Source: Yahoo! News

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday reinstated for now a Trump-era rule that curtails the power of states and Native American tribes to block pipelines and other energy projects that can pollute rivers, streams and other waterways.

In a decision that split the court 5-4, the justices agreed to halt a lower court judge’s order throwing out the rule. The high court's action does not interfere with the Biden administration's plan to rewrite the rule. Work on a revision has begun, but the administration has said a final rule is not expected until the spring of 2023. The Trump-era rule will remain in effect in the meantime.

The court’s three liberal justices and Chief Justice John Roberts dissented. The court’s other conservative justices, including three nominated by President Donald Trump, voted to reinstate the rule.

Writing for the dissenters, Justice Elena Kagan said the group of states and industry associations that had asked for the lower court's ruling to be put on hold had not shown the extraordinary circumstances necessary to grant that request.

Read more: https://news.yahoo.com/supreme-court-reinstates-trump-era-132643735.html?guccounter=1&guce_referrer=aHR0cHM6Ly93d3cuZ29vZ2xlLmNvbS8&guce_referrer_sig=AQAAAHVzqRWT8ykL9ch8cMe_rF8fO1HmWiVV_VZ7bxajcDmlQVveLEBV3kFrqsPlESbRMp9sHozy4raeBZn9FwFTSJO7snbox9drIh3hoQ8iigutg6yd5hso3xTz0DGTyVzrMLxtcHN9D6QqiK1Vi6PZD6BsLs8j8iulKXMF9TXHuOWi

Source: CNN

Democrats see hope for a clean energy bill, but Manchin is adding a new hurdle: More funding for fossil fuels

(CNN)Congressional Democrats are cautiously optimistic to see Sen. Joe Manchin back at the table on the clean energy bill he previously declared "dead." The senator has been engaging with the White House on measures that could be included in a new package, and recently met with US Climate Envoy John Kerry over dinner in Paris.

But there's a new potential roadblock: Manchin now wants to include funding for more fossil fuel infrastructure in the US, in part because of the energy crisis in Europe.

"You have to," Manchin told CNN earlier this week. "You want to be Europe? You can't leave yourself vulnerable. The US has to be energy independent. You have to have infrastructure to do that, and you can't just shut them down or kill them with a thousand cuts."

Exactly how much money Manchin wants to dedicate to fossil fuels compared to investments in clean energy is so far unclear, as his conversations with the White House continue.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/04/01/politics/climate-clean-energy-bill-fossil-fuels-manchin/index.html

Because I'm not liking their current polling numbers at all.

Source: CNN

Washington (CNN)A Justice Department investigation into Hunter Biden's business activities has gained steam in recent months, with a flurry of witnesses providing testimony to federal investigators and more expected to provide interviews in the coming weeks, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.

The probe, led by the US Attorney in Wilmington, Delaware, began as early as 2018 and concerns multiple financial and business activities in foreign countries dating to when Biden's father was vice president. Investigators have examined whether Hunter Biden and some of his associates violated money laundering, tax and foreign lobbying laws, as well as firearm and other regulations, multiple sources said.

To do so, law enforcement has gathered information from lobbyists connected to Hunter Biden, from his business partners, and from others who've observed his financial engagements, including a woman with whom he had a child.

Hunter Biden has not been charged with any crimes and has denied any wrongdoing. His father, President Joe Biden is not being investigated as part of the probe of his son's business activities, according to sources who have been briefed.

Read more: https://edition.cnn.com/2022/03/30/politics/hunter-biden-federal-investigation-heats-up/index.html

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This is madness. Garland needs to put an end to this right now and focus on the insurrection!

Source: Business Insider

Joe Manchin swings at Biden's billionaire tax, saying the superrich can't be taxed on 'things you don't have'


Sen. Joe Manchin poured cold water on President Joe Biden's new billionaire-tax plan on Monday, dealing a potentially fatal blow to its prospects in Congress.

The wealthiest Americans shouldn't be taxed on "things you don't have," he said, according to Bloomberg. "You might have it on paper. There are other ways for people to pay their fair share, and I think everyone should pay."

The conservative Democrat's reluctance could be the end of the road for the White House's proposal. Democrats are closer to reviving swaths of their climate and healthcare agendas, but those can reach Biden's desk only if all 50 Senate Democrats back them.

The plan would establish a 20% minimum tax rate on households worth $100 million or more and would expand the definition of taxable income to include the accruing value of unsold investments like stocks or bonds, otherwise known as unrealized capital gains. Currently, gains on investments are taxed only when they're sold for cash.

Read more: https://www.businessinsider.com/joe-manchin-biden-billionaire-tax-plan-2022-3

Source: Rolling Stone

Taylor Hawkins, the jovial, ferocious drummer for Foo Fighters, has died at the age of 50, according to a statement from the band.

“The Foo Fighters family is devastated by the tragic and untimely loss of our beloved Taylor Hawkins,” read the message, which was posted to social media. “His musical spirit and infectious laughter will live on with all of us forever.” Foo Fighters are currently on tour in South America and were preparing to perform at Festival Estéreo Picnic in Bogotá, Colombia, a rep for the band told Rolling Stone.

Born in Fort Worth, Texas, Hawkins relocated to Southern California with his family in his early childhood. He first rose to prominence as the touring drummer for Alanis Morissette during the Jagged Little Pill era. “The second I heard ‘You Oughta Know,’ I was like, ‘I’m in that band!'” Hawkins told Rolling Stone in November 2021. “I just knew.” Hawkins also appeared in the music videos for the singer’s hit singles “You Oughta Know” and “You Learn.”

After inter-studio conflict led to the departure of Foo Fighters’ original drummer William Goldsmith during recording sessions for the group’s breakthrough album The Colour and the Shape, forcing frontman Dave Grohl to handle drumming duties, Hawkins officially joined the band in the spring of 1997. Throughout his career with Foo Fighters, Hawkins occasionally handled vocal duties, singing lead on the group’s 2005 single “Cold Day in the Sun” and “Sunday Rain” from 2017’s Concrete and Gold.

Read more: https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/foo-fighters-drummer-taylor-hawkins-obituary-1327112/

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Source: CNN

(CNN)The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to temporarily freeze a lower-court opinion requiring the Navy to deploy special operations forces even though they have refused to get vaccinated for Covid-19.

The court's order means that while special operations forces -- including more than two dozen Navy SEALs -- continue to challenge the Navy's vaccine mandate on religious grounds in court, they will not be actively deployed or punished for their position.

Justices Clarence Thomas, Samuel Alito and Neil Gorsuch dissented.

Alito, writing for himself and Gorsuch, said that he agreed that the Navy had a "compelling interest" in preventing Covid-19 infection from "impairing its ability to carry out its vital responsibilities" but that it's "summary rejection" of requests for religious exemptions was by "no means the least restrictive means" for furthering its interests. He said the challengers "who have volunteered to undertake demanding and hazardous duties to defend our country" had been treated "shabbily" by the Navy.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2022/03/25/politics/navy-covid-supreme-court-seals/index.html

What happens to the cases coming up in April, May, or June? Will their vote be on record, or will any case that's decided after they leave be with only 8 Justices?

I know Sen. Feinstein did, but it was more about if Roe was precedent and if it's super-precedent like Brown. This subject is super-important to me, thank you.

Source: WBAY

WASHINGTON, D.C. (WBAY) - The United States Supreme Court has reversed the Wisconsin Supreme Court’s judgment regarding legislative maps backed by Gov. Tony Evers.

The case was remanded for further proceedings.

“On remand, the court is free to take additional evidence if it prefers to reconsider the Governor’s maps rather than choose from among the other submissions. Any new analysis, however, must comply with our equal protection jurisprudence,” reads the majority opinion.

The redistricting maps created an additional majority-Black district in Wisconsin, saying it was necessary to comply with the Voting Rights Act.

Read more: https://www.wbay.com/2022/03/23/united-states-supreme-court-reverses-decision-wisconsin-legislative-maps/

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