'It’s all about Glasgow'
| 'It's all about Glasgow'  Joe Biden can't just turn up in Glasgow empty handed.
That's what the US President is telling Democratic lawmakers feuding over the size and shape of his multi-trillion dollar infrastructure and spending plans. Both measures support US pledges to lead the world in preventing catastrophic global warming. "He looked people in the eye and said the prestige of the United States is on the line, I need this to go represent the United States overseas," Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna told CNN.
If Biden arrives at the climate summit in Scotland in 10 days with empty promises not backed up in law, other big polluter nations may not have incentives to act. That would make the climate conference a disaster, and reveal Biden's "America is back" schtick as utterly hollow.
Biden's problem, as we reported in Meanwhile earlier this week, is that the pivotal person in these matters happens to represent coal state West Virginia: Sen. Joe Manchin has already dug in his heels and ripped from the bill a $150 billion plan to push electricity companies to transition away from carbon energy sources.
Can the White House find another way for the US to shrink carbon emissions to 50-52% of 2005 levels by the end of the decade? One option is a carbon tax — but the three letters t-a-x tend to make lawmakers run for the hills. Still, the looming Glasgow talks increasingly seem to be driving compromise between progressives and moderates; Democratic leaders think they have a shot at a deal by the end of the week.
As House Speaker Nancy Pelosi put it when talking about her recent meetings with world leaders: "It's all about this issue. It's all about Glasgow." The world and America UK lawmakers now face "substantial" threats after the fatal stabbing of MP David Amess.
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Given Chinese power ... Senate confirmation hearings for US ambassadors are often dull (though there are occasionally hilarious scenes when political donors clearly unfit for the potential posts are put through a grilling). But a hearing on Wednesday for Nicholas Burns, Biden's pick for ambassador to China, was edge of the seat stuff for diplomatic aficionados.
Sino-US ties are in a nosedive that seems to get steeper by the week. Burns, a long-time State Department heavyweight, assured himself of a frosty welcome in Beijing when he said that Congress had every right to expand arms exports to Taiwan, following China's increasing "intimidation" of the self-governed island.
"Our responsibility is to make Taiwan a tough nut to crack," Burns told senators. He also warned that China's trampling of the "one country, two systems" formula in Hong Kong meant that it couldn't be trusted over Taiwan.
Burns didn't mince words on the potential for an arms race with China either -- a sensitive issue in Washington following unconfirmed reports that Beijing has tested a hypersonic missile. While noting the odd quirk that ambassadors coming from private life don't get access to classified information before they are confirmed, Burns warned that China was "blasting past" its previous policy of only minimum deterrence.
He also made clear that he saw his future host country as an effective enemy. "There's no question in the 21st century, given Chinese power … China's the greatest threat to the security of our country and of the democratic world."  Humans have emitted so much carbon dioxide (CO2) into the atmosphere that in Iceland, machines like above are being used to suck the gas back out like giant vacuum cleaners. Thanks for reading. On Thursday, the European Council will meet to discuss rising energy prices. The US House Oversight Committee will hold a hearing on the Equal Rights Amendment. And watch out for the Orionid meteor shower. View in browser | All CNN Newsletters
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