Israel, U.S. at odds over establishing a Palestinian state

Israel’s prime minister says he opposes Palestinian statehood after the Hamas war. Even though Prime Minister Netanyahu has told the U-S he rejects a future Palestinian state, the White House remains committed to a two-state solution. In the meantime, the National Security Council’s John Kirby says the U-S continues to support Israel’s war against Hamas, even as it calls for a scaled down attack to prevent civilian casualties.

Biden says U.S. to continue military strikes against Houthi rebels

President Biden says U-S military strikes against Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen will continue. The president told reporters that the Pentagon will continue to take military action against the rebels, even as he acknowledged that the U-S and British campaign has yet to stop shipping attacks in the Red Sea. Over the past week, the U-S military has fired several waves of missile strikes against Houthi-controlled targets.

Republicans oppose presidential “parole” authority for migrants

A key sticking point remains in border security and Ukraine funding negotiations after this week’s White House meeting with congressional leaders. The Biden administration supports the presidential authority to allow migrants into the U-S for special cases. But Republicans are opposed. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis tells the Salem Radio Network that President Biden’s policies are the problem. In Washington, GOP lawmakers are refusing to approve any further aid for Ukraine or Israel without border policy changes.

Biden to host top lawmakers to discuss national security funding

President Biden will host congressional leaders to discuss national security funding. Top lawmakers in both parties will sit down with the president at the White House. On the agenda is the administration’s emergency request for billions of dollars in funding for Ukraine, Israel, the southern border, and other national security measures. Over the past several weeks, House Republicans have been demanding tougher immigration policies as part of those national security negotiations.

White House: Houthi Red attacks an “all hands on deck” problem

The White House says stopping Houthi Red Sea attacks is an “all hands on deck” problem. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan says the ongoing threat by Yemen’s Houthi rebels to commercial vessels in the Red Sea was an “all hands on deck” problem that the U.S. and allies must address together to minimize impact on the global economy. His comments on Tuesday came as the U.S. launched a new strike against the Houthis — the third assault on the Iranian-backed group in recent days. The rebel attacks have already caused significant disruptions to global trade.

Pentagon chief released from hospital; prognosis is “excellent”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has been released from the hospital. After spending two weeks at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to treat complications from prostate cancer surgery, the 70-year-old Austin is back home. Doctors say his prognosis is “excellent” and he will work from home as he recovers. The Pentagon chief caused a firestorm by failing to inform the White House about his hospitalization. President Biden said that was a lapse in judgment, but he still has confidence in Austin.

2024 presidential nominating process begins in Iowa

Trump is the GOP frontrunner heading into the Iowa Caucuses

White House: Sec. Austin may need more medical care

The White House says Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin may need some additional care. The Pentagon says Austin remains hospitalized and is in good condition following prostate cancer surgery and an infection. But National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said Austin’s doctors think he may still need some additional care. He told CBS’s “Face the Nation” that the secretary remains “actively involved and engaged” from the hospital, and is in “routine regular communication with President Biden. The 70-year-old Austin has been hospitalized since New Year’s Day.

Iowa Poll: Trump 48%, Haley 20%, DeSantis 16%

Republican Nikki Haley has jumped to second place in the final Iowa Poll before Monday’s caucuses.
According to the influential Iowa Poll, Haley has overtaken Ron DeSantis but still trails Donald Trump by a substantial margin. Sponsored by the Des Moines Register, NBC News, and Mediacom, the poll shows Trump with 48 percent of likely Republican caucusgoers. Haley is now in second place at 20 percent, followed by DeSantis in third place at 16 percent. Overall, two-thirds of Iowans say their minds are made up.

Final weekend of campaigning before 2024 voting begins

It’s the final weekend of campaigning in Iowa for Republican presidential hopefuls before 2024 voting begins. Ahead of Monday’s caucuses, Ron DeSantis and Nikki Haley braved the elements on Saturday, stumping for votes in a state hit by blizzard conditions. Both candidates trail Donald Trump in the polls and are hoping for a solid finish –if not a last-minute surprise– to give them momentum into New Hampshire and beyond. Frigid, wintry weather forced the former president to cancel his two in-person rallies on Saturday. Monday’s weather is expected to be the coldest for any caucus day in history.

Iowa caucus-goers to face bone-chilling cold

It’s shaping up to be a cold caucus day in Iowa. As Iowa kicks off the presidential nominating season, caucus-goers better bundle up. Chad Hahn with the National Weather Service says Monday’s forecast calls for a high temperature of 1 degree. But Iowa Republican Party chairman Jeff Kaufmann isn’t worried. He says Iowa is the heartland and he’s still expecting strong voter turnout.

Pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest near White House

Thousands of pro-Palestinian demonstrators protested near the White House this weekend. Washington was one of several cities worldwide that held events calling for an end to Israeli military action in Gaza. Outside the White House, thousands gathered with people holding signs questioning President Biden’s support for Israel in the nearly 100-day war against Hamas. The president has said Israel has a right to go after the terrorists who attacked on October 7th, but he’s faced increasing opposition from fellow Democrats as the war has dragged on.

US, British militaries launch strikes against Houthi targets in Yemen

Backed by several allies, the U-S carried out military strikes against Houthi rebels because of their repeated attacks against international vessels in the Red Sea. In a White House statement, after the U-S and Britain struck dozens of Houthi targets in Yemen, the president said he “will not tolerate” the militant group’s ceaseless attacks. Mr. Biden said the attacks endangered U-S personnel and civilian mariners and jeopardized trade. The president went on to say, quote: “I will not hesitate to direct further measures” as necessary. A high-ranking Houthi official vowed there would be retaliation. GC, Wash.

Congressional Democrat calls for Sec. Austin’s resignation

A Democrat in Congress is urging President Biden’s defense secretary to resign. Representative Chris Deluzio of Pennsylania is the first Democrat to call for Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s resignation. The Pentagon chief is under fire for keeping his cancer diagnosis, surgery, and hospitalization a secret from the White House. Deluzio, who sits on the House Armed Services Committee, wrote on social media that he has “lost trust” in Austin’s leadership “due to the lack of transparency.” GC, Wash.

First Lady says Joe Biden’s age is an “asset”

First Lady Jill Biden is speaking out about her husband’s age. As President Biden faces persistent questions and concerns about running for re-election at age 81, the first lady says her husband’s age is an “asset.” In an interview with MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” Jill Biden said her husband has wisdom and experience and knows every leader on the world stage. Joe Biden is already the oldest American leader in history and polls show most Americans, including a majority of Democrats, believe he’s too old for a second term.

Defense Sec. Austin hospitalized with prostate cancer, infection

Doctors say Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is recovering from prostate cancer surgery and a related infection. The Walter Reed National Military Medical Center and the Pentagon have released more details about Austin’s health and his secretive hospitalization. The 70-year-old defense secretary underwent prostate cancer surgery on December 22nd. Then, on January first, he was hospitalized with an infection. Doctors say the cancer was detected early and Austin’s prognosis is excellent. Questions still remain about why the defense secretary failed to notify the White House about his condition and his hospitalization for several days.

DC appeals court skeptical of Trump’s immunity claim

A Washington appeals court raised questions about Donald Trump’s claims that he is immune from criminal charges. Trump was in the courtroom as his legal team sought to convince a panel of three judges that former presidents should not be prosecuted for actions they took in office. The judges appeared skeptical. Trump’s lawyer said a former president could not be charged for conduct unless impeached and convicted by Congress — even if the conduct included selling military secrets or assassinating a political rival.

U.S. has tough talks with Israel about post-war Gaza

The United States is having tough talks with Israel about the future of post-war Gaza. Secretary of State Blinken met with Prime Minister Netanyahu and members of his war cabinet in Tel Aviv, urging them to avoid civilian harm in the war in Gaza. At the moment, the U.S. and Israel remain deeply divided over how Gaza will be run when — and if — the leaders of Hamas are defeated. Netanyahu has vowed not to allow a Palestinian state alongside Israel.

New Hampshire upset with national Dems in primary flap

New Hampshire’s attorney general has a beef with the national Democratic party leaders. A few days ago, DNC officials called New Hampshire’s presidential primary “meaningless.” That didn’t sit well with the state’s attorney general, who issued a cease and desist notice. John Formella warned that such a statement violates state law. New Hampshire bucked President Biden and the DNC by continuing to hold on to its traditional first-in-the-nation primary status even after the party decided it would begin its primary season in South Carolina.

At SC church, Biden denounces white supremacy as “poison”

Campaigning in South Carolina, President Biden denounced the “poison” of white supremacy.” The president’s second campaign speech of the new year took place at the site of a deadly racist church shooting in Charleston several years ago. As he courted Black voters, Mr. Biden described white supremacy as a “poison.” Last week, the president delivered a stark warning about the threat to democracy as he marked the third anniversary of the U-S Capitol riot.

Trump to attend immunity appeals court hearing in D.C.

White House to review Sec. Austin’s undisclosed hospitalization

The White House says it will review Defense Secretary Austin’s failure to disclose his hospitalization to President Biden and other top officials. The Pentagon chief was in the hospital for several days before the White House and military officials were notified. And National Security spokesman John Kirby says there will be a review. Kirby says President Biden “respects the fact that Secretary Austin took ownership for the lack of transparency” and that the secretary continues to have the president’s confidence.

Biden’s top border official faces GOP-led impeachment effort

House Republicans are moving ahead with efforts to impeach President Biden’s top border official. Later this week, a House committee will hold a hearing related to impeachment allegations against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. Republicans claim has been derelict in his duty of managing the U-S-Mexico border. Here at the White House, the chief spokesperson said President Biden has confidence in Mayorkas. Karine Jean-Pierre also dismissed the impeachment allegations as a “political stunt.”