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☆ Laken Riley: Vigil to be held for Augusta University student killed on UGA campus as a suspect remains in custody
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-25 | by ( Elizabeth Wolfe | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —A vigil will be held Monday afternoon for Laken Hope Riley, an Augusta University nursing student who was found dead after jogging on the University of Georgia campus last week, as her suspected killer’s immigration status has drawn the scrutiny of Republican leaders. Riley, who was a UGA student until May 2023, was found dead Thursday near a lake on the university’s campus from blunt force trauma, according to UGA Police Chief Jeff Clark. Riley’s killing has left the University of Georgia to grieve two tragic deaths that occurred less than a day apart: Her body was discovered just hours after the death of a UGA student the previous night. The Monday afternoon vigil will be co-hosted by Riley’s Alpha Chi Omega sorority at UGA in remembrance of both of the dead students, the university said. Clark referred to Riley’s killing as a “crime of opportunity,” noting he believes the suspect acted alone.

Persons: Laken Hope Riley, Riley, Jeff Clark, Jose Antonio Ibarra, Ibarra, Clark, haven’t, ” Clark, outcries, Brian Kemp, Joe Biden, ” Kemp, Joe Biden’s, Mike Johnson, Riley’s, Biden, “, ” Jose Antonio Ibarra Clarke, Greg Abbott, Diego Ibarra, Peers, ’, ”, ” Riley, ” Laken Hope Riley, Lauren Phillips, “ I’m, LISTo, CNN’s Ashley R, Williams, Rebekah Riess, Priscilla Alvarez, Isabel Rosales, Jaide Timm, Garcia, Jamiel Lynch Organizations: CNN, Augusta University, University of Georgia, Republican, UGA, UGA Police, Investigators, GOP, Riley’s Alpha Chi Omega, Police, ” Police, Customs, Georgia Gov, Sheriff’s, Governors, Republican Texas Gov, Democratic, Biden, Pew Research, ICE, New York City, NYPD, US, Office, Middle, Middle District of Georgia, Augusta University College of Nursing, UAC, Facebook, of Nursing, Hispanic Student Association Locations: Venezuelan, Mexico, Middle District

☆ Opinion: Donald Trump defeats Nikki Haley in South Carolina. She should continue fighting
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Opinion Geoff Duncan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

Immediately after the polls closed on Saturday night, CNN projected that the former South Carolina governor had come up short to Trump. During the fourth quarter of 2023, Haley out-raised Trump, $24 million to $19 million. In January 2024, as the rest of the GOP field winnowed, Haley’s fundraising again bested Trump’s, $9.8 million to $8.8 million. To her credit, Haley has taken dead aim at both Trump and Putin, accusing the former of emboldening the latter. During the 2016 South Carolina primary, there were still six serious candidates in the GOP race.

Persons: Geoff Duncan, CNN — Nikki Haley’s, Donald Trump, Trump, Haley, Trump’s, Haley —, Joe Biden, Time, Biden, Nancy Pelosi, Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Putin, Putin, “ Vladimir Putin, there’s Organizations: CNN, GOP, America’s Conservative Party, South, Trump, ABC, White, Republican, PBS, Marist, NATO Locations: South Carolina, Egypt, Mexico, Hungary, Turkey, month’s, Hampshire, Russia, Carolina

☆ The war in Ukraine in 12 key moments
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-24 | by ( Sophie Tanno | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +13 min

We’ve been taking a look at some of the most significant moments of the war so far. Putin’s announcement signaled the start of Russia’s war in Ukraine, which has so far cost the lives of over 10,300 civilians, according to the United Nations. May 20, 2023: Russia takes control of BakhmutUkrainian army medics treat wounded soldiers at a stabilisation point near Bakhmut frontline. June 2023: Ukraine counteroffensiveUkrainian soldiers shoot rounds into Russian positions with an S60 anti-aircraft canon placed on a truck, outside Bakhmut. February 8, 2024: Ukraine military chief firedCommander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi during an event dedicated to Ukraine's Independence Day on August 24, 2023 in Kyiv.

Persons: Vladmir Putin, Putin, We’ve, ’, Volodymyr Zelensky, Pavel Klimov, ”, Marko Djurica, Russia's, Kolya Serga, Ed Ram, Sefa, Diego Herrera Carcedo, Moscow, Bakhmut, Wojciech Grzedzinski, Wagner, Prigozhin, Reuters Yevgeny Prigozhin, Russia’s Wagner, Alexander Lukashenko, Mike Johnson, Samuel Corum, Ukraine Valerii, Yan Dobronosov, Zelensky, Ukraine’s, General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, CNN’s Jennifer Hauser, Victoria Butenko, Daria Tarasova, Andrew Carey Organizations: CNN, NATO, Reuters, Ukraine, United Nations, Presidential Press, Snake, Social Media, Anadolu Agency, Concord, Putin, Getty, Republican, Armed Forces, Moscow Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Moscow, Russia’s, Kyiv, United States, Russian, West, Dnipro, Hroza, Kharkiv, Bucha, Moskva, Crimea, Kherson, Ukrainian, Kremlin, Belgorod, Bakhmut, NATO, Robotyne, Mariupol, Washington , DC, Avdiivka

☆ From doubter to devotee: How New York’s Elise Stefanik emerged as a top Trump ally
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Gregory Krieg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Stefanik has often explained it herself: She saw Trump’s popularity in her upstate New York district and got on board. That first impeachment proceeding made her a “Republican star,” as Trump himself said at the time. When there was a nationwide baby formula shortage in 2022, Stefanik blamed the “White House, House Dems, & usual pedo grifters” on social media. One upset donor told CNN in 2023 that he gave to Santos “because of Elise Stefanik’s endorsement.” Stefanik frequently denied any previous knowledge of his Santos’ history. “The American people stand with President Trump,” Stefanik wrote, “against the unethical, unconstitutional, and unprecedented weaponization of the judicial system.”CNN’s Alayna Treene contributed to this story.

Persons: –, Donald Trump –, Elise Stefanik, Trump’s, ”, Stefanik, Trump’s staunchest, Joe Biden’s, Claudine Gay, she’d, Paul Ryan, Trump, she’s, MAGA, “, ” Stefanik, Kevin McCarthy, Ohio Sen, J.D, Kari Lake, Kristi Noem, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, Nikki Haley, Vance, Ben Carson, Jim Jordan of, Florida’s Matt Gaetz, Steve Bannon, Vivek Ramaswamy, ’, he’s, Nancy Pelosi, ” “, George Santos, Santos “, Elise Stefanik’s, Santos, Letitia James, Alayna Treene Organizations: CNN, Donald Trump – New York, Republican, GOP, Yorker, Harvard University, Time Magazine, Trump, California Rep, Ohio, South Dakota Gov, Arkansas Gov, White House, Conservative Political, Conference, Former South Carolina Gov, Trump Republicans, New, House Dems, ” “, New York Republican, New York Times, Washington and New York, Congress, New York, Trump’s Locations: “, America, alma mater, New York, Vance , Arizona, South, Washington, Lake, Jim Jordan of Ohio, detractor, Lago, vouching, Washington and New, Florida

Here’s what to know:Who is running in the South Carolina Republican primary? South Carolina’s primaries are open, which means any registered voter can take part in either the Republican primary or the Democratic primary, but not both. When Trump won the South Carolina primary with more than 32% of the vote in 2016, just about 1% of the GOP primary voters were Black. Only once since 1980 have South Carolina Republican primary voters not supported the ultimate nominee. The only recent election in which South Carolina did not pick the ultimate Democratic nominee was in 2004, when then-Sen. John Edwards, who was born in South Carolina and represented North Carolina in the Senate, beat then-Massachusetts Sen. John Kerry.

Persons: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Joe Biden, Haley, Trump, outpacing Haley, Vladimir Putin, Alexey Navalny, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, Biden, “ I’m, ” Haley, “, Kamala Harris, It’s, Newt Gingrich, Mitt Romney, Sen, John Edwards, Massachusetts Sen, John Kerry, Jimmy Carter Organizations: CNN, Republican, South Carolina Republican, Trump, South Carolina Gov, United Nations, Democratic, GOP, South, Democrats, South Carolina, US, Senate, New Yorker, Democrat Locations: New York, Washington, Florida, South Carolina, New Hampshire, Iowa, Russia, Georgia, Massachusetts, Utah . South Carolina, North Carolina, New

☆ Dean Phillips says it's 'absurd' that Amy Klobuchar is running for reelection while comparing himself to Liz Cheney
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Bryan Metzger | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Rep. Dean Phillips said it's "absurd" that Sen. Amy Klobuchar is running for reelection this year. AdvertisementAs Sen. Amy Klobuchar seeks a fourth term in the Senate, one fellow Democratic member of the Minnesota delegation isn't having any of it. "I think the fact that Senator Klobuchar is running for another reelection is absurd," Rep. Dean Phillips said on "The Chad Hartman Show," a local radio show in Minneapolis. "Minnesotans want leaders who get results and that's what Senator Klobuchar does," said Hill. In the interview, Phillips also compared himself to former Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who lost reelection to a GOP primary challenger after turning against former President Donald Trump.

Persons: Dean Phillips, Sen, Amy Klobuchar, Phillips, who's, Biden, —, Klobuchar, Chad Hartman, Joe Biden, Nancy Pelosi shouldn't, bIrfbZFMwl, RSQaFw2ac7 — Aaron Rupar, Ben Hill, Minnesotans, Liz Cheney, Donald Trump Organizations: Minnesota Democrat, Congress, Service, Democratic, isn't, Senate, GOP Locations: Minnesota, Minneapolis, Klobuchar, Wyoming, America

☆ Biden embraces bully pulpit as he escalates fight against Trump and GOP over Russia
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-22 | by ( Arlette Saenz | Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

CNN —President Joe Biden is embracing his bully pulpit as he calls out resistance from former President Donald Trump and Republicans on Ukraine and Russia. In repeatedly assailing Trump and his party from the White House, Biden also hopes to illustrate the stakes of the upcoming election and demonstrate his own efforts to unite the west against Russian aggression. House Republicans have scuttled efforts to pass a bipartisan border security bill and additional assistance for Ukraine – both at Trump’s urging. “Trump gave an invitation to Putin to invade some of our ally, NATO allies,” Biden said earlier this month. Why can’t Trump just say that?” Biden said in a White House video released Tuesday.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Donald Trump’s, Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Putin’s, Biden, Putin, Navalny, ” Biden, “, ” Trump, assailing Trump, Strom Thurmond, “ I’ve, I’ve, Thurmond, segregationists, Strom, ” “ I’m, Mike Johnson, Trump, He’s, “ Trump, Abraham Lincoln, America, can’t Trump, he’s, they’re, ” Organizations: CNN, Republicans, House Republicans, Trump, San, Wednesday, White, Ukraine –, Democratic, United States Congress, ”, NATO, Super, Quinnipiac, Russia Locations: Ukraine, Russia, California, San Francisco, Israel, Palestinian, Los Angeles, Bay, White, Russian, United States, Avdiivka, Michigan , Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish

☆ Biden calls Putin a ‘crazy S.O.B.’ and criticizes Trump’s Navalny comments during fundraiser
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Samantha Waldenberg | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin “a crazy S.O.B.” in a fundraiser Wednesday in San Francisco, according to the pool reporters traveling with the US president. But the existential threat to humanity is climate,” Biden told those gathered at the fundraiser. Biden also criticized former President Donald Trump’s comments likening his legal troubles to the death of Russian opposition leader and Kremlin critic Alexey Navalny. Where the hell does this comes from,” Biden said, according to reporters in the room. These guys do not believe in basic democratic principles,” Biden said according to the pool traveling with him.

Persons: Joe Biden, Vladimir Putin “, “, Putin, ” Biden, Biden, Donald Trump’s, Alexey Navalny, ”, Navalny, …, Trump, ” Trump, Dmitry Peskov, Strom Thurmond, “ I’ve, I’ve, “ You’ve, ‘ You’ve, Nancy Pelosi, John Doerr, CNN’s Kate Sullivan, Kaanita Iyer, Anna Chernova Organizations: CNN, Republican, NATO, Putin, Russia, Kremlin, Republicans, ”, White Locations: San Francisco, United States, Russia, U.S, United States of America, South Carolina, Los Altos Hills , California

☆ Anti-Ukraine rhetoric has saturated right-wing media. Now it is helping to deliver actual war victories to Putin
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Oliver Darcy | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —Vladimir Putin’s information war in U.S. media paid off this weekend with a key victory halfway around the world. A CNN poll conducted last summer found that a staggering 71% of Republicans do not support additional aid to thwart Putin’s war on Ukraine. Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty ImagesMuch of the GOP’s softening toward Russia is owed to a near-total reversal in rhetoric from right-wing media personalities and outlets, prompted in large part by Donald Trump’s ascension to power in GOP politics. While the biggest players in right-wing media once fervently championed the foreign policy doctrines of the neo-conservatives, they now follow in the footsteps of Trump and vehemently reject the views once held by the George W. Bush administration. The rhetoric has had a considerable impact on the views of the party, which is now being reflected by its elected leaders.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Putin, Julian E, Barnes, Thomas Gibbons, Neff, Eric Schmitt, CNN’s Nick Paton Walsh, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Mitt Romney, ”, Kostiantyn, Donald Trump’s, Trump, George W, Bush, Tucker Carlson, Carlson, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Matt Gertz, “ Tucker Carlson, ” “, ” Gertz Organizations: New York CNN, U.S . Congress, Eastern, Congress, GOP, Senate, Republican, Republican Party, CNN, Chemical Plant, Fox News, U.S, Ukraine, Republicans, Media Locations: New York, Washington, Ukraine, Avdiivka, Europe, Russia, Avdiivka district, Moscow, U.S

☆ Republicans to grill James Biden behind closed doors in critical interview as GOP looks for lifeline in impeachment probe
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Annie Grayer | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Hunter Biden is expected to show for his closed-door interview next week, after intense deliberations that almost collapsed. The first check Republicans revealed went to Joe Biden in 2018 for $200,000 from James Biden and James’ wife Sara Biden. What other Biden family business associates have saidBeyond Fox and Langston, Republicans have recently interviewed a number of key Biden family business associates. Walker also attended a 2017 business meeting with Hunter Biden and Chinese business associates, where Joe Biden made an appearance. Another longtime Biden family business associate, Eric Schwerin, performed administrative and bookkeeping tasks for then-Vice President Joe Biden from 2009 to 2017.

Persons: Joe Biden, Hunter, James, Wednesday, Biden, Hunter Biden, Mike Johnson, —, David Weiss, Hunter Biden’s, Alexander Smirnov, Robert Hur’s, Biden’s, James Biden, James ’, Sara Biden, ”, James Comer, Comer, Carol Fox, ‘ Biden, ’, Fox, James Biden’s, Joseph Langston, Langston, “, “ Jimmy Biden, ” Langston, Rob Walker, Walker, Biden —, ” Walker, ‘, ’ ”, Eric Schwerin, ” Schwerin, Mervyn Yan, Kevin Morris, Tony Bobulinski, Georges Bergès, White, Bergès, ” Bergès Organizations: Republicans, GOP, CNN, FBI, Burisma Holdings, undercutting, White, Democratic, Banking, Republican, Biden, Kentucky Republican, Fox, Langston, “, White House Locations: South Korea, Washington ,, China, Kentucky, Americore, Romania, American

☆ Trump coopts Navalny’s legacy as a smokescreen for his own legal morass
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —Alexey Navalny died a political martyr after returning home to confront Russian President Vladimir Putin’s brutal rule. But that’s not stopping Donald Trump from coopting his heroic legacy to suggest false equivalence with his own legal troubles. He offered a tempered tribute to Navalny, before returning to his own false claims of political persecution. There is no world in which Trump and Navalny can be compared. “Instead, Trump said Navalny’s death made him realize how bad America is.

Persons: CNN — Alexey Navalny, Vladimir Putin’s, Donald Trump, Putin, Trump, Navalny, “, …, ” Trump, Joe Biden, “ Trump, ”, he’s, predecessor’s thrall, Biden, Trump’s, CNN’s MJ Lee, Alexey Navalny, ” Biden, America, can’t Trump, Mike Johnson, Volodymyr Zelensky’s, Russia’s, Zelensky, it’s Organizations: CNN, Fox News, Russia, Communist, Fox, Trump, Kremlin, Biden, Republicans, Senate, NATO, White House, Soviet Union, Saturday Locations: Russian, Russia, West Coast, Ukraine, Moscow, Trump’s, America, Avdiivka, Washington

☆ Opinion: Trump’s making America irrelevant to Europe
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-21 | by ( David A. Andelman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

He formerly was a foreign correspondent and bureau chief for The New York Times in Europe and Asia and for CBS News in Paris. CNN —Madeline Albright famously called America the “indispensable nation.” Is former President Donald Trump making America the irrelevant nation? The first steps toward a new direction for such a Europe — without America — are already being taken. Dursun Aydemir/Anadolu/Getty ImagesVon der Leyen has also said that upping European defense production would be a top priority for her second term — not to mention sorting through vastly divergent budgets of the various countries. Still, as a bloc, Europe at about 85 billion euros ($92 billion) has already passed the United States at 66.2 billion euros ($71.6 billion) in total commitments to Ukraine.

Persons: David A, Madeline Albright, Donald Trump, Alexey Navalny’s, Vladimir Putin, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Joe Biden, ” haven’t, Mette Frederiksen, ” Frederiksen, Ursula von der Leyen, Europe’s, Christine Wormuth, Peter, Paul, Kaja Kallas, Dursun, Leyen, Emmanuel Macron’s, Macron, David Lammy, unflinchingly, who’s, ” Kallas, Alar Karis, ” Karis, we’re, Der Spiegel, ” Organizations: CNN, French Legion of, The New York Times, CBS News, Trump, Republicans, NATO, Security, Danish, America, Africa Command, Getty, Germany’s Kiel Institute, US, Union, Munich Security Conference, British, Labour Party, Estonian, Politico Europe, Kremlin, “ Locations: Europe, Asia, Paris, America, Russia, Russian, Ukraine, “, United States, Munich, Berlin, Brussels, Poland, Estonian, Anadolu, Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey, France, Russia’s, Sweden, Britain, German

☆ US divisions over Putin’s Russia present grave global implications
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —US politics is now split by a fault line over Russia that could have far graver global implications even than condemning Ukraine to defeat after President Vladimir Putin’s invasion. Trump has also not repudiated his recent comment that he’d invite Russia to invade NATO nations that fell short of non-binding targets on defense spending. Aside from the mysterious hold that Putin appears to exert over Trump, the ex-president’s hostility towards Ukraine is easily explainable. Opposing aid to Ukraine is also an almost perfect issue for the ex-president and his allies in the GOP primary. These pressures weigh on Republican lawmakers as they cast increasingly tough votes on Ukraine aid.

Persons: Vladimir Putin’s, Donald Trump, Trump, Mike Johnson –, Johnson, Joe Biden, Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia’s, ” Biden, Zelensky, –, Alexey Navalny, Hungary’s Viktor Orban, Putin’s, Putin, Trump’s, Kevin McCarthy’s, hasn’t, Ohio Sen, JD Vance, Ukraine “, Vladimir Putin, ” Vance, Barack Obama, “, ”, Vance, Nikki Haley, Haley, Sen, Pete Ricketts, Ricketts, ’ ” Ricketts, ‘, ’ ”, It’s, Mitch McConnell Organizations: CNN, Donald Trump Republicans, NATO, Trump, GOP, Senate, Republican, Soviet, European Union, Russian, Republican Party, Republicans, Munich, Ohio, United, Chicago Council, Global Affairs, Trump Republicans, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Europe, Avdiivka, Russian, Kremlin, America, United States, Munich, China, “, Ohio, Crimea, East Asia, Beijing, Moscow, Iran, North Korea, we’re, ’ ” The Nebraska, Soviet Union

☆ Schism over Russia drives Republicans apart
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Zachary Wolf | Analysis Zachary B. Wolf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

CNN —There are emerging signs of a deep schism in the Republican Party over how or even whether the US should stand up to authoritarianism in Russia. With a not-so-subtle nod to Trump’s failure to criticize Russia for Navalny’s death, she compared elections in democracies to those in autocracies. Compare it with House Speaker Mike Johnson, who, at Trump’s behest, is refusing to bow to pressure to allow a vote on US aid to Ukraine. If it is clear where Haley and Trump stand on opposing Russia and helping Ukraine, what’s in Johnson’s mind is a secret. “If there is a Mike Johnson plan, there aren’t any House Republicans that are aware of its existence.” Read their full report.

Persons: Donald Trump, It’s, Nikki Haley, Haley, Alexey Navalny, ” Haley, Trump, CNN Haley’s intransigence, Mike Johnson, ” Johnson, @realDonaldTrump Organizations: CNN, Republican Party, Republicans, United, Republican, “, Mar, Trump, Twitter, ’ Locations: Russia, Ukraine, South Carolina, Russian, autocracies ., Soviet

☆ Opinion | Trump’s G.O.P. Is a Confederacy of Fakers
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-20 | by ( Thomas L. Friedman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

I’ve got a suggestion for the next Trump-G.O.P. You know how sports memorabilia stores sometimes sell basketballs autographed by an entire N.B.A. For an extra $500, you could get a white flag autographed solely by Trump and J.D. This is a matter of principle for me. But I got a round of golf at Trump’s West Palm Beach course.

Persons: I’ve, Donald Trump, MAGA sycophants he’s, Vladimir Putin’s, Vance, Mike Johnson, Trump, Lindsey Graham, “, John McCain, Graham, you’ve Organizations: Trump Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Palm

The GOP has been softening its stance on Russia ever since Trump won the 2016 election following Russian hacking of his Democratic opponents. Now the GOP's ambivalence on Russia has stalled additional aid to Ukraine at a pivotal time in the war. Things are changing just not fast enough.”Those who oppose additional Ukraine aid bristle at charges that they are doing Putin's handiwork. Even before Trump, Republican voters were signaling discontent with overseas conflicts, said Douglas Kriner, a political scientist at Cornell University. Skeptics of Ukraine aid argue the war has already decimated the Russian military and that Putin won't be able to target other European countries.

Persons: Republican Sen, Ron Johnson of, Vladimir Putin, “, Johnson, “ Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Putin, Mike Johnson, ”, “ Putin, ” Republican Sen, Thom Tillis, Mitch McConnell of, Alexei Navalny, Joe Biden, Tillis, ” Johnson, Missouri Sen, Eric Schmitt, ” Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, Tucker Carlson’s, Matt Gaetz, Trump, Douglas Kriner, ” Kriner, ” Trump, didn’t, Olga Kamenchuk, ” Kamenchuk, That’s, “ He's, he's, ” Henry Hale, Russell Vought, Sergey Radchenko, Joey Cappelletti, Mary Clare Jalonick, Lisa Mascaro Organizations: Republican, GOP, Trump, Democratic, Republicans, NATO, ” Republican, Republican Party, ”, Cornell University, Northwestern University, Ukraine, Pew Research, George Washington University, Management, Center, Johns Hopkins ’ School, International Studies, Associated Press Locations: Ron Johnson of Wisconsin, Ukraine, Russian, Russia, Europe, U.S, North Carolina, Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, America, Missouri, ” Alabama, Waterford Township , Michigan, ” Russia, “, Moscow, Soviet Union, Putin's U.S, Israel, Taiwan, Western Europe, Soviet, Lithuania, Estonia, Washington

☆ The Ukraine aid that House Republican leaders are blocking might actually be good for the US economy
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-18 | by ( John L. Dorman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

House Speaker Mike Johnson is blocking a $95 billion emergency foreign aid bill, saying he's in "no rush" to take up the legislation the Senate overwhelmingly approved last week. While supporters of the legislation say it's needed urgently to help Ukraine, The Wall Street Journal also points out that the bill would benefit the US economy. Lael Brainard, the director of the White House National Economic Council, told the Journal in a recent interview that the impact on the US economy would be significant. AdvertisementIt remains unclear when or if the House will take up the Senate bill. Trump in recent weeks also helped tank a bipartisan bill that would have tightened the US asylum system, among other measures.

Persons: Mike Johnson, —, Russia's, Joe Biden's, Lael Brainard, Donald Trump, Trump Organizations: Business, Street, Pentagon, White, National Economic Council, The Locations: Mexico, Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Taiwan

CNN —President Joe Biden, in a call Saturday with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, directly tied Ukraine’s withdrawal from the key town of Avdiivka to Congress’ inability to pass further aid for the country’s effort to fend off Russia’s invasion. “This morning, Ukraine’s military was forced to withdraw from Avdiivka after Ukrainian soldiers had to ration ammunition due to dwindling supplies as a result of congressional inaction, resulting in Russia’s first notable gains in months. President Biden emphasized the need for Congress to urgently pass the national security supplemental funding bill to resupply Ukrainian forces,” according to a White House readout of the call. Earlier this week, the Senate passed with bipartisan support a $95.3 billion foreign aid bill, which includes $60 billion to support Ukraine. The withdrawal from Avdiivka marks the biggest gain for Moscow since it captured the city of Bakhmut last year.

Persons: Joe Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, Russia’s, Biden, Alexey Navalny’s, Mike Johnson, Adrienne Watson, Kamala Harris, Zelensky, Harris, ” Harris, ”, ” Zelensky, “ Hatred, ” Biden, it’s, they’re Organizations: CNN, Ukraine, National Security, Munich, Representatives, White, Moscow Locations: Avdiivka, Ukraine, Germany, United States, Russia, Bakhmut

Yet large numbers of Americans believe the founders intended the U.S. to be a Christian nation, and many believe it should be one. The idea of a Christian America means different things to different people. Robert Jeffress, pastor of First Baptist Church of Dallas, said he doesn’t identify as a Christian nationalist, but does believe America was founded as a Christian nation. Six in 10 U.S. adults said the founders intended America to be a Christian nation, according to a 2022 Pew Research Center survey. About 45% said the U.S. should be a Christian nation.

Persons: Donald Trump, God, it’s, Trump, ”, Eric McDaniel, McDaniel, “, ” Trump, Mike Johnson, Thomas Jefferson, Johnson, Steve Bannon, Jerusalem ”, Charlie Kirk, Robert Jeffress, “ I’m, I’m, shouldn’t, John Jay —, —, ” Jeffress, doesn’t, ” Anthea Butler, Butler, John, Joe Biden, John Jay, Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Jesus, George Washington Organizations: U.S, Republicans, Constitution, Pew Research Center, University of Texas, America, Republican, Washington Metropolitan Area, Vocal, Trump, Kentucky Republican, Baptist Church of, Supreme, University of Pennsylvania, Blacks, Native, John Fea, Messiah University, Democratic, Religion Research Institute, Fea, Lilly Endowment Inc, AP Locations: Independence, U.S, America, Washington, Jerusalem, ” Recent Texas , Oklahoma, Baptist Church of Dallas, Mechanicsburg , Pennsylvania, Brookings

President Joe Biden laid the blame for Alexei Navalny's death squarely at the feet of Russian president Vladimir Putin on Friday, saying what happened to the imprisoned opposition leader is "yet more proof of Putin's brutality." He was principled," Biden said at the White House. Navalny envisioned a different Russia – one where the rule of law is respected, and "he knew it was a cause worth fighting for – and even worth dying for," Biden said. "Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny's death. In Munich, at an international security conference, world leaders mourned the loss of Navalny and cast accusatory eyes at Putin.

Persons: Joe Biden, Alexei Navalny's, Vladimir Putin, Biden, Alexei Navalny, Putin, Navalny, Donald Trump –, Navalny –, ” Biden, Kamala Harris, Trump, Truman, Mike Pence, –, ” Pence, Mike Johnson, Navalny's, Yulia Navalnaya, ”, Alexei, he’d Organizations: GOP, White, NATO, Biden, Trump, Republican Party, House Republicans, Louisiana Republican, Republican, Senate, Republicans Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia, United States, Louisiana, Munich

☆ Why Alexey Navalny's death is unlikely to change Congress' Ukraine aid quagmire
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Brent D. Griffiths | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

Read previewLeaders in both parties vowed that Russian President Vladimir Putin must pay for the death of famed opposition leader Alexey Navalny. It's unclear though how their tributes will translate into tangible action, especially on Congress' long-delayed push to send more aid for Ukraine's defense. House Speaker Mike Johnson said in a statement that international leaders "must be clear that Putin will be met with united opposition." While it's true that the foreign aid bill could garner 218 votes, getting the bill on the floor is another matter entirely. Ukraine aid still hasn't passed.

Persons: —, Vladimir Putin, Alexey Navalny, Mike Johnson, Putin, Johnson, Donald Trump, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Kevin McCarthy, hasn't, McCarthy, Matt Gaetz, Trump, Matt Glassman, Glassman, It's, there's, Volodymyr Zelensky, Schumer, Churchill Organizations: Service, Business, Georgia Republican, Ukraine, GOP, California Republican, Florida Republican, Georgetown University's Government Affairs Institute, Republicans, Trump, Republican Locations: Ukraine, United States, Baltic, Georgia, California, Florida, Mexico, Mexican

☆ Biden rips the House for taking 2-week break as he presses for Ukraine funding
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Michael Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden on Friday criticized the House for taking a two-week break amid a heated push for additional funding for Ukraine in its war against Russia. The Senate passed a bipartisan $95 billion bill that provided the Ukraine funding, along with support for Taiwan and Israel, but House Speaker Mike Johnson has signaled he won’t bring the bill to the House floor. Democrats made some concessions for the Senate bill, but prospects of a funding bill passing the House were torpedoed after former President Donald Trump pushed Republicans to oppose it. And the prospects of additional funding after the election remains in question if Trump, the GOP frontrunner who recently signaled indifference to Russia invading a NATO ally, wins in the fall. Asked whether Navalny’s reported death would burgeon support for additional funding from members of Congress, Biden said “I hope to God it helps.”This story has been updated with additional reporting.

Persons: Joe Biden, Alexey Navalny’s, Biden, “, ” Biden, they’re, Mike Johnson, Nalvany’s, Johnson, ” Johnson, Donald Trump, Trump, ”, Navalny’s Organizations: Washington CNN, Ukraine, Russia, Congress, Republicans, NATO, Representatives Locations: Ukraine, United States, Taiwan, Israel, Baltic, Russia

☆ Navalny’s death puts a new spotlight on key dividing line between Trump and Biden
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-16 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

“Make no mistake: Putin is responsible for Navalny’s death. A few moments earlier, Secretary of State Antony Blinken linked Navalny’s death directly to Russia’s president. Asked whether Navalny’s death might spur Congress to act in providing more Ukraine aid, Biden was hopeful. Even so, Johnson said in a statement Friday that Putin “is likely directly responsible” for Navalny’s death. “I made it clear to him that I believe the consequences of that would be devastating for Russia,” Biden said in Geneva, where the summit was held.

Persons: Alexey Navalny’s, Vladimir Putin, Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Putin, ” Biden, Roosevelt, “ Putin, ” Trump, Nikki Haley, Fani Willis ’, Trump, Putin’s, Biden, “ It’s, Kamala Harris, Antony Blinken, “, ”, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Putin “, Tucker Carlson, Carlson, Trump’s, ” Haley, Truman, “ Trump, he’d, Navalny, we’re, ” Harris, Harris, Navalny’s, CNN’s Haley Britzky, Lauren Fox, Kate Sullivan Organizations: CNN, White, GOP, Fulton, NATO, Biden, Munich Security Conference, Republican, Republicans, Ukraine, Fox News, South Carolina Gov, South, Putin, Super, Ukraine wavers, “, Trump Locations: Washington, Russia, Fulton County, Georgia, Europe, Moscow, Ukraine, Munich, United States, South Carolina, Michigan , Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Latvian, Lithuanian, Polish, Geneva, Asia, transatlanticism

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate's border proposal was one of the toughest bipartisan bills to emerge on the issue in decades. Republicans have campaigned on border security for years, and public frustration is running high with the record number of illegal U.S. border crossings. Cruz’s likely Democratic opponent, Texas Rep. Collin Allred, said he’s already talking about the border deal on the campaign trail. Murphy agreed that Democrats should remain committed to broad immigration reforms, including pathways to citizenship for migrants who are already here. But he argued that may only be possible once Democrats first show voters they are serious about tough border enforcement.

Persons: —, Donald Trump, Chuck Schumer, “, Tom Suozzi, Schumer, New York “, Joe Biden, Biden, Sen, John Cornyn, Republicans aren’t, ”, Suzan, ” Schumer, Mike Johnson, ” Trump, He's, Republican Sen, James Lankford, Trump, Ted Cruz, Cruz, Mitch McConnell, Cruz’s, Collin Allred, he’s, ” Allred, doesn’t, Lois Clinco, “ I’m, Clinco, Connecticut Sen, Chris Murphy, Ro Khanna, ” Khanna, John F, Kennedy, Barack Obama, Todd Schulte, Murphy, Lisa Mascaro, Philip Marcelo Organizations: WASHINGTON, Republican, Republicans, Democratic, Texas Republican, Trump, Washington Democrat, Border Patrol, Democrats, Texas, Texans, New, New York City —, Rep, California Democrat, Associated Press Locations: New York, Texas, South Carolina, Long, Levittown, New York City, Connecticut, United States, California, America, Levittown , New York

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) — Former Illinois lawmaker and gubernatorial candidate William “Sam” McCann abruptly pleaded guilty on Thursday to nine felony counts of wire fraud, money laundering and tax evasion, halting his federal corruption trial over misusing up to $550,000 in campaign contributions. The seven counts of wire fraud and single count of money laundering each carry a sentence of up to 20 years in federal prison. But a complex set of advisory guidelines before Lawless, who set sentencing for June 20, will likely yield a far shorter term. “Are you pleading guilty because you are in fact guilty?” Lawless asked. McCann's trial was repeatedly delayed.

Persons: William “ Sam ” McCann, McCann, Colleen Lawless, Jason Vincent, Lawless, ” Lawless, he’s, “, Timothy Bass, McCann's, “ God's, McCann didn't, Vincent, Instagram, Michael Madigan, ’ ” McCann, I’m, ’ Organizations: Ill, Former Illinois, U.S, Conservative Party of Illinois, International Union of Operating Engineers, FBI, IRS Locations: SPRINGFIELD, Springfield, ”, St, Louis

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