Good morning, and welcome to today’s edition of the Epoch Times News Brief. I’m Bill Thomas.
Supreme Court Rules Trump to Stay on Ballot
The Supreme Court has ruled that former President Donald Trump cannot be removed from the ballot by individual states. This overturns the Colorado Supreme Court decision that disqualified him as a candidate under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment. The court determined that the responsibility for enforcing Section 3 rests with Congress, not the states. The ruling came just before several states were set to hold their primary elections. President Trump celebrated the decision as a “big win for America” on social media.The Supreme Court clarified that while states cannot enforce Section 3 for national candidates, Congress has the power to prescribe how these determinations should be made. Section 5 of the 14th Amendment grants Congress the authority to pass legislation to enforce the amendment, and the court emphasized that this power is crucial when it comes to Section 3. The court also noted that historically, states have only enforced Section 3 for state office, not national candidates.
The justices unanimously agreed that the Constitution does not authorize states to remove sitting federal officeholders who may be violating Section 3. They found that Congress has the power to “remove” a Section 3 “disability” through a two-thirds vote and that there are no limits on when Congress can exercise this power.
Justice Amy Coney Barrett wrote a separate opinion stressing the unanimity of the court and urging the American people to focus on this unity. However, she disagreed with the part of the order that addressed the role of federal legislation in enforcing Section 3. Justices Sonia Sotomayor, Elena Kagan, and Ketanji Brown Jackson also expressed their disagreement on this issue in a concurring opinion.
The court emphasized that a state-by-state resolution of these cases would raise concerns and could lead to chaos, particularly if attempted after the nation has voted. The court found that the disruption would be significant and could nullify the votes of millions, potentially changing the election result.
Section 3 of the 14th Amendment was originally intended to prevent deserters who joined the Confederacy from returning to office. It stipulated that those who had taken an oath of office and later engaged in “insurrection” or “rebellions” couldn’t hold office without a two-thirds vote from Congress removing the disability. Activists have argued that President Trump was disqualified under this statute and have sought to bar him from future elections. The Colorado case, which was meant to be heard immediately, was delayed by a district court judge for about two months before holding a week-long trial.
The state’s secretary of state, Jena Griswold, took no official position but later stated that she personally believed that President Trump engaged in “insurrection” and urged the Supreme Court to affirm his disqualification. However, the Supreme Court’s ruling put a stay on this decision.
Overall, the Supreme Court’s ruling clarifies that states do not have the authority to disqualify national candidates under Section 3 of the 14th Amendment, and that power lies with Congress. This decision has significant implications for future elections and highlights the importance of avoiding chaos and ensuring a uniform answer in presidential elections.
Haley Wins Her First GOP Primary in Washington
Former South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley won the GOP primary in Washington, D.C., with 62.8 percent of the vote, defeating former President Donald Trump who received 33.2 percent. This victory grants Ms. Haley all of the district’s 19 delegates, despite it being a heavily blue district that supported President Joe Biden in the 2020 election. Prior to this primary, President Trump had won every primary contest since Iowa, but Ms. Haley’s win marks the first time a woman has won a Republican presidential primary in U.S. history.Both campaign teams responded to the results, with Ms. Haley’s spokesperson stating that Republicans who reject President Trump and his chaos are supporting her, while the Trump campaign said the results affirmed his commitment to draining the swamp and putting America first. Before the primary, President Trump had 244 delegates compared to Ms. Haley’s 24, but her win brings her delegate count up to 43.
It’s worth noting that the D.C. primary is unique because it’s a closed primary, meaning only registered Republicans can vote. The primary was organized by the D.C. GOP and held at the Madison Hotel. Voter turnout for this primary was 2,035, significantly lower than the turnouts in previous years. The primary data collected only consisted of a list of Republicans who voted at the Madison Hotel, without recording any voter information.
Ms. Haley’s supporters praised her style and described her as level-headed, smart, and a good alternative. They expressed their support for her based on positive perceptions rather than as a protest vote against President Trump. On the other hand, a Trump supporter believed that he had the capacity to win both the primary and the general election, citing his policy achievements and ability to handle issues like the border.
Arizona Law Requiring Proof of Citizenship Not Discriminatory: Judge
Next, we turn our attention to Arizona, where a recent law ruling is sparking widespread conversation. Let’s explore the details and the impact of this development.A federal judge in Arizona has ruled that a law requiring voters to provide proof of American citizenship is not discriminatory.
The ruling comes after a 10-day bench trial where experts testified about Arizona’s history of voting discrimination and suppression, including literacy tests that affected Native American and Latino voters.
The case was brought by Mi Familia Vota and others who claimed that the law was discriminatory. However, the judge concluded that the law’s intent to prevent voter fraud outweighs any burden it may place on voters. The judge cited existing Arizona election law, which requires voters to be U.S. citizens and residents of the state. She also noted that a previous proposition required those registering to vote to provide evidence of citizenship. While the purpose of the law in question is to prevent voter fraud, another law called Proposition 200 was aimed at protecting the state from financial damages caused by illegal immigration.
The judge ruled that the law does not violate the Constitution or impose an undue burden on the right to vote. However, she did find that requiring individuals to provide their birthplace on voter registration forms violates a provision of the Civil Rights Act and the National Voter Registration Act. The judge also stated that subjecting naturalized citizens to different standards than native-born citizens through a SAVE check is a violation.
The SAVE program is a government initiative that verifies citizenship and immigration status. The judge concluded that Arizona must register individuals who are eligible to vote and cannot reject state forms that lack birthplace information. She also ruled that the state cannot conduct SAVE checks on registered voters believed to be non-citizens.
Overall, the ruling upholds the law’s requirements for proof of citizenship but places restrictions on certain aspects of the registration process.
Homelessness Rises Among US Veterans for 1st Time in 12 Years
The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) recently reported a 7.4 percent increase in veteran homelessness between 2022 and 2023. According to the report, over 35,000 veterans are homeless on any given night, and nearly 13 percent of the homeless adult population are veterans. This rise in homelessness among veterans comes at a time when the government is spending billions of dollars to provide for illegal immigrants. Many believe this is a betrayal of the country’s veterans and is negatively impacting recruitment numbers.Various government entities, such as in New York City and Chicago, have spent significant amounts of money on illegal immigrants, with costs estimated to reach up to $451 billion by the end of this year. California, which had the highest number of immigrants in 2023, spent around $22.8 billion on their care. This additional spending on illegal immigrants is believed to be taking away housing and resources from veterans.
Kate Monroe, a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and CEO of VetComm.us, describes the situation as the ultimate betrayal by the U.S. government. Her firm is dedicated to helping veterans receive the benefits they are owed from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and providing them with shelter and support to improve their quality of life. Ms. Monroe emphasizes that many veterans are not getting access to the funding and services available through the VA due to bureaucratic barriers.
The VA, however, is committed to ending veteran homelessness and reports having permanently housed 46,552 homeless veterans in 2023, surpassing their goal. The VA also denies allegations that their funds are being used to provide health care or shelter for illegal immigrants.
Factors contributing to veteran homelessness include post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and difficulties transitioning to civilian jobs. Combat veterans with untreated PTSD may struggle with anger issues and may have difficulty integrating into the workforce, potentially leading to job loss and homelessness. Transitioning to civilian jobs can also be challenging for veterans who were trained for military-specific roles.
Several organizations are working to address veteran homelessness and provide support services. The National Coalition for Homeless Veterans (NCHV) aims to end veteran homelessness through collaboration and manages a referral helpline. They advocate for increased federal investments in effective solutions and provide training to service providers across the country.
The Tunnel to Towers Foundation, founded in response to the 9/11 attacks, focuses on providing affordable housing and support services to veterans and their families. They are currently renovating former hotels in metro areas to create Veterans Villages, offering transitional housing and comprehensive support services. Additionally, they have established a case management network for veterans in rural areas.
Efforts to address veteran homelessness are ongoing, but there is a need for increased funding and support. The NCHV emphasizes that providing support for veterans and addressing the needs of undocumented individuals are not mutually exclusive. The ultimate goal is to ensure that no veteran experiences homelessness and to provide them with the necessary resources and support to reintegrate into society.
Much Stronger Than Fentanyl, Nitazene Presents a Looming Crisis
A new deadly trend has emerged in the illegal drug market, as synthetic opioids known as nitazenes have infiltrated street drugs, leading to addiction and overdose deaths. These nitazenes, up to 20 times more potent than fentanyl, have evaded authorities and become a major concern for law enforcement. Nitazenes belong to a class of synthetic opioids called isotonitazenes, which are known for their powerful pain-killing properties. Despite being developed in the 1950s, they were never approved for medical use and remained relatively unknown until now.One of the defining characteristics of nitazenes is their extreme potency, making them hundreds to thousands of times stronger than morphine and other older opioids. This high potency, combined with their increasing presence in illegal street drugs, poses a significant risk to users. While it is speculated that these compounds are originating from China, their exact source remains unknown.
The use of nitazenes in spiking and strengthening illegal drugs has led to cheaper production methods but has also resulted in deadly overdoses. In the UK, nitazenes have been detected in substances falsely marketed as opioids, benzodiazepines, or cannabis products. Data from Scotland’s RADAR system has shown that nitazenes directly caused 25 deaths between 2022 and 2023, highlighting the seriousness of the issue.
The danger of nitazenes is compounded by the fact that people may not be aware they are consuming them due to their presence in various street drugs. Additionally, the concentration of drugs within these substances can vary greatly, increasing the risk of overdose and death. Overdosing on nitazenes or other novel opioids often requires multiple doses of naloxone, unlike fentanyl overdoses that typically only require one.
Opioid overdoses have been on the rise, with opioids accounting for a significant portion of fatal overdoses in recent years. Over 106,000 overdose deaths were reported in the United States alone by September 2023. The prevalence of synthetic drugs and unpredictable combinations heightens the risk for buyers, as they can never be certain about the contents of the drugs they are purchasing.
The emergence of nitazenes in the illegal drug market has created a widespread public health crisis, with countless lives being lost to addiction and overdose. Law enforcement and health care professionals are still grappling with how to effectively address this new threat and prevent further harm.
The emergence of Nitazene as a public health crisis is alarming. Understanding its impact and the measures needed to combat its spread is vital. Public awareness and action are key in addressing this and preventing further harm to communities.
