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Showing posts from April, 2023

Highlights from the White House correspondents' dinner: Punchlines, protests and more

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Highlights from the annual White House Correspondents’ Association dinner Saturday night, which was a night of laughter and at times, reflection. The annual White House Correspondents' Association dinner was held Saturday night in Washington and, as is customary, featured a mix of celebrities, media personalities and remarks from a featured performer and the president. While the night included laughs, there were also noted moments of reflection. Outside, climate protesters gathered. Here are highlights from the event. Biden's remarks: Praising journalism, joking about cable hosts Opening his address, President Joe Biden initially struck a serious tone as he addressed U.S. citizens who are being held abroad, naming Evan Gershkovich, Austin Tice, Paul Whelan and WNBA star Brittney Griner, the latter of whom was released last year. "We're working every day to secure his release, looking at opportunities and tools to bring him home," Biden said about Gershkovich, a W

2nd firm hired by Trump campaign to look into voter fraud claims subpoenaed by special counsel

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Ken Block, the founder of Simpatico Software Systems, said he was subpoenaed to turn over documents related to his work with the Trump campaign. A firm contracted by Donald Trump's presidential campaign in November 2020 to investigate claims of voter fraud has been subpoenaed by the special counsel investigating those claims, the founder of the firm told ABC News. Ken Block, the founder of Simpatico Software Systems, said he was subpoenaed to turn over documents related to his work with the Trump campaign. The firm was the second one hired by the campaign that found no widespread evidence of voter fraud . Businessman Ken Block responds to a question while participating in a primary debate while running as a Republican candidate for governor, Sept. 3, 2014, in Providence, R.I. Steven Senne/AP, FILE The subpoena came from special counsel Jack Smith. Smith is investigating not only the potential crimes resulting from the Jan 6 insurrection at the Capitol, but also claims by the Tru

Biden's age a target for critics, issue for voters as he kicks off campaign: ANALYSIS

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He's been dogged by questions as he kicks off his 2024 run for reelection. There was no big rally, no road trip, no major speech. President Joe Biden executed what political experts called a "soft" campaign launch Tuesday, releasing a slick, 3-minute video to announce he's running for reelection. With little else about the campaign for reporters to cover, week one of his 2024 bid has been dogged by a swirl of questions about his age (he's 80) and whether he's still fit for the job. MORE: Joe Biden announces he is running for president again, setting up possible Trump rematch And he handed his critics plenty of material to chew on this week. On Wednesday, in a rare news conference, Biden took a question about his age from ABC News Chief White House Correspondent Mary Bruce. She asked for his response to a recent NBC News poll that showed 70% of Americans, including a majority of Democrats, think he shouldn't run again. Biden told her he feels good and he

Senate fails to extend deadline to ratify Equal Rights Amendment as most Republicans vote no

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The Equal Rights Amendment or ERA, first introduced in Congress a century ago, would enshrine gender equality in the Constitution A push led by Democrats to give more time for states to ratify the Equal Rights Amendment, or ERA, failed on Thursday. The measure didn't win the support needed to clear a key 60-vote threshold, with the final tally being 51 to 47. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer changed his vote to no in order to bring it back again in the near future. "This issue is too important, and we are not giving up," Schumer said in brief remarks after the vote. Almost all Republicans voted against the legislation, though Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, lobbied for it in floor remarks before the vote. "We've certainly made great strides as women since 1923, but there is a lot more that needs to be done," she said The ERA, first introduced in Congress a century ago, would enshrine gender equality in the Constitution and states that rights "shall

Taliban unaware it killed alleged planner of Kabul airport bombing that left 13 Americans dead: US official

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The official answered continuing questions posed by ABC News. ABC News on Wednesday obtained new details after major questions were left unanswered when Biden administration officials on Tuesday said the Taliban had killed the terrorist allegedly responsible for planning the 2021 Kabul, Afghanistan, airport bombing. The attack took the lives of 13 U.S. service members and scores of civilians. A Taliban fighter stands guard at the site of the August 26 twin suicide bombs, which killed scores of people including 13 US troops, at Kabul airport, Aug. 27, 2021. Wakil Kohsar/AFP via Getty Images, FILE ABC News spoke to a U.S. official with knowledge of the matter to get more answers Wednesday morning. Was the U.S. involved, even in indirect ways, such as intelligence-sharing? While officials, such as White House spokesman John Kirby and Pentagon press secretary Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder, have publicly stated the U.S. had no role in the Taliban operation that they say killed the ISIS-K leader, it

'Tennessee three' to meet with Biden at the White House

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Joe Biden will speak with state Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson about "how to move forward with commonsense gun reform," the White House said The "Tennessee three" are going to the White House on Monday to meet with President Joe Biden weeks after facing historic expulsion efforts that sparked national outrage. Biden personally extended the invitation to Democratic state Reps. Justin Jones, Justin Pearson and Gloria Johnson, thanking them for their leadership in leading a gun reform protest that resulted in the expulsion of Jones and Pearson and near-ouster of Johnson, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said. "What you'll see is the president sitting down with these three legislators, having a conversation on how to move forward with commonsense gun reform; how to move forward on protecting our communities, our kids, our churches," she told reporters on Friday. MORE: Tennessee lawmaker expulsions: Has this happened bef

Does motive make a difference in the Pentagon leak case? Experts weigh in

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Reports have indicated suspect Jack Teixeira was driven to share classified documents to impress friends he made on the messenger platform Discord. While there is much to learn about the alleged Pentagon leaker, reports have indicated suspect Jack Teixeira was driven by a desire to impress friends he made on the social media platform Discord. Will that make a difference as the case moves forward? Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, was arrested last week and charged with unauthorized retention and transmission of national defense information and willful retention of classified documents. The charges collectively carry a maximum of 15 years in prison. Teixeira has yet to enter a plea. An undated picture shows Jack Douglas Teixeira, a 21-year-old member of the Air National Guard, who was arrested by the FBI, over his alleged involvement in leaks online of classified documents, posing for a selfie at an unidentified location. Social Media Website via Re