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☆ Biden says he’s happy to debate Trump
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-26 | by ( Kevin Liptak | Betsy Klein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden said he will debate former President Donald Trump ahead of this year’s election, the clearest declaration yet of his willingness to face-off with his Republican rival before voters cast ballots in November. I don’t know when,” Biden said when asked by interviewer Howard Stern whether he planned to debate his predecessor. “I’m happy to debate him.”It’s the first time Biden has said explicitly he would debate Trump in this election cycle. Some of Biden’s aides have questioned whether Trump would abide by established rules in any potential debate, and before Friday his campaign hadn’t set out any specific debate plan. Biden had responded to Trump’s calls for earlier debates in February, telling reporters: “If I were him, I’d want him to debate me, too.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Still, Biden, “, ” Biden, Howard Stern, ”, Trump, Biden’s, hadn’t, I’d, He’s, Trump’s, Chris LaCivita, Stern, Jeff Zients, Karine Jean, Pierre, Ben LaBolt, Stern pontificated, haven’t, Jeb, George W, Bush, Neilia Hunter, –, ‘, ’ ” Stern, you’ve, it’s, Biden misspoke, “ Trump, “ Nixon ”, Sen, Barack Obama, Jill Biden, you’ll, ’, you’re Organizations: Washington CNN, Republican, ABC News, Associated Press, CBS News, CNN, SPAN, Fox News, NBC, Univision, NPR, PBS, USA, Republican National, White, “ Locations: Texas , Virginia, Utah, Nassau, Delaware, Scranton

☆ Inside the White House’s monthslong push for Ukraine aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Arlette Saenz | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Sullivan followed up four days later with a call to Johnson to highlight the measures in place to track aid in Ukraine. They spoke often with Johnson’s staff, including meetings at the White House and on Capitol Hill. Meanwhile, White House chief of staff Jeff Zients, Ricchetti and Goff spoke with Schumer and Jeffries and their staff almost daily to strategize on how to push Ukraine aid forward. Biden and Johnson spoke by phone the next day as the speaker briefed him on his plan to move the aid package forward. “We discussed the contents of the next US military aid package,” Zelensky said.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Joe Biden, Johnson –, speakership, Biden, Johnson, Vladimir Putin, Jake Sullivan, Shalanda Young, Sullivan, Taiwan –, Hamas, Putin, ” Biden, Hakeem Jeffries, Chuck Schumer, Mitch McConnell, “, ”, Steve Ricchetti, Richetti, Shuwanza Goff, Ricchetti, Goff, Jeff Zients, Schumer, Jeffries, Young, McConnell, Michael McCaul, Intelligence Michael Turner, Bill Burns, Ukraine Bridget Brink, Chip Roy, Texas, Ralph Norman of, Biden’s, Anita Dunn, Jon, Lloyd Austin, Volodymyr Zelensky, Zelensky, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Donald Trump’s, Burns, ” Zelensky Organizations: Washington CNN, Ukraine, White House, GOP, Management, Senate, Biden, Russia, House Democratic, White, Capitol, House Foreign, Intelligence, CIA, Republican, The Defense Department, House Republicans, National Intelligence, Democratic, CNN Locations: Ukraine, Europe, Russia, Israel, Taiwan, Ricchetti, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, Washington ,, Johnson’s

☆ Who’s coming to the White House’s Japan state dinner: the Clintons, De Niro, Bezos
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-10 | by ( Betsy Klein | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The guest list also includes Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield and White House chief of staff Jeff Zients. NBC News White House correspondent Kelly O’Donnell, who is the president of the White House Correspondents Association, will attend, as well as Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin. First lady Jill Biden chose Simon to perform at the state dinner because Kishida also “shares an appreciation” for his work, a White House official said. The state dinner for South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol featured a Broadway star’s performance of Don McLean’s “American Pie” – a personal favorite of Yoon. It led to one of the iconic state dinner moments of the Biden presidency – Yoon picking up a microphone to serenade guests with a few lines from the song.

Persons: Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Robert De Niro, Jeff Bezos, Fumio Kishida, Joe Biden, Kristi Yamaguchi, Tim Cook, Laurence Fink, Jamie Dimon, Brad Smith, Shawn Fain, Cecile Richards, Antony Blinken, Janet Yellen, Alejandro Mayorkas, Jennifer Granholm, Gina Raimondo, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Katherine Tai, United Nations Linda Thomas, Jeff Zients, CQ, Jerome Powell, Bill Nelson, Biden, Donald Trump, De Niro, Nelson, ” Nelson, Sen, Bill Hagerty, Trump, Rahm Emanuel, Kelly O’Donnell, Josh Rogin, Kamala Harris, Doug Emhoff, Kathy Hochul, Josh Shapiro, Tony Evers, Roy Cooper of, Mazie, Jeff Merkley, Ashley Biden, Howard Krein, Finnegan Biden, Naomi Biden Neal, Peter Neal, Paul Simon, Jill Biden, Simon, Kishida, ”, It’s, Yoon Suk, Don McLean’s, Yoon, – Yoon, CNN’s Arlette Saenz Organizations: CNN, Amazon, White, Japan’s, Apple, BlackRock, JPMorgan, Microsoft, United Auto Workers, Planned, Biden, Homeland, Senate, Energy, National Intelligence, US, United Nations, White House, Joint Chiefs, Staff, Federal, NASA, Tennessee Republican, NBC, White House Correspondents Association, Washington, Democratic, Gov, Pennsylvania, South Korean Locations: Japanese American, Greenfield, Cleveland , Ohio, Japan, New York, Tony Evers of Wisconsin, Roy Cooper of North Carolina, Hawaii, Oregon

☆ A Situation Room scramble, daily calls and political intrigue: Inside the White House response to the Key Bridge collapse
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-05 | by ( Kayla Tausche | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

ET, overnight staffers in the White House Situation Room began frantically reaching out to senior officials to notify them of the collision – and collapse – of Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge. Jen Daskal, the deputy homeland security adviser, began preparing a briefing for President Joe Biden. Two Oval Office meetings were convened as staff at various levels began trickling into the White House. Seven barges and nine tugboats have deployed to the area, according to Tom Perez, the White House director of intergovernmental affairs. In another case – that of Moore and Perez – the two have already opposed each other on the ballot.

Persons: Pete Buttigieg, Dali, Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key, Buttigieg, ” Buttigieg, Wes Moore, Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott, Jeff Zients –, Jen Daskal, Joe Biden, “, ”, Johnny Olszewski – Biden, ” Olszewski, Biden, “ I’ve, ” Biden, –, Tom Perez, ” Perez, Perez, “ It’s, we’ve, Natalie Quillian, Moore, Perez –, that’s, ” CNN’s Donald Judd Organizations: Baltimore CNN —, US Coast Guard, CNN, Maryland Gov, Baltimore Mayor, White House, Baltimore, Coast Guard, Department of Transportation, Maryland, White, Administration, Democratic Locations: Wyoming, Montana, Maryland, Baltimore County, Washington, Delaware, Baltimore, Patapsco, synchrony, Federal, White, United States

Unlike Obama and Clinton before him, Biden is running against a candidate only a few years his junior. It was a twist on how Clinton answered a question about Dole's age during the second presidential debate in 1996. There is not much precedent for the event Biden's campaign is putting on Thursday. Obama, Biden and Clinton will inevitably go down memory lane during a discussion moderated by comedian Stephen Colbert. Aside from private conversations, Biden also often directs his top aides to follow up with Obama or Clinton on various topics of conversation.

Persons: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, Robert Byrd, George H.W . Bush, Bob Dole, John McCain, —, Biden, Obama, Clinton, Still, Dole, McCain, Seth Meyers, Donald Trump, Sen, Scott Reed, Reed, Mike Pence's, — McCain, Mark Salter, George W, Bush, Hillary Clinton, Salter, McCain's, Mindy Kaling, Jill Biden, Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Ben Platt, Cynthia Erivo, Lea Michele, Annie Leibovitz, Harris, Jeffrey Katzenberg, Rufus Gifford, Chris Korge, Condé, Anna Wintour, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, DJ D, Stephen Colbert, Jeff Zients, Anita Dunn, Steve Ricchetti, Bruce Reed, Jen O'Malley Dillon, Mike Donilon, Ricchetti Organizations: West Virginia State Capitol, NBC, NBC News, Democratic, Radio City Music Hall, Biden, Biden Victory Fund, DJ, Affordable, Trump, he's Locations: Charleston , West Virginia, New York, New Hampshire

☆ Obama jumps in to help Biden defeat Trump again
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-27 | by ( Mj Lee | Jeff Zeleny | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Washington CNN —Barack Obama spent several hours last Friday in the family dining room of the White House, visiting his former vice president, Joe Biden. Obama’s biggest embrace of Biden’s reelection effort comes Thursday at a star-studded Manhattan fundraiser featuring Biden, Obama and former President Bill Clinton. As president, Biden has also been in frequent touch with Clinton, sources familiar say. “President Obama once said to me that every president is a reflection of the previous president, and he’s right,” Messina said. “Trump was the complete opposite of Obama, and Biden is the complete opposite of Trump.

Persons: Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Obama, Biden’s, Donald Trump, Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Joe, Kamala, ” Obama, we’ve, Jeff Zients, Bill Clinton, Stephen Colbert, Clinton, “, ”, Queen Latifah, Lizzo, Cynthia Erivo, Mindy Kaling, Ben Platt, Lea Michele, Jordan Roth, Alex Timbers, Annie Leibovitz, Steve Ricchetti, –, Jim Messina, Messina, ” Messina, “ Trump Organizations: Washington CNN, White House, House, CNN, Affordable, Biden, Biden’s, Presidents Club, Radio City Music Hall, Democrats, White, Republican, Trump Locations: White, president’s State, Manhattan, , Gaza, Obama’s, United States

☆ Housing Secretary Marcia Fudge is stepping down, the second Biden Cabinet member to leave the administration
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-11 | by ( Rebecca Shabad | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia Fudge speaks during the daily press briefing at the White House on March 18, 2021 in Washington, DC. WASHINGTON — Marcia Fudge, who has served as the secretary of Housing and Urban Development since March 2021, is leaving the Biden administration, the White House said Monday. The White House said that after she departs, Deputy Secretary Adrianne Todman will serve as acting secretary. Fudge is only the second Cabinet secretary to leave the administration during Biden's first term as president. Before working in the Biden administration, Fudge represented an Ohio Congressional District in the House from 2008 to 2021, serving at one point as chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus.

Persons: Marcia Fudge, WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Marcia, Biden, Adrianne Todman, Olivia Dalton, Fudge, Biden's, Marty Walsh, Jeff Zients Organizations: Housing, Urban, White, Urban Development, Biden, of Housing, U.S . House, Representatives, Air Force, Labor, Politico, Ohio Congressional District, Congressional Black Caucus Locations: Washington , DC, U.S, Ohio

☆ Biden reportedly worried during the pandemic about how young people could 'make love'
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-01 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Joe Biden was reportedly concerned about young Americans' sex lives during the pandemic. According to The Washington Post, Biden asked aides about how young people could "make love" amid COVID restrictions. According to The Washington Post, during his first year in office he asked multiple aides how young people could "make love" amid the COVID-19 pandemic. "President Biden often delivered a favorite monologue to aides: He was worried about young people's mental health, he said," the Post reported. The White House did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, —, Vivek Murthy, Murthy, Jeff Zients, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona Organizations: The Washington Post, Service, The Post, White, Democratic, Education Secretary

White House and Biden allies have taken aim at Hur for what they view as a gratuitous characterization of the president. White House Counsel Ed Siskel and Robert Bauer, the president’s personal attorney, were in the White House Map Room for the president’s interview with Hur, people briefed on the matter said. It was a mistake for the White House to “put him out on weakness and not strength,” one administration official said. White House officials stood by the forcefulness of the White House’s pushback to Hur’s report, saying not only did Biden take questions from reporters Thursday night, but the next day, White House counsel spokesman Ian Sams joined the press briefing. The White House has also sent a letter to the White House Correspondents’ Association taking issue with news coverage of the Hur report, the officials pointed out, while the Biden campaign has pointed to allies and legal experts questioning aspects of the report that the White House sees as problematic.

Persons: Joe Biden, Robert Hur’s, Hur, Biden, They’re, Donald Trump, Mr, Ed Siskel, Robert Bauer, Robert Mueller’s, Trump, Benjamin Netanyahu, Trump’s, ”, “, –, Beau, Karine Jean, Pierre said, Anita Dunn, Mike Donilon, Jeff Zients –, Ian Sams, CNN’s Edward, Isaac Dovere Organizations: CNN —, missteps, White, Biden, ”, National Archives, FBI, White House, Justice, CNN, Trump, Justice Department, Democratic, Hur’s, ’, CBS News, TikTok Locations: Israel, Surprise

☆ Joe Biden is looking for ways to get his message to break through. He’s hoping his Cabinet can play a key role.
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-10 | by ( Betsy Klein | Camila Dechalus | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

Nevertheless, the Biden White House and legal team has taken pains to ensure compliance – an effort to highlight its commitment to ethics and draw a sharp contrast with Trump, who skirted the rule with abandon. And the Biden White House has issued “extensive guidance to and conducts trainings for agencies” on the Hatch Act and how to avoid potential missteps, the official said. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, for instance, delivered a speech to the Republican National Convention while on official travel in Jerusalem. “Voters of color can see themselves in leaders like Secretary Cardona, Secretary Fudge, and (EPA) Administrator (Michael) Regan. President Biden was intentional about assembling a Cabinet that reflects the diversity of America, and we continue to see how that diversity translates into real political strength,” he told CNN.

Persons: Washington CNN — Janet Yellen isn’t, Joe Biden’s, Biden, SSRS –, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Yellen, Robert Hur’s, Pete Buttigieg, Gina Raimondo, Jennifer Granholm, Miguel Cardona, they’ve, “, Biden’s, they’re, Jeff Zients, “ Biden, ” Caitlin Legacki, Granholm, Buttigieg, Raimondo, “ We’re, ” Buttigieg, That’s, Mike Pompeo, Biden White, – you’ve, ” Legacki, Julie Su, Isabel Casillas Guzman, Marcia Fudge –, –, Marjory Stoneman, Gevin Reynolds, Kamala Harris, Secretary Cardona, Fudge, Michael, Regan, Young, Tom Vilsack Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Economic, of Chicago, Midwest, Treasury, White, Transportation, Democratic, GOP, Cabinet, Biden White, Republican National Convention, Coalition, SSRS, Biden, Trump, Labor, Democrats, Small, Urban, Alpha Kappa Alpha, Palmetto State’s, Education, Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, “ Locations: Yellen, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, Michigan, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee , Louisiana , California, Delaware, New York, Jerusalem, American, Pacific Islander, Nevada, South Carolina, Iowa

☆ John Podesta will take over for John Kerry as top US climate diplomat
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-31 | by ( Ella Nilsen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —John Podesta, a senior White House adviser focused on clean energy and climate, will take over as US climate diplomat after John Kerry steps down this spring, according to a source familiar with the move. Podesta first came to the Biden White House in September 2022, when he was tasked with implementing the climate measures in the Inflation Reduction Act. Podesta also previously served as a top climate adviser to former President Barack Obama, where he was involved both in domestic and international climate policy. Podesta will inherit a more favorable international climate landscape than Kerry did when he took the role in 2021. And Kerry prioritized restarting international climate talks between the US and China, after China abruptly halted cooperation over other geopolitical issues.

Persons: CNN — John Podesta, John Kerry, Podesta, Hillary Clinton’s, Biden, Barack Obama, integrally, Kerry, Jeff Zients, John Podesta, ” Zients, “ John, –, ” Kerry, ”, “, “ We’ve, Biden’s, John, “ He’s, Donald Trump, “ We’re Organizations: CNN, White, Democratic, White House, State Department, Biden White House, Obama, Dubai . White, COP28 Locations: Paris, Dubai ., Glasgow, Sharm el, Dubai, China

☆ Defense secretary expected to return to Pentagon Monday after nearly a month away
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-26 | by ( Oren Liebermann | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is expected to return to the Pentagon Monday after nearly a month away and host NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, according to a defense official. Doctors at the hospital released a statement saying he is recovering well and is expected to make a full recovery. Republicans have been highly critical of how the Pentagon handled Austin’s illness and the House Armed Services Committee has called on the defense secretary to testify next month about the failure to notify key government leaders. From the hospital, Austin authorized the first round of strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen and spoke daily with senior Pentagon officials. Asked if Austin would take questions from the media upon his return to the Pentagon, press secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder demurred.

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Jens Stoltenberg, Austin, ”, Joe Biden, Biden, Jeff Zients, Zients, Austin’s, Kelly Magsamen, Pat Ryder demurred, Ryder, Betsy Klein Organizations: CNN —, Pentagon, NATO, Walter Reed National Military Medical, Walter Reed Medical, Republicans, House Armed, White, The Associated Press, CNN, White House, Defense Department, Ukraine Defense Contact Locations: New, Yemen, Ukraine

“It’s an ongoing effort,” said White House chief of staff Jeff Zients. “Under his leadership, we’ve attacked inflation from every angle.”The question is whether voters are feeling the improvement and will reward Biden. Or will they penalize him because inflation became a problem on his watch as the U.S. emerged from pandemic shutdowns? Past and current Biden administration officials say the decline in inflation since then was a result of a set of choices. Much of the public saw inflation through the lens of their grocery stores, strip malls and gas stations, but the White House considered it a worldwide issue.

Persons: Joe Biden, he's, Biden, ”, Jeff Zients, we’ve, Jason Smith of Missouri, Donald Trump, ” Trump, “ We're, Bharat Ramamurti, shutdowns, “, Jared Bernstein, White, Ben Harris Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Biden, Federal Reserve, House, National Economic Council, Congressional, Medicare, Factories, Shipping, White House Council, Economic Advisers, White House, U.S, Republican, Treasury Department, Associated Press, NORC, for Public Affairs Locations: “, U.S, Los Angeles, Long Beach , California, Russia, Ukraine, Israel, Red

☆ Pentagon inspector general announces review of Austin hospitalization, notification
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Rebecca Picciotto | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin speaks to the press on August 18, 2021, at the Pentagon in Washington, DC. The Defense Department inspector general's office has launched a formal investigation into Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin's failure to notify the White House and Congress of his emergency hospitalization. The inspector general's office will "assess whether the DoD's policies and procedures are sufficient" to ensure proper communication when senior leadership is unavailable for medical or other reasons. The inspector general's office is independent from the Pentagon. In a statement Jan. 5, Austin said that he "could have done a better job ensuring the public was appropriately informed."

Persons: Lloyd Austin, Lloyd Austin's, Austin, Jan, Joe Biden, Biden's, Jeff Zients, Walter Reed, Biden Organizations: US, Pentagon, The Defense, White House, Congress, Senate, Walter Reed National Military Medical, National Security Council Locations: Washington ,, Puerto Rico, Washington, Austin, Red, The U.S, Baghdad, Iranian

☆ Think Companies Are Struggling to Fill Offices? Look at the Government
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-28 | by ( Peter Grant | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The office vacancy rate in Washington, D.C., hit a record 20.3% in the third quarter. Photo: Andrew Harrer/Bloomberg NewsThe Biden administration is telling federal employees to get back in the office on a more regular basis. The White House has been amping up the pressure on federal agencies to increase their return-to-office rate. White House chief of staff Jeff Zients sent an email in August to cabinet agencies instructing them to “aggressively execute” a shift to more in-person work in the fall. But administration officials say their return-to-office goals still haven’t been reached.

Persons: Andrew Harrer, Biden, Jeff Zients, “, haven’t Organizations: Washington , D.C, Bloomberg, White Locations: Washington ,

Some leading Republicans, including former President Donald Trump, opposed the law or now want to cut money for infrastructure services. Political Cartoons View All 1237 ImagesThere are almost 450 port and waterway projects and 190 to improve airport terminals. Trump, the front-runner for the Republican presidential nomination, has disparaged the infrastructure package and Republicans lawmakers who backed it. Biden has joked about Trump holding “infrastructure week” events during his presidency but never managing to sign an infrastructure law. Landrieu said projects already underway have helped spur about $615 billion in private sector manufacturing and clean energy investments nationwide.

Persons: —, Biden, Joe Biden, Mitch Landrieu, Donald Trump, Landrieu, Andy Beshear, Jeff Zients, ” Biden, I’m, Ron DeSantis, he'd, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, Boston's Logan International, Democratic Gov, Republican, Trump, Amtrak, Florida Gov, Republicans, New Locations: Montgomery, Cincinnati, Baltimore, New York City, Washington, United States, Florida, New Orleans, Alaska

Dearborn, Michigan CNN —In 2020, Eman Hammoud was one of thousands of Michigan Muslims who helped President Joe Biden beat Donald Trump. A month ago, the Palestinian American immigration lawyer had no doubts she would support his campaign again in 2024. Michigan has more than 200,000 Muslim American voters — 146,000 of whom turned out to vote in 2020 –— according to an analysis by Emgage, an organization that seeks to build the political power of Muslim Americans. “That just proves that the Biden administration needs the Muslim vote to win,” said Nada Al-Hanooti, the Michigan executive director of Emgage Action. “We felt that the rhetoric, including from the White House, was very unhelpful and in fact potentially dangerous,” Alzayat said.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, she’s, “ He’s, ” Hammoud, that’s, Hammoud, Biden, ”, Nada, Fayoume, ” Biden, Ammar Moussa, “, Donald Trump’s, Abbas Alawieh, Rashida Tlaib, Tlaib, Israel, Abdullah Hammoud, “ We’re, Israel isn’t, —, Beau, Adam Abusalah, John Kirby, he’s, Robyn Patterson, “ We’ll, White, Jeff Zients, Anita Dunn, Wa’el Alzayat, ” Alzayat, Antony Blinken, Sam Baydoun, Baydoun, ” Baydoun, didn’t, ” Hussein Dabajeh, ” Dabajeh, ” Lexi Zeidan, “ We’ve, Zeidan, CNN’s Denise Royal Organizations: Michigan CNN —, Biden, CNN, Michigan, American, Michigan —, Arab American, GOP, MAGA, Democratic, Dearborn, Muslim American, Palestinian, Congress, Rep, Muslim, Israel, West Bank, US, UN, House, Hamas, Gaza Ministry of Health, White House, White, Office, UN Security, Trump Locations: Dearborn, Michigan, Palestinian, Israel, Gaza, —, Detroit, Eastern, Arab American, Palestinian American, Hammoud, Tel Aviv, Minneapolis, Wayne County , Michigan, Lebanon, Habib’s, Lebanese, American, Palestine

WASHINGTON (AP) — Biden administration officials hosted big city mayors at the White House on Thursday to discuss how to manage a growing number of migrants, one day after those leaders sent a letter asking for more federal help. Denver Mayor Mike Johnston and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson met with White House chief of staff Jeff Zients and Homeland Security Department officials before heading to Capitol Hill for meetings with lawmakers. If they could work, the cities would require less federal aid to help house them. “I think they seem receptive,” Johnston said of federal officials. It's unclear whether House Republicans will fund any of Biden's request for help for the cities.

Persons: — Biden, Mike Johnston, Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson, Jeff Zients, “, ”, Johnston, Joe Biden, Karen Bass, Sylvester Turner, Houston, Eric Adams, Adams, Biden, ” Johnston, Karine Jean, Pierre, “ We're Organizations: WASHINGTON, White, Denver, Chicago Mayor, White House, Homeland Security Department, Capitol Hill, Democratic, Adams, Republicans Locations: Los Angeles, New York, Washington, United States

AI has been a source of deep personal interest for Biden, with its potential to affect the economy and national security. Using the Defense Production Act, the order will require leading AI developers to share safety test results and other information with the government. The National Institute of Standards and Technology is to create standards to ensure AI tools are safe and secure before public release. The official briefed reporters on condition of anonymity, as required by the White House. “He was as impressed and alarmed as anyone,” deputy White House chief of staff Bruce Reed said in an interview.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Jeff Zients, ” Zients, “, ”, Bruce Reed, David, Tom Cruise, Reed, Rishi Sunak, Kamala Harris, ReNika Moore, Suresh Venkatasubramanian, ” Venkatasubramanian Organizations: WASHINGTON, Democratic, National Institute of Standards, Technology, Commerce Department, White, AI, European, Google, Meta, Microsoft, American Civil Liberties Union, Biden Locations: Maine, Israel, San, U.S, European Union, China, Britain, West

☆ Dean Phillips launches primary challenge against President Biden
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-26 | by ( Arit John | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

CNN —Minnesota Rep. Dean Phillips announced Thursday that he is running for president, kicking off a long-shot Democratic primary challenge to President Joe Biden. “I think President Biden has done a spectacular job for our country, but it’s not about the past. Phillips is expected to formally announce his campaign Friday in Concord, where he’ll file to run in New Hampshire’s Democratic primary. Biden will not file to appear on the New Hampshire Democratic primary ballot because the state isn’t complying with the national party’s revised nominating calendar, which demoted its first-in-the-nation primary status to second. And it all points to the same thing,” Phillips told CNN after he stepped down from leadership.

Persons: Dean Phillips, Joe Biden, “, Biden, ” Phillips, Phillips, Jeff Zients, Biden “, ”, Zients, —, Steve Schmidt, Schmidt, George W, Bush, Arizona Sen, John McCain, ‘ I’m Dean Phillips, ” Schmidt, he’ll, Gavin Newsom, Gretchen Whitmer, Abigail Van Buren, Abby, ” Phillips ’, he’s, Ron Harris, I’m, Trump, Biden —, Kamala Harris, That’s, Marianne Williamson, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Donald Trump, Kennedy, hasn’t, Karine Jean, Pierre, CNN’s Jeff Zeleny, Arlette Saenz, David Wright Organizations: CNN, Minnesota, Democratic, CBS News, House Democratic, Biden, White House, New Hampshire Democratic, New Hampshire Democrats, New, GOP, California Gov, Michigan, Democratic National Committee, Palmetto, South Carolina Democratic, Affordable, Communications Committee, Granite State, Democratic Party, Incumbents, Environmental, Republicans, Allies Locations: Concord, New, AdImpact, New Hampshire, Arizona, Washington, California, South Carolina, “ South Carolina, Spain, Minnesota, Twin Cities, ”, New York, Ohio, Granite

☆ Biden's Israel stance angers Arab, Muslim Americans; could jeopardize 2024 votes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +7 min

In hotly contested Michigan, Arab Americans account for 5% of the vote. In other battleground states Pennsylvania and Ohio, they are between 1.7% to 2%, said Jim Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute. Arab and Muslim Americans are unlikely to back Trump but could sit out the election and not vote for Biden, some activists said. Some Arab American and Muslim appointees are scared of backlash and reprisals and worried about family members in the region, said one White House official, who is Arab American. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the personal difficulties some staff are facing in a Thursday letter, and met Monday with Palestinian and Arab American community leaders and Jewish American groups.

Persons: Bonnie Cash, Joe Biden's, Biden, Biden's, Donald Trump, Jim Zogby, Trump, Laila El, Haddad, Abdullah Hammoud, Linda Sarsour, Sa'ed Atshan, Barack Obama, Jeff Zients, Anita Dunn, Jake Sullivan, Jon, Antony Blinken, Josh Paul, Andrea Shalal, Kanishka Singh, Simon Lewis, Heather Timmons, Grant McCool Organizations: Palestine, REUTERS, Rights, Muslim, Republican, Arab American Institute, Michigan, Trump, United Nations, Arab American Association of New, Islamic Relations, Quaker Palestinian, Pennsylvania's Swarthmore College, White, Gaza, Muslim American, White House, Palestinian, Jewish, Political, Military Affairs, Thomson Locations: Gaza, Washington , U.S, Israel, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Canada, American, Dearborn , Michigan, U.S, Arab American Association of New York, Quaker Palestinian American, Arab American

☆ Biden's Israel stance angers Arab, Muslim-Americans; could jeopardize 2024 votes
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-24 | by ( Andrea Shalal | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

[1/2] U.S. President Joe Biden has demonstrated unwavering support for Israel's security over a half century in public life. In other battleground states Pennsylvania and Ohio, they are between 1.7% to 2%, said Jim Zogby, president of the Arab American Institute. Arab and Muslim Americans are unlikely to back Trump but could sit out the election and not vote for Biden, some activists said. U.S. officials with family in the region are doubly stressed by the "ambassadorial" role they play as they field agitated messages from relatives and others angry at Biden's Israel strategy. Secretary of State Antony Blinken acknowledged the personal difficulties some staff are facing in a Thursday letter, and met Monday with Palestinian and Arab American community leaders and Jewish American groups.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Benjamin Netanyahu, Joe Biden's, Biden's, Donald Trump, Jim Zogby, Trump, Laila El, Haddad, Abdullah Hammoud, Linda Sarsour, Sa'ed Atshan, Barack Obama, Jeff Zients, Anita Dunn, Jake Sullivan, Jon, Antony Blinken, Josh Paul, Andrea Shalal, Kanishka Singh, Simon Lewis, Heather Timmons, Grant McCool Organizations: Israeli, Hamas, Muslim, Republican, Arab American Institute, Michigan, Trump, Arab American Association of New, Islamic Relations, Quaker Palestinian, Pennsylvania's Swarthmore College, White, Muslim American, White House, Palestinian, Jewish, Political, Military Affairs, Thomson Locations: Israel, Tel Aviv, WASHINGTON, Gaza, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Maryland, Dearborn , Michigan, U.S, Arab American Association of New York, American, Arab American

He had been scheduled to take a tour of CS Wind, the world’s largest facility for wind tower manufacturing. The official, who was not authorized to comment about the president's potential visit, said a final decision to visit Israel hasn't been made. Blinken was in Israel on Monday for his second visit in less than a week for talks with Israeli leaders. He has been crisscrossing the Middle East with stops in Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. It’s the deadliest war for Israel since the 1973 conflict with Egypt and Syria.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Abdel Fattah el, Mohammed Shia, Olaf Scholz, Harris, Jeff Zients, Jake Sullivan, National Intelligence Avril Haines, Bill Burns, Israel hasn't, idled, Sissi, Antony Blinken, Blinken, ”, Benjamin Netanyahu, Matthew Miller, Israel, Hossein Amirabdollahian, Chuck Schumer, “, ” Schumer, Schumer, Kevin McCarthy, Jacob Lew, — Lee, Jon Gambrell, Mary Clare Jalonick Organizations: WASHINGTON, National, National Intelligence, Central Intelligence Agency, CS, U.S, Union, United, United Arab Emirates, Israeli, ”, “, Israel, Air, Hamas, Israeli Ministry of Defense, United States Senate, Foreign, AP Locations: Gaza, Israel, Iraqi, Pueblo , Colorado, Egypt’s, Cairo, Europe, Jordan, Bahrain, Qatar, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, United Arab, Syria, Iran, Hezbollah, Lebanon, U.S, Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Washington

☆ CEOs from Alphabet, Walmart, Pfizer meet White House officials on refugees
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-14 | by ( Jeff Mason | Thomson Reuters | Jeff Mason Is A White House Correspondent For Reuters. He Has Covered The Presidencies Of Barack Obama | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Annegret Hilse/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCompanies Accenture PLC FollowAirbnb Inc FollowAlphabet Inc Follow Show more companiesWASHINGTON, Sept 14 (Reuters) - Chief executives from a wide array of U.S. companies will meet White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients on Thursday to discuss refugee resettlement and sponsorship programs, a White House official said. The CEOs will include Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, Walmart's Doug McMillon, Pfizer's Albert Bourla, HP's Enrique Lores and others. They are part of a council of leaders affiliated with Welcome.US, a group dedicated to helping support refugees in the United States. They will meet Zients and other White House officials "to discuss specific ways we can continue to work together to support safe, orderly pathways for people in need of safety to come to the United States, including through refugee resettlement and new, expanded humanitarian sponsorship programs," a White House official told Reuters. The White House, which says it wants to partner with the private sector to build a humane immigration system, worked with Welcome.US to help Afghan refugees coming to the United States after Biden pulled U.S. troops out of Afghanistan in 2021.

Persons: Annegret, Jeff Zients, Alphabet's Sundar Pichai, Doug McMillon, Pfizer's Albert Bourla, HP's Enrique Lores, Richard Dickson, Julie Sweet, David Risher, Hamdi Ulukaya, Mike Sievert, Goldman Sachs, Kathy Hochul, Zients, Biden, Donald Trump, Welcome.US, Jeff Mason, Christian Schmollinger Organizations: Google, Arena, REUTERS, Accenture, White, Welcome.US, Reuters, Lyft, Mobile, Blackstone, Comcast, Meta, Republicans, Democrat, Republican, Biden, Thomson Locations: Berlin, Germany, WASHINGTON, United States, Airbnb, New, New York City, United, Afghanistan

Artificial Intelligence words are seen in this illustration taken March 31, 2023. REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Sept 12 (Reuters) - Adobe (ADBE.O), IBM (IBM.N), Nvidia (NVDA.O) and five other firms have signed President Joe Biden's voluntary commitments governing artificial intelligence, which requires steps such as watermarking AI-generated content, the White House said. The original commitments, which were announced in July, were aimed at ensuring that AI's considerable power was not used for destructive purposes. Google, OpenAI and OpenAI partner Microsoft (MSFT.O) signed onto the commitments in July. "The president has been clear: harness the benefits of AI, manage the risks, and move fast – very fast," White House chief of staff Jeff Zients said in a statement.

Persons: Dado Ruvic, Joe Biden's, Jeff Zients, Diane Bartz, Sam Holmes Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, IBM, Nvidia, Google, Microsoft, Thomson

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