Trump Allows Commercial Fishing in Protected New England Waters 
South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Trump Signs “America First Arms Transfer Strategy” to Prioritize U.S. Weapons Sales 
Marco Rubio Steps Down as Acting U.S. Archivist Amid Federal Law Limits 
Newly Released DOJ Epstein Files Expose High-Profile Connections Across Politics and Business 
Trump Allegedly Sought Airport, Penn Station Renaming in Exchange for Hudson River Tunnel Funding 
Trump Says “Very Good Talks” Underway on Russia-Ukraine War as Peace Efforts Continue 
Pentagon Ends Military Education Programs With Harvard University 
Nighttime Shelling Causes Serious Damage in Russia’s Belgorod Region Near Ukraine Border 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
UAE Plans Temporary Housing Complex for Displaced Palestinians in Southern Gaza 
Missouri Judge Dismisses Lawsuit Challenging Starbucks’ Diversity and Inclusion Policies 
Trump Rejects Putin’s New START Extension Offer, Raising Fears of a New Nuclear Arms Race 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit 
U.S. Announces Additional $6 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Cuba Amid Oil Sanctions and Fuel Shortages 
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday 
Senate confirmations of Joe Biden’s cabinet nominees are still underway and this week brought more nominees to be confirmed. After a long wait, the Senate has confirmed Merrick Garland for Attorney General.
Garland was confirmed by the Senate this week on a bipartisan vote of 70-30, placing him in a post to lead the government agency that was heavily politicized by now-former President Donald Trump during his term. Garland’s nomination for DOJ attorney general was seen by many as retribution for having his Supreme Court confirmation hearing back in 2016 blocked by then-Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.
At that time, McConnell and the GOP-controlled Senate set the precedent that no Supreme Court nominees would receive a hearing in an election year, a precedent that was easily broken in 2020 when the Senate sped through the confirmation of Amy Coney Barrett to replace Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
“After Donald Trump spent four years -- four long years -- subverting the powers of the Justice Department for his own political benefit, treating the attorney general like his own personal defense lawyer, America can breathe a sigh of relief that we’re going to have someone like Merrick Garland leading the Justice Department,” said Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer prior to the vote. “Someone with integrity, independence, respect for the rule of law and credibility on both sides of the aisle.”
During his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Garland assured lawmakers that the Justice Department under his leadership would remain politically independent. Garland also said that his first priority should he be confirmed would be to investigate the January 6 insurrection at the Capitol.
Aside from Garland, the Senate also confirmed Ohio Congresswoman Marcia Fudge to become Biden’s Housing and Urban Development Secretary. Fudge was also confirmed on a bipartisan vote of 66-34, making her the second Black woman to take on the post and the first woman in decades to do so.
Becoming the Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Fudge will help bring Biden’s campaign promise of implementing fair housing to life. She will also take on the task of managing an agency of over 8,000 employees.
