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A2 UP FRONT
Tuesday 9 July 2024
Biden tells Hill Democrats he won't step aside, says of party drama:

'It's time for it to end'

Continued from Front the White House as part of
his annual physical exams
— and no more — and said
"Any weakening of resolve the president has not been
or lack of clarity about the diagnosed with or treated for
task ahead only helps Trump Parkinson's.
and hurts us. It's time to come It's a tenuous and highly vola-
together, move forward as tile juncture for the president's
a unified party, and defeat party. Democrats who have
Donald Trump." worked alongside Biden for
Anxiety is running high as years — if not decades —
top-ranking Democratic law- and cherished his life's work
makers are joining calls for on policy priorities are now
Biden to step aside despite entertaining uncomfortable
his defiance. At the same questions about his political
time, some of the president's future. And it's unfolding as
most staunch supporters Biden hosts world leaders for
are redoubling the fight for the NATO summit this week
Biden's presidency, insisting in Washington.
there's no one better to beat The drama is playing out
Trump in what many see as with just over a month un-
among the most important til the Democratic National
elections of a lifetime. Convention and just a week
Biden followed up the letter President Joe Biden attends a church service at Mt. Airy Church of God in Christ, Sunday, July 7, before Republicans gather
with a phone interview with 2024, in Philadelphia. Associated Press in Milwaukee to renominate
MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show, Trump as their presidential
in which he insisted that "av- gaging veterans and military of the House's Congressional cuss the situation. Lawmak- pick. Many Democrats are
erage Democrats" want him families. Progressive Caucus, Rep. ers particularly bristled at arguing the attention needs
to stay in the race and said "For all the talk out there Pramila Jayapal, who was being cast as out of touch to be focused not on Biden
he was frustrated by the calls about this race, Joe has not ready to cast aside Bi- with voters since representa- but on the former president's
from party officials for him to made it clear that he's all in," den, saying that the threat of tives in particular have been felony conviction in the hush
step aside. she told a military crowd in a second Trump presidency home in their districts listening money case and pending
"They're big names, but I Wilmington, North Carolina. remains too high. Yet one of to voters. federal charges in his effort
don't care what those big "That's the decision that he's the most endangered Demo- Biden planned to meet virtu- to overturn the 2020 election.
names think," Biden said. made, and just as he has al- crats this election cycle, Sen. ally Monday with the Con- In an effort to "get on the
He threw the gauntlet at his ways supported my career, Jon Tester of Montana, said gressional Black Caucus — same page," House Demo-
critics, saying if they're seri- I am all in, too." in a statement, "President Bi- one of his staunchest blocs of cratic leader Hakeem Jeffries
ous they ought to "announce Democratic voters are split den has got to prove to the supporters in Congress. The is convening lawmakers for
for president, challenge me on whether Biden should re- American people—including White House would not say private meetings before he
at the convention" or rally main the Democratic Party's me—that he's up to the job whether Biden would meet shows his own preference,
behind him against Trump. nominee for president, or for another four years." with all Democratic lawmak- according to a person fa-
Later, Biden joined a call with whether there should be a However, Biden's letter left ers in person at the Capitol miliar with the situation and
members of his national fi- different Democratic nomi- some House Democrats, who this week. granted anonymity to discuss
nance committee, while first nee, according to a New want to hear directly from Meanwhile, press secretary it. He planned to gather on
lady Jill Biden campaigned York Times/Siena College Biden himself, furious, ac- Karine Jean-Pierre said Bi- Monday some Democrats
for her husband in a three- poll. More voices spoke up cording to one House aide den had undergone three whose bids for reelection
state swing focused on en- Monday, including the chair granted anonymity to dis- neurological exams while in are most vulnerable.q

More than 3 million pass through US airport

security in a day for the first time as travel surges

gers have been screened in 2001, and replaced a col- tion data. Those costs have
a single day as travel surges, lection of private security been trending lower since
according to the U.S. Trans- companies that were hired the beginning of the year.
portation Security Adminis- by airlines. The agency oper- While most U.S. airlines lost
tration. ates under the Department money in the first quarter —
The record, which was wide- of Homeland Security, which traditionally the weakest time
ly predicted to happen at said that agents on Sunday of year for travel — they were
some point over the July Four checked 35 passengers ev- all expecting a summer of
holiday weekend, topped ery second. full planes.
A traveler walks through the departure area as airline catering the June 23 mark of more While Americans continue to This spring, American and
workers who are employed by Gate Gourmet picket with their than 2.99 million screened grapple with inflation, travel Southwest said they expect-
supporters, calling for a new union contract with raises and passengers. Eight of the 10 costs including airline tickets ed solid second quarter prof-
affordable health insurance, Wednesday, July 3, 2024, at Miami busiest days in TSA's history and hotel prices have eased its. They joined Delta Air Lines
International Airport in Miami. have come this year as the significantly from a year and United Airlines in giving
Associated Press number of travelers tops pre- ago. Hotel rooms were 1.2% an upbeat outlook for the
By MATT OTT passed through U.S. airport pandemic levels. cheaper in May compared April-through-June period,
AP Business Writer security on Sunday, the first TSA was created after the with a year ago, according which includes the start of
More than 3 million people time that number of passen- terror attacks on Sept. 11, to recent government infla- peak season for carriers. q