The Weekender: Female Trailblazers, a NATO Summit, and Gas Prices.

As Russia continues to falter its efforts in Ukraine, the U.S. is putting on the pressure, and it’s causing friction. According to USA Today, U.S. President Joe Biden confirmed Russia’s use of hypersonic missiles. In a speech this week, President Biden said that Russian forces are turning to more severe tactics because “it’s the only thing that can get through (Ukrainian forces).” What was originally thought to be an easy Russian victory has quickly become a slog. During a meeting at NATO headquarters, President Biden announced that the U.S. will expand sanctions on Russia and accept 100,000 Ukrainian refugees, an Associated Press report says. As the U.S. and European allies gathered to speak on the conflict, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asked NATO for ”military assistance without limitations.” As the U.S. continues to balance its involvement, Americans in the states are calling out on the atrocities. A report from FOX News gives firsthand remarks from Americans across the nation as our history with Russia continues to repeat itself, with some accounts saying that the U.S. is not doing enough to “keep freedom alive.” As the conflict continues, stay tuned each week with The Weekender to get the latest updates. Read more in AP News. 

THE BIG FIVE

As questions ranging from her faith, sentencing history, and legal opinions on hot-button issues were thrown her way, Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson (KBJ) offered insight on how she would approach legal issues on the highest court in the nation. Jackson spent some 22 hours being grilled by Senate Judiciary Committee members. While hearings are meant to scrutinize the Judge’s legal positions, the spotlight fell on various Senators as questions were utilized for political virtue signaling. Democrat Senator Cory Booker brought Judge Jackson to tears as he emotionally explained why KBJ’s nomination brought “joy” and “is an extraordinary testament of what can be accomplished against the odds,” a report from NPR said. On the other side of the political aisle, Senator Josh Hawley grilled Judge Jackson on previous sentencing decisions as Senator Ted Cruz spotlighted questions on critical race theory. Senator Hawley, thought to be a GOP contender for the 2024 presidential nomination, accused Judge Jackson of being “soft on crime,” according to The Hill. Other Senators, however, took a bipartisan approach. While tensions build among partisans, there was a small light of hope in Democrats and Republicans alike looking to ensure a strong candidate for the Supreme Court. With the public hearings over, the next phase is the confirmation process with the Senate Judiciary Committee slated to vote on her nomination on April 4. Democratic leaders are hoping to confirm Jackson before Easter recess. Read more in Reuters. 

American consumers are repeating history amid skyrocketing gas prices and inflation. According to a recent Edmunds report, buyer interest in hybrid cars, plug-in hybrids, and pure electric vehicles are up 84 percent in March compared to the month prior. However, high gas prices have only shown a slight decrease in the number of miles people drive. Axios reports that while transportation is the nation’s largest source of carbon emissions, a carbon tax would have to be “really high” to put a big dent in vehicle miles traveled and, in turn, gasoline consumed. So, is there light at the end of the inflation tunnel? Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell thinks so. According to CNBC, the Fed will take “necessary steps” to ensure that inflation will stop jeopardizing an otherwise “strong economic recovery.” As the economy works itself out, states across the nation are taking matters into their own hands. Two states—Georgia and Maryland—have suspended gas taxes statewide. California joins the effort as Governor Newsom proposed a $400 gas rebate for vehicle owners to combat rising costs. The pandemic has thrown the market into a cluster of challenges. As always, we have your back as we report on updates in The Weekender. Read more in USA Today. 

The world’s leading electric vehicle maker, Tesla, is expanding its global operations and it’s impacting the auto vehicle industry. This week, the company launched its first factory in Europe. Tesla CEO Elon Musk broke out in dance as he cut the ribbon on the company’s newest $5.5 million factory. The company’s German location is a strategic pick after it has resisted unionization efforts in the U.S. According to Yale Insights, Germany is home to “co-determination” where large companies are run jointly by labor and management, serving together on boards that set company strategy and finances. Workers approve operations in councils and work under mandates that give German workers “far more rights and power” than in the U.S. However, these advancements do not bode well for German automakers. According to NPR, Tesla’s market is more than $700 billion, which is more than three times that of Germany’s three largest automakers put together. Tesla is also one of 11 companies receiving billions in government subsidies in Germany to support the European Union’s goal of a zero-carbon economy by 2050. As the electric automaker continues its strides abroad, it leaves a foggy future for the auto industry in the states and developers in Silicon Valley.  Read more in Yale Insights.