The Real Trouble With Mexico's Judicial Overhaul

This truth defies any sugarcoating: Every alarming article you may have read about the consequences of Mexico's decision to elect its judiciary, in a vote that took place on Sunday, is essentially accurate. This was a capricious exercise designed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to radically change Mexico's justice system after the courts ruled against the government in several instances of his mandate, which ended in September.
In the last months of his presidency, the septuagenarian leader known as AMLO channeled his inner tech bro and decided to move fast and break things — i.e, the judiciary: Half the country's judges would be replaced, starting with the Supreme Court, and an oversight body would be created to make sure judges don't deviate from their mandates. The remaining half will be changed in 2027. No real effort was made for a serious, well-thought reform to tackle the undeniable shortcomings of a judicial system that wasn't particularly helpful to Mexicans; everything would have to be done at maximum speed, no questions asked please.

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Chicago Tribune

an hour ago

• Chicago Tribune

Northwest Indiana LGBTQ+ community celebrates Pride Month with resilience, caution

The first day of June was 'such a breath of fresh air,' as Pride Month kicked off amid President Donald Trump's second term, said Leah Peksenak, president of NWI Pridefest Inc. 'It's been such a stressful year, stressful since last November, and it was just so nice to take a second and prioritize joy for a little bit. Even though it's not like you forget all of the things that are happening and what's at stake, not just for LGBT people but for so many vulnerable communities, but it is nice to just take a second and say joy is itself a revolutionary thing,' Peksenak said. Trump has taken action against the LGBTQ+ community in many ways, like signing an executive order stating that the U.S. only recognizes two genders, a transgender servicemember military ban, and banning transgender athletes from collegiate sports. The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday to uphold Tennessee's ban on gender-affirming care for transgender minors. The court's 6-3 decision effectively prevents legal challenges to efforts by Trump's administration and state governments to roll back protections for transgender people, as 26 other states have laws similar to Tennessee's. Indiana Lieutenant Governor Micah Beckwith called Pride Month a 'rainbow beast' on social media and how it's coming for children. Beckwith's words depicting the LGBTQ+ community as predators give people permission to violently target the members of that community, Peksenak said. 'Nobody cares what happens to predators. Nobody cares what happens to pedophiles. So if you tell people, 'oh these people are targeting children, they are harming children, they are a beast that's coming for your kid,' some unstable person is going to hear that as a mandate to do something about it. That's frightening,' Peksenak said. Jeremy Gregson, the entertainment director for NWI Pridefest Inc., said entering Pride Month was nerve-wrecking this year, especially as the organization planned its second annual pride festival in Lake Station earlier this month. The organization took extra precautions this year, he said. 'There was a heightened sense of security,' Gregson said. 'There was some nervousness, some anxiety. But for my community, I had to step up. I had to show, on my face, that there was no anxiety because others feed off that.' The organization raised about $12,000 for Indiana Youth Group over the course of the two-day festival, Peksenak said. But, there was a bit of a challenge securing organizations to be vendors for this year's festival because so many organizations are stretched thin supporting marginalized communities targeted by the federal government, Peksenak said. 'It's like we're at empathy capacity right now because there's so many areas to care about and focus on,' Peksenak said. The actions against the LGBTQ+ community by the Trump administration are disheartening, but the community will continue to fight for rights and access, Gregson said. 'It makes me sick that we're going backwards instead of going forward,' Gregson said. Earlier this month, Southern Baptist delegates at their national meeting overwhelmingly endorsed a ban on same-sex marriage — including a call for a reversal of the U.S. Supreme Court's 10-year-old precedent legalizing it nationwide. The wide-ranging resolution doesn't use the word ban, but it left no room for legal same-sex marriage in calling for the 'overturning of laws and court rulings, including Obergefell v. Hodges, that defy God's design for marriage and family.' Further, the resolution affirmatively calls 'for laws that affirm marriage between one man and one woman.' Gregson said the church's endorsement scares him because he's currently engaged. 'My wonderful fiancé has already stated no man is ever going to stop him and I from being happily ever after,' Gregson said. 'I would hope that the Supreme Court would never want to hear the case again. But knowing who is sitting on the Supreme Court, could it be likely they would? Maybe.' If the Supreme Court did hear the case, Gregson said the LGBTQ+ community would hit the streets and the intensity would likely be that of the Stonewall Riots in 1969, where protestors and police clashed after police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar, in New York City. The riots were a catalyst for the gay rights movement throughout the world. Regardless of the Supreme Court's potential action, Gregson said he will be with his partner. 'He's mine. I'm his. No judgment is going to make me not be with the man I love,' Gregson said. 'I think the Supreme Court sees it as we're human, and at the end of the day that's all we want to be treated like.' Peksenak, who is also a reverend at Marquette Park United Methodist Church and Hobart First United Methodist Church, said both parishes have people who support and oppose the Trump Administration. Similarly, Peksenak said she's aware that not all parishioners support her involvement in LGBTQ+ activism. When she preaches, Peksenak said she tries her best to speak to different situations in life, different scripture passages to avoid being 'a one note.' But, she said she also focuses on not compromising her beliefs and values. Peksenak said she tells parishioners that she doesn't have more access to God than they do, and that they can disagree with her. But, she said at the end of the day, Peksenak said as the spiritual leader of the church she has to stick to her convictions and speak to Biblical and current events. At its core, Peksenak said the church is following someone who was executed by the state for speaking his mind and supporting oppressed people. So the church has an obligation to follow that path, she said. 'I have been adamant in my stance that I understand that it might be uncomfortable when we talk about LGBT issues, I understand that it might be uncomfortable if immigration is mentioned in a sermon, but to preach a message that doesn't have anything to do with what's happening in the world today is pointless,' Peksenak said. With increased political and social attacks on the LGTBQ+ community, Peksenak said it's important that people show support for the community. 'The more that powerful people spew hate, that increases our mandate to love and love loudly. It becomes even more urgent that we go out of our way to do as much good as we can, to love and care for and protect this community.' Peksenak said.

Bloomberg

2 hours ago

• Bloomberg

Romania Heads for Broad Ruling Coalition After Months of Turmoil

Romania is heading toward a broad coalition government to tackle the European Union's biggest budget shortfall after the largest pro-European party voted to join the cabinet of Prime Minister-designate Ilie Bolojan. The Social Democrats, which control most seats in parliament, overwhelmingly voted on Saturday to form a new majority with Bolojan's Liberals and two other smaller parties. The new coalition will control more than 60% of the legislature, leaving far-right parties as the main opposition.

Yahoo

3 hours ago

• Yahoo

Republicans 'protect' kids by banning gender-affirming care. What about guns?

Editor's note: Letters to the editor reflect the views of individual readers. Scroll to see how you can add your voice, whether you agree or disagree, or click on this link to fill out the form. We welcome diverse viewpoints. There seems to be no limit to the growing Republican capacity for dishonesty and hypocrisy. They are all for "freedom" for almost any citizen to carry the AR-15 (which received glowing reviews in Vietnam for its lethality). Yet, if someone wants freedom Republicans interpret as "sexual," they're perceived as being "all in your face." Opinion: Tennesseans have different views on guns, but here's how we know solutions are possible Republicans claim they are "protecting" kids who are bullied and ostracized daily — by further ostracizing them. But protect them from a flood of firearms? Don't bother to General Skrmetti and Governor Bill Lee are slapping each other's backs because our Supreme "Free Vacations!" Court let them deny healthcare to trans kids. Yet the same kinds of healthcare are available to heterosexual kids if they "identify" as the right kind of person. The 'genital mutilation surgery' for minors was a scare tactic; it never happened. However, heterosexual girls can get breast surgeries with parental consent. You know, to help with their "identity." Any heterosexual kid can, for different conditions, get the same drugs that are part of gender-affirming care. This is a clear "equal protection" violation, proving the Supreme Court's right-wingers are actively biased. Republicans love to talk about "common sense," which is really just "things we've never questioned." Opinion: Tennessee Republicans can't run on their record. They're running against reality Biology shows that genetic and hormonal variations exist beyond the male/female division, despite "common sense." These variations expose the bigotry hidden behind the simplistic gender definitions that allow Skrmetti and Lee to comfortably deny the experts — and Carls, Nashville 37221 Agree or disagree? Or have a view on another topic entirely? Send a letter of 250 words or fewer to letters@ Include your full name, city/town, ZIP and contact information for verification. Thanks for adding to the public conversation. This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Protect kids by banning guns, not trans youth healthcare | Letters