News Wrap: Federal Reserve leaves interest rates unchanged

Amna Nawaz:

Good evening. I'm Amna Nawaz.

Geoff Bennett:

And I'm Geoff Bennett.

On the "NewsHour" tonight: The Federal Reserve holds off on raising interest rates further, but consumers still feel the pain of past hikes, with mortgage rates at their highest level in over twenty years.

Amna Nawaz:

Tensions rise between India and Canada after the killing of an outspoken Sikh leader in British Columbia.

Geoff Bennett:

And despite employment being a key factor in keeping people out of prison, jobs that require state licenses remain out of reach for many people with criminal records.

Kiesha Johnson, Portland State University Project Rebound:

Although I'm free, I'm still incarcerated, because I still have to deal with no's. And with jobs, I can forget about even trying to apply for them.

(Break)

Amna Nawaz:

Good evening and welcome to the "NewsHour."

The Federal Reserve is leaving interest rates unchanged, a sign of a resilient economy, as policymakers fight inflation.

Geoff Bennett:

But Fed officials also acknowledged a long road ahead to reaching their 2 percent inflation target, signaling they could raise rates once more this year.

Fed Chairman Jerome Powell said the Central Bank will proceed with caution.

Jerome Powell, Federal Reserve Chairman:

What we decided to do is maintain the policy rate and await further data. We want to see convincing evidence, really, that we have reached the appropriate level, and then — we have seen progress, and we welcome that, but we need to see more progress before we will willing to reach that conclusion.

Geoff Bennett:

Stocks tumbled on Wall Street today amid concerns about future rate hikes. The Dow Jones industrial average lost 77 points to close at 34441. The Nasdaq fell 209 points. The S&P 500 slipped 42.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland faced a barrage of criticism today from Republicans accusing him of politicizing the Justice Department. He appeared before the House Judiciary Committee in his first congressional testimony since the indictments of former President Trump and Hunter Biden.

Lisa Desjardins has our story.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH):

Chair now recognizes himself for an opening statement.

Lisa Desjardins:

A long hearing with one thundering charge from conservatives.

Rep. Jim Jordan:

Americans believe that today in our country there is unequal application of the law.

Lisa Desjardins:

And one central figure to Respond, Attorney General Merrick Garland.

Merrick Garland, U.S. Attorney General:

I am not the president's lawyer. I will add, I am not Congress' prosecutor. The Justice Department works for the American people.

Lisa Desjardins:

House Republicans grilled him for hours on what they call the weaponization of the Justice Department under President Biden.

Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH):

There's one investigation protecting President Biden. There's another one attacking President Trump.

Lisa Desjardins:

GOP members questioned the special counsel's case against fellow party member Trump and skewered the plea deal originally offered to Hunter Biden on tax and gun charges.

Rep. Tom McClintock (R-CA):

A sweetheart deal that was ultimately upended by the court.

Lisa Desjardins:

Garland repeatedly said the decisions were not his, but those of independent special counsel David Weiss.

Merrick Garland:

I promised the Senate when I came before it for confirmation that I would leave Mr. Weiss in place and that I would not interfere with his investigation.

Lisa Desjardins:

Democrats were frank in cross-examination.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX):

Does the rhetoric regarding the Biden case have any basis in reality?

Merrick Garland:

No, it does not.

Lisa Desjardins:

A veteran of the hearings, never hesitated to stand up for his agency, but showed unusual passion defending himself, speaking about family members killed in the Holocaust, and his grandmother, who survived because she had fled to America.

Merrick Garland:

The rule of law is the foundation of our system of government. Repaying this country for the debt my family owes, for our very lives has been the focus of my entire professional career.

Lisa Desjardins:

Next week, House Republicans turn to Garland's boss, as a different committee begins an impeachment inquiry of President Biden.

For the "PBS NewsHour," I'm Lisa Desjardins.

Geoff Bennett:

The U.S. Senate is moving to vote on three top military nominations that have been blocked for months by Alabama Republican Tommy Tuberville. The nominees for chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Army chief of staff, and Marine commandant have been held up while Senator Tuberville protested the Pentagon's abortion policy.

About 300 other nominations remain in limbo.

Ukraine's president accused Russia of — quote — "criminal and unprovoked aggression" that that undermines the U.N. Charter. Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the U.N. Security Council today in New York and appealed for more international support in the 19-month-long war.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Ukrainian President (through interpreter):

I'm grateful to all those who have recognized the Russian aggression as the violation of the U.N. Charter. Ukraine exercises its right to self-defense.

Helping Ukraine with weapons in this exercise by imposing sanctions and exerting comprehensive pressure on the aggressor would mean helping to defend the U.N. Charter.

Geoff Bennett:

Russia's position as a veto power with a permanent seat on the Security Council has blocked the U.N. from taking action in Ukraine so far.

President Biden met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly in New York. It was their first meeting since Netanyahu's far right government took power last year. The president referenced the Israeli leader's efforts to reform its judicial system, which have sparked protests and concerns about authoritarianism.

Joe Biden, President of the United States: Today, we're were going to discuss some of the hard issues, and that is upholding democratic values that lie at the heart of our partnership, including checks and balances in our systems.

Benjamin Netanyahu, Israeli Prime Minister:

One thing is certain, and one thing will never change, and that is Israel's commitment to democracy.

Geoff Bennett:

The meeting took place amid a recent spike in violence between Israelis and Palestinians. Funerals were held today in the West Bank and Gaza Strip after six Palestinians were killed in Israeli military raids. Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad claimed three of the deceased were their militant fighters.

In Azerbaijan, militant — military operations came to a halt in the Breakaway Nagorno-Karabakh region after an apparent cease-fire with Armenian forces. The deal ends two days of bloodshed in the mountainous region within Azerbaijan's borders, but long controlled by Armenian separatists.

Today, both sides acknowledged the fragile truce.

Anar Eivazov, Azerbaijan Defense Ministry Spokesman (through interpreter):

An agreement was reached on the suspension of local anti-terrorist measures. The illegal Armenian armed groups lay down their weapons, leave their combat positions and military posts and are completely disarmed.

Nikol Pashinyan, Armenian Prime Minister (through interpreter):

Armenia hasn't anyhow participated in the creation of the cease-fire deal and wasn't party to the discussions. According to the recent information I received from the Nagorno-Karabakh, the intensity of military actions has sharply dropped.

Geoff Bennett:

There are estimates today that at least 200 people died in the fighting and more than 400 others were wounded.

And Iran's Parliament approved a bill imposing heavier penalties on women who refuse to wear their Islamic headscarf. It comes days after the anniversary of the death of Mahsa Amini, who died in morality police custody after being detained for violating Iran's dress code. If approved, women could face up to 10 years in jail.

And still to come on the "NewsHour": California sues oil companies for exacerbating climate change; the latest battleground over the judiciary, conservatives targeting liberal state Supreme Court justices; and how light pollution from cities and satellites is making it increasingly difficult to see the stars.