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Today’s edition of quick hits.
* The latest from California: “More than 180,000 residents have evacuated and at least five people have died as massive wildfires continued to spread across the Los Angeles area Thursday, burning a total of more than 45 square miles so far.”
* With one day remaining before Trump’s scheduled criminal sentencing: “New York’s top state court on Thursday rejected a bid from Donald Trump to block his sentencing on Friday. He has another attempt pending in the U.S. Supreme Court on which the justices have not yet ruled.”
* It remains to be seen whether our allies in Ukraine will see another aid package like this one anytime soon: “The Biden administration is providing an additional $500 million package in weapons and equipment to Ukraine from its existing military stockpiles, looking to further reinforce Kyiv’s military less than two weeks before President-elect Trump is set to take office.”
* The judge in this case was appointed by George W. Bush: “The Biden administration’s Title IX rules expanding protections for LGBTQ+ students have been struck down nationwide after a federal judge in Kentucky found they overstepped the president’s authority. In a decision issued Thursday, U.S. District Judge Danny C. Reeves scrapped the entire 1,500-page regulation after deciding it was ‘fatally’ tainted by legal shortcomings.”
* In New Mexico: “The New Mexico Supreme Court on Thursday struck down abortion restrictions by conservative cities and counties at the request of the state attorney general. The unanimous opinion reinforces the state’s position as having some of the most liberal abortion laws in the country. The ruling preserves access to abortion procedures across a state that has become a major destination for people from other states with bans.”
* Final passage on this bill won’t be nearly as lopsided: “The Senate voted Thursday to begin debate on the Laken Riley Act, clearing a key hurdle to advance a Republican-led bill aimed at cracking down on illegal immigration that has garnered significant support from Democrats. With a vote of 84-9, the bill easily cleared the 60-vote threshold to advance in GOP-controlled Senate. But many Democrats have suggested they want to amend the bill, so it’s unclear whether it will receive enough support for final passage.”
* Meanwhile, in the other chamber, this bill passed on a 243-to-140 vote: “The House on Thursday passed legislation that would impose sanctions on officials at the International Criminal Court, making a frontal assault on the tribunal in a rebuke of its move to charge top Israeli leaders with war crimes for their offensive against Hamas in Gaza.”
* A case we’ve been following: “Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis has asked the Georgia Supreme Court to reverse her disqualification in the election interference case against President-elect Trump, according to a court filing.”
See you tomorrow.