Attempted Bombings Appear to Target Prominent Liberals, Media
*By Carlo Versano*
The explosive device sent to CNN in New York was an "effort to terrorize," said New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.
Investigators at a press conference described the device as an apparent "live" pipe bomb. Officials fielded questions in front of the Time Warner Center, which houses CNN's New York studios and was partially evacuated Wednesday morning when the mailroom discovered the suspicious package. There was an unknown white powder that came with the device, which was undergoing testing, officials said.
Police officers were in the mailroom at the time because of the apparent bombs also sent to prominent Democrats over the last two days, including former President Obama, Hillary Clinton, and George Soros. NYPD Deputy Commissioner John Miller said officers were there to instruct mail handlers on what to do if they saw something suspicious.
N.Y. Gov. Andrew Cuomo said his office had also received a device Wednesday, though he did not elaborate on whether it was connected.
CNN reported the package it received was addressed to former CIA Chief John Brennan, with an address that comes up on Google ($GOOGL) for CNN's N.Y. bureau but is not its official address. Brennan does not work for CNN but has appeared on air making sharply critical comments of the Trump administration.
The network also reported that another device was sent to former A.G. Eric Holder, though the address was incorrect and it was returned to sender. That device had a return address of Debbie Wasserman Schultz, the former Democratic congresswoman from Florida. It was unclear whether a separate suspicious package reported at her office was, in fact, the Holder package being returned.
Yet another suspicious device was intercepted by Capitol Hill police that was addressed to Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA), ABC News reported.
James O'Neill, the NYPD commissioner, said at least some of the devices had consistent packaging, and that given the targets, the possibility that they were part of a single politically motivated attack was "of concern."
The White House said in a statement on Wednesday: "These terrorizing acts are despicable, and anyone responsible will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.”
President Trump, speaking at an event on the opioid epidemic, condemned "political violence of any kind" and said "in these times we have to unify."
He did not mention CNN.
Earlier this month, New York City experienced one of the deadliest fires it has seen in decades. 17 people lost their lives in the Fordham section of the Bronx. This was due to a faulty space heater which reportedly began on the lower floor of the 120 unit building. Thanks to the F. D. N. Y. And heroic neighbors, many were able to get out in time. Unfortunately, the toxic smoke surged upwards through a safety door. Now, many advocates say negligence by policymakers and landlords has led to the deaths in black and brown communities from fires that honestly could have been preventable. Legislative Director of Citizen Action of New York, Rebecca Garrard, and the Chair of Journalism and New Media Studies at St. Joseph's College Theodore Hamm, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
The Supreme Court has declined to order the Texas Abortion case back to the original trial judge for further proceedings. Essentially if Texas abortion providers were able to get their case back to the lower court., It would have greatly helped the group move against the law. However, this decision is likely to prolong the case legal battle. Professor and Author of "The Turnaway Study: Ten Years, a Thousand Women, and the Consequences of Having — Or Being Denied — An Abortion", Diane Foster, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
The Supreme Court rejected yet another bid by abortion providers to block Texas's law - which bans most abortions after six weeks of pregnancy. This is the fourth time that advocates have tried and failed to block the most restrictive abortion ban in the country. Leah Litman, assistant professor of law at The University of Michigan and co-host of the "Strict Scrutiny" podcast, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
As the standoff between the U.S. and its allies continues with Russia over its possible designs to invade Ukraine, President Biden held a video conference call with European leadership and had 8,500 American troops put on high alert. Jamil Jaffer, a former associate White House counsel for the Bush Administration, joined Cheddar to discuss his views on the escalating crisis in Eastern Europe.
As controversy dogs the run-up to the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, China is hiring TikTokers and other social media influencers to promote the nation's history, culture, diplomatic efforts, and current trends.
The Supreme Court has rejected another request to block Texas' strict abortion law. This marks the third time the high court has declined to intervene in challenges to the law that bans abortions after six weeks, well before many women even know they're pregnant. Aziza Ahmed, professor of law at the University of California, Irvine, joined Cheddar News to discuss the impact of the law so far on women seeking abortion services in Texas.
Mayors in cities like Miami and New York City are considering introducing cryptocurrencies as a way to reduce economic inequality. Miami Mayor Francis X. Suarez has even pushed for distributing Bitcoin dividends to the city's inhabitants.
The U.S. will be implementing a vaccine mandate for all people entering through its land borders, removing exemptions for "essential" travelers such as truckers, students, and business people. While the Canadian Trucking Alliance argues that the new, stricter rule might exacerbate ongoing auto supply chain issues, some health experts see the potential for helping curb the ongoing pandemic. Anthony Santella, a professor of health administration at the University of New Haven, joined Cheddar to give his take on the updated border crossing restriction. "We can't just focus on one type of travel. We need to ensure that it's clear and consistent across all types of travel," Santella said.
