The Senate passed a $95 billion aid package to provide critical assistance to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan after months of GOP infighting. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised the additional $60 billion aid as giving his country a chance at victory. The bill also includes $26 billion in assistance to Israel and humanitarian relief in Gaza, and $8 billion for security in Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific. President Joe Biden has pledged to quickly enact the package into law, as the race now begins to ensure that military aid reaches the front lines of Ukraine in time to make a difference. However, many Western military analysts believe that much damage has already been done and that the aid package may not fully resolve Ukraine’s problems.
The Supreme Court is set to consider a dispute in Idaho involving a near-total abortion ban that may have national implications. The issue at hand is whether the ban unlawfully conflicts with a federal law aimed at ensuring certain standards of emergency medical care for patients, including pregnant women. Under the Idaho law, anyone who performs an abortion is subject to criminal penalties, but there is an exception if the abortion is necessary to protect the life of the pregnant woman. The decision in this case could impact other states with similar abortion bans that may clash with federal law.
In other news, the hush money trial involving Donald Trump continued with witness David Pecker, the former CEO of AMI, detailing how the National Enquirer embellished stories about some of Trump’s opponents during the 2016 presidential campaign. The trial also sought to implicate Steve Bannon, a top adviser to Trump’s campaign, but objections were raised by Trump’s legal team. Trump was also under scrutiny for violating a gag order by attacking witnesses and others. The trial took a tragic turn when Maxwell Azzarello set himself on fire outside the courthouse, ultimately leading to his death.
Runaway military horses caused chaos in London, galloping riderless through central areas and injuring several people and horses. The British Army contained the animals and returned them to the camp, but the incident raised questions about how and why the horses escaped during regular exercises. Meanwhile, student protestors at Columbia University agreed to take down a significant number of tents following a deadline set by the university president, as protests continue on campuses across the U.S. The FDA also announced that fragments of the bird flu virus were found in pasteurized milk but reassured that it remains safe to drink as pasteurization likely inactivates the virus.
FBI Director Christopher Wray rejected Donald Trump’s vow to investigate political rivals, emphasizing that investigations must comply with established rules, procedures, and best practices. Wray also discussed various national security threats, including terrorism, cyberattacks, and antisemitic threats on college campuses. In the politics arena, a federal rule requiring airlines to quickly provide cash refunds to passengers whose flights are canceled or significantly delayed was announced. Interest in the upcoming presidential election is reportedly low, according to an NBC News poll, with potential consequences up and down the ballot. Tennessee passed a measure allowing school staff to carry concealed handguns on school grounds, and former Rep. George Santos ended his independent campaign for a congressional seat.
