Biden says Israel, Ukraine victory vital for US security: The Morning Rundown, Oct. 20, 2023

President Biden speaks to the nation, telling Americans why it’s vital that Israel and Ukraine win their wars. And CVS announces it’s pulling popular brands of cold medicine from its store shelves. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Friday, Oct. 20, 2023.

Biden: Israel, Ukraine victory is ‘vital for America’s national security’

In a rare primetime address from the Oval Office Thursday night, President Joe Biden spoke to the American people about the importance of the United States supporting Israel and Ukraine in their respective wars, saying it’s vital for America’s national security for each ally to succeed.

The president compared Hamas and Russian President Vladimir Putin as “different threats,” but said both are after the same goal — to end democracy in neighboring countries. Biden said if they win, it could embolden other aggressors around the world to act.

“History has taught us that when terrorists don’t pay a price for their terror, when dictators don’t pay a price for their aggression, they cause more chaos and death and more destruction. They keep going. And the cost and the threats to America and the world keep rising,” Biden said.

Biden’s speech came after a visit to Israel, where the president met with leaders about the country’s counterattack in Gaza and its looming ground operation.

The White House said the president also spoke with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy before his address. Biden reassured Zelenskyy of the United States’ continued support of Ukraine defending its democracy.

Biden is expected to ask Congress for a $100 billion funding package reportedly to include $60 billion for Ukraine and $14 billion for Israel. The remainder going to Taiwan, humanitarian aid and border management.

The president called the funding “a smart investment that’s going to pay dividends for American security for generations.”

Just hours before the president’s address, the State Department issued a worldwide caution advisory for all Americans overseas saying there is a potential for terrorist attacks or violent actions against U.S. citizens.

The advisory called for U.S. citizens to stay alert in locations frequented by tourists.

U.S. soldier Travis King charged with desertion

Travis King, the U.S. soldier who fled into North Korea in July before being returned to America last month, is being charged with desertion, according to military documents obtained by multiple news outlets.

The eight counts also include charges of possessing child pornography and multiple assaults. King already served two months in a South Korean jail on assault charges and was scheduled to return to the U.S. to face additional disciplinary action when he crossed the border into North Korea.  

King became the first American detained in North Korea in almost five years. After two months, North Korea announced it was expelling King and he was flown to a military hospital in Texas for medical evaluations.

The Army private’s mother, Claudine Gates, released a statement following these latest charges, sharing her concern for his mental health, saying, in part, “As his mother, I ask that my son be afforded the presumption of innocence.”

Sidney Powell pleads guilty in George election case

Lawyer Sidney Powell, accused alongside former President Donald Trump and 17 others of trying to overturn the results of the 2020 presidential election in Georgia, has taken a plea deal.

As part of the deal, Powell is pleading guilty to six misdemeanor charges, and will serve six years of probation and be fined $6,000. Powell has also agreed to testify against her co-defendants in future trials. She will also have to write an apology letter to the residents of Georgia.

Powell’s plea deal came a day before jury selection was set to begin after she filed a demand for a speedy trial.

Powell is the second defendant in this case to reach a deal with prosecutors. Bail bondsman Scott Graham pleaded guilty to five misdemeanor charges last month.

Starbucks, union file lawsuits over social media post

Starbucks and the union representing its organized employees have each sued each other over a social media post about the Israel-Hamas war.

The coffee chain filed a lawsuit against the union, Starbucks Workers United, claiming a pro-Palestinian social media post from the union’s account shortly after the war began damaged the company’s reputation and resulted in complaints from more than 1,000 customers.

The company is demanding the union no longer use the Starbucks brand in its name. It also calls for the union to discontinue using its logo that Starbucks says resembles the company’s.

In a statement to USA Today, Starbucks Executive Vice President Sara Kelly said the social media post reflected the union’s “support for violence perpetrated by Hamas.”

In its own lawsuit, Starbucks Workers United said the company has defamed the union by implying that it supports terrorism and violence.

The original was deleted within 40 minutes, but was shared by other union members and Starbucks Workers United branches. The group said the post was published by workers without permission from union leaders.

CVS pulls over-the-counter cold medicine from store shelves

A month after advisers with the Food and Drug Administration deemed the leading decongestant used in many over-the-counter cold medicines ineffective, CVS has announced it is pulling some products off its shelves.

The pharmacy chain says it will no longer be selling medication with phenylephrine as the only active ingredient. The decongestant is found in products like Benadryl, Sudafed, Advil and Tylenol.

According to the FDA, medicines with phenylephrine account for approximately $1.8 million in annual sales.

CVS says the decision to remove the medicines was voluntary, and it will continue to sell other cold and cough products.

It is not known at this time if other pharmacy chains like Walgreens and Rite Aid will follow CVS’ decision.

Halloween costume tips for striking actors

As the Hollywood actors’ strike nears its 100th day, another issue is being raised by the Screen Actors Guild — Halloween.

The union, which represents the roughly 65,000 actors on strike since July, is asking its members to not dress up as characters from movies or TV shows produced by the studios they are striking against. The union says this will send a clear message that actors won’t promote studio content without a fair contract.

Instead, SAG-AFTRA is recommending members dress in traditional Halloween costumes like ghosts, skeletons and zombies or trick-or-treat as someone from an animated series.

The union says if striking actors do end up dressing up as characters based on content from the major studios, it just asks that they not post any photos to social media.