U.S. and world news for Sept. 13

Debate: Donald Trump has formally declined to participate in a second presidential debate with Vice President Kamala Harris. Trump said he made the decision not to face Harris again because he won the first debate that was held this week. However, even commentators on Fox News stated that Trump lost the debate through his displays of anger, reliance on lies instead of facts and truth and inability to articulate plans and policies he’d put into effect if returned to the White House.

Loomer: Far-right Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene has blasted far-right activist Laura Loomer, who has been a confidant and traveling companion of Donald Trump, as not representing the MAGA movement. Greene said that an internet post by Loomer about Vice President Harris is extremely racist and called on Loomer to take it down. Greene also criticized Loomer for attacking fellow Republicans, including Greene.  

Boeing strike: Members of the International Association of Machinists have walked off the job at Boeing today following their rejection of a new contract offer. The union leadership had recommended that the union members vote in favor of the new contract. The new contract included a 25% wage increase over the next four years. About 33,000 of Boeing’s 150,000 employees are members of the Machinists union. Production of Boeing’s 737 airplanes has been shut down as a result of the strike.

Violence: This is the 30th anniversary of the signing into law of the Violence Against Women Act, the first comprehensive federal law to focus on preventing and addressing violence against women. Attorney General Merrick Garland spoke this morning about the importance of the act as a tool for helping women who have endured violence in their lives. Vice President Harris in a statement said that the legislation helped her when she was a prosecutor n California provide justice and support for survivors of violence.

Mortgages: The Wall Street Journal reports that Donald Trump and some of his advisors have been planning to privatize the government’s mortgage organizations Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac if he wins the White House. According to the Journal, Larry Kudlow, the television economic commentator who worked at the Trump White House and John McEntee, who headed the White House personnel office, are among those working with Trump on the plan. Congress created Fannie Mac and Freddie Mac to expand the availability of home mortgages.  

McQueen: Chad McQueen, the son of the late actor Steve McQueen, has died at age 63. Chad McQueen burst onto the screen with his appearance in the hit movie “The Karate Kid” in 1984. Like his father, McQueen enjoyed automobile racing. Steve McQueen had died in 1980.