A recent survey by Economist/YouGov shows that a plurality of Americans view President Joe Biden's use of his presidential pardon powers as “inappropriate.” According to the survey, 46 percent of respondents believe Biden's pardons and commutations have been inappropriate, compared to 28 percent who find them appropriate. Around 26 percent of those surveyed remain undecided.
The U.S. government has agreed to pay nearly $116 million to settle lawsuits brought by over 100 women who suffered sexual abuse and mistreatment at the now-closed Federal Correctional Institution (FCI) in Dublin, California.
The Pinellas County Commission has approved a $312.5 million bond issue to finance its part of a new $1.3 billion stadium for the Tampa Bay Rays. The 5-2 vote, which was delayed twice, allows the county to move forward with selling the bonds, contingent on the Rays meeting their obligations under the deal. The approval follows the St. Petersburg City Council’s earlier vote to approve its $287.5 million share of the project on December 6.
Rep. Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., expressed skepticism about U.S. military strikes in Syria during an interview on CNN’s The Source. Responding to the Biden administration's 75 strikes against ISIS targets, Omar argued that U.S. military involvement is counterproductive to Syria’s progress in rebuilding and establishing democratic institutions.
A federal judge in Texas rejected a proposed plea deal between Boeing and the U.S. Justice Department (DOJ), citing concerns over the court’s limited role in selecting an independent monitor for the aerospace giant.
