Pelosi says she's 'all for' banning Russian oil imports
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) made quite clear on Thursday where she stands regarding the prospect of a Russian oil embargo.
"I'm all for that. Ban it," Pelosi said in response to a question as to her stance on the issue. "Ban the oil coming from Russia, yeah."
Pelosi is just the latest addition to what Politico calls a "growing chorus" of Democrats urging President Biden to ban Russian oil imports as punishment for Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
For example, Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) are introducing oil embargo legislation, in service of calls from "dozens of lawmakers" on both sides of the aisle.
Of course, such a ban could raise already-high U.S. gas prices — which would be bad news for Democrats and Biden, who are "battling nationwide inflation worries," writes Politico.
Biden himself hasn't explicitly ruled out an embargo, but White House Deputy Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre downplayed the idea on Wednesday, alluding to pain at the pump.
Pelosi, however, argued that "the issue of the price of gas and the price of oil is directly related" to the Russian invasion, Politico reports. Not to mention, U.S. consumers needing to pay more doesn't exactly hold a candle to the death and destruction happening in Ukraine at the moment.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Brigid Kennedy worked at The Week from 2021 to 2023 as a staff writer, junior editor and then story editor, with an interest in U.S. politics, the economy and the music industry.
-
Arizona kicks off swing-state early voting
Speed Read The voting began with less than a month to go before the presidential election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Netanyahu talk ahead of Israeli hit on Iran
Speed Read The pair spoke for the first time since August
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump kept up with Putin, sent Covid tests, book says
Speed Read The revelation comes courtesy of a new book by Bob Woodward
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Liz Cheney campaigns with Harris in Wisconsin
Speed Read The pair does not agree on much politically, but they share an anti-Trump stance
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Harris visit storm-hit North Carolina, Georgia
Speed Read President Joe Biden and Kamala Harris took separate tours of the south to view the catastrophic damage from Hurricane Helene
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Jack Smith filing details Jan. 6 case against Trump
Speed Read The special counsel's newly unsealed brief argues Trump is not immune from prosecution and gives new details on his efforts to overturn the election
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published