Democratic lawmakers resist calls to expand court — for now
The Supreme Court’s ruling striking down Roe v. Wade, along with other decisions this term that infuriated Democrats, are fueling a fresh round of calls to reform the court. But Democratic lawmakers are largely steering clear of such talk for fear of looking radical ahead of a midterm election where the strategy is to paint Republicans as extremists. Sen. Ed Markey (D-Mass.), a leading Senate progressive, on Tuesday seized on the court’s recent decisions to renew his call to expand the court. “We need to repeal the filibuster so that we can expand
Read MoreWhite House faces legal hurdles in weighing abortion response
The White House is navigating legal minefields as it considers ways the federal government could move to protect abortion access following the historic Supreme Court decision overturning Roe v. Wade that reversed nearly 50 years of precedent. The administration is under pressure to take a more aggressive response, but the White House has cautioned that steps like using federal land for abortion services could have adverse consequences. It’s also poised to face roadblocks from certain parts of the conservative-leaning judicial system if it takes actions that end up being lega
Read MoreWhole Foods employees lose appeal for right to wear Black Lives Matter masks
A U.S. appeals court on Tuesday sided with Whole Foods and Amazon by striking down an appeal from former company employees who claim they were sent home without pay or otherwise disciplined for wearing masks reading "Black Lives Matter." The Whole Foods employees filed a lawsuit against the grocery chain and its parent company in 2020, arguing their dress code policy, which bans "visible slogans, messages, logos, or advertising that are not company-related," was selectively enforced to target items bearing the anti-racism slogan. In the suit, the employees alleged racia
Read MoreCheney: GOP must choose between loyalty to Trump or the Constitution
Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) told her party on Wednesday evening that it must choose between the rule of the law and its leader, recognizing that it would be "painful" for the party to accept former President Trump's role in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. “We have to choose because Republicans cannot both be loyal to Donald Trump and loyal to the Constitution,” Cheney said during a speech at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation & Institute as part of its “Time for Choosing” speaker se
Read MoreToobin on GOP officials staying mum on Trump revelations: 'they're a bunch of cowards'
CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin noted on Wednesday that almost no prominent GOP officials have expressed alarm over former President Trump's behavior during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, despite explosive allegations made by a top White House aide during a public hearing on Tuesday. “I think they're a bunch of cowards. I think they're totally terrified of Trump,” Toobin said of elected GOP officials running for office. “And the idea that they're willing to talk to journalists on background..so what. I think…Donald Trump still runs that party and everyone in it who has to fac
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