The Full Belmonte, 9/21/2023
Members of the United Auto Workers walk the picket line at the Ford Michigan Assembly Plant on Monday.
Strikes
“Stellantis and GM furloughed dozens of autoworkers this week and warned hundreds more could come as the strike continues. This is the first layoff announcement by Stellantis, the automaker that makes vehicles under the Jeep, Ram, Dodge and Chrysler brands. Ford and GM already laid off or warned of idling employees at two of their plants because of the targeted strikes. Unionized autoworkers are on strike for better pay and benefits but the companies argue they can't afford the union's demands. Meanwhile, Hollywood's entertainment strikes are pushing toward $6 billion in losses. Writers and the heads of the four major studios are set to meet for a second consecutive day today as they try to hammer out a deal that puts to an end the historic strike that has frozen most TV and movie productions.” [CNN]
The Biden administration will extend legal status to 470,000 Venezuelans.
“What’s happening: The administration said yesterday it will offer temporary protected status to Venezuelan migrants who entered the U.S. by July 31, shielding them from deportation.
Why now? The largest Venezuelan migration wave to the U.S. has strained shelter capacity. The move will expedite their ability to get work permits and support themselves.”
Read this story at Washington Post
Wildfire smoke has rolled back two decades of air quality gains.
“What to know: Smoke has slowed or reversed improvements to air quality in most of the country, a new study found. Wildfire smoke is harmful to human health and hard to regulate.
Where? In Oregon and Nevada, wildfire smoke has completely erased air quality gains since 2000. Other Western states have lost 50% or more of their progress.
In other news: Biden announced a new Climate Corps to train thousands of young people.”
Read this story at Washington Post
AG Garland chokes back tears in Capitol Hill hearing
“Attorney General Merrick Garland struck a defiant tone Wednesday in defending the Justice Department as independent of the White House and Congress, but Republicans attacked him repeatedly for the handling of high-profile investigations of Hunter Biden and Donald Trump.
‘Our job is to uphold the rule of law,’ Garland told the House Judiciary Committee in an uncharacteristically emotional statement that brought him close to tears as he described his family fleeing the Holocaust.
•Garland’s testimony came amid multiple investigations that are politically fraught. House Republicans are investigating whether to impeach President Joe Biden, in part because of alleged influence peddling by his son Hunter.
•Republicans blasted Garland for the department’s ‘ridiculous’ plea deal offered to Hunter Biden that fell apart in July.
•The White House dismissed the hearing as ‘a not-so-sophisticated distraction’ from the potential ‘costly and dangerous government shutdown’ looming Oct. 1.” [USA Today]
Attorney General Merrick Garland testifies before House Judiciary Committee during hearing: Oversight of the U.S. Department of Justice on Sept. 20, 2023 in Washington, D.C.
Jack Gruber, Jack Gruber-USA TODAY
Senate bypasses Tommy Tuberville's abortion protest
“Military promotions for decades have been approved at large without controversy. But Sen. Tommy Tuberville, R-Ala., has held up about 300 promotions for senior military jobs since February in protest of a Pentagon policy that pays troops for some travel to states that provide abortions, along with some other expenses. In remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday, Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., criticized Tuberville's blockade and said he would seek to advance a number of nominations, including Gen. C.Q. Brown, who was confirmed as the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff by the Senate Wednesday evening.” Read more at USA Today
Senate confirms joint chiefs chair
President Biden announces Gen. CQ Brown Jr. as joint chiefs chairman in May, joined in the Rose Garden by Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin (left) and Vice President Harris. Photo: Evan Vucci/AP
“The Senate voted to 83-11 confirm Gen. Charles Q. "CQ" Brown Jr., 60, a career fighter pilot, as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff — succeeding retiring Gen. Mark Milley as the nation's top military officer.
Why it matters: Democrats circumvented Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.), who is blocking confirmation of hundreds of military nominations and promotions to protest the Pentagon's abortion travel policy, Axios' Andrew Solender reports.
After Milley retires at the end of the month, it'll be the first time the Pentagon's top two posts have been held by African Americans, with Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin as top civilian leader.
What's happening: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer also teed up votes to confirm Gen. Randy George as Army chief of staff and Gen. Eric Smith as Marine Corps commandant.
Because of Tuberville's blockade, the military has been forced to operate without Senate-confirmed commandants at the top of three services — Army, Navy, Marines — for the first time.
Reality check: This doesn't end Tuberville's blockade. Schumer opted to spend floor time to confirm Brown, but can't do so for all 300+ nominees Tuberville is blocking.
Asked whether he plans to maintain his hold on other military nominees, Tuberville told Axios: ‘Oh yeah!’” [Axios]
Government shutdown
“The US national debt has passed $33 trillion as a looming government shutdown threatens to upend crucial federal programs. Government funding is set to expire on September 30 as lawmakers struggle to reach a consensus on a funding plan. House Republicans are trying to push through a bill to temporarily fund the government and beef up border security, but the caucus appears deeply divided on the path forward. If lawmakers are unable to reach an agreement, the White House said, active-duty military and federal law enforcement personnel would be forced to work without pay until funds are appropriated, while FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund could be depleted, complicating relief efforts. Additionally, thousands of children would lose access to health programs, and air traffic controllers and TSA officers would have to work without pay, threatening travel delays across the country.” [CNN]
Covid-19 tests
“The US government will relaunch a program to provide free Covid-19 home tests to Americans as new variants continue to alarm health officials. US households can order four free tests from Covidtests.gov starting Monday. The relaunch of the program comes as Covid-19 hospitalizations have been on the rise in the US since July, with weekly admissions now more than triple what they were two months ago. Recent CDC data shows more than 20,000 people in the US were admitted to the hospital with Covid-19 during the week ending September 9 — about 8% higher than the week before.” [CNN]
Student loans
“Roughly 28 million borrowers will soon be required to pay their monthly student loan bill for the first time since a pandemic-related pause went into effect in 2020. Interest on federal student loans restarted on September 1 and monthly payments will begin in October. Millions of borrowers have a different loan servicer than they did the last time they made a payment and millions of others who finished school during the pause will be making their first payment ever. The Biden administration is encouraging eligible borrowers to apply to the government's new income-driven repayment plan launched in August, known as SAVE, which is said to reduce monthly payments and the amount paid back over time.” [CNN]
Volodymyr Zelensky accused the U.N. of inaction on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“What he said: At a U.N. Security Council session yesterday, Ukraine’s president sharply criticized the body’s ability to defend the sovereignty of nations.
What he wants: For the Security Council to remove Russia’s veto power. And today in Washington, Zelensky will push for more financial support to repel Russia’s invasion.
In Russia: The government is asking citizens to download an app to report suspicious drones.”
Read this story at Washington Post
War in Ukraine
“Russia struck at least five cities in Ukraine with missiles, damaging energy infrastructure. Rescuers are searching for survivors under rubble.” [New York Times]
“The attack came hours after Volodymyr Zelensky condemned Russia at the U.N. He also told the Security Council that it was powerless while Russia had a veto.” [New York Times]
“Zelensky is expected to meet with Biden and members of Congress today.” [New York Times]
Poland limits its support for Ukraine
Poland has sent Ukraine 320 tanks and 14 MiG-29 fighter jets. Credit: EPA-EFE
“Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is on his way to Washington to meet President Joe Biden, asking for more funding for his country’s ongoing struggle against invading Russian forces. America’s support is more vital than ever to Kyiv, as some of Ukraine’s neighbours show signs of having reached the limit of their commitment to the country’s war efforts. Earlier this week, Ukraine filed lawsuits to the World Trade Organization against Slovakia, Poland and Hungary over their bans on food imports from Kyiv. Mr Zelensky mentioned the dispute in his speech to the UN General Assembly, prompting Poland’s Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki to summon Ukraine’s ambassador. Now, Mr Morawiecki says his country will no longer supply weapons to Ukraine. He has also threatened to increase the number of banned products from Ukraine if Kyiv escalates the grain dispute.
•Weapons suppliers: Poland has supplied Ukraine with both funding and weaponry - see who else has handed over arms and aid.
•US spending explained: The US is by far the largest contributor of military aid to Ukraine. North America correspondent Anthony Zurcher examines whether President Biden can convince the US Congress to keep allocating funds towards Ukraine.” [BBC]
Bob Ross’s first TV painting is on sale for $9.8 million.
Bob Ross talks to his audience about “A Walk in the Woods,” the first painting he created for his famous PBS TV series. (Bob Ross Inc.)
“What painting? “A Walk in the Woods,” painted in 27 minutes on the first episode of “The Joy of Painting” in 1983.
Where has it been? A PBS station volunteer bought it in 1983, probably for less than $100, and displayed it in her home for nearly 40 years. Ross’s fame has grown since his death in 1995.”
Read this story at Washington Post