Good Morning DC,
It’s snowing like in the mountains today, and it’s quite picturesque.
The global affairs outlook? Not as much.
Since it’s Friday, let’s get you caught up quickly with the news of the day.
THE WHITE HOUSE
President Biden will host a bipartisan group of mayors attending the US Conference of Mayors Winter Meeting at the White House. Following that, Biden will travel to Rehoboth Beach where he will spend the weekend.
2024 ELECTION
Trump urged the Supreme Court on Thursday to overturn a ruling that removed him from the primary ballot in Colorado and to declare him eligible to run for the presidency.
Wyoming’s Republican secretary of state has submitted an amicus brief to the US Supreme Court, expressing support for Trump to be allowed to remain on the Colorado ballot.
A Washington state court has ruled yesterday to maintain President Trump’s name on the primary election ballot.
Nikki Haley is doing her own interpretation of the history of racism in America. “I don’t think the intent was ever that we were going to be a racist country,” she said during the CNN town hall last night.
History of slavery might object her point of view.
Haley went on the offensive against both Trump and Biden, suggesting that both are in their old age and “distracted by their own investigations and grievances.”
Her message to voters may be reaching them too late in the election campaign. Haley is aiming to finish strong, but the extent of her success in New Hampshire will become evident next Tuesday.
ON THE HILL
The continuing resolution (CR) has been passed, ensuring that the government shutdown has once again been averted.
President Biden is anticipated to sign the bill promptly upon its arrival at his desk.
GLOBAL AFFAIRS
Israel has rejected US calls for the creation of a Palestinian state once the conflict in Gaza concludes. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has informed the United States that he opposes the establishment of a Palestinian state once the conflict in Gaza comes to an end.
“In any future arrangement … Israel needs security control of all territory west of the Jordan [River],” he said. “This collides with the idea of sovereignty. What can you do?”
PM Netanyahu
In Germany, demonstrations are taking place in several cities today to protest against right-wing extremism.
Kosovo PM Albin Kurti has made another “uncoordinated” move with the EU and the US. The Kosovo Central Bank has decided to suspend the Serbian dinar, making the Euro the sole official currency. This implies that the Serb-majority areas in Kosovo won’t be able to use the dinar.
The Director of the Office for Kosovo, Peter Petkovic emphasized that Belgrade and the Serbian people in Kosovo are “deeply concerned” about Pristina’s announcement to suspend financial transactions with central Serbia and prohibit the use of the dinar as a means of payment starting from February 1.
Petkovic underscored that without the financial support coming from Belgrade, the Serbian people cannot survive in Kosovo and that Albin Kurti’s intention to drive out all Serbs from their centuries-old homeland is now fully exposed.
“We are still analyzing and seeking explanations about this decision, the reasons for its adoption, motivations, and possible implications. In general, Kosovo and Serbia are expected to avoid uncoordinated actions that are not conducive to the normalization of relations and that could have a negative impact on stability on the ground,” stated European Commission spokesperson Peter Stano.
The Pavlovic Today has reached out to the State Department for comment but has not immediately received a response.
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And that’s a wrap for this Friday morning January 19, 2024. Good Morning DC will be back on Monday, January 22, 2024 to provide you with a front-row seat to the ever-evolving landscape of American politics under President Joe Biden.
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