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Congressman uses spotlight to focus on working families — California congressman Jimmy Gomez attracted a lot of attention with his four month-old son, Hodge, strapped to his chest during days of votes to choose a House speaker. But he was perplexed that some people responded as if he belonged on a pedestal simply because he was a father —…

Legal, regulatory, and legislative fights over pills ramp up — After achieving its goal to end the federal right to abortion, the anti-abortion movement is torn about next steps. Some activists want to allow more exceptions in state abortion bans. Some want a focus on programs to help care for children. Others threaten to make even birth control illegal. What…

Another reason to question a court losing public support — Who leaked to Politico the U.S. Supreme Court’s draft opinion ending a federal right to abortion was never as intriguing as why it was done. …

Coverage of House speaker votes engaged public — Public fascination of the 15 roll-call votes for House speaker was enhanced by C-Span cameras with a rare chance to film exactly what was happening. Instead of just wide shots and spotlights on speakers, viewers saw close-up human interaction: frustration, anger, collegiality and some showboating. The TV network, along with…

Hindsight takes me back to one memorable experience — Personal Finance guru Suze Orman suggests that our relationship with money is often shaped in childhood, sometimes by a traumatic event. She watched her father rush into his burning store to save the near-empty cash register, burning the skin off his arms as he clutched it. Now, that would definitely…

New budget includes closing Electoral College loopholes — Overshadowed by the transcripts released by the House Select Committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection, Congress recently took a key step to protect our democracy by approving the Presidential Election Reform Act. Included in the omnibus budget bill to ensure passage, the act replaces the Electoral Count Act of 1887…

Garland takes right stand; Congress must make it retroactive — Attorney General Merrick took a big step toward ending a long-term injustice when he told U.S. attorneys on Dec. 16 to end sentencing differences between crack and powder cocaine offenders. After decades of tougher penalties for crack, a cheaper rock form of the drug, Garland said that there is no…

Presidential hopefuls Youngkin, DeSantis have much to learn — Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, both considering 2024 presidential bids, are good at generating headlines for their plans to counter liberal cultural and policy issues. DeSantis provides denunciations or declarations monthly. Most recently, he has called for a grand jury to investigate the distribution and promotion…

It may not end challenges to same-sex marriage — The passage of the Respect for Marriage Act, to protect same-sex marriages and interracial marriages from discrimination, is definitely worth celebrating. Republican activists helped lobby to get enough votes to avoid a filibuster. Mainstream religious groups endorsed the legislation as essential to human dignity. …