Yang saves NY primary, Fauci stopped from testifying, and McConnell’s protege.
Good morning everyone! Let’s get right to it because I have no time for jokes today:
New York’s primary is back on: thanks in part to someone you may not have expected, Andrew Yang, who sued New York State for canceling the primary and harming candidates like him and Bernie Sanders.
Trump won’t let Fauci testify before the House of Representatives: and the reasons are actually pretty compelling. Just kidding, it’s because the House is a “setup” full of “a bunch of Trump haters.”
Mitch McConnell is aiming to reshape the American judiciary: and part of that plan may be Judge Justin Walker who became a U.S. District Court judge with zero trial experience. Now, McConnell wants to push him into the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit, or what’s seen as the second-most powerful court in the land.
OK, I have plenty of time, I just didn’t have any ideas. So what? Let’s break these stories down.
ELECTION 2020
New York’s June Presidential Primary is Back On
Andrew Yang may not have been on your radar but thanks in part to an emergency class action lawsuit he filed, New York’s June 23rd presidential primary must take place, at least according to a judge’s ruling on Tuesday.
Yang’s Suit
At the heart of Yang’s suit was the accusation that New York election officials were, by canceling the presidential primary, favoring the presumptive nominee Joe Biden.
Yang suspended his campaign in February but believes that canceling the presidential primary would, in effect, prevent his 274 pledged delegates the opportunity to represent him at the 2020 Democratic National Convention in August.
He also charges that this would deny voters due process and their right to vote. As far as COVID-19 concerns, Yang’s complaint states that everyone can vote via mail.
On Tuesday, U.S. District Judge Analisa Torres in Manhattan ruled in favor of Yang, citing the decision to cancel the primary as being unconstitutional.
Preserving Democracy—and Power
Good job, Yang. This moves the needle in the right direction.
This may be controversial but, in a healthy democracy, people ought to be allowed to vote.
Plus, this has a material impact: Sanders and Yang could still win delegates and influence the Democratic party’s platform.
Bottom line: this is good and Yang definitely deserves some praise for following this up.
TRUMPOCALYPSE
Trump Won’t Let Fauci Testify Before House
Trump has told reporters that he won’t allow Anthony Fauci to testify before the House of Representatives. His reasoning? The House is “a setup” filled with a “bunch of Trump Haters.”
Good God, Make it End
The House has created a committee to conduct oversight over Trump’s coronavirus response. Fauci’s testimonial could be used by that oversight committee.
Instead, Fauci will be testifying in front of the Republican-controlled Senate, likely to be much more favorable towards Trump in their line of questioning (and much more damaging in terms of how coronavirus has actually been handled).
Trump seems to genuinely believe Democrats just want people to die. His words: “they frankly want our situation to be unsuccessful, which means death, and our situation’s going to be very successful.”
Bottom line: talk about repulsive, right? Skirting oversight is never a good thing but it’s especially damaging in light of the pandemic.
JUDGES
McConnell’s Protege Set to Appear Before Senate Judiciary Committee
Today, Judge Justin Walker will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He was handpicked by Mitch McConnell for a new seat in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court, which many see as the second most powerful court around—and a stepping stone to the Supreme Court.
Walkin’ With Walker
In March, Brett Kavanaugh swore in Justin Walker to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Kentucky. Some wondered how he made it: he had zero trial experience and the American Bar Association gave him a rare “Not Qualified” rating.
Walker is the grandson of a millionaire broker in Kentucky. He’s also got close ties to Mitch McConnell, so it comes as no surprise that McConnell sees Walker as a useful soldier in his conquest to redefine the American judiciary.
Walker has also been a weirdo conservative since childhood (no, seriously, he apparently dressed up as the GOP elephant for Halloween). It’s no wonder that McConnell wants to guide him through the judicial system so he can eventually land on the Supreme Court and get up to all kinds of awfulness.
Bottom line: isn’t McConnell just the absolute worst? You know someone who once interned for his office and now is quietly working with him to traverse the ranks of the judiciary is also just going to be a horrible person. Sorry, it’s true!
END OF THE LINE...
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The Bread Line
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