Judge Bashes Trump’s Defense Team

Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) was speeding and “at fault” for the car accident that landed him, his wife and another driver in the hospital on Sunday, according to a Maryland State Police report obtained by USA Today.

“The Southern Baptist Convention, the nation’s largest and most politically powerful Protestant denomination, voted Wednesday to oppose in vitro fertilization,” Politico reports. “The move may signal the beginning of a broad turn on the right against IVF, an issue that many evangelicals, anti-abortion advocates and other social conservatives see as the “pro-life” movement’s next frontier — one they hope will eventually lead to restrictions, or outright bans, on IVF at the state and federal levels.” “The vote comes as Democrats in Washington, hoping to drive a wedge among Republicans, prepare to hold a vote on legislation to protect IVF, while former President Donald Trump struggles with how to message to evangelicals on abortion and other reproductive health issues that they would like to see him take stronger positions on in the post-Roe era.” This is a wildly unpopular move that threatens to put Republicans in a very tough political position.

“Speaker Mike Johnson told Senate Republicans on Wednesday that he wants to go big in a possible GOP-run Washington next year. So far, a fresh round of tax cuts is at the top of his wish list,” Politico reports. “Exiting a meeting with the Senate GOP, Johnson said tax cuts and “regulatory reform,” shorthand for paring back government regulations, are two of his biggest priorities if his party can take unified control of Washington next year.”

Jersey City Mayor Steve Fulop (D) “is battling the state’s unique and highly influential county party system, which gives local party leaders the power to effectively select candidates of their choosing in primaries,” Politico reports. “If he’s successful, it could be the death knell for the once-legendary political machinery that has dictated New Jersey’s political future for decades.”

Wall Street Journal: “The $230 million pier was installed amid the Israeli military advance in the city of Rafah and the closure of the two southern border crossings that were supplying most of the aid to the Gaza Strip. The maritime corridor between Cyprus and Gaza—and an ongoing airdrop campaign—was meant to supplement ground deliveries, which are cheaper and more efficient.” “But the hastily constructed pier was never designed to handle the Mediterranean Sea’s rough waters, which are expected to worsen over summer, and the logistics of delivering aid from the pier to the Gazan population proved vexing.

Congressional candidate Eugene Young (D) is withdrawing from the race for U. S. House in Delaware, WDEL reports. Young was facing Sarah McBride (D) in the September primary but his departure means McBride is the only Democrat remaining in the race and there would be no need for the primary. McBride would be the first transgender member of Congress.