Today’s edition of quick hits.
* The recent controversies surrounding justices look worse when they narrow the scope of bribery laws: “The Supreme Court overturned the bribery conviction of a former Indiana mayor on Wednesday, the latest in a series of decisions narrowing the scope of federal public corruption law. The high court’s 6-3 opinion along ideological lines found the law criminalizes bribes given before an official act, not rewards handed out after.”
* On a related note, the vote in Murthy v. Missouri was 6-3, though it should’ve been 9-0: “The Supreme Court handed down a stern rebuke to some of the most right-wing judges in the country on Wednesday, holding that no, judges do not get to micromanage how the Biden administration speaks to social media companies.”
* Crisis in Bolivia: “Bolivian President Luis Arce warned Wednesday that an ‘irregular’ deployment of troops was taking place in the capital, raising concerns that a potential coup was underway. He called for ‘democracy to be respected’ on a message on his X account came as Bolivian television showed two tanks and a number of military in front of the government palace.”
* A lot of consumers will benefit from steps like these: “The Biden administration on Wednesday said it will impose inflation penalties on 64 prescription drugs for the third quarter of this year, lowering costs for certain older Americans enrolled in Medicare. President Joe Biden has made lowering U.S. drug prices a key pillar of his health-care agenda and reelection platform for 2024.”
* Worthwhile pardons: “President Joe Biden pardoned potentially thousands of former U.S. service members convicted of violating a now-repealed military ban on consensual gay sex, saying Wednesday that he is ‘righting an historic wrong’ to clear the way for them to regain lost benefits.”
* The White House’s policy is having its intended effect: “The number of migrants crossing the U.S. southern border illegally has dropped more than 40 percent in the three weeks since President Biden announced broad restrictions on asylum claims, administration officials said Wednesday.”
* NATO’s new leadership: “NATO allies on Wednesday selected Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte as NATO’s next boss, as the war in Ukraine rages on its doorstep and uncertainty hangs over the United States’ future attitude to the transatlantic alliance. Rutte’s appointment became a formality after his only rival for the post, Romanian President Klaus Iohannis, announced last week that he had quit the race, having failed to gain traction.”
* The apparent resolution of a story I’ve been following: “Rep. Troy Nehls has taken off his Combat Infantryman Badge. Why? ‘Because you guys are vultures,’ [the Texas Republican] told reporters Wednesday morning, attacking the press for reporting on his service record.”
See you tomorrow.
