Politics and views in the United States.

House Republicans pursue unsubstantiated theories about the origins of COVID-19, President Biden's name will appear on Ohio's ballot, and critics say expanded school voucher programs undermine the separation of church and state.

TRANSCRIPT

(ticking)

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

I think this is a powerful disincentive for young people to want to go into public health and maybe even science and medicine in the public arena.

Former national COVID-19 lead, Dr. Anthony Fauci, tells House lawmakers he and his colleagues are still getting death threats over the pandemic response.

Republicans called Fauci to testify about theories that a Chinese lab which got US funding intentionally created the virus.

They accused Fauci of lying about that.

Intelligence and medical researchers disagree on whether the virus leaked from a lab, but they say there is no evidence it was man-made.

President Joe Biden's name will appear on Ohio's November ballot.

The governor just signed a measure to delay the state's candidate certification deadline until after Biden is formally nominated.

He also signed a companion bill banning foreign nationals from funding Ohio ballot measures.

Republican Representative Bill Seitz says that includes green card holders.

Foreign money is a fundamental infection of our political process.

It is difficult to trace.

It requires consideration of international issues.

Democrats say the Republicans are just smarting over the landslide win of a measure that put a right to abortion in the state constitution, which got a tiny amount of money from a Swiss billionaire.

A Washington Post investigation says the vast majority of school voucher programs favor religious schools.

The programs have rapidly expanded in half of states, letting parents get tax credits to offset private school tuition.

Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders calls it a revolution.

Where the education establishment has failed, conservatives are picking up the pieces.

From school boards to state legislatures to Congress, education freedom is winning across this country.

Critics argue the programs drain public education funding and erode the separation of church and state.

Several universities could withhold diplomas for students arrested in pro-Palestinian protests.

University of Chicago graduate Yusuf Haswa calls it a pointless and punitive attack on free speech.

At the University of Chicago, the free speech university, talking about Palestine is not free.

A new Louisiana law makes it a crime to come within 25 feet of a police officer under certain circumstances.

Civil rights advocates say it will hinder the public's ability to video misconduct.

State Representative Edmund Jordan calls it a setback for racial justice.

In my opinion, this is probably one of the worst, if not the worst bill of this session.

Violators face fines and up to 60 days in jail.

Florida enacted a similar law earlier this year.

And finally, President Biden is expected to sign an executive order significantly limiting asylum granted at the US-Mexico border.

Requests will reportedly be capped at 2,500 a day, starting immediately.

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

Find our trust indicators at publicnewsservice.org.