Biden orders flags to half-staff in honor of Sen. Feinstein

Biden has no plans to meet with McCarthy over GOP budget impasse

President Biden has no plans to meet House Speaker McCarthy ahead of a possible government shutdown. McCarthy says he and the president should meet to discuss the impasse, but White House budget director Shalanda Young says there’s already a budget agreement in place. If a shutdown occurs, it would halt paychecks for many of the roughly 2 million federal employees, plus some 2 million active-duty military troops and reservists.

GOP’s 3rd debate will have stricter requirements

There could be fewer candidates at the next Republican presidential debate. The third GOP debate will be held in Miami six weeks from now, and candidates will be facing more challenging requirements to take part. White House hopefuls must secure 4 percent of the vote in multiple polls and 70-thousand unique donors to earn a spot on the stage. At this week’s debate here in California, seven candidates were at the debate. With more stringent requirements, it’s likely to be a smaller line-up of debate participants in South Florida.

Trump in California for GOP state convention

Former President Trump is in California to address the state’s GOP convention. He may have skipped out on the 2nd debate this week, but Trump is in Los Angeles to speak directly to Republican Party leaders and voters. He’s the keynote at the state’s GOP convention today. Interestingly, the state GOP has changed its rules and any candidate who pulls in more than 50 percent of the primary vote will be awarded all 169 delegates. This winner-takes-all rule makes it possible for Trump to sweep the delegates in March and move closer to clinching the Republican nomination.

Biden already focused on Trump in 2024 White House race

In the 2024 election campaign, President Biden is already focused on Donald Trump. The president was here in California for a meeting and fundraisers on the same day of the GOP debate, but he wasn’t paying much attention to the seven Republican contenders. On the debate stage, the White House hopefuls criticized the president’s economic and climate policies, but Mr. Biden is already zeroing in on Trump. He’s been increasingly calling out his predecessor by name and referring to him as his “likely opponent” for 2024.

Trump had GOP debate presence despite his absence

Republican candidates took aim at Donald Trump for skipping the debate at the Reagan presidential library. He may have been physically absent, but Trump was very much a part of the debate discussion. Ron DeSantis and Chris Christie were the most vocal in criticizing the former president. Trump, who also skipped the first debate, held a competing event in Michigan with autoworkers.

Serious issues were debated amid some GOP squabbling

At the Republican debate, candidates faced questions about issues including education, economic policy, and the southern border. Some of the candidates’ squabbling drew plenty of attention, but there also was substance on display. Republicans warned about the threat of a rising China, supported parents’ rights in public schools, and criticized President Biden’s economic and climate policies. With Donald Trump holding a commanding lead, the candidates here hope their debate performances will help them break from the pack and rise in the polls.

GOP candidates attack Biden, Trump, each other in 2nd debate

At the second GOP debate, candidates attacked President Biden and, occasionally, each other. Early in the two-hour debate on Fox Business, GOP hopefuls, including Mike Pence and Ron DeSantis, were united in their criticism of the president. Then there was bickering between Republicans, including Nikki Haley versus Vivek Ramaswamy. And Chris Christie was among some candidates who took a swing at Donald Trump.

Debate stage positions set for 7 GOP presidential candidates

Some of the GOP presidential candidates will be standing in different spots on tonight’s debate stage in California. The stage positions are based on polling numbers and Ron DeSantis will be center stage despite some recent struggles. He’ll be flanked by Vivek Ramaswamy and Nikki Haley in the number 2 and 3 positions. Farther out, it’ll be Tim Scott and Chris Christie, with Mike Pence and Doug Burgum on the wings. The venue for this second debate is the Air Force One pavilion here at the Reagan presidential library.

GOP candidates begin arriving at Reagan library debate venue

Republican candidates have begun arriving at the Reagan Presidential Library ahead of tonight’s primary debate. Former Governor Chris Christie and entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy are among the early-arriving candidates. They’re walking the grounds of the Reagan library and checking the venue ahead of tonight’s 9pm debate. Ramaswamy told reporters he doesn’t do “traditional debate prep” and that he’ll be focused on telling voters what he and his campaign are all about. He also said he’ll draw some inspiration from the 40th president after spending time here at the Reagan library and museum.

Candidates looking to break out at 2nd Republican debate

GOP debate participants will try and gain more traction in the race for the White House. The seven candidates who will debate this evening are hoping to break out of the pack. So far in this primary election season, Donald Trump holds a commanding lead over all of his rivals. With Trump skipping tonight’s debate, White House hopefuls are once again looking for an opening and hoping to deliver a performance that will move them up in the polls.

Trump to skip 2nd GOP debate, meet with union workers

Former President Trump will be a no-show again for the second Republican primary debate. Making good on his promise to not “do the debates,” Trump is skipping the event here in California as he did the first debate in Milwaukee last month. Once again, he’s dialed in to counterprogramming – this time with a primetime speech to union workers in Michigan. Trump argues that he, not President Biden, is the United Auto Workers union’s best choice for the White House. GC, Simi Valley, CA.

Biden, Trump to visit striking auto workers in Michigan

Presidential politics will be on display in Michigan this week as the auto workers strike continues. Both President Biden and former President Trump are traveling to the Detroit area to show support for striking auto workers. Michigan figures to be a key battleground in next November’s election. Trump carried the state in 2016 and Biden won it in 2020. So far, the United Auto Workers union has not endorsed a candidate for 2024.

Trump lashes out at news media, Joint Chiefs chairman

Pacific Island leaders meet with Biden at White House

Warning signs for Biden in two new national polls

U.S. to allow Israeli citizens to visit without a visa

Pro-lifers criticize Trump’s recent abortion ban comments

Donald Trump is feeling the heat after calling Florida’s six-week abortion ban a “terrible mistake.” Trump has called himself “the most pro-life president in American history,” but pro-life leaders and rival GOP candidates are criticizing his recent abortion comments. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds tweeted that it’s never a “terrible thing” to protect innocent life.” SBA Pro-Life America said anything later than a 15-week abortion ban “makes no sense.” And the president of Students for Life Action sent an open letter to Trump, declaring “the pro-life vote is up for grabs.”

GOP presidential candidates to meet in 2nd debate this week

This week’s GOP presidential primary debate will be held at the Ronald Reagan presidential library.
Wednesday’s Republican debate will be the 5th one hosted by the Reagan library and CEO David Trulio tells the Salem Radio Network it’s an ideal venue. Trulio says they expect about a thousand people to be on the Reagan library and museum grounds for the debate.

New political party could affect election in swing states

A new political party is gaining traction ahead of the 2024 presidential election. The group No Labels has secured ballot access in Arizona and 10 other states and says it’s on track to hit 20 before the year is over and all 50 by Election Day next year. In Arizona, more than 15-thousand people have registered to join the party, which is floating a possible bipartisan “unity ticket” against Joe Biden and Donald Trump. Fifteen thousand is greater than Biden’s winning margin in Arizona in 2020 — and it’s a number big enough to tip the presidential election in a critical swing state.

Biden invites Israel’s Netanyahu to DC by the end of the year

President Biden plans to meet with Israel’s prime minister in Washington before the end of the year.  The president met with Prime Minister Netanyahu in New York this past week. But that location — a hotel instead of the White House — was widely seen in Israel as a sign of the Biden administration’s displeasure with Netanyahu’s new government. Israeli leaders are typically invited to the Oval Office within weeks of starting their tenure. Such a visit is still possible, though. On Wednesday, the president invited the prime minister to Washington by the end of the year.

Biden to join picket line of striking auto workers in Michigan

Biden announces creation of Office of Gun Violence Prevention

President Biden has announced the creation of the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Declaring that more action is needed, the president said Vice President Harris will lead the new Office of Gun Violence Prevention. Gun safety activists have demanded creation of the office and the goal is to keep the issue front-and-center as the president pushes for a ban on military-style rifles.

Questions asked about Biden repeating story at same event

Questions are being asked about President Biden repeating a story twice at the same event. According to a White House transcript of the president’s remarks at a New York fundraiser this week, Mr. Biden repeated the same story within a matter of minutes. He explained how the 2017 Charlottesville, Virginia, white supremacist rally prompted him to run for president. And then repeated the same story. Asked about it by reporters, the White House press secretary would only say that the president gets “incredibly emotional” when talking about his reasons for running.