Friday morning news: June 28, 2019

House approves Senate’s emergency border bill » House lawmakers on Thursday approved the Senate’s bipartisan emergency border bill. 

AUDIO: On this vote, the yeas are 305, the nays are 102. The motion is adopted. 

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi was seeking changes to the bill. But by mid-afternoon, she reversed course and announced —quoting here—“In order to get resources to the children fastest, we will reluctantly pass the Senate bill.”

The $4.6 billion measure provides humanitarian aid to help care for migrant families and unaccompanied minors detained at the southern border.

The White House has indicated the president will sign the bill. 

Thursday’s vote will address a cash crunch at federal agencies that care for a recent surge of migrants seeking asylum. 

Ten more Democrats face off in second part of 2-day debate » Ten more Democrats faced off in Miami last night in the second part of a two-day presidential debate. The lineups for each night were set at random, but most of the biggest names in the packed Democratic field took the stage Thursday. WORLD Radio’s Sarah Schweinsberg has details. 

SARAH SCHWEINSBERG, REPORTER: The 10 presidential hopefuls covered a variety of topics including immigration, gun control, climate change, trade, and abortion. But healthcare was the main talking point of the night. Only two candidates, including Vermont Senator Bernie Sanders, said they supported completely banning private health insurance. 

SANDERS: We will have medicare for all when tens of millions of people are prepared to stand up… healthcare is a human right not something to make huge profits on.

All of the contenders said they would support taxpayer-funded healthcare for immigrants in the country illegally. 

And every candidate but Colorado Senator Michael Bennet raised a hand in support of decriminalizing illegal border crossings. 

Several contenders also used the opportunity to challenge former Vice-President Joe Biden—considered an early nomination front-runner. 

California Senator Kamala Harris questioned some of Biden’s policy positions dating back to the 1970s. 

HARRIS: Do you agree today that you were wrong to oppose bussing in America? 

BIDEN: I did not oppose bussing in America. What I opposed was bussing ordered by the Department of Education. That’s what I opposed. 

HARRIS: I was part of the second class to integrate Berkley California public schools almost two decades after Brown v. Board of Education. 

CNN will host the next Democratic debate at the end of July. 

Reporting for WORLD Radio, I’m Sarah Schweisnberg. 

Trade disputes loom over G20 meetings » President Trump is in Osaka, Japan this morning with a full slate of meetings still ahead at the G20 Summit. 

As the president meets with world leaders, trade disputes are likely to dominate discussions.

Just before landing in Japan, the president fired a pointed remark at Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

He tweeted “I look forward to speaking with Prime Minister Modi about the fact that India, for years having put very high Tariffs against the United States, just recently increased the Tariffs even further. This is unacceptable and the Tariffs must be withdrawn!”

While in Osaka, President Trump will also meet privately with Chinese President Xi Jinping in hopes of reviving stalled trade talks between the two countries. 

Supreme Court: partisan gerrymandering not an issue for federal courts » The Supreme Court ruled 5 to 4 on Thursday that it is not for federal courts to police political gerrymandering. 

WORLD Radio’s Kristen Flavin has more. 

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: The majority on the high court condemned the redrawing of electoral districts for political reasons but said that it falls to the states and Congress to police the practice. 

Chief Justice John Roberts authored the majority opinion. He called the issue a political question, not a legal one. 

Voters in North Carolina and Maryland filed suits claiming their state legislatures drew congressional maps unfairly. 

The court has in the past ruled against gerrymandering related to racial discrimination—but has not set a specific standard for partisan gerrymandering.

Justice Elena Kagan wrote for the minority—quote— “For the first time ever, this court refuses to remedy a constitutional violation because it thinks the task beyond judicial capabilities.”

Reporting for WORLD Radio, I’m Kristen Flavin.

(AP Photo/Susan Walsh) President Donald Trump, left, shakes hands with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, right, as he arrives for the G-20 summit in Osaka, Japan, Friday, June 28, 2019. 

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