Putin Makes Rare Foreign Trip; Biden Running Because of Trump | Bloomberg Daybreak: US Edition

On today's podcast:

1) Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in the United Arab Emirates to start a rare foreign trip () that will also include a visit to Saudi Arabia, with bolstering cooperation among strategic oil producers a top priority.

2) Israeli leaders rebuffed mounting pressure to halt the military campaign in the southern Gaza Strip (), vowing to press on until Hamas is eradicated even as the death toll rose and the United Nations warned that civilians had no safe harbor amid the bombing.

3) President Joe Biden said he may have decided to serve just one term if Donald Trump were not seeking to return to the White House (), arguing the former president poses a grave threat to American democracy.

Full transcript:

Good morning. I'm Nathan Hager and I'm Karen Moscow. Here are the stories we're following today. We begin with the latest on the war in the Middle East. Israeli leaders are vowing to continue their fight to eradicate Hamas despite criticism from international groups. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu lashed out after the un said there are no longer any safe places in Gaza. I say, to the women's rights organizations, to the human rights organizations, you've heard of the rape of Israeli women, horrible atrocities, sexual new relation. Where the hell are you? Prime Minister Natanyahu's troops are continuing to press into the southern Gaza city of han Yunis Well, Nathan. Back here. In the US, presidents of three prestigious universities, Harvard, MIT, and Penn were called to Capitol Hill to explain to lawmakers what they're doing about an outbreak of anti Semitism on their campuses. Bloomberg's Amy Morris has more from Washington. The university presidents told lawmakers they won't tolerate anti semitism on their campuses as they cope with protests over the Israel Humas war. During heated questioning, by New York Republican Elis Stephonic. Harvard University professor doctor Clauding Gay cited free expression and says the school consistently enforces its rules of conduct, even of views that are objectionable, offensive, hateful. It's when that speech crosses into conduct that violates our policies against bullying Haras. Does that speech not cost that barrier? Does that speech not call for the genocide of Jews and the elimination of Israel? We embrace a commitment to free expression. Alumni and donors, citing incidents of anti Semitism, psychologists just aren't doing enough to create a safe learning environment for Jewish students in Washington. Amy Morris, Bloomberg Radio, all right, Amy, thank you. In other news this morning, Vladimir Putin has arrived in the United Arab Emirates at the start of a trip that will also include a visit to Saudi Arabia. It is a rare overseas trip since the invasion of Ukraine. The Russian president is seeking to bolster partnerships with key oil producers. Bloomberg's Rosalind Mathieson says the visit reveals a lot about the way Putin sees his position. He's really not left Russia very much since he invaded Ukraine almost two years ago. He's been to China, he's been to some of the proof ree States, but he's not really ventured any further than that. So simply the fact that he now feels confident enough to travel to the UAE, to travel to Saudi Arabia, to meet with some very very high level officials in both countries shows perhaps a reflection of how he's feeling at the moment about his hold on power at home, about where he's born in Ukraine is at and really that he's not feeling isolated on the global stage. Bloomberg's Ros Matheson says Putin's previously limited trips mainly two close allies since he ordered troops into Ukraine. Well, let's turn to US politics now, Nathan And a revealing comment from President Biden. The president says he might have decided not to run for reelection if former President and Donald Trump were not in the race. At a fundraiser in Massachusetts, the President said, quote, we can't let him win for the sake of the country. He was asked about the comment afterward. I expect so, but look, it is running and I just have to rus not no, not now. The President's comments come as polls show many voters are concerned about his age and the prospects of a Biden Trump rematch. Well. Meanwhile, Karen, the...