Category: Headlines

NYC Uber drivers strike again for better wages

January 5, 2023 Published by

Just In | The Hill 

Story at a glance

New York City Uber drivers are striking for a second time after the company blocked a pay raise last year.  

Last November, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission approved a pay raise for ride-hail drivers.  

Uber filed a lawsuit in December blocking the raise arguing it was “dramatic” and would force the company to spend millions extra.

Uber drivers in New York City are taking part in a second 24-hour strike Thursday after the rideshare company blocked a pay raise last month.  

Drivers began striking at 12:01 am Thursday morning and will continue until 11:59 p.m., according to the New York Taxi Workers Alliance (NYTWA), a union representing about 21,000 Lyft, Uber, and Taxi drivers across the five boroughs.  

Along with the strike, the NYTWA has created an online petition in support of drivers’ pay raise which has garnered over 1,600 signatures.  

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As part of their first strike in December, drivers blocked rush-hour traffic on the Brooklyn Bridge by forming a caravan.  

In November, the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission (NYC TLC) voted to increase the pay of all ride-hail drivers by roughly 7 percent more per minute and 24 percent per mile.  

Inflation in the United States reached a nearly 40-year high last June when consumer prices rose to 9.1 percent higher compared to the same month in 2020.   

The NYC TLC pushed and approved the pay raise for drivers to help address the challenges of higher food, housing and gas prices stemming from inflation.   

Uber took issue with the move and blocked the raise in a Manhattan Supreme Court the following month arguing the pay hike calling it “dramatic, unprecedented and unsupported.” 

In the lawsuit, Uber argued that the pay increase would require the company to spend up to an additional $23 million a month and increase the cost of rides by 10 percent in the city.  

The Thursday strike is happening a day before a New York judge is scheduled to determine if the pay block will continue or be lifted, according to the NYTWA.  

“The city’s for hire drivers have every right to protest Uber’s attempt t deny them the inflation and cost of living pay adjustment that they are rightfully due,” said NYC TLC Commissioner David Do in a statement. “TLC is actively protesting this too, in court.”  

An Uber spokesperson told The Hill that despite the call for a strike, drivers are still using the app.  

During the Thursday morning rush, 1.4 percent more drivers were online than in the same time period over the last two days, according to the spokesperson.  

Rider requests remained “flat” Thursday as well compared to the same time period the last two days as well, they added.  

“Every time the taxi association calls for a strike, drivers demonstrate they’re more interested in delivering for New Yorkers than social media discourse,” the spokesperson said. “Today has been no different.” 

​Equality, Changing America, Respect, labor strike, Manhattan Supreme Court, New York City, NY Taxi Workers Alliance, NYC TLC, Uber, Uber drivers Read More 

Biden: GOP speaker drama 'embarrassing' and 'not my problem'

January 5, 2023 Published by

When asked Tuesday about the Biden’s thoughts on the speakership race, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters President Biden “certainly will not insert himself in that process,” saying the administration was “looking forward to working with congressional colleagues including Democrats, Republicans and Independents this year.”

On Tuesday, a handful of Republicans blocked Kevin McCarthy’s bid for speaker during three straight votes for the gavel, with McCarthy only losing support as the day wore on.

As the House GOP prepares to enter the second day of deliberation, it’s unclear whether McCarthy’s whip count has improved or how Republicans will proceed in their public infighting over the speaker’s gavel.

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Biden ripped for butchering facts, making gaffes, and praising Harris’ border expertise in border speech

January 5, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

Twitter critics had trouble digesting some of the comments President Biden made during his recent remarks on the border crisis. 

He claimed that 20,000 pounds of fentanyl smuggled over the border could kill “1000 Americans,” insisted that Vice President Kamala Harris “knows” about the problems at the border better than anyone else, and made a perplexing denial of the idea that those who cross the border understand the nature the harrowing journey they’re paying smugglers to take them on.

Users were quick to remind Biden that Harris recently insisted that the southern border was “secure,” that it takes much less fentanyl to kill 20,000 people, and that illegal immigrants willingly pay criminals to smuggle them across the border, knowing full well the dangers and risks of the journey.

Biden provided these statements on the border during a Thursday address announcing his administration’s efforts to clamp down on illegal immigrants entering the country. 

BORDER ENCOUNTERS EXCEED 617,000 SO FAR IN FISCAL YEAR 2023, A RECORD HIGH

Biden has been under increasing pressure in recent weeks from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to address the border crisis. Even members of the Democratic Party have asked the federal government to step in as record numbers of immigrants have been pouring over the border. 

While trying to adopt a tougher stance on immigration enforcement, Biden made a series of statements that online viewers found nearly impossible to parse.

The first and most notable was Biden’s insistence that Harris, who has been criticized by even mainstream media in the past for not taking the border crisis seriously, knows “better” than anyone the ongoing problems at the border. 

While speaking of the current immigration system, Biden claimed, “The failure to pass and fund this comprehensive plan has increased the challenges that we’re seeing at our southern border. No one knows this better than the Vice President.”

Ironically, only months prior to this speech, Harris had told NBC’s “Meet The Press” host Chuck Todd, “The border is secure, but we also have a broken immigration system.” 

Still, Twitter users weren’t about to give Harris the benefit of the doubt on the subject. 

Rep. Jeff Van Drew, R-N.J., pointed out the reality of Harris’ experience at the border, tweeting, “No border visit from @VP in nearly two years.”

Conservative political commentator @Teacloc tweeted, “No one believes this is true, including the Vice President.”

The American Spectator’s Melissa Mackenzie asked, “Would that be the quiet woman behind you who hasn’t visited the border?”

The RNC Research Twitter account responded to the claim, saying, “Harris hasn’t held a border-related event in over 6 months, and hasn’t been to the border since June 2021.”

FARMERS SLAM BIDEN OVER LATEST ECO REGULATION TARGETING BUSINESSES: ‘FEDERAL OVERREACH’

In another awkward moment from Biden during the speech, he warned of the current fentanyl danger at the southern border, though his facts on the deadly and illegal drug were way off. 

He said, “Since August of last year, Customs and Border Patrol have seized more than 20,000 lbs. of deadly fentanyl. That’s enough to kill, kill as many as 1000 people in this country.”

However, the DEA website stated that it takes much less fentanyl to kill a man than around 20 pounds. According to the page, “Just two milligrams of fentanyl, which is equal to 10-15 grains of table salt, is considered a lethal dose.”

Conservative digital strategist Greg Price bashed Biden’s overblown statement, tweeting that his figure “would be enough fentanyl to kill nearly everyone on the planet.”

Former MLB player and businessman David Aardsma seemed exasperated with Biden’s math, tweeting, “Seriously? Come on man.” 

Conservative radio host Bruce Hooley slammed Biden’s ignorance, tweeting, “You can’t fix a problem you don’t remotely understand. You can’t fix a problem you don’t attempt to understand. You can’t fix a problem you don’t deem to be a problem.”

Pro-life Twitter user Veronica Birkenstock declared, “Joe should never quote numbers.”

In yet another awkward portion of the address, Biden denied the idea that illegal immigrants plan to hire smugglers and expect the “harrowing” journeys they eventually endure to get to America.

He said, “It’s not like people are sitting around a table somewhere in Central America saying ‘I got a great idea. Let’s sell everything we have…to a coyote or smuggler. They’ll take us on a harrowing journey for 1000 miles to get to the United States. Then we’re gonna illegally cross the border. They’re gonna drop us in the desert in a place where we don’t speak the language. Won’t that be fun?'”

Though users reminded him that oftentimes is the plan for many of these illegal immigrants. 

National Review contributor Pradheep Shanker tweeted, “That is QUITE LITERALLY what is happening… And been happening for decades. How delusional and out of touch is he?”

Talking Points USA’s Hayden Cunningham wrote, “Actually, that’s exactly what’s happening. I know this because there are illegals being interviewed at the border saying that’s exactly what they did.”

 

​Read More 

 

Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson set to publish 'Lovely One' memoir

January 5, 2023 Published by


Washington
CNN
 — 

Supreme Court Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson is planning to release a memoir on her life titled “Lovely One,” the book’s publisher announced Thursday.

In the memoir, Jackson, who made history last year as the first Black woman to join the court, will chart her personal history, from her upbringing in Miami and her years at Harvard to her early legal career, marriage and motherhood, and ascension to the Supreme Court, according to a statement from Random House.

“Mine has been an unlikely journey,” Jackson said in the statement. “This memoir marries the public record of my life with what is less known. It will be a transparent accounting of what it takes to rise through the ranks of the legal profession, especially as a woman of color with an unusual name and as a mother and a wife striving to reconcile the demands of a high-profile career with the private needs of my loved ones.”

The memoir will be Jackson’s first book. Random House did not say in its statement when the memoir would be released nor did it note how much the justice would make from her book deal with the publisher.

Random House did not immediately respond to CNN’s request for more details on its book deal with Jackson.

The Associated Press first reported Jackson’s book plans.

It’s not uncommon for Supreme Court members to secure lucrative book deals, with Justice Amy Coney Barrett having received a $425,000 payment from the literary agency Javelin Group to pen her own book, according to financial disclosures released last year. Barrett’s book has not yet been released.

Justice Neil Gorsuch, meanwhile, authored a broad-audience book called “A Republic, If You Can Keep It” in 2019. He received $250,000 from the publishing company HarperCollins in 2021, according to his 2022 financial disclosures. The income is listed as “book royalties.” Politico reported last year that the amount was an advance for a new book about judicial and regulatory policy.

And Justice Sonia Sotomayor’s disclosures last year revealed she had received more than $115,000 in book royalties in 2021 from Penguin Random House, which has published several children’s books by the justice

Of her forthcoming book, Jackson said in her statement Thursday: “My hope is that the fullness of my journey as a daughter, sister, wife, mother, litigator, and friend will stand as a testament for young women, people of color, and dreamers everywhere … especially those who nourish outsized ambitions and believe in the possibility of achieving them.”

Jackson was sworn in as a justice on June 30, 2022. President Joe Biden nominated her earlier that year to replace Justice Stephen Breyer, who announced his retirement from the bench after serving for nearly three decades.

This story has been updated with additional details.

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Dems bask in the speaker schadenfreude

January 5, 2023 Published by

Politics, Policy, Political News Top Stories 

It’s the third day of a leaderless House, and Democrats are in no mood to bail Republicans out.

“They’re not desperate enough yet,” said Rep. Elissa Slotkin (D-Mich.), who is precisely the type of moderate Democrat who would be involved in compromise conversations with the GOP.

Eventually, she said she may be open to reaching a deal on a “consensus” candidate, such as when issues such as staff pay or inability to act on national security matters hit a breaking point. But until then: “We’re going to need to sit here and stay united while they figure out who they want to be.”

The incoming minority party has stayed totally united behind its leader, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.), through over half a dozen rounds of balloting. It’s so unified, in fact, that the pair of Democrats who missed a Wednesday procedural vote due to off-Hill political meetings apologized to the rest of the caucus during a closed-door meeting Thursday, according to two people familiar with the situation.

A handful of Democrats have begun to engage in preliminary conversations with their GOP counterparts about how to end the standoff, including private chats on the floor, phone calls and even late-night meetings. But lawmakers across the caucus agree: It’s far too early for any real talk of a power-sharing agreement to spare the Republicans further embarrassment.

Even as some Republicans continue to float — and perhaps threaten — cooperation across the aisle as an option, Democratic leaders have unequivocally declined to engage, even with hypotheticals. They’ve repeatedly pointed to Jeffries’ larger vote total than Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, and Jeffries noted Thursday it was “time for Republicans to get their act together.”

And at the start of the eighth ballot, his deputy, House Minority Whip Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) repeated Jeffries’ vote count of “212” seven times.

Democrats across the board were skeptical that any sort of cross-party power-sharing deal would work — even those that came from state legislatures that were under so-called coalition control, such as Alaska.

Rep. Mary Peltola (D-Alaska), a former state legislator, said she was open to a House with shared power between the parties “if there were a coalition that were workable.”

But she acknowledged: “if you’re putting a coalition together with a field of 40 people, that’s much more manageable than 435. And in Alaska, things don’t seem to be nearly so entrenched. Even the staff here is entrenched. It’s not just the elected members with these very hardline philosophies.”

During a caucus meeting Thursday morning, no members brought up even the possibility of working with the GOP, according to three people attending. Instead, Democrats were still ready to repeatedly oppose Republican attempts to adjourn the House and said they were prepared to stay in town as long as it took to get a speaker.

At one point during the meeting, Jeffries began to repeat the mantra of his predecessor, former Speaker Nancy Pelosi: “Our diversity is our strength, our unity is our power” — only to have the rest of the caucus repeat it in unison.

“This is a fight between them right now, between their right wing and their extreme right wing,” said Rep. Jim McGovern (D-Mass.). “They’ve got to figure this out.”

In fact, the vast majority of House Democrats are eyeing the infighting across the aisle with some schadenfreude.

“I don’t see us helping them. I think they need to help themselves and I think they need to do their damn jobs,” said Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.). “I mean, what the hell? You were sent here to govern. What is this?”

At the same time, the continued impasse has hampered the ability of lawmakers in both parties to run their offices. Democratic offices received guidance Thursday apologizing for an earlier miscommunication erroneously indicating they wouldn’t be able to handle any new constituent casework with the House in limbo, according to a copy reviewed by POLITICO. The updated guidance blamed the error on Republicans’ “ongoing chaos.”

The longer the speaker fight drags on, the more of an impact it will have on the House’s operations since the chamber can’t do anything until it elects a speaker. If rules aren’t adopted by Jan. 13, for example, committee staff won’t be paid.

“We are, right now, a one-winged bird. We can’t fly, we can’t do anything. And it’s making us vulnerable,” Rep. Emanuel Cleaver (D-Mo.) said, who said he’s worried that U.S. enemies could be plotting how to capitalize on the chaos — particularly with escalating tensions abroad. “If you’re Poland, you’re scared to death.”

As they look to break the standoff, Republicans have viewed moderate Democrats, particularly those from districts that voted for former President Donald Trump, as potential partners to help resolve the speaker imbroglio. But those lawmakers aren’t biting yet.

Rep. Pat Ryan (D-N.Y.), who triumphed in a close reelection fight last year, said of Republicans: “When in charge, take charge, right? We’ve been unified. We’ve made our selection. It’s time for them to lead, follow or get out of the way, as they say.”

Only a handful of Democrats are willing to publicly entertain the idea of a compromise. Rep. Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), has raised the idea of supporting a moderate Republican speaker who could draw Democratic support, like Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.).

And Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio) has floated a “unity caucus” of Democrats who might be able to vote for McCarthy, but added she left the final decision to Republican and Democratic leaders who might hear the idea and “then think about filling in the blanks and what that means.”

Pelosi, who united Democrats despite her own thin margin in the last Congress, said it was up to Republicans to sort out their own problems.

“They have to make a decision. They wanted to have control of the House. They have to take responsibility to do that,” she said. “We can help with legislation. We can help with upholding the dignity of the House of Representatives, but it’s up to them to help themselves to elect the speaker of the House.”

​ Read More 

Biden to mark Jan. 6 anniversary with citizens medal

January 5, 2023 Published by

Just In | The Hill 

President Biden will mark the second anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol with a ceremony at the White House at which he will award the Presidential Citizens Medal to 12 election officials and law enforcement officers.

Among those being honored on Friday is former Arizona House Speaker Rusty Bowers (R), who refused to overturn his state’s election results in 2020 despite pressure from then-President Trump and others.

Bowers and other election officials garnered widespread national attention amid the Jan. 6 House select committee’s investigation as the panel revealed the pressure put on state officials behind the scenes by Trump allies.

The mob of Trump supporters that breached the Capitol in early 2021 sought to block Biden’s electoral victory, forcing lawmakers to be rushed to safety and then-Vice President Pence, who was presiding, to be escorted to a secure area.

Attorney General Merrick Garland has called the federal response to the riot “one of the largest, most complex, and most resource-intensive investigations in our history.”

“We remain committed to ensuring accountability for those criminally responsible for the January 6 assault on our democracy,” Garland said in a statement. “And we remain committed to doing everything in our power to prevent this from ever happening again.”

Advocates and former D.C. Police Officer Michael Fanone are marking the anniversary Friday by calling on Republicans to publicly condemn political violence.

The Jan. 6 panel released its final 840-page report last month, with key testimony from Trump administration figures and others connected to the former president. The panel recommended criminal charges against Trump.

Jan. 6 by the numbers:

950+: People arrested in nearly all 50 states and the District of Columbia. 

484: Guilty pleas. 

350: People the FBI continues to seek information on.

$500,000: Reward for information leading to the arrest of the still unidentified person who left pipe bombs near the Republican National Committee and Democratic National Committee headquarters near the Capitol. 

*Figures according to Justice Department as of January 2023.

This is NotedDC, looking at the politics, policy and people behind the stories in Washington. We’re The Hill’s Amée LaTour and Liz Crisp.

📨 Have a tip or something you want to share? Email us at [email protected] and [email protected].

BRIEFLY

Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) announced she won’t run for reelection in 2024, a year with a tough Senate map for Dems.

New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu (R) is leaving the door open to a 2024 presidential run, acknowledging he’s having conversations about a bid.

Investigators used a DNA sample on a knife sheath to link a suspect to the fatal stabbing of four University of Idaho students, according to court documents.

McCarthy loses — again

On the third day of the House trying to elect a Speaker, House GOP Leader Kevin McCarthy (Calif.) again failed to muster enough votes to get a win, even after hours of haggling with the 20 Republicans who have blocked his election. 

On Wednesday, Republican leaders called for an early adjournment to continue their efforts to whip votes for McCarthy, with the California Republican reportedly making several concessions to the hard-liners late in the evening.

It didn’t work.

Without a Speaker named, lawmakers could be stuck in D.C. through the weekend. The Hill’s Emily Brooks recently looked at the three main scenarios for McCarthy moving forward. 

The Trump Factor: Former President Trump has been an advocate for McCarthy in the race, though his vocal support and repeated statements haven’t swayed any members to move to McCarthy. On Thursday, in the seventh round of voting, Trump himself received a vote to become the next Speaker.

Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who has been a staunch Trump ally as well as a ringleader behind the efforts to tank McCarthy’s chances, cast the lone vote for the former president.

The move came after Gaetz responded with disappointment to Trump’s continued support for McCarthy. 

“Sad!” Gaetz said in a statement Wednesday, via Fox. “This changes neither my view of McCarthy, nor Trump, nor my vote.” 

He previously described Trump’s McCarthy support as part of a pattern of hiring a “parade of horribles” to serve in his administration.  

Shortly after Gaetz’s move Thursday, “Trump for Speaker” began trending on Twitter. 

THE OTHER SPEAKER ELECTIONS THIS WEEK

D.C. isn’t the only site of an eventful leadership election. State houses in Pennsylvania and Ohio saw Speaker surprises of their own that stand to affect the states’ legislative agendas.

PENNSYLVANIA

State Rep. Mark Rozzi was elected Speaker of the Pennsylvania House this week as a Democrat, announcing immediately after that he’d govern as an independent. Sixteen Republicans joined Democrats in electing Rozzi.  

Rep. Joanna McClinton, whom Democrats selected as their leader last month, was among Rozzi’s supporters. 

Democrats won the thinnest of majorities in November at 102 of 203 seats, but three Democratic vacancies left the GOP with a slight, and possibly temporary, majority — currently at 101-99. (One special election will be held next month, while the timing of the other two is up in the air.)

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported, “The power struggle was significant in part because House Republicans indicated that with control of the chamber, they might advance constitutional amendments that the GOP-led legislature had already passed in July.” 

The state House voted 107-92 to put constitutional amendments before voters on a range of topics, including a voter ID requirement and giving the legislature more power to block regulations. The legislature would need to pass the amendments again this session for them to appear on the ballot.  

According to the Inquirer, “With Rozzi as speaker, it seems unlikely that any controversial amendment will come up for a vote.” Rozzi voted against the amendments package last year. 

Rozzi said after his Speaker election, “My staff will be made up of people from both parties. I pledge my allegiance and my loyalty to no interest in this building, to no interest in our politics. I pledge my loyalty to the people of the commonwealth, to the people who are tired of the hyperpartisanship in both parties.”  

OHIO

All 32 Democrats in the Ohio House joined 22 Republicans to secure a win for Rep. Jason Stephens (R) — pushing him past the 43 Republican votes for Rep. Derek Merrin (R), who had won support from the Republican caucus over Stephens in a vote in November. 

“I pledge to respect and to work with each and every one of us to address the many concerns of our state,” Stephens said after the vote. 

News5Cleveland reported that House Minority Leader Allison Russo (D) “mentioned they [she and Stephens] spoke about getting fair district maps — but most of the conversation was on priority bills, like education issues.” 
 
News5Cleveland discussed the fate of a bill known as the “Backpack Bill” as possibly affected by the Speaker vote.   

Merrin is a cosponsor of that bill, which calls for the creation of an education funding formula “that allows families to choose the option for all computed funding amounts associated with students’ education to follow them to the schools they attend,” including nonpublic schools. 

Biden blasts GOP over border politics

Republicans have called on President Biden for months to travel to the U.S. Southern border to view the migrant surge first-hand. That visit will finally come on Sunday when the president visits El Paso.

The planned trip is being overshadowed — at least for now — by the yet-unresolved House Speaker election, a protracted battle that has exposed GOP tensions and threatens to throw a wrench into Republicans’ plans to quickly launch probes targeting Biden and his administration.

On Thursday, Biden dismissed GOP attacks centered on his administration’s immigration enforcement as he unveiled new efforts along the border:

“Republicans haven’t been serious about this at all. Come on,” Biden told reporters, accusing the GOP of using immigration to divide people.

“It’s clear that immigration is a political issue that extreme Republicans are always going to run on,” Biden said. “Immigration reform used to be a bipartisan issue.” 

Biden said he hasn’t previously traveled to the border because he was waiting for an outcome on the Trump-era Title 42 border policy that has allowed officials to reject migrant asylum claims under a public health emergency.

The administration officially opposes Title 42, though the Supreme Court upheld the policy in a narrow vote last month.

Biden announced several initiatives on Thursday that he said would increase enforcement. (More on that here via The Hill’s Alex Gangitano.)

“If the most extreme Republicans continue to demagogue this issue, and reject solutions, I’m left with only one choice: Act on my own,” Biden said. “I know that migration is putting a real strain on the border and on border communities. We’re gonna get these communities more support.” 

Southwest faces growing scrutiny over meltdown

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee plans to hold hearings on the airline industry “in the wake of Southwest Airlines massive operational and customer service failures,” the panel has announced.

“Southwest’s customers are rightfully dissatisfied and deserve better,” Committee Chairwoman Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) said in a statement. “These consumers need refunds and reimbursements for their expenses.” 

Cantwell said in her statement she has been in touch with Southwest CEO Robert Jordan and Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg about the issue, after thousands of passengers were left stranded by mass flight cancelations during the holidays. Many customers still haven’t received their luggage. 

Southwest has blamed “operational” issues related to bad weather for the fiasco. 

“The problems at Southwest Airlines over the last several days go beyond weather,” Cantwell said, noting the Senate panel plans to evaluate the causes of the disruptions, as well as the impact on customers.  

“Many airlines fail to adequately communicate with consumers during flight cancellations,” she said. “Consumers deserve strong protections, including an updated consumer refund rule.” 

Southwest has said it’s working on technological upgrades and to address the concerns of affected passengers. 

“We received the release from Senator Cantwell’s office and our teams in D.C. remain engaged with our partners on Capitol Hill,” a Southwest spokesperson told NotedDC. 

Cantwell’s office didn’t immediately respond to NotedDC’s request for more information on a possible hearing timeline or anticipated witnesses to be called. 

The hearings aren’t likely to focus solely on Southwest’s recent issues, though. 

Cantwell, along with Sen. Edward Markey (D-Mass.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), reached out to the Department of Transportation last year urging the agency “to take further action to make the process for obtaining refunds more transparent and efficient for U.S. airline passengers.” 

They noted a surge in consumer complaints amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

With customer complaints mounting over the holidays, Buttigieg reached out to Jordan last week seeking an update on the company’s “efforts to do right by the customers it has wronged.”

The Biden administration has even threatened to pursue fines against the company. 

“Southwest Airlines failed its customers — point blank,” White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters Tuesday. “The Department of Transportation will hold them accountable to their commitments to make their customers whole.” 

NUMBER TO KNOW

18

Days until the Senate is scheduled to return to the Capitol after the January district work period. 

ONE MORE THING

Our colleague Niall Stanage wrote about a silver lining of the Speakership saga for viewers: camera freedom.  

“Under normal circumstances, the majority party imposes strictures on the kind of shots that can be filmed,” Stanage wrote.

But these aren’t normal circumstances, and C-SPAN’s cameras have caught some memorable moments while operating freely in the chamber in recent days.

From Stanage: “Viewers have seen ideological opposites Reps. Paul Gosar (R-Ariz.) and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) in conversation Tuesday, and anti-McCarthy hardliner Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) in a series of animated exchanges Wednesday.” 

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‘Dancing with the Stars’ pro Witney Carson reveals the sex of second baby with husband Carson McAllister

January 5, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

“Dancing with the Stars” pro Witney Carson and husband Carson McAllister are about to become parents to a second son. 

Witney announced baby No. 2 was on the way during an episode of “Dancing with the Stars” and with an Instagram video in November 2022 of her and McAllister showing their son Kevin Leo a pregnancy test.

“Baby McAllister #2 is coming end of May! We feel so blessed, and I can’t wait to see Leo be a big brother,” Witney captioned the video. 

‘DANCING WITH THE STARS’ WITNEY CARSON SAYS SHE WAS ‘EMBARRASSED’ TO REVEAL CANCER DIAGNOSIS TO PRODUCERS

On Wednesday, Witney posted a second Instagram video revealing the sex of their baby. The video pans the beach revealing the words “It’s a boy” written in the sand before eventually landing on Witney, who is holding Leo with McAllister by her side. 

“Our second blessing,” Witney captioned the video. 

The couple got married in January 2016 and had their first child in January 2021. 

Witney recently competed on season 31 of “Dancing with the Stars” with partner Wayne Brady while she was pregnant. The two made it to the finals and finished in third place. 

 

​Read More 

 

Biden fumbles during speech, appears not to know Title 8 border law, mislabels CBP

January 5, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

During a major White House speech Thursday announcing expanded border measures, President Biden fumbled while discussing the replacement of Title 42, a public health law that has been used to deter migrants at the border. 

The speech came days before the president’s first-ever visit to the southern border next week as his administration struggles to deal with a historic surge in migrants. Asked why he’s visiting now when Republicans have been calling on him to visit since the start of his presidency, Biden shot back that Republicans “haven’t been serious about this at all.” 

The president then predicted that Title 42 would be gone by the end of the year. 

“Title 42 is going to go away before the end of the year, in terms of the Supreme Court. My prediction. And then we’re going to have to use Title 9,” Biden said before quickly correcting himself to “Title 8. 

“Eight, right? Am I right? Yeah, Title Eight. Eight-nine,” Biden said, appearing flustered. 

TWITTER EXPLODES AFTER BIDEN REFERS TO KAMALA HARRIS AS ‘PRESIDENT’ – AGAIN

At another point in the speech, Biden mispronounced U.S. Customs and Border Protection as “Customs and Border Patrol” while discussing fentanyl seizures. 

Since March 2020, Title 42 has been used to deter asylum-seeking migrants some 2.5 million times at the U.S.-Mexico border. The law was enforced during the Trump administration as an emergency health measure to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Biden moved to end the Title 42 restrictions, and Republicans sued to keep them. The U.S. Supreme Court has kept the rules in place for now. White House officials say they still believe the restrictions should end, but they maintain they can continue to turn away migrants under immigration law.

Should Title 42 end the Biden administration would revert to Title 8, which mandates that any illegal immigration present in the United States “without being admitted or paroled, or who arrives in the United States at any time or place other than as designated by the Attorney General, is inadmissible.”

BIDEN SLAMMED FOR INACCURATE BORDER COMMENTS BY EX-TRUMP OFFICIAL: ‘WASN’T SURE WHAT HE WAS TALKING ABOUT’

Biden said Thursday the U.S. would immediately begin turning away Cubans, Haitians and Nicaraguans who cross the border from Mexico illegally. The new rules expand on an existing effort to stop Venezuelans attempting to enter the U.S., which began in October and led to a dramatic drop in Venezuelans coming to the southern border. 

“Do not, do not just show up at the border,” Biden said as he announced the changes, advising: “Stay where you are and apply legally from there.” 

Biden is scheduled to visit to El Paso, Texas, on Sunday for his first trip to the southern border as president. From there, he will travel on to Mexico City to meet with North American leaders on Monday and Tuesday. El Paso is about 632 miles from where the border chaos is at its worst, in the Rio Grande Valley of south Texas. 

Fox News’ Adam Shaw and The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

 

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Job growth expected to have cooled in December but not enough to slow Fed rate hikes

January 5, 2023 Published by

US Top News and Analysis 

A “We’re Hiring” sign at a Target store in New York.
Scott Mlyn | CNBC

The economy is expected to have added 200,000 jobs in December, less than November, but still strong enough to keep the Federal Reserve aggressively tightening policy to fight inflation.

Economists surveyed by Dow Jones also expect that the unemployment rate remained at 3.7% in December, while average hourly wage growth slowed to 0.4% from 0.6% in November. There were 263,000 jobs added in November.

The employment report is scheduled to be released Friday at 8:30 a.m. ET, and it is the last major monthly jobs data before the Fed meets Jan. 31 and Feb. 1.

The data is important since the Fed has been trying to slow the hot labor market in its fight against inflation. The central bank has raised interest rates seven times in this tightening cycle, and economists say it could hike by another half-percentage point in February, but traders in the futures market are betting on just a quarter-point hike.

“I still think we’re in for a solid number on Friday. I don’t think things have slowed all that much,” said Michael Gapen, chief U.S. economist at Bank of America.

Gapen expects 215,000 jobs were added last month. “That’s twice as much job growth as they want.” December’s report could still show some gains from seasonal hiring.

The Fed’s latest economic forecast shows unemployment climbing to 4.6% by the fourth quarter. “Their forecast has the unemployment rate rising. We know the breakeven rate is somewhere between 70,000 to 100,000,” Gapen said. “If you need the unemployment rate to rise, you need jobs to fall below 70,000 to 100,000.”

Gapen expects the monthly number could start to turn negative in the first half of the year, and then continue to be negative for awhile.

“Right now the underlying economy is where we’re looking for evidence to suggest whether the slowdown has broadened beyond housing and nonresidential construction investment,” he said. “The next likely place should be the goods side of the economy.”

The Fed is willing to have the job market weaken because officials see worse damage for the economy if they let inflation remain high, Gapen said. He is looking at construction as one area that could give up jobs, as the real estate slowdown ripples across the economy.

“We have a large number of homes under construction. … We’ll look for mortgage service lenders and realtors … people who are framers and foundation layoffs. That’s probably where you’ll see layoffs first in construction,” he said.

Aneta Markowska, chief financial economist at Jefferies, expects 175,000 jobs were added, but she is most concerned about the continued pressure on wages. She agrees with the consensus that wages grew in December by 0.4%, or 5% year over year, but says that number could jump to as high as 0.7% on a monthly basis in January, as companies implement raises.

Economists worry that wage inflation, should it begin to spiral, is a type of inflation that is more difficult to eradicate. The strength in the labor economy has been surprising economists for months. Job openings in November, for instance, were reported at nearly 10.5 million, more than expected, when the Job Openings and Turnover Layoff Survey was released Wednesday.

“I think what the JOLTs data told us is that actually there is a slowdown in hiring. It’s not because demand for labor is declining rapidly,” said Markowska. “It’s just the supply constraints are starting to bite. You’re seeing the quits rate go up again. Growth hires are still solid. … We’re potentially running into more binding constraints in the labor market, and if that’s the case, we’re in for more upside in wages.”

Diane Swonk, chief economist at KPMG, said an area that has shown an increase in hiring is new companies.

“Much of what we’re seeing is being driven on the demand side, not just by employers, but by new business formation, which they’re all of a sudden having to compete with,” she said. “It’s a very different situation than we’ve seen in the past.”

The Fed has raised interest rates seven times since last March, and the fed funds rate is now at 4.25% to 4.5%. Both Gapen and Markowska said the strength in labor warrants the central bank raising rates by another half-percentage point on Feb. 1, and then a quarter point in March. Many investors, however, expect just a quarter-point hike in February and then another quarter point after that.

Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody’s Analytics, said the Fed is trying to encourage investors to expect higher rates for longer. That was evident in the minutes from its December meeting, released Wednesday.

“I think they are trying to guide markets from thinking rates are going to come down quickly this year,” he said. “If you look at market expectations, the fed funds rate comes up to 5% shortly and then comes back down quickly in the back end of the year. The message in the minutes is rates are going to be higher for longer. Who knows at the end of the day if they are going to keep rates that high for long, but that’s the message they wanted to send.”

Zandi expects the economy added 225,000 jobs in December.

“The job market is slowing steadily, but surely. It’s not enough. The Fed, I think, would love to see job gains south of 100,000, closer to zero, to get unemployment moving north and wages moving south. These numbers suggest we’ll quickly be moving in that direction,” he said. “I think we’ll be at 100,000 in the spring and there will be months at zero on the spring or summer.”

Because of its potential impact on the Fed, the jobs report could move the markets.

“I’d look at wages first and foremost. If jobs comes in at 250,000 or 300,000, I don’t think the market reacts too much,” said Michael Schumacher, head of macro strategy at Wells Fargo. “If the wage side of it comes in at 0.5, or 0.6, that’s pretty disruptive. 0.3 is a nonevent. The market needs a 0.2 to move a lot, and then the narrative kicks in that the Fed is almost done.”

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