Biden pardons thousands for ‘simple possession’ of marijuana
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has pardoned thousands of Americans convicted of “simple possession” of marijuana under federal law, as his administration takes a dramatic step toward decriminalizing the drug and addressing prosecution practices that seriously affect disproportionate to people of color. He is also asking governors to issue similar pardons for those convicted of state marijuana-related crimes, which reflect the vast majority of marijuana possession cases. Biden says the move reflects his position that “no one should be in jail just for using or possessing marijuana.” He says his action will ease consequences for “individuals who have prior federal marijuana possession convictions, who may be denied employment, housing, or educational opportunities as a result.”
Riot Plea: Proud Boys Member Admits Seditious Conspiracy
WASHINGTON (AP) — A North Carolina man has pleaded guilty to conspiring with other members of the far-right extremist group Proud Boys to violently stop the transfer of presidential power after the 2020 election. Jeremy Joseph Bertino is the first member of Proud Boys to plead guilty to one count of seditious conspiracy. Bertino also pleaded guilty Thursday to one count of unlawful possession of a firearm. Bertino has agreed to cooperate with the Justice Department’s investigation into the role Proud Boys leaders played in the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol. Former Proud Boys National President Henry “Ënrique” Tarrio, and four other members of the group have also been charged with seditious conspiracy.
A hit and a miss: Saudi oil cut hits Biden’s reach
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is effectively acknowledging the failure of one of his biggest foreign policy gambles: a fist bump with Saudi Arabia’s de facto leader, the crown prince associated with human rights abuses. Biden’s awkward meeting with Mohammed bin Salman in July was a humble attempt to mend relations as the United States. he was seeking the kingdom’s help in opposing Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the resulting rise in oil prices. That fist bump was followed this week by a big cut in oil production that threatens to push inflation even higher and push gasoline prices back to levels that anger voters just before the US midterm elections. . Asked about the Saudi move, Biden told reporters Thursday that it was “a disappointment.”
Judge delays Twitter trial, gives Musk time to seal buyout
A judge has delayed an impending trial between Twitter and Elon Musk. The move gives Tesla’s CEO more time to close his $44 billion deal to buy the social media company after months of fighting his way out of it. Chancellor Kathaleen St. Jude McCormick, director of the Delaware Court of Chancery, said Thursday that Musk and Twitter have until Oct. 28 to close the deal. She said a trial set for October 17 will take place in November if they don’t. Musk renewed his offer on Monday and asked to stop the trial to get the financing in order. Twitter objected because it had already retracted once.
A former police officer attacks a kindergarten in Thailand and kills at least 36 people
UTHAI SAWAN, Thailand (AP) — A former police officer facing a drug charge broke into a daycare center in Thailand, killing dozens of preschool children and teachers, then shooting more people as he fled. At least 36 people were killed Thursday in the deadliest rampage in the nation’s history. The shooter, who was fired earlier this year, took his own life after killing his wife and son at his home. The attack took place in rural Nongbua Lamphu province in northeast Thailand, in one of the poorest regions of the country. A witness said the assailant shot his way through.
Immigration will upset Biden no matter who controls Congress
WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden says he is committed to “fixing our immigration system forever.” He is tackling short-term issues like reuniting migrant families separated during the previous administration and addressing bottlenecks in the asylum system. And its border officials have worked to reduce chaos along the US-Mexico border, but an increasingly divided nation can’t agree on what a long-term solution to the system should look like: questions such as should there be more immigrants coming in or fewer? And the future of key policies is not in the White House or the outcome of the midterm elections, but in the courts.
Judy Tenuta, Sassy ‘Goddess of Love’ Comedian, Dies at 65
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Judy Tenuta, a sassy comedian who unabashedly cast herself as the “Goddess of Love” and toured with George Carlin as she built her career in the golden age of comedy in the 1980s, passed away. She was 65 years old. Her publicist says Tenuta died Thursday afternoon at her home in Los Angeles, with her family around her. She was part of a generation of performers who fueled the popularity of stand-up comedy in clubs across the country, including the Comedy Store in Los Angeles, the Laff Stop in Houston, and Caroline’s in New York City. A typically male-dominated field found room for women, including Tenuta. She first gained national attention in 1987 with “Women of the Night,” an HBO special.
EXPLANATION: Russia’s Military Problems Mount Amid Ukraine Attacks
Even as the Kremlin moved to absorb parts of Ukraine in a sharp escalation of the conflict, the Russian military suffered new defeats that exposed its deep problems on the battlefield and opened fissures at the top of the Russian government. The setbacks have severely damaged the image of a powerful Russian military and added to tensions surrounding a poorly planned military mobilization. They have also fueled clashes between members of the Kremlin and left Russian President Vladimir Putin increasingly cornered.
Walker sticks to abortion denial, blames Democrats
WADLEY, Ga. (AP) — Georgia Republican Senate candidate Herschel Walker remains defiant after reports allege he encouraged and paid for a woman’s abortion in 2009, then fathered a child with her. . Delving into his denials of The Daily Beast’s reporting, Walker, a football icon turned celebrity politician, blamed Thursday’s stories on Democrats and his “desperation.” The Daily Beast has reported that a woman Walker was dating had an abortion that he encouraged and paid for. After Walker’s vehement denials, she spoke to the media outlet again identifying herself as the mother of one of Walker’s children. As a Senate candidate, Walker has endorsed a nationwide abortion ban with no exceptions.
Whistleblower: The 665 left the FBI for misconduct in two decades
WASHINGTON (AP) — A U.S. senator says a whistleblower has alleged an internal review found 665 FBI staffers have resigned or retired to avoid accountability in misconduct investigations over the past two decades. The whistleblower told the office of Iowa Republican Chuck Grassley that the Justice Department launched the review in 2020 after an Associated Press investigation of sexual misconduct among top FBI officials. It was not clear how many of the 665 cases involved sexual misconduct. Grassley’s office said that was the kind of information he was still looking for. The FBI declined to comment specifically on the whistleblower’s charge or to provide its own count of disciplinary cases.
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