Two GOP presidential rivals snag endorsements

Two Republican presidential rivals have snagged two sought-after endorsements this week. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis won the support of a fellow governor as he makes the case for being the leading Donald Trump alternative. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds endorsed DeSantis, who hopes it will boost his campaign in the first voting state in the country. Meanwhile, Trump was endorsed by his former White House press secretary and current governor of Arkansas, Sarah Huckabee Sanders. Both endorsements were announced in the run-up to Wednesday night’s third GOP debate here in South Florida.

Donald Trump clashes with judge in New York courtroom

Former President Trump lashed out in a New York courtroom as he testified in the civil business fraud case against him. On the witness stand, a defiant Trump complained of unfair treatment, claimed that the judge was biased against him, and called the state attorney general who brought the case a “political hack.” At one point, the judge urged lawyers to “control” Trump, saying “this is not a political rally. This is a courtroom.” The former president boasted about his wealth and denied that he had deceived banks and insurers.

Biden touts billions in infrastructure money for Amtrak

President Biden announced more than 16-billion dollars in new funding for Amtrak trains. At an Amtrak maintenance facility not far from his Wilmington, Delaware, home, the president touted the new federal investments for trains. The money, which comes from the bipartisan infrastructure law, will go toward 25 passenger rail projects between Boston and Washington in the heavily trafficked Northeast Corridor.

Trump leads Biden in 5 key battleground states: NYT poll

One year before the election, Donald Trump leads President Biden in five key battleground states. White
New survey results from a New York Times/Siena College poll show Trump ahead in 5 of 6 swing states he lost in 2020 — Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, Nevada, and Pennsylvania. The president holds a 3-point edge over Trump in Wisconsin. According to these battleground state polls, Trump is gaining among Hispanic and Black voters, while Mr. Biden is facing serious voter concerns about his age and the economy.

Donald Trump set to testify in New York’s civil fraud case

Handling of Israel-Hamas war critical to Biden’s reelection

RFK Jr is making some noise in the 2024 White House race

Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s presidential campaign is making some noise in the 2024 race. Kennedy’s decision to run as an independent is gaining support, according to the latest Quinnipiac poll. In a Biden-Trump matchup, the two candidates are virtually tied. If you expand the contest to include RFK Jr, Biden leads Trump 36 to 33 percent — with Kennedy receiving 22 percent support. Among Independent voters, Kennedy leads both Trump and Biden. With those numbers, RFK Jr is poised to play a spoiler role.

Biden campaign predicts “very close” 2024 White House race

Joe Biden’s presidential campaign is predicting a “very close” race in 2024. With Election Day one year away, the president’s re-election team is prepping for a likely matchup against Donald Trump. In a strategy memo, Biden’s campaign manager said they’re already looking beyond the Republican presidential primary to a general election “that will be very close.” She said the president’s 2020 message will be central to this campaign, and that he will present a contrast with the “Make America Great Again” movement. One issue the memo omits is voters’ concerns that Mr. Biden is too old for the job.

Biden pays respects to Maine shooting victims, mourns with families

Biden pledges investment, wants to strengthen the Americas

President Biden welcomed leaders from countries across the Americas to an economic summit. During a White House meeting with officials from a dozen countries across the Western Hemisphere, the president pledged to increase U-S investment in the region. He did not specifically mention China in his opening remarks, but the White House is trying to counter Beijing’s influence in the Americas.

Bidens to visit Lewiston, Maine, after shooting left 18 dead

White House calls for “humanitarian pause” in Israel-Hamas fighting

The Biden administration is calling for brief pauses in airstrikes and fighting in the Israel-Hamas war for humanitarian purposes. The administration opposes a general ceasefire. But John Kirby with the National Security Council says President Biden supports a “humanitarian pause.” The goals, he said, are getting humanitarian aid into Gaza and getting people out.

74 more Americans evacuated from Gaza

The White House says 74 more U-S citizens have left the Gaza Strip as the nearly four-week old Israel-Hamas war rages on. The National Security Council’s John Kirby said those who evacuated were dual citizens. Kirby said that the administration hopes that additional U-S citizens will be able to leave Gaza in the coming hours and days, and the pace of Americans who want to leave will now move at an accelerated pace.

Secretary Blinken returns to Mideast amid Israel-Hamas war

Secretary of State Antony Blinken is returning to the Middle East amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war. Before boarding a plane for Tel Aviv, Blinken said “these are challenging times.” As he did during a visit to the region last month, Blinken will stress U.S. support for Israel and try to prevent a wider Mideast war as he visits Israel and Jordan.

Plans taking shape for Biden-Xi meeting in California

Plans are taking shape for a meeting between President Biden and China’s Xi Jinping. A senior administration officials says Washington and Beijing have an agreement in principle for the two leaders to meet in San Francisco in mid-November. But important details still need to be hammered out. Separately, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said the presidents are aiming to have a “constructive conversation” when they attend a global summit in California in a couple of weeks. But important details still need to be hammered out.

Muslim Americans threaten to stop supporting Biden over Gaza

President Biden’s re-election campaign could suffer because of his support for Israel. Muslim leaders in the U-S have issued an ultimatum to the president — secure an Israeli ceasefire in Gaza or lose donations and votes in the 2024 White House race. The National Muslim Democratic Council is pledging to mobilize Muslim voters against “any candidate who endorses the Israeli offensive against the Palestinian people.” The Council includes Democratic Party leaders from hotly contested states, such as Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

Biden’s name will not appear on New Hampshire primary ballot

President Biden’s name will not appear on the ballot in next year’s New Hampshire primary. Nearly a year ago, the president announced that South Carolina would be the first voting state in the Democrats’ 2024 primary season. However, New Hampshire refused to give up its long-running position as the traditional leadoff primary state. So, Mr. Biden chose to stay off the ballot there. As a result, he will rely on a write-in campaign when New Hampshire voters go to the polls early next year.

U.S. does not support ceasefire in Gaza right now

The Biden administration does not support a ceasefire in the Israel-Hamas war. Despite calls from the U-N, the pope, and others for a ceasefire in Gaza, the White House doesn’t believe a ceasefire is the “right answer right now.” However, National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says the U-S favors temporary humanitarian pauses for aid to be moved in.

U.S. denies Russia’s allegations about anti-Israel airport riot

The White House is denying Russian allegations that Western spy agencies were behind a weekend riot that targeted a flight from Israel. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby says “the West had nothing to do with” Sunday’s airport rampage and criticized Russia’s Vladimir Putin for not doing more to condemn the violence. Kirby called Putin’s allegation against the West “classic Russian rhetoric.”

New executive order creates AI safeguards

President Biden has signed an executive order creating Artificial Intelligence safeguards. The president said guardrails are needed to balance the needs of cutting-edge technology companies with national security and consumer rights. He said AI is driving change at “warp speed” and carries tremendous potential as well as perils. The executive order requires leading AI developers to share safety test results and other information with the government.

Biden applauds GM-UAW deal, potential end to strike

President Biden welcomes the potential end to six-week strike by Big Three autoworkers. Workers for Ford, Stellantis, and General Motors have agreed to tentative deals to end their work stoppage. President Biden applauded the news at the White House. The president was not a neutral observer during the strike. Last month he joined a picket line in Michigan, voicing support for union workers and organized labor.

Trump leads GOP rivals in Iowa, Haley moves up to 2nd: poll

Donald Trump continues to hold a sizable lead over his GOP presidential rivals in Iowa. With January’s first-in-the-nation caucuses less than three months away, Trump has a commanding lead in Iowa, according to the NBC News/Des Moines Register poll. Among likely Iowa caucus-goers, Trump has 43 percent support. Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis are tied for second at 16 percent. Haley jumped higher since the August poll, while DeSantis slipped. All the other GOP candidates are in single digits.

Democratic lawmaker challenges Biden in 2024 primary

President Biden has a new challenger in the race for the White House. Democratic Congressman Dean Phillips of Minnesota is running for president in 2024. Phillips has expressed concerns that Joe Biden might not get re-elected and he believes a competitive primary will strengthen his party and fend off a possible victory by Donald Trump.

Biden calls for two-state Mideast solution after current war

President Biden says there must be a “path toward peace” once the Israel-Hamas crisis is over.  Even as Israel responds to the brutal October 7 Hamas attacks, President Biden is looking long-term and expressing hope for a two-state solution with independent states for the Israelis and Palestinians. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby acknowledges the goal is not new and is a difficult one. But he says the hope is that it’s not impossible.