The Full Belmonte, 10/21/2022
Courts Reject Challenges to Biden Plan on Student Debt
A federal judge ruled that six states lacked standing to block the program, and Justice Amy Coney Barrett indicated the same thing about a taxpayers’ association.
By Adam Liptak
Oct. 20, 2022
“WASHINGTON — Attempts to block President Biden’s student debt relief programs were dealt dual setbacks on Thursday, as a federal judge in Missouri and Justice Amy Coney Barrett rejected challenges to the sweeping measure, one that could cost the government hundreds of billions of dollars.
Judge Henry E. Autrey of the Federal District Court in St. Louis dismissed the more prominent of the two lawsuits, one brought by six Republican-led states. The suit accused Mr. Biden of overstepping his authority under a 2003 federal law that allows the education secretary to modify financial assistance programs for students ‘in connection with a war or other military operation or national emergency.’
The plan cancels $10,000 in debt for those earning less than $125,000 per year, or $250,000 per household, and $20,000 for those who received Pell grants for low-income families. The nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office said last month that it estimated the plan’s price tag at $400 billion, and the Education Department followed a few days later with a similar estimate of $379 billion over the life of the program.
Judge Autrey, who was appointed by President George W. Bush, did not rule on the larger issue in the lawsuit, which was brought by Nebraska, Missouri, Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas and South Carolina. Instead, he said the states had not suffered injuries of the sort that gave them standing to sue.” Read more at New York Times
Lindsey Graham Must Testify in Georgia Elections Inquiry, Court Rules
A federal appeals court ruled that the senator must appear before the special grand jury that is investigating efforts to overturn Donald J. Trump’s election loss in Georgia.
By Richard Fausset and Danny Hakim
Oct. 20, 2022
“ATLANTA — A federal appeals court ruled on Thursday that Senator Lindsey Graham must appear before the special grand jury that is investigating efforts by former President Donald J. Trump and his allies to overturn Mr. Trump’s election loss in Georgia, although the court set limits on the kinds of questions Mr. Graham could be asked.
The ruling means that Mr. Graham, at some date after the Nov. 8 midterm elections, will most likely have to travel to the Fulton County courthouse in downtown Atlanta to answer questions about phone calls he made to the Georgia secretary of state, Brad Raffensperger, in the weeks after the 2020 election.
In a court document issued this summer, Judge Robert C.I. McBurney of Fulton County Superior Court wrote that Mr. Graham, in the course of those phone calls, ‘questioned Secretary Raffensperger and his staff about re-examining certain absentee ballots cast in Georgia in order to explore the possibility of a more favorable outcome for former President Donald Trump.’
Neither Mr. Graham’s media representative nor his lawyers could be reached for comment on Thursday, and a spokesman for Fani T. Willis, the Fulton County district attorney, declined to comment. But the six-page ruling, from the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 11th Circuit in Atlanta, is a blow for Mr. Graham, the South Carolina Republican who transformed from a critic of Mr. Trump to an avid fan and his golfing partner over the course of Mr. Trump’s one term in office.” Read more at New York Times
Trump Claims He Owns White House Pardon and Immigration Policy Records
A letter to the special master overseeing a review of files seized from Mar-a-Lago has opened a window on disputes over an initial batch.
Oct. 20, 2022
“WASHINGTON — Former President Donald J. Trump is claiming that nine documents seized by the F.B.I. from his Florida residence are his personal property — but the Justice Department says they are official records that should be deposited with the National Archives, according to a new letter to the special master who is overseeing a review of the materials.
The letter, filed on Thursday by the Justice Department, describes disputes over ownership and executive privilege claims involving a batch of 15 records that have undergone early review. It likely foreshadows larger fights to come over the main bulk of roughly 13,000 documents and other materials F.B.I. agents took from Mar-a-Lago, Mr. Trump’s club and residence, in a court-authorized search in August.
The materials from the initial tranche that Mr. Trump maintains belong to him include six packages submitted to him when he was president supporting requests that he grant clemency to pardon-seekers; two documents related to his administration’s immigration policies; and an email addressed to him from a person at a military academy, it said.
But the Justice Department, in its letter, scoffed at the notion that any of those materials belong to Mr. Trump. It cited the Presidential Records Act, which says all documentary materials created or received by a president, his staff or his office in the course of official activities are government property that should go to the National Archives when a president leaves office.” Read more at New York Times
Republicans introduce a national ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law
“A group of House Republicans on Tuesday introduced legislation that would prohibit the use of federal funds to teach children under 10 about LGBTQ+ topics.” [Vox] Read more at Guardian / Sam Levine
“Rep. Mike Johnson of Louisiana and 32 other Republicans are sponsoring the Stop the Sexualization of Children Act, which would apply to public schools, libraries, and military bases.” [Vox] Read more at NBC News / Jo Yurcaba and Jay Valle
“LGBQT+ advocates say the bill is a national version of Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ law, which bans teaching about sexual orientation and gender identity.” [Vox] Read more at The Hill / Brooke Migdon
“The bill is unlikely to become law with just weeks until midterms and Democrats in control of both chambers, but it could serve as an example of the sort of bills the GOP would consider should they win a majority in the midterms.” [Vox] Read more at Them / Samantha Riedel
U.S. home sales fell for the eighth consecutive month in September.
“It’s the longest streak of declines in 15 years. Sales dropped 1.5% from the prior month to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.71 million, the weakest rate since May 2020, the National Association of Realtors said. Fueled by Fed interest-rate increases designed to tame inflation, mortgage rates rose to 6.94% this week, making it harder to buy a home. Expect the slowdown to continue.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
Kevin Spacey Is Cleared of Anthony Rapp’s Battery Claim
A jury found Mr. Spacey not liable in a civil trial. Mr. Rapp, an original cast member in “Rent,” had filed a lawsuit accusing Mr. Spacey of making a sexual advance when Mr. Rapp was 14.
By Julia Jacobs and Nate Schweber
Oct. 20, 2022
“A federal jury in Manhattan found Kevin Spacey not liable for battery on Thursday after the actor Anthony Rapp filed a lawsuit accusing Mr. Spacey of climbing on top of him and making a sexual advance in 1986, when Mr. Rapp was 14.
Mr. Rapp’s claim was one of the most prominent in the early days of the #MeToo movement, as accusers started to come forward with allegations against high-profile men in the entertainment, political and business worlds. Mr. Spacey, a star of the political drama ‘House of Cards’ and a lauded actor who had hosted the Tony Awards months earlier, quickly experienced career blowback.
The disclosure by Mr. Rapp, which BuzzFeed News published in October 2017, was followed by more than a dozen other sexual misconduct accusations against Mr. Spacey. He has pleaded not guilty to sexual assault charges in Britain, and outside the courthouse on Thursday, one of his lawyers, Jennifer L. Keller, said he would be proven innocent in all cases.
The civil trial to consider Mr. Rapp’s claim of battery hinged on his account of a night in 1986, when, he said, he attended a party at Mr. Spacey’s New York apartment during a Broadway season in which both of them were acting in plays. Mr. Spacey, who was 26 at the time, denied that such an encounter ever occurred.” Read more at New York Times
Why British Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned
Dan Kitwood/Getty Images
“UK Prime Minister Liz Truss resigned Thursday, ending a tumultuous six weeks in office.” [Vox / Ellen Ioanes]
“Truss’s departure comes after her economic proposal to borrow billions to fund tax cuts for the wealthy roiled Britain’s financial markets and sent the pound to an all-time low against the dollar.” [Vox] Read more at WSJ / Max Colchester
“Truss replaced her treasury chief and scrapped the tax cuts. But she was forced to quit amid further resignations and fierce opposition from her party, making her the shortest-serving leader in British history.” [Vox] Read more at AP /Jill Lawless
“Her leadership also saw the worst approval rating for a prime minister, with 70 percent of the public unhappy with her performance.” [Vox] Read more at NYT / Daniel Victor
“The Conservatives will choose the next prime minister within a week. The leadership contest could see the return of Truss’s predecessor Boris Johnson.” [Vox] Read more at NBC News / Patrick Smith and Yuliya Talmazan
“The U.S. has evidence that Iranian troops are ‘directly engaged on the ground’ in Crimea assisting Russia's drone strikesin Ukraine, National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said today. Go deeper.” Read more at Axios
Berlusconi, Caught on Tape Gushing Over Putin, Heightens Anxiety About Italy
Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian leader and linchpin of the incoming right-wing government, blames Ukraine’s president for pushing President Vladimir V. Putin to invade.
Oct. 20, 2022
“ROME — Silvio Berlusconi, the former Italian prime minister, campaigned to be the protector of democratic, pro-European values in a new right-wing coalition that is expected to take power in days after winning elections last month.
But even before a government can be sworn in, the 86-year-old billionaire media mogul has proved himself to be less of a stable, moderating force, than the source of renewed anxiety after the leak of surreptitiously recorded remarks revealed that he blamed Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, for forcing President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to invade Ukraine.
The remarks, complete with talk about a ‘sweet letter’ and vodka from Mr. Putin, raise concerns that the new right-wing government, led by Giorgia Meloni, herself a solid supporter of Ukraine, is wobblier than expected and could, if it ever actually comes together with another Putin-admiring partner, potentially lead Italy to undercut Europe’s united front against Russia.
‘I reconnected a little bit with President Putin,’ Mr. Berlusconi could be heard saying on the audio published on the website of La Presse on Tuesday, in which he addresses a meeting of loyal Forza Italia party members, and some apparently not-so-loyal leakers. In the audio, he added that Mr. Putin had sent him 20 bottles of vodka ‘and a very kind letter’ for his 86th birthday last month. Mr. Berlusconi said he responded by sending bottles of Lambrusco wine and ‘an equally sweet letter.’” Read more at New York Times
Texas Sues Google Over Use of Facial Images
State alleges tech giant didn’t obtain user consent for biometric-data use
Google earlier agreed to pay $100 million to settle a class-action lawsuit in Illinois.PHOTO: DAVID PAUL MORRIS/BLOOMBERG NEWS
“The Texas attorney general sued Alphabet Inc.’s GOOG 0.24%▲ Google on Thursday, alleging the search giant violated state laws by collecting biometric data on face and voice features without seeking the full consent of users.
Texas alleged Google’s data-collection practices stretched back to 2015 and affected millions of the state’s residents, according to a complaint filed in state district court in Midland County, Texas.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“American chess grandmaster Hans Niemann, 19, has filed a lawsuit against world champion Magnus Carlsen and others on the heels of an alleged cheating scandal. Go deeper.” Read more at Axios
ASTROS 3, YANKEES 2 | HOUSTON LEADS A.L.C.S., 2-0
Yankees in a Hole After Another Tough Loss to Astros
A three-run homer by Alex Bregman was all the scoring Houston needed to support Framber Valdez and the Astros improved to 5-0 this postseason.
By James Wagner
“HOUSTON — Yordan Alvarez, the Houston Astros’ designated hitter, and Jose Altuve, their second baseman, were two of the best hitters in Major League Baseball this season. Alvarez ranked second and Altuve fourth in on-base-plus-slugging percentage. Alvarez smashed 37 home runs while Altuve had 28.
Yet the two All-Stars have produced next to nothing at the plate against the Yankees through the first two games of the best-of-seven American League Championship Series. Regardless, the Astros are two wins away from a return trip to the World Series after toppling the Yankees, 3-2, in Game 2 on Thursday at Minute Maid Park. The next game is slated for Saturday in the Bronx.” Read more at New York Times
M.I.T. Names a Duke Provost as Its New President
Sally Kornbluth, a cell biologist, is the second woman to lead the university. The provost, chancellor, dean of science and chair of corporation are also all women.
Oct. 20, 2022
“M.I.T. announced the selection of a new president, Sally Kornbluth, a cell biologist and provost at Duke University. She will be the second female president of the university, and will join a long list of women in its top leadership ranks. The provost, chancellor, dean of science and chair of the M.I.T. Corporation, the school’s governing body, are all women.
The corporation elected Dr. Kornbluth, 61, to the post on Thursday morning, and she will take over the presidency on Jan. 1, 2023, succeeding L. Rafael Reif, who announced in February that he would be stepping down after 10 years at the helm of the university.
It is high season for change at universities. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology, in Cambridge, Mass., is among the first to fill a vacancy, but presidential searches are also underway at Harvard, Howard, New York University and Columbia, among the more prominent schools. Dartmouth announced in July that SianLeah Beilock, the president of Barnard College, will be its next leader. These searches are being conducted at a time when universities are emerging from the crisis of the pandemic and dealing with heightened concerns over diversity and affirmative action.
Lee Bollinger, president of Columbia for the past 21 years, will depart at the end of the next academic year. Dr. Wayne A.I. Frederick, a surgeon trained at Howard who began as interim president in 2013, will leave in 2024. The president of New York University, Andrew Hamilton, will step down next year in his eighth year on the job.” Read more at New York Times