President Biden speaks to the nation in his State of the Union address. The highlights and takeaways from the night. And — an Army soldier is indicted, accused of selling military secrets to a Chinese agent. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, March 8, 2024.
Biden’s State of the Union
In a State of the Union Address marked by the upcoming presidential election just eight months away, President Joe Biden stood before a divided Congress and the American populace, undeterred in his critique of former President Donald Trump, mentioning him 13 times.
In a pointed critique of Trump’s tenure, Biden expressed, “A president, my predecessor failed the most basic presidential duty that he owes to American people, the duty to care. I think that’s unforgivable.”
Biden navigated through a plethora of voter concerns, touching on reproductive rights, the economy, border security, and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. He also addressed concerns over his age, shared by 70 percent of American voters, with a mix of humility and clarity, “I know I may not look like it, but I’ve been around a while. When you get to my age certain things become clearer than ever. I know the American story.”
On economic matters, Biden questioned the fairness of the current tax system, proposing, “Folks at home, does anybody really think the tax code is fair? No. The way to make the tax code fair is to make big corporations and the very wealthy finally pay their share.”
Highlighting his stance on reproductive rights, Biden criticized Trump’s efforts to overturn Roe v. Wade, stating, “My predecessor came to office determined to see Roe v Wade overturned. He’s the reason it was overturned and he brags about it.”
Republicans call on Biden to address Laken Riley murder
During his State of the Union address, President Joe Biden put immigration policy front and center, a topic recent polls identify as the number one issue for voters. The focus on immigration came hours after the House passed “The Laken Riley Act,” a bill mandating the detention by ICE of any migrant who commits burglary or theft.
Named after a Georgia student police say was killed by an individual who had illegally crossed the border, the bill saw bipartisan support, with 37 Democrats joining Republicans to secure its passage.
Biden directly acknowledged Laken Riley, meeting the demands of some Republicans who had called for him to do so. He used this moment to urge Republicans in Congress to pass a comprehensive border security bill, which has been stalled due to partisan disagreements on how to manage the border crisis.
“An innocent woman who was killed by an illegal,” Biden said. “That’s right. But how many of the thousands of people being killed by legals. To her parents, I say my heart goes out to you, having lost children myself.”
Biden emphasized the urgency of the situation, addressing his Republican colleagues: “Folks, I respectfully say to suggest that my Republican friends – you owe it to the American people to get this bill done. We need to act now,” met with applause from those in attendance.
Pro-Palestinian protestors block D.C. streets
While President Joe Biden’s State of the Union address garnered mixed reactions from lawmakers within the Capitol, outside the building, the scene was markedly different.
Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters converged on Washington, D.C., blocking streets and vocalizing their demands ahead of the President’s speech.
The demonstrators called for an immediate ceasefire and urged the U.S. to extend aid to the people of Gaza.
Biden announces new port off Gaza’s coast during State of the Union
President Joe Biden detailed plans to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza during the State of the Union. He revealed that a new port will be constructed off Gaza’s coast to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid to the famine-stricken region.
According to Biden, the U.S. military will oversee the construction of the temporary port, eliminating the need for ground troop deployment. This strategic move will enable the shipping of food, medicine, and other essential supplies directly to Gaza by sea.
The new port will complement existing efforts, as the U.S. is currently delivering aid via air drops.
Army soldier accused of selling military secrets to China
The Department of Justice has issued a major indictment against an active-duty Army soldier and intelligence analyst, Sergeant Korbein Schultz, for allegedly selling sensitive military documents to China.
The classified documents pertain to Taiwan, various weapons systems, missile defense systems, and technical data regarding the F-22 stealth fighter and the Army’s newest combat rescue helicopter.
Schultz is accused of sharing this critical information with a Chinese agent, receiving a total of 14 payments amounting to $42,000. This arrest marks the fourth service member taken into custody in the past eight months for leaking sensitive U.S. military information.
Texas wildfire claims lives of thousands of cattle in historic blaze
In what has become the largest wildfire in Texas history, over one million acres of land in the Texas Panhandle, predominantly used for ranching, have been devastated. According to State Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, the fire has resulted in the death of more than 7,000 cattle, a number that is expected to rise beyond 10,000.
Texas, which boasts a cattle population exceeding 11 million, is grappling with the aftermath of the blaze. While officials anticipate no national impact on the beef market, the local effects are described as devastating.
House committee unanimously advances bill targeting TikTok
In a notable display of bipartisan unity, a House committee has moved forward a bill that threatens the availability of the widely used app TikTok in the United States, unless it is divested from its China-based parent company, ByteDance. The proposed legislation also empowers the executive branch to restrict access to any app owned by a foreign adversary deemed a national security threat.
The future of the bill in the full House remains uncertain, as it is unclear whether there are enough votes for its passage. Lawmakers have consistently expressed concerns over TikTok’s potential national security risk, attributed to its ownership by a Chinese entity.
Meanwhile, TikTok has countered, arguing that banning the app would infringe on users’ First Amendment rights.
Tire detaches from United Airlines flight, forces emergency landing
A United Airlines flight en route to Japan from San Francisco International Airport experienced a rare malfunction yesterday when a tire fell off during takeoff. The incident was caught on video, showing the tire detaching from a Boeing 777, then landing in an employee parking lot and shattering the back window of a car.
The aircraft, carrying nearly 250 passengers, was diverted to Los Angeles International Airport for an emergency landing. Aviation experts have commented that losing a tire is an uncommon event, usually resulting from maintenance issues rather than manufacturing defects.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is currently investigating the incident.
