Plus Pages

▼

Friday, November 4, 2022

Wake-Up Call: Biden Makes Final Campaign Road Trip


As President Joe Biden launched a final four-state campaign sprint on Friday to boost Democrats ahead of the midterms, he fired back at a key GOP criticism that the economy has lagged under his watch. 'Here's the deal: economic growth is up, price inflation is down, real income's up, gas prices are down,' said Biden at a rally near San Diego in support of Democratic Rep. Mike Levin, who is in a tight race to hang on to his seat. By certain narrow measures, Biden's claims could be construed as true -- for instance, gas prices and inflation have retreated somewhat from the historic highs they hit over the summer. But both are well above the levels seen in January 2021, when he first took office, and for voters struggling with soaring prices, the claims may ring hollow.

Daily Mail 11/4/22


➤FETTERMAN RESISTS CALLS FOR DETAILED MEDICAL RECORDS:  'We have shown more, and shared more kinds of medical evaluation, more than virtually anyone unless you're running for the president,' Fetterman told CBS Evening News on Thursday. However, Fetterman has resisted calls to release detailed medical records or allow interviews with his doctors, instead pointing to a one-page doctor's note he put out last month saying he had 'no work restrictions' and 'can work full duty in public office.' Dr. Mehmet Oz, Fetterman's Republican rival in the race, in September released a four-page letter from his doctor after the editorial boards of The Washington Post and the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette called on both candidates to release their medical records.



➤BILLIONAIRES PLOWING MONEY INTO MIDTERMS: America’s billionaires spent a record $880 million trying to influence next week’s midterm elections, a 44 percent increase over their spending on the 2018 midterms, according to the organization Americans for Tax Fairness. That’s their spending only on Congressional races, not on state or local elections. The single largest donor was George Soros, who donated $120 million to Democrats, but overall donations to Republicans outpaced donations to Democrats by about three to two, according to the report.

➤ELECTION OFFICIALS FEAR INCREASE IN VOTER INTIMDATION: Americans will cast ballots Tuesday to determine which political party controls Congress, and state election overseers are wary of what the day will (and won’t) bring. In advance, they are explaining that vote-counting delays aren’t evidence of fraud, setting up a text-messaging service for poll workers to report disruptions and reminding poll-watchers not to follow voters or photograph their license plates.

➤HIRING FREEZE AT AMAZON: Amazon is pausing its corporate hiring for the next few months. The freeze doesn’t appear to affect hourly workers at its thousands of warehouses, which are staffed up for the busy holiday season. Lyft is cutting 13% of its staff, or nearly 700 jobs, and payment processor Stripe, one of the world’s most highly-valued startups, is shedding about 14% of its employees.

➤TWITTER LAYOFFS UNDERWAY: Layoffs are beginning today at Twitter, days after business mogul Elon Musk bought the company for $40 billion. Employees were advised by email to stay home today as the layoffs are carried out. Unconfirmed reports suggest that as many as half of the social media site’s 7,500 employees will lose their jobs.


➤ADMINISTRATION WORKING ON BIDEN, XI MEETING: Government officials are trying to arrange a summit between President Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping later this month. The U.S.-China relationship is tense, but both men will be at the Group of 20 summit of major economies in Indonesia in mid-November. The meeting would be their first face-to-face since Biden’s election. Their last exchange was a mid-July phone call when Xi asked Biden to stop House Speaker Nancy Pelosi from visiting Taiwan. Biden declined, and Pelosi went, prompting Beijing to engage in large-scale military drills and the U.S. to issue drastic controls on semiconductor exports to undermine China’s ambition to become a tech powerhouse.

➤TRUMP BUSINESS GETS INDEPENDENT OVERSIGHT: A New York State judge has ordered an independent monitor to oversee the Trump Organization’s financial statements in response a civil suit alleging that the company has vastly overstated its assets in its dealings with banks and insurers. The judge also allowed a preliminary injunction blocking the company from transferring assets without court approval. The state’s attorney general has filed the civil suit alleging fraudulent business practices against former President Donald Trump, three of his children and the Trump Organization. Meanwhile, the former president filed a lawsuit against the attorney general, Letitia James, that seeks to stop the investigation. Trump’s suit, filed in Florida, claims that the New York suit is part of “the continuing witch hunt that has haunted and targeted Donald Trump since he came down the golden escalator at Trump Tower in June of 2015.”

➤HE’S VERY PROBABLY GOING TO RUN AGAIN: Former President Trump made his intentions to run again very clear last night at a rally in Iowa, two years to the day after his 2020 election loss. “And now in order to make our country successful and safe and glorious, I will very, very probably do it again, okay?” he said. “Very, very, very probably.”

➤PAUL PELOSI OUT OF HOSPITAL: Paul Pelosi, the husband of U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, yesterday left the hospital six days after an intruder attacked him with a hammer in the couple’s home in San Francisco. Now 82, he suffered a fractured skull in the attack by the intruder, who said his intended target was the House speaker.

➤NETANYAHU RETURNS TO POWER IN ISRAEL: Benjamin Netanyahu has returned to power in Israel after he and his conservative allies won control of its legislature, the Knesset. A new government will be formed after the election results are certified on November 9th.

➤EVACUEES RETURN AFTER LOUISIANA ACID SPILL: A chemical leak caused by a train derailment in St. James Parish, Louisiana, has been contained and most of the nearby residents who were evacuated have been allowed to return home. The train car was carrying 20,000 gallons of hydrochloric acid when it derailed on Wednesday, spilling most of the acid.


➤INFLATION MAY HURT HOLIDAY SPENDING: Holiday season spending is expected to increase between six and eight percent from last year’s numbers, according to the National Retail Federation. However, that’s actually a decline when inflation is factored in. In other words, we’ll be spending more and getting less. As of September, consumer prices overall are up 8.2 percent from one year ago.

🦃IT MIGHT BE CHEAPER TO EAT OUT THIS THANKSGIVING:  Economists say it might be cheaper to eat out this Thanksgiving. The cost of iconic holiday staples are expected to increase, from the turkey down to the butter. The price of a turkey has gone up to $1.99 per pound, a 73% increase from last year. Eggs, butter, flour, and fruits and vegetables are up 32.5%, 25.8%, 17.1%, and 7.3%, respectively. The good news? The cost of dining out is not rising as quickly, which means it might be more economical for a family of four to eat out. That means no plates to clean up!

➤JIMMY KIMMEL THREATENED TO QUIT IF EXECUTIVES STOPPED HIM FROM MAKING TRUMP JOKES: Jimmy Kimmel revealed on the Naked Lunch podcast recently that he told ABC he’d quit Jimmy Kimmel Live! If he had to stop telling jokes about Donald Trump. “There was one time, right around the beginning of this whole Trump thing… maybe not quite [eight years ago],” Kimmel said, when asked if ABC was ever concerned about him criticizing Trump. “I said listen, I get it, you’re right. I have lost half of my fanbase, maybe more. Ten years ago, among Republicans I was the most popular talk show. At least according to the research they did.” Kimmel continued, “I get it if [blocking Trump jokes is] what they want to do. I said, ‘If that’s what you want to do I don’t begrudge you for it, but I’m not going to do that. If you want someone else to host the show, that’s fine with me. I’m just not going to do it like that.'” He added, “I was serious. I couldn’t live with myself [if I didn’t grill Trump].”

➤FLU SEASON HITTING AMERICA HARD THIS YEAR:  Positive flu cases this season have already reached over 9,100. The last time this many confirmed cases showed up so early in flu season was in 2009-2010 during the swine flu outbreak. "What the data tells us so far is we're likely to have a fairly substantial influenza season," Dr. Timothy Brewer said. "It's taking off at a faster rate than usual." Some public health experts suggest that Covid-19 precautions meant people were not exposed to the flu, and so immunity has to build back up. More people may also be receiving flu tests to determine whether or not they have the flu or Covid-19, and this is leading to an increase in positive results. Doctors stress that it's not too late to receive a flu vaccine, and remind the public that washing hands and wearing a mask can help prevent the flu as well as Covid-19.  

➤STUDY: EXERCISING IN THE AFTERNOON BETTER FOR CONTROLLING BLOOD SUGAR:  If you exercise later in the day, you may be less prone to developing diabetes, new research suggests. A study from Leiden University indicates moderate-to-vigorous physical activity can reduce insulin resistance by up to 25%. 775 participants between 45 and 65 years old worked out in the morning, afternoon, or evening. The groups that worked out in the afternoon or evening saw a reduction in insulin resistance. Muscular strength also peaks in the late afternoon, meaning you might want to trade your morning workout for an after-dinner run! 


⚾HOUSTON LEADS WORLD SERIES 3-2: The Houston Astros defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 3-2 last night. The World Series now moves to Houston with the Astros leading 3-2. Among the big moments: The Astros' Jeremy Pena became the first rookie shortstop ever to homer in a World Series game.

🏈NFL TNF: Philadelphia Eagles 29, Houston Texans 17. With the victory, the undefeated Eagles have reached 8-0 for the first time in franchise history.

🏀NETS SUSPEND KYRIE IRVING: The Brooklyn Nets have suspended guard Kyrie Irving indefinitely and without pay, saying he is “unfit to be associated” with the team. Irving has refused to disavow antisemitic views in the week following his Twitter post that linked to a movie that defames the Jewish people. Hours after the suspension was announced, Irving finally issued an apology for re-tweeting a link to the antisemitic movie.

🏈CHUBB GETS A BIG DEAL: Just days after his trade to the Miami Dolphins, rookie Bradley Chubb has agreed to a deal to stay with the team for five more years, according to USAToday.com. Unconfirmed reports say his deal could be worth up to $111 million, making him among the best-paid edge rushers in the NFL. He is expected to play Sunday in Miami’s game against the Chicago Bears.

🏀NBA FREE AGENT BRIDGES PLEADS NO CONTEST TO ABUSE: Miles Bridges, a former Charlotte Hornets forward and current NBA free agent, pleaded no contest to felony domestic violence charges in Los Angeles. He is expected to receive three years of probation.

🏈SAINTS’ THOMAS OUT FOR SURGERY: New Orleans Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas may be out for the rest of the season. It turns out he needs surgery for a dislocated toe suffered in Week 3. It’s a big blow for Thomas, who missed nearly two years after an ankle sprain at the start of the 2020 season.

🏀76ERS’ HARDEN OUT FOR A MONTH: Philadelphia 76ers star James Harden is expected to be out for the next month of the NBA season, ESPN reports. He sprained a tendon in Wednesday’s game against the Washington Wizards.

🏀US OFFICIALS MEET WITH BRITTNEY GRINER: U.S. diplomats were allowed to meet with American basketball star Brittney Griner yesterday for the first time since a Russian court rejected her appeal of a nine-year sentence for drug possession. The White House relayed their message that she is doing “as well as can be expected.” The Biden administration is trying to work out a prisoner swap for the release of Griner and Paul Whelan, an America who is being held on espionage charges.



Posted

No comments:

Post a Comment