In a move that could potentially reshape the Justice Department and FBI, some of Donald Trump’s allies are reportedly working on proposals to limit the independence of these institutions and transform them into tools for conservative causes. This plan, if successful, could have far-reaching consequences for the protection of democratic institutions and the rule of law in the United States.
Meanwhile, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll has revealed a deep divide among Americans regarding access to abortion pills. As the Supreme Court considers reinstating restrictions on medication abortion, opinions vary on whether women should be required to see a doctor in person before receiving these pills. However, there is bipartisan opposition to allowing states to block access to abortion in emergency cases where the mother’s health is at risk.
In New York City, conflicting reports have emerged following the arrests of pro-Palestine student protesters at Columbia University. While city officials claimed there were no injuries and minimal force was used, medical records and photographs shared by protesters tell a different story, with at least nine individuals sustaining injuries ranging from concussions to fractured eye sockets.
Elsewhere, a severe storm ravaged Houston, claiming the lives of at least four people and leaving hundreds of thousands without power. The city was plunged into darkness as hurricane-force winds caused widespread damage, including shattered windows and fallen power lines.
In other news, the New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct has dismissed an ethics complaint against Justice Juan Merchan, who is overseeing the hush money criminal case against former President Donald Trump. Additionally, the man who attacked Nancy Pelosi’s husband with a hammer in 2022 has been sentenced to 30 years in prison, while a controversy involving an upside-down U.S. flag outside Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito’s home has sparked calls for his recusal from key cases.
As these stories unfold, President Joe Biden made a fresh appeal to African American voters, emphasizing the importance of Black history in American history during a visit to the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington.