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Missouri high court hears arguments in Senate redistricting suit

Missouri’s high court entertained arguments Thursday on whether to force changes to the state’s Senate districts in a case that has divided majority-party Republicans over how to apply new voter-approved redistricting criteria. The lawsuit brought by voters contends that Senate districts in suburban St. Louis and western Missouri’s Buchanan County violate the state constitution by needlessly splitting cities or counties into multiple districts. It seeks revised districts before this year’s elections. Missouri is one of a dozen states where legal challenges are still pending against congressional or state legislative boundaries that were redrawn based on the 2020 census. In many states, those fights have pitted Democrats against Republicans as each party strains to shape districts to its advantage. REDISTRICTING REPORTS DUE IN CASE POISED TO RESHAPE WISCONSIN LEGISLATURE But the Missouri lawsuit has divided Republicans into two camps. A Republican Senate committee supports the map enacted in 2022 by a panel of appeals court judges. But a GOP House committee sided with Democratic-aligned voters suing for the districts to be overturned. Each side contends its approach best discourages gerrymandering, in which mapmakers manipulate boundaries to benefit a particular political party, racial group or incumbent lawmakers. The outcome of the case won’t affect immediate control of the Senate, where Republicans hold a 24-10 majority over Democrats. “But what it will do is affect the next redistricting and how we do it” after the 2030 census by establishing which criteria are most important, plaintiffs’ attorney Chuck Hatfield said after Thursday’s arguments. It’s unclear how quickly the court will rule. Candidate filing for the August primary elections is scheduled to run from Feb. 27 to March 26. At issue are revised redistricting criteria approved by voters in a 2020 ballot measure. The first criterion says districts must be nearly equal as practical in population but can deviate up to 3% “if necessary to follow political subdivision lines,” such as counties and cities. The second criterion requires compliance with the federal Voting Rights Act, the third prioritizes “contiguous” and “compact” districts, and the fourth requires communities to be kept whole in districts if possible under the equal population guidelines. The lawsuit contends it was unconstitutional to split Buchanan County into two districts represented by Republicans and the St. Louis suburb of Hazelwood into two districts represented by Democrats. A trial judge rejected that assertion in September, ruling the map was reasonable because the constitution places a higher priority on compact districts than intact communities. But Hatfield argued to Supreme Court judges that it’s more important to keep counties and cities intact than to draw compact districts. Otherwise, it will “enable efforts to gerrymander state legislative districts for nefarious political purposes” by splitting communities, Hatfield wrote in a court brief. The state attorney general’s office defended the current Senate map. Deputy Solicitor General Maria Lanahan told judges that various other Senate districts — though not challenged by plaintiffs — also split counties while not following political subdivision lines. She said the plaintiffs were suggesting a standard that would be particularly hard to follow in heavily populated counties. Prior to Thursday’s arguments, the Missouri House Republican Campaign Committee filed a court brief supporting the appeal. It asserted the community splits in the Senate map are “completely unnecessary” and that the House map — which avoided such splits — could be open to lawsuits if the court prioritized compactness. The Republicans’ Missouri Senate Campaign Committee countered with its own court brief, contending that House Republicans had “aligned with Democratic interests” and that individual representatives may have “personal interest in tailoring Senate districts in which they hope to run in the future.” Senate Republicans asserted that the current map avoids partisan manipulation that can occur when overemphasizing communities. “Compact, contiguous territory is the first and most powerful line of defense against political and racial gerrymanders,” Senate Republicans wrote in a brief filed by attorney Eddie Greim.

UT-Austin becomes first Texas university to raise $1 billion for student support

The sum is part of a larger philanthropic campaign to raise $6 billion for the flagship university in Austin.

DC AG infuriates residents after saying city ‘cannot prosecute and arrest’ out of crime crisis: ‘Madness’

Washington, D.C., Attorney General Brian Schwalb infuriated residents after claiming the city’s rampant crime crisis cannot be dealt with through law and order. Angry residents met with community leaders in Washington, D.C., Tuesday for a panel to discuss the rise of violent crime in the city, specifically among juveniles, when Schwalb made the controversial comment. As residents voiced their concerns and frustrations, the Democrat suggested that if district residents want to be “safer in the long run,” they must take preventative measures rather than arrest and prosecute violent criminals. “We as a city and a community need to be much more focused on prevention and surrounding young people and their families with resources if we want to be safer in the long run,” Shwalb said in a viral clip from Fox 5. “We cannot prosecute and arrest our way out of it.” FORMER TRUMP ADMIN MEMBER CRITICALLY INJURED IN WASHINGTON DC CARJACKING RAMPAGE: REPORTS “Madness,” Rep. Dan Bishop, R-N.C., wrote on X. “DC is emblematic of the pro-crime policies leftists want to export to the rest of the country.” JUSTICE DEPARTMENT ANNOUNCES NEW RESOURCES TO COMBAT VIOLENT CRIME IN DC “Yes you can,” the Republican House Judiciary Committee also posted in response after recent statistics reveal robberies in D.C. are up 11% since Jan. 1. Will Reinert, national press secretary for the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC), wrote that Schwalb’s comment was “beyond parody.” “I would suggest you try prosecuting and arresting your way out of some of this,” conservative commentator and podcaster Mary Katharine Ham wrote in a repost of the video. Abigail Jackson, communications director for Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., responded to Shwalb’s claim, saying, “yes… you can….” Gabriel Shoglow-Rubenstein, a spokesperson for the D.C. AG’s office, told Fox News Digital Shwalb is “laser focused” on making D.C. “safer.” “The Office of the Attorney General is laser focused on using the law to make D.C. safer. This includes prosecuting juveniles and holding them accountable when they commit crimes, which we do for every serious offense where there is sufficient evidence to prove a case,” Shoglow-Rubenstein said.  “Prosecution, however, by definition, takes place after a crime has occurred, and to truly make the District safer, we need to focus on stopping crime before it happens in the first place,” he added. “Prevention efforts cannot replace effective policing and prosecution, but are equally necessary in order to make D.C. safer now and in the long run.” Tuesday’s panel, “Understanding Juvenile Carjacking: A Panel Discussion,” was moderated by Councilmember Charles Allen, who is facing a recall effort amid a rise in violent crime in Ward 6. 

Fox News Poll: Trump leads Biden in Georgia, receiving just over 50% support

Former President Donald Trump leads President Joe Biden with just over 50% support in Georgia, a state Biden won by less than 1 point in 2020. That’s according to a Fox News survey of Georgia registered voters released Thursday. Just over half of Peach State voters, 51%, say they would support Trump in a hypothetical head-to-head rematch, while 43% say they’d go for Biden. That puts Trump ahead by 8 points, outside the poll’s margin of sampling error. FOX NEWS POLL: BIDEN AND TRUMP TIE IN WISCONSIN HEAD-TO-HEAD MATCHUP Eight in 10 Georgians (78%) say they are extremely or very interested in the race and the vote breakdown among this subgroup is similar: 52% would go for Trump and 43% Biden. BLACK CONSERVATIVE FEDERATION SAYS GOP, TRUMP CAN RESTORE THE ‘AMERICAN DREAM’ IN BLACK COMMUNITY Trump receives strong support from his base, including White evangelicals (85%), conservatives (76%), White voters without a college degree (74%), and rural voters (67%). For Biden, it’s liberals (87%), Black voters (71%), voters with a college degree (52%), and suburban women (52%). Democrats and Republicans are equally likely to support their respective candidates (91% each) while independents go for Trump by 20 points (51-31%).  It also helps Trump that more Republicans (83%) than Democrats (78%) are interested in the election.  Biden is taking a hit with younger voters as those under age 35 go for Trump by 7 points. A majority says Biden was legitimately elected in 2020 (60%), yet over 2 in 10 (22%) of that subgroup would vote for Trump in 2024. About a third (32%) believe Biden’s victory was suspect, and they overwhelmingly go for the former president (97% Trump). “Given that the Democrats won major U.S. Senate races in 2020 and 2022, Trump’s strength in this poll is somewhat surprising,” says Republican pollster Daron Shaw who conducts the Fox News Poll with Democrat Chris Anderson. “We can blather on (correctly) about how ‘anything can happen,’ but the reality is Biden may want to shift his focus and precious resources away from Georgia and onto other potential battleground states, such as North Carolina.” In a potential 5-way race, Trump still leads the pack, but both the former president and current incumbent lose support to third-party candidates: Trump gets 45%, while Biden drops to 37% support. Other candidates receive a total of 12% support: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. (8%), Cornel West (3%), and Jill Stein (1%). The survey tested another hypothetical 5-way race, which substitutes Nikki Haley for Trump. In this case, third-party candidates help Biden and hurt Haley. Biden comes out on top by 6 points with 35% support among Georgians, followed by Haley at 29%, Kennedy at 18%, West at 3%, and Stein at 1%. Where do Trump supporters go in this scenario? Just 46% would back Haley, while 31% would vote third-party, 6% wouldn’t cast a ballot at all, and 13% are undecided. Haley gets over 50% support among registered Republicans (52%), but nowhere near the 83% Trump garners in his 5-way race. Independents splinter when it comes to Haley – 20% back her, while 22% would go for Biden and a larger share, 30%, for Kennedy. By comparison, Trump receives 34% support among independent Georgia voters vs. 21% for Biden and 17% for Kennedy.  The economy is the top issue nationally, and it’s no different in Georgia as 44% feel they are falling behind financially (43% say they’re holding steady and 12% say they are getting ahead). When asked the most important issue in deciding their vote this November, 62% say the economy is extremely important, followed by election integrity (53%), health care (51%), and immigration/border security (46%). Abortion comes in at 40% while all other issues fall under 30%: the Israel-Hamas war (28%), climate change (27%), and the Ukraine-Russia war (23%). Trump comes out on top on most issues. More Georgia voters trust Trump than Biden to handle immigration/border security (+21 Trump better to handle), the economy (+18), Israel-Hamas (+15), and Ukraine-Russia (+11). Voters are split on health care (+2 Trump), election integrity (+1 Trump), and abortion (even). The only issue where Biden comes out on top is climate change (+5 Biden). FORMER BIDEN RIVAL SAYS TRUMP WINS IF ELECTION HELD TODAY, ACCUSES DNC OF STIFLING DEMOCRACY “The coalition that gave Biden a slim victory in 2020 is in need of reassembly and that may be harder to do this time,” says Anderson. “On the crucial issues of the border and the economy, Georgia voters think Trump is significantly better — Biden will need to make inroads on these issues to win Georgia again.” Another topic surrounding the presidential candidates is their mental acuity and more voters are extremely or very concerned about Biden’s mental soundness (65% concerned) than they are Trump’s (51%). Biden’s job ratings are on par with his national ratings, which are underwater: 41% approve vs. 58% disapprove in Georgia. Georgia voters are ready for change — a lot of it. Nearly 8 in 10 want either a lot (50%) or radical (29%) change in how the country is run, while 2 in 10 say a little (17%) or no change (3%) is necessary. Trump wins among those who want at least a lot of change, while Biden wins among the remainder.  Conducted January 26-30, 2024 under the joint direction of Beacon Research (D) and Shaw & Company Research (R), this Fox News Poll includes interviews with a sample of 1,119 Georgia registered voters randomly selected from a statewide voter file. Respondents spoke with live interviewers on landlines (200) and cellphones (649) or completed the survey online after receiving a text message (270). Results based on the full sample have a margin of sampling error of ±3 percentage points. When necessary, weights are generally applied to age, race, education, and area variables to ensure the demographics of survey respondents are representative of the registered voter population.

State Department imposes financial sanctions on Israeli nationals for threatening peace in West Bank

The U.S. State Department announced Thursday that it was imposing financial sanctions against four Israelis, after they allegedly contributed to violence and instability in the West Bank. The announcement came hours after President Biden issued an executive order giving the U.S. the authority to impose financial sanctions against any foreign person who acts to threaten peace, security or stability in the West Bank. “The State Department is today imposing financial sanctions on four Israeli nationals for their destabilizing acts in the West Bank,” State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller said during a press briefing. “Today’s action falls on the steps we took in December to impose visa restrictions on dozens of individuals for…contributing to violence and instability in the West Bank.” Biden imposed sanctions on Israeli settlers Thursday in the West Bank, after a 17-year-old American citizen was shot and killed there in January. BIDEN SANCTIONS ISRAELI SETTLERS IN WEST BANK AFTER SHOOTING OF US TEEN An announcement from the White House on the executive order states, “extremist settler violence” reached record levels in the West Bank in 2023. The sanctions will ban dozens of settlers and their families from traveling to or conducting business in the U.S. Biden’s order applies to settlers who make “acts or threats of violence against civilians, intimidate civilians to cause them to leave their homes, destroy or seize property, or engage in terrorist activity in the West Bank.” The action came after 17-year-old Abedel Jabbar, a U.S. citizen, was allegedly shot and killed by an Israeli settler while visiting the West Bank in January. Jabbar’s family said he was visiting the area to learn more about his Palestinian heritage. TRUMP ADMIN CUT FUNDING TO UN AGENCY NOW ACCUSED OF PARTICIPATING IN HAMAS ATTACK ‘FOR REASON’: REP. MCCAUL “There is no justification for extremist violence against civilians, whatever their national origin, ethnicity, or religion,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. The four individuals who the U.S. imposed financial sanctions against are David Chai Chasdai, Einan Tanjil, Shalom Zicherman, and Yinon Levi. The State Department said Chasdai initiated and led a riot that involved setting vehicles and buildings on fire, assaulting Palestinian civilians, and damaging a property in Huwara, which resulted in the death of a Palestinian civilian. UN CALLS ON COUNTRIES TO RESUME UNRWA FUNDING DESPITE REPORT EMPLOYEES PARTICIPATED IN OCT 7 MASSACRE Tanjil, the State Department said, participated in assaulting Palestinian farmers and Israeli activists by attacking them with stones and clubs, causing injuries that required medical treatment. Zicherman was seen on video assaulting Israeli activists and their vehicles in the West Bank, blocking them on the street. He also tried to break windows of vehicles passing by with activists inside, the State Department noted, adding that Zicherman cornered at least two activists and injured them both. Levi is accused of leading a group of settlers who created fear in the West Bank. The State Department also said Levi led settlers from the Meitarim Farm outpost, who assaulted Palestinian and Bedouin civilians, threatened them with additional violence if they did not leave their homes, set fire to their fields and destroyed their property. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office issued a statement on the sanctions. “The absolute majority of the settlers in the West Bank are law-abiding citizens, many of whom are currently taking part in Israel’s defense,” he said. “Israel acts against anyone who breaks the law. Therefore, no room for exceptional measures in this regard.” Netanyahu’s finance minister, Benjamin Smotrich, called the accusations of violence by settlers an “antisemitic lie,” and added that settlements in the region will continue. “If the price is the imposition of American sanctions on me — so be it,” Smotrich said. Fox News Digital’s Anders Hagstrom contributed to this report.

Fox News Politics: Haley’s homecoming

Welcome to Fox News’ Politics newsletter with the latest political news from Washington D.C. and updates from the 2024 campaign trail.  What’s Happening?  – Pro-Life activists facing heavy prison sentence from Biden DOJ – Capitol Police elect not to charge in Senate sex tape case – Nikki Haley says Texas can secede from the Union Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley continues to trail former President Donald Trump by a wide margin in her home state of South Carolina ahead of the state’s GOP presidential primary later this month, according to a new survey. Of the potential Republican primary voters who were surveyed, 58% said they currently support Trump, compared to 32% who said the same for Haley. Ever since the presidential contest became a two-person race, both Trump and Haley have witnessed an uptick in support. A similar Monmouth University poll released in September showed Trump with 46% support and Haley with 18% support among South Carolina Republicans. Haley has said a couple of times in recent days that she doesn’t need to win her home state’s GOP primary, she just needs to improve on her 43% showing in New Hampshire. ‘MAKES YOU A FELON’: Pro-life activist facing heavy prison sentence from Biden DOJ for blocking abortion clinic …Read more STAFF REVOLT: Top Biden official faces opposition from workers accusing admin of ‘genocide’ in Gaza …Read more AUSTIN’S MEA CULPA: Defense Secretary apologized to Biden, American people over lack of transparency with hospitalization …Read more ‘THE NERVE OF THIS GUY’: Biden repeats sketchy claim about son’s death in call to fallen service member’s family …Read more SEX TAPES: ​Senate sex tape: Capitol Police decline to press charges …Read more BIPARTISAN PUSH: 59 Democrats vote with Republicans passing bill to deport illegal immigrants who committed DUIs …Read more ‘BEYOND PARODY’: Social media erupts over Dem staffer not being charged for sex tape scandal …Read more LET FREEDOM LIVE: Nikki Haley clarifies comments about whether Texas can secede …Read more ‘LARGEST GROUND GAME YET’: Major pro-life group looks to raise and spend heavily for 2024 elections …Read more MYSTERY ROLE: Cori Bush’s campaign funneled thousands more to husband shortly before DOJ probe announced, new filings show …Read more DARK MONEY: Biden’s top super PAC rakes in millions from anonymous donors for the 2024 election …Read more ‘UNSUSTAINABLE’: Stacey Abrams’ once-powerful voting rights group faces massive layoffs as it struggles with millions in debt …Read more FLORIDA RIDES: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis to send hundreds of National Guard troops to assist Gov. Abbott at southern border …Read more PACKING HEAT: Indiana lawmaker shows off holstered firearm to students protesting for gun control in state capitol …Read more ‘SCANDALOUS CLAIMS’: Judge makes ruling on Trump’s lawsuit against infamous dossier …Read more Subscribe now to get Fox News Politics newsletter in your inbox. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more on FoxNews.com.

Gov. Lee names successor to retiring Tennessee Supreme Court justice

Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee announced Thursday that he has selected Mary L. Wagner to fill an upcoming vacancy on the state Supreme Court. The Republican governor picked Wagner, a circuit court judge in Shelby County, which includes Memphis. The seat is currently filled by Justice Roger Page, who plans to retire on Aug. 31. TENNESSEE DEM INTRODUCES BILL FOR ‘THOUGHTS AND PRAYERS TAX’ ON FIREARM SALES Page’s retirement gave Lee a chance to appoint his third justice on the five-member court. The five current justices were all appointed by Republican governors. Wagner previously was an associate at Rice, Amundsen & Caperton, PLLC and taught as an adjunct professor at the University of Memphis School of Law. Former Republican Gov. Bill Haslam appointed her as a circuit court judge in 2016. She was elected in 2018 and reelected in 2022. “Mary is a highly qualified judge who will bring significant experience to the Tennessee Supreme Court,” Lee said in a news release. “Her understanding and respect for the rule of law and commitment to the conservative principles of judicial restraint make her well-suited for the state’s highest court, and I am proud to appoint her to this position.” Earlier this month, the Governor’s Council for Judicial Appointments named Wagner and Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals judges J. Ross Dyer and Camille R. McMullen as finalists for the Supreme Court opening. In Tennessee, the governor’s picks for Supreme Court must also be confirmed by state lawmakers. Republicans have supermajority control in both legislative chambers. Additionally, Supreme Court justices face “yes-no” retention elections every eight years. Voters retained Page and the other four justices at the time during the 2022 election.

Israel is creating a ‘buffer zone’ around Gaza

NewsFeed Israel is creating a ‘buffer zone’ around Gaza, which Israeli media reports says will ‘prevent attackers’ from reaching Israeli communities near Gaza. Critics say it’s an attempt to occupy Gaza. Published On 1 Feb 20241 Feb 2024 Adblock test (Why?)

US judge urges Biden to examine support for ‘plausible genocide’ in Gaza

A United States federal court has dismissed a case accusing President Joe Biden and other senior US officials of being complicit in Israel’s alleged genocide in Gaza. Still, the court’s decision (PDF) urged Biden and his colleagues to examine “the results of their unflagging support” for Israel, including its human rights implications. US District Court Judge Jeffrey White dismissed the case on procedural grounds late on Wednesday, citing the division of powers under the US Constitution. He said in his decision that “disputes over foreign policy are considered nonjusticiable political questions” and fall outside his jurisdiction. “There are rare cases in which the preferred outcome is inaccessible to the Court. This is one of those cases. The Court is bound by precedent and the division of our coordinate branches of government to abstain from exercising jurisdiction in this matter,” he wrote. But White added that, as the International Court of Justice (ICJ) said in a provisional ruling last month, “it is plausible that Israel’s conduct amounts to genocide.” “This Court implores Defendants to examine the results of their unflagging support of the military siege against the Palestinians in Gaza.” The lawsuit came as the Biden administration has faced mounting pressure to end the US’s unwavering support for Israel amid its war on Gaza, which has killed more than 27,000 Palestinians since early October. Filed late last year by human rights groups and individual Palestinians affected by the war, the complaint accused Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin of failing to fulfil their responsibilities under international and domestic law to prevent genocide. The US, which provides Israel with billions of dollars in military aid annually, was obligated to “exercise its clear and considerable influence on Israel”, the lawsuit argued. It also pointed to “dehumanising” remarks by senior Israeli officials, including Defence Minister Yoav Gallant, to illustrate an intent to pursue the “erasure and destruction of Palestinians”. While Israel has rejected the charge, international law experts have said the bombardment of Gaza and restrictions on the entry of water, food and other humanitarian supplies could amount to genocide. The 1948 Genocide Convention, which the US ratified, states that “genocide, whether committed in time of peace or in time of war, is a crime under international law which [state parties] undertake to prevent and to punish”. It also outlines that “complicity in genocide” is a punishable act. ‘End deadly course of action’ Katherine Gallagher, senior staff lawyer at the Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR), a nonprofit involved in the case, said the judge’s ruling “affirmed that what the Palestinian population in Gaza is enduring is a campaign to eradicate a whole people — genocide”. The decision, Gallagher said in a statement, also affirmed “that the United States’ unflagging support for Israel is enabling the killing of tens of thousands of Palestinians and the famine facing millions”. “While we strongly disagree with the court’s ultimate jurisdictional ruling, we urge the Biden administration to heed the judge’s call to examine and end its deadly course of action. Together with our plaintiffs, we will pursue all legal avenues to stop the genocide and save Palestinian lives.” The Biden administration, which is under widespread pressure over its staunch support for Israel, called for the lawsuit to be thrown out. In December, government lawyers argued that the court was being asked to “intrude into areas committed to the political branches of the government and violate constitutional separation of powers”. The @theCCR team knew this going in so the outcome (dismissed for PQD) is not surprising. What’s more significant re outcome is that Palestinians shared their story & compelled judge to note that the “facts are indisputable” & plausibly demonstrate Israel is committing #genocide. — Noura Erakat (@4noura) February 1, 2024 Despite Wednesday’s decision, the plaintiffs and their supporters said the court’s decision to hear their arguments marked an important step. A hearing was held last Friday in California, and Palestinians testified about the dire situation in Gaza. “It is important that the court recognized the United States is providing unconditional support to Israel’s ongoing genocide in Gaza and that a federal court heard Palestinian voices for the first time,” Mohammed Monadel Herzallah, a Palestinian American with family in Gaza, said in the CCR statement. He was one of the plaintiffs in the case. “But we are still devastated that the court would not take the important step to stop the Biden administration from continuing to support the slaughter of the Palestinian people,” Herzallah continued. “Currently, my family lacks food, medicine and the most basic necessities for survival. As Palestinians, we know this is a hard struggle, and as plaintiffs, we will continue to do everything in our power to save our people’s lives.” Adblock test (Why?)

Colin Allred outraises Ted Cruz campaign at end of 2023

Allred also dominated in fundraising over state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, who had the second highest haul among the Democrats running