JD Vance's half-brother advances in Cincinnati mayor's race
The half-brother of Vice President Vance was projected to advance in Cincinnati's mayoral primary, setting up a long-shot bid to oust incumbent Democratic Mayor Aftab Pureval, according to Decision Desk HQ.
Cory Bowman, who is a pastor and local coffee shop owner, moved on in the top-two nonpartisan primary election on Tuesday that also included Pureval and another Republican, Brian Frank. In the city's primary, all candidates compete on the same ballot regardless of party and the two highest vote-getters move on to the general election in November.
Pureval advancing was almost a certainty in the heavily left-leaning city, but who his opponent would be in the general election was up in the air.
Vance sought to rally support for Bowman's campaign in a post on X earlier on Tuesday, calling him a 'good guy with a heart for serving his community.'
'Get out there and vote for him!' Vance said.
Bowman told The Cincinnati Enquirer in February that he spoke to his half-brother in the 'initial stages' of running and that Vance inspired him to seek public office.
Pureval, who has served since 2022 after easily winning his last election, will be the heavy favorite to be reelected to a second term in office. But Bowman has said he's prepared for an uphill battle for mayor.
Cincinnati hasn't had a Republican mayor in more than 50 years.
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Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
What to know about debate over protesters and ICE agents wearing masks amid immigration crackdowns
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Hamilton Spectator
an hour ago
- Hamilton Spectator
How covering your face became a constitutional matter: Mask debate tests free speech rights
CHICAGO (AP) — Many of the protesters who flooded the streets of Los Angeles to oppose President Donald Trump's immigration crackdown wore masks or other face coverings, drawing scorn from him. 'MASKS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED to be worn at protests,' Trump posted on his social media platform, adding that mask-wearing protesters should be arrested. Protesters and their supporters argue Trump's comments and repeated calls by the Republican president's allies to ban masks at protests are an attempt to stifle popular dissent. They also note a double standard at play: In Los Angeles and elsewhere, protesters were at times confronted by officers who had their faces covered. And some U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents have worn masks while carrying out high-profile raids in Los Angeles and other cities. All of which begs the question: Can something that covers your mouth protect free speech? Protesters say the answer is an emphatic yes. Several legal experts say it's only a matter of time before the issue returns to the courts. 'What do these people have to hide, and why?' Trump's post calling for a ban on masks came after immigration raids sparked protests , which included some reports of vandalism and violence toward police. 'What do these people have to hide, and why?' he asked on Truth Social on June 8. The next day, Trump raged against the anti-ICE protests, calling for the arrest of people in face masks. It's not a new idea. Legal experts and First Amendment advocates warn of a rising number of laws banning masks being wielded against protesters and their impacts on people's right to protest and privacy amid mounting surveillance. The legal question became even more complicated when Democratic lawmakers in California introduced legislation aiming to stop federal agents and local police officers from wearing face masks. That came amid concerns ICE agents were attempting to hide their identities and avoid accountability for potential misconduct. 'The recent federal operations in California have created an environment of profound terror,' state Sen. Scott Wiener said in a press release. Department of Homeland Security Assistant Secretary Tricia McLaughlin called the California bill 'despicable.' 'While ICE officers are being assaulted by rioters and having rocks and Molotov cocktails thrown at them, a sanctuary politician is trying to outlaw officers wearing masks to protect themselves from being doxed and targeted by known and suspected terrorist sympathizers,' McLaughlin said in a statement. State restrictions on mask-wearing At least 18 states and Washington, D.C., have laws that restrict masks and other face coverings, said Elly Page, senior legal adviser with the International Center for Not-For-Profit Law. Since October 2023, at least 16 bills have been introduced in eight states and Congress to restrict masks at protests, the center says. The laws aren't just remnants of the coronavirus pandemic. Many date back to the 1940s and '50s, when many states passed anti-mask laws as a response to the Ku Klux Klan, whose members hid their identities while terrorizing victims. Amid protests against the war in Gaza and Trump's immigration policies , Page said there have been attempts to revive these rarely used laws to target protesters. Page also raised concerns about the laws being enforced inconsistently and only against movements the federal government doesn't like. In May, North Carolina Senate Republicans passed a plan to repeal a pandemic-era law that allowed the wearing of masks in public for health reasons, a move spurred in part by demonstrations against the war in Gaza where some protesters wore masks. The suburban New York county of Nassau passed legislation in August to ban wearing masks in public. Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost, a Republican, last month sent a letter to the state's public universities stating protesters could be charged with a felony under the state's anti-mask law. Administrators at the University of North Carolina have warned protesters that wearing masks violates the state's anti-mask law, and University of Florida students arrested during a protest were charged with wearing masks in public. An unresolved First Amendment question People may want to cover their faces while protesting for a variety of reasons, including to protect their health, for religious reasons, to avoid government retaliation, to prevent surveillance and doxing, or to protect themselves from tear gas, said Tim Zick, law professor at William and Mary Law School. 'Protecting protesters' ability to wear masks is part of protecting our First Amendment right to peacefully protest,' Zick said. Geoffrey Stone, a University of Chicago law professor, said the federal government and Republican state lawmakers assert that the laws are intended not to restrict speech but to 'restrict unlawful conduct that people would be more likely to engage in if they can wear masks and that would make it more difficult for law enforcement to investigate if people are wearing masks.' Conversely, he said, First Amendment advocates oppose such laws because they deter people from protesting if they fear retaliation. Stone said the issue is an 'unresolved First Amendment question' that has yet to be addressed by the U.S. Supreme Court , but the court 'has made clear that there is a right to anonymity protected by the First Amendment.' Few of these laws have been challenged in court, Stone said. And lower-court decisions on mask bans are mixed, though several courts have struck down broader anti-mask laws for criminalizing peaceful expression. Aaron Terr, director of public advocacy at the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression, said the right to speak anonymously has 'deep roots in the nation's founding, including when anonymous pamphlets criticizing British rule circulated in the colonies.' Federal agents wearing masks 'The right to speak anonymously allows Americans to express dissenting or unpopular opinions without exposing themselves to retaliation or harassment from the government,' Terr said. First Amendment advocacy groups and Democratic lawmakers have called the masks an attempt by ICE agents to escape accountability and intimidate immigrants. During a June 12 congressional hearing, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, a Democrat, criticized ICE agents wearing masks during raids, saying: 'Don't wear masks. Identify who you are.' Viral videos appeared to show residents of Martha's Vineyard in Massachusetts confronting federal agents , asking them to identify themselves and explain why they were wearing masks. U.S. Rep. Bill Keating, a Democrat who represents Cape Cod, decried 'the decision to use unmarked vehicles, plain clothed officers and masks' in a June 2 letter to federal officials. Republican federal officials, meanwhile, have maintained that masks protect agents from doxing. 'I'm sorry if people are offended by them wearing masks, but I'm not going to let my officers and agents go out there and put their lives on the line and their family on the line because people don't like what immigration enforcement is,' ICE acting Director Todd Lyons said. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Politico
an hour ago
- Politico
Mass. Dems make unlikely allies
'THIS IS INSANE' — President Donald Trump's unexpected announcement Saturday night that the United States had bombed three Iranian nuclear sites has some members of Massachusetts' all-Democratic congressional delegation doing something you don't see every day: calling for the passage of a Republican-backed resolution. 'This is insane,' Rep. Jim McGovern posted on X in the wake of the attacks. 'Trump just bombed Iran without Congressional approval, illegally dragging us into war in the Middle East. Have we not learned our lesson!?!?' he wrote, before urging his colleagues to 'return to Washington at once' to pass a measure proposed by Republican Rep. Thomas Massie of Kentucky that would block President Donald Trump from engaging in 'unauthorized hostilities' with Iran. McGovern and Rep. Ayanna Pressley were among the Democrats who threw their support behind the resolution early last week. And on Sunday, Rep. Stephen Lynch said he had joined the coalition supporting the bipartisan measure. It's unclear if there's enough support to approve the resolution. Massie was a rare Republican voice pushing back on Trump's decision to move forward with the strike over the weekend — and he's already earning threats of a primary challenge from Trump and his advisors for it. Other members from Massachusetts were also quick to decry the strikes as unconstitutional — including Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren, who both joined on a bill last week to try to head off U.S. involvement in the fighting without congressional approval, and Democratic Whip Katherine Clark. 'Only Congress can declare war — and the Senate must vote immediately to prevent another endless war,' Warren said. 'This is a horrific war of choice.' Rep. Jake Auchincloss struck a slightly subtler tone, calling for Iran to surrender its nuclear program and urging Congress to engage in a 'thorough debate on war-making.' Massachusetts is clear of threats related to the attack at the moment. Gov. Maura Healey said she was briefed by Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem 'about the heightened threat environment due to the ongoing conflict in Iran,' but details beyond that were scarce. 'While there are no specific threats to Massachusetts at this time, we are continuing to coordinate with state, local and federal partners to closely monitor the situation,' she said in a statement Sunday night. GOOD MONDAY MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Stay cool out there today! TODAY — Gov. Maura Healey and Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll meet with legislative leaders at 2 p.m. at the State House. Reps. Katherine Clark, Lori Trahan and Ayanna Pressley and Sen. 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Mariano has not faced a serious challenge to his leadership role during his two-plus terms.' — Secretary of State William Galvin has concerns about upcoming census by Matthew Medsgar and Chris Van Buskirk, Boston Herald: 'Massachusetts' secretary of state said he has some grave concerns about the accuracy of the next census thanks to mass retirements of officials and current immigration policies — something that could make or break congressional representation and federal funding. Though the next national population count isn't set to take place until 2030, Secretary William Galvin told the state Senate Census Committee that he's 'very concerned about the quality of those records' and the downstream consequences of getting that wrong.' — Lawmakers seek tougher penalties for 'upskirting' by Christian M. Wade, The Eagle-Tribune: 'Lawmakers want to toughen criminal penalties for a nearly decade-old law to punish suspects who are caught 'upskirting' or secretly recording people's private parts. A proposal being considered by a legislative committee would amend the state's 'upskirting' law to criminalize any secret recordings of a person's sexual or private parts, regardless of whether the victim is clothed or where the recording took place.' — Mass. considers scrapping religious exemptions for vaccinations by Angela Mathew, The Boston Globe. FROM THE 413 — State education department halts trustee appointments at Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School by Scott Merzbach, Daily Hampshire Gazette: 'A May 2 vote by trustees for the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School to add two new members is being temporarily nullified by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. 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He added even if the council voted down his budget, the city would still be chipping in the same since it was the minimum required contribution set by the state.' — What's in Weymouth's budget? by Jessica Trufant, The Patriot Ledger: 'The Weymouth Town Council has approved Mayor Robert Hedlund's proposed fiscal 2026 operating budget of $218.8 million, an increase of about 4% from this fiscal year's budget of $210 million. The new fiscal year starts July 1. Town Council President Michael Molisse praised Hedlund's administration on its work on the 'creative, solid budget.'' — Council approves FY 2026 budget after marathon meeting by Dave Rogers, The Newburyport Daily News. WHAT ELSE YOU SHOULD BE READING — As federal cuts loom, rental housing vouchers across Mass. are being put on hold by Andrew Brinker, The Boston Globe: 'In Massachusetts' brutal housing market, the wait for housing vouchers that help hundreds of thousands afford the state's sky-high rents can stretch as long as 15 years. Now, that wait may grow even longer. Most housing authorities in Massachusetts, including the state's housing office, have recently stopped issuing new Section 8 vouchers when tenants give them up. Some are closing waitlists — which can stretch tens of thousands of people long — to new applicants.' — As questions linger, family and school grieve for Boston 5-year-old killed in April bus crash by John Hilliard, The Boston Globe. HEARD 'ROUND THE BUBBLAH HAPPY BIRTHDAY — to Samuel O. Thier and Naomi Alson. Happy belated to Kaitlyn Solares of Attorney General Andrea Campbell's office, who celebrated Sunday.
