Politics and views in the United States.

President Biden rushes to reassure a weary party and public, Pennsylvania lawmakers want to prevent state-supported schools divesting from Israel and abortion-related ballot measures could be on the ballot in a dozen states.

TRANSCRIPT

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Welcome to 2024 Talks, where we're following our democracy in historic times.

I'm world meeting and I'm an elderly man and I know what the hell I'm doing.

I've been president and I put this country back on its feet.

President Joe Biden defended his abilities after comments from special counsel Robert Herr questioned how the president might appear.

Biden met with Democrats in Congress and in governor's offices Wednesday, later telling campaign staffers he's not leaving the race.

He'll campaign in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania this weekend and will sit for a lengthy interview with ABC, his first since a highly criticized debate performance.

Polls show some erosion for Biden, but still call the election a toss-up.

Backers of an Ohio constitutional amendment to end gerrymandering say they have 700,000 signatures to get on the state's ballot this fall.

Barbara Hunsaker with the League of Women Voters tells WKYC it would take map drawing power from a state redistricting commission and return it to ordinary people.

This truly is a citizen initiative, citizen supported, and we are looking forward to real reform with teeth.

Since 2020, legal challenges have resulted in two Ohio congressional maps and five state house maps being rejected as unconstitutional.

The Pennsylvania Senate has advanced a bill to block state funding for any college that divests from Israel.

Democratic state Senator Steve Santarsario says that doesn't impact free speech by students or staff.

They'd still be free to protest and assemble peacefully under the first amendment, but if the schools took that step, there would be a consequence.

Supporters say the bill addresses a rise in antisemitism following pro-Palestinian encampments at the University of Pennsylvania and Drexel.

Five states have certified abortion rights ballot measures for November with more pending.

In Arkansas, supporters of legalizing the procedure through 20 weeks say they're just shy of the signatures needed.

Jenny Diaz with For Arkansas People says hundreds of doctors and nurses have signed on.

Providers' hands are really tied when it comes to providing routine emergency healthcare for women, and we want to unburden them so that they can fully care for patients in the best way possible.

In Wisconsin, the liberal-led state Supreme Court says it will consider two challenges to a 175-year-old abortion ban reactivated when Roe v. Wade was overturned in 2022.

Unions representing thousands of Philadelphia city employees have asked a judge to block Mayor Sherrell Parker's requirement that they return to their offices full-time next week.

The union says it violates their contract and will make post-pandemic staffing shortages worse, but Parker says city government must be accessible.

I really do look forward to the day when Philadelphia government and all of its agencies are a government that our residents can see, touch, and feel.

I'm Catherine Carley for Pacifica Network and Public News Service.

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