US Envoy Urges Taiwan to Build ‘Hornet’s Nest’ Drone Defense Against China 
US Appeals Court Limits ICE Detention Without Bond Hearings After 90 Days 
Russian Attacks Kill Three in Eastern Ukraine as Civilian Casualties Mount 
US-Iran Doha Talks Show Limited Progress as Hormuz Shipping Remains Key Focus 
UN Warns of Looming Human Rights Catastrophe in Sudan’s Al-Obeid 
Venezuela Interim President Defends Earthquake Response as Death Toll Climbs 
NRC Proposes Radiation Rule Changes to Boost U.S. Nuclear Power Expansion Under Trump 
Russia’s Deadly Kyiv Missile and Drone Attack Kills 27 as Zelensky Urges Faster Air Defense Support 
Trump Administration to Launch Voluntary AI Standards for Frontier Models 
DHS Investigates Cyber Breach in Homeland Security Information-Sharing Network 
Trump Dedicates Theodore Roosevelt Museum, Unveils New Air Force One Ahead of America’s 250th Anniversary 
Taiwan Simulates Chinese Blockade and Invasion in Major Civil Defense Drill 
Moody’s Says Peru’s President-Elect Keiko Fujimori Could Boost Investor Confidence 
Russia Claims Capture of Kostiantynivka as Putin Pushes Donetsk Offensive 
Air Force Investigates Officer After Capitol Protest Calling for Trump, Vance Impeachment 
Trump Vows U.S. Will Prevent China From Taking Over the Panama Canal 
State of emergency in Crimea as Ukraine focuses pressure on ‘jewel in Putin’s crown’ 
Under Joe Biden’s administration, several ambassadorial posts have yet to be filled out with dozens of nominations yet to be confirmed. This week, progressive Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez criticized Biden’s nomination of former Chicago mayor Rahm Emanuel for the US ambassador to Japan.
The New York Democrat, also popularly known as AOC, released a statement criticizing Biden’s nomination of Emanuel for the ambassadorial post citing Emanuel’s record during his tenure as Chicago mayor. AOC also urged the Senate to vote against Emanuel’s confirmation, saying that his nomination is “deeply shameful.”
“As mayor of Chicago, Rahm Emanuel helped cover up the murder of Laquan McDonald -- a mere teenager when he was shot 16 times in the back by a Chicago police officer. This alone should be flatly disqualifying for any position of public trust, let alone representing the United States as an ambassador,” AOC said in the statement.
“That the Biden administration seeks to reward Emanuel with an ambassadorship is an embarrassment and betrayal of the values we seek to uphold both within our nation and around the world,” added the New York congresswoman.
Emanuel was already known for being a controversial politician, especially among progressives despite having served as President Barack Obama’s White House chief of staff. Earlier this year, progressive advocates and civil rights groups have lobbied the Biden administration not to consider Emanuel for any diplomatic post.
AOC and other fellow progressive democrats have also called on Biden to replace the current chair of the Federal Reserve, Jerome Powell, who was appointed by Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump. The group added that the Biden administration should conduct an overhaul of the US central bank that would put some focus on climate risks as well as tackling racial and economic justice.
While they acknowledged that Powell prioritized the goal of full employment and his quick response to the economic crisis brought on by the pandemic, they said that not much action was taken regarding mitigating climate change.
The Biden White House has yet to announce whether Powell, whose term expires in February 2022, will be reappointed for the post. However, it would not be unusual for Biden to do so as part of a change in the administration.
