Headline Digest: May 6-12

(USA)

 SETBACKS, LOSSES:

 [5.10.24. AP] Trump (and Project 2025-affiliated) group presents Trump 2.0 national security plan Trump-affiliated group releases new national security book outlining possible second-term approach | AP News

 [5.10.24. The Intercept] A new anti-terrorism bill would allow the government to take away vital tax exemptions from nonprofit news outlets. https://theintercept.com/2024/05/10/terrorism-bill-nonprofit-journalists-israel-hamas/  

[ 5.9.24. WaPo] Top Republicans, led by Trump, refuse to commit to accept 2024 election results https://www.washingtonpost.com/elections/2024/05/08/trump-republicans-2024-election-results/

 [5.10.24. The Advocate] Target cuts back LGBTQ Pride merch in selected areas after escalated attacks on store staff https://apple.news/AGKnvOxrFTmSxycMAXLwvSQ 

[5.6.24. The New Republic] House votes to support tax code revision of “terrorist-supporting” groups — with wide political implications. This Bipartisan Bill Could Give Trump Huge Power Against His Enemies | The New Republic 

 [5.7.24. The Hill] NYS GOP Judge Denies ERA state ballot measure https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/4649908-new-york-abortion-related-equal-rights-amendment-state-ballot-judge-tosses/amp/

 [5.2.25. The 19th] A Kansas GOP pol flips on gender-affirming care https://19thnews.org/2024/05/kansas-republican-veto-gender-affirming-care/ 

 [5.9.24. NPR] Medical residents start to avoid states with abortion bans https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/05/09/1250057657/medical-residents-starting-avoid-states-abortion-bans

 [5.8.24. CNBC] Over 60% of younger workers would avoid jobs in states with abortion bans - survey https://www.cnbc.com/amp/2024/05/07/abortion-bans-drive-away-up-to-half-of-young-talent-new-cnbc/generation-lab-youth-survey-finds.html [5.8.24. NBC] GA GOP Governor Kemp signs voter-restricting law in swing state https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna151180 

 [5.6.24. Politico] Poland’s Duda being credited with Trump / GOP shift on support for Russia and Putin https://www.politico.eu/article/polands-president-duda-plays-whisperer-to-turn-donald-trump-against-russia/

 ADVANCES, EXPOSES:

 [5.12.24. CBS News] Leticia James sues anti-abortion groups for fraudulent claims a pill can reverse abortion https://www.cbsnews.com/amp/news/abortion-pill-reversal-lawsuit-fraud-new-york-california/

 [5.12.24. SEAT Press Release] Texas Students Ties to Courts to Fight Anti-Trans Policy SEAT - SEAT Files Civil Rights Complaint Against Katy ISD's Anti-Trans Policy Trans activists flood Utah tip hotline w hoax tips to block law enforcement arrests post anti-trans bathroom law https://www.yahoo.com/news/transgender-activists-flood-utah-tip-231838464.html  

[5.9.24. TruthOut] New fed EEOC workplace rules protect LGBTQIA+ people from misgendering bathroom bans https://truthout.org/articles/new-federal-rules-protect-lgbtq-people-from-misgendering-bathroom-bans/ 

 5.9.24. NYT] Biden admin readies new environmental protection rules. https://www.nytimes.com/2024/05/09/climate/biden-environmental-rules-epa.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share&referringSource=articleShare

[5.9.24. CNN-] Appeals court upholds Bannon’s contempt-of-court charges in Jan. 6 insurrection https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2024/05/10/politics/steve-bannon-appeal-denied 

 [5.2.24. Wired] Tech Transparency Project shows big surge in number, coordination of extremist right groups on Facebook, social media https://www.wired.com/story/extremist-militias-are-coordinating-on-facebook/ (See also: 2023 backgrounder Report below for more on this)

 [5.10.24. The Guardian] Far-right fascist, antigay groups infiltrating Gaza student protests to sow divisionism at UCLA, elsewhere https://apple.news/AbTwISt3ITd6tH6mSBxIXWQ 

 NOTEWORTHY: 

 [5.11.24. Washington Blade]A proposed Medicaid reimbursement rule worries HIV advocates. https://www.washingtonblade.com/2024/05/11/opinion-proposed-medicaid-rule-may-hurt/ 

 (GLOBAL)

Ghana:

 [5.8.24. Bloomberg] Ghana Anti-LGBTQ law Tests World Bank Loyalty https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2024-05-08/ghana-s-feud-over-anti-lgbtq-law-threatens-20-billion-debt-deal Ghana Law Tests World Bank Loyalty With $20 Billion on The Line 

Slovakia spotlight:

 5.10.24. Politico - EU.] Robert Fico plots to dismantle free press https://www.politico.eu/article/slovak-robert-fico-government-shuns-independent-press-wants-turn-public-broadcaster-into-state-run-tv/ 

 [5.9.24. VSquare] Spotlight on Slovakian leader, PM Robert Fico, and his growing strongman bona fides Robert Fico, Slovakia's man who lives for vengeance - VSquare.org 

 Germany Spotlight: 

 [5.8.24. BBC] Germany AfD current links to far right networks revealed in new BBC expose. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-68931170 

 [5.8.24. BBC] Another German progressive candidate violently attacked in build up to elections there https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c6py1r9z30go.amp German Blue-Chip Companies form new business alliance to counter right wing populist extremism https://www.aljazeera.com/amp/news/2024/5/7/german-bluechips-warn-of-extremist-threat-ahead-of-eu-elections 

 REPORTS-EXPOSES:

 [5.8.24. Slate] New Slate legal series on move away from Originalism to evolving views of hard rightist scholars:

1: How Originalism Ate The Law Supreme Court rulings on guns, abortion, Constitution: How originalism ate the law. 

2: Legal scholar proposes ‘inclusive constitutionalism” legal theory to replace outmoded “originalism” https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2024/05/throw-out-originalism-do-inclusive-constitutionalism.html 

 [5.8.24. NBC] RFK Jr.’s news campaign manager and right wing influencer exposed for being at Jan. 6 insurrection https://www.nbcnews.com/news/amp/rcna1504 

 For more on US extremist groups resurgent on social media, here is background Congressional report:

 [WaPo 2023] Draft Summary of Findings of Social Media and links to Jan 6 insurrection https://www.washingtonpost.com/documents/5bfed332-d350-47c0-8562-0137a4435c68.pdf?itid=lk_inline_manual_3