Sen. Diane Feinstein: U.S. Sen. Diane Feinstein has died. The news of her death broke this morning. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer paid tribute to her in a speech this morning on the Senate floor. Feinstein’s health had deteriorated in recent months and she was affected by the virus shingles. Feinstein was elected to the Senate from California in 1992. She announced earlier this year that she would not be seeking reelection in 2024. Feinstein’s health issues have included the brain swelling condition encephalitis. This summer she was hospitalized after suffering a fall at her home in San Francisco. Feinstein served as mayor of San Francisco and went to the Senate after winning a special election.
Government shutdown: House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is reported to be pressing far-right members of the Freedom Caucus to go along with a short-term funding bill that will prevent the government from shutting down this weekend. If the Republican extremists still refuse to go-along, McCarthy could reach out to Democrats to gather enough votes for the funding extension to be put into place. However, it is believed if he does look for a bipartisan solution there would be an effort by extremist Republicans to remove McCarthy as speaker and instead install a right-winger such as Congressman Matt Gaetz of Florida.
No trial delay: A New York appeals court has rejected an attempt by Donald Trump to delay the fraud trial due to start Monday in state court. New York Attorney General Letitia James is suing Trump, Trump family members and The Trump Organization for defrauding banks, insurance companies and the state through fraudulent financial documents. It will not be a jury trial and Judge Arthur Engoron will be presiding. James is seeking at least $250 million in damages from Trump and if the case goes against him he and his family members and companies likely would be permanently banned from doing business in New York state.
Biden democracy speech: President Biden visited Tempe, Arizona, where a library is being built honoring the late Republican Sen. John McCain, who was his close friend. Biden called out Donald Trump by name and warned that Trump’s Make America Great Again movement is a threat to American democracy. Biden declared that America already is great. He blasted mainstream Republicans for remaining silent after Trump called for General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to be executed.
Oil and gas drilling: The Biden Administration announced today that between now and 2029 it will offer three leases for drilling for oil and natural gas in federal waters in the Gulf of Mexico. By offering the drilling leases, the federal government also is able to open up more federal waters for building wind farms to generate electricity. The Inflation Reduction Act included language that said the government could expand wind farms if it also offered more oil and gas drilling leases. Sen. Joe Manchen of West Virginia was behind making new oil and gas drilling a requirement before more wind farms could be created. The Trump Administration wanted to offer 47 new oil and gas drilling leases from 2024 through 2029.
Reporter still held: Today marks six months since Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich was arrested by the Russians while on a reporting assignment. He was charged with espionage. Both the newspaper and the U.S. government deny that Gershkovich was a spy and have called on the Russians to immediately release him.
