Biden calls Putin’s war on Ukraine ‘genocide’ in Iowa gas price comments – latest

Another month, another four-decade high for inflation.

During the 12 months ending in March, consumer prices soared 8.5%. That was the fastest year-over-year jump since 1981, far surpassing February’s mark of 7.9%, a 40-year high.

Even if you factor out food and energy prices, which are notoriously volatile and have driven much of the price rise, so-called core inflation rose 6.5% in the last 12 months. That was also the steepest jump in four decades.

The Biden administration says it will suspend a federal rule that prohibits higher levels of ethanol in gasoline during the summer. The move, announced by President Joe Biden during a Tuesday visit to Iowa, is aimed at lowering prices at the pump that soared during Russia’s war with Ukraine. Iowa is a key producer of the corn-based fuel additive.

Key members of the White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council say a year after the Biden Administration pledged that 40 percent of all benefits from climate investment go to underserved communities, not enough has been done. .

Speaking Tuesday at a news conference ahead of the HBCU Climate Change Conference in New Orleans, they say they have secured $14 million from the Bezos Earth Fund for a program called Engage, Enlighten and Empower to hold the Biden administration accountable for bringing carried out its Justice40 Initiative.

The Wisconsin Supreme Court is scheduled to hear arguments Wednesday in a case that will likely determine how extensively absentee ballot boxes can be used in the upcoming midterm elections, where the Democratic governor and Republican senator from the field state of battle are on the ballot.

The fight is closely watched as Republicans push to limit access to absentee ballots following President Joe Biden’s narrow victory in Wisconsin over Donald Trump in 2020 by just under 21,000 votes.

A state television channel in Saudi Arabia mocked Joe Biden and Kamala Harris with a Saturday Night Live-esque skit, depicting the president as a clueless old man who falls asleep on the podium.

The video clip is from “Studio 22,” which aired on the Saudi government-owned television conglomerate MBC and features two actors playing President Biden and Kamala Harris.

As Biden is shown struggling to deliver a statement on Russia as he staggers and falls asleep, Harris is often seen correcting the president, waking him up and carrying him back as he leaves the stage.

President Joe Biden’s day in Iowa took a colorful turn when a bird defecated him while he was speaking to a crowd in a barn about his plan to help Americans battling skyrocketing inflation.

The Japanese government will work to hold a meeting between US President Joe Biden and the families of those abducted by North Korea during his planned visit to Japan, Chief Cabinet Secretary Hirokazu Matsuno said on Wednesday.

Biden is scheduled to visit Japan sometime this year for a planned meeting of the so-called Quad security group that includes Australia, India, Japan and the US, but no specific date for the meeting has been announced.

He alluded to the possible timing of the visit when he told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi this week that he expected to see him in Japan “around May 24.”

Previously, relatives of those abducted by North Korea decades ago met with former presidents Barack Obama and Donald Trump.

Biden spoke in Iowa about the continuing effects of inflation, which the White House has pointed to as an effect of Putin’s invasion, declaring that American consumers should not pay the stock price of “a dictator” who declares war. to a sovereign. country and the people in it.

“Your family budget, your ability to fill your tank, none of this should depend on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide half a world away,” the president declared Tuesday.

“Yes, I called it genocide,” he told reporters. “It is becoming increasingly clear that Putin is just trying to eliminate the idea of ​​being Ukrainian.”

John Bowden has the latest:

In Iowa, President Joe Biden comments on this morning’s shooting on the New York subway in Brooklyn.

Jill and I, my wife and I are praying for those who are hurt in all of those affected by trauma. We are grateful for all the first responders who went into action, including civilians. Civilians who did not hesitate to help their fellow travelers and tried to shield them. My team has been in contact with the New York Police Commissioner and the Department of Justice is working with the NYPD on the ground. They will continue to be in close contact with New York authorities as we learn more about the situation in the hours and days ahead.

The perpetrator of the attack remains at large.

Here is our latest coverage of the incident:

An Oklahoma law criminalizing abortion care as a felony with 10-year prison sentences and $100,000 fines for health care providers marks an “unconstitutional attack” on women’s health, said press secretary of the White House, Jen Psaki, in a statement.