Political Wire: “The Fulton County special grand jury that has spent the last eight months examining potential criminal interference in Georgia’s 2020 presidential election has completed its work and is being dissolved,” the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports. The judge “also scheduled a hearing on Jan. 24, during which parties — including the Fulton District Attorney’s office that…
‘You’re a slave’: Inside Louisiana’s forced prison labor and a failed overhaul attempt
WaPo: ““They force us to work,” said Jonathan Archille, 29, who is among more than a dozen current and formerly incarcerated people in Louisiana who told The Washington Post they have felt like enslaved people in the state’s prison system. Archille said prison staff had even used that term against him. “You’re a slave —…
“Biden Visits Southern Border Amid Fresh Crackdown on Migrants”
NY Times: “President Biden on Sunday made his first visit to the border since taking office, arriving at a city swamped by migrants amid a historic surge in illegal immigration and anger from both parties about how he is handling it. In a brief visit to El Paso’s busiest crossing and a migrant services support…
“South Carolina Supreme Court rules abortion protected under state constitution”
Politico: “The South Carolina Supreme Court on Thursday struck down the state’s six-week abortion ban, ruling the privacy rights in the state constitution protect abortion access. The 3-2 decision allows abortion to remain legal in the state until 20 weeks of pregnancy, and is a setback for Republican lawmakers who had hoped this year to…
“Republican Senator John Kennedy out of Louisiana governor’s race”
daily advertiser: “Republican U.S. Sen. John Kennedy said he won’t run for governor of Louisiana this year, which is likely to trigger a flood of on-the-fence candidates to jump into the race. In November, shortly after winning a second, six-year Senate term in a landslide victory, Kennedy said he would give the governor’s race “serious…
“Insider Trading Probe Into Richard Burr Dropped”
Political Wire: “Former Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) said that the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission informed him this week it has concluded investigation into insider trading concerning him with no action, Reuters reports.”
“Want to Understand L.G.B.T.Q. Life in America? Go to Alabama.”
NY Times: “I traveled to Alabama last month to try to understand the state of queer America today, to try to understand this unsettling whiplash I’ve been feeling lately as a queer person. The world watched a gay congressman lead the vote to codify national recognition of same-sex and interracial marriage, and the grandees of the…
“North Carolina Sheriff Who Resigned After Making Racist Comments Steps Down ― Again”
HuffPo: “A sheriff in a small North Carolina county resigned Wednesday, marking his second time stepping down from the position since making racist comments about Black deputies in his department. Jody Greene, the embattled former sheriff of Columbus County, initially resigned from his position in October after audio surfaced of him disparaging Black deputies. But he didn’t…
“FL and TX, the Far-Right Axis”
TX Observer: “At the crux of the nation’s hyperpartisan political and culture wars stand Texas and Florida, the far-right Republican axis, whose right-wing trifectas not only survived the midterms but emerged stronger, bolder, and bigger. While the widely expected GOP “red wave” fizzled in much of the nation, Texas added two seats to its predominantly…
“TX Cities Prioritize Police Over the Public”
TX Observer: “If city budgets are a reflection of what a community holds precious, one thing is glaring in Texas: Policing and incarceration are cities’ crown jewels. Texas’ five largest cities—Houston, San Antonio, Dallas, Austin, and Fort Worth—spend far more on criminal justice than on community services, and in the case of Fort Worth, more…