Biden Administration

Buttigieg Monitors Airlines During Chaotic Travel Week

Politico reports: Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said he is watching how airlines perform amid a winter storm that will sock most of the country and create blizzard conditions in some states — a storm that was already snarling travel Thursday morning in advance of its path. Buttigieg this week praised the airline industry for what he suggested was a seamless …

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FBI Arrests Man Charged In 1988 Lockerbie Bombing

The New York Times reports: A Libyan intelligence operative charged in the 1988 bombing of an American jetliner over Lockerbie, Scotland, was arrested by the F.B.I. and being extradited to the United States to face prosecution for one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in American history, officials said on Sunday. The arrest of the operative, Abu Agila Mohammad Mas’ud, was …

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Emhoff To Host WH Roundtable On Rise In Antisemitism

The Washington Post reports: Second gentleman Doug Emhoff will host a roundtable with Jewish leaders and White House officials Wednesday to discuss the rise of antisemitism in the United States and efforts to combat hate in the country. Emhoff, the husband of Vice President Harris, is the first Jewish spouse of a vice president. The event has been in the …

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Biden Admin To End Emergency Declaration On MPOX

Politico reports: The Biden administration is eyeing an end to its public health emergency declaration for MPOX, a sign that officials believe they’ve brought the monthslong outbreak under control. Health officials are likely to issue a 60-day notice later this week for winding down the declaration, two people with knowledge of the matter told POLITICO. Such a move would put …

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Blinken Rips FIFA Over Ban On Rainbow Armbands

The Associated Press reports: America’s top diplomat on Tuesday criticized a decision by FIFA to threaten players at the World Cup with yellow cards if they wear armbands supporting inclusion and diversity. Speaking alongside his Qatari counterpart at a news conference, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said it was “always concerning … when we see any restrictions on freedom …

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Democrats Prep For GOP-Led House Investigations

The New York Times reports: With Republicans in control of the House of Representatives, a loose network of groups allied with Democrats is planning a multimillion-dollar counteroffensive against an expected onslaught of oversight investigations into President Biden, his family and his administration. The White House, which is building its own defense team, has quietly signaled support for some of the …

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Live Video: Garland Discusses “National Security Cases”

NBC News reports: Attorney General Merrick Garland will hold a news conference Monday afternoon to discuss “significant national security cases addressing malign influence schemes and alleged criminal activity by a nation-state actor in the United States,” the Department of Justice announced in an advisory. Garland will speak at 1:30 p.m. ET, and will be joined by Deputy Attorney General Lisa …

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Feds To Study How Extreme Weather Impacts Insurance

CNN reports: The Treasury Department announced on Tuesday it is launching an assessment of worsening extreme weather and its impact on the cost of insurance. As climate change is making storms stronger and more destructive, Treasury officials told CNN they want to take a hard look at how climate-related disasters are driving up insurance rates around the country. The department’s …

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Over-The-Counter Hearing Aids Sales Begin Today

Reuters reports: Major U.S. retailers will begin selling lower-cost hearing aids without a prescription or medical exam under final Biden administration rules that take effect Monday. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in August approved the sale of over-the-counter hearing aids, allowing millions of Americans to buy hearing aids without seeing an audiologist and potentially saving individuals thousands of dollars. …

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Biden Considers Ending Arms Sales To Saudi Arabia

The New York Times reports: President Biden is re-evaluating the relationship with Saudi Arabia after it teamed up with Russia to cut oil production in a move that bolstered President Vladimir V. Putin’s government and could raise American gasoline prices just before midterm elections, a White House official said on Tuesday. “I think the president’s been very clear that this …

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HHS Purchases Drug For Use In “Nuclear Emergencies”

Via press release from the Department of HHS: As part of long-standing, ongoing efforts to be better prepared to save lives following radiological and nuclear emergencies, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services is purchasing a supply of the drug Nplate from Amgen USA Inc; Nplate is approved to treat blood cell injuries that accompany acute radiation syndrome in …

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White House Approves Federal Disaster Aid For Florida

Just in from the White House: Today, President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. declared that a major disaster exists in the State of Florida and ordered Federal aid to supplement State, tribal, and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Ian beginning on September 23, 2022, and continuing. The President’s action makes Federal funding available to affected individuals in …

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New Rule Would Force Transparency On Airline Fees

From the Transportation Department: Under the proposed rule, airlines and travel search websites would have to disclose upfront—the first time an airfare is displayed—any fees charged to sit with your child, for changing or cancelling your flight, and for checked or carry-on baggage. The proposal seeks to provide customers the information they need to choose the best deal. Otherwise, surprise …

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US To Resume Processing Immigrant Visas For Cubans

Via press release from the US Embassy in Havana: Consistent with our commitments under the Los Angeles Declaration on Migration and Protection to facilitate safe, orderly, humane, and regular migration, the United States is today announcing an expansion of regular pathways available to Cubans wishing to come to the United States and an increase in personnel at the U.S. Embassy …

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Garland Swears In 200 New Citizens On Ellis Island

Gothamist reports: U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland swore in 200 new American citizens from Ellis Island’s Great Hall on Saturday morning, signaling a strong show of support from the Biden administration as New York City contends with an influx of migrants testing its resolve to provide a safe haven for all who seek it. “Just now, each of you took …

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WH To Boost MPX Vaccine Outreach At LGBTQ Events

The Hill reports: The Biden administration on Tuesday announced plans to expand the response to the monkeypox outbreak by providing vaccinations and education at large LGBTQ-centered events around the country following a recent pilot program carried out in Charlotte, N.C. Demetre Daskalakis [photo], deputy director for the White House’s national monkeypox response, stated during a briefing that the administration was …

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Garland Bans DOJ Appointees From Campaign Events

The Washington Post reports: Justice Department political appointees cannot participate in campaign-related activities in any capacity, Attorney General Merrick Garland said Tuesday, describing the change as necessary “to maintain public trust and ensure that politics — both in fact and appearance — does not compromise or affect the integrity of our work.” The new policy underscores the intense political scrutiny …

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FTC Sues Company For Selling Location Tracking Data

Via press release from the FTC: The Federal Trade Commission filed a lawsuit against data broker Kochava Inc. for selling geolocation data from hundreds of millions of mobile devices that can be used to trace the movements of individuals to and from sensitive locations. Kochava’s data can reveal people’s visits to reproductive health clinics, places of worship, homeless and domestic …

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HHS Deal To Speed Domestic MPX Vaccine Production

Axios reports: The Biden administration struck an $11 million deal on Monday to support the packaging of the monkeypox Jynneos vaccine at a domestic facility. The move is another step the administration is taking to bolster the supplies of the vaccine amid limited availability. The Jynneos vaccine is produced by the Danish company Bavarian Nordic, which signed a deal earlier …

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Biden To Create Ambassador-At-Large For The Arctic

Axios reports: The Biden administration announced Friday it will nominate an ambassador-at-large for the Arctic, raising the profile of American policymaking for the region. The move comes at a time of increased militarization in the far north, with NATO members squaring off against Russia, and at a time of rapid climate change that is making the Arctic more accessible. In …

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