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Thursday, October 6, 2022

Wake-Up Call: Biden, DeSantis Tour Devastation Together

President Joe Biden went to Fort Myers, Florida, yesterday, to see some of the worst of the devastation wrought by Hurricane Ian in southwest Florida. The visit marked a brief ceasefire in his relationship with Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis, a frequent critic and possible rival for the presidency in 2024. DeSantis praised the White House for its quick work in getting help to the disaster-stricken area. At least 109 people are confirmed dead in the storm, and more may be found as a door-to-door search continues.

Supporters of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis got excited on social media Wednesday when the Republican gave remarks introducing President Biden while standing at a lectern with the presidential seal on it. It’s not uncommon for local officials to grace the presidential speaking apparatus, especially after natural disasters such as Hurricane Ian. But with DeSantis widely tipped to run for president and potentially unseat Biden in 2024, some believed they were getting a glimpse two years into the future as DeSantis spoke while Biden stood off to the side.

➤GOVERNOR THINKS NATIONAL MEDIA WANTED FLORIDA DESTROYED:  Florida’s Republican Governor Ron DeSantis had an unexpected answer when a reporter for Florida’s Voice asked him why the national media got it wrong when they said Hurricane Ian was headed straight for Tampa a day or so before it veered off to land near Fort Myers. DeSantis said the media, which he refers to as “the national regime media,” wanted Tampa to be hit hard because it would “be worse for Florida.” He added: "They don't care what destruction's [left] in their wake. They don't care about the lives here. If they can use it to pursue their political agenda, they will do it."

😮WATCH YOUR MOUTH! President Biden stunned viewers of a Hurricane Ian recovery briefing Wednesday by saying into a hot mic that “no one f—s with a Biden” shortly after he told devastated residents of southwest Florida that he can commiserate due to a minor house fire that destroyed an “awful lot” of his own home almost 20 years ago.  The 79-year-old president made the unexpected vulgar remark about family loyalty to Fort Myers Mayor Ray Murphy (left) after taking several questions from reporters.

🌉FLORIDA ISLAND GETS ITS BRIDGE BACK: A temporary bridge connecting Florida’s Pine Island to the mainland opened yesterday to cheers from residents who have been cut off since the hurricane hit. The Miami Herald reports that the first vehicles over the bridge included emergency response vehicles and a delivery truck from Publix, the local supermarket chain. Pine Island is near hard-hit Cape Coral.



➤RUSSIAN TROOPS BOLT AS UKRAINIANS ADVANCE: Ukrainian forces are continuing to take back areas of the country claimed by Russia, and Russian soldiers are said to be fleeing as the Ukrainians advance. The Ukrainians are reported to have taken back dozens of villages in border regions that Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that his country has annexed. The Ukrainians reported that they have discovered evidence of extensive destruction, mass burial sites, and torture chambers in the towns they have retaken.

⛽OPEC PLUS CUTS OIL PRODUCTION: OPEC Plus, the international cartel of oil producers that includes Russia, has announced a big cut in their output of oil in order to force gasoline prices around the world higher. The oil ministers cut production by two million barrels a day despite intense lobbying from American foreign policy officials. White House talking points obtained by CNN called the OPEC move a “total disaster” that could be taken as a “hostile act.” The agreement is particularly beneficial to Russia. The White House immediately announced an increase in its release from the Strategic Oil Reserve.


➤COURT KILLS OBAMA-ERA ‘PATH TO CITIZENSHIP’: A federal appeals court has ruled that an Obama-era immigration policy is illegal. The 2012 executive action permitted people brought to this country as children to stay on and work here legally. The appeals court did not order the deportation of any of the 600,000 people currently here under the program. However, it confirmed a lower court ruling barring the enrollment of any additional people in the program. The U.S. Justice Department indicated it would appeal.

➤JOB GROWTH BETTER THAN EXPECTED: American businesses added more jobs than expected in September, according to payroll services firm ADP. Overall, 208,000 jobs were added over the month. Better yet, salaries were up. Annual pay showed an average 7.8 percent increase over the year before. Job changers got a 15.7 percent salary increase.

➤CALIFORNIANS GET SOME INFLATION RELIEF: The state of California is sending most of its residents an inflation relief check. The first round should hit checking accounts or debit cards on Friday. Payments range from $200 to $1,050, with the biggest checks going to low-income residents.

➤RECESSION IS IN THE AIR: A majority of CEOs around the world believe that there will be an economic recession sometime in the next year, but they expect the downturn to be mild and short. A poll by the professional services firm KPMG indicates that the chief executives are worried that a recession will make it more difficult for their businesses to rebound from the pandemic.


➤90% BELIEVE THERE'S A MENTAL HEALTH CRISIS IN AMERICA: 90% of Americans believe the country is experiencing a mental health crisis, according to a CNN survey. The opioid epidemic, mental health issues among children, and mental illness in adults were cited as top concerns.  "The Covid-19 pandemic exacerbated numerous social stressors that we know can increase the risk of both substance use and mental illness,” said Dr. Nora Volkow. Why do people go without help? Being too busy, unable to take time off work, affordability, and embarrassment were top obstacles.  As a response to mental health issues, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline launched one national phone number: 988. This line is designed to help those in crisis, like a 911 for mental health.


⚽TWO FIRED FOLLOWING REPORT ON ABUSE OF WOMEN IN SOCCER: The Portland Timbers and the Portland Thorns have fired general manager Gavin Wilkinson and president of business Mike Golub after they were named in an investigative report on abuse in women’s soccer. The report, released this week, said Wilkinson concealed allegations of sexual harassment against former head coach Paul Riley in 2015. Riley continued coaching for six more years. Golub was accused in a report from the Oregonian of creating “an atmosphere of disrespect and intimidation” towards women and working mothers employed at the clubs. The Thorns play in the National Women’s Soccer League and the Timbers play in men’s Major League Soccer.

➤TALLADEGA DRIVER PENALIZED FOR CAR MODIFICATIONS: NASCAR driver Kevin Harvick has been penalized 100 points and his crew chief Rodney Childers is being suspended for four races because of illegal car modifications at Talladega. The exact rules they broke were not detailed. Their car was one of two inspected after Sunday’s race.

🏀THE OLDEST NBA PLAYERS: Udonis Haslem, at 42 years old, is the oldest active player in NBA history, according to NBC Sports. He has been with the Miami Heat since 2003, making him also the longest-tenured player in NBA history. Other super-seniors include Andre Iguodala of the Golden State Warriors and Carmelo Anthony of the Portland Trail Blazers, both 38. LeBron James of the L.A. Lakers, a veteran of 19 seasons, is a mere 37.

⚾VERY RICH FAN CATCHES JUDGE’S BALL, REFUSES $2 MILLION: The baseball fan who caught the ball from New York Yankees slugger Aaron Judge’s record-breaking 62nd home run of the season turns out to be a very rich guy. Cory Youmans is a vice president of Fisher Investments, a multi-billion-dollar financial services company. He has already turned down at least one offer of $2 million from a sports memorabilia company.


💲AARON JUDGE IS IN THE CATBIRD SEAT: The New York Yankees management should be dancing in the streets after Aaron Judge’s record-breaking 62nd home run of the season, right? Maybe not. They might be in a muck sweat, because Judge will be a free agent a few weeks from now and even the Yankees might not be able to afford him. CBS Sports predicts that he’ll get a better offer than the seven-year $213.5 million offer New York made last Spring. Judge also just accepted a multi-year deal to be the new face of Pepsi.

🏈TWO VETERANS RETIRE FROM FOOTBALL: Former Jaguars quarterback Blake Bortles announced his retirement yesterday. The number three overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft was with the Jacksonville Jaguars for five seasons, then joined the Los Angeles Rams. He also spent time on the practice squads of Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints without getting a season roster. His best seasons were 2015 through 2018 while he played with the Jaguars. Veteran wideout Cole Beasley retired from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers yesterday. Beasley had signed with the Buccaneers only two weeks ago. He was with the Buffalo Bills for three years and with the Dallas Cowboys for seven years.

⚾THE MLB PLAYOFFS BEGIN: The 2022 major league baseball season is booked up through October with the newly expanded 12-team postseason bracket. Tomorrow’s (Friday’s) Game 1 matchups include the Tampa Bay Rays at the Cleveland Guardians, the Philadelphia Phillies at the St. Louis Cardinals, the Seattle Mariners at the Toronto Blue Jays, and the San Diego Padres at the New York Mets. CHECK IT OUT: Playoff schedule click here.



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