Biden: US will respond after 3 troops killed by Iran-backed militia in Jordan: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 29, 2024
President Biden said the U.S. will respond after three troops are killed in an attack in Jordan. And climate activists target one of the most famous paintings in the world. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Jan. 29, 2024.
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Biden says U.S. will respond after 3 troops killed in Jordan
President Joe Biden vows America will respond after three U.S. service members were killed in Jordan on Sunday, Jan. 28, in a drone attack the White House said was launched by an Iran-backed militia. This marks the first U.S. military deaths amid months of strikes in the region since the start of the Israel-Hamas war.
At least 34 American troops were injured in the attack on a military base near the Syrian border. According to U.S. Central Command, at least eight of the injured were flown to “higher-level care” outside Jordan.
The Pentagon has not identified the service members who were killed at this time, and officials have not yet said which Iran-backed group was behind the attack.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said America would take necessary actions to defend the U.S., our troops, and our interests. In a statement following the attack, the president called the three service members “patriots in the highest sense.” Speaking in South Carolina, he held a moment of silence for the troops, then added, “And we shall respond.”
Republican lawmakers reacted to the attack by calling on the White House to take action. Senator Lindsey Graham posted on “X” that the Biden administration’s “rhetoric is falling on deaf ears” and the U.S. should “hit Iran now.”
GOP frontrunner for the 2024 presidential election, former President Donald Trump, blamed the attack on “Joe Biden’s weakness and surrender.”
US pauses funding to UN agency after Israel’s Oct. 7 claims
Fallout continues to grow for the main United Nations agency in Gaza after Israel accused 12 of its staff members of being involved in the terror attacks by Hamas on Oct. 7. After being notified of the allegations last week, the U.N. said it fired several employees of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency.
The United States is among several countries to pause funding to the U.N. agency. The State Department said the U.S. “is extremely troubled by the allegations” as the agency plays “a critical role in providing life-saving assistance to Palestinians” in Gaza.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres said he is “horrified by the accusations” that agency workers helped Hamas stage the attacks. But he asked the countries suspending their aid to reconsider.
The U.S. is the biggest donor to the agency, providing $340 million in 2022 and several hundred million in 2023.
House Republicans introduce articles of impeachment against DHS secretary Mayorkas
On Sunday, Jan. 28, House Republicans released two articles of impeachment against Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. House Republicans accused Mayorkas of willfully refusing to comply with the law and breaching public trust as it relates to enforcing immigration laws at the U.S.-Mexico border.
The results of his lawless behavior have been disastrous for our country.
Chair Rep. Mark Green, R-Tenn.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green, R-Tenn., said they have “exhausted all other options to hold Secretary Mayorkas accountable.”
“The results of his lawless behavior have been disastrous for our country,” Green said.
Meanwhile, Mayorkas, along with DHS and White House officials, denied any wrongdoing and maintained that no high crimes or misdemeanors have occurred. Democrats within the House Homeland Committee called the GOP-led impeachment effort a “sham.”
Ranking member Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., accused Republicans of using the impeachment effort to score political points.
“This unserious impeachment is a testament to partisan politics over rules and reason,” Thompson said.
The articles of impeachment will be reviewed in committee on Tuesday, Jan. 30, and would have to be adopted by the full House before a trial in front of the Senate.
Climate activists throw soup at the ‘Mona Lisa’
Climate activists targeted the “Mona Lisa” with soup, hoping to get their message heard.
Videos recorded at the Louvre in Paris on Sunday, Jan. 28, show two protesters hurling the liquid at the famous painting, splashing the armored glass that has protected the piece of art since 2005. Paris police took the two women into custody.
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Environmental group Riposte Alimentaire said the protest was done to draw attention to unsustainable food production and hunger in France. Staff members at the Louvre evacuated the room which houses the painting for around 90 minutes while the glass was cleaned. The museum said it is lodging a complaint.
USA Hockey announces gear changes following ex-NHL player’s death
Three months after an American hockey player was killed from an ice skate blade cut to his neck, changes are being implemented for young hockey players. It was in late October when former NHL player Adam Johnson suffered a fatal neck injury while playing in England.
On Sunday, Jan. 28, USA Hockey leadership approved legislation requiring all players under 18 to wear neck laceration protection to games and practices. USA Hockey recommends that adults wear neck protection, too.
In December, the International Hockey Federation mandated neck guards for all its tournaments, including the Olympics. Currently, the NHL has no such policy, though some players have chosen to wear neck protection since Johnson’s death.
Kansas City to meet San Francisco in Super Bowl LVII
Super Bowl 58 is all set. The Kansas City Chiefs will meet the San Francisco 49ers in a rematch of the big game in 2020.
On Sunday, Jan. 28, Patrick Mahomes, Travis Kelce, and the Chiefs defeated the Baltimore Ravens 17-10 to become AFC Champions on their way to the team’s fourth Super Bowl in five years. The Chiefs are hoping for back-to-back Super Bowl wins. And yes, Taylor Swift was there to celebrate.
Later in the day, Brock Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, and the 49ers, down 17 points to the Detroit Lions at halftime, rallied historically to win the NFC championship 34-31. Super Bowl 58 takes place on Feb. 11 in Las Vegas.
Tags: Alejandro Mayorkas, Baltimore Ravens, Bennie Thompson, Climate Activism, Climate Change, Department of Homeland Security, Detroit Lions, Donald Trump, England, France, Gaza, Hamas, House Committee on Homeland Security, House of Representatives, Impeachment, Iran, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Joe Biden, Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas, Lindsey Graham, Mark Green, NFL, Olympics, San Francisco, San Francisco 49ers, Taylor Swift, U.S. military, U.S. Senate, United Nations
PRESIDENT BIDEN SAYS THE U.S. WILL RESPOND AFTER THREE TROOPS ARE KILLED IN AN ATTACK IN JORDAN
AND — CLIMATE ACTIVISTS TARGET ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS PAINTINGS IN THE WORLD
THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.
TODAY IS MONDAY, JANUARY 29TH.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
I’M KARAH RUCKER.
PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN VOWS AMERICA WILL RESPOND AFTER THREE U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS WERE KILLED IN JORDAN NEAR THE SYRIAN BORDER ON SUNDAY IN A DRONE ATTACK THE WHITE HOUSE SAYS WAS LAUNCHED BY AN IRAN-BACKED MILITIA.
THIS MARKS THE FIRST U.S. MILITARY DEATHS AMID MONTHS OF STRIKES IN THE REGION SINCE THE START OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR.
IN A STATEMENT IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE ATTACK – THE PRESIDENT CALLED THE THREE SERVICE MEMBERS “PATRIOTS IN THE HIGHEST SENSE.”
AT LEAST 34 OTHER U.S. SERVICE MEMBERS WERE INJURED IN THE ATTACK —
AT LEAST 8 OF THEM WERE FLOWN TO “HIGHER-LEVEL CARE” OUTSIDE JORDAN.
THE SERVICE MEMBERS WHO WERE KILLED HAVE NOT YET BEEN IDENTIFIED.
AND OFFICIALS HAVE NOT SAID WHICH IRAN-BACKED GROUP WAS BEHIND THE ATTACK.
SEVERAL REPUBLICAN LAWMAKERS ALSO REACTED TO THE ATTACK BY CALLING FOR ACTION.
SENATOR LINDSEY GRAHAM POSTING ON X – THAT THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION’S “RHETORIC IS FALLING ON DEAF EARS” AND THE U.S. SHOULD “HIT IRAN NOW.”
FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP POSTED TO TRUTH SOCIAL – BLAMING THE ATTACK ON QUOTE “JOE BIDEN’S WEAKNESS AND SURRENDER.”
DEFENSE SECRETARY LLOYD AUSTIN SAYS AMERICA WILL TAKE NECESSARY ACTIONS TO DEFEND THE U.S. AND AMERICAN TROOPS.
FALLOUT CONTINUES TO GROW FOR THE MAIN UNITED NATIONS AGENCY IN GAZA – AFTER ISRAEL ACCUSED TWELVE OF ITS STAFF MEMBERS OF BEING INVOLVED IN THE TERROR ATTACKS BY HAMAS ON OCTOBER 7TH.
AFTER BEING NOTIFIED OF THE ALLEGATIONS LAST WEEK – THE UN SAID IT FIRED SEVERAL EMPLOYEES OF THE UNITED NATIONS RELIEF AND WORKS AGENCY.
THE UNITED STATES IS AMONG A NUMBER OF COUNTRIES TO PAUSE FUNDING TO THE UN AGENCY.
THE STATE DEPARTMENT SAID THE U.S. “IS EXTREMELY TROUBLED BY THE ALLEGATIONS” AS THE AGENCY PLAYS “A CRITICAL ROLE IN PROVIDING LIFE-SAVING ASSISTANCE TO PALESTINIANS” IN GAZA.
THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL SAID HE IS “HORRIFIED BY THE ACCUSATIONS” THAT AGENCY WORKERS HELPED HAMAS STAGE THE ATTACKS.
BUT HE ASKED THE COUNTRIES SUSPENDING THEIR AID TO RECONSIDER.
THE US HAS LONG BEEN THE AGENCY’S LARGEST DONOR.
PROVIDING HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR.
HOUSE REPUBLICANS HAVE RELEASED TWO ARTICLES OF IMPEACHMENT AGAINST DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY ALEJANDRO MAYORKAS
HOUSE REPUBLICANS ACCUSE MAYORKAS OF “WILLFULLY…REFUSING TO COMPLY” WITH THE LAW AND “BREACHING PUBLIC TRUST” AS IT RELATES TO ENFORCING IMMIGRATION LAWS AT THE U.S.-MEXICO BORDER.
HOUSE HOMELAND SECURITY COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN MARK GREEN SAYING THEY HAVE “EXHAUSTED ALL OTHER OPTIONS TO HOLD MAYORKAS ACCOUNTABLE.”
MAYORKAS HAS DENIED ANY WRONGDOING —
DHS OFFICIALS CALLING THE INVESTIGATION UNCONSTITUTIONAL AND WITHOUT EVIDENCE.
THE ARTICLES WILL BE REVIEWED IN COMMITTEE ON TUESDAY, AND WILL HAVE TO BE ADOPTED BY THE FULL HOUSE BEFORE A TRIAL IS HELD IN THE SENATE.
HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON SAYING A VOTE WILL TAKE PLACE “AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.”
CLIMATE ACTIVISTS HAVE TARGETED THE MONA LISA.
VIDEOS RECORDED AT THE LOURVE (LEW-VE) IN PARIS ON SUNDAY SHOWS TWO PROTESTERS HURLING SOUP AT THE FAMOUS PAINTING – SPLASHING THE ARMORED GLASS THAT HAS PROTECTED THE PIECE OF ART SINCE 2005. PARIS POLICE TOOK THE TWO WOMEN INTO CUSTODY.
AN ENVIRONMENTAL GROUP SAYS THE PROTEST WAS DONE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO UNSUSTAINABLE FOOD PRODUCTION AND HUNGER IN FRANCE.
STAFF MEMBERS EVACUATED THE ROOM FOR AROUND 90 MINUTES WHILE THE GLASS WAS CLEANED.
THE MUSEUM SAYS IT WILL FILE A COMPLAINT.
THREE MONTHS AFTER AN AMERICAN HOCKEY PLAYER WAS KILLED FROM AN “ICE SKATE BLADE-CUT” TO HIS NECK — CHANGES ARE BEING IMPLEMENTED FOR YOUNG HOCKEY PLAYERS.
IT WAS IN LATE OCTOBER WHEN FORMER NHL PLAYER ADAM JOHNSON SUFFERED A FATAL NECK INJURY WHILE PLAYING IN ENGLAND.
ON SUNDAY – “USA HOCKEY LEADERSHIP” APPROVED LEGISLATION REQUIRING ALL PLAYERS UNDER THE AGE OF 18 TO WEAR NECK LACERATION PROTECTION TO GAMES AND PRACTICES.
USA HOCKEY RECOMMENDS ADULTS WEAR NECK PROTECTION TOO.
IN DECEMBER – THE “INTERNATIONAL HOCKEY FEDERATION” MANDATED NECK GUARDS IN ALL OF ITS TOURNAMENTS – INCLUDING THE OLYMPICS.
AS OF NOW – THE NHL HAS NO SUCH POLICY – THOUGH SOME PLAYERS HAVE CHOSEN TO WEAR NECK PROTECTION SINCE JOHNSON’S DEATH.
FINALLY THIS MORNING – SUPER BOWL 58 IS ALL SET.
THE KANSAS CITY CHIEFS WILL MEET THE SAN FRANCISCO 49ERS IN A REMATCH FROM THE BIG GAME IN 20-20.
ON SUNDAY — PATRICK MAHOMES, TRAVIS KELCE AND THE CHIEFS DEFEATED THE BALTIMORE RAVENS 17-10 TO BECOME AFC CHAMPIONS — ON THEIR WAY TO THE TEAM’S FOURTH SUPER BOWL IN FIVE YEARS. THE CHIEFS HOPING FOR BACK-TO-BACK SUPER BOWL WINS.
LATER IN THE DAY – BROCK PURDY, CHRISTIAN MCCAFFREY ,AND THE 49ERS – DOWN 17 POINTS AT HALFTIME TO THE DETROIT LIONS — RALLIED IN HISTORIC FASHION — WINNING THE GAME 34-31 — AND THE NFC CHAMPIONSHIP.
SUPER BOWL 58 TAKES PLACE FEBRUARY 11TH IN LAS VEGAS.
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WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.
UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY!
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