Monday, January 6, 2025
It is Monday, January 6, 2025. Here are today’s top stories.
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Biden visits New Orleans to offer support
President Joe Biden visited New Orleans today to meet with the families of the 14 victims of the truck attack on New Year’s Day.
Biden attended a prayer service hosted by the Archdiocese of New Orleans.
The victims’ ages ranged from 18 to 63. Most of them were under 30 years old. There were 35 people who were injured, including one person who was paralyzed.
The suspected killer was a 42-year-old Army veteran and Texas resident who pledged support for ISIS before he carried out his truck attack.
The FBI said the killer acted alone and visited New Orleans in October and November, apparently to survey the area and plan out his attack. He wore Meta smart glasses to record video of the area.
The FBI said the killer planted two explosive devices that were hidden in coolers in the Bourbon Street area but they failed to detonate.
The FBI is investigating what made the killer become radicalized.
https://abcnews.go.com/US/biden-new-orleans-attack-visit-monday-joe-jill-biden/story
https://www.wdsu.com/article/new-orleans-terror-attack-jabbar-live-updates/63320965
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Updates from the Capitol
House Speaker Mike Johnson won his reelection bid among his colleagues to continue being the leader of the House of Representatives.
ABC News said President Trump personally called two Republicans who opposed Johnson and after the calls, they changed their votes and it gave Johnson the 218 votes he needed.
The Senate’s leader is John Thune (R-S.D.).
Republicans have a trifecta in the government with control in the House, Senate, and soon in the White House. You could also say Republicans control the Supreme Court because there is a 6-3 conservative majority.
In other news, Congress has officially certified Donald Trump’s election win. Vice President Kamala Harris presided over the process as this is the role of the vice president. Of course, people remember what happened four years ago — when Trump made false claims that the election was stolen, pressured his Vice President Mike Pence to disrupt the process, and urged his supporters to go to the Capitol and “fight like hell” — which sparked the Capitol riot. Today at the Capitol, there was a heavy security presence but everything went smoothly.
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/live-updates/house-speaker-vote-live-updates-mike-johnsons-fate/
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/john-thune-interview-senate-majority-leader-donald-trump-agenda/
https://www.cnn.com/politics/live-news/election-certification-trump-01-06-25/index.html
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Canadian PM Trudeau resigns
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced he is resigning as the leader of the Liberal party.
“The Guardian” explained that Trudeau’s popularity has declined over the past two years due to public frustration over high prices and a housing shortage.
Trudeau will still be the prime minister until elections this spring. Polls show that his rival political party, the Conservatives, are poised to win elections and take control of the government.
Trudeau took office in 2015, has won re-election twice and is one of Canada’s longest-serving prime ministers.
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[Sponsored video from Sorenson: www.sorenson.com]
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U.S. Steel and Nippon sue Biden administration for blocking merger
CBS News said U.S. Steel and Nippon Steel (a Japanese company) filed lawsuits against President Joe Biden and his administration for blocking a proposed deal for Nippon to buy U.S. Steel for about $15 billion.
President Biden blocked the deal on Jan. 3 and said it was for national security reasons after federal regulators said it is essential for America to have a strong domestically owned and operated steel industry.
U.S. Steel is based in Pittsburgh. Donald Trump has the same views as Biden and wants to see the company remain American-owned.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/us-steel-nippon-steel-sue-biden-administration-15-billion-deal/
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Manhattan $9 toll for cars during peak hours
New York City will now require vehicles to pay a $9 toll to enter Manhattan during peak hours. The goal is to reduce traffic gridlock, improve air quality, and raise $15 billion for upgrades to New York’s transit system.
Officials in New Jersey tried to block the measure in court but failed.
The tolls will be charged through E-ZPass or through a bill sent by mail. The $9 peak hours toll will be charged on top of other tolls drivers pay to cross bridges or tunnels to enter Manhattan.
NPR said there are similar programs in busy cities around the world, which has proven effective in reducing traffic and promoting public and alternative modes of transportation.
https://www.npr.org/2025/01/05/nx-s1-5248994/new-york-congestion-pricing
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New law boosting Social Security payments for public employees
AP News said President Joe Biden signed into law a measure that boosts Social Security payments for current and former public employees, such as those who worked as teachers, firefighters, or police officers. The law eliminates two previous measures that limited Social Security benefits for those who get retirement payments / pensions from other sources. The new law would help about 3 million people to get $360 or more a month.
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That is all the top stories for today. See you tomorrow and stay with the light.