Joe Biden

'IT'S FINALLY OVER, I'M GOING HOME': BIDEN GRANTS COMMUTATION--BUT NO PARDON--FOR PELTIER

"The victory of freeing Leonard Peltier is a symbol of our collective strength—and our resistance will never stop," vowed one Indigenous organizer.

By Brett Wilkins, Common Dreams

January 28, 2025 (Washington, D.C.) - Just minutes before leaving office, Joe Biden on Monday commuted the life prison sentence of Leonard Peltier, the elderly American Indian Movement activist who supporters say was framed for the murder of two federal agents during a 1975 reservation shootout.


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IN FAREWELL ADDRESS, BIDEN WARNS THAT OLIGARCHS’ RISING POWER THREATENS AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

President Biden also laid out proposed future reforms, including a Constistutional amendment to limit presidential immunity, tax reforms, and term limits for Supreme Court justices

By Miriam Raftery

Hear audio of President Biden’s farewell address; view video, read transcript

January 19, 2025 (Washington D.C.) – In his farewell address to the nation delivered in the White House oval office on January 15, President Joe Biden issued a warning reminiscent of the farewell speech delivered by President Dwight Eisenhower in 1961.

“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedoms, and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” President Biden said. Specifically, he cited “the concentration of technology, power and wealth” and warned of  “dangerous consequences if their abuse of power is left unchecked.”

President-elect Donald Trump, who will be inaugurated tomorrow, has surrounded himself with wealthy tech company executives,  drawing controversy. There are parallels to the Russian oligarchs who wield undue influence over Russia’s president Vladimir Putin and have profited from his reign, while supporting his policies.

Audio: 


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MORE THAN 1 MILLION VETERANS RECEIVING BENEFITS VIA PACT ACT AHEAD OF ANNIVERSARY

The VA has a calendar of in-person events that can be found here. Veterans or their family members can also call the VA at 800-698-2411 to inquire about PACT Act benefits.
 
 
Photo: Joe Biden Presidential Portrait
 
August 10, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) — President Joe Biden on Friday celebrated the number of veterans enrolled in VA health care and benefits as part of a law he signed nearly two years ago, though he said more work must be done for troops who were stationed at a base in Uzbekistan in the early 2000s.
 
“Two years ago, I signed the bipartisan Sergeant First Class Heath Robinson Honoring Our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxins (PACT) Act enacting the most significant expansion of benefits and health care for toxic exposed veterans and their survivors in over thirty years,” Biden wrote in a statement.


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CITIZENS UNITED, GOP STATE PARTIES FILE FEC COMPLAINT OVER BIDEN-HARRIS CAMPAIGN FUNDS

Editors note: *to which Harris added $127 million within three (3) days.
 
 
July 26, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) -- A conservative group and a group of Republican state parties Thursday filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission accusing Vice President Kamala Harris of improperly assuming control of Biden campaign funds after he withdrew from the race.
 
The complaint is asking the FEC’s six-person commission — split evenly between Democrats and Republicans — to “immediately initiate enforcement proceedings to prevent Harris from using her ill-gotten gains for her campaign in the little time remaining between now and the November general election.”
 
After President Joe Biden suspended his reelection campaign and endorsed Harris to take his place as the likely Democratic nominee, the Biden campaign officially changed its name to the Harris campaign, giving the vice president access to about $96 million* of campaign funds as of June 30.

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HARRIS GIVES FIRST CAMPAIGN SPEECH AFTER BIDEN STEPS DOWN IN HOPES OF OFFICIAL PARTY NOMINATION

By Jessyka Heredia

July 23, 2024 (United States) – Presidential hopeful Vice President Kamala Harris clinched enough delegates to proceed as the Democratic nominee today before an official vote. Harris was quick to address the public and assert herself as the democratic nominee after she secured the backing of more than the 1,976 delegates needed to garner the nomination.

Today in her first campaign speech in Wisconsin, Harris addressed her party, “When I announced my campaign for President, I said I intended to go out and earn this nomination. Tonight, I am proud to have secured the broad support needed to become our party’s nominee. I look forward to formally accepting the nomination soon.”


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BIDEN DROPS OUT OF PRESIDENTIAL RACE AMID PRESSURE FROM FELLOW DEMOCRATS

By Jessyka Heredia

July 21, 2024 (Washington, D.C.) – Today Joe Biden released a statement on social media to announce he was dropping out of the Presidential race against former President Trump and his newly announced Vice Presidential running mate JD Vance.


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BIDEN, TRUMP DELIVER STARKLY DIFFERENT MEMORIAL DAY MESSAGES

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via the Whte House:  President Joe Biden places a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery to honor soldiers buried there.

June 1, 2024 (Washington D.C.)—Speaking at Arlington National Cemetery on Memorial Day yesterday,  President Joe Biden praised soldiers who gave their life to protect our country, and highlighted efforts his administration has made to help military families and veterans. His rival in the November election, former President Donald Trump, took no steps to honor veterans in person, nor any promises to improve the lives of veterans or military members, instead issuing a vitriolic attack on America's judicial system.

“Today, we join our grief with gratitude,” President Biden said at Arlington. “Gratitude to our fallen heroes, to their families, and to the brave souls who continue to uphold the flame of liberty around the world.”

He added, “To everyone who’s lost and loved someone in the service of our country...I know how hard it can be,”  recalling his son,  Beau Biden, an Iraq War veteran died nine years ago of brain cancer linked to his exposure to toxic burn pits in Iraq.  Biden noted that the Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics  or PACT Act that he championed and signed into law has enabled his administration to approve over a million claims from veterans injured by toxic exposures during their military service.

Biden has signed over 30 bipartisan laws supporting servicemembers, veterans and their families.“Last year, the VA delivered more benefits and processed more claims than ever in our nation’s history, he said, concluding,  “May God bless our veterans, and may God protect our troops.”


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IN VIGOROUS STATE OF UNION SPEECH, BIDEN STRIVED TO “WAKE UP CONGRESS” ON THREATS TO DEMOCRACY AND TOUTED ECONOMIC GAINS

 

By Miriam Raftery; Jonathan Goetz contributed to this report

View video and read full text

“My purpose tonight is to wake up the Congress and alert the American people that this is no ordinary moment...What makes our moment rare is that freedom and democracy are under attack at — both at home and overseas at the very same time.” -- President Joe Biden

March 9, 2024 (Washington D.C.) – In a powerful State of the Union speech, President Joe Biden announced his intent to “both wake up Congress and alert the American people” about threats to our democracy at home and abroad.  He likened the global threat to 1941, when President Franklin Roosevelt addressed Congress with a warning while Hitler on the march and war raged in Europe. Biden warned of Russia’s threats to the free world, as well as threats to freedoms in the U.S.

In addition, Biden  touted historic economic gains, plans for a mortgage tax credit, a goal to cut more prescription drug costs, and a goal to further reduce the deficit by increasing taxes on wealthy individuals earning over $400,000  whose taxes were cut by the Trump administration.  He called on Congress to pass aid to Ukraine and a bipartisan border security and immigration reform bill, also announcing emergency orders for the military to build a pier to bring more humanitarian aid to Gaza.


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NIKKI HALEY SUSPENDS CAMPAIGN, BUT DOES NOT ENDORSE TRUMP

By Miriam Raftery

Photo by Gage Skidmore: Nikki Haley in 2024

March 6, 2024 (San Diego) – Former South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley announced today that she is suspending her presidential campaign,  after losing 13 of the 14 primary races (winning only Vermont) on Super Tuesday.

Her withdrawal means former President Donald Trump is the Republican party’s presumptive nominee, with no other challengers remaining. But Haley pointedly did not endorse Trump, whom she has sharpy criticized.

In a speech this morning, Haley voiced “no regrets” adding, “I will not stop using my voice for the things I believe in.”


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BIDEN AND TRUMP DENIED SWEEPS THIS SUPER TUESDAY, BUT MOVE CLOSER TO CLINCHING NOMINATIONS

Jason Palmer wins American Samoa, Nikki Haley wins Vermont

Update: Nikki Haley will suspend her campaign, reports Associated Press

By Jonathan Goetz

March 5, 2024 (San Diego's East County) -- On Super Tuesday, President Joe Biden won all 16 states holding Democratic contests for President, while former President Donald Trump won at least 12 of the 14 states holding Republican primaries or caucuses today. Neither secured enough delegates yet to secure their party’s nominations, though both appear on track to do so. This is Biden's first loss to primary challengers in the 2024 election cycle and Trump's second, following Haley's victory in Washington, D.C.

Jason Palmer, a venture capitalist and former staffer of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, defeated Incumbent President Joe Biden by 51 votes to 40, in American Samoa's caucus. As a result, Palmer secured all six Democratic delegates from American Samoa. Palmer told NBC news after his surprising win, “You can never expect to beat an incumbent president, but I love the people of American Samoa, and they’ve been so wonderful to me this past month.”

Trump was denied a sweep by Nikki Haley, former U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Governor (ret.) of South Carolina, who won the Republican primary in the State of Vermont, picking up at least 9 of 17 Republican delegates.


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PRESIDENT BIDEN CANCELS STUDENT DEBT FOR OVER 150,000 STUDENT LOAN BORROWERS AHEAD OF SCHEDULE

East County News Service

February 21, 2024 (Washington D.C.) -- President Joe Biden today announced the approval of $1.2 billion in student debt cancellation for almost 153,000 borrowers currently enrolled in the Saving on a Valuable Education, or SAVE, repayment plan.

The borrowers receiving relief are the first to benefit from a SAVE plan policy that provides debt forgiveness to borrowers who have been in repayment after as little as 10 years and took out $12,000 or less in student loans. Originally planned for July, the Biden-Harris Administration implemented this provision of SAVE and is providing relief to borrowers nearly six months ahead of schedule.

The Biden-Harris Administration has now approved nearly $138 billion in student debt cancellation for almost 3.9 million borrowers through more than two dozen executive actions.


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TRUMP URGES PUTIN TO ATTACK NATO ALLIES, DRAWING REBUKES FROM WORLD LEADERS AND FORMER NATO COMMANDER

NATO forces fought in Afghanistan to protect the U.S. after the Sept. 11, 2001 terror attacks, but Trump made clear he would not defend our NATO Allies

By Miriam Raftery

Photo (cc by SA) --  The Sept. 11, 2001 attacks in New York and Washington D.C. caused NATO to invoke its collective defense article for the first time.

February 12, 2024 (San Diego) — Former president Donald Trump said Saturday that if reelected, he would not defend U.S. allies under the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance, or NATO, unless they paid at least 2% of their gross domestic product on defense. He claimed to have told the leader of a major ally that if Russia were to attack that nation, “No, I would not protect you. In fact, I would encourage them to do whatever the hell they want.”

Trump’s comments during a South Carolina rally sent shockwaves around the world, drawing strong rebukes from NATO and world leaders.

Retired General Wesley Clark, former NATO Supreme Allied Commander, called the remarks “treasonous,” in a CNN interview.

Earlier, he issued this statement:  “On 9/11, when America was under attack, NATO nations all mobilized to come to our defense and fought alongside us to crush al Qaeda. They didn’t ask us for money. They didn’t put strings on it.  That is the kind of iron-clad commitment that has kept western democracies—including our own—alive for 75 years.”

General Clark added, “For Donald Trump to publicly signal to Vladimir Putin that he can take as much of Europe as he wants, and we will sit by and cheer him on, isn’t just breaking the promise the United States has made, and it isn’t just threatening Europe. It is encouraging World War III, which will hit our shores and cost American lives....The lives of every American, both in uniform and civilian, are at severe risk if Donald Trump wins this election.”


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BIDEN’S FIRST CAMPAIGN SPEECH AT VALLEY FORGE WARNS OF THREATS TO DEMOCRACY; TRUMP POSTS MESSIANIC VIDEO

By Miriam Raftery

January 7, 2024 – A day before the anniversary of the deadly Jan.6,2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, President Joe Biden and his likely campaign opponent Donald Trump presented sharply divergent messages.

In a speech near Valley Forge, Biden spoke of General George Washington crossing the Delaware with patriot soldiers in 1777 to defeat the British and win freedom and democracy—the then radical idea that the people could govern themselves, without a king or dictator. “But if democracy fails, we’ll lose that freedom,” the President said.  He warned that Trump has openly announced plans to dismantle our democracy, stating bluntly, “Democracy is on the ballot.  Your freedom is on the ballot.”

Trump meanwhile posted a video on his social media platform that proclaimed “God created Trump” to be a “shepherd to mankind” who would be “willing to go into the den of vipers, call out the fake news for their tongues as sharp as the serpents” as well as “wrestle the deep state” and  “wield a sword.”


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EAST COUNTY REP. DARRELL ISSA JOINS GOP VOTE FOR JOE BIDEN IMPEACHMENT INQUIRY

By Ken Stone, Times of San Diego, a member of the San Diego Online News Association

Photo:  Rep. Darrell Issa at Gold Star Family hearing last August in Escondido. Photo by Chris Stone

December 14, 2023 (Washington, D.C.) - The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to formally authorize its ongoing impeachment inquiry into President Joe Biden as Republicans unite behind the effort even though they have yet to find evidence of wrongdoing by the Democrat.


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BIDEN SIGNS STOPGAP BUDGET BILL TO FUND GOVERNMENT FOR 45 DAYS

By Miriam Raftery

October 1, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – President Joe Biden has signed a stopgap bill to prevent a government shutdown threatened by right-wing Republicans.  The measure funds the government for 45 days.

All five members of San Diego County’s Congressional delegation voted Saturday keep the federal government open.  The  Spending Reduction and Border Security Act, as the stopgap bill was called, passed with House Democrats joining some Republicans to pass the measure, though 91 Republicans voted against it.

The Senate later passed the stopgap measure, which President Joe Biden signed over the weekend.

The stopgap bill will provide short-term funding for federal employees, from military members and Border Patrol agents to air traffic controllers and national park rangers. But it does not include aide to Ukraine, which far-right Republican legislators have refused to support.


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VOWING TO DEFEND DEMOCRACY, BIDEN HITS HARD AT TRUMP

President warns of dangers to democracy posed by Trump’s attack on government, call to execute General Milley, and disdain for Constitution

 

By Patsy Widakuswara, Voice of America

September 28, 2023 (Washington D.C.)-- U.S. President Joe Biden sharpened his attacks against Donald Trump on Thursday, delivering his most forceful assertion to date that the former president and Republican front-runner represents an existential threat to the country’s democratic values and institutions.

In a speech in the western state of Arizona, Biden charged that Trump holds the "dangerous notion" that he has unchecked power and is above the law.

"Trump says the Constitution gave him, quote, the right to do whatever he wants as president, end of quote. I've never heard a president say that even in jest," Biden said. "Not guided by the Constitution or by common service and decency toward our fellow Americans, but by vengeance and vindictiveness."


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SPECIAL PROSECUTOR APPOINTED TO INVESTIGATE HUNTER BIDEN; DEMOCRATS TO RELEASE REPORT ON TRUMP FAMILY PROFITEERING

By Miriam Raftery

August 13, 2023 (Washington D.C.)—Attorney General Merrick Garland announced Friday that he has appointed U.S. Attorney David Weiss to serve as a special prosecutor to oversee the probe into Hunter Biden, the son of  President Joe Biden.  Weiss was already overseeing the Justice Department’s investigation of Hunter Biden, but a special prosecutor has more independence to launch a potentially broader probe and report directly to Garland. 

Weiss was nominated by then-President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Republican-controlled Senate. Despite this, some  Republican leaders have criticized his appointment as special prosecutor, because Weiss oversaw a plea deal that has since fallen apart.


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PRESIDENT BIDEN TOUTS ACCOMPLISHMENTS IN STATE OF UNION ADDRESS, CALLS FOR UNITY TO “FINISH THE JOB”

 

View video of full 2023 State of the Union address on C-Span

By Miriam Raftery

February 10, 2023 (Washington D.C.) – U.S. President Joe Biden delivered his State of the Union speech on Feb. 7, celebrating  American accomplishments and resilience since he took office amid the pandemic.  “We’ve saved millions of lives and opened America back up,” said Biden. “So let’s look at the results.”

 Among his administration’s achievements, he cited:

  • Cutting the deficit by over $1.7 trillion, the largest deficit reduction in U.S. history. (Under the Trump administration, by contrast, the deficit increased for four straight years.)
  • Creating 12 million jobs in two years, more than any prior administration created in four years
  • Creating 800,000 good-paying manufacturing jobs, the fastest growth in 40 years. Instead of factories  moving overseas, the U.S. is once again exporting American products.
  • Attaining an unemployment rate of 3.4%, the lowest in 50 years, including record low unemployment rates for Black and Hispanic workers
  • Ending the emergency declaration as COVID no longer controls our lives and COVID deaths have dropped 90%
  • Capping the cost of insulin at $35 a month for seniors on Medicare
  • Inflation, a global problem due to supply disruptions form the pandemic and the Ukraine war, is now coming down; gas prices are down $1.50 a gallon, food prices are dipping and inflation has fallen each month for the past six months, following passage of the Inflation Reduction Act
  • Enacting the CHIPS and Science Act to create hundreds of thousands of new jobs to make “sure the supply chain for America begins in America”, making semiconductor chips in the U.S. for use in cellphones, autos and more.
  • Signing over 300 bipartisan laws including an infrastructure bill that is putting Americans to work building and repairing roads and bridges, as well as replacing lead pipes to provide clean water to schools, homes and childcare centers and bringing high-speed internet to rural communities
  • Signing a law to help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits
  • Signing a bill to reduce the deficit by $115 billion by cracking down on wealthy tax cheats
  • Providing tax credits to buy electric vehicles and investing in charging stations, as well as clean energy
  • Recovering billions of taxpayer dollars lost to rampant fraud by bringing back watchdogs -  inspector generals sidelined by the prior administration
  • Allowing Medicare to negotiate prescription drug prices to reduce costs.
  • Launching a new border plan last month that resulted in a 97% drop in  unlawful migration from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Biden said his vision for the nation has always been to “restore the soul of the nation, to rebuild the backbone of America, the middle class,” and “to unite the country.”  In a vigorous speech that could preface an announcement to seek reelection, Biden pledged to “finish the job.”


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BIDEN SIGNS AMBITIOUS BILL TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE, REDUCE DEFICIT AND LOWER HEALTHCARE COSTS

By Miriam Raftery

August 17, 2022 (Washington D.C.) – President Joe Biden has signed the Inflation Reduction Act, calling it “one of the most significant laws in our history.” He added, “With this law, the American people won and the special interests lost.” The bill cuts prescription drug costs for Medicare and has healthcare savings for many others, provides tax breaks and rebates for households and companies investing in clean energy, funds IRS collections from tax dodgers and levies new taxes on some corporations, also aiming to sharply reduce the federal deficit.


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BIDEN TESTS POSITIVE FOR COVID, HAS MILD SYMPTOMS, WHITE HOUSE PHYSICIAN SAYS

By Miriam Raftery

July 21, 2022 This morning, President Biden tested positive for COVID-19.  According to a White House briefing, he is fully vaccinated and twice boosted and experiencing very mild symptoms.    The 79-year-old President has begun taking Paxlovid, an anti-viral medication effective during the first several days after symptoms appear.

According to the White House physician Kevin O’Connor’s letter, those symptoms include a runny nose, fatigue and a dry cough.

The President’s last negative test was Tuesday; the positive result was found during routine testing for the President. All contacts since Tuesday will be notified, per the White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.

“Consistent with CDC guidelines, he will isolate at the White House and will continue to carry out all of his duties fully during that time.  He has been in contact with members of the White House staff by phone this morning, and will participate in his planned meetings at the White House this morning via phone and Zoom from the residence,” the release states.


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BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TAKES STEPS TO PROTECT SOME ABORTION ACCESS, LAUNCHES WEBSITE TO HELP WOMEN FIND REPRODUCTIVE CARE

By Miriam Raftery

July 21, 2022 (Washington D.C.) – After the Supreme Court ruled that states can ban or restrict abortion access, overturning Roe v. Wade, the Biden administration has taken several actions to protect abortion access in certain circumstances. Specifically:

  • The administration cited a law on the books since 1986, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act (EMTALA), which requires abortions be allowed in all states if a woman’s life or health is at stake; hospitals that refuse can lose Medicare and Medicaid funding.
  • The Health and Human Services (HHS) Department warns that pharmacists must dispense medications used for miscarriages and early-term abortions, or face potential criminal penalties. Attorney General Merrick Garland similarly issued a statement that states cannot ban mifepristone, a drug approved by the FDA for early pregnancy termination among other uses.
  • HHS launched a website to help people nationwide find reproductive care and understand their rights at https://reproductiverights.gov/
  • President Joe Biden signed an executive order to protect patient privacy and access to emergency contraception and medication abortions.
  • HHS has advised pharmacies not to discriminate based on types of contraception sold, if any birth control items are sold in their retail stores.

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READER'S EDITORIAL: STOP THE BIG LIE THAT IS DIVIDING AMERICANS

By John Meitz

July 4, 2022 (El Cajon) --  I have been a voter in El Cajon for over 30 years. I used to be a lifelong Republican.just like my father before me.

That all changed when I saw Trump turn my Republican Party into a Trump Cult. If you are a Trump supporter it may be hard to hear this. It may be hard to accept that former President Trump betrayed your trust and deceived you. But those are the facts.

 

Stop the big lie! Like former Attorney General Bill Barr said, “There was no widespread voter fraud."


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BIDEN SIGNS BILL TO STABILIZE POST OFFICE, RESTORE SERVICES

By Miriam Raftery

Photo via Pixabay

April 9, 2022 (Washington D.C.) –  “This bill recognizes the Postal Service as a public service and we’re ensuring that it can continue to serve all Americans for generations to come,” said President Joe Biden, signing into law the Postal Service Reform Act this week.  The bill to financially stabilize the Postal Service and restore postal delivery to six days a week passed Congress overwhelmingly, supported by four of our region’s representatives, though Congressman Darrell Issa voted against it.


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BIDEN-HARRIS ADMINISTRATION ANNOUNCES A NEW WAY FOR MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES TO GET FREE OVER-THE-COUNTER COVID-19 TESTS

Source: U.S. Health and Human Services Dept.

Photo: CC via Bing

 

April 4, 2022 (Washington D.C.) -- The Biden-Harris Administration is announcing today that more than 59 million Americans with Medicare Part B, including those enrolled in a Medicare Advantage plan, now have access to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved, authorized, or cleared over-the-counter COVID-19 tests at no cost.  People with Medicare can get up to eight tests per calendar month from participating pharmacies and health care providers for the duration of the COVID-19 public health emergency.


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BIDEN APPROVES ANTI-AIRCRAFT WEAPONS FOR UKRAINE, CALLS PUTIN “WAR CRIMINAL” AFTER ZELENSKY ADDRESS TO CONGRESS

By Miriam Raftery

March 16, 2022 (Washington D.C.) – Following an emotional appeal by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to the U.S. Congress today seeking more aid, President Joe Biden announced in a White House address that the U.S. will send antiaircraft systems, shoulder mounted missiles and more to help the Ukrainians defend their air space against Russian attacks.


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IN STATE OF UNION SPEECH, BIDEN ANNOUNCES NEW ACTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA OVER UKRAINE INVASION

By Miriam Raftery

Read full transcript of State of the Union speech

View video of State of the Union speech

View part 2 of our coverage, on domestic issues addressed by Biden

View the Republican response

Photo: President Joe Biden, center, says of the Ukrainian people, "You inspired the world.'  Left, Vice President Kamala Harris, right, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.

March 2, 2022 (Washington D.C.) –President Joe Biden drew bipartisan applause during his State of the Union speech last night, when he recognized the Ukrainian ambassador to the U.S. and asked those in the Capitol chamber to rise and show the world that, “We, the United States of America, stand with the Ukrainian people.”

Biden announced new, strenuous actions against Russia and key supporters of Russian President Vladimir Putin. These include:

  • Closing off U.S. air space to all Russian flights, further isolating Russia;
  • Ordering the U.S.  Justice Department to form a task force to go after crimes committed by Russian oligarchs and “corrupt leaders” profiting off Putin’s regime;
  • Plans to seize oligarchs’ assets including yachts, private jets and luxury homes
  • Releasing 30 million gallons of oil from America’s strategic reserved, matched by an equal amount from other nations to help reduce gas prices without Russian oil.

These add to recently imposed sanctions including:


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BIDEN LAYS OUT DOMESTIC AGENDA DURING STATE OF UNION SPEECH

By Matthew Manosh and Miriam Raftery

Part 2 of our State of the Union coverage

View Part 1, on the U.S. response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine

Read full transcript of State of the Union speech

View video of State of the Union speech

View Republican response

March 3, 2022 (Washington D.C.) –  “We meet tonight in an America that has lived through two of the hardest years this nation has ever faced,” President Joe Biden stated during his State of the Union speech on March 1st.  Those two years have seen Americans struggling amid a global pandemic, inflation, an assault on the U.S. capitol, and now a war in Europe that has ratcheted up tensions. 

After an in-depth discussion of the Ukraine war, Biden pivoted to his domestic agenda, unveiling several ambitious proposals to address our nation's challenges as well as highlighting some successes during his first year in office.


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RUSSIA LAUNCHES FULL-SCALE WAR AGAINST UKRAINE, REPORTEDLY ATTEMPT TO SEIZE CHERNOBYL NUCLEAR PLANT

While world leaders denounce Russia for violating international law,  on eve of invasion Trump praised Putin for recognizing separatist regions as independent, predicted Russian president intended to "keep the peace."

By Miriam Raftery

Updated 2:06 p.m. with additional comments from Sara Jacobs.

February 24, 2022 (San Diego) – In defiance of international law, according to the United Nations, Russia last night launched a full-scale attack on the Ukraine including missile attacks on the capital, Kyiv, military targets and other cities far beyond separatist regions in dispute. Russian troops and tanks are also moving in on three sides of the Ukraine in the largest military threat Europe has faced since World War II.

Ukraine’s leaders have fled the capitol.  Chillingly, today exiled Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted, ““Russian occupation forces are trying to seize the Chernobyl [Nuclear Power Plant]. Our defenders are sacrificing their lives so that the tragedy of 1986 will not be repeated," rerferring to the core meltdown at the nuclear reactor site

He added, “This is a declaration of war against the whole of Europe.” 

President Joe Biden condemned Russian President Vladimir Putin for choosing ”a premeditated war that will bring a catastrophic loss of life and human suffering,” adding,”The world will hold Russia accountable.” In addition to sanctions already imposed, Biden announced he will convene a meeting of G7 leaders today and coordinate with NATO allies to ensure “a strong, united response that deters any aggression against the Alliance. Tonight, Jill and I are praying for the brave and proud people of the Ukraine.”


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HISTORIC INFRASTRUCTURE BILL PASSES HOUSE, HEADS TO PRESIDENT BIDEN FOR SIGNATURE

By Miriam Raftery

Photo, left by Miriam Raftery: bridge construction in Montana

November 5, 2021 (Washington D.C.) – The House of Representatives tonight approved the $1.2 trillion bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act by a 228-206 vote. The landmark bill previously approved by the Senate 69-30 now heads to President Joe Biden, who has pledged to sign it into law.

The bill marks the most significant investment in the nation’s infrastructure (including roads, bridges, railways, power grid and internet upgrades, disaster responses, and replacing lead water pipes), since Roosevelt’s New Deal after the Depression in the 1930s.  It will fund major infrastructure projects – also putting people to work – in all 50 states.

Specifically, it includes:


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"HOW DUMB CAN A NATION GET AND STILL SURVIVE?"

 

Peril by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa (Simon & Schuster, New York, 2021, 482 pages)

Book Review by Dennis Moore

          “We have much to do in this winter of peril.” -- President Joseph R. Biden Jr. in his inaugural address, January 20, 2021, at the United States Capitol

October 12, 2021 (San Diego) -- Peril, by Bob Woodward and Robert Costa is the scariest book that I have read among my more than 400 book reviews, for it portends the destruction of our democracy as we once knew it. The publishers of this well written book, Simon & Schuster, states: “The transition from President Donald J. Trump to President Joseph R. Biden Jr. stands as one of the most dangerous periods in American history.”

This book is scary for all the revelations made in it about the former president, which is ongoing in the aftermath of the January 6, 2021 attempt at a coup at the Capital Building in Washington, DC, and the ties between former President Trump and his supporters. The co-author of this book, Robert Costa, gives a riveting audio presentation to NPR, which readers can listen to by clicking here.


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