Biden’s sinking poll numbers: President Biden’s job approval rating crashed to a new low, according to an ABC News/Ipsos poll that found only 33% of surveyed respondents approved of his performance in office. This breaks a record low level from September, when 37% gave him their praise. Biden’s disapproval rating was 58%, up from 56% in September. Biden’s polling numbers are worse than former President Donald Trump’s, who scored a 41% approval score and a 53% disapproval response.
Iowa caucus begins: The 2024 race for the White House officially begins today with the Iowa caucus among Republican voters. The state is facing historically low temperatures and it is uncertain what impact the extra frigid weather will have on turnout. Former President Donald Trump holds a commanding lead in the polling ahead of the vote and picked up the endorsement of North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum, who was among the candidates in pursuit of the GOP nomination before dropping out of the race last month.
Kerry to leave as Biden’s climate envoy: John Kerry will be exiting from his position as the Biden administration’s special envoy for climate this spring, according to a Wall Street Journal report sourced from “two people familiar with the decision.” Kerry is expected to become involved in the Biden re-election campaign. The 80-year-old Kerry was a former Massachusetts senator, the 2004 Democratic Party candidate for president and Secretary of State during the Obama administration.
New president for Taiwan: Taiwan voters elected Vice President Lai Ching-te as their next president on Saturday, winning 40% of the vote. Lai’s victory extends the rule of the Democratic Progressive Party, which has been in power for eight years. The Chinese government, which has made multiple demands for the reunification of Taiwan with the mainland, urged Taiwan voters not to support Lai, calling him a “troublemaker” and a “stubborn Taiwan independence advocate.”
Denmark’s new monarch: Frederik X was proclaimed King of Denmark after his 83-year-old mother Queen Margrethe II formally signed the papers for her abdication. Margrethe, who will retain her royal title, reigned for 52 years and was the first Danish monarch in nearly 900 years to abdicate voluntarily. Frederik pledged to serve as “a unifying king of tomorrow.”
“Honeymooners” star Joyce Randolph passed away: Actress Joyce Randolph, who was best known for playing Trixie Norton in “The Honeymooners,” died at the age of 99. Randolph’s character was the good natured and patient spouse of the rambunctious sewer worker Ed Norton (played by Art Carney) in a comedy franchise that began in a series of sketches on “Cavalcade of Stars” and “The Jackie Gleason Show” before transitioning into a standalone sitcom that many consider to be among the funniest television shows of all time.
Writer Tom Shales passed away: Tom Shales, one of the prominent writers focused on the television culture, died at the age of 79. Shales was The Washington Post’s television critic for more than 30 years and won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism. He also authored the acclaimed books “Those Guys Have All The Fun” about the history of ESPN and “Live From New York,” an 800-page oral history of “Saturday Night Live.”
“Mean Girls” rule box office: The musical remake of “Mean Girls” commanded the North American box office during its opening engagement, generating a projected $32 million in ticket sales from Friday through Monday. Another new film, the Jason Statham action thriller “The Beekeeper,” placed second at the box office with a projected $19.2 million. “Wonka,” which is now in its fifth week of release, placed third with a projected $10.8 million.
Cover photo of Joyce Randolph courtesy of Wikimedia Commons
