A big week–a lot happened in seven days. The Supreme Court decided to take Trump’s immunity case. Super Tuesday. The State of the Union. But wait! There’s more!
BIDEN’S STATE OF THE UNION
“Ratings Jump 18% for Biden’s Feisty State of the Union,” says the New York Times. More than 33 million viewers. Reactions included: “Forceful,” “Takes it to the next level,” “Fiery,” “Aggressive,” “Sharp, joyful and determined.” Biden knocked it out of the ballpark. Here’s a rousing ten minute analysis by favorite commentators. MSNBC It was the speech we needed. A deep list of great things achieved. (See the Biden page.) Ambitions for the future. Difficult matters well met (Gaza, his age, immigration). If you haven’t yet, watch Joe deliver it all here (67 minutes). To borrow a phrase from Obama: Yes He Can.
OTHER POLITICAL GOOD NEWS
After Super Tuesday, a pro-Haley super PAC relaunches as “Haley Voters for Biden.” Semafor
Donald Trump faces a Republican threat. “The Great Task” is the name of Liz Cheney’s PAC. She’ll be doing everything she can to keep Trump from the White House. NJ.COM
Trump is losing white evangelical supporters to Biden, according to a Fox News poll. Not huge, but a steady trickle. Newsweek
Data shows a strong stock market is a good sign for Biden’s reelection. According to Markets Insider, good performance has historically favored incumbent presidents seeking reelection. This has been especially true for Democrats. The S&P 500 is up roughly 8% so far in 2024. Business Insider
Elon Musk declined to fund Trump’s campaign. Trump paid Musk a visit, looking for money—a chilling thought. Musk turned him down and won’t be contributing to either candidate. The Hill
Trump’s not strong. Even though he’s on the verge of clinching enough delegates, Nikki Haley received almost 2 million votes, won Vermont and between 20-40% of the vote in other states. One third of Republican voters in North Carolina, Virginia, and California said they wouldn’t guarantee supporting Trump. NewsWeek
INTERNATIONAL GOOD NEWS
U.S. military to build a floating pier to ferry Gaza aid. U.S. officials said that a temporary port, built from ships and then moved close to shore, would allow hundreds of truckloads of aid to reach Gazans on the brink of starvation. The U.S. continues to pressure Israel to provide ground support as well. NY Times
The Biden Administration’s going all-in on its push for a Gaza ceasefire. Kamala Harris gave several forceful speeches this week, calling on Hamas to agree to an immediate six-week cease fire. Here is her speech on March 3rd. The White House. Vice President Harris’ meeting with Israeli war cabinet member Benny Gantz, and her passionate words on behalf of Palestinians, are just a couple ways the White House is trying to halt the fighting, according to The Daily Beast. The U.S. has changed language in its U.N. resolutions to reflect this. The Huffington Post Reuters
Sweden has formally joined the NATO military alliance. BBC
WITH SO MUCH GOING ON, THIS ADMINISTRATION CONTINUES TO DELIVER
Biden is slashing credit card fees. Late fees will be reduced from an average of $32 to $8, saving millions in the broader economy. NewsWeek
President Biden announces a comprehensive plan to lower housing costs for working families. This is a broad plan with many moving parts, including tax credits for first time home buyers; a two-year mortgage relief tax credit of $5,000; a $25,000 down payment assistance for first generation home buyers, and much more. Skim this to appreciate the scope. The White House
“We’re doing the best of anybody.” Powell delivers sunny economic outlook to Congress. We continue to have the strongest growth and the lowest inflation of all the advanced economies. The Hill
Biden announces new actions to lower costs for Americans by fighting corporate rip-offs. The President is forming a “Strike Force on Unfair and Illegal Pricing,” co-chaired by the DOJ and FTC. Like the housing plan, there’s a lot here—the credit card cap is just one line item. Internet, cable, and event fees; promoting competition in grocery supply; protecting small farmers from unfair processing fees; health care and more. Read it if you want to feel inspired by our government. The White House, The Hill
Another broad sweep protecting people, this one eliminating unfair practices in medical debt. Obama’s Consumer Financial Protection Bureau survives, currently going after unfair medical debt collectors, hospitals, and nursing homes that target patients, and developing rules where medical debt cannot be considered in credit ratings. NPR
UNEXPECTED CONSEQUENCES
The vasectomy boom. After Dobbs, younger men are stepping up. Salon
AND FINALLY
Findings remain, from the Colorado Supreme Court and other states, that Trump is an insurrectionist. In an in-depth Bulwark interview, George Conway, a prominent conservative Never Trump lawyer, is frustrated like everyone else with the Supreme Court announcement this week. Late April arguments about Trump’s immunity delay critical federal trials. Conway points out, however, SCOTUS is not touching the factual, adjudicated findings that Trump led an insurrection. Those still stand. The Bulwark
The woods are lovely, dark and deep
And I have promises to keep
And miles to go before I sleep.
And miles to go before I sleep.
—Robert Frost