Monday morning news: May 29, 2023

Debt limit » President Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are putting the finishing touches on a deal struck over the weekend to raise the nation’s debt ceiling.

KEVIN MCCARTHY: It doesn’t get everything everybody wanted but in divided government that’s where we end up. I think it’s a very positive bill.

Biden told reporters at the White House that he’s confident the plan will make it to his desk and that no sticking points remained.

The compromise reduces overspending. But Washington will continue spending more than it takes in, adding to the national debt. That has sparked criticism of the deal from many conservative lawmakers.

But Florida GOP Congressman Greg Steube said Sunday:

GREG STEUBE: There’s a lot of good stuff in there. It limits topline federal spending by 1% on annual growth for the next six years. It pulls the COVID funds back that haven’t been used. It also puts a pay-go requirement in for the White House.

McCarthy said the House will vote Wendesday to raise the debt ceiling.

Ukraine » Russia hit Ukraine’s capital city with a massive drone attack on Sunday as Kyiv prepared to mark the anniversary of its founding.

VOLODYMYR ZELENSKYY: [SPEAKING UKRAINIAN]

In a video address, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said "Today, our country has suffered one of the biggest Russian attacks, 54 drones at one time.”

He added that air defenses shot down almost all of them, but some did find their mark.

A 41-year-old man was killed when debris fell on a seven-story building, sparking a fire.

Target » More controversy swirling around retail giant Target over the company's LGBT activism. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: Amid a growing consumer boycott, Target’s yearslong track record of backing LGBT groups is coming into focus.

Target currently partners with a K-through-12 education group known as GLSEN. That group is pushing local school districts to keep parents in the dark if their children choose to identify as the opposite gender at school. It also seeks to inject LGBT gender ideology and sexually explicit books in schools.

Target responded to criticism by saying GLSEN—in its words, “leads the movement in creating affirming spaces for LGBTQIA+ students. We are proud of 10+ years of collaboration with GLSEN and continue to support their mission.”

Target lost an estimated $9 billion dollars of market value in just one week’s time amid a consumer boycott over its LGBT “PRIDE” collection in stores, which included items aimed at children.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

Dodgers boycott » Meantime, in California, the LA Dodgers are in hot water with many of their fans.

A Catholic group is calling for a boycott of the Dodgers after the team re-invited an LGBT group known as “Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence” to a pride event at Dodgers Stadium.

The group has a history of staging drag queen displays that insult Catholics and Christians generally.

Brian Burch is President of a group called Catholicvote.

BRIAN BURCH: You wouldn’t do this to Jewish people or to Muslim people. Why Christians? Why have Christians have been singled out in this way, and why are we celebrating a group whose very purpose is to mock Catholic sisters?

The Dodgers disinvited the group but then apologized and reversed course.

Erdogan claims victory in Turkey » Supporters of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan celebrated in the streets after Erdogan declared victory over the weekend in a runoff election.

RECEP ERDOGAN: [SPEAKING TURKISH]

Erdogan thanked voters for electing him to another five-year term. He edged out his challenger by roughly 4 percentage points.

Critics say Erdogan has taken the government in a more authoritarian direction. His opponent campaigned on a promise to reverse that trend.

Texas Senate/Paxton impeachment » The Texas State Senate is set to try state Attorney General Ken Paxton after the Republican-dominated Texas House impeached him on Saturday on 20 articles of misconduct.

House Republican David Spiller:

DAVID SPILLER: No one person should be above the law, least not the top law enforcement official of the state of Texas.

The Republican attorney general faces accusations of bribery and other potential criminal conduct. He is currently suspended from his post. An impeachment vote in the Senate would result in his final removal.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: discounted drugs and the False Claims Act. Plus, Finding Nemo turns twenty.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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