2024 presidential primary season kicks off in two weeks

The 2024 presidential primary season kicks off in two weeks. First up on the election year calendar — the Iowa caucuses. No one has more riding on Iowa than Ron DeSantis, who has placed a premium on the kickoff state. He has devoted a lot of time campaigning there — including during the week between Christmas and New Year’s. DeSantis has the backing of Iowa’s governor and the state’s top evangelical Christian leader. But Donald Trump continues to hold a large advantage in Iowa polls.

Chief Justice urges caution urges as AI reshapes legal field

The Chief Justice of the United States is expressing caution about the use of artificial intelligence in the federal courts. In his year-end report, Chief Justice John Roberts urged “caution and humility” as the evolving technology transforms how judges and lawyers go about their work. He said AI represents a mixed blessing for the legal field. Roberts predicted that “human judges will be around for a while,” but also that “judicial work – particularly at the trial level – will be significantly affected by AI.”

North Korea issues military warning to U.S. and South Korea

North Korea’s leader is putting the United States on notice. Kim Jong Un said his North Korean military should “thoroughly annihilate” the U-S and South Korea if provoked. According to state media, he also vowed to boost national defense to cope with what he called an unprecedented U.S.-led confrontation. North Korea has increased its warlike rhetoric in recent months in response to an expansion of U.S.-South Korean military drills.

U.S. officials to discuss border surge with Mexico’s president

A high-level U.S. delegation will travel to Mexico City this week to address the surge of migrants seeking entry into the United States. Secretary of State Blinken is leading the delegation in an effort to try and hammer out new agreements to control the migration surge at the U-S-Mexico border. Blinken and other senior Biden administration officials will hold talks with Mexico’s president, however Mexico’s ability to assist the U.S. may be limited. The government halted a program to repatriate and transfer migrants inside Mexico due to a lack of funds.

Bidens send Christmas greetings to U.S. troops

President Biden made a series of Christmas Day calls to members of the U-S armed forces. The president and first lady took a break from their family Christmas celebration to call units from each branch of the U-S military to wish them Merry Christmas, and thank them and their families for their service and sacrifice. According to the White House, the Bidens called troops stationed in Senegal, Djibouti, Hawaii, the Mediterranean, Qatar, and Michigan.

U.S. says it’s working hard to win release of Americans held in Russia

The United States says it’s working hard to win the release of Americans being held in Russia. This coming week marks five years of captivity in Russia for Paul Whelan. He recently said he feels abandoned by the U-S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the White House is committed to bringing him home. Kirby said the administration is also working to win the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The U-S says both men are being wrongfully detained.

The White House has weighed in on standardizing electric vehicle chargers

The White House has weighed in on standardizing electric vehicle chargers

VERBATIM:

Tesla, the leader in the EV market, operates the largest network of fast-chargers. And many of its Supercharger stations are in prime locations. But Tesla’s charging standard has long been in conflict with the connector used by most other automakers. The White House supports last week’s announcement to standardize Tesla’s charging plugs for all EVs in the U-S. By next year, Ford, GM, and others say they plan to provide adapters to customers so they can plug into the Tesla network. GC Wash.

White House working to win release of Americans held in Russia

The United States says it’s working hard to win the release of Americans being held in Russia. This coming week marks five years of captivity in Russia for Paul Whelan. He recently said he feels abandoned by the U-S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the White House is committed to bringing him home. Kirby said the administration is also working to win the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The U-S says both men are being wrongfully detained.

White House “very concerned” about hostage Whelan’s safety

The White House is “very concerned” about the physical safety of American hostage Paul Whelan in Russia. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said reports that Whelan feels under physical threat are “troubling.” Whelan was arrested on spying charges five years ago. Charges he denies. The U-S says Whelan is being wrongfully detained and that Moscow recently rejected a serious proposal to bring the former U-S Marine home.

U.S. officials to meet with Mexico’s president about border crisis

Senior U-S officials will travel soon to Mexico to discuss the migration crisis at the southern border. President Biden is sending the secretaries of State and Homeland Security, and the White House homeland security adviser to meet with Mexico’s president and staff in the coming days. The announcement came after the two presidents spoke. In recent weeks, an estimated 10-thousand people have been crossing illegally into the U.S. every day.

US, China senior military leaders speak for first time in over a year

American and Chinese senior military leaders have spoken for the first time in a year-and-a-half. Gen. CQ Brown, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, spoke with his Chinese counterpart in a video call Thursday. It was the first senior military communications between the U.S. and China since August 2022, when Beijing suspended all such contacts after former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s visit to Taiwan. The Biden administration is working to thaw relations with Beijing and views military communications as critical to avoiding any missteps.

Biden say Trump supported insurrection, but declines comment on Colorado legal case

President Biden says it’s “self-evident” that Donald Trump is an insurrectionist for trying to overturn his 2020 election loss. After the Colorado Supreme Court cited the Constitution’s insurrection clause in kicking the former president off the primary ballot, President Biden told reporters that “there’s no question” Trump supported an insurrection. He said the former president “seems to be doubling down on it.” But Mr. Biden stopped short of commenting on the legal case. “Whether the 14th Amendment applies or not,” he said, “we’ll let the court make that decision,.” GC, Wash.

Colorado Supreme Court bars Trump from state’s presidential primary

Donald Trump has been disqualified from Colorado’s presidential primary because of his role in the January 6th, 2021, Capitol riot. The Colorado Supreme Court’s decision is the first of its kind — using the 14th Amendment to bar a presidential candidate. By a 4-3 vote, the court said Trump is disqualified from holding the office of president. The majority wrote: “We do not reach these conclusions lightly.” A spokesman for the Trump campaign described the lawsuit as “un-American” and expressed confidence that the U-S Supreme Court will “quickly rule” in favor of the former president.

U.S. leads multi-nation effort to counter Red Sea attacks

The United States is leading a multi-nation effort to counter attacks in the Red Sea. In response to Houthi rebel attacks on commercial vessels in the Red Sea, the U-S and a host of other nations have created a new force to protect the ships. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby called it an important new initiative, given the seriousness of the attacks.

White House getting squeezed from both sides in border talks

President Biden is getting squeezed from both sides in negotiations over the southern border. The White House is getting an earful from both Republicans and Democrats as the Biden administration tries to secure emergency aid for Ukraine. Republicans, who have insisted on immigration changes in order to approve more money for Ukraine, are criticizing the president daily about increased border crossings. But the administration also is drawing outrage from Democrats and immigrant advocates who are unhappy the White House is considering a revival of Trump-like policies.

Biden, Justice Roberts to speak at O’Connor’s funeral

A private funeral will be held today [TUE 11am ET] for former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor. The public paid their respects to O’Connor yesterday inside the Supreme Court’s Great Hall. She made history as the first woman justice when she was nominated by President Ronald Reagan in 1981 and confirmed to the nation’s highest court. Today, a private funeral will be held at the Washington National Cathedral. The service will feature tributes from President Biden and Chief Justice John Roberts.

Driver accidentally struck parked SUV in Biden’s motorcade

Charges have been filed against a man who plowed his car into President Biden’s motorcade. It happened Sunday night when the president and first lady were getting into their vehicle in Wilmington, Delaware. A man crashed his vehicle into a motorcade SUV about 200 feet away from them. The Bidens were unharmed in the incident. Police say the man has been charged with drunk driving and described the incident as an “accidental collision.”

Public pays respects to late Justice Sandra Day O’Connor

The late Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O’Connor is being remembered in Washington. Court members and staff, as well as the public, paid tribute to O’Connor, whose body lay in repose inside the Supreme Court’s Great Hall. O’Connor was the high court’s first female justice, appointed by President Ronald Reagan. She died on December 1st at age 93. A private funeral will be held for O’Connor at the Washington National Cathedral on Tuesday with remarks from President Biden and Chief Justice John Roberts.

Americans worried about 2024 election outcome for different reasons

Americans are worried about the outcome of the 2024 presidential election for different reasons. Even though the U-S is politically polarized, 62 percent of Americans agree that democracy could be at risk depending on who wins next November. That’s according to a new AP-NORC poll. Voters disagree over who poses the threat. Democrats are concerned about Donald Trump’s authoritarian tendencies, while Republicans are fearful of government overreach if Joe Biden is reelected. The poll’s findings continue a trend of Americans’ lackluster views about how democracy is functioning.

Biden staffers voice displeasure over support for Israel

Some workers in the Biden administration are unhappy with the president’s support of Israel in the war against Hamas. Earlier this week, Biden administration staffers held a vigil outside of the White House and called for a cease-fire in Gaza. After business hours on Wednesday, the staffers stood on Pennsylvania Avenue to protest ongoing support for Israel’s military offensive. CNN reported more than three dozen people participated in the vigil. Earlier this month there were media reports that
White House interns sent the president a letter describing the Gaza situation as a “genocide of the Palestinian people.”

U.S. says Russia has rejected “multiple” hostage release offers

The United States says Russia’s Vladimir Putin is not being honest about hostage negotiations. Putin said Moscow is in dialogue with the U-S on the issue of bringing home jailed Americans Paul Whelan and Evan Gershkovich. The White House said that much is true. However, a State Department spokesman said the U-S has “put multiple offers on the table, but they were “rejected every time by the Russian government.”

White House calls for greater Israeli military restraint

The White House continues to support Israel’s war with Hamas, even as it calls for greater restraint.  President Biden said he wants Israeli Defense Forces “to be more careful” after civilian deaths in Gaza as Israel goes after Hamas. And the National Security Council’s John Kirby said Hamas could end the conflict immediately. Israel’s defense minister said this week it will take months to destroy Hamas.

Fed employees told to go green on government travel

Federal employees are being told to go green on government travel. In its latest push to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the White House said federal employees should rent electric vehicles and opt for rail trips when feasible. It said doing so would save money and the environment. Specifically, federal government workers were told to rent EVs when costs are less or equal to gas-powered vehicles, and to travel by train instead of flying on trips under 250 miles.

Biden wants Israel to “be more careful” in Gaza operations

President Biden wants Israel Defense Forces to be more precise in their military operations in Gaza.
Days after expressing concern about, what he called, Israel’s “indiscriminate bombing” in Gaza, the president explained what he hopes the Israeli military can accomplish. He said, “I want them to be focused on how to save civilian lives. Not stop going after Hamas, but be more careful.” Earlier, a national security council spokesman said the U-S discussed with Israeli officials the possibility of ratcheting down the intensity of fighting in Gaza in the “near future.”