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brooklynite's JournalPolitico: Dems to Biden: Go big on IVF
Currently, the insurance program that covers more than 8 million federal employees and their families across the country has limited coverage for IVF. That has forced many federal employees to assume tens of thousands of dollars in out-of-pocket medical bills should they choose to pursue the treatment.
More than 175 House and Senate Democrats are now calling on the Office of Personnel Management to require IVF coverage in all Federal Employee Health Benefit insurance policies.
In the wake of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs ruling — and the Alabama court decision which declared that embryos created by IVF should be considered children — Democrats are looking for ways to expand and protect IVF access.
https://www.politico.com/newsletters/west-wing-playbook/2024/04/22/dems-urge-biden-to-go-big-on-ivf-00153720
Politico: The Pennsylvania House race testing the fallout from the Israel-Hamas war
The first high-profile progressive House member to face a contested primary this year, her Pittsburgh-based district is home to a tight-knit Jewish community that is grappling with the effects of the war. Last month, dozens of Jewish leaders signed an open letter to the Pennsylvania representative blistering her for her criticism of Israel’s government and “divisive rhetoric, which, at times, we have perceived as openly antisemitic.”
And in a district still stricken by the massacre of Jews at the Tree of Life synagogue by an antisemitic gunman, signs for her primary opponent Bhavini Patel, a small-town city council member, stand in many yards beside ones that read, “We stand with Israel.”
Yet for as much as the Israel-Hamas war has inflamed intraparty divisions on the left, the April 23 primary here is poised to test the limits of the conflict as an electoral issue.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/23/pennsylvania-house-race-israel-hamas-war-00153456
Politico: Xavier Becerra plots political future after Biden administration
Not only has Becerra had conversations over the past weeks about making the move, he or emissaries have approached political firms about standing up a gubernatorial campaign to succeed Gov. Gavin Newsom in 2026, two people briefed on those discussions told POLITICO.
Becerra, a former longtime member of Congress from Los Angeles and California attorney general, also has spent more than $130,000 over the last year for “campaign consultants,” activity that has not previously been reported in the media. The political outreach and payments have occurred even as Becerra has continued to state publicly that he’s solely focused on his Cabinet job in Washington.
Becerra sidestepped questions about plotting for a gubernatorial run in his home state when initially approached by POLITICO. But he did acknowledge the strict legal parameters he’s under in his current role.
https://www.politico.com/news/2024/04/23/xavier-becerra-biden-administration-future-00153737
Trump hush money trial transcripts to be made public
Source: New York Daily News
Each day’s transcripts will be posted online and publicly available before the end of the following business day, “to ensure broad and continuous public access to this extraordinarily high-profile case,” according to a release.
Trial proceedings are not broadcast and space inside the courtroom for members of the public is extremely limited, making the transcripts the best, most direct way for the public to follow along the first criminal trial of a U.S. president, Chief Administrative Judge Joseph Zayas said in the release.
“This measure is in the interest of the public good and aligns with the court system’s commitment to judicial transparency and its ongoing efforts to enhance public access to, and understanding of the courts and justice system,” Zayas said.
Read more: https://www.nydailynews.com/2024/04/22/trump-hush-money-trial-transcripts-to-be-made-public/?lctg=14E3C49284619533D5F45429F5&utm_email=14E3C49284619533D5F45429F5&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.nydailynews.com%2f2024%2f04%2f22%2ftrump-hush-money-trial-transcripts-to-be-made-public%2f&utm_campaign=Dont-miss&utm_content=%23Listrak%5cDateTimeStampNumeric%23
Transcripts at: https://ww2.nycourts.gov/press/index.shtml
New York judge sets new conditions on Trump's civil fraud bond
Source: Axios
New York Judge Arthur Engoron on Monday accepted the $175 million bond former President Trump posted to appeal his civil fraud case, but the judge imposed several new conditions to ensure sufficient cash funds remain available.
Why it matters: Approving the bond for the appeal will prevent New York Attorney General Letitia James from seizing Trump's assets or freezing his bank accounts while he fights the judgment.
…snip…
The big picture: While Engoron allowed the bond to stand, Trump and Knight Specialty Insurance Company agreed to meet several new requirements, per a spokesperson from the New York State Attorney General's office.
These include that Knight Specialty Insurance Company will retain "exclusive control" of the $175 million account, and the company and Trump will provide a monthly account statement certifying that there are sufficient cash funds for the bond.
Read more: https://www.axios.com/2024/04/22/trump-bond-hearing-new-york-civil-fraud
Why Trump Will Likely be Held in Contempt and What Then
Trial in The People of the State of New York vs. Donald J. Trump, the first-ever criminal prosecution of a former U.S. president, began on Monday, April 15. Although the trial is still in its early stages, Trump has already run into trouble with a court “gag order” restricting his extrajudicial statements about trial participants. On the opening day of trial, the office of District Attorney for New York (DANY) Alvin Bragg sought an order to show cause, alleging that Trump was in contempt of court for violating the gag order. That same day, the court granted the order to show cause, meaning that the allegations were sufficient to warrant a hearing, which it set for Tuesday, April 23.
Undaunted, Trump went on to make additional statements that prosecutors allege also violate the gag order. Three days later, on April 18, DANY submitted a supplemental filing identifying seven more alleged violations of the gag order. The court issued an order the same day, again finding the allegations were sufficient for the hearing to be held on Tuesday.
Below we explain the gag order, the alleged violations, and the legal framework. We then assess the strength of the prosecution’s case and what may follow.
The Gag Order
In May 2023, the court originally issued a protective order prohibiting Trump from disclosing on social media or elsewhere any discovery the defense received from the prosecution as well as the names and identifying information of personnel from DANY—other than sworn members of law enforcement, assistant district attorneys and trial witnesses (the latter could be disclosed only once jury selection began). In granting the protective order, Justice Juan Merchan, the presiding trial judge, explained, “It’s certainly not a gag order,” as Trump was allowed to publicly discuss the case.
https://www.justsecurity.org/94878/why-trump-will-likely-be-held-in-contempt-and-what-then/
"Donald Trump corrupted the 2016 election". The Trial begins
https://twitter.com/innercitypress/status/1782416734743339320https://twitter.com/innercitypress/status/1782418355682422831
https://twitter.com/innercitypress/status/1782419359635300385
Today's Trial session will be limited to Opening Arguments. Tomorrows will start after Gag Order contempt hearing
https://twitter.com/innercitypress/status/1782416377778700311BREAKING: Judge Merchan issues Sandoval (evidence) Hearing rulings.
https://twitter.com/innercitypress/status/1782407698119586272I'm heading into Court today...
...to defend Primary petitions for reform candidates being challenged by the Kings County Democratic Party leadership. They have a notorious reputation for holding on to power by trying to knock opponents off the ballot rather than run qualified candidates. Apparently my own petitions aren't being challenged.
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Name: Chris BastianGender: Male
Hometown: Brooklyn, NY
Home country: USA
Member since: 2002
Number of posts: 94,460