South Korea Assures U.S. on Trade Deal Commitments Amid Tariff Concerns 
Nighttime Shelling Causes Serious Damage in Russia’s Belgorod Region Near Ukraine Border 
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday 
China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit 
Trump Signs Executive Order Threatening 25% Tariffs on Countries Trading With Iran 
U.S. to Begin Paying UN Dues as Financial Crisis Spurs Push for Reforms 
Netanyahu to Meet Trump in Washington as Iran Nuclear Talks Intensify 
Trump Backs Nexstar–Tegna Merger Amid Shifting U.S. Media Landscape 
US Pushes Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Before Summer Amid Escalating Attacks 
U.S. Announces Additional $6 Million in Humanitarian Aid to Cuba Amid Oil Sanctions and Fuel Shortages 
Norway Opens Corruption Probe Into Former PM and Nobel Committee Chair Thorbjoern Jagland Over Epstein Links 
TrumpRx Website Launches to Offer Discounted Prescription Drugs for Cash-Paying Americans 
Trump Says “Very Good Talks” Underway on Russia-Ukraine War as Peace Efforts Continue 
Jack Lang Resigns as Head of Arab World Institute Amid Epstein Controversy 
Trump Allows Commercial Fishing in Protected New England Waters 
U.S.-India Trade Framework Signals Major Shift in Tariffs, Energy, and Supply Chains 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
President Joe Biden’s Cabinet has yet to be completed as the Senate moves to confirm his nominees at this time. Several of Biden’s nominations are currently facing heavy opposition from the Republicans in the upper chamber, leading Senate Democrats to utilize their majority powers to advance the nominations.
The Senate voted to advance Biden’s nominee for Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra to the floor Thursday. Democratic lawmakers moved past GOP support with a new procedure to avoid a gridlock as the Senate is now evenly divided among both parties. When it came to Becerra, the Senate Finance Committee was split on advancing Becerra’s nomination at 14 votes for both sides.
However, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer forced a vote to discharge Becerra’s nomination with a 51-48 vote. The vote would clear the way for floor debate that would lead to his confirmation. Speaking ahead of the vote, Schumer expressed concern that none of their Republican counterparts would vote to support Becerra.
“I’m perplexed that none of my Republican colleagues would vote for him. He’s a capable man. He’s worked hard to make sure people get healthcare,” said the majority leader. During the vote to advance, Susan Collins was the only Republican Senator that voted for Becerra. This would be another step towards filling the top position at the department that would play a central role in the Biden administration’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Prior to his nomination to become the HHS Secretary, Becerra currently serves as California’s attorney general and was previously a congressman for the state. During his time as the state’s AG, Becerra specialized in blocking Trump administration actions.
With Becerra’s nomination advanced for a full Senate vote, a few more confirmations to Biden’s cabinet were made this week. Ohio Congresswoman Marcia Fudge was confirmed to become Biden’s Housing and Urban Development Secretary, Michael Regan to become the head of the Environmental Protection Agency, and Merrick Garland as the new Attorney General of the Justice Department. All three received bipartisan support from the Senate.
Both Fudge and Regan are making history as the first Black woman and man to run both government agencies respectively. Prior to her confirmation, Fudge cast her last vote as a congresswoman in favor of Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief bill.
