Links & News Articles We've Shared

• Biden visits Minnesota to talk clean energy:   https://www.mprnews.org/story/2023/04/03/biden-touts-clean-energy-spending-jobs-in-minnesota-visit

• Finland is admitted to NATO:  https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/04/04/world/russia-ukraine-war

• Over 10K students rally in Tennessee to ask the Legislature to take up common sense gun control. How does the GOP Supermajority respond? They remove from committee and will vote to expel three Democrat Congresspeople who stood with the kids? The Republicans in Tennessee do not respect free speech which includes the right to protest:  https://apnews.com/article/tennessee-expulsion-gop-lawmakers

• Permitless concealed carry is now legal in Florida. This past Monday, Governor DeSantis signed the bill in a nonpublic event in his office with only bill sponsors, legislative leaders and gun rights advocates, including the National Rifle Association, in attendance:  https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/ron-desantis-quietly-signs-permitless-concealed-carry-law-rcna77934

• Wisconsin voters flip Supreme Court to liberal control with 55% to 44% margin: https://www.jsonline.com/story/news/politics/2023/04/04/wisconsin-supreme-court-election-results-2023-janet-protasiewicz-daniel-kelly/70052928007/

• The government-led attacks on trans folks right next door. These MAGA states are trying hard to outdo each other on the depth of their hateful policies: https://kstp.com/world/north-dakota-advances-suite-of-restrictions-on-trans-rights/

• Texas judge rules against mandated preventative care coverage through the Affordable Care Act https://www.verywellhealth.com/aca-preventive-care-texas-judge-strikes-down-737493 

• SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas received luxury trips for from a billionaire  https://www.propublica.org/article/clarence-thomas-scotus-undisclosed-luxury-travel-gifts-crow 

• Something to keep an eye on. Tennessee Bill HB0878/SB0596 seems innocuous enough: "a person is not required to solemnize a marriage if the person has an objection to solemnizing the marriage based on the person's conscience or religious beliefs." But what if your beliefs are that same-sex marriage is wrong? Or interracial marriage is wrong? Or interfaith marriage is wrong? Many think this opens the door for the law to be tested and is ultimately intended to get the case before SCOTUS so they can overturn Obergefell v. Hodges. Considering that some Justices have already stated they are willing to review Obergefell, this is sending shockwaves through the LGBTQIA community.  https://newrepublic.com/post/171025/tennessee-house-bill-gutting-marriage-equality

​