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Showing posts from May, 2023

Ron DeSantis making presidential campaign debut in Iowa with church speech after pastor meeting

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Ron DeSantis begins his "campaign kickoff" outside Des Moines, Iowa, on Tuesday with an appearance at the Eternity Church in Clive Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis on Tuesday will hold a "campaign kickoff" outside Des Moines, Iowa, returning to a crucial early nominating state for the first time since announcing he is running for president. DeSantis' swing through Iowa on Tuesday and Wednesday begins Tuesday night with a speech in Clive at the Eternity Church. Before that, he and wife Casey will meet with "15 local pastors who will be praying over the family and the Governor's candidacy," a spokesperson said. Campaigning in the state, which is set to hold the first Republican presidential nominating contest early next year, has long meant up-close-and-personal interactions with voters, who relish their ability to size up White House hopefuls. But DeSantis has already faced some scrutiny -- and "awkward" headlines -- about how he handles retai

Top DHS official on how his background informs his mission: dismantling drug cartels

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Top DHS official focused on defeating, disrupting and dismantling drug cartels Deputy Homeland Security Secretary John Tien, a 24-year Army vet, now finds himself with a new challenge, handed down by Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas specifically because of his background : defeating, disrupting and dismantling Mexican drug cartels . "These cartels are responsible for human smuggling, human trafficking, narcotics trafficking in particular, who are making, shipping and selling dangerous and deadly narcotics," Tien told ABC News in an interview, laying blame with them for the spread of opioids like fentanyl. Tien is one of the most senior law enforcement officials in the country. His status as a veteran isn't so unique -- there are about 54,000 others working at the department, or about 20% of employees -- but it informs his work even out of the military. So, too, does his heritage. "As a first-generation Asian American, I know that I've got a responsibility to be bot

Negotiators have 'made progress' but no debt limit deal as deadline nears: McCarthy

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With potential default just six days away, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy arrived at the Capitol Friday telling reporters he remained optimistic a deal could be reached. With a potential debt default just six days away, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy arrived at the Capitol Friday telling reporters he remained optimistic despite no deal in hand. McCarthy said negotiators "made progress " overnight but wouldn't get into specifics of the framework being discussed. "And I'm gonna work as hard as we can to try to get this done, get more progress today and finish the job," the speaker told reporters. "I'm a total optimist." MORE: Debt ceiling drama hurting American families: 'We're being treated like numbers' But when asked if they could reach a deal today, McCarthy's demurred. "Look, I'm gonna work as hard as I can. As soon as we get a deal, we're gonna get a deal but it has to be worthy of the American people," he said

Supreme Court sides with 94-year-old woman who accused government of stealing her home equity

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A unanimous Supreme Court sided with a 94-year-old Minnesota woman who got no compensation when the government seized her home over a small unpaid tax bill. "The taxpayer must render unto Caesar what is Caesar's, but no more." With those words, Chief Justice John Roberts and a unanimous U.S. Supreme Court on Thursday sided with a 94-year- old Minnesota woman who got no compensation when the government seized her home over a small unpaid tax bill and pocketed the profit. In his opinion, Roberts said the state of Minnesota violated the Fifth Amendment's prohibition against government taking private property without "just compensation" in 2015 when it took Geraldine Tyler's one-bedroom condominium. "A taxpayer who loses her $40,000 house to the state to fulfill a $15,000 tax debt has made a far greater contribution to the public fisc that she owed," Roberts wrote. MORE: Supreme Court unanimously rules to limit states' ability to seize priva

DeSantis to have presidential campaign kickoff event in Iowa

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Ron DeSantis is set to forgo a traditional presidential campaign launch and will head to the campaign trail to hold his "campaign kickoff" event next week in Iowa. Gov. Ron DeSantis is set to forgo a traditional president ial campaign launch and will instead hold his " campaign kickoff " event next week in the key state of Iowa, according to campaign plans exclusively obtained by ABC News. The May 30 kickoff event will begin a four-day swing through 12 cities and towns in the early nominating states of Iowa, New Hampshire, and South Carolina, which the campaign is billing as "Our Great American Comeback Tour." "Our campaign is committed to putting in the time to win these early nominating states. No one will work harder than Governor DeSantis to share his vision with the country — he has only begun to fight," said campaign manager Generra Peck in a statement to ABC News about the plans. Florida Governor and likely 2024 Republican presidential

Biden to call for end to 'epidemic' of gun violence a year after Uvalde shooting

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President Joe Biden plans on Wednesday to call on Republicans in Congress to act to end the " epidemic " of gun violence in the United States, the White House said. President Joe Biden plans on Wednesday to call on Republicans in Congress to act to end the " epidemic " of gun violence in the United States, the White House said. The remarks are expected during an afternoon speech marking a year since the deadly school shooting in Uvalde, Texas. Nineteen fourth graders and two teachers were killed when a gunman stormed Robb Elementary School on May 24, 2022. Seventeen others were injured. "The president will remember those lost in Uvalde and reiterate his call for Republicans in Congress to act and help stop the epidemic of gun violence that has become the number one killer of kids in America," a White House official said in the statement.  A memorial dedicated to the 19 children and two adults murdered on May 24, 2022 during the mass shooting at Robb Ele

Could the 14th Amendment be used to resolve the debt limit crisis?

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The 14th Amendment is primarily known for its citizenship rights and equal protection clauses, but also contains a section related to the nation's public debt. As the nation heads toward a potential default, possibly as soon as June 1, President Joe Biden is facing pressure from some Democrats to use the 14th Amendment to unilaterally raise the debt ceiling. With time growing short, Biden was asked again Sunday whether he was considering such action as tense negotiations continue between the White House and congressional Republicans. MORE: Biden, McCarthy to talk debt ceiling, spending with 10 days left to reach deal or risk default "I'm looking at the 14th Amendment," he told reporters in Japan. "As to whether or not we have the authority, I think we have the authority." But the never-tested issue, Biden noted, would almost surely be litigated -- likely all the way to the Supreme Court -- and it's unclear if the matter could be resolved before the defau

How US national debt grew to its $31.4 trillion high

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The debt ceiling fight in Washington is drawing attention to the $31.4 trillion debt already accrued by the United States government A ticking clock in Washington to avert default by raising the nation's borrowing limit is drawing attention to the $31.4 trillion debt already accrued by the United States government. The country hit its current debt ceiling in mid-January and is expected to run out of cash to be able to pay all its bills as soon as June 1, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has warned Congress, while cautioning that the exact "X-date" for default remains fluid. MORE: Biden says he's 'confident' US will avert default President Joe Biden hosts debt limit talks with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy and other Congressional leaders in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, May 9, 2023. Kevin Lamarque/Reuters, FILE As President Joe Biden and leading lawmakers including House Speaker Kevin McCarthy work to hammer out a deal, here's what to kno