Dems to nominate Biden through virtual roll call before convention

Biden campaign shows up outside Trump’s NY trial

The Biden campaign showed up outside Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York on the day of closing arguments. Joe Biden’s campaign team has largely ignored the trial, but that changed on Tuesday when the president’s team showed up near the lower Manhattan courthouse with actor Robert De Niro and a pair of former police officers. A top Biden adviser said they weren’t there to talk about the trial, rather to exploit the large media focus on the legal proceedings. But Trump advisers argued that the appearance shows that Trump’s prosecutions are being driven by politics.

Trump’s NY criminal trial heads to closing arguments

Former President Trump’s New York criminal trial is heading for closing arguments. With the testimony phase over, the Trump criminal trial shifts to closing arguments. Starting today, prosecutors and defense lawyers will have their final opportunity to address the jury. After that, it will be up to 12 jurors to decide whether prosecutors have proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Trump falsified his company’s business records as part of a broader effort to keep embarrassing stories from becoming public during his 2016 presidential campaign.

Independent voters’ views on the economy are turning negative

Independent voters are increasingly unhappy with the economy — and that could affect the presidential race. In the University of Michigan’s monthly consumer sentiment survey, political independents have drifted closer this year to the negative views of the economy held by Republicans. Independents typically occupy the center ground in the closely watched survey. But that’s been changing since January and it’s another indication of the difficulty President Biden faces with votes on the economy ahead of the November election.

Nevada to start tabulating Election Day votes as they come in

A key swing state wants to start tabulating votes sooner on Election Day. Nevada’s secretary of state says election officials can start tabulating in-person Election Day votes as they come in, rather than waiting for polls to close. The recommendation applies to both Nevada’s primary next month and the November general election. Under the plan, no results would be released until after the polls close. The changes could help ease anxiety over close races in a western swing state known for razor-thin margins. In 2022, a U-S Senate race was decided by fewer than 8-thousand votes.

Haley to vote for Trump; Biden campaign still woos Haley voters

Donald Trump has received the backing of a former rival as he runs for the presidency. Former Republican governor and ambassador Nikki Haley broke weeks of silence and announced that she’ll be voting for Trump, even though she described him as “unhinged” during the Republican primaries. She announced her intention last week at the Hudson Institute, a conservative Washington think tank, and encouraged Trump to woo her supporters. Despite Haley’s announcement, the Biden campaign said it would continue to court voters who backed the former GOP governor.

White House seeks help to stop abusive AI practices

The Biden administration is seeking help in cracking down on abusive artificial intelligence practices.
There’s a growing market of abusive sexual images made with AI technology and the Biden administration is pushing the tech industry and financial institutions to shut it down. The White House calls it a “pervasive problem” and is leaning on companies and other organizations to provide meaningful tools that will prevent and mitigate harms. It’s also urging Congress to strengthen legal protections and provide critical resources for survivors and victims of image-based sexual abuse.

Trump woos minority voters in Democrat-heavy New York

Donald Trump rallied voters in one of the country’s most Democratic counties. The former president held a campaign rally for the general public in New York’s South Bronx, as he tries to win more support from Black and Hispanic voters. Trump’s campaign believes he can chip away at President Biden’s support among minority voters, particularly younger men who are frustrated by their economic situations. New York hasn’t voted for a Republican president since Ronald Reagan, but a new Siena College poll shows Joe Biden’s lead over Trump in New York has dropped to single digits.

Biden hosts Kenyan president in state visit, boosts growing partnership

President Biden boosted U-S-Kenya relations with the state visit of Kenya’s president. Joe Biden hosted the first state visit to the U-S by an African leader in more than 15 years and acknowledged a growing security partnership with Kenya. The president defended his decision to provide money, but not American troops, for a multinational force to quell the violence in Haiti. The two leaders also called on the world to help Kenya and other developing nations reduce their enormous debt burden.

Biden hosts Kenyan president for state visit at White House

The president of Kenya is in Washington for an official state visit. President Biden invited President Ruto for a visit to mark the 60th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the U-S and Kenya. And National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says it’s the first state visit by an African head of state in nearly 20 years. He says the state visit underscores the administration’s commitment to Africa, even though President Biden broke a promise to visit the continent last year.

Nikki Haley to vote for Donald Trump for president

Nikki Haley will be voting for Donald Trump in the November election. The former GOP governor and presidential candidate clashed with Trump during primaries and she did not endorse him when she suspended her campaign. But speaking here in Washington, Haley announced that she will be voting for Trump. However, she warned him not to ignore her supporters. Haley said the former president “would be smart to reach out to the millions” of people who supported her candidacy and “not assume that they’re just going to be with him.”

Hunter Biden’s tax trial in California delayed until September

A California judge has agreed to delay Hunter Biden’s tax trial until September. Hunter Biden will stand trial on federal tax charges beginning in early September instead of next month. The judge agreed to push the case back after defense lawyers said they need more time to prepare. Prosecutors opposed the delay request, arguing that the president’s son “is not above the rule of law.” The younger Biden is still scheduled to stand trial next month on federal gun charges in a Delaware case.

White House says Israel taking more “limited” approach in Gaza

The Biden administration says Israel is taking a more limited approach to its military operations in the Gaza city of Rafah. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says Israel appears to have addressed many of the U-S concerns about a full-scale ground invasion of Rafah aimed at Hamas fighters. Sullivan says the administration will continue to closely review Israeli military activity and communicate with Israeli officials.

Trump lawyers try again to have classified docs case dismissed

Donald Trump’s lawyers are trying once again to have the Florida classified documents case dismissed.
The Trump legal team argues that the indictment fails to clearly articulate a crime and instead amounts to “a personal and political attack” against the former president. The motion is one of several that Trump’s lawyers have filed to dismiss the classified documents case, some of which have already been denied. A trial was scheduled to begin this week, but has been delayed. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denied any wrongdoing.

One million claims related to toxic exposure granted under new veterans law

President Biden is highlighting a milestone for a law that helps veterans who were exposed to toxins during their military service. Nearly two years ago, the president signed the PACT Act into law. And now, more than one million claims have been granted to veterans, providing about $5.7 billion in benefits given to veterans and their survivors. Speaking at a YMCA in New Hampshire, the president highlighted his legislative accomplishment as he thanked veterans and their families for the sacrifices they’ve made.

Biden admin releases 1 million barrels of gasoline to lower prices

The Biden administration is releasing one-million barrels of gasoline from a Northeast reserve in a bid to lower prices at the pump. Energy Department officials say the gasoline will be strategically released between the Memorial Day and Fourth of July holidays in order to help “lower costs for American families and consumers.” The move follows a mandate from Congress to sell off the 10-year-old Northeast reserve and then close it. According to Triple-A, gasoline prices are average about 3-60 per gallon nationwide, up 6 cents from a year ago.

In 2024 race, Trump raised more money than Biden in April

In the 2024 election race, Donald Trump outraised President Biden in April. The president and the Democratic National Committee still have a cash advantage, but Trump and the Republican National Committee raised 25 million more dollars last month. Trump brought in nearly 76 million dollars, while Mr. Biden raised some 51 million. The Democrats had routinely outraised the GOP, but Trump’s haul in April was boosted by a record-setting 50-million dollar event with top donors in Palm Beach, Florida.

U.S. defends offering condolences after Iranian president’s death

The White House is defending the U-S decision to send official condolences after the death of Iran’s president. National Security spokesman John Kirby says it’s common for the United States to offer official condolences, even to adversarial governments. But Kirby makes clear the former Iranian president was a bad actor “with a lot of blood on his hands.” The State Department emphasized American “support for the Iranian people and their struggle for human rights and fundamental freedoms.”

Biden on ICC seeking Netanyahu arrest warrant: “Outrageous”

The United States is harshly condemning efforts by the International Criminal Court to seek arrest warrants for Israeli officials. In a strongly worded statement, President Biden said it’s “outrageous” for the ICC to seek arrest warrants for Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Netanyahu, in connection with the war in Gaza. He said “there is no equivalence — none — between Israel and Hamas.” And Mr. Biden reaffirmed that America “will always stand with Israel against threats to its security.”

Dem senator urges Biden to replace FDIC chairman

There’s growing political pressure to remove the chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation. FDIC Chair Martin Gruenberg’s job is in jeopardy following a report about the agency’s toxic workplace culture and growing calls from Congress for a change in leadership. Senator Sherrod Brown, who chairs the Senate Banking Committee, became the first Democrat to call on President Biden to replace Greunberg. Last week, a White House spokesperson said there were no personnel decisions to announce at the FDIC, which is one of several banking system regulators.

U.S. pursues new security agreement with Saudi Arabia

The United States is pursuing a wide-ranging security agreement with Saudi Arabia. President Biden’s national security adviser met with the Saudi crown prince to discuss a new strategic deal between the two countries. The White House did not offer many details, but said Jake Sullivan held “constructive meetings” with Saudi leaders. A similar agreement was nearly finalized last fall, but was upended after the deadly Hamas attack on Israel.

Biden, Trump used social media to hash out TV debates deal

President Biden and Donald Trump agreed to participate in two debates during a fast-moving few hours on social media. In online videos and social media messages, Trump had challenged the president to a debate. And in a video released Wednesday, Mr. Biden accepted. In their back-and-forth virtual messages, both candidates and campaigns posted snarky comments before agreeing to a pair of televised debates in June and September.

Trump and allies won’t commit to accepting election results

Former President Trump and his top surrogates are not committing to accepting the 2024 election results. Months before voters go to the polls, Trump is stoking doubts about the election’s legitimacy. In recent interviews, he has refused to commit to accepting the results and has refused to rule out the potential for violence after November’s election. President Biden called Trump’s comments “dangerous.” The former president’s allies are non-committal. Senator Tim Scott of South Carolina and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum declined in TV interviews to commit to accepting the election outcome.

Biden wants to keep special counsel interview audio private