Biden urges Congress to avoid government shutdown

President Biden is urging Congress to avoid a government shutdown at the end of the month. With the clock ticking toward the fiscal year deadline at the end of September, the president weighed in on the need for a stopgap spending bill, saying it’s critical. Lawmakers are far from finishing work on the dozen annual appropriations bills that will fund federal agencies during the next fiscal year. So they’ll need to approve a temporary measure to prevent a partial shutdown on October first.

Biden is hosting foreign leaders in his Delaware hometown

Biden on pursuit of Mideast peace: “We have to keep at it”

President Biden is refusing to give up on the idea of peace in the Middle East. The president was asked if it’s realistic to pursue a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas with the recent violence and ongoing military action. He said “a lot of things don’t look realistic until we get them done. We have to keep at it.” Speaking at the start of a Cabinet meeting, Mr. Biden said his administration is working to make sure the people in northern Israel and southern Lebanon are able to safely return to their homes.

Trump says Jewish voters will be to blame if he loses

Donald Trump is putting pressure on Jewish Americans ahead of the November election. In a speech at a donor event sponsored by the Israeli-American Council, the former president promised to be “the best friend Jewish Americans have ever had in the White House.” He said he would be their “defender” and “protector.” Trump went on to say that Jewish voters who support Vice President Harris and Democrats “should have their heads examined,” and he warned that, if he loses, the Jewish people would have “a lot to do with that.”

Biden to host Quad leaders in hometown of Wilmington

Biden says interest rate cut sends “important signal” on inflation

President Biden welcomes the lowering of interest rates by the Federal Reserve. In a speech to the Economic Club of Washington, DC, the president said Wednesday’s half-point cut by the Fed sends an “important signal.” But he acknowledged there’s “more to do” to keep lowering prices. Inflation, which rose to a four-decade high during the Biden administration, has come down to an annual rate of 2 and-a-half percent.

Teamsters union will not endorse a 2024 presidential candidate

The Teamsters union is declining to endorse Donald Trump or Kamala Harris for president. For the first time since 1996, the Teamsters labor union will not formally support a presidential candidate. The group said neither former President Trump nor Vice President Harris had sufficient support from its 1-point-3 million members. The non-endorsement is a setback for Harris, who just met with the Teamsters on Monday. According to the union, internal polling of Teamsters members showed Trump with an advantage over Harris.

Biden calls falling inflation, rates an “important moment”

President Biden says the Federal Reserve’s rate cut shows that the economy is strong. Without addressing the specifics of the Fed’s half-point interest rate reduction, the president said the country has “reached an important moment.” He pointed to falling inflation and interest rates, saying economic indicators remain strong. The Biden White House generally refrains from commenting on the independent actions of the Federal Reserve, but a spokesperson called the rate cut a “moment of progress.”

Blinken: ongoing attacks could “derail” cease-fire talks

The Biden administration is frustrated that recent attacks could “derail” Israel-Hamas cease-fire talks.
Secretary of State Blinken said the U-S is still assessing how a deadly series of pager explosions linked to Israel in Lebanon may impact cease-fire efforts. Speaking in Cairo, Egypt, he also pointed to Hamas’ killing earlier this month of six hostages held in Gaza. Blinken said such events make the cease-fire process “more difficult” and “might derail it.” The secretary is on his 10th trip to the Middle East since the war in Gaza began last October.

Trump, Harris aides join White House transition meeting

Representatives from the Trump and Harris transition teams met at the White House this week. For the first time, aides to Donald Trump and Kamala Harris participated in a meeting of the White House Transitioning Coordinating Committee. It was hosted by President Biden’s chief of staff. The Presidential Transition Act mandates that the candidate representatives join the committee as advisers to help make plans to smooth the handoff to the next administration. Preparations cover a range of issues, including office space, political appointee vacancies, and memos on agency operations

Harris and Trump speak by phone after gunman’s threat

Vice President Harris spoke with Donald Trump following the weekend threat on the former president’s life. The 2024 presidential nominees talked on the phone Tuesday afternoon. According to the White House, the vice president called “to speak with [Trump] directly” to express her gratitude that “he is safe.” It was described as a “cordial and brief conversation.” The call came one day after President Biden spoke with Trump. He, too, conveyed his relief that Trump was unharmed after a gunman was found near him on the golf course Sunday.

Biden denounces political violence, Trump blames Dems

President Biden is repeating his denunciation of political violence. In the aftermath of another close call involving the life of Donald Trump, the president said there’s no place for political violence in America “none, zero, never.” He said taking up arms to settle political differences doesn’t solve anything. Meanwhile, Trump is blaming Joe Biden and Kamala Harris for inspiring violence with their comments that he’s a threat to democracy.

Trump, Harris push ahead with campaigning after Sunday’s threat

The Trump and Harris campaigns are pushing ahead with their scheduled events after Sunday’s threat against the former president. Donald Trump is sticking to his previously announced schedule this week with stops in Michigan, New York and Washington, DC. Meanwhile, Kamala Harris is visiting Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin as her campaign focuses on the so-called “blue wall” states.

Trump and Biden speak by phone after gunman’s threat

President Biden spoke with Donald Trump after another threat on the former president’s life. The two men talked on the phone Monday afternoon. According to the White House, Mr. Biden conveyed his relief that Trump is safe. Officials say the two “shared a cordial conversation” and that Trump expressed thanks for the call. In a campaign statement, Trump described it as a “very nice call” and said “it was about Secret Service protection.”

Vance makes appeal to pro-life voters

Vice Presidential nominee JD Vance says the GOP ticket is the clear choice for pro-life voters this November.  Speaking to an evangelical audience at the Faith & Freedom Coalition gala in Georgia, Vance said pro-life voters should support Donald Trump. Several Christian leaders, including former VP Mike Pence, are unhappy with the GOP removing from its 2024 platform a call for a national ban on abortion. Vance did not explicitly address that issue, but praised Trump for nominating three Supreme Court justices who helped strike down abortion rights at the federal level.

Potential Trump assassin charged in federal court

Charges have been filed against the suspected would-be assassin who staked out Donald Trump’s golf course. During a West Palm Beach federal court hearing, prosecutors brought two charges against Ryan Routh — possessing a firearm despite a prior felony conviction and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number. Officials said he could face up to 15 years in prison if convicted on the first charge, and a possible five-year sentence on the second charge. A bond hearing has been scheduled for later in the month

Biden: “Thank God” Trump is OK after apparent threat

President Biden says Congress should provide more resources to the U-S Secret Service. A day after a gunman was seen near Donald Trump, President Biden expressed relief that Trump was not harmed. He also told reporters that lawmakers should provide more resources to the U-S Secret Service. Meanwhile, Congress has requested a briefing on the latest incident from the Secret Service.

Biden, Harris denounce political violence aimed at Trump

President Biden and Vice President Harris are denouncing the possible assassination attempt of Donald Trump. The president issued a statement expressing relief that Trump was unharmed and he commended the work of the Secret Service and other law enforcement. Mr. Biden said “there is no place for political violence or for any violence ever in our country.” In a separate White House statement, Vice President Harris said she was “deeply disturbed” by the incident. She said she was thankful her opponent is safe and condemned political violence.

Trump vows to “never surrender” after 2nd assassination target

Former President Trump says he “will never surrender” following another apparent assassination attempt on his life. After being whisked away from his golf course when Secret Service agents spotted a nearby gunman, the former president sent fundraising emails to his supporters saying he was “safe and well.” Trump wrote that his “resolve is only stronger” and that he “will never give up.” His campaign credited the Secret Service for protecting Trump, describing the agency’s action as “great work.”

FBI investigating attempted assassination of Trump

Law enforcement officials are investigating a potential assassination attempt of Donald Trump.  The former president was uninjured after a man was found with a weapon near his golf course in West Palm Beach, Florida. The suspected gunman was later taken into custody. In a statement, the FBI said the incident “appears to be an attempted assassination.” The Palm Beach County Sheriff said U.S. Secret Service agents fired at a man pointing an AK-style rifle with a scope into the club as Trump was on the course. He said the gunman was about 400 to 500 yards away from Trump and hiding in shrubbery.

Trump safe after gunshots fired in his vicinity in Florida

After rejecting another debate, Trump leaves the door open

Former President Trump is rejecting another debate with Vice President Harris — for now. On Thursday, Trump emphatically ruled out debating Harris again before the November election. But on Friday, he suggested that he could change his mind. At a news conference in California, Trump said perhaps he would agree to another debate if he “got in the right mood.” The vice president has challenged him to another debate and Fox News Channel has proposed three possible locations and dates in October. But, for now, the answer is no.

Federal Appeals Court puts election betting on hold

A federal appeals court has blocked legally sanctioned bets on American elections. Late last week, the DC Circuit Court of Appeals put on hold a New York company’s betting platform on congressional races. The court issued an order temporarily freezing the matter until it can consider and rule on the issue. The Commodity Futures Trading Commission appealed an earlier go-ahead from a federal judge, warning that allowing election bets risked serious harm from people trying to manipulate the election for financial purposes.

Biden proposes larger tax on 100 biggest U.S. corporations

The Biden administration wants the largest U-S companies to pay more in taxes. Under the administration’s proposal, about 100 of the biggest corporations would be forced to pay at least 15 percent of their profits in taxes. The Treasury Department says the corporate alternative minimum tax would raise 250-billion over the next decade. Without it, officials estimate that those companies would pay just two-and-a-half percent of their profits in taxes. Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump opposes the corporate tax.