*By Conor White*
The video of a racist rant by a New York lawyer that spread widely on the Internet this week is a shocking example of the impudence of racists and xenophobes, said Representative Adriano Espaillat, a Democrat from New York.
"It's an air of intolerance that is gripping the nation," said Espaillat, who was the first formerly undocumented immigrant to serve in Congress. "And it's people like this attorney, that think they are above the law, and think that they can do these things and get away with them."
The video shows Aaron Schlossberg, a 42 year old lawyer, berating the employees at a Fresh Kitchen in Midtown Manhattan for speaking to customers in Spanish. Schlossberg also threatened to call Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
In an interview Thursday on Cheddar, Espaillat said there's no room for such hate in America, and he blamed President Trump for emboldening people like Schlossberg.
"It's very toxic rhetoric that is poisoning the atmosphere," Espaillat said. "And one cannot predict the type of harm that this rhetoric could have across the population."
The Congressman filed a formal grievance against Schlossberg with the New York State Unified Court System, and he said he and his office will welcome whatever the disciplinary committee ultimately decides.
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/fighting-hate-in-america).
Addressing the nation from the Oval Office, President Joe Biden has made his case for major U.S. backing of Ukraine and Israel in a time of war.
Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Thursday that inflation remains too high and that bringing it down to the Fed's target level will likely require a slower-growing economy and job market.
Despite deepening opposition, Rep. Jim Jordan is expected to try a third vote to become House speaker, even as his Republican colleagues are explicitly warning the hard-edged ally of Donald Trump that no more threats or promises can win over their support.
Donald Trump is winning over swing state voters including in several states even leaning toward President Joe Biden, according to a recent poll by Bloomberg and Morning Consult.
A Russian-American journalist working for a U.S. government-funded media company has been detained in Russia and charged with failing to register as a “foreign agent,” her employer said Thursday.
Lawyer Sidney Powell pleaded guilty to reduced charges Thursday over efforts to overturn Donald Trump’s loss in the 2020 election in Georgia, becoming the second defendant in the sprawling case to reach a deal with prosecutors.
Republican Rep. Jim Jordan failed again Wednesday on a crucial second ballot to become House speaker, the hard-fighting ally of Donald Trump losing even more GOP colleagues who refused to give him the the gavel.
Former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew testified at his own confirmation hearing for the role of U.S. Ambassador to Israel.
The Pentagon has released video of what it calls coercive and risky maneuvers conducted by Chinese jets, saying there have been over 180 incidents that have fallen into this pattern.
The Pentagon has released videos of what it calls coercive and risky maneuvers conducted by Chinese jets, saying there have been over 180 incidents that have fallen into this pattern.
