Supreme Court backs Catholic Charities' push to object to state taxes on religious grounds
It was the latest in a series of decisions from the Supreme Court in recent years that have sided with religious groups on everything from public funding for sectarian schools to allowing coaches to offer private prayers on the field after high school football games.
'It is fundamental to our constitutional order that the government maintain 'neutrality between religion and religion,'' Justice Sonia Sotomayor wrote for a unanimous court.
'There may be hard calls to make in policing that rule, but this is not one. When the government distinguishes among religions based on theological differences in their provision of services, it imposes a denominational preference that must satisfy the highest level of judicial scrutiny.'
This story is breaking and will be updated.
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GOP Rep. Tim Burchett doubles down on call for release of Epstein files
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Live updates on Trump's presidency: Administration seeks release of Epstein testimony
Update: Date: 11 min ago Title: Reporting roundup: Read some of CNN's latest stories on the Trump administration Content: While many of last week's headlines surrounded President Donald Trump's handling of documents from the Jeffrey Epstein case, it was a busy week elsewhere in the nation's capital. Catch up on some of our latest stories as we head into a new week: • School resources slashed: The Trump administration is seeking to dismantle the Education Department, with mass layoffs underway and severe funding cuts under consideration. The squeeze is already forcing summer programs to scramble to stay open as schools brace for deeper impacts in the fall. • Venezuela prison swap: Ten US nationals have been freed by Venezuela in exchange for 252 Venezuelans who had been deported and imprisoned in El Salvador. 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Keep in mind: The Justice Department moved to get the testimony released Friday after days of pressure, with the president's base agitated over his administration's chaotic handling of files related to the Epstein case. Update: Date: 1 hr 29 min ago Title: Trump says "nothing will be good enough" for those demanding more information on Epstein case Content: President Donald Trump said in a Truth Social post yesterday that 'nothing will be good enough' for those he deems 'troublemakers' and 'radical left lunatics' demanding more information on the Jeffrey Epstein case. Trump's post came after days of turmoil surrounding his administration's handling of documents related to the disgraced financier, including rare criticism from the president's MAGA base. The Justice Department on Friday asked a judge to release years-old grand jury testimony made against Epstein, the convicted sex offender who faced sex trafficking and conspiracy charges before his 2019 death in jail. 'I have asked the Justice Department to release all Grand Jury testimony with respect to Jeffrey Epstein, subject only to Court Approval. With that being said, and even if the Court gave its full and unwavering approval, nothing will be good enough for the troublemakers and radical left lunatics making the request. It will always be more, more, more,' Trump wrote yesterday morning. In the Justice Department filing, Attorney General Pam Bondi said unsealing the transcripts would be justified by the public's 'longstanding and legitimate interest.' But it's ultimately up to a federal judge to decide. Trump's weekend: The president is expected to remain in the Washington, DC, area and does not have public events scheduled this weekend. He took private meetings yesterday afternoon at his Trump National Golf Club in Sterling, Virginia, a White House official said. The official declined to share any details about the meetings. CNN's Aleena Fayaz contributed to this report. Update: Date: 1 hr 29 min ago Title: Catch up on a chaotic week in the Trump administration's handling of the Epstein files Content: The Justice Department has asked a federal judge to release years-old grand jury testimony made against convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, as President Donald Trump fumes on social media over public demands to release the so-called Epstein files. If you're just catching up on the saga, here's what to know: • How we got here: The DOJ's move came after a week of outcry from the president's MAGA base over the administration's perceived backtracking on promises of maximum transparency regarding Epstein. The pressure campaign had been ramping up since the Justice Department said in a memo earlier this month that it wouldn't be releasing further documents on the case. • Putting the request in context: Grand jury testimony made behind closed doors is a 'minuscule fraction of the entire file' from Epstein's case, according to CNN senior legal analyst Elie Honig. And while Attorney General Pam Bondi argued in her request that releasing the material is in the public interest, it's ultimately the court's decision. • Trump sues newspaper: Trump also announced Friday that he is suing the publisher of The Wall Street Journal and two reporters who wrote a story about a collection of letters gifted to Jeffrey Epstein in 2003, including a note bearing Trump's name and an outline of a naked woman. The Journal report seemed to unite a set of skeptical MAGA influencers in defense of the president after the week's turmoil. • More on the doodle: The president has emphatically denied writing the note and said he doesn't draw pictures. But a charity director told CNN she received two doodles from him in 2004 for an auction in Ohio. • Read CNN analysis: With the renewed scrutiny surround Trump's relationship with Epstein, CNN identified five key questions that remain unanswered.
