Israeli officials to visit Washington and discuss Rafah plan

Israel has agreed to send officials to Washington to discuss a possible military operation in the Gazan city of Rafah.  During a phone call with Israel’s prime minister, President Biden asked for a team of Israeli officials to visit Washington in the coming days. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says the administration will use the meeting to express its concerns about the impact on civilians in Rafah if Israel carries out a major ground invasion.

Trump unable to post $454 million bond in civil fraud suit

Donald Trump’s lawyers say he’s unable to post a 454-million dollar bond while he appeals a civil fraud judgment. The former president’s lawyers wrote in a court filing that “obtaining an appeal bond in the full amount” of the judgment “is not possible.” They asked New York’s intermediate appeals court to overturn a previous ruling requiring that he post a bond covering the full amount while Trump appeals. With interest, Trump owes more than 456-million dollars. To obtain a bond, his legal team says it would require posting collateral of more than half a billion dollars.

Biden, Netanyahu hold call amid growing US-Israeli tensions

President Biden and Israel’s prime minister speak for the first time in more than a month. Monday’s phone call between the president and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu marked their first interaction in several weeks. The two leaders have differing views on the food crisis in Gaza and the conduct of the war with Hamas, straining the relationship between allies. Adding to the tension was Senate Majority Leader Schumer’s call last week for new Israeli elections. Republicans were outraged, as were Israeli officials, while President Biden called it a “good speech.”

Pence will not endorse Trump for president in 2024

Former Vice President Mike Pence will not endorse Donald Trump for president in 2024. They ran together on the 2016 ticket and served in the White House for four years. But Pence told Fox News, “It should come as no surprise that I will not be endorsing Donald Trump this year.” The former vice president said it’s about more than their disagreement over the January 6th Capitol Riot. Pence argued that Trump’s stance on the national debt, abortion restrictions, and TikTok “is at odds with the conservative agenda that had while in the White House.

Twists and turns in Donald Trump’s criminal legal cases

There have been some major developments in two of Donald Trump’s legal cases. Late last week, a New York judge delayed Donald Trump’s hush-money criminal case. Jury selection was to have begun later this month, but the criminal trial is being pushed back until mid-April after Trump lawyers said they needed more time to sift through new evidence. Meanwhile, in Georgia, the lead prosecutor in the former president’s election interference case is out of a job. He resigned after the judge said either the DA or the prosecutor had to withdraw because of a romantic relationship.

Judge delays Trump’s hush-money criminal trial in New York

A New York judge has delayed Donald Trump’s hush-money criminal trial. Jury selection was to have begun later this month, but the criminal trial is being pushed back until mid-April. The judge ordered the delay after Trump’s lawyers said they needed more time to sift through new evidence. A hearing will take place on March 25th to decide whether prosecutors should face sanctions or the case should be dismissed. The former president’s legal team only recently started receiving more than 100-thousand pages of documents from a previous federal investigation into the Stormy Daniels matter.

Special prosecutor in Trump’s Georgia election interference case resigns

There’s been a shake-up in the prosecution team in Donald Trump’s Georgia election interference case. Following the revelation that Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis had a romantic relationship with special prosecutor Nathan Wade, the judge ordered either Willis or Wade to leave the case for it to move forward. Hours later, Wade offered his resignation. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee said the allegations against the two created an “appearance of impropriety” that infected the prosecution team. An attorney for Trump said the former president’s team respects the court’s decision.

Prosecutors OK with 30-day delay in Trump’s hush money trial

Prosecutors in Donald Trump’s hush-money criminal case are open to delaying the start of the trial. The Manhattan district attorney’s office said in a court filing that it’s not opposed to delaying the start of the trial for up to 30 days to give Trump lawyers time to review recently turned-over evidence. Jury selection is scheduled to begin March 25th. The former president’s legal team is seeking a 90-day delay or the dismissal of charges that Trump falsified records to hide hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels.

Biden opposes Japanese purchase of U.S. Steel

President Biden opposes the planned sale of U.S. Steel to a Japanese company. Campaigning in the Midwest, the president announced his opposition, saying the U-S needs “strong American steel companies powered by American steel workers.” In December, Nippon Steel unveiled plans to buy the Pittsburgh-based steel producer for $14 billion in cash. That raised concerns within the federal government about what the transaction could mean for unionized workers, supply chains, and U.S. national security.

No White House comment on Schumer’s call for new Israeli elections

The White House is declining comment on Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s call for new elections in Israel. Schumer wants Israel to hold new elections because he believes Prime Minister Netanyahu has “lost his way” and is an obstacle to peace. At the White House, national security spokesman John Kirby offered no specific comment. Schumer is the highest ranking Jewish elected official in the U-S.

Judge dismisses 6 of 41 charges in Trump’s GA criminal case

A judge has dismissed some of the charges against Donald Trump in the Georgia election interference case. Fulton County Superior Court Judge Scott McAfee ordered six of the counts in the indictment must be quashed, including three against Trump. The judge said prosecutors failed to provide enough detail about the alleged crime of violating their oaths of office. The order leaves intact 35 other charges, and the judge wrote that prosecutors could seek a new indictment on the charges he dismissed. The case accuses Trump and 18 others of conspiring to overturn his 2020 election loss in Georgia.

Biden and Trump clinch 2024 party nominations

President Biden and former President Trump have clinched their parties’ presidential nomination, setting up a general election rematch. With decisive victories in several Tuesday primaries, the sitting and former presidents reached enough delegates to claim their respective party’s nomination at their conventions this summer. The nominations were clinched not even halfway through the presidential primary calendar. And it all but sets the stage for a rematch of the Trump-Biden contest from 2020.

Special Counsel Hur faces bipartisan criticism at hearing

During a congressional hearing, the special counsel in President Biden’s classified documents case came under fire from both Democrats and Republicans. Democrats accused special counsel Robert Hur of disparaging the president by questioning Joe Biden’s age and mental competence. Hur said his assessment was “necessary, accurate, and fair.” And he responded to Republican complaints of a double-standard — that the president faces no criminal charges while Donald Trump does, saying “partisan politics had nothing to do” with his work. Hur stood steadfastly by his 345-page report.

HUD Secretary Fudge announces resignation

President Biden’s Housing and Urban Development secretary is resigning. HUD Secretary Marcia Fudge announced she will leave her post on March 22nd after having served since the start of the Biden administration. In a statement, she said she was leaving “with mixed emotions” but did not include a reason she was resigning now. President Biden thanked Fudge for working “hard to lower housing costs and increase supply.” The Cabinet vacancy comes during an election year and the White House says the president will nominate a replacement.

White House budget includes tax cut for home buyers

President Biden’s new budget includes a tax cut for home buyers. With many Americans struggling to afford housing, the president is proposing assistance in his just-released budget in the form of $400 a month for two years. The president also wants to give tax breaks to families and raise taxes on the wealthy. Most White House budget plans are unlikely to pass Congress without major changes.

Biden, Trump hold dueling weekend rallies in Georgia

The presidential campaign was in full swing over the weekend as both Joe Biden and Donald Trump held rallies in Georgia. The president delivered his post-State of the Union message in Atlanta. Meanwhile, former President Trump rallied supporters in Rome, Georgia. The dueling rallies came ahead of Georgia’s presidential primary on Tuesday.

Biden says Israel’s PM is “hurting Israel more than helping” with Hamas war in Gaza

President Biden is gradually increasing his criticism of Israel’s war with Hamas. The president said he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” in how he is approaching its war against Hamas in Gaza. He told MSNBC that the prime minister “must pay more attention to the innocent lives being lost as a consequence of the actions taken.” At the same time, Mr. Biden expressed support for Israel’s right to pursue Hamas, and that he would not cut off weapons for the Jewish state.

U.S. military sends security forces to Haiti, evacuates embassy personnel

The United States has begun evacuating non-essential personnel from the U-S Embassy in Haiti. As gang attacks worsen in Haiti, including around the embassy in the capital Port-au-Prince, the U-S military has flown in forces to beef up security. According to U-S Southern Command, aircraft flew directly into the embassy compound to airlift personnel into and out of the Embassy. The military statement also said that the U-S remains focused on aiding Haitian police and arranging some kind of U.N.-authorized security deployment.

Biden delivers feisty State of the Union with eye on Trump

President Biden delivered a feisty State of the Union address by touting his policies and tweaking Donald Trump. Facing public doubts about his age and fitness, the president was animated during his hour-long speech. He warned that democracy is under attack, he renewed calls for higher taxes on the wealthy, and he doubled down on his support for abortion access. Mr. Biden didn’t mention Donald Trump by name, but he said “my predecessor” 13 times as he drew a contrast with his likely 2024 opponent.

Biden to make case in State of the Union amid doubts about his age

Biden faces low job approval ahead of State of the Union speech

Trump challenges Biden to a debate “anytime, anywhere”

Donald Trump is challenging President Biden to a debate “anytime, anywhere.” The former president skipped out on the Republican primary debates, but he’s eager to go one-on-one with Joe Biden. In a social media post, Trump said debates are “important, for the good of our country.” In the past, he’s been critical of the Commission on Presidential Debates, but now says he’s willing to debate “anytime, anywhere, anyplace.” Mr. Biden has not yet said whether he will debate Trump before the November election.

Nikki Haley ends GOP presidential bid after Super Tuesday losses

Republican Nikki Haley has suspended her 2024 presidential campaign. Haley ended her White House bid hours after Donald Trump dominated Super Tuesday voting. She wished her GOP rival well, but did not offer an endorsement. Haley’s departure leaves Trump as the last remaining major Republican candidate and sets up a likely rematch with President Biden in November.

Biden and Trump dominate Super Tuesday races

Donald Trump and President Biden cruised to multiple victories in Super Tuesday voting, all but setting up an election re-match in November. Former President Trump celebrated the night at a Mar-a-Lago victory party, saying “they call it Super Tuesday for a reason.” President Biden didn’t give a speech, but instead issued a statement warning that Trump is “focused on his own revenge and retribution, not the American people.” Nikki Haley won the Vermont GOP primary, but she trails Trump in the delegate count by a wide margin.