U.S. tweaks rules on airline fees and passenger refunds

The Biden administration is out with new rules on airline fees and refunds. New rules announced by the Transportation Department will spell out exactly when consumers are owed a refund for a delayed flight. That used to be up to the airlines. Under a separate rule, airlines will be required to disclose the price of baggage fees and ticket-change fees when travelers are first shown the trip’s fare. Passengers also must be told that they aren’t required to pay extra for a seat.

Biden campaigns on abortion issue in Florida

President Biden took his abortion-rights message to Florida. At a campaign event in Tampa, the president blasted the state’s upcoming six-week abortion ban and similar restrictions nationwide. He said Donald Trump was responsible. Democrats hope to make Florida competitive in the presidential election, but the state has become more reliably Republican in the last decade.

White House blasts “sham” process in Russia’s detention of U.S. reporter

The United States is unhappy with Russia’s latest rejection of an appeal from an imprisoned journalist. Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich will remain jailed on espionage charges until at least late June. This, after a Moscow court rejected his appeal that sought to end his pretrial detention. Reaction from White House national security spokesman John Kirby called it a “sham process” and said Gershkovich “is a reporter; he’s not a spy, he’s not a criminal.” Gershkovich was detained more than a year ago.

Biden criticized for response to pro-Palestinian campus protests

Biden administration issues privacy rule protecting abortion

The Biden administration has issued a privacy rule protecting abortion. The new rule bans the disclosure of protected health information related to reproductive health. It is aimed at protecting women living in states where abortion is illegal who travel out of state to have the procedure done. The rule also protects healthcare providers, insurers, or other entities which perform or pay for abortions.

Historic criminal trial of Donald Trump begins in New York

Opening arguments and testimony began today [MON] in Donald Trump’s New York criminal trial. A prosecutor opened the historic trial by saying Trump tried to illegally influence the 2016 presidential election. Prosecutor Matthew Colangelo said actions taken to conceal payments to Stormy Daniels amounted to “election fraud, pure and simple.” But defense attorney Todd Blanche argued that Trump “is innocent” and that trying to influence an election “is called democracy,” not a crime. The trial could last up to two months.

Biden announces $7 billion in solar panel grant money

President Biden used Earth Day to announce new federal money for residential solar projects. The president touted 7-billion dollars in federal grants to help low-and middle-income households get rooftop solar panels. The grant money is part of the 27-billion dollar “green bank” created as part of the 2022 climate law. That bank has faced Republican opposition and concerns over accountability for how the money gets used.

Biden campaign tries to blunt RFK Jr’s White House bid

Joe Biden’s campaign team is concerned about Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s independent presidential campaign. More than six months before the election, President Biden appeared with more than a dozen members of the Kennedy family last week to receive their endorsement. It was hardly a surprise that many in the prominent Democratic family announced their support for the president. But the event indicated how seriously the Biden campaign views the potential threat of RFK Jr’s campaign. On the same day his family embraced Joe Biden, Kennedy Jr secured a place on the ballot in the battleground state of Michigan.

White House has no comment on reported Israeli strike on Iran

The Biden administration is not commenting on the reported Israeli retaliatory strike against Iran.  The White House press secretary opened her daily briefing on Friday by announcing that she would not discuss any developments in the Middle East. She and her counterparts at the National Security Council refused to comment on reported Israeli drone strikes on a major air base in Iran. Earlier, Secretary of State Blinken declined to confirm the reported attack, only saying that the U-S “has not been involved in any offensive operations.”

Biden receives endorsement from Kennedy political family

President Biden has won endorsements from more than a dozen members of the Kennedy political family. At a campaign stop in Philadelphia, Kerry Kennedy, a daughter of former Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy, made it official. The endorsement is notable because of Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s independent presidential campaign. Highlighting the Kennedy family’s support is an indication of how seriously the Biden campaign views the the threat of RFK Jr siphoning off Democratic voters.

U.S. imposes new rounds of sanctions on Iran

The United States has issued new sanctions against Iran after its attack on Israel. In a move to punish Iran for its unprecedented attack on Israel last weekend, the Biden administration has imposed a new round of sanctions. They target 16 individuals and two entities involved in Iran’s drone production. In a White House statement, the president said he had directed the Treasury Department “to continue to impose sanctions that further degrade Iran’s military industries.” He also repeated that “the United States is committed to Israel’s security.”

Senate dismisses Mayorkas impeachment charges without trial

The Senate has dismissed all impeachment charges against President Biden’s Homeland Security secretary. The Republican-led House impeached Alejandro Mayorkas, charging him with refusing to comply with immigration law and for “breach of trust” for saying the border was secure. But Democrats who control the Senate argued that the articles were unconstitutional and ended the impeachment process without a trial. The top GOP senator said “history will not judge this moment well,” while the White House said the Senate rightly voted down, what it called, “this baseless impeachment.”

Biden backs House Speaker’s Ukraine, Israel aid package

President Biden said he strongly supports a proposal from House Speaker Mike Johnson to provide aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan. In a White House statement, the president said he was on board with the speaker’s approach, promising to sign the package into law immediately. He said it would send a message to the world — that the United States stands “with our friends, and we won’t let Iran or Russia succeed.”

Biden wants to triple tariffs on Chinese steel

President Biden proposes raising tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum. Pitching an election-year plan in Pittsburgh, the president claimed that China is not competing fairly when it comes to steel and aluminum. Only 3 percent of steel imports come from China, but the president told American steel workers that he’s asking the U.S. Trade Representative to triple the tariffs on China.

Biden touts “Scranton values” in economic campaign pitch

President Biden returned to his childhood hometown to draw contrasts between his economic vision and Donald Trump’s. Campaigning in Pennsylvania, the president embraced what he called “Scranton values” versus “Mar-a-Lago values.” Mr. Biden claimed that Donald Trump and Republicans want the wealthy to pay less in taxes, make seniors work longer before retirement, and cut Medicare. The president’s focus on the economy comes as Americans continue to face stubborn inflation and elevated interest rates.

White House not involved in Israel’s response to Iran

The White House says the U-S is not involved in deciding Israel’s response to Iran’s missile attack over the weekend. National Security spokesman John Kirby says whether or how to respond is Israel’s decision to make. Kirby reiterates that the United States does not seek a war with Iran and does not want tensions to escalate in the region.

Biden kicks off three-day swing to swing state Pennsylvania

President Biden kicks off a three-day swing to Pennsylvania. The president’s travel will be a mix of official and campaign events with stops in Scranton, Pittsburgh, and Philadelphia. This week’s trip underscores the importance of a swing state like Pennsylvania in November’s election. Last weekend, Donald Trump campaigned there — holding a rally on Saturday night.

U.S. says any response to Iran will be up to Israel

The United States says any response to the weekend Iranian attack will be up to Israel. Israel’s military chief said that Israel will respond to Iran’s weekend missile strike, but did not immediately elaborate on when and how. At the White House, national security spokesman John Kirby said the U-S is “not involved” in Israel’s decision-making process. Some world leaders have been urging Israel not to retaliate, fearing a wider military conflict.

Trump’s first criminal prosecution heads to trial in New York

The first of Donald Trump’s four criminal prosecutions heads to trial. The New York case is centered on accusations that Trump sought to bury stories about extramarital affairs that arose during his 2016 presidential run. Indictments in this case made Trump the first ex-president charged with a crime. The trial gets underway despite repeated attempts by Trump lawyers to delay the trial and remove the judge. The former president, who denies any wrongdoing, has complained that he should be on the campaign trail, not in a courtroom.

Biden seeks global diplomatic response to Iran’s attack

President Biden is working to coordinate a global response to Iran’s missile and drone attack against Israel. The president is reaching out to fellow world leaders in the Group of Seven advanced democracies “to coordinate a united diplomatic response to Iran’s brazen attack.” American forces helped defend Israel from incoming missiles and drones, but the White House has made clear it would not participate in any offensive action against Iran. National Security spokesman John Kirby told NBC the U-S is not looking for escalation and doesn’t seek a war with Iran.

Trump wants more debates with Biden and sooner

Donald Trump says he wants to debate President Biden sooner and more often. Right now, there are three presidential debates tentatively scheduled in September and October. But in a letter to the commission overseeing debates, the Trump campaign asked for additional and earlier opportunities for Trump to take the stage against Joe Biden. Campaign officials for the former president said moving up the timetable would “ensure more Americans have a full chance to see the candidates before they start voting.”

Most Americans view Trump’s NY criminal charges as “somewhat serious”

Most Americans view the New York criminal charges against Donald Trump as “somewhat serious” or worse.  With jury selection beginning this week, a new Reuters/Ipsos poll found that 64 percent of U-S voters described the case as serious. That includes roughly four in 10 Republicans and two-thirds of independents. The former president is accused of trying to cover up payments to Stormy Daniels to quiet allegations of an extramarital affair. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies any wrongdoing.

Biden meets with national security team after Iran attacks Israel

President Biden returned to Washington early after Iran launched drones toward Israel. Cutting short his weekend trip to Delaware, the president returned to Washington a day early to consult with his national security team about events in the Middle East. On Friday, he said that he expected an Iranian attack against Israel “sooner, rather than later.” Mr. Biden had warned Iran against retaliation and reiterated American support for Israel. Upon his arrival at the White House, the president went to the Situation Room for a meeting with top military, intelligence, and diplomatic officials and advisers.

DNC helped pay Biden’s classified docs case legal bills

The Democratic National Committee helped pay President Biden’s legal fees in the classified documents investigation. Democratic donors covered more than one million dollars in legal fees racked up by attorneys representing Joe Biden during the special counsel’s probe into his handling of classified documents. The payments were disclosed in regular campaign finance reports to the Federal Election Commission. News of the payments comes after the Biden campaign has repeatedly criticized Donald Trump over the extensive use of donor funds to cover his legal bills stemming from four criminal indictments.