Man denies making request cited in LGBTQ case |
The Supreme Court on Friday ruled that Colorado could not compel website designer Lorie Smith to make wedding websites for same-sex couples if she offers the service to opposite-sex couples. Smith claimed one day after filing her lawsuit that a man requested she design a website for his same-sex wedding. The man cited in court filings says he's been married to a woman for years and made no such request. His denial was first reported by The New Republic, who first contacted him last week. The Supreme Court didn't reference the claimed request in their opinion. A lower court found Smith to have standing independent of the claimed request. But, as The Hill's Zach Schonfeld wrote, "the development has raised new scrutiny of Smith and her conservative lawyers' years-long effort to claw back LGBTQ+ protections, as they had cited the request on multiple occasions in the lower courts while asserting that she had authority to challenge Colorado's law." In an interview with The Hill, the man, who agreed to be identified as Stewart without his last name, said, "I'm just really disappointed in the ongoing and sustained attacks on the LGBTQ community in this country, and I'm also disappointed and concerned about the lack of rigor that's been shown by the lawyers in this case." "There's some evidence there which is easily refutable and easily proven to be incorrect and has been in the case filings for the last five plus years," he continued. "So it's concerning that that could make it all the way to the Supreme Court without anybody checking." The Alliance Defending Freedom, the organization that represented Smith, said Smith doesn't do background checks on incoming requests. "Whether Lorie received a legitimate request or whether someone lied to her is irrelevant," the group said. "No one should have to wait to be punished by the government to challenge an unjust law." Read more from Schonfeld's report here |
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Welcome to Evening Report! I'm Amee LaTour, catching you up from the afternoon and what's coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here. |
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- An advisory from the State Department recommends Americans reconsider any travel plans to mainland China, saying the government "arbitrarily enforces local laws, including issuing exit bans on U.S. citizens and citizens of other countries, without fair and transparent process under the law."
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) estimated that about a quarter of Americans hadn't gotten COVID through the end of 2022.
President Biden will meet with King Charles III during a trip to England next week.
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Sarah Huckabee Sanders nominates state GOP chair to Arkansas Supreme Court
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Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) announced Monday she's nominating J. Cody Hiland to the state's highest court, whose service she said would mark "the first time Arkansas Supreme Court will have a conservative majority." Hiland is chair of the state Republican Party. He previously served as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas and as chief legal counsel for the Arkansas Department of Public Safety. He also worked on Sanders's gubernatorial campaign. From The Hill's Lauren Sforza: "With Hiland's nomination for the state Supreme Court, all three state branches of government in Arkansas will have a conservative majority. This could help pave the way for Sanders's agenda for the state, including bills she has signed that include prohibiting transgender individuals at public schools from using the bathroom that matches their gender identity." Read more on the nomination here |
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Saudi Arabia, Russia announce oil cuts |
Saudi Arabia and Russia announced oil supply cuts, with both countries citing the goal of balancing the market. Saudi Arabia's previously announced cut of 1 million barrels a day for July will extend into August. And Russia will cut exports by 500,000 barrels a day next month. The Hill's Rachel Frazin reports on how Russia's invasion of Ukraine has affected imports and prices of Russian oil here. |
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Israel raids Jenin site, nearby nations condemn action
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Israel launched a raid Monday against what it said was a terrorist base in Jenin. At least eight Palestinians were killed and several more injured. Officials from Egypt, Jordan, Iran and Turkey spoke out against the raid. Lt. Col. Richard Hecht, a spokesperson for the Israeli Defense Forces, told a local outlet there are terrorist sites next to schools and humanitarian organizations in Jenin. Hecht said forces were seeking to "break the mindset of a safe haven for terrorists." Council on Islamic-American Relations National Executive Director Nihad Awad said in a statement, "The Israeli government is completely out of control because it does not expect to face any consequences from the Biden administration." Read more from The Hill's Brad Dress here |
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© Getty Images/Mario Tama |
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Tribal nations want seat at Colorado River negotiating table |
Thirty federally recognized tribes that rely on water from the Colorado River want a seat at the table as new operational guidelines for the river are developed, with the current guidelines expiring at the end of 2026. "Tribes must be involved, they have to be involved, at the very beginning," Gov. Stephen Roe Lewis of the Gila River Indian Community told The Hill. "At the very beginning — not after decisions have been made, and those decisions being forced upon tribes." Read more here |
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'Longevity literacy' and saving for retirement |
Are you "longevity literate"? The Hill's Daniel de Visé looks at people's ideas about their life expectancy and how it might affect their retirement savings. Read the report here |
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Casey DeSantis launching 'Mamas for DeSantis'
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Casey DeSantis, wife of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R), a 2024 GOP contender, is launching a grassroots group called "Mamas for DeSantis" in Iowa on Thursday, alongside Gov. Kim Reynolds (R). |
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"What critics get wrong about No Labels and our presidential 'insurance option'" — David Walker, a cofounder of No Labels and a former U.S. comptroller general. (Read here) "Political 'independence' is on the rise, and still phony" — Juan Williams, an author and a political analyst for Fox News Channel. (Read here) |
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491 days until the presidential election. |
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President Biden hosts events at the White House for military and veteran families. Check out this handy list of what national stores and restaurants will be open Tuesday. Happy Fourth of July! |
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There a story you think should be getting more attention? Something people should be talking about? Drop me a line: ALaTour@thehill.com |
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