7 Things: Mo Brooks explains his request for a pardon from Trump, SCOTUS expands gun rights and more …

7. No more vaping for you — Smoking is cooler anyway

• The U.S. Food and Drug Administration worked with federal officials to announce that certain e-cigarettes will be pulled from the market, specifically the brand Juul. Certain flavors of the product were previously pulled from shelves for appealing to youth.

• The FDA said that consumers could still have and use the product, but it cannot be sold. The main reason cited for removing the product was a lack of data related to certain chemicals and health risks. Acting director of the FDA’s tobacco center Michele Mital said, “Without the data needed to determine relevant health risks, the FDA is issuing these marketing denial orders.”

6. Tuberville: Expanding Title IX will only harm women’s sports

• President Joe Biden announced that he was proposing to expand Title IX to include discrimination on the basis of “gender identity” and “sexual orientation.” The idea of expanding the definition is unpopular with many, including U.S. Senator Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn), who has been a vocal opponent of the proposal.

• Tuberville outlined, “Joe Biden is getting ready to make proposals that’s going to bring it [Title IX] to its knees,” and went on to add that “We’ve got to fight back on it. We’ve got some Democrats that are hiding from this issue because this is an election year. We’ve got to stop it.” Tuberville also said that Title IX has “been a great success and they’re going to screw this up – you watch this. They’ve screwed up everything else; they might as well screw this up, but we’re going to fight it.”

5. Barry Moore: Stop the overspending

• In a speech on the floor of the House of Representatives, U.S. Representative Barry Moore (R-Enterprise) placed the blame for the inflation in the economy on President Joe Biden and his administration’s overspending. 

• While speaking on the solution to the inflation crisis, Moore explained, “Quit overheating our economy with government spending. Cut red tape regulations hampering our industries. Let the American people keep more of their hard-earned money. Conservatives once warned against our country turning into Europe. Unless we change course, Europe will be worried about becoming us.”

4. Over 400 Democrats voted in Senate District 27 primary, allegedly

• After a New York Times op-ed was published by Auburn University creative writing professor Anton DiSclafani claiming that he was one of the Democrats who crossed party lines to vote in the Republican primary in Senate District 27, State Senator Tom Whatley (R-Auburn) has doubled down on his allegations of Democrats influencing the election.

• Whatley said that he was “greatly disturbed” by the op-ed and added, “Our campaign has identified 681 people in Senate District 27 who have never voted in a Republican Primary prior to the May 24, 2022 election. Of those 681 people, 422 people have voted in multiple Democrat Primaries since 2016 and, for the first time in 2022, just voted in the Republican Primary. The overwhelming majority of those 422 voters, a total of 398 people of them, are from Lee County, the only county that my challenger won.”

3. New road improvements announced in Alabama

• Shortly after President Joe Biden announced a doomed plan for a gas tax holiday, Governor Kay Ivey shared some Rebuild Alabama Act and the Annual Grant Program, announcements. This included $2 million that will be distributed for local road projects in the state. There were 10 total projects announced, all of which were paid for with the latest gas tax increase the legislature passed.

• Ivey said, “I have said it time and again, but Alabama’s roads and bridges needed some work, but we are making substantial progress thanks to Rebuild Alabama. These projects we are announcing today are further proof of why these funds are critical to the well-being of our state…In my time as governor, we have embarked on more than 1,500 road and bridge projects across almost all 67 counties, worth north of $5 billion. No doubt, Rebuild Alabama is a major contributor to that.”

2. U.S. Supreme Court has expanded gun rights

• In a 6-3 decision, the U.S. Supreme Court voted against a New York gun law that restricted carrying rights for firearms. There are similar laws restricting carrying firearms in areas of California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Maryland, Rhode Island and New Jersey. Justice Clarence Thomas wrote that “an individual’s right to carry a handgun for self-defense outside the home” is constitutionally protected.

• The New York law prevented people from publicly carrying a firearm unless they disclosed a specific need to do so. This decision to strike the law down comes as the U.S. Senate is considering gun safety legislation. Both Governor Kay Ivey and Attorney General Steve Marshall issued statements supporting the move. Marshall noted his involvement in the case, stating, “Last July, I filed a legal brief in the case New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v. Bruen, opposing the law, and I am pleased the U.S. Supreme Court has declared the Empire State’s patently illegal concealed-carry ban unconstitutional by a 6-3 majority.  Similar unlawful restrictions on gun rights in other states will soon be challenged and citizens’ rights to protect themselves will be upheld once and for all.”

1. Alabama’s Mo Brooks and 3 Republicans asked for pardons after January 6

• After the U.S. Capitol riot on January 6, there were four Republican lawmakers who asked for pardons from then-President Donald Trump relating to the day, according to recent reports from the House committee investigating the events. This is the latest in a series of claims that the committee looking into January 6 has presented as a bombshell that evolves into a dud under scrutiny.

• The U.S. Representatives that asked for pardons were Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville), Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Louie Gohmert (R-Texas). Brooks sent the email requesting pardons for all four individuals. Brooks released a statement on the matter and the letter where he requested the pardon citing the suggestion Democrats, who were taking over the executive branch (including the DOJ), would “abuse the judicial system by prosecuting and jailing Republicans.” This seemed like a pretty safe bet given how many in the media and their Democrats want Trump, Brooks and others jailed for actually being accused of a crime.