US officials press Mexican president to help stem tide of migrants at border
Biden administration officials are pressing the Mexican government for help at the U.S.-Mexico border. United States officials and Mexican leaders met to strategize immigration solutions as migrant entries into the U.S. reach unprecedented numbers.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas met with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Wednesday, Dec. 27, in Mexico City.
The U.S. is asking Mexico to stem the tide of migrants flowing through the country from Guatemala, as another caravan comprised of thousands of migrants treks towards the U.S. southern border.
“We are committed to partnering with Mexico to address our shared challenges, including managing unprecedented irregular migration in the region, reopening key ports of entry, and combating illicit fentanyl and other synthetic drugs,” Blinken said in a post on X.
As we made clear in Mexico City today, we are committed to partnering with Mexico to address our shared challenges, including managing unprecedented irregular migration in the region, reopening key ports of entry, and combating illicit fentanyl and other synthetic drugs.
In exchange, President López Obrador said key border crossings will open back up after border officials shut down rail crossings in Texas and Arizona earlier this month. The closures disrupted commerce operations for both the U.S. and Mexico.
López Obrador also wants the U.S. Congress to provide more resources and offer aid to migrants in Latin America.
By Wednesday night, Mexican authorities had cleared out a border camp known to house about 1,500 migrants next to the Rio Grande, according to ABC News.
The talks come amid mounting bipartisan pressure for the Biden administration to act on border challenges.
In fiscal year 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) recorded a total of 2.4 million migrant apprehensions. In fiscal year 2020, that number was 646,822 under President Trump. In fiscal year 2015, the number was 337,117 under President Obama.
In December of 2023 alone, CBP officials reported seeing a daily average of 10,000 migrant crossings at the southern border.
Border states like Texas have taken matters into their own hands.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed S.B. 4 into law this month. Starting in March of 2024, the law allows Texas law enforcement to arrest migrants for illegal entry into the state from Mexico, and it will grant local judges the authority to order migrants to leave the country.
“The Border Patrol recently warned to take extreme caution when it learned that 10 IEDs were found just across the border,” Abbott said during the signing of the bill in Brownsville, Texas. “The FBI director warned that the border poses a threat to national security and the United Nations declared that the border between the United States and Mexico is the deadliest land crossing in the entire world. Biden’s deliberate inaction has left Texas to fend for itself.”
Since 2021, Texas law enforcement has arrested 10,000 migrants under Abbott’s “arrest and jail” operation. The operation requires landowners along the border to give the state the power to apprehend migrants who enter the U.S. through their properties.
Abbott has also sent more than 80,000 migrants to Democratic-led “sanctuary cities” such as Chicago, Philadelphia, Denver, Washington D.C., and New York City.
Wednesday, New York City Mayor Eric Adams signed an executive order that requires Texas charter buses carrying migrants into the city to announce drop-offs 32 hours in advance.
“We cannot allow buses with people needing our help to arrive without warning at any hour of day and night,” Mayor Adams said. “This not only prevents us from providing assistance in orderly ways, it puts those who’ve already suffered so much in danger.”
Adams and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson have called on the federal government to provide more resources for the hundreds of thousands of migrants that have shown up in their cities.
Texas Gov. Abbott has also called on the Biden administration to secure the U.S. southern border.
Israeli adviser visits DC to talk next phase of Israel-Hamas war, future of Gaza
On Tuesday, Dec. 26, U.S. officials met in Washington with Israeli Minister of Strategic Affairs Ron Dermer, a close adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and a member of the country’s war cabinet, amid differences between the two countries on the scope of Israel’s operations and plans for what a post-war Gaza would look like. According to a White House official, Dermer met with Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan over several issues that encompass the Israel-Hamas war, including:
A transition to a different phase of the war to “maximize high-value Hamas targets.”
Practical steps to improve the humanitarian situation and minimize harm to civilians.
Efforts to bring home the remaining hostages taken by Hamas during the October terror attack.
Planning for the day after the end of the war.
The White House official said this included “the governance and security of Gaza – a political horizon for the Palestinian people and continued work on normalization and integration.” The meeting comes as the Israeli government said it is planning for a new phase in fighting despite international calls for a cease-fire.
The meeting also comes as Israel continues its bombardment of Gaza, including in the vicinity of a refugee camp. The World Health Organization reported that overnight 70 people were killed in strikes while Al-Aqsa Hospital staff said they received 100 casualty reports.
“WHO’s team heard harrowing accounts shared by health workers and victims of the suffering caused by the explosions,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of WHO. “One child had lost their whole family in the strike on the camp. A nurse at the hospital suffered the same loss, with his entire family killed.”
US, Mexico to meet as migrants flood southern border: The Morning Rundown, Dec. 27, 2023
Top U.S. officials are heading to Mexico to discuss the surge in illegal migrant crossings at the U.S. southern border. And police in South Korea are investigating the death of an actor who starred in the Oscar-winning film “Parasite.” These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Dec. 27, 2023.
US officials to meet with Mexican president on rise of illegal border crossings
Top U.S. officials are set to speak with the Mexican government on Wednesday, Dec. 27, over the rise in migrants reaching the U.S. southern border, as a caravan of at least 7,000 people continues to make its way through Mexico hoping to reach the U.S. border. Secretary of State Antony Blinken will travel to Mexico City, along with Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas and White House Homeland Security advisor Liz Sherwood-Randall.
The U.S. delegation will meet with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The State Department said they will discuss “unprecedented irregular migration in the western hemisphere and identify ways Mexico and the United States will address border security challenges.”
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Get The Morning RundownTM newsletter straight to your inbox!
The Mexican president has said he is willing to help with the surge of migrants crossing the border, confirming last week U.S. officials want Mexico to do more to block migrants from its southern border with Guatemala. In exchange, López Obrador wants the U.S. to send more development aid to migrants’ home countries to stem their need to leave; the Mexican president also wants the U.S. to reduce or eliminate sanctions against Cuba and Venezuela, two of the top countries where migrants are coming from.
I signed a law yesterday to criminalize illegal entry into Texas & authorize the removal or imprisonment of illegal immigrants crossing our southern border.
Texas will continue stepping up until we have a new president who will enforce the law. pic.twitter.com/2Rc5XJ2P0T
With daily illegal border crossings topping 10,000 this month, the U.S. briefly closed two railway border crossings in Texas while other closures remain in effect. The State Department said Blinken would discuss actions needed for the U.S. to reopen all crossings across the shared border with the Mexican president.
Top Israeli adviser, US officials meet in DC over war in Gaza
A transition to a different phase of the war to “maximize high-value Hamas targets.”
Practical steps to improve the humanitarian situation and minimize harm to civilians.
Efforts to bring home the remaining hostages taken by Hamas during the October terror attack.
Planning for the day after the end of the war.
The White House said this included “the governance and security of Gaza – a political horizon for the Palestinian people and continued work on normalization and integration.” The meeting comes as the Israeli government said it is planning for a new phase in fighting despite international calls for a cease-fire.
Denver Police, FBI investigating threats against Colorado judges
The Denver Police Department said it is increasing patrols near the homes of Colorado Supreme Court justices following the court’s 4-3 ruling to disqualify former President Donald Trump from the 2024 presidential ballot. Both local law enforcement and the FBI said they are investigating threats made against the justices.
According to SITE Intelligence Group, which tracks the online activity of extremist organizations, threats against the justices increased over the weekend, with some calling for them to be dragged from their homes, hanged, and shot.
Police said they are investigating his death as a suicide and added that he left behind what appeared to be a suicide note. Lee was facing accusations of illegal drug use; he denied the allegations. Lee had reportedly been rigorously questioned by police on several occasions, with Reuters reporting one round of questioning that lasted 19 hours. The actor said he was a target of blackmail.
South Korean actor Lee Sun-kyun, best known for his role in Oscar-winning film Parasite, found dead at 48 https://t.co/EZpLd0KMRP
Those who break South Korea’s strict drug laws could face up to 6 months in jail or, for repeat offenders, up to 14 years. Lee is survived by his wife and two sons.
Mastercard: US retail sales grew 3.1% this holiday season
Shoppers spent more money this holiday season than last year, according to a new report released Tuesday, Dec. 26, by Mastercard. U.S. retail sales rose 3.1% over last year from Nov. 1 through Dec. 24.
The data showed online retail sales increased 6.3% from last holiday season. As for in-store sales, they went up a more moderate 2.2%, but Mastercard said shopping in-store still makes up “a considerably larger portion of total spending.”
As for what everyone was spending their money on: apparel was one of the top categories, up 2.4%, and restaurants saw an increase of 7.8% as many wanted to celebrate the holiday season out of the kitchen.
Detroit Pistons set NBA record for single-season losing streak
History has been made on the basketball court, but it’s not a record any NBA team wants to achieve. On Tuesday night, Dec. 26, the Detroit Pistons lost their 27th consecutive game, setting the record for the longest single-season losing streak in NBA history.
Should the Pistons not win their next two games on Thursday, Dec. 28, and Saturday, Dec. 30, they will be the holders of another unpopular record, the NBA’s longest losing streak of all time. That title is currently held by the Philadelphia 76ers who lost 28 games across two seasons in 2015.
Blinken, Mayorkas to visit Mexico, meet with president to discuss surge at border
Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas will be traveling to Mexico to discuss the border with Mexico’s president. The officials will work to find a better way to address an unprecedented amount of migrants currently at the border, according to White House officials.
The planned trip comes after President Joe Biden spoke with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on Thursday, Dec. 21. Both leaders agree more measures are urgently needed to better contain a surge in illegal migration.
According to White House officials, Mexico and the U.S. will decide what “additional enforcement actions” can be taken immediately.
Every day, the number of migrants in the U.S. grows by the thousands.
In Eagle Pass, Texas, migrants find themselves in long lines waiting to be processed. Customs and Border Protection say more than 12,000 migrants entered the U.S. per day for three consecutive days, which is the highest daily numbers ever recorded.
There is also a record number of migrants in U.S. custody. Over 27,000 migrants are waiting to be processed, most of which will be released into the U.S. according to CBP officials.
With Texas border communities overwhelmed, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has sent dozens of buses and planes full of migrants to sanctuary cities outside of his state this year. The latest plane landed in Chicago this week.
These temporary solutions are facing issues. Some ports of entry at the border are closed because certain sectors are overrun. International railways are also being suspended temporarily.
The unprecedented amount of migrants is impacting normal operations at the border, adding to the pressure on the Biden administration as top officials prepare for their meeting with Mexico.
Russia warns Finland over deal to strengthen military ties with US
Tensions that Moscow said had been put to bed between Finland and Russia are heating up again after Finland signed a defense cooperation agreement (DCA) with the U.S. Finland and Russia share a long border and have a troubled history, most notably the 1939 Winter War, when Finland repelled an invasion by the militarily superior Soviet Union.
We see that Russia will remain a threat to global security for the foreseeable future.
On Monday, Dec. 18, the U.S. and Finland solidified an agreement to bolster military cooperation, which gives the U.S. wide access to territory along the Finland-Russia border. U.S. and Finland officials said the deal is a result of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
“Finland knows almost better than anyone what is at stake for Ukraine,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. “In 1939, the fins also faced a Russian invasion and proved that a free nation can put up an incredibly powerful and resilient resistance.”
Blinken also said that Russia almost certainly won’t stop with Ukraine, concerns that have spread across Europe after Russia’s invasion. Though Putin recently dismissed that idea, calling similar remarks by President Biden “complete nonsense.”
Signed on Monday, the DCA allows the Finnish and U.S. military the opportunity to train together and allows the U.S. military quick access if any conflict were to arise.
“We do not expect the United States to take care of the defense of Finland; we continue to invest in our defense and share the burden in our area and beyond,” Häkkänen said. “However, this agreement significantly enhances our ability to act together in all situations.”
“Responsibility for turning a zone of good-neighborliness in this region into a zone of possible confrontation lies entirely with the current Finnish authorities,” the Russian Foreign Ministry said in response to the DCA.
Senate briefing on Ukraine aid becomes heated as Republicans demand border policy change: The Morning Rundown, Dec. 6, 2023
Senate Republicans seeking border changes walk out of a classified briefing on Ukraine aid. And, Panera faces another wrongful death lawsuit over its caffeinated lemonade. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Dec. 6, 2023.
Republican senators walk out of classified briefing
The briefing was held to allow senators time to ask senior Biden administration officials questions, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Charles Q. Brown Jr.
The talks, however, fell apart, with senators from both parties saying the group of Republicans walked out after wanting answers on border security, while the Democrats were looking to keep the focus on Ukraine, as the White House said the funding would run out by the end of the year.
Republican Sen. Todd Young, R-Ind., criticized his Democratic colleagues, saying, “Their lack of preparedness to discuss border security policy…was not just an oversight, but a political decision.”
After leaving the briefing, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., accused minority leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., of “hijacking” the meeting and trying to steer the conversation to border negotiations. Republican Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said some senators walked out because Democrats were unwilling to discuss the border to get the deal done.
Dems want $106B—GOP wants a closed border. That’s the trade. But clueless Dems want to negotiate the border bill. Not going to happen. Is an open border more important to Dems than Ukraine and Israel?
Sen. Tuberville had been blocking the votes in protest of the Pentagon’s abortion policy, which allows military members time and reimbursement for travel out of state to seek an abortion. The block delayed promotions for hundreds of military personnel, creating a backlog.
Tuberville faced increased pressure to drop his hold from senators on both sides of the aisle, citing the threat to military readiness and national security as some officials were forced to take on multiple roles with promotions stalled.
Tuberville said he still has holds on about a dozen four-star officers. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby expressed the importance of the Senate pushing those confirmations through so they can lead troops in “critical military missions.”
Trump responds to ‘dictator’ reports during Fox News town hall
Hannity: “Under no circumstances, you are promising America tonight you would never abuse power as retribution against anybody?”
Trump: “Except for day one,” Trump said. “I want to close the border, and I want to drill, drill, drill.”
Hannity: “That’s not retribution.”
Trump: “I love this guy; he says, ‘You’re not going to be a dictator, are you?’ I said no, no, no, other than day one. We’re closing the border, and we’re drilling, drilling, drilling. After that, I’m not a dictator.”
Former President Trump said during a Fox News town hall that he would not be a dictator "except for Day One" if he is elected president next year. https://t.co/gfTULftZeD
Earlier in the day, President Biden, speaking at a fundraising event outside Boston, told supporters if Trump wasn’t running, he wasn’t sure if he’d be running for re-election. Trump addressed those comments during the town hall, saying someone must have given the president talking points.
As for the fourth GOP primary debate, it will air tonight at 8pm EST on NewsNation.
Panera faces second wrongful death suit over caffeinated lemonade
Panera Bread is facing a second wrongful death suit related to its “Charged Lemonade” as a Florida family says the caffeinated drink led 46-year-old Dennis Brown to go into cardiac arrest as he walked home from the restaurant in early October. The lawsuit claims that the ‘charged lemonade’ was not advertised as an energy drink, and there were no warning labels.
A new lawsuit claiming Panera Bread's "Charged Lemonades" lead to someone's death has raised questions about the amount of caffeine in some popular drinks. Here's what consumers should know about the potential health effects. https://t.co/8TW1vRl0AA
According to the suit, Brown, who avoided energy drinks due to his high blood pressure, had ordered several “Charged Lemonades”‘ in the days leading up to his death. In late October, the company issued warnings about its caffeinated lemonade following a similar lawsuit claiming that a 21-year-old woman died after drinking one of the beverages.
According to Panera’s menu at the time of the first lawsuit, a 30-ounce glass of the “Charged Lemonade” contained 390 milligrams of caffeine, which is 10 milligrams less than the daily amount recommended by the USDA for “healthy adults.”
In a statement to ABC News, Panera said it expressed sympathy for Brown’s family but added following an investigation, it does not believe his death was caused by its “Charged Lemonade” and that, like the first lawsuit, it found it to be “without merit.”
After reaching a tentative deal about a month ago, SAG-AFTRA allowed its approximately 160,000 members to return to work, suspending its strike after 118 days. The agreement provides a 7% increase in minimum rates in the first year of the deal and the first-ever protection against the use of artificial intelligence, where actors must consent to being replicated.
Today we close out one of the most important chapters in recent entertainment industry history. The 2023 TV/Theatrical Contracts have officially been ratified by SAG-AFTRA members by a vote of 78.33% to 21.67% with a turnout of 38.15%. (1/8) pic.twitter.com/nYg38AkmGA
The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers, which represents the studios, congratulated SAG-AFTRA on the ratification of the deal, saying in a statement that the industry and the jobs it supports can now “return in full force.”
ChatGPT tops list of most popular Wikipedia articles of 2023
Wikipedia says it received over 84 billion page views over the past 12 months; that’s a lot of online searching! But what were the most popular subjects being looked up?
Wikipedia has the answers. On Tuesday, Dec. 5, it released its list of the most popular articles of the year. The most popular topic was ChatGPT. Wikipedia says the AI chatbot, launched just over a year ago and dominated headlines worldwide, registered over 50 million pages on the English version of its site.
Barbenheimer is happening. People are booking the Barbie-Oppenheimer double feature, according to data from cinema chains https://t.co/9JhIHoa3QI
The second most-read article in 2023 was Wikipedia’s annual list of deaths of notable and public figures, which sees high traffic each year. Entries about the sport of cricket made the list for the first time, taking four spots in the top 25, including number three.
That dynamic Hollywood duo known as Barbenheimer – the films “Oppenheimer” and “Barbie” – were popular searches this year, coming in at number five and 13, respectively. And, with a tour, an album, a film, and a new romance, Taylor Swift constantly made headlines throughout 2023. The singer added one more accolade this year, having the 12th most popular entry on Wikipedia.
Airstrikes resume in Gaza as cease-fire ends: The Morning Rundown, Dec. 1, 2023
After a weeklong pause in fighting, the cease-fire between Israel and Hamas comes to an end as Israel said it resumed strikes in Gaza. And a senator takes quick action, using the Heimlich maneuver to help a colleague in trouble. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Dec. 1.
Cease-fire between Israel, Hamas ends as strikes resume
International mediators are not giving up hope of another pause in fighting and said talks of reviving the cease-fire are continuing. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken traveled to Israel on Thursday, Nov. 30, his fourth time since Hamas’ terror attack in October.
Blinken met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and other leaders to try to extend the truce while also urging Israeli officials to reduce harm to civilians and ensure additional humanitarian assistance enters Gaza as Israel looked to restart its mission of eliminating Hamas.
“We support, continue to support, will continue to support Israel’s efforts to do everything possible to make sure that Hamas cannot repeat the horrors of Oct. 7,” Blinken said. “That means, among other things, that Hamas cannot remain responsible for governance of Gaza and cannot retain the capacity to repeat those attacks.”
Ron DeSantis, Gavin Newsom clash in Fox News debate
When asked by the moderator, Fox News host Sean Hannity, to grade Biden’s performance, Newsom, an ally of the president, gave him an “A.” DeSantis, who is looking to become the next president, gave Biden a “fail.”
“Gavin Newsom was mayor of San Francisco, so he took the San Francisco model, turn that into a template for California’s collapse,” DeSantis said. “Now, the left wants to take the California model and use that as a template for America’s collapse. Well, we can not let that happen.”
The California governor pointed to DeSantis’ current standing in the presidential race, citing recent polls showing the Florida governor falling well behind the frontrunner former President Donald Trump.
“But there’s one thing in closing that we have in common, is neither of us will be the nominee for our party in 2024,” Newsom said.
Rep. George Santos calls latest expulsion effort ‘bullying’
“Because if I leave, they win. If I leave, the bullies will take place. This is bullying,” Santos said.
The expulsion vote comes as Santos faces a slew of federal criminal charges alleging that he stole the identities of campaign donors and then used their credit cards to make unauthorized purchases totaling tens of thousands of dollars. Santos has pleaded not guilty to those charges.
To date, there have been just five expulsions of members in the House of Representatives; of them, three were for disloyalty to the Union during the Civil War.
After Montana passed the ban in April over concerns about China’s access to Montanan’s data, ByteDance, TikTok’s parent company, and TikTok users in Montana filed lawsuits against the state. TikTok said in court filings that it has not and would not share user data with China, and the company has taken substantial measures to ensure user privacy.
Following the ruling, the state attorney general’s office defended the state’s ban, adding that the ruling is preliminary and that “the analysis could change as the case proceeds.” A spokesperson for Montana’s state attorney general’s office is considering next steps as the court’s ruling is slated to go into effect on Jan. 1.
Sen. Rand Paul performs the Heimlich maneuver on fellow senator
Ernst confirmed a reporter’s account of the incident on X, saying in jest, “Can’t help but choke on the woke policies Dems are forcing down our throats. Thanks, Dr. Rand Paul.”
Red Lobster says endless shrimp deal was key factor in $11 million loss
All you can eat, those four words bring a smile to plenty of diners’ faces at restaurants across the country. But one restaurant chain is seeing red after its endless promotion cost them millions.
Thai Union, the owner of Red Lobster, said it experienced an approximate $11 million operating loss in the third quarter. A key factor behind that loss? The restaurant’s “Ultimate Endless Shrimp” deal allows guests to have as much shrimp as they want for just $20.
The once limited-time offer was permanently added to the restaurant’s menu in June as the company hoped to counter a decline in customer traffic. In an investor call in November, Thai Union’s chief financial officer said more people than expected selected the offer, and the plan didn’t work to improve the chain’s economic outlook.
The endless shrimp deal remains on Red Lobster’s menu — now costing $5 more.
Can Biden and Xi hit a turning point with US-China relations near ‘rock bottom’?
President Joe Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping are coming together for a highly anticipated meeting Wednesday, Nov. 15 in San Francisco. It’s their first in a year, and what a year it has been. From a spy balloon to Rep. Nancy Pelosi’s Taiwan visit, many say the relationship between the globe’s two economic powerhouses is at a new low.
Following Pelosi’s Taiwan trip, China severed military-to-military communications. Biden’s goal is to restore that contact as the leaders meet face-to-face, while Xi will likely take issue with recent export controls on AI chips implemented by the U.S. in the name of national security.
China expert and former Miami Herbert Business School Dean John Quelch rated the current relationship between the U.S. and China a three out of 10.
“We’re very close to hitting rock bottom,” Quelch said. “I see the meeting in San Francisco, following a series of cabinet visits to Beijing, as very encouraging that we will look back on this as the turning point and that the relationship will be improving henceforth.”
The following interview has been edited for clarity.
Simone Del Rosario: What do you think has been the most damaging action in the past year that each side has taken when it comes to this relationship?
John Quelch: There was an incident where the U.S. Defense Secretary reported that he had attempted to call his counterpart in China and had not been able to receive a return call. Military-to-military communication breakdown is an extremely serious threat to global peace.
Simone Del Rosario: Is there one side that you would say is more reliant on this interdependent relationship?
John Quelch: No, I think both are equally reliant and should realize that global peace and prosperity depend on them both behaving in an appropriately adult fashion towards each other. I would say, for example, that China should be much more self-confident about its ability to compete with an economic-level playing field. And for its part, the U.S. should be not quite so alert to restricting all forms of technology on the grounds of national security.
Simone Del Rosario: Less than a month before this face-to-face, the Biden administration did tighten those export controls on semiconductors, further blocking advanced AI chips from getting to China. CCP spokesperson Mao Ning said, “The U.S. needs to stop politicizing and weaponizing trade and tech issues and stop destabilizing global industrial and supply chains.” Do you expect China to retaliate in any way for this?
John Quelch: The use of that rhetoric is absurd and unconstructive and the Chinese should be called out for it. Secretary Blinken has made it very clear that the U.S. wants to have a high fence around a small yard when it comes to restrictions on technology. The Chinese, of course, believe that the yard is anything but small, that it’s actually very significant and sizable and is blocking their ability to develop the new technology they’ve stated publicly for a number of years that they want to lead the world in.
I think retaliation at this point is not the language that should be used. The language that should be used is, let’s forge a pathway on as many issues as possible where our joint collaboration can achieve benefits for humanity and for global prosperity.
Companies in multinational industries, let’s take the pharmaceutical industry, for example, cooperate and compete every day without any particular problems. I mean, occasionally, there are legal disputes, of course, but basically many companies in that industry are collaborating at the same time as they are competing in other areas. Why nation-states have so much problem doing what the private sector is perfectly adept at never ceases to amaze me.
Simone Del Rosario: For the first time in recorded history, China marked a quarterly deficit in foreign direct investment from July to September. Would you say this is de-risking at work or more?
John Quelch: There’s no doubt that China’s internal investment has reduced in size and scope in the last five years. But that is actually what many economists recommended. They recommended that Chinese investment should go down and Chinese consumption should go up.
What has happened though, is Chinese investment has gone down but for various reasons, including the COVID crisis and the lockdowns. Confidence among consumers in China has not increased, in fact, it’s diminished. And as a result, the Chinese consumer is not consuming, but rather saving. And so the much-vaunted shift from an investment-driven economy to a consumption-driven economy has simply not occurred as advertised.
Now to your question regarding the foreign direct investment, foreigners typically aren’t excited about investing when domestic investment is going down. I mean, if your own country can’t eat its own dog food, why should foreigners get into the game?
So there needs to be a restoration of confidence internally in China, both among the investors and among consumers. Once that begins to happen — and it hasn’t happened since COVID, whereas the rest of the world has rebounded — once that begins to happen, then foreign investors will begin to go back into China. It’s an enormous market, it’s obviously 20% of the world’s population, and so it simply cannot be ignored by multinational players.
Simone Del Rosario: Going back to this meeting at hand, what would you say both sides are realistically looking for so that they can walk away and say, that was successful?
John Quelch: I would say No. 1 would be a joint statement that restores joint leadership on climate change ahead of COP28. COP28 looks like it’s going to be a non-event. But if China and the U.S. can come up with a plan that will lead the rest of the world, that will be a big plus.
A second area where I think President Biden will be looking for action is fentanyl. Because with an election next year, there’s no doubt that millions and millions of U.S. voters have been affected directly or indirectly know of a friend or a family member who’s passed away or been really badly affected by fentanyl coming in from China through Mexico. So that’s an election issue. That’s a hot button and President Biden needs help on that.
I think in the third arena, there may well be a useful joint statement regarding restrictions on artificial intelligence being used as a basis for activating nuclear arms. So in other words, we won’t have auto-pilot AI determining whether or not to press the nuclear button. That’s a very simple and I think easily agreed-to measure that will bring the visibility back to military-to-military collaboration.
Simone Del Rosario: Do you think there’s any instance where there wouldn’t be a joint statement at all leaving this meeting?
John Quelch: I think perhaps on tariffs. I think the Chinese would obviously like to see changes in U.S. tariff policy toward China, exports coming into the U.S. But I think from an election point of view, that would be probably a bridge too far for President Biden to excise the Trump tariffs, even though they’ve been entirely unproductive.
Simone Del Rosario: Before I let you go, I want to talk about something that you described in your latest op-ed with the Tampa Bay Times. You talked about cultural asymmetry. The number of U.S. students taking Mandarin courses peaked in 2013. We’re seeing China’s economic influence and power grow around the globe. But in the U.S., the UK, Australia and more countries, the interest in China expertise is waning. What do you think is behind the disconnect here and does it give the U.S. a competitive disadvantage?
John Quelch: It’s definitely a disadvantage. As I said in the op-ed, the Chinese know vastly more about the United States than the U.S. or Americans know about China, whether it be adults or school children or whatever group. The fact of the matter is that, as you correctly say, the interest in enrollment in Chinese language programs has gone down significantly in the last five years. And I think that it’s very unfortunate.
We need to encourage and motivate more study of Chinese language, culture and history. How does that happen? It has to happen through travel, it has to happen through cultural exchange and educational exchange, for example. But COVID and related visa restrictions have, of course, impeded progress in that area. So this is an issue that I hope will gain some visibility in the course of the conversations between the two leaders. I would like to see much more easy flow when it comes to visas. These are opportunities for tourism and for educational travel.
Simone Del Rosario: What do we have to gain by infusing more interest in these cultural studies?
John Quelch: Being a, originally, liberal arts undergraduate in history myself, I have a strong belief that understanding the history and culture of a region is very important to understanding what the political dynamics of the present moment happen to be. It’s also a matter of respect as well.
When I was working in China, whenever I used to go to a meeting, I always used to research the company or research the history of the city or region which I was visiting and make sure that my remarks included references to the context in which I was speaking. It’s just a matter of respect, it’s a matter of common sense, and it doesn’t take that much time to do it. But Americans in general are not that attuned to the need to behave in this way.
Secretary of State Blinken responds to dissent over POTUS’ Gaza policy
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is responding to growing criticism from diplomats in the State Department over the Biden administration’s policy on the Israel-Hamas war. Officials told multiple news outlets that at least three messages have been filed in the department’s internal dissent channel, a system set up during the Vietnam War, criticizing the administration’s firm support for Israel as the country continues its military operation in Gaza in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack.
“The anguish that comes with seeing the daily images of babies, children, elderly people, women, and other civilians suffering in this crisis is wrenching. I feel it myself,”
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
More than 100 staffers at the State Department and USAID signed onto an internal memo urging U.S. officials to reassess policies on Israel and call for an immediate ceasefire. Though the U.S. has called for humanitarian pauses to allow more aid and the evacuation of civilians, hundreds of U.S. government employees have been advocating for a ceasefire.
In his letter emailed to State Department staffers, Blinken, who had just returned after a nine-day trip to the Middle East and Asia, acknowledged that the suffering caused by the crisis was taking a personal toll on many of them.
ReutersAP ImagesGetty ImagesGetty ImagesA Palestinian boy from Zawaraa family walks near their makeshift tent amid the rubble of their houses which were destroyed by Israeli air strikes during the Israeli-Palestinian fighting in Gaza May 23, 2021. Picture taken May 23, 2021. REUTERS/Mohammed SalemGetty Images
“The anguish that comes with seeing the daily images of babies, children, elderly people, women, and other civilians suffering in this crisis is wrenching. I feel it myself,” Blinken wrote. “I also know that some people in the department may disagree with approaches we are taking or have views on what we can do better…We’re listening: what you share is informing our policy and our messages.”
Blinken said forums for diplomats are being organized in D.C., and managers are being asked to have candid discussions with their staff to get additional feedback.
Tens of thousands expected in D.C. for pro-Israel rally: The Morning Rundown, Nov. 14, 2023
A rally in support of Israel is expected to attract tens of thousands to Washington, D.C. And the TSA announces a record level of travelers will take to the skies this Thanksgiving. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023.
Tens of thousands are expected at the march for the Israel rally in D.C.
As the nation’s capital prepares for the March for Israel, ABC News is reporting the Department of Homeland Security has designated the gathering as a “Level 1” security event, the highest rating of risk assessment, a classification usually assigned to the Super Bowl.
Sources said DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas signed off on the designation on Monday, Nov. 13.
While officials have not indicated any specific threat to the March for Israel, designating it as a “Level 1” event means the rally has such “significant national and/or international importance that it may require extensive federal interagency security and incident management preparedness.”
According to ABC News, the assessment said high-profile events like this remain an attractive target for foreign terrorists and homegrown extremists. D.C. police have requested the assistance of the National Guard to help with security.
Speakers will include relatives of those taken hostage by Hamas, Israeli President Isaac Herzog, as well as several members of Congress. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., are scheduled to address the crowd.
Organizers of the rally said attendees will be showing their gratitude toward American lawmakers and President Joe Biden for their continued support of Israel. The March for Israel comes just over a week after thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters held a rally in D.C. demanding a ceasefire in Gaza and calling for an end to American aid to Israel.
Blinken responds to State Dept. Criticism over Israel-Hamas war policy
The anguish that comes with seeing the daily images of babies, children, elderly people, women, and other civilians suffering in this crisis is wrenching. I feel it myself,
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken
Officials told multiple news outlets that at least three messages have been filed in the department’s internal dissent channel, a system set up during the Vietnam War, criticizing the administration’s firm support for Israel as the country continues its military operation in Gaza in response to Hamas’ Oct. 7 terror attack.
Though the U.S. has called for humanitarian pauses to allow more aid and the evacuation of civilians, hundreds of U.S. government employees have been advocating for a ceasefire.
In his letter emailed to State Department staffers, Blinken, who had just returned after a nine-day trip to the Middle East and Asia, acknowledged that the suffering caused by the crisis was taking a personal toll on many of them.
“The anguish that comes with seeing the daily images of babies, children, elderly people, women, and other civilians suffering in this crisis is wrenching. I feel it myself,” Blinken wrote. “I also know that some people in the department may disagree with approaches we are taking or have views on what we can do better…We’re listening: what you share is informing our policy and our messages.”
Get up to speed on the stories leading the day every weekday morning. Get The Morning RundownTM newsletter straight to your inbox!
Blinken said forums for diplomats are being organized in D.C., and managers are being asked to have candid discussions with their staff to get additional feedback.
The Supreme Court announced Monday, Nov. 13, that it has formally adopted a new code of conduct amid scrutiny over alleged ethical lapses, including justices accepting luxury vacations and high-end gifts and using taxpayer-funded staff to promote a book; though critics noted the ethics code did not come with a plan of enforcement.
All nine justices signed the 9-page code, which said they should “avoid impropriety and the appearance of impropriety” in their actions on and off the bench.
It is long past time for a code of conduct that explicitly applies to the Justices. However, the lack of any way to enforce the code of conduct should any Justice decide to ignore it is a glaring omission.
Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
While the code does not restrict gifts or travel specifically, it does caution the justices should not take part in activities that “detract from the dignity” of their office or “reflect adversely to their impartiality.” The code says, “A justice should not allow family, social, political, financial, or other relationships to influence official conduct or judgment.”
In a statement accompanying the code, the high court said, “For the most part, these rules are not new,” but having the code is aimed to dispel any misunderstandings that the justices have been operating “unrestricted.”
Interstate-10 fire in Los Angeles believed to be arson
A fire that engulfed the I-10 highway in Los Angeles over the weekend is believed to have been an act of arson. California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) gave an update on the fire marshal’s investigation on Monday, Nov. 13.
“They made a determination a preliminary determination there was malice intent,” Gov. Newsom said. “That this fire occurred within the fence line of the facility you see behind me, that it was arson, and it was done and set intentionally.”
No one was reported injured in the fire. Investigators are determining if one person was responsible for starting the blaze or if there are multiple suspects.
According to the Department of Transportation, on average, 355,000 people travel on I-10 every day. Newsom added that the highway is closed indefinitely while crews continue to evaluate the damage.
TSA expects the holiday travel season to be busiest ever
Be prepared to have a lot of company if you travel for the holidays. TSA expects this holiday season to be its busiest ever. TSA said on Monday, Nov. 13, that it anticipates 30 million passengers will be screened through the 12-day Thanksgiving travel period from Friday, November 17, through Tuesday, November 28.
The busiest travel day is expected to be Sunday, Nov. 26, with 2.9 million passengers likely to be screened. TSA said it will do its best to maintain 30-minute or less wait times at standard screening lanes.
As holiday travel is about to kick into high gear, Congress is trying to avert a government shutdown this weekend, meaning TSA employees would work without pay until the government is funded.
In another Thanksgiving holiday forecast, AAA projects 55.4 million travelers will head 50 miles or more, with 49.1 million Americans driving to their destinations.
Rare stamps sold for $2 million
It’s a story for all you philatelists out there or for anyone who ever thought about taking up stamp collecting. Take note of these two words, “inverted Jenny.” They could mean big money being signed, sealed, and delivered your way.
The stamps were created in 1918 to commemorate the first regularly scheduled airmail service. One hundred of the stamps with the Curtis “Jenny” biplane flying upside down were sold to the public; the others were taken out of circulation due to the error.
Hack told The Washington Post he will probably keep the rare stamp in a safe in his New York home, protecting it from the elements and time. Hack said he’ll only take it out at times to show visitors interested in seeing the inverted Jenny or what he calls “a bit of American history.”
