Friday morning news: January 13, 2023

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

Biden more classified docs » Attorney General Merrick Garland insists President Biden will not receive special treatment as a special counsel investigates his handling of classified documents.

Garland appointed Robert Hur on Thursday to lead the probe.

GARLAND: I am confident that Mr. Hur will carry out his responsibility in an evenhanded and urgent manner and in accordance with the highest traditions of this department.

His announcement followed news that the Justice Department found a second batch of classified materials from Biden’s time as vice president at his personal home in Delaware.

Earlier this week, investigators found classified records at Biden’s old office in Washington.

Biden confirmed that documents marked classified were discovered in his personal library and in his garage next to his car. He told reporters …

BIDEN: By the way, my Corvette’s in a locked garage. Okay? So it’s not like they’re sitting out in the street.

He insisted that he takes the handling of classified documents seriously and will cooperate fully with the probe.

The special counsel, Robert Hur, was a Trump-appointed U.S. attorney who once clerked for Supreme Court Chief Justice William Rehnquist.

GOP reaction » Republicans say they also plan to investigate the matter.

Sen. John Kennedy says he wants to know why the discovery of these records was only announced publicly—two months after the election.

KENNEDY: The powers that be have known about all of this since November 2nd. It’s not the middle of January. Was there a coverup? Who was involved?

But the investigations will take place in the House, where Republicans now have majority control. House Speaker Kevin McCarthy says he sees a double standard.

MCCARTHY: You watched them leak files of sitting out files of President Trump. Where [are] the photos of President Biden’s photos at? He knew this happened going into [the] election, going into interviews.

In September, President Biden called former President Trump’s handling of classified documents—quote—“totally irresponsible.”

Inflation numbers » News of the classified documents cast a shadow over what President Biden wanted to talk about on Thursday, rising costs rising more slowly. He said inflation is down 11% from the first three months of last year.

BIDEN: Even though inflation is high in major economies around the world, it's coming down in America month after month, giving families some real breathing room.

The Labor Department reported that consumer prices rose 6-point-5 percent in December as compared to a year before, but that was down from 7.1 percent in November, making it the sixth month in a row that the inflation rate has declined.

But the Federal Reserve cautions that there’s still a long way to go to bring prices under control.

New Neb. senator » Former Nebraska Governor Pete Ricketts will be the nation’s next U.S. senator. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN, REPORTER: Days after Republican Ben Sasse officially vacated his U.S. Senate seat to become the president of the University of Florida, Nebraska Governor Jim Pillen appointed Ricketts to fill the role.

Ricketts was governor before Pillen. He completed his second term in office earlier this month after publicly supporting Pillen in his campaign.

The state will hold a special election for the Senate seat in 2024.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Ukraine » Russia said Thursday that its forces are close to capturing Soledar—a mining town in eastern Ukraine.

SOLDIER: [In Ukrainian - The situation at the front is now tense.]

This Ukrainian soldier called the battle around the town intense with Russians shelling— quote—“wherever they can see.”

But Moscow’s forces are also taking losses. More than 100 Russian troops have died in the battle over the past 24 hours.

NY nurses reach agreement » AUDIO: [Cheers, welcome back]

Thousands of New York nurses are back on the job today after ending a three-day strike on Thursday.

NURSE: We’re so grateful for all the support that we’ve gotten and more than anything, this is a big win for the patients.

Hospitals in the New York City area tentatively agreed to hire more staff, renovate hospital spaces, and raise pay by nearly 20 percent.

Their union says that since the start of the pandemic, nurses are overworked and caring for far too many patients.

Brazil’s Lula accuses guards of letting protesters into buildings »
Brazilian President Lula da Silva is accusing the military and police of letting rioters into government buildings last weekend. WORLD’s Elias Ferenczy has more.

ELIAS FERENCZY, REPORTER: President Lula said Thursday he hopes to see security footage from when supporters of former President Jair Bolsonaro broke into government buildings.

Lula says military and police personnel were complicit in the riots and he is thoroughly vetting his staff members to make sure none of them are Bolsonaro supporters.

The government has issued arrest warrants for several major officials believed to have assisted rioters.

Bolsonaro has denounced the riots.

For WORLD, I’m Elias Ferenczy.

I'm Kent Covington. For more news, features, and analysis, visit us at wng.org. 

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