Apr 6, 2019

AG William Barr orders investigation into LGBTQ discrimination at DOJ

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

U.S. Attorney General William Barr ordered the FBI and the Bureau of Prisons to investigate allegations of discrimination and unfair evaluation standards against LGBTQ employees at the Department of Justice, following an open letter from DOJ Pride that cited "low morale" among LGBTQ workers, the AP reports.

Why it matters: Barr also released a formal Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO) statement for the DOJ, which had not been done since the Obama administration. "I know these steps are a not a cure-all," he noted in his letter. EEO statements, which enable employers to explicitly denounce discrimination against employees and job applicants on the basis of sexual orientation, race and gender identity, are required by the Civil Rights Act of 1964.

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Orion Rummler
32 mins ago - Technology

Twitter launches warnings on election misinformation and delays

Photo: courtesy of Twitter

Twitter will start pinning notices to the top of all U.S. Twitter users’ timelines warning that results in next week’s election may be delayed and that they may encounter misinformation on mail-in voting.

Why it matters: Delayed election results are expected across many states that are handling unprecedented amounts of absentee and mailed ballots, which President Trump has baselessly called "very dangerous" and "corrupt."

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Miriam Kramer, author of Space
40 mins ago - Science

NASA confirms water exists on sunny parts of the Moon

Photo: NASA/JPL/USGS

Water on the Moon might be more easily accessible than previously thought, opening up new possible avenues for future human exploration, according to a new study.

Why it matters: NASA is aiming to send people back to the Moon as part of its Artemis program by 2024, with plans to eventually create a sustainable presence on the lunar surface. That sustainability relies on mining the moon for its resources, like water.

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Axios
Updated 1 hour ago - Politics & Policy

Pence no longer expected at Amy Coney Barrett's final confirmation vote

Photo: Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images

Vice President Mike Pence no longer plans to attend the Senate's final confirmation vote for Judge Amy Coney Barrett, a Pence aide confirmed to CNN and Politico on Monday. On Sunday, Senate Democrats claimed that his presence after possible exposure to the coronavirus would be a "violation of common decency."

Driving the news: Five of Pence's aides were recently diagnosed with COVID-19, including his chief of staff, who is currently quarantining. Pence has continued his campaign travel despite his possible exposure, which goes against CDC guidelines.

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