Wednesday morning news: February 28, 2024

Michigan primaries » Donald Trump cruised to victory last night in Michigan.

TRUMP: We will make America great again. Thank you very much, Michigan!

He has now swept the first five states on the Republican primary calendar.

But his lone remaining GOP rival Nikki Haley told supporters in Colorado the race is far from over.

HALEY: We had 14 people in the race. I defeated a dozen of the fellas. I just got one more fella I gotta catch up to.

President Biden also won big last night among Democratic voters. But many selected the “uncommitted” option on the ballot in protest of Biden’s support of Israel’s offensive in Gaza.

Several states will hold caucuses over the weekend and then it's on to Super Tuesday with nearly 900 delegates up for grabs.

Biden meeting with lawmakers » President Biden is urging leaders in Congress to take immediate action to avoid a government shutdown and to fund military aid to Ukraine.

BIDEN: I think the consequences of inaction in Ukraine every day are dire. I’ve been speaking to some of our G7 partners and they’re very concerned.

The president met with House and Senate leaders in the Oval Office on Tuesday.

After the meeting, House Speaker Mike Johnson said he’s optimistic that Congress will pass a government funding bill this week. But as for other concerns, the speaker said he told President Biden that we must take care of America’s needs first.

JOHNSON: When you talk about America’s needs, you have to talk first about our open border.

He also said he once again stressed to the president that he could immediately issue executive orders to help secure the border.

JOHNSON: It’s time for action. It is a catastrophe, and it must stop. And we will get the government funded and we’ll keep working on that. So we’ll have more for you soon.

Border/immigration polls » And a new Gallup poll reveals that for the first time in five years illegal immigration tops the list of the most important problems in the United States. 28 percent of respondents said that’s the top concern.

And in a Monmouth University poll this week, 53 percent of Americans said they support a border wall. That was up from 42 percent in 2019.

Israel/Hamas refute Biden cease-fire progress remarks » Israel and Hamas are refuting comments Biden made Monday night about a possible deal for a new cease-fire in Gaza.

BIDEN: My national security adviser tells me that we’re close. We’re close. We’re not done yet. And my hope is that by next Monday, we’ll have a cease-fire.

But Israeli officials said Biden’s comments came as a surprise and were not made in coordination with the country’s leadership. A Hamas official played down any sense of progress, saying the terror group wouldn’t soften its demands.

Macron and NATO chief on troops to Ukraine » Meanwhile, Western leaders are refuting recent remarks by French President Emmanuel Macron.

He said this week that NATO has not ruled out sending troops into Ukraine.

European Commission spokesman Peter Stano:

STANO: There is no decision at the EU level about any kind of sending of troops or ground forces to Ukraine to fight.

The NATO secretary general also pushed back on Macron’s comments as did German Chancellor Olaf Sholz.

OLAF SHOLZ: [SPEAKING GERMAN]

He said no soldiers from any member of the alliance are currently on the ground in Ukraine and there are no plans to send any.

Army restructuring » The U.S. Army says it’s downsizing amid recruiting shortfalls and a need to modernize its forces. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: The Army will cut some 24,000 positions, which are currently vacant. It’s also slashing its special forces by roughly 3,000 troops.

There aren’t enough soldiers to fill those roles, but the Pentagon says the cuts are also aimed at modernizing the Army.

It says the branch is now “significantly over-structured” with many roles focused on counterinsurgency which was a major emphasis during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

But it is now retooling with a focus on a potential great power conflict.

To that end, the Army also plans to add nearly 8,000 new positions focused on things like cyber warfare and air defense.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Macy's Closing Stores » One of America’s most iconic retailers is closing almost a third of its stores.

AUDIO (Macy’s classic commercial): It’s Macy’s one day sale with spectacular savings and values in every department …

Macy's will shutter 150 underperforming stores.

With the rise of online shopping, the brick and mortar retailer is shifting its focus towards its luxury brands – Bloomingdale's and Bluemercury.

Oliver Chen with investment bank TD Cowen says Macy's is attempting a “less is more” growth strategy.

CHEN: I think that the view here is that closing more stores is a good idea and that focusing on the most productive stores is a very helpful idea as well.

Last year, Macy’s laid off nearly 3,000 workers in a cost cutting move amid declining sales.

I’m Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Republican party priorities in 2024 on Washington Wednesday. Plus, World Tour.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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