We’re back and we’re reading – everything from “ABC News” to “BBC News.” We’re trying to help you keep up with the rapid pace of politics and policy. Today we’ve got updates on the mail bombs, a drug initiative and tweets by President Trump.
Total mail bombs: 12
Two additional bombs, addressed to Senator Cory Booker and former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, were intercepted Friday morning.
The package addressed to Booker was intercepted in Florida, while Clapper’s was found in New York. The FBI confirmed that these packages were “similar in appearance” to the other 10 mail bombs found this week.
Who were all the mail bombs sent to? Here’s the running list of who and where they were sent.
- Investor George Soros (New York)
- President Bill and Hillary Clinton (New York)
- President Barack Obama (D.C.)
- Former Attorney General Eric Holder (Florida)
- Democratic US Rep. Maxine Waters (1 in Los Angeles, another in Maryland)
- Former CIA Director John Brennan (New York)
- Former Vice President Joe Biden (2 in Delaware)
- Actor Robert De Niro (New York)
- Senator Cory Booker (1 intercepted in Florida)
- Former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper (New York)
Now, the FBI is zeroing in on one postal facility.
All eyes on Florida
FBI investigators are looking into a US Postal Service facility in Opa-locka, Florida, northwest of Miami. Investigators have searched through the mail facility and security footage looking for any leads.
Authorities arrested Cesar Sayoc in Florida on Friday.
According to local police officers, the postal facility also has a bomb squad and canine unit on site with federal officials.
Authorities have branded the mail bombs as an act of terrorism, even though the explosives might not have even been made to work.
Lower drug pricing
President Donald Trump proposed to lower drug prices on Thursday, saying the prices should be based on other countries’ prices. He said Medicare should pay for some prescription drugs based on other industrial countries’ costs.
The change would save the government and Medicare beneficiaries a lot of money. The proposal would not go into effect until 2019 or possibly early 2020.
This initiative is just one of the many initiatives proposed by the White House as the midterm elections approach.
Trump says turn around
In his usual medium, Twitter, President Trump warned the migrant caravan Thursday to turn around.
To those in the Caravan, turnaround, we are not letting people into the United States illegally. Go back to your Country and if you want, apply for citizenship like millions of others are doing!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 25, 2018
The President’s tweet came hours after a U.S. official confirmed around 800 troops will be sent to the U.S-Mexico border to assist the National Guard and Homeland Security. It is unclear which units will be deployed and why they are deployed.
It’s important to note that federal law prohibits the use of active duty service members for law enforcement inside the United States, unless signed off and authorized by Congress.
Trump’s early morning tweet
At 3 a.m. President Trump was active on Twitter. President Trump addressed CNN as he claimed he was the one being blamed for the mail bombs being sent to Democratic officials and others.
Trump’s early Friday morning tweet said ‘‘Funny how lowly rated CNN, and others, can criticize me at will, even blaming me for the current spate of Bombs and ridiculously comparing this to September 11th and the Oklahoma City bombing, yet when I criticize them they go wild and scream, ‘it’s just not Presidential!’’’
CNN is a usual target for Trump’s tweets. According to the Trump Twitter Archive, a website that archives the President’s tweets, President Trump has tweeted about CNN more than 260 times since he announced his candidacy in June 2015.
California slams Trump
California will submit a repudiation of President Trump’s proposal to freeze the fuel-efficiency standards for the United States’ cars and trucks. The state officials call the freeze, which would be in effect until 2026, “flawed” and “illegal.”
The 400-page rejection claims this proposal would worsen the air quality and harm the wallets of Americans. This document also foreshadows a potential legal battle between the federal government, California and many other states.
No comment has been made from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Environmental Protection Agency. California’s rejection joins more than 72,000 comments on the proposal.
That’s all for today. Check back Monday for more.