tfm

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/38887640

U.S. House of Representatives Speaker Mike Johnson said on Sunday he believed the approaching vote on releasing Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein should help put to rest allegations that Donald Trump had any connection to the late sex offender's abuse and trafficking of underage girls.

"They're doing this to go after President Trump on this theory that he has something to do with it. He does not," Johnson, the Republican leader in the House, said on "Fox News Sunday."

Although Trump and Epstein were photographed together decades ago, the president has said the two men fell out prior to Epstein's convictions.

Trump has since instructed the Department of Justice to investigate prominent Democrats' ties to Epstein.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/38888687

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., once one of President Trump's strongest supporters in Congress, called his foreign policies "not America first positions" and said his recent attacks against her can "put my life in danger." Greene and Trump have traded barbs in last few days over the future of the Make America Great Again movement, raising new questions about the president's firm grip on the Republican Party.

On Friday, Trump withdrew his endorsement of the Georgia lawmaker calling her "Wacky" and claiming Greene's recent criticism of him was all about his refusal to support her future political ambitions. On Saturday, Trump called here a "traitor" in a social media post.

"He called me a traitor and that is so extremely wrong," Greene said during an interview on CNN's State of The Union with Dana Bash on Sunday. "And those were the types of words used that can radicalize people against me and put my life in danger."

When asked about her previous attacks against political opponents — such as in 2020 when she posted an image of a gun alongside a group of progressive Democratic congresswomen — Greene apologized.

"I think that's fair criticism," Greene said. "And I would like to say humbly I'm sorry for taking part and the toxic politics. It's very bad for our country."

During the extensive interview, Greene also criticized Trump's recent defense of the H-1B visa program — which lets companies sponsor foreign-born workers for skilled labor. During a Tuesday Fox News interview, Trump said the U.S. has "to bring this talent" and he said the country doesn't have enough of it.

"Those are not America first positions," Greene said on Sunday before voicing displeasure at his frequent foreign trips. "And continuing to really travel all over the world doesn't help Americans back at home. I really — and I said this to him and I will say it out loud — I would love to see Air Force One be parked and stay home."

Despite her break with Trump, local GOP leadership in Georgia's 14th Congressional District are standing with Greene.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/53028588

European lawmakers have backed the weakening of flagship EU environmental and human rights rules as part of a drive to slash red tape for businesses. The move will free many corporations from the obligation to fix human rights and environmental issues in their supply chains or face EU fines.

the Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) was hailed by green and civil society groups but criticised by businesses.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron had called for the CSDDD to be scrapped altogether

This is just plain evil.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/38674008

The supreme court has issued an emergency order temporarily blocking full Snap food aid payments.

The high court’s order came after the Trump administration asked a federal appeals court on Friday to block a judge’s order that it distribute November’s full monthly food stamp benefits amid a US federal government shutdown.

After that request to block was denied, the Trump administration turned to the supreme court in a further attempt to block the order to fully fund Snap food aid payments.

The application to stay reads: “If forced to transfer funds to Snap to make full November allotments, there is no means for the government to recoup those expenditures – which is quintessential irreparable harm. Once those payments are made, there is every indication that the States will promptly disburse them. And once disbursed, the government will be un-able to recover any funds. Worse, these harms will only compound if the decision below stands.

She is the required vote to release the Epstein files