Officials from the Veterans Affairs Department, including Chief Technology Officer Charles Worthington, testified on data privacy and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) before the House Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Technology Modernization. Several topics were addressed, including data privacy protections, the creation of a framework for AI use, transparency and accountability, and mitigating biases in AI technology.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken participated in a fireside chat to talk foreign policy and global challenges during the U.S. Conference of Mayors' winter meeting in Washington, DC. Topics he touched on included the State Department's mission and the Russia-Ukraine war. He also discussed his love of music and how he addresses mental health personally.
2024 GOP presidential candidate and former President Donald Trump spoke to reporters following a meeting with Teamsters president Sean O'Brien. When asked about the potential bipartisan border deal working its way through Congress, the former president said he hopes "the Republicans and the Democrats don't make a bad border deal because a bad border deal would be worse than no deal at all". The former president said he had a "good shot" at getting the union's official endorsement following the meeting. Mr. Trump's Democratic rival President Biden got the union's endorsement in 2020, and Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton got it in 2016.
"We've got a long way to go before we make a decision" says International Brotherhood of Teamsters President Sean O'Brien following a meeting with former president and current GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump. O'Brien says his organization has not been in contact with former Governor and Ambassador Nikki Haley which O'Brien says isn't surprising given the candidates stance on unions. The meeting between the former president and the leader of the Teamster organization comes just a week before Nevada's primary election and caucuses.
Hawaii Gov. Josh Green (D) said the state of the island is "strong," but there were issues that needed continued improvements during his State of the State address before a joint session of the legislature in Honolulu. The governor first stressed the importance of federal and local support for efforts to rebuild in Maui following the deadly 2023 wildfires. Other topics he touched on included gun violence, health care access, homelessness, and climate change.
Ryan Burge, a political scientist at Eastern Illinois University who studies religious trends, discussed the political impact of recent polling showing more than one-quarter of adults in the United States are religiously unaffiliated.
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) discussed U.S.-South Asia relations at the Hudson Institute in Washington, DC. Topics included expanding on the U.S.-India relationship, information sharing with partners in the region, using soft-power diplomacy, and the history of U.S., China's and Russia's relationships in the region.
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem (R) highlighted her policy successes and laid out her agenda for the state during her 2024 State of the State address from the Capitol in Pierre. She touched on several topics, including Second Amendment rights, agriculture and business investment, support for the Jewish community, education funding, and health care for mothers and children.
Iranian Foreign Affairs Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian discussed foreign affairs and tensions in the region at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. When asked about recent Iranian attacks in Iraq and Pakistan, he said Iran maintains good relations and respects the sovereignty of both nations, and that they were only targeting Israeli Mossad camps. The foreign affairs minister said the attacks occurred because of their right to defend their country against terror groups, referring to Israel as a "terror regime." Minister Amir-Abdollahian also spoke on relations with Russia and the United States, saying Iran is open to returning to the JCPOA as long as there is "mutual respect" from the United States.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission held a hearing on current and emerging technologies that are affecting U.S.-China competition. In this portion, the commission examined the risks of certain Chinese technologies being used in the United States, such as the Chinese Communist Party's ability to access large amounts of users' data collected from the social media app TikTok.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission held a hearing on current and emerging technologies that are affecting U.S.-China competition. In this portion, the commission examined China's race to transform its military through artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission held a hearing on current and emerging technologies that are affecting U.S.-China competition. Topics included supply chains for commercial development and military use, the use of artificial intelligence in biotechnology and biological warfare, and electric vehicle production.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the chamber will vote on a border security-foreign aid supplemental spending package at some point next week.
"We have a heck of a record, and we are starting 2024 fired up. My fellow Michiganders, the state of our state is ready to rock!" exclaimed Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) during her annual State of the State address before a joint session of the legislature in Lansing. The governor highlighted her policy achievements and shared her vision for the state's future. Gov. Whitmer touched on several issues, including economic development, education, reproductive rights, and infrastructure and manufacturing investment. She also addressed the housing crisis, from affordability to the lack of housing, saying, "the rent is too damn high, and we don't have enough damn housing!"
"Because of the resilience of the toughest, hardest-working people in this land that the state of our state is as strong as ever," said Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen (R) during his State of the State address before a joint session of the legislature in Lincoln. The governor highlighted his policy achievements and shared his agenda for the state's future. He touched on several issues, including disaster recovery and public safety, education, business investment, workforce development, and tax reform.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the chamber will vote on a border security-foreign aid supplemental spending package at some point next week.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission held a hearing on current and emerging technologies that are affecting U.S.-China competition. In this portion, the commission examined the risks of certain Chinese technologies being used in the United States, such as the Chinese Communist Party's ability to access large amounts of users' data collected from the social media app TikTok.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission held a hearing on current and emerging technologies that are affecting U.S.-China competition. In this portion, the commission examined China's race to transform its military through artificial intelligence and quantum computing.
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission held a hearing on current and emerging technologies that are affecting U.S.-China competition. Topics included supply chains for commercial development and military use, the use of artificial intelligence in biotechnology and biological warfare, and electric vehicle production.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer announced that the chamber will vote on a border security-foreign aid supplemental spending package at some point next week.
"To the people of Massachusetts thank you for welcoming me into your communities this past year to celebrate wins and grieve losses to share your struggles and your hopes," said Gov. Maura Healey (D-MA) during her first State of the Commonwealth address before a joint session of the legislature in Boston. The governor highlighted her policy achievements and shared her agenda for the state's future. Gov. Healey touched on several issues, including economic development, education investments, reproductive rights, affordable housing, and climate change.
