Transcript

6.30.26 · Washington Post

0:00
Speaker 1: To the reading of The Washington Post for Tuesday, June thirtieth,
0:04
twenty twenty six. As a reminder, RADIOI is a reading
0:08
service intended for people who are blind or have other
0:11
disabilities that make it difficult to read printed material. Your
0:15
reader for today is Greta. Today's front page headlines for
0:19
The Washington Post read reflecting Pool protesters speak for the Algae.
0:25
Dedicated small group leans into the ridiculousness that has bloomed
0:29
around the President's renovation efforts. Next court expands Trump's power
0:35
over agencies long time precedents struck down Justice block removal
0:41
of Federal Board member Cook. Next, Mississippi mail in ballot
0:48
law upheld, affecting several states procedures. Next Medicare is about
0:55
to cover glp ie drugs for weight loss insurance coverage,
1:00
which has been spotty for the revolutionary products. Next, Brazil
1:06
rises to the challenge. Gabrielle Martinelli twenty two, scored in
1:11
second half stoppage time to lift Brazil to a two
1:14
to one win over Japan in a World Cup knockout
1:17
match Monday in Houston. And last, Black Democrats in South
1:22
are galvanized for mid terms. High primary turnout bolsters parties
1:26
hopes for upsets in the region. First article at the
1:31
reflecting Pool, these protesters speak for the algae. The group
1:35
has leaned into the ridiculousness, and on a recent evening
1:38
could be heard chanting, Let's grow, algae, Let's grow. The
1:43
article is by Liam Scott and is accompanied by a
1:46
photo captioned Nadine Siler holds up a pro algae sign
1:50
at the Reflecting Pool on June twenty first, the same
1:54
day National Park Service personnel vacuumed up the algae. Photo
1:58
is by Pete Keirhart for The Washington Post and shows
2:02
a person in a pink inflatable frog costume holding a
2:08
banner above its head that says, first they came for
2:11
the algae, dot dot dot and now. The article Craig
2:17
Poullette's hair was already dyed knee on green, thank you
2:20
very much. But the toxic slime hue came in handy
2:24
when the reflecting pool became filled with algae, and Paulette
2:27
and his friends became filled with the urge to protest.
2:31
You get to be a troll, and it's so great,
2:33
Paulette said while standing by the pool on a recent evening.
2:37
This is the best way to spend your time. Since
2:40
last week, Paullette and a small group of others dubbed
2:44
Team Algae, have spent almost every evening at the Reflecting Pool, chanting,
2:49
they said, in support of the algae that has thrown
2:52
a high profile wrench in President Donald Trump's multimillion dollar
2:55
plans to beautify the landmarkte may have green hair, but
3:01
Nadine Syler is the one that passers by want to
3:04
take photos with. That's what happens when you wear a
3:07
pink blow up frog costume emblazoned with the word Amphifa
3:12
across the belly. That's spelled a mph like amphibian Ifa,
3:19
like Antifa. I'm an all or nothing kind of person,
3:24
said Syler, aged sixty one. The demonstration is absurd, and
3:29
that's the point the protesters, Paulette Siler, Karen Irwin, and
3:35
Michelle Peterson said they care about Algae, but what they
3:38
really care about is drawing attention to what they said
3:41
the Algae represents the ludicrousness of the President's Reflecting Pool project.
3:48
In April, Trump announced plans to refurbish the pool, before
3:51
going on to award no bid contracts for the work.
3:55
He said that the finished product would last for decades,
3:58
but earlier this month, days after the renovations were completed,
4:02
the pool began blooming with algae. Not long after, the
4:06
new paint started peeling off. Trump has claimed that vandals
4:10
damaged the reflecting pool, but administration officials have not offered
4:15
clear evidence. The reflecting pool is a reflection of the
4:19
incompetence of this administration, Syler said. Paulette said the group
4:24
has faced its fair share of heckling from Trump's supporters,
4:28
but most onlookers have been in on the joke. It's
4:32
wild how much people are embracing it. I think that's
4:35
because it's ridiculous. The cost of entry is really low,
4:38
said Paullette, aged fifty two. Around seven p m, after
4:43
much of the algae had been removed, Paulette, Peterson, and
4:47
Siler begin to chant let's grow algae, Let's grow, and
4:52
pond scum matters. All lives matter. One sign attached to
4:57
their nearby cart read, algae lives in Trump's head, Rent free.
5:02
Paulette and Peterson shake green pom poms while they cheer
5:05
for the algae. Behind them, A fence surrounds the reflecting pool,
5:10
marking the latest development in a saga that has been
5:12
punctuated by debates over the nature of the color blue,
5:16
dead ducks and arrests. The Interior Department said the reflecting
5:20
pool was always set to be fenced off for safety
5:23
reasons because of July fourth fireworks, but that the barriers
5:26
were erected early due to the increase in vandalism by
5:29
leftist activists. As Siler walked closer to their reflecting pool,
5:35
she directed her attention toward a few members of the
5:38
National Guard on the other side of the fence. Thank
5:41
you for protecting the pond scum, she yelled from inside
5:44
her frog costume. Originally from Trinidad and Tobago, Siler said
5:50
she arrived in the United States in nineteen eighty seven.
5:54
She became a US citizen in nineteen ninety six and
5:57
has lived in the DC area since two thousand one.
6:00
In recent years, Siler said she has protested everything from
6:04
police violence during Black Lives Matter movement to the Supreme
6:08
Court's decision to overturn ROVERSUS wade Team Algae, though was
6:13
a fluke, Siler said. Siler was in a group chat
6:17
whose members were talking about the Kennedy Center when the
6:19
conversation turned to the news of algae in the reflecting pool.
6:24
Someone in the chat said, Oh, I'm team Green, and
6:26
I said, I'm Team Algae. Siler said a movement of
6:31
sorts was born despite multiple cooling devices. Siler's costume is
6:38
as hot as hades, but she said the frog is
6:41
worth it for the purposes of the protest. It's funny,
6:45
it's awkward, it's effective and ridiculing this regime. The absurdity
6:50
of it is, how are you going to be fighting
6:52
with a frog? Frogs have a relatively long history as
6:57
a political symbol. According to Anya Golli Robertson, a University
7:01
of Dayton associate professor who researches social movements, far right
7:06
groups embraced the comic book character Pepe the Frog about
7:09
a decade ago, but liberals retook the frog symbol last
7:13
year in Portland, Oregon, when protesters dressed up in frog
7:16
costumes during demonstrations against US immigration and customs enforcement. The
7:22
use of frogs and anti ice protests, as well as
7:26
in the pro algae demonstration, is an example of tactical frivolity,
7:30
said Gali Robinson Robertson, which is when activists use comedy
7:35
in public protest. If you don't have guns, if you
7:39
don't have money, you can still make jokes. She said.
7:43
The tactical power of strong visuals, coupled with humor and satire,
7:47
has the ability to carry the work of just a
7:49
few people a really long way. If attention is a
7:53
marker of success, Team Algae has triumphed that evening tourists
7:59
and locals alike gawkeed and cheered, unable to look away
8:02
from the show. It's a really effective way to point
8:05
out the absurdity of it all, said Dominic Charles, a
8:08
recent law school graduate, after he took a selfie with Piler.
8:12
So the protest have spread on social media and have
8:15
been published published in various media outlets. The group has
8:19
aroused the attention of White House Press Secretary Carolyn Leavitt,
8:23
who called them deranged leftists. Trump is paying attention to
8:29
It's nice to know that we can irritate him, said
8:31
Peterson forty four. Still, Peterson said she also feels disheartened
8:37
that they've been among the only protesters at the Reflecting
8:40
Pool over the past week. So many people don't know
8:43
how to resist, and it doesn't have to be hard.
8:46
She said, it can just be being silly and having
8:49
a cheer team for the Algae Squad Team Algae plans
8:53
to take the metaphors even further. On Sunday afternoon, They're
8:57
set to host memorial service at the Reflecting Pool. Peterson
9:00
told the crowd, since they did kill off all the
9:03
Algae brethren for our next article. Supreme Court expands Trump's
9:08
power over the federal bureaucracy. The justices struck down a
9:12
longtime precedent letting Congress insulate agencies from political influence, but
9:17
stopped short of giving Trump the same power over the
9:20
Federal Reserve. By justin juvenal, the Supreme Court greatly expanded
9:27
President Donald Trump's control over the federal bureaucracy Monday, but
9:31
stopped short of allowing him to undermine the independence of
9:34
the Federal Reserve in a pair of rulings that amount
9:37
to one of the largest verdicts on the scope of
9:40
presidential power in decades. In a six' three ideologically divided,
9:46
decision The justices struck down a nearly century old precedent
9:50
that has Allowed congress to insulate the leaders of The
9:53
Federal Trade commission THE, ftc and roughly two dozen other
9:57
independent regulatory agencies from political influence by requiring the president
10:03
to have good reason to dismiss. Them the ruling is
10:07
likely to usher in major changes to the structure of federal,
10:10
government and it fulfills a major goal of The trump
10:13
administration and many, conservatives who have long argued that the
10:16
president should exercise nearly unfettered authority over the executive. Branch
10:22
in the other related, case a group of justices Blocked
10:26
trump from Removing Federal Reserve Governor Lisa, cook at least for,
10:30
now in a five to four ruling that found the
10:33
Powerful Central bank has a distinct history and structure that
10:36
Allow congress to carve out protections for its. Governors taken,
10:41
together the cases amount to a split political decision For,
10:44
trump who has pushed aggressively in his second term to
10:47
assert his authority over the federal government by dismissing agency,
10:51
heads restructuring, departments and firing thousands of. Workers trump hailed
10:58
the ruling in THE ftc case as a big win
11:02
all caps in a post on Truth social while saying
11:05
he would continue to fight and Remove. Cook ninety years
11:09
of precedent has been completely and unequivocally overruled, greatly increasing
11:15
presidential power at a time when it is most, Needed trump.
11:18
Wrote republicans said THE fdc ruling would make the government
11:23
more accountable to voters who elect the, president But democrats
11:27
and some former agency officials worried it would lead to
11:30
the politicization of regulations on product, safety, elections nuclear, energy
11:35
and much. More the ruling in The cook case is,
11:39
provisional and the case will return to the lower courts
11:42
for additional legal. Wrangling the majority said The constitution's plain
11:48
language gives the president control of the executive. Branch But
11:52
Justice Sonia, sotomayor joined by the court's other two, liberals
11:56
said in a dissent that the nation's founders clearly envisioned
11:59
them the existence of agencies whose independence would be protected By.
12:03
Congress sodomyor read her dissent from the bench to signal
12:08
her strong disagreement with the. Majority, today the majority replaces
12:13
ninety years of, proven workable practice with a half baked
12:17
theory of executive power that is simultaneously all encompassing yet
12:21
also subject to necessary but undefined. Exceptions she, Wrote the
12:26
one thing that does appear to be clear going forward
12:29
is that chaos will Follow sodomyor said the ruling would
12:34
upset the structure of numerous, agencies such as The Federal
12:37
Communications commission and The securities And Exchange commission That congress
12:42
created to make decisions based on non partisan expertise and technical.
12:46
Knowledge most are run by, bipartisan multiple member. Commissions Gillian,
12:53
metzker A Columbia university law professor and expert on administrative,
12:57
law said she was struck by the breath of THE fdc,
13:00
ruling which could Give trump direct control over virtually all federal.
13:05
Employees there's language in The slaughter majority opinion that is exceptionally,
13:11
broad she, said referring to the case's. Name The president
13:15
has the power to remove at will his. Subordinates that
13:19
is extremely extraordinarily. Broad metzger said it was notable that
13:25
the court cited no exceptions for the civil service protections
13:29
that shield many federal workers from arbitrary dismissal or political.
13:33
Retaliation that could mean The court is granting the president
13:36
greater authority to remove federal, employees she, said although other
13:41
court precedents protect. Them, metzger like many legal, experts said
13:47
it was difficult to discern any legal distinction between THE
13:50
fed and other independent. Agencies she said the justices probably
13:54
blanched at giving the president too much control over the,
13:57
bank since he might lower interest rates for short term political,
14:01
gain which could spark inflation in the long. RUN i
14:05
think what's motivating the decision is they are not willing
14:08
to crash the, Economy metzger. Said Chief Justice JOHN. G
14:14
Roberts junior wrote the majority, opinion joined by the court's
14:18
five other. Conservatives he said the congressionally mandated protections that
14:23
kept the president from Firing Rebecca, slaughter A democratic member
14:27
of The Federal Trade, commission were. Unconstitutional we hold that
14:32
such protection from removal is contrary to the separation of
14:35
powers enshrined in The, constitution wrote in The Federal reserve,
14:41
case the narrow majority from across the court's ideological spectrum
14:45
ruled That cook could keep her job while a lawsuit
14:48
challenging her dismissal plays out in the. Courts the case
14:52
could take months or years to resolve and may appear
14:56
again before the, justices who Said monday That cook is
14:59
like to. Prevail roberts penned the majority opinion in The
15:04
cook case as, well joined by the court's three liberals
15:08
as well as Conservative Justice BRETT. M. Cavanaugh roberts wrote
15:13
That congress had created The Federal reserve to operate with
15:16
independence from the. President any change in that scheme must
15:21
come From, congress not the. Courts he, wrote that is
15:24
why we cannot accept the government's contentions in this. Case
15:28
to do so would allow The president to remove a
15:30
member of The Federal reserve at any, time for any,
15:33
reason without any notice before and without any judicial. Check
15:37
after four of The court's conservatives, Objected Justice SAMUEL. A Alito,
15:43
junior joined By Justice NEIL. M, gorrish wrote in assent
15:48
that The Supreme court was premature in taking Up cook's.
15:51
Case Justices Clarence thomas And Amy Coney barrett argued that
15:56
the majority was wrong on the. Substance today's decision is
16:01
an unprecedented incursion on the executive. Branch thomas wrote in his.
16:05
Descent neither the parties nor The court can point to
16:08
a single time In american history that This court has
16:11
upheld an injunction against the president's removal of an executive.
16:15
Officer legal experts had long expected The court to rule
16:20
against the decades old, precedent Affirming congress's right to create independent,
16:24
agencies known As humphrey's, executor because the justices have been
16:29
shipping away at it for. Years roberts called it a
16:33
dried husk during oral arguments In. December The Supreme, court
16:38
on its emergency, docket has repeatedly Backed trump's efforts to
16:42
remove the heads of independent, agencies allowing him to dismiss
16:46
members of The National Labor Relations, board The Merit System's Protection,
16:50
board and The Consumer Products Safety commission in rulings over
16:54
the past year or. So, likewise the ruling in The
16:58
cook case came as low surprise because some justices had
17:02
signaled they were interested in carving out for THE fed
17:05
an exception to the president's removal. Authority trump Fired slaughter
17:11
and the Other democrat on the five MEMBER, Ftc Alvaro,
17:14
badoya without giving a, cause In march twenty twenty. Five
17:19
the dismissals were part of a broader campaign by The
17:22
president to remove perceived liberal leaders from independent agencies and
17:26
replace them with. Loyalists slaughter challenged her dismissal in federal,
17:31
court Saying trump had exceeded his authority under the law
17:34
creating THE. Ftc the law says the president can fire
17:38
members only for, inefficiency neglect of, duty or malfeasance in.
17:43
Office the agency works on antitrust and consumer protection. ISSUES
17:50
a federal judge cited The humphreys executor president in Reinstating
17:54
slaughter to her. Position that decision was upheld by an
17:58
appeals court before The trump administry asked The Supreme court to.
18:01
Intervene roberts Paused slaughter's reinstatement In september so The High
18:07
court could pass could weigh the administration's. Appeal during arguments In,
18:13
December Solicitor general D John sower said that regulatory agencies
18:18
like THE ftc had become a headless fourth, branch insulated
18:22
from political accountability and democratic, control and that curbing the
18:26
president's power to remove agency heads infringed on his constitutional.
18:31
Powers trump has often disparaged the federal bureaucracy as a
18:35
deep state determined to undermine his. Agenda many in the
18:40
administration support the unitary executive, theory which holds that The
18:44
constitution vests direct control of the executive branch solely, president
18:50
and he is free to fire any of its officials at.
18:52
Will since The reagan, administration conservatives have pushed to give
18:57
the president greater control over hiring and firing in the.
19:00
Government trump initially Nominated slaughter to THE ftc in twenty.
19:06
Eighteen she was unanimously approved by The, senate And President
19:10
Joe biden renominated her in twenty twenty. Three slaughter has
19:14
become an outspoken critic Of trump's efforts to cut the federal.
19:18
Workforce slaughter said she was disappointed with the. Ruling what
19:24
we have seen is a massive expansion of executive power
19:27
at the expense Of, congress which has designed these agencies
19:30
to work on behalf of the people and not the,
19:33
powerful she. Said slaughter's case echoed the one underlying The
19:38
humphreys executor. Precedent in nineteen thirty, Five President FRANKLIN. D
19:43
roosevelt had attempted to dismiss AN ftc Commissioner William humphrey
19:48
over political differences related to The New deal and other.
19:51
Issues The Supreme court found that humphreys firing was illegal
19:56
and upheld the law creating THE, ftc including it was
20:00
lawful For congress to carve out job protections for independent agency.
20:04
Heads the justices have been steadily Diminishing humphrey's executor in recent.
20:10
Years in the most significant, case The High court ruled
20:14
in twenty twenty that the law creating removal protections for
20:17
the director of the Powerful Consumer Financial Protection BUREAU cfpb
20:23
was unconstitutional because it violated the separation of. Powers the
20:28
majority wrote in Its cook Ruling monday that THE fed
20:31
is different from other independent agencies because its structure ECHOES
20:35
us national, banks whose genesis goes back to before The.
20:39
Constitution congress created THE fed to be independent of the
20:44
president so it could make difficult, decisions such as raising
20:48
interest rates that are good for the health of the
20:50
economy but may not be politically. Popular trump is the
20:55
first president in The fed's one hundred twelve year history
20:59
to try to fire one of its board. Members In,
21:02
august he alleged That cook had claimed two homes as
21:05
primary residences to get a better mortgage. Rate in filings
21:10
with The Supreme, Court cook unequivocally denied the. Allegations The
21:16
High court case revolved around Whether trump's attempt to Fire
21:19
cook complied with The Federal Reserve, act which SAYS fed
21:23
board members can only be can be ousted only for.
21:26
Cause days After trump announced on social media In august
21:31
that he was Firing, cook she sued in federal, court
21:35
arguing That trump's accusations did not meet the standard for
21:38
four cause removal because the alleged improprieties occurred before she
21:42
was on the federal board and had not been. Proved
21:46
her attorneys also said she had not been given due.
21:48
PROCESS a federal judge in d c sided With, cook
21:53
allowing her to remain on the job. TEMPORARILY a divided
21:57
appeals court affirmed thut decision before The trump administration appealed
22:02
to The Supreme. Court the justices ruled In october That
22:06
cook could continue at THE fed while they considered her.
22:08
Case during arguments In, January, sower The Solicitor, general told
22:15
the justices that the mortgage allegations Gave trump reason enough
22:18
to Fire cook and that the courts did not have
22:21
the authority to second guess his. Determination The american people
22:26
should not have their interest rates determined by some one who,
22:29
was at best grossly negligent in obtaining favorable interest rates for,
22:34
Herself sower. Said PAUL. D, clement an attorney For, cook
22:40
said The justices would be rash to rule on The
22:42
trump administration's emergency request to Oust cook from her job
22:46
without the benefit of additional fact finding and legal. Proceedings
22:51
there is no reason to abandon more than one hundred
22:54
years Of Central bank independence on an emergency. Application clement
22:59
said The justice has found that the courts could Review
23:03
trump's firing Of, cook and that there should be a
23:06
substantial threshold for. Cause without such a, standard The court
23:10
said presidents could invent pretexts to remove. Governors After monday's,
23:17
Ruling trump wrote on Truth social that we will take
23:20
appropriate action immediately to make sure that someone who has
23:23
committed wrongdoing will not be making vital decisions concerning the
23:26
welfare of The United states Of. America cook said in
23:31
a statement she was pleased today's ruling affirms a principle
23:35
that has underpinned sound economic stewardship for, generations that The
23:39
Federal reserve must make all its policy decisions guided by
23:43
evidence and independent, judgment free from political. Interference cook said
23:48
this bedrock principle has guided The Federal reserve since its.
23:52
Founding the cases Are trump. V slaughter And trump. Vy.
23:56
Cook for our next, Article Supreme court rules mail in
24:02
ballots arriving after election day can be. COUNTED a decision
24:06
against such ballots could have upended election procedures in states
24:10
across the country ahead of the midterm elections By Justin
24:14
juvenial And Patrick. Marley The Supreme court On monday upheld
24:21
A mississippi law that allows officials to tallly mail in
24:24
ballots postmarked by election day that arrive, later a decision
24:29
that keeps voting procedures in place in several states as
24:32
the midterm elections. Loom in an ideologically mixed five to four,
24:37
ruling the justices turned aside a challenge By republicans and,
24:41
libertarians who argued federal law preempts A mississippi statute that
24:46
allows the counting of such ballots that arrive up to
24:49
five days after polls. Close the decision could make less
24:54
likely similar legal challenges in some of the fourteen states
24:57
that allow the counting of ballots that arrived day weeks
25:00
after polls, close and others that allow military members to
25:04
return ballots. Later most states require most mail in ballots
25:09
to be received by election. Day Justice Amy Cony barrett
25:13
delivered the opinion for the, majority which Included Chief Justice JOHN.
25:17
G Roberts junior and the court's three. Liberals barrett said
25:21
federal election law did not address when ballots should be.
25:24
Received the election day statutes say nothing about ballot, receipt
25:30
and we cannot add to the Words congress. Chose barrett.
25:33
Wrote the ruling came over the objections of four of
25:37
the court's. Conservatives Justice SAMUEL. A Alito junior wrote the
25:41
opinion for the, group which Included Justices Clarence, Thomas NEIL. M,
25:46
gorrish And BRETT. M. Cavanaugh not only Is today's decision
25:51
inconsistent with statutory, text legal, context historical, practice and, precedent
25:57
it also threatens to produce lamentable Conscut quince's a leader,
26:01
wrote the majority's holding spawns a slurry of troubling election
26:05
law questions and, risks further Undermining american's confidence in election.
26:09
Integrity President Donald trump and Some republican allies have falsely
26:16
argued that voter fraud is rampant in mail in. Balloting
26:20
trump partly blamed his loss in the twenty twenty presidential
26:23
election on mail in votes and unsuccessfully called on states
26:27
to stop tallying them during the. Contest trump called the
26:32
ruling a tremendous loss in a post untruth Social he
26:37
called On congress to pass The Save America, act which
26:40
would require voters to provide proof of citizenship to register to,
26:44
vote and show a PHOTO id to cast. Ballot Nevada
26:49
secretary Of State Francisco, Aguilar, democrat said election officials would
26:54
have faced expensive campaigns to educate voters about new voting
26:58
rules if the decision had had gone the other. Way
27:02
the real winners are the, voters he. Said it's about
27:05
the voters having, consistent, accessible unfair. Elections republicans in a
27:11
number of states have launched legal challenges to mail in,
27:15
voting which has grown in popularity since the onset of
27:18
the coronavirus. Pandemic one study found about one in three
27:23
voters voted by mail in twenty twenty, four but the
27:26
practice is more widespread in democratic leaning. States conservatives In
27:32
congress have also introduced legislation to limit mail in. Voting In,
27:37
March trump issued an executive order telling The Postal service
27:41
to send ballots only to voters who appear on lists
27:44
of citizens created by states in conjunction with the federal.
27:47
GOVERNMENT a federal judge In massachusetts blocked that provision of
27:52
the executive order last, week saying, states not the, president
27:56
are responsible for setting election. Rules despite his criticism of
28:02
mail in. Voting trump voted by mail in a special
28:05
election In florida earlier this. Year in the case decided
28:10
by The High, court The Republican National, committee The Mississippi Republican,
28:15
party state, voter and a County election commis commissioner had
28:19
Sued mississippi in twenty twenty, four claiming it was illegal
28:23
to count mail in ballots that arrive after polls close
28:26
because federal law sets elections for a specific. Day The
28:30
Libertarian party later filed a similar. Suit the cases were
28:35
consolidated by a federal, judge who allowed groups of veterans
28:39
and retirees to intervene in the suit on behalf Of.
28:42
Mississippi the judge dismissed the, case but THE. U S
28:46
court Of appeals for The Fifth circuit reversed that. Ruling
28:50
mississippi then appealed to The Supreme. Court during arguments In,
28:55
March PAUL. D, clement an attorney for The, conservatives told
28:59
The justice says that casting and counting ballots at the
29:02
same time has long been. Intertwined he said allowing mail
29:06
in ballots to be counted after election day could increase
29:09
fraud and undermine faith in, elections particularly if the winning
29:13
candidate was not the one ahead when polls, closed the
29:17
losers are going to doubt the result full. Stop clement
29:21
said that is bad for our. System Mississippi Solicitor General SCOTT.
29:26
G stewart countered that existing law required only that voters
29:31
fill out their ballots by election. Day he said mail
29:34
in voting had a long history in The United, states
29:38
pointing to field voting that occurred during The Civil. War
29:43
states have allowed it for over a century And congress
29:46
has respected. It stuart said this term has been an
29:52
active one for The justices on voting and election. Issues In,
29:56
january The court allowed A republican congressman From illinois to
30:00
challenge the state's mail in balloting, laws finding candidates have
30:04
inherent standing to sue over election. Rules the, case brought
30:09
By Representative Mike, Boast republican Of, illinois also argues that
30:14
federal law prohibits ballots from being counted after election. Day
30:18
the case was sent back to the lower. Courts The
30:22
justice is also severely limited a key section of The
30:25
Voting Rights, act which has cleared the way for a
30:28
number Of republican controlled states in The south to carve
30:31
up districts held mostly by Black democrats ahead of the midterm.
30:35
Elections hundreds of other minority officeholders could be redistricted out
30:41
of their seats in state and local. Boards The court
30:46
has yet to rule in a case challenging limits on
30:49
spending coordinated between political parties and candidates that is being
30:53
pushed by The Republican. Party striking down the spending limits
30:57
could Give republicans a big money boost In. November fourteen
31:02
states provide grace periods for all mail in, ballots and
31:06
another sixteen provide them for military and overseas. Voters republican
31:11
led states have been steering away from ballot grace periods,
31:14
recently With, Kansas North, Dakota, ohio And utah eliminating them last.
31:20
Year according To Voting Rights lab RN c Chairman Joe
31:26
gruder's Said republicans would Push congress to pass legislation requiring
31:31
ballots in all states to be returned by election. Day
31:35
democrats are inviting chaos at the ballot box by allowing
31:38
elections to drag on for days and weeks after voters
31:41
cast their, ballots he said in a. Statement voting rights
31:45
advocates praised the, decision saying they feared The court could
31:49
reverse long standing policies on when ballots are. Due good
31:54
news rarely comes out of This Supreme, court but today's
31:57
ruling is a win for our democracy AND acp President
32:01
Derrick johnson. Said Virginia Kse, solomon president Of Common, cause
32:08
said the decision was correct because voters shouldn't lose their
32:11
voice because of mail delays outside their. Control for our next,
32:16
article Why Resisting trump has Galvanized Black Democrats as the
32:21
mid terms, approach high primary turnout among black voters in
32:25
The south has given some in the party hope for
32:28
upset wins in the. Region By Gregory snyder From Saint,
32:33
Stephen South. Carolina black voters In South carolina and Other
32:39
southern states are turning out in defiance of what many
32:42
see As President Donald trump's efforts to suppress their political,
32:46
power Fueling democratic hopes of clinching upset wins in the
32:50
region in this fall's midterm. ELECTIONS a surgeon black voter
32:55
engagement is energizing Close senate races In North carolina And,
32:58
georgia Where democrats go into the summer with leeds in many.
33:02
Polls Some democrats see a chance of long shot victories
33:07
In South, carolina such as ousting longtime Incumbent Senator Lindsay, Graham,
33:12
republican and flipping the congressional seat vacated By Representative Nancy, Mace.
33:18
Republican no matter what obstacles are in our, way we're
33:23
going to just walk over those obstacles and we're, voting
33:26
Said Beatrice, brown seventy, eight a retired public school teacher
33:30
who drove other black voters to the polls this month
33:33
in primaries in the low country town Of Saint. STEPHEN
33:37
a voteless people is a hopeless, people and we're not.
33:40
Hopeless early voting in that round Of South carolina balloting
33:46
surged to almost presidential election. Levels in the district represented
33:51
by the state's lone black, Congressman Representative james Clyburn, democrat
33:57
turn out jumped by more than fifty. Percent the outpouring
34:01
of support For clyburn led state lawmakers to abandon a
34:05
plan to carve Black americans out Of clyburne's, district with
34:09
State Senate Majority Leader Shane, Massey, republican warning That republicans
34:14
had angered voters because they think we're. CHEATING a Few
34:19
republican states have Resisted trump's directives for redrawing. Districts last,
34:24
Week george's legislature retreated in the face of big public,
34:28
demonstrations but The Supreme court's dismantling of The Voting Rights
34:33
acts minority protections looms. Large, Louisiana, alabama And tennessee responded
34:40
by quickly pushing through maps that dilute black voting, power
34:45
raising fears that the civil rights gains of the past
34:47
sixty years are being. Destroyed The Cook Political report and
34:53
other observers shifted races in those states and others to the,
34:56
right Showing republicans now with a numerical heading into the.
35:01
Fall republicans Dismissed democratic claims of massive turnout as a,
35:06
fantasy particularly In South. Carolina republicans will continue to dominate
35:13
In South carolina by remaining focused on the issues they are,
35:16
voters lowering the cost of, living improving community, safety and
35:21
securing the, Border National Republican Campaign committee Spokesman Riley richardson
35:27
said via. Email but some political observers argue that the
35:32
GOP's actions will boomerang back against. Them Split, ticket which
35:37
builds election forecasting, models said its data suggests an eight
35:41
point advantage For democrats in what could be the most
35:44
blue friendly climate since two thousand and, eight according to
35:48
an analysis By Lacius, jane the organization's co. Founder according
35:56
to political data firm the Down, Ballot democrats have overperformed
36:01
by nearly thirteen percentage points in one hundred plus special
36:05
elections Since trump took office in twenty twenty. Five if
36:09
that margin, held a host of Safe republican districts would become.
36:13
Vulnerable trump chipped away at democrats overwhelming advantage in with
36:20
black voters in twenty twenty. Four black voters have tended
36:24
to turn out in lower numbers than white. Voters political
36:27
organizers see an opening to reverse both. Trends we're trying
36:32
to break through some of the voter apathy that exists
36:35
in states in The Deep south because of the deep,
36:37
poverty Said Ashley shelton of The Louisiana Power. Coalition there's
36:43
also this hope that the rest of the country understands
36:45
what this. Means as goes The, south so goes the.
36:49
Nation it's really, true right now The south is on,
36:52
fire but before long this comes to a community near.
36:55
You louisiana's redistricting efforts sparked massive turnout for the first
37:02
round of primary elections In, may With senate nominees on the.
37:06
Ballot In, mississippi thousands turned out for a rainy voting rights,
37:11
rally And Governor Tate, Reeves, republican canceled a legislative session
37:17
to take up, redistricting though he expressed his intent to
37:20
eliminate the state's lone majority black congressional. District people are
37:26
seeing these redistricting efforts as an existential, crisis Said Charles
37:30
taylor of The mississippi branch of The end OF. Lacp
37:34
he said the organization is getting an influx of new
37:36
volunteers and planning field hearings to ensure a large turnout
37:41
of black voters this. Fall folks are recognizing that there's
37:46
a will of some people in this country to take
37:48
us back prior to nineteen sixty, five but there is
37:52
also a resistance that is formed to say we need
37:54
to continue to go. Forward taylor. Said democratic organizers acknowledge
38:00
the challenge of keeping voters energized throughout the summer and.
38:03
Fall In, alabama rapid redistricting could dampen voter, participation Said Shala,
38:10
mitchell turnout coordinator For alabama. Values voters in general are
38:15
expressing a lot of. Confusion mitchell said her group is
38:19
arranging voter education sessions and making early preparations for get
38:23
out the vote. Efforts some activists caution that it would
38:27
be a mistake For democrats to assume that high black
38:30
voter turnout is a foregone. Conclusion the party has not
38:34
figured out how to effectively engage and organize electorally in The,
38:38
south said Ta Kila johnson Of Tennessee's Equity. Alliance While
38:43
black voters are a lot more aware and a lot
38:46
more awakened to the idea that hard fought voting rights
38:49
are being rolled, back she Said democrats have to do
38:52
more to inspire confidence that they'll follow through with helpful
38:55
policies once elections are, Over time and investment will tell
39:00
if we're able to turn those voters into Actual democratic
39:03
voters or turn out voters who typically stay, Home johnson.
39:07
Said In South, Carolina democrats are trying to goose the
39:12
momentum by running candidates in every, state, house congressional and
39:16
statewide race on the. Ballot having a choice in every
39:20
locality will bring more people to the, polls Said Jamie,
39:24
harrison former chairman of THE dnc who unsuccessfully Challenged graham
39:28
for His South Carolina senate seat in twenty. Twenty the
39:32
real wild, Card harrison, said is whether State democrats can
39:36
get enough resources to take advantage of the favorable. Climate
39:41
if we do, that if a blue wave, Comes South
39:44
carolina has some surprises in, store he. Said The republicans
39:48
have nobody But Donald trump to thank for this. Awakening
39:53
it's still a big. If last week's runoff elections failed
39:57
to draw the high turnout seen in the first round
39:59
of primary. Voting voters in the first congressional district Chose
40:04
Democrat nancy s Le, corps a Former navy admiral fired
40:09
By Defense Secretary Pete, hegsith While republicans Picked Charleston county
40:14
Council Member jenny Cost A honeycutt as their. Nominee black
40:19
voters are crucial To democratic hopes in the, state making
40:22
up some sixty percent of the party's electorate. There in
40:27
the first, district a long strip of low country coastline
40:30
that Skirts, charleston about seventeen percent of the electorate Is African.
40:35
American that's, significant but not comparable to the majority minority
40:40
sixth congressional district That cliburne represents. Nearby the first district
40:46
Backed trump by about thirteen points in twenty twenty, four
40:50
And mace slightly outperformed the. President now that she is
40:54
not seeking, Reelection democrats think they have a shot at
40:57
the open seat if they can mobilize massive times. Turnout
41:01
In Monk's corner Along Lake, moultrie about thirty miles north Of,
41:06
charleston most people casting ballots on the morning of last
41:10
week's primary were White. Republicans i'm a Strong trump, supporter
41:15
Said Mary rudloff seventy, four a retired events planner who
41:19
said she agreed WITH gop policies on immigration and maintaining
41:23
law and. Order wearing a straw hat against the ninety
41:27
seven degree, Heat rudloff acknowledged some momentum on The democratic.
41:32
SIDE i want to be optimistic BECAUSE i Think republicans
41:37
are the ones that are going to bring us back
41:38
to where we need to, Be rudloff. Said Could democrats
41:43
flip the, seat they, may she. Said retiree And republican
41:49
Voter William Oscar huddo eighty five pointed out That democrats
41:53
captured the seat for a single term in twenty, eighteen
41:56
but said he thinks the party has tilted too far
41:59
to the left to manage it. Again, still he cautioned That,
42:03
trump whom he, supports might alienate some voters over his redistricting,
42:07
push the war With, iran and efforts to spend money
42:11
putting his name on. Buildings another twenty miles, north In Saint,
42:16
Stephen democratic voters Outnumbered, republicans though both groups were, small
42:21
one hundred ninety eight versus one. Forty most businesses On
42:26
Main street along the railroad tracks were empty or boarded.
42:29
Up the largely rural area has lost jobs and access to,
42:33
healthcare residents, said leaving them hungry for. Change, brown the
42:39
retired school, teacher sees an urgency this year that's comparable
42:43
on one level to the thrill of voting in twenty
42:46
two thousand and eight For Barack obama to be the
42:49
nation's first black. President in that, case we voted for,
42:53
hope she. Said this, time all races understand the vital
42:57
importance of trying something new to get off the cur
43:00
wrote of. Destruction other black voters who stopped by the
43:04
sandy parking lot at The American Legion hall to cast their.
43:07
Ballots said they felt personally threatened By trump's moves on voting.
43:11
Rights they're trying to make it SO i can't vote no.
43:14
More it's that, sad Said Troy, goodman sixty, five a
43:19
deacon at the Local baptist. Church though he had made
43:22
sure to show up for the runoff, Election goodman said
43:26
he worries the overall climate will discourage black people from.
43:29
Voting the next, day Barber Kevin, page age forty, nine
43:34
trimmed the hair of a young customer and said it
43:37
was important for black people like himself to vote to
43:40
elect members Of congress who would Check trump's. Power he
43:44
thinks he's got all the power to do anything he
43:46
wants to. Do page said he's trying to make it
43:49
so he can be there. Forever he voted in the,
43:52
Primary page, said but forgot that the day before had
43:56
been the runoff and didn't cast a. Ballot H, hamilton seventy,
44:01
one a disabled military veteran sitting across the shop and
44:05
carrying a plastic bag containing his prescription, medication said he
44:09
had wanted to vote but had no way to get
44:11
to the. Polls both vowed to vote this. Fall medicare
44:17
is about to COVER glp one drugs for weight. Loss
44:20
here's what to. Know The trump administration will launch its
44:24
pilot program On. Wednesday it lasts eighteen, months and estimated
44:28
costs to taxpayers have not been disclosed By Christopher. Rowland Beginning,
44:36
Wednesday medicare will COVER glp one drugs for weight loss
44:40
for the first, time with patients responsible for a fifty
44:43
dollars a month co payment that makes it far cheaper
44:46
than cash prices without. Insurance the move will unleash a
44:51
surge in prescriptions for patients sixty five and older and
44:54
younger people with disabilities who are covered by the government
44:57
health insurance. Program, generally insurance coverage has been spotty for
45:02
the revolutionary weight laws, drugs largely because of the budget
45:06
busting impacts of high costs and huge. Demand coverage Under,
45:12
medicare which covers seventy Million americans through the traditional insurance
45:16
and Privatized medicare, advantage will go a long way to plugging,
45:20
gaps but there are important considerations under The trump administrations.
45:26
Initiative the coverage is, temporary set to expire at the
45:30
end of twenty twenty. Seven it is not known whether
45:34
or How medicare will continue coverage after its eighteen month,
45:38
pilot which is called The Bridge. Program it's certainly good
45:44
news For medicare beneficiaries who have been essentially shut out
45:47
of the market FOR glp ones for weight loss if
45:50
they wanted to use insurance, coverage Said Juliette, kabanski vice
45:54
president and director Of Medicare policy at k F, f
45:58
the nonprofit health care research. Organization, however it is a temporary.
46:04
Program it is not a permanent change In medicare. Coverage
46:10
unless the coverage is. Extended millions of patients who are
46:13
expected to benefit will face a choice beginning In january
46:16
twenty twenty, eight of paying higher cash prices for the
46:19
drugs or stopping taking, them, which based on the CURRENT glp,
46:24
ones would probably cause their weight to. Rebound, additionally coverage
46:29
is not. Automatic it is subject to pre approval under
46:33
a process known as prior, authorization which can slow down
46:37
access even for patients who. Qualify The centers For medicare
46:41
And Medicaid services has outlined a process requiring multiple steps
46:46
between providers and pharmacies and its insurance contractor for the, Project.
46:50
HUMANA i think that is going to cause a bit
46:54
of friction in the, Process keabanski. SAID cms says it
46:59
expects pre approvals to take under seventy two. Hours here
47:03
are answers to essential questions about how the program will. Work,
47:08
first what drugs will be? Covered Eli lilly And Novo,
47:13
nordisk the manufacturers of brand NAME glp one, drugs are the.
47:17
Suppliers through a deal With President Donald trump's. ADMINISTRATION Eli
47:22
lilly's weekly zepbound injection AND foundeo daily tablet will be,
47:26
covered as Will Novo nordisk's we GO, v both in
47:31
weekly injection and daily pill. Form these treatments are a
47:36
major medical, advancement but too many seniors are currently unable
47:40
to access them due to high. COST cms administrator Methment
47:44
oz said announcing the plan last, month people taking zepbound on,
47:50
average lost twenty one percent of their bodyweek wait over
47:54
seventy two. Weeks in clinical, trials we GO v injection
47:58
patients lost fifteen percent over sixty eight, weeks and we
48:02
go vpill patients lost thirteen point four percent after sixty four.
48:06
WEEKS foundeo patients attained eleven point one percent weight loss
48:11
over seventy two. Weeks next who. Qualifies The government's criteria
48:19
for coverage is aimed at making sure beneficiaries whose health
48:23
is at risk because of obesity get access through. Medicare
48:27
patients looking to lose weight for lifestyle or cosmetic reasons won't.
48:31
Qualify the criteria is based on an individual's body mass,
48:36
index which is a calculation that takes into account height and.
48:39
Weight people will qualify if THEIR bmi is equal to
48:43
or greater than thirty. Five someone with A bmi of
48:47
thirty or above will also qualify if they have one
48:50
or more of these other health conditions that put them
48:53
at risk heart, failure uncontrolled high blood, pressure or kidney.
48:58
FAILURE a person can qualify with A bmi as low
49:03
as twenty, seven which is considered overweight not, obese if
49:08
they also have pre, diabetes a history of heart, attack
49:11
a previous, stroke or symptomatic peripheral artery. Disease, crucially even
49:18
if SOMEONE'S bmi is below the, threshold if they started
49:21
one of the weight loss drugs before THE cms program,
49:24
started when they were within the qualifying, range they still
49:27
will be. Covered for, example if patient had A bmi
49:32
of thirty eight when they began taking zep, bound but
49:35
are now at thirty. One they will still qualify for the.
49:38
Benefit next who handles prior, authorization winning coverage approval could
49:47
prove to be an, ordeal and doctors are bracing for,
49:49
bottlenecks especially with a huge volume of prescriptions flooding the
49:53
system Starting. Wednesday it's going to be a, lot all at,
49:57
once the number of, prescriptions the, paperwork the prior, authorizations
50:02
the work for the, clinics, patients and, pharmacies Said Christopher,
50:06
weber medical director of bariatric services At Ascension wisconsin and
50:11
a board member of The Obesity Medicine. ASSOCIATION cms is
50:17
expecting prior authorization requests to be approved within twenty four
50:20
to seventy two. HOURS i would not be surprised if
50:24
it's substantially, Longer weber. Said the eighteen month pilot is
50:29
being operated outside The Medicare PART D Drug, benefit so
50:34
the private health insurance companies that Offer PART d plans
50:37
are not. Involved, instead The centers For medicare And Medicaid
50:42
services has Selected humana to serve as the central processing
50:45
point for deciding. Coverage humana declined to. COMMENT cms said
50:51
in response to questions that it is working to avoid.
50:54
DELAYS cms has disseminated educational materials and will provide on
50:59
good owing support to pharmacies and providers on The MEDICARE
51:03
glp One bridge to ensure that clinicians and pharmacies have
51:07
the resources that they need to engage with, Beneficiaries the agency, Said,
51:13
next why is this program? Temporary federal law Prohibits medicare
51:19
from covering weight loss, drugs so The trump administration is
51:23
doing it under its authority to conduct a temporary demonstration.
51:27
Project the relatively short term nature of the benefit called
51:31
The bridge program is raising practical and policy. Questions what
51:37
it expires is. Unclear how beneficiaries will ACCESS glp one
51:41
medications at an affordable. Price STACY. B, ducetsna a health
51:46
policy professor At Vanderbilt, university wrote in A New England
51:50
journal Of medicine article Published saturday that raises the. Prospect
51:55
she said that patients will stop taking the drugs and regain,
51:58
weight which will lead to poor or clinical. Outcomes The
52:02
bridge program could result in substantial additional governmental and beneficiary
52:07
spending without providing longer term health. Benefits she, wrote, next
52:14
will the co payment apply to my PART d? Deductible
52:18
the fifty dollars a. Month copayment cost will not count
52:21
toward annual deductibles And Medicare PART d prescription drug plans
52:26
because the pilot program is separate From PART. D it
52:30
also will not count toward the twenty one hundred Dollars
52:32
medicare out of pocket spending cap for drug. Coverage The
52:37
trump administration had planned another pilot Where PART d plans
52:41
would have managed the, coverage but not enough of the
52:44
private plans expressed interest because they were concerned about exposure
52:48
to unknown costs with the anticipated burst of new. Prescriptions
52:51
kabanski said there is no evidence right now for making
52:55
assumptions about how many additional beneficiaries will come into this.
52:59
Market she, said it left them with a lot of. Uncertainty,
53:04
next what IF i was already getting the drug for
53:07
diabetes Under? Medicare patients who are already Receiving medicare coverage
53:13
for one of THE glp one drugs for, diabetes cardiovascular,
53:17
disease and sleep apnea will continue to be covered by
53:20
Their PART d. Plan they are not eligible to switch
53:23
to the weight loss. Pilot, next how much will covering
53:29
these drugs cost? Taxpayers Eli lilly And Novo nordisk have
53:35
agreed to sell the drugs to the government for two
53:37
hundred and forty five dollars a. Month that is in
53:40
the middle of the range of what drug companies charge
53:42
consumers without, insurance depending on. Dosage The centers For medicare
53:48
And Medicaid services has not released estimates of the total
53:51
numbers of patients expected to take advantage of the program
53:54
or the expected. Spending some clues are contained in a
53:59
previous estimate released by The biden, administration which proposed offering
54:03
similar long term coverage in late twenty twenty. Four it
54:07
said the cost would be twenty five billion dollars over ten.
54:10
Years that would equal two and a half billion dollars a,
54:14
year which is likely to be a low estimate given
54:17
the explosion in national. Demand The Congressional Budget office estimated
54:23
it could cost thirty five billion dollars over eight years
54:27
with twelve million newly eligible people in twenty twenty. Six
54:31
that estimate has more generous criteria than What medicare has.
54:34
Adopted medicare spending on the new breed of weight loss
54:39
drugs has been skyrocketing already without weight loss, Coverage according
54:43
to an analysis BY kff it reached twenty seven and
54:47
a half billion dollars in twenty twenty, four although that
54:51
gross spending was reduced by up to fifty percent by manufacturer.
54:55
Rebates kubanski estimated that weight loss coverage could ac add
55:00
another four billion dollars to five billion dollars a year
55:03
To medicare's. Tab it's essentially all additional spending by the federal,
55:09
government she. Said of, course the hope is that helping
55:13
millions Of medicare beneficiaries lose weight will reduce diseases linked to,
55:18
obesity ultimately lowering. Costs but when those savings will be
55:23
realized and how large they might, be remains. Unknown THE
55:27
cbo estimated the savings for a longer term program at
55:30
one billion dollar a year by twenty thirty, four a
55:34
small fraction of the new. Spending this concludes the reading
55:39
of The Washington post for, Today, Tuesday june, thirtieth twenty twenty.
55:43
Six your reader for today has Been. Greta if you
55:47
have any, questions, comments or suggestions concerning this, program please
55:51
feel free to call us at eight five nine four
55:54
two two six three nine. Zero thank you for, listening
55:59
and now please do be tuned for continued programming here
56:02
On RADIO i