Article 1 - Tennessee House Expels Democrats over Gun Reform Support
On April 6, Tennessee Republicans voted to expel two Democratic lawmakers who gathered with protestors in support of gun safety reform after a violent school shooting unfolded last March. The demonstration was staged on the floor of the Tennessee House of Representatives after multiple instances in which lawmakers were blocked or cut off from speaking about gun violence. Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson led the reportedly peaceful demonstration, which consisted mainly of leading chants with a bullhorn. Following the protest, the representatives were immediately removed from their committee assignments and resolutions were filed to expel them. Jones and Pearson were officially expelled from council, while Johnson was saved by a one-vote margin. The chamber was accused of racism, especially since Jones and Pearson are both Black Americans, and their decision was met with a great deal of anger and disagreement by eyewitnesses.
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Republican Rep. Jeremy Faison accused Jones and Pearson for continuously disrupting floor proceedings, both in present and past occurrences. He also claimed that their behavior made it impossible for the council to perform their duties. The move to expel a member requires a two-thirds majority among all members, and has only ever occurred two other times since the Civil War.
However, a week after the expulsion, the Shelby County Board of Commissioners and the Nashville Metropolitan Council voted to reinstate Pearson and Jones, respectively, to the Tennessee House. Pearson welcomed the decision by saying, “You can't expel hope. You can't expel justice.”
Jones’ and Pearsons’ seats will become vacant, with the general election still 12 months away. These circumstances call for a special election to determine who will fill the seats. County commissions are also allowed to appoint an interim lawmaker that can serve in the meantime. Additionally, the law states that expelled representatives can return to the office, raising the possibility for Jones and Pearson to eventually return to their positions. The Tennessee constitution also states that lawmakers cannot be expelled for the same offense twice, so if they were to return to their positions, it would be impossible to vote them out again.
Article 2 - Supreme Court Protects Abortion Pill, but the Future Remains Uncertain
The Supreme Court blocked a Texas ruling to revoke the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) 20-year long approval of mifepristone, on April 21 in a 7-2 majority. Mifepristone, commonly used in abortion procedures and colloquially known as “the abortion pill,” was approved by the FDA in 2000 and has since been the cause of numerous lawsuits initiated by anti-abortion activists. The Texas ruling resulted from Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, et al. v. U.S. Food and Drug Administration, in which anti-abortion groups filed a lawsuit against the FDA questioning the methods and protocols used in approving the safety of mifepristone. This case was brought to District Judge Matthew J. Kacsmaryk, a known longtime critic of Roe v. Wade, who ruled in favor of the anti-abortion groups on April 7. Although the Supreme Court’s blockage against the ruling is significant in reducing political authority over medicine, this ruling is only temporary and the final decision will likely be determined in the next term.
The debate over the FDA’s approval of mifepristone has reached center stage this month, with numerous lawmakers expressing strong stances regarding not only the pill but abortion as a whole. President Joe Biden strongly opposes the overrule of the FDA, stating that “if this ruling were to stand, then there will be virtually no prescription, approved by the F.D.A., that would be safe from these kinds of political, ideological attacks.” He also called for the American people to vote for representatives who will restore the protections of Roe v Wade. On the opposite end of the political spectrum, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C, called abortion after fifteen weeks a “human rights issue” during CNN’s “State of the Union,” and declared that the GOP presidential nominee in the 2024 election would have this stance as well. This sentiment is shared with many other Republican legislators, yet there are doubts about pro-life support even within Republican voters; it has been shown that Republican voters under 30 are less likely to support abortion bans.
Although the FDA approval of mifepristone is protected for now, the lack of a final decision makes the future uncertain. Mifepristone is used for the majority of abortions in the U.S., and according to the FDA, it is clinically proven to be safe to use for up to 10 weeks of gestation. If FDA approval is revoked, all women in the United States would be unable to access mifepristone, regardless of the legality of abortion in their own state. In addition, the possibility of politics interfering with science holds dangerous implications. Lawmakers and judges are not medical professionals; thus, giving them the power to determine the legality of medical procedures prioritizes certain political and moral ideologies over science.
Article 3 - What's New in Music?
“Boys Planet”
On Thursday, April 20 the Korean survival show “Boys Planet” finally came to a conclusion. “Boys Planet” began with 98 contestants competing for a spot to be in the final nine-member global K-Pop boy group. Through various missions and competitions, Boys Planet finally narrowed it down to 18 finalists. In the final episode, the boy group's name was revealed to be ZEROBASE1 (ZB1), and the final nine members, from lowest to highest ranking, were revealed: Han Yujin, Kim Jiwoong, Kim Gyuvin, Kim Taerae, Park Gunwook, Ricky, Seok Matthew, Sung Hanbin and Zhanghao. ZB1 will be active for two-and-a-half years. Congratulations to ZB1!
Coachella
Coachella, the annual music festival, was held again this month, with headliners Blackpink, Frank Ocean, blink-182 and Bad Bunny. Blackpink first performed at Coachella in 2019, making history as the first K-Pop girl group to perform on Coachella’s stages. This year, they continued to make history by being the first K-Pop group to perform as Coachella’s headliners, taking center stage. In addition, Frank Ocean, another Coachella headliner, caused an uproar when his elaborate ideas for his stage, which included an ice rink and skaters, were suddenly canceled hours before he was scheduled to perform. Ocean’s performance, when he finally arrived, was described as low energy and strange, likely due to the last-minute changes. Nevertheless, Coachella remained a major success.
Head in the Clouds
Next month, on May 20 and 21, Head in the Clouds (HITC), an annual music festival sponsored by 88rising, will be held on the East Coast for the first time. Headliners ITZY, Rich Brian, and Beabadoobee will gather on day one at the Forest Hills Stadium in Queens, while NIKI, DPR Live, and DPR Ian will perform on day two. HITC being held in New York for the first time is significant, as 88rising’s CEO and founder, Sean Miyashiro, created 88rising in the Bronx to spread more Asian culture through music. In addition to HITC being in New York for the first time, they will also be partnering with Heart of Dinner, a non-profit organization focused on helping Asian American elders combat food insecurity and isolation. For each ticket sold, Head In The Clouds will be donating $1 to Heart of Dinner, as well as actively bringing awareness to the organization at the festival. Although Head In The Clouds has yet to begin, it is sure that the festival will be a huge success this year, as it has been in the past.
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