Month: May 2022

A fire on Sunday inside the headquarters of anti-abortion group Wisconsin Family Action was being investigated as arson, after someone had spray-painted a message outside the building. Madison, Wisconsin police spokeswoman Stephanie Fryer told the Wisconsin State Journal that the fire reported shortly after 6 a.m. Sunday in Madison was suspicious in nature. Federal officials and the Madison Fire Department are helping with the investigation.

Officials were still working to determine how much damage the fire caused, and confirmed no one was injured. Investigators found the remnants of at least one Molotov cocktail and it wasn’t immediately clear who vandalized the building, but the message “If abortions aren’t safe than you aren’t either” was spray-painted on the building. Madison Police Chief Shon Barnes said in a statement: “It appears a specific non-profit that supports anti-abortion measures was targeted.”

The president of the lobbying group, Julaine Appling, said she considers the fire a “direct threat against us” given that it happened just a few days after a draft of a U.S. Supreme Court opinion was leaked suggesting the court may soon overturn the Roe v. Wade decision that legalized abortion in this country.  Appling said: “This is the local manifestation of the anger and the lack of tolerance from the pro-abortion people toward those of us who are pro-life. We will repair our offices, remain on the job, and build an even stronger grassroots effort. We will not back down. We will not stop doing what we are doing. Too much is at stake.”

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The United States announced new sanctions on Russia after President Joe Biden met with the leaders of the Group of Seven and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday. The White House said that the United States will sanction three of Russia’s most-viewed television stations controlled by the Kremlin — including Russia-1, Channel One Russia and NTV. Western companies were among the top advertisers at the stations last year.

The White House said in a statement: “Our unprecedented sanctions are already exacting an immense toll on Russia’s economy and our export controls have strangled Russia’s access to critical technology and the supply chains it needs to sustain its military ambitions. Putin’s war is projected to wipe out the last 15 years of economic gains in Russia. As a result of our export controls, Russia is struggling to replenish its military weapons and equipment.”

The U.S. will also now prohibit U.S. citizens from providing certain business services such as accounting and corporate formation or management consulting to anyone inside Russia.  The White House said: “These services are key to Russian companies and elites building wealth, thereby generating revenue for Putin’s war machine, and to trying to hide that wealth and evade sanction. This action builds on previous prohibitions to restrict the export of goods related to aerospace, marine, electronics, technology, and defense and related materiel sectors of the Russian economy.”

The entire G7 — which includes Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan and Britain — has now pledged to phase out and ban the import of Russian oil, which the United States has already done. The White House said it would also impose new rules to restrict Russia’s industrial sector, including controls on such things as industrial engines and bulldozers.  In its statement, the White House said: “These new controls will further limit Russia’s access to items and revenue that could support its military capabilities.”

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On Thursday, President Joe Biden announced that Karine Jean-Pierre will replace Jen Psaki as White House press secretary later this month.  Said Biden of Psaki: “Jen Psaki has set the standard for returning decency, respect and decorum to the White House briefing room. I want to say thank you to Jen for raising the bar, communicating directly and truthfully to the American people, and keeping her sense of humor while doing so. I thank Jen her service to the country, and wish her the very best as she moves forward.”

Biden said of Jean-Pierre: “Karine not only brings the experience, talent and integrity needed for this difficult job, but she will continue to lead the way in communicating about the work of the Biden-Harris administration on behalf of the American people. Jill and I have known and respected Karine a long time and she will be a strong voice speaking for me and this administration.”

Jean-Pierre is currently the White House’s principal deputy press secretary and deputy assistant to Biden; she previously worked as the chief of staff for Vice President Kamala Harris’ 2020 presidential campaign. Jean-Pierre will also notably become the first Black and openly LGBTQ White House press secretary in history.

Psaki has served as the top spokeswoman of the administration since Biden’s inauguration; she is expected to depart the White House on May 13. The announcement comes after rumors that Psaki was in talks for a job with MSNBC.

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President Joe Biden has approved a disaster declaration for New Mexico due to a wildfire that’s been burning for weeks in the northern part of the state. Fire officials say the The Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire is just 20% contained, but has burned more than 160,000 acres. The blaze began about a month ago and is the result of two wildfires merging into one. The Hermits Peak-Calf Canyon Fire is the largest presently burning in the United States.

Biden’s approval of the federal disaster declaration makes federal funds available for thousands of people affected in New Mexico’s Colfax, Lincoln, Mora, San Miguel and Valencia counties. The White House said the assistance includes grants for temporary housing and home repairs, and low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses. It also includes other programs to help people and businesses recover.

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said in a statement: “New Mexicans cannot wait for these fires to be extinguished to receive relief. That’s why I expedited the state’s request for emergency aid for individuals, and I’m grateful to President Biden for recognizing the urgency of the situation in our state.”

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