Politics
The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee has passed the bipartisan REPUBLIC Act, introduced by Senator Rand Paul, which aims to reform presidential emergency powers. The legislation allows the President to act immediately in crises but mandates congressional review for extended use of emergency powers. This act addresses concerns over the authority granted by the National Emergencies Act of 1976, which has allowed long-standing emergencies like the 1979 Iranian hostage crisis to persist. The REPUBLIC Act also seeks to terminate the President’s control over U.S. communications infrastructure and requires the disclosure of Presidential Emergency Action Documents to Congress.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court faces a significant breach of confidentiality, reportedly originating from one of the nine justices. This follows the earlier leak of the Dobbs decision draft, which overturned Roe v. Wade. Chief Justice John Roberts is addressing the fallout as public approval of the court drops to 47%. The recent leak involves internal deliberations on cases such as Trump v. Anderson and Fischer v. United States, prompting calls for binding ethics rules for the Supreme Court. Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson have expressed support for enforceable ethics codes, highlighting the need for greater accountability.
In other news, the Justice Department has released a letter written by Ryan Wesley Routh, who is suspected of attempting to assassinate former President Donald Trump. The letter, found in a box delivered to a witness months before the incident, admitted to the assassination attempt and offered money to anyone willing to complete the job. Routh, who traveled from North Carolina to Florida, has been charged with possessing a gun illegally as a felon, with more serious charges likely pending. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has stated that Routh’s offense should merit life in prison.
Geopolitics
In the Middle East, Israeli military officials have issued evacuation warnings to residents in southern Lebanon and parts of Beirut, raising concerns about a potential full-scale war. Following these warnings, bombings have resulted in over 270 deaths in Lebanon’s south and east, with parts of Beirut also targeted. The warnings, delivered via recorded calls, text messages, and hacked radio broadcasts, suggest Israel’s technological capabilities. Experts believe Israel’s ability to send targeted warnings indicates access to real-time information about Lebanese civilians, likely through sophisticated spyware and intelligence operations. This situation underscores ongoing tensions and the potential for further conflict in the region.
Col. Lawrence Wilkerson, former chief of staff to Secretary of State Colin Powell, has revealed a significant shift in U.S. foreign policy. According to Wilkerson, Pentagon chief Gen. Lloyd Austin informed President Biden that the Pentagon has taken over diplomatic and military actions concerning Ukraine and Israel. This move, described as an instruction rather than advice, has led to a change in U.S. policy, discouraging aggressive actions by Israel and Ukraine. However, this raises concerns about the balance of power within the U.S. government, as the military appears to be overriding presidential authority. The Pentagon’s increasing role in diplomacy highlights the growing influence of military leaders in foreign affairs.
Society
Telegram CEO Pavel Durov has announced changes to the platform’s Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, making it less accommodating for criminals. The updated policies now allow Telegram to disclose IP addresses and phone numbers of users suspected of criminal activities to authorities upon valid legal requests. This shift marks a departure from Telegram’s earlier stance as a highly private messaging service. Durov also highlighted efforts to clean up illegal content on Telegram, using a team of moderators and AI tools to identify and block harmful material. This initiative follows Durov’s arrest in France, where he was charged with failing to cooperate with law enforcement and allowing illegal activities on the platform. Telegram has also begun addressing the issue of deepfake porn, particularly in response to concerns from South Korean regulators.
Sources
Senator Rand Paul’s Bipartisan REPUBLIC Act Passes HSGAC to Curb Presidential Emergency Powers
“The REPUBLIC Act reins in the blank check of power presidents write themselves in the name of self-declared emergencies,” said Dr. Paul.
Source | Submitted by Barbara
Chief Justice Roberts Faces Unprecedented Crisis Amid Supreme Court Leaks
Roberts is a good chief in bad times. He can hardly be blamed for the alleged abandonment of the most fundamental ethical principles by justices or clerks. Yet, the court is now in an undeniable crisis of faith.
Source | Submitted by bcoop
Israel Allegedly Hacks Lebanese Telecoms: Warnings Precede Bombings
“What we don’t know is how Israel got these details of people — cellphone numbers, locations. … Is it because of data leaks or because Israel has hacked into Lebanon’s telecoms infrastructure?” Ibrahim said.
Source | Submitted by Shplad
Chilling Letter Reveals Months-Long Plot by Trump Assassination Suspect
The Justice Department released a chilling letter written by would-be Trump assassin Ryan Wesley Routh on Monday.
Source | Submitted by joe tenaglia
Pentagon Power Play: Has the U.S. Military Taken Over Foreign Policy?
The Pentagon has taken over, essentially, diplomacy as well as any action, militarily speaking, with regard to both theaters of war.
Source | Submitted by Ronald Koo
Telegram Tightens Privacy Policies Amid CEO’s Legal Troubles in France
“We have updated our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy, ensuring they are consistent across the world,” Durov said. “We’ve made it clear that the IP addresses and phone numbers of those who violate our rules can be disclosed to relevant authorities in response to valid legal requests.”
Source | Submitted by pnwdefector
by davefairtex 
