Today’s news briefs include Americans limiting political news intake; Haitians eating geese?; Islamists win in Jordanian elections; No tax on overtime proposed.
Muslim Brotherhood wins more seats in Jordan
The Muslim Brotherhood in Jordan is the main winner of Wednesday’s national elections. “This is a striking achievement for Islamists, who view themselves as an opposition party,” reports the BBC. Jordan, which is over 60% Palestinian, is considered by some as the actual Palestinian State as opposed to efforts to make part of historical Israel a Palestinian state. It is ruled by the Hashemite clan which has its roots in Saudi Arabia. Israel and Jordan have a peace treaty dating back decades and Jordan, until now, was seen as a moderate Arab state. Israel supplies water and electricity to the country.
Trump proposes end to taxes on overtime
Former President Trump on Thursday proposed ending taxes on overtime wages for individuals who work more than 40 hours a week. The tax overhaul idea is the latest to reduce the tax burden on middle and lower-income families who are most likely to make an hourly wage. “We will end all taxes on overtime…That gives people more of an incentive to work,” Trump said at a rally in Arizona. “The people who work overtime are among the hardest working citizens in our country, and for too long no one in Washington has been looking out for them,” he added. The former president has also proposed ending taxes on social security and tips, two reforms that have resonated with voters.
Are Haitians eating geese in Ohio?
President Donald Trump repeated claims made by Ohio residents that Haitians are killing and eating geese. While national media outlets labeled it false, the state’s Attorney General Dave Yost says Trump’s claims are backed by credible evidence. “There’s a recorded police call from a witness who saw immigrants capturing geese for food in Springfield. Citizens testified to City Council,” Yost posted on social media. He said those people “would be competent witnesses in court.”A photo of a Haitian carrying a dead goose in nearby Columbus was confirmed as authentic, according to Yahoo News. Governor Mike DeWine, stated, “We’ll probably continue to investigate it because that would be hunting out of season when you look at the date when that took place.” Residents of Springfield have launched a recall effort for all members of the city council.
Majority say they’re limiting political news
The Associated Press reports that about 6 in 10 say they need to limit how much information they consume about the government and politics to avoid feeling overloaded or fatigued. That’s from a new survey from the Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research and USAFacts. “Media fatigue isn’t a new phenomenon,” the AP states. A 2019 Pew Research Center survey revealed roughly two in three Americans felt “worn out by the amount of news there is,” about the same as in a poll taken in early 2018.
–Dwight Widaman and wire services