Closing summary
Washington digested Joe Biden’s announcement that he is running for a second term, with Democrats sounding very much ready for him to remain in office for another four years, and Republicans giving Americans all sorts of reasons not to vote for him. We’re 560 days away from the 2024 election; prepare for lots more of this.
Here’s what else happened today:
Biden said he would veto the Republican debt ceiling bill if it ever gets to his desk, which it probably won’t, at least not in its current form.
Senator Ed Markey has called on supreme court justice Clarence Thomas to resign over his recently revealed links to a Republican megadonor. The Democrat is the first senator to make such a demand.
Neil Gorsuch, a conservative supreme court justice, sold a property to the head of a law firm who argues cases before the tribunal shortly after his confirmation, according to a new report.
Donald Trump’s civil trial over a rape allegation is under way in New York City.
Please don’t talk about Biden or Trump’s age, a UK-based charity that focuses on ageing, asked.
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The White House congratulated Washington state for enacting tighter restrictions on guns today, including a ban on the sale of certain assault weapons.
“Today, Washington State has become the tenth state in the nation alongside Washington DC to ban assault weapons and get weapons of war off America’s streets. President Biden commends the leadership of Washington Governor Jay Inslee, and legislative leaders, as well as the advocates, survivors and elected officials who fought for years to make today a reality. In so doing, they have made every community in the state – from Seattle to Spokane and everywhere in between – safer and more secure,” press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement.
According to the Associated Press, Democratic governor Jay Inslee signed three bills today that impose a 10-day waiting period on gun purchases, bans dozens of semi-automatic firearms and allow family members of people who die from gun violence to sue a seller or manufacturer if it “is irresponsible in how they handle, store or sell those weapons”.
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