List of All Articles with Tag 'us politics'

Here are the AP’s latest coverage plans, top stories and promotable content. All times EDT. For up-to-the minute information on AP’s coverage, visit Coverage Plan. ——————— ONLY ON AP ——————— DEA-OPIOID DISTRIBUTOR SANCTIONS — The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has allowed one of the nation’s largest wholesale drug distributors to keep shipping highly addictive painkillers for nearly four years after a judge recommended it be stripped of its license for its “cavalier disregard” of thousands of suspicious orders fueling the opioid crisis. By Jim Mustian and Joshua Goodman. SENT: 1,350 words, photos. With DEA-OPIOID DISTRIBUTOR SANCTIONS-TAKEAWAYS. —————— TOP STORIES —————— ELECTION 2024-DESANTIS — Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, long seen as Donald Trump’s leading rival for the Republican nomination, plans to launch his 2024 presidential campaign in an online conversation with Twitter CEO Elon Musk. By National Political Writer Steve Peoples. SENT: 830 words, photo. UPCOMING: 990 words after 6 p.m. event. TYPHOON MAWAR — Typhoon Mawar aimed its fury at the tiny U.S. territory of Guam as residents with nowhere to go hunkered down to face the devastating winds and torrential rains from what was expected to be the worst storm to hit the Pacific island in decades. The U.S. military sent away ships, residents stockpiled supplies and anyone not living in a concrete house was urged to seek safety elsewhere ahead of what is forecast to be a Category 4 storm. By Grace Garces Bordallo and Jennifer Sinco Kelleher. SENT: 1,120 words, photos, videos. DEBT LIMIT-ANXIETY — Government beneficiaries, social service groups and millions more across the country are bracing for the possibility of massive and immediate cuts if the U.S. defaults on its financial obligations, despite politicians’ promises that a default is not a possibility. By Fatima Hussein and Darlene Superville. SENT: 1,070 words, photos. With DEBT LIMIT — Debt ceiling negotiations boil down to a classic problem. TRUMP REMARKS-INVESTIGATIONS — Donald Trump has never been shy about offering opinions that might influence ongoing legal disputes. But legal experts say Trump’s freewheeling speaking style could give prosecutors additional ammunition to use against him in court. By Trenton Daniel and Eric Tucker. SENT: 1,020 words, photo. With TRUMP-CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS — Trump lawyers seek meeting with U.S. attorney general in documents investigation; TRUMP-INDICTMENT — Trial date for Trump criminal trial set for March primary season. UVALDE SCHOOL SHOOTING-A TEACHER'S YEAR — How do you go back to a classroom after your child was killed in one? For Veronica Mata, teaching kindergarten in Uvalde after her daughter was among the 19 students who were fatally shot at Robb Elementary School became a year of grieving for her own child while trying to keep 20 others safe. By Acacia Coronado. SENT: 1,320 words, photos. With UVALDE SCHOOL SHOOTING-THINGS TO KNOW. ABORTION — The South Carolina Senate has approved a bill that would ban most abortions after around six weeks of pregnancy, sending the bill to the governor who has promised to sign it. SENT: 1,070 words, photos. With ABORTION-THINGS TO KNOW. ————————— MORE ON RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR ————————— RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR-POLL — Half of the people in the U.S. support the Pentagon’s ongoing supply of weapons to Ukraine for its defense against Russian forces, according to a new survey by the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and NORC. SENT: 790 words, photo. CHINA-RUSSIA — Pressure from the West is strengthening Russia’s ties with China, Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said in a meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Beijing. SENT: 320 words, photos. ————————— MORE NEWS ————————— BRAZIL-VINÍCIUS JÚNIOR RACISM — Brazilians protest outside Spanish consulate after Vinicius racism row. SENT: 350 words, photos. SUPREME COURT-ROBERTS — Chief Justice Roberts says Supreme Court can do more on ethics. SENT: 320 words, photo. BRIDE KILLED — Woman charged in drunk driving killing of bride in South Carolina seeks bond. SENT: 230 words, photos. MEXICO-VOLCANO — Concern about Mexico’s volcano changes with the wind. SENT: 690 words, photos. TARGET-PRIDE MERCHANDISE — Target removes some LGBTQ merchandise from stores. SENT: 340 words, photo. BRITAIN-INTERNATIONAL BOOKER PRIZE — Bulgarian wins Booker Prize for darkly comic memory novel. SENT: 420 words, photos. TWITTER-DESANTIS JET TRACKER — Musk gadfly has a new jet to track — the one used by DeSantis. SENT: 360 words, photo. ——————- POLITICS ——————- REDISTRICTING-NORTH CAROLINA — A North Carolina redistricting ruling has set up a possible electoral windfall for congressional Republicans in preserving their U.S. House majority next year, declaring that judges should stay out of scrutinizing seat boundaries for partisan advantage. SENT: 980 words, photos. —————- NATIONAL —————- CLERGY ABUSE-ILLINOIS — The Illinois attorney general's findings that hundreds of Catholic clergy in the state sexually abused children raises questions about whether any will be held accountable criminally or civilly. SENT: 600 words, photos. MIGRANTS-NEW YORK — Some asylum seekers in New York’s northern suburbs are feeling unwelcome and discovering a lack of opportunities. SENT: 1,080 words, photos. With IMMIGRATION LAWSUIT — Texas sues Biden administration over asylum rule. CAPITOL RIOT-OATH KEEPERS — Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes and members of his extremist group will be the first Jan. 6 defendants sentenced for seditious conspiracy in a series of hearings beginning this week. SENT: 800 words, photos. UPCOMING: 900 words after 9:30 a.m. hearing. ————————— INTERNATIONAL ————————— ISRAEL-POLITICS — Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s government passed a new two-year budget, a step that could bring some stability to his coalition and clear the way for it to press ahead with its religious, pro-settlement agenda. SENT: 410 words, photos. ———————— HEALTH/SCIENCE ———————— CLIMATE-INDIA-HOSPITALS-SOLAR — More than 250 health facilities in remote and rural communities in India are relying on solar energy to ensure modern health care. SENT: 910 words, photos. SOUTH KOREA-SATELLITE LAUNCH — South Korea was set to launch its first commercial-grade satellite as rival North Korea pushed plans forward to place its first military spy satellite into orbit. SENT: 840 words, photos. BRAZIL-AMAZON-CO2 TESTING — Brazil is building a complex of towers arrayed in six rings poised to spray carbon dioxide into the rainforest to understand how the world’s largest tropical forest responds to climate change. SENT: 580 words, photo. ———————— BUSINESS/ECONOMY ———————— EUROPE ECONOMY-DIGITAL EURO — The European Central Bank is aiming to have a proposal on the digital euro in front of officials next month, looking to the future by offering a reliable alternative to cryptocurrencies. By Business Writer David McHugh. UPCOMING: 800 words, photos by 5 a.m. FINANCIAL MARKETS — Asian stock markets slid Wednesday as the U.S. government crept closer to a potentially disruptive default on its debt. By Business Writer Joe McDonald. SENT: 440 words, photos. With BRITAIN-ECONOMY — U.K. inflation falls to lowest level in over a year. —————— SPORTS —————— CELTICS-HEAT — Jayson Tatum scored 33 points and the Boston Celtics staved off elimination in the Eastern Conference finals by running away in the second half to beat the Miami Heat 116-99 in Game 4. By Basketball Writer Tim Reynolds. SENT: 800 words, photos. —————————— HOW TO REACH US —————————— At the Nerve Center, Jerome Minerva can be reached at 800-845-8450 (ext. 1600). For photos, Hiro Komae (ext. 1900). For graphics and interactives, ext. 7636. Expanded AP content can be obtained from AP Newsroom. For access to AP Newsroom and other technical issues, contact apcustomersupport@ap.org or call 844-777-2006. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide On Beijing visit, Russian prime minister says pressure from West is strengthening ties with China German police conduct searches in investigation of climate activists Takeaways of AP report on DEA probe of drug distributor accused of fueling opioid epidemic

The college student who tracked Elon Musk’s private jet on Twitter has now turned his focus on Florida governor Ron DeSantis. Jack Sweeney, a student at the University of Central Florida, created a Twitter account called “@DeSantisJet", which tracks the whereabouts of the aircraft that Mr DeSantis uses. The automated feed tracks the governor's 10-seat Textron jet with tail number N943FL, which is owned by the Florida Department of Law Enforcement. The data is shared 24 hours later to “comply” with Twitter's anti-doxxing rules. His account has already garnered over 15,800 followers. It was set up to track Mr DeSantis because of the "rising interest" in the governor amid speculations of him running for the 2024 presidential election, Mr Sweeney told Insider. “Well, you know Ron DeSantis is becoming more and more of a public figure in that he might run for the White House,” he added. Mr DeSantis on 11 May signed a bill into law that will redact details about trips he makes on both state planes and private, chartered flights, including names of staff and family members travelling with him. However, his movements can be still monitored using publicly available data from ADS-B Exchange, a flight-tracking platform. Mr Sweeney on Monday tweeted that the account tracks the Textron jet which the governor uses for state-related matters. Flights of the aircraft do not guarantee that Mr DeSantis is onboard, he said. "As others have noted, DeSantis also gets rides on political donors’ planes for personal matters. If we become aware of these flights, it will also be shared here.” The student shared the first tweet about the governor’s travels on 19 May when he flew from Tallahassee to Tampa and back. Mr Sweeney gained popularity after Mr Musk tried to purchase the @ElonJet account, which tracked the billionaire's jet, for $5,000. The student refused the offer and when Mr Musk took over Twitter, he suspended the account. Mr Sweeney got around the ban by creating a new account @ElonJetNextDay, where tracking data of Mr Musk's jets are shared with a 24-hour delay. The student told News Channel 8 he is not motivated by a political agenda. “People can do what they want,” he said. “There can be supporters that are interested in where he goes and want to follow them or people who are more criticizing for what flights they’re going where.” Read More Teen who tracked Elon Musk’s jet is now following Russian billionaires Elon Musk’s private jet made over 130 flights in 2022 with shortest lasting 6 minutes, tracker data shows Trump bashes DeSantis as he shares surprisingly positive response to another 2024 challenger: ‘Good luck Tim!’ College student who tracked Elon Musk’s private jet is now following Ron DeSantis Everything Elon Musk has said about the 2024 election so far Who is David Sacks: the controversial entrepreneur hosting DeSantis 2024 event

Texas would expand what can be defined as sexually explicit material or potentially harmful to children in order to ban books from public and charter school libraries, under a bill given final passage by the state Senate late Tuesday night and sent to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott. The Texas move is the latest attempt to ban or regulate reading material in conservative states around the country. Critics say the standards set in the Texas bill are too vague, will snag books that are not inappropriate, and that materials dealing with LGBTQ+ subject matter are more likely to be targeted for bans. The bill passed by the GOP-controlled Legislature defines “sexually explicit material” as anything that includes descriptions, illustrations or audio depicting sexual conduct not relevant to required school curriculum, and prohibits it from school libraries. The bill requires the state’s Library and Archives Commission to adopt standards that schools must follow when purchasing books, and a rating system that would be used to restrict or ban some material. “What we’re talking about is sexually explicit material ... that doesn’t belong in front of the eyes of kids,” said the bill sponsor, Sen. Angela Paxton, a Republican. “They shouldn’t be finding it in their school library.” Abbott, a Republican, previously joined a former GOP lawmaker’s campaign to investigate the use of books in schools covering topics of race, gender identity and sexual orientation. That inquiry included a list of more than 800 books. In April, leaders of a rural central Texas county considered closing their public library system rather than follow a federal judge’s order to return books to the shelves on themes ranging from teen sexuality and gender to bigotry and race. Under the measure passed Tuesday night, book vendors would have to rate books based on depictions or references to sex. "Sexually relevant” material that describes or portrays sex but is part of the required school curriculum could be checked out with a parent's permission. A book would be rated “sexually explicit” if the material is deemed offensive and not part of the required curriculum. Those books would be removed from school bookshelves. State officials will review vendors’ ratings and can request a rating change if they consider it incorrect. School districts and open-enrollment charter schools will be banned from contracting with book sellers who refuse to comply. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide

Ron DeSantis will officially enter the 2024 presidential race on Wednesday following months of speculation. The Florida governor will take part in a live Twitter event with Elon Musk on Wednesday night, NBC News reports. Afterward, the campaign will release an official launch video. On Tuesday night Casey DeSantis kicked off her husband’s campaign by posting a video of him getting ready to go on stage in front of an American flag. “America is worth the fight... Every. Single. Time,” Ms DeSantis tweeted along with the expensively produced video. On Monday, Mr DeSantis, 44, teased his 2024 bid while speaking at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Orlando in which he outlined his vision for a conservative grip on the Supreme Court to last a quarter of a century. In what appeared to be a subtle swipe at Donald Trump he announced his plans to run for eight years – something Mr Trump cannot do. Mr DeSantis, 44, is seen as Mr Trump’s biggest rival for the Republican vote with several Republican lawmakers and right-wing media rallying behind him after the midterms. However, the latest polls show Mr DeSantis trailing Mr Trump. This comes at a time when Mr DeSantis is going to war with Disney and pushing back on the NAACP‘s advisory warning travellers that Florida is “openly hostile” towards Black people, people of colour and LGBT+ people due to his laws. Read More DeSantis’s wife launches his presidential campaign with first 2024 video: ‘America is worth the fight’ Everything Elon Musk has said about the 2024 election so far David Sacks: The controversial entrepreneur hosting Ron DeSantis 2024 event with Elon Musk

Donald Trump has appeared in court by video for a second hearing since he became the first US president in American history arrested and charged with a crime. The former president was on screen in the Manhattan Criminal Court so that Judge Juan Merchan can make sure he understands the terms of the protective order in the case. The judge imposed the order after Mr Trump took aim at Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and Judge Merchan himself on social media as he was charged with 34 felonies for falsifying business records while making hush money payments to cover up alleged affairs with women. A trial date has been set for 25 March 2024 — in the midst of the Republican primaries. Mr Trump’s other legal troubles are also heating up. On Monday, author E Jean Carroll amended her remaining defamation lawsuit against Mr Trump to include the derogatory remark he made about her at a CNN town hall after he was found liable for the sexual abuse and defamation of Ms Carroll by jury trial in New York. The former president responded by defaming her again on Truth Social. Read More Trump's freewheeling, stream-of-consciousness speaking style draws legal attention amid probes Trump lawyers seek meeting with Garland as Mar-a-Lago investigation shows signs of winding down Frustrated Trump waves hands in virtual court appearance as criminal trial set during 2024 elections CNN ratings plummet after much-maligned Trump town hall

Ecuador's National Electoral Council announced on Tuesday that early presidential elections would be held on Aug. 20 after President Guillermo Lasso dissolved the National Assembly by decree last week and brought forward the vote scheduled for 2025. Lasso's decision to dissolve the opposition-led legislature came as lawmakers tried to impeach him for not stopping a deal between the state-owned oil transport company and a private tanker company, accusations he denies. In disbanding the assembly, the president made first use of an option available to him under the constitution in conflicts with the legislative branch. Elections had to be called within three months, for both the assembly and presidency, and the winners will serve out what would otherwise have been the remainder of the terms of those elected officials. If there is no outright winner a runoff vote will be held in October. Lasso can choose to run in the presidential election. In the meantime, he can rule by decree for up to six months. Ecuador’s Constitutional Court on Thursday rejected multiple challenges that sought to invalidate Lasso’s decree dissolving the National Assembly. Lasso, a 67-year-old former right-wing banker, took power in May 2021 for a four-year term after winning the general election. Read More Ukraine war’s heaviest fight rages in east - follow live Charity boss speaks out over ‘traumatic’ encounter with royal aide

Donald Trump's attorneys are requesting a meeting with Attorney General Merrick Garland regarding the investigation by the special counsel's office.

The House Ethics Committee announced it has ended its investigation into Rep. Eric Swalwell, according to a new letter obtained by CNN.

The South Carolina Senate on Tuesday passed a six-week abortion ban despite the fact that every woman senator in the chamber, Republican and Democrat, voted against it. The abortion ban will now go to the desk of Gov Henry McMaster, a Republican. If Mr McMaster does sign the bill as expected, it will be another blow to people seeking abortion care in the southeast. Nearly every other state in the region has enacted abortion bans since the fall of Roe v Wade last year. If Mr McMaster signs the ban into law, it is likely to face a legal challenge. The South Carolina Supreme Court earlier this struck down a previous version of a six-week abortion ban as unconstitutional. But that didn’t stop Republican men in the state legislature and the male Republican governor from pushing to pass a ban anyway. Six-week bans on abortion are considered near total bans because many people don’t know they’re pregnant until more than six weeks after conception. This bill may make it hard for people to get legal abortion care in the state even if they do know they’re pregnant before six weeks are up. The bill requires people to have two in-person doctors’ visits and two ultrasounds before they can get an abortion. Many Republican-controlled states have passed severely restrictive abortion bans over the past year-plus. But the optics in South Carolina, a state Donald Trump carried by just over 11 points in the 2020 election, are striking. The five women in the South Carolina Senate all united in opposition to the bill, calling themselves the “Sister Senators.” On two previous occassions, they and several male Republican senators had united to block the Senate from passing an abortion ban sent to them by the state House. This time, however, those male Republican senators relented and voted for the bill — meaning that it passed with only men voting for it. The Republican women senators who opposed the bill, Sens Sandy Senn, Katrina Shealy, and Penry Gustafson, pushed to put the issue to voters in the form of a ballot measure or pass a 12-week ban instead. But they were rebuffed by the more conservative state House and Republican leadership. The New York Times reported that Shane Massey, the Senate majority leader, argued that the state had become “the abortion capital of the Southeast.” If that was ever the case, it likely won’t be for long — and with North Carolina passing an abortion ban of its own in recent weeks, many people in the South will likely be unable to obtain legal abortion care. Read More Mother forced to give birth to stillborn son joins lawsuit against Texas abortion ban South Carolina's only women senators to resist new abortion restrictions up for debate

Ron DeSantis will officially enter the 2024 presidential race on Wednesday following months of speculation. The Florida governor will take part in a live Twitter event with Elon Musk on Wednesday night, NBC News reports. Afterward, the campaign will release an official launch video. On Tuesday night Casey DeSantis kicked off her husband’s campaign by posting a video of him getting ready to go on stage in front of an American flag. “America is worth the fight... Every. Single. Time,” Ms DeSantis tweeted along with the expensively produced video. On Monday, Mr DeSantis, 44, teased his 2024 bid while speaking at the National Religious Broadcasters Convention in Orlando in which he outlined his vision for a conservative grip on the Supreme Court to last a quarter of a century. In what appeared to be a subtle swipe at Donald Trump he announced his plans to run for eight years – something Mr Trump cannot do. Mr DeSantis, 44, is seen as Mr Trump’s biggest rival for the Republican vote with several Republican lawmakers and right-wing media rallying behind him after the midterms. However, the latest polls show Mr DeSantis trailing Mr Trump. This comes at a time when Mr DeSantis is going to war with Disney and pushing back on the NAACP‘s advisory warning travellers that Florida is “openly hostile” towards Black people, people of colour and LGBT+ people due to his laws. Read More College student who tracked Elon Musk’s private jet is now following Ron DeSantis Who is Casey DeSantis? What we know about Florida governor Ron’s wife who could become America’s first lady DeSantis responds to NAACP call for tourists to boycott Florida

Sen Rick Scott of Florida announced on Tuesday that he was issuing a “formal travel advisory” for “socialists” visiting the state of Florida. Mr Scott’s so-called travel advisory comes after the NAACP issued its own travel advisory warning Black people about the perils of visiting a state that has become a bastion of far right policy in the last several years under the leadership of Governor Ron DeSantis. “Florida is openly hostile toward African Americans, people of color and LGBTQ+ individuals,” the NAACP advisory read. “Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by African Americans and other communities of color.” The NAACP warning comes just more than a month after Equality Florida, one of the state’s leading LGBTQ+ organisations, issued a travel advisory for LGBTQ+ visitors. Mr Scott, a former governor of Florida whose personal worth is well over $200m, mocked the language used by the NAACP in his press release. “Florida is openly hostile toward Socialists, Communists, and those that enable them,” Mr Scott said. “Before traveling to Florida, please understand that the state of Florida devalues and marginalizes the contributions of, and the challenges faced by Socialists and others who work in the Biden Administration. Mr Scott also claimed that he was issuing the press release in response to “Biden Administration attempts to erase capitalism,” though he offered no evidence to substantiate his claim. Mr Scott has long been considered one of the most ambitious members of the Republican Senate caucus. Last year, he led the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NSRC) as the Republicans failed to retake the chamber, then challenged Sen Mitch McConnell of Kentucky for the position of minority leader. He was soundly defeated. The travel advisories issued by the NAACP, Equality Florida, and the Florida Immigrant Coalition highlight the extent to which those and other civil rights groups are alarmed by Florida’s political trajectory. In the last year-plus, the state has banned gender affirming care for minors, limited or banned discussions of race, gender, and sexuality in public schools, banned abortion after six weeks, and more. Mr DeSantis, the governor driving much of that legislation, is expected to announce that he’s running for president on Wednesday in a conversation with Twitter’s Elon Musk. Mr Scott, who at one point was considering a presidential campaign of his own, will instead run for re-election to the Senate. Read More DeSantis’s wife launches his presidential campaign with first 2024 video Montana first to ban people dressed in drag from reading to children in schools, libraries Florida school bans poem recited by Amanda Gorman at Biden inauguration NAACP advises against traveling to Florida: ‘Openly hostile toward African Americans’

The senior general in charge of US forces in the Middle East ordered that his command announce on Twitter that a senior al Qaeda leader had been targeted by an American drone strike in Syria earlier this month -- despite not yet having confirmation of who was actually killed in the strike, according to multiple defense officials.