The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to intervene in a Missouri state court ruling that prevents the use of a newly drawn congressional map in the November election. This map, supported by Donald Trump was deemed unconstitutional by the state’s highest court, which ruled that voters must approve or reject the new districts.
The decision has sparked intense reactions from both political parties. Trump and Republicans have expressed outrage, with the president labeling the ruling horrible, ridiculous, and unconstitutional. Meanwhile, Democrats have praised the state court’s decision, arguing that it upholds the democratic process.
Missouri’s Congressional Map Controversy
The controversy began when Missouri’s highest state court ruled that the new congressional map must be approved by voters before it can be used. This decision came after the map was utilized in the August primary elections. The state’s Republican attorney general, Catherine Hanaway immediately appealed to the Supreme Court, but conservative Justice Brett Kavanaugh denied the emergency request.
In a swift turn of events, a federal judge in Missouri issued a temporary restraining order that bars the state from using anything other than the new Republican-backed map. Hanaway stated that Missouri would comply with the judge’s order but maintained that changing the congressional map between the primary and general elections is simply not feasible and profoundly unjust to Missouri voters.
Trade War Escalation with Canada
The White House announced a ban on Canadian dairy products, motorcycles, and most alcoholic beverages, marking an escalation in the ongoing trade war between the two countries. This move comes just after Canada announced retaliatory tariffs on $20 billion in U.S. goods. Trump also announced plans to exclude Canadian products from large U.S. government contracts, with the ban set to take effect in three weeks.
International Tensions and Political Reactions
The U.S. military destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after a U.S. navy warship was targeted with ballistic missiles. The U.S. Central Command reported that the warship evaded the attacks, and no personnel were harmed. Speaking from Colombia Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the U.S. will hit Iranian oil tankers for every attack on U.S. warships.
In other political news, Senator Alex Padilla praised Lonnie Bunch III the outgoing Smithsonian chief, for his longstanding service and commitment to telling the full story of America. Meanwhile, Republicans have criticized Bunch’s tenure, with Senator Josh Hawley calling for him to return his salary to the American people.
A federal appeals court upheld a block on the IRS sharing tax return information with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) stating that the IRS’s argument against the preliminary injunction is weak sauce. The court noted that the issue should be addressed through legislation in Congress, not the courts.
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled that the federal constitution does not guarantee a right to clean water. This decision came in response to a lawsuit from several Jackson, Mississippi residents claiming that tainted drinking water violated their constitutional rights. The court held that the residents should pursue other legal avenues, such as tort claims or electing representatives who will better manage the public-water system.
