Today's Liberal News

Doctor who defied Texas abortion ban gets big win in a Lone Star state courtroom

On Thursday, a state court in Texas threw out a lawsuit brought against abortion provider Dr. Alan Braid. The San Antonio doctor had been sued under Texas’ near-total abortion ban law, Senate Bill 8. Dr. Braid admitted to defying the law just days after it took effect. Dr. Braid was not clandestine about his actions, penning an opinion piece that was promptly published in The Washington Post, titled “Why I violated Texas’s extreme abortion ban.

DOJ recommends that Trump’s legal team be held in contempt over holding onto classified documents

The Department of Justice has asked District Court Judge Beryl Howell to hold “Trump’s office” in contempt over refusals to comply with a May subpoena to produce classified documents. Details of just who this affects and what action is being requested are not yet available, as the filing has been made under seal.

The Washington Post reports that, according to their sources, Judge Howell has not yet responded to this request.

Five Remarkable Chats That Will Help You Understand ChatGPT

Move over Siri and Alexa, there’s a new AI in town and it’s ready to steal the show—or at least make you laugh with its clever quips and witty responses.That is how ChatGPT, the powerful chatbot released last week by the AI company OpenAI, suggested that I begin this story about ChatGPT.

Why the Far Right Is Fixated on Drag Queens

This is an edition of The Atlantic Daily, a newsletter that guides you through the biggest stories of the day, helps you discover new ideas, and recommends the best in culture. Sign up for it here.On Tuesday, a suspect accused of fatally shooting five people at a Colorado Springs queer nightclub in November was charged with hate crimes, assault, and murder. Elsewhere, armed protesters have been intimidating drag performers.

Xochitl Gonzalez Joins The Atlantic as Staff Writer, With Eleanor Barkhorn Hired as Senior Editor

Xochitl Gonzalez is joining The Atlantic’s editorial team as a staff writer, having contributed to the magazine this past year through her subscriber newsletter, Brooklyn, Everywhere. In her newsletter, which she’ll continue as a staff writer, Xochitl reflects on the many meanings of gentrification and what we stand to lose in our relentless pursuit of the American dream.

Arctic Adventurers Have a Russia Problem

In the next few weeks, Jeff Glasbrenner, a 49-year old amputee and father of two, will strap on a harness—“kind of like a backpack without a backpack”—and begin dragging a 20-pound SUV tire around his neighborhood just outside Little Rock, Arkansas. He will drag his tire for anywhere from two to 10 hours a day, powered by a playlist of Counting Crows and Goo Goo Dolls; then, after a few weeks, he’ll start dragging two tires, and later, three.

Harry and Meghan Are Playing a Whole Different Game

Fame at last! Two minutes into Netflix’s Harry & Meghan documentary, the headline of an article I wrote in January 2020 flashed on the screen. “Harry and Meghan Won’t Play the Game,” it said. Observing the departure of the duke and duchess of Sussex from the Royal Family—and from Britain itself—the story declared that “no royal has ever taken on the press quite so directly, much though they might have wanted to.

Supreme Court Weighs Voting Rights Case Based on Fringe Theory That Could Upend Democracy

The Supreme Court is considering a North Carolina redistricting case that could have far-reaching implications for voting rights in the 2024 election and beyond. At stake in Moore v. Harper is whether North Carolina Republican lawmakers had the authority to overturn a state Supreme Court ruling that redrew the state’s congressional map due to partisan gerrymandering.

“Russia Is Losing the War”: Russian Marxist Boris Kagarlitsky on Ukraine & What Comes After Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged this week that the war in Ukraine has taken longer than expected, and predicted the conflict could be a “long process.” He also warned the risk of nuclear war is increasing, but vowed not to use nuclear weapons first. Putin’s comments come as Russia continues pounding civilian targets across Ukraine, including energy infrastructure, leaving much of the country in the dark and cold with winter approaching.

Peruvian President Pedro Castillo Is Ousted & Arrested in Latest Episode of Peru’s “Enduring Crisis”

Peruvian President Pedro Castillo was ousted from power Wednesday and arrested hours after he moved to dissolve the country’s Congress, with Vice President Dina Boluarte sworn in to replace him. Castillo is a left-leaning former teacher and union leader who was in office for less than a year and a half, during which time he faced sustained attacks from his political opponents for corruption.

Warnock vs. Walker, Round 2: Georgia Breaks Voting Records in Senate Runoff Election

Voters in Georgia cast their ballots Tuesday in the closely watched runoff election between Senator Raphael Warnock and Republican challenger Herschel Walker. A victory for Warnock would give Democrats a 51st seat in the Senate. The election has seen a record number of early votes, especially in communities of color, but Black Voters Matter co-founder and executive director Cliff Albright says that is “partially a function of the voter suppression” in the state.

Publishing Is Not a Crime: NYT, The Guardian & More Urge Biden Admin to Drop Charges Against Assange

The New York Times and four major European newspapers — The Guardian in Britain, Le Monde in France, Der Spiegel in Germany and El País in Spain — recently urged the Biden administration to drop all charges against WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. In a joint letter, the newspapers said, “This indictment sets a dangerous precedent, and threatens to undermine America’s First Amendment and the freedom of the press.

Trump attorneys admit to finding more classified documents that Trump had stashed in a new location

UPDATE: Wednesday, Dec 7, 2022 · 6:35:25 PM +00:00 · Mark Sumner

In just the time it took to write this article, The Washington Post has update their source article. The new headline on that update: “Items with classified markings found at Trump storage unit in Florida.”

At least two more items marked with some level of classification have been found in a storage unit outside of West Palm Beach.

Ukraine update: Every now and then, TIME gets it right. Volodymyr Zelenskyy is Person of the Year

UPDATE: Thursday, Dec 8, 2022 · 12:58:40 AM +00:00

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Mark Sumner

Unbelievable footage of Russian incendiary munitions being used in Avdiivka, Donetsk this evening. pic.twitter.com/Q0OM6n5c3X— Kyle Glen (@KyleJGlen) December 7, 2022

Ukrainian sources are reporting heavy fighting in this area. Russia may have used the incendiary munitions in hopes of easing their advance.

Want to keep on winning? We have the chance for a huge flip in Virginia next month

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Are you still pumped about last night’s thunderous win in Georgia? I sure am! And you better believe I’m not tired of winning. In fact, I’m ready to win some more. And there’s a golden opportunity just around the corner.

Unfortunately, abortion rights in Virginia are hanging by a thread—but we can drive a stake into the GOP’s plan to restrict abortion in just a month’s time.

51 is a magic number for Senate Democrats, and the country

There are many, many reasons to celebrate Rev. Sen. Raphael Warnock’s victory Tuesday. The first is that Georgia will be represented by an effective, principled, intelligent statesman. Sen. Warnock is everything you could ask in a public servant, and the people of Georgia—all the people—need that. The Senate most definitely needs all the serious people it can get. The Congress as a whole needs that, as does the nation.