The Supreme Court on Monday rejected a petition challenging the 2015 ruling that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, bringing relief to advocates while conservative groups vowed to continue their legal efforts. Kim Davis, a Kentucky county clerk previously jailed for refusing marriage licenses to same-sex couples, had sought reconsideration of the Obergefell v. Hodges decision that would have potentially reactivated state bans affecting 774,000 married same-sex couples nationwide.
Jim Obergefell, the original plaintiff whose name defines the landmark case, acknowledged the reprieve while cautioning against complacency. Republican support for same-sex marriage has declined to 41 percent from 55 percent since 2021, according to...
Democratic senators faced intense criticism from party members after eight lawmakers, averaging around 70 years old, joined Republicans on Monday to conclude a 40-day government shutdown without securing the health care funding Democrats had sought. The vote reignited long-standing internal disputes about leadership age and confrontational strategy against Republicans, with party critics noting that several senators voting for the deal either plan retirement or face limited electoral consequences given their ages.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer encountered renewed calls for his removal, with Representative Ro Khanna and others questioning whether the 74-year-old remains effective in opposing the Trump administration. The backlash...
Families of seven victims who perished during flooding at Camp Mystic in Central Texas filed lawsuits on Monday, accusing camp leadership of prioritizing equipment over camper safety during the early morning disaster on July 4. The suits allege that executive director Dick Eastland and his son Edward spent more than an hour securing camp property after receiving a flash flood warning at 1:14 a.m., dismissing counselor requests for assistance and delaying evacuations until conditions became fatal. Twenty-seven people died that night, including two counselors, 25 campers, and Dick Eastland himself, with most casualties occurring in cabins housing the youngest girls along the Guadalupe River.
The litigation contends that camp leaders were...
A jury cleared three former San Antonio police officers on Monday of all criminal charges stemming from the 2023 fatal shooting of a woman experiencing an apparent mental health episode. Alfred Flores, Eleazar Alejandro, and Nathaniel Villalobos faced aggravated assault and deadly conduct charges, while Flores and Alejandro also faced murder accusations in the death of Melissa Perez.
Officers responded to a disturbance call involving cut fire alarm wires at an apartment complex in June 2023. Perez retreated into her residence after initial contact, and a confrontation developed over roughly 30 minutes. Body camera recordings captured officers attempting entry through windows before Perez swung a hammer, breaking glass. The officers...
Air travelers confronted mounting disruptions on Monday as the extended government shutdown compounded severe weather conditions at airports nationwide, with approximately 2,000 flights canceled, representing 8 percent of scheduled departures. The Federal Aviation Administration imposed restrictions at 40 major hubs beginning Friday due to air traffic controller shortages, with reductions projected to reach 10 percent by week's end.
Passengers at facilities including Chicago O'Hare adopted contingency strategies, with doctoral student Ash Hamilton purchasing duplicate tickets to Mexico on separate carriers while questioning Senate Democrats' decision to advance shutdown-ending legislation without securing desired concessions. A Toronto...
Clean energy organizations and St. Paul filed a federal lawsuit on Monday, accusing the Trump administration of eliminating approximately $7.5 billion in energy project funding exclusively from states with Democratic leadership during the government shutdown. The legal challenge names White House budget director Russell T. Vought as a primary defendant and alleges Fifth Amendment equal protection violations through what plaintiffs characterize as deliberate partisan discrimination.
The Energy Department terminated 321 funding awards affecting 223 projects across 16 Democratic-represented states beginning October 1, targeting initiatives including electric vehicle charging infrastructure and methane emission reduction programs. Vought...
Legislation expected to pass as part of the government reopening deal includes a provision enabling senators to file lawsuits worth up to $500,000 each when federal investigators obtain their phone records without notification. The measure applies retroactively to 2022 and appears designed to benefit eight Republican senators whose metadata was subpoenaed during former special counsel Jack Smith's investigation into January 6 Capitol riot obstruction efforts.
The senators affected include Lindsey Graham, Marsha Blackburn, Bill Hagerty, Josh Hawley, Dan Sullivan, Tommy Tuberville, Ron Johnson, and Cynthia Lummis. Smith's team defended the tactic as a legitimate investigative procedure targeting Donald Trump's inner circle rather than...
Christine Pelosi announced on Monday that she will pursue a California State Senate position rather than seeking the congressional seat her mother, former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, is vacating upon retirement. The decision marks the first significant development in San Francisco politics following the elder Pelosi's declaration last week that she would not pursue reelection.
The younger Pelosi, a lawyer and longtime Democratic activist who previously served as a union program director for candidate training, stated her preference for establishing an independent political identity. She intends to campaign for the State Senate district representing San Francisco, which becomes available either through a special election if current...
Senator Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire faced public criticism from her daughter Stefany after voting to advance legislation ending the government shutdown without securing extended health insurance subsidies under the Affordable Care Act. Stefany Shaheen, who is campaigning for a House seat with healthcare as a central issue, stated through social media that any agreement must include both ending the shutdown and extending the tax credits.
The retiring senator defended her daughter's independence on Monday and suggested it would make her an effective member of Congress. Stefany Shaheen acknowledged their differing strategies but declined to elaborate on private discussions with her mother about the Senate negotiations.
Democratic...
