The News Diet
The News Diet
Senate agrees on mass shooting legislation, white supremacists arrested, Truth Social's censorship accusations, and the Tony Awards
The Senate’s newest agreement on legislation to tackle school shootings, the white supremacists arrested over the weekend, accusations of censorship at Truth Social, and the Tony Awards. Let’s be informed so we can get on with our day.
It’s Monday, June 13. Welcome to The News Diet, a healthier alternative for staying informed. I’m your host, Michele Carroll.
Today I’m going to talk about the Senate’s newest agreement on legislation to tackle school shootings, the white supremacists arrested over the weekend, accusations of censorship at Truth Social, and the Tony Awards.
Let’s be informed so we can get on with our day.
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Yesterday Senate negotiators announced that a bipartisan deal has been stuck after weeks of national outcry regarding the rise in mass shootings around the country. About a month ago we saw the Buffalo shooting that resulted in 10 deaths, and about 3 weeks ago the Uvalde shootings that left 21 dead, including 19 children.
Gun control is a notoriously contentious topic, especially for lawmakers, as the two sides disagree on the root cause of the issue. Gun rights advocates, and the vast majority of Republicans in Congress, tend to believe that societal and cultural issues are to blame, and gun control advocates, and the vast majority of Democrats in Congress, tend to believe that access to firearms is the problem.
Here, a bipartisan group of Republicans and Democrats have managed to come to an agreement on some terms that have already gained support by President Biden and enough members on both sides to likely get it passed. It calls for background checks to include juvenile and mental health records of buyers under the age of 21, funding for states to enact what are called red-flag laws which would allow authorities to confiscate guns from those considered dangerous, funding for mental health resources, and also funding for schools to invest in mental health services and safety standards. Also, it would expand a domestic abusers law, which would prohibit dating partners from owning guns if they’ve been convicted of domestic violence. As of now, this ban only applies to abusers in a marriage, or if the partners live together or parent a child together.
This proposal already has the support of 10 Republicans, which means that the Senate likely will have the 60 votes needed to pass it. This agreement doesn’t have much of the gun control measures included in last week’s House bill, which included raising the minimum age to purchase semiautomatic weapons to 21, banning magazines that could hold more that 15 rounds of ammunition, and also a federal red-flag law.
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/06/12/us/politics/senator-gun-safety-deal.html
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/nra-real-solutions-stop-violence-bipartisan-agreement-gun-framework
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On Saturday, in Idaho, 31 members of a white supremacist group called Patriot Front were arrested as they were in route to riot in the area’s downtown, as well as a park where a North Idaho Pride Alliance event was taking place. The members were packed inside a U-Haul truck and had with them riot gear, including a smoke grenade, shin guard, and shields. Authorities were tipped off by someone who saw them loading into the truck, and they were stopped soon after, nearby the pride event. According to documents found, almost all of the men came from out-of-state.
All 31 have been charged with the misdemeanor conspiracy to riot. They are schedule to be arraigned on Monday.
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Following the January 6 Committee’s first hearing regarding the capitol riot, Donald Trump’s social media platform has been accused of banning or suspending users posting about it. The committee’s months long investigation centers around Trump and his involvement, or lack thereof, in inciting the riots. The committee has begun to share its findings, where legal actions against the former president could be a possible outcome.
Well some users have shared screenshots of Truth Social notifications informing them of a suspension after posting about the hearings. Other users have claimed the same thing for posting that Joe Biden legitimately won the 2020 election, which Trump claims was fraudulent, and also for sharing a video from the hearings that shows Trump’s daughter, Ivanka Trump, agreeing to the lack of evidence to prove a stolen election.
These claims of censorship are particularly interesting considering that Truth Social was built around the principle of free speech. Trump claimed that the whole point of the platform was to offer a freer alternative to other social media apps that have been accused of censorship.
The company that owns Truth Social, Trump Media & Technology Group, has yet to respond to the claims.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/12/politics/january-6-committee-jared-kushner/index.html
https://www.businessinsider.com/truth-social-users-banned-jan-6-hearings-2022-6
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Yesterday was the 75th Tony Awards, honoring this year’s excellence in Broadway productions. It was held at New York’s Radio City Music Hall for the first time since before the pandemic. The show was hosted by actress Ariana DeBose.
The winner for best play went to “The Lehman Trilogy”, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role went to Simon Russell Beale in “The Lehman Trilogy”, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role went to Deirdre O’Connell in “Dana H.”, and Best Direction of a Play went to Sam Mendes also from “The Lehman Trilogy”.
https://www.cnn.com/2022/06/12/entertainment/tony-awards-2022-winners/index.html
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/tony-awards-2022-winners-nominees-how-to-watch/
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It’s Monday, June 13. And you’ve just been informed. Now it’s time to get on with your day. I’m Michele Carroll. Thanks so much for listening.
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