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Here’s what we’re talking about:
With Phil Rosen.
Teresa Kroeger / Getty Images for the US World Food Program; Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images; Samantha Lee / Insider
1. WITHIN BIDENWORLD: President Joe Biden’s “absolute wall” between him and his family’s business interests sounds impressive. But in practice it fails at the presidential level, writes my colleague Mattathias Schwartz.
Here’s a look at why ethics professionals are angry:
Hunter Biden’s art illustrates why Biden’s Wall doesn’t work: Earlier this month, Biden’s son began dating wealthy art patrons in hopes of selling his work for up to $ 500,000 per pop. According to an agreement approved by the White House, the younger Biden is free to meet with prospective buyers at such events, as long as his gallery owner knows the identity of those who are bidding on his pictures. But the gallery won’t tell you how it reviews buyers and where it draws the line.
This troubled relationship is nothing new: It’s still a stark contrast to Donald Trump’s approach, where corporate lobbyists, foreign governments, and his own secret service, for example, spent millions on overnight stays at his hotels and golf resorts during his presidency.
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But one expert says the US would cry badly if another nation allowed this: “If we were to observe a developing country and learn that the president’s son was making millions selling his art and had never sold any art before, we would talk to the leaders of that country about the need for ethical reform.” Walter Shaub, a former director of the US Department of Government Ethics, told my colleague.
Read more about how the actions of some of President Joe Biden’s family members draw on a specific theme in Washington.
The story goes on
2. Republicans prepare for an awkward Trump speech: The former president will speak at a major GOP fundraising event in Palm Beach, Florida. Trump is publicly calling for Mitch McConnell to be removed from the Senate’s top position, which is why some donors are surprised that Senator Rick Scott has invited Trump to speak. “It’s always interesting with Trump. Whoever wants to be there can be there,” said one person involved in the planning. Read what more Republicans have to say about the $ 1,300-a-night resort they’re waiting for Trump.
US climate commissioner John Kerry in Paris in March. MARTIN BUREAU / AFP via Getty Images
3. Kerry dampens expectations for the big climate summit: U.S. Climate Commissioner John Kerry says the climate talks will most likely end in Glasgow next month without the big nations setting the necessary goals needed to get the climate crisis under control before it’s too late, Associated reports Press. Kerry told the AP, however, that he is not curtailing expectations for a summit that he and other top politicians once called “the last, best chance” for climate action. Here things are only a few weeks away from the major climate talks.
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Key quote: “It would be like President Trump pulling out of the Paris Agreement,” Kerry told the AP about what would happen if Congress didn’t pass major climate laws.
4. Biden tries to save Christmas: Biden announced plans to move the Port of Los Angeles to 24/7 operations and join one of the other busiest ports in the country as leaders try to fix a freight bottleneck that has already resulted in bottlenecks and price hikes, NBC reports News. Large retailers like Walmart and shipping companies like UPS and FedEx will also step up efforts to address supply chain issues. The White House’s push stems from fears that Christmas shopping shortages could have devastating consequences.
5. The Democrats are already submitting another massive spending bill: If they can’t cram all of Biden’s social spending promises into the reconciliation bill this year, Democrats could try again next year. Kentucky Rep. John Yarmuth, chairman of the House of Representatives’ powerful Budgets Committee, envisioned a scenario in which provisions that could be dropped, such as a Medicare expansion, would be merged into a new bill just before the mid-term elections. More on what top lawmakers are considering as they continue to discuss cuts to their $ 3.5 trillion plan.
Apple; Disney +; Netflix; Hulu; Amazon; HBO; insider
6th In Hollywood’s battle for the hottest TV shows: The introduction of new streaming services has shaken up the hierarchy of top TV buyers in Hollywood. However, according to interviews with 18 industry insiders, HBO is the most popular place to sell a scripted TV show. Read more about how Netflix is changing, Apple’s quest for its breakout drama, and Amazon’s struggle to define its identity.
7th Johnson & Johnson wants to hand out the second dose of its COVID-19 vaccine, but the FDA isn’t so sure: Food and Drug Administration scientists say a booster from J & J’s COVID-19 syringe could theoretically boost the immune response, but the data isn’t there yet. The agency noted the lack of robust clinical trial results to support a second injection six months after the first dose. A panel of experts is expected to vote on Friday on whether the agency should fix the booster shots.
8. Capitol Riot Panel prepares for a subpoena battle: The House of Representatives special committee members who told the uprising of the 6th Former officials like Steve Bannon they would not cooperate over Trump’s decision to invoke executive privilege. Bannon was due to sit down for an interview with the legislature today. The panel also issued a subpoena on behalf of Jeffrey Clark, a former Justice Department official who was closely involved in Trump’s efforts to enforce his allegations of election fraud. Here is the investigation.
9. Katie Couric says she edited RBG’s comments about kneeling during the anthem: Couric says in her new book that she edited comments made by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in a 2016 interview to “protect” the eighty-year-old judiciary, according to the media receiving the book to have. Couric reportedly wrote that Ginsburg said athletes who kneeled during the national anthem before sporting events showed “contempt for a government that enabled their parents and grandparents to lead decent lives”. Couric reported that Ginsburg described kneeling as “stupid and disrespectful,” but it didn’t include the full remarks. More on what apparently was a behind-the-scenes fight to find out what to do with Ginsburg’s comments.
Jeff Bezos attached astronaut wings to William Shatner after the Star Trek star’s space flight on Wednesday. Blue origin
10.William Shatner cried when he told Jeff Bezos about his space flight: The Star Trek star said staring into the darkness of space is like looking into death. “I hope I never recover,” he said after his flight on Wednesday. Emotions overwhelmed Shatner when he talked about his time aboard the New Shepard rocket from Blue Origin. At 90, Shatner is the oldest person to fly in space. See his full comments.
Today’s quiz question: Speaking of presidential families, who was responsible for Billy Beer? Email me your answer and a suggested question at [email protected]
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