Former President Donald Trump’s indictment in reference to a New York hush-money investigation – the primary prison fees filed in opposition to an ex-president in U.S. historical past – has dominated headlines.
Should you’re sick of listening to concerning the Trump information, listed below are 5 issues unrelated to the previous president that occurred this week in politics.
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Outlook bleak for gun reform after lethal Nashville taking pictures
A taking pictures at a small Christian college in Nashville, Tennessee on Monday left six folks, together with three kids, useless, renewing calls in Washington for complete gun management.
However with partisan gridlock on learn how to transfer ahead, lawmakers expressed little hope that laws addressing gun violence within the U.S. will make it to President Joe Biden’s desk.
“We’re not going to repair it,” U.S. Rep. Tim Burchett, R-Tenn., instructed reporters Monday. “Criminals are going to be criminals.”
Later within the week, no less than two states moved to loosen gun legal guidelines. North Carolina’s GOP-led legislature voted Wednesday to override Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper’s veto of a measure that eliminates the state’s longstanding allow system, and Florida lawmakers permitted taking out licensing necessities to hold a gun into most public locations – however not into the Senate chamber the place the invoice was permitted.
Learn extra on gun reform:‘We’re not going to repair it’: Why lawmakers see no likelihood of main gun legislation adjustments after Nashville
Main well being updates on lawmakers
Sen. John Fetterman, D-Penn., mentioned Friday he was discharged from Walter Reed Nationwide Navy Medical Heart after receiving look after medical despair.
“I need everybody to know that despair is treatable, and remedy works,” Fetterman mentioned in a press release. “This is not about politics – proper now there are people who find themselves struggling with despair in purple counties and blue counties. Should you need assistance, please get assist.”
Additionally Friday, U.S. Rep. Dan Kildee, D-Mich., mentioned he’ll step away from his congressional duties for a “few weeks” after a scan discovered a small tumor in one in all his tonsils. Following the scan, Kildee was identified with squamous cell carcinoma, which is workplace says is “severe however curable.”
Learn extra on Fetterman:Sen. John Fetterman discharged from Walter Reed after receiving remedy for despair
Learn extra on Kildee:US Rep. Dan Kildee broadcasts ‘severe however curable’ most cancers analysis
McCarthy: Biden ‘on the clock’ with debt ceiling talks
Home Speaker Kevin McCarthy on Tuesday requested President Joe Biden to restart negotiations on elevating the USA’ borrowing restrict because the nation creeps towards a possible default.
The debt ceiling is the utmost quantity the U.S. authorities can spend on its current obligations, together with Social Safety and army salaries. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen instructed Congress in January that the U.S. may default on its debt as quickly as June.
Biden responded in a letter launched late Tuesday that he seems ahead to speaking to the speaker concerning the nation’s financial and monetary future. “However for that dialog to be productive,” he mentioned, “we should always each inform the American folks what we’re for.”
Learn extra on debt ceiling negotiations:‘On the clock’: McCarthy urges Biden to restart talks on debt ceiling as default looms
TikTok positive aspects an enemy and an ally
At her second cease in early voting state New Hampshire, 2024 presidential hopeful Nikki Haley known as for an all-out ban on TikTok.
“We’ll ban TikTok. Ban TikTok in every single place,” the previous U.N. ambassador mentioned, additionally taking a jab at President Joe Biden for not banning the app.
However later within the week, TikTok gained an unlikely ally in Kentucky Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who blocked one other senator’s efforts to fast-track a ban on TikTok nationwide.
Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley on Wednesday tried to pressure a Senate vote on his “No TikTok on United States Gadgets Act,” however was thwarted by Paul, who mentioned banning the app would violate the First Modification.
Learn extra on Haley:Nikki Haley desires to ban TikTok, not weapons: Takeaways from her 2024 marketing campaign cease in N.H.
Learn extra on Paul:Rand Paul blocks Josh Hawley’s efforts to ban TikTok, becoming a member of one of many app’s few defenders
Former VP Pence should testify in Jan. 6 probe
A federal choose on Tuesday ordered former Vice President Mike Pence to supply info to a federal grand jury as a part of a Justice Division particular counsel’s investigation into Trump’s efforts to overturn the 2020 election.
(Sorry, readers – I do know this breaks the no-Trump-news rule a bit.)
Pence later known as the subpoena “unprecedented” and “unconstitutional,” however mentioned that he was reviewing whether or not to attraction the choice.
The court docket additionally acknowledged Pence was shielded from answering some questions below the Structure’s speech-and-debate clause in his position as president of the Senate, about which Pence mentioned he was “happy.”
“Let me be clear, I’ve nothing to cover. I’ve a Structure to uphold,” Pence instructed Greta Van Susteren on Newsmax cable community. “However the best way that they sorted that out the necessities of my testimony going ahead are the topic of our overview.”
Learn extra on Pence:Former VP Pence should testify about conversations with Trump earlier than Jan. 6, federal choose says
