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☆ Biden’s political position is rapidly deteriorating as critical news conference looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-10 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —A staggering 24 hours that cracked the political foundation of Joe Biden’s reelection bid leave him facing the most high-pressure presidential news conference in modern history on Thursday. The stakes for Biden’s solo appearance at the conclusion of the NATO summit multiplied by the hour as his political position unraveled at a dignity-sapping rate. In another danger sign for Biden’s candidacy, one Democratic strategist told CNN, “Everything is frozen because no one knows what’s going to happen. The deepening crisis gripping the Democratic Party is not simply damaging Biden’s chances of clinging to the nomination. But as Biden’s political standing continues to rapidly deteriorate, the question is becoming how much longer he can insist he’s the only Democrat who can beat Trump.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Nancy Pelosi, Donald Trump, —, Biden, seared, Pelosi, ”, “, “ I’m, Ritchie Torres —, Biden —, Pat Ryan, “ Trump, Joe Biden, Vermont Sen, Peter Welch, ” Welch, Colorado Sen, Michael Bennet, Trump, Sen, Chris Coons, CNN’s Kaitlan Collins, ” Sen, John Fetterman, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Hakeem Jeffries, George Clooney, Luck, Joe ‘, ’ Biden, ” Clooney, Clooney, Lester Holt, Elissa Slotkin, he’s, Keisha Lance Bottoms Organizations: CNN, NATO, Hollywood, Capitol, GOP, White, California Democrat, Democratic, Congressional Black Caucus, Yorker, Trump, ”, Biden, Democratic National Convention, New York Times, NBC “, Democratic Party, Republicans, House, Former Atlanta Locations: Ukraine, Washington, California, Vermont, Colorado, Chris Coons of Delaware, United States, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Trump

☆ Biden has scheduled his first interview after his shaky debate performance
▼ + stars: | 2024-07-02 | by ( Hadas Gold | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —President Joe Biden has scheduled his first television interview following his disastrous debate with former President Trump last week that led many within Biden’s own party to question whether he should be the Democratic nominee. ABC will air parts of George Stephanopoulos’ interview with Biden on Friday at 6:30 p.m. ABC's George Stephanopoulos Roy Rochlin/Getty ImagesThe interview is a major get for ABC News and an important moment for Biden, following his halting debate performance. Biden’s last major interview was with David Muir in Normandy last month. The ABC interview will be his fourth major television interview of 2024, according to a CNN tally.

Persons: Joe Biden, Trump, George Stephanopoulos ’, Biden, David Muir, ”, George Stephanopoulos, George Stephanopoulos Roy Rochlin, Biden’s, CNN’s Erin Burnett, magazine’s Massimo Calabresi Organizations: CNN, Democratic, ABC, Trump, ABC News, White Locations: Normandy

CNN —President Joe Biden and his predecessor, Donald Trump, are set to make history on CNN Thursday night as they meet for their first 2024 debate. Thursday’s debate will be the earliest in the election cycle that a presidential debate featuring the major parties’ nominees has taken place in modern history. That’s why Trump’s advisers and allies have urged the former president to focus on issues like the economy, crime and inflation as he debates Biden. The Biden campaign knows all this, of course, so it will be interesting – and instructive – to hear his message and analyze where it’s being targeted. The Trump campaign distanced itself, in part, from the plan, noting that the advisers who wrote it are not on the payroll.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, It’ll, Biden —, —, Trump, Hunter, Jake Tapper, Dana, insurrectionists, Biden, parry, Wade, Roe, ”, CNN’s Erin Burnett, won’t Biden, ” Biden, “, Lincoln, Benjamin Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Putin, ” He’s Organizations: CNN, United States, Trump, Capitol, GOP, Biden, NATO, Reuters, Kyiv, Republicans, UFC Locations: New York, Georgia’s, Atlanta, Washington , Florida, Georgia, Russia, Israel, Gaza, Ukraine, Moscow, Kyiv, Western Europe, United States

☆ Outside advisers urging Biden team to focus on Trump – not first-term record
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-25 | by ( Kayla Tausche | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

“He wants the credit, but it’s not working,” one top Democrat, who recently shared these concerns with the campaign, said of Biden. Biden and Trump square off in the first presidential debate at 9 p.m. As a result, the economy has become both the biggest priority for voters and their biggest frustration with the incumbent president. You want people to know you’re doing a really good job,” one major donor told CNN. “I think Biden can’t help but talk about what a good job he’s done.”CNN’s MJ Lee contributed to this report.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, “, it’s, Biden, they’ve, Biden’s, Ron Klain, Klain, That’s, Racine , Wisconsin –, Trump, – Biden, “ We’ve, ” Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Bidenomics ”, “ Donald Trump, Joe Biden, he’s, Snickers, CNN’s MJ Lee Organizations: Washington CNN, White, America, Trump, CNN, Federal Reserve, ABC, Biden, Biden White House Locations: Racine , Wisconsin

☆ Senate GOP blocks bill to guarantee access to IVF nationwide
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-13 | by ( Clare Foran | Ted | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —Senate Republicans voted Thursday to block a bill put forward by Democrats that would guarantee access to in vitro fertilization nationwide. They want to get rid of IVF, they’re afraid to say it.”Biden attacked Senate Republicans after the vote. “And just last week, Senate Republicans blocked nationwide protections for birth control. Last week, Senate Republicans voted to block a Democrat-led bill that would guarantee access to contraception. Cruz and Britt attempted to pass their IVF legislation on the Senate floor Wednesday through a unanimous consent request, but Democrats blocked the effort.

Persons: Republican Sen, John Cornyn of, Roe, Wade, Chuck Schumer, MAGA, Dobbs, ” Schumer, CNN’s Erin Burnett, ” Biden, “, Democratic Sens, Patty Murray, Tammy Duckworth of, Cory Booker of, Lisa Murkowski, Susan Collins of, Katie Britt, Alabama, Ted Cruz of, Joni Ernst of, Cruz, Britt, Murray, CNN’s Kaanita Iyer, Sam Fossum, Morgan Rimmer Organizations: CNN, Democrat, Republican, Republicans, Democratic, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois, Southern Baptist, Joni Ernst of Iowa, GOP Locations: John Cornyn of Texas, Washington, Cory Booker of New Jersey, Alaska, Susan Collins of Maine, Ted Cruz of Texas

☆ Hunter Biden conviction shatters Trump’s persecution narrative
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-12 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

In his first reaction to the verdict, Hunter Biden didn’t attack the judge or prosecutors, simply saying he was grateful for the love and support of his family and blessed to be clean again. The Hunter Biden verdict also contradicted the central rationale of Trump’s multiple legal defenses in his four criminal cases, several civil matters and his entire presidential campaign. “So much for the weaponization of the Justice Department to go after just the enemies of the other side,” Michael Zeldin, a former senior Justice Department official and federal prosecutor, said on CNN Max on Tuesday. Stephen Miller, Trump’s former White House domestic policy adviser, argued that the Justice Department had actually shown favoritism toward Hunter Biden by not charging him with 50 felonies over foreign influence peddling. “Hunter Biden just became the Deep State’s sacrificial lamb to show that Justice is ‘balanced’ while the other Biden crimes remain ignored,” she wrote on X.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Hunter, “, ”, Hunter Biden, Trump, ” Trump, Phil McGraw, couldn’t, ” Michael Zeldin, CNN Max, General Merrick, Garland, David Weiss, Weiss, “ Hunter Biden, ” Ken Buck, CNN’s Erin Burnett, ” Julian Zelizer, he’s, who’s, He’s, ” Zelizer, Democratic Sen, Robert Menendez, Henry Cuellar, Jamie Raskin, James Comer, Big Guy, ” Comer, Mike Johnson, Stephen Miller, Trump’s, ” Miller, Marjorie Taylor Greene, baselessly Organizations: CNN, Justice Department, Fox News, Trump, Democratic, Department, White House, Republican, Justice, Princeton University, “, Robert Menendez of New, Biden, Maryland Democrat, Kentucky Republican, Big, Louisiana Republican, BIG, Georgia Locations: America, Manhattan, Delaware, Robert Menendez of, Robert Menendez of New Jersey, New York, Henry Cuellar of Texas, Mexican, United States, Kentucky, Ukraine, China, Louisiana

☆ Why Biden’s escalation on Trump guilty verdict is so significant
▼ + stars: | 2024-06-04 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Other Trump cases are in suspended animationTwo federal cases against Trump, in which he’s also pleaded not guilty, are in a holding pattern. At the same time, multiple disputes in pre-trial motions have put the looming federal trial in Florida over Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents into suspended animation. But if Trump wins, he could appoint an attorney general who could halt the federal cases in their tracks. Garland is also likely to face scrutiny over the Hunter Biden trial. Republicans celebrated when a plea deal, which they saw as “sweetheart” treatment for Hunter Biden, collapsed in court.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, ”, ” Biden, Hunter, Biden, Trump, Fani Willis, —, ’, Willis, he’s, Jack Smith’s, Aileen Cannon, Ty Cobb, CNN’s Erin Burnett, “, it’s, ” Cobb, Cobb, Hunter Biden, who’s, marveling, Joe Biden, Biden’s, Juan Merchan, “ I’m, Adam Schiff, Kasie Hunt, General Merrick Garland, Garland, Robert Hur’s, New Jersey Democratic Sen, Robert Menendez Organizations: CNN, Republican, Democratic, Republicans, Trump, Georgia, US, Department, Trump White House, Fox News, Capitol, California Democrat, House Republicans, New Jersey Democratic Locations: Connecticut, New York, Georgia, Fulton County, Florida, York, Delaware, Trump, “ State, California, Washington

CNN —President Joe Biden announced Friday that Israel has offered a “comprehensive new proposal” that provides a “roadmap” to a ceasefire in the war with Hamas in Gaza and the release of all hostages held by the terror group. “And the Palestinian people have endured sheer hell of this war,” Biden said. Earlier on Friday, Israel said its forces have entered central Rafah, the city in southern Gaza that Biden has warned should not be the target of a major ground offensive. Biden will be speaking as negotiations continue to secure the release of hostages in exchange for a temporary ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas. White House officials have sought this week to explain Biden’s stance, suggesting his barometer for changing policy would be a “major ground invasion” of the city.

Persons: Joe Biden, Israel, ”, who’ve, ” Biden, Biden, “, “ It’s, ” Israel, Benjamin Netanyahu, CNN’s Erin Burnett, John Kirby Organizations: CNN, Hamas, Israel’s, White, Democrats Locations: Gaza, Qatar, Rafah, Israel, Palestinian, Delaware, ”, That’s

☆ How Joe Biden’s red line on Israel went from a ‘parlor game’ to a murky milestone
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-30 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

Many Democrats, along with foreign leaders who the US counts as allies, say Israel’s actions clearly cross a red line – if not Biden’s, then their own and those of international law. Would that be a red line?” MSNBC’s Jonathan Capehart asked during an interview. His answer, with its incomplete sentences, did not state what might constitute a violation of the red line or what his response would be. “I went over the red line issue, which I know is the obsession of this group, last week. Whether Biden drew a red line or not, his counterpart in Israel found reason to dismiss the president’s comments.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Biden’s, Jake Sullivan, Benjamin Netanyahu, “, Sara Jacobs, Antony Blinken, “ I’m, ” Sullivan, Israel, Netanyahu, –, Jonathan Capehart, I’m, ”, … ” Biden, didn’t, I’ve, it’s, we’ve, ” Netanyahu, CNN’s Erin Burnett, “ We’re, Blinken, Kamala Harris, John Kirby, Kirby, CNN’s Alex Marquardt Organizations: Philadelphia CNN, CNN, Democrats, Foreign, White, Biden, Press, Gaza Health Ministry, White House Locations: Rafah, Israel, United States, California, American, Gaza, “, I’m, That’s

☆ Sam Bankman-Fried is being moved to a new prison
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-22 | by ( Allison Morrow | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Prison officials began transferring former crypto mogul Sam Bankman-Fried to a new facility early Wednesday, removing him from the Brooklyn, New York, jail where he’s resided for the past nine months, a spokesperson for Bankman-Fried said. Mendota is home to one medium-security federal correctional institution with an adjacent minimum-security satellite facility, according to the Bureau of Prisons website. Bankman-Fried had sought to stay in New York in the near term while preparing his appeal on multiple federal counts of fraud and conspiracy, for which he was sentenced in March to 25 years in prison. A jury last fall found Bankman-Fried guilty of carrying out what prosecutors called one of the biggest financial crimes in US history. The Bureau of Prisons declined to provide details, telling CNN that it doesn’t comment on “the conditions of confinement for any individual, including potential transfers,” citing security concerns.

Persons: Sam Bankman, he’s, Fried, — CNN’s Erin Burnett, Sabrina Souza Organizations: New, New York CNN — Prison, Stanford University, of Prisons, Prisons, CNN Locations: New York, Brooklyn , New York, Mendota , California, Mendota

☆ Trump’s trial reaches crescendo as tempers fray in the courtroom
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-21 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The presumptive Republican nominee’s lawyers made a long-shot bid for the dismissal of his first criminal trial before the jury has even been asked to deliberate. And he implored Merchan not to hand jurors a case so reliant on testimony from Cohen, a confessed liar. Key developmentsMonday’s court action at times threatened to spin out of control — in a way that only a Trump trial can. “I know it may feel like you’re on trial here after cross-examination, but are you actually on trial?” she asked Cohen. Courtroom chaosVeteran lawyers and court reporters said they’d never seen anything like the scene precipitated by defense witness Robert Costello.

Persons: Donald Trump’s, Juan Merchan, Michael Cohen, sensationally, ’, Todd Blanche, Trump, Stormy Daniels, Merchan, Cohen, ” Blanche, ”, “, Blanche, he’d, ” Trump, Daniels, won’t, —, Matthew Colangelo, Colangelo, Keith Schiller, Susan Hoffinger, LaDoris Hazzard Cordell, Jake Tapper, they’d, Robert Costello, Costello, there’s, ” Merchan, ” Cordell, Tapper, Bob Costello, I’ve, Terri Austin, CNN’s Erin Burnett, we’ll Organizations: CNN, Republican, Trump, Republican Party, Trump Organization, “ Locations: Merchan, Trump, Manhattan

☆ Biden denounces ICC for ‘outrageous’ implication of equivalence between Israel and Hamas
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-20 | by ( Michael Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

The prosecution team is also seeking warrants for Israel’s Defense Minister, Yoav Gallant, along with top Hamas leaders, Khan said. Khan, the ICC prosecutor, batted down criticisms over the tribunal’s efforts to secure the warrants. News that the ICC is seeking warrants for the Israeli leaders sent reverberations of condemnation across the world. Close US allies like Britain said the court’s efforts were “not helpful” in reaching a pause in fighting. Biden administration officials also questioned whether the ICC had the jurisdiction to seek those arrests.

Persons: Washington CNN —, Biden, Karim Khan, CNN’s Christiane Amanpour, Benjamin Netanyahu, Yahya Sinwar, Yoav Gallant, Khan, ”, Biden –, CNN’s Erin Burnett, cajole Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Vladimir Putin, Moammar Gadhafi, Amanpour, Gallant, Antony Blinken, United States “, Mike Johnson, John Kirby, Independent Sen, Bernie Sanders –, Biden’s –, Sanders, ” Sanders, Kirby, “, Putin, ” Kirby, CNN’s Nikki Carvajal, Haley Talbot Organizations: Washington CNN, International, ICC, Israeli, Israel’s Defense, Biden, GOP, National Security, Independent, Mr Locations: Israel, Rafah, Gaza, Russian, Britain, Germany, United States, Ukraine

☆ Michael Cohen gives Donald Trump his best day in hush money trial so far
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

CNN —Donald Trump finally had a good day in court. But on Thursday, he got to savor his former fixer-turned-enemy Michael Cohen wobbling on the stand under a fearsome cross-examination. And now, the prosecution faces a stiff challenge in repairing the damage when they get to their redirect examination of Cohen’s testimony following the close of cross-examination next week. “I think it was a very interesting day, it was a fascinating day. And it also raises the possibility that some jurors might believe that they have been lied to by Cohen earlier in the trial.

Persons: Donald Trump, Michael Cohen wobbling, Cohen, Stormy Daniels, “, ” Ryan Goodman, CNN’s Erin Burnett, ” Trump, Matt Gaetz, Trump, Todd Blanche, Blanche, Daniels, ’, Keith Schiller, Schiller, …, ” Blanche, President Trump, doesn’t, ”, Juan Merchan, Nikki Lotze, “ Jim, Norm Eisen, ” Eisen, CNN’s Anderson Cooper, George Conway, ” Cohen, kingpins, Cohen’s Organizations: CNN, GOP, Trump, NYU Law, Florida, Conservative

☆ Jake Sullivan met in-person with representatives of countries whose citizens Hamas took hostage
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Mj Lee | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan convened for the first time this week an in-person meeting of ambassadors and chiefs of mission representing countries whose citizens were taken hostage by Hamas on October 7, CNN has learned, as a ceasefire and hostages release deal remains stalled. Those 17 countries, along with the United States, have citizens whom Hamas took captive at the outbreak of the Israel-Hamas war. The meeting comes at a critical moment when the efforts to secure the release of hostages and Gaza ceasefire appear to have stalled once again. Multiple US diplomats have told CNN in recent weeks that they are consistently hearing those concerns from their counterparts abroad. Still, the White House has also been clear that the US remains a steadfast supporter of Israel, including its right to defend itself.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Jake Sullivan, Sullivan, Israel, “, ” Sullivan, Biden, ”, CNN’s Erin Burnett Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Hamas, Qatar –, United Nations, Israel, White Locations: Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Colombia, Denmark, France, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Spain, Thailand, United Kingdom, United States, Israel, Gaza, Egypt, Qatar, Rafah

☆ House to vote on bill to prevent Biden from withholding weapons to Israel as GOP ramps up pressure on Democrats
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-16 | by ( Clare Foran | Melanie Zanona | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The House vote has seemingly been partly designed to put pressure on Democrats and is expected to expose divisions within the party over the issue. The bill is unlikely to be taken up in the Democratic-led Senate and the White House has said that Biden would veto the bill if Congress passed it. The Biden administration on Tuesday began the early stages of a process to move ahead with a new $1 billion arms deal for Israel, according to two congressional sources. The move comes as the Biden administration has paused the shipment of 2,000-pound bombs and 500-pound bombs to Israel, citing opposition to the weapons being used in the densely populated areas of Rafah. Biden has come under extraordinary pressure, including from some members of his own party, to limit shipments of arms amid a humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Benjamin Netanyahu, Israel ”, Adam Smith, “, ” Smith, ”, Kevin Liptak, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, GOP, Congress, State Department, Defense Department, National Security Council, Democratic, White, Tuesday, House Democratic, Hamas, Israel, ” Democratic, House Armed Services Committee Locations: Israel, Gaza, United States, Rafah

☆ Think corporate greed is the leading cause of inflation? Think again
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Matt Egan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

New York CNN —Some progressives have frequently blamed corporate greed for fueling the high cost of living that Americans are fed up with. That’s corporate greed. That’s corporate greed. Although the paper did not directly mention corporate greed, shrinkflation or Biden, the research undercuts the argument that greedflation drove the early inflation. That report found corporate profits were to blame for 34% of inflation since the start of Covid-19.

Persons: Sen, Elizabeth Warren, ” Warren, “ That’s, It’s, —, ”, Joe Biden, ” Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Biden, – we’re, shrinkflation, greedflation, Jeremy Edwards, ” Edwards, “, –, Greg Valliere, ” Valliere, Jerome Powell, Caroline Ciccone, profiteer Organizations: New, New York CNN, Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, Fed, SF Fed, ”, CNN, White, AGF Investments, Federal Reserve, Federal, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City Locations: New York, America, Kansas

☆ Prosecution seeks to land Trump hush money case as Cohen cross-examination looms
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

“This case is going to turn in large part on the cross-examination of Mr. Cohen. Cohen said that Trump told him: “Women are going to hate me. “This was all about the campaign.” Cohen also testified that Trump said he would not be on the market for long, implying he could get another wife quickly. Throughout his testimony, Cohen said he always kept Trump up to speed with his activities. “Everything required Mr. Trump’s sign-off,” he said, noting the Daniels payment was no exception.

Persons: CNN — “, Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s, Cohen, Trump, ” Ryan Goodman, CNN’s Erin Burnett, ” Trump, Bernarda Villalona, “, Donald Trump, ”, “ Michael Cohen, David Schoen, ” Schoen, CNN’s Wolf, quagmire, Joe Biden, Judge Juan Merchan, Cohen –, –, Ohio Sen, J.D, Vance, Alabama Sen, Tommy Tuberville, mulls, “ What’s, Stormy Daniels, Susan Hoffinger, Hoffinger, Daniels, Daniels ’, —, ” Cohen, smirked, Trump’s, ’, ‘, reimbursements Cohen, Allen Weisselberg Organizations: CNN, Prosecutors, Republican, NYU Law, Trump, New, New York Times, Judge, Alabama, GOP, Ohio Republican, Trump Organization, White House Locations: New York, Siena, York, Ohio

☆ Stormy Daniels’ husband says they’ll likely leave country if Trump is acquitted
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-14 | by ( Piper Hudspethblackburn | Piper Hudspeth Blackburn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —The husband of adult film actress Stormy Daniels said on Tuesday that there’s a “good chance” the couple will leave the country if former President Donald Trump is acquitted in his Manhattan criminal trial. “Either way, I don’t think it gets better for her. Prosecutors allege that Trump broke the law by falsifying business records to reimburse his former lawyer Michael Cohen and conceal a “hush money” payment made to Daniels on Trump’s behalf. “If that story was untrue, I would have written it to be a lot better,” Daniels said of her encounter with Trump. “This is all her fighting for what she believes is right and telling the truth, and I don’t think a lot of people realize that,” he continued.

Persons: Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump, Barrett, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Daniels, “, it’s, we’ll, Blade, Trump, nominee’s, ”, Michael Cohen, Cohen, Susan Necheles, ” Daniels, Burnett, Shania Shelton, Jeremy Herb, Lauren del Valle, Kara Scannell Organizations: CNN, Republican, Trump, Prosecutors, Wall Street

☆ US assesses Israel has amassed enough troops to launch full-scale incursion into Rafah, officials say
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-13 | by ( Mj Lee | Kylie Atwood | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

If Israel were to proceed with a major ground operation into Rafah, it would be going against months of warnings from the US to forego a full-scale offensive into the densely populated city. Going “headlong into Rafah” could have dire consequences, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned on Sunday. “They couldn’t launch an attack of that scale today.”“Their weapons production factories underground have been eliminated. However, the Biden administration has been ramping up the pressure on Israel to start focusing much more in earnest on post-war Gaza plans – so far, to little effect. Blinken publicly called on Israel to engage more seriously on developing a plan for post-war Gaza over the weekend.

Persons: CNN —, Biden, Joe Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Jake Sullivan, Kurt Campbell, ” Campbell, Benjamin Netanyahu’s, ”, Antony Blinken, “ Israel’s, ” Blinken, Israel, Matt Miller, “, Yahya Sinwar, Blinken, “ We’ve Organizations: CNN, Israel, White, State, NATO Youth Summit, Aspen Institute, Press, Hamas, CBS Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel

CNN —President Joe Biden is facing backlash from lawmakers in both parties over his ultimatum that a major Israeli offensive in the city of Rafah would result in a shut-off of some US weapons. “So if you’re worried about Palestinian casualties, the stated policy here actually doesn’t make a ton of sense,” Vance said. The president’s announcement amounted to a turning point in US-Israeli ties since the seven-month conflict between Israel and Hamas began in October. Still, the president’s aides said the message shouldn’t have been a surprise to their intended recipients in Israel given repeated warnings to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. “I think President Biden has taken forceful action – so much so there’s been a lot of blowback for his recent public statement.”CNN’s Kit Maher, Aileen Graef, Kevin Liptak, Jennifer Hansler and Kylie Atwood contributed to this report.

Persons: Joe Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, “, Republican Sen, JD Vance, CNN’s Dana, ”, Biden, ” Vance, Benjamin Netanyahu, Burnett, Israel, Lindsey Graham of, Graham, GOP Sen, Rick Scott of, Israel ”, Josh Gottheimer, Adam Smith, Erin Burnett, –, Netanyahu, Democratic Sen, Chris Murphy, Bash, Murphy, Antony Blinken, ” Blinken, Chris Van Hollen, Margaret Brennan, Van Hollen, ” Van Hollen, ” Murphy, ” Democratic Sen, Chris Coons, Van Hollen’s, there’s, ” CNN’s Kit Maher, Aileen Graef, Kevin Liptak, Jennifer Hansler, Kylie Atwood Organizations: CNN, GOP, Republican, Union, Hamas, Fox News, Democrats, House Democrats, Rep, Congress, Democratic, Connecticut, “, CBS, Ministry, Health, State Department, ” Democratic Locations: Rafah, Ohio, “ State, Israel, Rafah —, Gaza, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Rick Scott of Florida, New Jersey, Washington, ”, Iraq, Afghanistan, United States, Maryland, Chris Coons of Delaware

☆ Middle East Crisis White House Aide Warns Israel Against ‘Smashing Into Rafah’
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Erica L. Green | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

John F. Kirby, a White House national security spokesman, said President Biden is concerned that an Israeli assault on Rafah would strengthen Hamas. Smashing into Rafah, in his view, will not advance that objective, will not get to that sustainable, enduring defeat of Hamas. But Mr. Biden has grown increasingly wary of a major assault in the densely populated city of Rafah in southern Gaza. Credit... Abir Sultan/EPA, via ShutterstockMr. Kirby also tried to assuage concerns that the United States was breaking with its closest ally in the Middle East. Mr. Biden’s decision to pause certain weapons shipments to Israel underscored brewing frustrations between Mr. Biden and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel.

Persons: John F, Kirby, Biden, Israel “, ” Mr, Israel —, Israel, Mr, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Abir, Biden’s, “, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, God’s, ” Organizations: White House, ., American, Congress Locations: Rafah, Israel, Gaza, United States, “, I’m, Israeli, Abir Sultan, Egypt

☆ Tension with Israel represents only one of Biden’s immense election challenges
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-10 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

New York prosecutors claim he falsified business records to hide a payment to Stormy Daniels in an early act of election interference in 2016. Trump’s base voters have no problems either with his criminal trials or his false claims that he was cheated out of office. Israel may be far from the biggest worry for Trump’s campaignPolls consistently show that voters care most about the economy. And voters who say the economy is very important to their vote backed Trump over Biden 62% to 30%. It’s not clear that heated Republicans attacks on Biden over Israel Thursday will seriously wound him with his own voters.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, Donald Trump –, pollsters, Trump, Stormy Daniels, He’s, Biden outpolls, Trump’s, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Burnett, ”, ” Biden, ’, George H.W, Bush, ” Bush, Bill Clinton, Clinton, Israel —, Benjamin Netanyahu, Netanyahu, Republican Sen, Thom Tillis, GOP Sen, Josh Hawley Organizations: CNN, New, Republican, Biden, Federal, Capitol, Arab American, Hamas, Israel, Israel Thursday, GOP, Capitol Hill, Democratic Locations: Wisconsin, East, Ukraine, Gaza, America, Manhattan, New York, it’s, Israel, United States, Arkansas, Scranton, Gazan, Rafah, Michigan, Missouri

☆ Live updates: Israel-Hamas war, looming Rafah invasion, Gaza devastation
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Helen Regan | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Joe Biden delivers remarks on May 8, in Sturtevant, Wis. on May 8. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci) Evan Vucci/APPresident Joe Biden said he would halt some shipments of US weapons to Israel if Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu orders a major invasion of the city of Rafah. “Civilians have been killed in Gaza as a consequence of those bombs and other ways in which they go after population centers,” Biden told CNN’s Erin Burnett in an exclusive interview, referring to 2,000-pound bombs that Biden paused shipments of last week. Biden's comments echo global alarm mounting over Israel's moves in Rafah, where more than 1 million Palestinians have fled and Hamas is believed to have regrouped after Israel’s destruction of much of the strip’s north. The Israeli military's operation in Rafah has expanded from airstrikes to ground operations, which include bulldozing, new satellite imagery obtained by CNN from Planet Labs shows.

Persons: Joe Biden, Evan Vucci, Benjamin Netanyahu, ” Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett Organizations: Biden, CNN, Planet Labs Locations: Sturtevant, Wis, Israel, Rafah, Gaza, Israeli

Washington CNN —President Joe Biden’s decision this week to make public his ultimatum that a major Israeli offensive in the city of Rafah would result in a shut-off of some US weapons did not come easily or lightly. Last week, Biden signed off on a pause of 3,500 bombs to Israel that administration officials feared would be dropped on Rafah. Aware or not of the president’s views, Israeli officials reacted with shock to the public announcement. Israeli officials also sought to downplay the significance of Biden’s announcement. It marked the clearest signal yet that six months into the war, Biden was starting to seriously consider conditioning US support for Israel.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Benjamin Netanyahu, Biden’s, Netanyahu, Biden, Still, CNN’s Erin Burnett, he’d, ” Biden, Burnett, wasn’t, “, Erin Burnett, ”, John Kirby, Kirby, Daniel Hagari, Israel, –, Jesus, Israel’s, ” Kirby, straightforwardly, pare, Donald Trump, Utah Sen, Mitt Romney, Mike Johnson, who’d, Pennsylvania Sen, John Fetterman, they’re, CNN’s Manu Raju, Sen, Jon Tester, Ben Cardin, “ I’m, I’ve, we’ve, ” Sen, Bernie Sanders Organizations: Washington CNN, Israel Defense Forces, White, National Security, CNN, Kitchen, Capitol, Israel, Biden’s CNN, GOP, Politico, Pennsylvania, Foreign Relations Locations: Rafah, Gaza, Israel, Wisconsin, I’m, Rafah Israel, “ Israel, Utah, Montana, Vermont

☆ Biden’s threat to halt weapons deliveries sparks anger and infighting among Israeli officials
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-09 | by ( Ivana Kottasová | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

The comment from Biden to CNN is a major setback for Israel’s war. The US is by far Israel’s most important and most powerful ally, and without its support, Israel’s firepower and ambitions in Gaza would be weakened. Despite mounting international pressure, the Biden administration has stood firmly with Israel, delivering weapons and other forms of support. Biden comments have sparked significant anger among some Israeli politicians. Other top Israeli officials also criticized Ben Gvir.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Biden, CNN’s Erin Burnett, Gilad Erdan, Benjamin Netanyahu, ”, Netanyahu, Miki Zohar, Itamar Ben Gvir, Hamas ❤️ Biden, Isaac Herzog, Ben Gvir, Yair Lapid, Merav Michaeli, “ Netanyahu Organizations: CNN, United Nations, Likud, Twitter, National Security, Hamas, Yesh, IDF, Israeli Labor Party Locations: United States, Israel, Rafah, Gaza, State

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