Senate Dems move to restore FTC’s ability to obtain monetary relief for scam victims
This post was originally published on this siteThe Federal Trade Commission (FTC) would regain its ability to obtain monetary relief for victims of illegal scams as part of a new bill introduced by Senate Democrats on Wednesday night. Senate Commerce Committee Chair Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), along with Sens. Ben Ray...
Just 23 percent in new poll rate economy somewhat good
This post was originally published on this siteFewer than a quarter of Americans rated the state of the economy as somewhat good in a new poll. Just 23 percent of respondents in the CNN survey out late Wednesday said they thought conditions are somewhat good. That percentage has dropped sharply...
Roe leak may impact how Supreme Court decides gun rights, climate and immigration cases this spring
This post was originally published on this siteWhen Supreme Court justices gather on May 12 for their next closed-door conference to discuss pending petitions and outstanding opinions, everything will have changed.
Pentagon says Russia’s attempts to hit Western weapons flowing into Ukraine having ‘no impact’
Russia is concentrating most of its military efforts in Ukraine on trying to capture territory in the east and south of the country, but it continues to strike cities and towns across Ukraine. And on Tuesday and Wednesday those strikes targeted electrical substations, railroad facilities, and other infrastructure in western and central Ukraine.
The Russian Defense Ministry said the attacks on the rail infrastructure are meant to disrupt the delivery of Western weapons — Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu griped that the U.S. and its allies are “stuffing Ukraine with weapons.” A senior Pentagon official said Wednesday that despite Russia’s efforts, “there’s been no impact to our ability to continue flows into Ukraine. We’ve seen no indications that any of this Western aid has been impeded or even struck.”
“There’s no indication at all that there’s a Russian impediment to the flow” of U.S. arms to Ukraine, the Pentagon official said. “Our focus is on getting it to them. Their focus is on getting it into the fight and using it. And that’s happening.” Ukraine has 81 of 90 promised U.S. howitzers, and “we know that they are using some of those howitzers in the fight,” the official said, “but I think I’m just going to demur” on the specific number.
The flow of weapons into Ukraine “continues every single day,” and they “are getting into Ukrainian hands,” Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said later Wednesday. “We’re not going to talk about the ways in which materials getting inside Ukraine,” but “there are lots of ways to do that” and “those ways change over time.”
Ukraine and Russia both rely on the rail systems to transport military personnel and supplies, the Pentagon official said, but the Russian strikes on critical infrastructure out west have had “no appreciable impact” on Ukraine’s ability to replenish its forces. Overall, Russia’s “ability to target with precision has been less than advertised throughout this entire war,” Kirby added. “They are not good at precision strikes.”
Russia’s strikes on “non-military targets” also show its “willingness to target civilian infrastructure in an attempt to weaken Ukrainian resolve” and damage its economy, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said. These missile strikes on our cities “will get proper answers,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed Wednesday night. “Both legal and quite practical — on the battlefield.”
Biden is close to the point of no return with Americans on the economy
This post was originally published on this sitePresident Joe Biden and his administration appear perilously close to an irreversible severing of public confidence in his capacity to deliver prosperity and financial security as stiff economic challenges balloon into huge political liabilities.
Harris to meet with Amazon, Starbucks organizers
This post was originally published on this siteVice President Harris will meet with a collection of labor groups at the White House on Thursday, including representatives from the Amazon Labor Union and Starbucks Workers United. Labor Secretary Marty Walsh will also be at the meeting featuring ALU President Christian Smalls...
U.S. Trade Deficit Widens to Record
This post was originally published on this siteStrong U.S. demand for computers, vehicles and oil helped drive the U.S. trade deficit to a new record of $109.8 billion in March.
EU Proposes Ban on Russian Oil Imports
This post was originally published on this siteThe European Union proposed a ban on Russian crude within six months and is set to impose sanctions on Russian military officials accused of war crimes.