This is a big week for Joe Biden. He fully takes the world stage at the G7 in London, and will also meet separately with several allied leaders, including Prime Minister Scott Morrison.
BRUCE WOLPE EXPLAINS WHAT’S ON BIDEN’S AGENDA IN EUROPE.
He will then go on to a NATO summit and a crucial meeting with Russia’s Vladimir Putin.
President Biden’s presence there will embody his core commitment that “America is Back” as a leader of the Western nations.
He will also report to them that “America is on the move again” – his signature message to Congress and the American people in April.
Biden is sitting on some pretty notable achievements, with the pandemic coming under control, and the economy roaring back with very strong growth and employment gains.
America’s renewed commitment
Biden’s first trip overseas is, as he wrote on Sunday, “about realizing America’s renewed commitment to our allies and partners, and demonstrating the capacity of democracies to both meet the challenges and deter the threats of this new age.
“This is a defining question of our time: Can democracies come together to deliver real results for our people in a rapidly changing world? … I believe the answer is yes. And this week in Europe, we have the chance to prove it,” said Biden.
‘BIDEN HAS ALWAYS SAID THAT WE WILL HAVE STRONGER LEVERAGE ON CHINA… WITH ALL THE ALLIES TOGETHER, NOT JUST A TRADE WAR,” WOLPE SAYS ON TICKER NEWS.
Biden is also nearing a decisive moment politically at home on the second pillar of his program to repair America.
Bipartisan talks on his $2 trillion infrastructure proposal are stuck, with a very wide gap in money to be spent and how to pay for it.
Republicans are several hundred billion dollars short of a true compromise on scale, yet they are utterly opposed to rolling back some of the Trump tax cuts.
WOLPE ON WHY BIDEN NEEDS THE $2 TRILLION INFRASTRUCTURE PROPOSAL TO BE SUCCESSFUL FOR HIS PRESIDENCY.
“Can he do it with republicans, or will he have to go alone? If he goes alone… can he win?”
Biden will have to decide soon whether a deal is possible. Alternatively, he’ll have to go forward just with his Democrats and their perilously narrow margin in the House (4 votes).
Combined with the president’s reach in the Senate (where in a 50-50 Senate any Democratic defection means failure), this shows for some tough politics.
However, it’s nothing that Biden has not faced in his five decades of experience.
As Biden engages on his agenda, the ex-president wallows in his grievances
To be certain, Donald Trump is the leader of the Republican Party, with powerful support among the rank-and-file.
Trump defines the agenda and controls the party’s narrative (which is whatever Trump says it is at any moment).
He also makes or breaks Republican candidates for office. The former president is intent on using his candidates to take back the House and Senate next year, setting the stage for a return to the White House in 2025.
At his rally in North Carolina over the weekend, Trump attacked Biden’s “radical Socialist agenda”.
China is public enemy #1, and he wants China to pay $10 trillion is “reparations” for the virus Trump insists they inflicted on the world.
But the heart of Trump’s message is his litany of anger and revenge over an election that he knows was stolen. Over investigations designed to persecute him. Over immigrants and criminals and social activists that are destroying the country.
Biden and the future. Trump and the past. Which road does America want to travel?
Bruce Wolpe is a Ticker News US political contributor. He’s a Senior Fellow at the US Studies Centre and has worked with Democrats in Congress during President Barack Obama's first term, and on the staff of Prime Minister Julia Gillard. He has also served as the former PM's chief of staff.
Biden warns Trump team on climate denial, pushes for Gaza ceasefire with hostages’ release and humanitarian assistance.
Joe Biden has delivered his last policy speech, addressing critical issues facing the future.
In his remarks, he directly challenged officials in the incoming Trump administration who doubt the reality of climate change.
Biden stated, “They are dead wrong. It’s the single greatest existential threat to humanity.”
He said that the transition to clean energy is already underway and highlighted the competition with China for dominance in clean energy manufacturing and supply chains.
Biden asserted that the United States must succeed in this contest to shape the global economy for decades.
Biden announced he is actively pursuing a ceasefire deal in Gaza during his final days in office.
He stated that the proposed deal aims to release hostages held by Hamas and halt the ongoing fighting.
Biden indicated that this agreement would also enhance security for Israel while significantly increasing humanitarian assistance to the region.
He expressed understanding for the suffering of the Palestinian people, stating they have experienced immense hardship due to the conflict initiated by Hamas.
He stressed the urgency of closing the deal to reunite families with their loved ones taken as hostages.
Biden’s focus on these pressing matters reflects his commitment to addressing significant global challenges even as his presidency comes to a close.
US officials optimistic about Israel-Hamas ceasefire and hostages deal as Hamas confirms close to agreement amid ongoing negotiations.
American officials are optimistic about a possible ceasefire and hostages release deal in the Israel-Hamas war.
This optimism is the first significant sign seen in the Biden administration in months.
While caution is still being exercised until a final agreement is reached, US officials believe an announcement could be made before President Biden leaves office.
US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer indicated that substantial progress has been made in negotiations.
Finer noted that there is a deal that Hamas should accept but refrained from making predictions about the outcome.
A Hamas official stated that the group is close to reaching an agreement with Israel.
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar confirmed some progress in the ongoing negotiations in Doha.
Saar stated that Israel is focused on securing a hostage deal and is collaborating with the United States to achieve this goal.
He mentioned that it will soon become clear if Hamas shares the same intention.
However, several issues remain unresolved, according to the Hamas official.
Dangerously high winds are expected to return to Los Angeles on Monday, hampering containment efforts of two significant wildfires.
These fires have resulted in at least 24 deaths and devastated land equivalent to Washington, D.C.
The National Weather Service has issued a red flag warning, forecasting Santa Ana winds of 50 to 70 miles per hour from Monday through Wednesday.
Fire crews managed to halt the fires’ spread overnight but are anticipating worsening conditions with the forecasted winds.
Los Angeles City Fire Chief Kristin Crowley has described the situation as serious.
Officials are positioning firefighting resources in high-risk areas, particularly around the Palisades and Eaton fires, the largest currently burning.
More than 8,500 fire personnel are working to combat these wildfires.
Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone noted that fire crews are better prepared this week, having learned from last week’s rapid fire growth under similar conditions.
However, he cautioned that containment remains uncertain.
The current death toll stands at 24, with over 12,000 structures reported as damaged or destroyed.
Search efforts for missing individuals continue, with deputies discovering human remains in areas affected by the Eaton fire.
