Lawmakers demand Biden address nation on UFO incursions

Published

2 years ago

February 14, 2023

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Frustration on Capitol Hill is mounting after a string of aerial objects were shot down over U.S. and Canadian airspace in the last few days, raising a long list of questions that lawmakers say President Biden should publicly address.

Three unidentified flying objects (UFOs) have been shot down over North America since Friday, and the Pentagon has provided little information on what the objects were or where they came from.

“The president owes the American people an explanation, direct and on camera, of what we know about these ‘objects’ and what steps he’s taking to protect America’s sovereign airspace,” Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) said in a Monday statement.

Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), the vice chairman of the Intelligence Committee, also joined in the calls for President Biden to address the nation, noting the unprecedented nature of the military shooting down aircraft in U.S. airspace.

“NORAD’s been around almost 65 years,” he said of the command in charge of patrolling U.S. and Canadian airspace. “We’ve never shot anything down, and in eight days we’ve shot down four things. That’s a pretty big deal. It doesn’t happen every day.”

Rubio added in a tweet: “Americans need to hear directly about this from their President today.”

The White House wouldn’t commit to a public address from Biden during a briefing on Monday afternoon.

“We have been, I think, as transparent as we can be,” The White House’s national security spokesman John Kirby told reporters. “I won’t speak for the President’s personal speaking schedule. But, I mean, he has been deeply engaged in every one of these decisions.”

Kirby added that Biden is “directing his team to make sure we are properly consulting and briefing not just members of Congress, but state leaders as well.”

In a vacuum of information about the objects, the White House said Monday there is no evidence of “aliens or extraterrestrial activity” with the incidents.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) said people were “scared” and “believing crazy things being said on the internet.”

“There is a lack of transparency from the Biden admin and simple explanations are owed to the people,” Greene wrote on Twitter.

The first UFO was shot down on Friday afternoon over Alaska, the second was taken out on Saturday over the Yukon in northwest Canada and the third over Lake Huron in Michigan on Sunday.

All three incidents came about a week after a Chinese spy balloon capable of collecting communications intelligence was shot down off the coast of South Carolina after passing over much of the nation.

While the calls for answers are mostly from Republicans, Democrats from states that experienced a UFO incursion are joining in on the frustration.

Michigan lawmakers Sen. Gary Peters (D) and Rep. Debbie Dingell (D) echoed requests for more information, as did Sen. Jon Tester from Montana, where the Chinese balloon had lingered earlier this month.

Asked if Biden should speak out about the aerial objects, Tester said Monday, “That’s up to him.” He added that he still hoped to glean more information on “what they know, when they knew it, and what the plan is,” through hearings of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, which he chairs.

A number of Democratic senators said they remain unsatisfied by the answers coming from the administration so far, but were hopeful that a briefing of all senators on Monday might shed more light on the situation.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) said he’s “not satisfied yet” with information provided by administration, while Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va) added: “They’ve been doing a good job so far, but I do have a lot of questions.”

The remarkable series of UFO shoot-downs has befuddled Americans, who are wondering why the U.S. is suddenly recognizing and shooting down a flurry of these objects.

Melissa Dalton, the assistant secretary of Defense for homeland defense and hemispheric affairs, told reporters on Sunday the military has “been more closely scrutinizing our air space at these altitudes” with enhanced radar.

That “may at least partly explain the increase in objects that we’ve detected over the past week,” Dalton said.

Rep. Mike Gallagher (R-Wis.) said in a Monday statement if it was true the U.S. has just now opened up its radar technologies to detect UFOs, that would amount to “staggering intelligence failures.”

“How long have these objects operated in our airspace with impunity?” Gallagher asked, demanding “answers” from Biden.

“There are times to err on the side of secrecy in national security operations. But when our fighter pilots are shooting down presumably hostile aerial objects all across America, it’s long past time for transparency.”

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) raised similar questions while speaking on the floor on Monday.

“What in the world is going on? Has the Biden administration just dialed the sensitivity of our radars all the way up? If so, what are the objects that we are just now noticing for the very first time?” McConnell asked. “Are they benign science projects and wayward weather balloons, or something more nefarious that we’ve somehow been missing all this time?”

Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told reporters on a trip to Belgium that the objects did not pose a military threat.

“They do, however, present a risk to civil aviation and potentially an intelligence collection threat, and we’ll get to the bottom of it,” he added.

Canadian and U.S. crews are in the midst of recovering the downed UFOs for closer inspection. The Biden administration on Monday also announced an interagency task force to investigate the UFOs.

There are no known links of the UFOs to China or any other country or entity.

There have been some indications that some of the objects shot down were balloons, however that has not been confirmed by the Pentagon or White House.

CNN reported Monday on a Pentagon memo that the object shot down over Canada on Saturday appeared to be a “small, metallic balloon with a tethered payload below it.”

Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) suggested in a Sunday interview with ABC’s “This Week” the two UFOs shot down on Friday and Saturday were balloons.

But the Pentagon has said those objects were much smaller than the Chinese spy balloon, which weighed about 2,000 pounds. And the Lake Huron object was an octagonal shape.

Earlier this month, the Pentagon expressed high confidence in identifying the Chinese spy balloon, which Beijing admitted was theirs but has referred to as a weather balloon. Idris Elba rules himself out as James Bond: ‘I’m not going to be that guy’ US warns it will defend Philippines after China laser report

Also in contrast to the UFOs, the Chinese spy balloon was tracked for days before the U.S. decided to take it down.

Unlike the Chinese spy balloon, which was hovering about 60,000 feet in the air, the UFOs were flying at about 40,000 feet or below and posed a threat to civilian airspace, according to the Pentagon, leading to a swift decision each time to take them out.

Emily Brooks and Al Weaver contributed.

Politics

Crypto treasuries top $100B for Ethereum’s 10th anniversary: Finance Redefined

Published

4 hours ago

August 1, 2025

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Crypto treasuries top 0B for Ethereum’s 10th anniversary: Finance Redefined

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Environment

EcoFlow TRAIL power stations launch from $113, Exclusive Bluetti Apex 300 savings (up to $3,150 off), Lectric Back to School Sale, more

Published

4 hours ago

August 1, 2025

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EcoFlow TRAIL power stations launch from 3, Exclusive Bluetti Apex 300 savings (up to ,150 off), Lectric Back to School Sale, more

We’re closing this week’s Green Deals coverage with some major launches and one of our favorite e-bike brand’s next big sale, starting with the launch of EcoFlow’s new TRAIL 200 DC 60,000mAh and TRAIL 300 DC 90,000mAh power stations, along with plenty of bundle options and some extra savings – all starting from $113. Following right behind it is the exclusive early-bird savings (up to $3,150) on Bluetti’s new Apex 300 Versatile Power Station and bundles that start from $1,439, as well as Lectric’s Back to School Sale that is taking up to $654 off e-bike bundles, with many seeing increased packages, like the XP Lite 2.0 Long-Range e-bikes that are getting $365 in free gear starting from $999. We also have Greenworks’ Pro-grade 2,700 PSI electric pressure washer back at its 2025 low, as well as Worx’s 20V PowerShare 10-inch cordless chainsaw, and more waiting for you below. Plus, all the hangover savings at the bottom of the page, like yesterday’s exclusive new ENGWE Engine Pro 2.0 folding e-bike low price, Anker’s eufy SoloCam S220 solar security camera savings, and more.

Head below for other New Green Deals we’ve found today and, of course, Electrek’s best EV buying and leasing deals. Also, check out the new Electrek Tesla Shop for the best deals on Tesla accessories.

EcoFlow launches new TRAIL 60,000mAh and 90,000mAh power stations with bundles, free gear, and extra savings from $113

EcoFlow is launching its newest and most compact series of power stations with some significant savings, starting with the TRAIL 200 DC 60,000mAh Portable Power Station at $113.05 shipped, after using the code 25EFTRAFF at checkout for an additional 5% off, while the TRAIL 300 DC 90,000mAh Portable Power Station is at $151.05 shipped, after using the same promo code – and both are also getting a free RAPID 30W GaN Charger ($26 value) along with the purchase. These two new personal backup power solutions will go for $200 and $250 at full price, getting cut down to $119 and $159 in initial discounts, but you’ll also be shedding an extra $6 and $8 thanks to the bonus savings code – for combined $113 and $125 markdowns (including the free chargers) that set the bar for future discounts. Head below to learn more and browse all the bundle offers.

These new EcoFlow TRAIL 200 DC and 300 DC power stations are the brand’s most compact backup power solutions to date, rivaling Anker’s PowerCore Reserve/C200 DC/C300 DC stations in their portability and performance. The 200 DC model weighs in at four pounds and sports a 60,000mAh LiFePO4 battery, while the 300 DC is under six pounds, sitting higher at a 90,000mAh LiFePO4 capacity. You’ll get up to 220W and 300W output power with these units, with the 200 DC providing two 12W USB-A ports, a 140W USB-C port, and a 100W USB-C port, while the 300 DC has the same USB-A ports but two 140W USB-C ports and a 120W car outlet.

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The EcoFlow TRAIL DC power stations come with loads of protection measures against overvoltage, overloading, short circuiting, various temperature spikes or drops, overcurrent, and more. There are also built-in woven handles that make carrying them all the easier, though with their small designs, they can also easily stow away inside your bag. You can charge both via a standard wall outlet at up to 200W or 280W speeds, with the 300 DC bringing a 110W max solar input into the mix for solar charging.

***Note: The extra savings has not been factored into any of the prices below, so be sure to use the code 25EFTRAFF at checkout for an additional 5% off your order. All the following offers also come with a free RAPID 30W GaN Charger too!

EcoFlow TRAIL power station launch offers:

Bluetti Apex 300 versatile power station

Score up to $3,150 in exclusive savings on Bluetti’s new Apex 300 versatile power station and bundles starting from $1,439

Bluetti is officially launching its new Apex 300 Versatile Power Station along with several bundle options at up to $2,600 off in initial early-bird discounts alongside an exclusive 10% bonus savings for our readers. Things start with the lone Apex 300 Power Station at $1,439.10 shipped, after using the exclusive code 9TO5TOYS10F at checkout for an additional 10% off your order. This new backup power unit will normally fetch $2,399 at full price once the early-bird savings ends, but you can take advantage of these first-time savings now to score a $960 markdown that sets the bar for future discounts in the future. Head below to get the rundown on this station’s capabilities and check out the many bundle offers also available.

If you want to learn more about this all-new power station’s monstrous capabilities and the many bundle offers we’re seeing during this launch, be sure to check out our original coverage of these exclusive deals here.

Head back to school on Lectric’s XP Lite 2.0 folding e-bikes with $365 in free gear from $999, more bundles up to $654 off

Lectric has launched its Back to School Sale that is offering up to $654 in free gear accompanying e-bike purchases, with a bunch of models seeing increased bundle sizes this time around – plus some select accessory savings too. One such model is the XP Lite 2.0 Long-Range e-bikes that are all coming with $365 in free gear at $999 shipped, while the XP Lite 2.0 JW Long-Range e-bike gets the same bundle at $1,099 shipped. You’d normally have to pay $1,364 and $1,464, respectively for these same packages at full price, but as you’re likely aware by now, the savings come in the form of the bundled gear rather than actual price cuts on the bikes themselves. We’ve been seeing these models getting much smaller bundles between $100 and $200 over the last few months, but now they’re increasing in size just in time for students prepping for their upcoming class commutes. Head below for more on these and the other deals during this sale.

If you want to learn more about these lightweight models or the other e-bike bundle deals, be sure to check out our original coverage of this sale here.

greenworks pro 2,700 PSI electric pressure washer stands in driveway in front of garage door

Get 2,700 PSI power through this Greenworks Pro-grade electric pressure washer + foam cannon at $360

Amazon is bringing back the best pricing of 2025 on the Greenworks Pro 2,700 PSI Electric Pressure Washer with Foam Cannon at $359.99 shipped. This particular model with the added foam cannon bundle isn’t available directly from the brand’s website, with it normally fetching $450 at full price. In 2025 we’ve seen three previous discounts to this same repeating rate, with today’s deal following suit for a fourth-time opportunity, giving you a 20% markdown for $90 in savings at the second-best price we have tracked – $45 above the all-time low last spotted during Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales.

If you want to learn more about this electric pressure washer, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

man cutting log with Worx 20V PowerShare 10-inch cordless chainsaw

Worx’s 6.2-pound 20V PowerShare 10-inch cordless chainsaw returns to annual $100 low, more from $158

Amazon is returning the best 2025 pricing on the Worx 20V PowerShare 10-inch Cordless Chainsaw for $99.99 shipped. It’s coming down off its usual $120 price tag, and is currently going for as much directly from the brand’s website. It was priced down to $104 during Prime Day, with that rate beaten out here today as the best price we have tracked in 2025 – landing it just $11 above the all-time low that we haven’t seen in quite some time. Head below to learn more about this model and its pole saw bundle counterpart option.

If you want to learn more about this model or its pole/chainsaw upgrade package, be sure to check out our original coverage of this deal here.

Best Summer EV deals!

Aventon Ramblas Electric Mountain Bike: $2,599 (Reg. $2,899)
Ride1Up Prodigy v2 Brose Mid-Drive Gates Belt CVT e-bike: $2,595 (Reg. $2,795)
Ride1Up Revv 1 DRT Off-Road Moped-Style e-bike: $2,495 (Reg. $2,595)
Ride1Up Revv 1 Full Suspension Moped-Style e-bike: $2,395 (Reg. $2,595)
Rad Power RadRunner Max Cargo Utility e-bike with $139 bundle: $2,299 (No price cut)
Ride1Up Prodigy v2 Brose Mid-Drive 9-Speed e-bike: $2,095 (Reg. $2,495)
Segway Xafari Red e-bike: $2,000 (Reg. $2,400)
Velotric Nomad 2 All-Terrain e-bike with $120 bundle (new model): $1,999 (No price cut)
Rad Power Radster Road Commuter e-bike: $1,999 (Reg. $2,199)
Rad Power Radster Trail Off-Road e-bike: $1,999 (Reg. $2,199)
Lectric XPedition 2.0 35Ah Cargo e-bike w/ up to $654 bundle: $1,999 (Reg. $2,653)
Tenways AGO X All-Terrain e-bike with $307 bundle: $1,899 (Reg. $2,499)
Velotric Breeze 1 Cruiser e-bike with $150 bundle (new model): $1,799 (No price cut)
Aventon Pace 4 Smart Cruiser e-bike (new model, first discount): $1,699 (Reg. $1,799)
Lectric XPedition 2.0 26Ah Cargo e-bike w/ $505 bundle: $1,699 (Reg. $2,204)
Lectric XPeak 2.0 Long-Range Off-Road e-bike with $390 bundle: $1,699 (Reg. $2,089)
Aventon Aventure 2 All-Terrain e-bike: $1,699 (Reg. $1,999)
Aventon Abound Cargo e-bike: $1,599 (Reg. $1,999)
Rad Power RadRunner Cargo Utility e-bike with $109 bundle: $1,499 (No pirce cut)
Lectric XPeak 2.0 Standard Off-Road e-bike with $227 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,726)
Lectric XP Trike2 with $227 preorder bundle (through July 28): $1,499 (Reg. $1,726)
Rad Power RadWagon 4 Cargo e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,799)
Tenways CGO600 Pro e-bikes with $118 bundle: $1,499 (Reg. $1,899)
Velotric Nomad 1 Plus All-Terrain e-bike: $1,499 (Reg. $1,899)
Aventon Sinch 2 Folding e-bike (lowest price): $1,399 (Reg. $1,699)
Lectric XPedition 2.0 13Ah Cargo e-bike with $326 bundle: $1,399 (Reg. $1,725)
Aventon Level 2 Commuter e-bike (2025 low): $1,399 (Reg. $1,899)
Ride1Up Roadster V3 Lightweight Premium e-bike: $1,395 (Reg. $1,495)
Velotric T1 ST Plus Lightweight e-bike: $1,399 (Reg. $1,649)
Lectric XPress 750 Commuter e-bikes with $410 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,709)
Lectric XP4 750 LR Folding Utility e-bikes with $356 bundle: $1,299 (Reg. $1,655)
Lectric XP Lite 2.0 JW Black LR e-bike with $128 bundle: $1,099 (Reg. $1,227)
Ride1Up Portola Folding e-bike with BOGO accessory promo: $995 (Reg. $1,095)
Lectric XP4 Standard Folding Utility e-bikes with $79 bundle: $999 (Reg. $1,078)
Lectric XP Lite 2.0 Long-Range e-bikes with up to $128 bundles: $999 (Reg. $1,127)
Heybike Hauler Single-Battery Cargo e-bike: $999 (Reg. $1,499)
Rad Power RadExpand 5 Folding e-bike (new low): $999 (Reg. $1,599)
Navee ST3 Pro Electric Scooter (new model): $760 (Reg. $1,014)
ENGWE Engine Pro Folding e-bike (use code 9TO5ENGWE50): $750 (Reg. $1,500)
Navee GT3 Pro Electric Scooter (new model): $520 (Reg. $714)

Best new Green Deals landing this week

The savings this week are also continuing to a collection of other markdowns. To the same tune as the offers above, these all help you take a more energy-conscious approach to your routine. Winter means you can lock in even better off-season price cuts on electric tools for the lawn while saving on EVs and tons of other gear.

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