Morning Headlines - Thursday, Jul. 28, 2022 | Recent News

U.S. and World Headlines

Joe Biden Met With At Least 14 Of Hunter’s Business Associates While Vice President

President Biden met with at least 14 of Hunter Biden’s business associates while he was vice president in the Obama White House, casting further doubt on the president’s repeated claims that he had no knowledge of his son’s foreign business dealings.

"I have never spoken to my son about his overseas business dealings," Biden said in 2019.

But the president met with at least 14 of Hunter’s business associates from the U.S., Mexico, Ukraine, China and Kazakhstan over the course of his vice presidency, a Fox News Digital review found.

Kim Threatens To Use Nukes Amid Tensions With US, S. Korea

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un warned he’s ready to use his nuclear weapons in potential military conflicts with the United States and South Korea, state media said Thursday, as he unleashed fiery rhetoric against rivals he says are pushing the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war.

Kim’s speech to war veterans on the 69th anniversary of the end of the 1950-53 Korean War was apparently meant to boost internal unity in the impoverished country amid pandemic-related economic difficulties. While Kim has increasingly threatened his rivals with nuclear weapons, it’s unlikely that he would use them first against the superior militaries of the U.S. and its allies, observers say.

GOP Lawmakers Are Cheering On Pelosi When It Comes To Taiwan

Lawmakers in both parties are cheering on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) as she plows ahead with a planned visit to Taiwan in the face of opposition not only from Beijing, but also from her allies in the Biden administration.

Pelosi is typically a toxic figure in Republican circles, where her unapologetic brand of liberal politics has stirred resentment throughout the two decades that she’s led House Democrats.

But her fierce and enduring opposition to China’s history of human rights abuses has led even some of her toughest GOP critics to rally behind her as she confronts Beijing — and the White House — over her proposed visit to Taiwan during the summer recess.

What The Fed's Latest Interest-Rate Hike Means For Your Money

The Federal Reserve is again using its most potent weapon in trying to douse the hottest inflation in 40 years: interest rate hikes. But the central bank's move Wednesday to further raise borrowing costs means consumers and businesses are grappling with back-to-back increases of three-quarters of percentage point — a double-barrel monetary blast that could make a big impact on your finances.

To be sure, the Fed has raised rates in consecutive months before, but two 0.75 percentage-point hikes in a row "is pretty extraordinary," noted Matt Schulz, chief credit analyst at Lending Tree. The Fed hasn't hiked rates by a combined 1.5% percentage points in consecutive meetings since as far back as the 1980s.

Millions Still Without Sense Of Smell Or Taste After Covid-19

Still struggling with your sense of smell after a bout with Covid-19? You’re far from alone.

About 5% of patients with confirmed cases of Covid-19 — some 27 million people worldwide — are estimated to have suffered a long-lasting loss of smell or taste, a new analysis suggests.

Lasry Drops U.S. Senate Bid, Endorses Barnes

Alex Lasry said today after dropping out of the U.S. Senate race that it was clear he had no path to winning the primary and that Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes was going to be the Democratic Party’s nominee to challenge incumbent Republican Ron Johnson.

Lasry is the second Dem this week to drop out of the Dem race and endorse Barnes. Outagamie County Exec Tom Nelson on Monday announced his departure and endorsed Barnes. That leaves State Treasurer Sarah Godlewski as the only high-profile candidate left in the primary race besides Barnes. She says she will stay in the race through the Aug. 9 primary.

Tim Michels Ran As A Political Outsider. To Many, What He Would Do As Governor Is A Mystery

Tim Michels was not a candidate for office until about three months ago. Today, he can make a plausible case that by next year, he could be governor.

It’s hardly a given, of course, but the millionaire construction executive's rapid ascent in the polls has reshaped the race. He’s done it with a well-worn "political outsider" sales pitch, a coveted endorsement from former President Donald Trump and a whole lot of his own money.

Michels does not earn his living in politics, but he’s no political newcomer. He first ran for office in 1998, losing a Republican primary for state Senate to now-U.S. Rep. Scott Fitzgerald. In 2004, Michels ran for U.S. Senate, winning a GOP primary but losing the general election to former Democratic U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold.

And while Michels has laid out some of what he’d prioritize if elected, big questions remain about how he would govern. In some cases, that can allow his supporters to see in him whatever they prefer: a Trump-supporting conservative, a pragmatic businessman, or something else entirely.

140,000 Wisconsin Voters Have Already Returned Their Absentee Ballots. Here's How They Can Change Their Votes

The high-profile Democratic primary race for U.S. Senate has completely changed this week. Two of the top four candidates have dropped out and endorsed Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes, making him the faraway frontrunner to challenge Republican Sen. Ron Johnson in November.

The field has completely transformed, with absentee ballots having been sent out for weeks and with in-person absentee voting starting Tuesday.

According to the Wisconsin Elections Commission, nearly 315,000 absentee ballots have already been sent out. Almost 140,000 voters have already returned their ballots and more than 5,000 voters have cast their ballots in-person.

So, what if those voters want to change their ballots now that Nelson and Lasry are out of the race?

Fast Facts: Wisconsin Employers Want More Workers

Employers are having a hard time finding qualified applicants for available jobs, so many are boosting pay and offering things like remote schedules.

Still, Wisconsin now faces a shortage of about 140,000 workers, because there simply are not enough people who are not already working to fill these jobs.

Wisconsin’s Fall Primary Election Is Ahead, Ensure You Have An ID To Vote

Wisconsin Department of Transportation Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) reminds voters to check and be sure that they have the proper identification needed to vote in next month's state primary election (August 9).

Wisconsin driver licenses or IDs are the most common form of identification used for voting purposes. A federally compliant REAL ID card is not required to show at the polls. The Wisconsin Elections Commission notes other forms of identification are valid for voting, such as military or student ID cards. To see if a card meets the requirements, visit the Wisconsin Elections Commission website.