President-elect Donald Trump announced that SoftBank was going to invest $100 billion in U.S.-based projects over the next four years, Sen. Chuck Schumer urges officials to use drone-tracking technology, and Democratic Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani has announced that she will be running for Orlando mayor in 2027.
Stories in this Episode of Political Connections
- Trump announces $100B SoftBank investment in U.S.
- U.S. agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says
Trump announces $100B SoftBank investment in U.S.
President-elect Donald Trump joined SoftBank Group CEO Masayoshi Son at his Florida home on Monday to announce that the company is investing $100 billion in U.S. projects over the next four years.
"He’s doing this because he feels very optimistic about our country since the election," Trump said of the investment, which is expected to create at least 100,000 American jobs.
"This historic investment is a monumental demonstration of confidence in America’s future, and it will help ensure that artificial intelligence, emerging technologies and other industries of tomorrow are built, created and grown right here in the USA," Trump said before boldly asking Son if he would double his investment to $200 billion.
"My promise is $100 billion, but he's now asking to do more," Son said when put on the spot. "I think with your leadership, my partnership with you, with your support, I will try to make it happen."
SoftBank invested $50 billion and created 50,000 jobs in the United States during Trump's first term in office.
In a post on his Truth Social site Tuesday, Trump said anyone making a $1 billion investment in the United States "will receive fully expedited approvals and permits, including, but in no way limited to, all Environmental approvals."
"GET READY TO ROCK!!!" he added.
Japanese technology group SoftBank makes investments in a variety of companies that it groups together in a series of Vision Funds. The company's investment portfolio includes search engine Yahoo, Chinese retailer Alibaba and artificial intelligence company Nvidia.
U.S. agencies should use advanced technology to identify mysterious drones, Schumer says
After weeks of fear and bewilderment about the drones buzzing over parts of New York and New Jersey, U.S. Sen. Chuck Schumer is urging the federal government to deploy better drone-tracking technology to identify and ultimately stop the devices.
The New York Democrat is calling on the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy special technology that identifies and tracks drones back to their landing spots, according to briefings from his office.
"People in the New York area and all across the country have more questions than answers," Schumer said.
Schumer’s calls come amid growing public concern that the federal government hasn’t offered clear explanations as to who is operating the drones, and has not stopped them. National security officials have said the drones don’t appear to be a sign of foreign interference.
“There’s a lot of us who are pretty frustrated right now,” said Rep. Jim Himes, D-Conn., the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, on Fox News Sunday. “The answer ‘We don’t know’ is not a good enough answer.”
"I am going to help pass, and I'm going to cosponsor legislation, that will combat these drones in a better way by allowing local police departments and state police departments to help the feds in sighting these drones," Schumer said.
This morning Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer urged the Department of Homeland Security to immediately deploy now-unclassified, special drone-detection technology. The system will help state and federal law enforcement in their investigations @SPECNews1BUF pic.twitter.com/gocZNBl76i
— Halena Sepulveda (@HalenaSepulveda) December 15, 2024
President-elect Donald Trump posted on social media last week: “Can this really be happening without our government’s knowledge? I don’t think so. Let the public know, and now. Otherwise, shoot them down.”
Certain agencies within the Department of Homeland Security have the power to “incapacitate” drones, U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Sunday. “But we need those authorities expanded,” he said, without saying exactly how.
The drones don’t appear to be linked to foreign governments, Mayorkas said.
“We know of no foreign involvement with respect to the sightings in the Northeast. And we are vigilant in investigating this matter,” Mayorkas said.
Eskamani announces Orlando mayoral bid
Democratic Florida Rep. Anna Eskamani announced that she will be running for mayor in Orlando in 2027.
She spoke Monday outside of Orlando City Hall, with supporters alongside her.
“We’re gonna be at a pivotal moment in 2027 with an empty seat, which is the first time in 20 some years that we’re gonna have an opportunity to write a next chapter for Orlando," Eskamani said. "My track record of kind sacrifice, ironclad values while delivering results and being accessible to the people of Orlando, make me the perfect leader for the job."
Orlando is expected to have a new mayor in 2027 for the first time in decades.
When current Mayor Buddy Dyer was re-elected last year, he said his sixth term would be his final one.