Biden's White House won't vow to decouple Ukraine aid from relief funding for US victims of Florida hurricane and Maui wildfires



White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has gone on the record proclaiming that the Biden administration will not vow to decouple billions of taxpayer dollars going to Ukraine from relief funding for American victims of Hurricane Idalia in Florida and the wildfires in Maui, Hawaii.

During Wednesday's White House press briefing, Jean-Pierre was asked if disaster relief funds should be decoupled from additional aid to Ukraine.

"Look, we see them both as incredibly important," Jean-Pierre replied. "I just laid out at the top what we saw happen in Ukraine: 16 civilians died."

"We — we are going to see the President go to the G20, talking about our commitment for Ukraine and making sure that the people of Ukraine — who are bravely fighting for their sovereignty, for their democracy — has what they need to fight against Russia’s aggression," she continued.

Jean-Pierre said the American aid to Ukraine was "important to help a country continue to fight for their democracy."

She said that President Joe Biden believes that it is "our job" and "duty" to "make sure that Ukraine continues to fight, again, for their sovereignty, for their democracy."

Biden's mouthpiece proclaimed, "We're not going to get into hypotheticals from here about decoupling anything at this time."

She added, "These are vital programs. These are vital, important government programs that need to be done."

The Florida Phoenix reported:

FEMA has projected at least a $4 billion deficit with the disaster relief fund. The Biden administration in August proposed a supplemental package to Congress, including $12 million for disaster relief to pay for recent natural disasters like the fire in Maui and now the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia. But in the same spending package, the president sought more than $24 billion in additional funding for Ukraine’s military needs in their battle against Russia.

While Biden's White House is seemingly hesitant to untie the Ukraine aid to the relief funds of devastating natural disasters in the United States, Florida Republicans are attempting to separate the two causes.

Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) introduced the Federal Disaster Responsibility Act – legislation to decouple American disaster relief from Ukrainian aid. The legislation would provide the Federal Emergency Management Agency's disaster relief fund with $16.5 billion.

"When disaster strikes, families can’t be left wondering whether the federal government is going to show up or if they’ll be strung along while Washington uses them as a bargaining chip in a massive spending bill," Scott said in a statement. "Funding for Ukraine should NEVER be paired with disaster relief for American families. Congress has passed all of the provisions in this bill before, and it needs to do its job and get that done again."

Rubio added, "One of the most basic functions of the U.S. Government is, and should continue to be, to help Americans when disasters hit. Sadly, the Biden Administration intentionally withheld a budget request for the Disaster Relief Fund for months after acknowledging a funding shortfall to leverage it in exchange for unrelated spending."

"Congress must hold the administration accountable for this cynical conduct that has jeopardized disaster response, and must pass this straightforward bill as soon as possible," Rubio concluded.

Illinois Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth declared she would block the proposed legislation, and said it was necessary to tie American disaster relief to Ukraine aid.

"I would [block Scott’s bill]. I think it’s important to include Ukrainian funding," Duckworth told reporters.

Just this week, the Pentagon announced a new $600 million package of long-term aid to Ukraine – including weapons and other equipment for the country's war against Russia.

On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ukraine and pledged to provide the nation with $1 billion in new military and humanitarian aid.

The Council on Foreign Relations estimates the U.S. government has provided Ukraine with $76.8 billion in aid between Jan. 24, 2022, and May 31, 2023. The non-partisan think tank notes that the estimate does not include all U.S. spending on the war between Ukraine and Russia.

— (@)

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

‘That Is Sad And Sick’: GOP Rep Blasts Dems For Playing Political Games With Disaster Aid For Maui, Florida

'He spent less than half than what we’ve given him'

FACT CHECK: Viral X Video Predates Hurricane Idalia

The video, while shot in Florida, dates back to June 2023

Electric vehicle owners learn the hard way what happens when salt water floods their climate-friendly car



At least two Floridians who own electric vehicles learned last week what happens when salt water corrupts their vehicle's battery system.

After Hurricane Idalia battered the Big Bend region of the Sunshine State, at least two electric vehicles — both of them Teslas — caught fire after they were submerged in seawater.

The incidents led local firefighters to warn residents against keeping their EVs, or any electric-powered set of wheels, inside or near a structure.

"If you own a hybrid or electric vehicle that has come into contact with saltwater due to recent flooding within the last 24 hours, it is crucial to relocate the vehicle from your garage without delay. Saltwater exposure can trigger combustion in lithium-ion batteries," the Palm Harbor Fire Rescue advised in a social media post.

The threat, according to Carfax spokesperson Patrick Olsen, comes when the floodwaters recede and the mineral deposits from the salt water dry on the battery.

"The salt water that is flooding can get into the battery and dry there, and once it dries, it creates what federal safety officials call bridges between cells, and that can lead to fires, and that those fires can come anywhere from days to weeks later," Olsen explained. "And once an EV catches on fire, it is incredibly difficult to put it out."

According to the U.S. Fire Administration, ignition of EV batteries corrupted by seawater can take days or even weeks after the initial exposure. The fires also release harmful chemicals and are difficult to suppress.

Last year, at least a dozen EVs burned to the ground in Florida after being submerged in salt water from Hurricane Ian. Two homes, which weathered the storm, burned to the ground because a single corrupted EV stored inside a garage spontaneously combusted.

If your EV is exposed to saltwater flooding, the U.S. Fire Administration recommends moving it at least 50 feet from structures, other vehicles, and combustable materials.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

FACT CHECK: No, Video Does Not Show A Tornado Caused By Hurricane Idalia

The video is miscaptioned

DeSantis drops facts on Biden, climate alarmists for 'politicizing the weather' to push leftist agenda



Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) slammed the media on Sunday for "politicizing the weather" and blaming Hurricane Idalia on climate change.

After touring hurricane damage in Florida on Saturday, President Joe Biden asserted that "nobody intelligent can deny the impact of the climate crisis anymore." Then, at a press conference on Sunday, a reporter asked DeSantis about Biden's remarks as well as the remarks from other media talking heads who are blaming weather events on climate change.

The Florida governor responded by quickly shutting down the leftist narrative.

"The notion that somehow hurricanes are something new, that's just false. And we've got to stop politicizing the weather and stop politicizing natural disasters," he responded.

The governor cited two powerful hurricanes that struck Florida: a 1896 storm that followed nearly the same path and had the same estimated strength as Idalia and the Labor Day hurricane in 1935, one of the most deadly and most powerful storms ever to strike the U.S. These hurricanes, DeSantis suggested, are two examples that prima facie disprove the narrative that climate change is causing more intense storms.

— (@)

DeSantis also tackled the political component of the progressive claims about policy and climate change.

"The notion that somehow if we just adopt very left-wing policies at the federal level, that somehow we will not have hurricanes, that is a lie," DeSantis said.

"And that is people trying to take what’s happened with different types of storms and use that as a pretext to advance their agenda on the backs of people who are suffering," he continued. "And that's wrong, and we're not going to do that in the state of Florida."

The governor was criticized for allegedly "snubbing" Biden over the weekend. The president claimed that DeSantis helped plan Biden's visit, but DeSantis' office said he never had plans to meet with Biden because the logistical operations of presidential travel would disrupt recovery efforts.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

On same day report finds Biden spent 40% of presidency on vacation, president says he 'hasn't had the occasion to go to East Palestine'



President Joe Biden claimed that his busy schedule has prevented him from visiting the disaster site in East Palestine, Ohio. However, a new report found that President Biden is taking a record number of vacation days.

Biden visited areas in Florida affected by Hurricane Idalia on Saturday from 1 p.m. until he reportedly left before 6 p.m. to go on his latest vacation at his house in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware. Biden surveyed the damage in Live Oak, Florida, roughly 65 miles northeast from Keaton Beach, Florida – where Hurricane Idalia made landfall on Wednesday morning.

During a press conference in Live Oak, Biden was asked why Biden traveled to the Big Bend region of Florida, but did not visit victims of the East Palestine train derailment disaster.

Biden responded, "Well, I haven't had the occasion to go to East Palestine. There's a lot going on here, and I just haven't been able to break."

The 80-year-old president claimed, "I was thinking whether I'd go to East Palestine this week, but then I was reminded I've got to go literally around the world. I'm going from Washington to India to Vietnam. And so, it's gonna be awhile."

"But we're making sure that East Palestine has what they need materially in order to deal with their problems," he asserted.

— (@)

On Feb. 3, a freight train derailed in the town of East Palestine. The derailment dumped toxic chemicals into the soil and waterways. An independent testing expert found concerning rates of dangerous cancer-causing dioxins in East Palestine.

On March 2, President Biden vowed he would visit the catastrophe site "at some point." Now – 184 days later – Biden has yet to fulfill his promise of visiting East Palestine.

On the same day that Biden insisted that he has been too busy to visit East Palestine, a new report found that the president has spent 40% of his presidency on vacation.

The New York Post reported on Saturday, "As of last Sunday, Biden has spent all or part of 382 of his presidency’s 957 days – or 40% — on personal overnight trips away from the White House, putting him on pace to become America's most idle commander-in-chief, according to data calculated by the Republican National Committee and confirmed by The Post using White House reports of Biden’s movements."

The report found Biden's record vacation time beats out George H.W. Bush – who spent 36% of his presidency on personal trips away from Washington. Meanwhile, Donald Trump was at 26%, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama at 11%, and Jimmy Carter at 5% away from the White House.

Biden is expected to spend Labor Day weekend at his Delaware beach house.

Earlier this month, Biden was bashed for being on vacation and having no comment regarding the deadly wildfires in Maui.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Biden says we're 'gonna need a whole hell of a lot more money' when speaking of climate change, but praises DeSantis for Idalia recovery



In a recent speech, President Joe Biden alleged that the government is "gonna need a whole hell of a lot more money" when it comes to climate change. However, he also praised Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for his recovery plan for the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.

On Thursday, Biden spoke at the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters in Washington, D.C. The president was addressing the recent impact of Hurricane Idalia on Florida and claimed that the violent storm was fueled by climate change.

"We're in a situation, where, you know, uh. We're, uh. How can I say it? There’s still some deniers out there, in terms of whether or not climate change has anything to do with any of this," Biden asserted.

Biden – who has been criticized for his lackluster humanitarian response to the wildfires in Maui – claimed, "We're going to need a whole hell of a lot more money to deal with emergency appropriations."

— (@)

Biden said he had spoken with the Republican Florida governor three times regarding the emergency response to Hurricane Idalia.

"Seems like we should be on direct dial, the two of us," Biden said of DeSantis.

"I was down there [in Florida] when the last major storm [hit]," Biden said, referring to Hurricane Ian in Sept. 2022, according to CBS News. "I spent a lot of time with [DeSantis], walking from community to community, making sure he had what he needed to get done. I think he trusts my judgment and my desire to help. And I trust him to be able to suggest that this is not about politics, this is about taking care of the people of the state."

DeSantis said of the hardest hit area of Perry, "We have to deal with supporting the needs of the people who are in harm's way or have difficulties."

"And that has got to triumph over any type of short-term political calculation or any type of positioning," DeSantis added. "This is the real deal. You have people's lives that had been at risk. We don't necessarily have any confirmed fatalities yet, but that very well may change. And then you have people whose livelihoods have been turned upside down. And so, they need support. So, we're going to work together from local, state, federal, regardless of party, to be able to deliver results for the people in their time of need."

Meanwhile, former President Donald Trump was mostly silent about Hurricane Idalia on Wednesday – despite it happening in his adopted state of Florida.

Despite posting a whopping 31 videos in only five hours, Trump focused nearly exclusively on his campaign and his legal battles. The former president didn't mention Hurricane Idalia until after 4 p.m., when it had already left devastation in Florida and moved on to Georgia.

"I urge everyone to listen to your local officials, heed all warnings, and prioritize the safety of yourself and your loved ones," Trump said of the former Category 3 hurricane that had already passed through Florida.

"I've witnessed the courage, strength, and spirit of the great people of Florida many times over the years," he added. "Together, they will recover and rebuild, but in the meantime, be safe."

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Climate scientist levels CNN reporter for claiming fossil fuels intensified hurricane — and then he drops the historical facts



Meteorologist Dr. Ryan Maue rebuked CNN reporter Bill Weir on Wednesday for claiming that fossil fuels and climate change are intensifying storms.

Before Hurricane Idalia made landfall Wednesday morning, CNN anchor Abby Phillip asked Weir, CNN's chief climate correspondent, about how to protect communities from natural disasters, like hurricanes.

The question was flawed from the start because Phillip claimed that "warmer water, historically warm water" means "communities now are suddenly in the path of hurricanes where they have not been before." Still, Weir took the bait, connecting "wicked storms," fossil fuels, and climate change.

"Is there anything that can be done to protect [these communities] going forward?" Phillip asked.

"That's an amazing question," Weir responded. "It's the biggest, sort of trillion-dollar question about how you adapt communities like this to the world that we're already now living in at the same time trying to mitigate further more wicked storms down the road with more fossil fuel pollution."

Weir added that the cost of fossil fuel pollution-driven climate change is "becoming bigger with every storm."

"Science has been warning about this for a very long time. In many ways, it's been predicted," he claimed. "It's the speed that we're seeing these changes that has taken most folks by surprise."

— (@)

The CNN segment was completely misinformed, Maue later pointed out, because there was a major hurricane that hit in the same area as Idalia in the 19th century — long before widespread usage of fossil fuels.

"Except, the landfall of Idalia is only strongest along coastal area since 1896 Cedar Keys hurricane (125 mph) 125-years ago, well prior to modern fossil fuel usage," Maue wrote on social media.

— (@)

Maue, whose doctoral research focused on tropical cyclones, also exposed the reductionist connection that Weir and Phillip made between warm water and a strong cyclone.

"Why didn't Idalia rapidly intensify during the 3 days it sat over the NW Caribbean? Did someone forget to push a button or turn a knob?" he mocked, explaining the water in the Northwestern Caribbean is "very warm and deep."

Finally, Maue wondered why hurricanes in the mid-2000s — like Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma, which formed over comparatively cooler waters — were significantly stronger than Idalia if the accumulation of fossil fuel pollutants is intensifying cyclonic storms through climate change over time.

Those are probably questions that Weir, whose college degree focused on journalism and writing, cannot answer.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!

Peter Doocy hits KJP with blunt question about Biden's Maui wildfire response that visibly shocks his colleagues



Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre a direct question on Wednesday about President Joe Biden's response to Hurricane Idalia.

By all appearances, the president has been intimately involved in the disaster response. He even eschewed politics and told reporters that he trusts DeSantis. Doocy's question, then, sought to understand why Biden's response to this natural disaster has been "robust" compared to his "no comment" response to the Maui wildfires.

"Did you guys realize that the initial Hawaii wildfire response was not that good, or is it just easier for people to get help from the White House when the president is not on vacation?" Doocy asked, referring to Biden's vacations to Rehoboth Beach and Lake Tahoe this month.

The query visibly shocked reporters sitting near Doocy, including NBC News' Peter Alexander and the Wall Street Journal's Annie Linskey.

Doocy: "It seems like the hurricane response so far is robust. Did you guys realize that the initial Hawaiian wildfire was not that good or is it just easier for people to get help from the WH when [Biden] is not on vacation."

In the next seat, NBC's Peter Alexander was unamused pic.twitter.com/FzTKY1JESx
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) August 30, 2023


Jean-Pierre, of course, also was not pleased.

"So, the premise of your question and the way you posed your question, I disagree, just for the record," she said.

According to the press secretary, Doocy should speak with Hawaii officials, who will allegedly inform him that Biden "reacted in record time" to the Maui wildfires. The officials she cited, the state's governor and U.S. senators, are Democrats.

"If you were to do your reporting and speak to the governor of Hawaii, the senators of Hawaii, the folks on the ground, they would say that the president reacted in record time when it came to dealing with the wildfires, when it came to dealing and making sure that they got everything that they need on the federal level to deal with what was going on on the ground," she said.

"So, your question is wrong — it's flawed in many, many ways," she declared.

Interestingly, Jean-Pierre did not instruct Doocy to speak with Maui residents, many of whom were critical of Biden over what they believed was a lackluster response.

Like Blaze News? Bypass the censors, sign up for our newsletters, and get stories like this direct to your inbox. Sign up here!