President Joe Biden was in Louisiana Friday to survey damage from Hurricane Ida, after almost a week of the deadly storm ravaging the eastern half of the United States. The East Coast is still reeling from the aftereffects, as the death toll from Ida rises. And the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is stepping in to help areas facing a fuel shortage due to Hurricane Ida. The EPA has issued a second emergency fuel waiver for Louisiana and Mississippi. The first one was issued on Monday. The waivers allow for refineries to produce, sell, and distribute winter gasoline.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va) is calling on fellow Democrats to “hit the pause button” on the $3.5 trillion spending plan. Manchin also reiterated his disapproval for some Democrats’ proposals to pay for that spending, including previous White House-backed plans to increase corporate tax rates from 21 percent to 28 percent. He has instead indicated he would support a 25 percent corporate tax rate.
The Pentagon gives updates on the Afghan refugees entering the country. It says that there are currently 25,600 Afghan evacuees housed at eight military installations in the United States, and they’re working to increase that number to 50,000. The head of Homeland Security says all individuals will be tested for the virus. And the mission commander, tasked with ensuring those final few flights out of Kabul, is now on safe ground. He talked about his experience.
Tune into Deep Dive as we explore these topics and more.
