Wednesday morning news: September 18, 2024

Garland, DeSantis on Trump attempt probes » After the second assassination attempt against Donald Trump in as many months, Attorney General Merrick Garland says the entire Justice Department is working to get answers …

GARLAND: … including in particular the FBI, the U. S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of Florida, the National Security Division are all coordinating closely with our local state law enforcement partners on the ground.

He said they will all work tirelessly to “determine accountability in this matter.” He added, “We will spare no resource in this investigation.”

Meantime, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis says the state will conduct its own investigation. He said that’s due in part to the fact the federal government still hasn’t answered all of the questions related to the first attempt on Trump’s life back in July.

DESANTIS:  I think that that really erodes public confidence. Uh, and I think the Florida agencies working from local on up have an opportunity to do a thorough investigation and then to provide the truth.

DeSantis says the state has jurisdiction over the most serious alleged offense of attempted murder.

A 58-year-old suspect is behind bars after apparently staking out in a wooded area at Trump International golf resort preparing to take aim at former President Trump.

Lebanon exploding pagers » Officials in Lebanon say at least nine people are dead and thousands are injured after handheld pagers exploded simultaneously across the country.

According to some reports, the Lebanon-based terror group Hezbollah had ordered and received a new shipment of these pagers. Most of those hurt in the explosions are believed to be Hezbollah members, though a young girl is reportedly among the dead.

U.S. State Department spokesman Matthew Miller told reporters Tuesday:

MILLER: We are gathering information on this incident. I can tell you that the U.S. was not involved in it. The U.S. was not aware of this incident in advance, and at this point, we are gathering information.

Hezbollah reportedly ordered the pagers to improve communications within its ranks amid growing conflict with Israeli forces. And the incident could disrupt the Iran-backed terror group’s communications network.

Israel has not commented on the incident.

UN fact finding mission Venezuela » Human rights experts with the United Nations are sounding alarms about abuses in Venezuela … under the regime of disputed President Nicolas Maduro.

Patricia Tappata Valdez is a member of the fact-finding mission on Venezuela. She said the Venezuelan government has tried to silence dissent … and has committed crimes against humanity following the highly suspect presidential election in July.

VALDEZ: Of the people detained in this period, many were subjected to torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment, as well as sexual violence, which was perpetrated against women and girls, but also against men.

And Chairwoman of the UN fact finding mission Marta Valiñas added that not only has the situation in Venezuela not improved …

VALINAS:  But the violations have intensified, reaching unprecedented levels of violence. In the post election context, we have documented 25 confirmed deaths, most of them young people under 30 years old.

After the July election, Opposition supporters published tally sheets from 80% of electronic voting machines suggesting rival candidate Edmundo González had won soundly.

But Venezuela’s National Electoral Council, which is closely aligned with the Maduro regime declared him the winner.

Retail sales numbers » Americans spent a bit more with retailers last month.

The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that retail sales ticked up 0.1% from July to August, just as the Fed considers the size of its expected upcoming interest rate cut.

Mark Hamrick is senior economic analyst with Bankrate.com.

HAMRICK:  We're in a falling inflation environment, but prices are still elevated. Interest rates will be coming down and those factors should continue to support consumers and spending.

He said the one wild card is the future health of the job market.

The latest data indicate that consumers are still willing to spend more despite the impact of three years of excess inflation and higher interest rates.

Interest payments on the national debt top $1 trillion » Americans are not only spending more with retailers. They’re also spending more to foot the bill for overspending in Washington. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: American taxpayers shelled out more than a trillion dollars in fiscal year 2024, just to cover the interest payments on the national debt.

The Treasury Department reported payments of just over a trillion for the first time in history marking a 30 percent jump from last year.

The increase comes as the budget deficit continues to swell and Washington continues to pile onto the national debt, which now tops $35 trillion dollars.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

Boeing strike »  As Boeing machinists continue walking the picket line in Renton, Washington, the company says it's considering temporary layoffs to save cash. Boeing will freeze hiring and cut travel and spending on suppliers. Striking worker Rachel Ogg blames the previous CEO.

OGG: This was his mistake in the uppers. The hourlies didn't do this.

About 33,000 machinists are striking. They had asked for a 40 percent pay raise. Boeing offered them a 25 percent raise over four years.

Worker Greg Lathrop:

LATHROP: Their first contract offer was a complete insult.

A federal mediator has been brought in to help strike a deal.

I’m Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: Big issues on the ballot…on Washington Wednesday. Plus, World Tour.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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