President Joe Biden will visit Florida on Thursday, a former swing state home to two potential Republican challengers in the 2024 election. Biden's visit follows his State of the Union address, in which he proposed to protect Social Security and Medicare, and will draw a contrast with Sen. Rick Scott's proposal to sunset all federal legislation every five years. It will also be watched to see how President Trump's hostility towards Gov. Ron DeSantis plays out in the Republican base.
News Mash
At least 16,000 people have been killed and many more injured after a 7.8 magnitude earthquake and a series of aftershocks struck Turkey and Syria on Tuesday. Rescue teams have been working to pull survivors from the rubble, and have found some miraculous stories of survival. US Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield has expressed sadness at the loss of life and the humanitarian toll of the earthquakes, and humanitarian agencies are appealing for donations to help those affected.
The Phoenix Suns have acquired 13-time All-Star Kevin Durant from the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster trade. Durant is still playing at an elite level, averaging nearly 30 points per game this season. The Suns are adding Durant to a starting lineup that already includes an All-Star backcourt of Chris Paul and Devin Booker, along with center Deandre Ayton, in a move that could drastically improve their playoff chances this season.
Rescue efforts in Turkey and Syria are ongoing after a devastating earthquake and series of aftershocks, with the death toll currently standing at over 15,000. Search and rescue personnel are working around the clock to locate survivors, but the window for rescuing those trapped is quickly closing due to lack of access to food, water, and medical care. The Turkish government has requested assistance from other countries, and the international community has responded with offers of aid and support.
Pennsylvania Senator John Fetterman was hospitalized Wednesday after feeling lightheaded, with initial tests not showing evidence of a new stroke. Doctors are running more tests and Fetterman is remaining overnight for observation, while his communications director said he is in good spirits. Fetterman is currently in the midst of a tight race for the Senate seat and his staff has asked for privacy for the senator and his family.
Damar Hamlin, safety for the Buffalo Bills, has been awarded the NFL Players Association's highest honor and Dr. Thom Mayer, the union's medical director, has expressed confidence that Hamlin will return to professional football soon after suffering an on-field cardiac arrest in January. The NFL Players Association has been a strong supporter of Hamlin's recovery process, providing him with access to top medical professionals.
Scientists at the European Space Agency have made a surprising discovery about a dwarf planet in the outer reaches of the solar system: Quaoar has a dense ring around it, farther away from it than previously believed. This discovery was made using data from ground-based telescopes and the space-based telescope Cheops, when the planet blocked light from a distant star. Scientists and astronomers are now working to better understand the ring and its origin, as it could provide new insights into the formation of our solar system.
The House Oversight Committee held a hearing on Wednesday to discuss political censorship on social media, during which Republican Congressman Byron Donalds displayed web addresses for nude photos of President Joe Biden's son, Hunter Biden. The photos had been removed from Twitter after the Biden campaign flagged them, and the incident has raised questions about the appropriateness of displaying such content in a congressional hearing. The hearing is part of a larger debate over links to nude photos of Hunter Biden, and its implications for the discussion about political censorship on social media.