Weekend Report: What's going on?

Historic union win for autoworkers in Tennessee. Johnson literally had a come-to-Jesus moment on Ukraine. Rep. Bennie Thompson introduces bill to kill Trump's Secret Service protection if convicted.

As you read this, the House is about to pass or has passed an aid package that includes funding for Ukraine, something that is only happening because Democrats joined House Speaker Mike Johnson in thwarting the GOP’s Kremlin Caucus. Less reported, however, is the fact that Johnson, a devout and scary Christian nationalist, actually had a come-to-Jesus moment—literally. American evangelical leaders, working with Christian nationalists in Ukraine, suddenly began backing aid in recent weeks, framing it as a “religious freedom” issue for Johnson.

In a major victory for unions and progressives who fight for workers, last night Volkswagen workers in Tennessee voted to unionize. It was a historic first for the United Auto Workers in the South, coming a day after President Biden gave a fiery pro-union speech at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers conference in Washington, and in the same week that the president spoke to the United Steelworkers in Pittsburgh.

Opening arguments in Donald Trump’s trial will be underway on Monday, as the full jury and alternates have been impaneled in just a week. Justice Juan Merchan has not taken any crap from Trump or his lawyers, as they used delaying tactics and tried to drag out jury selection. So, we’ll see a trial and, in a matter of weeks, a verdict. If he’s found guilty, should Trump have Secret Service protection? Congressman Bennie Thompson says hell no and has introduced a bill to save taxpayers from protecting convicted felons.