©  AP Photo/Evan Vucci

President Biden said Thursday afternoon he thinks the three aerial objects shot down over the weekend — roughly a week after a Chinese balloon was downed — were probably from a private company or research group.

“We don’t yet know exactly what these three objects were, but nothing right now suggests they were related to China’s spy balloon program or that they were surveillance vehicles from any other country,” Biden said at the White House.

The president used his appearance to emphasize that he won’t apologize for ordering the U.S. military to shoot down the suspected Chinese spy balloon, adding he plans to take the issue up with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

“I expect to be speaking with President Xi,” Biden said. “And I hope we’re going to get to the bottom of this, but I make no apologies for taking down that balloon.”

Biden and Xi last talked face-to-face in November on the sidelines of the Group of 20 summit in Indonesia. Biden on Thursday said shooting down the Chinese balloon sent a “clear message the violation of our sovereignty is unacceptable.”

“This episode underscores the importance of maintaining open lines of communication between our diplomats and our military professionals. Our diplomats will be engaging further, and I will remain in communication with President Xi,” he said.

Welcome to Evening Report! I'm Elizabeth Crisp, catching you up from the afternoon and what's coming tomorrow. Not on the list? Subscribe here.

• CNN host Don Lemon says he "regrets" his "inartful" comments about Nikki Haley, after suggesting women over the age of 50 are no longer in their “prime.” The GOP White House candidate blasted his remarks.
  
  

• Environmental Protection Agency administrator Michael Regan, visiting East Palestine, Ohio, this week, says the EPA will “get to the bottom of” the town's Feb. 3 train derailment and continually monitor the area for potential health hazards.
  
  

• Nearly a third of Americans in a new poll say they’re satisfied with the way things are going in the United States, an 11-point uptick from a poll taken just before the November midterm elections.

Republican lawmakers are afraid the GOP’s propensity for self-inflicted wounds will come back to haunt them in 2024. They're hoping to change course.

Ten Republican senators will host a fundraiser for Republican Study Committee Chair Jim Banks (R-Ind.) in his upcoming Senate bid.

A spokesperson for Banks has confirmed the event will take place March 28 at the National Republican Senatorial Committee headquarters in D.C.

Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro (D) has announced he won't sign any execution warrants as governor and further called for the state Legislature to abolish the death penalty there.

“When an execution warrant comes to my desk, I will sign a reprieve each and every time,” the former state Attorney General said at an event.

©  AP

Tesla has recalled more than 362,000 vehicles in the U.S. because the car company's "Full Self-Driving Beta" software could lead to crashes, according to an alert from the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration.

The recall is for 2016-2023 Model S and Model X Teslas, 2017-2023 Model 3, and 2020-2023 Model Y vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving Beta software or pending installation.

Tesla plans to release a free over-the-air software update to fix the issue and owners will be notified by mail by April 15, NHTSA said.

The Supreme Court has side-stepped a high-profile argument over Title 42, a Trump-era law that has limited asylum for migrants during the coronavirus pandemic because of health concerns.

Without further explanation, the court said the oral argument scheduled for March 1 won't happen. 

Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) has checked into the hospital to be treated for clinical depression, his office announced.

“While John has experienced depression off and on throughout his life, it only became severe in recent weeks,” Fetterman chief of staff Adam Jentleson said in a statement.

"Will SNAP work requirements doom the farm bill — again?" — Robert Paarlberg and G. William Hoagland of Bipartisan Policy Center. (Read here)

"How to bridge the growing gap between Washington and America"
— Nancy Jacobson, CEO and founder of No Labels.  (Read here)

21 days until President Biden unveils his budget plan for the next fiscal year.

226 days until the federal budget deadline.

628 days until the 2024 presidential election.

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