EU Chip Industry Faces Growing Risks From China Export Controls and U.S. Technology Dependence: Report 
US Ambassador Prioritizes Cook Islands Critical Minerals, Warns of China’s Pacific Influence 
Trump Marks America’s 250th Anniversary With National Mall Rally Amid Political Divide 
Russian Attacks Kill Three in Eastern Ukraine as Civilian Casualties Mount 
Khamenei Funeral Draws Thousands as Iran Stages Nationwide Week of Mourning 
Trump Offers to Help Advance Ukraine Peace Talks in Call With Putin 
Trump Accounts Now Accept Stock Donations as Treasury Launches New Child Investment Program 
Air Force Investigates Officer After Capitol Protest Calling for Trump, Vance Impeachment 
Trump Administration Proposes Repeal of 702 Federal Regulations in Major Deregulation Push 
Trump Administration Declines USMCA Renewal, Opens Talks on New Trade Changes 
Russia Claims Capture of Kostiantynivka as Putin Pushes Donetsk Offensive 
Venezuela Interim President Defends Earthquake Response as Death Toll Climbs 
Moody’s Says Peru’s President-Elect Keiko Fujimori Could Boost Investor Confidence 
US Resumes Dollar Shipments to Iraq After Months-Long Suspension 
Russia’s Deadly Kyiv Missile and Drone Attack Kills 27 as Zelensky Urges Faster Air Defense Support 
NRC Proposes Radiation Rule Changes to Boost U.S. Nuclear Power Expansion Under Trump 
OpenAI Proposes 5% U.S. Government Stake Amid AI Policy Talks 
Despite a promise to work across the aisle in a show of bipartisanship, Joe Biden may be coming to terms with the reality of the Senate that he now inherits. In his latest push for COVID-19 relief, Biden said that the stimulus package must pass immediately, regardless of bipartisanship.
One of the big challenges Biden has faced in his first full week as president was to push his proposed $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus bill to aid Americans who have been financially affected by the pandemic. This has been met with concerns by Republican lawmakers while members of his own party are eager to pass the bill. Last Friday, Biden told the press that the stimulus package must be passed immediately, whether or not there is support from the Republicans.
“I support passing COVID relief with support from Republicans if we can get it. But the COVID relief has to pass -- no ifs, ands, or buts,” said Biden.
However, Biden remains determined to gather support from the opposing party as well as members of his own political party. Biden has kept in touch with GOP Senator Susan Collins of Maine since getting inaugurated. Collins shared that she has a closer relationship with Biden compared to Donald Trump. As for his own fellow Democrats, Biden has reached out to West Virginia Senator Joe Manchin and Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, both lawmakers expressing their own concerns about the package.
It is not unusual for Biden to keep in touch with his former Senate colleagues as both White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki and former Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill of Missouri have noted. McCaskill shared that during Biden’s days as vice president, he was “workman-like” in terms of reaching out to Senators.
Meanwhile, Biden previously made a visit to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center to meet with wounded soldiers and thank the staff for their service. In a meeting with the hospital’s administrators, Biden thanked them for caring for his late son Beau Biden, who died in 2015.
“You’ve done a great deal for my family,” said Biden to the staff. “My son Beau, after a year in Iraq, came back with stage four glioblastoma. They took care of him with great grace and dignity.”
