Paul Whelan, a former U.S. Marine wrongfully detained in Russia since December 2018, has expressed his concern about the arrest of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The U.S. Embassy in Moscow has called for the release of Whelan and other wrongfully detained Americans in Russia, and the Biden administration has yet to comment on the situation. Whelan remains hopeful that he will be released soon, expressing confidence that the wheels are turning.
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Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., announced Monday that he will not seek re-election after 20 years in the Senate, instead focusing on clean energy, tackling global warming and spurring economic growth. He has served in public office for nearly 50 years, beginning in 1970, and is confident his former intern, Lisa Blunt Rochester, will make an excellent successor. Carper is proud of the work he has done in the Senate and is looking forward to the next 20 months.
Sen. Tim Scott of South Carolina announced his candidacy for the Republican nomination for president in 2024, criticizing the "radical left" and President Biden in a roughly 40-minute speech. Scott joins a rapidly expanding field of contenders looking to unseat former President Donald Trump, emphasizing his personal background and his family's experience with poverty and success. His candidacy comes as the Republican Party is in the midst of a heated debate over its future direction, and Scott is sure to be a strong contender in the 2024 presidential race.
Bryan Kohberger, a doctoral student of criminology, is set to appear in an Idaho court on Monday to enter a plea in the case of the November 13th murders of four University of Idaho students. He has been charged with four counts of first-degree murder and one count of burglary, and the prosecution is seeking the maximum sentence. The families of the victims are hoping for justice as the trial is expected to begin in the coming months.
Carmelo Anthony, one of the most prolific scorers in NBA history, has announced his retirement after 19 seasons in the league. He retires as the No. 9 scorer in league history and expressed his gratitude for the cities he represented and the fans that supported him. Anthony is also set to release a memoir, titled "Carmelo Anthony: On My Journey to the NBA," which will detail his journey and future plans. His retirement marks the end of an era for the NBA.
Key takeaways: President Joe Biden and House Speaker Kevin McCarthy are meeting at the White House to discuss a path forward to avert a debt…
On Sunday, May 22, 2021, a protest was held at Boston University in response to the ongoing Writers Guild of America strike. The protest was attended by around 100 people, who chanted and waved signs, and some graduates inside the stadium shouted "pay your writers" during the commencement address. The strike began on April 12, 2021, and is centered around wages, healthcare, and other benefits for writers. Negotiations between the WGA and Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers are ongoing.
President Joe Biden has called on House Republicans to compromise and end their standoff over the debt ceiling, warning of catastrophic consequences if it is not raised. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned that June 1 is a "hard deadline" for Congress to raise the debt ceiling, and that the US could default on its debt if it is not raised. Biden has also placed renewed emphasis on the possibility of citing the 14th Amendment to sidestep the debt ceiling, as negotiations with Republicans continue.