Tuesday Briefing: Trump can appear on ballots
Good morning. We’re covering a legal victory for Donald Trump and a French vote to protect abortion. Plus, the cricket dreams of Indian girls.
The Supreme Court ruled Trump can stay on ballotThe U.S. Supreme Court ruled that states may not bar Donald Trump from running for another presidential term, rejecting a challenge to his eligibility that had threatened to upend the race by taking him off ballots around the nation. The case centered on a constitutional provision in the 14th Amendment, which was adopted after the Civil War in the 1860s, that prohibits insurrectionists from holding office. A challenge brought by voters in Colorado sought to disqualify Trump from the ballot for that state’s Republican primary based on the provision. Though the justices provided different reasons, their decision was unanimous. None of them took a position on whether Trump had engaged in insurrection, and instead focused on legal issues. A five-justice majority said states could disqualify people from holding state office, but that only Congress was responsible for enforcing the provision in the 14th Amendment against federal officeholders and candidates. In an interview on a conservative radio program, Trump said he was pleased by the ruling. “I was very honored by a nine-to-nothing vote,” he said. “And this is for future presidents, this is not for me.” A big week in the presidential race: Today is Super Tuesday, when many states have primary elections. On Thursday, President Biden is scheduled to deliver his State of the Union address. Both the Trump and Biden campaigns see this as a critical period that will set the tone of the coming general election run.
France protects abortionFrance yesterday became the first country to explicitly enshrine access to abortion in its constitution. The amendment, prompted by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe v. Wade in 2022, reflected the widespread support for abortion in France. The amendment declared abortion a “guaranteed freedom.” That means future governments would not be able to “drastically modify” current laws, which fund abortions up to 14 weeks of pregnancy with no waiting period and without required counseling. Lawmakers voted 780-72 for the amendment. “We are sending the message to all women: Your body belongs to you and no one has the right to control it in your stead,” Prime Minister Gabriel Attal said. Politics: Unlike in the U.S., abortion is not a politically charged issue in France. Most people there believe abortion is a basic public health service and a woman’s right.
A U.N. report on sexual assault claims in the Oct. 7 attackA U.N. report released yesterday said there were “reasonable grounds” to believe that sexual violence had occurred against women during the Hamas-led Oct. 7 attack on Israel and found evidence that hostages being held in the Gaza Strip had also been assaulted. The report also said its team had heard allegations by Palestinian officials that implicated Israeli security forces and settlers in the assault of Palestinian women in detention and in the West Bank. The report called for a full investigation by U.N. officials. In Washington, Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to press for a pause in fighting during a meeting with Benny Gantz, a top Israeli cabinet official. |
