Trump Administration Opens Civil Rights Probes Into Five U.S. Medical Schools Over Admissions 
Russia Says It Hit Ukrainian Ports, Cargo Ships in Odesa and Chornomorsk 
Russian Bomb Strikes Hit Zaporizhzhia, Sloviansk, Injuring Dozens in Eastern Ukraine 
US-Backed Pediatric HIV Treatment Drops After Foreign Aid Changes, Study Finds 
Trump Pushes Election Security Message at Georgia Rally Ahead of Midterm Senate Race 
Maduro U.S. Drug Trafficking Trial Set for June 2027 as Immunity Defense Looms 
US Sends First Humanitarian Aid Flight to Cuba Under $100M Assistance Plan 
Rubio Urges Global Isolation of Nicaragua After Ortega Vows to End Elections 
Global Leaders Push Back as Trump Imposes New Forced Labor Tariffs 
US Military Completes 13th Straight Night of Iran Strikes as Trump Warns of Further Action 
UN Rights Chief Volker Turk Faces Opposition Over Second Term Bid 
Rubio Rejects AI ‘Kill Switch’ Claims as U.S. Defends American Technology Abroad 
ASEAN Forum Puts Middle East Conflict, South China Sea Tensions in Spotlight 
US, Solomon Islands Deepen Ties as Peace Corps Set to Return After 25 Years 
Arizona Primaries Set High-Stakes Governor and House Battles Ahead of Midterm Elections 
With the coming midterm elections in the US in November, the Democratic Party is keen on maintaining the majority in both chambers of Congress, but chances have been hampered due to the issue of rising gas prices. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi weighed in on President Joe Biden’s proposed gas tax holiday to ease prices but did not endorse the idea.
Pelosi issued a statement Wednesday saying that Democratic leaders in Congress will see whether lawmakers in their party would support Biden’s call to suspend the federal gas tax for three months. However, the top House Democrat stopped short of endorsing the idea.
“We will see where the consensus lies on a path forward for the President’s proposal in the House and the Senate, building on the strong bills to lower prices at the pump already passed by House Democrats, including the Consumer Fuel Price Gouging Prevention Act and the Lower Food Fuel Costs Act,” said Pelosi in her statement.
Pelosi’s response also indicates the concerns several Democrats have regarding lowering the federal gas tax in that it might not show as savings for consumers at the pump. Biden cited that a federal gas tax holiday would ease the burden on families who will struggle throughout the summer months.
The bills Pelosi referenced recently passed the House but have little chance of getting through the Senate with an evenly divided chamber and the filibuster in place.
In other related news, Pelosi’s husband, Paul Pelosi, was charged with driving under the influence following his arrest on May 28, the Napa County District Attorney’s office announced this week.
Paul Pelosi is also charged with driving with a blood-alcohol level of 0.008 percent or higher, causing injury, as Mr. Pelosi had a blood alcohol level of 0.082 percent blood alcohol content.
Mr. Pelosi is expected to appear for an arraignment on August 3 in Napa County Superior Court, the DA’s office said. At the time of his arrest, Mr. Pelosi was booked on two misdemeanor counts. Mr. Pelosi’s bail was set at $5,000, and he was released the next day, according to records.
