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☆ Election Updates: Biden and Trump are aiming to have two debates, the first in June.
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Jonathan Swan | Maggie Haberman | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +13 min

Mr. Biden recently indicated he would debate Mr. Trump, but had until now declined to give any firm commitment or specific details. In a video announcing his offer, Mr. Biden taunted Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump leads Mr. Biden in most polls of battleground states, including the recent surveys by The New York Times, Siena College and The Philadelphia Inquirer. Significantly more voters trust Mr. Trump over Mr. Biden to handle the economy. Mr. Biden, exasperated, famously said to Mr. Trump, “Will you shut up, man?

Persons: Biden, Donald J, Trump, —, Robert F, Kennedy Jr, Mr, Biden’s, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, O’Malley Dillon, ”, Trump’s, “ Let’s, Donald, Ms, Mark Makela, “ Will, Susie Wiles, Chris LaCivita, Reagan, “, There’s, Kennedy, Wiles, LaCivita, George W, Bush’s, Barack Obama, Mitt Romney, Richard Perry, Romney, Hillary Clinton’s, Bill Clinton, Reid J, Epstein Organizations: The New York Times, Biden, Commission, Mr, Trump, “, ”, Republican National Convention, Republican National Committee, Siena College, The Philadelphia Inquirer, White House, CNN, Electoral College —, Republican, Democratic, ” Networks, CBS News, ABC News, Telemundo Locations: Washington, Trump’s Manhattan, York, Milwaukee, America

☆ Biden issues a challenge to Trump as he withdraws from traditional debate dates
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-15 | by ( Betsy Klein | Michael Williams | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

In the letter, the campaign proposed debate dates in June and September. CNN has reached out to the Trump campaign and the committee for comment. In recent public appearances, Trump has seemed eager to debate Biden – he set up an empty lectern at a campaign rally in Wisconsin early last month in a taunt to Biden. The Commission on Presidential Debates announced dates for three presidential debates last November. The campaign also proposed that a vice presidential debate take place in late July after the Republican Party nominates its candidate for that position.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Donald Trump, Biden, “ Donald Trump, ” Biden, I’ll, Donald –, Biden’s, Trump, Biden –, “, Joe, ” Trump, Jen O’Malley Dillon, ” Organizations: Washington CNN, CNN, Presidential, Republican Party Locations: Wisconsin, Green Bay, Texas, Virginia, Utah

☆ Behind Closed Doors, Biden Campaign Gathers Major Donors in New York
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-29 | by ( Shane Goldmacher | More About Shane Goldmacher | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The morning after President Biden’s fund-raiser with former Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, his campaign has planned a daylong retreat on Friday for 175 of his biggest financiers and fund-raisers in New York. The gathering of what the campaign calls Mr. Biden’s national finance committee will feature a half-dozen briefings from his top political advisers, including his campaign manager, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, and two former top White House advisers who have moved over to help lead his campaign, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon and Mike Donilon. The meeting at the InterContinental New York Barclay hotel is a sign of how the president has drawn his financial strength not only from grass-roots contributors but also from major donors who can cut checks as large as $929,600 to the Biden Victory Fund, a shared venture of Mr. Biden and the national and state Democratic Parties. To qualify as a member of Mr. Biden’s national finance team, donors are asked to write a check for at least $47,900.

Persons: Biden’s, Bill Clinton, Barack Obama, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, Mike Donilon, InterContinental New York Barclay, Biden Organizations: White, InterContinental New, Biden, Fund, Mr, Democratic Locations: New York, InterContinental New York

☆ Michael ‘Venom’ Page: Explosive knockouts, unique fighting style and a love for dancing - meet the UFC’s newest debutant
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-07 | by ( Ben Morse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Twelve years on, the fighter from London will make his UFC debut against Kevin Holland on March 9 at UFC 299. “But the fighting style, I’d say that comes from, it’s part of my personality. I love to dance, love to smile, just loud, a bit more like outgoing.”Page is hoping a UFC welterweight title fight against Leon Edwards could happen in the future. While some of his family members gave up competitive fighting as the years went by, Page stuck with it. And I don’t think it’s happened before, two UK fighters fighting for a UFC title,” said Page.

Persons: Michael Page, Anderson Silva, Kevin Holland, ”, it’s, ” Page, There’s, Leon Edwards, Chris Unger, Lau, Page, London Shootfighters, Shootfighters, “, ’, Logan Storley, Zac Goodwin, Dwayne ‘, ’ Johnson, Evangelista Santos, Michael ‘ Venom, Williams Paul, –, he’s, he’ll, Holland, what’s, Briton Leon Edwards, Michael ‘ Venom ’, Vera Organizations: CNN, YouTube, UFC, CNN Sport, London, Press Association, WWE, ‘, Holland, TNT Sports, Turner Sports, Warner Bros, Discovery, Warner Bros . Locations: London, Caribbean, Miami

The campaign aides plan to discuss their general election message and outlook for the year, as well as ongoing mobilization efforts. “Together, President Biden, Vice President Harris, and House Democrats have delivered on a historic agenda for the American people,” Rodriguez said ahead of the meeting. Since Trump romped to resounding victories in the Iowa and New Hampshire contests last month, the Biden campaign has effectively acted as if the general election race with Trump has already started. The March engagement plan will help fortify a campaign operation and grassroots network for Biden and House Democrats that they will further ramp up as they work to persuade voters later this year. House Democrats are in the northern Virginia town, about 30 miles from Washington, for their annual retreat.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, Quentin Fulks, Mitch Landrieu, Louisa Terrell, Jen O’Malley Dillon, President Biden, Harris, ” Rodriguez, Biden, Donald Trump, handwringing, Trump romped, ” Organizations: WASHINGTON, —, Democrats, White, White House, House Democrats, Biden, Trump, Wednesday, Republicans Locations: Leesburg , Virginia, Chicago, Iowa, New Hampshire, New York, Virginia, Washington

☆ How the Biden campaign is breaking with the Obama reelection model
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-01 | by ( Mj Lee | Edward-Isaac Dovere | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

The Biden reelection campaign is rejecting the political organizing model that Obama used during his campaign for a second term in 2012, in which Obama largely shunned the Democratic National Committee and opted instead to set up his own vast electioneering machine. Several top DNC officials at the time complained that they were ignored by Obama, while state parties complained they were starved for resources. “One of the big challenges in 2012 was a national competition and rub between (Organizing For Action) and the state parties. Jim Messina, Obama’s 2012 campaign manager, previously told CNN that he believes the Obama campaign spent too much too early. Though O’Malley Dillon will now shift fully into politics, she remained deeply engaged with campaign operations throughout her time in the West Wing.

Persons: Joe Biden’s, Barack Obama, Obama, Biden, ”, Ray Buckley, “, Trump, officeholder, Ben Wikler, ’, —, Morgan Jackson, ” Jackson, Jim Messina, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Biden’s, O’Malley Dillon, Anita Dunn, Mike Donilon Organizations: Washington CNN, Biden, Democratic National Committee, Democratic, CNN, New Hampshire Democratic, White, New, Republican, West, Wisconsin Democratic Party, Wisconsin Democratic, DNC, White House, Trump, North Carolina – Locations: “, New Hampshire, North Carolina, South Carolina , Georgia, Nevada , Michigan , Wisconsin , New Hampshire , Pennsylvania, Arizona, Wisconsin, Georgia , Nevada , Arizona, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Obama’s, –, Wilmington , Delaware, Nevada, Delaware

☆ Biden is ready to turn the page toward a face-off with Trump. His path to reelection won’t be an easy one.
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-24 | by ( Kevin Liptak | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

Hours after, he was projected to win the New Hampshire primary race even though his name wasn’t on the ballot. “In politics, you run like you’re down when you’re winning or when you’re losing,” Biden campaign co-chair Cedric Richmond said Wednesday. “I think President Biden’s going to help people win, in the end. That is part of what influenced the decision, announced Tuesday, to shift two key West Wing advisers from the White House to Biden’s campaign. But one thing Biden’s teams believe will help center their arguments is a clearer race between Biden and Trump.

Persons: Joe Biden, Donald Trump, Biden, Janet Yellen, you’re, ” Biden, Cedric Richmond, “ We’re, ”, Nikki Haley’s, Quentin Fulks, Gaza Biden, Joe ”, Debbie Dingell, Jake Tapper, Dingell, Biden’s, We’ve, we’ve, “, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Mike Donilon, David Axelrod, Barack Obama, that’s, Lyndon Johnson, Jim Clyburn, Trump, he’s, milkshake Organizations: Washington CNN, Trump, Republican, New, United Auto Workers, UAW, White, Michigan Democrat, ” Democratic, West, White House, Democratic, CNN, ”, Wing, Biden, Hamas Locations: Gaza, Virginia, New Hampshire, Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa, Israel, Northern Virginia, Wilmington , Delaware, South Carolina, Nevada

☆ Five takeaways from the New Hampshire primary
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Eric Bradner | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

But she’ll be battling history: In modern presidential campaign history, no non-incumbent has won the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary without going on to win his party’s nomination. Here are five takeaways from the New Hampshire primaries:Trump wants Haley out — nowIn what were expected to be celebratory remarks Tuesday night in New Hampshire, Trump instead sounded annoyed that Haley had not yet dropped out of the Republican primary race. There are dozens of states left to go,” Haley told supporters in her election night speech Tuesday in New Hampshire. Haley waves to the audience as she speaks at a New Hampshire primary night rally, in Concord, New Hampshire, on Tuesday. (Trump skipped all five Republican primary debates, and has shown no indication he’d consider participating in one.)

Persons: Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Haley, she’ll, Trump, seethed, “, Joe Biden, —, ”, Vivek Ramaswamy, South Carolina Sen, Tim Scott, ” Ramaswamy, Haley’s, “ megadonors, Scott, Tim, ” Trump, ” Scott, Julie Chavez Rodriguez, won’t, ” Haley, What’s, Ron DeSantis, Mark Harris, Charles Krupa, Biden, Haley outperforms, ” Biden, Biden’s, Evelyn Hockstein, Dean Phillips, Marianne Williamson, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Mike Donilon Organizations: CNN, New, South Carolina Gov, Republican, Trump, White House, Republicans, America, South Carolina Republican, Senate, ’, South Carolina —, Florida Gov, —, Haley, SFA Fund, Republicans ’, South, Trump’s, New Hampshire Republican, Democratic, Democratic National Committee, Hylton Performing Arts Center Locations: New Hampshire, South Carolina, Iowa, Virginia, “, “ New Hampshire, Nevada, Florida, North Charleston, Concord , New Hampshire, CNN’s, America, Manassas , Virginia, Minnesota, Wilmington

☆ A Top Biden Aide Is Taking the Reins of His Re-election Campaign
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Reid J. Epstein | More About Reid J. Epstein | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

President Biden has approved a shake-up of the leadership of his campaign, and will dispatch a top White House aide to take over functional control of his re-election effort just as former President Donald J. Trump appears to be seizing control of the Republican primary contest to oppose him. The aide, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, who was the campaign manager for Mr. Biden’s 2020 campaign and has served as a deputy chief of staff in the White House since he became president, will move to the Biden 2024 headquarters in Wilmington, Del., and direct the campaign’s efforts, according to five people familiar with the discussions. It is unclear precisely what title Ms. O’Malley Dillon will take at the campaign or when the announcement will be made, though it could come later this week. Julie Chávez Rodríguez, the campaign’s manager since shortly after it began in April, is expected to retain that title. “Our campaign manager is and will continue to oversee the president’s re-election efforts, and this campaign will remain laser-focused on defeating Donald Trump and MAGA extremism at the ballot box this November,” said Michael Tyler, the campaign’s communications director.

Persons: Biden, Donald J, Trump, Jennifer O’Malley Dillon, Biden’s, O’Malley Dillon, Julie Chávez Rodríguez, “, Donald Trump, ”, Michael Tyler Organizations: White, Republican, MAGA Locations: Wilmington, Del

☆ Democrats Fret That Biden’s Power Players Are Not at His Campaign Base
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-14 | by ( Michael D. Shear | Katie Rogers | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

With less than 10 months to go until the 2024 election, the nerve center of President Biden’s bid for a second term is stationed not at his campaign’s headquarters in Delaware but within feet of the Oval Office. Each time, no move happened after the president told aides he wanted to keep Mr. Donilon within walking distance. Anita Dunn, the longtime Democratic operative who stepped in to help revive Mr. Biden’s fledging operation four years ago, is crafting the re-election message again, even as she oversees communications at the White House. Jen O’Malley Dillon, Mr. Biden’s deputy White House chief of staff and former campaign manager, is also splitting her day job with her role as one of the most powerful voices in the campaign. So far, almost none of the people in the president’s inner circle have left for campaign headquarters in Wilmington, Del., prompting some donors and strategists to worry that too much of Mr. Biden’s team remains cloistered inside the White House.

Persons: Biden’s, Mike Donilon, Anita Dunn, Jen O’Malley Dillon Organizations: Democratic, White Locations: Delaware, Wilmington, Del

☆ ‘Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,’ Almost
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-19 | by ( Maya Phillips | More About Maya Phillips | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Did you know that at some point in the ’90s there were two separate, very different Sonic the Hedgehog TV series running simultaneously? “And the same guy played Sonic in both shows,” Scott Pilgrim, the doofy 23-year-old layabout of “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off,” shares, unprompted, to his love interest, Ramona Flowers. The same guy playing two different versions of the same guy? It’s almost like how the same guy (Michael Cera) has now played two different versions of this same guy (Scott Pilgrim) — first in Edgar Wright’s damn-near-perfect 2010 film, “Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,” and now in this underwhelming Netflix anime adaptation, both based on Bryan Lee O’Malley’s beloved graphic novel series. “Scott Pilgrim Takes Off” isn’t a reboot or a sequel; it begins almost identically to the film but takes a sharp turn at the end of the first episode that sets it up as essentially an alternate-reality scenario.

Persons: ” Scott Pilgrim, “ Scott Pilgrim, Ramona Flowers, “, Michael Cera, Scott Pilgrim, —, Edgar Wright’s, Bryan Lee O’Malley’s, Scott, Ramona Organizations: Netflix Locations: Toronto, “

☆ ‘Scott Pilgrim’ Is Back, Now in Anime Form
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-15 | by ( George Gene Gustines | More About George Gene Gustines | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Even for those who have read the comic, seen the film or played the video game version, the anime will hold surprises. (There was a robust list of topics and guest voice actors that reporters were asked not to spoil.) O’Malley and Grabinski came to the New York Times offices last month to discuss the new series, reuniting the movie cast and what comes next for Scott Pilgrim. GRABINSKI I wanted to spend as much time as I could with the ensemble. The first thing I think of when I think of anime is villain scenes.

Persons: Grabinski, Scott Pilgrim, BENDAVID GRABINSKI Bryan, Science Saru, BRYAN LEE O’MALLEY, BenDavid, GRABINSKI, O’MALLEY, “ Organizations: New York Times, Netflix, Science Locations: Hollywood, Ramona

COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Republican Party’s once-crowded 2024 presidential primary field has suddenly shrunk to just a handful of viable candidates. Instead, the fight between Nikki Haley and Ron DeSantis for a distant second place appears to be intensifying. Political Cartoons View All 1244 Images“Now I’m hoping the field clears and it’s Nikki Haley one-on-one with the former president,” Druckenmillier told The Associated Press. Scott entered the 2024 campaign to much anticipation — especially in Iowa — as a close friend to Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst and a devoted evangelical Christian. And his modest share of support in late-summer Iowa polls shrunk by late fall as DeSantis and Haley appeared more viable.

Persons: Republican Party’s, Sen, Tim Scott of, Donald Trump, Nikki Haley, Ron DeSantis, Iowa's Jan, Haley, Scott's, Stanley Druckenmillier, Scott, ” Druckenmillier, Andrew Romeo, Mike Pence, ”, DeSantis, Kim Reynolds, Tim Scott, ” Romeo, “, Nikki Haley’s, Trump, Vivek Ramaswamy, Christie, Doug Burgum, Asa Hutchinson, they're, Pence, Privately, Ron DeSanctimonious, Nikki ‘ Birdbrain ’ Haley, ‘, Tim, ’, ’ ”, Iowa Sen, Joni Ernst, Republican bundler Eric Levine, ” Levine, “ It’s Nikki, Devin O’Malley, Pence’s, He’s, ” O’Malley, ___, Beaumont Organizations: COLUMBIA, Republican, GOP, United Nations, Associated Press, Iowa Gov, New, New Jersey Gov, Christie . North Dakota Gov, Arkansas Gov, Trump, South, Fox News, AP, Iowa GOP, ___ Peoples Locations: Tim Scott of South Carolina, Scott's South Carolina, Florida, Iowa, Alabama, New Jersey, Christie ., New Hampshire, South Carolina, New York, Des Moines , Iowa

He ordered up an economic analysis and spoke to company officials about the plant, according to White House officials. On Thursday, Biden will visit Belvidere to showcase that same auto plant, which has reopened as part of the settlement of a targeted strike by the United Auto Workers union. O'Malley Dillon said the UAW contracts and the auto plant reopening reflect a larger focus on workers by the president. The contracts, if approved by 146,000 union members in the coming weeks, would dramatically raise pay for auto workers. Top assembly plant workers would earn roughly $42 per hour.

Persons: Joe Biden, Biden, he's, ”, Jen O’Malley Dillon, White, O'Malley Dillon, Donald Trump, Gene Sperling, Trump, Shawn Fain, J.B . Pritzker, Stellantis Organizations: WASHINGTON, Biden, White, United Auto Workers, Dodge, UAW, Labor, White House, Illinois Gov, Motors, Ford, Republican Locations: Chicago, Belvidere, China, United States

☆ Exclusive: Biden taps ex-Maryland Governor O'Malley to run Social Security agency
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-26 | by ( Trevor Hunnicutt | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

O'Malley, a Democrat, would need to be confirmed by the Senate to become commissioner of the Social Security Administration at a time when political partisanship has made confirming presidential nominees increasingly difficult. "Since Day 1 I have fought to strengthen and defend Social Security, which tens of millions of Americans have paid into and depend on to support their livelihoods. I know that Governor O’Malley will continue to be a strong partner that works tirelessly to protect Social Security for generations to come." The over $1 trillion budget U.S. Social Security agency has been run by an acting commissioner, Kilolo Kijakazi, since Biden in 2021 fired the Trump holdover Andrew Saul after he refused to resign. The main Social Security trust fund's reserves will be depleted within a decade, the program's trustees and the Congressional Budget Office both estimated this year.

Persons: Joe Biden, Martin O'Malley, O'Malley, Hillary Clinton, O’Malley, Biden, Kilolo Kijakazi, Andrew Saul, Kevin McCarthy, Trevor Hunnicutt, Heather Timmons, Andrea Ricci Organizations: Maryland, U.S, Social Security, White House, Reuters, Democrat, Senate, Social Security Administration, Democratic, Social, Trump, Republican, Congressional, Thomson Locations: Baltimore, O'Malley's, Maryland, Florida, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania

☆ Slow pace of Biden’s reelection campaign feeds Democrats’ 2024 anxiety
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-13 | by ( Edward-Isaac Dovere | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

It’s a persistent sense that the inner circle of advisers to the president and several of the very few aides who have been hired for his reelection campaign dismiss as absurd. “They are so underestimated, and they keep getting it right,” said Jim Messina, former president Barack Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign manager, who has been one of the people privately advising Biden’s team to ramp up gradually. “We will grow and ramp up alongside the Biden campaign, probably in late fall or early next year,” Barnes said. “The most important power of incumbency is taking time to plan and build your campaign while your challenger is busy with a primary,” a Democratic campaign veteran said. “You can raise more now, but President Biden is raising less,” a veteran Democratic fundraiser on the West Coast said.

Persons: –, Joe Biden won’t, Biden, “, ”, Jim Messina, Barack Obama’s, Obama, aren’t, Donald Trump, ‘, “ I’m, Trump’s, David Axelrod, “ Trump, ” Axelrod, Biden’s, Kevin Munoz, Harris, Roe, Wade, Mitt Romney, Trump, Jen O’Malley Dillon, Messina, ” Messina, Roy Cooper, you’re, ” Cooper, Kamala Harris, Lavora Barnes, Julie Chávez Rodriguez, Barnes, ” Barnes, ’ ”, Axelrod, who’s, – “ it’s, Larry Cohen, Bernie Sanders, Obama’s –, Lis Smith Organizations: CNN, Democratic, Trump, GOP, Republicans, MAGA Republicans, Biden, Democratic National Committee, Republican, America, White, North Carolina Gov, ” Michigan Democratic Party, Communications Workers of America, Obama, Biden pessimists Locations: America, Wilmington, Capitol Hill, Washington, Chicago, stoke

☆ Biden bets DeSantis’ ‘Florida blueprint’ will help him flip the Sunshine State and win reelection
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-21 | by ( Edward-Isaac Dovere | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +15 min

Shevrin Jones, a Florida state senator and member of the Biden campaign’s advisory board of elected officials, said he’s eager to tell the country the story of what he’s seen under DeSantis’ leadership. Biden and DeSantis and their wives walk to meet with local residents affected by Hurricane Ian in Fort Myers, Florida, on October 5, 2022. The voter registration advantage Florida Democrats had when President Barack Obama narrowly won the state in 2012 has flipped to Republicans. An adviser to the former New York City mayor told CNN that so far, there has been no outreach to Bloomberg’s operation from either the Biden campaign or the DNC. There was also a fleeting belief that they could push Biden over the top in Florida – though Trump ended up carrying the state by 3 points.

☆ The Tiny, Tight-Lipped Circle of Aides Guiding Biden 2024
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-27 | by ( Reid J. Epstein | Katie Glueck | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

When President Biden announced his re-election campaign and its top two staff members this week, the names of his closest and longest-serving advisers were not included. A small circle of senior officials, some who have known Mr. Biden for longer than many of the soon-to-be-hired campaign staff members have been alive, will guide the president’s political strategy both in the White House and on the campaign trail. Of the six, only Jennifer O’Malley Dillon and Jeff Zients, the White House chief of staff, have active Twitter accounts. But it was members of this group who began making phone calls last weekend to offer positions on Mr. Biden’s campaign, only some of which have been announced. Officials in the White House and on his nascent campaign insist the campaign manager, Julie Chávez Rodríguez, will be empowered to run Mr. Biden’s re-election bid.

CNN —President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden capped South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol’s official state visit with a glamorous state dinner at the White House Wednesday night to celebrate the two nations’ 70-year alliance. May we do it together for another 170 years.”But Biden wasn’t the only leader who took the mic. Following a round of musical performances, his South Korean counterpart joined him on stage to give his own – a karaoke rendition of Don McClean’s “American Pie” – which received a standing ovation from the crowd. The elaborate dinner is the result of weeks of careful diplomatic preparations, with each detail meticulously planned by a team of White House chefs, social staff, and protocol experts. U.S. President Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden pose with South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee in front of the Grand Staircase of the White House before an official State Dinner, in Washington, U.S. April 26, 2023.

A series of upcoming challenges, from the ongoing war in Ukraine to a still-uncertain economy, could provide hurdles to Biden’s reelection. The Washington beltway event may be indicative of what’s to come for the Biden reelection campaign strategy. “Just like four years ago—I’m off to teach and Joe’s launched his (re-election) campaign! Obama held his first reelection campaign rally in May 2012, 13 months after announcing his bid for a second term. The wait for a Biden reelection rally could be just as long.

Biden’s plan to run for reelection has been an open, if not officially announced, reality inside the West Wing for months. Biden said last week he had completed his “calculus” about mounting a reelection bid and would announce his intentions shortly. We’ll announce it relatively soon,” Biden said as he departed Ireland. “The trip here just reinforced my sense of optimism about what can be done,” the president told reporters. Biden’s aides have been quietly putting an infrastructure in place for a reelection campaign for months.

☆ Tiger Woods undergoes ‘successful’ surgery following Masters withdrawal
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Jack Bantock | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —Tiger Woods has completed “successful” surgery on his ankle following his withdrawal from The Masters earlier this month, the 47-year-old announced Wednesday. The surgery, performed at HSS Sports Medicine Institute in New York City, was deemed to be “successful” by Dr Martin O’Malley, according to a post from Woods’ Twitter account. “Earlier today, Tiger Woods underwent a subtalar fusion procedure to address post-traumatic arthritis from his previous talus fracture,” the statement said. Woods walks with his caddie Joe LaCava during the first round of The Masters. Andrew Redington/Getty ImagesWoods’ withdrawal at Augusta sparked further questions about his future in game, with Woods himself unsure as to how many Masters appearances he had left in him.

☆ Seeking Visibility, Pope’s Commission on Sex Abuse Gets a New Home
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-13 | by ( Jason Horowitz | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

Far from an exile, Father Small characterized the move as an expansion to a global headquarters in Rome that can serve as a monument to “the silent massacre of people’s childhoods” and make clear to survivors that they “have a right to be somewhere beautiful.”“It’s very significant,” Cardinal Sean O’Malley, the archbishop of Boston and the president of the commission, said in an interview. Despite it being “nifty” to have been in offices a stone’s throw from the pope, he said, “We have come to realize that it’s not as accessible as we would like to be.” Survivors of clerical sex abuse, he said, often feel uncomfortable coming into a Catholic church: “To have to come into the Vatican and go through the Swiss Guards and the gendarmes and everything else can be pretty daunting.”Location is far from the commission’s only problem. For decades, the church has been divided over the accountability of its hierarchy when it comes to covering up abuse, how much of a voice to give victims inside an insular institution and whether to take a more incremental or uncompromising approach to reform.

☆ FBI Finds Classified Document at Pence’s Home; Trump’s Team Handed Over More Material Found at Mar-a-Lago
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Sadie Gurman | Alex Leary | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

The Federal Bureau of Investigation removed several documents, including one with classified markings, during a search Friday of former Vice President Mike Pence‘s Indiana home, according to a spokesman for Mr. Pence. The search lasted five hours and came after his lawyers discovered classified material at his home last month and turned it over to authorities. In addition to the classified document, the FBI took six additional pages for further review, Pence spokesman Devin O’Malley said.

☆ FBI Finds Classified Document During Search of Mike Pence’s Indiana Home
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-10 | by ( Sadie Gurman | Alex Leary | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

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