California is ready to take on the Justice Department.
That’s according to San Francisco District Attorney George Gascón, who was responding to a lawsuit against the state brought by Attorney General Jeff Sessions over immigration laws.
“I find it very disingenuous that you have people that for generations talk about state rights and all of a sudden their talking about federal supremacy,” he said in a Cheddar interview Wednesday.
The Justice Department and immigration agencies this week sued California over its “sanctuary” laws, which prohibit local and state authorities, as well as private employers, from cooperating with federal immigration officers.
Sessions, who filed the suit Wednesday, said California’s policy threatens national safety.
Gascón, though, said the state doesn’t prevent immigration officials from going into California and doing their jobs. It’s simply not actively cooperating. He argued that immigrants are important to California’s social fabric and provide a “major economic engine.”
“I think that this is an administration that is failing on so many fronts, and what they’re trying to do is create another diversion,” he told Cheddar. “All of this is really a political stunt that is driven by very racist attitude and has nothing to do with public safety.”
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/inside-the-sanctuary-city-legal-battle).
Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) joined the NYC Cannabis Parade, the first since the Empire State legalized marijuana. The senator promised to continue to fight for "fair, just, and full legalization" on a federal level.
Former President Donald Trump won’t return to Facebook. The social network’s quasi-independent Oversight Board has voted to permanently ban his account after it was suspended four months ago for inciting violence that led to the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol riot.
President Joe Biden has set a new vaccination goal to deliver at least one dose to 70% of American adults by July Fourth.
Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) joined Cheddar to discuss her new book "Antitrust," tackling the issues of monopolistic business practices, particularly in Big Tech.
Turkey’s shipbreaking yard is located in the town of Aliaga - about 30 miles north of Port Izmir. Usually, this yard breaks down cargo and container ships. But in 2020, it started bringing in another type of vessel. And business is booming.
Bill and Melinda Gates say they're divorcing. The Microsoft co-founder and his wife, who launched the world’s largest charitable foundation, said they would continue to work together at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
Jon M. Chu, director of 'Crazy Rich Asians,' discussed the issues of diversity and AAPI representation in Hollywood with Cheddar.
Air travel continues to recover from the pandemic, although it's still not close to normal.
From Wall Street to Silicon Valley, these are the top stories that moved markets and had investors, business leaders, and entrepreneurs talking this week on Cheddar.
Lincoln Mondy, advocate and filmmaker behind the short film "Black Lives/Black Lungs," talked to Cheddar about the FDA's announcement it will move to ban menthol-flavored cigarettes.
