Month: September 2024

President Joe Biden called on nations to band together amid the conflict in the Middle East, the Russia/Ukraine war, and growing global concerns about China during his last speech as president before the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday. Biden delivered his farewell address to world leaders at the UN, beginning his speech: “This is the fourth time I’ve had the great honor speaking to this assembly as president of the United States. It will be my last. I’ve seen a remarkable sweep of history.”

Biden used the gathering to condemn the militant group Hamas for its initial attack on Israel on Oct. 7, and said that the Palestinian people deserved their own state without the influence of Hamas.  He reiterated his call for a cease-fire in Gaza, calling on both Israel and Hamas to accept a deal hammered out by the United States, Egypt and Qatar and endorsed by the United Nations Security Council. Said Biden: “Now is the time for the parties to finalize its terms, bring the hostages home and ensure security for Israel and Gaza free of Hamas’ grip, ease the suffering in Gaza and end this war.”

The President also emphasized the United States’ continued support of Ukraine in front of the annual gathering of world leaders in New York, and urged those to continue supporting Kyiv in its mission to defend itself against Russia, with Biden stating that Kyiv’s backers “cannot grow weary.” Biden said Russia and President Vladimir Putin failed at their core goal to destroy Ukraine: “He sat out to weaken NATO, but NATO is bigger, stronger and more united than ever with two new members in Finland and Sweden. We cannot let up. The world has another choice to make. Will we sustain our support and help Ukraine win this war preserve its freedom, or walk away … and let it be destroyed? I know my answer.”

Biden also reflected on his decision to end his campaign for reelection, finishing up his remarks: “There’s so much more I want to get done. As much as I love the job, I love my country more. I decided after 50 years of public service, it’s time for a new generation of leadership to take my nation forward. I truly believe we’re at another inflection point in world history. The choices we make today will determine our future. My fellow leaders, let us never forget, some things are more important than staying in power. It’s your people. It’s your people that matter the most. Never forget, we are here to serve the people, not the other way around.”

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Former NFL QB Brett Favre revealed during his testimony at a congressional hearing on federal welfare reform on Tuesday that he was “recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease”. Parkinson’s disease is a condition that causes deterioration in the brain and affects motor skills; over one million people in the United States live with the disease and nearly 90,000 are diagnosed each year (according to the Parkinson’s Foundation.)

Favre, 54, was speaking before the House Ways and Means Committee in a discussion on “guardrails” regarding dispersing Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) funds — which saw nearly $8 million go to Favre, a volleyball stadium at University of Southern Mississippi and Prevacus, a defunct drug company backed by the Pro Football Hall of Famer.

Favre said during the House hearing: “Sadly, I also lost my investment in a company that I believed was developing a breakthrough concussion drug I thought would help others. As I’m sure you’ll understand, while it’s too late for me — I’ve recently been diagnosed with Parkinson’s — this is also a cause dear to my heart. Recently, the doctor running the company pleaded guilty to taking TANF money for his own use.”

Favre allegedly accepted $1.1 million in federal TANF funds through the state of Mississippi, allegedly accepting those funds in exchange for no-show speeches dating back to 2017. Favre also allegedly worked with a nonprofit organizer and former Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant to send $5 million in TANF funds to build a new volleyball arena at Southern Miss while his daughter played for the team. Favre added during his testimony: “I wanted to help my alma mater and benefit the community. Southern Miss introduced me to the nonprofit to see if they could help with funding. I had no way of knowing that there was anything wrong with how the state funded the project, especially since it was publicly approved by many state agencies and multiple attorneys including the Attorney General.”

Favre is not facing any criminal charges in the matter in question.  He initially repaid $500,000 to Mississippi in May 2020 and the remaining $600,000 in October 2021; he said he didn’t realize the funds used at Southern Miss were intended for welfare recipients. Federal prosecutors alleged that Favre is one of 47 “well-connected people” who funneled $77 million in funds away from their intended recipients in one of the poorest states in the country, federal prosecutors alleged.

Favre retired from the NFL after the 2010 season, and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2016. The 11-time Pro Bowl selection, three-time MVP and one-time Super Bowl champion ranks No. 4 all time in touchdown passes (508) and passing yards (71,838), with his 336 interceptions standing as the most in NFL history.

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The FBI revealed Monday that the man arrested in connection with the apparent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump in Florida earlier this month had a list of dates and venues found in his vehicle where the former president had appeared or was expected to appear, as well as a cellphone showing searches of how to get from West Palm Beach to Mexico.

Court documents also revealed that Routh dropped off a box at a person’s home that included a letter that declared, “This was an assassination attempt.” Law enforcement was contacted by a civilian on Sept. 18 who said that Routh had dropped off the box at his residence several months earlier, and that the witness who opened the box after learning of the Sept. 15 incident at Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida discovered ammunition, four phones and various letters. (per CBS News).  Routh also left a handwritten letter with a man months before the attempted assassination, addressed “Dear World” which read: “This was an assassination attempt on Donald Trump but I failed you. I tried my best and gave it all the gumption I could muster.”

A U.S. District Court filing asked that Routh be held in pre-trial detention, with a judge later ordering on Monday that he be held in jail pending trial. Routh has been in custody since he was arrested just over a week ago, and is charged with two federal firearms offenses after the apparent assassination attempt on Trump.

Trump was not harmed after an agent spotted a man’s face in the brush, later identified as Routh, and a rifle along the fence line outside of Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach on Sept. 15. Prosecutors said in their latest filing that the suspect was in line with the 6th-hole green, and Trump was playing the 5th hole when the Secret Service agent opened fire and Trump was swiftly removed from the area. The FBI found in the fence line an AK-47 style rifle with a scope attached and extended magazine. The gun was loaded with 11 rounds, with the serial number on the rifle obliterated and unreadable. Secret Service agents also found a digital camera, backpack and reusable shopping bag hanging from the fence, which contained plates that “were capable of stopping small arms fire,” according to court documents.

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The U.S. Commerce Department on Monday is proposing a ban on key Chinese and Russian-made hardware and software in internet-connected vehicles in the United States, national security concerns. President Biden signed an executive order in February intended to strengthen the country’s ability to respond to maritime cybersecurity threats amid worries that China might attempt to cripple crucial infrastructure systems in the U.S.

The Commerce Department launched a probe into the possible risk posed by Chinese-manufactured vehicles in February.  The move, which would effectively bar Chinese cars and trucks from the U.S. market, is intended to safeguard cars that can communicate externally, providing a route for U.S. adversaries to access and collect date and remotely manipulate cars on American roads. (per Reuters).

According to the Commerce Department, connected vehicles are a particular potential threat and noted the large amount of information cars take in through their sensors and cameras. U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo said in a statement: “Cars today have cameras, microphones, GPS tracking and other technologies connected to the internet. It doesn’t take much imagination to understand how a foreign adversary with access to this information could pose a serious risk to both our national security and the privacy of U.S. citizen.”

Raimondo said a foreign adversary could shut down or take simultaneous control of multiple vehicles, causing crashes and blocking roads: “This is not about trade or economic advantage this is a strictly national security action. The good news is right now, we don’t have many Chinese or Russian cars on our road.” 

Earlier this year, the White House announced 100% tariffs on Chinese electric cars, saying they are unfairly subsidized in China. The new proposal would prevent testing of self-driving cars on U.S. roads by Chinese automakers and extend to vehicle software and hardware produced by Russia and could be extended to other U.S. adversaries.The proposal would make software prohibitions effective in the 2027 model year. The hardware ban would take effect in the 2030 model year or January 2029. The Commerce Department is giving the public 30 days to comment on the proposal and hopes to finalize it by Jan. 20. The rules would cover all on-road vehicles but exclude agricultural or mining vehicles not used on public roads, as well as drones and trains.

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