Robert Mueller, Former FBI Director and Special Counsel, Dies at 81 
Brazil's Haddad Leaves Finance Ministry to Run for São Paulo Governor 
Cuba Rejects U.S. Demands to Remove President Diaz-Canel Amid Ongoing Negotiations 
Ukraine-U.S. Peace Talks Continue in Florida as Zelenskiy Pushes for Diplomatic Progress 
Trump Presses Japan to Support Iran War Effort, Cites Pearl Harbor in Surprise Defense 
Trump Administration Quietly Approves $7 Billion in Unannounced Weapons Sales to UAE 
Federal Judge Blocks Pentagon's Restrictive Press Access Policy 
Ukraine-U.S. Peace Talks Resume in Florida Amid Ongoing Russia-Ukraine War 
Cuba-U.S. Military Tensions: Havana Warns It Is Ready to Defend Itself Against Potential American Aggression 
Trump Links DHS Funding to Voter ID Legislation 
Iran Threatens Gulf Infrastructure as U.S.-Israel War Enters Critical 48-Hour Window 
Trump Threatens ICE Airport Deployment Amid TSA Shutdown Crisis 
U.S.-Iran War Escalates: Marines Deploy, Strait of Hormuz Closure Drives Global Oil Crisis 
Taiwan Strengthens Deterrence Amid Ongoing Chinese Military Threat 
U.S. Officials Express Optimism Over New CDC Director Selection Amid Vaccine Policy Turmoil 
S&P 500 Rebounds After Netanyahu's Statements on Iran's Military Setbacks 
Israel Defies Trump's Warning, Launches New Strikes on Iran Amid Growing Global Energy Crisis 
A part of President Joe Biden’s election victory against Donald Trump was due to high turnout at the polls in response to Trump’s suppression efforts on mail-in voting. In commemoration of “Bloody Sunday,” Biden announced that he has signed an executive order that would expand voting rights.
Biden announced his plan to sign an executive order on voting rights during his recorded address on the 56th anniversary of “Bloody Sunday,” when 600 civil rights activists were beaten by state troopers as they marched for voting rights in Selma, Alabama. The order would direct federal agencies to implement measures to promote voting access. This is also in the wake of Congressional Democrats pushing for a sweeping voting and elections bill that serves as a response to state Republicans’ voter suppression efforts.
“Every eligible voter should be able to vote and have it counted,” said Biden during his address. “If you have the best ideas, you have nothing to hide. Let the people vote.”
The order has provisions that include the expansion of access to voter registration and election information, as well as calling on heads of federal agencies to draw up plans that would allow federal employees time off to vote or volunteer as nonpartisan poll workers. The order would also push for an overhaul of the government’s Vote.gov website. Congressional Democrats are currently attempting to shore up support for House Resolution 1 that would touch on practically every aspect of the electoral process. It was approved last week on near-party lines at 220 to 210.
In other related news, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas led Biden administration officials on a visit to the US border to Mexico over the weekend. This is in the wake of criticism from Republicans regarding a possible immigration crisis as the numbers of border crossings increase. The White House said last week that Biden instructed the officials to visit the border and to report back the influx of unaccompanied minors that are crossing the border. This coincides with the criticism towards Biden by activists, citing that the administration is detaining migrant children and families in centers for an extended period of time as their asylum applications are being reviewed.
