
Judge questions Texas abortion ban's controversial enforcement mechanism
CNN
A federal judge Friday questioned the controversial enforcement mechanism of Texas' six-week abortion ban and asked whether the law made private citizens "a proxy for the state to insulate the state from the sort of judicial oversight that would exist."
US District Judge Robert Pitman is holding a hearing Friday to consider the Justice Department's request, in its lawsuit challenging the abortion ban, for a preliminary injunction blocking the law. The law's design has stymied previous attempts by clinics to block it.
"My obvious question to you," Pitman asked Texas' attorney Friday, "if the state is so confident in the constitutionality of the limitations on women's access to abortion, why did it go to great lengths to create this unusual cause of action rather than doing it directly?"

Janet Mills and her allies are counting on a gender gap to narrow Platner’s wide lead ahead of the June 9 primary to decide who will face incumbent Republican Sen. Susan Collins. They are betting that the unfiltered style that has brought Platner widespread attention as someone who could help Democrats reach young men will backfire with women.

As a shrinking number of Transportation Security Administration agents work to keep hourslong security lines moving despite not being paid, President Donald Trump stepped into the fray Saturday, announcing he will send Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers to airports by Monday if Congress doesn’t agree to a plan to end the partial government shutdown.











