The DC: SCOTUS rules states can curb 'faithless electors,' and... 🏫 Do you share Trump's concerns that schools teach kids to 'hate their country'?

Welcome to Tuesday, July 7th, teaspoons and tablespoons...

The Supreme Court on Monday unanimously ruled that states can punish members of the Electoral College who break a pledge to vote for the popular vote winner in their state, and invalidate the votes of faithless electors who go rogue.

The Court issued a 9-0 opinion in Chiafalo v. Washington and decided another case, Colorado Dept. of State v. Micheal Baca, on the same basis although Justice Sonia Sotomayor took no part in that decision.

"Today, we consider whether a State may also penalize an elector for breaking his pledge and voting for someone other than the presidential candidate who won his State's popular vote. We hold that a State may do so," Justice Elena Kagan wrote.

"The Constitution's text and the Nation's history both support allowing a State to enforce an elector's pledge to support his party's nominee - and the state voters' choice - for president," she added.

The cases concerned penalties imposed by the states of Colorado and Washington on faithless electors who voted against the winner of their states’ popular vote in the 2016 presidential election. 

In Peter Bret Chiafalo's case, as a member of Washington’s Electoral College delegation he was pledged to vote for Democratic ticket of Hillary Clinton and Tim Kaine but instead voted for Colin Powell (R-VA) and Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and was fined as a result. 

In Micheal Baca’s case, as a member of Colorado’s Electoral College delegation he too was pledged to vote for the Democratic ticket but instead voted for Gov. John Kasich (R-OH) and had his electoral vote invalidated.

How do you feel about the Court’s decision?

On the Radar

Trump: Public Schools Teach Kids to ‘Hate Their Own Country’

In his Fourth of July speech at Mount Rushmore, President Trump alleged that schools are teaching kids to “hate our country” with a “far-left fascism that demands absolute allegiance."

“Our nation is witnessing a merciless campaign to wipe out our history, defame our heroes, erase our values and indoctrinate our children,” Trump said to the crowd, blaming public schools for the civil rights protests across the country.

Demonstrators have toppled a number of statues - most notably those of Confederate soldiers and slaveholders - during protests following the killing of George Floyd.

"The violent mayhem we have seen in our streets and cities that are run by liberal Democrats in every case is the predictable result of years of extreme indoctrination and bias in education, journalism and other cultural institutions," Trump said.

"Against every law of society and nature, our children are taught in school to hate their own country and to believe that the men and women who built it weren't heroes but villains. The radical view of American history is a web of lies." 

Do you share Trump's concerns that ''our children are taught in school to hate their own country"?

Under the Radar

Do You Want to See Kanye On Your Ballot?

On Independence Day, music and fashion mogul Kanye West announced that he is running for president in a tweet:

"We must now realize the promise of America by trusting God, unifying our vision and building our future. I am running for president of the United States 🇺🇸! #2020VISION"

West’s announcement earned a quick and important endorsement via a quote retweet from his wife, media personality and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian West. 

While the deadline for independent presidential candidates to get on the ballot has already passed in a number of states, the couple has significant financial resources they could commit to meeting petition requirements in other states that, while challenging, aren’t insurmountable with a sufficient organization. According to Forbes, Kanye West has a net worth of $1.3 billion while Kim Kardashian West has a net worth of $900 million. 

Fellow billionaire Elon Musk tweeted that West has his “full support” while another billionaire who considered then ruled out an independent bid, Mark Cuban, said an organization he supports that helps third party and independent candidates with ballot access issues would assist West if called upon.  

Do you want to see Kanye on your 2020 ballot?

For a politics-free guide to how to protect you and your loved ones from corona, click on over to our Coronavirus Info Center.

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And, in the End…

On this date in 1946, Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini was canonized as the first American saint:

Partake in some cocoa bean on this World Chocolate Day,

—Josh Herman

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