Thursday, December 14, 2023

12/14 WAKE-UP CALL: House Votes For Biden Impeachment Probe


The House voted 221-212 along party lines to formally authorize Republicans’ impeachment probe into President Biden. Party leaders initiated it several months ago, hoping to add legal and political muscle to the investigation into allegations that he accepted bribes and profited from his family’s business pursuits. Democrats criticized the vote as a political stunt and retribution on behalf of Donald Trump, who was impeached twice by the House before being acquitted by the Senate. Earlier today, the president’s son Hunter Biden defied a congressional subpoena to testify behind closed doors and said his father was not involved in his business affairs. Hunter Biden, the subject of congressional and legal scrutiny regarding his overseas business dealings and alleged tax evasion, said he was willing to testify publicly, but House leaders said that he couldn’t dictate the terms of his testimony and that they would initiate contempt proceedings against him. The White House has said the House GOPers haven’t found any wrongdoing and are using obstruction claims to justify their probe.

BIBI VOWS VICTORY: As combat in Gaza escalates and international outrage swells over Israel's military campaign, the country's leader vows to continue the war despite the pressure. Biden said Tuesday that "indiscriminate bombing" is causing Israel to lose international support, his sharpest criticism of Israel to date. The same day, the U.N. General Assembly voted 153- 10 in favor of a humanitarian cease-fire; the U.S. and Israel opposed the measure. Despite the first signs of discord with its main supporter, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pledged Wednesday to persist in an offensive that has killed more than 18,000 Palestinians, the Gaza health ministry says, and left parts of Gaza in ruins.  Israeli citizens said on Wednesday the army should not back off its unrelenting offensive to crush Hamas, despite the U.N. General Assembly's ceasefire call, the growing list of troop casualties and a spiralling Palestinian death toll in Gaza.

➤DEADLY DAY: Israel's military suffered one of the deadliest days in the two-month-old Gaza war on Tuesday, with a colonel among 10 soldiers killed, bringing the toll to 115 - almost double the number killed during clashes in the coastal enclave nine years ago. And with much of the enclave laid to waste, conditions dire and more than 18,500 Palestinians killed in the Israeli army's air and ground assault, U.S. President Joe Biden said the "indiscriminate" bombing of Gazan civilians was costing Israel international support. Polls in recent weeks show overwhelming backing for the war despite the rising human costs. Six Israelis who spoke to Reuters on Wednesday said now was not the time back down, regardless of fading global sympathy reflected in Tuesday's U.N resolution.

➤U-S SENATE PASSES SPENDING PLAN: The Senate passed an $886 billion defense spending plan Wednesday, supported by President Joe Biden, that includes funding for Ukraine and annual pay raises for troops in a last-minute rush to authorize spending before the end of the year. The National Defense Authorization Act provides funding each year for Pentagon priorities such as training and equipment. The Senate passed the legislation by a bipartisan vote of 87-13. Congress has advanced the must-pass defense spending bill consecutively for the last 61 years. "At a time of huge trouble for global security, doing the defense authorization bill is more important than ever," Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor Wednesday. "Passing the NDAA enables us to hold the line against Russia, stand firm against the Chinese Communist Party and ensure America's defense remain state of the art at all times."

💸FED HOLDS RATES STEADY: The Federal Reserve left its key short-term interest rate unchanged again Wednesday, hinted that rate hikes are likely over and forecast three cuts next year amid falling inflation and a cooling economy. That’s more rate cuts than many economists expected. The decision leaves the Fed’s benchmark short-term rate at a 22-year high of 5.25% to 5.5% after a flurry of increases aimed at subduing the nation’s sharpest inflation spike in four decades.

➤SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON ABORTION PILL: The Supreme Court said it would decide on access to the abortion pill mifepristone. Medical groups and doctors who oppose abortion challenged the FDA’s original approval of the drug in 2000 as well as 2016 regulations that relaxed restrictions on the drug. A lower court invalidated the regulations, but they remained in force while the justices weighed whether to hear the Biden administration’s appeal. A loss could curtail access to a widely used medication even in states where abortion is legal. The case is expected to be argued in 2024 with a decision before July, ensuring it stays front of mind during a presidential election year. Last year, the court rescinded the constitutional right to abortion first recognized in the 1973 case Roe v. Wade.

⛽GAS PRICES HIT NEW LOW:  It's not your imagination: Gas prices are dropping. The national average price for a gallon of gas is down as Tuesday's national average hit $3.137, according to AAA. That's 9 cents lower than last week's average, which makes this week's price the lowest all year. The decline comes as the cost for oil struggles to remain above $70 a barrel, AAA said last week. About the same time, OPEC+ announced voluntary production cuts for about 2 million barrels a day. 

➤RETAIL THEFT GETTING UGLY: Retail workers face increasing threats from shoplifters brandishing “knives and guns,” a top Home Depot executive told a congressional panel looking to pass legislation amid the scourge of organized retail theft. Scott Glenn, head of loss prevention for the 2,000-store chain, joined industry leaders and law enforcement officials in pleading for help during a hearing held by the House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Counter terrorism, Law Enforcement and Intelligence in Washington, DC, Tuesday. 

“Retailers are not exaggerating this problem,” Glenn said of the dangers posed to Home Depot’s 470,000 workers from organized retail crime. Big-box stores like Target and Walmart, along with smaller retailers suffered $112 billion in inventory losses last year, up from nearly $94 billion in 2021, According to the National Retail Federation.


➤U-N CLIMATE CHANGE MEETING: The world will soon be transitioning from oil, coal and gas – that's the consensus reached at an influential gathering of international leaders at the annual United Nations climate change meeting. The agreement makes a historic acknowledgment: The world will soon be radically changing how cars run, how electricity is generated and how goods are transported. “The world has spoken with one voice and the message is clear: It’s twilight for the fossil fuel era," Manish Bapna, president and CEO of the Natural Resources Defense Council, said in a written statement. 

The U.N. says the deal marks a historic global first – a plan to create a road map to move away from fossil fuels. But it stopped short of what some climate activists wanted: a "call for a 'phaseout' of oil, coal and gas."


➤RAMASWAMY DOUBLES-DOWN: At a live CNN town hall on Wednesday evening, Vivek Ramaswamy, the biotech entrepreneur seeking the Republican presidential nomination, stood by his recent comments suggesting that the U.S. Capitol riot of Jan. 6, 2021, was an “inside job” that the federal government had an active role in fomenting. CNN’s Abby Philip, who moderated the town hall at Grand View University in Des Moines, Iowa, asked Ramaswamy how he felt about one of the Jan. 6 defendants accused of violence using Ramaswamy’s words about Jan. 6 at his sentencing the following day. Ramaswamy had made waves at the Dec. 6 GOP debate by declaring that he was the only person onstage willing to admit that “Jan. 6 now does look like an inside job.”

➤PARTY POOPER: Michelle Wu, the mayor of Boston, on Wednesday defended her hosting of a segregated 'electeds of color' party. Asked if she thought it was divisive, she replied: 'No,' and insisted there were plenty of other holiday parties welcome to all. Wu's party was controversial from the start as invites were emailed to all 13 members of the city council, only for them to be rescinded from the seven white councilors 15 minutes later. She said that there were other opportunities for all people to celebrate together, but insisted that the 'electeds of color' party was an appropriate way to celebrate 'identity and culture and heritage' in her city.

➤TESLA RECALLS 2 MILLION VEHICLES: Electric automaker Tesla is recalling almost all of the vehicles it has sold in the U.S. in order to update autopilot software that the government says has caused serious and even deadly crashes. The fix will add additional warnings and alerts to drivers to pay attention and keep their hands on the wheel rather than relying on autopilot to navigate. Some auto safety advocates say the fix is not enough to meet the standards found in other electric vehicles now on the roads. About two million Teslas are involved in the recall.

➤DANGERS OF WATER BEADS EXPOSED: Water beads, those marble-sized balls that grow to 100 times their size when exposed to liquid, will no longer be marketed to children as fun toys. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has found that a bead, if swallowed, can grow inside the body, causing severe illness and even requiring surgical removal. According to CNN, Amazon, Target and Walmart are among the retailers who have voluntarily stopped selling the beads if they are labeled or marketed as toys for children.

➤TRUMP’S NEW BONUS OFFER: Donald Trump is selling a new series of non-fungible token trading cards featuring his face in various superhero poses for $99 each. But wait, there’s more: Buyers of 47 trading cards will receive a piece of the suit that he wore to have his mugshot taken. An ad on the Collect Trump Cards website says it’s “a moment in history” because it’s “the first ever mug shot of a United States President.”

➤FCC BANS CABLE COMPANY JUNK FEES: The Federal Communications Commission has voted to ban cable and satellite companies from charging customers early termination fees if the drop their services. They also will be required to issue a rebate for days remaining in a billing cycle after the customer terminates the service. “Consumers are tired of these junk fees,” said FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel.


🍔BITE ME: In-N-Out Burger has added a 2023 ugly Christmas sweater to its merchandise collection. The garment is emblazoned with the image of a Double-Double and the words “Bite Me,” which according to the product description come from a 1970s bumper sticker created by the chain’s founder, Harry Snyder. The sweater is white with red trim matching the chain’s drink cups. It costs $69.95 and is 100% acrylic. Sizes range from small to 2XL, but quantities are limited, according to the website. In-N-Out’s 2020 design is also for sale on the website. It’s red and green, covered with burgers and also costs $69.95.

🏀WARRIORS’ DRAYMOND GREEN SUSPENDED INDEFINITELY: Draymond Green of the Golden State Warriors has been suspended indefinitely by the NBA for hitting Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkic during a game. It is Green’s second suspension of the season and the sixth in his career. This time, the league says, Green will “be required to meet certain league and team conditions before he returns to play.” In the incident during Tuesday’s game, Green whacked Nurkic in the face, knocking him to the floor.

🏀PISTONS’ STEWART EJECTED FROM GAME: Detroit Pistons center Isaiah Stewart was ejected from the game last night after he shoved Philadelphia 76ers guard Pat Beverley to the floor. It appeared that Beverley bumped into Stewart sometime before Stewart shoved Beverley. The 76ers won the game 129-111.

⚾INTRODUCING SHOHEI OHTANI: Newly signed Los Angeles Dodgers ace Shohei Ohtani will meet the press at a news conference at Dodger Stadium today. His record $700 million, 10-year deal with the Dodgers was announced Monday.

➤D.C. TEAMS MAY MOVE TO VIRGINIA: The Washington Wizards may soon be playing basketball in Virginia. And the Washington Capitals could be playing ice hockey there, too. The owner of the teams, Ted Leonsis, has proposed relocating the teams to a new arena to be constructed in the Potomac Yard neighborhood in Alexandria by 2028. The project would be funded with a mix of state, city and private funds. The Wizards and the Capitals have played at the site now called Capital One Arena since 1997.



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