Senate Standoff Impacting Military Leadership, Families

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Good morning everyone,

Scientists think they’ve found key evidence that the world officially entered a new epoch, called the Anthropocene.

Earth's 4.6 billion year history is divided into these epochs, each of which typically spans millions of years. Researchers say for the first time, humans, not natural causes like an asteroid, pushed Earth into this new phase.

The newest epoch began in 1950, the start of the era of nuclear weapons tests. The geochemical traces of the weapons have been found around the world.

Ok humanity. Might be time to slow our roll—

Mosheh, Jill, & Courtney

🗞 SENATE STANDOFF LEAVES MARINE CORPS WITHOUT A LEADER

For the first time in 164 years, the U.S. Marine Corps is without a Senate-confirmed leader, and all senior military promotions are on hold.

WHAT’S THIS ABOUT?
Republican Senator Tommy Tuberville of Alabama is leading a months-long blockade on hundreds military promotions to protest Pentagon abortion access policies.

The Pentagon announced a new policy last year offering paid time off and travel reimbursement for service members who cross state lines to get an abortion. It came after several states banned the procedure following last year’s Supreme Court decision, preventing service members on bases in those states from access to abortion. Tuberville believes the policy violates the Hyde amendment, a federal law which prohibits federal funds from paying for abortions.

A long-standing Senate rule allows one member to hold up nominations, which are typically not controversial, and approved in large batches by unanimous consent. Tuberville says he’ll only lift the block if the policy is formalized into law or dropped completely. Neither is likely in the short-term.

One alternative is for the US Senate to take up each nomination individually– but that could take months, and Democrats also don’t want to reinforce Tuberville’s strategy.

THE IMPACT
Top U.S. military leaders are raising alarm bells that the delay is impacting readiness and morale. Along with the commandant of the Marine Corps, more than 250 senior promotions are pending on the Senate floor. That number could reach 650 by the end of the year.

Now-former Marine Commandant Gen. David Berger had his “relinquishment of command” ceremony, which ended his four year term, without formally handing the position. His successor, Gen. Eric M. Smith, can only take over as acting commandant. Until he is confirmed, he will not be able to issue planning guidance, which is traditional for the new leader.

This isn’t a minor role. The commandant oversees the Marine Corps as its highest-ranking officer, a four-star general, and serves as a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

Berger is the first of four members of the Joint Chiefs of Staff who will retire this year. With the hold in place, the leaders of the Army, Navy and Marines, along with the chair, will have no confirmed successor to replace them.

REACTION

• Gen. David Berger, Smith’s predecessor, said that “we need the Senate to do their job so that we can have a sitting commandant appointed and confirmed. We need that house to be occupied.” 

• Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said that "smooth and timely transitions" are central to "the full strength of the most powerful fighting force in history."

• Defense Department spokesperson Singh told reporters that the hold is leaving a "huge impact" across the force: “Some officers are being asked to delay their retirement, to assume higher duties without higher pay or to force their families into logistical nightmares as they remain in relocation limbo.”

• Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) is among several top Republicans who say they don’t agree that Tuberville’s strategy is the best way to effect a policy change.

• Though, Tuberville has gotten backing from a number of pro-life groups and conservative organizations who are applauding him for taking a stand against the abortion policy.

TUBERVILLE STANDS HIS GROUND
The Alabama Senator appeared on CNN Monday, and insisted that he does not think his blockade is impacting military readiness or recruiting.

MO NEWS COMMUNITY REACTS
Our inbox was flooded with comments from military families. Nearly every message talked about how this political move is negatively impacting their lives. Here are a few:

CONTACT YOUR SENATOR:
If you feel strongly about Tuberville’s actions— for or against— you can contact his office HERE.

You can also contact the US Senators from your home state to express your views about what should happen next.

⏳ SPEED READ

🚨 NATION

📌 Catastrophic flooding swamps Vermont’s capital as intense storms force evacuations, rescues and closures in the Northeast (CNN)

📌 American students’ progress in school “backslid” last year. Despite billions in federal aid spent to help make up for pandemic learning loss, students are not making up lost ground in reading and math spurred by pandemic school closures (NEW YORK TIMES)

📌 Idaho sued over law making it a crime to help minors get abortions without parental consent (U.S. NEWS & WORLD REPORT)

📌 Disgraced Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes gets 11-year prison sentence shortened (NBC)

🌎 AROUND THE WORLD

📌 Iran is on a hacking spree. The reason why may be ominous. (SEMAFOR)

📌 South Africans marvel at snow and sleet in Johannesburg during cold snap (BBC)

📌 Israelis block highways and throng airport to protest the government’s plan to overhaul the country’s judiciary system (AP)

💵 BUSINESS & TECH

📌 Bank of America fined a total of $250 million for consumer abuses including fake accounts, bogus fees. (CNBC)

📌 Europe is probing whether Ozempic use raises risk of suicidal thoughts.(WSJ)

📌 Microsoft cleared to buy Activision in US as UK pauses fight (BLOOMBERG)

🎥 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT

📌 Meet all 23 US Women who will be playing in the World Cup starting next week (ESPN)

📌 Peak TV Has Peaked: From exhausted talent to massive losses, the writers strike magnifies an industry in freefall (VARIETY)

📌 Four pages found in a couch are ruled to be Aretha Franklin’s true will (NY TIMES)

🗓 ON THIS DAY: JULY 12

• 1984: Democratic presidential candidate Walter Mondale picks Geraldine Ferraro as his running mate, making her the first woman ever successfully nominated for VP by a major U.S. political party. Sarah Palin and Kamala Harris would follow in 2008 and 2020.

• 1976: The TV game show Family Feud began airing on ABC. Steve Harvey is the latest host, as the program is about to turn 50 years old.

• 2003: Beyonce’s ‘Crazy in Love’ reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100. The hit featured her then-boyfriend Jay Z, and won a Grammy for best R&B song.