Photo: Science Photo Library RF
1 War In Israel: Biden Addresses Nation, Multiple Attacks Around The World
President Joe Biden made a rare address to the country last night and explained why he thinks it important for both Israel and Ukraine to win the wars they’re in. “History has taught us that when terrorists don’t pay a price for their terror – when dictators don’t pay a price for their aggression – they cause more chaos and death and more destruction.” Biden was trying to put pressure on Congress to approve an emergency funding package for $60 billion in aid to Ukraine and $40 billion for Israel, Taiwan, and the U.S.-Mexico border. The president plans to send the request to Congress today, but it can’t be passed until the House elects a speaker. Biden also said that he took the opportunity of his visit with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss “the critical need for Israel to operate by the laws of war,” which Biden says he told Netanyahu “means protecting civilians in combat as best they can.” Before his address, the United Nations called for a cease-fire at the Rafah crossing to let humanitarian aid reach Palestinians in Gaza.
2 Another Vote To Attempt To Elect Jim Jordan Speaker Of The House This Morning
Republicans met for over three hours behind closed doors yesterday, with reports of raised voices and disagreement on how to move forward in the search for a new Speaker of the House. A proposal to elect current Speaker pro tempore Rep. Patrick McHenry was reportedly opposed by a majority of Republicans in the meeting, but there was no consensus on any candidate for the position other than Rep. Jim Jordan, who’s already failed to be elected in two votes this week. When it was suggested that McHenry should move legislation through the House without being elected, he reportedly threatened to quit before that would happen. Despite losing support between the first and second ballots this week, Jordan told reporters after the meeting that he was still running for speaker. Later yesterday, Jordan’s office said the third vote will happen this morning at 10 a.m., giving him more time to talk to opponents. One of the problems with Jordan’s campaign is some of the tactics his supporters are reportedly using to get representatives to change their votes to put him into office. CNN broadcast a voicemail loaded with curse words and threats that was reportedly made to the wife of a Republican congressman who didn’t vote for Jordan, and there have been other reports from multiple representatives of similar behavior, including Rep. Ken Buck, who said yesterday to NBC that he has received “four credible death threats” because he refuses to vote for Jordan.
3 Former Trump Attorney Sidney Powell Pleads Guilty, Agrees To Testify
Sidney Powell, the former attorney for former President Donald Trump and one of his 17 co-defendants in the election interference case in Georgia, took a plea deal yesterday. Powell pleaded guilty to six misdemeanor charges and get 12 months of probation for each count plus a $6,000 fine. The other requirement of the deal is that Powell testify on behalf of the state in the case, something that didn’t apparently worry the Trump legal team. Steve Sadow, Trump’s lead counsel in the Georgia case, told “ABC News” in a statement, “Assuming truthful testimony in the Fulton County case, it will be favorable to my overall defense strategy.” Powell’s trial was set to start today along with co-defendant Kenneth Chesebro, who reportedly turned down a similar plea deal last month. Chesebro is accused of drafting a strategy to use “alternate electors” to prevent Joe Biden from getting 270 electoral votes in the 2020 election.