Hur report: A report by Special Counsel Robert Hur, a Republican who was appointed by Attorney General Merrick Garland to investigate President Biden’s handling of classified documents during and after his service as vice president, concludes that Biden did nothing wrong. Hur’s report is being widely criticized for inappropriately painting Biden as an elderly man who is feeble and has lost his memory. Biden held a televised news conference last night and blasted the report. Hur’s report says Biden testified he could not remember when answering some questions posed during an interview, but the report does not mention that other individuals interviewed by Hur’s investigators also swore under oath that they could not remember specific events.
Another $5B for technology: The White House today announced more than $5 billion will be invested in semiconductor-related research, development, and workforce needs, including in the National Semiconductor Technology Center. The announcement came as the White House was today holding workshops and development meetings with senior Administration leadership and representatives from industry, academia, think tanks, state and local government, and labor. A major goal is to lay the groundwork for developing the next generation of semiconductor technology and stepping up production of semiconductors in the U.S.
Judgment against Trump: Federal Judge Lewis Kaplan who presided in the trials of Donald Trump for defaming journalist E. Jean Carroll, has issued a formal judgment ordering Donald Trump to pay Carroll the $83.3 million awarded by a federal jury. The one-page document names Donald J. Trump in his personal capacity and does not involve any of Trump’s companies. Trump is expected to post a bond to guarantee payment to Carroll should he lose his appeals of the verdict. Trump already has put into an escrow account controlled by the court $5 million that was awarded to Carroll in the first defamation trial.
Super Bowl: An estimated 500,000 visitors are expected in Las Vegas this weekend for the Super Bowl LVIII with some hotel rooms going for $10,000 or more. CBS, which is televising the game Sunday, is expected to have an audience of more than 110 million. It’s reported that 30-second commercials have been selling for just under $6.5 million, up about 11% from the rates charged for last year’s Super Bowl. The San Francisco 49ers face the Kansas City Chiefs.
Israel’s plan: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said this morning he has ordered Israel’s military to prepare a plan to evacuate the 1.5 million people in the town of Rafah in Gaza. The Israeli military is planning a massive invasion of the town. Israel claims that Rafah is a stronghold for Hamas terrorists. Israel staged new airstrikes on Rafah overnight.
Putin interview: Russian President Vladimir Putin says that the war in Ukraine will be over in a few weeks if the U.S. stops supplying weapons and other aid to Ukraine. Putin made the claim during a two-hour interview in Moscow with Tucker Carlson, the former Fox new host who was fired after Fox settled the Dominion Voting Systems defamation lawsuit and agreed to pay a $787 million settlement. Putin urged Carlson to encourage Republicans to block further aid to Ukraine. He also praised Donald Trump and said that American democracy is an illusion.
Cover photo by Gage Skidmore / Flickr Creative Commons
