Morning Headlines - Thursday, Apr. 6, 2023 | Recent News

U.S. and World Headlines

Trump, Newly Charged, Urges Defunding US Justice Department And FBI

Former President Donald Trump on Wednesday called on his fellow Republicans in Congress to slash funding for the U.S. Justice Department and the FBI, one day after pleading not guilty in New York to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records.

Trump, who is seeking to regain the presidency in 2024, took aim at federal law enforcement authorities even though the criminal charges against him - the first brought against any former or sitting president - were pursued not by them but by the Manhattan district attorney.

But Trump faces two Justice Department criminal investigations led by Special Counsel Jack Smith, who was appointed by U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland. Both have seemed to accelerate in recent months.

Country Music's Travis Tritt Drops All Anheuser-busch Products After Bud Light's Dylan Mulvaney Campaign

Country singer-songwriter Travis Tritt announced on Twitter that he would be removing Anheuser-Busch products from his tour hospitality rider amid pushback the company is receiving after beer giant Bud Light celebrated transgender activist Dylan Mulvaney in a new promotion.

"I will be deleting all Anheuser-Busch products from my tour hospitality rider. I know many other artists who are doing the same," Tritt wrote on Twitter Wednesday evening.

Hours later, the multi-platinum-selling artist shared a second tweet that included a photo of Ru Paul’s Drag Race show teaming up with Jack Daniel's Tennessee Whiskey company.

Indiana, Idaho Governors Sign Bans On Gender-Affirming Care

Republican governors in Indiana and Idaho have signed into law bills banning gender-affirming care for minors, making those states the latest to restrict transgender health care as Republican-led legislatures continue to curb LGBTQ+ rights this year.

Indiana Gov. Eric Holcomb signed legislation Wednesday that will prohibit transgender youth from accessing medication or surgeries that aid in transition, and mandating those currently taking medication to stop by the end of the year.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little signed legislation Tuesday evening that criminalizes gender-affirming care for youth.

U.S. Lawmakers To Meet With Apple, Disney CEOs To Discuss China

A bipartisan group of House lawmakers are slated to meet with the CEOs of Apple, Disney and Microsoft in California this week to discuss challenges and opportunities for American businesses that operate in China, CBS News has learned.

The House members attending the meetings are part of the Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CCP). All were invited, but about 10 to 12 are able to make it, according to Rep. Ro Khanna of California, a leading Democrat whose district includes Silicon Valley.

Khanna, who will be among those attending the meetings, told CBS News Wednesday that the topics of discussion will include how U.S companies can maintain a competitive edge with China while shifting product manufacturing back to the U.S.

LSU’s Angel Reese Says Her Team Won’t Go To The White House But School’s Athletic Department Says It Will Accept Invite

Louisiana State University star Angel Reese says that neither she, nor her team, would be visiting the White House after defeating Iowa to win their first NCAA women’s basketball national championship.

Traditionally, the national champions would be invited to the White House. But after comments from first lady Jill Biden suggesting that Iowa be invited as well before appearing to walk that back, Reese told “I AM ATHLETE” podcast hosts Brandon Marshall and Ashley Nicole Moss: “I don’t accept the apology because you said what you said … You can’t go back on certain things that you say … They can have that spotlight. We’ll go to the Obamas.’ We’ll go see Michelle. We’ll see Barack.”

Reese, who was named the women’s tournament Most Outstanding Player as a result of her standout performances, also said separately: “I just know if the roles were reversed, they wouldn’t be the same. If we were to lose, we would not be getting invited to the White House.”

Progressives Get Energy Boost After Chicago And Wisconsin Elections

Big progressive wins in Wisconsin and Chicago elections this week show the staying power of left-wing positions on abortion and crime as issues heading into 2024.

After Democrats became the surprise winners of the 2022 midterms, the twin Midwest results Tuesday in widely watched mayoral and state Supreme Court races showed how the party could energize its base.

"Everybody needs to understand this, everybody advising candidates, everybody running, everybody looking at putting ballot initiatives forward: Abortion rights are a winning issue," Democratic strategist Jess McIntosh told Axios.

Wisconsin And Chicago Elections Expose Liabilities In GOP Case For ‘24

Democrats from the upper Midwest to the White House were brimming with confidence after Tuesday’s wins in Wisconsin and Chicago, believing President Joe Biden was handed a template for crucial battlegrounds once he moves forward his reelection bid.

Already, top party officials and operatives were sketching out the beginnings of a 2024 campaign playbook that again leans heavily into shielding abortion rights and doesn’t shy away from taking more nuanced approaches to tackling crime. The twin victories — in the Chicago mayoral race and for an open seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court — had emboldened their belief that voters were more repelled by the GOP brand — colored by anti-abortion politics and personified by former President Donald Trump — than by accusations that Democrats were soft on crime.

Wisconsin Supreme Court Victory Adds Wind To Democrats’ Sails

Democrats’ victory in the Wisconsin Supreme Court race on Tuesday is energizing the party in the perennial battleground state likely to play a major role in 2024.

Milwaukee County Judge Janet Protasiewicz, seen as the liberal candidate, won the election Tuesday night for a vacant seat on the Wisconsin Supreme Court against former state Supreme Court Justice Daniel Kelly, seen as the conservative candidate. It will be the first time in 15 years that the state’s high court will have a liberal majority.

Her win gave the party a boost of momentum in the Badger State, where Democrats are gearing up for both a presidential election and race for Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s (D) seat.

Wisconsin Gov. Evers Signs GOP Cash Bail Bill Into Law

Democratic Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers signed a Republican-backed bill into law Wednesday that clarifies when a newly passed state constitutional amendment will make it harder for defendants to get out of jail on bail.

The constitutional amendment was passed into law in the statewide election a day earlier, when a pair of ballot questions on bail gained support from two-thirds of voters. The amendment allows judges to consider past convictions for violent crimes when setting bail for someone accused of a violent crime. It also lets judges set the conditions of release to protect the public from serious harm.

The bill Evers signed Wednesday defines serious harm and violent crime for use with the amendment. Under the broad definition of serious harm, judges will be able to set stricter release conditions for any defendant they believe could physically or emotionally hurt someone or inflict damages of more than $2,500 while on release.

Conservative Wins In Wisconsin's 8th Senate District, Securing GOP Impeachment Power

While conservatives took a beating in Wisconsin's Supreme Court race Tuesday, Republicans scraped by to claim a key win in a special election in Milwaukee's suburbs. A victory there gives the GOP a two-thirds majority in the state Senate and with it, the power to impeach state officials.

Shorty after midnight with 98 percent of the vote counted, Dan Knodl, a state representative, declared victory in the special election for the Wisconsin's 8th Senate District. Speaking to supporters, he said there were still votes to be counted — the outstanding votes were from the town of Lisbon in Waukesha County, "but those votes are in my favor."