Trump cancels “major news conference” on alleged fraud

U.S. OKs F-16s transfer from Netherlands, Denmark to Ukraine

The United States has given its approval for the Netherlands and Denmark to deliver F-16s to Ukraine.  The F-16 approval is a major gain for Ukraine even though the fighter jets won’t have an impact on the war with Russia any time soon. Ukraine has long pleaded for the sophisticated fighter to give it a combat edge. It was not immediately clear when the first F-16s might be sent, but it could be a few months, followed by several more for aircraft training. Washington’s blessing for the plane donations was needed because the aircraft are made in the United States.

Biden holds Camp David summit with Japan, S.Korea

President Biden holds a summit with the leaders of Japan and South Korea. It’s the first summit of the Biden presidency and it’s being held at the Camp David presidential retreat. The president’s meeting with South Korea’s president and Japan’s prime minister comes as the U-S aims to improve security and economic cooperation between the two countries. Japan and South Korea have had a difficult history, but the relationship has improved because of their shared concerns about China’s assertiveness in the Pacific and North Korea’s persistent nuclear threats.

Focus on economy not boosting Biden’s approval

President Biden’s recent focus on the economy has not helped him in public opinion polls. The president has made the economy a central focus of his re-election campaign and he’s traveled the country touting the economic impact of his policies. But his message doesn’t appear to be resonating with the public. According to a new AP-NORC poll, the president’s overall approval number is 42 percent, but only 36 percent of adults approve of his handling of the economy.

Biden to host Japan, S.Korea summit at Camp David

President Biden is preparing to host a summit tomorrow [FRI] with Japan and South Korea. The president will meet with Japan’s prime minister and South Korea’s president at the Camp David presidential retreat in Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains. Mr. Biden is bringing these two world leaders together to improve relations between their countries and to discuss their shared concerns about Chinese aggression. The president hopes the history and symbolism of Camp David, plus its less formal atmosphere, will lead to productive talks.

Bidens to visit fire-ravaged western Maui next week

President Biden and the first lady will travel to Maui next week in the aftermath of the deadly wildfires. The Bidens will meet Monday with survivors of the fires, as well as first responders and other government officials. According to a statement from the White House press secretary, they will “see firsthand the impacts of the wildfires…as well as discuss the next steps in the recovery effort.” The president and his staff have been assured that a presidential visit next week would not disrupt search and recovery efforts.

Georgia’s GOP gov. disputes Trump’s election fraud claims

Biden touts economic policies in Milwaukee ahead of GOP debate

Georgia hits Trump, 18 allies with racketeering charges in 2020 probe

In the Georgia indictments, former President Trump and 18 others are charged with the state’s racketeering law. Prosecutors are using a statute normally associated with mobsters to accuse Trump, lawyers and other aides of a “criminal enterprise” to keep him in power. Among the acts cited in the nearly 100-page indictment are Trump’s recorded phone call asking Georgia’s Republican secretary of state to find enough votes for him to win — and a plot to access voting machines and steal data from a voting machine company.

Trump, 18 others charged in Georgia election scheme

Donald Trump is one of 19 people facing criminal charges in Georgia over efforts to overturn his 2020 election loss in the state. The former president’s fourth indictment was widely expected. But unlike the others, this set of criminal charges has a long list of co-defendants. They include former White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, Trump attorneys Rudy Giuliani, John Eastman, and Sidney Powell, and former Justice Department official Jeffrey Clark. The defendants can voluntarily surrender by noon a week from Friday.

FEMA pledges help to Maui wildfire victims

Federal officials are pledging to help thousands of people displaced by the Maui wildfires. FEMA administrator Deanne Criswell said her agency has started to provide 700-dollars to displaced residents to cover the immediate cost of food, water, first aid, and medical supplies. In addition, there is a FEMA hotel program. In a White House briefing, Criswell said “nothing can prepare” people for the severity of destruction and loss of life — and that the U-S is mourning with the victims.

Hunter Biden’s attorneys try to revive part of plea deal

The Justice Department has until Tuesday to respond to Hunter Biden’s attorneys about reviving part of a plea deal. Hunter Biden’s legal team is pushing to keep part of a plea deal they reached with the prosecutor. His attorneys argued in court documents that an agreement sparing him prosecution on a felony gun charge still is in place even though the plea deal on misdemeanor tax offenses largely unraveled last month. The prosecutor, Delaware U.S. Attorney David Weiss, has since been named a special counsel in the Biden investigation.

Trump, Desantis among GOP hopefuls at Iowa State Fair

Former President Trump arrived at the Iowa State Fair this weekend with a dozen Florida lawmakers. It was a move aimed squarely at Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who also courted voters at the fair on Saturday. DeSantis is running a distant second to Trump, who attracted large crowds at the fairgrounds. Mike Pence, Nikki Haley, and Vivek Ramaswamy were among other GOP candidates making the rounds in Des Moines. Iowa’s state fair is a traditional stop for White House hopefuls and it comes a couple of weeks before the first Republican presidential debate. GC, Wash.

Inflation Reduction Act’s name prompts second-guessing

The Inflation Reduction Act’s name is coming under scrutiny, even from President Biden. At a fundraiser in Utah last week, the president said he wished he “hadn’t called it that,” acknowledging that the law would have “less to do with reducing inflation” than other results. When the legislation was proposed, the Congressional Budget Office said its impact on inflation would be “negligible.” And Republicans criticized the name, too. Even former Obama economic adviser Jason Furman said he can’t “think of any mechanism” by which the law would have reduced inflation.

More questions about America’s aging politicians

More and more questions are being asked about some of the country’s aging politicians. 80-year-old President Biden isn’t the only politician in Washington who’s facing scrutiny about his fitness for office. Last week, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell prompted health concerns when he froze at a press conference and was briefly unable to speak. Earlier this year, the 81-year-old McConnell was out of the Senate for almost six weeks after falling and hitting his head. And 90-year-old Democratic Sen. Dianne Feinstein missed more than two months as she recovered from a bout of shingles.

Former GOP Gov. Daniels says no to third-party presidential run

A former GOP governor says “no thanks” to running a third-party presidential ticket. Republican Mitch Daniels worked in the Reagan and George W. Bush administrations before becoming governor of Indiana. He said he’s had informal conversations with backers of the centrist group No Labels. But Daniels told Politico he is not considering a third-party bid on behalf of the organization. No Labels says it is seeking ballot access in many states and will run a bipartisan “unity ticket” for president “if the two parties select unreasonably divisive presidential nominees.”

If elected, DeSantis says RFK Jr. could lead FDA or CDC

Presidential candidate Ron DeSantis says there could be room for Robert F. Kennedy Jr. in his administration. DeSantis said in an interview that if elected, he might pick RFK Jr. to head a federal health agency. The Florida governor said he generally agrees with Kennedy’s views on COVID-19 policies and vaccines. DeSantis quickly came under fire from a fellow Republican presidential hopeful. Former Vice President Mike Pence issued a statement saying he would “only consider pro-life Americans to lead the FDA, CDC, or HHS.” Pence said “pro-abortion Democrats like RFK Jr. would not even make the list.

Fed offers little guidance about future interest rate hikes

The Federal Reserve boosted interest rates this week, but it’s unclear if more hikes are in the future. On Wednesday, the Fed raised its key interest rate for the 11th time in 17 months as part of its ongoing drive to curb inflation. But chairman Jerome Powell provided little guidance about when — or whether — the central bank might hike rates again. Powell said the economy has proved surprisingly resilient despite the Fed’s rapid rate hikes.

Hunter Biden’s legal woes to stay in spotlight after plea deal collapsed

Hunter Biden’s legal woes will remain in the spotlight after his plea deal fell apart this week. In a bizarre and surprising development, the plea arrangement between Justice Department prosecutors and Hunter Biden’s attorneys collapsed. The plea deal was meant to clear the air for the younger Biden, but his case will continue to generate distracting headlines. What’s next? The federal judge asked both parties to file additional legal briefs defending the constitutionality of the plea deal, and the parties have 30 days to file those briefs.

Trump faces new charges in classified docs case

Former President Trump is facing new charges in the classified documents case. The updated indictment includes new counts of obstruction and willful retention of national defense information. According to the superceding indictment, Trump asked a staffer to delete camera footage at his Florida estate in an effort to obstruct the federal investigation. The special counsel also brought new criminal charges against a maintenance worker at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. A Trump spokesperson dismissed the new charges as continued efforts to “harass” Trump and influence the 2024 presidential race.

Biden to welcome Italy’s conservative PM for talks

President Biden welcomes Italy’s prime minister to the White House for talks. When the conservative Giorgia Meloni won Italy’s election last September, the president warned about the rise of hard-right populism, and the White House didn’t hide its disagreement with the new prime minister’s policies. However, Biden officials say that Meloni has proven to be a steady ally in the U.S.-led effort to assist Ukraine against Russia’s invasion — and the war will be a main focus of today’s Oval Office meeting.

Shifting White House language about Hunter Biden’s business dealings

There are renewed questions about President Biden’s knowledge of his son’s overseas business dealings. Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre was asked about a change of language by the White House concerning President Biden and his son’s business dealings. In the past, the president has said that he never discussed overseas business dealings with his son. But now the White House says the president has never been in business with his son. Asked which statement is true, the spokeswoman insisted that “nothing has changed.”

In courtroom twist, Hunter Biden pleads not guilty to tax crimes

Hunter Biden has pleaded not guilty to two tax crimes after a plea deal fell through at the last minute. In a surprise courtroom twist, Hunter Biden’s plea deal unraveled after the federal judge raised concerns. During the hearing, there was a dispute over whether the initial agreement gave Biden protection against any future charges. With the judge delaying action on the original plan, the president’s son pleaded not guilty to two tax crimes. The younger Biden has also been charged with possession of a firearm by a person who is a known drug user, which is a felony.

Hunter Biden’s plea deal falls apart in Delaware courtroom

Hunter Biden’s plea deal on two tax charges fell apart at the last minute in a Delaware courtroom. A federal judge hearing Hunter Biden’s case expressed concern over a related agreement on a more serious gun possession charge. It quickly became clear that prosecutors and defense lawyers had different understandings on the scope of future charges that could be brought against the president’s son. As a result, the original plea deal appears to have unraveled. Heading into the hearing, Republicans had argued that the younger Biden was getting a sweetheart deal.