President Biden will land in Hawaii this afternoon to survey the response to the devastating wildfires that destroyed much of West Maui and meet with people on the forefront of ongoing rescue and recovery efforts.
At least 114 people were killed in the fires as they swept the island, and more than 850 remain unaccounted for as of Monday.
Biden’s trip comes as a break in his previously scheduled vacation in Lake Tahoe, Nev. He and the first lady will head back to Nevada tonight.
The president received a Hawaii briefing Sunday from Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Administrator Deanne Criswell, who is joining him in Maui. Biden also has been in touch with Hawaii Gov. Josh Green and Maui Mayor Richard Bissen.
“Jill and I are eager to meet with the brave first responders in Lahaina tomorrow, to spend time with families and community members, and witness firsthand what will be required for the community to recover. We will be here as long as it takes for Maui,” Biden said in a Sunday statement.
More from The Hill here. |
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Welcome to Evening Report! I’m Elizabeth Crisp, catching you up from the afternoon and what’s coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here. |
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U.S. citizens are being urged to leave Belarus immediately because of concerns about Russian Wagner mercenary forces exiled in the country. The Hill’s Laura Kelly reports on the situation from Vilnius, Lithuania.
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Two U.S. service members are in police custody in Germany in connection with the stabbing death of a 28-year-old man at a street fair over the weekend, authorities say.
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Art generated by artificial intelligence tools can’t be copyrighted under current law, a U.S. district court judge has ruled.
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He’s not here… Don’t plan on Trump showing up to debate
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Republican candidates attending the first GOP presidential debate this week have to decide: Attack the former president (who faces multiple criminal charges), defend him or ignore him.
Former President Trump says he won’t be there when the slate of candidates face off on Fox News on Wednesday.
His absence — he’s by far the frontrunner in the race, leading everyone else by double digits in recent polls — will give his rivals a chance to try to make some headlines of their own without Trump in the way, even though he is plotting a way to steal the spotlight off the stage. (The Hill) Get used to it!: A senior adviser to Trump says he probably won’t go to other debates either. (The Hill)
Meanwhile in Georgia… The barricades outside the Fulton County Courthouse will stick around for the time being until Trump and others indicted last week turn themselves in there. (The Hill)
Just in: A judge has set former President Trump’s bond at $200,000 in the Georgia election case, according to new court documents. The order forbids Trump from intimidating co-defendants or witnesses in the case as he awaits trial. (The Hill)
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Budget battle brews ahead of September deadline
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The fight over government funding will be top priority for lawmakers when they finally make it back to Washington in a couple of weeks after the August break, as a Sept. 30 shutdown deadline looms.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) has signaled he plans to pass a continuing resolution to keep the government afloat, but some far-right House members say they aren’t on board for the easy out. (The Hill)
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Hurricane Hilary is weakened but not gone, still beating up West Coast
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The remnants of Hurricane Hilary continue to pummel California and the rest of the West Coast with massive rains and flooding.
Flood watches have been in effect across the western coastal states after the storm made landfall, but they also stretch inland to parts of Arizona, Nevada, Utah and Idaho, according to the National Weather Service. Hilary, which hit Category 4 status as it churned in the Pacific, ultimately dropped to tropical storm status before it made landfall over the weekend.
The National Hurricane Center has warned southern California residents that some flooding could be “life-threatening and locally catastrophic.” (The Hill live updates)
More photos of just how bad it is here.
Also: Biden is expected to appoint a federal coordinator to oversee long-term recovery efforts on the island. |
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Looking for control, Senate Republicans find it’s not so easy
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The big recruiting wins that Senate Republicans have notched in the past few years could be coming to an end. The party’s bracing for some — let’s say “less-than-welcome entries” — to the roster. And it could have a major impact on the Senate majority next year. (The Hill) |
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“School choice — whether through vouchers, educational savings or tax-credit scholarships — elevates parents to their rightful role as decision-makers in their children’s formation,” Faith & Freedom Coalition leader Timothy Head writes. (Read here)
“Why is the Supreme Court so hated today? The answer might surprise you,” — writes Aaron Tang, UC-Davis law professor and former law clerk to Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. (Read here) |
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2 days until the first GOP presidential debate.
147 days until the Iowa caucuses. 329 days until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, Wis.
364 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago. 441 days until Election Day. |
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After his trip to Hawaii, President Biden is heading back to his vacation on Lake Tahoe in Nevada. The House and Senate are still on their August recesses. |
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