The Full Belmonte, 1/17/2024
Extreme cold is gripping much of the U.S.
The National Weather Service’s temperature forecast for this morning. (PivotalWeather)
“What’s happening? At least 30 states are under some type of alert for dangerously low temperatures, as far south as Florida. The cold is setting records across the country.
What else to know: Winter storms with snow, sleet and rain have forced school and office closures and disrupted air travel. Milder air is expected early next week.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Gilgo Beach serial killer suspect charged in fourth death
“The man awaiting trial for a series of murders that terrorized Long Island has been indicted in a fourth killing, according to court documents unsealed today.
Rex Heuermann is charged in the murder of Maureen Brainard-Barnes, 25, whose remains were found near Gilgo Beach in 2010, the documents show.
The new charge comes after Heuermann was connected to the crime through a hair found near Brainard-Barnes’ remains, and DNA from an energy drink can thrown away by Heuermann's daughter, prosecutors said.
Heuermann appeared briefly in court today and pleaded not guilty to the new charge, and he has to all previous charges.” [NBC News]
U.S. carries out new airstrike against Houthi rebels in Yemen
“U.S. forces destroyed four anti-ship ballistic missiles that Houthi rebels were preparing to launch today from Yemen, according to U.S. Central Command.
It’s the third strike in Yemen that U.S. forces have carried out against the Iran-backed rebels in less than a week.
Later in the day, a Houthi missile struck a Maltese-flagged bulk carrier in the Red Sea, but the ship reported it was still seaworthy and continuing its voyage, according to Centcom.
This new escalation in the Middle East comes a day after Iran fired ballistic missiles into Iraq, causing explosions near the U.S. consulate and a U.S. military facility, and also struck Erbil, officials said.” [NBC News]
“The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear a case today that could weaken government agencies' power to regulate…everything. The plaintiffs in the case are a small group of New Jersey fishermen who don't want to pay for monitors on their boats to ensure they follow federal regulations.
Former solicitor general Paul Clement is asking the high court to overrule a 40-year-old case that asks judges to defer to federal agency interpretations of regulations if they're reasonable, NPR's Carrie Kahn says. Clement argues the precedent gives federal agencies way too much power. David Doniger of the environmental advocacy group Natural Resources Defense Council says the real goal of this case is to ‘enfeeble the federal government so that we don't have the capacity to deal with modern problems.’” [NPR]
Congress took a step toward preventing a government shutdown this weekend.
“What’s happening? Money for about 20% of the federal government runs out Friday night. The rest expires Feb. 2, which would send millions of federal workers home without pay.
The latest: Legislation to move the two deadlines to March 1 and 8 was advanced by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer yesterday.”
Read this story at Washington Post
A civil defamation trial against Donald Trump began in New York.
“The issue: Whether Trump should pay damages for comments about E. Jean Carroll, a writer who has said that Trump sexually assaulted her and derided her when she spoke out.
The latest: The former president appeared in court yesterday, as he continued to blur the lines between his legal issues and his presidential campaign. Carroll is set to testify today.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Families get hope
Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
“American families could get a surprise economic boost if Congress moves on a $78 billion tax deal reached by House and Senate committee leaders, Axios' Emily Peck writes.
Why it matters: An expansion of the federal child tax credit, which is included in the package, could lift as many as a half-million kids out of poverty, according to an estimate from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.
What's happening: Top lawmakers unveiled a bipartisan agreement today to expand and restore multiple tax breaks, Axios' Juliegrace Brufke writes.
The bill faces an uphill battle in the House but would make it so millions more lower-income parents get a meaningful tax refund.
Zoom in: Under the current law, parents can claim the credit on their taxes — up to $2,000 per child. But the tax credit now largely benefits middle- and higher-earning households.
Lower-income parents who don't owe taxes can't get that amount as a cash refund.
There are 19 million children who are getting less than $2,000 because their families' incomes are too low.
The bottom line: Passing anything in this current Congress has proved to be a real challenge.
The government is still on track for a shutdown at the end of this week absent a deal to pass a short-term spending bill.” [Axios]
E. Jean Carroll arrives at the opening day of a trial in her defamation lawsuit against former President Trump. Photo: Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/AP
“Former President Trump — fresh off a decisive win in the Iowa caucuses — attended the opening day of another trial for a defamation lawsuit brought by E. Jean Carroll. The jury in this case will determine how much he owes Carroll in damages.” [Axios]
Vivek Ramaswamy and Asa Hutchinson end 2024 campaigns after Iowa caucuses
“Vivek Ramaswamy suspended his bid for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination on Monday and endorsed former President Donald Trump after finishing a distant fourth in Iowa’s leadoff caucuses. Asa Hutchinson’s exit came a day after he finished sixth in Iowa’s leadoff caucuses.” Read More at AP News
“ABC News announced Tuesday that it’d canceled its Republican primary debate that was slated to be held in New Hampshire on Thursday, citing Nikki Haley’s refusal to attend without Donald Trump—who is yet to debate this cycle and is unlikely to—as reason. ‘Our intent was to host a debate coming out of the Iowa caucuses, but we always knew that would be contingent on the candidates and the outcome of the race,’ an ABC spokesperson said in a statement. ABC said it had set a deadline of Tuesday afternoon for Trump and Haley’s campaign to confirm their attendance, but neither responded. Haley said earlier Tuesday that she’d only debate Trump or Joe Biden moving forward, writing in a statement, ‘We’ve had five great debates in this campaign. Unfortunately, Donald Trump has ducked all of them. He has nowhere left to hide.’ Haley finished third in the Iowa caucuses on Monday with 19 percent of the vote. Trump received 51 percent of the vote and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis finished with 21 percent.”
Read it at ABC News
Sen. Chuck Grassley, 90, Hospitalized With an Infection
“Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), the oldest member of Congress, was admitted into an Iowa hospital on Tuesday for an unspecified infection, his office announced in a brief statement. Grassley, 90, is receiving antibiotic fusions and is in ‘good spirits,” the statement said, adding that he’ll return to work “as soon as possible, following doctors’ orders.” Grassley, who has served in Congress since 1981, has won re-election seven times—most recently in 2022, positioning him to remain in office until at least 2028, when he’d be 94. Grassley’s colleagues began releasing statements in support of him on Tuesday afternoon, with Sen. Katie Boyd Britt (R-AL) writing in a post to X, “Please join Wesley and me in praying for a speedy recovery for Senator @ChuckGrassley. I look forward to seeing him back on the Senate floor very soon.”
China’s Birth Rate Plummets to Record Low, Deepening Crisis
“China’s birth rate plunged to a record low in 2023, accelerating an overall population decline causing alarm among local policymakers desperately trying to reverse the trend. The country’s population shrank for a second consecutive year, dropping 0.15 percent—or 2.08 million people—and leaving the overall population at 1.409 billion last year. The decline was dramatically larger than the 850,000 drop in 2022, which was itself the first population shrinkage recorded in China since 1961, during the Great Famine. A wave of COVID-19 deaths occurred when lockdown restrictions were lifted in early 2023, helping to push the overall death rate to its highest level since 1974 amid the Cultural Revolution. The contraction also comes despite government incentives for couples to have more children, with lawmakers fearing that a rapidly aging population will create a crisis in the country’s pension and elderly care systems.” [Reuters}
Out for Revenge
A damaged building hit by an Iranian-launched missile strike is seen in Erbil, Kurdistan, on Jan. 16.Safin Hamid/AFP
“Iran on Monday fired several ballistic missiles at what it called ‘anti-Iranian terrorist groups,’ including alleged Israeli ‘spy headquarters,’ in Erbil, the capital of Iraq’s semiautonomous Kurdistan region.
According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), the targets were places used to plan the bombings in Kerman, Iran, on Jan. 3 that killed around 95 people attending a ceremony commemorating late military commander Qassem Suleimani. The Islamic State claimed responsibility for that bombing. Iranian forces also targeted a base allegedly linked to the Islamic State in Idlib, Syria, IRGC commander Amir Ali Hajizadeh said on Tuesday. As for the strike on what it claimed was a headquarters used by Israel’s Mossad intelligence agency, the IRGC said it was conducted in response to Israeli ‘atrocities’ targeting Iranian commanders and those of Iranian-allied groups in the region.
‘We assure our nation that the Guards’ offensive operations will continue until avenging the last drops of martyrs’ blood,’ the IRGC said in a statement.
At least four civilians were killed in the Erbil strike, including multimillionaire businessman Peshraw Dizayi and members of his family, and six others were injured. Iraqi Kurdish Prime Minister Masrour Barzani condemned the assault on the sidelines of this week’s World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Iraqi officials said Iran’s claims were groundless, and Barzani added that the strikes were a ‘crime against the Kurdish people.’ Iraq has since recalled its ambassador from Tehran and summoned Iran’s charge d’affaires to Baghdad to express anger over the attack.
‘The Revolutionary Guard said that the attack targeted several sites of Iranian opposition groups. Unfortunately, they always use baseless excuses to attack Erbil,’ the Kurdish region’s security council said.
The strike, near the U.S. consulate in Kurdistan’s capital, also drew sharp condemnation from Washington and its Western allies. The U.S. State Department condemned ‘Iran’s reckless missile strikes,’ with National Security Council spokesperson Adrienne Watson pledging U.S. support for ‘the sovereignty, independence, and territorial integrity of Iraq.’ France called Iran’s assault a ‘blatant, unacceptable, and concerning violation’ of Iraqi security.
Adding to escalating regional tensions, Iranian state media announced that Iranian forces had launched missile and drone strikes against what it said were bases used by the militant group Jaish al-Adl in Pakistan on Tuesday. Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry strongly condemned the attack, saying two children were killed and three others wounded. It has since called Iran’s charge d’affaires to Islamabad.
Jaish al-Adl had previously launched attacks on Iranian forces along the two countries’ shared border. Tehran and Islamabad maintain strained diplomatic ties, making some experts fear that this assault could kick-start a conflict between Iran and a nuclear-armed Pakistan. “It is even more concerning that this illegal act has taken place despite the existence of several channels of communication between Pakistan and Iran,” Pakistan’s Foreign Affairs Ministry said.” [Foreign Policy]
“Muted response. The Chinese Communist Party on Monday published for the first time sections of a 2022 speech given by Chinese President Xi Jinping at an internal event, in which he called to ‘develop and strengthen the patriotic, pro-unification forces in Taiwan, oppose the separatist acts of ‘Taiwan independence,’ and promote the complete reunification of the motherland.’ Other parts of Xi’s 2022 speech had previously been made public.
The newly published remarks came just two days after Taiwanese voters elected pro-independence candidate Lai Ching-te of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party in Taiwan’s Saturday presidential election. China summoned the Philippines’ ambassador on Tuesday after President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. congratulated Lai, accusing Manila of violating the ‘One China’ policy and warning the Philippine leader ‘not to play with fire.’
Meanwhile, Xi celebrated Nauru’s decision on Monday to cut diplomatic ties with Taipei and officially realign with Beijing. The Pacific island’s switch means that only 12 nations now recognize Taiwan, mostly in Latin America and the Pacific Ocean.” [Foreign Policy]
“Yemen’s aid crisis. A coalition of 23 aid agencies warned on Tuesday that escalating military operations in Yemen are compromising their ability to deliver critical services. More than 21 million people, or over two-thirds of the nation’s population, are in desperate need of food, water, and medical care in one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.
Houthi attacks against commercial shipping vessels in the Red Sea and the international community’s response have worsened the ongoing crisis. The U.S. and U.K. militaries launched a wave of airstrikes against the Houthis last Thursday in retaliation for a spate of shipping attacks; on Monday, the rebel group targeted Gibraltar Eagle, a U.S.-owned ship in the Red Sea—marking around 30 attacks on international shipping since mid-November 2023.” [Foreign Policy]
“Gender-based violence. Transgender activist and politician Samantha Gómez Fonseca was killed in Mexico City on Sunday prior to a march demanding greater acceptance of LGBTQ people, specifically transgender individuals. Around 100 people took to the capital’s main thoroughfare on Monday to protest rising violence against the LGBTQ community. At least three transgender people have been killed in the country since Jan. 1, with another two cases currently being investigated.
Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has a history of making incendiary remarks about transgender people. This month, he referred to a parliamentarian as a ‘man dressed as a woman,’ later issuing an apology for misgendering his colleague. More than 320 transgender and gender-diverse people worldwide were murdered between October 2022 and September 2023, according to the Trans Murder Monitoring project.” [Foreign Policy]
“A Quebec man pleaded guilty on Monday to starting 14 forest fires that forced hundreds of Canadians to evacuate their homes. Brian Paré, 38, had falsely accused the Canadian government on social media of igniting the fires, posting that its actions were a ploy to convince people of climate change. These same posts helped lead authorities to his arrest. Sometimes the culprit really is right under your nose.” [Foreign Policy]
“Nelson Mandela’s daughter will auction some of his belongings after winning a legal battle with the South African government, which claimed they were national artifacts.” [New York Times]
U.K.’s King Charles III will undergo surgery for ‘benign prostate condition,’ palace says
“The announcement that the king has ‘an enlarged prostate’ and would undergo a ‘corrective procedure’ next week came shortly after Kensington Palace announced that Catherine, Princess of Wales, had been hospitalized for abdominal surgery.”
Read more at Washington Post
Princess of Wales in hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery
“Catherine, Princess of Wales, is recovering in hospital after successfully undergoing abdominal surgery, Kensington Palace said Wednesday.
‘Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic yesterday for planned abdominal surgery,’ the palace said in a statement.
The operation was successful and Catherine, 42, will remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, it said.”
Read More at CNN
JetBlue is the country’s sixth-largest carrier, and Spirit ranks seventh.
PHOTO: WILFREDO LEE/ASSOCIATED PRESS
A federal judge blocked JetBlue’s $3.8 billion purchase of Spirit Airlines, agreeing with the government that the deal would weaken competition.
“The Justice Department said the acquisition would remove an ultra-low-cost carrier ( read for free) that benefits travelers and pressures other airlines to keep down fares, and without Spirit as a rival, JetBlue could raise prices by as much as 30%. JetBlue and Spirit are the country’s sixth- and seventh-largest carriers, respectively. JetBlue had argued it needed the merger to get big enough to compete with the four biggest airlines: United, American, Delta and Southwest. A merged JetBlue-Spirit would rank fifth. The two airlines said that they were evaluating next steps and that the merger was still the “best opportunity” to increase competition and keep fares low.” [Wall Street Journal]
The government put forward a plan to limit overdraft fees this morning.
“What it would do: Cap penalties as low as $3 when banking customers spend more than they have available in their accounts. If finalized, the rules could take effect next year.
Why it matters: The fees currently average about $26, and have historically hit poor Americans hardest while enriching major banks, which oppose the proposed rules.”
Read this story at Washington Post
“Elon Musk demanded more than $80 billion in additional stock from Tesla’s board and threatened to work on projects elsewhere.” [New York Times]
“E.V. batteries struggle in very cold weather, leading to long lines and frustration at charging stations.” [New York Times]
SPORTS
“N.F.L.: The Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh interviewed for the Atlanta Falcons’ coaching vacancy. And Mike Tomlin, the Pittsburgh Steelers coach, told players he would return to the team for next season, quieting doubts about his future.” [New York Times]
“Sport switch: The 22-year-old Welsh rugby star Louis Rees-Zammit is leaving the sport to attempt a career in the N.F.L.” [New York Times]
“Lawsuit: A woman accused James Dolan, the businessman behind Madison Square Garden and the New York Knicks, of pressuring her into unwanted sex. Dolan denied the allegations.” [New York Times]
A 93-year-old rower is teaching scientists about aging.
Richard Morgan competes in an indoor rowing competition in 2018. (Row2k.com)
“Who? Richard Morgan, a four-time world champion in indoor rowing with the fitness of a 40-year-old. He began training at 73 and is the subject of a new case study.
What he teaches us: That our bodies can adapt to exercise at any age. And while exercise won’t erase the physical effects of aging, it might be able to slow them down.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Eagles center Jason Kelce intends to retire after 13 NFL seasons, AP sources say
“After 13 seasons, 156 straight starts and six All-Pro Team selections, Jason Kelce has told teammates he intends to retire, three people informed of the decision told The Associated Press.” Read More at AP News
“Lives Lived: Despite working in a political town removed from the coastal entertainment capitals, Tom Shales wielded enormous influence during his three-decade career as The Washington Post’s chief television critic. He died at 79.” [Washington Post]