What Happened in the Political World This Week

From the passing of a divisive piece of legislation in Louisiana to a plea by the U.S. surgeon general regarding the dangers of social media, here is a look at what was making political headlines around the world this week.

Louisiana Requires Public School Classrooms Display Ten Commandments

A new Louisiana law requires that all public schools in the state display the Ten Commandments in classrooms. Republican Gov. Jeff Landry signed the bill into law on Wednesday, drawing praise from the GOP and criticism from those on the other side of the political aisle. House Bill 71 was approved by state legislators last month, requiring that a poster size display of the Ten Commandments be displayed in every classroom that receives funding from the state.

The law applies to classrooms from kindergarten through the college level. The legislation also mandates that the printed text of the Ten Commandments must be the primary focus of the poster.

It did not take long for civil liberties groups to challenge the law. Opponents of the legislation claim that mandating religious text in public school classrooms is in direct violation of the establishment clause of the U.S. Constitution, banning Congress from making laws that respect an establishment of religion.

The American Civil Liberties Union, the American Civil Liberties Union of Louisiana, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, and the Freedom from Religion Foundation all agreed that the new Louisiana law violated previous rulings by the Supreme Court. The four groups issued a joint statement criticizing the legislation.

Details for First Presidential Debate Revealed

CNN released details on Thursday detailing the specifics of the first presidential debate, scheduled to happen on June 27 in Atlanta. The 90-minute debate between U.S. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump will be hosted by CNN anchors Jake Tapper and Dana Bash. Occurring much earlier in the election cycle than has been tradition, the debate will mark the first time in American history that an incumbent candidate has gone up against a former president in this type of format.

Biden won the coin flip to choose his podium placement, opting to take the side on the right. Meanwhile, Trump's campaign chose to deliver the last closing statement of the evening. Third-party candidate Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. did not meet the debate qualification window set by CNN. This means that Trump and Biden will be the only candidates on stage.

The televised debate will have two commercial breaks. Campaign staff are not allowed to meet with their candidates during the breaks. In addition, the microphones will be muted when the candidate is not speaking. Candidates will be provided with a bottle of water, a pen, and a pad of paper, however, no pre-written notes will be allowed on stage.

U.S. Bans Companies and Citizens from Using Russian Made Software

In what was an unprecedented move, the Biden administration banned U.S. companies and citizens from using software made by Russian cybersecurity firm Kaspersky Lab. U.S. Commerce Department Secretary Gina Raimondo announced the ban on Thursday, pointing to security concerns with the use of the software.

Several U.S. government leaders sounded the alarm bells that the Russians could require Kaspersky Lab to hand over private data or use the information gleaned from the software to hack systems in the U.S. The announcement is another move by U.S. officials to prevent Americans from using popular technology that may threaten national security.

Vladimir Putin Visits North Korea

Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un met this week in person, sounding the alarm bells in the western world. Video footage released Thursday by the North Korean state media showed the two leaders laughing in a limousine, taking turns driving the Russian-built vehicle.

Putin traveled to Pyongyang earlier in the week, in what was his first visit to North Korea in 24 years. The visit culminated with the two leaders signing a defense pact, agreeing to use all available resources to provide immediate assistance should either be attacked. The new pact signals the most meaningful agreement between the two nations since its Cold War era alliance.

After leaving North Korea, Putin went on to Hanoi, Vietnam in what is being regarded in international circles as another visit designed to solidify the alliances within the Communist community on a global scale.

Boeing Chief Testifies in Congress

Outgoing Boeing chief Dave Calhoun was in the hot seat this week on Capitol Hill, testifying in a Senate hearing regarding the company's safety issues over the last few years. Specifically on Tuesday, Calhoun admitted that the aviation giant retaliated against employees who were vocal about concerns of the safety of the Boeing 737 Max after numerous deadly incidents.

The hearing was a rare moment in which Republicans and Democrats came together to grill Calhoun about Boeing's commitment to safety and its transparency practices. Prior to appearing in front of the Senate, Calhoun apologized to the family members of the victims present in the hearing room.

U.S. Surgeon General Calls for Warning Labels on Social Media Apps

U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy issued a plea to Congress on Monday, asking legislators to slap a warning label on social media apps. The request asked Congress to treat these apps similar to how the dangers of cigarettes and alcohol are highlighted. Murthy detailed the widespread mental health issues coming to light as a result of the use of these apps, particularly in the teen population. The plea was published in the New York Times as an op-ed, citing research for several studies that demonstrated a connection between the use of social media and mental health issues such as depression.

Despite being the U.S. surgeon general, Murthy does not have the agency to issue these warnings himself. Instead, he needs to request that Congress take action to require the warning labels. The op-ed marked the most significant and urgent plea by a U.S. government official regarding the reported dangers of social media.

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