The ACTUAL NEWS: Thursday, January 9th 2025 Recap
President Carter Honored with State Funeral; Biden Pledges Federal Support for California Wildfire Response, and More National and Global News
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NATIONAL
The U.S. Supreme Court has denied Donald Trump's attempt to postpone sentencing in the hush money trial. The virtual sentencing is scheduled for 9:30 AM ET on Friday.
Elon Musk has admitted that his Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) will not achieve the $2 trillion in budget cuts he had previously promised. In an interview with Mark Penn, Musk acknowledged that there is only a "good shot" at achieving half that amount.
Spanish chef José Andrés brought his World Central Kitchen food aid organization to Los Angeles on Thursday as wildfires raged, urging that politics be set aside to focus on helping those affected by the disaster.
The Pacific Palisades area, ravaged by the wildfires, is one of the most expensive neighborhoods in the United States, home to Hollywood A-listers and multimillion-dollar mansions. Despite its high property values, its insurance costs were among the most affordable in the country before this week’s disaster, according to a Reuters analysis of insurance and real estate industry data.
In response to the historic wildfires in Los Angeles, the Vice President has decided to cancel her and the Second Gentleman’s upcoming trip to Singapore, Bahrain, and Germany. She will remain in the United States to support the federal response efforts in California.
On Friday, President Biden will convene key officials for a briefing on the full federal response he has directed to the wildfires across Los Angeles. The Vice President will attend.
Fetterman is the first Democratic Senator to travel to Mar-a-Lago. He posted on his X account: "I’m not just a Senator for Democrats—I’m a Senator for all Pennsylvanians. It’s my job to find common ground and deliver results for everybody. And because nobody is my gatekeeper, I will meet with anyone to secure some wins, including President Trump."
Boeing has announced a $1 million donation to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump’s inauguration, as confirmed by a spokesperson on Thursday. The company joins several major U.S. corporations, including General Motors, Ford, Microsoft, and Meta, in supporting the event.
U.S. oil producer Chevron announced it will donate to President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural fund. A company spokesperson confirmed the donation but did not disclose the amount.
A tentative labor deal has averted significant trade disruptions at 36 U.S. East Coast and Gulf of Mexico ports. Both negotiating sides credited President-elect Donald Trump for facilitating the resolution, particularly in addressing issues related to automation, allowing them to reach an agreement.
A federal judge in Kentucky ruled on Thursday that a Biden administration rule prohibiting discrimination against transgender students in schools and colleges violates federal law that bans sex-based bias in education. The decision effectively overturned the rule, which aimed to protect transgender students' rights.
The U.S. House of Representatives voted on Thursday to impose sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) in response to its issuance of arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister. The warrants were related to Israel's military actions in Gaza.
Fox Corp, the parent company of Fox News, was unsuccessful in convincing a New York state appeals court to dismiss a defamation claim in Smartmatic's $2.7 billion lawsuit. The lawsuit centers on the network's coverage of the 2020 post-election period.
The U.S. Senate Energy Committee will hold nomination hearings on Tuesday and Wednesday next week for President-elect Donald Trump's nominees for key energy roles. The announcement was made by the committee's chairman, Senator Mike Lee, on Thursday.
On Thursday, more than half of the U.S. Senate's Democrats teamed up with Republicans to advance a bill that would mandate the federal government to detain migrants living in the country illegally if they are suspected of committing crimes, even if they have not been formally charged.
GLOBAL
Extensive sanctions on Russia's "shadow fleet" are set to be announced by the Biden administration on Friday.
Macron urged the creation of a new European military coalition as an alternative to NATO to combat Russia and other threats. "We can't rely on [the US] or the rest of the world," he said.
The proposed plan aimed to establish a European army comprising France, the UK, Italy, Poland, the Baltic states, and other willing participants.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau expressed concern over President-elect Donald Trump's proposed tariffs on Canadian products, calling the move a step that would have "negative impacts" on both Canada and the U.S. During a meeting with American business leaders, Trudeau emphasized the potential harm of such tariffs on trade relations between the two countries.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump confirmed that a meeting is being arranged with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking before a meeting with Republican governors at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Florida, Trump stated, "He wants to meet, and we are setting it up," but did not provide a specific timeline for the meeting.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol's security chief expressed concern on Friday over the treatment of the impeached leader, who is facing potential arrest due to a criminal investigation into his December 3 martial law proposal. The security chief emphasized that "the sitting president has been unfairly treated and urged that bloodshed be avoided in the ongoing situation."
Chinese President Xi Jinping has decided to send a high-level envoy to U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration on January 20, instead of attending in person. Beijing informed Trump’s transition team of the decision, with the envoy also expected to hold discussions with the team. This move follows an invitation extended to Xi by Trump.
U.S. and Danish officials lobbied the developer of Greenland's largest rare earths deposit last year, urging them not to sell the project to firms linked to China, according to the company's CEO. The CEO added that the company has been in regular discussions with Washington while reviewing funding options to develop Greenland's critical minerals.
Hundreds of Panamanians took to the streets on Thursday to commemorate the anniversary of the 1964 uprising against U.S. control of the Panama Canal. The protestors burned an effigy of President-elect Donald Trump, who has threatened to retake the critical waterway.
Austria's far-right Freedom Party (FPO) will begin talks on forming a coalition government on Friday, according to the party's announcement. This comes as thousands of protesters gathered in Vienna to express opposition to the potential formation of Austria's first FPO-led government.
State Funeral Honoring 39th President of the United States Jimmy Carter
Today, on the National Day of Mourning for the late President Carter, national leaders and distinguished guests from around the world joined the Carter family in celebrating the remarkable life of the 39th President of the United States in Washington D.C.
The State Funeral featured heartfelt speeches from President Carter’s grandchildren, a eulogy from President Biden, who praised Carter's extraordinary achievements both in and out of office as well as his unwavering decency, and a moving tribute from the late President Ford, delivered by his son, Steven.
Presidents Carter and Ford had promised to deliver eulogies for one another. Carter fulfilled his promise in 2006, and today, President Ford's words fulfilled his. The letter, written years earlier, reflected their unexpected friendship and highlighted Carter's unique ability to foster understanding and mutual respect, regardless of political differences. President Ford’s letter concluded with the touching words: “As for me, I’m looking forward to our reunion. Welcome home, old friend.”
Ted Mondale, son of the late Vice President Walter Mondale, read a eulogy his father had prepared in 2015 for this occasion. He concluded on behalf of his father by thanking President Carter for providing "the most rewarding experience of his public career."
The love story of Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter, as expected, took center stage. Their extraordinary 77-year partnership was celebrated with reverence. One of their grandsons shared that in the weeks leading up to his passing, President Carter had expressed that he was ready to reunite with Rosalynn. This sentiment, as President Biden remarked, “warms our hearts" as we celebrate the extraordinary 100 years of one of the greatest humans to have shared this planet with us.
Mr. President, Sir Jimmy Carter, may you rest in peace and glory alongside your beloved Mrs. Carter.
We love and miss you.
Biden Pledges Federal Support for California Wildfire Response
President Joe Biden, joined by Vice President Kamala Harris and senior administration officials, held a briefing to outline the federal response to the devastating wildfires in Los Angeles. Biden assured residents that the federal government will cover wildfire response measures for 180 days and emphasized unwavering support for affected communities.
Acknowledging the impact of power shutoffs by local utilities—meant to prevent new fires but disrupting water pumping facilities—Biden announced the deployment of generators to restore water flow. He commended first responders as “heroes” and vowed to provide every necessary resource, stating, “We are with you. We are not going anywhere.”
Biden also highlighted concerns about mental health impacts on survivors and described the scale of destruction as unprecedented, with areas “as big as the state of Maryland” burned across the western United States.
Vice President Harris, describing the situation as “apocalyptic” and “extremely dynamic,” expressed concern for families facing canceled insurance policies. While she did not propose solutions, she underscored the long-term impact of the disaster.
Additional Updates:
Federal officials confirmed that strong winds remain a significant challenge, preventing the use of aircraft to combat the fires effectively.
The Department of Defense is providing significant aid, and multiple federal agencies, including FEMA and the U.S. Forest Service, are coordinating response efforts.
Biden announced that discussions are underway for a disaster funding request to Congress to address wildfire impacts and recovery needs.
Key Participants:
In-person: Vice President Harris, Secretaries Tom Vilsack and Kathleen Hicks, U.S. Forest Service Chief Randy Moore, and others.
Virtual: Secretaries Jennifer Granholm, FEMA Administrators Deanne Criswell and Bob Fenton, and General Gregory Guillot.
White House Staff: Chief of Staff Jeff Zients, Homeland Security Advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall, and Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre.
Biden reiterated his administration’s commitment to California, urging residents to “keep at it” as federal entities work to mitigate the fires' effects. Harris added, “We are literally waiting to see which way the winds blow,” underscoring the evolving nature of the crisis.
The Biden-Harris Administration continues to strengthen its life-saving wildfire response efforts in California. Over the last 24 hours, the U.S. Forest Service has suppressed 50 fire starts, including the Hollywood Fire, which has been contained, and the evacuation order lifted. The federal government has raised the National Preparedness Level to prioritize additional resources for fire suppression, including crews, aircraft, bulldozers, and helicopters.
President Biden approved a Major Disaster declaration for California, enabling immediate access to funds for impacted communities. The Administration is coordinating with state and local officials to ensure a robust response, including support from FEMA, Department of Defense, and additional fire suppression assets.
FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell is in Los Angeles, working with local officials and firefighting personnel to assess needs. The federal government is deploying teams to support sheltering displaced individuals and has established a staging area at March Air Force Base.
Federal firefighting efforts are being enhanced with additional aerial support, including three CL-415 aircraft and nine helicopters, along with assistance from the Canadian Interagency Fire Center. Colorado has also mobilized aircraft and firefighting engine companies to aid in suppression efforts. The Department of Defense is providing infrared imaging to assist in mapping the fire's perimeter.
The Biden Administration remains committed to supporting California in the ongoing wildfire response and recovery process.
Biden Congratulates Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, Pledges U.S. Support
President Joe Biden spoke with Lebanon’s newly elected President Joseph Aoun to extend congratulations on his election victory. The two leaders emphasized the importance of fully implementing the cessation of hostilities agreed upon on November 26, 2024. President Biden reaffirmed U.S. commitment to supporting Lebanon’s security forces and aiding in the nation’s recovery and reconstruction efforts.
President Biden expressed confidence in President Aoun’s leadership, highlighting his ability to guide Lebanon through current challenges and opportunities. Both leaders pledged to work together, along with Lebanon’s international allies, to ensure the country’s security, sovereignty, and prosperity.
Elon Musk's Lawyer Urges States to Push OpenAI for Competitive Auction on Charitable Assets
Elon Musk's lawyer has requested that the attorneys general of California and Delaware push OpenAI to auction a significant stake in its business to determine the fair value of its charitable assets amid a corporate restructuring. Musk’s attorney, Marc Toberoff, argues that a competitive bidding process is necessary to protect the public's interest as OpenAI works on separating its for-profit and non-profit arms. OpenAI, co-founded by Musk, has proposed the restructuring to raise capital while maintaining its mission. Musk is suing OpenAI to block this conversion, claiming it deviates from the company's original goals.
That’s it from me for now. Thank you so much for reading.
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