President Trump reiterated his "America first" worldview and policy agenda on Tuesday in a speech at the United Nations that bemoaned globalism and instead urged mutual support among sovereign nations.
"Wise leaders put the good of their own people and their own country first," Trump said in his third address as president to the UN General Assembly. "The free world must embrace its national foundations. It must not attempt to erase them or replace them."
However, he called for countries to work together toward common goals. "America is ready to embrace friendship with all who genuinely seek peace and respect," he said. "Many of America's closest friends today were once our greatest foes. America has never believed in permanent foes."
As with his past speeches at the UN, Trump used the platform to critique international institutions.
The president doubled down on his maximum pressure approach to Iran, a government he characterized as "one of the greatest security threats" to international peace. Trump, who pulled the U.S. out of the Iran nuclear deal last year despite global objections, threatened greater sanctions if "menacing behavior continues" and added that "no responsible government should subsidize Iran's blood lust."
Trump also called on North Korea to denuclearize and slammed Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, calling the embattled leader a "dictator" and "a Cuban puppet protected by Cuban bodyguards." In a not-so subtle shunning, the Venezuelan delegation in the audience visibly read a book about Simón Bolívar, the military and political leader that lead Venezuela's fight for independence.
<i>Photo Credit: Richard Drew/AP/Shutterstock</i>
On China, Trump reiterated that he will "not accept a bad deal for the American people" in order to resolve the enduring trade dispute between the two countries. He also called on Chinese President Xi Jinping to tread carefully in responding to the ongoing unrest in Hong Kong, saying that China must adhere to the governing system that protects "Hong Kong's freedom, legal system, and democractic ways of life."
He bragged of America's strong economy and lowest level of unemployment in half a century, "thanks to our pro-growth economic policies" and noted plans to meet with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzō Abe to work on a new trade agreement.
While touting the might of the U.S. military, the president said the U.S. "does not seek conflict" and desires "peace, cooperation, and mutual gain with all," although his administration will "never fail to defend America's interests." He also called on member nations to increase their contributions to global security and "pay their fair share of the tremendous defense burden" that has largely fallen on the U.S.
On migration, Trump fired back against international criticim of his illegal immigration policies, saying, "Each of you has the absolute right to protect your borders and so, of course, does our country." He also criticized "open border activists" who he said pursue a "cruel and evil" agenda that is "empowering criminal organizations that prey on innocent men, women and children."
The president also derided socialism — the "wrecker of nations and destroyer of societies" — and declared that the U.S. will never be a socialist country.
Above all, however, Trump stressed that governments lead by "patriots" are the future of the world's nation-state system.
"The true good of a nation can only be pursued by those who love it, by citizens who are rooted in its history, who are nourished in its culture, committed to its values, attached to its people, and who know that its future is theirs to build," Trump said at the end of his speech.
Americans looking to purchase at-home COVID-19 tests will now have to shell out a bit more money after an agreement expired between the White House and companies to sell the tests at cost. The price of Abbot's BinaxNow test kit from October to December was $14 apiece; on Tuesday, Walmart's website listed the test for $19.88, and Kroger listed the tests for $23.99. Carbon Health Regional Clinical Director Dr. Bayo Curry-Winchell joined Cheddar News' Closing Bell to discuss the impact higher prices will have as the nation experiences another surge in cases.
After the Chicago teachers union voted to work remotely due to what they say is a lack of safety protocols amid the COVID-19 surge, the school system canceled classes on Wednesday, citing harm that remote learning has done to the city's children. Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers, joined Cheddar to discuss the issues surrounding the latest dispute between educators and schools. She said that the return to in-person learning would likely be halted until more COVID tests could be provided for districts. "This is a terrible situation for everybody, and we need the testing, and we need the masks," she said. "It's the omicron surge that has created this disruption, and we are trying to do the best we can. And this is the only school district that has this kind of action right now." The teachers might not be returning to their schools for at least two weeks amid the ongoing tensions.
Illinois State Senator Robert Martwick joins Cheddar News to discuss the new bill he co-sponsored allowing students in the state to take 5 mental health days without a doctor's note.
On Monday, President Biden announced his new plan to take on inflation by taking down the big meat monopolies - turning to the federal government's antitrust authorities to investigate the major meatpackers that control a significant share of the market. The White House plans to devote one billion dollars to aiding independent meat and poultry producers in an effort to undercut the few powerful meat producers that have control of the sector. Austin Frerick, deputy director of Thurman Arnold Project at Yale, joins Cheddar News to discuss.
As the pandemic drags on, so does the widespread great resignation. In November alone, 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs, marking a new record high, and showing a 9 percent jump from the month prior. On the flip side, the number of people filing tax paperwork to start new businesses is surging, with over 430,000 new businesses launching in November. Rhett Buttle, the founder of Public Private Strategies and national business advisor to the Biden for President campaign, joined Wake Up with Cheddar to discuss.
New York Attorney General Letitia James is ramping up a civil investigation into The Trump Organization. The AG's office has subpoenaed Ivanka Trump and Donald Trump Jr. They have refused to comply with the subpoenas. Bradley Moss, national security attorney, joins Cheddar News to discuss the next steps in this investigation.
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis has officially reduced the 110-year prison sentence of truck driver Rogel Aguilera-Mederos to 10 years, calling the initial lengthy sentence “unjust.” Dan Gilleon, constitutional attorney at Gilleon Law Firm APC, joined Cheddar to discuss more.
Former Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams was sworn in as the newest Mayor of New York City. Adams is now expected to work on a number of issues such as crime and coronavirus. Erin Durkin,, reporter at PoliticoNY, joins Cheddar News to discuss more.
California's new composting law will affect what residents do in their kitchens. As of this week, Californians will have to recycle excess food in an effort to reduce emissions caused by food waste. Cities and counties will turn recycled food into compost or use it as a renewable energy source. California's new law is the largest mandatory residential food waste recycling program in the country. Rachel Wagoner, Director of the California Department of Resources, Recycling and Recovery called the law 'the biggest change to trash' since recycling started in the 1980s. She joined Cheddar Climate to discuss.
