At last embattled President Joe Biden is getting some good news. Sen. Joe Manchin has delivered him a big enough victory on climate, taxes and health care to salvage his main agenda at the 11th hour before this fall’s midterms.
Below are a ton of clips analyzing that deal.
Meanwhile, the economy seems to be stubbornly resisting tipping into a recession; the Fed is attacking inflation; unemployment is down, and the new Manchin deal should help stimulate a recovery.
On the foreign affairs front, Biden has met with Xi to calm tensions over Taiwan, offered a bold deal to free basketball star Griner from a Russian jail, and continues to put the squeeze on Russia in Ukraine.
Maybe due to all this, Democrats’ chances of maintaining control of the Senate are rising, to 53%, according to polling site 538.
But perhaps most significantly, Donald Trump’s support is finally eroding among Republicans. Fox is increasingly ignoring his speeches and some GOP candidates are getting bolder about speaking out against the demagogue.
As Trump’s fortunes wane, Biden’s should rise.
Incumbents always have an advantage in elections, so should he decide to run in 2024, Biden may have inside track, despite his low approval figures, concerns about his age, and the generally rebellious post-Covid mood of the country.
Until a more engaging leader emerges (Liz Cheney?), it’s doubtful either major party has a strong enough alternative at this time to unseat Biden, IMHO. Oh, there’s a new third party emerging with failed candidates like Andrew Yang, Christine Whitman, etc., but those efforts rarely gain much traction.
So I’ll leave discussion of that prospect for another day.
LATEST LINKS:
Biden pledge to tax wealthy, companies revived with Manchin-led bill (Reuters)
How Manchin struck a miracle of a deal with Schumer, Pelosi and Biden (The Hill)
Manchin’s Shock Gives Clean Tech a Welcome Jolt (Bloomberg)
Manchin says he has reached deal with Schumer on climate, health-care costs (WP)
Manchin, in Reversal, Agrees to Quick Action on Climate and Tax Plan (NYT)
Joe Manchin has handed Joe Biden a lifeline. So what now? (Independent)
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) said he’s reached a deal with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on a sweeping $740 billion package, called the Inflation Reduction Act, that will raise taxes on the wealthy to fund investments in climate and health care while also reducing the deficit. Democrats seem to have outsmarted master obstructionist Mitch McConnell with this suprise deal. [HuffPost]
Manchin breathes new life into Biden agenda (Politico)
House passes bill to subsidize U.S. manufacturing of chips, compete with China, in win for Biden (WP)
Biden administration offers convicted Russian arms dealer in exchange for Griner, Whelan (CNN)
Midterm update: 53% chance Dems control Senate; 83% chance GOP wins House (538)
Federal Reserve Makes Another Supersized Rate Increase to Tame Inflation (NYT)
U.S. economy shrinks again in second quarter, reviving recession fears (WP)
The January 6 Hearings Are Changing Republicans’ Minds (Atlantic)
Jan. 6 committee interviewed Mnuchin and engages with Trump-era Cabinet officials as it expands interest into 25th Amendment (CNN)
Yes, Social Media Really Is Undermining Democracy (Atlantic)
Democratic legislation that would protect the right to birth control and other contraceptives was blocked by a Senate Republican, a little more than a month after the Supreme Court reversed nearly 50 years of precedent and overturned abortion rights. Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) objected to a request to pass the bill via unanimous consent, dooming the measure on the Senate floor. [HuffPost]
Judges in North Dakota and Wyoming blocked enforcement of "trigger" bans on abortions, allowing health care providers in those states to resume services after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. (Reuters)
These hurricane flood maps reveal the climate future for Miami, NYC and D.C. (NPR)
Dozens of former Republican and Democratic officials are forming a new national political third party to appeal to millions of voters they say are dismayed with what they see as America's dysfunctional two-party system. (Reuters)
Northern Ukraine Comes Under Burst of Russian Attacks Far From Front Lines (WSJ)
Ukraine’s counter-offensive in Kherson ‘gathering momentum’; UK advisor warns of nuclear risk (CNBC)
Long before Russia invaded Ukraine, the Kremlin was building a network of secret agents to smooth its path. A Reuters investigation shows the infiltration went far deeper than has been acknowledged. (Reuters)
Special Military Cell Flows Weapons and Equipment Into Ukraine (NYT)
What it's like being a woman in Afghanistan today: 'death in slow motion' (NPR)
Violence against women rampant under Taliban, new report finds (WP)
Taiwan’s accelerating slide toward U.S.-China military flashpoint (Politico)
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned he’s ready to use his nuclear weapons in potential military conflicts with the U.S. and South Korea, state media said, as he unleashed fiery rhetoric against rivals he says are pushing the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war. [AP]
More tech cost-cutting: Twitter cancels Oakland office plans and downsizes in S.F. (SFC)
Study casts more doubt on use of high-dose vitamin D pills (AP)
How Long Can the Coronavirus Keep Reinfecting Us? (Atlantic)
Typhoid mutated to beat antibiotics. Science is learning how to beat those strains (NPR)
How local journalists proved a 10-year-old’s abortion wasn’t a hoax (WP)
Monarch butterflies are in trouble; Here’s how you can help (AP)
Dangerous bacterium found in Mississippi soil (BBC)
Economists Warn Americans That Money Withering To Ash In Their Hands Could Be Sign Of Recession (The Onion)
No comments:
Post a Comment