News Roundup: The Latest Attacks on Individual Rights
[link removed]

Conservative leaders in states across the country have been busy this week, from passing new restrictions on abortion access to unleashing further attacks on LGBTQ rights.

Florida lawmakers were particularly active this week in furthering the agenda of Gov. Ron DeSantis.
* A newly passed anti-immigration bill ([link removed]) provides $12 million for migrant transports. Read here ([link removed]) about what we’ve uncovered about last year’s DeSantis-arranged flights of migrants from Texas to Martha’s Vineyard.
* Other bills heading to DeSantis’ desk include one that would weaken local regulations ([link removed]) , such as those related to environmental protection or social justice, and another that targets transgender bathroom use ([link removed]) .
* Meanwhile, DeSantis signed into law ([link removed]) a bill banning state agencies and local governments from considering climate change and diversity when investing money, as well as a measure expanding the state’s death penalty ([link removed]) in defiance of a past Supreme Court ruling.


Republicans in the Florida Legislature also passed a bill banning gender-affirming care ([link removed]) for minors, along with an expansion of the state’s “Don’t Say Gay” education law. And for good measure, they threw in a bill allowing the governor to operate with greater secrecy.
* The education bill ([link removed]) restricts how teachers and students can use personal pronouns in school, and requires schools to remove within five days any books challenged by those claiming harm to minors.
* The expansion of last year’s widely criticized law highlights the importance of American Oversight’s lawsuit against the Florida Department of Education ([link removed]) . Our lawsuit seeks the release of public records related to Florida’s attacks on public education, including documents that could shed light on the potential influence of outside groups and activists on the DeSantis administration.
* A bill shielding DeSantis’ records of taxpayer-funded travel from public disclosure ([link removed]) is another indication of the anti-transparency agenda ([link removed]) of DeSantis and his allies in the Sunshine State — and another reminder of the importance of access to public records. (Meanwhile, many are wondering who paid ([link removed]) for DeSantis’ recent overseas trips.)


Here’s a rundown of news from other states:
* Montana Gov. Greg Gianfortune signed a law ([link removed]) banning transgender care for minors, along with five bills ([link removed]) aimed at restricting abortion access in the state.
* A new law in Indiana ([link removed]) , signed by Gov. Eric Holcomb this week, will require school staff to alert the parents of students who ask to use different names or pronouns.
* After secret negotiations ([link removed]) , North Carolina Republican lawmakers passed a bill banning abortions ([link removed]) after 12 weeks.
* Also in North Carolina, the state Supreme Court overturned its own past ruling to clear the way for more partisan gerrymandering ([link removed]) in favor of Republicans.
* In Missouri, lawmakers have proposed a bill ([link removed]) that would allow murder charges against people who obtain abortions.


And here are some recent headlines related to voting rights and election administration:
* The first arrests from DeSantis’s election police take extensive toll (Washington Post ([link removed]) )

* NC Supreme Court issues felony disenfranchisement ruling (NC Newsline ([link removed]) )
* The 13 election bills to watch as the Texas Legislature heads into its last month (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )
* Texas Republicans want power to overturn Harris County elections over mishaps at the polls (Houston Chronicle ([link removed]) )
* Wisconsin lawmakers unveil bipartisan election overhauls (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* A top GOP lawyer wants to crack down on the college vote. Some states already are. (Arizona Mirror ([link removed]) )


While several high-profile election deniers running for state office last fall failed in their bids, a new report from States United Democracy Center emphasizes that more than a dozen election deniers still won their races and that the anti-democracy movement remains a serious threat. Data compiled for the report also reveals an “election denier penalty” for candidates who cling to voter fraud lies. Read more here. ([link removed])

On the Records

Extremism in the Military
The presence of white supremacy and right-wing extremism in the U.S. military ([link removed]) remains a major concern ([link removed]) , and our investigation ([link removed]) has previously uncovered documents showing the military’s pattern of failing to adequately track and address incidents of white supremacy within its ranks.
* Records ([link removed]) we recently obtained from the National Guard Bureau show that in January 2022, a new recruit admitted he was associated with the Three Percenters ([link removed]) , an extremist anti-government militia.
* According to the documents, the individual did not ship out for training and later met with a recruiter to request a separation ([link removed]) from the National Guard.
* The documents also indicate that he told officials he’d been pressured by the militia to enlist in the New York Army National Guard for the purpose of returning and training other members of the militia.


Trump Energy Secretary’s Pre-2020 Election Trips to Swing States
Prior to the 2020 election, several top Trump administration officials took highly publicized, taxpayer-funded trips to swing states where they promoted the former president’s policies, raising significant concerns about potential Hatch Act violations and conflicts of interest.
* We’ve recently obtained records ([link removed]) showing former Energy Secretary Dan Brouillette’s trips to several states during the presidential campaign period cost taxpayers $135,863.27. The documents include travel itineraries and costs of trips to Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and other states.
* The records build on our previous findings ([link removed]) , which revealed the high costs of swing-state trips made by former EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler, former Labor Secretary Eugene Scalia, former acting DHS Secretary Chad Wolf ([link removed]) , and former Interior Secretary David Bernhardt. Read more here. ([link removed])


Other Stories We're Following

Supreme Court Ethics
* Clarence Thomas had a child in private school. Harlan Crow paid the tuition (ProPublica ([link removed]) )
* Judicial activist directed fees to Clarence Thomas’ wife, urged ‘no mention of Ginni’ (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Deep divide at Supreme Court ethics hearing, despite some GOP calls for action (Washington Post ([link removed]) )


Election Denial and Threats to Democracy
* Michigan township recalls clerk and ally who pushed election denialism (Guardian ([link removed]) )
* Public tirades, recall threats as Shasta County roils from decision to dump voting machines (Los Angeles Times ([link removed]) )
* Billionaire backing effort to raise Ohio amendment threshold funded election deniers, Jan. 6 rally (Ohio Capital Journal ([link removed]) )
* Texas House advances bill to eliminate Harris County election chief position (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )
* Texts from Arizona 'audit' are kept secret by Cyber Ninjas' Doug Logan (Arizona Republic ([link removed]) )
* Jim Marchant, a Nevada election denier, announces Senate run (New York Times ([link removed]) )


In the States
* New College fires librarian, second LGBTQ faculty member dismissed this year (Sarasota Herald-Tribune ([link removed]) )
* Legislature passes bill letting new Miami-Dade sheriff take over county police in ’25 (Miami Herald ([link removed]) )
* At a McDonald’s in Kentucky, 10-year-olds worked past midnight, Department of Labor finds (Georgia Recorder ([link removed]) )
* Judge rejects Montana lawmaker’s effort to return to House floor (New York Times ([link removed]) )
* Tension is rising as Texas state police patrol Austin streets (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )
* Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton to investigate Covid-19 vaccine makers (Texas Tribune ([link removed]) )
* Texas Gov. Greg Abbott promises to keep busing migrants to Democratic cities (NBC News ([link removed]) )


Attacks on Civil Rights
* Feds: Hospitals that denied emergency abortion broke the law (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Missouri judge blocks restrictions on transgender health care temporarily (KSDK St. Louis ([link removed]) )
* Utah judge blocks abortion clinic ban — for now. Here’s why. (Salt Lake Tribune ([link removed]) )
* How a longtime Idaho anti-abortion activist pushed the boundaries of Idaho’s ban (Idaho Capital Sun ([link removed]) )
* How the Republican Party has shifted against transgender rights (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Schools are canceling student shows with LGBTQ characters (Washington Post ([link removed]) )


National News
* Fox opposes fellow journalists trying to uncover documents (Associated Press ([link removed]) )
* Supreme Court accepts case that challenges authority of federal agencies (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Conservatives take aim at affinity graduation celebrations (Inside Higher Ed ([link removed]) )
* Federal prisons want inmates to pay victims, before making phone calls or buying shoes (NPR ([link removed]-) )
* U.S. planning to send 1,500 more troops to southern border (Politico ([link removed]) )
* Leonard Leo used Federalist Society contact to obtain $1.6B donation (Politico ([link removed]) )
* White House will end most Covid vaccine mandates (New York Times ([link removed]) )


Trump Administration Accountability
* Special counsel's team scrutinizing security camera video from Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort (CBS News ([link removed]) )
* As special counsel nears decision in Trump cases, who are the lawyers working with him (ABC News ([link removed]) )
* Trumps fail to turn over documents in fraud case, New York attorney general claims (Forbes ([link removed]) )


Jan. 6 Investigations
* Former FBI supervisor arrested in connection with Jan. 6 riot (Washington Post ([link removed]) )
* Four Proud Boys members found guilty of seditious conspiracy (CNN ([link removed]) )


Government Transparency
* A whistleblower claimed KCPD withheld evidence in criminal cases. The Police Board denies it (KCUR ([link removed]) )
* Judge again tells Shasta County to hand over public records to the Record Searchlight (Record Searchlight ([link removed]) )
* Buckingham County, Va., registrar charges $200 ‘convenience fee’ in FOIA feud with county official (Virginia Mercury ([link removed]) )

Donate to American Oversight ([link removed])
Thank you again for following our latest news. We are grateful for your support and for helping us hold government accountable.

============================================================
** Share ([link removed])
** Share ([link removed])
** Tweet ([link removed]: https%3A%2F%2Fmailchi.mp%2Famericanoversight%2Fnews-roundupmiracle-drugs-and-trumps-alternate-reality-19504184)
** Tweet ([link removed]: https%3A%2F%2Fmailchi.mp%2Famericanoversight%2Fnews-roundupmiracle-drugs-and-trumps-alternate-reality-19504184)
American Oversight
1030 15th Street NW
Suite B255
Washington, DC xxxxxx
USA
** unsubscribe ([link removed])