If You Don’t Want World War III, Donald Trump Says You Need To Vote For Him
Is this guy for real?
Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump told potential voters that he can “promise” World War III won’t happen if they vote for him in November.
“If we win, it will be very simple, it’s all going to work out and very quickly,” Trump said. “If we don’t win, it will end up with major wars in the Middle East, maybe a third world war. We are closer to a third world war right now than at any time since the Second World War. We’ve never been so close because we have incompetent people running our country.”
"If we don't win, it will end up with major wars in the Middle East, maybe a third world war"
During his meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu at Mar-a-Lago, Donald Trump stated that World War III could occur if he does not win the upcoming elections. pic.twitter.com/GAXrXKosxI
The now oldest presidential candidate in United States history has a reputation for predicting what may happen if he isn’t elected again. In June 2023, he told a crowd of supporters in Michigan, “And I’m the only person that can say this. I will stop World War III, and we’re very close to having World War III,” he said.
Trump vows to stop World War III
"I will stop the third world war, and we are very close to starting a third world war." pic.twitter.com/s4jGGEAzJm
Then, he shared the same ideology during a roundtable discussion in Iowa, admitting that he says it in every speech he gives.
Most recently, in July 2024, Trump took things up a notch during a rally in Florida and blamed Biden for the war between Ukraine and Russia and for Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on Israel. “We’re very close to World War Three, and Biden doesn’t have a clue. Russia and Ukraine would have never happened. October 7th, the attack on Israel would have never happened. Inflation would have never happened,” he said.
🚨🇺🇸 TRUMP: WE WILL PREVENT THE WORLD FROM GOING INTO WWIII
“I will have the horrible war between Russia and Ukraine settled.
We will prevent the world from entering World War Three because that's where we are.
“You know, remember when Hillary Clinton…she used to say, ‘Look at him, he will get us into war, look at his attitude,’” he said. “I said no, ‘My attitude is going to keep you out of war.’ That’s what happened. We had no new wars other than I defeated ISIS, but that was a war that had already started. I defeated 100 percent of the ISIS caliphate.”
In 2019, the four-time indicted businessman claimed victory in the “100%” defeat of ISIS. Two weeks later, his then-national security advisor, John Bolton, admitted on national television that “the ISIS threat will remain.”
Louisiana Democrats Push Cleo Fields In 6th District Contest
Fields last served in Congress in the 1990s, back when Louisiana had two Black congressional districts and now that the state has two majority Black districts once more, his prospects are pointing up.
According to the Louisiana Illuminator, the Louisiana Democratic State Central Committee voted on July 27 to formally support the 61-year-old Sen. Fields alongside Rep. Troy Carter, Mel Manuel, Sadi Summerlin, and Nick Laborde.
As Louisiana Democratic Party Chairman Randal Gaines told the Illuminator, “I think that with the talent and the combination of excitement…I think we’re gonna be able to prepare all our candidates for victory in November.”
Fields last served in Congress in the 1990s, back when Louisiana had two Black congressional districts, and now that the state again has two majority Black districts, his prospects are pointing up.
On July 23, the CBC held a fundraiser for Fields’ campaign, hosted by Marcus Sebastian Mason, who is also on the board of the Congressional Black Caucus PAC, Vanessa Griddine, the executive director of the Black Caucus Institute, Chaka Burgess, the vice chair of the Caucus Foundation board, Virgil Miller, who is an advisor for the Caucus Foundation, and former Black Caucus Chair and rumored vice presidential candidate Cedric Richmond.
Fields is seen as the likely winner as his campaign is better organized, has more name recognition, and has more money in his coffers than his Black Republican contender, Elbert “Paw Paw” Guillory, or his Democratic challengers Quentin Anthony Anderson, Wilken Jones Jr, and Peter Williams.
According to the Illuminator, Fields and Louisiana Gov. Jeff Landry made for strange bedfellows when Louisiana was forced to eliminate a Republican district to draw a new Democratic-leaning district, but due to the disagreements between Landry and Garrett Greaves, the current congressman representing the 6th District, that is the district that was selected. That district encompasses Baton Rouge, Shreveport, parts of Alexandria, and Lafayette.
According to Fields’ campaign announcement in January, he has positioned himself as a fighter for the people of Louisiana throughout his political career.
“Throughout my career in state and congressional service, my focus has always been on leading the efforts to help the people of Louisiana from my Baton Rouge Senate district to people all the way to Shreveport in my congressional district.”
Fields continued, “I will offer myself for service in the Sixth Congressional District in this fall’s election. I will formally announce my candidacy in the next several weeks, but I want to be clear I will be a candidate. My focus will remain the same as it has always been to work and fight for the people of Louisiana.”
Sonya Massey’s 4-Year-Old Cousin Was Also Allegedly Killed By Police, Prosecutors Will Not File Charges
We hope justice won't evade his cousin.
In a tragic turn of events, a 4-year-old child named Terrell Miller was shot and killed by Illinois police in March. Terrell, the baby cousin of Sonya Massey, became a heart-wrenching symbol of the unintended consequences of police action when he was caught in the crossfire during a domestic dispute. Vigils around the country have also taken place for the dead toddler’s fallen cousin.
On July 23, prosecutors decided not to file charges against the officer involved in the incident that killed little Terrell.
The incident occurred on March 16 during a response to a domestic dispute involving Anthony T. George, a 57-year-old man armed with a knife. George, who had reportedly stabbed Terrell’s mother, Keianna, 36 times, used the young boy as a human shield. In an attempt to neutralize the threat posed by George, the officer fired a shot that tragically killed Terrell along with George.
Despite the heartbreaking loss of the child, the Illinois State’s Attorney Appellate Prosecutor has determined that the officer will not face any charges.
On July 23, Special Prosecutor Jonathan H. Barnard communicated the decision in a letter to McDonough County State’s Attorney Matthew Kwacala. Barnard explained that after a thorough review of police reports, audio and video recordings, and training records, his office found no legal basis for criminal action against the officer. The decision concluded that even voluntary manslaughter charges were not warranted, given the circumstances of the incident.
“Based upon that review, I find that there is no basis for any criminal action or prosecution that is supportable under the facts of this case against any of the officers involved in this tragic incident,” Barnard said in his letter to Kwacala dated July 8.
This decision has sparked a wave of emotions and discussions about the use of force by law enforcement, especially in situations involving young children. Terrell Miller’s death underscores the complexities and dangers inherent in police responses to violent domestic disputes.
As the community mourns the loss of Terrell, conversations continue about how such tragedies can be prevented in the future. The decision not to prosecute the officer leaves many questioning the balance between enforcing the law and protecting innocent lives, particularly in high-stakes situations.
In light of Terrell’s tragic story ending without prosecution, the masses have been holding vigils and protests to call for justice and to honor Sonya Massey since she was reportedly shot and killed by Sean Grayson. The demonstrations and vigils have reached mass proportions.
A National Day of Mourning was declared on July 28 for the Springfield, Illinois, mother who was seen being executed on video on July 6. So far, vigils for Sonya have been held in Illinois, Los Angeles, New York, and St. Louis.
Gail Lumet Buckley, Acclaimed Writer And Daughter Of Lena Horne, Dies At 86
Buckley was an acclaimed writer known for her novels detailing her family's Black middle-class history.
Gail Lumet Buckley, author and daughter of Lena Horne, has died at 86. Buckley’s daughter confirmed her death occurred on July 18.
Born in 1937 to Horne and Louis Jordan Jones, a political operative, Buckley built a career for herself through novels focusing on her family’s Black middle-class background. Buckley spent her childhood between Brooklyn and Los Angeles before pursuing a bachelor’s degree from Radcliffe College in 1959. At the time of her enrollment, the school was an independent women’s college. It later integrated into Harvard University in 1999.
Despite her mother’s successful career in Hollywood, Buckley veered toward academia and literature. However, she continued her mother’s mission of racial justice, serving as a counselor with the National Scholarship Service and Fund for Negro Students.
She officially began her career in journalism with a stint at Life magazine in 1962. She became a contributing writer for The New York Times, Vogue, and other publications. However, her first book, The Hornes: An American Family, was published in 1986. Its extensive detail into the livelihoods of the Black middle class captivated readers.
Buckley wrote the novel upon finding artifacts in a trunk belonging to her maternal grandfather. The items, ranging from photographs to letters and bills, went back six generations of Buckley’s family.
She continued her deep dive into her family’s history in later works. In 2016, she published The Black Calhouns: From Civil War to Civil Rights With One African American Family. The book centered on how one side of her family endured Reconstruction and Jim Crow in Atlanta while the other thrived in the Harlem Renaissance.
“Today, however, it is important to let people know ‘what’ I am,” she wrote in the introduction,The New York Timesreported. “I identify myself as African American to let others know that I am one of America’s historical stepchildren. The quality of African American life, like that of all stepchildren, depends on the spiritual, philosophical, and political character of the stepparent and stepsiblings.”
Buckley wrote two more novels, both on the themes of race. Her 2001 work, American Patriots: The Story of Blacks in the Military From the Revolution to Desert Storm,” won the Robert F. Kennedy Book Award the following year.
Her legacy lives on as a prolific writer whose work sheds light on the unique histories of Black America. She is survived by two grandchildren and her two daughters, Amy and Jenny.
Black Trump Supporters Answer What They Think Are Democrats’ Misconceptions About Black Voters
Fox News interviewed a dozen men at a Michigan Trump rally about their opinions on the Democratic Party.
According to a Fox News report, the Democratic Party has had a long-standing precedent of receiving voter support from Black people. Still, some say former President Trump has been drawing away that demographic from the blue. The news outlet interviewed over a dozen Black Trump supporters at a Grand Rapids rally about what misconceptions they believe Democrats have about them.
One of these Black trump supporters criticized Democrats for having a preoccupation with race.
“Not all of us think of ourselves in relation to our skin color,” Detroit native Jermaine said. “This is really about values and morals and how you see the world.”
Henry, of Battle Creek, agreed, “No person is special because of their race. You don’t have to treat us like we’re a brand-new creature, OK? Trying to make me think that I deserve more than somebody else; I’ve been mistreated more than others. No. We’re just normal people.”
President Joe Biden won an impressive 87% of the Black popular vote in 2020, but as we approach this year’s election, Black votes in support of Democrats have been declining. By the time Biden stepped down from the presidential race, only 69% of Black voters in a Fox News poll said they would vote for Vice President Kamala Harris over Trump. However, more recent surveys have revealed that Harris could begin to improve on the dwindling numbers of Black Democratic voters against former President Trump.
Another man at the Grand Rapids Trump rally complained that Democrats tend to underestimate the people’s ambition to succeed. He stated that the American economy was better under Trump, and citizens also felt more encouraged to have class mobility.
“It doesn’t matter how they look. It doesn’t matter where they come from. Everybody wants to succeed,” he said. “They want a chance at that American future and if the conservative movement shows them that that’s where they’re going to find that success, then guess where they’re going to go?”
Grandville’s Martin went so far as to say that Democrats were actually out of touch with current Black voters and that they took the precedence for granted.
Several people said Democrats were out of touch with Black voters.
“The Black vote has long stood with the Democratic Party … and I feel like they have taken that for granted and they haven’t done much with it. We can’t be bought with socialist agendas. We are smart, and we’re able.”
He continued, “They think that we need handouts. And it’s just not like that. We’re hardworking people. They don’t have Black voters if they don’t have any broke Black voters.”
ColorComm: 5 Key Takeaways From The Conference Celebrating Women Of Color In Communications
With the theme 'Reaching for More,' this year's event marks the first time the conference was held in Los Angeles.
The 9th Annual ColorComm conference can be summarized in one word: inspiring. “If You Want More, You Need to Do More” served as a call to action for women of color in communications and all those who support this unique and dynamic group of women. Nearly 400 women convened at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Los Angeles from July 24 to July 26.
ColorComm Inc. is one of the nation’s leading women’s platforms, addressing diversity and inclusion across the communications, marketing, advertising, and media industries. With the theme “Reaching for More,” this year’s event marks the first time the conference was held in Los Angeles. The exclusive three-day retreat opened with the prestigious 9th Annual ColorComm Circle Awards, emceed by media personality Star Jones with remarks and commentary given by ColorComm’s CEO and founder, Lauren Wesley Wilson.
“With the recent movement of Black women mobilizing and banning together to support Vice President Kamala Harris in becoming the Democratic nominee for President, the conference theme is more significant now more than ever for women to reach for more within their professional journey. This conference marks the first major event for women of color since the announcement. No matter your political views, we can all attest to the unique power that we can act in times of crisis. What is happening worldwide can make it challenging to function in the workplace during these times. We’ve had to reach for more to get what we need,” said Jones.
From start to finish, the conference was filled with inspiration, wisdom, mentorship, and career progression. Here are five major takeaways attendees walked away with from the insightful panel programming featuring many industry veterans.
1. Salary/Position Negotiating Is A MUST– Always
Tiffany Smith-Anao’I, EVP of Entertainment Diversity and Inclusion at Paramount, gave attendees a crash course on negotiating in the workplace.
“Before negotiating, you have to first determine your worth, your individual worth, and your collective worth. We have to not be so humble about what we have as talents; our talents are vast, and our worth is unremarkable because we change the dynamics of rooms just by walking in,” she explained.
She concluded by dropping gems on “not taking negotiations at face value, and not accepting the word no.” She advised, “Stop worrying about hearing the word ‘no.’ Also, don’t block a ‘yes’ in fear of a ‘no.'”
2. You Don’t Get What You Deserve; You Get What You Negotiate
Smith-Anao’I pointed out, “Negotiating involves more than your salary; it should be conducive and include your lifestyle needs. Once you get an ideal offer, before you leave, tell them you need time to consider the offer. Talk to your circle and trusted peers because they know what you need the most. Lastly, you don’t get what you deserve. You get what you negotiate. Be a student of the game; study the company you’re applying for and the position you’re applying for. What did others make?”
3. No Matter How Much DEI Comes Under Attack, It’s Still Needed
Sue Obeidi, director of the Hollywood Bureau of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, educated attendees on investing in diversity and spoke on the importance of funding DEI in the communications world.
“My hope is to get DEI to just BE—not an entity, not an initiative, not an issue. Because we have always been made to feel like we’re the other; DEI has to be a thing, unfortunately,” she said.
Ana Flores, founder of #WeAllGrow Latina, one of the most established digital and IRL lifestyle communities of impactful LatinX women, continued by discussing what exactly DEI means to women of color. “The reason I founded our platform is the exact reason DEI is needed. I wanted to be able to connect to stories I related to, but at the time, I wasn’t connecting to any. That, for me, was a huge thing—in terms of diversity and inclusion, it is feeling safe and connected. That is why I launched #WeAllGrow Latina.”
4. Being The Only Woman Of Color In The Room Can Be intimidating, But Don’t Walk Away – REPRESENT!
Arlan Hamilton, founder and managing partner at Backstage Capital and former BLACK ENTERPRISE Sisters Inc. speaker, spoke about representing women of color when you’re the only one in the room who looks like you.
She explained: “Sometimes when you’re the only one in the room, it’s pressure, but you can’t walk away from being that one in the room because you have to create opportunities for there to be 12 in the room, not just one. A good movement should be able to have multiple leaders. If you’re building something that is important, build something that you can hand the keys over to someone, and things will be OK when you need a break. If they look like you, even better!”
5. Cook Up A “Success Ingredients List’ As You Set Out For New Positions & Opportunities
Watchen Nyanue, founder & CEO of I Choose the Ladder, a boutique consulting firm specializing in talent, culture, and strategy, introduced a beneficial way to create a list of steps to reach success in your career.
She explained, “Think of this success ingredients list like baking or cooking; the right amount of each of these things, tailored to your person, will add up to a whole cake of success.”
This ingredient list includes skill mastery, networking/relationship building, a personal corporate brand, self-advocacy/negotiation, and strategic thinking. She concluded, “Serve these ingredients with a side of resilience and adaptability, garnished with emotional intelligence to enhance flavor, and enjoy your journey to professional success.”
The conference wrapped up with ColorComm’s Signature Business Luncheon. ColorComm CEO and Founder Lauren Wesley Wilson served as the luncheon’s emcee, while Tonya Lewis Lee, an award-winning filmmaker, was the keynote speaker.
“ColorComm initially started as a luncheon series in 2011 to connect women of color in business. It is only fitting that we conclude our conference with how the organization was started,” noted Wilson. “Thirteen years later, ColorComm has evolved into a corporation that provides economic opportunity and advancement to multicultural communities.”
Swae Lee Tries To Discourage People From Voting For Kamala Harris: ‘Do Your Research’
'Do not vote for Kamala !!! Do your research on that whole camp'
Recording artist Swae Lee is facing backlash after going on social media to tell people not to vote for the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and current Vice President of the United States, Kamala Harris.
On July 27, the recording artist, one-half of the Mississippi-based hip hop duo Rae Sremmurd, took to the X platform to advise his followers to “Do your research” and not vote for the vice president in the upcoming presidential election against former President Donald Trump.
Do not vote for Kamala !!! Do your research on that whole camp.
While trying to discourage voters from electing the first Black woman president, he lays the blame on the country’s support of Ukraine against known enemy Russia. He states that he pays millions in tax dollars annually to have the money sent to “A whole nother country !!!!!!!!! ” Urging people to think about “Those lil dollars that come off your checks they gave it away !!!!!!!”
The recording artist seems to think the money the US gave to another country could have been placed in our pockets instead. He seems to feel that every “American citizen” would have gotten at least $200,000 each if those funds weren’t forwarded to Ukraine. He specifically chastises Black people and states that Harris does not do anything “but sign off on things against yall.” He warns that voting for her because “we” think that she is Black is “not going to end in our favor.”
The money we sent away every American citizen could’ve got minimal 200 grand, think about that, but I guess we don’t need the shit 🤷🏽♂️ and yall standing for Kamala. My black people, she don’t do nothing but sign off on things against yall ….(us) voting just cuz you think she’s black…
He continued his discouragement campaign against Harris, ending his rant by posting a video clip sent to him by another X user, who presumably agreed with his views on the vice president. The clip was from a debate between Democratic presidential hopefuls in 2020 that shows Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard criticizing Harris’ record as a prosecutor in San Francisco.
“Y’all better pay attention ! And there’s a lot more”
Devon Horton To Serve On Department Of Homeland Security’s School Safety Clearinghouse Board
According to the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) website, the board “provides advice and recommendations on the development and implementation of evidence-based school safety best practices of the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse.”
Superintendent of Georgia’s DeKalb County School District Devon Horton was appointed to the Department of Homeland Security’s recently formed School Safety Clearinghouse Advisory Board.
According to the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) website, the board “provides advice and recommendations on the development and implementation of evidence-based school safety best practices of the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse.”
According to Common Ground News, Horton is one of three superintendents on the 26-member advisory board, composed of school safety experts and education leaders who will focus on guidance and recommendations to improve the security of K-12 grade schools.
The board will work to advise Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro N. Mayorkas and will be under CISA as it works on implementing best practices, and those recommendations will be published on a federal platform, SchoolSafety.gov.
According to Common Ground, Horton released a statement indicating his desire to contribute to creating safe learning environments for students.
“I am honored to serve on this advisory board and contribute to the national effort to create safer learning environments.” Horton continued, “In a world with ever-shifting and elevated threats, I believe our collective experiences will be constructive in helping develop practical solutions that improve protection for our students, staff, and communities.”
The board’s first meeting will take place in Fall 2024, after it was established in October 2023 to satisfy the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act requirements. That act was signed into law by President Joe Biden in 2022, and among provisions related to gun control, the law expanded federal funding for crisis intervention programs.
According to the Department of Justice, the BCSA “authorized a total of $1.4 billion in funding for new and existing violence-prevention and intervention programs between 2022 and 2026.”
The DOJ also noted that due to this increased funding, more than $73 million in supplemental OJP STOP School Violence grants were awarded to enhance school security.
More than 3,500 school-enhanced intervention teams were created, more than 2,300 schools formed intervention teams, and 141 schools implemented school safety plans, partly due to BCSA funding increases.
According to a White House report on the progress of the BSCA, released in June 2024, “The Biden-Harris Administration codified and expanded the Federal School Safety Clearinghouse, implementing the Luke and Alex School Safety Act that was part of BSCA. The Clearinghouse, available at SchoolSafety.gov, provides evidence-based practices and recommendations to improve school safety for use by states, local educational agencies, institutions of higher education, state and local law enforcement agencies, health professionals, and the general public.”
The report continued, “BSCA provides $1 billion for the new Stronger Connections grant program, which helps schools invest in strategies to keep their students safe. The Department of Education released Stronger Connections funding to states in September 2022. Since then, all states have run competitions for this funding, making awards to more than 2,100 high-need communities. Preliminary data show schools are using Stronger Connections funds to update safety plans, hire mental health professionals and school resource officers, carry out community violence intervention and prevention strategies, install security equipment, conduct school climate surveys, address chronic absenteeism, and implement anti-bullying and anti-harassment programs.”
GirlTrek! Black Women Start Movement To Combat Widespread Health Crisis
GirlTrek encourages Black women to walk for at least 30 minutes every day.
A concerning trend has presented itself in the United States: as obesity rates are rising, life expectancy is declining, and this change has become most prominent for African American women. According to the American Heart Association, Black women are more likely to die at a younger age than women of other ethnicities due to related health issues. Vanessa Garrison and T. Morgan Dixon have created GirlTrek, a nonprofit, to help Black women stay healthy and empowered through the act of walking.
Dixon told CNN that she and Garrison didn’t start the nonprofit out of love for walking. Instead, it was a necessity for them.
“It wasn’t because we were walking enthusiasts or because we love to walk. When we started we were just trying to save our own lives,” Dixon said. “How do we not fall into these pitfalls that our mothers and our aunts and our grandmothers have fallen into? Eighty percent of us are overweight and carrying that weight is killing us now at disproportionate levels. We can’t do it anymore. We can’t carry it anymore.”
GirlTrek was started in 2010, and now in 2024, when being active is more important than ever, over 1,370,000 members have joined and formed their own walking teams across America. GirlTrek members pledge to walk 30 minutes a day, usually with a group of other women, to help fight obesity, diabetes, heart disease, and other related health issues.
Dixon and Garrison took inspiration from the women of the civil rights movement to guide the principal goals and even the routes that participants are inspired to take on their walks. They even host nationwide events that follow historic pathways like the“100 miles to Freedom” of the Harriet Tubman Underground Railroad Byway and the “Road to Selma,” which followed the Selma to Montgomery march.
GirlTrek’s growing reach comes at a time when it’s needed most. Recent research has revealed that more than half of Black women over 20 have heart disease. The same age group suffers the highest risk for strokes, and 3 out of 5 Black women are obese.
Garrison expressed to the news outlet that she believes GirlTrek is doing more than just helping Black women be healthier; it is also helping them overcome a “cultural mindset” to improve their quality of life.
“We grew up in households where our mothers and grandmothers and our aunties always chose to come last; they would always push those extra couple of hours to give to their family. And we’ve modeled that behavior, and in fact, we celebrated that behavior, and it is the only way we know how to navigate this world and get by. We created entire identities around our service to others,” Garrison told CNN.
“And I tell you it is OK for you to put yourself first today for these 30 minutes, and then, in fact, when you do, your family becomes more powerful, your community becomes more powerful.”
She added, “That is actually how you shift the entire dynamic of a culture by creating the habits that get passed from one generation to another.”
GirlTrek is beneficial not only for physical health but also for mental health. Dixon has noticed that many of these assembled walking groups have doubled as support groups.
“Women who are alone or women who are suffering any kind of depression or anxiety or stress can walk, talk, and slow down with friends. And that act of slowing down is radical,” she explained.
The sense of community and empowerment powered by Black history helps GirlTrek members stay motivated.
“We know that when Black women walk, things change, and that we walk in the footsteps of that legacy.” Garrison said, “And when we tell that story to women, they see themselves in those names. They see themselves as the next Ella Baker, the next Fannie Lou Hamer, the next Septima Clark, the next Harriet Tubman, and they are inspired by their history to start walking and create change in their communities…and themselves.”
Biden Outlines Proposal For Supreme Court Changes, Including Term Limits
Biden's plan includes term limits, reversing broad presidential immunity, and an enforced ethics code for Supreme Court Justices.
President Biden has officially revealed his plan to reform the U.S. Supreme Court, including term limits and a reversal of presidential immunity.
Biden shared his proposal in an op-ed to the Washington Post on July 29. In the piece, he detailed his desire for three substantive changes to “ensure trust” in America’s judicial system and highest court.
The 81-year-old emphasized his longtime role as a Senate’s Judiciary Committee member while noting that today’s court must restore the “public’s confidence” in the Democratic institution.
“I have great respect for our institutions and the separation of powers,” wrote the president. “What is happening now is not normal, and it undermines the public’s confidence in the court’s decisions, including those impacting personal freedoms. We now stand in a breach.”
Following the Supreme Court’s 6-3 decision on July 1 to bestow broad immunity for presidents, Biden seeks to correct this measure in his No One Is Above The Law Amendment. The reform would ensure former presidents do not have immunity for crimes committed while in office.
Secondly, the president hopes to impose term limits on Justices, eliminating lifetime appointments. Biden addressed how a single presidency can “radically [alter]” the Supreme Court for decades. Instead, Biden proposes that a president can appoint a new justice every two years to serve 18-year terms.
As the court stands, its conservative majority has overturned landmark decisions such as Roe v. Wade while imposing new ones such as seemingly unlimited presidential immunity. However, Biden’s suggestion of a constitutional amendment seems like a long shot, with one last ratified in 1992, per the Huffington Post.
Lastly, Biden called for a binding code of conduct to be enforced within the court. He referred to the current voluntary ethics code as “weak” and “self-enforced,” as Justices do not have to disclose gifts or conflicts of interest when deciding on cases. Justice Elena Kagan has also called for a new ethics code for the court, furthering the suggestion that their power has gone unchecked.
However, this plan is unlikely to be passed, given the Republican’s control over the House. Despite this, Biden hopes the promotion of these suggested reforms will push Democrats to the polls. Moreover, Biden will most likely speak about the plan at his address at the LBJ Library in Austin, Texas, later today.
