News Wrap: Biden speaks in Philadelphia at his 1st major 2024 campaign rally

In our news wrap Saturday, Biden held the first big rally of his reelection campaign in Philadelphia, Secretary of State Blinken is visiting China for talks aimed at easing tensions, at least 41 people died in an attack on a school in Uganda, warring forces in Sudan agreed to a new 72-hour ceasefire, and Pennsylvania Gov. Shapiro said a damaged stretch of I-95 will reopen within two weeks.

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  • John Yang:

    Good evening. I'm John Yang. President Biden held the first big rally of his reelection campaign today in Philadelphia. It was before a crowd of hundreds of enthusiastic union members. The day before, the president picked up the joint early endorsement of some of the biggest and most politically influential unions, including the AFL-CIO and groups representing teachers and city and state government workers. Organized labor support was key to his 2020 victory. Today, he struck a decidedly economic populist tone.

  • Joe Biden, U.S. President:

    If the investment bankers in this country went on strike tomorrow, no one would much notice in this. No, think about this in a literal sense. But if this room didn't show up for work tomorrow or Monday, the whole country would come to a grinding halt. So tell me, tell me who matters more in America?

  • John Yang:

    The president made news on other fronts, too. He told reporters he hopes to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping in the next several months. Secretary of state Antony Blinken is in China this weekend for talks aimed at easing tensions between Washington and Beijing.

    And Mr. Biden condemned Russia's deployment of tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, calling it totally irresponsible. Russian president Vladimir Putin said he would send more nukes to Belarus later this year.

    An overnight attack on a school in Uganda has left at least 41 people dead. Armed rebels linked to the Islamic state entered a dormitory and attacked students with machetes. Others burned to death after the rebels set the dorm on fire. The rebels crossed the nearby border into Congo with six people they had abducted. The rebel group opposes Uganda's president, who is a U.S. ally.

    And Pennsylvania governor Josh Shapiro said today a damaged stretch of interstate 95 in Philadelphia will reopen within two weeks.

    President Biden toured the collapsed highway by helicopter today. Crews are using recycled glass pieces to fill in the collapsed area. They'll pave it to create a temporary roadway. I-95 is a key artery for car and truck traffic along the East Coast.

    Still to come on PBS News Weekend, a look at mental health services for children who survive gun violence and the choices parents of deaf children have to make about sign language.

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