#46 President Joe Biden

josevolution

He’s stoned on something I doubt it’s weed but def on something 

tempo_n_groove

Bentleyspop said:

Go Beavers said:

mace1229 said:

So after Biden, did everyone just decide to go through their old desks and see what they find?

The crazy thing to me is that I’ve worked jobs, like probably several in here, where you had to follow federal rules around protecting information and maintaining confidentiality. Just the thought of walking out the door with a bunch of files, nothing near classified info, and then just leaving them at home would be terrifying. 

Back when I worked my "adult job" I had a TS Clearance and I never once thought of bringing any work home with me. At least not anything that would get me in any trouble.

I once had a "skeleton key" that opened every door to a soon to be open penitentiary.  It was loaned to me for the day but wasn't able to return it because the person whom gave it to me left early that day so it accompanied me the whole weekend.  I actually made sure that it was on me the whole time so it wouldn't get misplaced.

Came back Monday and the person whom gave it to me was very worried if I still had it or not, lol.

23scidoo

Αre you listening Mr. President??

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/biden-must-protect-enes-kanter-freedom-from-erdogans-evil

mrussel1

23scidoo said:

Αre you listening Mr. President??

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/biden-must-protect-enes-kanter-freedom-from-erdogans-evil

What sanctions do you think the US should levy on Turkey because of this issue?

23scidoo

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

Αre you listening Mr. President??

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/biden-must-protect-enes-kanter-freedom-from-erdogans-evil

What sanctions do you think the US should levy on Turkey because of this issue?

I'm not a politician, I don't know..but an American citizen is in danger, shouldn't he do something??
what you think??

mrussel1

23scidoo said:

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

Αre you listening Mr. President??

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/biden-must-protect-enes-kanter-freedom-from-erdogans-evil

What sanctions do you think the US should levy on Turkey because of this issue?

I'm not a politician, I don't know..but an American citizen is in danger, shouldn't he do something??
what you think??

The DOJ does do stuff to protect Americans.  For example, 48 hours ago it arrested three Iranian agents plotting to kill an Iranian-American journalist.  See here:  https://thehill.com/policy/international/3833232-fbi-arrests-three-men-in-iranian-murder-for-hire-plot-of-u-s-journalist-activist/

Just because the State dept doesn't levy sanctions on Turkey doesn't mean it's doing nothing to protect Kanter as it appears you and the Washington Examiner seem to believe. 

23scidoo

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

Αre you listening Mr. President??

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/biden-must-protect-enes-kanter-freedom-from-erdogans-evil

What sanctions do you think the US should levy on Turkey because of this issue?

I'm not a politician, I don't know..but an American citizen is in danger, shouldn't he do something??
what you think??

The DOJ does do stuff to protect Americans.  For example, 48 hours ago it arrested three Iranian agents plotting to kill an Iranian-American journalist.  See here:  https://thehill.com/policy/international/3833232-fbi-arrests-three-men-in-iranian-murder-for-hire-plot-of-u-s-journalist-activist/

Just because the State dept doesn't levy sanctions on Turkey doesn't mean it's doing nothing to protect Kanter as it appears you and the Washington Examiner seem to believe. 

I hope you're right.. but because I've been watching the story for a long time, there's nothing like that in my opinion..

but i understand, not all dictators are the same, right??..

mrussel1

23scidoo said:

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

Αre you listening Mr. President??

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/biden-must-protect-enes-kanter-freedom-from-erdogans-evil

What sanctions do you think the US should levy on Turkey because of this issue?

I'm not a politician, I don't know..but an American citizen is in danger, shouldn't he do something??
what you think??

The DOJ does do stuff to protect Americans.  For example, 48 hours ago it arrested three Iranian agents plotting to kill an Iranian-American journalist.  See here:  https://thehill.com/policy/international/3833232-fbi-arrests-three-men-in-iranian-murder-for-hire-plot-of-u-s-journalist-activist/

Just because the State dept doesn't levy sanctions on Turkey doesn't mean it's doing nothing to protect Kanter as it appears you and the Washington Examiner seem to believe. 

I hope you're right.. but because I've been watching the story for a long time, there's nothing like that in my opinion..

but i understand, not all dictators are the same, right??..

Well that’s one way to think of it, although I wasn’t doubting Erdogen’s sincerity.  But Tehran is already heavily sanctioned and they continue to attempt assassinations.  I’m more in the camp that a sanction for Kanter alone isn’t going to to stop Turkish forces if they really want to attempt something.  But considering we also foiled the kidnapping plot of the Turkish cleric Gulen tells me that the FBI is watching this stuff.  And Gulen wasn’t even an American citizen, just a dissident.  

Bottom line is that the security apparatus of the US govt watches high risk targets as evidenced by the number of arrests and foiled plots.  Just because something isn’t public doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.  And we do not know the message sent through our diplomats either.  I’m 100% sure Kanter has been a topic.  

23scidoo

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

Αre you listening Mr. President??

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/biden-must-protect-enes-kanter-freedom-from-erdogans-evil

What sanctions do you think the US should levy on Turkey because of this issue?

I'm not a politician, I don't know..but an American citizen is in danger, shouldn't he do something??
what you think??

The DOJ does do stuff to protect Americans.  For example, 48 hours ago it arrested three Iranian agents plotting to kill an Iranian-American journalist.  See here:  https://thehill.com/policy/international/3833232-fbi-arrests-three-men-in-iranian-murder-for-hire-plot-of-u-s-journalist-activist/

Just because the State dept doesn't levy sanctions on Turkey doesn't mean it's doing nothing to protect Kanter as it appears you and the Washington Examiner seem to believe. 

I hope you're right.. but because I've been watching the story for a long time, there's nothing like that in my opinion..

but i understand, not all dictators are the same, right??..

Well that’s one way to think of it, although I wasn’t doubting Erdogen’s sincerity.  But Tehran is already heavily sanctioned and they continue to attempt assassinations.  I’m more in the camp that a sanction for Kanter alone isn’t going to to stop Turkish forces if they really want to attempt something.  But considering we also foiled the kidnapping plot of the Turkish cleric Gulen tells me that the FBI is watching this stuff.  And Gulen wasn’t even an American citizen, just a dissident.  

Bottom line is that the security apparatus of the US govt watches high risk targets as evidenced by the number of arrests and foiled plots.  Just because something isn’t public doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.  And we do not know the message sent through our diplomats either.  I’m 100% sure Kanter has been a topic.  

Hope you are right..but a stement would be nice i think..

mrussel1

23scidoo said:

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

Αre you listening Mr. President??

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/biden-must-protect-enes-kanter-freedom-from-erdogans-evil

What sanctions do you think the US should levy on Turkey because of this issue?

I'm not a politician, I don't know..but an American citizen is in danger, shouldn't he do something??
what you think??

The DOJ does do stuff to protect Americans.  For example, 48 hours ago it arrested three Iranian agents plotting to kill an Iranian-American journalist.  See here:  https://thehill.com/policy/international/3833232-fbi-arrests-three-men-in-iranian-murder-for-hire-plot-of-u-s-journalist-activist/

Just because the State dept doesn't levy sanctions on Turkey doesn't mean it's doing nothing to protect Kanter as it appears you and the Washington Examiner seem to believe. 

I hope you're right.. but because I've been watching the story for a long time, there's nothing like that in my opinion..

but i understand, not all dictators are the same, right??..

Well that’s one way to think of it, although I wasn’t doubting Erdogen’s sincerity.  But Tehran is already heavily sanctioned and they continue to attempt assassinations.  I’m more in the camp that a sanction for Kanter alone isn’t going to to stop Turkish forces if they really want to attempt something.  But considering we also foiled the kidnapping plot of the Turkish cleric Gulen tells me that the FBI is watching this stuff.  And Gulen wasn’t even an American citizen, just a dissident.  

Bottom line is that the security apparatus of the US govt watches high risk targets as evidenced by the number of arrests and foiled plots.  Just because something isn’t public doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.  And we do not know the message sent through our diplomats either.  I’m 100% sure Kanter has been a topic.  

Hope you are right..but a stement would be nice i think..

But that's the point.. public statements are not effective in diplomacy.  The statement is likely coming from the State Dept between the ambassadors.  That's where the real work is done. 

mickeyrat

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

mrussel1 said:

23scidoo said:

Αre you listening Mr. President??

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/biden-must-protect-enes-kanter-freedom-from-erdogans-evil

What sanctions do you think the US should levy on Turkey because of this issue?

I'm not a politician, I don't know..but an American citizen is in danger, shouldn't he do something??
what you think??

The DOJ does do stuff to protect Americans.  For example, 48 hours ago it arrested three Iranian agents plotting to kill an Iranian-American journalist.  See here:  https://thehill.com/policy/international/3833232-fbi-arrests-three-men-in-iranian-murder-for-hire-plot-of-u-s-journalist-activist/

Just because the State dept doesn't levy sanctions on Turkey doesn't mean it's doing nothing to protect Kanter as it appears you and the Washington Examiner seem to believe. 

I hope you're right.. but because I've been watching the story for a long time, there's nothing like that in my opinion..

but i understand, not all dictators are the same, right??..

Well that’s one way to think of it, although I wasn’t doubting Erdogen’s sincerity.  But Tehran is already heavily sanctioned and they continue to attempt assassinations.  I’m more in the camp that a sanction for Kanter alone isn’t going to to stop Turkish forces if they really want to attempt something.  But considering we also foiled the kidnapping plot of the Turkish cleric Gulen tells me that the FBI is watching this stuff.  And Gulen wasn’t even an American citizen, just a dissident.  

Bottom line is that the security apparatus of the US govt watches high risk targets as evidenced by the number of arrests and foiled plots.  Just because something isn’t public doesn’t mean it isn’t happening.  And we do not know the message sent through our diplomats either.  I’m 100% sure Kanter has been a topic.  

Hope you are right..but a stement would be nice i think..

But that's the point.. public statements are not effective in diplomacy.  The statement is likely coming from the State Dept between the ambassadors.  That's where the real work is done. 

public posturing can have a negative effect on a favorable outcome in general.

this case though, doubt Turkey moves off its broader point about this guy.

mickeyrat

https://apnews.com/article/health-business-fraud-medicare-c17b938660ff8b211871b455b49cf8c9

Fraud Medicare

Feds expect to collect $4.7B in insurance fraud penalties

By AMANDA SEITZ

Yesterday

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration estimated Monday that it could collect as much as $4.7 billion from insurance companies with newer and tougher penalties for submitting improper charges on the taxpayers' tab for Medicare Advantage care.

Federal watchdogs have been sounding the alarm for years about questionable charges on the government's private version of the Medicare program, with investigators raising the possibility that insurance companies may be bilking taxpayers of billions of dollars every year by claiming members are sicker than they really are to receive inflated payments.

The Department of Health and Human Services said it will begin collecting payments from insurers when an audit turns up that they charged for diagnoses that are not reflected in the patient's medical records. The government has not sought refunds for those payments in over a decade, the agency said.

“Today, we are taking some long overdue steps to move us in the direction of accountability,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said Monday during a phone call with reporters.

The penalties are expected to return $4.7 billion over the next decade, the agency estimated.

The questionable payments are submitted through Medicare Advantage, a booming program that nearly half of the 60 million people enrolled in Medicare sign up for. Medicare Advantage is different from traditional Medicare, with private companies offering plans that are reimbursed by the government for care. The government spent $900 billion last year overall on Medicare.

---

BUSINESS

Child welfare algorithm faces Justice Department scrutiny

US wage growth slowed in the final quarter of 2022

Boeing bids farewell to an icon, delivers last 747 jumbo jet

IMF upgrades outlook for the global economy in 2023

With the rise in popularity has come growing concern that insurers are ripping off taxpayers by overstating how sick a patient is to unlock higher reimbursements from the government. The HHS Office of the Inspector General raised red flags about $6.7 billion worth of payments for patients whose diagnoses were not supported by medical records in 2017, for example.

Insurers have been gearing up for a fight against the long-awaited final rule, with company leaders raising concerns about the accuracy of the audits. The move will raise insurance rates, warned Matt Eyles, the president of America's Health Insurance Plans, the lobbying arm for health insurance companies.

“Our view remains unchanged: This rule is unlawful and fatally flawed, and it should have been withdrawn instead of finalized," Eyles said.

 

Out of My Mind and Time

Gern Blansten

mickeyrat said:

https://apnews.com/article/health-business-fraud-medicare-c17b938660ff8b211871b455b49cf8c9

Fraud Medicare

Feds expect to collect $4.7B in insurance fraud penalties

By AMANDA SEITZ

Yesterday

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Biden administration estimated Monday that it could collect as much as $4.7 billion from insurance companies with newer and tougher penalties for submitting improper charges on the taxpayers' tab for Medicare Advantage care.

Federal watchdogs have been sounding the alarm for years about questionable charges on the government's private version of the Medicare program, with investigators raising the possibility that insurance companies may be bilking taxpayers of billions of dollars every year by claiming members are sicker than they really are to receive inflated payments.

The Department of Health and Human Services said it will begin collecting payments from insurers when an audit turns up that they charged for diagnoses that are not reflected in the patient's medical records. The government has not sought refunds for those payments in over a decade, the agency said.

“Today, we are taking some long overdue steps to move us in the direction of accountability,” HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said Monday during a phone call with reporters.

The penalties are expected to return $4.7 billion over the next decade, the agency estimated.

The questionable payments are submitted through Medicare Advantage, a booming program that nearly half of the 60 million people enrolled in Medicare sign up for. Medicare Advantage is different from traditional Medicare, with private companies offering plans that are reimbursed by the government for care. The government spent $900 billion last year overall on Medicare.

---

BUSINESS

Child welfare algorithm faces Justice Department scrutiny

US wage growth slowed in the final quarter of 2022

Boeing bids farewell to an icon, delivers last 747 jumbo jet

IMF upgrades outlook for the global economy in 2023

With the rise in popularity has come growing concern that insurers are ripping off taxpayers by overstating how sick a patient is to unlock higher reimbursements from the government. The HHS Office of the Inspector General raised red flags about $6.7 billion worth of payments for patients whose diagnoses were not supported by medical records in 2017, for example.

Insurers have been gearing up for a fight against the long-awaited final rule, with company leaders raising concerns about the accuracy of the audits. The move will raise insurance rates, warned Matt Eyles, the president of America's Health Insurance Plans, the lobbying arm for health insurance companies.

“Our view remains unchanged: This rule is unlawful and fatally flawed, and it should have been withdrawn instead of finalized," Eyles said.

 

good...it's time to tighten the screws on those fuckers. Their margins must be tightening because I keep seeing people in my FB feed complaining about getting denials for treatments.

The Juggler

Out of My Mind and Time said:

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/03/jobs-report-january-2023-.html

Payrolls increased by 517,000 in January, crushing estimates, as unemployment rate hit 53-year low

PUBLISHED FRI, FEB 3 20238:31 AM ESTUPDATED 2 MIN AGO

Jeff Cox@JEFF.COX.7528@JEFFCOXCNBCCOM

SHAREShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email

WATCH NOW

VIDEO03:33

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 517,000 in January; strongest gain since July 2022

The employment picture started off 2023 on a stunningly strong note, with nonfarm payrolls posting their strongest gain since July 2022.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 517,000 for January, above the Dow Jones estimate of 187,000 and December’s gain of 260,000.

The unemployment rate fell to 3.4% vs. the estimate for 3.6%. That is the lowest jobless level since May 1969. The labor force participation rate edged higher to 62.4%. A broader measure of unemployment that includes discouraged workers and those holding part-time jobs for economic reasons also edged higher to 6.6%.

Markets slumped following the report, with futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average down about 200 points.

Growth across a multitude of sectors helped propel the massive beat against the estimate.

Leisure and hospitality added 128,000 jobs to lead all sectors. Other significant gainers were professional and business services (82,000), government (74,000) and health care (58,000). Retail was up 30,000 and construction added 25,000.

Wages also posted solid gains for the month. Average hourly earnings increased 0.3%, in line with the estimate, and 4.4% from a year ago, 0.1 percentage point higher than expectations.

The surge in job creation comes despite the Federal Reserve’s effort to slow the economy and bring down inflation from its highest level since the early 1980s. The Fed has raised its benchmark interest rate eight times since March 2022.

In its latest assessment of the jobs picture, the Fed on Wednesday dropped previous language saying gains have been “robust” and noted only that the “unemployment rate has remained low.”

However, Chairman Jerome Powell, in his post-meeting news conference, noted the labor market “remains extremely tight” and is still “out of balance.” As of December, there were about 11 million job openings, or just shy of two for every available worker.

“Today’s report is an echo of 2022′s surprisingly resilient job market, beating back recession fears,” said Daniel Zhao, lead economist for job review site Glassdoor. “The Fed has a New Year’s resolution to cool down the labor market, and so far, the labor market is pushing back.”

Though Fed officials have expressed their intention to keep rates elevated for as long as it takes to bring down inflation, markets are betting the central bank starts cutting before the end of 2023. Traders increased their bets that the Fed would approve a quarter percentage point interest rate hike at its March meeting, with the probability increasing to 94.5%, according to CME Group data.

Halifax2TheMax

The Juggler said:

Out of My Mind and Time said:

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/03/jobs-report-january-2023-.html

Payrolls increased by 517,000 in January, crushing estimates, as unemployment rate hit 53-year low

PUBLISHED FRI, FEB 3 20238:31 AM ESTUPDATED 2 MIN AGO

Jeff Cox@JEFF.COX.7528@JEFFCOXCNBCCOM

SHAREShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email

WATCH NOW

VIDEO03:33

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 517,000 in January; strongest gain since July 2022

The employment picture started off 2023 on a stunningly strong note, with nonfarm payrolls posting their strongest gain since July 2022.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 517,000 for January, above the Dow Jones estimate of 187,000 and December’s gain of 260,000.

The unemployment rate fell to 3.4% vs. the estimate for 3.6%. That is the lowest jobless level since May 1969. The labor force participation rate edged higher to 62.4%. A broader measure of unemployment that includes discouraged workers and those holding part-time jobs for economic reasons also edged higher to 6.6%.

Markets slumped following the report, with futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average down about 200 points.

Growth across a multitude of sectors helped propel the massive beat against the estimate.

Leisure and hospitality added 128,000 jobs to lead all sectors. Other significant gainers were professional and business services (82,000), government (74,000) and health care (58,000). Retail was up 30,000 and construction added 25,000.

Wages also posted solid gains for the month. Average hourly earnings increased 0.3%, in line with the estimate, and 4.4% from a year ago, 0.1 percentage point higher than expectations.

The surge in job creation comes despite the Federal Reserve’s effort to slow the economy and bring down inflation from its highest level since the early 1980s. The Fed has raised its benchmark interest rate eight times since March 2022.

In its latest assessment of the jobs picture, the Fed on Wednesday dropped previous language saying gains have been “robust” and noted only that the “unemployment rate has remained low.”

However, Chairman Jerome Powell, in his post-meeting news conference, noted the labor market “remains extremely tight” and is still “out of balance.” As of December, there were about 11 million job openings, or just shy of two for every available worker.

“Today’s report is an echo of 2022′s surprisingly resilient job market, beating back recession fears,” said Daniel Zhao, lead economist for job review site Glassdoor. “The Fed has a New Year’s resolution to cool down the labor market, and so far, the labor market is pushing back.”

Though Fed officials have expressed their intention to keep rates elevated for as long as it takes to bring down inflation, markets are betting the central bank starts cutting before the end of 2023. Traders increased their bets that the Fed would approve a quarter percentage point interest rate hike at its March meeting, with the probability increasing to 94.5%, according to CME Group data.

Damn you Brandon! And poor Ilhan was removed from a committee, AOC was embarrassing and Sawell and Schiff were portrayed in a cartoon as crybabies. It’s so hard being owned.

mrussel1

Halifax2TheMax said:

The Juggler said:

Out of My Mind and Time said:

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/02/03/jobs-report-january-2023-.html

Payrolls increased by 517,000 in January, crushing estimates, as unemployment rate hit 53-year low

PUBLISHED FRI, FEB 3 20238:31 AM ESTUPDATED 2 MIN AGO

Jeff Cox@JEFF.COX.7528@JEFFCOXCNBCCOM

SHAREShare Article via FacebookShare Article via TwitterShare Article via LinkedInShare Article via Email

WATCH NOW

VIDEO03:33

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 517,000 in January; strongest gain since July 2022

The employment picture started off 2023 on a stunningly strong note, with nonfarm payrolls posting their strongest gain since July 2022.

Nonfarm payrolls increased by 517,000 for January, above the Dow Jones estimate of 187,000 and December’s gain of 260,000.

The unemployment rate fell to 3.4% vs. the estimate for 3.6%. That is the lowest jobless level since May 1969. The labor force participation rate edged higher to 62.4%. A broader measure of unemployment that includes discouraged workers and those holding part-time jobs for economic reasons also edged higher to 6.6%.

Markets slumped following the report, with futures tied to the Dow Jones Industrial Average down about 200 points.

Growth across a multitude of sectors helped propel the massive beat against the estimate.

Leisure and hospitality added 128,000 jobs to lead all sectors. Other significant gainers were professional and business services (82,000), government (74,000) and health care (58,000). Retail was up 30,000 and construction added 25,000.

Wages also posted solid gains for the month. Average hourly earnings increased 0.3%, in line with the estimate, and 4.4% from a year ago, 0.1 percentage point higher than expectations.

The surge in job creation comes despite the Federal Reserve’s effort to slow the economy and bring down inflation from its highest level since the early 1980s. The Fed has raised its benchmark interest rate eight times since March 2022.

In its latest assessment of the jobs picture, the Fed on Wednesday dropped previous language saying gains have been “robust” and noted only that the “unemployment rate has remained low.”

However, Chairman Jerome Powell, in his post-meeting news conference, noted the labor market “remains extremely tight” and is still “out of balance.” As of December, there were about 11 million job openings, or just shy of two for every available worker.

“Today’s report is an echo of 2022′s surprisingly resilient job market, beating back recession fears,” said Daniel Zhao, lead economist for job review site Glassdoor. “The Fed has a New Year’s resolution to cool down the labor market, and so far, the labor market is pushing back.”

Though Fed officials have expressed their intention to keep rates elevated for as long as it takes to bring down inflation, markets are betting the central bank starts cutting before the end of 2023. Traders increased their bets that the Fed would approve a quarter percentage point interest rate hike at its March meeting, with the probability increasing to 94.5%, according to CME Group data.

Damn you Brandon! And poor Ilhan was removed from a committee, AOC was embarrassing and Sawell and Schiff were portrayed in a cartoon as crybabies. It’s so hard being owned.

The cartoons really take a chunk of flesh.  I mean it's hard to recover from a good caricature. 

mickeyrat

https://apnews.com/article/biden-politics-united-states-government-addiction-and-treatment-susan-rice-e0c789041281c9ca231d685186c50b6e

 

Joe Biden United States government Addiction and treatment Susan Rice Opioids Cancer Veterans Mental health

Biden makes progress on 'unity agenda' outlined in 2022

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

Today

WASHINGTON (AP) — A year ago, President Joe Biden used his first State of the Union address to push top Democratic priorities that were sure to face a battle in the narrowly divided Congress but he also laid out a four-pronged “unity agenda” that would be an easier sell.

Biden's unity goals would be hard for anyone to argue against: improving mental health, supporting veterans, beating the opioid epidemic and fighting cancer. The president is still pushing for some of those big Democratic goals, like an assault weapons ban, but he's fared better on the unity goals.

Susan Rice, the president's domestic policy adviser, pointed to “very significant progress” on all four aspects even as she noted that issues like meeting the demand for mental health services or combating drug abuse won't be solved overnight.

"We’re happy with the progress that’s been made and we’re determined to keep pushing forward and make more progress," Rice said in an interview.

A look at where things stand:

OPIOIDS

IN THE SPEECH: Biden asked Congress for increased funding for prevention, treatment, reducing harm and recovery. He also called for the elimination of rules that keep doctors from prescribing treatments, and he aimed to stop the flow of illicit drugs by having the federal government work with state and local law enforcement officials to go after drug traffickers.

---

JOE BIDEN

State of the Union: Biden sees economic glow, GOP sees gloom

Biden sounds ready to seek 2nd term while rallying Democrats

Biden, Cabinet visiting 20 states after State of the Union

US board clears path for mini-union vote at big Nissan plant

SINCE THEN: Biden sent his first national drug control strategy to Congress, focused on harm reduction or preventing death and illness in drug users while trying to engage them in care and treatment. The strategy calls for changes in state laws and policies to support expanding harm reduction.

It also calls for targeting the financial activities of transnational criminal organizations that manufacture and traffic illicit drugs in the United States, reducing the supply of illegal drugs smuggled across U.S. borders, improving data systems and research that guide drug policy, and making sure the people most in danger of overdosing on drugs can get evidence-based treatments, including people experiencing homelessness and those in prison or jail.

The Department of Health and Human Services awarded nearly $1.5 billion in grants to all states and U.S. territories to increase access to treatment for substance abuse, remove barriers to treatments like naloxone, which is used to reverse an opioid overdose, and expand access to support services and treatment programs.

The Food and Drug Administration approved several naloxone products in the past year, including a higher-dose injection as an additional option to treat opioid overdoses, a second generic naloxone nasal spray, and a naloxone auto-injector product for use by the military and for responding to chemical incidents.

MENTAL HEALTH

IN THE SPEECH: Biden emphasized mental health care for children, citing turmoil in their lives and in their schooling caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. He called for holding social media platforms accountable for their negative impact on children, strengthening privacy protections, banning advertising targeted at children and demanding that tech companies stop collecting children’s personal data. And he urged parents to make sure their kids’ schools use the $122 billion in pandemic relief funds they got from Washington to hire teachers and help students make up for lost learning.

SINCE THEN: The Bipartisan Safer Communities Act, the gun violence bill Biden signed into law last June, allocates more than $1 billion over five years to mental health support for schools, in line with the president's goal of doubling the number of school counselors, social workers and other mental health professionals. The Department of Education has begun releasing those funds.

A new “988” national suicide and crisis hotline opened in July and has been receiving vastly more calls and texts than the old system did during the same time period the previous year, according to the White House.

Biden released a national strategy on mental health. But legislation to address children's tech privacy issues has not yet cleared Congress.

“This is an area where we still have more to get done,” Rice said.

VETERANS

IN THE SPEECH: Biden asked Congress for legislation guaranteeing health care for veterans who became ill from their exposure to toxic smoke on bases in Iraq and Afghanistan.

SINCE THEN: In August, he signed into law a major expansion of federal health care services for millions of veterans who breathed the toxic smoke emitted from huge “burn pits," which were used to dispose of chemicals, plastics, medical equipment, human waste and other substances on U.S. military installations in the two countries.

More than two-thirds of disability claims that cited exposure to the pits were being denied by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The new law, known in Washington and among veterans as the PACT Act, directs officials to assume that certain respiratory illnesses and cancers were related to burn pit exposure. The change helps veterans, and their survivors, collect disability payments without having to prove their illness was caused by their service. Up to 3.5 million veterans could benefit, according to estimates.

The issue is a personal one for Biden, who many times has suggested that the aggressive brain cancer that killed his son Beau may have been caused by his exposure to burn pits in Iraq. Beau Biden was stationed in Iraq for about a year as a major in the Delaware Army National Guard.

Biden held a large White House bill-signing ceremony and gave the pen to the young daughter of Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson, who died of cancer and for whom the legislation is named.

Separately, veterans in need mental health care can now press 1 after dialing 988 to connect with the Veterans Crisis Line.

CANCER

IN THE SPEECH: Biden noted how personal the cancer issue is to him and his wife, Jill, as well as Vice President Kamala Harris, along with millions of people like them who have lost friends and loved ones to various forms of the disease.

Just before last year's State of the Union address, Biden announced that he was “reigniting” a federal cancer-fighting initiative that was first launched in 2016, when he was vice president and after his son Beau's death in 2015. As president, Biden set a new goal for the “cancer moonshot” initiative of cutting cancer death rates by at least half over the next 25 years.

He asked Congress in the speech to fund the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, describing it as based on a Defense Department research agency that led to creation of the internet, GPS and more. He said the new health research agency's “singular purpose” would be to drive breakthroughs in cancer, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes and more.

SINCE THEN: ARPA-H was created in March 2022 in the Department of Health and Human Services.

The $1.7 trillion government funding bill Biden signed in December included $1.5 billion for the new health agency.

mace1229

Don’t think this deserves a new thread, so throwing it in here.
Why aren’t we doing anything about the China balloon? Seems odd to let a “surveillance” balloon float accords the entire United States over multiple days.

The Juggler

mace1229 said:

Don’t think this deserves a new thread, so throwing it in here.
Why aren’t we doing anything about the China balloon? Seems odd to let a “surveillance” balloon float accords the entire United States over multiple days.

They probably don't want to kill any people or damage property by shooting it down. Better to wait till it gets into the Atlantic and try to preserve as much of it as possible so we can learn/steal the technology. I've also heard this isn't the first time this has happened and we do the same type of stuff. Difference here is the Chinese screwed up somehow.