Pence formally enters crowded 2024 GOP presidential field

No Biden comment on PGA merger with Saudi golf league

The Biden administration is not too eager to address the PGA’s announced merger with a Saudi-backed golf league. At the daily White House briefing, two administration officials flat out refused to comment on news that the PGA is merging with the Saudi-sponsored LIV circuit. And later when asked, President Biden only joked that he’s “planning on playing in the PGA.” The golf merger announcement happened to come on the same day Secretary of State Blinken was meeting with the Saudi crown prince — one year after the president’s much-criticized visit to Saudi Arabia.

U.S. is assessing who’s responsible for Ukraine dam explosion

The United States is assessing who’s responsible for the explosion of a dam in Russian-occupied Ukraine. The National Security Council’s John Kirby says the explosion will have long-lasting consequences. And he says it’s unknown how the damage and the evacuations will affect the ongoing war. The U-S is aware of reports that Russia is responsible for the explosion, but Kirby says the U-S cannot yet say conclusively what happened.

Rise of AI is a growing White House concern

The rise of artificial intelligence is a growing concern among political leaders in Washington. In a commencement address last week, President Biden said he had been warned by tech experts that artificial intelligence could “overtake human thinking.” Last month, he met with and urged officials from Google, Microsoft, and OpenAI to mitigate current and potential risks, including national security dangers. Meanwhile on Capitol Hill, the Senate majority leader has scheduled three briefings for senators on artificial intelligence, including a classified session.

Former Gov. Christie to enter 2024 presidential race

A familiar face is entering the 2024 presidential race. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie is gearing up for another run for the White House after being a candidate in 2016. He’ll be launching his campaign in New Hampshire. Christie is putting himself forward as the only potential candidate willing to aggressively take on Donald Trump. Christie was a longtime friend and adviser, but broke with Trump over his refusal to accept the results of the 2020 election. Christie has since emerged as a leading and vocal critic of the former president.

White House: China’s military becoming increasingly aggressive

The United States says China’s military is becoming more aggressive. In recent weeks, China sailed a warship across the path of an American destroyer in the Taiwan Strait, and one of its fighter jets intercepted a U-S Air Force aircraft over the South China Sea. Defense Secretary Austin has said the U-S would not “flinch in the face of bullying or coercion” from China.

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.