Biden wins Michigan despite ‘uncommitted’ votes; Trump defeats Haley: The Morning Rundown, Feb. 28, 2024
President Biden and former President Trump win in Michigan as a group of Democratic voters use the primary to send a message. And wildfires in the Texas Panhandle result in the shutdown of a nuclear weapons facility. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, Feb. 28, 2024.
Biden wins Michigan despite ‘uncommitted’ votes; Trump defeats Haley
The primary elections in Michigan have concluded, with President Joe Biden and former President Donald Trump securing easy victories in their respective party primaries on Tuesday. Despite their wins, both leaders are confronting signs of opposition within their ranks.
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Biden dominated the Democratic primary, capturing 81 percent of the votes. However, a notable 13 percent of Democratic voters opted for the “uncommitted” choice, signaling dissent primarily over the president’s approach to the Israel-Hamas conflict in Gaza. The “Listen to Michigan” movement, advocating for a cease-fire in the war, has highlighted this dissent. Michigan’s significant Arab-American community, the largest in the United States, played a pivotal role in this protest vote.
On the Republican side, Trump continued his winning streak in the early state primaries, claiming 68 percent of Michigan’s GOP votes. Nikki Haley, the former U.N. ambassador, finished in second place with 26 percent of the vote. Despite not securing a primary win thus far, Haley has announced her intention to stay in the race at least through the upcoming Super Tuesday.
Michigan’s Republican Party allocated only 16 of its 55 delegates based on Tuesday’s primary results. The remaining delegates will be determined at a GOP convention set for Saturday, adding another layer of anticipation to the state’s political landscape.
Biden hosts Congressional leaders to discuss government shutdown, Ukraine
Following a meeting with President Joe Biden at the White House on Tuesday, congressional leaders expressed optimism about averting a looming government shutdown.
The gathering included House Speaker Mike Johnson, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Vice President Kamala Harris.
After the meeting, Schumer spoke to reporters, emphasizing the productive nature of the discussions. “Productive meeting on the government shutdown. We are making good progress. The speaker said unequivocally he wants to avoid a government shutdown. We made it clear that that means not letting any of the government appropriations bills lapse,” Schumer stated.
In addition to strategies for preventing the shutdown by Friday’s deadline, the leaders also delved into the stalled additional aid to Ukraine. Schumer described these talks as “intense,” noting that leaders from both parties urged Speaker Johnson to pass the Senate’s bipartisan funding bill for Ukraine.
Johnson told reporters that the House is actively exploring all options for the bill but emphasized that securing the nation’s border is the top priority.
U.S. announces $53 million in additional aid for Gaza
The United States has announced an additional $53 million in humanitarian aid for the people of Gaza and the West Bank amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas.
The bulk of the aid will support food assistance, addressing the critical situation in Gaza where two million people are at “imminent risk” of famine, according to the US Agency for International Development.
Concerns have been raised by US officials over the reduced number of trucks entering Gaza. Last week, only 85 trucks a day made it through the Rafah crossing, a significant decrease from the 500 trucks per day before the conflict began.
White House officials stated that this new aid package increases the total U.S. assistance to Gaza during the conflict to $180 million.
Texas panhandle wildfires prompt evacuations, nuclear weapons facility closure
Wildfires sweeping through the Texas Panhandle have prompted evacuations and power outages for thousands, impacting residences and prompting a temporary shutdown of a nuclear weapons facility. Officials announced this morning that the facility would reopen as usual.
The fires, fueled by strong winds, have caused damage to an unspecified number of homes. Governor Greg Abbott has issued a disaster declaration for 60 counties in response to the crisis.
The Texas A&M Forest Service reported responding to 13 wildfires on Monday, noting that Tuesday’s conditions were prime for increased wildfire activity.
Since Monday, over 40 houses in Fritch, a city spanning Hutchinson and Moore counties, have sustained damage, according to city officials. Evacuations have been ordered for parts of the city.
Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the wildfires.
Starbucks and Workers United Union agree on ‘path forward’
After two and a half years, Starbucks and Workers United have reached an agreement to start negotiations for collective bargaining agreements, covering nearly 400 unionized stores.
The coffee chain and the union have committed to initiating discussions on a “foundational framework” that guarantees a fair organizing process for workers. Both parties describe this agreement as a “constructive path forward.”
In December, Starbucks announced it would resume bargaining talks with Workers United, aiming to repair its relationship with some employees.
“As a sign of good faith, Starbucks has agreed to provide partners represented by Workers United with the May 2022 benefits, including credit card tipping,” the company stated.
Starbucks is aiming to conclude contract negotiations by the end of the year.
Apple cancels plans for self-driving electric car
Apple is putting plans for a self-driving electric car, moving Project Titan in the rear-view mirror.
As Bloomberg first reported, Apple is discontinuing its secretive, decade-long initiative aimed at competing with Tesla, known as Project Titan. Employees from the company’s Special Projects Group will be reassigned to other departments, including the Artificial Intelligence division.
According to Bloomberg, Apple’s Chief Operating Officer Jeff Williams and Kevin Lynch, a vice president overseeing the project, have notified employees about the discontinuation of the project. The report also mentions potential layoffs, although the exact number of employees affected remains unclear.
Despite reportedly investing billions of dollars in research to develop the car, Apple never officially confirmed its existence. The company has yet to comment on these recent reports.
Tags: 2024 Elections, apple, Apple Store, Democrats, Election, Gaza, Government Shutdown, Hamas, Israel, Michigan, Republican Primary, Starbucks, Tech, Texas, U.S. Congress, Unions, Voting, White House, Wildfire, Wildlife
[KARAH RUCKER]
PRESIDENT BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP WIN IN MICHIGAN AS A GROUP OF DEMOCRATIC VOTERS USE THE PRIMARY TO SEND A MESSAGE
AND — WILDFIRES IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE RESULT IN THE TEMPORARY SHUTDOWN OF A NUCLEAR WEAPONS FACILITY.
THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.
TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 28TH.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
I’M KARAH RUCKER.
THE RESULTS FROM MICHIGAN ARE IN – AND BOTH PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AND FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP EASILY WON THEIR PARTY’S PRIMARIES.
WHILE BIDEN RECEIVED 81 PERCENT OF THE DEMOCRATIC VOTES – 13 PERCENT OF VOTERS CHOSE THE “UNCOMMITTED” OPTION —
IN PROTEST OF THE PRESIDENT’S HANDLING OF THE ISRAEL-HAMAS WAR AND DEMANDING BIDEN CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE.
MICHIGAN HAS THE LARGEST ARAB-AMERICAN POPULATION IN THE NATION.
TRUMP MEANWHILE CONTINUED HIS SWEEP OF THE EARLY STATES – TAKING 68 PERCENT OF MICHIGAN’S GOP VOTE.
NIKKI HALEY RECEIVED 26 PERCENT.
DESPITE NOT WINNING A PRIMARY YET – HALEY HAS VOWED TO REMAIN IN THE RACE THROUGH NEXT WEEK’S SUPER TUESDAY.
THERE WAS OPTIMISM BY CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS ON AVERTING A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN FOLLOWING A MEETING WITH PRESIDENT BIDEN AT THE WHITE HOUSE ON TUESDAY.
THE PRESIDENT HOSTING HOUSE SPEAKER MIKE JOHNSON – SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER – HOUSE MINORITY LEADER HAKEEM JEFFRIES – AND SENATE MINORITY LEADER MITCH MCCONNELL – ALONG WITH VICE PRESIDENT KAMALA HARRIS.
SCHUMER SPEAKING TO REPORTERS FOLLOWING THE MEETING.
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER | SENATE MAJORITY LEADER (D)
“Productive meeting on the government shutdown. We are making good progress. The speaker said unequivocally he wants to avoid a government shutdown. We made it clear that that means not letting any of the government appropriations bills lapse, which means you need some cr’s to get that done. But we are making good progress and we are hopful we can get this done really quickly. “
[KARAH RUCKER]
ALONG WITH WAYS TO AVOID A SHUTDOWN BEFORE FRIDAY’S DEADLINE – THE MEETING ALSO FOCUSED ON ADDITIONAL AID TO UKRAINE – WHICH HAS BEEN STALLED IN CONGRESS.
SCHUMER DESCRIBING THE TALKS ON UKRAINE AS “INTENSE” – SAYING LEADERS FROM BOTH PARTIES CALLED ON SPEAKER JOHNSON TO PASS THE SENATE’S BIPARTISAN FUNDING BILL.
JOHNSON SAYS THE HOUSE IS ACTIVELY PURSUING ALL OPTIONS ON THE BILL – BUT SAYS THE FIRST PRIORITY FOR THE COUNTRY SHOULD BE SECURING ITS BORDER.
THE UNITED STATES ANNOUNCED IT WILL BE PROVIDING FIFTY THREE ($53) MILLION DOLLARS IN ADDITIONAL HUMANITARIAN AID TO THE PEOPLE LIVING IN GAZA AND THE WEST BANK AS THE WAR BETWEEN ISRAEL AND HAMAS CONTINUES.
MUCH OF THE AID WILL GO TO FOOD ASSISTANCE – WITH THE US AGENCY FOR INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT SAYING TWO MILLION PEOPLE IN GAZA ARE AT “IMMINENT RISK” OF FAMINE.
US OFFICIALS HAVE SOUNDED THE ALARM OF THE LACK OF TRUCKS ENTERING GAZA – WITH 85 TRUCKS A DAY ENTERING THROUGH THE RAFAH CROSSING LAST WEEK – DOWN FROM 500 BEFORE THE START OF THE WAR.
WHITE HOUSE OFFICIALS SAYING THE NEW PACKAGE WILL BRING THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF AID DELIVERED BY THE U.S. TO GAZA DURING THE WAR TO 180 MILLION DOLLARS.
WILDFIRES IN THE TEXAS PANHANDLE ARE RESULTING IN EVACUATIONS AND POWER OUTAGES FOR THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS.
A NUCLEAR WEAPONS FACILITY WAS FORCED TO TEMPORARILY SHUT DOWN TUESDAY – BUT THIS MORNING OFFICIALS SAYING IT WILL BE BACK OPEN.
MORE THAN 250 THOUSAND ACRES HAVE BURNED.
WIND SPEEDS UP TO 60 MILES PER HOUR AND A RECORD-BREAKING “LATE WINTER HEAT WAVE” PRODUCING TEMPS IN THE 90’S AND HUNDREDS IN SOME PORTIONS OF THE STATE ARE HELPING TO FUEL THE WILDFIRES.
IT’S UNKNOWN HOW MANY HOMES HAVE BEEN DESTROYED.
GOVERNOR GREG ABBOT ISSUING A DISASTER DECLARATION FOR 60 COUNTIES.
IN AT LEAST ONE LOCATION, THE FIRE HAS GROWN TO MORE THAN TWICE ITS SIZE SINCE SPARKING ON MONDAY.
THE CAUSE OF THE WILDFIRES IS UNDER INVESTIGATION.
AFTER TWO AND A HALF YEARS, STARBUCKS AND WORKERS UNITED HAVE AGREED TO BEGIN NEGOTIATIONS FOR COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENTS AND ORGANIZING FOR NEARLY 400 UNIONIZED STORES.
THE COFFEE CHAIN AND THE UNION HAVE AGREED TO START DISCUSSIONS ON ESTABLISHING A “FOUNDATIONAL FRAMEWORK” THAT ENSURES A FAIR PROCESS FOR WORKERS TO ORGANIZE.
STARBUCKS AND THE UNION CALLING THE AGREEMENT — A “CONSTRUCTIVE PATH FORWARD.”
IN DECEMBER STARBUCKS SAID IT WOULD RESUME BARGAINING TALKS WITH THE UNION IN AN ATTEMPT TO MEND ITS STRAINED RELATIONSHIP WITH SOME EMPLOYEES.
STARBUCKS EXPECTS CONTRACT TALKS TO BE COMPLETE BY THE END OF THE YEAR.
FINALLY THIS MORNING – APPLE IS PUTTING PLANS FOR ITS SELF-DRIVING ELECTRIC CAR IN THE REAR-VIEW MIRROR.
AS FIRST REPORTED BY BLOOMBERG — APPLE IS REVERSING COURSE ON PROJECT TITAN — ITS DECADE-LONG SECRETIVE MISSION TO RIVAL TESLA.
THOSE IN THE COMPANY’S SPECIAL PROJECTS GROUP WILL BE MOVED TO OTHER DEPARTMENTS – INCLUDING THE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DIVISION.
APPLE REPORTEDLY SPENT BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN RESEARCH TO CREATE THE CAR – THOUGH NEVER PUBLICLY ACKNOWLEDGED ITS DEVELOPMENT.
APPLE HAS SO FAR DECLINED TO COMMENT ON THESE REPORTS.
THESE ARE YOUR TOP STORIES FOR THIS WEDNESDAY.
UNBIASED. STRAIGHT FACTS. THAT’S STRAIGHT ARROW NEWS.
WE’LL SEE YOU BACK HERE TOMORROW.
UNTIL THEN I’M KARAH RUCKER. HAVE A GREAT DAY!
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