What A Day Crooked Media

President Biden signed the bipartisan debt ceiling bill into law, averting default and an economic crisis just days before the June 5th deadline posed to lawmakers. The final legislation – which passed swiftly through the House and Senate last week – suspends the nation’s debt limit until 2025.

Nearly 300 people were killed and more than 800 others were injured in a train accident in Eastern India on Friday. While the government has launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, the mass casualties have renewed calls for authorities to take more action to ensure the country’s rail system is safer.

And in headlines: A federal judge rejected Tennessee’s anti-drag law, California officials are looking into the arrival of more than a dozen migrants to Sacramento from Texas, and the Directors Guild of America has reached a “historic” deal with Hollywood studios.

In a blow to unions and organized labor, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of a concrete company seeking to sue the Teamsters union for the profit they lost during one of its strikes. Advocates say the decision could prevent workers from exercising their right to strike nationwide.

The Senate voted to block Biden’s student loan forgiveness program, advancing the Republican-led legislation that nullifies the plan and repeals the current freeze on student loan repayments and interest. The bill now heads to President Biden’s desk, which he’s expected to veto.

And in headlines: a Russian missile struck Ukraine’s capital city of Kyiv, Georgia police arrested three organizers providing aid to protestors of Atlanta’s “Cop City," and failed Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake has dropped a new single.

Former Gov. Chris Christie and former Vice President Mike Pence are expected to launch their 2024 presidential campaigns next week, joining the already crowded field of Republican candidates. They’ll be going up against frontrunners Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis, both of whom are on the campaign trail in Iowa.

The Supreme Court is expected to issue rulings in several cases that will have huge social implications nationwide — from elections and voting rights to student loans, affirmative action, and even free speech.

And in headlines: The House approved the debt limit deal between President Biden and House Republicans, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appointed former Secretary of State John Scott as interim attorney general, and high school theater kids in Indiana performed their gender-bending Robin Hood play despite pushback from parents and school officials.

The debt limit deal struck between President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy is headed to a full House vote today despite hard-right Republicans opposing the legislation. Lawmakers have until June 5th to reach a consensus to avoid a default.

A drone attack hit Moscow Tuesday morning, marking the first strike in a Russian civilian area since the Kremlin launched its Ukraine invasion last year. The attack comes after Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, has seen a relentless onslaught of bombing over the past two weeks.

And in headlines: nine people were injured in a shooting in Hollywood, Florida on Memorial Day, the Republican-controlled Texas House voted to impeach Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Minnesota became the 23rd state in the U.S. to legalize marijuana.

As Mental Health Awareness Month comes to a close this May, we’re joined by Brian Beutler, Crooked’s Editor in Chief and host of Crooked’s Positively Dreadful, to talk about maintaining our mental health when the news gets bad, and how to stay hopeful in light of it all.

Every May marks Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Heritage Month in the United States. The occasion was created to celebrate both Asian and Pacific diasporas — but the “PI” in “AAPI” is often erased despite the term’s intention to include them. As the month comes to an end, Kristian Fanene Schmidt, the executive director and co-founder of the Pasifika Entertainment Advancement Komiti (PEAK), joins us to talk about how Pacific Islander communities are represented in entertainment — and how their diverse cultures and identities expand far beyond Western labels.

In headlines: The founder of the far-right militia group Oath Keepers was sentenced to 18 years in prison for his role in the January 6th riots, the Supreme Court ruled to limit the EPA’s application of the Clean Water Act, and the official Barbie Movie Soundtrack dropped just in time for summer.

Plus, V Spehar, host of Under The Desk News on TikTok and the podcast V Interesting, joins us to share a headline they’ve been following this week.