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Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., attends a news conference outside the U.S. Capitol to call for the reversal of the Biden administrations Title 42 expansion and proposed asylum transit ban on Thursday, January 26, 2023. Indicted Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is considering running for re-election in November as an independent, two sources who spoke with him directly tell NBC News. He is now making calls to allies about his record and career and is preparing to collect petitions to run in November as an independent, the sources said. But running as an independent would give him more time; in that case, he would need only 800 signatures by June 4 to qualify for the ballot. Several New Jersey Democrats have already filed to run for Menendez's seat, including Rep. Andy Kim and the state's first lady, Tammy Murphy.

Persons: Sen, Bob Menendez, Biden, Menendez, Nadine Menendez, Andy Kim, Tammy Murphy Organizations: U.S, Capitol, NBC, New, New Jersey Democrat, Senate Foreign, Democrat, New Jersey Democrats, Democratic Locations: New Jersey

The White House will provide $300 million in additional weapons to Ukraine, officials announced Tuesday, as more funding remains held up in Congress by Republican leaders. The announcement comes as the Ukrainian military is facing dire weapons shortages in its two-year war with Russia. The last supplemental funding package was in December 2022. The U.S. sent $200 million in aid to Ukraine this past December, but it was funded with money from the previous year. It was not immediately clear if the latest weapons package included long-range ballistic missiles.

Persons: Jake Sullivan, Mike Johnson Organizations: Republican, Defense Locations: Bakhmut, Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, Russia, U.S

U.S. President Joe Biden speaks with border patrol officers as he walks along the border fence during his visit to the U.S.-Mexico border to assess border enforcement operations, in El Paso, Texas, U.S., January 8, 2023. President Joe Biden will make a rare visit to the U.S.-Mexico border on Thursday, the same day that former President Donald Trump is also expected to visit the southern border. "Biden will travel to Brownsville, Texas to meet with U.S. Border Patrol agents, law enforcement officials and local leaders," the White House said in a statement. "He will reiterate his calls for Congressional Republicans to stop playing politics and to provide the funding needed for additional U.S. Border Patrol agents, more asylum officers, fentanyl detection technology and more." Two sources familiar with Trump's planning told NBC News that he Trump will deliver remarks at Eagle Pass, Texas.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Trump Organizations: U.S . Border Patrol, White, Congressional Republicans, NBC News Locations: U.S, Mexico, El Paso , Texas, Brownsville , Texas, Eagle, , Texas

Asked about Biden's private comments about Netanyahu, a spokesperson for the National Security Council said in a statement that the two leaders have a respectful relationship. His descriptions of his dealings with Netanyahu are peppered with contemptuous references to Netanyahu as "this guy," these people said. And in at least three recent instances, Biden has called Netanyahu an "asshole," according to three of the people directly familiar with his comments. U.S. President Joe Biden is welcomed by Israeli Prime Minster Benjamin Netanyahu, as he visits Israel amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas, in Tel Aviv, Israel, October 18, 2023. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was also decidedly blunt last week after a meeting with Netanyahu in Israel.

Persons: Joe Biden, Netanyahu, Biden, Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, Antony Blinken, Blinken, Bibi, Biden's Organizations: Israel's, Palestinian, Hamas, National Security Council, Israeli, Sunday, NBC News, NBC, Congress, Israel Locations: Tel Aviv, Israel, WASHINGTON, Gaza, Rafah, Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia

WASHINGTON — The Biden campaign has zeroed in on a likely date and location for a fundraiser with three Democratic presidents — Joe Biden, Barack Obama and Bill Clinton — according to three people familiar with the planning. The fundraiser is expected to take place on March 28 in New York City, possibly at Radio City Music Hall, these people said. A spokesperson for the Biden campaign said no details have been finalized, including venue or location. NBC News first reported last month that the Biden campaign was trying to organize a fundraiser with the current president and his two most recent Democratic predecessors. Obama and Clinton also remain popular leaders in the Democratic Party.

Persons: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, Robert Byrd, Charleston , West Virginia . WASHINGTON —, — Joe Biden, Bill Clinton —, Spokespeople, Clinton, Biden, Obama Organizations: West Virginia State Capitol, Charleston , West Virginia ., Biden, Radio City Music Hall, Obama, NBC News, Democratic, Democratic Party Locations: Charleston , West Virginia, Charleston , West Virginia . WASHINGTON, New York City

The idea is for three Democratic presidents — Biden, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama — to appear together at a fundraiser this spring, the four people familiar with the discussions said. The Biden campaign did not respond to requests for comment. The Biden campaign in recent days shifted into a general election posture — earlier than the president's aides anticipated. The Biden campaign also is poised to launch a multi-million-dollar ad campaign aimed at drawing a contrast with Trump, according to two people familiar with the plans. But the Biden campaign also hopes the presidential trio will help mobilize the party base.

Persons: Joe Biden, Barack Obama, John Fetterman, Josh Shapiro, Joe Biden's, — Biden, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama —, It's, Biden, Spokespeople, Clinton, Obama, Donald Trump, Kamala Harris, Trump Organizations: Democratic U.S, Democratic, WASHINGTON, Biden, Republican, White, GOP, White House Locations: Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, U.S, New Hampshire, Iowa, South Carolina, Nevada, Biden's State

☆ As calls grow for a tougher response to Houthi attacks on Red Sea ships, Biden officials meet to discuss military options
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-03 | by ( Courtney Kube | Carol E. Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

According to the officials, U.S. Central Command provided Pentagon leaders with options for an additional military response after the incident, and the Pentagon sent those options to senior White House officials. Biden was updated multiple times on the situation in the Red Sea while on vacation. An administration official denied that there have been disagreements between White House and U.S. military officials about responding to the Houthis. On Tuesday, Houthi rebels fired two anti-ship ballistic missiles into the southern Red Sea, the 24th attack against ships in the area since Nov. 19. The USS Laboon and U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets shot down the drones and missiles, and no ships were damaged.

Persons: Joe Biden, Houthi, Jon, Biden, CENTCOM, Al Jasrah, Carney Organizations: Galaxy, WASHINGTON, White, U.S ., U.S . Navy, U.S . Central Command, Pentagon, White House, . U.S . Navy, U.S, Iran, Maersk, Hornets Locations: Iran, Yemen, Red, U.S, St . Croix, White House, ., Gulf of Aden, Gaza

Tuesday’s legislative elections in Virginia will provide key tests for both parties’ messaging ahead of 2024, as well as the state’s GOP governor. “I think they’re the most important elections in America because these issues that are so important to Virginians are also the ones that are going to be so important to Americans next year,” Virginia GOP Gov. The battles for the state House of Delegates, which Republicans control, and the state Senate, which Democrats control, could come down to a handful of districts. And they’ll test Youngkin’s own political power as he’s brushed off questions about his presidential ambitions. Ambassador Nikki Haley’s paid private speeches, noting that she did not keep records of what she said to the groups.

Persons: “, Glenn Youngkin, ABC’s, NBC’s Gary Grumbach, Katherine Koretski, Sen, Siobhan Dunnavant, Democrat Schuyler Van, Youngkin, Joe Biden, Kamala Harris, NBC’s Gabe Gutierrez, Julia Jester, Megan Lebowitz, ’, Biden, Alex Seitz, Wald, Ron DeSantis, ”, NBC’s Matt Dixon, Jonathan Allen, Ali Vitali, Nikki Haley’s, Peter Nicholas, Carol E, Lee, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott’s, Robert F, Kennedy, Jr, Brandy Zadrozny, He’s, Peter Meijer, who’s, Brandon Presley, Tate Reeves Organizations: GOP, Virginians, ”, ” Virginia GOP Gov, Delegates, District, Democrat, NBC News, Democratic, Biden, Israel, Hamas, Democrats, Republican National Committee, New York Times, Florida Republican Party, Florida GOP Gov, Florida GOP, South, Public Service, GOP Gov Locations: Virginia, America, ” Virginia, Democrat Schuyler Van Valkenburg, Youngkin, Michigan, Florida, South Carolina, Black, Michigan’s, Mississippi

☆ Biden attorneys are in talks with special counsel Robert Hur over terms to interview the president
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-11 | by ( Monica Alba | Carol E. Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

WASHINGTON — Attorneys for President Joe Biden and the special counsel appointed to investigate his handling of classified documents have been negotiating for about a month over the terms under which he would be interviewed, two people familiar with the matter said. Discussions between Biden's lawyers and special counsel Robert Hur's office are focused on how, when and where the interview might take place, as well as the scope of the questions, these people said. For months now, Biden's lawyers have been gaming out various scenarios for an interview, with the expectation that he would provide one once his legal team and the special counsel agreed on the specifics. The documents were found in an office Biden used after he left the vice presidency and at his home in Wilmington, Delaware. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Hur in January, two months after he named Jack Smith as special counsel to oversee the investigation into former President Donald Trump's handling of classified documents and alleged efforts to overturn the 2020 election.

Persons: Joe Biden, Robert Hur's, Bob Bauer, Hur, Biden, Department's, General Merrick Garland, Jack Smith, Donald Trump's Organizations: White, WASHINGTON —, Justice Locations: Kentucky, Washington, U.S, Wilmington , Delaware

☆ Susan Rice to step down as Biden's domestic policy chief
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-24 | by ( Carol E. Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +6 min

Susan Rice speaks on December 11, 2020, after being nominated to be Director of the White House Domestic Policy Council by US President-elect Joe Biden (R), in Wilmington, Delaware. President Joe Biden's domestic policy adviser, Susan Rice, is stepping down from her post next month, multiple current and former senior administration officials told NBC News. White House chief of staff Jeff Zients said Rice, who served as national security adviser during the Obama administration, has been critical to driving Biden's agenda and has taken the Domestic Policy Council "to new heights." Rice, who was on Biden's short list for vice president, entered the job without a domestic policy background, having served in foreign policy roles during the Obama and Clinton administrations. Deputy White House chief of staff Jen O'Malley Dillon echoed Klain's praise in a written statement.

☆ Democrats choose Chicago as the site of the 2024 convention
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-11 | by ( Natasha Korecki | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Democratic Party has chosen Chicago as the site of its 2024 convention. "Chicago is a great choice to host the 2024 Democratic National Convention," Biden said in a statement. "The last Chicago convention was a huge success. It makes sense to put the Democratic National Convention in Chicago in 2024. Republicans are holding their 2024 convention in Milwaukee.

☆ Chinese spy balloon gathered intelligence from sensitive U.S. military sites, despite U.S. efforts to block it
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-03 | by ( Courtney Kube | Carol E. Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +4 min

The Chinese spy balloon that flew across the U.S. was able to gather intelligence from several sensitive American military sites, despite the Biden administration's efforts to block it from doing so, according to two current senior U.S. officials and one former senior administration official. The intelligence China collected was mostly from electronic signals, which can be picked up from weapons systems or include communications from base personnel, rather than images, the officials said. Officials have not said which company, department or organization the balloon belonged to, despite several requests for comment by NBC News. After the balloon was shot down in February, Biden administration officials said it was capable of collecting signals intelligence. The balloon first entered U.S. airspace over Alaska on Jan. 28, according to the Biden administration, which said it was tracking it as it moved.

☆ Two Ukrainian pilots are in the U.S. for training assessment on attack aircraft, including F-16s
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-05 | by ( Courtney Kube | Carol E. Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

U.S. authorities have approved bringing up to 10 more Ukrainian pilots to the U.S. for further assessment as early as this month, the officials said. The arrival of the first two pilots marks the first time Ukrainian pilots have traveled to the U.S. to have their skills evaluated by American military trainers. Officials said the effort has twin goals: to improve the pilots' skills and evaluate how long a proper training program could take. Asked about the assessment of two Ukrainian pilots, a defense official described it as "familiarization event." This event allows us to better help Ukrainian pilots become more effective pilots and better advise them on how to develop their own capabilities."

☆ U.S. intel on China considering lethal aid for Putin's war was gleaned from Russian officials
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-04 | by ( Courtney Kube | Carol E. Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Initial U.S. intelligence suggesting that China is considering supplying lethal aid to Russia for its war in Ukraine was gleaned from Russian government officials, according to one current and one former U.S. official familiar with the intelligence. The multiple threads of intelligence suggesting that China is considering giving lethal aid to Russia, including ammunition and artillery, raised alarm among Biden administration officials, particularly given how such a move by Beijing could shift the dynamic of the war in Moscow's favor. Top administration officials, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken and CIA Director Williams Burns, have publicly expressed confidence in the intelligence and warned China against providing Russia with lethal military aid. China has denied it is considering sending lethal aid to Russia, calling the U.S. accusation "disinformation." U.S. officials note that they have not seen any evidence of movement or a decision from China to take that step.

Governors gathered in the nation’s capital in recent days for the National Governors Association winter meeting. And while they were focused on their jobs at hand, questions about the 2024 presidential race were unavoidable. Asked on Saturday if she would like to see Biden run again, Michigan Gov. At a Democratic Governors Association press conference on Thursday, a group of 11 governors echoed support for Biden’s potential re-election campaign. Spencer Cox also joined “Meet” and weighed in on the presidential race, saying he would like to see his party nominate a governor.

Kate Bedingfield, a top adviser for President Biden since 2015, will step down as White House communications director later this month, NBC News has learned. Among Biden’s tight-knit campaign team, she earned the monicker of captain of the “team of killers,” a reference to the assessment of Biden’s campaign team by then-President Donald Trump. LaBolt served as a spokesperson for then-Sen. Barack Obama in Congress and later joined his 2008 campaign team. After serving as a White House spokesperson during Obama’s first term, he served as chief spokesperson for Obama’s re-election campaign. LaBolt will be the first openly gay person to serve as White House communications director.

The Pentagon would not confirm that the balloon in the photo was the surveillance balloon. The Biden administration is working on declassifying U.S. intelligence that includes details of China flying surveillance balloons above dozens of other countries around the world, according to three administration officials. The effort comes just days after the U.S. shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon off the coast of South Carolina following its trek across the continental United States. They said Biden administration officials plan to brief the dozens of countries that the U.S. believes have been subject to surveillance by China's balloons violating their airspace. The U.S. believes there are more than 40 countries that have been had Chinese surveillance balloons flown in their airspace, two officials said.

☆ Suspected Chinese spy balloon found over northern U.S.
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-02 | by ( Courtney Kube | Carol E. Lee | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

The Pentagon would not confirm that the balloon in the photo was the surveillance balloon. The U.S. military has been monitoring a suspected Chinese surveillance balloon that has been hovering over the northern U.S. for the past few days, and military and defense leaders have discussed shooting it out of the sky, according to two U.S. officials and a senior defense official. "The United States government has detected and is tracking a high-altitude surveillance balloon that is over the continental United States right now," Pentagon spokesperson Brig. A senior defense official said the balloon is still over the U.S. but declined to say where it is now. Pentagon leaders presented the options to President Joe Biden on Wednesday.

On other pages, they said he memorialized in writing some of his experiences or thoughts as vice president at the time. The number of notebooks Biden kept is large, according to the person familiar with the investigation, but they did not know the precise number. Trump and Biden’s possession of classified documents is the subject of separate special counsel investigations. Attorney General Merrick Garland has so far not named a special counsel to investigate Pence’s handling of classified documents. On Friday, Pence apologized for having classified documents in his possession and said he takes full responsibility for it.

☆ Biden considering a trip to Europe in show of support for Ukraine after one year of war
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Carol-Lee-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Carol E. Lee | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

WASHINGTON — President Biden is considering a trip to Europe next month to coincide with the one-year anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, according to three administration officials and a person familiar with the discussions. The White House is exploring ways Biden might mark the one-year milestone in the Ukraine war, the sources said. Biden administration officials have also discussed announcing another major military aid package for Ukraine to coincide with the anniversary of Russia’s invasion, according to three U.S. officials. On Wednesday Biden reversed his administration’s position on sending Abrams tanks to Ukraine, though the tanks are not expected to arrive for months if not a year. Last March when Biden traveled to Europe, he delivered a speech in Poland where he said — controversially — that Putin “cannot remain in power.”

☆ Inside the Biden administration's decision to reverse course and give tanks to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-26 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Courtney-Kube-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Courtney Kube | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +8 min

When he announced his decision to provide Abrams tanks to Ukraine, President Joe Biden made a point to say Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin had recommended the move. Biden wasn’t initially sold on sending the tanks, despite pressure to do so to give cover to Germany to send Ukraine some Leopard 2 tanks, the officials said. But because Germany had said it would send Leopards to Ukraine if the U.S. agreed to commit tanks, too, the U.S. promise of a future delivery opened the door for Germany to send tanks to Ukraine now. In the case of the tanks, U.S. military leaders argued the Leopards and the U.K.’s Challengers were much better options. Military leaders, namely Milley, also have been more publicly vocal about the importance of potential talks to end the war.

☆ Biden administration, in a reversal, is preparing to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-24 | by ( Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Courtney-Kube-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | Courtney Kube | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +2 min

After weeks of discussion, the Biden administration is preparing to send Abrams tanks to Ukraine, according to three senior U.S. officials. The current plan includes a couple dozen Abrams tanks, but the officials stressed that the decision is not yet final and could change. The decision to move forward with providing the tanks would be a reversal for the Biden administration, which had been resisting pressure from Germany to send them to Ukraine. It was not immediately clear what may have led the Biden administration to apparently shift its stance on sending the tanks. Earlier Tuesday, The Wall Street Journal reported that the Biden administration is “leaning toward sending” Abrams tanks to Ukraine.

☆ Biden's Cabinet is sticking around, bucking the turnover trend of his predecessors
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Peter Nicholas | Https | Media-Cldnry.S-Nbcnews.Com Image Upload Newscms Carol-Lee-Circle-Byline-Template.Jpg | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +7 min

By early 2019, Trump had cycled through seven of 15 Cabinet secretaries and was on his third chief of staff. A White House official said Mayorkas would fight any such attempt and has no wish to step down. The durability of Biden’s Cabinet is something of a surprise. Going back decades, presidents have steadily concentrated power in the White House, at the Cabinet’s expense, historians say. Some Cabinet secretaries have felt marginalized as presidents stocked the West Wing with trusted advisers and usurped the prerogatives of Cabinet members who had thought they were brought in to run things.

Despite German efforts to pressure the U.S. into providing Abrams tanks to Ukraine, the Pentagon’s top leaders are against sending them, three U.S. officials said. At the same time, the officials said President Joe Biden would not pressure Germany to send the Leopard tanks to Ukraine. Asked Friday about sending Abrams tanks to Ukraine, Biden was noncommittal. They also have argued they are not the right vehicles for the fight in Ukraine right now, according to the officials. Artur Widak / AP fileU.S. officials said opposition within the Biden administration to sending Abrams tanks to Ukraine is not due to concerns Russia would see the move as escalatory.

“We want him to be a president at State of the Union, not a candidate,” one of the sources said. There had been discussion among Biden aides of an earlier announcement, but the idea faded as they still await the president’s final decision. And now Biden advisers insist the new special counsel probe won’t impact any of his 2024 plans. But despite months of planning, Biden aides still have not even settled on a specific rollout plan, the sources familiar with the discussions said. Then-Vice President Biden waited until late October 2015 — after the first Democratic primary debate -- to announce he would not run in the 2016 race.

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