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Daily Skimm: President Biden is taking a stand against antisemitism.

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U.S. President Joe Biden departs a celebration marking Jewish American Heritage Month in the East Room of the White House on May 16, 2023 in Washington, DC

Plan of Action

The Story

President Biden is taking a stand against antisemitism.

Tell me.

Yesterday, the Biden admin released the US's first-ever ​​national strategy to combat antisemitism. The landmark plan calls on local legislatures, law enforcement, and schools across the country to put a stop to a rise in discrimination. Last year, there were more than 3,600 antisemitic incidents — a 36% increase from 2021. It’s the highest number since organizations began collecting data in 1979. The Jewish community has faced multiple violent acts in recent years, including the 2018 Tree of Life synagogue mass shooting. Just a few days ago, a man with a Nazi flag crashed a truck outside the White House. Biden said antisemitism and “all forms of hate and violence have no place in America,” and announced his nationwide plan to fight it.

What's in it?

The Biden admin says it’s teaming up with civil rights groups, faith leaders, and federal agencies to develop the plan. It’s divided into four pillars that focus on increasing awareness, improving security, reversing the normalization of hate, and building solidarity. The 60-page strategy called on enhancing education programs carried out by the Holocaust Memorial Museum. It encourages the DOJ and DHS to meet with Jewish communities to keep them up to date on federal training and resources. It urged tech companies to establish a zero-tolerance policy for hate speech. Civil rights groups called the plan “historic.” Second gentleman Doug Emhoff said, “It's on all of us to put an end to the visceral hate that we are seeing across our nation.”

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About 85% of Americans believe in at least one antisemitic stereotype. Another study found that more than 3 in 5 millennials and Gen Z didn't know six million Jews were killed in the Holocaust. Many say this latest plan is just the beginning to put a stop to hate.

indiana

Yesterday, the Indiana Medical Licensing Board began its disciplinary hearing for an Indiana doctor who provided an abortion for a 10-year-old rape victim from Ohio whose story took the country by storm. Here’s the latest on that case:

Indiana’s attorney general is accusing Dr. Caitlin Bernard of failing to report child abuse. He also says Bernard didn’t maintain the patient’s privacy by sharing the girl’s story with an Indiana newspaper. Bernard defended her actions, reportedly saying “It’s incredibly important for people to understand the real-world impacts of the laws of this country about abortion.” She also said she did in fact report the child abuse to hospital staff, and that Ohio officials are reportedly investigating the girl’s rape case.

Now, it's up to Indiana’s board of six doctors and one attorney to decide whether to penalize Bernard, which could include her losing her medical license.

and also...this

What SCOTUS has decided on…

Wetlands. Yesterday, the Supreme Court cut back the EPA’s ability to regulate wetlands under the Clean Water Act. In 2007, an Idaho couple began their fight with the EPA after the agency told them they couldn't build on the wetland part of their property. Fast forward to yesterday, the court unanimously ruled that the couple had the right to build — and fill their wetland. The court said the EPA overstepped when it came to applying the Clean Water Act to protect private wetlands. In the majority opinion, Justice Alito said the Clean Water Act only applies to wetlands “with a continuous surface connection” to a larger body of water. Justice Kavanaugh warned the ruling could affect efforts to control flooding and water quality in the country. One environmental advocate said SCOTUS “ripped the heart out” of a law intended to protect American waters from pollution. The decision is the conservative-leaning court's latest ruling against EPA regulations.


What’s got its head in the game…

Neuralink. Yesterday, Elon Musk’s brain implant company said the FDA gave it the OK to launch its “first-in-human” clinical trial. Neuralink designs “fully implantable” chips that could allow people to control a computer or mobile device with their brain. The idea is to help paralyzed people walk again and potentially cure other neurological injuries or diseases. The company’s earlier bids to get FDA approval were reportedly rejected over safety concerns. Now, it’s allegedly moving forward. Neuralink isn’t dishing out too many details and hasn’t shared when it’ll start recruiting for the study. 


What people are busy celebrating…

Birthdays. Yesterday, new numbers revealed that the US has been aging more quickly this past decade than others. Baby boomers and millennials continue to grow while Gen Alpha is slow to catch up. Research suggests there are a few reasons for this. Women are focusing on their education and careers and having kids later in life. The lack of access to affordable child care, housing, and employment stability doesn’t help. (Paid family leave anyone?) All of this could spell trouble for America’s future. The working class could end up shrinking, which means fewer tax-paying adults to support the older generations collecting Social Security and Medicare. So how does avocado toast factor into this one?


Who’s been sentenced…

The Oath Keeper’s founder. Yesterday, the extremist group’s founder, Stewart Rhodes, was sentenced to 18 years in prison for orchestrating a plot to overthrow the government. His sentencing is the longest one out of the more than 1,000 Capitol riot cases from the Jan 6 attack.


While the Cannes Film Festival is trendsetting...

White nail polish might be out thanks to Scandoval.


What's making a comeback...

MoviePass.

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