traditional definition of being in a recession. the second quarter gross domestic product g.d.p. shrank at annual rate of nine tenths of a percentage point. that s the second straight quarterly deficit and that checks the box, historically considered as recessionary. president biden says it s no surprise the economy is slowing down because of inflation. but he insists he has the nation on the right path and, quote: it doesn t look like a recession to me. the president also spent time today on a call with his chinese counterpart in a time increasing tension with communist china. white house correspondent peter doocy starts us off tonight live from the north lawn. good evening, peter. peter: good evening, bret. the numbers are right there in black and white. the u.s. economy shrunk for a second consecutive quarter. but, until large, well-respected groups, nonpartisan groups of economists issue some sort of a formal declaration that a recession is underway, then officials here
bellicose behind the scenes in their conversations with their counterparts in the u.s. and they are quite concerned about this. it s actually a rare example of a split between the biden administration and speaker pelosi. we don t know whether she will go ahead with the trip but the signals are that she may still do that. and it was very unusual for president biden to go on the record and say that he disagreed with that. bret: u.s. military said don t go. it s fascinating. we will follow it panel, thank you. kimberly, thank you. finally tonight a special report salute double header. the annual pony swim on the eastern shore of virginia is back after two year hiatus due to the pandemic. 150 ponies were herded through the water. conditions would come. raise funds for veterinary care. in california just to keep it on animals, 600 goats were unleashed on a regional park. the grazing gang they are called will reduce fire fuels and hazards. there you go.
The Rim Wildfire Awareness Team has a new name, a new 501(c)(3) designation and hopes to rally a whole new slew of Firewise volunteers at their workshop on Saturday, April
Payson took a critical second step toward protecting the town from wildfire with the introduction of a fire hardening building code to the Building Advisory Board on March 16.