Biden to observe March on Washington’s 60th anniversary

Second GOP Debate slated for Sept 27 in California

The second Republican presidential primary debate will take place a month from now. Now that Wednesday’s opening GOP debate is history, the next one is set for September 27th at the Ronald Reagan presidential library in California. For debate number 2, the Republican National Committee has set higher polling and fundraising thresholds for candidates to qualify. Frontrunner Donald Trump easily qualifies, but has said he will “not be doing the debates.” At this point, six others have qualified for the debate — Ron DeSantis, Mike Pence, Vivek Ramaswamy, Nikki Haley, Tim Scott, and Chris Christie.

Trump embraces historic mug shot after 4th criminal arrest

Donald Trump is embracing his historic mug shot that was taken at a jail in Georgia last week. When the former president turned himself in on Thursday after facing felony charges in a conspiracy case, he had his picture taken in the Fulton County Jail. Trump is seen with a stern look in his mug shot. Instead of treating the photo like political poison, he is embracing it. Trump posted the image on social media and his campaign is already selling mug shot t-shirts with the words “never surrender.” Trump has been arrested on criminal charges four times in recent months.

Frustrated NY Dems plead with Biden for migrant assistance

New York Democrats are pleading for President Biden to help them deal with a surge of migrants. After months of private requests to the White House, New York Governor Kathy Hochul went public with her request for urgent action. She announced this week that she sent a letter to the president asking for federal assistance. Over the last year an estimated 100-thousand asylum seekers have gone to the state, straining resources and filling homeless shelters. New York City Mayor Eric Adams, also a Democrat, has repeatedly blamed the Biden White House for not responding more quickly to the problem.

Biden thinks Putin was behind suspicious plane crash

After long absence, Trump returns to Twitter — now X

Former President Trump has posted a message on the social media site formerly known as Twitter for the first time in two-and-a-half years. A few hours after getting booked on felony charges at a jail in Atlanta in a 2020 election interference case, Trump posted his mug shot on the site now known as X. Below the photo, it reads: “election interference, never surrender!” followed by his website address. The last time he posted on Twitter was January 8th, 2021, shortly after the U.S. Capitol riot. Trump was banned from the site, but his account was reinstated last November.

Trump booked at Georgia jail, mug shot released

Former President Trump was booked at a jail in Atlanta on charges that he illegally schemed to overturn the 2020 election in Georgia. Trump spent about 20 minutes inside the Fulton County Jail, where he surrendered to law enforcement authorities. This time, unlike his bookings in three other cases, there’s a mug shot of the ex-president. The photo shows him staring at the camera with an angry scowl. Before departing Atlanta, Trump maintained his innocence, telling reporters he “did nothing wrong” and that “what has taken place…is a travesty of justice.”

Ukrainian pilots to begin training on U.S. F-16s in Oct.

Ukrainian pilots will begin training on F-16 fighter jets this fall. The United States will begin flight training in October after the Ukrainian pilots receive English language training next month. A Pentagon spokeswoman says the training for several pilots and dozens of aircraft maintenance crew will take place in Arizona. Ukraine’s president has repeatedly called on its Western allies to provide the military fighter jets to strengthen its counteroffensive against Russia’s invasion.

Trump to be arraigned in Georgia 2020 election racketeering charges

Former President Trump will surrender to authorities today [THU] in Georgia’s racketeering case. Trump will be arraigned at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta on 2020 election conspiracy charges. The former president says he will be “wrongfully arrested by a radical left District Attorney.” His appearance today comes one day after former New York Mayor and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani turned himself in. The remaining co-defendants must surrender by noon tomorrow.

GOP candidates squared off in first debate minus Trump

In their first debate, eight Republican presidential candidates were united against President Biden, but they disagreed on some key issues. Most of the GOP contenders vowed to support Ukraine in its war with Russia, but the notable exception was Vivek Ramaswamy. Former UN Ambassador Nikki Haley told him he has “no foreign policy experience, and it shows.” When Haley called for “consensus” on abortion, former Vice President Mike Pence said that was the “opposite of leadership.” And two of the eight candidates said they would not support Donald Trump if he’s the party’s nominee.

Eight White House hopefuls will participate in 1st GOP debate

Eight White House hopefuls will participate in the first GOP presidential primary debate. With former President Trump skipping the debate, Ron DeSantis and Vivek Ramaswamy will stand center stage in Milwaukee, flanked by Mike Pence and Nikki Haley. The RNC says Chris Christie and Tim Scott will be in the number 5 and 6 positions, with Asa Hutchinson and Doug Burgum standing on the wings. Fox News moderators have said topics will include the war in Ukraine and abortion.

GOP candidates to debate in Milwaukee without Trump

Milwaukee is the site of the first Republican presidential primary debate of the 2024 election cycle. Nine GOP candidates qualified for the debate, but only eight will be on stage this evening. Pointing to his large lead in the polls, Donald Trump will not participate. The other eight, especially those polling in the low single digits, hope to grab more of the spotlight and create a break-out moment during the two-hour debate. A few candidates who did not meet the RNC’s donor and polling requirements are blasting the process as “corrupt” and “rigged.”

Conservative attorney surrenders in GA election interference case

A conservative attorney indicted along with Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference case turned himself in to authorities. John Eastman, who pushed a plan to keep Trump in power, was booked at the Fulton County jail and is expected to have an arraignment in the coming weeks. He’s one of 19 people facing criminal charges from an alleged illegal plot to overturn the 2020 election. Eastman said in a statement provided by his lawyers that he was surrendering “to an indictment that should never have been brought.” Trump has said he will surrender on Thursday.

Non-qualifying GOP debate candidates unhappy with RNC

GOP presidential candidates who didn’t qualify for this week’s debate are not happy with the Republican Party. A total of 9 candidates met the RNC’s donor and polling requirements to be on stage in Milwaukee. Among those who didn’t make the cut are radio host Larry Elder, businessman Perry Johnson, and former Congressman Will Hurd. Elder and Johnson argue the process to qualify is “rigged” and “corrupt” and they’re threatening legal action. Hurd also blasted the party for its requirement to sign a pledge supporting the ultimate GOP nominee.” It’s a requirement he calls “antithetical to the democratic process.”

GOP candidates react to Trump’s decision to skip debate

Reaction from GOP presidential hopefuls about Donald Trump’s decision to skip this week’s debate. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie accuses the former president of lacking “the guts to show up” and calling him “a coward” if he doesn’t. A spokesman for the Ron DeSantis campaign says “No one is entitled to this nomination…You have to show up and earn it.” Former Vice President Mike Pence has said he looks forward to debating his former boss face to face. Trump has a large lead in the polls and has questioned the need to square off against rivals with low poll numbers.

Trump’s bond set for $200,000 in Georgia election case

Donald Trump’s bond has been set at 200-thousand dollars in the Georgia election interference case. Terms have been set for the former president’s surrender this week on election interference charges in Georgia. Under the bond agreement, Trump is not allowed to communicate with witnesses or co-defendants about the case. Authorities are also prohibiting him from direct or indirect threats, including in “posts on social media.” Trump and 18 others who were indicted must surrender at the Fulton County jail in Atlanta by noon on Friday.

Trump dominates GOP field in new Iowa poll

Donald Trump has a double-digit lead over his GOP presidential rivals in a new Iowa poll. According to the first Des Moines Register/NBC News poll of the Republican primary season, Trump is ahead of his closest challenger by more than 20 percentage points. The former president is favored by 42 percent of likely GOP caucusgoers in Iowa. Ron DeSantis is second with 19 percent, followed by Tim Scott with 9 percent. Trump’s advantage is the largest Republican caucus lead in this poll since 2000.

Trump to skip opening GOP presidential debate in Milwaukee

Donald Trump will be a no-show at this week’s Republican presidential primary debate. The former president has confirmed that he’ll be skipping Wednesday night’s first GOP debate of the 2024 election season. Writing on his social media site, Trump said the public knows him and he will “not be doing the debates.” It wasn’t immediately clear if he plans to boycott more than this week’s debate in Milwaukee, but Trump has said for some time that he sees little upside in joining his Republican rivals on stage given his commanding lead in the race.

Bidens to visit fire-ravaged western Maui

President Biden and the first lady will visit Maui in the aftermath of deadly wildfires. Upon arrival in Maui, the Bidens will take an aerial tour by helicopter. Afterwards, they will visit the devastated town of Lahaina to survey the wildfire damage firsthand. While on the ground, they will get briefed by federal, state, and local officials. The first couple also will meet with emergency responders, survivors, and members of the community.

Biden closely monitoring Tropical Storm Hilary

President Biden is keeping close tabs on Tropical Storm Hilary as it lashes southern California. The president spoke with California’s governor Sunday afternoon “about the emergency preparedness measures in place, and the initial response to Tropical Storm Hilary.” In a statement, Mr. Biden said he continues to be briefed on the storm’s potential impact” He pledged additional federal assistance as requested and urged California residents “to take this storm seriously.”

Mortgage rates, gas prices bite into Biden’s econ message

Mortgage rates and gas prices are two indicators that are biting into President Biden’s economic message. Even though there’s evidence that inflationary pressures are easing, two economic indicators are causing more pain for Americans. Last week, the average long-term U.S. mortgage rate jumped to more than 7 percent — its highest level in 20 years. That’s tough news for would-be homebuyers already facing high home prices caused by a lack of supply. And according to Triple-A, the national average price of gas has increased about 30 cents per gallon over the past month.

Poll: economists don’t expect Fed rate increases

Economists do not expect the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates over the next few months. A Reuters survey of economists shows that a strong majority believe the Fed is likely done raising interest rates. Ninety percent of 110 economists polled expect the Fed to keep the federal funds rate in the 5-and-a-quarter to five-and-a-half percent range at its September meeting. A slight majority now expect the central bank to wait at least through the end of March before cutting them. Any Fed action will depend on inflation.

Trump lawyers seek long delay in Jan. 6th federal trial

Donald Trump’s legal team is requesting a long delay in his federal trial on charges that he plotted to overturn the 2020 election. After Special Counsel Jack Smith proposed a trial start date of this coming January, Trump lawyers asked for the trial to begin in April of 2026. That would be nearly a year-and-a-half after the 2024 election. The former president’s legal team cited a “massive” amount of paperwork they have to review and scheduling conflicts with Trump’s other criminal cases. U.S. District Judge Tanya Chutkan is expected to set at least a tentative trial date during a court hearing at the end of this month.

US, Japan and South Korea agree to expand security and economic ties