U.S. focused on Ukraine war amid Russian chaos

The United States says its focus remains on the war in Ukraine, not internal Russian affairs. Amid the political chaos that played out over the weekend in Moscow, the White House says Russia remains a lethal threat. President Biden says it’s too early to know how the armed rebellion in Russia will play out, but he says Ukraine has the solid backing of the U-S and the West.

Biden pledges high-speech internet access to all by 2030

The Biden administration is pledging high-speed internet access to every household by 2030. Vowing not to leave anyone behind, the president announced more than 40-billion dollars would be distributed across the country to deliver high-speed internet in places where there’s either no service, or service is too slow. He said thanks to the infrastructure law, more than 35-thousand projects are already funded or underway to lay cable that provides internet access.

Biden: U.S., allies not involved in uprising against Putin

President Biden says the West was not responsible for a brief weekend revolt in Russia. The president says he held a video call with key American allies over the weekend as Moscow faced an internal political crisis. “We made clear we were not involved, we had nothing to do with this.” Putin faced an open rebellion from the leader of a Russian mercenary force. Mr. Biden also spoke to Ukraine’s president, pledging continued support for his country as it fights off a Russian invasion.

Mixed results for Biden in new 2024 poll

A new poll offers mixed results for President Biden. A survey by NBC News shows the president leading Donald Trump by 4 percent in a head-to-head match-up, while Mr. Biden is tied with Ron DeSantis. The president’s job approval remains in the low 40’s and 74 percent of Americans say the country is on the wrong track. The poll also shows that two-thirds of registered voters have major or moderate concerns about Joe Biden “not having the necessary mental and physical health to be president.”

Federal Reserve interest rate hikes likely to continue

Federal student loan freeze is coming to an end

India’s PM in Washington for White House state visit

President Biden welcomes India’s prime minister for a state visit. The two leaders are expected to announce agreements on defense cooperation and sales, and investments in technology in India. A U-S official says Washington wants India to be a strategic counterweight to China. Despite the cooperation, the U-S has ongoing concerns about human rights in India. Those concerns will be raised, but the national security adviser says the president won’t “lecture” his guest.

China calls Biden’s “dictator” comment “extremely absurd”

President Biden is coming under fire for comments about China’s president. During a West Coast fundraiser this week, President Biden referred to Chinese leader Xi Jinping as a dictator. The comment wasn’t received well in Beijing, where the Foreign Ministry spokesperson described the words as “extremely absurd and irresponsible.” He went on to say the remarks “violate diplomatic protocol” and “were a blatant political provocation.” The clash of words comes shortly after Secretary of State Blinken wrapped up a rare visit to China trying to ease tensions between the two countries.

Biden talks AI with tech experts in San Francisco

President Biden has been discussing artificial intelligence with technology leaders. The president met with a group of tech experts in San Francisco as he and his administration try to figure out how to regulate the emergent field of AI. He said the technology offers much promise, but also poses challenges. Last month, the president brought together tech CEOs at the White House to discuss the risks and benefits of AI.

Hunter Biden facing federal income tax and weapons charges

Hunter Biden, the son of President Biden, has reached a plea deal on income tax and weapon charges. After a five-year investigation by the Justice Department, Hunter Biden has been charged with failing to pay federal income tax and illegally possessing a weapon. According to a filing in federal court in Delaware, the president’s son will plead guilty to a misdemeanor on tax offenses and reach an agreement on firearm and drug charges. Those charges are separate from Hunter Biden’s business dealings which are being investigated by congressional Republicans.

Trump says documents boxes contained personal clothing

Former President Trump was asked about classified documents during a Fox News interview. Trump explained that he didn’t return boxes of classified material to the government because they were interspersed with his personal belongings. He told Fox News’ Bret Baier that he’s been “very busy” and still needed to sort through the boxes, which he said contained “golf shirts, clothing, pants, [and] shoes.” The former president also insisted that all of the documents were unclassified.

U.S. and China agress to stabilize relations during Blinken’s visit

Secretary of State Blinken has wrapped up his two-day trip to Beijing. Blinken met with Chinese President Xi Jinping and says they agreed to “stabilize” U.S.-China ties. But Beijing is not ready to resume military-to-military contacts, something the U.S. considers crucial. The two countries have yet to resolve their most important disagreements, yet both leaders pointed to progress in the talks. Blinken’s trip marked the highest-level U.S. visit to China in five years.

Analysts: Biden’s inflation and climate bill to add to deficit

A new analysis shows President Biden’s inflation and climate bill won’t cut the deficit as expected. The president and most Democrats touted last summer’s Inflation Reduction Act as necessary to reduce the nation’s budget deficit. But the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton Business School has scrutinized the law and says the opposite will happen. The analysis concludes that instead of reducing the debt, it will add to it. The Biden administration doesn’t completely accept that scenario, but a White House official acknowledged that reductions to the deficit could take longer than estimated.

Dems’ primary plan could cost Biden Iowa and New Hampshire

President Biden’s decision to shuffle the Democratic primary calendar could backfire. As he runs for reelection, the president is in danger of not winning the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Late last year, he announced that South Carolina would be the first voting state in the Democrats’ 2024 primary season. But officials in the traditional first-to-vote states don’t like the plan and are threatening to go first. As Axios points out, that sets up a scenario in which Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or another Democrat could win Iowa and New Hampshire and embarrass the president.

White House pushes for surveillance law renewal

The Biden administration is pushing Congress to renew a federal surveillance law. Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act expires at the end of this year and the White House is making the case for it to be renewed by lawmakers. Administration officials say surveillance programs authorized by Section 702 have helped them catch fentanyl smugglers and the hackers who temporarily shut down a key fuel pipeline two years ago. However, both Democratic and Republican lawmakers are expressing reservations, citing concerns about protecting Americans’ privacy from warrantless searches.

$930 million in grants announced to expand U.S. internet access

New infrastructure grants have been announced to expand internet access across the country. The Commerce Department unveiled 930-million dollars in grants to shore up connections in remote parts of Alaska, rural Texas, and dozens of other places with significant gaps in internet connectivity. Funding comes from the bipartisan infrastructure law. The White House says the expansion will be good for individual households, as well as “essential institutions like hospitals, schools, libraries, and major businesses.” The newly announced grants are intended to trigger the laying of 12-thousand miles of new fiber through 35 states and Puerto Rico.

U.S. strengthens defense ties with Japan, Philippines

The United States is strengthening its defense ties with Japan and the Philippines. The national security advisers of the three nations held their first joint talks this week and agreed to strengthen their defense cooperation. White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Washington is reinforcing its alliances to adapt to growing tensions over North Korea, China and Ukraine. Sullivan said he and his counterparts talked about how to enhance peace and stability in a “turbulent regional security environment.” The officials also discussed opportunities for joint naval exercises in Indo-Pacific waters.

Biden to view collapsed portion of I-95 in Philadelphia

President Biden will get an aerial tour of the collapsed portion of I-95 in Philadelphia. The president will view the damage from the highway collapse and the early stages of the repair and reconstruction efforts. The White House says he will receive a briefing from officials. Last weekend’s collapse has snarled traffic in Philadelphia, forcing detours, and disrupting busy summer travel along the major north-south interstate highway on the East Coast.

U.S. imposes visa restrictions after Uganda’s law bans homosexuality

No breakthrough expected during Blinken’s trip to China

No breakthrough is expected during Secretary of State Blinken’s weekend visit to China. Tensions between the U.S. and China have festered in recent years, but recently the two sides have held talks on trade and other issues. Secretary Blinken is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Sunday for a two-day visit. He will be the first secretary of state to visit China since 2018 and is expected to meet with the foreign minister and China’s president. However, the White House National Security Council is downplaying expectations, saying Blinken is not likely to make a significant breakthrough.

Biden in danger of not winning Iowa caucuses, NH primary

President Biden is in danger of not winning the Iowa caucuses and the New Hampshire primary. Back in December, the president announced that South Carolina would be the first voting state in the Democrats’ 2024 primary season, leaping ahead of Iowa and New Hampshire. But officials in those two traditional first-to-vote states are threatening to ignore those plans and go first. And as Axios points out, that sets up a scenario in which Robert F. Kennedy Jr. or another Democrat could win Iowa and New Hampshire and embarrass the president.

Biden cheers West Coast dockworkers contract

President Biden is cheering the tentative agreement for thousands of West Coast dockworkers.
Since last July, some 22-thousand dockworkers from Washington state through California have been without a contract. But a tentative new six-year deal has been reached. President Biden sent along his congratulations. He said the contract is going to have a “positive impact on trade.”

Another Republican joins the 2024 White House race

Another Republican has joined the 2024 race for the White House. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez filed paperwork to launch his bid for the GOP Republican presidential nomination. He joins fellow Floridians Donald Trump and Ron DeSantis in the crowded primary field. The 45-year-old Suarez is the
only Hispanic candidate in the race and is vying to become the first sitting mayor elected president. He has said he didn’t vote for Trump in either 2016 or 2020, instead writing in the names of Senator Marco Rubio and then-Vice President Pence.

AG Garland defends DOJ against “weaponized” allegations

Attorney General Merrick Garland is defending the Justice Department’s handling of the Trump classified documents case. Since last week’s indictment of former President Trump, some Republicans have alleged that Trump’s prosecution amounts to the Biden administration using the Justice Department as a weapon against political opponents. In his first public comment since the former president pleaded not guilty, Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the independent special counsel Jack Smith, praised the integrity of the prosecutors, and rejected allegations that his agency was weaponized.