Wednesday Afternoon Update: Second American Killed In Sudan, Xi And Zelensky Phone Call, Debt Deal?

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Second American Citizen Killed in Sudan

John Kirby, spokesperson for the White House National Security Council, confirmed the death of a second American citizen in Sudan. Kirby stated that although there have been reports of violence, the levels of violence have gone down significantly. He urged both military factions to uphold the ceasefire and extend it. The ceasefire has been in place since April 24th.

Xi Jinping and Volodymyr Zelensky Discuss War and Diplomacy

Xi Jinping, the leader of the Chinese Communist Party, called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the war and other international matters. Xi told Zelensky that China would not add “fuel to the fire” and encouraged Zelensky to end the conflict “politically.” After the hour-long conversation, Zelensky tweeted that he had a “long and meaningful call” and that particular attention was made to ending things through diplomacy. However, Zelensky insisted that “the territorial integrity of Ukraine must be restored within the 1991 borders.”

U.S. Nuclear-Armed Submarines Deployed off the Coast of South Korea

President Joe Biden welcomed South Korean President Yoon Sook Yohl to the White House for a state visit to celebrate the alliance between the two countries. The two leaders announced the “Washington Declaration” aimed at deterring North Korea from attacking South Korea. The Biden administration will deploy U.S. nuclear-armed submarines off the coast of South Korea for the first time in 40 years.

Debt Ceiling Compromise Bill

House Republicans are confident that they can pass Speaker Kevin McCarthy’s debt ceiling compromise bill on Wednesday, though eight GOP holdouts vow that they will not support the measure unless it is revamped to remove cuts to ethanol tax credits. Just five GOP “no” votes could tank the bill. McCarthy says that the bill is just intended to open negotiations.

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Disney Sues Governor Ron DeSantis

Walt Disney World announced a lawsuit against Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, claiming that he has waged a “relentless campaign to weaponize government power” against the company. The federal lawsuit alleges that DeSantis led a campaign to punish Disney over its political views and that it was “orchestrated at every step” by the governor, ultimately threatening their business profit. The governor’s office responded in a statement, saying the lawsuit is another attempt to undermine Florida voters.

Chicago Must Rehire and Pay Back Anti-Vax Employees

An Illinois judge ruled that the city of Chicago must rehire and pay back lost wages of unionized city employees who were fired or disciplined for violating COVID vaccination requirements. The Judge said that the city “failed and refused” to bargain in good faith with union leaders “over the effects of its decision to implement a COVID vaccine mandate.”

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