News Recap - August 29-30, 2024

Highlighted news events from August 29-30, 2024

Aug 31, 2024

Each day is packed with events happening all over the world. Cut through the noise so you can stay on top of what matters most.

Top Highlights

Brazil Blocks X: Brazil started blocking Elon Musk’s X early Saturday after the platform missed a deadline to name a legal representative, amid a prolonged dispute over free speech. Brazilian Supreme Court judge Alexandre de Moraes made the order on Friday, and also threatened Brazilians who use a VPN to access X with fines of up to of 50,000 reais ($8,900) a day. [More]
- X’s Global Government Affairs account said on Friday: “The fundamental issue at stake here is that Judge de Moraes demands we break Brazil’s own laws. We simply won’t do that.” It added that X “will publish all of Judge de Moraes’ illegal demands and all related court filings in the interest of transparency” in the coming days. [More] Elon Musk chimed in: “The Brazilian people will learn of his crimes no matter how much he tries to stop it.”
CNN Interviews Harris: Vice President Kamala Harris endured an awkward primetime sit-down interview with CNN’s Dana Bash. [More]
- Below are some of the policy points visited:
  - Harris said her views on fracking and border security have changed because she gained new perspectives as vice president, but repeatedly said her “values have not changed” on the issues, whatever that means.
  - She said she’d appoint a Republican (RINO?) to serve in her Cabinet if elected.
  - She defended the current Bidenomics, and somehow blamed former President Donald Trump for the current state of the economy.
  - She said she wouldn’t change U.S. policy on the Israel-Hamas war.
  - She briefly noted her (previously announced) plan to provide a $6,000 child tax credit to families for first year of a child’s life; and also her plan to provide a $25,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit.

Domestic

The Biden administration is restarting an immigration program for those from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, and Venezuela. It had suspended the program in early August after finding fraud; the relaunch adds more vetting for U.S.-based financial sponsors of the migrants. [More]
The Justice Department’s internal watchdog released a report that criticizes the FBI for still mishandling child sex abuse tips—namely, failing to report to social services and investigate the majority of them. [More]
Foot Locker is moving its headquarters from New York to Florida. Mainly for cost-cutting reasons. [More]
Ford is walking back its diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) policies. [More]

Trump

IVF proposal: Recently Trump promised free IVF access in presenting his pro-family vision. This means costs associated with IVF treatments would be covered by the government or insurance. [More]
- Trump also said parents would be able to deduct major newborn expenses from their taxes.
- The IVF proposed policy prompted some pushback online among pro-life advocates.
  - Pro-life advocates oppose IVF. Maybe for good reason? [More]
  - Despite the opposition to IVF, some say they will still vote for Trump. Others may not be anymore, but maybe some Democrat-leaning voters will be on board with this IVF policy as it is good for “women’s reproductive rights.”
  - Was the IVF policy Tulsi Gabbard’s idea? [More]
Trump said he’s voting NO on the Florida’s Amendment 4, which, if passed, would permit abortions determined “medically necessary” by a patient’s healthcare provider. [More]
A man in Missouri, Justin White, was arrested for threatening to kill Trump and Republicans and police. [More]

International

US Meets China: U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan went to China and met with a senior military official. This is rare—the last time a similar meeting happened was in the Obama administration in 2016. [More]
- Sullivan also later met with Chinese Communist Party leader Xi Jinping. [More]
HK convicts journalists of sedition: Hong Kong has convicted two journalists of sedition. This drew criticism from the United States. [More]
Five people died and 46 have been injured in a Ukrainian strike on the Russian city of Belgorod, the local governor said. [More]
The Ukraine military has confirmed that one of the U.S.-made F-16 fighter jets it recently received from its Western allies has crashed, killing the pilot in the process. Zelensky later fired the commander of Ukraine’s air force. [More]
Israel’s military said it killed the head of Hamas in Jenin on the third day of its West Bank anti-terror operation. [More]
A woman was arrested over a stabbing attack that injured six people in Germany. [More]
South Korea arrested the CEO of a lithium battery maker after a factory fire killed 23 people. [More]
A Chinese Coast Guard ship rammed into a Filipino civilian ship off a shoal in a disputed territory. Meanwhile, Japan has lodged a formal protest over the incident when a Chinese survey ship entered its territorial waters.