HC Wake-Up Call: Trump’s First Oval Office Address, Ruth Bader Ginsburg Misses Court Arguments For The First Time, & Floridians With Felony Convictions Get Back Their Right To Vote

Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds — we’re all only human, after all. 

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.) 

President Donald Trump To Address The Nation On Tuesday About Immigration 

President Trump announced that he will address the nation in his first-ever speech from the Oval Office on Tuesday at 9 p.m. EST. The national address will cover the “border crisis.” 

The president tweeted on Monday evening: “I am pleased to inform you that I will Address the Nation on the Humanitarian and National Security crisis on our Southern Border. Tuesday night at 9:00 P.M. Eastern.” 

He not only will address the “national security crisis,” but he will most likely address the government shutdown over border wall funding, according to Fox News. The shutdown is entering the 18th day on Tuesday. For the last few days, the president has mentioned that he might use presidential “emergency powers” in order to build his wall without congressional approval, The New York Times reports. 

“We are now planning a Steel Barrier rather than concrete,” Trump tweeted on Monday about his latest border plan. “It is both stronger & less obtrusive. Good solution, and made in the U.S.A.”

All major networks have confirmed that it will air Trump’s address on Tuesday night, per The New York Times. It was previously reported that multiple networks were still debating whether or not to do so.

Since the announcement, a number of “Boycott Trump’s Address” tweets have flooded Twitter. Leaders, politicians, and influencers have voiced on the platform why they think people shouldn’t watch the address. 

Xorje Olivares, who is a Sirius XM host, tweeted the hashtag on Monday night.“Man, wouldn’t it be something if TV networks INSTEAD showed footage of my hometown/other border communities proving that NO CRISIS EXISTS!” he wrote. “This is among the most egregious offenses against an entire AMERICAN region that—wouldn’t you know—is heavily brown #BoycottTrumpsAddress.” 

Ruth Bader Ginsburg Missed Supreme Court Arguments For The First Time Ever

For the first time in 25 years as a Supreme Court justice, Ruth Bader Ginsburg missed Supreme Court arguments on Monday, the Associated Press reports. 

She will instead work from home “on the basis of briefs, filings, and transcripts,” according to a court spokeswoman to CNBC. Monday was the first day back in session for the Supreme Court. It also marks the first time that Ginsburg won’t be there to hear the arguments in person.

Despite several other health problems, Ginsburg has never missed arguments before. She has been on the Supreme Court since 1993, after she was nominated by President Bill Clinton. She has survived both colon and pancreatic cancer, and she had a stent placed in her heart in 2014, according to NBC News. In November, three fractured ribs caused her to miss the swearing-in of Brett Kavanaugh. But still, none of her health problems over the years have forced her to miss oral arguments. As ABC News reports, the death of her husband in 2010 didn’t even cause her miss it.

In December, Ginsburg underwent surgery for lung cancer. 

More Than One Million Floridians Who Have A Felony Conviction Can Vote Again

A new law in Florida starts on Tuesday and will restore voting rights to more than a million people with felony convictions, according to CNN. 

The law states that voting rights will be restored to those with felony convictions and complete the terms of their sentence; this includes parole and probation. There has been some disagreement and confusion as to what’s considered “completion of a sentence,” CNN reports. There was also confusion as to whether or not the amendment would take effect. Republican lawmakers, including Governor Ron DeSantis, previously asked for it to be put on hold until legislators had time to review the language, The Huffington Post reports. Those who’ve been convicted of murder or felony sexual offense are excluded.

According to the Huffington Post, any eligible former offenders, also referred to as returning citizens, can register online or vote in person at their local elections office starting Tuesday. 

Florida is reportedly the largest state to not automatically give back voting rights to most felons who’ve finished their sentence, The New York Times reports. People in Florida overwhelmingly voted to change this in November with the passing of Amendment 4. About 64 percent of Floridians passed it, CNN reports. 

The new law would add more than 1.4 million voters.

What To Look Out For…

A new Captain Marvel trailer was released last night, and it gives viewers a little inside to the super heroes mysterious past.