A Big Week for Courts — Thursday, September 8

Show Notes

Today, we’re covering big decisions by courts across the country and around the world.

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The world moves fast. Daybreak keeps you up-to-date.

Enjoy everything you need to know to stay informed — on campus and off — in this digestible, efficient podcast. Daybreak is produced by Maya Mukherjee '27, Twyla Colburn '27, Sheryl Xue '28 under the 149th Managing Board of The Daily Princetonian. The theme music was composed and performed by Ed Horan, and the cover art is by Mark Dodici.

Title: A Big Week for Courts — Thursday, September 8

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Opener: For the Daily Princetonian, I’m Hope Perry. You’re listening to Daybreak.

Intro: Today, we’re covering big decisions by courts across the country and around the world.

Tag: It’s Thursday, September 8.

Body:

Yesterday, a federal judge in Texas ruled that a section of the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. The provision that was overturned by the court required companies to provide coverage of HIV-preventative drugs for free. Judge Reed O’Connor ruled that the provision violated the religious freedom of Braidwood Management, a Christian-owned company.

In Washington, D.C., Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, a New York Democrat, announced yesterday that the Senate would be bringing a bill codifying same-sex marriage to the Senate floor in the coming weeks. The bill is sponsored by a bipartisan pair of Senators — Republican Susan Collins of Maine and Democrat Senator Tammy Baldwin of Michigan. The House passed a bill codifying same-sex marriage in July with some bipartisan support; it’s not yet clear exactly how many Senate Republicans support it, and whether the bill can meet the 60-vote threshold to pass.

Yesterday, in Michigan, a judge struck down a 1931 abortion law that criminalized abortion, saying that it violated the state’s constitution. Simultaneously, the Michigan Supreme Court must decide by tomorrow whether to add an amendment codifying abortion to November’s ballot.

In international news, as winter approaches, the European Union has introduced plans for a price cap on Russian gas. Russian president Vladimir Putin has previously threatened to cut off fuel supplies to Europe, with Reuters reporting that he compared Europe’s fate to a “ frozen like [the] wolf’s tail” from a Russian fairy tale.

Earlier this week, Kenya’s Supreme Court unanimously upheld the outcome of the August 9th presidential election, ensuring Deputy President WIlliam Ruto’s victory over opponent Raila Odinga. The judges completely dismissed Odinga’s case, with the BBC reporting that the judges referred to the legal action as “a wild goose chase” for the court.

Weather: It’s going to be warmer today — partly cloudy with highs in the low 80s.

Tag: That’s all for Daybreak today.

Closer: Today’s episode was written by me, sound engineered by me, and produced under the 146th managing board of the ‘Prince.’ Our theme was composed by Ed Horan, Class ’22, and our show was started by Mark Dodici, Class of ’22. For the Daily Princetonian, I’m Hope Perry. Have a wonderful day.

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