Top Stories This Week
Burke suspends presidential campaign, re-endorses Duke
Saturday, April 30th, 2022
Former governor Wesley Burke (AL) suspended his independent presidential campaign today and has re-endorsed presumptive Republican nominee, former senator Alan Duke (OK). Burke had endorsed Duke in November, but citing his belief that the party establishment would conspire to thwart a Duke nomination, announced a third-party bid in the hopes that such a threat would prevent any "rigging" of the party nomination process. His campaign achieved ballot access in three states (North Carolina, Tennessee and Vermont) prior to today, and will be removed from those states' ballots prior to the general election in November.
"Senator Duke is the man of integrity and moral character that we need in Washington to restore faith in our government," Burke said in a statement announcing his withdrawal from the presidential contest. "I urge everyone who considers themselves a conservative, a Christian or even just an American to support him in his endeavor to restore America."
Madison Pope concert erupts in cheers as pop star says "f*ck Alan Duke"
Sunday, April 24th, 2022
Pop superstar Madison Pope caused an eruption both at her Sunday concert in Oklahoma City and on social media when she ended the concert by saying she loved Oklahoma "but f*ck Alan Duke", with the crowd reacting in a massive cheer of approval. The 32 year-old singer-songwriter has previously been reticent to share her political views, but has often stated her support for LGBT rights and causes. Duke, the presumptive Republican presidential nominee, has a long history of opposing LGBT rights and has referred to same-sex couples as having a "deviant lifestyle". Public records show that Pope is a registered voter in her home state of North Carolina, but she did not register with a political party.
The former Oklahoma senator weighed in on Monday, saying Pope should "stick to singing" and "learn some manners". Both responses resulted in another firestorm of activity on social media, largely from Pope fans and supporters attacking Duke's comments.
FDA moves to ban menthol in cigarettes, cigars
Thursday, April 28th, 2022
The Food and Drug Administration announced on Thursday that the agency would propose to ban menthol in tobacco products sold in the United States. The proposed rule, which will be published in the Federal Register on May 4th, would add menthol as a prohibited "characterizing flavor in cigarettes" and cigars. It would be open for public comment for 60 days, then become a regulation with possible revisions from public comments. Secretary of Health and Human Services Stan Hale echoed statements from public health officials that such a ban would prevent teenagers from picking up smoking, citing studies showing one-half of teenage smokers regularly use menthol cigarettes. Groups such as the NAAP and the American Medical Association applauded the ban, citing the toll of menthol cigarettes on African-American smokers (85% of whom report smoking menthol cigarettes) compared to white smokers (29% report smoking menthols) thanks to decades of targeted advertising to African-American communities by tobacco companies.
Kansas map struck down as nationwide redistricting court battles continue
Monday, April 25th, 2022
A state judge in Wyandotte County, Kansas has struck down the state's recently-passed congressional map, yet another in a long line of court decisions that have struck down or halted the implementation of new congressional maps in states ahead of this November's congressional and state elections. Judge William Kleinfeldt said that the Republican-drawn map was "partially intended to dilute minority voting strength", an unconstitutional violation of rights under the state and federal constitutions. While an appeal is likely to be filed, the Kansas decision marks yet another instance of approved congressional maps that have either been struck down or remain in legal limbo. In addition to Kansas, several other states' previously-enacted maps have been struck down at some point in the redistricting cycle: Alabama, Maryland, New York, North Carolina and Ohio. While only two states (Missouri and New Hampshire) have not yet had any enacted congressional maps, the new maps in 13 states are currently facing litigation and could be struck down.
Irving campaign focusing on Oregon
Friday, April 29th, 2022
Senator Jasper Irving (R-IL)'s campaign is reportedly focusing almost all of its funding and organizing efforts in Oregon, in the hope of a strong performance against GOP presumptive nominee Alan Duke (R-OK). A report by the
Chicago Tribune on Friday revealed that the Irving campaign, which has said it will contest the five remaining Republican primaries despite Duke having already won a majority of delegates and secured the nomination, has begun sending its remaining personnel to campaign offices in Oregon ahead of the state's May 17th primaries. Congressman Cody Zucker (R), one of the few Oregon Republicans who has spoken openly about the contest, said he will vote for Irving in the state's primary, criticizing Duke as having voiced "disturbing and extremist" ideas.
Seaborn campaigns for Lyman in House race
Wednesday, April 27th, 2022
President Sam Seaborn took a break from the presidential contest to stump for former White House chief of staff and Democratic National Committee chair Josh Lyman on Wednesday. Lyman is running in the May 20th special election to replace long-time congressman Earl Brennan, who died in March after four decades in Congress. Seaborn and Lyman are long-time friends and political allies, serving together in both the Bartlet and Santos White Houses, although their relationship soured briefly after Lyman was fired from Seaborn's 2018 presidential campaign before the then-California senator had received a single vote.
"I've known Josh Lyman for many years, and there's no one I'd rather have at my side in Washington than him," the president told a rally for Lyman in Waterbury. Seaborn, who noted that Lyman "pulled me back into the whirlwind of politics" from a promising legal career twice in previous interviews, joked with his long-time friend that "turn about is fair play", seemingly confirming reports that the White House asked Lyman to run in the special election. Lyman will face former state representative Ryan Keenan (R) in the special election.
EOKA insurgents shoot down Turkish jets
Tuesday, April 26th, 2022
EOKA insurgents shot down two Turkish F-16 fighter jets on separate bombing missions on Tuesday, marking the first time Turkish forces have lost such aircraft to enemy action since they invaded Cyprus in September of last year. According to the Turkish Air Force, two jets were lost in combat operations after being struck by surface-to-air missiles after completing bombing runs in the Troodos Mountains. The crew of one F-16 has been reported as killed in action, while the two crew members of the other were able to eject before their jet crashed and have been recovered by Turkish forces. A third fighter-jet was reportedly damaged by a surface-to-air missile on Thursday, but managed to return to base safely. As of Saturday morning, it is reported that Turkish President Ahmed Faria has ordered the temporary suspension of bombing missions in Cyprus while several are transferred back to Turkey to take part in bombing campaigns against Kurdish rebels on the country's southern border.