Biden “heartbroken” over deaths of 5 Marines in chopper crash

President Biden is mourning the loss of five Marines in a helicopter crash in California. The five were killed when their helicopter went down late Tuesday night during stormy weather in the mountains outside of San Diego. They were on a routine training mission. In a White House statement, the president extended his condolences, saying “as we mourn this profound loss, we honor their selfless service and ultimate sacrifice.”

Supreme Court to hear Trump ballot eligibility case

The Supreme Court will hear arguments about whether Donald Trump can be kept off the 2024 presidential ballot. Trump is appealing a Colorado Supreme Court ruling that he should not be on the Republican primary ballot. The state court declared him ineligible because he violated a provision in the 14th Amendment preventing those who “engaged in insurrection” from holding office. The arguments will be historic as the nation’s highest court will consider for the first time the meaning and reach of the Constitution’s “insurrection” clause.

U.S. drone strike kills high-ranking militia commander

A U-S drone strike has killed a high-ranking commander in an Iranian-backed militia group. Officials say the drone strike hit a car in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, killing three members of the powerful Kataib Hezbollah militia, including a senior commander. The strike came days after the U-S military launched an air assault on dozens of sites in Iraq and Syria used by Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard in retaliation for a deadly attack on American troops.

Haley vows to stay in presidential race after Nevada showing

Nikki Haley is vowing to stay in the presidential race after her showing in Tuesday’s Nevada primary. Haley was the only candidate listed on the ballot and she finished in second place with 31 percent of the vote. Sixty-three percent of voters selected “none of these candidates.” It was largely a symbolic vote with no delegates at stake. It’s because Nevada’s Republican party is holding its own primary on Thursday in a move that favors Donald Trump. The Haley campaign says it “didn’t bother to play a game rigged for Trump” and is focused on South Carolina instead.

Biden’s EPA sets tighter standards for deadly soot pollution

The Biden administration is setting tougher standards for deadly soot pollution. A new rule from the EPA sets an air quality level that states and counties must achieve in the coming years to reduce pollution from power plants, vehicles, and industrial sites. The government says the move could prevent thousands of premature deaths a year. Environmental and public health groups welcome the tougher standards, while industry groups warn it could lead to the loss of manufacturing jobs and even shut down power plants or refineries.

White House welcomes failed Mayorkas impeachment vote

The White House says the failed Republican effort to impeach the Homeland Security secretary was a “baseless” stunt. After a few GOP House lawmakers joined Democrats to block the impeachment of DHS Secretary Mayorkas, the White House hailed it as a “bipartisan” vote. Spokesman Ian Sams said in a statement that House Republicans ought to realize that extreme political stunts like this are a waste of time.” The GOP wanted to punish Mayorkas for his handling of the border crisis. Hours before the House vote, Republicans in the Senate withdrew their support from a bill designed to strengthen border security.

Biden blames Trump for sinking border bill, Ukraine funding

President Biden is blaming Donald Trump for sinking a bipartisan bill to provide money for Ukraine, Israel, and border security. The president praised the Senate bill for offering tough and fair immigration reforms, but he acknowledged that it’s stalled in Congress. He criticized lawmakers for caving in to Trump’s pressure. And he appealed to Congress not to abandon Ukraine and Israel, saying both countries need more aid from the United States.

Trump loses appeal on presidential immunity in 2020 election case

Donald Trump has lost an appeal in the case charging him with plotting to overturn the 2020 election. The former president claimed he’s immune from prosecution for any actions taken while in office. But a federal appeals court panel rejected that argument and ruled that Trump can face trial for actions related to the January 6th Capitol riot. A Trump campaign spokesman said the former president “respectfully disagrees with the DC Circuit’s decision and will appeal it in order to safeguard the presidency and the Constitution. At this point, an appeal could be made to either the U.S. Supreme Court or the entire U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

Nevada is holding its Democratic presidential primary

Nevada is holding its Democratic presidential primary. Democrats in Nevada are going to the polls three days after Joe Biden cruised to victory in the South Carolina primary, where he won all 55 of that state’s convention delegates. On Sunday, the president held campaign events in Nevada and yesterday, he met with union workers in Las Vegas ahead of today’s primary.

Speaker Johnson calls Biden Israel aid veto threat a “betrayal”

President Biden and House Speaker Johnson are playing hard ball over aid to Israel. Even though the president supports emergency funding for Israel, he would veto the stand-alone aid package proposed by House Republicans. In a statement, the White House called the bill a “cynical political maneuver” designed to weaken bipartisan Senate talks on funding for Israel, Ukraine, and the border. House Speaker Mike Johnson shot back, calling the president’s veto threat “an act of portrayal” and accusing Mr. Biden of “abandoning our ally in its time of greatest need.”

Nikki Haley requests Secret Service protection

Republican presidential contender Nikki Haley has requested U-S Secret Service protection. Haley’s campaign did not disclose any specific threats that prompted the request, but the former ambassador and governor was targeted in two “swatting” incidents around the first of the year. And in recent days, protesters have regularly disrupted or demonstrated near her events in South Carolina. The Secret Service often provides security to major presidential candidates, both in general and primary elections.

Pentagon unaware of any Iranian deaths after airstrikes

The Pentagon is not aware of any Iranian deaths in the recent U-S military strikes. Air Force Major General Patrick Ryder told reporters that initial indications were that the strikes against dozens of targets linked to Iran-supported militias did not kill any Iranians. But he said other casualties were likely, without giving details. On Friday, the Pentagon carried out a wave of airstrikes in Iraq and Syria in retaliation for the drone attack on American personnel that killed three U-S soldiers.

Report: Biden aides bracing for classified documents report

The Biden campaign reportedly is bracing for the special counsel’s report into the president’s handling of classified documents. News media outlets including Axios say the independent counsel’s final report could be released as soon as this week. Robert Hur has been investigating the improper storage of classified documents at Joe Biden’s Delaware home and a think tank office in Washington. Axios reports that even if there are no criminal charges, Biden aides expect the report’s details to be politically damaging. Details could include photos of how and where the sensitive materials were stored.

U.S. plans more retaliatory strikes against Iran-backed militias

The United States plans to carry out further military strikes against Iranian-backed militias in retaliation for killing three American soldiers. White House officials say Friday’s strikes on more than 85 targets in Iraq and Syria were “the beginning, not the end” of the U-S response. Jake Sullivan said President is not seeking a wider war in the Middle East. But Sullivan also told NBC’s Meet the Press that if Iran “chose to respond directly to the United States, they would be met with a swift and forceful response.”

Powell: Fed on track to cut interest rates three times this year

The Federal Reserve chairman says he still expects three interest rate cuts this year. Interviewed on CBS’s 60 Minutes, Jerome Powell said he thinks the economy “is in a good place” and there’s “no sign of a recession on the horizon.” As a result, Powell said the Fed remains on track to cut interest rates three times this year. He suggested March might be too soon for a rate cut, leading economists to think the first cut is likely to come in May or June.

Improving economy doesn’t boost Biden job approval

More Americans are feeling good about the economy, but it’s not helping President Biden. There are several signs of an improving U-S economy, including job gains, higher economic growth, and a rising stock market. But an AP-NORC poll finds that adults are only feeling slightly better about the economy and any improvement has yet to spill over into greater support for the president and his re-election bid. Survey respondents pointed to the high cost of groceries and housing, as well as an ongoing concern about the federal debt.

Haley has no immediate plans to end GOP presidential bid

Republican Nikki Haley has no plans to quit the presidential race any time soon. She trails Donald Trump in the polls and most pundits view her candidacy as a long shot. But Haley said she’s “not going anywhere.” She told reporters that if she can keep closing the gap, her campaign will continue. In her calculus, the GOP primary has barely begun with just two states having voted so far. Haley’s refusal to quit has angered the former president, who has resorted to name-calling and increased personal attacks against Haley, at the risk of alienating moderate voters and suburban women.

Biden under pressure from Democrats on border crisis

Biden struggling with Republican and Democrat voters

A new poll shows that Joe Biden has a problem with both Republican and Democratic voters. The president’s approval rating dropped to 38 percent in January, according to the latest Reuters/Ipsos poll. His job approval has been below 50 percent since August of 2021. While it’s no surprise that large majorities of Republicans give the president low marks on immigration and the economy, he also faces resistance from his own party. Forty-seven percent of Democrats say the country is on the wrong track.

U.S. military retaliates by striking dozens of Iranian targets

President Biden ordered airstrikes against Iranian targets following a deadly drone attack against U-S forces. The U.S. military took aim at dozens of sites in Iraq and Syria used by Iranian-backed militias and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard. White House national security spokesman John Kirby says the targets were carefully chosen based on evidence “that they were connected to attacks on U-S personnel in the region.” He says the Pentagon is in the early stage of battle damage assessment, but the Pentagon believes the strikes were successful. President Biden said the response to the attack on American forces “will continue at times and places of our choosing.”

Judge postpones Trump’s March trial on 2020 election plot

A federal judge has formally postponed Donald Trump’s March trial on charges of plotting to overturn the 2020 election. U-S District Judge Tanya Chutkan vacated the March 4 trial date as she waits for Trump’s appeal to work its way through the courts. She did not immediately set a new date. A federal appeals court is currently reviewing the former president’s argument that he’s immune from prosecution for actions he took in the White House. With a delay in the case, a separate case in New York on alleged hush money payments might proceed first.

Biden attends U.S. return of three soldiers in solemn dignified transfer

President Biden and top military officials attended the return of three soldiers killed in last weekend’s drone attack in Jordan. On the tarmac at Delaware’s Dover Air Force Base, the president stood with his hand over his heart as each flag-draped transfer case was removed from a large military transport plane. He was joined in the dignified transfer by the first lady, the defense secretary, and the joint chiefs chairman. Earlier, Mr. Biden met privately with the families of the service members. On Thursday, he honored the fallen soldiers, saying they “risked it all.”

Biden to attend dignified transfer of fallen soldiers

Biden sanctions four Israeli settlers who attacked Palestinians in West Bank

President Biden is sanctioning four Israeli settlers who attacked Palestinians in the West Bank. According to the president’s executive order, the four settlers were involved in acts of violence, as well as threats and attempts to destroy or seize Palestinian property. The U-S action imposes financial sanctions and visa bans against the four individuals. Mr. Biden has maintained that Israel has a right to defend itself, but he’s facing growing criticism from Arab Americans for his response to the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza.