Biden

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 6 HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — President Joe Biden said Sunday that Republicans in the U.S. House must move off their "extreme positions" on the now-stalled talks over raising America's debt limit and that there would be no agreement to avert a catastrophic default only on their terms. “It’s time for Republicans to accept that there is no bipartisan deal to be made solely, solely, on their partisan terms," Biden said in Hiroshima, Japan, where he attended the Group of Seven summit. Biden said he had done his part in trying to raising the debt ceiling so the U.S. government can keep paying its bills. “Now it’s time for the other side to move from their extreme position,” he said. Biden and U.S. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., were expected to talk later Sunday, likely as Biden flew home on Air Force One after cutting short his trip in light of the strained … [Read more...] about Biden: GOP must move off ‘extreme’ positions, no debt limit deal solely on its ‘partisan terms’

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden has chosen a new leader for the National Security Agency and U.S. Cyber Command, a joint position that oversees much of America's cyber warfare and defense. Air Force Lt. Gen. Timothy Haugh, the current deputy commander of Cyber Command, would replace Army Gen. Paul Nakasone, who has led both organizations since May 2018 and was expected to step down this year, according to a notice sent by the Air Force this week and confirmed by a person familiar with the announcement. The person spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss personnel matters not yet made public. If confirmed, Haugh will take charge of highly influential U.S. efforts to bolster Ukraine's cybersecurity and share information with Ukrainian forces fighting Russia's invasion. He will also oversee programs to detect and stop foreign influence and interference in American elections, as well as those targeting criminals behind ransomware attacks that have shut down hospital systems … [Read more...] about Biden picks new National Security Agency head, key to support of Ukraine, defense of US elections

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden will host Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen of Denmark at the White House next month for talks on their joint efforts including supporting Ukraine. The White House announced Frederiksen's June 5 visit on Tuesday, a few days after the White House announced Biden was endorsing an international effort to train—and eventually equip—Ukraine with the F-16 fighter jets that President Volodymyr Zelesnkky has long sought. Denmark, a member of NATO, has purchased dozens of American-made F-16s since the 1970s and has indicated it is open to the possibility of providing Ukraine with some. “The two leaders will review our efforts as NATO allies and close partners to strengthen transatlantic security and bolster economic prosperity,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said in a statement. "They will discuss our unwavering support … [Read more...] about Biden to host Danish Prime Minister Frederiksen for White House talks next month

WASHINGTON (AP) — A federal prosecutor tapped by President Joe Biden to become a U.S. district judge in Kansas has withdrawn from consideration, citing the nearly two-year wait for action on his nomination. Jabari Wamble is Biden's second judicial nominee to withdraw this month. Attorney Michael Delaney backed out of consideration for the Boston-based 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last week in a rare judicial defeat for the Democratic president. Delaney did not have enough support in the Senate Judiciary Committee to send his candidacy on to the full Senate for confirmation. Wamble wrote to Biden that he had been "humbled and honored by the faith you placed in me with this nomination” but said he was withdrawing his name from consideration for appointment to the U.S. District Court for Kansas. “My path to this nomination began more than 18 months ago and after careful thought and consideration I feel that it is best for me to continue my work at the United States … [Read more...] about Biden judicial nominee Wamble withdraws from consideration, cites nearly 2-year wait for action

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 9 HIROSHIMA, Japan (AP) — Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida and South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol prayed together Sunday at a memorial for Korean victims of the 1945 atomic bombing in Hiroshima on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit, as the two leaders continued efforts to mend ties repeatedly hurt by disputes stemming from Japan's wartime brutality. Yoon is in Hiroshima with leaders from seven other guest nations and G7 countries for “outreach” sessions on Sunday, the last day of the three-day summit. Yoon and Kishida, accompanied by their first ladies, stood in front of the memorial where they laid bouquets of white flowers and lowered their heads as they paid tribute to tens of thousands of Koreans who died in the attack 78 years ago. Yoon is the first South Korean leader to visit the memorial, underscoring the thawing in their … [Read more...] about Japan, South Korea leaders pray at memorial for Korean atomic bomb victims in Hiroshima

Republican negotiators rejected a White House offer to limit spending next year on both the military and a wide range of critical domestic programs as part of high-stakes negotiations over the federal debt ceiling, according to three people with knowledge of the matter, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private talks. Republicans are instead pushing for higher defense spending and more significant domestic spending reductions, the people said, posing a challenge to White House negotiators aiming to resolve the debt ceiling standoff without agreeing to what they see as draconian changes to federal programs. During talks ahead of a deadline that could arrive in less than two weeks, aides to President Biden offered what they viewed as a key concession by proposing that Congress largely hold spending constant on a wide swath of domestic programs, including education, scientific research and housing aid. The president's negotiators also proposed essentially holding … [Read more...] about GOP rejects White House offer to freeze spending in debt ceiling talks

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate 5 NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — As he launches his presidential campaign on Monday, Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina is officially wading into a GOP primary battle already largely dominated by two commanding figures: former President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. Scott, the only Black Republican senator, will make his campaign announcement in his hometown of North Charleston after making it official last week with the Federal Election Commission. The late morning event is taking place at Charleston Southern University, Scott’s alma mater and a private school affiliated with the Southern Baptist Convention. Then he'll spend Tuesday with donors in Charleston before a whirlwind, two-day campaign swing to Iowa and New Hampshire. Like others in the GOP race, including former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, former Arkansas Gov. Asa Hutchinson and “Woke, … [Read more...] about Tim Scott set to announce launch of his 2024 GOP presidential campaign

Sen. Tim Scott, one of the country's most prominent Black Republicans, will formally kick off his presidential campaign with a speech Monday in North Charleston, S.C., that comes after months of laying the groundwork for a pitch that stands apart from some others in the race. Scott's betting that an emphasis on his personal story, his Christian faith and a more optimistic message than some rivals, combined with significant campaign cash, will be enough to carry him to the Republican nomination. But he begins polling in the single digits against much better-known competitors. National surveys have former president Donald Trump with a wide lead, followed by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, who is also slated to enter the race this week. Scott will launch his campaign at Charleston Southern University, his alma mater, with some high-profile Republican support. Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.) will lead the opening prayer, according to a person familiar with the matter, who spoke on the condition … [Read more...] about Tim Scott to formally kick off 2024 presidential bid with Monday speech

As President Biden and lawmakers scramble to strike a debt ceiling deal before the government runs out of money, each day counts - to the tune of about $17 billion. That's how much the U.S. Treasury spends daily, on average, to keep the government functioning. The government gets most of those funds from taxes. So when the Congressional Budget Office reported this month that the IRS took in less tax revenue than expected from Oct. 1 through April 30 - just under $300 billion less than in the first seven months of the previous fiscal year - it sent an ominous signal that the time could come even sooner when the United States can no longer borrow more money or fend off default. According to the CBO, this "X-date" may come as early as June. The urgency was also stressed by Treasury Secretary Janet L. Yellen, who warned Congress twice in the past two weeks that this reckoning could come as soon as June 1. A big chunk of that $300 billion shortfall, about $100 billion, comes from … [Read more...] about How California’s wild weather brought the debt-ceiling ‘X date’ closer