Wednesday, July 9, 2025
All civic learning topics for this day
Today's Topics
Anita Dunn and Ron Klain reveal Biden inner circle blocked cognitive testing
House Oversight Committee Chair James Comer launched an investigation into Biden's "mental decline cover-up," requesting testimony from Biden's inner circle in June 2025. Ron Klain testified on July 24, 2025, admitting Biden's "memory and energy got worse" during his presidency and that he declared "We're f---ed" after Biden's disastrous June 2024 debate performance. On August 7, 2025, Anita Dunn revealed Biden's inner circle reached "consensus" against cognitive testing, concluding it would offer "no political benefit" and would invite partisan attacks. Bruce Reed testified on August 6 that White House physician Dr. Kevin O'Connor told the inner circle cognitive testing would be "meaningless." The team also avoided a 2024 Super Bowl interview due to concerns about the Hur report on Biden's classified documents handling. Three key figures - Dr. O'Connor, Anthony Bernal, and Annie Tomasini - invoked their Fifth Amendment rights when subpoenaed, refusing to testify about Biden's condition.
Civil Rights Division subpoenas pediatric hospitals under Section 1557
On July 9, 2025, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced the Justice Department issued subpoenas to more than 20 doctors and clinics providing gender-affirming care to minors as part of investigations into alleged healthcare fraud and false statements.
Attorney General Bondi invokes Home Rule Act to command D.C. police force
On July 8, 2025, former President Donald Trump said he might take over governance of Washington, D.C., while criticizing local officials and comparing them to New York’s mayor. This move exposes a key quirk in American federalism: even with a locally elected mayor and council under the 1973 Home Rule Act, Congress and the president can step in to block or rewrite D.C.’s laws. It’s a reminder that nearly 700,000 residents live under local rules that can be overturned at any moment by federal law,