What We’re Following
Stephen Bannon’s Scandals: The former head of Trump’s campaign, Paul Manafort, resigned just a week ago amid scandal, and so far his successor, Stephen Bannon, isn’t faring much better. Charges of domestic violence filed by Bannon’s ex-wife in 1996 emerged last night, followed by news that he’s registered to vote at a vacant house in Florida—which could mean voter fraud.
Battle of the Bans: France’s high court has overturned the burqini ban in the town of Villeneuve-Loubet, ruling that a woman’s choice to wear the full-coverage swimwear represents no real threat to the public order. The decision sets a precedent for the more than 20 other towns that have banned the burqini—though several mayors are insisting they will continue to fine women who wear it. France’s nationwide debate over the burqini bans has centered on what wearing Muslim religious dress really signifies. To help clear things up, here’s a short film featuring American women who wear the hijab.
Crime and Consequences: Aaron Persky, the judge who presided over the controversial case of a Stanford student who sexually assaulted an unconscious woman, has stepped aside from his role in all criminal cases, requesting a reassignment to civil suits. After Stanford announced this week it would ban hard liquor at undergrad parties in an effort to prevent rape on campus, Persky’s ruling—which apparently accepted the perpetrator’s characterization of his crime as a drunken mistake—has been back in the spotlight. “We can and will always find an excuse to explain why assaults happen until we decide that rape and assault are not inevitable constant forces,” one reader writes. “Let’s stop excusing away assault and actually hold perpetrators accountable.” More reader discussion here.
