White House keeping an eye on UPS, union contract talks

Negotiations between UPS and the Teamsters union resume. Talks between the company and the union that represents more than half of the UPS workforce broke down earlier this month and the union has authorized a strike if their demands aren’t met. Stopping the delivery of goods to homes and businesses could be very disruptive, and the White House is keeping a close eye on the situation, fearing the economic impact of a threatened strike.

Biden issues veto threat for 3 GOP-backed spending bills

President Biden is poised to veto three Republican-sponsored spending bills if they pass Congress. If lawmakers approve GOP-backed defense, health and agriculture spending bills, then the president will be ready with his veto pen. The White House alleges that House Speaker McCarthy is backing away from spending levels agreed to in a debt-limit deal, and that it would not accept the cuts pushed by Republicans. Officials say one of the bills would have “devastating consequences” for reproductive healthcare and the LGBT community — two areas of emphasis for the Biden White House. GC, Wash.

Pence not convinced Trump’s Jan. 6 actions were criminal

Former Vice President Pence isn’t convinced that Donald Trump’s behavior leading up to the January 6th Capitol riot was criminal. Pence told CNN that Trump’s words “were reckless,” but he’s not sure they amounted to criminal activity. The former VP and current Republican presidential candidate also said he “honestly” doesn’t know what Trump’s intention was on January 6th, 2021, when people angry over the 2020 election results stormed the U-S Capitol. Last week, Trump said he had received a letter saying he is a target of a grand jury investigation into efforts to overturn the election.

Trump criminal trial to take place during GOP primary season

Donald Trump’s classified documents trial will take place during next year’s presidential nominating calendar. When the criminal trial begins on May 20th, 2024, several Republican presidential primaries will already be in the books, and probably well after the GOP nominee is clear. Although it would come before that person is officially nominated at the Republican National Convention. Trump is accused of willfully hoarding classified documents, including top secret records, and conspiring with his valet to hide them from investigators.

Email hack won’t stop Commerce Secretary’s China visit

Judge in Trump documents case offers compromise trial date

A federal judge in Florida has offered a compromise trial date for Donald Trump’s classified documents case. Trump’s legal team requested that the trial be delayed until after the 2024 presidential election, while federal prosecutors wanted the trial to start this December. U-S District Court Judge Aileen Cannon essentially split the difference in announcing May 20th next year as the trial date. She agreed with defense lawyers that the amount of evidence to sift through was “voluminous.” But she did not agree to wait until after voters went to the polls in next November’s election.

Commerce Secretary describes email hacking as “significant”

White House, 7 tech companies agree on AI safeguards

Trump’s classified documents trial set for May 2024

A federal judge has set a trial date for next May in Donald Trump’s classified documents case. May 20th, 2024 is the trial date for the former president in a case charging him with illegally retaining hundreds of classified documents. Trump’s legal team wanted to delay the trial until after the 2024 presidential election, while prosecutors had requested a trial to begin this December. U-S District Judge Aileen Cannon’s decision to hold the trial next May is a compromise between the two sides and means the trial will not start until deep into the presidential nominating calendar.

White House concerned about AWOL soldier in NKorea

New U.S. sanctions aimed at choking off Russia’s war supplies

U.S. trying to determine fate of American soldier in NKorea

White House: Russia preparing for attacks on civilian ships in Black Sea

Biden cracks down on surprise renters’ fees

The Biden administration is taking steps to crack down on junk fees, including those charged by landlords. The president said the government is working with Zillow, Apartments-dot-com and AffordableHousing-dot-com to combat surprise fees faced by renters. The White House also proposed new guidelines for corporate mergers and launched a crackdown on price-gouging in the food industry.

Judge hears case against Biden administration’s asylum rule

GOP presidential hopeful releases list of possible top judicial appointments

One of the Republican presidential candidates is out with a list of possible top judicial appointments. Biotech entrepreneur and GOP presidential hopeful Vivek Ramaswamy has released a list of 16 people he’d nominate to the U.S. Supreme Court or federal appellate courts if he wins the White House. The list includes Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah as possible nominees for the nation’s top court, as well as elevating federal judges who struck down the Biden administration’s airplane mask mandate and the FDA’s two-decade-long approval of the abortion pill. GC, Wash.

Ukraine war to top agenda at NATO summit this week

The Russian invasion of Ukraine will top the agenda at this week’s NATO summit. When NATO leaders gather in Lithuania, Russia’s ongoing war against Ukraine will be top of mind, says White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan. NATO nations this week will agree to help modernize Ukraine’s armed forces and reaffirm that it will join their alliance one day. But membership talks are off the table while Ukraine is at war with Russia.

Some GOP presidential hopefuls are struggling to meet fundraising and polling requirements to make it on the debate stage

Some GOP presidential hopefuls are struggling to meet fundraising and polling requirements to make it on the debate stage

VERBATIM:

In order to participate in the Milwaukee debate next month, Republican candidates must have received contributions from at least 40-thousand individual donors. Last week, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said he only received contributions from “over” 5-thousand donors. Candidates also must earn at least 1% in the polls. The candidates who say they have qualified so far include Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy. GC, Wash.

In a controversial move, the United States announced it will send cluster munitions to Ukraine

In a controversial move, the United States announced it will send cluster munitions to Ukraine

VERBATIM:

A majority of NATO members have banned cluster munitions because they can cause civilian casualties. White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said the U-S carefully weighed the risks.

Sullivan said that scenario is “intolerable” to the U-S. GC, Wash.

The United States is working to win the release of a detained journalist and other Americans in Russia

The United States is working to win the release of a detained journalist and other Americans in Russia

VERBATIM:

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said the U.S. has been in contact with Russian officials to press for the release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich.

Last week, the U.S. ambassador to Moscow was allowed to visit Gershkovich for the first time since April. GC, Wash.

Some GOP presidential candidates struggle to qualify for debate

Some GOP presidential hopefuls are struggling to meet fundraising and polling requirements to make it on the debate stage. In order to participate in the Milwaukee debate next month, Republican candidates must have received contributions from at least 40-thousand individual donors. Last week, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson said he only received contributions from “over” 5-thousand donors. Candidates also must earn at least 1% in the polls. The candidates who say they have qualified so far include Donald Trump, Ron DeSantis, Tim Scott, Nikki Haley and Vivek Ramaswamy.

U.S. says sending cluster munitions to Ukraine is worth risk

White House presses Russia for release of detained journalist

FiveThirtyEight: Biden’s popularity at historically low level

President Biden’s popularity at this point in his term is historically low. As he runs for reelection, Joe Biden is facing the worst job approval rating of nearly every president since Harry Truman. A FiveThirtyEight-dot-com comprehensive poll analysis shows Biden with a 40-percent approval. That is slightly lower than Donald Trump’s rating at the same point during his administration, and sharply lower than both President Bushes. In fact, Biden trails every president –both Democratic and Republican– dating back to the 1940’s except for one — Jimmy Carter.