The Senate has confirmed Jack Lew as the new U.S. ambassador to Israel, with support from only two Republicans. Sen. Lindsey Graham, one of those Republicans, said the ambassadorship is "as important and timely as any nomination" due to the war against Hamas. Lew, who served as Treasury Secretary under President Obama, is expected to take up his post in Jerusalem soon.
Posts tagged as “Barack Obama”
Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey is facing calls from fellow Democrats to resign after he and his wife were federally indicted in a bribery scheme. Prosecutors allege that the couple received hundreds of thousands of dollars and luxury gifts in exchange for the senator wielding his influence to benefit three business associates and the government of Egypt. Menendez has denied the allegations and is scheduled to hold a news conference on Monday.
The White House has sent a team to Detroit to help resolve the strike between the United Auto Workers union and the Big Three auto companies. Congresswoman Debbie Dingell believes this is the most significant negotiation she has witnessed in her lifetime, as it is about the future of the auto industry, workers, and wages. Sperling and Su have been engaging with the parties by phone for weeks and are now in Detroit to help end the walkout, with the White House hoping for a resolution soon.
A federal judge has ruled that the Biden administration's effort to codify the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) policy into a federal regulation was unlawful. Judge Andrew Hanen, appointed by former Republican President George W. Bush, barred the government from approving any new applications, but left the program intact for existing recipients. The Supreme Court is expected to make a final ruling on the legality of the DACA program in the coming months.
Rhode Island's 1st Congressional District special election on November 2nd will see former White House aide Gabe Amo, endorsed by former President Barack Obama and President Joe Biden, face off against U.S. Marine veteran and political newcomer Gerry Leonard. If Amo wins, he will become the first Black person to ever represent Rhode Island in Congress. Both candidates are expected to ramp up their campaigns in the coming days.
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden are visiting Florida to survey the damage caused by Hurricane Idalia and meet with first responders, federal personnel, and local officials. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has voiced concerns with the president's "security apparatus" disrupting recovery efforts, and the visit is reminiscent of then-Governor Chris Christie's embrace of then-President Barack Obama during Superstorm Sandy. It is yet to be seen how the President's visit will affect the 2024 presidential race.
The FBI conducted a raid in Provo, Utah early Wednesday morning, resulting in the death of Craig Robertson, who had made graphic threats against President Biden and other public officials. The arrest was apparently triggered by specific threats Robertson had made to kill President Biden during a visit to Utah today. The complaint charged Robertson with three counts of transmitting threats in interstate commerce. The FBI has not released any further details about the raid or the circumstances surrounding Robertson's death.
Judge Tanya Chutkan, an Obama appointee, has been assigned to preside over former President Donald Trump's latest indictment. Despite Senate Republicans' attempts to undermine her credibility, they unanimously voted to confirm her in 2014. Chutkan has established a reputation for imposing tough penalties on rioters who participated in the 2021 attack on the Capitol, including handing down the longest sentence of just over five years.