Why Montana just censured a trans lawmaker

Plus, Taliban kill IS leader behind 2021 Kabul bombing. This is the last week of Vox’s birthday month pledge drive. We only need 124 more people to give to hit our goal of adding 1,500 financial contributions by the end of April, support that helps keep Vox free year-round. Will you help us close the gap by giving today? [Yes, I'll give]( Montana House Republicans punish a trans lawmaker; the Taliban kill an IS leader suspected of planning the 2021 Kabul airport blast. Tonight's Sentences was written by Jariel Arvin.   TOP NEWS Trans Montana lawmaker silenced over protests Thom Bridge/Independent Record/AP - Wednesday, the Montana House of Representatives punished Democratic Rep. Zooey Zephyr, the state’s first trans woman lawmaker, for protesting against anti-trans legislation. [[Vox / Li Zhou](] - The decision means Zephyr can only vote virtually and is unable to attend floor sessions. She will not, however, face expulsion. [[NPR / Shaylee Ragar](] - Republican House leadership silenced Zephyr on April 18 after she said lawmakers would have “blood on your hands” if they voted to ban gender-affirming care for trans youth, and the right-wing Montana Freedom Caucus called for her censure. [[Forbes / Ty Roush](] - On Monday, Zephyr’s supporters rallied at the Montana Capitol and interrupted House proceedings with chants of “let her speak.” Police arrested seven people. [[Washington Post](] - Republican legislatures in 11 states this year have restricted access to gender-affirming care for young people despite support from major medical organizations who say the procedure saves lives. [[New York Times / Jim Robbins, Remy Tumin, and Jacey Fortin](] 📍 If you read just one story Vox’s Nicole Narea and Fabiola Cineas explain how Republicans are staging a coordinated campaign to limit trans rights nationwide. [[Vox / Nicole Narea and Fabiola Cineas](]  [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( Taliban kill Kabul airport bomber - Tuesday, White House officials said the Taliban killed the Islamic State “mastermind” suspected of planning the 2021 Kabul airport bombing during the US withdrawal from Afghanistan. [[Reuters](] - Thirteen US service members and at least 170 Afghans died in the blast, prompting congressional investigations into how the Biden administration handled the evacuation. [[AP](] - The US was not involved in planning the Taliban operation but learned of the planner’s death from intelligence sources; officials did not provide his name or details about how he died in early April. [[ABC News / Matt Seyler](] - The lack of specifics frustrated the US troops’ families, who said they would continue pushing for accountability from the Biden administration. [[NYT / Karoun Demirjian and Eric Schmitt](]   Support our work Annual contributions help us keep Vox free, and help us know how much we can budget in the year ahead to help us pay our staff, cover reporting and travel expenses, and commission freelance work. [Give today!](   MISCELLANEOUS Wednesday, Disney sued Florida Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis and state officials for infringing on the company’s constitutional rights, alleging “targeted government retaliation.” [[Vox / Nicole Narea](] - A New Hampshire man lost his right to vote after posting a fake Craigslist ad for a free trailer that included a House candidate’s number — a move that violated election laws. [[New York Times / Lauren McCarthy](] - Chinese leader Xi Jinping on Wednesday said Beijing would not “add fuel to the fire” during his first conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy since Russia’s invasion. [[Politico / Stuart Lau and Veronika Melkozerova](] - Justice Neil Gorsuch sold property to a prominent lawyer nine days after the Senate confirmed him to the Supreme Court, raising further concerns about judicial ethics and corruption. [[Vox / Ian Millhiser](] VERBATIM “The only thing I will say is if you vote yes on this bill and yes on these amendments, I hope the next time there’s an invocation, when you bow your heads in prayer, you see the blood on your hands.” [[Rep. Zooey Zephyr to Montana lawmakers about banning gender-affirming care for trans youth / Forbes](]   LISTEN TO THIS How Secretary Buttigieg wants to make America’s roads safer On this week’s episode of The Weeds, we sit down with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg to talk about transportation policy in America. We discuss the future of public transportation and the policies that can curb traffic deaths. Plus, more from Vox’s Marin Cogan and her reporting on the deadliest road in America. 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