Good morning, and welcome to The Epoch Times News Brief for Tuesday, April 30, 2024. I’m Bill Thomas, and today, we’re covering a range of pressing topics, from the Supreme Court’s latest discussions on the power of a special counsel, to a major electoral push in 2024 in Florida. We also have the latest updates on the Jan. 6 Capitol breach cases, and a story about rising food prices that continue to challenge American households.
Justice Thomas Raises Scrutiny on Special Counsel Jack Smith’s Appointment in Trump Hearing
Justice Thomas is raising questions about the authority of special counsel Jack Smith, who brought charges against former President Donald Trump. Concerns were raised during a recent court discussion regarding President Trump’s immunity from prosecution for his official acts during his presidency.Justice Thomas wanted to know if President Trump’s lawyers had ever objected to Mr. Smith’s role as the special counsel. Mr. Smith was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland.
President Trump’s attorney acknowledged that they haven’t directly challenged Mr. Smith’s appointment in this case but they say it is a significant issue.
Two former attorneys general, Edwin Meese and Michael Mukasey, support President Trump’s lawyers. They’ve argued in a brief that the special counsel lacks the authority to prosecute President Trump, as the laws Mr. Garland used to appoint Mr. Smith do not permit such extensive powers to a private citizen or government employee.
The Supreme Court is currently hearing a case against President Trump that focuses on allegations he tried to disrupt the transition of presidential power after losing the 2020 election. This forms the basis of Mr. Smith’s indictment.
The former president is charged with four criminal counts in the case. President Trump argued that the actions were undertaken while he was serving as president.
Lower courts have denied President Trump’s claim to immunity, and his lawyer warns that not respecting presidential immunity could affect future presidents’ decisions.
Conservative justices, including Neil Gorsuch, stressed the need for a clear rule on presidential immunity that would protect all presidents in the future. He said last week that former presidents like Donald Trump should have some immunity to prevent them from being unfairly targeted after leaving office.
While the Supreme Court justices seemed skeptical about President Trump’s claim of absolute immunity, they appeared receptive to the idea that there might be some level of presidential immunity.
The case may be sent back to the Washington district court for a more detailed examination of President Trump’s actions to determine which were official and which were private. This could delay the trial in Washington and potentially benefit President Trump strategically.
Gov. DeSantis Says Florida Will Not Comply With New Title IX Rules
Mr. DeSantis is standing firm against President Joe Biden’s recent changes to Title IX, which now includes protections based on gender identity in the laws against sexual discrimination. Mr. DeSantis, along with Florida’s Education Commissioner Manny Diaz Jr. and Louisiana’s Superintendent of Education Cade Brumley, has vowed not to comply with these updates.Title IX was originally passed in 1972 to combat sex-based discrimination, and it has now been expanded by the Biden administration to protect against discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation. This aligns with the Supreme Court’s Bostock v. Clayton County decision in 2020, which prevents employees from being fired over their sexual orientation.
The new Title IX rules do not yet address transgender participation in school sports, which is still being drafted. The rules also state that Title IX would override any state laws in case there’s a conflict. This could result in future challenges against states that have banned transgender athletes from women’s sports. Additionally, the updates broaden the definition of sexual harassment and require that any school employee who is not bound by confidentiality must report violations to a Title IX coordinator. These changes are set to take effect on Aug. 1.
Democrats to Contest All 28 Congressional Districts in Florida for First Time Since 2018
The Florida Democratic Party has decided to contest all 28 congressional districts in the state for the first time since 2018. This move follows recent strategies announced by the Biden-Harris Campaign and the Democratic National Committee, indicating their intention to actively compete in Florida during the upcoming 2024 elections.The Sunshine State is now seen as a key battleground, particularly with the upcoming November ballot that includes initiatives on abortion access and recreational marijuana, approved by the state Supreme Court.
Addressing statewide concerns such as high property insurance rates, teacher shortages, and the absence of Medicaid expansion, the Democrats have started a campaign to recruit candidates, receiving over 100 applications for congressional positions.
Jim Lee from Susquehanna Polling told The Epoch Times that the Democrats are contesting all of Florida’s congressional districts to force Republicans to use resources in races that saw little spending in the 2020 and 2022 elections. This would potentially influence other close races across the country and affect the balance of power in Congress in 2025.
Experts, however, warn that focusing on abortion and marijuana issues alone may not be sufficient for a Democratic victory in the state.
Woman Who Held ‘Q’ Sign on Jan. 6 Convicted by Jury
Therese Borgerding, a 61-year-old woman from Ohio, was recently convicted on multiple charges, including a serious felony, for her role in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach. She was seen entering restricted areas of the Capitol while holding a “Q” sign, which is a short form of “QAnon.” Ms. Borgerding claimed she was told by a Capitol Police officer that it was okay to go up the steps, but this evidence was not allowed in her trial. She now faces up to eight years in prison and will be sentenced on Aug. 15.In a related case, 29-year-old John Sullivan from Utah was sentenced to six years in prison. Mr. Sullivan, who had shown support for Black Lives Matter and sold videos he took on the scene of the breach to news outlets, was found guilty of obstructing an official proceeding and carrying a knife into the Capitol.
Another arrest in the ongoing Jan. 6 investigations includes Matthew Matulich from Louisiana. He’s been charged with theft of government property and entering restricted buildings without permission. Surveillance captured him inside the Capitol for about 90 minutes, wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat and walking with a Kentucky flag.
As of April 6, nearly 1,400 people have been charged across the United States for their involvement in the breach, with more than half pleading guilty, and over 500 have already been sentenced to prison time.
Food Prices Expected to Rise 2.2 Percent With Eggs, Sugar, and Beef Leading the Surge
Food prices are expected to continue to rise this year at a moderate rate of just over 2.2 percent.We’re looking at higher prices across a range of food items including beef, veal, poultry, eggs, fats and oils, sugar and sweets, as well as cereals, bakery products, fresh fruits, and vegetables. On the flip side, prices for seafood and dairy products might drop, while pork prices should hold steady.
Data from the Producer Price Index shows expected sharp price increases for farm-level cattle, wholesale poultry, and eggs. A survey from retail tech firm Swiftly indicates that grocery shopping continues to be a financial strain for many Americans, who are adjusting their budgets and shopping habits in response to higher interest rates.
A troubling statistic places the United States at the top among G7 nations for food affordability issues, with 26 percent of Americans struggling to feed themselves last year. Republicans are blaming President Biden’s economic policies for the surge in grocery prices. This issue of high inflation is sure to be a major talking point in the 2024 presidential race.
Now, we’re almost out of time, so that’s going to be our final story on the Tuesday edition of The Epoch Times News Brief!
This one just rolled through and it’s from Charlotte, who says: “After along day at work , it is refreshing to hear the Epoch Times News Brief and getting caught up on ‘all’ the news.”
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Finally, as we do each and every day, we end this program with a very “notable” quote.
Today’s quote comes from Thomas A. Edison, who said: “Many of life’s failures are people who did not realize how close they were to success when they gave up.”
Edison was an American inventor and businessman and he never gave up. By the time he died at age 84 (in 1931), he had amassed a record 1,093 patents: 389 for electric light and power, 195 for the phonograph, 34 for the telephone, and so many more. Where would we be without Thomas Edison?
For all of us here at The Epoch Times News Brief, I’m Bill Thomas. Have an incredible Tuesday, and we’ll see you right back here tomorrow for the midweek edition of The Epoch Times News Brief. Have a great day!
