Wednesday morning news: February 7, 2024

AUDIO: On this vote, the yeas are 214 and the nays are 216. The resolution is not adopted.

Mayorkas impeachment vote » And with that, an effort to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas fell short in the House last night.

GOP lawmakers charged him “breach of public trust” for refusing to enforce immigration laws.

But a few Republicans voted “no” on the measure, just enough to defeat it. Congressman Tom McClintock was one of them.

MCCLINTOCK: Secretary Mayorkas is guilty of maladministration of our immigration laws on a cosmic scale. But we know that’s not grounds for impeachment because our founders specifically rejected it.

All Democratic members voted no, calling the impeachment push a political stunt.

Blinken Middle East » Secretary of State Tony Blinken is set to meet with Israeli leaders today about a proposed cease-fire in Gaza. Blinken spoke to reporters in Qatar Tuesday after meeting with top officials from Qatar and Egypt.

BLINKEN: We put forward a serious proposal that was aimed at not just repeating the previous agreement but expanding it. Hamas responded tonight.

Blinken said he was reviewing that response and preparing to discuss it with Israel.

Amid his fifth visit to the Middle East since the start of the Israel-Hamas war the secretary is also hoping to tamp down tensions in the region even as the U.S. military responds to a deadly drone strike against U.S. troops.

BLINKEN: We don’t want the conflict to escalate. We’ll do everything we can to prevent that. But at the same time, we will defend our personnel.

The United States has carried out airstrikes against Iran-backed militias after a drone attack that killed three U.S. soldiers.

Border bill » President Biden says Donald Trump is to blame for the apparent demise of the newly unveiled Senate border bill, which would also fund aid to Ukraine.

Standing behind a lectern at the White House Tuesday, the president said Trump pressured GOP lawmakers to kill the legislation.

BIDEN: And it looks like they’re caving. Frankly, they owe it to the American people to show some spine and do what they know to be right.

Republicans say they roundly rejected it because it's terrible legislation, in their view that would not solve the border crisis. And Speaker Mike Johnson says provisions within the bill, such as one that would provide work permits to many migrants would actually incentivize more illegal immigration.

And with regard to Biden blaming Republicans for not fixing the border crisis Senator Tim Scott said, nice try.

SCOTT: President Biden undid the successful measures that Trump put in place. If you can undo them, you can put them back again.

The Senate bill is the product of bipartisan talks, but it appears most Republicans in the Senate oppose it.

Court rules Trump not immune » Donald Trump’s legal team is planning to take a federal appeals court ruling to the Supreme Court. WORLD’s Josh Schumacher has more.

JOSH SCHUMACHER: Tuesday’s appeals court ruling stems from charges by the Justice Department accusing Trump of trying to overturn the 2020 presidential election citing his actions surrounding the Capitol riot.

His lawyers argued that since he was still in office at the time of those events, he is shielded by presidential immunity.

But a three-judge panel said once Trump left office, he became an ordinary citizen with no special immunity.

Trump’s legal team responded, saying, “If immunity’s not granted to a president, every future president who leaves office will be immediately indicted by the opposite party.”

And his attorneys will petition the Supreme Court to take up the case.

For WORLD, I’m Josh Schumacher.

SOUND: [Tractors on Highway]

EU farmers » Tractors blocked traffic across Europe yesterday.

That as farmers continue roadblock protests in countries like the Netherlands, Spain, Bulgaria, and Italy.

The farmers say it’s getting harder to make ends meet with rising production costs and greater competition from cheap foreign imports.

One woman said out-of-control EU regulations are forcing her to spend more time on paperwork than actual farming.

FARMER: We don’t want to lose our time to make more papers. Just – we are farmers. We are the people that take care of the soil. Take care of the animals. Take care of your health. Your food.

The EU agreed yesterday to shelve an anti-pesticide proposal that protesters said would have piled even more production costs on the shoulders of farmers.

MUSIC: [Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue]

Toby Keith obit » Country singer/songwriter Toby Keith has died. He was the writer of hit songs like the post-9/11 anthem, “Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue.”

MUSIC: [Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue]

The singer was also known for hits like “Should Have Been a Cowboy,” and “He Ain’t Worth Missing.”

MUSIC: [He Ain’t Worth Missing]

In 2022, Keith announced that he was battling stomach cancer but continued playing shows throughout his treatments all the way up until December.

A statement on his website said Keith passed peacefully, surrounded by family.

He was 62 years old.

King Charles cancer caught early » Meantime, in London, officials sound optimistic about the prognosis for King Charles III who began treatment this week for cancer. Buckingham Palace did not immediately say what type.

But oncologist, Dr. Patricia Price with Imperial College London said Tuesday,

PRICE: The main thing is it sounds as though he didn’t have symptoms from this cancer, so it’s been caught early. And all the messages coming out are very reassuring.

The 75-year-old monarch has suspended all public appearances, but he’s still handling all other duties.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Border reform and taxes on Washington Wednesday. Plus, World Tour.

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