Today’s edition of quick hits.
* A closely watched case: “Thursday’s Supreme Court hearing over President Donald Trump’s attempt to curb the constitutional guarantee of birthright citizenship technically wasn’t about whether his attempt is legal. But while the hearing exposed his attempt’s illegality and his administration’s lack of confidence in its legality, it’s unclear when the justices will issue a definitive ruling on whether it’s legal or not.”
* I’d caution against accepting claims like these at face value: “The White House said today that Trump has signed an agreement with Qatar worth at least $1.2 trillion, though the White House didn’t provide documentation to support that figure. NBC News is unable to verify its accuracy.”
* Put this one in the “developments China will love” category: “The White House National Security Council has ordered U.S. agencies and departments to suspend work with the Group of 20 conference set to be hosted by South Africa this year, according to two people familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe a government decision not yet made public.”
* No good will come of the campaign against fluoride: “Florida has become the second state to officially ban fluoride in public water. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 700, also known as the Florida Farm Bill, into law Thursday. The bill doesn’t specifically mention the word ‘fluoride,’ but it effectively bans the mineral by preventing ‘the use of certain additives in a water system.’ It will go into effect July 1.”
* The latest in a series of related reversals: “The Department of Health and Human Services on Tuesday reinstated 328 federal employees who faced terminations, including those involved in screening for ‘black lung’ disease in coal miners and for health issues in 9/11 first responders.”
* We can only hope the impressive Biden-era progress on fentanyl deaths continues: “Overdose deaths in the United States fell by nearly 30,000 last year, the government reported on Wednesday, the strongest sign yet that the country is making progress against one of its deadliest, most intractable public health crises.” * Buckle up: “The US attorney’s office in Washington, DC, is hoping for a new era of relative calm as the top federal prosecutor in the nation’s capital switches from one outspoken, controversial ally of the president to another. Former Fox News host and newly tapped interim US Attorney Jeanine Pirro took her oath of office on Wednesday and now leads one of the most powerful federal prosecution offices in the country.” * The congressman probably could’ve handled this effort better: “A long-shot effort by Democratic Rep. Shri Thanedar to force an impeachment vote against President Donald Trump was abruptly pulled Wednesday evening after a group of Democrats signaled they would vote with Republicans to block the move. Moments before a planned vote on a motion to table Thanedar’s impeachment resolution — a procedure that would have effectively killed it for the time being — the Michigan Democrat reversed course and opted not to call up the resolution for floor consideration.” See you tomorrow.
Steve Benen is a producer for "The Rachel Maddow Show," the editor of MaddowBlog and an MS NOW political contributor. He's also the bestselling author of "Ministry of Truth: Democracy, Reality, and the Republicans' War on the Recent Past."
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