Tuesday morning news - December 21, 2021

For WORLD Radio, I'm Kent Covington. 

Manchin blasts White House for ‘absolutely inexcusable’ leaks » Democratic Senator Joe Manchin said Monday that White House staff retaliated against him after he announced that he would not support President Biden’s multi-trillion-dollar spending plan.

He told MetroNews Talkline that the White House leaked some information about him. But he said he’s confident that the president was not behind it.

MANCHIN: It was staff driven. I understand staff. This was not the president. This was the staff. And they drew up some things and put some things out that were absolutely inexcusable. They know what it is and that’s it.

He said staffers and other Democrats tried to bully him into backing the president's plan. And he said he has made his reservations very clear all along.

But in a statement on Sunday, the White House accused Manchin of saying one thing in private and another in public and of not acting “in good faith.”

On Monday, however, Press Secretary Jen Psaki struck a softer tone.

PSAKI: I will say that from the president’s viewpoint—and I saw him this morning—he’s worked with Sen. Manchin over the course of decades. They share fundamental values. They’re longtime friends.

The moderate West Virginia lawmaker announced on Sunday that he would not support the spending plan. He cited concerns about inflation and adding to the debt.

With the Senate evenly divided, Manchin’s announcement effectively killed the bill.

Biden tightens fuel-economy standards » The White House lamented would-be climate change measures in the now-stalled spending bill. But the Biden administration is still marching forward on the president’s climate agenda. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has that story.

JOSH SCHUMACHER, REPORTER: The EPA issued a rule on Monday to tighten fuel efficiency standards and cut emissions.

It would raise mileage standards starting in the 2023 model year, with an industry-wide target of 40 miles per gallon by 2026.

EPA Administrator Michael Regan called the rule “a giant step forward” in delivering on President Biden’s climate agenda. He also said it helps “pave the way toward an all-electric, zero-emissions transportation future.”

The EPA says transportation is the single biggest source of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States, making up 29 percent of all emissions.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

Haiti missionaries press conference » At a news conference Monday, an Ohio-based missions group explained how a group of missionaries escaped their captors in Haiti.

The 400 Mawozo gang took 17 missionaries hostage in October, 12 adults and five children, and demanded millions in ransom money.

Christian Aid Ministries spokesman Weston Showalter told reporters…

SHOWALTER: On several occasions they planned an escape, but they had decided if specific things didn’t happen at specific times that they had determined as a group, they would accept that as God’s direction to wait.

The gang released five of the missionaries earlier this month. But it did not release the rest of the group. Instead, on the night of Dec. 15th, the 12 remaining captives found their way to an open door and snuck out, escaping the guards’ notice.

The group carried the children into a forest through gang territory for roughly 12 miles before day broke. A Haitian found them and helped them call the police.

Christian Aid Ministries general director David Troyer told reporters …

TROYER: All of the hostages seem to be doing reasonably well. In fact, yeah, I think we can honestly say that.

While the missionaries were in captivity, the gang moved them multiple times and kept them mostly in small, barricaded rooms. The gang provided baby food for the young children, basic hygiene necessities, and sparse meals.

Earlier reports indicated a Haitian driver was also kidnapped, but Troyer said the driver was actually a Canadian missionary.

Moderna: Initial booster data shows good results on omicron » Moderna said Monday that a booster dose of its COVID-19 vaccine should offer strong protection against the omicron variant. WORLD’s Leigh Jones has more.

LEIGH JONES, REPORTER: Moderna said lab tests showed the half-dose booster shot increased antibodies by 37-fold. And a full-dose booster was even stronger, triggering an 83-fold jump in antibody levels.

Most Moderna boosters are a half-dose, but many health officials recommend a full-dose third shot for people with weakened immune systems.

The new test data is not yet peer reviewed, but testing by the National Institutes of Health found a similar jump.

Pfizer recently announced lab tests that also found that boosters of its vaccine also triggered a big jump in omicron-fighting antibodies.

Other research suggests that even without a booster shot, those who are fully vaccinated, likely still have fairly strong protection against severe illness.

Reporting for WORLD, I’m Leigh Jones.

Jury begins deliberating cop's case in Daunte Wright death » The fate of suburban Minneapolis police officer Kim Potter is now in a jury’s hands. Attorneys made their closing arguments on Monday.

Potter is charged with manslaughter in the death of black motorist Daunte Wright during a traffic stop back in April.

She said she intended to use her Taser, but instead, under stress, grabbed her gun and pulled the trigger before realizing her mistake.

In footage of the incident, Potter was heard shouting a warning that she was about to fire her Taser. She took the stand on Friday and tearfully told the court she did not want to hurt anybody.

But on Monday, prosecutor Erin Eldridge told jurors…

ELDRIDGE: This case is about the defendants rash and reckless conduct. It’s not about her being a nice person or a good person. Even nice people have to obey the law.

But Potter’s attorney Earl Gray argued that Wright “caused the whole incident” because he tried to flee from police during a traffic stop. He said Potter mistakenly grabbed her gun instead of her Taser because the traffic stop—quote—“was chaos.”

GRAY: Her acts were all legal. Everything she did was legal. And then he tries to break away and consciously, she thought she was doing the right thing.

The 49-year-old Potter is charged with first- and second-degree manslaughter.

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

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