The Daily Populous

Tuesday May 17th, 2022 night edition

image for Supreme Court sides with Ted Cruz, striking down cap on use of campaign funds to repay personal campaign loans

Washington (CNN) The Supreme Court on Monday ruled in favor of Republican Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas in a case involving the use of campaign funds to repay personal campaign loans, dealing the latest blow to campaign finance regulations.

The court said that a federal cap on candidates using political contributions after an election to recoup personal loans made to their campaign was unconstitutional.

"In striking down the law today," she wrote, "the Court greenlights all the sordid bargains Congress thought right to stop. . . .

In allowing those payments to go forward unrestrained, today's decision can only bring this country's political system into further disrepute.".

At oral arguments at the Supreme Court, the conservative justices seemed skeptical of the government's claims that the law serves a purpose of fighting corruption.

While He could have been repaid in full by campaign funds if the repayment occurred 20 days after the election.

"But it seems to be more of a death by a thousand cuts instead of a body blow.". »

Lebanon is in political crisis. Sunday’s elections won’t change that.

Authored by vox.com
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Sunday’s turnout within Lebanon could top 60 percent, a 10 percent increase over the numbers in 2018’s parliamentary elections.

Because Lebanon’s economic issues are so deeply intertwined with the widely-acknowledged corruption of the political elites, the status quo can’t change until the political institutions do.

No one election will make the sweeping change that Lebanon needs and that the Lebanese people have been demanding for years now. »

Turkey says it will not approve Sweden and Finland joining Nato

Authored by theguardian.com
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“We will not say yes to those [countries] that apply sanctions to Turkey to join the security organisation Nato,” Erdoğan said.

Sweden was “leaving one era behind us and entering a new one”, she said.

The Finnish government confirmed its intention to join Nato on Sunday, shortly before Andersson’s ruling Social Democrats abandoned 73 years of opposition to the idea. »

Plot to Blow Up Democratic Headquarters Exposed California Extremists Hiding in Plain Sight

Authored by kqed.org
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Screenshots of a now defunct private Facebook group for Bay Area members showed Copeland as a member.

But there’s nothing illegal about socializing with members of a so-called “prepper group,” purchasing tactical equipment and believing the government should be overthrown.

All told, officers collected 54 guns — including eight assault weapons considered illegal in California, according to the Napa County District Attorney. »