Former President Biden Bashes Potential Cuts To Social Security In First Post-White House Remarks
The Hill's Washington Correspondent Drew Petrimoulx recaps Former President Biden's first public remarks since leaving office, where he railed against potential cuts to social security as part of the GOP's funding bill.
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Washington Post
23 minutes ago
- Washington Post
North Carolina redistricting trial begins, with racial gerrymandering allegations the focus
RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina congressional and legislative districts drawn by Republicans that helped them retain majorities in Raleigh and Washington are in court, as federal lawsuits accuse mapmakers of illegally eroding Black voting power in the process. A trial scheduled by a three-judge panel will start Monday in Winston-Salem over allegations that GOP legislative leaders violated federal law and the U.S. Constitution when they enacted new electoral maps in the ninth-largest state in October 2023 . Republican leaders counter that lawfully partisan — and not racial — considerations helped inform their decision-making.
Associated Press
36 minutes ago
- Associated Press
160 years after its inception, a guide to what is Juneteenth and how to celebrate it
It was 160 years ago that enslaved people in Galveston, Texas, learned they had been freed — after the Civil War's end and two years after President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation. The resulting Juneteenth holiday — it's name combining 'June' and 'nineteenth' — has only grown in one-and-a-half centuries. In 2021, President Joe Biden designated it a federal holiday — making it more universally recognized beyond Black America. This year will be the first Juneteenth under President Donald Trump's second administration, which has banned diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives, or DEI, in the federal government. This has included removing Black American history content from federal websites. Trump officials have also discouraged some federal agencies from recognizing other racial heritage celebrations. Still, many people anticipate getting Juneteenth off work. There are a plethora of street festivals, fairs, concerts and other events planned throughout the week leading into the holiday. But with the current political climate, some may wonder if their company will honor it. 'I don't think anyone should be intimidated or obligated into not celebrating the day,' said Marc Morial, president and CEO of the National Urban League. 'I've not heard of anyone being denied. I think it would be absolutely reprehensible.' People who never gave the occasion more than a passing thought may be asking themselves, is there a 'right' way to celebrate Juneteenth? For beginners and those brushing up on history, here are some answers: Is Juneteenth more of a solemn day of remembrance or a party? It just depends on what you want. Juneteenth festivities are rooted in cookouts and picnics. Originally celebrated as Black Americans' true Independence Day, outdoor events allowed for large, raucous reunions among formerly enslaved family, many of whom had been separated. The gatherings were especially revolutionary because they were free of restrictive measures, known as 'Black Codes,' enforced in Confederate states. Codes controlled whether liberated slaves could vote, buy property, gather for worship and other aspects of daily life. Last year, the White House kicked things off early with a concert on the South Lawn for Juneteenth and Black Music Month. The atmosphere was primarily festive with Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black vice president, dancing on stage with gospel singer Kirk Franklin. Plans for a Juneteenth event or proclamation this year have not been decided, according to the White House press office. Others may choose to treat Juneteenth as a day of rest and remembrance. That can mean doing community service, attending an education panel or taking time off. 'The most important thing everyone should do is be able to quickly answer the question 'What is Juneteenth?'' Morial said. What if you've never celebrated Juneteenth? Dr. David Anderson, a Black pastor and CEO of Gracism Global, a consulting firm helping leaders navigate conversations bridging divides across race and culture, never did anything on Juneteenth in his youth. He didn't learn about it until his 30s. 'I think many folks haven't known about it — who are even my color as an African American male. Even if you heard about it and knew about it, you didn't celebrate it,' Anderson said. 'It was like just a part of history. It wasn't a celebration of history.' For many African Americans, the farther away from Texas that they grew up increased the likelihood they didn't have big Juneteenth celebrations regularly. In the South, the day can vary based on when word of Emancipation reached each state. What kind of public Juneteenth events are going on around the country? Search online and you will find gatherings nationwide varying in scope and tone. Some are more carnival-esque festivals with food trucks, arts and crafts and parades. Within those festivals, you'll likely find information on health care, finance and community resources. There also are concerts and fashion shows to highlight Black creativity. There will also be panels to educate about Juneteenth's history. The National Park Service is again making entry into all sites free on the holiday, according to its website. Are there special decorations or foods associated with Juneteenth? The red, black and green African Liberation Flag, also known as the Pan-African flag, has historically been displayed at both Black History Month and Juneteenth celebrations. Red represents bloodshed and sacrifice of enslaved ancestors. Black symbolizes Black people. Green represents richness of the land in Africa. More people, however, have leaned into the Juneteenth flag created in 1997 by activist Ben Haith, who founded the National Juneteenth Celebration Foundation. Like the American flag, it is red, white and blue to indicate those freed are also Americans. The five-point white star in the middle is a tribute to Juneteenth's birthplace of Texas. It is encircled by another white starry line that represents the spreading of freedom. Aside from barbecue, the color red has been a through line for Juneteenth food for generations. Red symbolizes the bloodshed and sacrifice of enslaved ancestors. A Juneteenth menu might incorporate items like barbecued ribs or other red meat, watermelon and red velvet cake. Drinks like fruit punch and red Kool-Aid may make an appearance at the table. In recent years, Juneteenth has become more commercialized with national chains selling Juneteenth party supplies, T-shirts and other merchandise. However, this year, Juneteenth items appear to be fewer or only online. Morial says he would be disappointed if companies decided selling Juneteenth items out in the open was too risky because of politics. At the same time, it might be a good opportunity for consumers. 'I would also encourage people to go online and look for an African American vendor,' Morial said. 'If you got to participate in that (commercialism), that's what I would do.' Does how you celebrate Juneteenth matter if you aren't Black? Dr. Karida Brown, a sociology professor at Emory University whose research focuses on race, said there's no reason to feel awkward about wanting to recognize Juneteenth just because you have no personal ties or you're not Black. In fact, embrace it. 'I would reframe that and challenge my non-Black folks who want to lean into Juneteenth and celebrate,' Brown said. 'It absolutely is your history. It absolutely is a part of your experience. ... Isn't this all of our history? The good, the bad, the ugly, the story of emancipation and freedom for your Black brothers and sisters under the Constitution of the law.' What are other names used to refer to Juneteenth? Over the decades, Juneteenth has also been called Freedom Day, Emancipation Day, Black Fourth of July and second Independence Day among others. 'Because 1776, Fourth of July, where we're celebrating freedom and liberty and all of that, that did not include my descendants,' Brown said. 'Black people in America were still enslaved. So that that holiday always comes with a bittersweet tinge to it.' Is there a proper Juneteenth greeting? It's typical to wish people a 'Happy Juneteenth' or 'Happy Teenth,' according to Alan Freeman, a comedian who has organized a June 19 comedy show at Club 68, which local media has described as the last Black bar and club on Galveston Island. The day after he will host a stand-up comedy and jazz show at his Houston restaurant and lounge, the Frisky Whisky. 'You know how at Christmas people will say 'Merry Christmas' to each other and not even know each other?' Freeman said. 'You can get a 'Merry Christmas' from everybody. This is the same way.'
Associated Press
36 minutes ago
- Associated Press
North Carolina redistricting trial begins, with racial gerrymandering allegations the focus
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — North Carolina congressional and legislative districts drawn by Republicans that helped them retain majorities in Raleigh and Washington are in court, as federal lawsuits accuse mapmakers of illegally eroding Black voting power in the process. A trial scheduled by a three-judge panel will start Monday in Winston-Salem over allegations that GOP legislative leaders violated federal law and the U.S. Constitution when they enacted new electoral maps in the ninth-largest state in October 2023. Republican leaders counter that lawfully partisan — and not racial — considerations helped inform their decision-making. The lines were used in the 2024 elections, after which Republicans kept General Assembly majorities and flipped three U.S. House seats held by Democratic incumbents who didn't seek reelection because they decided the recast district made winning impossible. Those seat flips, which turned a 7-7 delegation into one with a 10-4 Republican advantage, helped the GOP keep narrow control of the House, which has helped advance President Donald Trump's agenda. Favorable rulings for the plaintiffs could force Republicans to redraw maps for the 2026 elections, making it harder to retain their partisan advantage. Otherwise, the districts could be used through the 2030 elections. Who is suing and what they allege The trial involves two lawsuits filed in late 2023. In one lawsuit, the North Carolina NAACP, Common Cause and several Black residents originally sued over redrawn state House and Senate maps and U.S. House districts. The other lawsuit filed by nearly 20 Black and Latino voters focused on the new congressional districts, four of which they argue are illegal racial gerrymanders. Pretrial rulings this spring and amended litigation dismissed challenges to the state House map and narrowed state Senate arguments to a handful of districts. Still, both lawsuits claim that lines are so skewed for GOP candidates that many Black voters cannot elect their preferred candidates, violating the Voting Rights Act. They allege the mapmakers submerged or spread out Black voting blocs, which historically have favored Democrats, into surrounding districts with white majorities — benefiting Republicans. They point to a region where the cities of Greensboro, High Point and Winston-Salem are located. They said Republicans split the region's concentrated Black voting population within multiple U.S. House districts. Then-Rep. Kathy Manning, a Greensboro Democrat, decided not to run again because her district shifted to the right. The plaintiffs also allege Republican mapmakers intentionally discriminated against Black and Latino voters. Republicans: Redistricting considered politics, not race In a pretrial brief, lawyers for Republican leaders say the lawmakers used mapmaking rules that prohibited using data identifying the race of voters, in keeping with rulings on previous North Carolina redistricting maps in which judges chided them for emphasizing race. Instead, Republicans were able to lawfully use partisan data — like statewide election results — in drawing the new maps, the lawyers said. They cite a 2019 U.S. Supreme Court decision and an April 2023 state Supreme Court decision that neutered legal claims of illegal partisan gerrymandering. The plaintiffs counter that the 'racial sorting' within the challenged districts can't be explained by politics alone. Who is hearing the case, and when will there be a ruling? The three judges were all nominated to the bench by Republican presidents: 4th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Allison Rushing (Donald Trump) and District Judges Thomas Schroeder (George W. Bush) and Richard Myers (Trump). The panel has set aside several days for a trial that won't end until July 9. Likely witnesses include individual plaintiffs, state legislators, redistricting experts and historians. No immediate decision is expected — the legal sides have until early August to file additional briefs. The court's ruling can be appealed. With candidate filing for the 2026 election starting Dec. 1, any required remapping would have to be completed by late fall to avoid election disruptions. Redistricting history North Carolina has a long history of redistricting litigation in federal courts. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in landmark cases in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s involving racial bias and the extent to which racial considerations could be used in forming districts that favored the election of Black candidates. The court's 2019 decision on partisan gerrymandering stemmed from a North Carolina case. The current maps were drawn after the state Supreme Court, with a Republican seat majority, essentially struck down rulings the court made in 2022 when it had a Democratic majority. Two other lawsuits challenging the 2023 district boundaries are pending. Statewide races in North Carolina are close, and Democrats have held the governor's mansion for most of the past 30 years. But Republicans have controlled the General Assembly — and thus redistricting — since 2011. Redistricting maps can't be blocked by a governor's veto.
