Border Bill Is In Trouble. It Starts With Capital T, And That Stands For Trump
King Charles has cancer; Rail industry protesting reform after East Palestine derailment
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Girl Scout sign at a Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Hendersonville, N.C. Via: NY Times
Good morning,
🍪 It’s Girl Scout cookie season, but even the Scouts aren’t immune to inflation. Some troops are raising their prices from $5 a box to $7, including in NYC.
The Girl Scouts is comprised of 111 councils, and each operates as a nonprofit. They secure their own contracts with the bakeries licensed to make the iconic cookies.
One bakery makes about $1.29/box. It then costs about $3.73 per box for shipping and credit card fees. That leaves the troops with about $1 a box profit (if sold at $6), which goes toward trips and events.
We have already stocked the Mo News office with boxes of Tagalongs, Thin Mints and Samoas.
Mosheh, Jill, & Lauren
📝 NEW BORDER DEAL ALREADY ON LIFE SUPPORT
Months in the making, and only hours after being released, the bipartisan $118 billion border deal and foreign aid package unveiled Sunday is already in trouble (extra credit if you got the ‘Music Man’ reference in the subject line). It’s now increasingly possible the bill will not survive a key initial Senate vote expected this week. And, even if the bill passes the Senate, Republicans in the House say it’s DOA in their chamber no matter what.
WHAT’S IN THE DEAL
The Border: The bill sets aside about $20 billion for increased border security. It also sets limits on the number of migrants who can enter the U.S. and makes it harder for them to claim asylum.
That $ would get more officers on the ground, expand detention facilities, and increase fentanyl/drug screenings.
The bill gives the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) emergency authority to close the border if migrant encounters at official border crossings average 4,000 a day over a one-week span. And if those crossings hit over 5,000 per day over a week, or 8,500 in a single day, DHS is required to close the border. The bill also makes it easier to deport anyone who comes in illegally.
Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who worked on the bill, said, "Every single day this calendar year has been over that 4,000 threshold, and many of the days have been over the 5,000 threshold … If this law were already in effect, the border would have been closed every single day this year."
Foreign Aid: The bill allocates $60.1 billion for Ukraine and $14.1 billion for Israel in their respective wars. U.S. Central Command would get $2.44 billion for their fight against the Houthis in the Red Sea and $4.83 billion would go to support U.S. partners facing aggression from China in the Indo-Pacific. $10 billion more would go toward humanitarian aid, including for residents of Gaza and Ukraine.
ARE THE VOTES THERE?
The bill is the product of months of bipartisan negotiations by a trio of senators - Sinema, Democratic Sen. Chris Murphy of Connecticut, and Sen. James Lankford of Oklahoma, one of the chamber’s most conservative Republicans. Lankford says fellow Republicans have a number of misconceptions about the bill, and he will attempt to win them over.
It takes only 41 senators voting against the bill to sink the deal in an upcoming vote, which could come as soon as tomorrow. There are already 20 senators who have signaled they are opposed to it— 18 Republicans and two Democrats. For the Republicans, it doesn’t go far enough; For the Democrats, it is too harsh towards migrants
The Trump Factor: 31 senators are already backing Trump in 2024, and he’s been pushing hard for them to vote against the border bill so Biden doesn’t get a political win in an election year.
Two major supporters on the right:
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.): He says this is a major win for his party and also is urging his party to continue to support Ukraine.
The Border Patrol union: It endorsed Trump in 2016 and 2020, but disagrees with the former president on this measure. It says this bill would “codify into law authorities that U.S. Border Patrol agents never had in the past.”
OVER TO THE HOUSE
House Speaker Mike Johnson said the bill is DOA if it even reaches his chambers, telling Republicans, "This bill is even worse than we expected, and won’t come close to ending the border catastrophe the president has created.”
🚂 ONE YEAR AFTER EAST PALESTINE CHEMICAL SPILL: WHY NOTHING HAS CHANGED
Portions of a Norfolk Southern freight train burn in East Palestine on 2/4/23. Via: AP.
More questions than answers remain for community members in East Palestine, Ohio, just over a year after a Norfolk Southern freight train derailed and authorities burned cancer-causing chemicals onboard in an attempt to prevent an explosion.
The rail industry promised change, but their lobbyists have reportedly been pushing lawmakers to keep the status quo.
HEALTH IMPACTS
Of the town’s nearly 5,000 residents, some continue to experience “respiratory problems, rashes or headaches,” while others say they feel sick when they return home — several dozen of whom still haven’t returned, concerned about the health impacts.
Vinyl chloride, used to make plastics, was burned to prevent an explosion.
When residents returned home (after being evacuated) many said they still smelled chemicals, though officials told them they weren’t at toxic levels.
The EPA says the air and water are safe, but some scientists question the sensitivity of the tests. Residents report seeing a “chemical sheen atop the creeks.”
NO NEWS IS BAD NEWS
Norfolk Southern pumped more than $800 million into the clean-up effort. They removed 44 million+ gallons of contaminated water & 176,000+ tons of soil. Now they are in the process of putting clean soil back.
The company, along with rail industry powerhouses, promised reform. However, behind closed doors, they’ve moved to stop legislation from passing, according to reporting from The Washington Post.
The bipartisan Railway Safety Act aims to “toughen rail inspections, improve derailment-detection technology, and ensure greater safeguards for hazardous materials.”
But the rail industry has spent more than $17 million over the last year to prevent even the most basic safety measures. The legislation has not been voted on in the House nor Senate.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said, “They will often say the right things, but then, through their actions and especially through their lobbying, move in a different direction.”
BIDEN VISIT
President Biden plans to visit East Palestine this month, following an invitation from the city’s Republican mayor. He has come under criticism for not visiting sooner. The White House continues to defend its response.
👑 KING CHARLES CANCER DIAGNOSIS
King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer, less than 18 months into his reign, and will cancel public events to undergo treatment, Buckingham Palace said yesterday.
World leaders, including President Biden, are offering their well wishes.
THE DIAGNOSIS
The announcement came a week after the 75-year-old monarch underwent a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate. At that time, doctors noted “a separate issue of concern” which tests later identified as cancer.
The Palace did not disclose the type of cancer or what stage it is at.
They made the announcement with “the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”
While public appearances will be canceled, King Charles will continue as head of state and conduct business.
FAMILY COMING TOGETHER
King Charles personally told both of his sons, Princes William and Harry, of the diagnosis. Prince Harry stepped away from royal duties in March 2020, and has since been vocal in criticizing his family and the “firm.” He will reportedly be heading to England from California, where he now lives, within the next few days to see his father in person.
Prince William has been away from public events following his wife, Princess Kate’s, abdominal surgery last month, but is set to return this week.
⏳ SPEED READ
🚨NATION
📌 Biden thanks hospitality workers in Las Vegas ahead of Nevada’s primary today (AP)
📌 3 dead as storm pummels California, causing flooding and dozens of mudslides in L.A. area (NBC NEWS)
📌 Washington carjacking crime spree claims life of former Trump official (USA TODAY)
📌 Nikki Haley asks for Secret Service protection amid threats (BBC)
📌 Boeing finds problems with fuselages on its 737 jets in latest manufacturing issue (NBC NEWS)
📌 Harvard interim president says he is fighting antisemitism on campus (FOX BUSINESS)
🌎 AROUND THE WORLD
📌 Israel making progress in tunnel hunt for Hamas leader Sinwar, Israeli officials say (AXIOS)
📌 Blinken arrives in Saudi Arabia amid a surge in regional violence (REUTERS)
📌 Tucker Carlson in Russia amid speculation he has a Putin interview (CNBC)
📌 What’s killing so many of Sri Lanka’s elephants? (BBC)
📌 China gives suspended death sentence to Chinese Australian democracy blogger Yang Hengjun (AP)
📱BUSINESS, SCIENCE & TECH
📌 Snap to cut 10% or around 500 employees (CNBC)
📌 Parisians vote for rise in parking fees 3X for SUVs (GUARDIAN)
📌 Wegovy supply to increase with Novo Nordisk's new $16.5 billion purchase (REUTERS)
📌 McDonald's sales dented by Israel-Gaza boycotts (BBC)
🎬 SPORTS & ENTERTAINMENT
📌 Grammys Bring in 16.9 Million Viewers in 2024, Up 34% From Last Year (VARIETY)
📌 NBA set to play on an LED glass court for some All-Star weekend events (AP)
📌 Jacob Elordi under investigation for allegedly assaulting radio producer in Australia (NBC NEWS)
📌 Messi a no-show in Hong Kong; outrage ensues after Inter Miami star doesn't play (ABC NEWS)
🗓 ON THIS DAY: FEBRUARY 6
1952: King George VI of Great Britain died, leaving the throne to Princess Elizabeth. At age 25, she was officially crowned Queen Elizabeth II on June 2, 1953.
1988: Michael Jordan won the NBA Slam Dunk Contest against Dominique Wilkins. Jordan made his signature slam dunk from the free throw line, inspiring Air Jordan and the Jumpman logo.
1995: Montell Jordan released his song 'This Is How We Do It'
2020: The first confirmed US COVID death takes place in California. Further research finds that the first deaths took place weeks earlier.