AURN News

In a move that surprised many due to its bipartisan nature, the House passed a 45-day funding bill, pulling us back from the brink of a government shutdown. A commanding 335 representatives from both sides of the aisle united to approve the bill. Now, all that remains is for President Biden to give his signature, ensuring the government continues to operate.

Navigating the bill wasn't without challenges. Speaker Kevin McCarthy took a decisive step by proposing a clean short-term funding bill. Though it included provisions for disaster aid, it intentionally sidestepped the contentious issue of aid to Ukraine.

Given the bill's rapid introduction, some representatives, including Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, found themselves under pressure to review its 71 pages in a very short timeframe. However, by the time of the vote, Jeffries, along with the majority of his Democratic colleagues, signaled their support.

Yet, there's more to this than just the funding narrative. McCarthy's strategy has certainly ruffled feathers within the political arena. As scrutiny now intensifies around Representative Matt Gaetz, a notable critic of McCarthy, many are speculating about the broader implications for the GOP's unity and the trajectory of McCarthy's political career.

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Now that the writers are back to work, it will be interesting to see how this new contract handles artificial intelligence. The topic was a real stickler in the contract negotiations.

Well, it's no surprise that a movie with that same theme hits theaters this week: "The Creator," starring John David Washington.

It's a science fiction thriller film produced and directed by Gareth Edwards, who's getting thumbs up critical reviews. Here's what Gareth had to say about the movie:

"As we were making 'The Creator,' AI has gotten better and better. And it feels like we're at that tipping point now. And this movie questions, what does that look like 50 years from now when AI is more embedded as part of society? The way we wanted to approach AI in this film was as naturalistic as possible.'

"The Creator" is in theaters this week. It is pretty good. You may want to check that one out.

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September 27 is observed as National Gay Men's HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (NGMHAAD) - a day dedicated to shining a light on the impact of HIV/AIDS within the gay and bisexual male community.

On this day, we acknowledge the persistent challenges faced by this community and emphasize the importance of education, testing, and support. NGMHAAD serves as a powerful reminder that while significant progress has been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the battle is far from over, especially for those within the LGBTQ+ spectrum.

It is a day for individuals, organizations, and communities to come together, raise awareness, combat stigma, and promote access to essential healthcare services.

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New Jersey's U.S. Senator Bob Menendez arrived at a Manhattan federal courthouse to answer charges alleging bribery, including receiving cash and gold bars in return for advancing Egyptian interests and performing favors for New Jersey businessmen.

Menendez's arrival came amidst increasing demands from fellow Democrats, including New Jersey's other Senator Cory Booker, for him to step down. Senator Dick Durbin, the Senate's second-ranking Democrat, joined these calls, citing disturbing details of wrongdoing.

This isn't Menendez's first brush with corruption allegations. His 2017 trial on different charges ended in a jury deadlock. Now, along with Menendez, his wife, Nadine, stands accused of collecting significant bribes from businessmen, one of whom returned voluntarily from Egypt to face charges.

Prosecutors are alleging that Menendez used his political clout to promote Egyptian interests, including pushing for $300 million in aid, despite U.S. concerns over Egypt's human rights practices.

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President Joe Biden visited the UAW picket line today and stood shoulder to shoulder with striking United Auto Workers in Belleville, Michigan.

"You've heard me say it many times: Wall Street didn't build the country, the middle class built the country. And unions built the middle class. That's a fact. You deserve what you've earned and you've earned a hell of a lot more than you're getting paid now," the president said.

It is the first time a sitting president has joined workers on a picket line amidst a labor dispute. Biden's message was clear: stick with it. He emphasized the role of the UAW in saving the auto industry during the 2008 financial crisis, arguing it's time these workers get their due.

The union is seeking various benefits, including a significant 40 percent pay raise over four years.

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump is set to rally in Detroit tonight amid his appeal to the working class.

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During the 2023 Phoenix Awards at the Congressional Black Caucus’ 52nd Annual Legislative Conference in Washington D.C., Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass received the Foundation Chair’s Award for her political career, CBS News reports. 

Under the theme, "Securing Our Democracy, Protecting Our Freedoms, and Uplifting Our Culture,” the event was held at Walter E. Washington Convention Center.  

Bass was chair of the caucus from 2019 to 2021. Bass said, “CBC will always be in my heart, and even though I might not be a member of Congress I still consider myself part of the CBC family.” 

In December 2022, Bass made history as the first woman to be elected mayor of Los Angeles.

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In a bold move today, President Joe Biden will become the first sitting U.S. president to stand shoulder to shoulder with striking workers on a picket line. He's in Michigan, backing the United Auto Workers, who are at odds with the nation's three leading automakers.

The workers are advocating for a more significant share of the profits they contribute to generating. They're also fighting to ensure their jobs remain well-paid in the future. As the strike reaches its 12th day, tensions are escalating.

With Michigan being a pivotal election battleground, Biden's show of solidarity comes just days before Donald Trump's scheduled Detroit visit.

As Trump critiques the union's leadership and Biden pushes for green vehicles, Biden is reaffirming his stance and calling for a win-win agreement.

With both leaders courting union support, the looming question is: What lies ahead for Motor City's workforce, and will a resolution be reached soon?

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President Joe Biden hosted a meeting with his administration's Board of Advisors on Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Board Chair Dr. Tony Allen spoke on the work the administration has done:

"No other president, no other administration in history has given so much to HBCUs so quickly, so clearly. There's a clear vision for giving more."

President Biden declared September 24-30 as National HBCU Week. HBCUs have produced an immense array of Black professionals, yet many face dire funding challenges.

Recent revelations shine a light on the depths of this issue. Historically Black land grant universities in 16 states have been shortchanged by a whopping $12.6 billion over the last 30 years.

This concerning disparity has led the administration to call on state leaders to rectify the situation and ensure HBCUs flourish.

While the Biden-Harris administration has been proactive in its support, the ball is now in the court of state leaders to bridge this funding gap.

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Jesse L. Martin finally has his own show, and it's about time. As you might guess, it's a procedural show -- that's what he cut his teeth on. From 1999 to 2008, he starred as Det. Ed Green on "Law & Order."

Altogether, he was the fifth longest serving cast member behind S. Epatha Merkerson, Sam Waterston, Jerry Orbach, and Steven Hill.

This time, Martin is the star and plays Dr. Alec Mercer. Here's what his new show, "The Irrational," focuses on in his words:

"'The Irrational' follows a behavioral psychologist by the name of Alec Mercer, played by myself, Jesse L. Martin. It's just standard procedural with nothing standard about it. You basically follow this guy through his personal life and his professional life, and he has the bonus of being very tuned in on human behavior and the deficit of being very tuned in on human behavior. So you can imagine how much that would affect his personal life, certainly benefits his professional life, but personal life gets a little funny, and therein lies the drama."

Alec's crime solving methods do add some fun psychological wrinkles to this procedural formula. The show premieres on NBC in primetime. Check it out.

And again, congratulations to Jesse L. Martin. He has always represented us very well.

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In a week buzzing with Capitol Hill drama, Congress faces a rapidly approaching deadline -- September 30 -- to fund the government and avert a shutdown. House Republicans aim to advance four spending bills this week, but the move won't help sidestep a looming shutdown.

The GOP remains divided on a short-term stopgap bill known as a continuing resolution, leaving the door wide open for the Senate to take action. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has pushed forward, vowing a bipartisan effort to keep the government functioning.

Meanwhile, drama is unfolding as the House Oversight Committee gears up for its first impeachment inquiry hearing into President Biden on Thursday. No public evidence suggests the president directly gained from family business ventures.

Adding fuel to the fire is Senator Bob Menendez of New Jersey, who faces bipartisan calls for resignation following his indictment on federal bribery charges.

With the clock ticking and stakes high, the question looms: will Congress break the deadlock to prevent a government shutdown, or are we on the brink of political chaos?

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