The Full Belmonte, 3/12/2024
President Biden’s budget will be a cornerstone of his re-election campaign.
PHOTO: NATHAN HOWARD/GETTY IMAGES
President Biden’s budget seeks more aid for families and higher taxes on wealthy households and corporations.
“The proposal would boost federal spending to $7.3 trillion next fiscal year, and raise taxes on the two groups in an attempt to cut the deficit while lowering the costs of prescription drugs, child care and housing. The policy vision isn’t expected to gain momentum in Congress—where lawmakers are straining to approve funding plans for the current fiscal year—but it will be a cornerstone of Biden’s re-election campaign. The blueprint also kicks off a fight over Medicare and Social Security, as the president and his presumed Republican opponent, Donald Trump, scramble to lock down the support of older voters. The budget forecasts somewhat higher interest rates for 2024.” [Wall Street Journal]
RNC fires dozens of employees after Trump-backed leadership takes over
“Communications and political staff members were fired from the party’s central committee, according to three people familiar with the firings but who weren’t authorized to speak publicly. The staffing changes came just days after Michael Whatley and Lara Trump, former president Donald Trump’s chosen candidates, were elected to head the RNC.”
Read the story at Washington Post
Donald Trump’s driver on Jan. 6 confirmed that Mr. Trump demanded to go to the Capitol but said “I did not see him reach” for the steering wheel.
“The newly released testimony is the first extensive eyewitness account of what happened in the armored vehicle to be made public.”
Read more at New York Times
‘Trump Employee 5,’ who unknowingly helped move classified documents, speaks out
“A longtime Mar-a-Lago employee who is a central witness in the investigation into former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents is now speaking publicly because he believes that voters should hear the truth about his former boss and the case before the November election.”
Read More at CNN
Super Tuesday II
“Voters in Georgia, Hawaii, Mississippi and Washington will cast ballots today in a lineup of key primary elections. President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump are their party's likely nominees after dominating their respective Republican and Democratic primaries on Super Tuesday last week. It's widely expected that following these contests today Trump will attain the 1,215 delegates needed to clinch the Republican nomination and Biden will attain the 1,968 delegates required to clinch the Democratic nomination, officially setting up a rematch in November between the two rivals. This will mark the first rematch between a current and a former president since 1892.” [CNN]
Donald Trump wants New York hush money trial delayed until Supreme Court rules on immunity claims
“The former president contends he is immune for prosecution for conduct alleged to involve official acts during his tenure in office. His lawyers argue some of the evidence and alleged acts in the hush money case overlap with his time in the White House and constitute official acts.” Read More at AP News
The prosecutor who criticized Biden’s memory is testifying today.
“Who? Special counsel Robert Hur. He angered the White House in February for saying the president had a ‘poor memory’ in a report about Biden’s handling of classified documents.
What’s happening? Hur is set to testify in Congress about his investigation. It will be the first time he addresses the public since revealing that he wasn’t charging Biden.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Florida teachers and students can discuss LGBTQ+ issues, a settlement said.
“A reminder: In 2022, Florida passed legislation — known as the “don’t say gay” law — which effectively barred discussions about same-sex relationships in classrooms.
What’s new? The lawsuit settlement, announced yesterday, largely canceled many of the impacts of the signature legislation from Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Counselor recalls morning of Michigan school attack when parents declined to take shooter home
“James Crumbley, 47, is on trial for involuntary manslaughter. ‘My hope was that they were going to take him,’ school counselor Shawn Hopkins testified, ‘either take him to get help or even just, ‘Let’s have a good day. Let’s have a day where we just spend time with you.’” Read More at AP News
Asked to clear up abortion bans, GOP leaders blame doctors and misinformation for the confusion
“Across the U.S., conservative legislators are refusing to reevaluate abortion bans — even as doctors and patients insist the laws’ exceptions are dangerously unclear.” Read More at AP News
Blue cities go red on crime
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
“From coast to coast, American cities known for liberal policies are taking more aggressive, conservative approaches to fighting crime.
Why it matters: It's a surprising and stark reversal for Democrats who pushed for significant criminal justice reforms four years ago, Axios' Erica Pandey and Russell Contreras write.
The big picture: The rightward shift comes after many liberal cities and states limited police powers and cut law enforcement budgets following George Floyd's killing.
The changes expose intense pressure on Democrats to adopt tougher anti-crime laws and policies they once ridiculed — and reflect rising fears about violent crime among voters on both ends of the political spectrum.
State of play: San Francisco voters approved two ballot measures to expand police surveillance and impose drug screenings for those receiving welfare benefits.
In New York City, Gov. Kathy Hochul recently ordered hundreds of National Guard troops to cut crime in the subways.
Oregon is recriminalizing possession of drugs — including heroin, cocaine and fentanyl — three years after becoming the first state to decriminalize possession and personal use of all drugs.
D.C. just passed a sweeping new crime bill that raises penalties for thefts and gun crimes.
New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D), in a state with one of the highest rates for killings by police, is threatening to call a special legislative session for more anti-crime measures.
Reality check: Violent crime has fallen back to 2019 levels in the U.S. after spiking during the pandemic, though not in all cities.
Between the lines: The perception of crime remains high. 63% of Americans say crime in the U.S. is very or extremely serious, according to Gallup.
That's the highest share in decades — and up from 48% in 2018.” [Axios]
TikTok eyes Senate salvation
Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
“TikTok is focusing intense lobbying efforts on the Senate as it scrambles to fend off a bill that would force its Chinese owners to sell the platform or risk a ban, Axios Pro's Ashley Gold writes.
Why it matters: The bill could face a serious roadblock if it reaches the Senate, where lawmakers are iffier about the legislation than their counterparts in the House.
TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew — who's heading to Capitol Hill today or tomorrow — will be ‘more focused on the Senate side’ than the House, Punchbowl reports.
Screenshot: CNBC
During a marathon interview with CNBC's "Squawk Box" yesterday morning, former President Trump attempted to explain his reversal on a TikTok ban while conceding it's a national security threat:
‘We have that problem with Facebook and lots of other companies too. They get plenty of information ... and they'll do whatever China wants.’” [Axios]
No Cease-Fire in Gaza as Ramadan Starts
Palestinian Muslim devotees perform evening prayers known as the Tarawih outside the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque during the holy fasting month of Ramadan on March 11.Ahmad Gharabli/AFP via Getty Images
“Despite a diplomatic scramble to secure a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war ahead of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan, the holiday began on Monday without an agreement in place, fueling fears of heightened tensions during the period.
In the weeks before Ramadan, negotiators from Egypt, Qatar, and the United States expressed hopes that they could reach a deal resulting in a pause in fighting, the release of Israeli hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinians held in Israeli jails, and the flow of more humanitarian aid into the Gaza Strip.
Talks stalled last week after Hamas issued demands that extended beyond the proposed deal, the New York Times reported. Both Israeli and Hamas officials have accused each other of obstructing negotiations. The absence of a cease-fire deal as the holiday begins has intensified concerns about the conflict spiraling and humanitarian conditions worsening in Gaza.
‘The onset of the holy month brings with it a number of specific events and circumstances that could very easily lead to a dramatic escalation not just in the Israel-Hamas war but also in the simmering tensions across the Middle East,’ FP’s Amy Mackinnon wrote last week.
On Monday, the beginning of Ramadan was marked by clashes between Israeli police and Muslim worshippers at the Al-Aqsa mosque, a holy site in Jerusalem. Continued violence throughout the holiday, which is the holiest period in the Islamic calendar, could risk inflaming tensions and exacerbating regional outrage.
‘It adds a layer of distastefulness and outrage to an already pretty horrendous situation,’ Khaled Elgindy, the director of the Middle East Institute’s Palestine program, told Mackinnon last week. ‘It adds more pressure on Arab governments to at least look like they’re doing something.’
As the war stretches into its sixth month, officials and aid agencies have warned of increasingly dire conditions in Gaza. The United Nations reports that at least one-quarter of people in Gaza are ‘one step away from famine,’ while nearly 60,000 pregnant women in Gaza face malnutrition and dehydration, according to the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry. The death toll in Gaza is estimated to have surpassed 30,000 people.
Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to press ahead. Israel still plans to launch a military offensive in the Gazan city of Rafah, Netanyahu said on Sunday, despite U.S. President Joe Biden’s earlier warnings that he considers such an attack to be a ‘red line.’” [Foreign Policy]
The prosecutor who criticized Biden’s memory is testifying today.
“Who? Special counsel Robert Hur. He angered the White House in February for saying the president had a “poor memory” in a report about Biden’s handling of classified documents.
What’s happening? Hur is set to testify in Congress about his investigation. It will be the first time he addresses the public since revealing that he wasn’t charging Biden.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Haiti’s prime minister is resigning after a wave of killings and kidnappings.
“What’s happening? The country is facing its worst violence in decades. Armed gangs have taken over most of the capital, demanding the unelected prime minister’s resignation.
Last night: Ariel Henry agreed to resign following international pressure, including from the U.S. He has led Haiti since the unsolved assassination of the president in 2021.”
Read this story at Washington Post
“Haiti’s worsening crisis. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was set to travel to Jamaica on Monday to participate in regional talks about Haiti’s political crisis, which escalated this month after gangs forcibly prevented acting Prime Minister Ariel Henry from returning to the country after a diplomatic trip abroad. Henry has held power since 2021, when former Haitian President Jovenel Moïse was assassinated, despite growing regional pressure for a political transition.
Monday’s trip comes just days after Blinken pressed Henry to back a transition proposal that could lay the groundwork for an election, according to top U.S. officials. ‘The Secretary urged Henry to support this proposal in the interest of restoring peace and stability to Haiti so the Haitian people can resume their daily lives free from violence and despair,’ said U.S. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller.” [Foreign Policy]
Demonstrators calling for Henry’s departure in Port-au-Prince last month. Photographer: Richard Pierrin/AFP/Getty Images
“Xi consolidates power. China concluded the annual session of its National People’s Congress on Monday with a revised law that offers the Chinese Communist Party greater influence over the country’s cabinet, known as the State Council. The change marks the latest indication of how Chinese President Xi Jinping is tightening his grip on power.
The legislation in question—the State Council Organic Law—now includes sections that detail how the State Council has to follow Xi Jinping Thought and “resolutely uphold the Party Central Committee’s authority and its centralised and unified leadership,” according to Reuters.” [Foreign Policy]
“Portugal’s election results. Portuguese politics are set to enter a new chapter after the country’s snap election on Sunday, in which a center-right coalition appeared to narrowly win the vote while a far-right party also surged in popularity. The center-right Democratic Alliance ultimately secured 79 out of the legislature’s 230 seats, beating out incumbent Socialist Party, which had been in power for eight years and secured 77 seats on Sunday.
The vote was marked by a surge in popularity for the far-right Chega party, which secured the third-highest number of votes, reflective of broader political pressures facing European leaders. ‘It’s an absolutely historic result,’ said the party’s leader, André Ventura.” [Foreign Policy]
“Indonesian lawmakers have vowed to investigate how two pilots fell asleep on the job during a Batik Air flight in January, causing the plane—which was carrying 153 passengers and four flight attendants, along with the pilots—to veer off course, alarming the air traffic controllers. The pilots were both asleep for around a half an hour, officials said. No one was harmed during their slumber, and the plane landed in Jakarta after a course correction.” [Foreign Policy]
“Emmanuel Macron has transformed French politics into a relatively straightforward question for voters: Him or Marine Le Pen.
That’s worked well for the president, who twice triumphed in head-to-head votes against the far-right leader. But what next?
The third round in the duel may not be until 2027, and term-limited Macron will need to find a substitute to contest that. But a sense of panic is already taking hold of his team.
They see Le Pen’s National Rally far ahead in polls before June’s European Parliament elections. And there’s little reassurance to be had by looking around Europe, where far-right parties are making significant inroads. Meanwhile, Macron’s trick of pointing to his economic successes is wearing thin for an electorate fatigued by record inflation.
Le Pen has made unrelenting progress in gradually transforming a political movement better known for its history of far-right nativism and far-out economic policies on the margins of French politics.
Surveys show she is entrenched as one of the country’s most popular politicians, and — crucially in a two-round voting system — the share of people who reject her outright continues to decline.
She can also rely on a growing cohort of National Rally officials who have broken through at local level, even in areas centrist parties and Macron could previously call strongholds.
A far-right presidency would be a transformational moment for France, handing control of Europe’s second-largest economy to a movement that has advocated loosening ties with the European Union and, before the invasion of Ukraine, closer relations with Russia.
To be sure, 2027 is a long way out, and politics can turn on one incident or gaffe. But the momentum is clearly with Le Pen and, as things stand, the French establishment doesn’t appear to have an adequate response. “— William Horobin [Bloomberg]
Le Pen at a campaign event in Marseille this month. Photographer: Christophe Simon/AFP/Getty Images
“Deadlock in Ukraine is ‘shifting the momentum’ in the war in Russia’s favor, and Moscow is benefiting from uncertainties about military assistance from Washington and its allies, US intelligence agency officials told a Senate committee yesterday. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said his troops had blocked Russia’s offensive and were stabilizing the frontline, though the situation may change if they don’t start to get sufficient aid.” [Bloomberg]
“India’s opposition parties accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of polarizing voters weeks before elections by implementing a citizenship law that’s seen as discriminatory against Muslims. When the law was originally passed in 2019, it triggered violent protests and panic among many Indians who risked becoming stateless without proper documentation.” [Bloomberg]
“Senegalese opposition politician Karim Wade asked the top court to annul a decision to schedule elections for March 24, arguing there’s not enough time to prepare for them. It raises the potential for another delay to a vote that was supposed to take place Feb. 25 before being canceled by President Macky Sall, setting off a political crisis.” [Bloomberg]
50 people injured by "strong shake" on Boeing plane, airline says
Dozens of passengers were injured when a Boeing-made plane experienced a “strong shake” during a flight from Sydney to Auckland, New Zealand on Monday, authorities said.
“LATAM Airlines, based in Chile, said in a statement that the plane carrying 263 passengers and 9 crew members, ‘experienced a strong shake during flight, the cause of which is currently under investigation.’
About 50 people were treated at the scene, an ambulance spokesperson said. Ten passengers and three crew members were taken to the hospital, most with minor injuries, the airline said.
In a statement, Boeing said, ‘We are working to gather more information about the flight and will provide any support needed by our customer.”’ [NBC News]
Airbnb is banning the use of indoor security cameras in the platform's listings worldwide
“Airbnb says it’s banning the use of indoor security cameras in listings on its site around the world by the end of next month. Airbnb had allowed the use of indoor security cameras in common areas, as long as the locations of the cameras were disclosed on the listings page.” Read More at AP News
A whistleblower who raised safety concerns about Boeing was found dead.
“Who? John Barnett, a quality manager who retired in 2017 after several decades with Boeing. He publicly criticized the company for quality control issues in its aircraft production.
What we know: The 62-year-old died from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound, South Carolina authorities said this week. The investigation is ongoing.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Scientists are trying to revive a famous tree in England destroyed by vandals.
The Sycamore Gap tree in June. (Oli Scarff/AFP/Getty Images)
“In September: A huge sycamore tree — which had flourished for more than 100 years and became a much-loved landmark — was chopped down, sparking national outrage.
But there’s hope: Scientists managed to salvage seeds and cuttings from the felled tree. And, five months on, experts say those seeds are ‘beginning to ‘spring into life.’’”
Read this story at Washington Post