Cramm for 6/25/21
THE HIGHLIGHTS
Biden reached a compromise on infrastructure.
THE BACKGROUND.
A few months ago, Prez Biden said ‘voila’ and unveiled his $4 trillion “Build Back Better” infrastructure package, which is made up of two phases. The first phase deals with “hard” infrastructure, like broadband (essentially high-speed internet) and transportation. The second phase deals with “soft” infrastructure, like childcare and family tax credits. Oh, and the package would also promote racial equity in the economy and focus on climate change. The idea was for it to be paid for by raising the corporate tax rate and upping taxes on the wealthy.
THE HAPPENINGS.
Pretty much right away, Republicans shot down any hopes that the package would get bipartisan support. So a group of Democratic and Republican senators got together and came up with an alternative: a $579 billion infrastructure deal that’d invest in things like roads, broadband internet, and electric utilities. What’s not included: certain climate change measures, those tax increases...among others.
THE REACTION.
It looks like Biden’s set to give the deal the thumbs-up...with a catch. He’ll only sign the deal if it’s attached to a much larger package of spending and tax increases, which Democratic senators are planning to greenlight without Republican support.
THE TAKE.
This latest news marks a major breakthrough in Biden’s quest to reach a compromise on infrastructure. TBD on whether it’s enacted.
THE ACTION
WORLD: Hundreds more unmarked graves were just found at another former residential school in Canada. 751, to be exact. This comes after a mass grave containing the remains of 215 kids was discovered at a former residential school in the Canadian province of British Columbia a few weeks ago. In other news, recently, a popular Palestinian activist died while in the custody of the Palestinian Authority (aka the gov that has some self-autonomy in parts of the West Bank), reportedly after being beaten by security forces. Cue protests. The activist was one of dozens of political opponents recently arrested by the authority. Meanwhile, a statue of George Floyd in Brooklyn was just defaced with the symbol of a white supremacist group.
DISASTERS: Yesterday, about half of the units in a 12-story condo collapsed in Surfside, Florida, killing at least 1 person and leaving 99 missing. Rescue crews are currently searching for any remaining survivors. The building was reportedly about to undergo repairs for rusted steel and damaged concrete, but it’s not entirely clear what exactly caused the collapse. In other news, a powerful tornado just slammed into multiple villages in the southeastern Czech Republic. 150 people have been injured and countless buildings have been damaged. Witnesses called the disaster “an apocalypse.” Stay tuned.
CAPITOL ATTACK: ICYMI, after the January 6th attack on the Capitol, which led to five deaths and more than 400 arrests, the House of Reps struck a deal to create a bipartisan commission to investigate. Only a slight problem...the commission didn’t pass in the Senate due to Republican opposition. Now, it looks like Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) is pledging to create a select committee to take a magnifying glass to the attack in the House. Speaking of which, yesterday, a New York court ruled that Rudy Giuliani made “demonstrably false and misleading statements” about the 2020 election - statements that created an “immediate threat” to the public. Whiiich means Giuliani’s law license has officially been suspended. Plus he could face “permanent sanctions,” like disbarment.
WHAT TO KNOW
“A fifth ocean:” what’s apparently a thing, according to a new National Geographic statement. Seariously.
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