“I can let you know there’s one fellow that simply hates Florida: his identify is Joe Biden,” governor Ron DeSantis declared in a February speech to a serious gathering of conservatives.
Extensively seen as a possible inheritor to the Republican throne in 2024 if Donald Trump decides to not run or is rejected by voters, DeSantis has spent a lot of his time as governor signing laws that’s enraged progressives, or partaking in different antics such because the transportation of migrants from Texas to Massachusetts. The president has served as a handy punching bag for DeSantis, notably as Biden’s approval rankings tanked over the course of final yr. Past no matter political aspirations he could have, DeSantis has good cause to remind Floridians of all the explanations he believes Biden is failing: Florida continues to be thought of a swing state, with electoral votes which can be coveted by any presidential aspirant.
The 2 males are to fulfill in the present day in Fort Meyers, one of many communities hardest hit by Hurricane Ian final week. They’ve quickly referred to as off their feud ever for the reason that storm truck, and the truce is predicted to final by means of the go to – however in all probability not a lot past that.
Key occasions
Joe Biden has began his journey with a helicopter flight to Joint Base Andrews outdoors Washington, the place he’ll board Air Drive One for the journey to Florida.
He didn’t have a lot to say in regards to the OPEC+ manufacturing reduce, in accordance with a Fox Information reporter on the White Home:
Following the OPEC+ manufacturing reduce, Democratic Home consultant Ro Khanna has hit out at Saudi Arabia, accusing the nation of undermining the US economic system and calling on the White Home to retaliate.
“That is past the pale,” Khanna informed CNN in an interview. “They’re actively fleecing the American folks and destabilizing the economic system. That’s simply outrageous. Who do they suppose they’re?”
Saying Saudi Arabia needs to be “handled harshly,” the California lawmaker stated the Biden administration ought to reduce off Saudi Arabia’s provide of aviation elements and stop American aerospace companies from doing enterprise with them. “They’re a third-rate energy. We’re probably the most highly effective nation on this planet. I don’t know why we kowtow to them.”
Biden’s relationship with Riyadh has grown difficult in latest months. As a candidate for workplace, he pledged to make Saudi Arabia a “world pariah” amid outrage over the homicide of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi. However as oil costs spiked this summer time, Biden visited the dominion in what was extensively seen as a bid to get Saudi Arabia to boost manufacturing – and fist-bumped Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, whom US intelligence concluded ordered Khashoggi’s homicide.
OPEC+ oil manufacturing reduce threatens to hike US gasoline costs forward of midterms
After declining by means of a lot of the summer time, gasoline costs could also be set to extend once more within the weeks earlier than the midterm elections, after the OPEC+ group of oil producing nations agreed to a deep reduce in crude manufacturing in the present day.
Reuters studies that the reduce is the deepest for the reason that Covid-19 pandemic struck in 2020, and is meant to push oil costs increased, regardless of the White Home pressuring the bloc to not undergo with it. Greater oil costs globally imply increased costs at gasoline stations throughout the US, additional squeezing the wallets of Individuals grappling with inflation that has climbed at charges not seen for the reason that Nineteen Eighties. Yesterday, gasoline market analyst Patrick DeHaan predicted a manufacturing reduce might undercut the latest downward pattern in pump costs:
The economic system is predicted to play a serious position within the midterm elections, the place Joe Biden’s Democratic social gathering is combating to retain management of the Senate and Home of Representatives. The significance of oil to public opinion was illustrated over the summer time, when a spike in gasoline costs pushed Biden’s approval score even additional into unpopular territory.
Florida is a widely known retirement vacation spot, however Michael Sainato studies Hurricane Ian has induced many aged residents to rethink dwelling there:
Pleasure McCormack had simply retired and moved to a cellular park in Fort Myers close to the Sanibel Island causeway earlier than Hurricane Ian hit Florida final week. Her whole neighborhood was worn out and her cellular residence continues to be flooded.
She had managed to evacuate earlier than Ian arrived with simply her automobile and some belongings, spending the night time in a two-story workplace constructing inland. “You don’t anticipate it to be something, as a result of we’ve by no means been hit that onerous,” stated McCormack.
She is much from alone. In a state like Florida – well-liked with retirees looking for heat climate, low-cost property and delightful seashores – hurricanes hit the aged exhausting. Based on US census information, 40.5% of residents in Charlotte county, 33.1% of residents in Collier county and 29.1% of residents in Lee county are age 65 or older, practically twice the proportion of the US inhabitants. Fema has cautioned residents to “make knowledgeable selections” about rebuilding in areas hit by pure disasters.
Within the days for the reason that neighborhood the place McCormack lives has appeared like a struggle zone. Electrical energy and web entry within the space are nonetheless spotty, boil water advisories stay in impact in Lee county, gasoline stations have lengthy strains and data is sparse. She’s nonetheless ready on her pharmacy to open to refill medical prescriptions.
“I can’t get into any of my accounts due to the web, it’s actually exhausting, you’ll be able to’t do something. It’s like dwelling in a struggle zone,” added McCormack. “I’ve lived right here for 20 years and there’s no cause for me to remain within the state of Florida any longer.” She plans to maneuver up north to be nearer to household moderately than attempt to get a brand new residence within the space.
For an thought of how the encounter between president Joe Biden and Florida’s governor Ron DeSantis will go in the present day, think about what occurred final time they met.
The event was the lethal collapse of an oceanfront condominium constructing in Surfside, near Miami, which killed 98 folks. “You acknowledged the severity of this tragedy from day one, and also you’ve been very supportive,” DeSantis informed the president, whereas Biden remarked, “ what’s good about this? The way in which we’re cooperating. We’re letting the nation know we are able to cooperate.”
Count on one thing much like play out in Fort Meyers in the present day.
“I can let you know there’s one fellow that simply hates Florida: his identify is Joe Biden,” governor Ron DeSantis declared in a February speech to a serious gathering of conservatives.
Extensively seen as a possible inheritor to the Republican throne in 2024 if Donald Trump decides to not run or is rejected by voters, DeSantis has spent a lot of his time as governor signing laws that’s enraged progressives, or partaking in different antics such because the transportation of migrants from Texas to Massachusetts. The president has served as a handy punching bag for DeSantis, notably as Biden’s approval rankings tanked over the course of final yr. Past no matter political aspirations he could have, DeSantis has good cause to remind Floridians of all the explanations he believes Biden is failing: Florida continues to be thought of a swing state, with electoral votes which can be coveted by any presidential aspirant.
The 2 males are to fulfill in the present day in Fort Meyers, one of many communities hardest hit by Hurricane Ian final week. They’ve quickly referred to as off their feud ever for the reason that storm truck, and the truce is predicted to final by means of the go to – however in all probability not a lot past that.
Biden heads to Florida to survey hurricane injury alongside GOP rival DeSantis
Good morning, US politics weblog readers. Joe Biden will go to Florida in the present day to see for himself the injury wrought by Hurricane Ian, the place he’ll be greeted by governor of the state and foe of Democrats Ron DeSantis. Don’t be shocked if the 2 males are sparring on a presidential debate stage in two years time, however in the present day, partisanship is predicted to take a backseat to their widespread purpose of serving to the state’s west coast get well from the lethal storm. Biden delivers remarks at 3.15pm ET in Fort Meyers.
Right here’s what else is occurring in the present day:
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As if one sitting president and one potential presidential aspirant weren’t sufficient, former president Donald Trump is scheduled in the present day to talk in Miami to a bunch of Hispanic conservatives, in accordance with USA Immediately.
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Congress is adjourned however Democratic Home consultant Joaquin Castro is presenting a report on the Nationwide Press Membership on the underrepresentation of latinos in media at 10am.
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Elon Musk, the chief govt of Tesla, appears set to purchase Twitter – and doubtlessly permit Trump again on the platform he was ejected from after the January 6 revolt.