The GPR Digest - November 1, 2023
Judge strikes down Georgia's legislative districts, Rep. Mike Johnson elected Speaker, and more
GPR FEATURES
New Articles
The Diplomatic Dish: Popes, Pumpkins, and Paganism
Halloween has come and gone, but are you still wondering why pumpkins and Halloween are so closely related? In the newest article of our Diplomatic Dish column, Joshua Walker traces the tradition of pumpkin carving through Celtic folklore and Catholic assimilation of pagan cultures.
In the previous installment of Diplomatic Dish, Walker explores how the popular ciabatta loaf found its place in bakeries and at dinner tables due to cultural competition between France and Italy.
GEORGIA
Federal judge strikes down Georgia’s congressional districts, orders new maps to be drawn for 2024
According to an Atlanta-based federal judge, Georgia legislators violated (New York Times) the Voting Rights Act of 1965 and illegally diluted the votes of Black residents when they drew the state’s U.S. House, state Senate, and state House districts. Judge Steve Jones of the Northern District of Georgia ordered that the Georgia legislature draw up new districts that provide Black voters equal representation by December 8. Governor Brian Kemp called for a special session of the legislature on November 29 to create new congressional maps.
The ruling could lead (NPR) to the creation of a new U.S. House district in metro Atlanta that would narrow Republicans’ already slim majority in the House. New maps for statehouse districts may also shrink the Republican majorities in Georgia’s House and Senate.
State Supreme Court upholds six-week abortion ban
Georgia’s highest court reversed (CNN) an earlier ruling by a lower court that voided certain sections of the LIFE Act. The LIFE Act, passed in 2019, bans abortion after the detection of early cardiac activity, which can occur as early as six weeks after conception.
The case’s plaintiffs additionally challenge the LIFE Act on the grounds of violating the due-process and equal-protection clauses of the Georgia State Constitution. The Supreme Court did not rule on these challenges and instead referred them back to a lower trial court.
NATIONAL
Rep. Mike Johnson elected Speaker of the House
After several weeks of deadlock, infighting, and failed candidacies among House Republicans, Representative Mike Johnson (R-LA) was elected (AP) as Speaker of the House last Wednesday. Johnson won unanimous Republican support on the first ballot, a feat the previous three nominees could not achieve. Johnson served as a minor leader in the GOP caucus and was relatively unknown until his elevation as Republican nominee for Speaker. He represents (NBC) a deep red district in the northwest of Louisiana and was first elected in 2016.
Johnson is a hard-line conservative and close ally of President Donald Trump. He strongly opposes access to abortion, voted against last year’s codification of same-sex marriage, and co-sponsored legislation that would criminalize providing gender-affirming care to minors. Johnson also was a leader in the effort to overturn the results of the 2020 election, creating an amicus brief in support of Texas’s efforts to overturn the election results in key swing states in the case Texas v. Pennsylvania. He, along with 146 other Republicans, voted against certifying the results of President Biden’s electoral victory.
After Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s ouster as Speaker, the House of Representatives was unable to consider any other legislation until a new Speaker was elected. Now that the chamber has a Speaker, the House can consider matters such as renewed aid for Ukraine and Israel and funding the federal government. The federal government will run out of funding in just over two weeks, on November 17, and will be forced to shut down without the approval of new funding bills by the House.
Mass shooting in Maine
Last Wednesday, Robert Card, a petroleum supply specialist in the army reserve, opened fire at a bowling alley and restaurant in Lewiston, Maine, killing 18 and injuring 13 others. The police were alerted (AP News) a month ago to be on the lookout for Card after he made threats against his national guard base and fellow soldiers.
The Lewiston shooting comes amidst growing outcries for stricter gun laws in the United States. As the number of mass shootings in the country tops 500, several lawmakers, including Rep. Jared Golden (D-ME), a previous opponent of gun control, are calling for a ban on assault-style weapons.
UAW reaches deals with Big 3 automakers, ending six-week strike
The United Auto Workers union reached (NPR) contract agreements with Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors, bringing the six-week long strike against the three largest American automakers to a close. Workers will receive (AP) a 25% pay increase, as well as cost-of-living adjustments that will bring the total raise to over 30%. The deal additionally brings workers (Detroit News) at part and battery plants owned by the auto manufacturers into the union, and ends the “two-tier system” in which groups of workers performing the same job receive different levels of pay.
As of now, the agreements between the union and Big 3 are tentative and must be approved by a majority vote of the UAW’s members. If rank-and-file members reject the deals, the strikes may resume.
INTERNATIONAL
Populist Robert Fico appointed Prime Minister of Slovakia, halting aid for Ukraine
Left-wing populist Robert Fico was appointed (Reuters) as the Prime Minister of Slovakia after his social-democratic party won the September 30 general election and formed a coalition with nationalist and center-left parties. Fico previously served as Prime Minister from 2006 to 2010, and 2012 to 2018. He resigned in 2018 after mass protests against corruption.
During his campaign, Fico strongly criticized sanctions on Russia, military aid to its neighbor Ukraine, the European Union, and migrants. He has commended right-wing populist Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, whom outside observers have accused of democratic backsliding, as an example of leadership. As prime minister, Fico has already terminated (New York Times) all military aid to Ukraine, making Slovakia the first nation to end previously pledged military support for Ukraine.
Hurricane Otis batters Mexico’s Pacific Coast leaving at least 48 dead
Hurricane Otis, a Category 5 storm, made landfall (CBS) in Acapulco, Mexico late last week. The powerful storm left at least 48 people dead and another 50 missing. The city of almost 1 million people received close to a foot of rain and sustained winds of up to 165 miles per hour.
Otis was the strongest hurricane to hit the popular tourist region in history, causing an estimated $15 billion in damages. There are several ongoing initiatives (CNN) to provide aid to those still without necessities.
Israel launches ground offensive into Gaza
After several weeks of waiting, Israeli troops entered (Washington Post) the Gaza Strip, beginning Israel’s ground invasion of Gaza. The ground operations came after multiple weeks of airstrikes into the densely populated region that left over 7,000 dead, according to the Health Ministry of Gaza, and at least 25% of all buildings damaged or destroyed (New York Times).
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu dismissed (CNN) calls for a ceasefire, comparing Israel’s situation to the U.S.’s after Pearl Harbor and casting a ceasefire as a “surrender to terrorists.” Netanyahu also warned that the war with Hamas may be “long and difficult.”
CULTURE
Supreme Court of Japan rules against sterilization requirement for gender transitioning
Last week, Japan’s Supreme Court unanimously ruled (New York Times) that a requirement that transgender people be sterilized to legally change their gender identity is unconstitutional. The ruling amends Japan’s “Gender Identity Disorder Act,” which was passed in 2003 and creates a set of requirements for citizens to officially transition. In addition to sterilization, the law required transitioners to be over the age of 18 and unmarried, not have any children under the age of 18, receive gender dysphoria diagnoses from two different medical doctors, and undergo transition surgery.
The Supreme Court did not rule on the transition surgery requirement, which will be referred back to a lower court. The unnamed plaintiff expressed disappointment in the lack of ruling on the surgery requirement, stating that they still cannot change their gender even as the sterilization requirement is struck down.
Earlier this year, Japan’s Supreme Court ruled (Time) that it is illegal to prevent transgender individuals from using certain bathrooms. Still, Japan has been slow to recognize LGBT rights. Last month, more than 100 lawmakers of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) met with the justice minister to object to changes in the law on gender transitioning. Japan is the only nation (Reuters) in the Group of Seven that does not recognize same-sex unions, and the LDP opposes legalizing same-sex marriage.
Biden issues executive order regulating artificial intelligence
President Biden released a new executive order creating standards and regulations for the development and use of artificial intelligence (AI) on Monday. The order requires tech companies to conduct safety testing of AI models to ensure they cannot be used to create biological or nuclear weapons, creates guidance for watermarking for AI-generated content to prevent disinformation, and directs agencies to research the national security implications of AI.
The order also addresses the risk of increased discrimination due to AI in housing and the criminal justice system, creates resources for research into both AI and privacy technologies, and promotes the hiring of AI professionals. Later this week, Vice President Kamala Harris will attend (New York Times) an international summit on AI safety hosted by UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.