Treasury warns ‘anti-woke’ laws endanger national security
The U.S. Treasury Department is warning certain “anti-woke” state laws are a national security risk. The Treasury Department said state laws restricting banks from considering environmental, social and governance factors could negatively impact efforts to stop money laundering and terrorism financing.
According to The Associated Press, in a letter sent to lawmakers Thursday, July 18, the Treasury specifically pointed to a new Florida law signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis in May. The law went into effect July 1, and it addresses climate change, dropping it down on Florida’s list of priorities.
The law also states it would be considered “unsafe and unsound practices” for businesses like banks to consider non-financial factors. In its letter, the Treasury Department said “such laws create uncertainty and may inhibit” national security efforts.
While Florida was singled out, it’s not the only state to make a move like this. Tennessee recently enacted a similar law and state legislatures in Georgia, Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana and South Dakota are currently considering measure along these same lines.
The Treasury’s letter was a response to a request earlier this month from Democratic Reps. Josh Gottheimer of New Jersey and Brad Sherman of California, and Republican Missouri Rep. Blaine Luetkemeyer.
After getting the letter, Rep. Gottheimer issued a statement saying, “To any states that are considering similar laws, I urge them to think twice before putting America’s national security at risk.”
Biden, Trump campaigns mark 2nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade being overturned
The Biden and Trump campaigns are marking the two-year anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning Roe v. Wade. And more than one thousand people are dead while making the Hajj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia amid dangerous high temperatures. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, June 24, 2024.
Biden, Trump campaigns mark 2nd anniversary of Roe v. Wade being overturned
Monday, June 24, marks the second anniversary of the Supreme Court overturning the Roe v. Wade decision, ending the constitutional legal right to an abortion. Since that ruling, many states have taken a stance on the issue.
More than 20 states have restricted abortions while over 20 others have expanded access to abortion.
Now, just days away from the first presidential debate between President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump, both campaigns are making clear where they stand on the matter.
The Biden campaign is hosting more than 50 events to mark the second anniversary of the Dobbs decision, where the president and his supporters will speak out against the court’s ruling.
Vice President Kamala Harris is expected to participate in two campaign events Monday — one in Arizona and one in Maryland — while second gentleman Doug Emhoff will be part of a rally in Michigan.
Harris has been on the road since January on her “Fight for Reproductive Freedoms” tour in response to the high court’s ruling.
The campaign said the vice president on Monday, June 24, will “remind voters that Donald Trump is responsible for overturning Roe and the chaos that has followed.”
In an interview that on MSNBC, Harris spoke about freedom.
“Every person of whatever gender should understand that, if such a fundamental freedom such as the right to make decisions about your own body can be taken, be aware of what other freedoms may be at stake,” the vice president said.
Former President Trump, meanwhile, spoke on the topic during his keynote address at the Faith and Freedom Coalition’s conference in Washington on June 22. He thanked his nominees to the Supreme Court for showing “wisdom” and “courage” on their decision two years ago.
Trump reiterated his stance that the issue should be left for the states to decide.
“And we did something that was amazing,” Trump said. “The big problem was it was caught up in the federal government. But the people will decide and that’s the way it should be. The people are now deciding, and some states are a little bit more conservative, and some states are much more liberal.”
Also Monday, a three-day hearing continues in Florida as the federal judge presiding over Trump’s classified documents case will hear arguments on whether the former president should be barred from making public comments that prosecutors say pose a threat to FBI agents working the investigation.
Netanyahu says “intense fighting” in Gaza will soon end
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says “intense fighting” in Gaza could soon come to an end, but the war is far from over. In his first interview with Israeli media since the war with Hamas started on Oct. 7, Netanyahu said Sunday, June 23, he’s ready to make “a partial deal” with Hamas to return some hostages still being held captive in Gaza, but the war will not be over until Hamas is eliminated.
He also said that once the intense fighting in Gaza winds down, Israel will be able to focus more on its northern border with Lebanon, where fighting with the Iran-backed group Hezbollah is escalating.
Netanyahu’s interview came just as eight people were killed Sunday in an Israeli airstrike on a “training college” in Gaza City being used to distribute aid. It was formerly the headquarters for a United Nations agency.
The Israeli military said the site has been used by Hamas and Islamic jihad militants and precautionary measures were taken before the strike to reduce the risk of harming civilians.
Meanwhile, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant arrived in Washington Sunday, June 23, for meetings with officials as Netanyahu appeared to double down on recent claims the U.S. is withholding weapons meant to be delivered to Israel.
“Since the beginning of the war, the U.S. has supplied us with very important support both in spirit and materially, with defensive and offensive means,” Netanyahu said. “But since about four months ago, there has been a dramatic decline in arms supplies from the U.S. to Israel. Over long weeks we have turned to our American friends with a request to speed up deliveries. We did it time and again, we did it with higher officials and other ranking officials and I would like to emphasize — we did it behind closed doors. We got various explanations but one thing we did not get: the basic state of affairs did not change. Some items came dripping in, but the great mass of arms was left behind.”
The Biden administration has denied Netanyahu’s claims.
In May, the administration did pause a shipment of bombs over concerns about their impact if used in densely populated areas of Gaza, but Israel was still due to get billions of dollars’ worth of U.S. weaponry.
At least 19 killed in attacks on places of worship in Russia
A synagogue, an Orthodox church and police checkpoints were targeted by gunmen in a coordinated series of attacks in Russia’s southernmost Dagestan province on Sunday night. At least 15 police officers were killed, as well as four civilians, including an Orthodox priest.
Local officials said at least six “militants” were also killed following the attacks.
No group has claimed responsibility for the attacks yet, but they come three months after an ISIS affiliate said it carried out an attack at a music hall in Moscow that left more than 140 people dead.
Meanwhile, Russia is blaming the U.S. for a deadly Ukrainian strike on a strategic port in occupied Crimea on Sunday. The strike left at least four people dead and more than 150 injured in one of the biggest attacks on the Russian-annexed peninsula in recent months.
Russian officials say Ukraine used weapons provided by the U.S. to carry out the strike.
Russia annexed Crimea in 2014 and considers it part of the country, though it remains internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory.
1,300 people die during Hajj pilgrimage amid high temps
People are experiencing extreme weather across the globe — including dangerous heat, which is taking a major toll in the Middle East at a time millions are visiting for a sacred religious journey for Muslims known as “Hajj pilgrimage.” More than 1,000 people have died during this year’s pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia as temperatures reached 120 degrees.
Saudi officials said 83% of those who died were “unauthorized pilgrims” who walked long distances without adequate shelter. Egypt revoked the licenses of 16 travel agencies accused of helping the unauthorized visitors.
Among the 1.8 million people who were authorized was a couple from Maryland, who reportedly died on the journey from heat stroke. Their daughter told CNN her parents had saved up their life savings to make the pilgrimage.
In the U.S., a heat dome is impacting 100 million people across 27 states — with high temperature alerts from Los Angeles to New York City.
Washington D.C. and Baltimore hit the 100-degree mark this past weekend for the first time in over a decade.
Meanwhile, severe flooding from heavy rainfall is the concern in the upper Midwest, with Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, R, declaring a disaster emergency for over 20 counties. More than 300 water rescues have been reported and nearly 2,000 properties damaged. Reynolds said “the devastation is severe and widespread.”
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, R, also declared a statewide emergency and confirmed one person was killed in the floods. Noem said the worst of the flooding is expected to come Monday, June 24, and Tuesday, June 25.
Apple first company accused of breaking new European tech law
European Union regulators are accusing Apple of breaking new rules on digital competition by preventing app developers from pointing users to cheaper options than Apple’s app store. The European Commission said preliminary findings of its investigation show Apple breached the Digital Markets Act (DMA) — a law passed in 2022 that took effect in March.
Apple is the first company to be charged for violating the DMA.
Apple now has a chance to respond to the findings, which the commission will assess. It must make a final decision on Apple’s compliance by March 2025.
Apple could face fines worth up to 10% of its global revenue.
Climate activists spray smoke, powder at PGA tournament
Climate activists previously spray painted Taylor Swift’s private jets and Stonehenge to protest the use of fossil fuels. Now, another group of protesters set out to get their message heard by disrupting a golf tournament.
Climate activists stormed the 18th green at the PGA Tour’s Traveler Championship in Connecticut on Sunday.
Nearly 90 wildfires burn in Canada as air quality threat looms in upper Midwest
Around 90 wildfires are currently burning in Canada, sending smoke into the upper Midwest. On Monday, May 13, the smoke caused several states to issue air quality alerts. In Minnesota, all groups of people — healthy or not — were advised to stay indoors.
There was a similar problem in 2023 when Canada had its worst wildfire season on record. Around 250,000 Canadians had to be evacuated because of fires and four firefighters died. Now, concerns are growing this year as people are evacuated from parts of British Columbia due to the Park Lake Fire, which continues to spread.
Other blazes in Canada are threatening communities in Alberta and Manitoba. Experts said the uptick in fires has been made worse by years of drought and this winter’s below-normal snowpack.
So far, the fires are also causing unhealthy conditions in the Dakotas, Montana, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Minnesota Pollution Control Agency advised people to remain indoors, with the warning extended on afternoon of May 13 to last until 11 p.m.
Most of the smoke is expected to stay over Minnesota, but some could drift south of Iowa and Chicago by Tuesday or early Wednesday.
Adding to the air quality problems is agricultural burning in Mexico, which is bringing unhealthy air to Texas earlier. Health officials are warning people who are in areas of poor air quality to stay indoors, and limit time outside if going outdoors is necessary. Health officials also recommend avoiding any strenuous activity outdoors.
VP hopeful Kristi Noem faces further backlash for memoir yet to be released
Just days before Gov. Kristi Noem, R, South Dakota, releases her memoir, the book is facing scrutiny over new allegations of spurious and unsettling claims. First, Noem faced criticism after admitting to shooting and killing her 14-month-old dog, Cricket, for misbehaving. Now, another claim that she met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un while in U.S. Congress is raising more eyebrows on Friday, May 3.
The claim in “No Going Back” has even been refuted by her own spokesperson. Noem’s spokesperson, Ian Fury, admitted that the meeting with Kim never happened.
“We’ve been made aware that the publisher will be addressing conflated world leaders’ names in the book before it is released,” Fury said.
Adding to the intrigue, an excerpt details a strange encounter with former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley. Noem describes a call where Haley allegedly offered mentorship but ended the phone call with what the South Dakota governor saw as a veiled threat.
Haley’s spokesperson refuted Noem’s account, stating that it was just a supportive call during a challenging time for Noem. Haley’s spokesperson also clarified that the conversation occurred in 2020, not in 2021, as written in the memoir.
When asked about the situation, Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Mass., contrasted Noem’s actions with his own past controversy, when he left his family dog on the roof of his vehicle during 12-hour trip.
“I didn’t shoot my dog. I loved my dog, and he loved me,” Romney said.
In an interview with Fox News, Noem maintained her only choice was to kill Cricket.
“It was a dog that was extremely dangerous,” Noem said. “It had come to us from a family that had found her way too aggressive.”
In response to the criticism, a bipartisan group of lawmakers formed the Dog Lovers Caucus, dubbed the “Paw-cus.” The caucus aims to bridge the political divide by championing legislation safeguarding the rights and well-being of dogs.
Noem had been floated as a possible running mate for former President Donald Trump, the GOP front-runner for president, come November, but the fallout from “No Going Back” could dash those dreams.
SD Gov. Noem responds to backlash over story of shooting her own dog
Republican South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is responding to backlash after revealing in her upcoming memoir that she killed her dog named Cricket and a goat on her ranch 20 years ago. The Guardian reported the incident detailed in Noem’s book “No Going Back: The Truth on What’s Wrong with Politics and How We Move America Forward.”
According to The Guardian’s report, in her book Noem said Cricket was a 14-month-old female wirehair pointer with “an aggressive personality.” Noem was training Cricket for pheasant hunting.
Noem wrote she had taken Cricket out for a pheasant hunt and was hoping to calm down the puppy, but Cricket was “out of her mind with excitement, chasing all those birds and having the time of her life.”
Noem wrote that on the way home from the hunt, she had stopped to speak with a local family when Cricket escaped the car and attacked the family’s chickens like a “trained assassin.”
According to Noem, when she attempted to stop Cricket from eating the chickens, Cricket whipped around to bite her.
“I hated that dog,” Noem wrote.
Noem described Cricket as “dangerous to anyone she came in contact with” and “untrainable.”
“At that moment, I realized I had to put her down,” she wrote.
Noem wrote that she led Cricket to a gravel pit and shot her.
“It was not a pleasant job but it had to be done,” Noem wrote.
The governor also wrote about putting down a family goat that she described as “nasty and mean.” According to Noem, the goat had a habit of chasing her children and knocking them down.
Noem, who has been floated as a possible pick for former President Donald Trump’s vice president, received pushback from both Republicans and Democrats over the admitted killings.
The Democratic National Committee released a statement in the voice of pets owned by Democrats.
“Our message is plain and simple: If you want elected officials who don’t brag about brutally killing their pets as part of their self-promotional book tour, then listen to our owners — and vote Democrat,” the statement said.
“I can understand why some people are upset about a 20-year-old story of Cricket, one of the working dogs at our ranch,” Noem said. “The fact is, South Dakota law states that dogs who attack and kill livestock can be put down. Given that Cricket had shown aggressive behavior toward people by biting them, I decided what I did. Whether running the ranch or in politics, I have never passed on my responsibilities to anyone else to handle. Even if it’s hard and painful. I followed the law and was being a responsible parent, dog owner and neighbor.”
Noem’s abortion comments ignored by right-leaning media, twisted by left media
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem, R, a possible Donald Trump-running mate, said it should be up to the states to decide their own abortion laws. According to some outlets, she also indicated she doesn’t support exceptions for rape and incest.
The Straight Arrow News Media Miss™ tool shows conservative media isn’t covering Noem’s comments, and liberal outlets are framing the story in a variety of ways.
The reporting is based on comments Noem made on CNN’s “State of the Union” in response to a question about South Dakota’s trigger law. The law went into effect in the wake of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs decision. The law does not include exceptions for rape and incest. However, it does have an exception to save the life of the mother.
“I’m pro-life and we have a law that says there’s an exception for the life of the mother and I just don’t believe that a tragedy should perpetuate another tragedy,” Noem said Sunday, April 21. “I believe in taking care of mothers that are in a crisis situation and that we should be walking alongside them, giving them all the information and the best information they can make before they have to be put in a situation where an abortion is the only option that they have.”
The Media Landscape indicates that three-quarters of the outlets covering Noem’s comments are left-leaning, while one-fourth are considered center. No right-leaning outlets are covering the story.
The Hill, a center outlet, had two articles on Noem’s comments. One article was a straightforward outline of what she said on CNN. The other headline read: “Trump VP hopeful Noem opposes exceptions for rape, incest in abortion ban.”
“Pressed by Bash on her own beliefs, Noem said she is ‘pro-life’ and does not support exceptions for rape or incest,” The Hill article said. However, Noem never said that exactly.
She said she believes in taking care of mothers who are in a crisis situation. Noem also said mothers should receive information “before they have to be put in a situation where an abortion is the only option that they have.”
Politico, a left-leaning outlet, said Noem deflected questions about abortion. The outlet pointed out that Noem said, “I think that every state is going to look different.”
Straight Arrow News strives to provide unbiased, fact-based news in addition to offering a comprehensive look at how the media is covering stories that matter most. Learn more about the Media Miss™ tool and decide for yourself.
Emergency 911 services were restored Wednesday night, April 17, in South Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada and Texas following a major outage that left call centers unreachable for many residents. The cause has not been identified but Homeland Security has noted the increasing risks of cyberattacks on digital 911 systems.
In Del Rio, Texas, the issue was traced to a major cellular carrier. Services in Las Vegas and other affected areas have resumed, and all missed emergency calls have been returned.
The South Dakota Department of Public Safety announced a statewide 911 service interruption has been resolved.
“Our emergency system is fully operational and ready to respond promptly to any situation,” the department stated on Facebook. “Your safety is our top priority and we are here to ensure help is just a call away whenever you need it.”
In Las Vegas, a two-hour 911 outage affected both landline and mobile calls before service was restored around 9 p.m., the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department announced on social media. During the outage, dispatchers returned calls to residents attempting to reach 911 from mobile phones.
Reuters reports that the Transportation Department’s Office of Emergency Medical Services, the Federal Communications Commission and the Federal Emergency Management Agency did not immediately return requests for comment.
Gov. Kristi Noem sued for allegedly ‘deceptive’ social media ad
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem is under legal scrutiny for what has been described as “deceptive advertising practices” related to her social media activity. Travelers United, a consumer advocacy group, has filed a lawsuit against Noem, accusing her of misleading advertising for Smile Texas, a cosmetic dentistry firm.
The lawsuit, leveraging the Consumer Protection Procedures Act, alleges that Noem’s promotion of the dentistry was both deceptive and misleading.
I love my new family at Smile Texas! The video says it all, and I am so grateful for their help fixing my smile for me. 😊🙌🏼😊 pic.twitter.com/z2kTmiY8td
The center of the controversy is a video longer than 5 minutes, shared across the governor’s social media channels, which did not explicitly state it was an advertisement. With a substantial following of 485,000 on X, 250,000 on Instagram, and over 960,000 on Truth Social — Noem’s influence is significant.
The advocacy group contends that Noem’s actions not only breach advertising laws crucial for maintaining public trust but also promote medical tourism. Smile Texas, known for its medical tourism services, presumably benefited from Noem’s endorsement, which the group suggests was likely compensated.
Legal filings from the case highlight the improbability of someone with significant job responsibilities dedicating time to create an unpaid advertisement for out-of-state medical services. The filings speculate that Noem could have received free or discounted dental care, or payment, in exchange for her endorsement.
Fit My Feet does amazing work to make custom insoles. Just wait… I’m gonna be so fast! 👟 pic.twitter.com/RujfkjWPrc
Despite the ongoing lawsuit, Noem has not retreated from making endorsements. Recently, she promoted Fit My Feet, a South Dakota company, on her social media. Calling herself a “bionic woman,” Noem praised the company’s custom insoles for their positive impact on her lifestyle.
This series of endorsements by Noem is sparking debate over the intersection of personal endorsements and political influence. The lawsuit seeks to compel Noem to properly label any future advertisements and demands compensation for each violation of the Consumer Protection Procedures Act.
South Dakota tribe banishes Gov. Kristi Noem over immigration remarks
The Oglala Sioux Tribe, South Dakota’s largest, has officially banished Gov. Kristi Noem from its territories, escalating tensions over her comments on crime and illegal immigration on reservations. In a controversial statement on Jan. 31, Gov. Noem linked the surge in crime within the state, including on tribal lands, to illegal immigration.
“The drugs and human trafficking pouring over the border devastate our people,” Noem said.
She claimed that cartels are operating on tribal reservations, particularly citing the Pine Ridge Reservation and Rapid City as areas affected by cartel-related murders and gang affiliations, including a group known as the Ghost Dancers.
The tribe’s response came in a detailed four-page letter from Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out, who criticized Noem’s characterization of the border situation as an “invasion” and expressed “deep offense” at the association of the sacred Ghost Dancers ceremony with criminal activities.
“Drug and human trafficking are occurring throughout South Dakota, and surrounding states, not just on Indian reservations,” Star Comes Out stated, emphasizing that the issue was not exclusive to tribal lands.
Following the comments, Star Comes Out announced the banishment of Gov. Noem from the Oglala Sioux homelands, citing the need for the safety of the Oyate, the people of the tribe.
Gov. Noem responded to the tribe’s actions on Feb. 1, defending her statements and her commitment to addressing crime and building relationships with the tribes.
“I did speak truth and everything I said was absolutely true,” Noem said, emphasizing her ongoing efforts to secure resources for tribal areas, including law enforcement, education, and infrastructure.
The Pine Ridge Reservation has faced a growing crime rate, prompting Star Comes Out to declare a state of emergency in November 2023 due to insufficient law enforcement.
The Associated Press reports that the reservation, spanning 5,400 square miles, is patrolled by just 33 officers and eight criminal investigators who handle over 100,000 emergency calls annually.
The tribe’s legal battle against the U.S. government to fulfill treaty obligations for security has seen some success, with a federal judge ruling in favor of the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s demand for more law enforcement funding. However, the exact amount of funding remains to be determined.
Despite the banishment, Noem has expressed her willingness to support the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s efforts to negotiate with the federal government for additional resources. She also highlighted her actions to support border security, including deploying South Dakota National Guard troops to the border and backing Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s border measures.
“Governor Abbott has done the exact right thing,” Noem told Fox News. “I’ll drive him more razor wire from South Dakota if I have to for him to do his job. What people forget is that governors are commanders in chief. We’re responsible for the men and women of our National Guard.”
Critics, including Star Comes Out, suggest Noem’s focus on the border issue is politically motivated, aimed at supporting Donald Trump’s reelection bid and boosting her own vice-presidential prospects.
Winter weather delays flights, holiday travel across US
Christmas Day created travel chaos for certain travelers. In parts of Nebraska, semis jackknifed, vehicles piled up, and some drivers slid off of the road, Monday, Dec. 25.
Troopers with the Nebraska State Patrol (NSP) reported responding to at least 100 weather-related incidents.
The NSP urged drivers to only travel if necessary and carry a survival kit in case vehicles get stranded. Authorities also say to stay in the car if waiting for help.
In the upper Midwest, heavy snow, freezing rain and whipping winds are the reason for those words of caution.
Nebraska isn’t the only state feeling the wrath of winter.
Parts of South Dakota, Kansas, Colorado and Wyoming were under blizzard warnings Tuesday, Dec. 26.
Forecasters expect the extreme conditions to get worse in some areas, and they predict up to a foot of snow in south-central South Dakota.
The storm is expected to weaken Tuesday night, according to the National Weather Service. However, a “wintry mix” may last until Wednesday across the Plains and upper Midwest.
For travelers looking toward the skies, air travel seems a little more welcoming.
According to Flight Aware, a flight tracking website, just 2,430 flights were delayed and 68 canceled as of Tuesday morning.
Southwest Airlines had the most delays with 663, but just two cancellations.
Flight Aware reported 3,514 total delays and 174 cancellations Monday.
Substantially more flights were delayed or canceled Saturday through Sunday. On Saturday, there were 5,901 delays and 250 cancellations. Sunday, 3,881 flights were delayed and 363 were canceled.
The bulk of delays once again came from Southwest, accounting for 2,690.
A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines blamed most of the delays on fog at Chicago Midway.
This year, airlines have prepared for massive amounts of passengers by hiring thousands of pilots, flight attendants and other workers.
The enhanced hiring efforts are to avoid the delays and cancellations that created a travel nightmare in 2022, most notably, Southwest Airlines stranding more than 2 million people.
Earlier this month, Southwest Airlines reached a $140 million settlement with the federal government for the ordeal.
However, 2023 is proving to be a much better year for airlines. The Department of Transportation is reporting the lowest flight cancellation rate in five years.
The percentage of flights canceled is at 1.3%, down from 2.3% in 2022, and even lower than pre-pandemic flight cancellations. But the test isn’t over yet, with AAA predicting 115 million people to travel by car or air nationwide by the time New Year’s Day arrives. That number is up 2% from last year.
If traveling by air, experts say travelers should check their flight status before heading to the airport, and check in online to avoid lengthy lines.
For drivers, check the weather, tire pressure and make sure to have a full tank of gas.
Blankets, flashlights and extra winter gear are also suggested, as well as food and water in case of emergencies.