Biden news: President calls Putin’s war on Ukraine ‘genocide’ in Iowa remarks on gas price

Follow us for live news updates

220412 - Biden Calls Putin's War -Genocide- During Iowa Speech

President Joe Biden has described the actions of Vladimir Putin’s army in Ukraine as “genocide” for the first time. In remarks in Iowa concerning gas prices, the president said: “Your family budget, your ability to fill up your tank — none of it should hinge on whether a dictator declares war and commits genocide a half a world away.”

Mr Biden has used the phrase “war crimes” before, but the administration has until now steered away from the term “genocide” when talking about the actions of Russian troops on the ground in Ukraine.

The White House is managing the fallout from new data showing that consumer prices last year rose at their fastest clip since 1981, wiping out many of the pay rises Americans had received during the post-Covid recovery. The numbers come just as a new poll shows Mr Biden’s already low approval rating sinking to new depths.

His overall rating now stands in the low 40s, having plunged below the 50-point mark around the time of the withdrawal from Afghanistan. The electorate apparently hold him in even lower esteem when it comes to his handling of specific issues like crime and immigration.

Key points

• Biden calls Putin’s invasion of Ukraine ‘genocide'
• US inflation hits 40-year high
• Biden unveils regulations targeting ghost guns
• Biden nominates Obama-era US attorney to lead ATF

[12 April 2022 22:39 · Oliver O'Connell]

Biden praises civilian response to New York subway shooting

[12 April 2022 22:45 · Oliver O'Connell]

Biden praises civilian heroes in Brooklyn subway shooting attack

President Joe Biden praised first responders who responded to a gunman who opened fire on a crowded subway in New York City.

“Jill and I — my wife and I are praying for those that are injured in all of those touched by the trauma,” he said. “We are grateful for all of the first responders who jumped into action, including the civilians. Civilians who did not hesitate to help their fellow passengers and tried to shield them.”

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki had previously said the president “has been briefed on the latest developments” with respect to Tuesday’s shooting.

Andrew Feinberg reports.

[12 April 2022 22:48 · David Taintor]

Bird poops on Biden during president’s speech

In some circles, it’s considered good luck. But during Mr Biden’s speech on energy prices today in Iowa, cameras picked up bird droppings falling on the president’s jacket. Watch below:

[12 April 2022 23:30 · Oliver O'Connell]

South Dakota attorney general impeached over fatal crash

The South Dakota House on Tuesday impeached state Attorney General Jason Ravnsborg over a 2020 car crash in which he killed a pedestrian but initially said he might have struck a deer or another large animal.

Ravnsborg, a Republican, is the first official to be impeached in South Dakota history. He will at least temporarily be removed from office pending the historic Senate trial, where it takes a two-thirds majority to convict on impeachment charges. The Senate must wait at least 20 days to hold its trial, but has not yet set a date.

Ravnsborg pleaded no contest last year to a pair of traffic misdemeanors in the crash, including making an illegal lane change. He has cast Joseph Boever’s death as a tragic accident.

In narrowly voting to impeach Ravnsborg, the Republican-controlled House charged him with committing crimes that caused someone’s death, making “numerous misrepresentations” to law enforcement officers after the crash and using his office to navigate the criminal investigation. A Senate conviction would mean Ravnsborg would be barred from holding any state office in the future.

“When we’re dealing with the life of one of your citizens, I think that weighed heavily on everyone,” said Republican Rep. Will Mortenson, who introduced the articles of impeachment.

AP

[13 April 2022 00:15 · Oliver O'Connell]

Why is Biden allowing more ethanol in gasoline?

The Biden administration says it will suspend a federal rule that bars higher levels of ethanol in gasoline during the summer. The move, which President Joe Biden announced during a Tuesday visit to Iowa, is intended to tamp down prices at the pump that have spiked during Russia’s war with Ukraine. Iowa is a key producer of the corn-based fuel additive.

[13 April 2022 01:00 · Oliver O'Connell]

Why is US inflation is so high, and when might it ease?

Another month, another four-decade high for inflation.

For the 12 months that ended in March, consumer prices rocketed 8.5%. That was the fastest year-over-year jump since 1981, far surpassing February’s mark of 7.9%, itself a 40-year high.

Even if you toss out food and energy prices — which are notoriously volatile and have driven much of the price spike — so-called core inflation jumped 6.5% in the past 12 months. That was also the sharpest such jump in four decades.

[13 April 2022 01:45 · Oliver O'Connell]

ICYMI: US consumer price inflation at four-decade high

The news is out: inflation in the US jumped 8.5 per cent last year, a figure unseen since the deep economic malaise that still lingered in 1981.

Costs for food, gasoline, housing and other goods all surged, meaning that what pay rises people had received during the post-Covid economic revival were overriden.

Eric Garcia reports:

[13 April 2022 02:30 · Oliver O'Connell]

Is Joe Biden the new Jimmy Carter?

The fact that inflation is at its highest since late 1981 is already drawing comparisons between Joe Biden and his Democratic predecessor Jimmy Carter, who presided over a period of economic malaise that turned around under Ronald Reagan.

But even if the comparison is apt, that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all bad news for Democrats...

[13 April 2022 03:15 · Oliver O'Connell]

NY Lieutenant Governor arrested for bribery conspiracy

The second-most-senior official in New York state, Lieutenant Governor Brian Benjamin, has been arrested on a charge that he wrongfully directed state funds to a real estate investor in Harlem in exchange for pushing through thousands of dollars of illegal contributions to a failed political campaign of his own.

Gustaf Kilander reports:

[13 April 2022 04:00 · Oliver O'Connell]

White House condemns ‘disturbing’ abortion ban in Oklahoma

An Oklahoma law criminalising abortion care as a felony with 10-year prison sentences and $100,000 fines for healthcare providers marks an “unconstitititional attack” on women’s health, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

Alex Woodward reports.