As Trump weighs options, Pence meets with Supreme Court contenders

WASHINGTON – Vice President Mike Pence has met with some of the contenders for the Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement, The Associated Press has learned. The meetings took place in recent days, a person familiar with the search process said.

Trump praises military for keeping US ‘safe, strong, proud’

President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised the U.S. military for keeping America "safe, strong, proud, mighty and free" and used the Independence Day holiday to thank them for being willing to put their lives on the line in defense of the nation. "Two hundred and 42 years ago on July 4, 1776, America's founders adopted the Declaration of independence and changed the course of human history," said Trump, addressing hundreds of military families attending a holiday picnic from a balcony overlooking the lawn.

Trump praises military for keeping US ‘safe, strong, proud’ Source: AP

President Donald Trump on Wednesday praised the U.S. military for keeping America "safe, strong, proud, mighty and free" and used the Independence Day holiday to thank them for being willing to put their lives on the line in defense of the nation. "Two hundred and 42 years ago on July 4, 1776, America's founders adopted the Declaration of independence and changed the course of human history," said Trump, addressing hundreds of military families attending a holiday picnic from a balcony overlooking the lawn.

As Trump weighs options, Pence meets with court contenders

Vice-President Mike Pence has met with some of the contenders for the Supreme Court vacancy created by Justice Anthony Kennedy's retirement, The Associated Press has learned. The meetings took place in recent days, according to a person familiar with the search process.

Noem, Sutton support tax cuts after online sales tax ruling

South Dakota's two top candidates for governor are talking tax cuts rather than new spending after a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling in the state's favor that could yield millions of dollars in online sales taxes. Republican Kristi Noem's campaign said in a statement that she backs a current law that requires a 2016 sales tax hike for teacher pay be scaled back if the state collects from out-of-state online retailers.

US Supreme Court Justice receives lifetime award in Israel

U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg received a lifetime achievement award Wednesday from a prominent Jewish organization in Israel. Ginsburg cited Holocaust diarist Anne Frank among others in a speech at a ceremony in Tel Aviv that touched on her fight for women's rights and quoted from Jewish traditions and history.

‘Our most fundamental values are under attack’: Democrats issue bleak July Fourth statement

While hailing the nation's founding ideal of equality for all, DNC chairman Tom Perez said in the statement, "we recognize that America's founding promise remains out of reach for too many families." Adding that "everywhere we look, our most fundamental values are under attack," Perez referred to problems surrounding low-paying jobs, health care, immigration, injustice to people of color and members or the LGBTQ community, a recent Supreme Court decision on public unions, and the retirement of Justice Anthony Kennedy.

Trump meets with more Supreme Court candidates

President Donald Trump spoke with three more potential Supreme Court candidates on Tuesday as a key senator privately aired concerns about one of the contenders. As Trump weighs his options, he has heard from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has expressed reservations about one top potential nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, according to a person familiar with the call but not authorized to publicly disclose details of it.

Government no longer pushing schools to consider race in admissions

The Trump administration said the government would no longer encourage schools to use race as a factor in the admissions process, rescinding Obama-era guidance meant to promote diversity among students. The shift announced Tuesday gives colleges the federal government's blessing to leave race out of admissions and enrollment decisions and underscores the contentious politics that for decades have surrounded affirmation action policies, which have repeatedly been challenged before the Supreme Court.

3 more Supreme Court candidates meet with Trump

President Donald Trump spoke with three more potential Supreme Court candidates on Tuesday as a key senator privately aired concerns about one of the contenders. As Trump weighs his options, he has heard from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has expressed reservations about one top potential nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, according to a person familiar with the call but not authorized to publicly disclose details of it.

Supreme Court inaction means Congress must fix the nation’s dirty maps and dirty money.

The U.S. Supreme Court has left American democracy struggling under the weight of dirty maps and dirty money, so it's up to Congress and a loud, loud public to fix it. The court this month punted on the often-absurd "gerrymandering" that leads to unfair legislative and congressional district maps in many states.

Amid Supreme Court fight, desperate forces on the Left declare open season on the truth

"Just to state this," wrote Neera Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress, "Justice Kennedy's son gave a billion dollar loan to Trump when no one would give him a dime, and Justice Kennedy has been ruling in favor of the Trump Administration position for 2 years as the Court decides 5-4 case after 5-4 case." This was crazy conspiracy theory completely ungrounded in facts.

President Trump Talks to Three More Candidates to Fill Justice Kennedy’s Supreme Court Seat

President Donald Trump spoke with three more potential Supreme Court candidates on Tuesday as a key senator privately aired concerns about one of the contenders. As Trump weighs his options, he has heard from Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., who has expressed reservations about one top potential nominee, Brett Kavanaugh, according to a person familiar with the call but not authorized to publicly disclose details of it.