What Did Joe Biden Do Today?
June 24, 2024 Recap
Vice President Kamala Harris appeared on MSNBC's Morning Joe to discuss women's reproductive rights, marking the two-year anniversary of the fall of Roe v. Wade. She was joined by Hadley Duvall, a survivor of sexual abuse whose story featured in a campaign ad for Kentucky's Democratic Governor Andy Beshear. Duvall shared her personal experience of being raped by her father at age 12 and emphasized the importance of having options for abortion in such circumstances.
Harris highlighted the moral and legal implications of restricting abortion rights, particularly for survivors of rape and incest. She criticized the laws passed in various states that make no exceptions for such cases, calling them immoral. Harris also recounted her motivation to protect women and children, stemming from learning about her best friend's abuse during high school.
Both Harris and Duvall stressed the dangers of a world without abortion options, especially under the potential influence of Trump-appointed Supreme Court justices and state-level abortion bans. They called for voters to consider the stakes for women's health and autonomy in the upcoming elections, advocating for the separation of personal faith from government-imposed laws on women's reproductive rights.
National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan announced U.S. support for Ukrainian children’s education in response to Russian military actions. On May 23, 2024, a Russian strike destroyed the Faktur-Druk printing house in Kharkiv, a major producer of Ukrainian books, including children's textbooks. This attack is seen as part of Russia's broader strategy to undermine Ukraine’s education system by targeting its printing infrastructure. In retaliation, the U.S. government, through USAID, will provide aid to print over three million textbooks for Ukrainian elementary schools. These books will be distributed to more than 12,000 schools across Ukraine, signaling continued U.S. support against Russia’s aggression.
In a speech at the University of Maryland, Vice President Kamala Harris highlighted the ongoing struggle for reproductive rights, focusing on the impact of the Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe v. Wade two years ago. She praised Kate Cox for her leadership in the movement and criticized Donald Trump for his role in appointing justices who overturned the ruling. Harris emphasized the real-life consequences of abortion bans, including women being denied medical care. She warned of the potential for a national abortion ban if Trump were re-elected and reiterated the commitment of the Biden administration to restore reproductive freedoms. Harris called for collective action to ensure these rights, citing various states where voters have supported reproductive freedom. The speech concluded with a call to continue the fight for women's rights and freedom.
President Biden has officially designated Kenya a major non-NATO Ally (MNNA) of the United States. This designation is made under the authority of the Constitution and U.S. laws granted, including section 517 of the Foreign Assistance Act of 1961 and the Arms Export Control Act. The Secretary of State is directed to publish this determination in the Federal Register.
MSNBC’s Morning Joe Co-Host Mika Brezinski discusses women’s reproductive rights with Vice President Harris and abortion rights activist Hadley Duvall
