EPA mulls EV transition delay amid pushback from lawmakers, automakers
A bipartisan rally in Ohio on Thursday, Feb. 22, highlighted growing opposition to the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed emissions standards. These regulations aim to mandate that two-thirds of new vehicles sold in the U.S. be electric by 2032. However, the rules have drawn criticism from lawmakers and autoworkers who argue that the timeline is overly ambitious.
“It’ll be devastating for working class people because it’s going to cost them their jobs, it’s going to mandate that they buy electric vehicles, which are much more expensive and a lot less reliable for the things that they need to do to live and work every day,” Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted said. “You see that this is a bipartisan group of people who are saying no to the Biden administration’s EPA mandates that would mandate 67% of cars be electric by 2032, which means that industry has to start immediately changing.”
In addition to the demonstration in Ohio, over 130 members of Congress have penned a letter to President Joe Biden and EPA Director Michael Reagan, expressing concerns from both sides of the aisle about the feasibility of the emissions plan.
“We write to highlight the failures of this Administration’s hasty and costly transition to electric vehicles,” the group of lawmakers wrote. “This rule is contradictory to all conventional predictions about where the automobile industry is headed in the coming years, including this administration’s own Department of Energy.”
The congressional members contend that the proposed regulations are “unrealistic” and “absurd.” The letter argues this rule could have adverse effects on American families and businesses, while potentially increasing reliance on foreign markets, particularly China. The lawmakers also pointed to federal energy reports which predict that only one out of five new vehicles will be EVs by 2050.
Amid this pushback, reports indicate that the EPA is considering delaying the implementation of the emissions plan until after 2030 to allow automakers more time to comply. Under this revised timeline, regulations would ramp up sharply to achieve the goal of EVs comprising 67% of U.S. new car sales by 2032 and create roughly the same greenhouse gas reductions as the original proposal by 2055.
The initial plan, which would have begun impacting vehicles manufactured in 2027, prompted major automakers like Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors, along with the United Auto Workers union, to request a deadline extension.
However, environmental advocates argue that delaying the implementation of this intuitive comes with risks of its own.
Dan Becker, the director of the Safe Climate Transport Campaign at the Center for Biological Diversity, told The Washington Post that waiting until 2030 will result in “more pollution, more sick kids, more global warming, [and] more oil use.”
Organizations like the Sierra Club have urged the EPA to move forward with its original plan, emphasizing the detrimental effects of air pollution on public health.
These groups say that over 137 million Americans, more than one-third of the nation’s population, are currently exposed to harmful levels of air pollution, which stricter emissions standards could help alleviate in the short term.
“We need strong clean car standards to deliver vital relief that the most highly impacted communities demand and deserve,” the Sierra Club wrote. “The United States is the world’s second largest country emitter, and transportation is the largest portion (29%) of total US greenhouse gas emissions.”
A decision on what these regulations will ultimately look like has not been made yet. The EPA’s final ruling on emissions regulations is expected by March at the earliest.
Alabama set to conduct first nitrogen gas execution in U.S.: The Morning Rundown, Jan. 25, 2024
Alabama is set to conduct the first execution of a death row inmate by nitrogen gas in U.S. history. And the FAA halts Boeing from expanding its production on certain planes following the Alaska Airlines midair scare. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Thursday, Jan 25, 2024.
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Alabama to proceed with first nitrogen gas execution in the U.S.
The first execution of a death row inmate by nitrogen gas is expected to take place within hours in Alabama after the Supreme Court declined to halt the inmate’s request to pause the execution. The court did not explain its ruling on Wednesday, Jan. 24, as the justices did not side with Kenneth Smith and his attorneys.
Smith’s legal team was looking for more time to argue that the state trying to execute him for a second time would be unconstitutional, falling under the category of cruel and unusual punishment. An appeals court also declined to halt the execution.
Execution by nitrogen gas is only approved in three states: Alabama, Oklahoma, and Mississippi. But Alabama is the only state to outline its protocol so far, saying it will use a mask to deliver the nitrogen.
Critics of the new method include the United Nations, whose Human Rights Office said it “could amount to torture or other cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment under international human rights law.” The Alabama Attorney’s General office claimed the use of nitrogen gas is the “most painless and humane method of execution known to man.”
Ohio bans gender-affirming care for minors
Despite a veto from Gov. Mike DeWine, Ohio’s Republican-dominated senate voted to ban gender-affirming care for minors and bar transgender women and girls from competing on sports teams. In a senate vote to override DeWine’s veto, the law passed and bans gender-affirming surgeries and hormone therapies and restricts mental health care for transgender patients under 18. The law also bars transgender girls and women from joining girls’ and women’s sports teams from K through 12 and collegiate sports.
The law is expected to go into effect in 90 days, after it was pushed through in a 24-8 vote in the state senate. One Republican voted against the measure. While Gov. DeWine vetoed the measure, citing government overreach, he did sign an executive order in early January banning gender-affirming surgeries for minors, even though medical professionals have insisted those surgeries aren’t happening in the state.
“This choice is clear. Joe Biden bet on the American worker while Donald Trump blamed the American worker,” UAW President Shawn Fain said.
In 2023, the UAW orchestrated a massive walk-out during negotiations with Detroit’s Big Three automakers for better wages. The months-long strike ended with historic deals signed by the union, and President Biden became the first modern-day president to hit a picket line in a show of support for the American worker.
This is why Fain said the choice is clear, calling former President Donald Trump a “scab,” and added that he is a billionaire who does not represent the American worker; he is the type of “company man trying to squeeze the American worker.”
UAW’s endorsement is a big win for Biden as he looks to garner more support from working-class Americans. The UAW also endorsed Biden during the 2020 election.
U.N.’s top court to make initial ruling in Israel genocide case
Should the 17-judge panel grant South Africa’s requests, it’s unclear if Israel will comply with the court’s order. While rulings by the court are legally binding, there is no way to enforce them.
Israel has called the genocide allegations “grossly distorted,” saying the country has a right to defend itself and it is fighting Hamas, not Palestinian civilians. The United States has called South Africa’s case meritless.
FAA approves path for grounded Boeing jets to return after panel incident
Boeing said it will work with the airlines to complete these inspections. Alaska and United Airlines, which have been forced to cancel hundreds of flights consistently, said they expect to have some of the planes back in service by this weekend. At the same time, the FAA is not allowing Boeing to expand production of the 737 Max jets.
The FAA said that the halt is needed to ensure accountability by Boeing, adding that it will not agree to any requests for expansion until Boeing resolves quality control issues.
Jon Stewart returning to host ‘The Daily Show’ on Mondays
This time around, Stewart will only be on Monday nights and only throughout the 2024 presidential election cycle. Stewart most recently hosted a show on Apple TV+, but it was canceled after two seasons following reports of conflict between Stewart and Apple over its coverage of China and artificial intelligence.
Along with part-time hosting duties, Stewart will also serve as executive producer for every episode of “The Daily Show” through 2025.
America’s 4 largest automakers forego Super Bowl ads for first time in decades
For the first time in 23 years, America’s four largest automakers are all skipping out on Super Bowl ads. There will be no promos featuring Ford, Toyota, General Motors or Chrysler during commercial breaks of the big game.
The move is a sharp turn from just a few years ago when a large chunk of commercials were bought up by automakers to promote electric vehicles (EVs). There are several reasons why people will be seeing fewer commercials like those this year.
Super Bowl commercial spots don’t come cheap. A 30-second slot is said to run about $7 million dollars, according to AdAge’s archive.
Super Bowl LVIII comes on the heels of the Big Three automakers suffering billions of dollars in losses from the United Autoworkers Union’s six-week strike last year for higher wages.
Auto companies are scrambling to cut costs, figuring out the future of their industry and whether an investment in EVs will eventually pay off. Right now, the transition is coming at a cost.
There have been high interest rates paired with slow consumer demand. Carlos Tavares, CEO of Stellantis, Chrysler’s parent company, said the current challenges the market faces are the reason why the company won’t be creating clever ads for this year’s Super Bowl.
On Friday, Jan. 19, Tavares warned of an EV bloodbath if automakers are forced to slash prices because of the stagnant market.
“If you go and cut pricing disregarding the reality of your costs, you will have a bloodbath,” Tavares said at an Amsterdam event. “I am trying to avoid a race to the bottom.”
Looking at the auto industry, Tesla’s profitability took a 40% hit year-over-year after lowering prices to increase demand. Ford is slowing EV production and boosting gas vehicle output after admitting its EV line is losing billions of dollars.
GM had to stop selling its latest EV model due to software issues, laid off 1,300 workers in Michigan and is cutting EV production. Stellantis has also taken the route of layoffs to save costs and is closing factories.
While Ford, Toyota, GM and Chrysler decided to save and skip out on Super Bowl ad spending, there will still be other competing car companies featured in this year’s commercials. Foreign-owned companies like Kia and Volkswagen are set to display their latest EV models during Super Bowl LVIII on Feb. 11.
UAW to weigh whether Biden calls for Israel-Hamas cease-fire when deciding endorsement
Will the Israel-Hamas war stand in the way of President Biden getting the backing of one of the nation’s most powerful labor unions? Shawn Fain, the president of the United Auto Workers union, indicated the president’s policy on the Israel-Hamas war and whether he calls for a cease-fire will factor into the UAW board’s decision on endorsing him.
“That’s a decision the president has to make,” Fain said when asked if the president had talked to him about a cease-fire. “But our stance from day one of my administration has been that our endorsements will be earned, not freely given anymore.”
Fain made the statement at the U.S. Capitol building, where he appeared with Reps. Cori Bush, D-Mo., Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich., Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y. The group met there to call for a permanent cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war.
“Thousands of our members have called with concerns about this issue,” Fain said. “That’s why we discussed this as a board. And it’s why we decided to weigh in on it. Because, you know, we have a lot of members that are concerned that we need a cease-fire and we need peace.”
Fain said there are many factors that play into the union’s endorsements, and he would not say if there is one single issue that will be determinative, even when asked directly.
“We still have a lot to talk about with our endorsements going forward,” Fain told Straight Arrow News. “We don’t have any decisions made yet. And that’ll play out, you know, as as the board meets and as our membership, as we discuss things with them. We’re not ready to even talk on that issue yet as far as what will and won’t determine an endorsement.”
Fain said the decision will be made by the UAW’s 14-member board in consultation with its members.
Media Miss: Unions won at least 10% wage increases for 900K workers in 2023
Union have been busy in 2023 as they have successfully negotiated wage increases of 10% or more for 900,000 workers across the U.S., according to a CNN analysis. Some deals resulted from high-profile strikes by auto workers and Hollywood actors and writers.
According to the Straight Arrow News Media Miss™ tool, this story is a Media Miss for the right. The Media Landscape indicates that while left-leaning and center-oriented outlets are covering this story, fewer – if any – right-leaning outlets are reporting on the topic.
We will continue to move mountains.
Shawn Fain, UAW President
On Monday, Nov. 20, the UAW announced that 64% of union members voted to ratify record-breaking deals with Detroit’s big three automakers. Those deals come after more than six weeks of walkouts by UAW members.
At its peak, 46,000 union members hit the picket line and cost the three automakers, Ford, General Motors and Stellantis, a combined $4.2 billion in losses.
“With a united UAW that is more unified than I have seen in my 29 years, actually in my life, if we are not afraid to fight, we can win,” said Shawn Fain, UAW president. “And we will continue to move mountains.”
In the entertainment industry, the Writers Guild of America and SAG-AFTRA virtually shut Hollywood production down this year as the groups negotiated for better pay and job protections.
While the 11,000 writers and 160,000 actors represented by the two unions didn’t reach 10% wage increases, there were major victories as a result of the strikes, including protections from AI.
Preliminary estimates reported by Reuters put the economic impact of the Hollywood strikes at more than $6 billion.
The economic impact of strikes in 2023 has been clearly illustrated. Meanwhile, several other unions have been able to strike deals by merely threatening to strike.
The Teamsters union struck an agreement with UPS covering nearly 350,000 workers, and the Culinary union reached a series of deals to avoid strikes at 18 casinos across the country.
Even non-union members, especially non-union auto workers, are reaping the benefits of powerful unions. Department of Labor data shows the average hourly wage in October was up 18% compared to just three years ago.
Straight Arrow News strives to provide unbiased, fact-based news in addition to offering a comprehensive look at how the media is covering stories that matter most. Learn more about the Media Miss™ tool and decide for yourself.
The deal, which still needs to be voted on by 43,000 union members, mirrors an agreement between Ford and the union and includes a 25% pay increase over the next 4 1/2 years, including an 11% increase as soon as the deal is ratified.
The union said the tentative agreement not only saves 5,000 jobs Stellantis was planning to cut, but also adds 5,000 jobs. According to the union, the deal saves jobs at a plant in Belvidere, Illinois that Stellantis had planned on closing.
“Stellantis more than doubled the total value of the proposals they had on the table.”
UAW President Shawn Fain
UAW President Shawn Fain announced the tentative deal on social media on Saturday, Oct. 28.
“Once again, we have achieved what just weeks ago we were told was impossible. The power of the ‘Stand-Up Strike” cannot be understated,” Fain said. “Over the 44 days we were on strike, Stellantis more than doubled the total value of the proposals they had on the table.”
The agreement, if ratified, would run through April 30, 2028. According to UAW Vice President Rich Boyer, the union won $19 billion worth of investments across the U.S.
Hours after the Stellantis agreement, the union expanded its strike against General Motors, added a walkout at a Tennessee plant. The expansion brought the total number of GM workers on strike to roughly 18,000.
The deal with GM, yet to be ratified, includes 25% wage increases, like that of the other two tentative deals.
President Biden weighed in on the tentative agreement between the union and Stellantis on social media saying, “It’s a testament to the power of unions and collective bargaining to build strong middle-class jobs and help our nation’s most iconic companies thrive.”
The strikes have cost the Detroit Big Three automakers billions of dollars in lost production. On Thursday, Oct. 26, Ford declared that it alone lost $1.3 billion due to the strikes, and the new deal, if ratified, will cost the company an additional $850 to $900 in labor costs for every vehicle produced.
Maine community reflects after state’s worst mass shooting: The Morning Rundown, Oct. 30, 2023
A Maine community comes together to heal just days after the state’s worst mass shooting. And Panera Bread adds warnings to a caffeinated drink after the death of an Ivy League student. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Monday, Oct. 30, 2023.
A vigil was held at the Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul in Lewiston, Maine, near where a gunman opened fire at a bowling alley and restaurant last Wednesday, Oct. 25, killing 18 and injuring 13 others. The deceased victims ranged in age from 14 to 76.
Leaders of various faiths spoke to the massive crowd on the resilience of the town of 40,000, with one reverend saying the tragedies, fear and anxiety will not define the community and will not dictate their future.
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The body of the suspected shooter, 40-year-old Robert Card, was discovered on Friday, Oct. 27, at a recycling facility where he recently worked. Authorities said Card died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Investigators found a multitude of firearms while searching for the suspect and added that the weapons used in the shooting had been purchased legally.
While a motive is still under investigation, authorities said Card had a history of mental illness.
Maine had a total of 29 homicides last year. According to the Associated Press, this shooting brings the total number of mass killings in the U.S. this year to 36.
More aid arrives in Gaza as Israel increases its ground operation
The largest aid convoy since the start of the war between Israel and Hamas arrived in Gaza on Sunday, Oct. 29.
Nearly three dozen trucks brought food and medical supplies to the territory, according to the United Nations, saying it is still a fraction of what civilians need.
The IDF said Monday, Oct. 30, it hit hundreds of Hamas targets over the past several days.
The World Health Organization said several health facilities in Gaza have been damaged, and hospitals are continuing to receive evacuation orders from Israel, saying it is impossible to do so without endangering patients’ lives.
According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the death toll since Israel began its strikes has risen above 8,000 people, adding that many are children.
The White House said President Joe Biden spoke to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday, Oct. 27, reiterating that Israel has every right to defend its citizens from terrorism while underscoring the need “to do so in a manner consistent with international humanitarian law that prioritizes the protection of civilians.”
UAW reaches tentative deal with Stellantis, GM
The United Auto Workers Union reached a tentative deal with General Motors Monday morning, according to CNBC and multiple outlets.
The terms of the GM deal were not immediately known.
The agreement follows the union reaching a deal with Chrysler’s parent company, Stellantis, over the weekend.
Forty-four days into the “Stand-Up Strike,” 14,000 Stellantis workers on the picket line returned to work.
The Stellantis deal, which still needs to be voted on by 43,000 union members, mirrors an agreement between Ford and the union and includes a 25% pay increase over the next 4 1/2 years, including an 11% increase as soon as the deal is ratified.
The union said the tentative agreement not only also saves 5,000 jobs Stellantis was planning to cut, it also adds an additional 5,000 jobs.
UAW President Shawn Fain announced the tentative deal on social media on Saturday, Oct. 28.
“Once again, we have achieved what just weeks ago we were told was impossible. The power of the “Stand-Up Strike” cannot be understated,” Fain said. “Over the 44 days we were on strike, Stellantis more than doubled the total value of the proposals they had on the table.”
Hours after the Stellantis agreement, the union expanded its strike against General Motors, adding a walkout at a Tennessee plant. The expansion brought the total number of GM workers on strike to roughly 18,000.
In a statement, GM said it was disappointed in UAW’s call to expand its strike, adding that the company has bargained in good faith and it hopes to reach an agreement soon.
It would take a two days more for a tentative deal between GM and the union to be reached.
Judge reinstates gag order on Donald Trump in federal 2020 election case
On Sunday night, Oct. 29, the judge overseeing the federal case charging Donald Trump with trying to overturn the 2020 election results reinstated a gag order she issued on the former president in early October.
The order bars Trump, who has denied any wrongdoing in the case, from making public comments that target the special counsel, court staff and witnesses.
U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan imposed the order two weeks ago at the request of the Justice Department, but the former president quickly appealed, and the judge temporarily froze the order a few days later.
Chutkan reinstated the gag order on Sunday after prosecutors cited recent social media comments by Trump about his former chief of staff, who is likely to be a witness in the case.
Last week, in a separate case in New York, Trump was fined $10,000 after that judge said he violated a gag order for the second time.
Donald Trump is currently the Republican front-runner for the 2024 Presidential Election. Over the weekend, the GOP field narrowed as his former vice president, Mike Pence, dropped out of the race, saying, “This is not my time.”
Panera updates drink warning after lawsuit over student’s death
Panera Bread has announced it is updating its warnings online and in-store concerning its caffeinated lemonade beverage.
The change comes after a lawsuit was filed by the family of University of Pennsylvania student Sarah Katz last week.
The suit alleged Katz, who had a heart condition, died after drinking Panera’s charged lemonade last year.
The charged lemonade drink contains 390 milligrams of caffeine. The FDA says 400 milligrams is the daily maximum amount of caffeine a healthy adult can safely consume.
The suit claimed Panera failed to adequately warn its customers about the drink’s ingredients.
Panera told NBC News that while the caffeine content of the lemonade was always listed in-store, out of an “abundance of caution,” the company has enhanced its disclosures for the beverage over the past several days.
Now, a warning reads to use the drink in moderation, and it’s not recommended for children, pregnant or nursing women, or people sensitive to caffeine.
SAG-AFTRA, studio remember Matthew Perry
As negotiations between Hollywood actors and studios continued over the weekend to reach a deal to end the 109-day strike, both sides took a moment to remember a “friend.”
Authorities said there were no signs of foul play. Perry, who starred in the 90s NBC sitcom “Friends,” was 54.
Warner Bros. Television Studios, which produced the series, said, “Matthew was an incredibly gifted actor and indelible part of the Warner Brothers Television Group.”
“GM and Honda will share our best technology, design and manufacturing strategies to deliver affordable and desirable EVs on a global scale, including our key markets in North America, South America and China,” GM CEO Mary Barra said at the time. “We’ll sell more EVs in the U.S. than anyone else and to do that, you need to have a portfolio of vehicles. We definitely can scale and can do it quickly.”
Their goal had been to build millions of EVs that would cost less than $30,000 by the year 2027. Additional plans included working together on future battery technology to reduce the cost of electrification while improving the performance and drive sustainability of future models. With the decision to abandon their ventures now official, Barra has admitted that “as we get further into the transformation to EV, it’s a bit bumpy.”
“Last year, we began working on an affordable EV program for global markets, which was slated for introduction in 2027,” GM spokesperson Sanaz Marbley said. “After extensive studies and analysis, we have come to a mutual decision to discontinue the program. Each company remains committed to affordability in the EV market.”
“We are not providing new targets, but are moving to a more agile approach to continually evaluate EV demand and adjust production schedules to maximize profitability,” GM CFO Paul Jacobson said. “The observation about slowing EV demand growth is something that everybody’s been talking about.”
Honda CEO Toshihiro Mibe indicated as much when announcing the end of the company’s cheaper EV partnership with GM, telling Bloomberg that “after studying this for a year, we decided that this would be difficult as a business, so at the moment, we are ending development of an affordable EV.”
Honda also said, despite the end of this initiative, the company would continue alongside GM with other joint EV projects. Additionally, Honda has indicated that its plans to sell only electrified vehicles by 2040 remain in place.
The union called on Ford workers to head back to work, though the deal still has to be voted on by 57,000 union members.
According to the UAW, Ford workers will receive a 25% increase in wages along with a cost-of-living raise, which puts the pay increase over 30%. This is a jump from the start of bargaining when Ford offered 9% wage increases.
The union added that this deal helps in putting pressure on the other two automakers to reach a settlement. During past UAW strikes, when one deal has been made, others followed.
The UAW strike began on Sept. 15 targeting three assembly plants in Michigan, Missouri, and Ohio. Since then, the strike has grown to encompass eight assembly plants and 38 parts and distribution centers in 22 states.
On Oct. 11, the UAW expanded the strike to include Ford’s most profitable truck plant located in Louisville, Kentucky. That day, 8,700 workers walked off the job.
“Ford is proud to assemble the most vehicles in America and employ the most hourly autoworkers,” the statement read. “We are focused on restarting Kentucky Truck Plant, Michigan Assembly Plant, and Chicago Assembly Plant, calling 20,000 Ford employees back to work and shipping our full lineup to our customers again.”
Meanwhile, according to the UAW, on Tuesday, Oct. 24, 5,000 autoworkers walked out at General Motors’ Arlington, Texas, assembly plant, shutting down operations at GM’s largest and most profitable plant. That brings the number of GM-employed autoworkers on strike to 45,000.
Manhunt underway for person of interest in Maine mass shooting: The Morning Rundown, Oct. 26, 2023
A manhunt is underway after a mass shooting in Maine left multiple people dead. And, after three weeks, the United States has a new speaker of the House. These stories and more highlight the Morning Rundown for Thursday, Oct. 26, 2023.
Manhunt underway for suspect in Maine mass shooting
Police have not yet confirmed the number of casualties in the mass shooting. Still, according to reports, at least 16 to 22 people were killed, and dozens of others, reportedly up to 50 people, were injured, some by gunfire, and others were hurt while running from the shots.
Though authorities have not identified a suspect, they are working to locate a person of interest identified as Robert Card, 44, who is considered armed and dangerous.
Card is described as a trained firearms instructor and is believed to be in the Army reserve. Reports indicate he recently reported having mental health issues and had threatened to shoot up a National Guard base. Reports said he had been committed to mental health facility for two weeks this past summer.
“We have literally hundreds of police officers working around the state of Maine to investigate this case, to locate Mr. Card, who is a person of interest and a person of interest only, and we will continue to gather information so we can bring the suspect to justice,” Commissioner Mike Sauschuck said.
Authorities issued a shelter-in-place order for residents of Lewiston, as well as in nearby Lisbon, where police recovered a vehicle said to belong to Card.
Federal officials said President Joe Biden, the FBI, and the Department of Homeland Security have all been briefed on the situation.
If the number of deaths reaches 22, it would make this shooting the deadliest in the United States since the 2019 mass shooting at an El Paso Walmart, where 23 people were killed, according to the Gun Violence Archive.
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Biden speaks on a two-state solution, questions Gaza death toll
Overnight, Israel said it conducted a “targeted” raid on terrorist sites in northern Gaza using tanks before leaving the area, say it was preparing for the “next stages of combat.”
On Wednesday, Oct. 25, the president expressed what he said is a vision for what comes next in the region after the war, saying, “It has to be a two-state solution.”
Biden called for a concentrated effort from Israelis, Palestinians and global leaders to create a path for peace.
Speaking at a joint press conference outside the White House with Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, the president once again expressed the United States’ support of Israel’s right to defend itself but urged Israel to abide by the rules of war and protect civilians.
The president was asked about the death toll in Gaza, reported by the Hamas-run Health Ministry at more than 6,500. Biden responded by questioning the accuracy of Hamas’ reporting.
“I have no notion that the Palestinians are telling the truth about how many people are killed. I’m sure innocents have been killed,” Biden said. “I think that Israelis should be incredibly careful to be sure that they’re focusing on going after the folks that are propagating this war against Israel, and it’s against our interests when that doesn’t happen. But I have no confidence in the number that the Palestinians are using.”
All 209 House Democrats voted for their party’s leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries, R-N.Y.
Johnson was the GOP’s third choice for speaker, following Rep. Kevin McCarthy’s, R-Calif., historic ouster earlier this month. Congressmen Tom Emmer, R-Minn., Steve Scalise, R-La., and Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, all withdrew their nominations after not being able to get enough votes.
The judge had called Trump to the stand to question him about remarks he made earlier in the day to reporters when the former president said the person sitting next to the judge was “very partisan.”
Trump told the judge he was referring to his former attorney, Michael Cohen, who had been testifying against him.
The judge said he found Trump’s testimony “not credible,” and since he believed Trump was referring to his law clerk, that meant the former president had violated the gag order issued earlier this month, barring the 2024 GOP frontrunner from disparaging court staff.
This was the second time the judge fined Trump for violating the gag order during his civil fraud trial, where he’s being accused of inflating his financial assets. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
United Auto Workers reaches tentative deal with Ford
A breakthrough in the nearly six-week-long strike by auto workers against the Detroit Big Three automakers Ford, GM, and Stellantis.
According to the UAW, Ford workers will receive a 25% wage increase and a cost-of-living raise, which puts the pay increase over 30% — a jump from the start of bargaining when Ford offered 9% wage increases.