Want to catch up with the news quickly? Here are the top stories from Thursday, September 21, 2023.
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1. C.Q. Brown confirmed as next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Charles Q. Brown was confirmed Wednesday as the next chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff; the body of the most senior uniformed leaders within the United States Department of Defense.
Brown is only the second Black man to serve as chairman, where he will act as the principal military adviser to President Joe Biden. His confirmation marks the first time that both of the Defense Department’s highest-ranking leaders – the secretary of defense and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs – are Black.
2. Merrick Garland defends the DOJ amid Hunter Biden and Donald Trump probes
Attorney General Merrick Garland defended the Justice Department on Wednesday during a House Judiciary Committee hearing that focused on the investigations into Hunter Biden and former President Donald Trump. Garland told disapproving Republicans that investigations through the office remain outside of partisan politics.
"I am not the president's lawyer. I will add I am not Congress' prosecutor. The Justice Department works for the American people," he said.
3. Astronaut breaks record for longest space flight
NASA astronaut Frank Rubio marked one year of orbiting Earth on Thursday, becoming the first American to spend over a year in space and the seventh internationally to do so.
Earlier this month, Rubio also broke the record for the longest continuous amount of time spent in space by an American. He's scheduled to return to Earth on Sept. 27.
4. Holiday hiring rates hit lowest since 2008
American retailers are expected to create only 410,000 seasonal positions during this year’s holiday shopping season. The estimate from outplacement services firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas projects the industry’s lowest seasonal hiring total since 2008.
Consumer spending rates have been down in the third quarter, raising alarm bells as the most important time of the economic year approaches.
