On nuclear weapons, a new Supreme Court Justice, and worrisome sums of money.
Happening in the World: Satellite images have revealed construction activity around North Korea’s supposedly-demolished nuclear testing facility. While the North Korean administration has yet to comment on these claims, preliminary images show new buildings and heavy machinery. Analysts and global leaders worry that the country will resume nuclear explosives testing after claiming to have destroyed the site in 2018. (NBC)
Happening in the US: The Senate has confirmed President Biden’s Supreme Court Nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, making her the first Black woman to hold the title of Supreme Court Justice. Judge Jackson will replace Justice Stephen G. Breyer when he retires at the end of the court’s session this summer, making her a justice in waiting. Until then, Jackson plans to continue her work at the US Court of Appeals. (CNN)
Happening in NYC: New York Governor Kathy Hochul has formally announced the new $220 billion state budget deal that will make changes to the state’s controversial bail reforms, legalize to-go cocktails at restaurants, and reduce gas taxes. Having received federal aid from various COVID-19 relief packages, in addition to higher-than-expected tax revenues, the new budget reflects an $8 billion increase from the previous fiscal year. (Gothamist)
Happening in Our Community: Join the Center on Global Energy Policy as they host a student-only lunch and countable discussion with David Hill, CGEP Adjunct Research Scholar and former General Counsel of the U.S. Department of Energy, and Cheryl LaFleur, CGEP Adjunct Senior Research Scholar, and former Chair of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC). Lunch will be provided. Interested? Click here to register.
Supreme Court via pxfuel