The Senate Judiciary Committee held a confirmation hearing on Justice Department nominations of Noel Francisco for solicitor general, Makan Delrahimy for assistant attorney general in the Antitrust Division, and Steven Engel for assistant attorney general in the Office of Legal Counsel. During the hearing Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) said she was "incredulous" at President Trump's incredulous decision to fire FBI Director James Comey.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) served as the keynote luncheon speaker for the Conference on the Americas in Washington, DC. In remarks, Sen. Rubio spoke about U.S. policy toward the region which includes Central America and Mexico. He stressed the importance of having an on-going relationship and dialogue with these countries on topics such as trade, drug trafficking and migration flows. The Council of the Americas hosted this conference at the State Department.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) delivered keynote remarks at a fundraising dinner held by the Polk County Democrats in Des Moines, Iowa. She talked about the future of the Democratic Party and emphasized the importance of moving forward. In addition, she outlined her economic agenda which focuses on such issues as workforce development, college affordability, infrastructure investment, fair trade and lowering drug costs. Sen. Klobuchar has been mentioned as a potential 2020 presidential candidate.
Now it's a look at how the Trump administration and the appointment of Justice Neil Gorsuch, will affect the future of the Supreme Court. Panelists include appellate attorneys, some who are former law clerks to Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, to Justice Clarence Thomas and to former Justice William Brennan, plus former a legal adviser to Presidents Clinton and Obama, This panel was part of the Seventh Circuit Bar Association Annual Meeting held in Indianapolis on May 1.
The Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia ruled 10-3 against reinstating President Trump's revised legal ban on foreign nationals entering the U.S. from six mostly Muslim countries. The Court's decision upholds a lower court's ruling barring implementation of a key section of the executive order that suspends visas from the six countries. Chief Judge Roger Gregory in his opinion for the Court wrote,"We need not probe anyone's heart of hearts to discover the purpose of EO-2 (Executive Order 2), for President Trump and his aides have explained it on numerous occasions and in no uncertain terms." Judges Motz, King, Wynn, Diaz, Floyd and Harris joined Chief Judge Gregory's opinion in full. Judges Traxler, Keenan and Thacker joined in the judgement. Judges Niemeyer, Shedd and Agee dissented.
A look at small-town & rural broadband, & at what the association of rural broadband providers wants to see from Washington regulators & Congress. NTCA wants to see expansion of broadband into rural areas become a greater priority. It's keen to see a broadband buildout as part of the infrastructure program President Trump promoted during his presidential campaign.
Actress, model and health advocate Cindy Crawford talked about creating healthier lifestyles for children and families at the Partnership for a Healthier America's summit in Washington, DC.
President Donald Trump delivers the Commencement Address at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Rev. Jerry Falwell founded Liberty University in 1971 as a college for evangelical Christians.
Two journalists with the Russian dissident site Meduza were featured panelists at a discussion on the state of Russian media hosted by the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC. They discussed their own expulsions from previous media jobs, the role of dissident media in Russia under the presidency of Vladimir Putin, and the prospects for more free press in the country.
The Newseum presented its annual awards at a ceremony recognizing those who have promoted free expression in areas of speech, the press, religious liberty and arts and entertainment. One of the recipients was Apple CEO Tim Cook who talked about the challenges of protecting First Amendment rights in an increasingly technology-driven world and the responsibility of companies to help protect them. Other recipients included U.S. Representative and civil rights leader John Lewis (D-GA), ABC foreign affairs reporter Martha Raddatz and Playboy Enterprises founder Hugh Hefner.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos delivered the commencement address at Bethune-Cookman University, a historically black college as graduates protested with boos during her speech. At one point the school's president threatened to mail the students their degrees. Bethune-Cookman is located in Daytona, Florida.
President Donald Trump delivers the Commencement Address at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Rev. Jerry Falwell founded Liberty University in 1971 as a college for evangelical Christians.
Two journalists with the Russian dissident site Meduza were featured panelists at a discussion on the state of Russian media hosted by the Atlantic Council in Washington, DC. They discussed their own expulsions from previous media jobs, the role of dissident media in Russia under the presidency of Vladimir Putin, and the prospects for more free press in the country.
The Newseum presented its annual awards at a ceremony recognizing those who have promoted free expression in areas of speech, the press, religious liberty and arts and entertainment. One of the recipients was Apple CEO Tim Cook who talked about the challenges of protecting First Amendment rights in an increasingly technology-driven world and the responsibility of companies to help protect them. Other recipients included U.S. Representative and civil rights leader John Lewis (D-GA), ABC foreign affairs reporter Martha Raddatz and Playboy Enterprises founder Hugh Hefner.
Education Secretary Betsy DeVos delivered the commencement address at Bethune-Cookman University, a historically black college as graduates protested with boos during her speech. At one point the school's president threatened to mail the students their degrees. Bethune-Cookman is located in Daytona, Florida.
Vice President Pence, joined by Second Lady Karen Pence, National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster and Ivanka Trump, spoke to military families at an event marking National Military Appreciation Month.
The fish and wildlife agency directors for Florida, Arizona, and Rhode Island testified at a Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on the Endangered Species Act and their experiences working with federal officials to enforce the 1973 law. The hearing was truncated because of a procedural move made by Senate Democrats disallowing committee hearings for the remainder of the day, a reaction to President Trump having fired FBI Director James Comey.
Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper was among those testifying at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on military cybersecurity. Most of the questions from senators focused on the ability of the current federal cybersecurity apparatus to respond to attacks, and what ways it could be reorganized to better thwart future offensives.
President Donald Trump delivers the Commencement Address at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Rev. Jerry Falwell founded Liberty University in 1971 as a college for evangelical Christians.