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Thursday – 4/14/22

Thursday – 4/14/22
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CONGRESS… How Democrats learned to stop worrying and love the gerrymander
Vox, Andrew ProkopApril 14, 2022

The grinding battle over congressional redistricting is drawing to a close. And, contrary to expectations that the process would result in big Republican gains, the final House of Representatives map may well improve somewhat for Democrats.

The main reason is gerrymandering — redrawing of district lines for partisan benefit. Republicans built on their existing gerrymanders to try to expand their House advantage, but Democrats fired back even more powerfully with gerrymanders of their own.

Basically, Democrats saved themselves by resorting to a tactic they’ve previously denounced as not only unfair but downright unethical — House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called gerrymandering “unjust and deeply dangerous” in 2019. But in the absence of national reforms banning the practice, refusing to gerrymander would have meant effective unilateral disarmament, ceding the GOP a significant advantage in the battle for control over the House.

COVID… White House COVID coordinator Ashish Jha discusses the uptick in coronavirus cases
PBS NewsHourApril 14, 2022 (08:14)

With the rise of the BA.2 variant in some parts of the country, many questions remain about how to best navigate daily life and what precautions should or should not be taken. White House COVID-19 response coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha joins Amna Nawaz to discuss.

ABORTION… Florida and Kentucky become the latest states to pass new restrictive abortion laws
PBS NewsHourApril 14, 2022 (05:26)

Restrictive abortion laws continue to pass in state legislatures across the country. Florida signed a 15-week abortion ban into law on Thursday soon after Kentucky’s new abortion bill was implemented, one that opponents say effectively shuts down all abortion access. Shefali Luthra, a health reporter for The 19th, joins John Yang to learn more.

RUSSIA… Russian warship sinks in the Black Sea after Ukraine claims it was hit by a missile
CNN, Brad LendonApril 14, 2022

One of the Russian Navy’s most important warships has sunk in the Black Sea, a massive blow to a military struggling against Ukrainian resistance 50 days into Vladimir Putin’s invasion of his neighbor.

Russian state news agency TASS reported Thursday evening that the guided-missile cruiser Moskva had sunk, citing a statement from the Russian Ministry of Defense.

“During the towing of the cruiser Moskva to the port of destination, the ship lost its stability due to hull damage received during a fire from the detonation of ammunition. In the conditions of stormy seas, the ship sank,” the statement said, according to TASS.

UKRAINE… What the Biden administration learned from past presidents about military aid in Ukraine
PBS NewsHourApril 14, 2022 (07:09)

The U.S. this week authorized one of its largest arms packages yet for Ukraine with $800 million worth of weapons designed to help it against an expected battle in the east. The question of whether to arm Ukraine is one that has challenged American policymakers for years. Ali Rogin looks back at how recent presidents have addressed that question and what the Biden administration has learned.

PRESIDENT… RNC votes to boycott ‘biased’ Commission on Presidential Debates
Politico, Samuel BensonApril 14, 2022

Republican presidential candidates will no longer participate in debates hosted by the Commission on Presidential Debates, the Republican National Committee announced on Wednesday.

The RNC voted unanimously Thursday to withdraw from the primary organizer of general-election presidential debates, calling the CPD “biased” and unwilling to “serve the interest of the American people.”

“Debates are an important part of the democratic process, and the RNC is committed to free and fair debates,” RNC Chair Ronna McDaniel said in a statement. “The Commission on Presidential Debates is biased and has refused to enact simple and commonsense reforms to help ensure fair debates including hosting debates before voting begins and selecting moderators who have never worked for candidates on the debate stage.”

McDaniel emphasized that the RNC would not be withdrawing from debates altogether, but only those hosted by the commission. It is unclear what alternative method will be pursued by the RNC, though the statement noted it will explore “other avenues for candidates to have a free and fair forum for all Americans.” The commission has hosted presidential debates for over three decades.

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