Domestic Politics: United States Archives

Biden Shifts From Partisan Agenda To One Of Unity

3Mar

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Types of News: Analysis

Biden Shifts From Partisan Agenda To One Of Unity

Russia's War Is Uniting Democrats, Republicans, And Independents In Fight For Freedom March 3, 2022—Before the war in Europe started a week ago, you could say U.S. President Joe Biden led a country deeply divided by bitter politics and a populace upset by soaring inflation. The foul mood was evident in day-to-day life, even if you avoided the daily barrage of noise and diatribes of cable news. "Biden," a man muttered as we crossed paths in the post office parking lot in late February. It happened to be Presidents Day—a U.S. holiday celebrating past presidents—and the very mention of the word brought on a tirade of complaints. "Gas prices... That Biden." Then just a few days later, everything changed in America. It happened when Russian leader Vladimir Putin sent his troops and mis...

Capital Attack Case ‘Far From Done,’ Justice Dept Says

6Jan

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Domestic Politics: United States, Types of News: Analysis

Capital Attack Case ‘Far From Done,’ Justice Dept Says

On the first anniversary of the attack on the U.S. Capitol by American protestors, the U.S. Justice Department said its ongoing investigation has resulted in more than 725 arrests nationwide and would continue to "follow the facts wherever they lead." "Those involved must be held accountable, and there is no higher priority for us at the Department of Justice," Attorney General Merrick B. Garland commented in a speech. "In the aftermath of the attack, the Justice Department began its work on what has become one of the largest, most complex, and most resource-intensive investigations in our history." January 6, 2021 It was a day that showed the fragility of the U.S. democratic republic. A new president had been elected, and the U.S. Congress was fulfilling its constitutional duty t...

U.S. Deficit For FY2021 Reached $2.8 Trillion, CBO Says

10Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

U.S. Deficit For FY2021 Reached $2.8 Trillion, CBO Says

November 10, 2021--For the fiscal year that ended September 30, the U.S. government ran a $2.8 trillion budget deficit, the Congressional Budget Office reported on Monday. The figure was $360 billion less than the deficit in 2020 but three times the deficit from 2019. As a share of the GDP, the 2021 deficit was 12.4 percent the size of the economy. That's down from 15 percent at the peak of the pandemic in FY2020 but up from 3.2 percent in 2016. Federal spending increased above normal levels in 2020 and 2021 in response to the pandemic. They included the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 (CAA), and the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 (ARPA). Meanwhi...

Fed Decision ‘Skews Risk Toward Inflation’

3Nov

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Domestic Politics: United States, Finance, Banks, Cryptocurrency, Metals, Global Economics, Types of News: Brief

Fed Decision ‘Skews Risk Toward Inflation’

Despite Economic Recovery And Rising Prices, U.S. Central Bank Keeps Interest Rates Near Zero November 3, 2021—The Federal Reserve announced today it will begin reducing the amount of Treasury securities it purchases every month, in light of economic progress. However, in a move that mirrors the European Central Bank decision, the U.S. central bank is maintaining an accommodative stance on monetary policy, meaning it will continue to increase the money supply. Specifically, the committee is keeping the Federal funds rate at 0 to 0.25 percent, which is slightly above Europe's negative rates. A key point is the Fed is no longer basing the decision on the U.S. unemployment rate, which is historically low. The measure of success for the central bank now includes the labor participat...

U.S. House Passes ‘Huawei Loophole’ And Other Tech-Security Bills

21Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

U.S. House Passes ‘Huawei Loophole’ And Other Tech-Security Bills

Crackdown On Chinese-Based Technology Indicates A Turning Point In Industry Collaboration October 21, 2021—The U.S. House of Representatives passed a series of bipartisan bills yesterday intended to protect the U.S. communications industry and consumers from foreign security risks. The Secure Equipment Act would instruct the Federal Communications Commission to "no longer review or approve" radio-frequency devices posing national security risks to the United States. The House passed it with overwhelming support on a 420-4 vote. Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La., introduced the bill along with strong bipartisan support. Only four members -- Reps. Sean Casten, D-Ill., Veronica Escobar, D-Texas, Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, and Thomas Massie, R-Ky., -- voted against it. It came to be known ...

Lawmakers Are Drafting Legislation to Regulate Social Media

16Oct

By Srinidhi RajagopalNo Comments

Big Tech, Digital Economy, Domestic Politics: United States, Types of News: Analysis

Lawmakers Are Drafting Legislation to Regulate Social Media

Photo by Nathan Dumlao, Unsplash Consumer Protection, Antitrust, Removal Of Liability Protections Are In-Play October 16, 2021—As the pressure grows to regulate the social media industry, lawmakers are drafting numerous bills that would impact social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, and Twitter and their users. This comes in the wake of revelations made by an ex-Facebook employee turned whistleblower, Frances Haugen, at a Senate Commerce Subcommittee hearing. Committee members and their staff are exploring consumer protection issues involved with large internet platforms Already, senators have referred nearly a dozen bills to the full committee for review. About half of those focus on protecting consumers and their information. Other bills would amend a...

Congress Bides Time On Its Debt And Its Legal Limit

14Oct

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

Congress Bides Time On Its Debt And Its Legal Limit

The House approved an increase of $480 billion to the national debt limit, giving the U.S. Treasury more time to legally pay its bills. At What Point Will U.S. Debt And Deficits Break The Mighty Dollar? October 14, 2021—After much trepidation by global bankers watching lawmakers in Washington, D.C. toss responsibility of the nation's debt back-and-forth, Congress passed legislation this week giving the world's market watchers a sigh of relief. Catastrophe can wait until another day. Today, the bill became law. Specifically, Congress added $480 billion to the previous U.S. national debt limit of $22 trillion. It's estimated that provides enough cash for the U.S. Treasury to continue paying salaries of government workers and military, bills for daily operations, providing entitlemen...

‘Debt Doesn’t Matter,’ Treasury Secretary Yellen Tells Senate Committee

28Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

‘Debt Doesn’t Matter,’ Treasury Secretary Yellen Tells Senate Committee

September 28, 2021—It's been 20 years since Vice President Dick Cheney asserted to the world and the U.S. Congress that "deficits don't matter." Today, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen asserted a similar sentiment when asked about the overall size of the debt. In an exchange with Sen. Mike Rounds, R-SD, Yellen said it is the interest cost of the debt, which is virtually zero, is all that matters. "When do we have to say, 'Enough is enough' when it comes to our deficit and our debt?" Rounds asked. Yellen responded that "there are different metrics" for looking at the level of debt. One is the debt-to-GDP ratio. "We are a little bit over 100 percent," she added, "which has traditionally been regarded as high." But rather than use that metric to examine the debt level, Yellen s...

U.S. Treasury Secretary Warns — Again — About Breach Of Debt Limit

9Sep

By Patti MohrNo Comments

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

U.S. Treasury Secretary Warns — Again — About Breach Of Debt Limit

Photo by Alexander Schimmeck, courtesy Unsplash U.S. Government Likely to Run Out Of Cash By October Without Act of Congress September 9, 2021--U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen wrote another letter to leaders of Congress yesterday, pleading for lawmakers to authorize a higher level of government spending than the $28.7 trillion currently owed. Having breached the last debt limit long ago, Treasury is relying on extraordinary measures, such as suspension of making payments to certain disability and benefits funds and thrift savings plans, to pay its bills. Like Yellen's last letter in July, the Sept. 8 letter does not mention the amount of the current U.S. debt. Neither does it mention that the U.S. government surpassed the last debt limit of $22 trillion long ago. Congre...

Biden Defends Exit From Afghanistan, Cites Trump’s 2020 Agreement With The Taliban

31Aug

By Patti MohrNo Comments

Democracy, Domestic Politics: United States, Types of News: Brief, Types of News: Videos

Biden Defends Exit From Afghanistan, Cites Trump’s 2020 Agreement With The Taliban

Nation-Building Through The Military Does Not Work August 31, 2021--In a significant and riveting speech, President Joe Biden defended his decision to complete the withdraw of U.S. troops from war-torn Afghanistan. The speech is noteworthy not only for its forcefulness. It is also relevant for its acknowledgment of a failure and an end to a U.S. policy of promoting democracy through the use of military forces. Biden faced opposition in the United States and around the world for his decision to withdraw troops from Afghanistan. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GJRpSm4DdPk UPDATE Afghanistan in 2026 Five years after the dramatic withdrawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan, the repressive Taliban regime remains in brutal control, even as it is still unrecognized by a majority of ...