Page 2052 – Texas Weekly Online

Global day of action over Gaza war

NewsFeed Pro-Palestine protesters shut down the Golden Gate bridge as part of a global day of action over Israel’s war on Gaza, which also saw key economic sites blockaded in cities across the world. Published On 16 Apr 202416 Apr 2024 Adblock test (Why?)

Senate Dems reveal massive $79M ad spend to protect majority ahead of key match ups

Senate Dems reveal massive M ad spend to protect majority ahead of key match ups

Senate Democrats’ campaign arm is sparing no expense in its bid to keep the upper chamber’s majority in November, announcing a whopping $79 million ad plan across a number of battleground states and desired pick up opportunities. The Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC) is set to spend the multimillion-dollar sum on television, digital and radio advertising in several close Senate races and a handful of matches they are hoping to make competitive as they look to prevent the GOP from taking over in 2025, a committee aide said. Advertising throughout the new campaign will be done through a mixture of independent expenditures and coordinated campaign buys. HEARTLAND VOTERS FEELING STRAIN OF MASS MIGRATION: ‘EVERY STATE IS A BORDER STATE’ In a statement provided to Fox News Digital, Christie Roberts, DSCC executive director said, “Senate Republicans’ roster of unvetted, unpopular candidates bring disqualifying personal flaws and toxic policy positions to their races – when general election voters learn about them, they’ll see why they should be nowhere near the U.S. Senate.” “This advertising campaign will make the choice in each Senate race clear, enables the DSCC to communicate with voters in the most effective way and ensures we protect Democrats’ Senate majority,” she continued. Initial ad reservations in the DSCC’s new campaign will be made in key electoral battlegrounds, including Arizona, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Reservations will also be made in Texas and Florida as Democrats look to flip the seats of Sens. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and Rick Scott, R-Fla. Each of the planned buys is expected to be for multimillion-dollar sums. TRUMP’S LOAN PROPOSAL FOR UKRAINE AID MAY BE COMMON GROUND FOR COMPREHENSIVE FOREIGN AID PACKAGE In Michigan, Democrats face concerns in November amid Israel’s war in Gaza, which has prompted criticism from the state’s significant Muslim and Arab populations. The DSCC had made an initial reservation of more than $11 million in TV ads in the state, as outgoing Sen. Debbie Stabenow’s retiring deprives the Democrats of any incumbency advantage. A $10 million television reservation was similarly announced for Wisconsin, where Democratic Sen. Tammy Baldwin is expected to brave a significant challenge in the swing state. An additional $8 million reservation was made for television ads in Pennsylvania, as Republicans work to unseat incumbent Democratic Sen. Bob Casey in another key battleground that could decide the presidential election. SENATE PREPARES FOR MAYORKAS IMPEACHMENT ARTICLES WHILE GOP BRACES FOR POSSIBLE DISMISSAL MOTION Together with the Majority Leader Chuck Schumer-aligned Senate Majority PAC’s previously announced $239 million in ad reservations to protect vulnerable Senate Democrats, total ad reservations boosting Democratic candidates now tops $300 million. In a statement to Fox News Digital, National Republican Senatorial Committee communications director Mike Berg said, “It’s going to be very expensive for Democrats to try to convince voters that they didn’t open our border, unleash 40-year high inflation, and cause a crime epidemic in our country.” Each of the Senate races considered competitive in November are for seats that are currently held by lawmakers who caucus with Democrats, putting the party at a significant disadvantage. Additionally, while the DSCC is making moves to threaten Scott and Cruz in November, the races in Florida and Texas are not understood to be viable pick up opportunities for Democrats. Get the latest updates from the 2024 campaign trail, exclusive interviews and more at our Fox News Digital election hub.

Trump kicks off day two of hush money trial directing ire at ‘conflicted’ judge: ‘Trump-hating’

Former President Donald Trump began the second day of the hush money trial in New York City railing against the case and its “conflicted” judge, whom the 45th president called a “Trump-hating judge.” “We have a Trump-hating judge. We have a judge who shouldn’t be on this case. He’s totally conflicted. But this is a trial that should never happen. It should have been thrown out a long time ago,” Trump said Tuesday before heading into the courtroom, referring to Judge Juan Merchan. “It’s a trial that is being looked upon and looked at all over the world. … They’re looking at, analyzing it. Every legal pundit, every legal scholar said this trial is a disgrace,” he added. Trump arrived at court in Lower Manhattan for day two of a trial that is anticipated to last at least six weeks as he battles 34 charges of falsifying business records. Jury selection will continue Tuesday, a task that is anticipated to last at least a week. LIVE UPDATES: TRUMP HUSH MONEY TRIAL ENTERS DAY TWO AS JURY SELECTION CONTINUES Ninety-six potential jurors filed into the courtroom Monday, where they were asked a series of questions to determine if they can serve as impartial jurors. More than 50 out of the pool of 96 were dismissed for admitting they could not serve fairly on the panel, while a handful of others were dismissed due to other issues. The court is anticipated to vet a pool of roughly 500 jurors before selecting 12 New Yorkers and a handful of alternates from the group. JUDGE PRESIDING OVER TRUMP HUSH MONEY CASE DECLINES TO RECUSE HIMSELF The trial’s origins stretch back to the 2016 election cycle, when former Trump attorney Michael Cohen paid former pornographic actor Stormy Daniels $130,000 to allegedly silence her claims she had an extramarital affair with Trump back in 2006. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels and also pleaded not guilty to the charges. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg brought forth the indictment last year. Prosecutors say the Trump Organization reimbursed Cohen for the payment to Daniels and falsely recorded the payments as legal expenses. Prosecutors are working to prove that Trump falsified the records with an intent to commit or conceal a second crime, which is a felony. TRUMP CALLS HUSH MONEY TRIAL ‘ASSAULT ON AMERICA’ AS CASE OFFICIALLY KICKS OFF “I was paying a lawyer and marked it down as a legal expense account. I didn’t know. Marked it down as a legal expense. That’s exactly what it was. And you get indicted over that?,” Trump said on Tuesday. Trump has railed against presiding Judge Merchan for months, including on Truth Social, where he has described him as “suffering from an acute case of Trump Derangement Syndrome.” Trump’s legal team had also demanded Merchan’s recusal from the case, citing that Merchan’s daughter works as a Democratic consultant. The judge denied the motion on Monday. “There is no agenda here,” Merchan said Monday ahead of rejecting the recusal request. TRUMP TRIAL: JURY SELECTION TO RESUME AFTER POSSIBLE JURORS EXCUSED FOR SAYING THEY COULD NOT BE IMPARTIAL “We want to follow the law,” he added. “We want justice to be done.” Trump’s legal team had also called on Merchan last year to recuse himself, pointing to his daughter’s work and previous small donations Merchan made to Democrat causes for the 2020 election. The judge also denied that request for recusal, citing that a judicial ethics advisory committee had determined his daughter’s interests would not impact his ability to fairly oversee the case. The trial is expected to last for approximately six weeks. The court will not meet on Wednesdays, nor on Monday, April 29. Fox News Digital’s Brooke Singman contributed to this report.

Biden returns to campaign trail as Trump forced to remain in court for second day of New York hush money trial

President Biden returns to the campaign trail on Tuesday with a visit to his childhood hometown of Scranton to begin three consecutive days of campaigning in Pennsylvania. While the Democratic incumbent is holding events in the battleground state, his 2024 opponent, Donald Trump, is forced to spend the day in a New York City courtroom for the first ever criminal trial of a former president. Biden plans to use Scranton, a working class city of roughly 75,000 people, as the backdrop to pitch his new tax plan. His travels through Pennsylvania overlap with the start of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s criminal hush money case against Trump. Day two of the New York City trial continues with the jury selection at approximately 9:30 a.m. Tuesday. Trump has been charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree relating to alleged hush money payments to Stormy Daniels during his successful 2016 presidential campaign. Trump has been ordered to attend the court proceedings Tuesday and every day of the trial. Judge Juan Merchan told Trump that if he fails to be present, a warrant will be issued for his arrest. TRUMP HUSH MONEY TRIAL ENTERS DAY TWO AS JURY SELECTION CONTINUES Biden plans to spend Tuesday night in Scranton before continuing to Pittsburgh on Wednesday morning. He is expected to then briefly visit the White House, but intends to return to Pennsylvania on Thursday, with an event in Philadelphia. Scranton, Biden’s first destination, blends the personal and political for Biden as he grew up in a three-story colonial home in the Green Ridge neighborhood. His family later moved to Delaware, the state Biden ultimately represented in the U.S. Senate. “It’s hard to draw paths to Biden winning the White House that don’t involve Pennsylvania,” said Daniel Hopkins, a political science professor at the University of Pennsylvania. Harry Truman, in 1948, was the last Democrat to become president who did not win the state. SEE THE 42 QUESTIONS POTENTIAL TRUMP HUSH MONEY TRIAL JURORS ARE BEING ASKED His opportunity to campaign comes as Trump is sequestered in a courtroom, defending himself against criminal charges. If convicted, Trump could be sentenced to time behind bars. Trump pleaded not guilty to all counts last year. As Monday showed, however, the criminal case against the former president continues to struggle against worries that Trump will get a fair trial. TRUMP SLAMS BRAGG AFTER PLEADING NOT GUILTY: ‘I NEVER THOUGHT ANYTHING LIKE THIS COULD HAPPEN IN AMERICA’ Yesterday afternoon, 96 prospective jurors were sworn in but more than 50 of them were almost immediately excused for admitting they could not serve as impartial jurors. “It’s a scam. It’s a political witch hunt,” Trump said after court adjourned Monday. Judge Juan Merchan, who Trump has repeatedly criticized as being partisan and serving the interest of Democrats, addressed Trump directly before calling the prospective jurors into the courtroom. NEW YORK JUDGE IMPOSES GAG ORDER ON TRUMP IN BRAGG HUSH MONEY CASE The judge told Trump that if he fails to be present, a warrant will be issued for his arrest. Judge Merchan also told Trump that he has a right to be present at the trial, but that if he disrupts the proceedings he would be removed. Trump nodded after hearing the instructions. Judge Merchan denied Trump’s request to be excused from the trial next Thursday, after the president expressed he wanted to attend arguments at the Supreme Court about presidential immunity. The judge has not yet ruled on whether the trial will be adjourned so Trump can attend his son Barron’s high school graduation. Before jury selection began, Judge Merchan again denied the defense’s request to recuse himself. Judge Merchan also set a hearing for next Tuesday, April 23 to discuss possible sanctions for Trump violating the gag order.

Trump threatened with jail if he misses hush money trial as Biden campaigns in Pennsylvania

Dem Chicago alderman warns ‘we are not taking care of our own’ as city approves $70M for migrants

Dem Chicago alderman warns ‘we are not taking care of our own’ as city approves M for migrants

A Democratic alderman in Chicago warned city leaders that they are neglecting their own citizens by voting to pass Mayor Brandon Johnson’s request for an additional $70 million to help care for migrants who have arrived in the city. The budget committee voted 20-8 on Monday to advance the proposal to the full City Council after a lengthy debate. “We are not taking care of our own,” Ald. Chris Taliaferro of the 29th Ward said during the meeting. “We have all but forgotten the residents on the West Side and South Side.” The city has already allocated $150 million to help with the growing migrant crisis, and other city officials also questioned Johnson’s request for the additional $70 million in funding. CHICAGO MAYOR URGES BIDEN TO GRANT WORK PERMITS TO HALF MILLION ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS “Here we are begging for more money when we don’t have money for the people here,” said 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale, a Democrat who opposed the proposal. “We don’t have money for after school programs. We don’t have money to help our kids get off the street. Yet, we would just blow money left and right. That’s a fundamental problem.” VACCINATING MIGRANTS LIKE US CHILDREN WOULD HAVE PREVENTING DISEASE OUTBREAKS AT CHICAGO SHELTERS: EXPERTS The $70 million, should the full City Council approve the proposal, will be drawn from the city’s assigned fund balance from 2022, Budget Director Annette Guzman said Monday, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. The City Council could vote on the proposal as soon as Wednesday.

Chhattisgarh: 18 naxalites killed in encounter with security personnel in Kanker, says BSF

At least 18 Naxalites killed in encounter with security personnel in Chhattisgarh’s Kanker district, says BSF.

US approves potential $140M aircraft support deal for Iraq, Pentagon officials confirm

US approves potential 0M aircraft support deal for Iraq, Pentagon officials confirm

The U.S. State Department has approved the potential sale of aircraft contractor logistics support and training to Iraq for an estimated cost of $140 million, the Pentagon said on Monday. The training and support apply to Iraq’s C-172 and AC/RC-208 aircraft fleet. The Pentagon confirmed the details in a statement. REPUBLICANS EXPRESS DEEP CONCERN OVER IRAQI PM VISIT TO WHITE HOUSE, CONNECTIONS TO TERRORIST ORGS The principal contractor will be Northrop Grumman Corporation, it added. The proposed sale aims to improve Iraq’s ability to maintain and operate its aircraft effectively. President Joe Biden also met with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani at the White House on Monday.

Top Biden adviser ripped after Middle East claim resurfaces amid Iran attack: ‘Moron extraordinaire’

President Biden’s National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan faced renewed scrutiny on social media this weekend for a 2023 comment claiming the Middle East was “quiet” after Iran launched the first-ever direct attack on Israel. “What we said is [we] want to depressurize, de-escalate and ultimately integrate the Middle East region,” Sullivan said at The Atlantic Festival on Sept. 29. “The war in Yemen is in its 19th month of truce. For now, the Iranian attacks against U.S. forces have stopped. Our presence in Iraq is stable. I emphasize for now because all of that can change and the Middle East region is quieter today than it has been in two decades,” he added. Since that comment was made, Hamas launched a deadly terrorist attack against Israel killing over 1,000 people, and over the weekend, Iran launched its first-ever direct attack on Israel in the form of hundreds of drones and missiles. BIDEN CRITICIZES NETANYAHU OVER ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR, SAYS ISRAELI LEADER MAKING A ‘MISTAKE’ Sullivan’s comment drew strong criticism from social media users. “This is who is running Biden’s foreign policy,” the Republican National Committee posted on X. “Hard to believe, but this was 6 months ago,” Middle East Institute Senior Fellow Charles Lister posted on X. HOW THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR DIVIDED AND INFLAMED NEWSROOMS IN 2023 “Jake Sullivan has been attached to some of our biggest foreign disasters, including Benghazi,” journalist Sharyl Attkisson posted on X. “Who knows why he continues to achieve high positions making more mistakes.” “Biden’s Administration: Full of liars!” Fox News Contributor Leo Terrell posted on X. Former U.S. Army Reserve lieutenant, author and commentator Tony Schaffer posted on X that Sullivan is a “moron extraordinaire” who is promoting a “utopian fantasy.” Fox News Digital reached out to the National Security Council for comment but did not receive a response. SULLIVAN RIPS REPORTER’S QUESTION ON BIDEN SWEARING AS ASKING ‘WHEN DID YOU STOP BEATING YOUR SPOUSE?’ Sullivan has been at the center of several controversies in recent years, many of which have been brought up by conservatives on social media in light of his Middle East comments, including the Biden administration’s chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan. In the days following the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan, Sullivan and the State Department were criticized for being unable to say exactly how many Americans had been left behind. In 2021, the top oversight Republican in Congress called for the removal of Sullivan from his position due to his position at the “epicenter” of failed foreign policy decisions over the last 10 years, including the Benghazi terror attack that killed three American contractors and a U.S. ambassador. Sullivan served as former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s deputy chief of staff and policy adviser at the State Department during the 2012 attack on the U.S. Embassy in Benghazi, Libya. “From Benghazi to the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan, Jake Sullivan has been at the epicenter of the worst foreign policy crises and decisions over the past decade,” Ranking Member on the House Committee on Oversight and Reform, Rep. James Comer, R-Ky., told Fox News Digital at the time. “Given this administration’s tendency to create self-inflicted crises, it’s no surprise Jake Sullivan has been given a top post at the Biden White House.”

Biden admin launches partnership with 50 countries to stifle future pandemics

President Joe Biden’s administration will help 50 countries identify and respond to infectious diseases, with the goal of preventing pandemics like the COVID-19 outbreak that suddenly halted normal life around the globe in 2020. U.S. government officials will work with the countries to develop better testing, surveillance, communication and preparedness for such outbreaks in those countries, according to a senior Biden administration official who briefed reporters Monday about the program on the condition of anonymity. The official did not share a list of countries that will participate in the program. The announcement comes as countries have struggled to meet a worldwide accord on responses to future pandemics. Four years after the coronavirus pandemic, the prospects of a pandemic treaty signed by all 194 of the World Health Organization’s members are flailing. DISEASE X: CRITICS SAY BIDEN ADMIN SELLING OUT US SOVEREIGNTY WITH WHO TREATY The U.S. program will rely on several government agencies — including the U.S. State Department, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Health and Human Services and the U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID — to help countries refine their infectious disease response. Congo is one country where work has already begun, the official told reporters. The U.S. government is helping Congo with its response to an mpox virus outbreak, including with immunizations. Mpox, a virus that’s in the same family as the one that causes smallpox, creates painful skin lesions. Last year, the World Health Organization declared mpox a global emergency, with more than 91,000 cases spanning across 100 countries to date. The White House on Tuesday is releasing a website with the names of the countries that are participating in the program. Biden officials are seeking to get 100 countries signed onto the program by the end of the year. The U.S. has devoting billions of dollars to the effort. Biden, a Democrat, is asking for $1.2 billion for global health safety efforts in his yearly budget proposal to Congress.

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