As Joe Biden prepares to mark 100 days in office, the US President delivered his first joint address to Congress.
Making his way to the podium, Biden was ushered in with applause from the limited number of distinguished guests who were in attendance.
WOMEN IN POWER
Biden began his 1.5 hour address by thanking Vice President Kamala Harris and Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi.
“Madam speaker, madam vice president. No president has ever said those words from this podium. No president has ever said those words. And it’s about time.”
It is the first time in history that two women in leadership positions have stood behind a sitting President during a joint address.
Biden applauded his administration for its Covid-19 response, which includes having over 200 million vaccine doses administered to date.
He says “we are marshaling every federal resource. We’re getting vaccinations to nearly 40,000 pharmacies and over 700 community health centres where the poorest of the poor can be reached.”
“Go get vaccinated, America. Go and get the vaccination. They’re available. You’re eligible now.”
The President spoke of inheriting “a nation in crisis” but the administration has already begun to turn it around and the country is “on the move again”.
CLIMATE ACTION & JOB CREATION
Speaking about his new American Jobs Plan, the President believes it will “put engineers and construction workers to work, allowing them to build more energy-efficient buildings and homes.”
He says “the American Jobs Plan will help millions of people get back to their jobs and back to their careers.”
“Two million women have dropped out of the workforce during this pandemic… and too often, because they couldn’t get the care they needed to care for their child or care for an elderly parent who needs help.”
AMERICAN FAMILIES PLAN
On top of this, Biden has also confirmed details of his 1.8 trillion dollar federal investment in education, childcare and paid family leave.
The package is part two of an effort to kickstart the country’s economy back into action in the wake of Covid-19.
It aims to help families with the costs associated with childcare, make community college free, provide grants to students in need, allow paid medical leave and invest heavily in early childcare.
TAXING THE WEALTHY
In regards to taxes, the President promises “to not impose any tax increases on people making less than $400,000,” but the wealthiest have to pay their fair share.
“It’s time for corporate America and the wealthiest 1% of Americans to begin to pay their fair share.”
US, RUSSIA TENSIONS
Russia’s leader, Vladimir Putin was also thrown into the spotlight, with Biden standing firm his stance against the nation.
Biden says he has “made it very clear to President Putin that the US doesn’t seek escalation… but their actions will have consequences if they turn out to be true, and they turned out to be true.”
This follows the administration imposing sweeping sanctions on a number of Moscow officials earlier this month, for their interference in the 2020 Presidential election.
BLACK LIVES MATTER
Biden is urging lawmakers to use the conviction of Derek Chauvin as a catalyst for change when it comes to reforming policing.
“We have all seen the knee of injustice on the neck of Black Americans. Now is our opportunity to make some real progress.”
He says “the vast majority of men and women in uniform wear their badge and serve their communities honorably. I know they want to help meet this moment as well.”
THE WAR ON IMMIGRATION
Biden wants America to end the country’s “exhausting war over immigration” and calls for lawmakers to stop talking about reform and finally act.
Immigration has always been essential to America.
For more than 30 years, politicians have talked about immigration reform and done nothing about it.
The administration has already moved to reverse many of the regulations and measures that were imposed by former President Trump.
Reports suggest backlogs at immigration centres are at least 50% higher than they were four years ago, with the Covid-19 pandemic also having an impact.
William is an Executive News Producer at TICKER NEWS, responsible for the production and direction of news bulletins. William is also the presenter of the hourly Weather + Climate segment.
With qualifications in Journalism and Law (LLB), William previously worked at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) before moving to TICKER NEWS. He was also an intern at the Seven Network's 'Sunrise'.
A creative-minded individual, William has a passion for broadcast journalism and reporting on global politics and international affairs.
Analysts and investors are eagerly awaiting Elon Musk’s big reveal—a fully functional autonomous vehicle that could revolutionise ride-hailing.
Tesla’s stock has soared 52% since Musk first announced the event in April, reflecting high hopes for the launch of its much-anticipated robotaxi.
The vehicle, dubbed the “Cybercab,” is said to be a sleek, two-seater without a steering wheel or pedals—straight out of the future.
Tesla also teased a ride-hailing app that will summon these driverless cars to pick up riders at their chosen locations.
Not convincing
But not everyone is convinced—some analysts warn that while Musk’s vision is bold, the timeline for these innovations may not deliver immediate results.
Musk has a history of overpromising on autonomous tech, and this event might be more about grand ideas than tangible products.
Tesla first floated the robotaxi idea in 2016, with Musk hinting at a future where owners could lease their cars to others for extra income.
If the software keeps pace with Musk’s ambitions, the future of driverless Teslas might be closer than we think.
The core consumer price index (CPI) climbed 3.3% year-over-year in September, signalling continued inflationary pressure in the U.S.
Month-over-month, the increase was 0.3%, slightly higher than the expected 0.2%, raising concerns about the Federal Reserve’s ability to ease policy.
This latest inflation data narrows the Fed’s room to manoeuvre, making a significant rate cut at their next meeting less likely.
In other economic news, weekly U.S. unemployment claims have risen to 258,000.
Latest numbers
Ticker’s Ahron Young spoke with Steve Gopalan from SkandaFX about the latest numbers.
Steve Gopalan discusses the impact of rising unemployment claims, inflation, and geopolitical tensions on the market, including the potential effects of Israeli strikes on Iran and China’s policies.
He also addresses expectations for the Fed reserve rate cut and near-term risks affecting the Australian economy and talks about how traders are preparing for China’s Finance Minister news conference on fiscal policy.
The increase in claims is partly attributed to the impact of Hurricane Helene and furloughs at Boeing.
Economists are closely watching how these factors will play into broader economic trends.
With inflation rising and unemployment numbers fluctuating, the economic outlook remains uncertain.
Tehran is threatening to target oil-rich Gulf states and other U.S. allies if their territories are used in any attack on Iran, Arab officials reveal.
Israel has warned Tehran of severe consequences after a recent barrage of Iranian ballistic missiles hit the country. In response, Iran vows to strike Israel’s civilian infrastructure and any Arab state that aids in the assault.
Countries like Jordan, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar have already expressed concerns to the Biden administration, saying they don’t want to be part of any offensive actions against Iran.
These Gulf states, traditionally under U.S. protection, fear Iran could target their vital oil facilities if the conflict escalates.
With U.S. troops stationed across the region, officials are on high alert as Tehran’s threats loom over an area packed with American military personnel.
Tensions between Israel and Iran continue to rise, with both sides exchanging warnings of devastating consequences.
The energy-rich Persian Gulf, known for its stability under U.S. protection, could now be at risk as the situation remains tense.
The eyes of the world are focused on the region, as threats of conflict keep mounting.
