Gaming out big 2024 issues

Plus: Tennessee Democrats expelled, Justice Clarence Thomas under fire

View this email online April 8, 2023 The Big Picture: Gaming out 2024 issues Morry Gash/AP Two local races captured national attention this week as the party’s game out how abortion and crime issues resonate with voters ahead of 2024. Republicans won the constitutional war when it comes to Roe v. Wade, but that might mean losing the political battles ahead if a judicial race in Wisconsin is an indicator of how swing state voters see it.  With the future of the state’s abortion ban at stake, liberal Janet Protasiewicz handily defeated conservative Dan Kelly for a nominally nonpartisan state Supreme Court seat that added up to become the most expensive judicial race in American history and set records for state voter turnout in a race like this one. The outcome prompted conservative columnist Ann Coulter to tweet loudly the part many Republican strategists are thinking quietly: “Please stop pushing strict limits on abortion, or there will be no Republicans left.”  At least one possible 2024 GOP contender, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, is not listening to that advice. He is preparing to sign a new law that would reduce his state’s abortion access from up to 15 weeks down to six weeks. Meanwhile, in the Chicago mayor’s race progressives found reason to cheer as the more liberal candidate, Brandon Johnson, defeated the more centrist Democrat, Paul Vallas, in a race that pitted the teachers’ unions (Johnson) against cops’ union (Vallas), and delivered a victory to a candidate who once praised the “defund the police” movement.  While progressives could use this outcome as evidence that party leaders do not need to run like Republicans to win the crime debate, Chicago is a very blue dot in a very blue state that Joe Biden can reliably put in his electoral vote column next year. It could heighten the national interest in another mayoral race taking place this year in the swing state of Pennsylvania, where the Philadelphia mayor’s race is also heavily focused on crime and public safety. The primary takes place May 16.  -- Susan Davis, NPR political correspondent Newsletter continues after sponsor message ICYMI: Top Stories Seth Herald/Getty Images Tennessee Democrats expelled: Tennessee’s Republican-led House voted to expel two of three Democratic lawmakers who led a protest on the floor calling for gun reform. The extraordinary move has drawn calls of racism, as the two Black members who protested were expelled while the third, a white woman, was not.  WH shifts blame on Afghanistan: In a long-awaited report, Biden’s administration is blaming "conditions created by his predecessor" for the chaos surrounding the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan. The assessment has drawn criticism from Republican lawmakers who have vowed to investigate the withdrawal.  SCOTUS doesn’t intervene on trans athlete ban: The Supreme Court will not get involved in an ongoing case involving West Virginia's law banning transgender girls from participating in girls' sports teams. The case was challenged by a 12-year-old transgender girl on her school’s girls’ track and field teams.  Clarence Thomas under fire: Some Democratic lawmakers are calling for Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas to be impeached, after a new ProPublica investigation revealed he accepted luxury vacations from his friend, a major GOP donor. They say the report highlights the need for a code of ethics at the high court. The next day, Thomas responded to the report, saying he "was advised that this sort of personal hospitality from a close personal friend, who did not have business before the Court, was not reportable." Asa Hutchinson is running for president: The former governor of Arkansas has entered the 2024 GOP primary field, launching a campaign against what he called the "chaos" of Trump. Here’s our running list of declared and likely Republican presidential candidates. -- Lexie Schapitl, NPR Politics producer It all comes down to you Your financial support is the NPR Network's greatest strength. You keep the facts flowing. You bring more stories to more ears. You make a real difference when you contribute to independent, trustworthy media. Please donate today.    Going Deeper: Trump indictment recap Seth Wenig/AP Former President Donald Trump was charged -- and pleaded not guilty -- Tuesday with 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection with hush money payments made to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. He’s responding with a familiar script: lashing out at his opponents. Catch up with the details of the historic charges as well as the other criminal cases Trump faces. Also: more on Trump's response to the New York case. — Heidi Glenn, NPR Politics digital editor The Shot: Ugandan Jews give Passover new meaning for American rabbi Brynn Anderson/AP The Ugandan community of the Abayudaya have faithfully practiced Judaism for more than a century, at times in the face of government persecution. In this essay, New York rabbi Dan Ornstein writes how his friendship with a member of the community gave him a new perspective on the Jewish experience heading into the holy days of Passover.  -- Lexie Schapitl, NPR Politics producer Listen to your local NPR station. Visit NPR.org to hear live radio from St. Louis Public Radio (edit station). What do you think of today's email? We'd love to hear your thoughts, questions and feedback: nprpolitics@npr.org Enjoying this newsletter? Forward to a friend! They can sign up here. Looking for more great content? Check out all of our newsletter offerings — including Daily News, Code Switch, Health and more! 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