This week in US politics: Biden takes on Facebook, cosies up to Fox News, to battle vaccine hesitancy
July 23 By Peter Marsh Joe Biden campaigned on making politics boring, and since taking office, he’s been called boring by everyone from Donald Trump to his top White House staffers (yes, even by us, too). Just last week The New York Times published a…
Germany’s Merkel says pipeline deal with US good for Ukraine
July 22 By Geir Moulson German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that a compromise deal that will allow the completion of a Russian gas pipeline to Europe without the imposition of further U.S. sanctions is “good for Ukraine.” The United States and Germany announced the…
Jill Biden stops in Alaska on her way to Tokyo Olympics
July 21 By Margaret Wall Jill Biden embarked Wednesday on her first solo international trip as first lady, leading a U.S. delegation to the Olympic Games in Tokyo, where the coronavirus is surging and COVID-19 infections have climbed to a six-month high. On her way…
Biden Says Getting Vaccinated ‘Gigantically Important’
July 20 By Alexandra Jaffe President Joe Biden expressed pointed frustration Wednesday over the slowing COVID-19 vaccination rate in the U.S. and pleaded that it’s “gigantically important” for Americans to step up and get inoculated against the virus as it surges once again. Biden, speaking…
Big Infrastructure Bill in Peril; GOP Threatens Filibuster
July 19 By Lisa Mascaro The bipartisan infrastructure deal senators brokered with President Joe Biden is hanging precariously ahead of a crucial Wednesday test vote as they struggle over how to pay for nearly $1 trillion in public works spending. Tensions were rising as Republicans…
Blinken to diplomats: It’s OK to admit U.S. flaws when promoting rights
July 18 By Nahal Toosi Secretary of State Antony Blinken is telling U.S. diplomats to make the promotion of human rights and democracy a priority, even in countries with abusive governments that happen to be U.S. allies. Along the way, Blinken says, it’s fine to…
U.S. point person on Israel-Palestine says PA facing dangerous economic, political crises
July 18 By Barak Ravid The State Department’s point person on Israel-Palestine warned Israeli officials during his talks in Jerusalem this week that the Palestinian Authority is facing dangerous economic and political crises, three Israeli officials told me. Why it matters: The Palestinian Authority is…
A small percentage of Alaska’s COVID-19 cases have involved fully vaccinated people. Here’s what we know so far.
July 18 By Morgan Krakow Despite being vaccinated against COVID-19, a few hundred Alaskans still tested positive for the virus over a five-month period, according to new information from the state health department. In total, 656 cases from February through June were considered vaccine breakthrough…
McCarthy puts political hopes above democracy with Trump pilgrimage
July 17 By Stephen Collinson House Republican leader Kevin McCarthy’s new pilgrimage to Donald Trump shows there is no price a party that has slipped its moral moorings and given up on democracy will not pay for power. His trip to the ex-President’s New Jersey…
Sen. Lisa Murkowski rakes in the cash despite Trump-endorsed Alaska challenger
July 17 By Melissa Holzberg Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R) hasn’t announced if she’ll run for reelection in 2022, but the nearly 20-year Senate veteran will have a war chest if she decides to enter the race. Murkowski raised more than $1.1 million in the…
Biden: US Will Protect Haiti Embassy, Won’t Send Troops
July 16 By Samanta Broun President Joe Biden said Thursday that the U.S. will bolster security at its embassy in Haiti following last week’s assassination of that country’s president, but sending American troops to stabilize the country was “not on the agenda.” Haiti’s interim government…
Governor Dunleavy Convenes Full Cabinet in Fairbanks
July 16 By Steven Bill Alaska Governor Mike Dunleavy today in Fairbanks convened his full cabinet for the first in person meeting since social distancing measures were implemented in 2020. The principal heads of Alaska’s 14 departments discussed issues including responding to the Munson Creek…