Your Wednesday night briefing from the staff of Courthouse News
Top CNS stories for today including Attorney General William Barr told a Senate panel, without citing evidence, that he believes the government spied on the Trump campaign during its investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election; The House passed a bill to reinstate net-neutrality rules, though it is expected to be defeated in the Senate; Scientists unveiled the first ever photograph taken of a black hole, and more.
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National
1.) Attorney General William Barr told a Senate panel Wednesday, without citing evidence, that he believes the government spied on the Trump campaign during its investigation of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
2.) In a move already predicted to meet Senate defeat, the House passed a bill Wednesday to reinstate net-neutrality rules.
3.) When he last ran for president on a platform of health care as a human right, Senator Bernie Sanders espoused what had been a position from the margins — at least in the United States. On Wednesday, Sanders had at least four of his Democratic opponents co-sponsor his plan for Medicare for All.
4.) On the heels of announcing his plans for a presidential run, Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell of California focused on gun-law reforms at a town hall in Florida on Tuesday night, saying lawmakers wary of the National Rifle Association have done little to nothing to curb gun violence despite “mass shooting after mass shooting.”
5.) Analysts on both sides of the aisle agree: America is in crisis, brought on not by immigration or hate but by political contention.
6.) Executives from Facebook and Twitter defended their platforms Wednesday against claims they censor conservative voices, pointing to an internal study conducted this year showing posts by Republican and Democratic lawmakers were viewed at the same rate.
International
7.) The head of the European Central Bank warned that global friction over trade — such as U.S. threats to impose more tariffs — is holding back the economy as he underlined the bank’s readiness to deploy more stimulus if needed.
Science
8.) Unveiling the first ever photograph taken of a black hole, scientists celebrated a groundbreaking moment in astrophysics Wednesday morning.
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