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Tag: NBC News

  • Supreme Court Rejects Virginia Democrats’ Push for New Congressional Map Ahead of Midterms

    Supreme Court Rejects Virginia Democrats’ Push for New Congressional Map Ahead of Midterms

    The U.S. Supreme Court has rejected an effort by Virginia Democrats to revive a voter-approved congressional map that could have significantly boosted Democratic representation in the state ahead of this year’s midterm elections.

    In a brief ruling issued Friday without any noted dissents, the Supreme Court left in place a decision by the Virginia Supreme Court that found the process used to approve the map was legally flawed under state law.

    The proposed congressional map was designed to increase the number of Democratic-leaning districts in Virginia and was part of a broader nationwide battle over redistricting and political boundaries ahead of the 2026 elections.

    The legal challenge had already lost momentum earlier this week after Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger acknowledged that the deadline to implement a new map before the midterms had effectively passed.

    Had the new map taken effect, Democrats were projected to potentially gain as many as four additional congressional seats in Virginia, which currently has 11 congressional districts.

    Under the existing district boundaries, Virginia’s congressional delegation is split between six Democrats and five Republicans.

    The redistricting dispute emerged amid escalating political tensions over congressional maps nationwide after President Donald Trump encouraged Republican-led states, including Texas, to redraw district boundaries in favor of GOP candidates.

    Virginia Attorney General Jay Jones argued that the state court ruling raised federal legal issues that warranted Supreme Court review. However, the nation’s highest court declined to intervene, allowing the Virginia Supreme Court’s ruling to stand.

    The case centered primarily on technical questions involving Virginia election law and referendum procedures, areas where the U.S. Supreme Court traditionally avoids involvement unless clear federal constitutional issues are present.

    The decision represents another setback for Democrats in the broader national fight over congressional district maps, which could play a crucial role in determining control of Congress after the upcoming midterm elections.

  • FDA Leadership Turmoil Deepens as Top Drug Regulator Tracy Beth Høeg Exits Agency

    FDA Leadership Turmoil Deepens as Top Drug Regulator Tracy Beth Høeg Exits Agency

    The leadership shake-up at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration continued Friday as Dr. Tracy Beth Høeg stepped down from her role overseeing the agency’s drug regulation division, just days after FDA Commissioner Marty Makary resigned.

    A Department of Health and Human Services official confirmed that Høeg is leaving her position as acting director of the FDA’s Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), the division responsible for regulating prescription and over-the-counter medications in the United States.

    Høeg, a sports medicine physician known for criticizing Covid-19 vaccine recommendations for children during the pandemic, had led the division for approximately five months under the Trump administration.

    Her departure marks the latest major change within the FDA leadership team amid ongoing policy disputes and controversy surrounding public health decisions.

    Høeg previously served as a special assistant to Makary, who resigned earlier this week following reported disagreements with the Trump administration over efforts to expand access to flavored e-cigarettes.

    Michael Davis, CDER’s deputy center director, will now serve as acting director of the division, while FDA food regulator Kyle Diamantas temporarily assumes leadership responsibilities previously held by Makary.

    The Department of Health and Human Services said the administration is actively searching for permanent leaders for several key positions across the agency.

    “FDA and HHS continue to operate under solid leadership and respond aggressively to immediate public health situations,” HHS spokesperson Emily Hilliard said in a statement.

    Høeg’s tenure at the FDA was marked by several controversial disagreements involving agency decisions and pharmaceutical policy.

    Reports indicated she raised safety concerns about already-approved respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) treatments for infants and recently opposed the fast-tracking of teplizumab, a diabetes drug developed by pharmaceutical company Sanofi.

    She also played a role in the Trump administration’s effort to overhaul the U.S. childhood vaccination schedule.

    Høeg co-authored a scientific assessment used to support changes announced earlier this year that reduced the number of universally recommended childhood vaccines from 18 diseases to 11, aligning the schedule more closely with Denmark’s vaccination model.

    However, a federal judge temporarily blocked the revised vaccine schedule in March following legal challenges.

    At a vaccine advisory meeting last year, Høeg argued that reducing the number of routine childhood vaccines could lower aluminum exposure in children. Medical experts have long maintained that aluminum salts used in vaccines are safe and not linked to autism, despite ongoing claims promoted by anti-vaccine groups.

    The latest departures add to growing uncertainty within the FDA as the agency faces mounting scrutiny over vaccine policy, tobacco regulations and broader public health leadership under the Trump administration.

  • Trump Hails ‘Fantastic’ China Trade Talks as CIA Chief Holds High-Stakes Meeting in Cuba

    Trump Hails ‘Fantastic’ China Trade Talks as CIA Chief Holds High-Stakes Meeting in Cuba

    President Donald Trump concluded a high-profile two-day summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing, claiming the United States and China reached “fantastic trade deals,” although no specific agreements were publicly disclosed.

    The visit, described as historic by both sides, featured formal diplomatic events including a tea ceremony at Zhongnanhai Garden and private talks between the two leaders. Trump said discussions covered trade, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, energy cooperation and global shipping routes.

    “We made fantastic trade deals and settled a lot of different problems,” Trump told reporters before departing Beijing aboard Air Force One.

    Trump also suggested China could purchase American oil and Boeing aircraft, but neither government confirmed any finalized agreements. Discussions reportedly included keeping the Strait of Hormuz open and avoiding further militarization in the region.

    Secretary of State Marco Rubio later stated that both nations agreed the Strait of Hormuz should not be militarized amid rising tensions involving Iran.

    Meanwhile, families of Americans detained in China used the summit to urge the Trump administration to secure the release of their loved ones.

    The Beijing trip comes as the administration faces mounting domestic and international challenges, including major leadership shake-ups and growing concerns over healthcare funding cuts.

    In another major foreign policy development, CIA Director John Ratcliffe met with Cuban officials in Havana to discuss intelligence cooperation, economic stability and regional security concerns.

    According to a CIA official, the discussions focused on ensuring Cuba “can no longer be a safe haven for adversaries in the Western Hemisphere.”

    The diplomatic meeting follows a worsening energy crisis in Cuba after the arrest earlier this year of Venezuela’s president, whose country had long been a critical oil supplier to the island nation.

    The U.S. State Department announced plans to provide humanitarian support to Cuba, including satellite internet access and $100 million in direct assistance. However, Rubio blamed the Cuban government for obstructing aid efforts and worsening the humanitarian crisis.

    The Trump administration has reportedly intensified pressure on Cuba’s leadership in recent months, though officials say Trump remains frustrated by the regime’s continued grip on power.

    Back in the United States, concerns are also growing over proposed Medicaid cuts tied to Trump’s sweeping economic legislation.

    Families caring for disabled relatives say reductions to Medicaid-funded caregiver programs could force devastating financial and personal decisions. Some states, including Maryland, have already begun scaling back support programs that allow family members to receive compensation for providing full-time care to disabled loved ones.

    Melissa Gonce of Maryland, who cares for her profoundly disabled 28-year-old son, said expected funding reductions could slash her annual caregiving income by nearly $18,000.

    Healthcare advocates warn the broader Medicaid cuts, projected to total nearly $1 trillion over the next decade, could severely impact vulnerable families nationwide.

    The administration also faced several additional developments this week, including the resignation of FDA Commissioner Dr. Marty Makary following reported disagreements over vaping regulations, a Supreme Court decision preserving access to abortion pill prescriptions by mail, and ongoing investigations involving members of Congress and immigration leadership changes.

  • House Ethics Committee Launches Sexual Harassment Investigation Into Rep. Chuck Edwards

    House Ethics Committee Launches Sexual Harassment Investigation Into Rep. Chuck Edwards

    The House Ethics Committee has opened an investigation into Republican Congressman Chuck Edwards of North Carolina over allegations of sexual harassment and claims that he may have fostered a hostile work environment for staff members.

    The bipartisan committee announced Thursday that it is reviewing accusations involving Edwards’ conduct toward younger female staffers, following multiple media reports detailing alleged inappropriate interactions within his congressional office.

    According to reports, one former female staffer allegedly complained to colleagues that Edwards pressured her into attending dinners and drinks with him. The concerns were later reportedly raised with his chief of staff. Additional claims suggest the congressman sent the former aide a personal handwritten note after her departure, along with a custom-made puzzle and an invitation to attend a comedy show together.

    Edwards has strongly denied the allegations, previously describing them as “baseless.” In a statement, the North Carolina lawmaker said he welcomed the ethics investigation and intended to fully cooperate with the committee.

    “As I have stated, I welcome any investigation and plan to comply fully with the Committee,” Edwards said. “I am confident the investigation will expose the facts, not politically motivated fiction.”

    The investigation comes after reports from Axios and Politico revealed growing scrutiny surrounding Edwards’ alleged behavior toward staff members, including claims of an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate. However, the allegations have not been independently confirmed.

    House Speaker Mike Johnson addressed the controversy, calling the allegations “serious” and “concerning,” while emphasizing the importance of due process.

    “We cannot allow mere allegations to be a determining factor here,” Johnson said, adding that Edwards maintains the accusations are untrue.

    The House Ethics Committee clarified that the launch of the investigation does not indicate that any rules violations have occurred. The committee, which is evenly split between Republicans and Democrats, is responsible for examining misconduct allegations involving members of Congress.

    The probe into Edwards arrives during an active period for the committee, which is also handling investigations involving several lawmakers over allegations ranging from sexual misconduct to campaign finance violations.

    Democrats are expected to use the controversy as part of their efforts to challenge Edwards in North Carolina’s 11th Congressional District during the upcoming midterm elections.