Thread: President Joe Biden

Oh dear. He'd better pick a more popular running mate than Kamala.

Only a Third Think Biden Will Finish Second Term

September 18, 2023 at 9:18 am EDT By Taegan Goddard65 Comments
Only 34% of registered U.S. voters think President Biden would complete a second term if re-elected, 44% believe he’d leave before it ended and 22% are unsure, according to a new CBS News/YouGov poll.
That compares with 55% who think Donald Trump would finish a full term if elected in 2024.

More Biden lies from an older video

Oldies but goodies
(3751) Forget the Gaffes, What About Biden's Lies? - YouTube

• Biden nominates former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to serve as ambassador to Israel

President Joe Biden has nominated former Treasury Secretary Jack Lew to serve as the next U.S. ambassador to Israel, the White House announced Tuesday.

Lew, who served as White House chief of staff and director of the Office of Management and Budget during the Obama administration, would succeed Ambassador Tom Nides, who left the post in July. Lew also served as OMB director during the Clinton administration.

If Lew is confirmed by the Senate, he will come to one of the highest-profile U.S. ambassadorships, with the Biden administration pushing for Israel and Saudi Arabia — two of the biggest Middle East powers but longtime rivals — to normalize their relationship.

The effort to strengthen that historically fraught relationship comes after the Trump administration helped facilitate the “Abraham Accords,” normalizing relations between Israel and the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.

A normalization deal with Saudi Arabia, the most powerful and wealthy Arab state, has the potential to reshape the region and boost Israel’s standing in significant ways. But brokering such a deal is a heavy lift as the kingdom has said it won’t officially recognize Israel before a resolution to the decades-long Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Lew is currently a managing partner at Lindsay Goldberg, a private equity firm, and a visiting professor at Columbia University in New York. A spokesperson for Lew said he did not have any immediate comment on his nomination.

Democratic Majority for Israel President and CEO Mark Mellman said Lew would come to the posting “well-versed in the intricacies of international relations and the pressing issues facing Israel and the U.S.-Israel alliance.”

He also currently serves as chair of the board of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, co-president of the board of the National Library of Israel USA and a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.

• Statement from President Joe Biden Announcing Additional Humanitarian Support to Libya After Floods

Today—as the people of eastern Libya continue to recover and rebuild in the aftermath of catastrophic flooding— the United States will provide an additional $11 million to local and international organizations responding to their urgent humanitarian needs. The Department of State and USAID will help coordinate the delivery of this aid to the people who need it most, joining the concerted efforts of nations and non-profits around the world providing critical support such as water, food, shelter, and medical assistance. And—as the United States continues to stand with the Libyan people during this difficult hour—we remain committed to supporting a political path toward a unified, freely and fairly elected government in Libya that can effectively respond to its people’s needs.

________

• Senator Markey, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, Lawmakers Supporting Civilian Climate Corps Urge Biden to Establish Program through Executive Action

Coalition of lawmakers who have championed civilian climate and conservation corps proposals send letter calling on Biden to immediately establish initiative

Letter comes on 30th anniversary of legislation that established AmeriCorps

Senator Markey and Representative Ocasio-Cortez reintroduce Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act

The lawmakers continued, “A central coordinating body, overseen by the White House, will be essential to create a successful and cohesive Civilian Climate Corps. Through interagency collaboration, as well as coordination with state climate corps, other state entities, and local non-profit organizations, your Administration can realize the vision of a Civilian Climate Corps that establishes a unified front in the face of climate change—one that looks like America, serves America, and puts good-paying union jobs within reach for more young adults.”
In the letter, the lawmakers highlight four key principles for a Civilian Climate Corps initiative created through Executive Action:

• The Civilian Climate Corps must take a whole-of-government approach to the climate crisis.
• The Civilian Climate Corps must prioritize equity in the communities it serves and the Corps members it trains.
• The Civilian Climate Corps must provide a pathway to long-term employment through good-paying union jobs.
• The Civilian Climate Corps must center the needs and leadership of local communities in order to achieve its national mission.

As part of their effort to build on the historic success of the Inflation Reduction Act to further advance climate and environmental justice goals outlined in their Green New Deal Resolution, today Senator Markey and Representative Ocasio-Cortez also reintroduced their Civilian Climate Corps for Jobs and Justice Act of 2023, which would establish a robust and equitable Civilian Climate Corps administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service within AmeriCorps. Senators Sanders, Merkley, Warren, Gillibrand, Blumenthal, Welch, and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) and Representatives Espaillat, Garcia, Khanna, McGovern, Nadler, Norton, Payne, Schakowsky, F. Wilson, Casar, Cleaver, Crockett, Mullin, Ramirez, Tokuda, Connolly, Antonio Cardenas (CA-29), Grace Napolitano (CA-31), Ayanna Pressley (MA-07), and Melanie Stansbury (NM-01) are cosponsors.

https://www.markey.senate.gov/imo/me...091823pdf1.pdf

Oh dear, I hope he doesn't have to be cut off again.

President Joe Biden will address the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday.

Biden tells a Broadway theater packed for fundraiser that Trump is determined to destroy the nation

President Joe Biden on Monday told a packed Broadway theater full of big-name stars hosting a fundraiser in his honor that he was running for reelection because Donald Trump was determined to destroy the nation.

Democracy is at stake, he told the audience at the Lunt-Fontanne Theater. Hate groups have been emboldened, he said. Books are being banned. Children go to school fearing shootings.

“Let there be no question, Donald Trump and his MAGA Republicans are determined to destroy American democracy,” he said, referring to the former president’s slogan, “Make America Great Again.” “And I will always defend, protect and fight for our democracy.”

Biden also accused Trump and his allies of bowing down to authoritarians: “I will not side with dictators like Putin. Maybe Trump and his MAGA friends can bow down but I won’t.”

It was the among the president’s strongest rebukes of the Republican front-runner and former president, who is facing criminal charges for his role in the effort to overturn the 2020 election. And it comes as the political pressure is ramping up from Republicans in the House who have opened an impeachment inquiry into Biden in an effort to tie him to his son Hunter’s business dealings and distract from Trump’s legal peril.

Biden said he wanted to send the “strongest and most powerful message possible, that political violence in America is never never never acceptable.”

Biden, who is set to address the U.N. General Assembly on Tuesday, arrived in New York on Sunday evening so he could squeeze in the fundraisers as the end of the quarter for federal election reporting nears.

A Times Square billboard not far from the concert advertised “Broadway for Biden.” Sara Bareilles, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Ben Platt were among those appearing on behalf of the president.

By turning to the New York theater community — overseen and contracted by the Actors’ Equity Association, whose some 51,000 American actors and stage managers remain on the job — Biden avoided Hollywood and the strike by members of the Writers Guild of America and actors from SAG-AFTRA.

Both Biden and first lady Jill Biden attended the event, with tickets ranging from $250 to $7,500. Biden also took part in a private fundraiser in Manhattan hosted by the Black Economic Alliance.

Biden walked on stage to the showstopper “All That Jazz,” and spoke about how when his sons were little they’d head up to New York twice a year to catch a show. Once, they brought their boys to see Bette Midler, whose act wasn’t exactly known to be family-friendly, and she singled them out.

“Who would bring two kids to a show like this?” she asked, according to Biden. It prompted a round of raucous laughter.

“My boys used that as a badge of courage,” he said. “Bette Midler picked us out of a crowd. ... Families all over the world have memories like that to cherish.”

Biden was introduced by Jeffrey Seller, a theater producer best known for his work on “Rent,” “In the Heights” and “Hamilton.”

“President Biden, I am here to pledge to you that we in this theater — all 1,500 strong of us — are your warriors, are your troops in ensuring that we maintain, affirm and nurture the soul of our democracy and the soul of our nation,” Seller said, echoing a phrase Biden often invokes when he’s talking about why he’s running for reelection.

The event was full of performances by Tony-winning stars, but only the remarks by the president and Seller were open to the press.

Southern California, the home of extraordinary wealth and the engine of the film and television industry, has historically served as an ATM for the Democratic Party.

Since at least Bill Clinton, Democratic presidents have cultivated intimate ties with powerful figures in the Hollywood entertainment industry. Biden himself raised roughly $1 million during an early 2020 campaign fundraiser at the home of Michael Smith and James Costos, a former HBO executive. That event was attended by former DreamWorks co-founder Jeffrey Katzenberg, now a Biden campaign co-chair.

The ongoing actors and writers strike has ground that to a halt, at least for now. Writers have been on strike for 4 1/2 months over issues including pay, job security and regulating the use of artificial intelligence. SAG-AFTRA members went on strike on July 14.

Biden is the most vocally pro-union president in decades, and is mindful of staying on the right side of labor, a key constituency. As long as the strike goes on, he has been advised by Katzenberg to steer clear, according to three people with direct knowledge of the guidance who insisted on anonymity to discuss internal planning details.

Originally Posted by harrybarracuda

President Joe Biden will address the United Nations General Assembly Tuesday.

Looking forward to that

it's on youtube

• Biden marks dark shadow of Ukraine war over UN General Assembly

President Biden cast the United Nations General Assembly gathering Tuesday as “darkened by the shadow” of the war in Ukraine for the second year, blaming Russia for its brutalization and lack of a resolution in the war torn country.

Biden reiterated his call to rally the international community in support of Ukraine as his administration urges Congress to provide additional support for Kyiv as it fends off invading Russian forces while warning other nations of their security.

“Russia believes that the world will grow weary and allow it to brutalize Ukraine without consequence,” Biden said in remarks from New York. “But I ask you this: If we abandon the core principles of the U.N. Charter to appease an aggressor, can any member state feel confident that they are protected?”

“If we allow Ukraine to be carved up, is the independence of any nation secure?” he said. “I respectfully suggest the answer is no. We must stand up to this naked aggression today to deter other would-be aggressors tomorrow.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was looking on from the audience during the remarks.

“That is why the United States together with our allies and partners around the world will continue to stand with the brave people of Ukraine as they defend their sovereignty and territorial integrity — and their freedom,” Biden said, drawing applause from those inside the room.

Biden will host Zelensky at the White House Thursday. The Ukrainian president’s stop in Washington comes as the Biden administration pushes for Congress to approve $24 billion in additional funding for Ukraine in its war effort against Russia.

The U.S. has provided billions of dollars in military, financial and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine since the start of the war in February 2022, and the Biden administration has requested billions more as part of its latest supplemental funding package.

While there is still bipartisan support for Ukraine aid, some Republicans have pushed back on continued assistance for the country. And leading Republican presidential candidates, including former President Trump, have expressed skepticism about providing ongoing assistance to Ukraine.

The president, in his remarks Tuesday, also made clear that his approach to China is “for de-risking, not decoupling” and that the United Nations needs to work with China on issues like the climate crisis.

He highlighted impacts of the climate crisis, including drought in Africa, flooding in Libya, and heatwaves and wildfires in North America.

Biden also called for some reforms to the United Nations, including breaking gridlock in decision-making and bringing in more voices to improve the group.

“Simply put, the 21st century results are badly needed, they’re needed to move us along. That starts with the United Nations, starts right here in this room,” the president said.

His speech opened with a message of unity and the U.S. commitment to the United Nations.

“The United States seeks a more secure, more prosperous, more equitable world for all people, because we know our future is bound up with yours,” he said. “And no nation can meet the challenges of today alone.”

Biden warns against allowing Russia to "brutalize Ukraine" with no consequence

• Biden to join UAW strike and picket with auto workers

President Biden said he'll picket alongside the United Auto Workers in Michigan next week — in a rare act of a president visibly joining a labor movement.


Why it matters: Nearly 19,000 workers are on strike as the UAW demands higher wages and benefits in its expanded strike against the Detroit Three automakers: General Motors, Ford and Stellantis.


Driving the news: "Tuesday, I'll go to Michigan to join the picket line and stand in solidarity with the men and women of UAW as they fight for a fair share of the value they helped create," Biden said Friday on X, formerly known as Twitter.

• "It's time for a win-win agreement that keeps American auto manufacturing thriving with well-paid UAW jobs," he said.

The announcement came hours after UAW President Shawn Fain invited Biden to join the picket line as the union campaigns for "record contracts."

• The UAW also Friday expanded the strike after failing to reach a deal one week into the work stoppage.
• Fain said the union had made "real" progress at Ford, where it won't expand the strike, but said Stellantis and GM "are going to need some serious pushing."

Between the lines: Biden, who has previously called himself the "most pro-union president ever," had urged U.S. automakers last week to share more of their "record profits" with the workers on strike.

• Biden's visit is set for the day before former President Trump is expected to appear in Michigan instead of attending the second GOP primary debate.

Zoom out: Given the historic nature of Biden's upcoming trip, there is "little to no precedent" for this type of event, per the New York Times.

• "This president takes seriously his role as the most pro-union president in history," former top labor policy adviser Seth Harris told the Times.
• "Sometimes that means breaking precedent," he added.

• Biden ESG rule survives challenge from 25 red states

A federal judge sided with the Biden administration Thursday on an administration rule that would allow retirement advisers to include climate and environmental factors in their calculations.

In the ruling, Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk of the Northern District of Texas, a Trump appointee, granted the administration’s petition to dismiss a lawsuit by 25 Republican state attorneys general, led by Texas’s Ken Paxton and Utah’s Sean Reyes.

Kacsmaryk’s 14-page ruling rejects the red states’ argument that the environmental and sustainable governance (ESG) rule violates the Administrative Procedure Act and the Employment Retirement Income Security Act, which regulates retirement plans. He wrote that the Biden administration rule still complies with those statutes, because it prioritizes financial considerations over environmental ones and thus has no “overarching regulatory bias in favor of ESG strategies.”

“[W]hile the Court is not unsympathetic to Plaintiffs’ concerns over ESG investing trends, it need not condone ESG investing generally or ultimately agree with the Rule to reach this conclusion,” he wrote.

The Biden administration had earlier sought to move the lawsuit to Washington, D.C., but the Northern District denied that motion in April.

Paxton hailed the decision at the time as “an important victory in my ongoing fight to protect Texas from an unconstitutional Biden Administration rule that exposes retirees’ savings to politically-motivated ESG investing in violation of federal law.”

ESG investing and regulations at the federal and state level have become a major target of Republicans, who have argued they violate fiduciary obligations to place financial considerations first.

Earlier this year, Congress passed a Congressional Review Act resolution undoing another Biden rule allowing consideration of ESG, with Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.) and Jon Tester (Mont.) joining Senate Republicans. Biden vetoed the resolution.

________

• Feds urged by Biden to widen use of "social cost" on climate change

President Biden wants muscular federal use of a key metric that estimates damages from each added ton of greenhouse gases emitted.

Why it matters: This might shake up big decisions, but it depends on how it's implemented, how fast, and who's in the Oval Office.

• "It will be the first time this 'whole of government approach' is used to evaluate the climate consequences of government actions," Richard Revesz, who heads the White House Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs, tells the New York Times.

Driving the news: Agencies will more broadly apply the "social cost of greenhouse gas emissions" — long part of regulations — in procurement, budgeting and environmental reviews.

State of play: The social cost tries to tally impacts from rising sea levels, changes in labor productivity, farm output, human health and other climate effects.

• The use "allows better comparisons to other costs and benefits of agency decisions that may also be presented in dollar figures," the White House announcement states.

The other side: Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, the top environment committee Republican, said Biden officials are using "unproven figures" to try to justify policies that increase costs to families, "hamstring" employers and "delay job-creating infrastructure projects."

The big picture: The White House noted the government spends over $630 billion annually on goods and services.

• "Agencies should consider procurements of large, durable, energy-consuming products and systems that could serve as pilots," the policy states.
• Beyond procurement, examples of expanded use of the metric include assessing costs and benefits of discretionary grants and evaluating overseas aid decisions.

Catch up fast: Some of this was already in progress.

• The White House noted the Federal Acquisition Regulatory Council has already sought input on using the social cost in procurement. The announcement also pointed to the Postal Service's EV purchase efforts.
• Elsewhere, an interim White House Council on Environmental Quality guidance delves into using the social cost in National Environmental Policy Act reviews.

The intrigue: Social cost estimates are tricky and disputed.

• A Biden administration working group set an interim figure of $51 per metric ton, mirroring an Obama-era value; but officials are expected to raise it substantially.
• Agencies will have discretion in what estimates to use, a White House official tells Axios.

The bottom line: The wonky move could stitch climate policy more deeply into the fabric of government decisions.

___________

• Biden's new "American Climate Corps" aims to enlist 20,000 young people

The White House is cobbling together a program under existing powers to bring young people into low-carbon energy and climate resilience jobs.

Driving the news: Officials just unveiled the "American Climate Corps." It's an executive branch stab at the New Deal-inspired "Civilian Climate Corps" idea, which the White House unsuccessfully urged Congress to create and fund with billions of dollars in what became the Inflation Reduction Act.

The big picture: Unveiled during Climate Week, the corps is a paid training program that aims to provide "pathways to high-quality employment opportunities in the public and private sectors," according to the White House.

• It envisions training in areas like wetlands restoration, low-carbon energy deployment, forest management, and more.
• The goal is to move 20,000 people through the program in the first year.

What we don't know: Details about funding and operation, even as the federal website for interested parties goes live today.

• White House climate adviser Ali Zaidi told reporters that more about the structure and governance would arrive in coming weeks.

What's next: He said there will be a formal agreement among six agencies, including the Labor and Energy Departments. Each will bring existing authorities and resources, he said.

• Zaidi said the launch will spur interest among states, local governments, philanthropies, and the private sector.
• "We are very keen to harness that energy through this coordinated initiative," Zaidi told reporters. Getting people into "good paying union jobs" is a priority, he adds.

Zoom in : The White House provided a few initial specifics.

• For example, AmeriCorps and U.S. Forest Service are launching "Forest Corps" — a five-year, $15 million initiative that's the "first major interagency partnership" under the American Climate Corps.

What we're watching: The politics, of course, as President Biden's 2024 campaign looks to energize young voters.

• A jobs corps is a years-long priority for youth activists — some of the same people bummed by other White House moves like approving ConocoPhillips' Willow oil project in Alaska.

Of note: Varshini Prakash, executive director of the youth-focused Sunrise Movement, praised the program on a White House press call. The group has long pushed for creating a climate corps.

The bottom line: The White House said the corps will help develop the workforce needed to meet U.S. climate goals. But lots of blanks need filling in.

• Biden mocks Trump’s ‘infrastructure week’: ‘He didn’t build a damn thing’

President Biden took jabs Monday at former President Trump while fundraising in his predecessor’s former hometown, New York City.

Biden hailed his own work on infrastructure investments through signing the bipartisan infrastructure law in 2021. And, he said “infrastructure week” became a “joke” during the last administration.

“He didn’t build a damn thing,” Biden said in remarks at a Black Economic Alliance event. “Not a damn thing.”

Biden has frequently quipped that infrastructure week was nothing more than a punchline during the Trump administration. When the $1 trillion infrastructure law was signed, Biden said it was “finally, infrastructure week!”

Infrastructure week has been a fixture in the political lexicon for years, starting from when Trump held a week of events in 2017 aimed at ramping up support for a trillion-dollar infrastructure proposal. The week was overshadowed in part because of high-profile testimony on Capitol Hill from former FBI Director James Comey after Trump had fired him.

________

• Biden admin offers thousands of Afghan refugees temporary protections

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Thursday extended deportation protections for Afghan refugees who fled their homes after the U.S. fully withdrew its forces from Afghanistan in August 2021.

Why it matters: Because of the extensions, thousands of refugees without proper documentation will not have to face the prospect of returning to Afghanistan and live under the Taliban's draconian government for another 18 months.

• Many of them will also be allowed to keep their work permits.

Of note: In addition to extending the Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for around 3,100 people, the DHS also expanded who is eligible for the status to around 14,600 additional Afghan nationals.

• It said the extension and expansion was necessary because of ongoing conflict in the country, as well as food and water insecurity, a lack of health care, destroyed infrastructure and economic instability.

What they're saying: "Today's announcement to extend and redesignate TPS for Afghanistan allows us to continue to offer safety and protection to Afghan nationals who are unable to return to their country," said Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said.

• "DHS will continue to support Afghan nationals through this temporary form of humanitarian relief."

The big picture: The Biden administration and DHS on Wednesday also extended TPS to nearly a half-million Venezuelan nationals because of ongoing humanitarian, security, political and environmental concerns in the country.

• Biden warns against shutdown, makes case for second term with VP at Congressional Black Caucus dinner

One week ahead of a potential government shutdown, President Biden issued a stark warning that "America could be forced to pay the price" if Republicans in Congress fail to act.

"Let's be clear: if the government shuts down, that means members of the Congress — members of the U.S. military are going to have to continue to work and not get paid," Mr. Biden said at a dinner hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus, or CBC, in Washington Saturday night. "A government shutdown can affect everything from food safety to cancer research to Head Start for children."

Mr. Biden said funding the government is one of the "most basic responsibilities of Congress," and blamed "extreme Republicans" for failing to adhere to a previous debt ceiling agreement that included limits on federal spending. House Republicans continued to strategize over the weekend and plan to move forward on a package of appropriations bills this week, hoping to build support for a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government open.

"That's our plan," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters as he exited the Capitol Saturday. "If we're able to get 45 more days, just like a stop-gap, and get the rest of our business done, it would be very productive."

Mr. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke during the CBC's Phoenix Awards dinner and made a vociferous case for their reelection in 2024. A recent CBS News poll showed Mr. Biden trailing former President Donald Trump by one point, 49%-50%, in a potential rematch. Only a third of voters surveyed said they believed the president, who is 80 years old, could finish a second term.

"You may have noticed a lot of people have focused on my age," Mr. Biden noted Saturday. "Well, I get it, believe me. I know better than anyone. But there's something else I know. When I came to office, this nation was flat on its back. I knew what to do. I vaccinated the nation and rebuilt the economy."

Mr. Biden thanked caucus members and told them "I owe you," nodding to overwhelming support from Black voters during his 2020 campaign. Harris said the administration will continue to fight for issues impacting communities of color, from reproductive rights to anti-gun and civil rights legislation.

"They know when Congress passes a bill to put back in place the protections of Roe v. Wade, that our President Joe Biden will sign it, that when Congress renews the assault weapons ban, President Joe Biden will sign it, and when you pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and Freedom to Vote Act, Joe Biden will sign them!" Harris said.

__________

• Biden administration announces $600M to produce COVID tests and will reopen website to order them

The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is restarting a website allowing Americans to again order up to four free tests per household — aiming to prevent possible shortages during a rise in coronavirus cases that has typically come during colder months.

The Department of Health and Human Services says orders can be placed at COVIDTests.gov starting Sept. 25, and that no-cost tests will be delivered for free by the United States Postal Service.

Twelve manufacturers that employ hundreds of people in seven states from California to Maryland have been awarded funding and will produce 200 million over-the-counter tests to replenish federal stockpiles for government use, in addition to producing enough tests to meet demand for tests ordered online, the department said.

The new effort is meant to guard against supply chain issues that sparked some shortages of at-home COVID tests made overseas during past surges in coronavirus cases. But it also illustrates the political balance President Joe Biden is trying to strike as he seeks reelection next year between trumpeting his administration having led the country through the worst of the pandemic while also trying to trying to better prepare for the continued effects of a virus that persists.

Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS, said that though some portions of the public may be tired of the pandemic and its implications, at home-testing remains a key way to slow the spread of new cases.

“Whether or not people are done with it, we know the virus is there, we know that it’s circulating. We know, if past is prologue, it’ll circulate to a higher degree and spread, and cases will go up in the fall and winter seasons,” O’Connell said. “Anticipating that that would be true again, or something similar, we want to make sure the American people have these tools.”

O’Connell said the website will remain functional to receive orders through the holidays and “we reserve the right to keep it open even longer if we’re starting to see an increase in cases.”

“If there is a demand for these tests, we want to make sure that they’re made available to the American people for free in this way,” O’Connell said. “But, at this point, our focus is getting through the holidays and making sure folks can take a test if they’re going to see Grandma for Thanksgiving.”

The tests are designed to detect COVID variants currently circulating, and are intended for use by the end of the year. But they will include instructions on how to verify extended expiration dates, the department said.

The initiative follows four previous rounds where federal officials and the U.S. Postal Service provided more than 755 million tests for free to homes nationwide.

It is also meant to complement ongoing federal efforts to provide free COVID tests to long-term care facilities, schools, low-income senior housing, uninsured individuals and underserved communities which are already distributing 4 million per week and have distributed 500 million tests to date, the department said.

O’Connell said manufacturers would be able to spread out the 200 million tests they will produce for federal use over 18 months. That means that, as demand for home tests rises via the website or at U.S. retailers when COVID cases increase around the country, producers can focus on meeting those orders — but that they will then have an additional outlet for the tests they produce during period when demand declines.

She also said that each winter since the pandemic began “as people move indoors into heated spaces” cases rise and added that also “there’s always an opportunity or chance for another variant to come” but “we’re not anticipating that.”

“That’s not why we’re doing this,” O’Connell said. “We’re doing this for the fall and winter season ahead and the potential for an increase in cases as a result.”

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said that the “Biden-Harris Administration, in partnership with domestic manufacturers, has made great strides in addressing vulnerabilities in the U.S. supply chain by reducing our reliance on overseas manufacturing.”

“These critical investments will strengthen our nation’s production levels of domestic at-home COVID-19 rapid tests and help mitigate the spread of the virus,” Becerra said in a statement.

Originally Posted by S Landreth

• Biden warns against shutdown, makes case for second term with VP at Congressional Black Caucus dinner

One week ahead of a potential government shutdown, President Biden issued a stark warning that "America could be forced to pay the price" if Republicans in Congress fail to act.

"Let's be clear: if the government shuts down, that means members of the Congress — members of the U.S. military are going to have to continue to work and not get paid," Mr. Biden said at a dinner hosted by the Congressional Black Caucus, or CBC, in Washington Saturday night. "A government shutdown can affect everything from food safety to cancer research to Head Start for children."

Mr. Biden said funding the government is one of the "most basic responsibilities of Congress," and blamed "extreme Republicans" for failing to adhere to a previous debt ceiling agreement that included limits on federal spending. House Republicans continued to strategize over the weekend and plan to move forward on a package of appropriations bills this week, hoping to build support for a short-term continuing resolution to keep the government open.

"That's our plan," House Speaker Kevin McCarthy told reporters as he exited the Capitol Saturday. "If we're able to get 45 more days, just like a stop-gap, and get the rest of our business done, it would be very productive."

Mr. Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris spoke during the CBC's Phoenix Awards dinner and made a vociferous case for their reelection in 2024. A recent CBS News poll showed Mr. Biden trailing former President Donald Trump by one point, 49%-50%, in a potential rematch. Only a third of voters surveyed said they believed the president, who is 80 years old, could finish a second term.

"You may have noticed a lot of people have focused on my age," Mr. Biden noted Saturday. "Well, I get it, believe me. I know better than anyone. But there's something else I know. When I came to office, this nation was flat on its back. I knew what to do. I vaccinated the nation and rebuilt the economy."

Mr. Biden thanked caucus members and told them "I owe you," nodding to overwhelming support from Black voters during his 2020 campaign. Harris said the administration will continue to fight for issues impacting communities of color, from reproductive rights to anti-gun and civil rights legislation.

"They know when Congress passes a bill to put back in place the protections of Roe v. Wade, that our President Joe Biden will sign it, that when Congress renews the assault weapons ban, President Joe Biden will sign it, and when you pass the John Lewis Voting Rights Advancement Act, and Freedom to Vote Act, Joe Biden will sign them!" Harris said.

__________

• Biden administration announces $600M to produce COVID tests and will reopen website to order them

The Biden administration announced Wednesday that it is providing $600 million in funding to produce new at-home COVID-19 tests and is restarting a website allowing Americans to again order up to four free tests per household — aiming to prevent possible shortages during a rise in coronavirus cases that has typically come during colder months.

The Department of Health and Human Services says orders can be placed at COVIDTests.gov starting Sept. 25, and that no-cost tests will be delivered for free by the United States Postal Service.

Twelve manufacturers that employ hundreds of people in seven states from California to Maryland have been awarded funding and will produce 200 million over-the-counter tests to replenish federal stockpiles for government use, in addition to producing enough tests to meet demand for tests ordered online, the department said.

The new effort is meant to guard against supply chain issues that sparked some shortages of at-home COVID tests made overseas during past surges in coronavirus cases. But it also illustrates the political balance President Joe Biden is trying to strike as he seeks reelection next year between trumpeting his administration having led the country through the worst of the pandemic while also trying to trying to better prepare for the continued effects of a virus that persists.

Dawn O’Connell, assistant secretary for preparedness and response at HHS, said that though some portions of the public may be tired of the pandemic and its implications, at home-testing remains a key way to slow the spread of new cases.

“Whether or not people are done with it, we know the virus is there, we know that it’s circulating. We know, if past is prologue, it’ll circulate to a higher degree and spread, and cases will go up in the fall and winter seasons,” O’Connell said. “Anticipating that that would be true again, or something similar, we want to make sure the American people have these tools.”

O’Connell said the website will remain functional to receive orders through the holidays and “we reserve the right to keep it open even longer if we’re starting to see an increase in cases.”

“If there is a demand for these tests, we want to make sure that they’re made available to the American people for free in this way,” O’Connell said. “But, at this point, our focus is getting through the holidays and making sure folks can take a test if they’re going to see Grandma for Thanksgiving.”

The tests are designed to detect COVID variants currently circulating, and are intended for use by the end of the year. But they will include instructions on how to verify extended expiration dates, the department said.

The initiative follows four previous rounds where federal officials and the U.S. Postal Service provided more than 755 million tests for free to homes nationwide.

It is also meant to complement ongoing federal efforts to provide free COVID tests to long-term care facilities, schools, low-income senior housing, uninsured individuals and underserved communities which are already distributing 4 million per week and have distributed 500 million tests to date, the department said.

O’Connell said manufacturers would be able to spread out the 200 million tests they will produce for federal use over 18 months. That means that, as demand for home tests rises via the website or at U.S. retailers when COVID cases increase around the country, producers can focus on meeting those orders — but that they will then have an additional outlet for the tests they produce during period when demand declines.

She also said that each winter since the pandemic began “as people move indoors into heated spaces” cases rise and added that also “there’s always an opportunity or chance for another variant to come” but “we’re not anticipating that.”

“That’s not why we’re doing this,” O’Connell said. “We’re doing this for the fall and winter season ahead and the potential for an increase in cases as a result.”

HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said that the “Biden-Harris Administration, in partnership with domestic manufacturers, has made great strides in addressing vulnerabilities in the U.S. supply chain by reducing our reliance on overseas manufacturing.”

“These critical investments will strengthen our nation’s production levels of domestic at-home COVID-19 rapid tests and help mitigate the spread of the virus,” Becerra said in a statement.

No mention of Joe Biden referring to LL Cool J as "boy". As expected from the Reich Ministry of Public Enlightenment and Propaganda Landreth.

I'd be the first to point out a serious Biden gaffe, but in this case, it's just more hysterical right wing pearl clutching.

White House creates office for gun violence prevention

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris on Friday announced the creation of the White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, saying the steps his administration is taking "will save lives."

The office, which Harris will oversee, is intended to find a way around congressional inaction on stronger gun control laws. As the president announced the new office, he thanked affected family members who found "purpose in your pain."

"Because of all of you here today, all across the country, survivors, families advocates, especially young people who demand our nation do better to protect all, who have protested, organized, voted and ran for office and yes, marched for their lives, I'm proud to announce the creation of the first-ever White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, the first office in our history," the president declared in the White House Rose Garden.

Rep. Maxwell Frost, the first Gen Z member of Congress and advocate of further action on guns, introduced the president Friday.

The White House says the office is intended to implement the president's executive orders on gun violence and the most recent gun legislation passed by Congress, the 2022 bipartisan Safer Communities Act, which enhances background checks for gun buyers under 21, provides funding for mental health services and closes the so-called "boyfriend loophole" to prevent convicted domestic abusers from purchasing a firearm for five years. It's not yet clear what the office's role would be, but the White House says that having dedicated staff on hand within the White House will help expedite its objectives.

Aside from implementing the Safer Communities Act and his executive orders, the office will also coordinate more support for survivors, including mental health care and financial assistance, "the same way FEMA responds to natural disasters."

"Look folks, shootings are the ultimate super storms, ripping through communities."

The office will also try to identify new executive actions to reduce gun violence and expand the administration's partnerships with state and local organizations.

"Folks, to be clear, none of these steps alone is going to solve the entirety of the gun violence epidemic," the president said."None of them. But together, they will save lives."

Mr. Biden is still urging Congress to enact universal background checks, and ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. Congress failed to pass those changes when Democrats controlled the House and the Senate.

"While we push for Congress to do more, we're going to centralize, accelerate and intensify our work to save more lives more quickly," the president said. "That's why this new White House Office of Gun Violence Prevention, that's what it's designed to do."

And he had a message for current members of Congress and voters.

"Let me be very clear," the president said. "If members of Congress refuse to act, then we'll need to elect new members of Congress that will act, Democrat or Republican."

Last month, a coalition of gun control groups endorsed Mr. Biden's reelection bid.

Gun violence has spiked in many cities throughout the country compared to the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. And a study this year published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found fatalities from gun violence have increased over time, with more victims dying at the scene of a shooting before they can reach medical facilities.

Despite Congress' resistance, Mr. Biden continues to advocate for a new assault weapons ban.

Mr. Biden and Harris have both visited the sites of mass shootings that occurred during their administration, including Uvalde, Texas, and Buffalo, New York.

• Inside the Biden-Netanyahu meeting

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left his long-awaited meeting with President Biden Wednesday with exactly the result he wanted: an invitation to the White House before the end of the year.

Why it matters: For nine months, Biden had declined to meet Netanyahu over concerns about his far-right government and its steps to weaken Israel's Supreme Court. The tensions have significantly clouded the relationship between the two allies.

Between the lines: Although policy differences remain, Biden recognized that continuing to give Netanyahu the cold shoulder could harm his political standing with U.S. supporters of Israel and complicate efforts to reach a mega-deal with Saudi Arabia and Israel.

Driving the news: At least publicly, the meeting appeared to succeed in lowering the temperature and countering the perception that the two allies are drifting apart.

• "I suffer from an oxymoron, Irish optimism. If you and I 10 years ago were talking about normalization with Saudi Arabia, I think we'd look at each other like, 'Who's been drinking what?'" Biden joked.
• "Good Irish whiskey," Netanyahu quipped back.

Flashback: Netanyahu's 265-day freeze-out is the longest period any Israeli prime minister has waited to meet the U.S. president since 1964, according to the Washington Institute. Then-Prime Minister Levi Eshkol had to wait 341 days for a meeting with Richard Nixon.

Behind the scenes: The meeting didn't start well. Netanyahu, who arrived on time to the Intercontinental Hotel in New York, waited more than 30 minutes for Biden to show up.

• But when the president arrived, he immediately gave Netanyahu what he was hoping for: "I hope to see you in Washington by the end of the year," Biden said in front of the cameras at the top of the meeting.
• In private, Biden and Netanyahu spent the hour-long meeting discussing Netanyahu's judicial overhaul, the state of normalization talks with Saudi Arabia, Iran, and the situation in the West Bank.

A senior Israeli official with direct knowledge of the meeting compared it to a conversation between old friends, not a typical exchange between world leaders armed with talking points.

• Biden and Netanyahu have known each other for more than 40 years and met numerous times before. The Israeli official said Netanyahu found Biden to be mentally sharp and dismissed concerns about his cognitive state.
• "It was very constructive and very candid. It was an exchange that really only President Joe Biden could have with Bibi Netanyahu," a senior U.S. official said in a briefing with reporters.

State of play: The senior Israeli official said Netanyahu left the meeting very hopeful about the prospects of securing the mega-deal with Saudi Arabia.

• "It is not a done deal and there are many variables, but the odds are more than 50%," the official said.

• A similar sentiment was expressed Wednesday by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who told Fox News' Bret Baier in a rare interview: "Every day we get closer."

A senior U.S. official who briefed reporters after the meeting was more reserved: "Normalization is a very complicated issue. We have been making some progress, but there's some ways to travel on this before we get there."

• The U.S. official said Biden and Netanyahu had "a pretty constructive discussion" about Israel's side of the deal — the concessions Netanyahu is willing to make to the Palestinians.
• The acronym both sides are using is SCP — "significant Palestinian component." Netanyahu told Biden he agrees the Palestinians should be part of the deal, but insisted they must not have veto power, the Israeli official said.
• "I think there is a basic meeting of the minds on not only the importance of that issue, but some of the contours of what would be required [regarding the Palestinian issue]," the senior U.S. official said.

What to watch: In a statement, the White House said Biden invited Netanyahu for a meeting in Washington by the end of the year.

• U.S. officials said this was simply an invitation in principle and that no dates have been finalized.
• The main issue determining whether the meeting takes place is the future of the judicial overhaul. Biden is unlikely to invite Netanyahu for an Oval Office meeting if the crisis in Israel persists.

• Biden pledges more aid to Pacific islands to counter growing Chinese influence

Joe Biden has offered more economic aid to Pacific islands at a White House meeting with leaders from the region aimed at bolstering US engagement in the face of a growing Chinese presence.

The president also announced formal US recognition of two new island nations, the Cook Islands and Niue, at the start of the Pacific Islands Forum, two days of Washington meetings with leaders from the group’s 18 members.

Looking back on the decisive battles fought in the Pacific 80 years ago, Biden told the summit: “Like our forebears during world war two, we know that a great deal of the history of our world will be written across the Pacific over the coming years.”

Biden pledged to work with Congress to provide $200m more in funding for the region, according to a statement after the briefing.

In his remarks, Biden mistakenly said the US would invest $40bn, a US official later said the amount should have been $40m for Pacific island infrastructure.

The visiting leaders having been feted by the administration, brought down from New York where most attended the UN general assembly, on a special train to Baltimore where they were taken to an American football game at the Baltimore Ravens’ stadium. There they were brought out on field and celebrated for “for their roles as American friends in the Indo-Pacific”.

The Pacific leaders were also taken onboard a US Coast Guard cutter in Baltimore Harbor and they were briefed by the Coast Guard commandant, Adm Linda Fagan, on operations to combat illegal fishing and manage maritime domains. Over the next two days they will meet top members of the administration. The secretary of state, Antony Blinken, and ambassador to the UN, Linda Thomas-Greenfield, will host a dinner for the visitors on Monday night, and on the second night, the Australian embassy will host a barbecue.

“I think what the Biden administration has been able to do is to step up our game considerably in a short period of time in the Indo-Pacific,” a senior administration official said. “We have deep moral, strategic and historic interests here. And I think we’re reaffirming that promise.”

However, the US charm offensive, aimed at clawing back influence in the region from China, suffered a setback before it started, with the announcement by Solomon Islands prime minister, Manasseh Sogavare, now closely aligned with Beijing, that he would not attend.

“I think it’d be fair to say that the United States is disappointed” in Sogavare’s decision, a senior administration official said.

Sogavare went home over the weekend after attending the UN general assembly. He refused to sign on to a US-Pacific partnership agreement last year, but did sign a security agreement with China last year, and agreed to increase cooperation on law enforcement and security matters.

The prime minister of Vanuatu, Sato Kilman, did not attend as he had to return to face a parliamentary vote of no confidence.

Part of the economic infrastructure aid Biden is offering includes secure undersea cable connectivity to Pacific island nations. However, the funding plans have to be submitted to Congress, where Republicans are threatening to shut down government in a standoff over spending.

As well as recognition for the Cook Islands and Niue, the administration has opened two new embassies in the Solomon Islands and Tonga. A USAid regional mission in Fiji and a US embassy in Vanuatu are planned for early next year in an effort to make up for decades of diplomatic neglect, as the Pacific becomes the focus of strategic competition with China.

The Pacific leaders were expected to push for more support for the climate crisis among other matters at the talks, and were due to meet the US climate envoy, John Kerry on Monday, where they will raise their fears that their nations will be wiped off the map.

In his remarks, Biden said the US heard their concerns about the “existential threat” posed by the climate emergency.

“We hear your calls for reassurance that you never, never, never will lose your statehood or membership at the UN as a result of a climate crisis,” the president told the Pacific leaders.

Biden axes GOP-led effort to undo endangered species protections for bat, chicken

President Biden on Tuesday vetoed a Republican-led attempt to ax endangered species protections for the long-eared bat and the lesser prairie-chicken.

In two veto messages issued Tuesday, he said that each effort to undo the protections “would undermine America’s proud wildlife conservation traditions” and risk the species’ extinction.

Biden in his veto messages noted that bats “are critical to healthy, functioning ecosystems“ and provide pest control and pollination. He said that the prairie-chicken serves as “an important measure of the overall health of America’s grasslands.”

On the other hand, Rep. Pete Stauber (R-Minn.), who introduced the effort to undo the bat’s protections, said in a written statement in April that its listing was “being used to stifle development rather than its intended purpose, which is to protect species from human-caused harm.”

Biden joins UAW strikers at picket line, showing solidarity in historic moment

President Biden joined striking autoworkers in Detroit on Tuesday, marking what appeared to be the first time a sitting president has ever visited a picket line.

Why it matters: The pro-union Democrat's appearance showed solidarity with thousands of autoworkers who have been leading an unprecedented strike of the Detroit Three automakers.

Driving the news: Biden spoke briefly before picketing workers, flanked by UAW President Shawn Fain, who called it "a historic moment."

• "You guys, the UAW, you saved the automobile industry back in 2008 and before," Biden said on Tuesday. "Made a lot of sacrifices, gave up a lot."
• "And the companies were in trouble, but now they're doing incredibly well. And guess what, you should be doing incredibly well, too."

Biden told workers they deserve more pay than they are receiving, along with other benefits being advocated for by union negotiators.

• "Wall Street didn't build the country," Biden said. "The middle class built the country."
• Biden visited with workers for about 15 minutes after the speeches, the New York Times reported, until his motorcade returned to Air Force One.

Between the lines: Biden has expressed full support for the United Auto Workers, as he vies for political support from unionized labor.

• After landing in Detroit, the president was asked about the UAW's endorsement in the 2024 presidential election, according to a White House pool report. He said he wasn't worried.
• In May, the union's president said the organization was not endorsing Biden yet, citing the growth of electric vehicles as a risk for the industry.

Meanwhile, former President Trump plans to speak Wednesday in Michigan to current and former union members.

• However, Fain told CNN on Tuesday evening that he would not meet with Trump, whom he accused of serving "the billionaire class" and not caring about UAW workers.

Of note: Biden picketed with workers near General Motors' parts center on the Willow Run site — a property that's a shell of its former self, having previously housed a 5 million-square-foot plant that built transmissions for GM vehicles.

• The transmission factory was shuttered in 2010 in the wake of GM's bankruptcy and later razed, leaving the parts distribution facility as a much smaller surviving operation.

• The old Willow Run factory was widely considered the heartbeat of the Arsenal of Democracy — the manufacturing powerhouse that built planes and weapons for the Allies during World War II — after Henry Ford built it to make B-24 bombers.
• GM acquired the facility years later and had some 14,000 workers there at its height in the 1970s.

Catch up quick: Thousands of auto workers are striking at 38 plants and distribution centers across 20 states, under the leadership of UAW president Shawn Fain, who invited Biden to their picket line.

• The automakers must "come to their senses," Fain has said, and pay workers what they deserve, calling for a 36% wage increase, a return to traditional pensions, retiree health care and a 32-hour workweek.
• The Detroit Three automakers — General Motors, Ford and Stellantis — have lost production of more than 16,000 vehicles, according to a Deutsche Bank analysis cited by the AP.

__________

• Some Attendees At Donald Trump's Autoworkers Speech Were Total Frauds: Report

Some attendees at Donald Trump’s speech about the autoworkers’ strike Wednesday apparently were shills carrying signs falsely identifying them as union members, the Detroit News reported.

One person held a sign that said “union members for Trump,” but admitted to the newspaper she was not a union member. Another carried a placard with the words “auto workers for Trump” and confessed he was not an auto worker when the outlet requested an interview. Neither identified themselves.

_______

In other news

• House impeachment inquiry off to an awkward start

House Republicans on Thursday took their latest step toward a historic impeachment of President Joe Biden — and immediately ran into setbacks with their witnesses.

During the House Oversight Committee's first impeachment-related hearing since Speaker Kevin McCarthy formally launched an inquiry into Biden, multiple witnesses called by the majority undercut the GOP's core message against Biden.

One of the GOP witnesses, Jonathan Turley, told the committee that he did not believe “that the current evidence would support articles of impeachment." The inquiry, he said, was fair game.

A second GOP witness, forensic accountant Bruce Dubinsky, also told the panel on Thursday that he was “not here today to even suggest that there was corruption, fraud, or any wrongdoing" by Biden, saying more information would be needed before making that determination.

What a massive waste of time and money this impeachment inquiry is.