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A federal judge declared the Affordable Care Act unconstitutional Friday, ruling that the entire law must be struck down because Congress invalidated the tax penalty for not buying health insurance — the basis for the Supreme Court's 2012 ruling that declared the law constitutional. More

Johnson & Johnson knew for decades that asbestos lurked in its Baby Powder
Johnson & Johnson is facing thousands of lawsuits alleging that its talc caused cancer. The company insists on the safety and purity of its iconic product. But internal documents examined by Reuters show that the company's powder was sometimes tainted with carcinogenic asbestos and that J&J kept that information from regulators and the public. MORE...
 
Isn’t That Special
Nancy Pelosi said Wednesday she would officially support term limits for the top three House Democratic leaders, and step down from her position as speaker no later than 2022,
the Washington Post reports.

Elizabeth Warren: “I am not a person of color”

California To Tax Text Messages?
California regulators are weighing a flat tax on text messaging which would help fund a program to make phone service available to low-income residents, according to the San Jose Mercury News, citing a 51-page report released by the California Public Utilities Commission.

Under Trump, the U.S. debt grew by the size of the Brazilian economy in just two years 
U.S. government debt is on track this year to rise at the fastest pace since 2012, as a stronger economy fails to keep pace with the wave of red ink that’s rising under the Trump administration.

Times Up
Members of Congress will no longer be able to rely on taxpayer money to settle sexual harassment and sexual misconduct claims, thanks to legislation passed just this week.
The Huffington Post reports that the final version of the bill passed Thursday, "sailing" through the House and Senate by unanimous consent, and will be on President Donald Trump's desk awaiting a signature by the end of this week.

A Minnesota teenager caught the new northern pike state record several months ago, but his fish is now recognized as the one to beat in the Land of 10,000 Lakes.
Matthew Swanson is the new holder of the Minnesota northern pike state record, with a beastly 45.25-inch pike.