Marriage equality gets its day in court: Today, the U.S. Supreme Court hears oral arguments on a legal challenge to California’s same-sex marriage ban, known as Prop 8. And tomorrow, the justices will hear arguments on whether the federal Defense of Marriage Act is constitutional. Bill Clinton signed DOMA into law, but even he says it was a mistake. Clinton’s transformation is part of the larger sea change of public opinion on gay rights in this country over the past few decades.
Not shying away from hot-button issues, the Supreme Court has also taken on a new case from Michigan on Affirmative Action.
With names like Scalia and Thomas on board, does the Supreme Court lean left or right? A new Pew poll finds a majority of Republicans don’t think the Court is conservative. (Speaking of Scalia, ThinkProgress lists thirteen offensive things he’s said about homosexuality.)
The U.S. government spent $3.7 million supporting the three living former presidents. Which one costs the government the most?
The rift in the Republican party continues to be exemplified by its two biggest rising stars: Marco Rubio and Rand Paul. This time, the two are divided over U.S. foreign policy.
Is Chris Christie’s weight an issue for voters? Not if you ask those in his home state. A new poll finds two-thirds say they’re comfortable with an overweight candidate. By the way, it’s not just Christie’s weight that voters at home are OK with — he still has sky-high approval ratings.
And in Rome, Italy’s highest court overturned the acquittal of American exchange student Amanda Knox, who’s accused of murdering her roommate. Knox served four years in prison before her acquittal in 2011, and her attorney says she likely won’t return to Italy for the retrial.
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