Katie Hobbs Edges Out Kari Lake for Governor’s Office in Arizona

Fox News: The Fox News Decision Desk can project that Democratic Secretary of State Katie Hobbs will be the next Governor of Arizona. She defeats GOP candidate and former local news host Kari Lake. Per Arizona law, the race may go to a recount (Fox News). Decision Desk HQ: Decision Desk HQ projects Katie Hobbs (D) elected governor in Arizona. R to D Flip (Twitter). Townhall: The numerous delays and other issues that were the cause of much consternation and eyebrow raising, as well as even lawsuits and threats of legal action, were focused on Maricopa County, which has experienced issues in past elections. Hobbs also was the face of criticism, as she currently serves the state’s chief election officer in her role of secretary of state (Townhall).

Bipartisan Group of Senators Announce Agreed Upon Terms to Enshrine Same Sex Marriage

They can vote on the legislation as soon as this week. CBS: A bipartisan group of senators announced Monday that they reached agreement on revised legislation that would enshrine marriage equality into federal law and provide protections for religious liberties, assuaging concerns from some A joint statement from the group of five senators involved in the negotiations announced that they have crafted “commonsense language to confirm that this legislation fully respects and protects Americans’ religious liberties and diverse beliefs, while leaving intact the core mission of the legislation to protect marriage equality” (CBS). Axios: While 10 Senate Republicans would need to vote with all Democrats to break a filibuster, only a handful have come out publicly in support of the bill. Axios reported in September that some Republicans who vote for the bill may not reveal their intentions before they actually vote (Axios).

Supreme Court Rejects Case Regarding Bump Stock Ban

Reuters: The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday turned away another challenge to a federal ban imposed under former President Donald Trump on devices called “bump stocks” that enable a semi-automatic weapon to fire like a machine gun. The justices declined to review an appeal by a group of firearms dealers and individuals in Minnesota, Texas and Kentucky after a lower court rejected their argument that the government had violated the U.S. Constitution’s Fifth Amendment “takings clause” by effectively taking their private property without just compensation (Reuters).

Biden, Xi Jinping Meet

Fox News: President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping have met together Monday for the first time in person since Biden took office on the sidelines of the G-20 summit in Indonesia, with Biden raising concerns about Beijing’s “coercive and increasingly aggressive actions toward Taiwan,” among other areas of tension, the White House says (Fox News). Wall Street Journal: The first in-person meeting between the two leaders since Mr. Biden became president stretched over roughly three hours, including a break. Sending a message on Taiwan was China’s top priority for the meeting. Mr. Xi told Mr. Biden the self-governing island, which China claims as its territory, is the most significant red line in the China-U.S. relationship that can never be crossed, according to the Chinese readout. Mr. Xi said that Taiwanese independence was as incompatible to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait as “fire and water” (Wall Street Journal).

US Men’s Soccer Team Unveils Rainbow Logo to Support LGBT Community Ahead of World Cup Run

Daily Mail: The United States’ men’s national team have made a huge statement at the World Cup in Qatar by redesigning their crest to incorporate the rainbow flag, in a bid to show solidarity with the LGBTQ+ community. The tournament, which starts on Sunday and sees the US play their opener against Wales on Monday, has been hugely controversial in its build-up, given Qatar’s human rights record and attitude to homosexuality (Daily Mail). Wall Street Journal: The rainbow, which is a widespread symbol of gay pride and rights, is also meant to boost the “Be the Change” campaign that players first launched in 2020 to highlight racial injustice. Players responded by wearing the phrase on their warm-up jackets and writing a letter to Congress pushing for stronger gun legislation (Wall Street Journal).

New York Considers Minors Getting Tattoos Abuse While Gender Reassignment Surgeries Are Perfectly Fine

Hot Air: New York, home of some of the most radical gender politics in the country, also has some of the strictest laws against child mutilation. Because children are not old enough to make decisions such as getting a tattoo, even if they have their parents’ permission (Hot Air). New York Times: A 10-year-old boy walked into the nurse’s office of his school in Highland, New York, and asked for Vaseline. He wanted to rub it onto his new tattoo, which he got with his mother’s permission. The nurse called the police. The boy’s mother was arrested (Twitter). Matt Walsh: Amazing. The article quotes an official with the American Academy of Pediatrics who says that kids don’t have the “agency” to permanently alter their bodies. And yet the American Academy of Pediatrics fully endorses gender transitions for minors (Twitter).

Taliban Calling for Grotesque Public Punishments in Afghanistan

BBC: Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada has ordered Afghan judges to impose punishments for certain crimes that may include public amputations and stoning. His spokesman said offences such as robbery, kidnapping and sedition must be punished in line with the group’s interpretation of Islamic Sharia law. When in power in the 1990s, the Taliban were condemned for such punishments, which included public executions. They promised to rule more moderately when they retook power last year. But since then the militant Islamist group has steadily cracked down on freedoms. Women’s rights in particular have been severely restricted (BBC). I’m old enough to remember when Biden was handing the country back to the Taliban him calling them “businesslike and professional.”

Iran Votes to Execute Protesters Who Have Been Arrested

Washington Post: An Iranian court has sentenced an anti-government protester to death for the first time since the alleged police killing of 22-year-old Mahsa Amini in September set off the longest major demonstrations against Iran’s cleric-led security state. Protesters have been calling for a change in Iran’s leadership and an end to decades of gender discrimination and state impunity. Iranian authorities have met the protests with violence and demanded harsh punishments for those who take part (Washington Post). Lawyer Qasim Rashid: This is horrifying. The Iranian parliament votes overwhelmingly (227-63) to execute the 15,000 protesters they already arrested. These were peaceful protestors simply seeking the right to basic justice and autonomy. Unacceptable and barbaric (Twitter).

Amazon Prepares for Massive Job Cuts

Washington Post: Amazon plans to carry out massive layoffs as soon as this week, cutting roughly 10,000 jobs and adding to a growing wave of cuts hitting the sputtering big tech industry. Amazon’s cuts will be within teams on its corporate workforce, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private business matters. It also would become the latest big tech company to enact huge cuts this year as the industry reckons with the possible end of a decade of explosive growth. Facebook, Twitter, Salesforce and other tech companies have already made big cuts this year — a jarring turnaround for the industry that was once thought of as nearly invincible (Washington Post). Reporter Lisa Abramowicz: Big Tech’s job cuts keep mounting, hinting at the industry’s angst in a post-pandemic, post-free money era (Twitter).

National Education Association Faces Backlash from Tweet Stating Educators Know What is Best for Children

Their students are absolutely not their children. Fox News: The National Education Association (NEA) appears to be playing clean-up after a tweet Saturday drew harsh criticism for claiming that educators “know better than anyone” what students need.  The NEA, one of the largest teachers unions in the United States, later turned off replies to the tweet, but not before 5,000 people responded (Fox News). Lauren Chen: Please keep telling parents that you know better how to raise their children. Seriously, keep going. School choice is getting a huge boost nationwide and I feel like we have you to thank for it (Twitter). Corey A. DeAngelis: “Socialists regard your property as their property, but even more nefariously regard your children as their property.”- @michaelmalice (Twitter).