Why Ron DeSantis Is Limping to the Starting Line
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ decision not to begin a formal presidential campaign until after the Florida legislative session — allowing him to cast himself as a conservative fighter who not only won but actually delivered results — instead opened a window of opportunity for former President Donald Trump, who filled the void with personal attacks and negative advertising, causing DeSantis to lose control of his own narrative. Now, as DeSantis’ operation pivots to formally entering the race in the coming weeks, the governor and his allies are retooling for a more aggressive new phase, but his supporters privately acknowledge DeSantis needs to recalibrate a strategy that’s allowed Trump to define the race.
Democrats Spar Over the Subject of Immigration
The lifting of a pandemic-era restriction that turned away many migrants at the U.S. border has ignited fierce debates within the Democratic Party over immigration and border security, exposing raw intraparty divisions over an issue Democrats often find difficult to navigate. As U.S. officials brace for a rise in illegal crossings at the southern border, Democrats are grappling with competing political demands, seeking to address the intensification of a long-running humanitarian crisis and in some cases flexing their border security bona fides. The moment underscores the crosscurrents President Joe Biden faces within his party as he begins his reelection campaign and the challenges awaiting Democrats in competitive races next year.
North Carolina Governor Vetoes Abortion Ban but Faces Override
North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper, a Democrat, vetoed a ban on abortion passed by the state’s Republican-led Legislature. The bill prohibited abortion past 12 weeks, with some exceptions for rape, incest or to preserve the life and health of the mother. Cooper’s veto sets him up for a showdown with the Legislature, which now has a slim Republican supermajority — and therefore the power to override his veto and enact the ban. The ban would have an impact well outside of the state, as North Carolina has become a haven for women across the South seeking abortions whose home states have banned the procedure.
12 Million People Are Under a Heat Advisory in the Pacific Northwest
More than 12 million people are under a heat advisory in the Pacific Northwest, as temperatures through the weekend are expected to climb nearly 20 degrees higher than normal, with the extreme weather extending into Canada as the country contends with dozens of wildfires. National Weather Service forecasters said an abnormal area of high pressure will build a “heat dome” over the western United States and Canada, acting like a lid over the atmosphere, bringing clear skies and allowing temperatures to rise.
Native American Chief Standing Bear Is Honored on Postal Stamp
Chief Standing Bear, whose 1879 lawsuit and celebrated “I Am a Man” courtroom speech led to the recognition of Native American legal rights, was honored Friday with a Forever stamp featuring his portrait. A leader of the Ponca tribe in Nebraska, Chief Standing Bear successfully fought in court for Native Americans to be considered persons in the U.S. with the same rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as other Americans — not as wards of the government. Candace Schmidt, the chair of the Ponca Tribe of Nebraska, said the stamp served as a “symbol of the pride and perseverance for all of our members past, present and future.”
Zelenskyy Meets Pope and Meloni in Italy to Bolster Ukraine’s Support
Weeks after Pope Francis bewildered the Ukrainian government with talk of a secret peace mission, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Francis in the Vatican on Saturday, part of a visit to Rome that included talks with Italian President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, both of whom offered their full support. Zelenskyy’s discussions in Rome of war and peace come at a potentially pivotal moment in the fight against Russia as Ukrainian forces make advances near the key eastern city of Bakhmut before a widely anticipated Ukrainian counteroffensive.During the visit, Zelenskyy shook Francis’ hand before sitting across a desk for a 40-minute meeting.
A Defeat for Modi’s Party in South India Heartens His Rivals
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ruling party Saturday lost its only state government in India’s relatively prosperous south, results from elections in Karnataka showed, in a boost to the otherwise struggling opposition before general elections next year. The Indian National Congress, which governed India for much of its time since independence before being sidelined by the rise of Modi and his Bharatiya Janata Party, was winning a majority of the seats in local assembly elections in Karnataka. Home to more than 65 million people and India’s cash-rich tech hub, Karnataka is the only southern state where Modi’s Hindu nationalist party has managed to lead a government.
Germany Announces Its Biggest Military Aid Package Yet for Ukraine
Germany on Saturday sent the strongest signal yet of its commitment to backing Ukraine in its battle against Russia, promising more tanks, armored vehicles and substantial air defense systems in its largest weapons package for Ukraine. The move was part of a budding effort by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to solidify a partnership that may prove increasingly critical to maintaining European unity in backing the war. Concern is growing in European capitals that U.S. President Joe Biden will become less willing to showcase support for Ukraine, given the potential for Republicans to use the issue against him during the 2024 presidential campaign.
Israel and Islamic Jihad Agree to Cease-Fire After 5 Days of Violence
Israel and militant group Palestinian Islamic Jihad agreed to a cease-fire Saturday, according to Egyptian negotiators, ending five days of violence in which 35 people were killed. Egyptian officials said representatives from Israel and Islamic Jihad, an Islamist group based in Gaza, had agreed to suspend fighting. The sides confirmed that a cease-fire had been reached, but exchanges of fire continued for at least 30 minutes after the deal was to go into effect at 10 p.m. According to local Arabic news outlets, the sides mutually agreed to stop firing on civilians and destroying homes. But a Western diplomat, with knowledge of the talks, said the cease-fire came without conditions.
Canada’s ‘Most Photographed House’ May Meet the Wrecking Ball
Perched by a country road in southeastern Ontario, an uninhabited, partially collapsed 19th century farmhouse cuts an eerily elegant figure against the wide-open sky and the fields that surround it. Over the years, the house, near Palmyra, has become a destination so beloved by photographers that the Canadian news media has called it the country’s “most photographed house.” But in a decision issued last month, a property standards committee in the local municipality of Chatham-Kent gave the owner of the house, Peter Anderson, until Oct. 20 to tear it down unless he takes steps to preserve or protect it or brings it into compliance with local property laws.
By wire sources
