• Thu, January 16, 2025

by: WLRN

A new proposal on recreational marijuana emerges, planned for 2026 ballot

The revamped proposal from the Smart & Safe Florida committee seeks to address issues raised by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who led a drive to defeat last year's constitutional measure.

by: deseret

Remembering Becky Lockhart a decade after her death

Friday, January 17th is the 10-year anniversary of Becky Lockhart's death at 46 years old and yet it seems like it was just yesterday," Stan Lockhart, who was her husband, shared with me. "The only woman to be Utah Speaker of the House was just finishing up her 16 years in the Utah Legislature when she began having dizzy spells or vertigo.

by: Politico

Netanyahu keeps Washington waiting

"You waved the white flag before Netanyahu!" yelled blogger MAX BLUMENTHAL. Blumenthal is credentialed by the State Department and runs a site accused of downplaying human rights abuses by China, Russia and former Syrian dictator BASHAR ASSAD. "How does it feel to have your legacy be genocide!"

by: Oregonian

Oregon's lawmakers get to work next week. Here are their stated priorities

Oregon's legislative leaders will kick off their 2025 session with a shared focus on improving affordability for Oregonians and making sure the government is held accountable for delivering quality services, they said during a preview Thursday.

by: CNN

Senators hold confirmation hearings for Trump Cabinet picks

More of President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet picks are facing confirmation hearings Thursday, including Lee Zeldin to run the Environmental Protection Agency and Scott Bessent, the nominee to be treasury secretary.

by: MSN

Texas lawmakers can't pass bills for 60 days under constitution. Can they change that?

After a roaring start to the 89th legislative session, both the Texas House of Representatives and the Texas Senate have adjourned for the week and don't return

by: MSN

Joe Biden pushes out 99% of 'Investing in America' funds before Donald Trump's return

President Biden calls his economic and climate programs "the most significant investment in America since the New Deal." Here's the breakdown.

by: MSN

Trump picks a former air crewman and space expert to head the Air Force

President-elect Donald Trump has named Troy Meink, a former Air Force KC-135 tanker aircraft navigator and former deputy of the National Reconnaissance Office, as his choice to serve as the top civilian leader for the Air Force.

by: MSN

'Do the right thing': Gavin Newsom and Mike Johnson trade jabs over California wildfire aid

Gavin Newsom and Mike Johnson trade jabs over California wildfire aid - Republicans have discussed making extra disaster aid part of upcoming spending negotiations and conditioning aid to California

by: MSN

BJP makes space for Nitish's JDU and Chirag Paswan in Delhi polls

BJP allocates two Delhi assembly poll seats to allies JD(U) and LJP (Ram Vilas). JD(U) to contest from Burari and LJP from Deoli. BJP fields additional 9 candidates, including Shikha Rai and Anil Vashishth.

by: MSN

Tories accused of showing 'collective amnesia' over record in government

Tories accused of showing 'collective amnesia' over record in government - Commons leader Lucy Powell says she hoped the Tories might own up to economic results over last 14 years, including 'low growth and low wages'.

by: MSN

Maddow Blog | Thursday's Mini-Report, 1.16.25

Today's edition of quick hits.

by: MSN

Biden's new executive order aims to shore up US cyber defenses

President Joe Biden issued an executive order Thursday aimed at strengthening the nation's cybersecurity and making it easier to go after foreign adversaries or hacking groups that try to compromise U.

by: MSN

Increases for public education, cuts to public health in Gov. Mike Braun's first budget

Indiana Gov. Mike Braun wants to shrink state government over the next two years. Driving the news: Braun's biennial budget proposal, released Thursday, calls for new tax cuts and reductions in state spending while maintaining support for public schools and Medicaid.
  • Fri, January 17, 2025

by: Firstpost

Who is Mark Carney, ex-governor of Bank of Canada, who wants to take over from Trudeau?

Mark Carney, former governor of the Bank of Canada and Bank of England, has launched his bid to lead the Liberal Party and become Canada's next prime minister. With a platform focused on economic stability,

by: Politico

Pipeline politics and tariff threats

2025 PREDICTIONS — Playbook is asking politicos to pronounce on their predictive prowess in a show of sagacious speculation. We'll roll out their forecasts in a pair of Playbooks next week as you acclimatize to the coming chaos of 2025.

by: RealClearPolitics

Scarborough: Elon Musk Is The Last Person To Trust With TikTok, Because He Would Do Exactly What The Chinese Would Want

Joe' host Joe Scarborough expressed on Thursday's show that he has "always been horrified" by the Chinese-owned app TikTok and said Elon Musk should not be the person to take over American operations for the social platform.

by: Reuters

Former Canada finance minister Freeland running to replace Trudeau

Former Canadian finance minister Chrystia Freeland on Friday announced that she would take part in the contest to replace Prime Minister Justin Trudeau as leader of the ruling Liberal Party.

by: WHYY

How Trump's political and business interests will intersect in the White House

Here's a look at the various connections and potential conflicts in President-elect Donald Trump's second administration.

by: Sky

Kemi Badenoch hits back at claims she would means test pensions triple lock

Kemi Badenoch has denied the Conservatives would consider means testing the pensions triple lock, as she accused her opponents of trying to "scare people".

by: Slate

The Supreme Court Nailed Its Decision to Uphold the TikTok Ban

This ruling will disappoint the app's 170 million users in the United States. But it reflects eminently reasonable deference to the judgment of Congress.

by: KING5

The Trump effect: What will Washington state look like in a second term?

From the economy to immigration, President-elect Trump promises big changes that will be felt in western Washington and beyond.

by: CNN

Trump pick Kristi Noem to appear at confirmation hearing

Kristi Noem, Donald Trump's pick to oversee the Department of Homeland Security, will appear before senators for her confirmation hearing. Follow for the latest news about Trump's presidential transition.

by: ABC

Biden administration will leave it to Trump to implement TikTok ban

The Biden administration doesn't plan to take action that forces TikTok to immediately go dark for U.S. users on Sunday, an administration official told ABC News.

by: Slate

Trump's Biggest Political Liability Is Hiding in Plain Sight

The Los Angeles Times' billionaire owner, Patrick Soon-Shiong, declared on X that "the Mayor cut LA Fire Department's budget by $23M." The right-wing social media account Libs of TikTok lambasted a political leadership team that "defunds the fire dept," and Elon Musk boosted a post that lamented "LAFD underfunding."

by: Reuters

Nvidia CEO says not attending Trump's inauguration

Nvidia's chief executive Jensen Huang said on Friday he will not be attending U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration, but will instead be "on the road" celebrating the Lunar New Year with employees and their families.

by: RealClearPolitics

Student Governments Must Ditch National Politics

As politics have become increasingly nationalized and polarized, more and more local political bodies are being swept up by the news of the day to

by: Richmond

Key bill on data center oversight fails; rural-suburban split emerging

A centerpiece of a bipartisan push to strengthen Virginia's oversight of data centers failed in a early General Assembly test.

by: CNN

American Battleground: Trump and his quest for power prepare to confront the realities of winning

The music is majestic. The setting is glorious. Many of the top power players from DC are in attendance, and the words of praise for the president up front are unending.

by: CNN

Federal employees quietly edit job descriptions to protect roles from DOGE scrutiny

Some federal employees are quietly changing the language of job descriptions and performance reviews in an effort to protect roles and critical government functions in the face of the so-called Department of Government Efficiency.

by: MSN

'A bonfire of climate regulations': What Trump's first days in office could mean for the environment

As Donald Trump prepares to become the 47th president of the United States, what will his first actions be on climate and energy, and how will they impact the rest of the world? View on euronews

by: MSN

Central Government Greenlights 8th Pay Commission, Major Boost For Employees And Pensioners, Promise Of Better Salaries Ahead | ABP News

The Central Government has granted a significant gift to its employees by approving the 8th Pay Commission. Government employees and pensioners have been eagerly awaiting this announcement, and the government has now fulfilled their long-standing demand.

by: MSN

Government: 'Grooming gangs audit not because of Elon Musk pressure'

Lisa Nandy pushes back against claims that billionaire tech entrepreneur Elon Musk has pushed the Government into launching a new audit into grooming gangs. The Culture Secretary says 'we govern for the real world' and not social media.

by: MSN

Supreme Court upholds law that could force TikTok to shut down in U.S.

Congress and now the Supreme Court say TikTok must separate itself from its Chinese owners or shut down operations in the U.S.

by: MSN

Russell Vought could expand power of Trump's budget office

If confirmed again as White House budget director, Russell Vought would likely do more than oversee spending, policy and regulations. Vought, a co-author of Project 2025 who served as budget director in Donald Trump's first term,

by: MSN

Trump Plans to Designate Cryptocurrency as a National Priority

President-elect Donald Trump is planning to release an executive order elevating crypto as a policy priority and giving industry insiders a voice within his administration, according to people familiar with the plans.

by: MSN

Pakistan's former Prime Minister Imran Khan sentenced to 14 years in jail for corruption

The 72-year-old, who has been imprisoned since 2023, says the latest ruling is politically motivated and that he will appeal the decision. View on euronews

by: MSN

Delhi Projected To Go Into Revenue Deficit After 30 Years | Subsidy Bill Explodes | Watch

Delhi, a state which has amongst the highest per capita income in the country, is on the verge of a severe financial crisis. Delhi's subsidy bill has risen by 600% in the last 10 years. And its set to balloon further as all the political parties from the BJP to Congress and the Ruling AAP have promised more freebies if they come to power.

by: MSN

Democrats' defeat leads to "demobilization and surrender" ahead of Trump's inauguration

Immediate action will be required to slow down Trump's "shock and awe" campaign against American democracy, civil society, the Constitution, the rule of law, and those individuals and groups he has targeted as "the enemy within.

by: MSN

Government at work: How experienced are Chittenden County's representatives in Montpelier?

Chittenden County has quite a few state representatives with five or less years of experience. How does that compare to the rest of the State House?

by: MSN

Lindsay Owens: Donald Trump's tax giveaways for the rich, part II

As President Trump takes office, his Republican allies in Congress are already hard at work readying his legislative agenda. He campaigned on a promise to lower costs for Americans. But so far, the GOP hasn't proposed a single plan to do that.

by: MSN

India News Live Today January 17, 2025: Ease of travel now a major priority for India: PM Modi at Global Expo 2025

Stay informed with our live blog covering India's latest in politics, economy, crime, and general news. Get real-time updates on political developments, financial trends, crime reports, and important events across the country.

by: MSN

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and tech billionaire Elon Musk have found some common ground

California Gov. Gavin Newsom and tech billionaire Elon Musk have found common ground with their shared disdain for a controversial state agency - and Republicans are misrepresenting the governor's position as they threaten to withhold disaster aid.

by: MSN

8th Pay Commission: Central Government Employees to Get Salary Hike in 2026, Check Expected Salary and Pay Matrix

The Union Government has approved the implementation of 8th Pay Commission for central government employees and pensioners just before the Union Budget 2025 announcements. Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav has confirmed on January 16 that the 8th Pay Commission gets the approval of the cabinet for 1 crore central government employees and the exact date of implementation is yet to be announced.

by: MSN

Current Affairs One Liners 16 January 2025: 8th Pay Commission Approved By Government

Get the latest updates with Jagran Josh! Highlights include 8th Pay Commission, Exercise Devil Strike, New Supreme Court Justices, Cyber Security Grand Challenge, and other key developments—quick and concise!

by: MSN

Macron to address growing hostility from Algeria, says French foreign minister

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot announced that President Macron and key government members would meet soon to determine how to respond to what Paris considers growing hostility from Algeria,

by: MSN

Mark Carney says it's 'no time for politics as usual' as he launches campaign to replace Trudeau

After months of speculation about his future, former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney launched his campaign to replace Justin Trudeau as Liberal leader on Thursday with a promise to build the fastest-growing economy in the G7 if he's elected.

by: MSN

Israel Officially Inks Gaza Truce-Hostage Release Deal With Hamas After Trump's Warning

Israel and Hamas have finally signed the hostage release-Gaza ceasefire deal after mediators U.S., Egypt and Qatar iron out final kinks. Israeli PM said he will convene a security cabinet meeting today,

A new proposal on recreational marijuana emerges, planned for 2026 ballot

The revamped proposal from the Smart & Safe Florida committee seeks to address issues raised by Gov. Ron DeSantis, who led a drive to defeat last year's constitutional measure.
The article from WLRN discusses a new proposal for legalizing recreational marijuana in Florida, set to appear on the 2026 ballot. This initiative, spearheaded by the group "Sensible Florida," aims to amend the state's constitution to allow adults 21 and older to possess, use, and purchase marijuana for recreational purposes. The proposal includes regulations on cultivation, sales, and taxation, with a focus on social equity and reinvestment in communities disproportionately affected by previous marijuana laws. Key points include expungement of past cannabis convictions, a framework for licensing, and a tax structure where revenue would fund education, mental health services, and substance abuse treatment. The campaign is gathering signatures to meet the requirement for ballot placement, facing opposition from some conservative groups and potential legal challenges regarding the amendment's language and implications.

Read the Full WLRN Article at:
https://www.wlrn.org/government-politics/2025-01-16/a-new-proposal-on-recreational-marijuana-emerges-planned-for-2026-ballot