachers puts school children at greater risk, not less
Former president Donald Trump said that Arizona went too far one day after the state’s supreme court ruled that a near-total abortion ban from 1864 is enforceable.
Kelly Rissman has the story:
‘It will be straightened out,’ the former president said of the Arizona abortion ruling
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Donald Trump stands in front of his plane, Trump Force One
REUTERS
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