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Democrats are going all-in on abortion rights ahead of Thursday's presidential debate, marking the second anniversary of the fall of Roe v. Wade with a big bet on an issue they think will swing elections in November. From the White House on down, Democrats are aiming to marshal voter anger at Republican-led efforts to limit abortion rights. There was a flurry of activity on Monday to mark the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court's ruling on Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization: The White House released a video Monday in which Biden warned that "Roe is just the beginning" and that Republicans will come for birth control and IVF treatments next. "We're up against extremism. Send me back to the White House, and I'll fight like hell to restore Roe v. Wade and protect American freedom." Abortion was about a 50-50 issue as recently as the mid-2000s, but support has gradually ticked upward. According to the latest data from Pew Research, 63 percent believe it should be legal in all or most cases, up from 61 percent prior to the Dobbs ruling. - Former President Trump campaigned on allowing individual states to determine whether abortion should be legal, but there's been backlash in states that have implemented restrictions and bans.
- Trump has tacitly acknowledged that it could be a political problem for Republicans. He urged vulnerable members to discuss it "correctly" at a recent meeting on Capitol Hill.
- The former president has not said whether he supports a federal abortion ban, but he supports exceptions for rape, incest and when the life of the mother is in danger.
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Welcome to Evening Report! I'm Jonathan Easley, catching you up from the afternoon and what's coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here. |
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Media tensions flare ahead of debate
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CNN's Kasie Hunt cut-off an interview Monday with the Trump campaign's national press secretary Karoline Leavitt, as tensions rise ahead of the first presidential debate. Leavitt was taking a swipe at CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash for allegedly being hostile toward Trump. Tapper and Bash are set to moderate the upcoming debate. Hunt said she'd refuse to allow Leavitt to criticize her coworkers on the air and promptly ended the interview. Leavitt went on Steve Bannon's podcast after she got the boot and said CNN "showed their hand" by kicking her off.
CNN defended its anchors in a statement: "There are no two people better equipped to co-moderate a substantial and fact-based discussion and we look forward to the debate on June 27 in Atlanta."
- Fighting between Trump and CNN was one of the primary media storylines of the Trump era, which was a rating bonanza for many media outlets.
- Some CNN personalities sought to position themselves as the face of the media opposition against Trump, but there is enormous respect for Tapper and Bash as fair journalists in Washington.
- Trump agreed to the CNN debate even though it excludes the Commission on Presidential Debates; allows the moderators to cut off his microphone; and will not feature any spectators in the crowd.
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Washington braces for ruling in Trump immunity case
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Is former President Trump immune from all prosecution?
The Supreme Court's ruling on that question could come this week, possibly on Wednesday or Thursday before the debate. The ruling could also come Friday or in early July, after the court announced two additional opinion days. The wait has been excruciating in the political world, with critics accusing the Supreme Court of slow-rolling the decision. Trump's legal team brought the case as a challenge to special counsel Jack Smith's classified documents case against Trump. - Trump's lawyers argued that presidents have immunity from official acts while in office that applies even after they leave.
- The special counsel argued that only sitting presidents are immune from prosecution and broadening the scope of immunity would invite criminal conduct.
The Hill's Rebecca Beitsch has the full rundown here.
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GOP seeks to detain Garland using obscure maneuver; Bowman fights for political life
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Republicans have a novel new salvo in their fight to hold Attorney General Merrick Garland in contempt of Congress. Rep. Anna Paulina-Luna (R-Fla.) has dusted off an "inherent contempt" maneuver that hasn't been used in more than 100 years. Luna is seeking to force a vote on the move, which would require the sergeant-at-arms to forcibly detain Garland and bring him before the House. The Hill's Emily Brooks and Rebecca Beitsch get into the arcane maneuver here. Garland has refused to comply with House subpoenas to release audio tapes of President Biden's interview with special counsel Robert Hur in the classified documents case. MEANWHILE... Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) will face Democratic primary voters Tuesday as polls show him trailing Westchester County executive George Latimer. If Bowman loses, he'll have gone out with a bang. His weekend rally with with Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) irked some Democrats. Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.) called Bowman's profanity-laced rally "shocking," "unhinged" and "unbecoming of a Member of Congress." On Monday, Latimer received his first official endorsement from a sitting member when Rep. Josh Gottheimer (D-N.J.) endorsed his campaign. |
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Biden denounces pro-Palestinian demonstration as "anti-Semitic"
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President Biden strongly condemned the pro-Palestinian rally outside of the Adas Torah synagogue in Los Angeles that turned violent over the weekend. Biden, who has been the target of intense criticism from liberals over his handling of the Israel-Hamas war, condemned the demonstrations as "abhorrent" and "anti-Semitic." "Intimidating Jewish congregants is dangerous, unconscionable, antisemitic, and un-American. Americans have a right to peaceful protest. But blocking access to a house of worship – and engaging in violence – is never acceptable."
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3 days until the first presidential debate.
21 days until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee.
56 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
134 days until the 2024 general election.
210 days until Inauguration Day 2025. |
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Monday - President Biden is at Camp David for debate prep.
- Vice President Harris holds a campaign event in Phoenix at 6:30, then flies to Los Angeles for the night.
Tuesday - Primary elections in New York, Colorado and Utah.
- Olympic swimmers Michael Phelps and Allison Schmitt testify about anti-doping efforts at 7 p.m. in front of the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
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Is there a story you think should be getting more attention? Something people should be talking about? Drop me a line: jeasley@thehill.com | |
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