Mike Johnson reveals new foreign aid legislation

Republican House Speaker Mike Johnson has released the text of three spending bills for separate aid packages for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan. A fourth bill, which includes measures favored by conservatives such as seizing Russian assets, is expected to follow. The House is set to vote on these bills over the weekend, despite pressure from some within the Republican party.

In other news, the Senate swiftly shut down the impeachment trial against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, declaring the charges against him unconstitutional. The House controversially impeached Mayorkas in February, but the Senate voted along party lines to dismiss the trial.

Meanwhile, Republican lawmakers in Arizona blocked a Democratic effort to repeal a near-total abortion ban upheld by the state’s Supreme Court. This law, passed in 1864 but not enforced for decades, has drawn criticism from Republicans including former President Trump and Senate candidate Kari Lake.

Additionally, House lawmakers grilled Columbia University President Nemat Shafik during an antisemitism hearing, where she disclosed investigations and suspensions of several students and staff. This comes after the ousting of other university presidents who testified in December.

Overall, these political developments highlight the ongoing tensions and debates within the US government on various issues, from foreign aid to abortion rights and academic freedom. Stay tuned for more updates on these evolving stories.