Senate passes $95B aid package for Ukraine, Israel; TikTok bill included
With Congress passing the $95 billion foreign aid package, including a bill on TikTok, it now heads to President Joe Biden’s desk. A year after a deadly school shooting, Tennessee lawmakers approve a bill allowing teachers to carry guns in school. These stories and more highlight The Morning Rundown for Wednesday, April 24, 2024.
Senate passes $95B aid package for Ukraine, Israel; TikTok bill included
The Senate passed a $95 billion foreign aid package, which Biden said he will sign Wednesday, April 24. The package provides critical aid to Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan.
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Following the Senate’s 79-18 vote, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said this shows America’s commitment to its responsibilities, as a world leader.
“America sends a message to the entire world,” Schumer said. “We will not turn our back on you … To our friends in Ukraine. America will soon deliver more ammunition and air defenses and basic supplies you need to resist Putin on the battlefield. To our friends in Israel. America will soon deliver aid to help you fight the scourge of Hamas and stand up to Iran. To innocent civilians in Gaza, in the midst of a war, and those around the world who face hunger. America will deliver food and medicine and clothing. And to our friends in the Indo-Pacific. We will stand with you to resist the Chinese Communist Party.”
The aid includes $60 billion for Ukraine, $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian relief for Gaza, and $8 billion for Taiwan and the Indo-Pacific.
The package also includes a measure that could lead to the U.S. ban of the social media app TikTok if its Chinese owner, ByteDance, does not sell its stake in the platform within a year.
TikTok criticized the inclusion of the “ban bill,” stating it was “unfortunate” Congress used the “cover of important foreign and humanitarian assistance to pass a measure that would trample the free speech rights of 170 million Americans.”
Former Enquirer publisher testifies about ‘catch-and-kill’ at Trump trial
David Pecker, former publisher of the National Enquirer, will return to the stand Thursday, April 25, during former President Donald Trump’s criminal trial in New York. Pecker testified Tuesday, April 23, about his role in “catch-and-kill” deals involving Trump and his one-time attorney Michael Cohen.
According to Pecker, he collaborated with Cohen to purchase negative stories about Trump during the 2016 election to suppress them. During his two-and-a-half-hour testimony, Pecker told the jury he met with Trump and Cohen in 2015, agreeing to act as Trump’s “eyes and ears” during the campaign. He admitted to agreeing to publish positive stories about Trump and focus on negative stories about Trump’s opponents, including embellishing stories about Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas.
Day six of the trial began with a hearing on the judge’s gag order that bars Trump from making public statements about witnesses, jurors, prosecutors and court staff. The prosecution alleges Trump violated the order 10 times and is seeking a $1,000 fine for each violation. Trump’s lawyers argued that the former president has not violated the gag order, stating his comments were in response to a “barrage of political attacks” against him.
The judge did not make an immediate ruling after more than an hour of deliberations.
Columbia says talks with protestors continue after midnight deadline passes
After a midnight deadline to clear a campus encampment by pro-Palestinian protesters passed without a resolution, the university early Wednesday morning extended the deadline by 48 hours following “constructive dialogue” with the students.
A university spokesperson said protesters have committed to dismantling a number of tents, agreed that only Columbia students will participate in the protest and are taking steps to make the encampment welcoming to all.
The midnight deadline was set by Columbia President Minouche Shafik in a letter to the campus community late Tuesday night. In the letter, Shafik wrote that if negotiations to clear the encampment set up five days ago were not successful, “alternate options” would be considered to clear the West Lawn and “restore calm to campus.”
This deadline follows a week after New York police officers were called to another encampment, where more than 100 arrests were made, a move criticized by student and human rights groups.
In her letter, Shafik said the protesters at the West Lawn have been peaceful but that the encampment poses safety concerns and at times creates a hostile environment for many members of the university, adding it is “essential we move forward with a plan to dismantle it.”
Shortly after the original midnight deadline passed, a group of Columbia student negotiators released a statement saying the university threatened to send in the National Guard. However, Gov. Kathy Hochul, D, said earlier April 23, she had no plans to send in the National Guard.
Tennessee legislators pass bill allowing teachers to carry guns in classroom
Tennessee lawmakers have passed a bill allowing school staff to carry concealed handguns on school grounds, aimed at enhancing school safety. The measure was approved Tuesday, April 23, by a 68-28 vote in the Tennessee House a year after a shooting at a Nashville school killed three children and three adults.
The bill now heads to Republican Gov. Bill Lee’s desk where he could either sign it or allow it to become a law without his signature.
Supporters argue the legislation serves as a deterrent to potential threats, requiring staff to undergo 40 hours of specialized training annually.
Critics condemn the approach, suggesting it inappropriately responds to school shootings by introducing more guns into the environment.
At least 26 other states allow school employees to be armed.
FTC votes to ban non-competes
In a 3-2 vote Tuesday, April 23, the Federal Trade Commission voted to ban non-compete agreements nationwide, affecting an estimated 30 million workers.
This rule prohibits new non-compete clauses and nullifies existing ones, except for certain high-earning senior executives. The move is part of the Biden administration’s efforts to boost worker mobility and economic growth, potentially fostering the creation of thousands of new businesses.
“We heard from employees who, because of non-competes, were stuck in abusive workplaces,” FTC Chair Lina Khan said. “One person noted when an employer merged with an organization whose religious principles conflicted with their own, a non-compete kept the worker locked in place and unable to freely switch to a job that didn’t conflict with their religious practices.”
While supporters applaud the decision as a victory for worker rights, opponents, including the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, argue it threatens to undermine the protection of trade secrets and competitive edge.
The FTC’s ban is expected to be challenged in court.
Tesla promises new affordable EV models by early 2025
After Tesla reported its biggest revenue drop in over a decade, CEO Elon Musk promised investors that production of new affordable electric vehicle models would begin by early 2025.
While details such as production numbers and price points were not disclosed, the announcement led Tesla’s stock to jump 13 percent in after-hours trading.
Tesla reported a 9% drop in sales year-over-year for the first quarter of 2024, its largest decline since 2012, with revenue falling to $21.3 billion from $23.33 billion a year earlier.
During his call with investors, Musk also discussed Tesla’s investments in artificial intelligence, plans to unveil robotaxis, and mentioned that the company is in talks with “one major automaker” about licensing its “full-self driving” assistance system.
Tags: Donald Trump, Elon Musk, Federal Trade Commission, Foreign aid, Gaza, Ghost guns, Guns, Israel, Israel Defense Forces, Palestine, Tennessee, Tesla, Trump investigations, Trump Organization, Ukraine, Ukraine aid, Ukraine Defense Ministry
[KARAH RUCKER]
WITH CONGRESS PASSING THE 95 BILLION DOLLAR FOREIGN AID PACKAGE — IT NOW HEADS TO PRESIDENT BIDEN’S DESK
AND — A YEAR AFTER A DEADLY SCHOOL SHOOTING IN TENNESSEE — LAWMAKERS APPROVE A BILL ALLOWING TEACHERS TO CARRY GUNS IN SCHOOL
THE MORNING RUNDOWN STARTS NOW.
TODAY IS WEDNESDAY, APRIL 24.
THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.
I’M KARAH RUCKER.
A $95 BILLION FOREIGN AID PACKAGE NOW HEADS TO THE DESK OF PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN AFTER THE SENATE OVERWHELMINGLY VOTED TO PASS THE LEGISLATION LATE TUESDAY NIGHT.
BIDEN SAYING HE WILL SIGN IT TODAY – SENDING AID TO UKRAINE, ISRAEL, AND TAIWAN.
FOLLOWING THE 79 TO 18 VOTE —
SENATE MAJORITY LEADER CHUCK SCHUMER SAID THIS SHOWS AMERICA WILL NEVER SHRINK FROM ITS RESPONSIBILITIES AS A WORLD LEADER.
SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER | MAJORITY LEADER | D-NY
“America sends a message to the entire world. We will not turn our back on you…To our friends in Ukraine. America will soon deliver more ammunition and air defenses and basic supplies you need to resist Putin on the battlefield. To our friends in Israel. America will soon deliver aid to help you fight the scourge of Hamas and stand up to Iran. To innocent civilians in Gaza, in the midst of a war, and that those around the world who face hunger. America will deliver food and medicine and clothing. And to our friends in the Indo-Pacific. We will stand with you to resist the Chinese Communist Party. And to the whole world.”
{KARAH RUCKER]
THE PACKAGE SENDS $60 BILLION OF AID TO UKRAINE, $26 BILLION IN ASSISTANCE TO ISRAEL AND HUMANITARIAN RELIEF FOR GAZA AND $8 BILLION FOR TAIWAN AND THE INDO-PACIFIC.
IN ADDITION TO THE FOREIGN AID – THE PACKAGE ALSO INCLUDES A MEASURE THAT COULD LEAD TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA APP TIKTOK BEING BANNED IN THE U.S. SHOULD ITS CHINESE OWNER – BYTEDANCE – NOT SELL ITS STAKE IN THE PLATFORM WITHIN A YEAR.
TIKTOK SAYS ITS “UNFORTUNATE” CONGRESS IS USING THE COVER OF IMPORTANT FOREIGN AID TO PASS THE “BAN BILL” THAT WOULD TRAMPLE THE FREE SPEECH RIGHTS OF 170 MILLION AMERICANS.
TODAY IS AN OFF DAY IN FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S CRIMINAL TRIAL IN NEW YORK.
DAVID PECKER — THE FORMER PUBLISHER OF THE “NATIONAL ENQUIRER” tabloid magazine — IS SET TO RETURN TO THE STAND ON THURSDAY FOLLOWING HIS TESTIMONY YESTERDAY – WHERE HE DESCRIBED HIS PART IN “CATCH-AND-KILL” DEALS INVOLVING TRUMP AND HIS ONE-TIME ATTORNEY MICHAEL COHEN.
ACCORDING TO PECKER – HE WORKED WITH COHEN TO BUY NEGATIVE STORIES ABOUT TRUMP DURING THE 2016 ELECTION IN A MOVE TO BURY THEM.
DURING HIS 2 AND HALF HOUR TESTIMONY – PECKER REVEALED TO THE JURY HE HAD MET WITH TRUMP AND COHEN IN 20-15 WHERE HE TOLD THEM HE’D ACT AS TRUMP’S “EYES AND EARS” DURING THE CAMPAIGN – saying HE AGREED TO PUBLISH POSITIVE STORIES ABOUT TRUMP WHILE FOCUSING ON NEGATIVE STORIES ABOUT HIS OPPONENTS.
PECKER SAID COHEN ACTED AS THE MIDDLE-MAN BETWEEN HIM AND TRUMP – PITCHING STORIES TO PECKER ABOUT OTHER CANDIDATES — INCLUDING SENATOR TED CRUZ — THEN THE ENQUIRER WOULD “EMBELLISH” THOSE STORIES.
DAY 6 OF THE TRIAL BEGAN WITH A HEARING ON THE JUDGE’S GAG ORDER BARRING TRUMP FROM MAKING PUBLIC STATEMENTS ABOUT WITNESSES, JURORS, PROSECUTORS AND COURT STAFF – WITH THE PROSECUTION ALLEGING TRUMP VIOLATED THE ORDER 10 TIMES – AND SEEKING A ONE THOUSAND dollar FINE FOR EACH VIOLATION.
TRUMP’S LAWYERS ARGUED THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAS NOT VIOLATED THE GAG ORDER – SAYING TRUMP’S STATEMENTS IN QUESTION WERE IN RESPONSE TO A “BARRAGE OF POLITICAL ATTACKS” AGAINST HIM.
THE JUDGE DID NOT MAKE AN IMMEDIATE RULING FOLLOWING MORE THAN an HOUR OF DELIBERATIONS.
AFTER A MIDNIGHT DEADLINE FOR AN AGREEMENT TO CLEAR A CAMPUS ENCAMPMENT BY PRO-PALESTINIAN PROTESTERS CAME WITHOUT A RESOLUTION, THE UNIVERSITY ANNOUNCED EARLY THIS MORNING THE DEADLINE HAS BEEN EXTENDED BY 48 HOURS – AFTER “CONSTRUCTIVE DIALOGUE” WITH THE STUDENTS.
A UNIVERSITY SPOKESPERSON SAYING PROTESTORS HAVE COMMITTED TO DISMANTLING A NUMBER OF TENTS – AGREED THAT ONLY COLUMBIA STUDENTS WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE PROTEST – AND ARE TAKING STEPS TO MAKE THE ENCAMPMENT WELCOME TO ALL.
THE MIDNIGHT DEADLINE WAS IMPOSED BY COLUMBIA PRESIDENT MINOUCH SHAFIK IN A LETTER TO THE CAMPUS COMMUNITY LATE TUESDAY NIGHT.
IN THE LETTER – SHAFIK WROTE THAT SHOULD THE NEGOTIATIONS NOT BE SUCCESSFUL TO CLEAR THE ENCAMPMENT SET UP FIVE DAYS AGO – “ALTERNATE OPTIONS” WOULD BE CONSIDERED TO CLEAR THE WEST LAWN AND “RESTORE CALM TO CAMPUS.”
THE DEADLINE COMES ABOUT A WEEK AFTER NEW YORK POLICE OFFICERS WERE CALLED IN REGARDING ANOTHER ENCAMPMENT – WHERE MORE THAN 100 ARRESTS WERE MADE.
IN HER LETTER – SHAFIK SAID THE PROTESTERS AT THE WEST LAWN HAVE BEEN PEACEFUL _- BUT THE ENCAMPMENT AT TIMES CREATES A HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT FOR MANY MEMBERS OF THE UNIVERSITY – ADDING IT IS QUOTE “ESSENTIAL WE MOVE FORWARD WITH A PLAN TO DISMANTLE IT.”
SHORTLY AFTER THE ORIGINAL MIDNIGHT DEADLINE PASSED – A GROUP OF COLUMBIA STUDENT NEGOTIATORS RELEASED A STATEMENT SAYING THE UNIVERSITY THREATENED TO SEND IN THE NATIONAL GUARD.
GOVERNOR KATHY HOCHUL SAID EARLIER TUESDAY SHE HAD NO PLANS TO SEND NATIONAL GUARD TO CAMPUS.
TENNESSEE LAWMAKERS HAVE PASSED A BILL ALLOWING SCHOOL STAFF TO CARRY CONCEALED HANDGUNS ON SCHOOL GROUNDS, IN AN EFFORT TO ENHANCE SCHOOL SAFETY.
THE MEASURE WAS APPROVED BY A 68 TO 28 VOTE IN THE TENNESSEE HOUSE –
A YEAR AFTER A SHOOTING AT A NASHVILLE COVENANT SCHOOL THAT KILLED 3 CHILDREN AND 3 ADULTS.
THE BILL NOW HEADS TO GOVERNOR BILL LEE’S DESK — WHERE HE COULD EITHER SIGN IT OR ALLOW IT TO BECOME A LAW WITHOUT HIS SIGNATURE.
SUPPORTERS ARGUE THE LEGISLATION SERVES AS A DETERRENT TO POTENTIAL THREATS, REQUIRING STAFF TO UNDERGO 40 HOURS OF TRAINING and mental health evaluations.
CRITICS say IT INAPPROPRIATELY RESPONDS TO SCHOOL SHOOTINGS BY INTRODUCING MORE GUNS INTO THE ENVIRONMENT.
AT LEAST 26 OTHER STATES ALLOW SCHOOL EMPLOYEES TO BE ARMED.
IN A 3 TO 2 VOTE TUESDAY THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION VOTED TO BAN NON-COMPETE AGREEMENTS NATIONWIDE, IMPACTING AN ESTIMATED 30 MILLION WORKERS.
THIS RULE PROHIBITS NEW NON-COMPETE CLAUSES AND NULLIFIES EXISTING ONES, EXCEPT FOR CERTAIN HIGH-EARNING SENIOR EXECUTIVES.
THE FTC ESTIMATES THAT BANNING NONCOMPETE AGREEMENTS COULD BOOST WAGES BY NEARLY $300 BILLION ANNUALLY.
WHILE SUPPORTERS APPLAUD THE DECISION AS A VICTORY FOR WORKER RIGHTS — OPPONENTS, INCLUDING THE U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ARGUE IT THREATENS TO UNDERMINE THE PROTECTION OF TRADE SECRETS AND COMPETITIVE EDGE.
THE FTC’S BAN IS EXPECTED TO BE CHALLENGED IN COURT.
FINALLY THIS MORNING — AFTER TESLA REPORTED ITS BIGGEST DROP IN REVENUE IN OVER A DECADE – CEO ELON MUSK LOOKED TO GIVE INVESTORS SOME POSITIVE NEWS – BY PROMISING PRODUCTION OF NEW AFFORDABLE EV MODELS BY EARLY NEXT YEAR.
WHILE DETAILS LIKE HOW MANY WILL BE MADE AND THE PRICE POINT WERE NOT REVEALED — THE ANNOUNCEMENT LED THE STOCK TO JUMP 13 PERCENT IN AFTER-HOURS TRADING.
TESLA REPORTED A 9 PERCENT DROP IN SALES YEAR OVER YEAR FOR THE FIRST QUARTER OF 20-24 – ITS BIGGEST DECLINE SINCE 20-12.
WITH REVENUE DROPPING TO about 21 billion from 23 billion a year earlier.
IN HIS CALL WITH INVESTORS – MUSK ALSO SPOKE OF TESLA’S INVESTMENTS IN ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, PLANS TO UNVEIL ROBOTAXIS, AND SAID THE COMPANY IS IN TALKS WITH “ONE MAJOR AUTOMAKER” REGARDING LICENSING ITS “FULL-SELF DRIVING” ASSISTANCE SYSTEM.
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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