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.

U.S. views Iran’s threat to attack Israel as “credible”

Biden, Harris pounce on Arizona abortion ruling

Trump wants additional, earlier debates with Biden

Donald Trump wants to debate President Biden more than the usual three times and to hold them earlier in the 2024 election cycle. In a letter to the commission overseeing presidential debates, the Trump campaign asked for additional and earlier opportunities for him 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.” Currently, there are three presidential debates scheduled in September and October.

Thousands more gun dealers required to run background checks

Biden to host Japan, Philippines leaders to discuss China threats

President Biden today [THU] will host talks with two leaders from the Indo Pacific about threats from communist China. The president will meet with Philippines President Marcos, before they join Japan’s prime minister for a trilateral summit. Talks are expected to focus on Beijing’s South China Sea incursions. With Beijing attempting to isolate Japan and the Philippines, a senior U-S official says Mr. Biden is aiming to “flip the script and isolate China.”

Trump, Biden react to Arizona’s law banning nearly all abortions

The leading presidential candidates are reacting to Arizona’s law that criminalizes nearly all abortions. President Biden called the Arizona Supreme Court’s upholding of an 1864 abortion law “extreme and dangerous.” Meanwhile, Donald Trump said the Arizona law goes too far and called on state lawmakers to change it, even as he defended the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

Biden still predicts interest rate cut this year despite stubborn inflation

President Biden is still predicting an interest rate cut this year despite stubborn inflation. The latest government report on prices shows inflation remained persistently high last month, which could affect the Federal Reserve’s plans to lower interest rates. President Biden still believes there will be a rate cut this year. He said his administration has “dramatically reduced inflation,” but the latest figures complicate the president’s claims to be making steady progress.

Biden welcomes Japan’s PM to official White House visit

Biden says Netanyahu’s approach to Gaza war “is a mistake”

President Biden is growing increasingly vocal about his unhappiness with Israel over the Gaza war. During an interview with Spanish-language broadcaster Univision, the president said Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu’s approach to the war against Hamas “is a mistake.” Those remarks add to an already growing rift between the two allies over the war. The president went on to say that Israel should agree to a cease-fire and flood Gaza with humanitarian aid for the next six to eight weeks.

Biden faces obstacles in key battleground state

President Biden’s path to winning Wisconsin in November has some potential obstacles. Joe Biden won this purple state in 2020 by about 21-thousand votes over Donald Trump, and it’s expected to be another close contest this year. Four years ago, there were no third-party candidates on the Wisconsin ballot. There will be this year. Also, the president continues to deal with a backlash from Democrats unhappy with Mr. Biden’s support of Israel’s war in Gaza. Tens of thousands of would-be supporters cast protest primary votes against the president in several states, including Wisconsin last week.

Trump, Biden face political challenges in Wisconsin

In the 2024 presidential race, both top candidates face political weakness in the battleground state of Wisconsin. Donald Trump and Joe Biden won their respective primaries here in Wisconsin, but last week’s voting highlighted some potential areas of concern for both campaigns. Nearly 119-thousand Republicans voted for a GOP candidate other than Trump. And more than 48-thousand Democratic voters chose “uninstructed” instead of Mr. Biden, more than double his narrow margin of victory in the state in 2020.

GOP convention plans taking shape in Milwaukee