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Following a contested North Carolina Supreme Court election, Republicans on the court temporarily blocked the certification of Democratic Justice Allison Riggs’s victory. This action, stemming from a GOP challenger’s attempt to invalidate over 60,000 votes, despite Riggs winning by 734 votes after recounts, is seen by Democrats as a blatant attempt to seize power. The move has drawn widespread criticism, with accusations of voter disenfranchisement and undermining democratic processes. The court’s actions raise concerns about the future of fair elections and the potential overturning of the election results.
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A federal judge temporarily halted the release of Special Counsel Jack Smith’s report on investigations into Donald Trump, pending an appeals court decision. This action, prompted by an emergency request from Trump’s defense team citing potential prejudice, follows a pattern of rulings favorable to Trump by the Trump-appointed judge. The report details charging decisions in two cases—the Mar-a-Lago documents case and the 2020 election interference case—both of which were impacted by legal challenges and the Justice Department’s policy against prosecuting sitting presidents. The Justice Department’s next steps remain unclear following the judge’s order.
The North Carolina Supreme Court, in a 5-1 decision, issued a stay preventing the certification of Democratic Justice Allison Riggs’s narrow victory over Republican Jefferson Griffin in a state Supreme Court race. This action allows the court to hear Griffin’s challenge to approximately 60,000 votes, claims which were previously rejected by the state elections board. The court’s order, prompted by a federal court’s remand of the case, sets a January 24th deadline for briefs. The lone dissenting justice argued that the stay was unwarranted and interfered with democratic processes.
During a recent speech, Donald Trump criticized the push for electric vehicles and appliances, specifically highlighting his preference for gas heaters over electric ones. He claimed gas heaters are cheaper to operate, provide superior heat, and lack the purported “itching” problem associated with electric heaters. Trump’s comments contrast sharply with the environmental benefits of condensing heaters, which offer long-term cost savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions. His stated intention to expand fossil fuel production further underscores this divergence in priorities.
Judge Juan Merchan denied President-elect Trump’s motion to delay his January 10th sentencing on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, rejecting arguments regarding presidential immunity appeals. The judge deemed Trump’s arguments repetitive and noted the current schedule resulted from Trump’s previous requests for adjournments. Prosecutors argued that sentencing before the inauguration avoids potential conflicts and would be brief. The judge previously indicated an unconditional discharge is likely, meaning Trump would remain a convicted felon but face no additional penalties.
Republican Judge Jefferson Griffin, trailing Democratic Justice Allison Riggs by 734 votes in a state Supreme Court election, secured a temporary stay from the GOP-controlled court preventing certification of Riggs’ win. Griffin seeks to invalidate over 60,000 votes, a move initially rejected by the state Board of Elections and a federal judge but now under review by the state Supreme Court. This action hinges on the legality of voter registrations lacking full driver’s license or partial Social Security numbers, a contested issue previously raised in a similar Republican lawsuit. Justice Anita Earls dissented, and Justice Riggs recused herself.
The Biden administration’s final rule eliminates unpaid medical debt from credit reports, impacting over 15 million Americans and removing $49 billion in debt. This change, expected to boost credit scores by an average of 20 points, will prevent lenders from using medical debt in loan decisions. The rule follows the credit bureaus’ prior action of removing medical collections under $500 and is projected to increase mortgage approvals significantly. This action aims to address the inequity of individuals facing financial hardship due to medical expenses.
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John Q. Hosedrinker