Domestic Politics: United States Archives

Biden Takes The Bullhorn, Walks The Picket Line

26Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Climate Action, ESG, Sustainable Finance, Domestic Politics: United States, Types of News: Brief

Biden Takes The Bullhorn, Walks The Picket Line

President Biden joins striking workers in Michigan September 26, 2023. September 26, 2023—The power of the U.S. presidency is the bully pulpit, and today President Joe Biden put it to use. As the national autoworkers' strike grew in numbers and gained more news media attention, politicians are taking close notice. The issue is not only that the expanding strike has consequences for workers, consumers, business and the larger U.S. economy, it is also a political one. It is not cynical to say that both parties want to win the loyalties of blue-collar workers, especially in a swing state like Michigan. It's simply a practical matter in U.S. politics. Biden Comments On Workers' Pay Today, Biden wooed striking workers in person. He arrived on the scene one day in advance of a vis...

In the U.S., One Strike Ends As Another Grows Bigger

25Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Types of News: Analysis

In the U.S., One Strike Ends As Another Grows Bigger

Auto Strike Has Political And Economic Consequences Auto workers strike outside Ford plant in Michigan. EDITORS NOTE: Workers' rights is part of an analysis of economic empowerment. Update: Both strikes ended up in deals with management. Automakers Ford, Stellantis, and GM provided up to 25 percent pay raises over four and a half years, reinstatement of cost-of-living adjustments, and elimination of some tiered wage. The Writers Guild of America secured historic protections from AI including protections against the use of AI in scriptwriting. September 25, 2023—As one major labor union strike in the United States ends, another one is getting bigger. U.S. politicians gearing up for the 2024 election are taking notice. Both strikes are taking place as industries undergo technolog...

U.S.: Another Debt Limit Debacle Looms Large

2May

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Finance, Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Brief

U.S.: Another Debt Limit Debacle Looms Large

May 2, 2023—U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned congressional leaders on Monday the federal government might have trouble paying its bills beginning in early June if Congress can't come together on terms for increasing the debt limit. The U.S. government breached the $31.381 trillion limit on amassing debt in January. Ever since the federal government has been resorting to extraordinary measures to get by. As of April 28, the U.S. federal debt stood at $31.45 trillion. State And Local Governments First To Feel The Pinch In a letter to Congress on May 1 Yellen said state and local governments are the first to feel the pinch. Today, Treasury stopped issuing securities known as State and Local Government Series (SLGS) that help states and local governments comply with tax reg...

US Regulators Act Following Bank Collapses

14Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Finance, Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Brief

US Regulators Act Following Bank Collapses

Run On Bank Was First Sign Of Significant Volatility Amid Rate Hikes March 14, 2023—U.S. regulators and policymakers acted swiftly over the weekend following the collapse of Silicon Valley Bank on Friday and Signature Bank on Sunday. The runs on the banks by customers are the first signs of major volatility following the Federal Reserve's multiple rate hikes to reduce inflation. The government through the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation provided a risk-exception guarantee for all bank deposits of the two banks. That mitigated the risk of additional runs on banks. The details are as follows: The FDIC's guarantee would not apply to investors or unsecured debt holders. Regulators removed senior management of the banks. The FDIC took over Silicon Valley Bank and opened Signature...

U.S. Government Owes $395.5 Billion In Interest On The Debt

26Feb

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Finance, Currency, Debt, National Budgets & Interest Rates, Types of News: Bit

U.S. Government Owes $395.5 Billion In Interest On The Debt

Feb. 26, 2023—Here's something to remember when discussing the U.S. budget, national debt, and debt limit: The U.S. government is expected to pay $395.5 billion this fiscal year on interest charges alone. That's a helpful reminder that comes from the Pew Research Center in a recent post. For more information on the U.S. budget, go to the White House's Office of Management and Budget. There you'll find historic tables of the U.S. budget. Moreover, the U.S. government is projected to spend over $1 trillion more this year than it collects in revenue. That money not only increases the U.S. debt, it also fuels rising inflation in America and beyond.

It’s A Rocky Start To The New U.S. Congress

3Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Political Systems, Domestic Politics, Types of News: Bit

It’s A Rocky Start To The New U.S. Congress

118th Congress begins with no Speaker named to the House. With No Leader Named In The House, Work Cannot Begin January 3, 2023—As U.S. lawmakers opened a new session of Congress today under the slimmest margins of power. Although Republicans won a majority of seats in the House, intraparty conflict is preventing them from establishing control. With slim margins in both chambers, it is likely to be a weak Congress unless the two parties find room for compromise. Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R, failed to garner enough votes to become the new Speaker as 19 Republicans rejected him in back-to-back votes. In the first two ballots of the House, McCarthy won only 203 votes. In contrast to Republican infighting, Democrats voted unanimously for their leader Hakeem Jeffries, who received a total of...

House Committee Investigating January 6 Ends Work

3Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Corruption, Bribes, Illicit Finance & Money Laundering, Democracy, Domestic Politics: United States, Types of News: Brief

House Committee Investigating January 6 Ends Work

The House Jan. 6 Committee released its final report on Dec. 19, 2022. Investigation Shows The Fragility of U.S. Democracy January 3, 2023—As a new Congress begins to take shape in Washington, the House Select Committee investigating the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol completed its work. At its core, the committee upheld its purpose of defending democracy in the United States. A key tenet of democracy is free and fair elections. In the 2020 presidential elections, the country nearly lost in fulfilling that promise to the people. Former President Donald Trump used every means possible—including a violent attack on the legislature—to hold onto power. As the truth came to light, the evidence showed the fragility of the republic itself and the key tenets of democracy i...

U.S. Politics: Senator Says ‘No’ To Extreme Party Pressure

9Dec

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Politics: Senator Says ‘No’ To Extreme Party Pressure

Sinema Switches To Independent Status, Saying She Won't Be 'Blindly Loyal' To A Partisan Agenda December 9, 2023—As the final race for the U.S. Senate came to a close this week in Georgia, Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema made a surprise announcement: She's leaving the Democratic party to be an independent leader. Her decision won't affect the control of the Senate. Democrats will continue to led the upper chamber next year. Furthermore, Sinema said she doesn't plan to caucus with Republicans. That means her announcement won't change the distribution of money for Senate staff or committee seat makeup. However, it demonstrates a blow to the power of partisan politics. As such, it gives strength to independent thinking and action in Washington. Sinema said she did not run for offic...

A Week Before The Election, Biden Asks Big Oil To ‘Share The Wealth’

2Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Energy Policy, Oil & Gas, Types of News: Brief

A Week Before The Election, Biden Asks Big Oil To ‘Share The Wealth’

November 1, 2022—A week away from the U.S. Midterm elections, inflation is grabbing the attention of voters and politicians alike. As Republicans play up the impact of rising prices and pin the blame on their opponents, Democrats point the finger at companies benefiting from higher prices. It doesn't take long for the focus to fall on energy companies, specifically those earning profit from the high price of oil on global markets. That's precisely the play President Joe Biden pulled from his playbook on Monday. "In a difficult time, Americans across the country have stepped up, and they — to do the right thing. But not everyone has stepped up," Biden said. "The oil industry has not — has not met its commitment to invest in America and support the American people. One by one, major o...

10Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Globalization, Disintegration, Types of News: Analysis

The End Of A Laissez-Faire Economy?

Photo by Yibei Geng October 10, 2022—Free-market economies where business drives decisions based on supply and demand is still a concept. But many analysts are now asking how diligently is that concept being followed in practice? 'New Rules' for Business? Writing for the Financial Times, columnist Rana Foroohar says business leaders now have new rules to follow to succeed. For one, they need to cozy up to political bigwigs in Washington, D.C. It is not just that President Joe Biden and the Democratic-led Congress are enacting industrial policies, it is also a time of where the global economy is getting more competitive. Supply chains are regrouping and former trading partners are breaking up, or "decoupling." Ms. Foroohar says the U.S. government is not "yet in the business ...