News Wrap: Winter Storm Hits Mid-Atlantic States

Geoff Bennett:

Also today, President Biden is taking steps to ban new offshore oil and gas drilling across a vast stretch of federal waters. Combined, the action affects more than 625 million acres of ocean along both coasts, plus the eastern Gulf of Mexico and the northern Bering Sea in Alaska.

The Biden administration says the environmental and economic risks of drilling in these areas outweigh their potential economic benefit. It comes just two weeks before President-elect Trump returns to the Oval Office. He has promised to — quote — “repeal it immediately,” but that would likely require action by Congress.

US Steel and Nippon Steel are suing the Biden administration to block their nearly $15 billion merger deal. In a lawsuit filed in federal court today, the companies say the decision was based on politics and had no legal basis. In a separate filing, they also alleged that the head of the steelworkers’ union and a rival steelmaker engaged in racketeering to fuel the acquisition.

On Friday, President Biden officially blocked the deal, citing US national interests. In South Korea, the government’s anti-corruption agency has asked police there to take over its efforts to detain impeached President Yoon Suk Yeol. Pro-Yoon protesters gathered outside his residence in Seoul today. That’s where presidential guards blocked investigators from detaining Yoon last week.

Authorities are investigating whether Yoon’s declaration of martial law back in December amounts to a rebellion. He has refused to be questioned about his actions.

It all unfolded when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with his colleague in Seoul today. He said South Korea’s political crisis would not harm the country’s relationship with the United States

Antony Blinken, US Secretary of State: The United States has full confidence in South Korea’s institutions, and we reaffirm our unwavering support for the Korean people as they work tirelessly to uphold those institutions. We trust that the Republic of Korea, as a leading global democracy, will continue in full compliance with its constitution and the rule of law.