Former VP Pence files paperwork launching 2024 presidential bid

Former Vice President Mike Pence has filed paperwork declaring his campaign for president in 2024. Pence has spent months visiting early voting states, delivering policy speeches, speaking at churches, and courting donors. His entry into the 2024 race puts the former vice president in direct competition with his former boss. Pence is an Indiana native, but is launching his campaign in Iowa — the leadoff caucus state in the presidential primary. Advisers say he plans to campaign aggressively in the state, hitting every one of its 99 counties before the caucuses next year.

Republicans schedule 1st presidential debate for Aug. 23

Field of GOP presidential candidates to grow this week

The field of Republican presidential candidates continues to grow with three more announcements this week. Former Governor Chris Christie, who also ran in 2016, will announce his campaign at a town hall in New Hampshire on Tuesday evening. On Wednesday, former Vice President Mike Pence will make his expected White House run official with an announcement in Iowa. The same day, North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum also is expected to enter the Republican primary contest. It’s welcome news for the Trump campaign which believes the more candidates running, the better for Trump.

Trump campaign welcomes growing GOP presidential field

The growing GOP presidential field is seen as good news for the front runner — Donald Trump.
Three more Republicans will join the 2024 race for the White House this week: Chris Christie, Mike Pence, and North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum. This week’s announcements will bring to 10 the number of declared GOP candidates. Former President Trump and his team have long believed the more candidates who enter the primary contest, the better for Trump. They’re operating under the assumption that no other candidate will be able to consolidate enough of the anti-Trump vote to take him down.

Pence won’t be charged over handling of classified documents

CIA director visits China in U.S. push to cool tensions

The director of the CIA recently visited Beijing to meet with his Chinese counterparts. A U.S. official says CIA Director William Burns traveled to Beijing last month, in what is the highest level visit by a Biden administration official since a suspected Chinese spy balloon was shot down by the American military. Tensions between the two nations have been running high for many months, prompting U-S officials to worry about miscommunication causing conflict. Just last week, the Chinese government rejected Defense Secretary Austin’s request for a meeting at a security forum with his Chinese counterpart.

Biden praises Speaker McCarthy for role in debt talks

President Biden is complimenting House Speaker McCarthy for his role in raising the nation’s debt ceiling and averting a default. The president used an Oval Office address to tout congressional passage of the budget and debt ceiling legislation. And he went out of his way to praise the Republican House speaker. The president said “both sides operated in good faith and both sides kept their word.” Passage of the bill before Monday’s deadline averts a first-ever default by the federal government.

In Oval Office speech, Biden says default “crisis averted”

President Biden is cheering a budget deal that lifts the federal debt limit and averts a government default. In his first-ever speech from the Oval Office, the president told the nation that House and Senate passage of the budget and debt ceiling package was critically important. He applauded the bipartisan effort by members of Congress. Mr. Biden said he would sign the bill into law on Saturday — two days before the government default deadline.

Biden to give Oval Office speech on debt ceiling approval

President Biden will address the nation about the U-S averting a government default. Senate approval of a debt ceiling and budget cuts package came just days before Monday’s fast approaching default deadline. In a White House statement, the president said that senators from both parties demonstrated that “America is a nation that pays its bills and meets its obligations — and always will be.” He will give a speech to the nation tonight from the Oval Office.

Biden urges Senate to quickly pass debt ceiling bill

President Biden is urging the Senate to move quickly on the debt ceiling bill approved by the House. Ahead of Monday’s government default deadline, the president is calling on senators to pass the budget and debt ceiling legislation as soon as possible. He describes the agreement as “good news for the American people and the American economy.” And says ” the only path forward is a bipartisan compromise that can earn the support of both parties.”

Biden trips, falls at U.S. Air Force Academy graduation

President Biden fell on stage at the U.S. Air Force Academy graduation. After saluting and shaking hands with more than 900 graduates, the president tripped and fell. He was helped up by an Air Force officer and two members of the U-S Secret Service. The president then returned to his seat unassisted. The White House communications director tweeted that the president is “fine” and had stumbled over a black sandbag that was supporting his teleprompter. At the age of 80, Mr. Biden is the oldest president in U-S history.

DeSantis steps up criticism of Trump in Iowa campaigning

Now that he’s a declared presidential candidate, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is stepping up his criticism of Donald Trump. Campaigning in Iowa, DeSantis accused Trump of essentially abandoning “America First” principles on immigration, supporting coronavirus pandemic-related lockdowns, and generally having “moved left” on key issues. And DeSantis laughed off any criticism the former president had lobbed his way over his leadership in Florida, noting that Trump’s family moved to the state under his governorship.

Virginia’s governor deploys soldiers to U.S.-Mexico border

Virginia’s Glenn Youngkin is joining the list of Republican governors sending soldiers or other state law enforcement officers to the U.S. border with Mexico. Youngkin announced that he’s responding to a request from Texas Gov. Greg Abbott. The executive order directs the deployment of 100 Virginia National Guard soldiers and 21 support personnel to the southern border. Youngkin says “leadership solutions” at the federal level are falling short, leaving states to fill in the void. Virginia Democrats are criticizing the move as an abuse of state resources.

Former first lady Rosalynn Carter has dementia

Biden, McCarthy appeal to lawmakers to support debt deal

The stakes remain high for both President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy after striking a budget deal to avert a default. They may have reached a bipartisan agreement, but hard work remains for both the president and House speaker. They each have to persuade lawmakers in their parties to vote for it — in both the House and the Senate. Some lawmakers on the far right and far left don’t like the compromise and won’t support it, so the deal will require votes from Democrats and Republicans for approval.

Biden pays Memorial Day tribute to fallen heroes

Bipartisan budget, debt ceiling deal goes to Congress

President Biden and House Speaker McCarthy are urging lawmakers to pass a bipartisan budget agreement and raise the nation’s debt ceiling. Now that negotiations between the White House and GOP House lawmakers are over, it’s up to the full Congress to approve the hard-fought deal. Support from both parties will be needed to win congressional approval before a projected June 5th government default on U-S debts.

President Biden to commemorate Memorial Day

President Biden is set to observe Memorial Day in and around the nation’s capital. After hosting a White House breakfast for Gold Star families and others to commemorate Memorial Day, the president will participate in a wreath-laying ceremony and give a speech at Arlington National Cemetery.

Biden and McCarthy reach a final deal to avoid default

President Biden is hailing the budget and debt ceiling agreement as “good news for the American people.” With time running out before a possible government default, the president and House Speaker McCarthy reached a final agreement. Both the speaker and the president acknowledged that both political parties made compromises. The bill now moves to the full Congress and must be passed by June 5th to avert a first-ever default.

White House warns default would have devastating impact

The White House says it’s confident there will be no government default, even as it warns of a potential catastrophe. As budget and debt talks resumed between White House and congressional negotiators, Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre warned that a default would be devastating. At the same time, she said it’s welcome news that the talks are ongoing.

Biden judicial nominee withdraws from consideration

Gov. DeSantis to officially enter 2024 presidential race

White House describes ongoing debt talks as “productive”

The White House describes the ongoing debt ceiling talks as “productive.” Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said White House and congressional negotiators continue to hold talks and President Biden remains hopeful a deal can be reached to avert a default. Asked about House Republican claims that the president isn’t treating the debt ceiling crisis with urgency, Jean-Pierre called that “ridiculous.”

Trump’s criminal trial set for March 2024 during primary season

Donald Trump’s criminal trial has been set for next March in the midst of the presidential primary season. During a video appearance in a New York courtroom, the former president was informed that his criminal trial will begin March 25th. The judge advised him to cancel all other obligations for the duration of the trial, which could last for several weeks. That date falls in the heat of the presidential primary season. Last month, Trump pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business records at his family company, the Trump Organization.