April 17, 2024: Wednesday Morning News

The Senate is gearing up for a potential impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, as House impeachment managers officially handed off the articles to the upper chamber. The handoff has compelled the Senate to convene a trial, but Democrats are expected to try to dismiss or table the charges this week before arguments begin.

Republicans are accusing Mayorkas of breaching the public trust and betraying his oath of office by willfully refusing to enforce immigration laws. On the other hand, Democrats are calling the impeachment a political charade, arguing that Republicans have improperly impeached him over policy disagreements.

In another political development, House Speaker Mike Johnson is facing mounting anger from some Republican members over his proposed aid package for Ukraine, Israel, and other allies. Despite calls for him to step aside or face a vote to oust him from office, Johnson has declared that he will not resign, stating that the party needs a “steady hand at the wheel.”

Meanwhile, in a separate case, former President Donald Trump is back in a New York City court, where seven of the 12 jurors have been seated in the so-called hush money case against him. Trump and his lawyers have expressed doubts about getting a fair trial, with Trump calling the trial a political witch hunt designed to benefit President Biden.

The White House is also preparing new sanctions against Iran after its direct weekend attack against Israel, with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen emphasizing the use of economic weapons to counter Iran’s ‘malign and destabilizing activity.’ Republicans have criticized the Biden administration for not doing enough to keep Iran in check.

Lastly, a federal appeals court has blocked enforcement of a West Virginia law that shielded female athletes from having to compete against boys and men. The law, known as the “Save Women’s Sports Act,” was challenged by a 13-year-old boy who had been taking puberty blockers and wanted to compete on the girls’ track and cross country teams at his school. The legal battle is ongoing, with the ACLU backing the 13-year-old’s challenge, claiming the law violates the 14th amendment and Title IX.