Supreme court rules against Colorado ‘conversion therapy’ ban
The supreme court did, however, issue an opinion today, ruling against the state of Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” – a practice that seeks to change minors’ sexual orientation or gender identity.
In an 8-1 decision, the justices reversed a lower court’s decision that had upheld the law in a case brought by psychotherapist Kaley Chiles, who argued that the ban violated her first amendment right to free speech. The law applies to licensed mental health clinicians who seek to change a patient’s gender identity or sexual orientation, discredited tactics that major medical associations have said are ineffective and harmful.
In a lone dissent, Ketanji Brown Jackson – one of the three liberal justices on the bench – issued an opinion rebuking her colleagues’ decision.
“The majority has failed to appreciate the crucial context in which Chiles’s constitutional claims have arisen. Chiles is not speaking in the ether; she is providing therapy to minors as a licensed healthcare professional,” Jackson wrote. “It cannot also be the case that Colorado’s decision to restrict a dangerous therapy modality that, incidentally, involves provider speech is presumptively unconstitutional.”
Colorado is one of more than 20 states in the US that have banned conversion practices. The ruling in favor of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a Christian legal group, now makes these laws across the country vulnerable to similar challenges.
Key events
On Truth Social, Trump posted a nearly two-minute video rendering of his proposed presidential library in Miami.
Set to dramatic music, the mock-up showed an enormous mirrored skyscraper emblazoned with his name and the American flag. The video uses AI to show guests mingling in the entrance of the library, with golden escalators, a replica of what appears to be Air Force One, and reconstructions of Trump’s prized ballroom – that remains under construction.
There’s also a replica of the Oval Office, rooftop gardens and a large gold statue of Trump.
A credit says the design comes from Bermello Ajamil, a Miami-based firm. Trump posted the video with no explanation beyond a link to a new website for the library. The website says, “coming soon”, with a link to donate money.
On Monday, Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill directing the Palm Beach international airport to be renamed to the President Donald J Trump international airport.
Trump’s family business filed a trademark application for the airport name in February. If approved, the name change would take effect on 1 July. Before the airport’s name can be changed, a formal request must be submitted to the Federal Aviation Administration, which then must process the change in various flight charting and navigation databases, and the airport signs must be changed.
Supreme court rules against Colorado ‘conversion therapy’ ban
The supreme court did, however, issue an opinion today, ruling against the state of Colorado’s ban on “conversion therapy” – a practice that seeks to change minors’ sexual orientation or gender identity.
In an 8-1 decision, the justices reversed a lower court’s decision that had upheld the law in a case brought by psychotherapist Kaley Chiles, who argued that the ban violated her first amendment right to free speech. The law applies to licensed mental health clinicians who seek to change a patient’s gender identity or sexual orientation, discredited tactics that major medical associations have said are ineffective and harmful.
In a lone dissent, Ketanji Brown Jackson – one of the three liberal justices on the bench – issued an opinion rebuking her colleagues’ decision.
“The majority has failed to appreciate the crucial context in which Chiles’s constitutional claims have arisen. Chiles is not speaking in the ether; she is providing therapy to minors as a licensed healthcare professional,” Jackson wrote. “It cannot also be the case that Colorado’s decision to restrict a dangerous therapy modality that, incidentally, involves provider speech is presumptively unconstitutional.”
Colorado is one of more than 20 states in the US that have banned conversion practices. The ruling in favor of the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), a Christian legal group, now makes these laws across the country vulnerable to similar challenges.
A reminder, we were watching for opinions in three highly anticipated cases today.
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Louisiana v Callais: A high-stakes voting rights case in which the court’s conservative majority appears poised to gut one of the most powerful provisions of the Voting Rights Act.
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Trump v Cook: Donald Trump’s case for firing Federal Reserve governor Lisa Cook, as he continues to exert greater control over the US central bank.
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Trump v Slaughter: A case which examines the legality of Trump’s firing of a Federal Trade Commission (FTC) member, Rebecca Slaughter.
None of these opinions were issued, so we’ll make sure to bring you the latest when the court sets its next decision day.
Supreme court set to issue decisions
It’s another decision day at the supreme court, and we’re watching for rulings in key cases we’ve covered throughout this term.
The court has brought out one box of decisions, which typically means one or two opinions.
Trump confirms King Charles visit to the US
Donald Trump confirmed that King Charles and Queen Camilla, will travel to the US for a state visit from 27 to 30 April.
The president said that the trip will include a banquet dinner at the White House on 28 April. “I look forward to spending time with the King, whom I greatly respect. It will be TERRIFIC!,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
This will be Charles’s first state visit to the US since taking the throne in 2022.
He is also expected to make an address to Congress and attend events marking the 250th anniversary of US independence.
A reminder that Democratic congressman Ro Khanna requested a meeting with King Charles during his upcoming visit to the US. Khanna said he’d like to bring survivors of the late sex offender Jefferey Epstein to the meeting. This comes after Charles’s brother – Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor – was arrested in February on suspicion of misconduct in public office relating to his ties to Epstein. Peter Mandelson, a former UK ambassador to the US, was also arrested in February on similar allegations.
Donald Trump is in Washington today. Per the official White House schedule, we’re not expected to see the president until 7pm ET when he heads to the Kennedy Center to watch the opening night of “Chicago” with first lady Melania Trump.
We’ll keep an eye out for latest lines upon his arrival.
Hegseth repeated the president’s frustrations with European nations for their reluctance to assist in the reopening of the strait of Hormuz.
Earlier, we reported that Donald Trump chided countries like the UK to learn “how to fight for yourself” because the US “won’t be there to help you anymore”.
At his Pentagon press conference today, the defense secretary said there are countries around the world “who ought be prepared to step up on this critical waterway as well”.
Hegseth reiterated the administration’s frustration with allies. “Last time I checked, there was supposed to be a big, bad Royal Navy that could be prepared to do things like that as well.” he said. “So the world ought pay attention and be prepared to stand up. President Trump has been willing to do the heavy lifting on behalf of the free world to address this threat of Iran. It’s not just our problem set going forward.”
Hegseth: next days in Iran war will be ‘decisive’
Tom Ambrose
The next days of the Iran war will be “decisive,” Pentagon chief Hegseth says.
“The upcoming days will be decisive. Iran knows that, and there’s almost nothing they can militarily do about it,” Hegseth tells the news conference, his first in nearly two weeks.
He adds:
We have more and more options, and they have less… in only one month we set the terms, the upcoming days will be decisive.
Iran knows that, and there’s almost nothing they can militarily do about it.
Tom Ambrose
Hegseth starts the press conference by saying he visited the Middle East on Saturday and spoke with US troops.
He claims morale is high and there is an appetite among the military personnel to “finish the mission” and that they want bigger bombs and weapons to attack Iranwith.
He says:
These troops want to finish this fight for their kids and their grandkids.
This is about history, this is about legacy.
The defence secretary says that while previous presidents were “all talk”, Trump is “all action”.
Follow along with the latest here:
Defense secretary Pete Hegseth and joint chiefs of staff Dan Caine are due to give an update on the military campaign in Iran on the hour.
It comes as Donald Trump described Iran as having been “decimated” by the US-Israeli war.
We will have all the latest news lines from that over on the Middle East crisis live blog:
Donald Trump tells allies, including the UK, to go to the strait of Hormuz and ‘just take’ fuel
Donald Trump has urged other countries to buy oil from the US and go to the strait of Hormuz to take the fuel for themselves.
He also warned allies, including the United Kingdom, to learn “how to fight for yourself” because the US “won’t be there to help you anymore’.
Writing on Truth Social, he said:
All of those countries that can’t get jet fuel because of the Strait of Hormuz, like the United Kingdom, which refused to get involved in the decapitation of Iran, I have a suggestion for you: Number 1, buy from the U.S., we have plenty, and Number 2, build up some delayed courage, go to the Strait, and just TAKE IT.
You’ll have to start learning how to fight for yourself, the U.S.A. won’t be there to help you anymore, just like you weren’t there for us. Iran has been, essentially, decimated. The hard part is done. Go get your own oil! President DJT
A federal panel will meet today to consider exempting oil and gas drillers operating in the Gulf of Mexico from a decades-old law meant to protect endangered species including whales, birds and sea turtles.
The meeting of the Endangered Species Committee for the first time in more than 30 years is the latest effort by US president Donald Trump’s administration to unwind regulations it says hold back domestic energy production.
The committee, nicknamed the ‘God Squad’ because it has the power to grant exemptions to the Endangered Species Act, has convened only a handful of times since its creation in 1978. In an executive order last year, Trump ordered the committee to meet at least quarterly.
The meeting, called by interior secretary Doug Burgum, will be broadcast online starting at 9:30am local time.
Average US fuel prices have crossed $4 per gallon for the first time in four years, piling pressure on drivers as Donald Trump’s war on Iran continues to boost oil markets.
The nationwide average climbed to almost $4.02 on Tuesday, according to AAA data, capping an extraordinary rise from $2.98 just a month ago. It has not been this high since August 2022.
On the west coast, many drivers filling up cars and trucks are grappling with prices far higher than the US average. In California, the average is $5.89 per gallon; in Washington state, the average is $5.35.
Prices at the pump have historically proven costly for political incumbents in the White House. Trump faces his the biggest electoral test of his second term later this year, with Republican control of Congress in the balance ahead of November’s mid-term elections.
Oil prices have surged since the US and Israel launched their war on Iran, with Brent, the global benchmark, hitting $115.48 per barrel.
Congestion at airport security eases as TSA workers receive backpay but shutdown drags on
Hello and welcome to the US politics live blog.
Security lines have eased at airports, clearing the worst of the bottlenecks as Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) officers began receiving backpay for working during the government shutdown.
Lines that at times stretched to four hours at Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport shrank to waits of 10 minutes or less on Monday.
In other previous trouble spots such as Atlanta and Baltimore-Washington International Airport, travelers were moving smoothly to their flights.
Weary travelers hope the overdue paychecks will end the seemingly endless security lines and missed flights many experienced, AP reported.
It remains unknown how long federal immigration officers will maintain a visible presence in airport terminals as the busy spring break travel season continues.
TSA workers told union leadership Monday that they received some, but not all, of their back pay, according to Johnny Jones, secretary-treasurer of the TSA chapter of the American Federation of Government Employees.
He said the rest is expected by next week. Some employees also reported incorrect backpay amounts, including missing overtime, the union said.
“None of my colleagues feel like they’ve been made whole,” Jones said. “Their finances are destroyed.”
President Donald Trump on Friday ordered the Department of Homeland Security to pay TSA officers immediately to ease the lines plaguing airports.
Trump had rejected bipartisan efforts to fund the TSA while negotiations over ICE continue with Democrats, who have refused to approve more funding without restraints on Trump’s immigration enforcement and mass deportation operations.
Trump’s order left other DHS employees unpaid.
In other developments:
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Allegations swirl that a broker for Pete Hegseth inquired into an investment in key defense companies before the Iran war began. The Morgan Stanley broker allegedly made an inquiry with BlackRock regarding an investment into a defense-focused equity fund. The Pentagon denied the allegations calling them “entirely false and fabricated”.
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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis signed a bill to rename the Palm Beach International Airport after Donald Trump. This would make the airport the latest in a long list of institutions, government programs, buildings and even money named after the president.
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The US government has directed all of its embassies and consulates to launch coordinated campaigns against foreign propaganda. Marco Rubio signed a cable on Monday directing the embassies to coordinate with the US military’s psychological operations unit to address disinformation. It suggested using Elon Musk’s social media platform X to carry out the campaign.
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José Guadalupe Ramos, a Mexican national, becomes the 14th known person to die in Immigration and Customs Enforcement custody since the beginning of the year. He was found unconscious in his bunk last week at the Adelanto detention center in California and pronounced dead after being taken to a nearby medical center.
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The army is investigating a helicopter fly-by at Kid Rock’s hillside swimming pool in Tennessee on Saturday. Two army choppers on a training run visited and hovered by the rocker’s house as he saluted them. According to the army, there was no official request for the fly-by, which triggered the administrative review.
