Improving economy doesn’t boost Biden job approval

More Americans are feeling good about the economy, but it’s not helping President Biden. There are several signs of an improving U-S economy, including job gains, higher economic growth, and a rising stock market. But an AP-NORC poll finds that adults are only feeling slightly better about the economy and any improvement has yet to spill over into greater support for the president and his re-election bid. Survey respondents pointed to the high cost of groceries and housing, as well as an ongoing concern about the federal debt.

Haley has no immediate plans to end GOP presidential bid

Republican Nikki Haley has no plans to quit the presidential race any time soon. She trails Donald Trump in the polls and most pundits view her candidacy as a long shot. But Haley said she’s “not going anywhere.” She told reporters that if she can keep closing the gap, her campaign will continue. In her calculus, the GOP primary has barely begun with just two states having voted so far. Haley’s refusal to quit has angered the former president, who has resorted to name-calling and increased personal attacks against Haley, at the risk of alienating moderate voters and suburban women.

Biden under pressure from Democrats on border crisis

Biden struggling with Republican and Democrat voters

A new poll shows that Joe Biden has a problem with both Republican and Democratic voters. The president’s approval rating dropped to 38 percent in January, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll. His job approval has been below 50 percent since August of 2021. While it’s no surprise that large majorities of Republicans give the president low marks on immigration and the economy, he also faces resistance from his own party. Forty-seven percent of Democrats say the country is on the wrong track.

U.S. military retaliates by striking dozens of Iranian targets

President Biden ordered airstrikes against Iranian targets following a deadly drone attack against U-S forces. The U.S. military took aim at dozens of sites in Iraq and Syria used by Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. White House national security spokesman John Kirby says the targets were carefully chosen based on evidence “that they were connected to attacks on U-S personnel in the region.” He says the Pentagon is in the early stage of battle damage assessment, but the Pentagon believes the strikes were successful. President Biden said the response to the attack on American forces “will continue at times and places of our choosing.”

Judge postpones Trump’s March trial on 2020 election plot

A federal judge has formally postponed Donald Trump’s March trial on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 election. U-S District Judge Tanya Chutkan vacated the March 4 trial date as she waits for Trump’s appeal to work its way through the courts. She did not immediately set a new date. A federal appeals court is currently reviewing the former president’s argument that he’s immune from prosecution for actions he took in the White House. With a delay in the case, a separate case in New York on alleged hush money payments might proceed first.

Biden attends U.S. return of three soldiers in solemn dignified transfer

President Biden and top military officials attended the return of three soldiers killed in last weekend’s drone attack in Jordan. On the tarmac at Delaware’s Dover Air Force Base, the president stood with his hand over his heart as each flag-draped transfer case was removed from a large military transport plane. He was joined in the dignified transfer by the first lady, the defense secretary, and the joint chiefs chairman. Earlier, Mr. Biden met privately with the families of the service members. On Thursday, he honored the fallen soldiers, saying they “risked it all.”

Biden to attend dignified transfer of fallen soldiers

Biden sanctions four Israeli settlers who attacked Palestinians in West Bank

President Biden is sanctioning four Israeli settlers who attacked Palestinians in the West Bank. According to the president’s executive order, the four settlers were involved in acts of violence, as well as threats and attempts to destroy or seize Palestinian property. The U-S action imposes financial sanctions and visa bans against the four individuals. Mr. Biden has maintained that Israel has a right to defend itself, but he’s facing growing criticism from Arab Americans for his response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.

Austin apologizes for keeping cancer treatment from Biden

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is apologizing for how he handled his cancer treatment and hospitalization. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon, Austin acknowledged that he shouldn’t have kept his prostate cancer diagnosis and hospital stay a secret. Austin said he never directed anyone on his staff not to tell the White House and takes full responsibility. He also apologized to the president, who has maintained confidence in his Pentagon chief.

At prayer breakfast, Biden talks respect and Mideast peace

President Biden encouraged civility and respect during remarks at the annual National Prayer Breakfast.
The president said his prayer is that America continues “to believe in honesty, decency, dignity, and respect.” He also said the U-S wants to see an enduring solution in the Middle East, and that he prays for all those affected by the Israel-Hamas war, including Gaza’s civilians.

U.S. seeks longer pause in Israel-Hamas war to free hostages

The United States says talks to win the release of more hostages held in Gaza continue to be “constructive.” The White House describes the discussions as sensitive, as U-S officials seek a longer temporary ceasefire than the one-week pause in the Israel-Hamas war last November. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says a longer pause would allow for the release of more hostages and the delivery of more humanitarian aid to Gaza.

In Michigan, Biden to face Arab, Muslim anger over Gaza

Biden job approval drops as border worries rise

President Biden’s job approval is down in the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll. The newly-released poll findings show a decline in support for the president during January. His approval rating dropped to 38 percent — down from 40 percent in December. Americans expressed a rising concern about immigration, up sharply from the month before. The economy remained the public’s overall top concern. It’s not just Republicans giving Joe Biden low marks. Nearly half of Democrats surveyed said the country was on the wrong track.

James Biden to meet with GOP lawmakers in impeachment inquiry

One of President Biden’s brothers has agreed to meet privately with House Republicans next month. James Biden will appear before GOP lawmakers for a private interview related to the impeachment inquiry into the president. The February 21st interview with the House Oversight committee will take place days before presidential son Hunter Biden will be deposed in private by the Republican-run committee. Lawmakers have been investigating the Biden family’s overseas finances for the past year. James Biden has said he has never involved his brother in his business dealings.

US says Iranian-backed militias to blame for soldiers’ deaths

President Biden continues to weigh retaliation options to the attack that killed three U-S soldiers overseas. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says the U-S is not seeking a broader conflict in the Mideast, but that won’t stop the president from retaliating. The U-S now attributes the deadly drone attack in Jordan to the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an umbrella group of Iran-backed militias.

Biden to be there when U.S. soldiers’ remains return home

Biden has decided how to respond to attack on U.S. forces

Biden faces dilemma of possible military response in the Mideast

President Biden is facing the difficult decision of how best to respond to aggression against American forces overseas. The president is trying to figure out how the U-S should retaliate against a deadly Iranian-supported attack on American soldiers without escalating tensions in the Middle East. National security spokesman John Kirby says the U-S does not want a war with Iran, but the president will act to defend American troops and interests.

Biden weighing all options after lethal attack on U.S. troops

President Biden is weighing a possible military response to the deadly drone attack that killed and injured American troops in the Middle East. The White House says it’s not looking to get into another conflict in the Mideast. But national security spokesman John Kirby said Iran was behind the deadly weekend attack. Without providing details, Kirby said the U-S will respond at a time and in a manner of the president’s choosing.

U.S. encouraged by ongoing efforts to free hostages in Gaza

The United States is encouraged by recent talks to secure the release of more hostages held in Gaza. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says recent efforts to negotiate a humanitarian pause in the Israel-Hamas war to free more hostages have been constructive. However, he cautions there’s much more work to do and no final deal has been reached.

White House: U.S. does not seek with Iran, but will respond

President Biden is deciding how the United States will respond to an Iranian-backed weekend attack that killed three U-S service members in Jordan. The president has been weighing his options during meetings with his national security team. He has promised to retaliate, even though national security spokesman John Kirby says the U-S does not seek a war with Iran. Meanwhile, Republicans are blaming President Biden for doing too little to deter Iranian militias.

Biden, national security team discuss deadly attack on troops

President Biden has been meeting with top national security officials about the deadly attack on U-S troops in the Middle East. Among those meeting with the president in the White House Situation Room were National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines. The White House says they discussed the latest developments regarding the attack in Jordan that left three American troops dead. Over the weekend, the president said the U-S will retaliate.

New White House guidelines to keep tabs on Cabinet secretaries