N.J. congressman Donald Payne Jr. dies

Source: nj.com

U.S. Rep. Donald Payne Jr., a former Newark councilman and a member of a New Jersey political dynasty who spent the last 12 years representing a heavily populated swath of the state in Congress after succeeding his late father, died Wednesday.

The Essex County Democrat, who had been hospitalized for weeks after suffering a cardiac episode related to his ongoing diabetes, was 65 and still in office.

A relatively soft-spoken but gregarious politician who fought for social justice and transportation funding, Payne was in his sixth term representing New Jersey’s 10th congressional district — which includes Newark, the state’s largest city — in the House of Representatives.

Payne, then Newark’s council president, was elected to the seat after his father, Donald Payne Sr., New Jersey’s first Black congressman, died after 23 years in office.

Read more: https://www.nj.com/politics/2024/04/nj-congressman-donald-payne-jr-dies.html

Fetterman tells Columbia president amid protests: 'Do your job or resign'

Who do you think the student protestors be voting for in November?

Simple question. Obviously, they won't all vote the same, but I'm talking about the majority.

Maryland Senate poll (Baltimore Sun): Hogan up by double digits

I dismissed the last poll where he was leading by a few, but this is not good.

General election
Hogan 53, Trone 40
Hogan 54, Alsobrooks 36

Democratic primary
Trone 48, Alsobrooks 29

https://www.baltimoresun.com/2024/04/16/poll-trone-alsobrooks-senate-hogan/

John Fetterman Shoots Down Biden's Approach on Iran

Source: Yahoo! News

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) pushed back on Sunday against President Joe Biden’s reported warning to Benjamin Netanyahu that the U.S. would not join in an attack against Iran, repeating his monthslong refrain that the U.S. should unconditionally support Israel.

“It’s astonishing that we are not standing firmly with Israel,” Fetterman told CNN’s Jake Tapper on State of the Union. “There should never be any time for conditions—all of that when a nation can launch hundreds of drones towards Israel—and I’m not going to be talking about conditions ever.”

Tapper asked Fetterman whether he agreed with Biden’s decision to tell Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu to “take the win” for intercepting Iran’s missiles and drones, and his discouragement of an Israeli response, as reported by Axios and others. Fetterman said that, while he still supported the president, he disagreed with Biden and urged him to maintain full-throated support for Israel.

“The president is entitled to his own views and whatever he decides to do, but I would never capitulate to the fringe,” Fetterman said. “In fact, that helps—that empowers Hamas, and Hamas is actually convinced that they are winning the PR war, and they’re never going to negotiate at this point. They think that they’re going to hold onto the very end.”

Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/john-fetterman-shoots-down-biden-150603395.html

Vatican stands firm on social issues like sex change and surrogacy

Source: BBC News

The Vatican has reiterated its staunch opposition to sex changes, gender theory, surrogate parenthood, abortion and euthanasia in a text dubbed "Dignitas Infinita" (Infinite Dignity).

Other social themes, such as poverty, migration and human trafficking are also emphasised as being potential threats to human dignity.

The text was signed by Pope Francis.

The pontiff has often been criticised by Catholic conservatives over his perceived liberal stance.

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68761487

Kurt Cobain died 30 years ago today

Hard to believe it's been that long. His music changed the world and his death brought an entire generation (X) to tears. RIP to an absolute legend.

Kurt Cobain's Death: Looking Back at the Rock Icon's Final Days and Legacy, 30 Years Later

Sonia Sotomayor's Retirement Is A 'Personal Decision': White House

Hogan is slightly ahead

Maryland Senate, two new polls out today from Goucher College:

Hogan vs. Trone: Hogan 43, Trone 42
Hogan vs. Alsobrooks: Hogan 44, Alsobrooks 40

Democratic Primary: Trone 42, Alsobrooks 33

https://www.goucher.edu/hughes-center/documents/Goucher-College-Poll-Spring-2024.pdf

Now, I don't think for one minute that this will be a certain loss, but it will certainly force us to spend money there. We were never supposed to put the needed resources there.

NY's highest court asked to weigh in on NYC's noncitizen voting law

Source: Gothamist

A 50-year-old civil rights law firm is asking the state’s highest court to overturn a lower court decision striking down New York City's noncitizen voting law and allow it to take effect a month after it was blocked.

Attorneys from the nonprofit LatinoJustice filed a notice of appeal on Friday after last month’s 3-to-1 ruling against Local Law 11. The law would apply to elections for local offices — including City Council, mayor, public advocate, comptroller and borough president — and would grant certain noncitizens in New York City, such as green card holders and those with work authorizations, the right to cast a ballot.

“This is a group that contributes financially to the success of the city. It’s a backbone of our culture and of our existence,” said Cesar Ruiz, associate counsel at LatinoJustice, referring to the city’s nearly one million legal immigrants who would be able to register as municipal voters under the law. “It was a blatant contradiction to us that they couldn’t vote.”

The drawn-out battle over the law runs in parallel with some of the thorniest and most controversial socioeconomic and policy challenges facing the city in recent years, where immigrant New Yorkers are repeatedly at the center of the debate, beginning with the COVID-19 pandemic and the more recent arrival of thousands of migrants.

Read more: https://gothamist.com/news/ny-highest-court-asked-to-weigh-in-on-new-york-citys-noncitizen-voting-law