Biden Calls for Major Changes to the Supreme Court

What's Happening

Politics

Biden Calls for Major Changes to the Supreme Court

What's going on: Yesterday, President Biden proposed several reforms to the Supreme Court, warning that the court is “being used to weaponize an extreme and unchecked agenda.” At an event in Austin, Texas, Biden suggested 18-year terms for justices to prevent any single president from having excessive influence on the judiciary. He urged Congress to establish enforceable ethics rules for the high court, similar to those for other federal judges, to address things like political activities and gifts. Biden also called for a constitutional amendment to eliminate blanket immunity for presidents, in response to a recent Supreme Court ruling. The proposals mark a major shift for Biden, who has been against reforming the Supreme Court for years.

What it means: With less than six months left in his term, Biden is trying to cement his 51-year political legacy. However, his plans aren’t expected to get very far in a divided Congress. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) called Biden’s proposals “dead on arrival.” Meanwhile, the constitutional amendment would require the states to get involved, which CNN reports would be nearly impossible to pull off. Even if the proposals don’t cross the finish line, Democrats hope Biden’s attempts will help rally voters — many of whom have an unfavorable view of the Supreme Court — in a close election. What are your thoughts on term limits? Check out our poll below to weigh in.

Related: All the Supreme Court Scandals That Led Biden To Back a Code of Conduct (Forbes)

International

World Leaders Cast Doubt on Venezuelan Election Results

What's going on: Thousands of people across Venezuela are protesting the results of the country’s presidential election. President Nicolás Maduro declared victory on Sunday, allegedly winning a third six-year term. The results came as a surprise to many Venezuelans (and world leaders) after polls showed challenger Edmundo González winning the election by 25 points, according to the Wall Street Journal. Not helping voter confidence: Officials delayed the vote tallies by several hours, prompting accusations of fraud. Opposition leaders said they have proof González has more votes than Maduro and want the electoral authority to release the voting results.

What it means: At least nine Latin American governments called for a full audit of the voting data, with some leaders saying they won’t accept the results until they’re verified. The US has also cast doubt on the election results. Meanwhile, the situation could prolong Venezuela’s economic crisis, which has already led nearly 8 million people to migrate under Maduro’s rule. It also reinforces the Biden administration’s decision in March to reinstate oil sanctions on Venezuela after it found that Maduro’s government failed to deliver on promises of holding free and fair elections.

Related: Could the US Oil Ban on Venezuela Affect Gas Prices? (USA Today)

Health

A New Report Suggest Doctors Might Be Over-Diagnosing Tongue-Tie

What's going on: The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released a report that suggests doctors might be too quick to turn to surgery when treating tongue-tie in infants struggling with breastfeeding. It’s a condition that happens when there is a tight or short piece of tissue that ties an infant’s tongue to the bottom of their mouth. Dentists are increasingly using medical lasers to cut the tissue, which can cost $800 or more. Experts estimate more than 100,000 infants may undergo these surgeries each year, though there’s no precise count. The AAP report cites a study showing that fewer than half of children diagnosed with tongue-tie have breastfeeding difficulties.

What it means: Those early breastfeeding days can be challenging for a number of reasons like latching pain or sore breasts. The academy’s report encourages pediatricians to look into nonsurgical options first and recommends parents work with lactation specialists or feeding therapists to find less invasive methods. Still, that’s not a luxury everyone can afford or that insurance policies always cover. Some advocates suggest that tongue-tie release surgeries help with future problems like sleep apnea and speech delays.

Related: Everything You Need To Know About Breastfeeding (theSkimm)

Quick Hits

🙄 A sports commentator made a sexist remark about female Olympians. Guess what happened next.

🌹 We just know the Golden Bachelorette is going to keep things interesting after watching this teaser.

🤔 Chipotle is getting into the...beauty business.

🏅 The internet can’t stop talking about “Bob the Cap Catcher” and Team USA’s Clark Kent.

👀 Wait, did Ballerina Farm seemingly respond to her critics?

Stop taping your face before bed. There’s an easier way to prevent wrinkles — and Skimm’rs get 20% off.*

Extra Credit

Thanks to the Olympics, viewers are getting to know the world’s greatest athletes and their inspiring journeys. But there’s another athlete — who isn’t competing at the Games — that you should know. Her name is Lhakpa Sherpa and Mountain Queen: The Summits of Lhakpa Sherpa tells her story. The single mother — who works at a Whole Foods in Connecticut — holds the world record for summiting and descending Mount Everest the most times by a woman. Not only does the Netflix documentary capture Sherpa’s tenacity for scaling mountains (sometimes, in dangerous weather conditions) as she embarks on her 10th climb, but the “dazzling footage” also captures Sherpa’s ability to overcome personal challenges, be it her childhood in rural Nepal or an abusive marriage. And while Sherpa’s physical strength is no doubt impressive, it’s her continued perseverance — in spite of a lifetime of hardship — that makes the film worth watching.

Tell Us

President Biden announced that he will propose 18-year term limits and enforceable ethics codes on the Supreme Court. Do you think there should be term limits for Supreme Court justices?

Game Time

Start your Tuesday off right with Typeshift, a fun new game that challenges you to create words from a set number of letters. Warning: It’s very addicting. Start playing.