Biden Announces Reelection Campaign

President Joe Biden’s campaign released an announcement video this past week that formally announced his reelection bid in 2024, a move widely expected. Biden enters the race the overwhelming favorite to win the Democratic nomination, with his two announced opponents, self-help author Marianne Williamson and environmental and anti-vaccine activist Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. polling in the high single digits to low double digits. 

The Republican field, while becoming more crowded, remains  overshadowed by former President Donald Trump’s campaign, and to a lesser extent, the unannounced campaign of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis. Trump has retained a strong consistent lead over DeSantis throughout the past few months, experiencing a bump following his indictment by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg for business falsification charges related to the 2016 hush money payment to pornographic actress Stephanie Clifford (aka Stormy Daniels). DeSantis has a consistent second-place lead, and the only other candidate, unannounced or otherwise, consistently polling in double digits.

Other Republican candidates include former South Carolina Governor and UN Ambassador Nikki Haley, who is running a campaign appealing to her gender and traditional Republican politics, former Arkansas Governor Asa Hutchinson, who has criticized Trump’s influence over the GOP, former California gubernatorial candidate and radio host Larry Elder, and technology entrepreneur and political activist Vivek Ramaswamy. South Carolina Senator Tim Scott has formed an exploratory committee and is expected to announce a run in the near future.

 

Bank Failures Send Fear Throughout Economy

The failures of three notable banks linked to the tech and cryptocurrency industries have sparked concerns about the stability of regional banks in the US, some of which may face similar issues to the three.

Silicon Valley Bank (SVB), Signature Bank, and Silvergate Bank all failed during March, with SVB, long considered the main banking partner for Silicon Valley tech firms, becoming the second largest American bank to fail, after Washington Mutual in 2008.

In the case of SVB, the failure was largely the cause of a decline in the value of their bond holdings because of rising interest rates. SVB had bought long-term treasury bonds to increase the rate of return back when interest rates were low. As the Federal Reserve raised interest rates to fight inflation, the value of SVB’s bond holdings decreased (price moves inversely to yield), leading to large unrealized losses for the bank. As depositors withdrew their cash to cover expenses, SVB was forced to sell their bond holdings at the reduced prices, leading to insufficient capitalization for the bank, which ultimately led to regulators seizing SVB.

 

Former President Donald Trump Indicted by Manhattan Grand Jury

Former US President Donald Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury Thursday. Trump is the first president, former or current, to be indicted on a felony charge.

The indictment stems from an October 2016 payment from Michael Cohen, Trump’s then personal lawyer, to pornographic actress Stephanie Clifford, better known by her stage name Stormy Daniels, to cover up a 2006 affair between her and Trump. Cohen, who was reimbursed by Trump for the payment, was later convicted for violating campaign finance law for making the payment without it being disclosed as a campaign expenditure. The conviction was part of a larger criminal investigation in which Cohen pleaded guilty to multiple charges of fraud and tax evasion related to his businesses.

The indictment comes amid other probes into Trump’s conduct during his presidency and his post-presidency. He is under investigation by state authorities in Georgia over his alleged attempts to improperly influence election officials in the 2020 election. He also is facing a federal investigation into his handling of classified documents after he left the presidency as well as potential obstruction. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed special counsel Jack Smith to investigate in the federal case.

Trump is expected to surrender to police on Tuesday next week, where he will be fingerprinted and have his mugshot taken.

One of Trump’s lawyers, Joe Tacopina, is making television appearances defending his client from the alleged charges, also saying that Trump will not take a plea deal in the case.

Republicans have vocally criticized the indictment, accusing Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg (D) of political animus. Some congressional Republicans have said they will call on Bragg to testify before Congress regarding the prosecution. Bragg has denied any political motivation for the prosecution. 

Bragg himself is a controversial figure. Elected in 2021, Bragg ran on a progressive platform, promising a less punitive approach to criminal justice focused on rehabilitation rather than punishment. Critics argue his policies are in part responsible for an increase in crime in New York City.

 

East Palestine, OH Residents Grapple With Toxic Fallout

Nearly a month after a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed near the village of East Palestine, Ohio, local residents are still contending with the fallout of the toxic chemicals that were spilled in the initial derailment, as well as those burned in an attempt to clean the area.

After the initial derailment on February 3, officials began evacuations within a 1-mile radius. Three days later on February 6, the vinyl chloride, a toxic, carcinogenic chemical used in the manufacture of PVC, was burned to prevent possible explosions. The evacuation order was lifted on February 9 after Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officials reported that the area was safe. However, local residents have reported health issues since that time, and numerous animal deaths have been documented, including thousands of fish and frogs.

Officials hosted a town hall for residents to ask questions. Representatives from Norfolk Southern were set to appear at the event, but the company pulled out at the last minute, citing what they perceived as safety issues.

Grocery chain Giant Eagle has pulled its branded water, which is bottled 25 miles away from the derailment site. Some high school teams have also forfeited games rather than play in the affected region, concerned about possible health effects from the released chemicals.

Some have criticized the state and federal response to the derailment and chemical contamination. While FEMA sent an assistance team, because there was technically no property damage to the residents of the area, it did not qualify as a “major disaster.”

 

US Energy Department: COVID Most Likely Caused by Lab Leak

The United States Department of Energy (DOE) released an updated report this past week on the origins of the coronavirus outbreak, with the department now saying that the pandemic was a result of a leak in the Wuhan Institute of Virology in 2019. The report says that it has made this judgment with ‘low confidence,’ which means it has low certainty in its claim.

It joins the FBI in federal agencies that believe that the virus escaped from the lab (the FBI has ‘moderate confidence’ in this belief). Four other agencies believe that the pandemic was the result of natural transmission.

China has criticized the DOE report, with Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning claiming that the US is using the lab leak theory to score political points, rather than seek a scientific conclusion. She cited the previous WHO investigation, which had concluded that the virus was likely the result of natural transmission. The WHO’s report has also been criticized, with China accused of obstructing the organization’s investigation.

Winter Storm Leads to Rare California Snow

 A strong winter storm led to snow across the state, along with high winds that took down power lines, causing over 170,000 power outages. Cars were stranded on I-15 because of snow, hail, and strong winds, with snowflakes and hail even reported at the famed Hollywood sign.

The storm caused severe weather across the US, with blizzard conditions reported in Midwestern states and tornado watches issued in several Southern states.

While the storm caused blizzard conditions in some of the country, some areas outside the storm’s path reported record high temperatures.

 

Mishandled Classified Documents Scandal Plague Biden, Trump, Pence

The Biden White House continues to work to limit the political and legal fallout from classified documents dating from his time as vice president found at the Penn Biden Center as well as his personal residence.

Biden’s lawyers first alerted the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) on November 2, 2022, of classified documents found at the Penn Biden Center. NARA alerted the Department of Justice (DOJ), which began investigating the handling of the documents. CBS News reported on January 31 that the FBI searched the Penn Biden center in mid-November 2022, something the White House has not yet revealed.

On January 9, the White House revealed the released information about the document situation while trying to draw differences between Biden’s case and former President Donald Trump’s handling of classified documents after his presidency. Trump’s Florida residence Mar-a-Lago was raided by the FBI on August 8, 2022, and Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed a special counsel into Trump’s case on November 18.

Garland would do the same in Biden’s case on January 12.

More documents were reported found in Biden’s Wilmington, Delaware residence on January 11. The FBI later conducted a voluntary search of his residence, finding additional documents.

On January 24, NARA revealed that former Vice President Mike Pence also retained classified documents at his Indiana home, leading to speculation that such mishandling of documents may be widespread among high-ranking government officials.

 

Memphis Deals With Aftermath of Tyre Nichols’ Death

The city of Memphis continues to work to contain the fallout following the beating death of 29-year-old Tyre Nichols earlier this month. Nichols was killed by five police officers, who alleged that Nichols had been engaging in reckless driving. All five officers have been charged with murder, along with other crimes, for their involvement. Nichols and the five charged officers are all black.

The Memphis Police Department (MPD) has also removed two other officers, one of whom has been named. Neither officer has yet been charged criminally.

The five charged officers belonged to MPD’s SCORPION Unit, an anti-gang unit charged with reducing crime in high-crime areas of the city. The city police department has announced that unit will be disbanded, and investigations into the unit’s culture and methods are likely.

Nichols’ death has led to protests over police brutality, similar to the summer of 2020 demonstrations following the death of George Floyd. Violence and looting, while occurring at or following some demonstrations, has been far more subdued than in 2020.

 

Ice Storms Sweep Across the US

At least 1,800 flights were cancelled as winter storms swept across the US on Tuesday. Icy conditions were responsible for numerous car crashes on roads in Texas, with 7,000 power outages reported across the state.

In Arkansas, Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders (R) declared a state of emergency as motorists in the state struggled with icy road conditions as well.

Icy road conditions from the storm are expected to affect several states into Thursday.

 

Pioneering TV Journalist Barbara Walters Dies at 93

Pioneering television journalist Barbara Walters died Friday at 93. Walters' history in media largely coincided with women's involvement in the industry, with Walters breaking many of the barriers female journalists faced.

Walters was born September 25, 1929 in Boston, Massachusetts. She attended Sarah Lawrence University, graduating with a degree in English in 1951. 

Walters began working in advertising before landing a job at NBC's New York affiliate WNBT-TV (now WNBC), where she wrote press releases. 

She joined NBC's The Today Show in 1961, first as a writer before appearing as a 'Today Girl,' where she presented news pieces that were seen as lighter topics. She began doing more serious pieces, and though she was famously prohibited from asking questions to guests until her male cohosts asked their questions, she was finally made cohost of the show in 1974. 

In 1976, she moved to ABC, where she cohosted ABC Evening News until 1978. In 1976, she moderated the final presidential debate between incumbent Gerald Ford and eventual winner Jimmy Carter.

Walter was known for conducting interviews with notable figures including Fidel Castro, Margaret Thatcher, Jiang Zemin, and Monica Lewinsky. 

In 1997, she co-created The View on ABC, and served as co-host until 2014. 

She had her final ABC appearance in 2015 with an interview with then-presidential candidate Donald Trump. Her last public appearance was in 2016. 

She died at home in Manhattan on December 30, 2022. 

Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI Dies at 95

Pope Benedict XVI, who was the first pope to resign the position in centuries and took the title 'pope emeritus,' died Saturday at 95. 

Benedict, who was born Joseph Ratzinger in Bavaria, Germany, on April 16, 1927, wished to become a cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church since age 12. His life took a detour in childhood, when he was forced into Hitler Youth during Hitler's rule. Never an enthusiastic member of the organization, he was later drafted into the German military and was trained in the infantry. He managed to desert the army just prior to Allied victory, and was held as a prisoner of war until the war's end. 

Ratzinger entered seminary after the war, and he was ordained in 1951. Over the next few decades, he established himself as an intellectual force in the Catholic Church, seen as a leading liberal prior to 1968, supporting the reforms of the Vatican II conference. After 1968, he shifted to a more conservative point of view, for which he would be well known in his later years as cardinal and as pope. 

In 1977, Pope Paul VI elevated Ratzinger to cardinal shortly after Ratzinger becoming Archbishop of Freising and Munich. In 1981, Pope John Paul II made Ratzinger Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, where he became an influential voice in the Vatican under John Paul II's papacy.

In 2005, he was elected pope following the death of John Paul II. His papacy was noted for a staunch adherence to conservative theology and tradition. 

Benedict's papacy also was marked by an increased effort to tackle sexual abuse within the Catholic Church, though he was criticized for the slow pace of progress on that front. 

Benedict also made headlines in December 2012 when he joined Twitter under the handle @Pontifex.

In February 2013, he announced his resignation as pope, the first to do so completely voluntarily since Celestine V in 1294. He would take the title 'pope emeritus,' and his successor, Archbishop of Buenos Aires Jorge Bergoglio, was elected in March 2013. Bergoglio, who would take the regnal name 'Francis,' was the second place finished in the 2005 papal conclave which elected Benedict.

Benedict lived a quiet life between 2013 and 2022, remaining in the Vatican. He became the longest living pope (former or reigning) in 2020, and he celebrated his 70th anniversary as a priest in 2021.

Pope Francis had requested prayers for Benedict on December 28, 2022, announcing the former pontiff was in poor health. Benedict died three days later on December 31. 

Winter Storm Leaves 91 Dead, Leads to Travel Mayhem

 Last week’s Christmas winter storm has left at least 91 dead, with over 2.5 million left without power for at least some period of time.

Many of the US deaths were caused by cold exposure, some of whom were pedestrians who became disoriented when walking outside in blizzard conditions. Some became trapped in their cars and were unable to get to warm shelter. Traffic accidents also claimed several victims.

In Synder, New York, near Buffalo, 56.5 inches of snow fell.

The cold temperatures from the storm spread across the US. Even in Houston, temperatures dropped so low that bats lost their grip on the bridges where they make homes. Volunteers managed to gather the affected bats so they could warm them sufficiently, and afterwards they released the bats back to their bridges.

Millions lost power during the storm. The Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) began rolling blackouts to prevent more widespread power outages. In Texas, power outages were much more limited than what was seen in the February 2021 winter storm.

The storm also led to mass cancellations of flights, leading to travel mayhem as travelers were stranded in airports trying to get to their destinations before Christmas day. Southwest Airlines was the hardest hit, with the airline experiencing a meltdown of their planning software. Employees were left to manually schedule crews for flights, and customers were forced to spend several hours on hold with customer service agents in attempts to rebook their flights. The US Department of Transportation has launched an investigation into the cancellations.

Soccer Legend Pelé Dies at 82

Pelé, considered by many to be the greatest soccer player of all time, died Thursday at 82 in São Paulo. His cause of death was multiple organ failure caused by colon cancer.

The Brazilian’s 22-year career helped lead to three World Cup victories for Brazil and established the nation as a powerhouse in the sport.

Pelé, whose real name was Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was born in 1940 in Três Corações, Brazil. His father was also a footballer (soccer player), though his family was impoverished. His family’s economic condition did not stop him from learning the sport and training further, and at 17, he made his World Cup debut in 1958, in which Brazil defeated Sweden 5-2 in the final.

In 1969, he scored his 1000th career goal, making Pelé the first to achieve the feat.

He later played for the New York Cosmos, helping revive the sport’s popularity in the US.

Pelé appeared at the 2012 Olympics closing ceremony, in which the Brazil was handed host responsibilities for the 2016 Olympics.

His death comes in the same month that Argentina, another South American country, won the World Cup. 

 

Suspect Arrested in Idaho College Murders

Authorities in Pennsylvania have made an arrest in the case of four University of Idaho students murdered in Moscow, Idaho. The suspect has been identified as 28-year-old Bryan Kohberger.  He was arrested on a warrant for first-degree murder.

The four victims, Kaylee Goncalves, Madison Mogen, Xana Kernodle, and Ethan Chapin, were murdered by stabbing at an off-campus house on November 13.

Kohberger is a graduate student in criminology and criminal justice at nearby Washington State University.

 

Smaller GOP Gains Than Expected Lead to Split Congress

The expected red wave, in which Republicans were predicted to make major gains across the country, may not have materialized the way some Republican had hoped, but they did manage to gain the seats needed to take control of the US House of Representatives, ending unified Democratic control of Congress. Meanwhile, Democrats were able to keep their Senate majority and possibly expand it, pending the result of the Georgia’s Senate runoff in December.

So far, 220 seats have been declared won by Republicans in the House, with two seats still uncalled, though Republicans lead in both and are likely to win. However, while gaining control of the House is an undeniable victory for the GOP, their majority (likely 222-213) is smaller than what most were expecting. A GOP majority of at least 230 seats in the next congress would have given their leadership more breathing room for difficult votes. Now, with a narrow majority to contend, passing their favored legislation, or even blocking certain Democratic-backed legislation, will likely prove a more difficult task to manage.

Republicans fell short in their quest to reclaim the Senate majority, losing their Pennsylvania seat and failing so far to pick up any Democratic seats. While Republicans could pick up a seat in Georgia in December should Herschel Walker defeat incumbent Raphael Warnock, that result would lead to a 50-50 split, under which Democrats would still retain control.

The Republicans also fell short of their ambitions in state governments, only picking up one governorship (Nevada) while losing three (Massachusetts, Maryland, and Arizona).

 

Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin Dies at 96

Former President of China Jiang Zemin, who led the country in the aftermath of the Tiananmen Square protest and its violent suppression, died Wednesday at 96.

Born in 1926, Jiang represented the third generation of Chinese leadership, following the tenures of Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping. He became communist party general secretary in 1989 and Chinese president in 1993. Under his leadership, the Chinese economy continued to grow and began to take on a more consumerist orientation. During his tenure, several state-owned enterprises were privatized and deregulated. These moves have been credited with strengthening the economy while also leading to higher unemployment and corruption.

China regained control of both Hong Kong and Macau during his time in office, increasing the country’s international standing.

 

Rare Widespread Protests Rock China amid Zero-Covid Policy

China’s ‘zero-covid’ policy, along with a deadly residential fire in Xinjiang which may have been exacerbated by the policy, have led to the greatest show of public discontent since the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests.

A deadly fire in a residential building high-rise building in Urumqi, Xinjiang on November 24 was a major catalyst for the unrest. The building’s residents were reportedly prevented from fleeing the building as a result of the strict quarantine policies, and emergency responders experienced difficulty reaching the building and breaching barriers.

Protests have spread to major cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing, and the capital Beijing. University students have also protested at Tsinghua, Peking, and Sun Yat-sen Universities.

Police are reportedly checking the phones of people on the streets to see if certain apps, such as Instagram or Telegram, are installed on them. Protesters and other observers have used these apps to share news and footage of the protests to the outside world.