Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL) called for government agencies to resist President Donald Trump’s executive order eliminating diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) mandates in federal institutions. Speaking on MSNBC’s Andrea Mitchell Reports on Wednesday, Durbin argued that promoting diversity is essential to the country’s strength and urged agencies, corporations, and universities to continue implementing DEI initiatives despite Trump’s directive.
Former President Donald Trump signed an executive order rescinding President Lyndon B. Johnson's Executive Order 11246, which mandated affirmative action in federal government contracting. The new policy eliminates diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) requirements in the federal workforce and contracting, shifting the focus to a merit-based system. The administration noted this change as a commitment to rewarding individual skills, performance, and hard work over identity-based hiring quotas.
Attorneys General from 20 states are calling on the U.S. Senate to quickly confirm three nominees proposed by President-elect Donald Trump for key national security positions. The nominees include Governor Kristi Noem (R-SD) for Secretary of Homeland Security, Pam Bondi for Attorney General, and Kash Patel for FBI Director. The officials emphasize the urgency of assembling a strong national security team given current challenges.
L.A. Times columnist Sammy Roth has attributed the recent Palisades Fire and other devastating wildfires in Los Angeles to climate change, framing the issue as a result of fossil fuel dependence and global warming. In his column titled “Los Angeles is a climate disaster. The fires will change nothing,” Roth called for systemic changes, such as reducing fossil fuel use, supporting green businesses, and prioritizing climate action in public policy and personal decisions.
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) criticized a Republican-backed bill seeking to prohibit biological men from participating in federally funded K-12 women’s sports. Jeffries argued on MSNBC’s All In that the legislation could lead to harmful outcomes for children, claiming it risks enabling predators under the guise of enforcing the law.
California Democrats have reportedly reached an agreement to allocate $50 million to the state's budget as part of a legal fund to combat incoming president Donald Trump's policies in the state.
Congressional Democrats outpaced the S&P 500, according to data collected by Unusual Whales. The portfolios were seven points higher than the S&P 500, or 24%.
The FDA is advancing a controversial regulation to lower nicotine levels in cigarettes, drawing criticism for potential unintended consequences, including fueling black market activity.
