Some, like The Okra Project, created funds to pay for therapy sessions for Black trans people. Bridging the gap and offering supportLiving as a Black trans person can induce anxiety on a regular day, one Black trans person said. “This work is so important for [Black trans people] to be out on the street, to remain active and activated,” Stewart said. There are resources available for Black trans people, but it's not enough, said according to Francisco, the youth services coordinator. Black Trans Travel Fund is a mutual aid-based organization that helps Black trans women in New York and New Jersey access safe transportation.

The vaccine rollout is a freakin’ mess, and President Biden owns it now. But as the president continued to proclaim his goal of 100 million shots in his first 100 days, the media weren’t buying it. That was the question that prompted Biden to snap "give me a break" at an AP reporter who asked about it last week. BIDEN NEEDS A QUICK WIN ON COVID, WITH OR WITHOUT REPUBLICANSEveryone knows why Biden set the goal at 100 million. No one would suggest that Biden and his top spokeswoman are being grilled by the press the way that Trump and his press secretaries were.

The scheduled retrial of an Oregon defendant who was accused of committing a brutal hammer attack on a woman has been scrapped – with the defendant to walk free – because the key witness in the case said she won’t testify without wearing a face mask, according to a report. "It’s the second time I’m going through this trial," Fawcett told the news outlet. Crime victims’ rights advocate Rosemary Brewer said it appeared to be another instance in which the rights of defendants were placed ahead of those of crime victims. "The courts are not granting victims their rights with the same priority that they are for defendants due to COVID-19." Many trials in Oregon have been postponed because of the coronavirus and many others have included virtual testimony, the report said.

No Brexit bonfire for City of London, but it won't be a 'rule taker'London has no desire for a bonfire of regulations to retain its position as a top international finance centre after Brexit but it is ready to act if the European Union blocks access, the City of London's political leader said.

POLITICO has looked at the key moments in the U.K. government’s — and its scientific advisers’ — handling of the coronavirus pandemic. March 26: Harries said testing and contact tracing was no longer an “appropriate mechanism as we go forward,” arguing that the World Health Organization’s call to “test, test, test” was aimed at less-developed nations. December 16: Johnson insisted Christmas wouldn’t be canceled and that restrictions would be relaxed for five days over the festive period. Hancock announced a new coronavirus variant had been identified in the U.K.December 19: Johnson canceled Christmas and scrapped the relaxation plan. January 4, 2021: 13 days later, Johnson announced a third national lockdown.

An Iberia Airbus A330 is seen flying over a hotel at Heathrow Airport in west London on January 26, 2021 | Justin Tallis/AFP via Getty ImagesTravelers from coronavirus hot spots will be forced into mandatory hotel quarantine upon arriving in the U.K., British Home Secretary Priti Patel is expected to announce today, but the opposition Labour Party has called for tougher measures. According to the BBC, the U.K. would force British residents arriving in England from 30 countries, including Portugal and most of South America and southern Africa, to quarantine in hotels at their own expense for up to 10 days. 10 does “want to go further,” but that “there is no textbook as to how to respond to this.”Want more analysis from POLITICO? POLITICO Pro is our premium intelligence service for professionals. From financial services to trade, technology, cybersecurity and more, Pro delivers real time intelligence, deep insight and breaking scoops you need to keep one step ahead.

In Phone Call, Biden Presses Putin Over Cyber Breach, NavalnyEnlarge this image toggle caption Alexei Nikolsky/Alexei Nikolsky/TASS Alexei Nikolsky/Alexei Nikolsky/TASSIn his first phone call with Vladimir Putin since taking office, President Biden pressed his Russian counterpart on the detention of a leading Kremlin-critic, the mass arrest of protesters, and Russia's suspected involvement in a massive cyber breach in the United States. Biden and Putin will have their teams work to complete an extension for the deal by Feb. 5. Navalny arrestThe White House said the phone call with Putin included a discussion over the near-fatal poisoning and the arrest of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The White House didn't provide details on what exactly Biden said about Navalny, and the Kremlin's summary of the phone call didn't mention it at all. Navalny has blamed the Kremlin for the poisoning, which Putin has denied.

REUTERS / Jonathan ErnstThe DOJ inspector general is investigating if any department officials tried to interfere with the 2020 election results. The New York Times reported earlier that Trump wanted to install a loyalist atop the DOJ to throw out Georgia's election results. The Department of Justice Office of the Inspector General (OIG) has launched an investigation into whether any current or former department officials "engaged in an improper attempt to have DOJ seek to alter the outcome" of the 2020 general election. According to The Times, Trump was incensed after Rosen refused to support his effort to cast doubt on then-President-elect Joe Biden's victory in Georgia. Trump forced out Attorney General William Barr after he publicly confirmed that the DOJ did not uncover evidence of widespread voter or election fraud.

“They just want to work in a safe environment, and as safe as we can rationally make it, and we can do that,” Biden said. First Lady Jill Biden along with Weingarten and National Education Association President Becky Pringle held a virtual event with 11,000 teachers last week. Around 10,000 elementary school teachers and staff were expected to report to work on Monday to prepare for the reopening. Eighty-six percent of all CTU members cast ballots with 71 percent opting to continue to work from home. Union members said they were encouraged to hear Biden’s comments on the situation, according to the Sun-Times.

By Makini Brice and Richard CowanWASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. Capitol security officials apologized on Tuesday for "failings" during the deadly attack on the building by followers of then-President Donald Trump in a bid to stop the certification of Joe Biden's election victory. About one dozen officials from agencies including the FBI, National Guard, Justice Department and U.S. Capitol Police briefed House appropriators who are looking into the events of Jan. 6. She and Timothy Blodgett, the acting U.S. House of Representatives' sergeant at arms, said security officials were working to do more to boost protection of the U.S. Capitol, the seat of government. In the weeks since the attack, security has been heightened around the Capitol and in Washington in general, with eight-foot-high fencing surrounding the Capitol's perimeter and National Guard troops brought in for Biden's inauguration on Jan. 20. Some 5,000 National Guard troops will remain in Washington through mid-March.

Top U.S. Capitol security officials formally apologized on Tuesday for what they called "failings" during the deadly attack on the Capitol building by supporters of then-President Donald Trump in a bid to stop the certification of Joe Biden's election victory. The Washington Post reported that the second officer died by suicide and had been on duty at the Capitol during the siege. The acting House sergeant at arms, Timothy Blodgett, said security officials were working to do more to boost protection of the U.S. Capitol. The Washington Post reported that the second officer died by suicide and had been on duty at the Capitol during the siege. The acting house sergeant at arms, Timothy Blodgett, said security officials were working to do more to boost protection of the US Capitol.

Yogananda Pittman, in prepared testimony before Congress, said that the Capitol Police “failed to meet its own high standards as well as yours." A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that authorities have detected ominous chatter about killing legislators or attacking them outside the Capitol. Five people died, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher. The Defense Department has said it asked the Capitol Police if it needed the Guard, but the request was denied. A member of the Capitol Police Board denied Pittman's claim hours after her testimony was released.

But just a few weeks later, they're already singing a different tune as the Senate prepares for Trump's impeachment trial. Eight days after McCarthy said Trump "bears responsibility," he told reporters that Trump did not provoke the attack. On January 17, the South Carolina Republican called on President Joe Biden to oppose Trump's impeachment. "If you do not stand up against the impeachment of President Trump after he leaves office, you are an incredibly weak figure in American history. "President Trump has not always chosen the right words," Haley reportedly said.

The new badge was meant to showcase his dedication to strengthening the bonds among England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, which together make up the United Kingdom. Scotland and Northern Ireland voted against leaving the EU in 2016 but were powerless to stop it. Sturrock’s shifting views are music to the ears of Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who has hung much of her political career on the fight for Scottish independence. The half-in, half-out status angers those who see it as a wedge being driven between the people of Northern Ireland and the rest of their compatriots in Britain. (Peter Morrison / Associated Press)AdvertisementWhether Johnson can stanch the upwelling of dissent and disillusionment in Scotland and Northern Ireland is an open question.

WASHINGTON (AP) — With a change of administrations, it looks like Harriet Tubman is once again headed to the front of the $20 bill. Biden press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that the Treasury Department is taking steps to resume efforts to put the 19th century abolitionist leader on the $20 bill. Obama administration Treasury Secretary Jack Lew had selected Tubman to replace Andrew Jackson, the nation's seventh president, on the $20 bill. Instead, Mnuchin in 2019 announced a delay in redesigning the $20 bill in order to redesign the $10 and $50 bills first to improve security features to thwart counterfeiters. The unveiling of the redesigned $20 bill featuring Tubman, famous for her efforts spiriting slaves to freedom on the Underground Railroad, had been timed by the Obama administration to coincide with the 100th anniversary of passage of the 19th Amendment giving women the right to vote.

The Prime Minister is poised to set out the criteria for lifting lockdown next month, sources have told the Telegraph. Boris Johnson has come under pressure from his backbenchers to explain what must be achieved before restrictions can be eased, with he and fellow ministers so far only stressing the need to get cases, hospitalisations and daily deaths down, while maintaining the vaccine rollout. However sources stressed that the plan would not be coming imminently, however, suggesting it could be revealed close to the mid-February review point. Robert Jenrick confirmed that the Prime Minister would set out a "road map" out of the lockdown, with reopening schools a priority. Follow the latest updates below.

At the show’s helm is comedian Jacob Hawley, who previously hosted the podcast On Drugs and comedy special Welcome to Britain on Radio 4. Pornography is an emotional and contentious topic for many people, with conversations often descending into cries of “porn bad” or “porn good”. Rather than viewing it as some floating moral concept, Hawley explores how pornography actually operates today and how it affects creators and consumers alike. The discussions feel vital because pornography is a topic that carries a taboo and divides people who would normally agree on other matters. Should we discuss porn when talking about love, Hawley asks at the top of the show.

Network Rail has offered Katie Price’s son, Harvey, the chance to make an announcement at one of their stations after seeing his love of trains in the documentary Katie Price: Harvey and Me. The BBC One documentary aired on Monday evening and included two scenes of Harvey at train station. In the two scenes, Harvey is seen mimicking the station announcements. While spending time with a friend at Waterloo Station in London, he says: “May I have your attention please? Platform four for the 11.34 South Western Railway service to Guildford.”Now, Network Rail has revealed it would love to offer Harvey the chance to make an official railway announcement.

Carey Mulligan has responded after US publication Variety apologised for its controversial review of her new film Promising Young Woman. The review, published in January 2020, suggested that Margot Robbie would have been a better choice for the lead character in the revenge comedy-thriller. “Mulligan, a fine actress, seems a bit of an odd choice as this admittedly many-layered apparent femme fatale,” stated critic Dennis Harvey. Or we want to edit the way that they work, the way they move, and the way that they think and behave. In Promising Young Woman, for which she is receiving Oscar buzz, Mulligan portrays Cassie, a survivor of trauma who uses her sexuality in a series of revenge schemes.

Biden’s China-related appointments represent a Democratic Party dream team of consummate insiders with a Beltway accent, fluent in the business of politics and the politics of business. The new team includes many Obama administration retreads and Hillary Clinton loyalists who know how to play the game -— but what if the game is changing? Most of Biden’s China team, though competent, comprises partisan professionals who work in the orbit of Pentagon-friendly think tanks and lucrative consulting firms. U.S. China policy going forward will be more muscular than that of the timid Obama era, but it will also be miles away from the tantrum-a-day style of Trump’s leadership. Incoming Secretary of State Blinken has set the tone for Biden’s China policy by acknowledging that Trump’s decision to get tough on China was correct.

? Close Related video: Biden orders 200m extra Covid vaccine doses in bid to vaccinate 300m Americans by end of summerJoe Biden has held his first call with Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, pressing his fellow president on the poisoning and arrest of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the Kremlin’s apparent involvement in a cyberattack last year that compromised the files of multiple US federal agencies and the Russian military’s alleged bounty scheme against US troops in Afghanistan. The new US president is eager to set a new tone in relations with Russia, its Cold War adversary throughout the second half of the 20th century, after his predecessor, Donald Trump, routinely gave Mr Putin the benefit of the doubt. Republican senators lost a vote in the upper chamber on Tuesday seeking to block Mr Trump’s upcoming impeachment trial as “unconstitutional”, given that he is no longer in office, but the vote appeared to confirm Rand Paul’s contention that the matter is “dead on arrival”, with insufficient GOP support to convict the 45th president for inciting insurrection at the US Capitol earlier this month. Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP Thanks for signing up to the Inside Washington newsletter {{#verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} {{^verifyErrors}} {{message}} {{/verifyErrors}} The Independent would like to keep you informed about offers, events and updates by email, please tick the box if you would like to be contactedRead our full mailing list consent terms here The Independent would like to keep you informed about offers, events and updates by email, please tick the box if you would like to be contactedRead our full mailing list consent terms here

The effort has thus far been thwarted by official obstruction, monitoring of social media groups and intimidation, say next-of-kin. The WHO experts arrived in Wuhan on January 14 and are due to emerge from a 14-day quarantine on Thursday. According to official Chinese figures, it killed nearly 3,900 in Wuhan, accounting for the vast majority of the 4,636 dead China has reported. A team of WHO virus experts were finally allowed into Wuhan a fortnight ago. Several Wuhan relatives have tried to file lawsuits seeking compensation and punishment of officials, but say courts have refused to accept them.

A popular TikToker and his friends have been detained for allegedly vandalizing a Russian security services car during mass rallies in support of jailed opposition leader Alexei Navalny in Moscow, media reported Wednesday. Konstantin Lakeyev, 18, is suspected of attacking the car appearing to belong to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in a widely shared video from Saturday’s unauthorized protests demanding Navalny’s release. State media reported that the car’s driver was hospitalized with a gouged eye. news Protests for Jailed Kremlin Critic Navalny Sweep Russia Read moreThe OVD-Info police-monitoring website reported that friends lost contact with Lakeyev after his detention Tuesday evening. The news agency added that several of his fellow influencers have also been detained for questioning at a TikTok house they share outside Moscow on suspicion of vandalizing the state car.

The team comprises senior journalists with wide-ranging interests who debate and opine on the news and issues of the day. LESS ... MOREThat the farm agitation has gone on far too long was evident in the manner that the farmers clashed with police on Republic Day and the protest turned violent. Perhaps, the government can rope in chief ministers of the north Indian states affected by the farm agitation to get the farmers to back down. This would be a bipartisan mix of Congress and BJP chief ministers like Amarinder Singh, ML Khattar, Yogi Adityanath and Ashok Gehlot. Chief ministers as negotiators carry the added heft of enjoying the popular mandate of their respective states, and it would also signal respect for federalism.

“Washington has realized the limitations of dealing with North Korea unilaterally, and would want to work together with other countries for future talks.”Noting that the North’s nuclear arsenals are now more advanced and sophisticated than the Obama and Trump era, Cheong stressed that both denuclearizing the North and bringing the regime back to the table would be very difficult without China.“Washington is well aware of this. The North withdrew from the talks in 2009, and though there have been attempts to revive the negotiations since, it has never happened.Many believe the four-party talks that took place in the late 1990s -- involving the two Koreas, the US and China -- is more feasible and preferred by Beijing than getting all six to the table.But such talks, or any other working-level dialogue, would not happen so soon, experts agreed. In the meantime, Washington will likely continue to mete out sanctions and take a hardline stance to gain leverage over Pyongyang.“The US will likely continue to toughen sanctions, as ways to manage the North Korea situation,” said Park Won-gon, professor of international politics at Handong Global University. “If the allies conduct exercises, there’s a high chance the North could retaliate, and that could change the whole scope of Washington’s approach to Pyongyang.”As it could take up to six months for Washington’s North Korea policy review to be completed, Seoul needs to consult closely with Washington to have some input into the new administration policies, others say.“South Korea can take the opportunity of Biden’s ‘alliances first’ approach to shore up Seoul’s relations with both Washington and Tokyo and have early input into the new administration’s policies,” said Easley. “It can seek sanctions exemptions for rebuilding the Mount Kumgang resort for humanitarian and environmental exchanges and suggest North Korea and climate change as areas for US-China cooperation.”At the same time, Seoul needs to mend ties with Tokyo, w

South Korean President Moon Jae-in delivers a special speech during a virtual session of the World Economic Forum (WEF) at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on Wednesday. (Yonhap)President Moon Jae-in introduced global political and business leaders Wednesday to South Korea's policy measures designed to promote inclusive growth in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was delivering a special speech at an online meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) as part of its Davos Agenda Week event. "We have yet to pool more wisdom on concrete ways, but if implemented, they would be able to serve as an inclusive policy model to overcome infectious disease disasters, like the coronavirus, together," the president said. He also mentioned the Korean-version New Deal project aimed at expanding employment and social safety nets and achieving an inclusive recovery from the coronavirus crisis.

All but five US Senate Republicans have voted in favour of an effort to dismiss Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial, making clear a conviction of the former president for "incitement of insurrection" is unlikely. The impeachment trial surrounds Mr Trump's role in the deadly siege at the US Capitol on January 6. The vote means the trial on Mr Trump's impeachment will begin as scheduled the week of February 8. The shift is said to be in keeping with protocol because Mr Trump is no longer in office. Instead, Senator Leahy, who serves in the largely ceremonial role of Senate president pro tempore, was sworn in on Tuesday.

Israeli military chief of staff’s remarks are rare and a clear warning to the Biden administration on its relations with Iran. Israel’s top general warned attack plans against Iran were being revised and said any US return to the 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran would be “wrong”. “A return to the 2015 nuclear agreement, or even if it is a similar accord with several improvements, is bad and wrong from an operational and strategic point of view,” Kohavi said. Targeting IranAfter Trump withdrew from the nuclear deal in 2018, tensions in the Middle East quickly escalated after a series of attacks and military incidents. Netanyahu had threatened possible Israeli strikes against Iran in the run-up to the landmark nuclear accord with world powers.

Sources familiar with the hospital say Chief Operating Officer Gary Purushotham has been fired, the Mercury News reported. Good Samaritan Hospital spokesperson Sarah Sherwood did not respond immediately to requests for comment from San José Spotlight but told the Mercury News that “disciplinary action has been taken” and Purushotham was still at the hospital as of Jan. 26. On Jan. 25, the office of the Santa Clara County District Attorney confirmed it was looking into the matter. In a letter on Jan. 22, COVID-19 Testing Officer Marty Fenstersheib said the county would restrict future vaccine doses at the hospital until there was proof distribution could be done equitably. The public health department said as of Jan. 26, Good Samaritan had not yet submitted a plan as per Fenstersheib’s request.

File Image: Former Vice President Mike Pence and his wife, Karen Pence, after the inauguration of President Joe Biden on 20 January 2021 in Washington, DC. Mr Pence, who grew up in Columbus, hasn't owned an Indiana home for at least the past eight years, reported Associated Press. In fact, the rioters, some of whom chanted "Where's Mike Pence?" and "Hang Mike Pence", came as close as a 100 feet from him during the Capitol siege. Story continuesRead MoreRioters got just 100ft from Mike Pence during Capitol invasionPence says he’s leaving DC in emotional farewell speechThis is the official home of the Vice President

"Dad, what are you going to say,'" Brown recalled of a conversation he had with his son. "He asked me, 'Dad, what is [Pacific Air Forces] going to say,'" Brown said in an interview with Washington Post columnist David Ignatius. "What he was really asking me was, 'Dad, what are you going to say,'" Brown added, his voice breaking with emotion. Earlier in May, Brown had testified before the US Senate to be confirmed as the next Air Force chief of staff. Brown released a recorded statement in which he explained his personal experience with racial injustice in the Air Force.

President Biden’s approval rating in his first days in office is higher than Donald Trump ever achieved during his four years as president, two new polls have found. Trump, by contrast, reached an approval rating high of 52 percent in an April 2020 survey by the same pollster. As a result, their impact on a president’s approval rating can be short-lived. When Trump began his term as president in January 2017, Gallup measured his approval rating at 45 percent. But the week before he left office, his approval had fallen to just 34 percent, and Gallup noted that “his 41% average approval rating throughout his presidency is four points lower than for any of his predecessors.”Gallup has yet to release its first poll tracking Biden’s approval rating.

Council members Chad West, Adam Bazaldua, Paula Blackmon, Omar Narvaez, Adam Medrano and Jaime Resendez wrote City Manager T.C. Broadnax to request equipment for vaccine registration hubs in their districts. Council members also called county officials and talked to community leaders. Such local leadership successes should be celebrated and then scaled up, and we have high hopes for the city’s future registration hubs. We urge the council to focus on streamlining processes as the city rolls out its own allotment of 5,000 vaccine doses.

A 64-year-old man accused of plowing into pedestrians, cyclists and killing a 77-year-old Portland woman in a 15-block wild, erratic ride through Southeast Portland Monday afternoon is facing murder and multiple assault allegations. Paul Rivas is accused of second-degree murder , six counts of second-degree assault and seven counts of failure to perform the duties of a driver in Monday's deadly hit-and-run rampage in Southeast Portland, police said. Witnesses described Rivas’ behavior after he crashed his car and fled from the scene Monday following a mile-long rampage through Southeast Portland streets and sidewalks. An hour later, a caller reported a motorist driving recklessly in the area of Southeast 36th Avenue and Southeast Oak Street. Detectives said the crime scene stretched from Southeast Cesar E. Chavez Blvd to Southeast 15th Avenue, and from East Burnside Street to Belmont Street.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden is set to announce a wide-ranging moratorium on new oil and gas leasing on U.S. lands, as his administration moves quickly to reverse Trump administration policies on energy and the environment and address climate change. They asked not to be identified because the plan has not been made been public; some details remain in flux. The move follows a 60-day suspension of new drilling permits for U.S. lands and waters announced last week and follows Biden’s campaign pledge to halt new drilling on federal lands and end the leasing of publicly owned energy reserves as part of his plan to address climate change. The moratorium is intended to allow time for officials to review the impact of oil and gas drilling on the environment and climate. Environmental groups hailed the expected moratorium as the kind of bold, urgent action needed to slow climate change.

Nixon understood the gravity of the situation and complied with the request. Trump understood this message and decided to make false claims of election fraud during and after the 2020 election. This included a deliberate attempt to overturn the certified election results in some states he lost in 2020. Regardless of the public explanations they give for their votes, they should understand by now that Donald Trump will only hear what he wants to hear. In a few weeks, we will see what message our Republican senators send.

Kevin Stitt wants to be part of discussions regarding state-tribal relations as they relate to a historic U.S. Supreme Court decision last summer. Stitt said the potential fallout from the decision, known as the McGirt decision, merits his office’s involvement. In that decision, the Supreme Court said the federal government must handle major crimes involving Indians on the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s historical lands because the tribe’s reservation was never disestablished. State courts have extended that decision to other members of the Five Tribes — the Chickasaws, Cherokees, Seminoles and Choctaws — and the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals is expected to uphold those courts’ rulings. If that happens, much of eastern Oklahoma will be considered Indian Country for the purpose of criminal jurisdiction.

The Prime Minister is poised to set out the criteria for lifting lockdown next month, sources have told the Telegraph. Boris Johnson has come under pressure from his backbenchers to explain what must be achieved before restrictions can be eased, with he and fellow ministers so far only stressing the need to get cases, hospitalisations and daily deaths down, while maintaining the vaccine rollout. Speaking last night as he confirmed the UK's death toll had passed 100,000, the Prime Minister said: "What I will be doing in the course of the next few days and weeks is setting out in more detail as soon as we can, when and how we want to reopen things again". However sources stressed that the plan would not be coming imminently, however, suggesting it could be revealed close to the mid-February review point. Follow the latest updates below.

Donald Trump may be out of office, but his legacy is likely to throw a spanner in the works for the Biden revolution. The Democrats control the White House, the House of Representatives and, with the aid of Kamala Harris’s casting vote, the Senate. But it took less than a week for a Trump-appointed judge to slam the brakes on a Biden immigration initiative. While Donald Trump was in power, the Democrats repeatedly – and often successfully - went to court to block immigration restrictions. It is hardly surprising that the Republicans will use the courts to delay – and if possible block - the Biden administration where it can.

The former CPS chief prosecutor of the north west who brought down a Rochdale child abuse gang has suggested Boris Johnson could face prosecution for misconduct in public office over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic. Mr Johnson, in his Downing Street address this evening expressed his regret that more than 100,000 had died of Covid-19. Nazir Afzal, the former CPS chief prosecutor in the north west said he believes the PM could face prosecution. He wrote: '100,000 Covid dead and Boris Johnson has still not met with the family of any of bereaved, he hasn't called for a day of remembrance or even a moment's silence. Mr Afzal earlier wrote to the Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick about Dominic Cummings' controversial trip to Barnard Castle during the first Covid-19 lockdown.

Two sources told the paper that the president will sign an executive order establishing a White House interagency council on environmental justice. Biden on Wednesday will also announce a block on any new federal oil and gas leasing. Biden's move to emphasize how climate change affects different communities in different ways was praised by academics in the field. 'The executive order will help to lay out a clear path to implementing President Biden's climate and justice commitments,' Kelly said. The top three House Republicans, joined by 17 others, sent a letter to Biden on Tuesday warning him against suspending federal oil and gas auctions.

The administration has drafted an order imposing a moratorium on oil and gas auctions on federal land and water, the Washington Post and other US media reported. The US would also pledge to conserve 30 percent of all federal land and water by 2030, part of an international push to stem biodiversity loss and confront climate change, according to reports. "By permanently protecting our coasts from dirty offshore drilling and advancing clean energy sources like offshore wind, we can simultaneously combat climate change and safeguard our clean coast economy," said Oceana campaign director Diane Hoskins. But Goodman, now a senior fellow at the Wilson Center's Environmental Change and Security Program, said she saw opportunities for bipartisanship. "Remember that states like Texas and Wyoming also have huge wind potential," she said, adding that there was increased recognition of the realities of climate change.

It said that the two sides had "agreed in principle" to extend New START by five years. The New START treaty, signed in 2010, caps to 1,550 the number of nuclear warheads that can be deployed by Moscow and Washington, who control the world's largest nuclear arsenals. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday submitted a bill to parliament that would extend by five years a key nuclear pact with the United States that was set to expire next week. The legislation was published after Putin and new U.S. President Joe Biden held their first phone call Tuesday evening. Former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who brokered the INF treaty with U.S. president Ronald Reagan in 1987, urged both countries to extend New START and work together to agree further cuts to nuclear stockpiles.

Tuesday's vote signaled early, but firm, GOP resistance to pursuing impeachment, though Republicans can still change their minds on the final vote. If they remain unified, Democrats will need to win over 17 Republicans since a two-thirds majority is required to convict in an impeachment trial. Only three presidents, including Trump, have faced an impeachment trial though none was ultimately convicted. Typically, the chief justice of the United States presides over an impeachment trial of a sitting president, but John Roberts, who oversaw Trump's last trial in early 2020, declined to do so again. Trump's first impeachment trial lasted for 21 days, though others have spanned a few months.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) repeatedly supported disturbing conspiracy theories and liked social media posts that suggested executing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and FBI agents, among others, according to several media reports published Tuesday. CNN’s KFile later found other troubling activity on Greene’s personal Facebook page after reviewing hundreds of her posts and comments. “Many posts have been liked. Some did not represent my views.”“They want to take me out because I represent you,” she said. Prepare for the smears.”She did not address the specific posts CNN pointed out.

A Congressional Republican has introduced a federal bill that would ban transgender girls and women from participating in school sports. Steube introduced the same legislation in the U.S. House early last year, and Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI) introduced a similar bill later in the year. The bill contains no language banning states or schools from using forced genital or DNA exams on girls and women who want to participate in school sports. Transgender equality advocates argue that the entire point of this legislation is to deny that transgender women are women. A woman who is trans is a woman,” wrote ACLU attorney Chase Strangio in a Medium article about the GOP attempts to force transgender girls and women out of school sports.

PARIS (AP) — In a first for France, six nongovernmental organizations launched a class-action lawsuit Wednesday against the French government for alleged systemic discrimination by police officers carrying out identity checks. The organizations, including Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, contend that French police use racial profiling in ID checks, targeting Black people and people of Arab descent. The NGO’s are employing a little-used 2016 French law that allows associations to take such a legal move. The lawsuit features some 50 witnesses, both police officers and people subjected to abusive checks, whose accounts are excerpted in the letters of notice. —-Follow all AP stories about racial profiling at https://apnews.com/Racialinjustice.

I worked through edits of a story while news alerts flickered across my computer monitor, over and over again, demanding my attention, my interest. The most lucid moments in Jaffe’s writing come in the form of her blunt redefinitions of commonplace ideas. The occupation operates in a space, Jaffe argues, where devotion and love for the work is intrinsic to the value of the job. What undergirds Jaffe’s range of case studies is her central point that that love and work should not be in bed together and that it’s our job, even if we do love what we do, to deliberately separate them. We can and should demand more for ourselves, and for the companies that employ us to treat us better.

Farmer’s unions had devised a plan for a peaceful march into the capital on Republic Day, which commemorates the signing of India’s constitution. The Indian government had approved a plan for the farmers — who have been protesting for months — to enter the city at noon. The Joint Farmers’ Front, which represents a number of Indian farmers unions, issued a statement Tuesday condemning the clashes and separating themselves from protesters who engaged in violence. However, the farmers unions have refused to end their protest until there is a full retraction of the laws. After an 11th round of talks ended without a resolution on January 22, the farmers decided to increase agitation of Modi’s government by riding tractors into the capital city during the Republic Day celebrations.

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) used a vote on Tuesday to highlight Republican dissent on impeachment, and to argue that there isn’t sufficient GOP support to convict former President Trump in his upcoming Senate trial. As Vox’s Ian Millhiser has explained, a majority of legal scholars have concluded that holding an impeachment trial for a former president would be constitutional. Paul wanted to hold this vote to demonstrate how many Republicans opposed the trial, and to make a point about how Trump’s conviction would be unlikely without their support. “I think there will be enough support on it to show there’s no chance they can impeach the president,” Paul has previously said. “I think it’s pretty obvious from the vote today that it is extraordinarily unlikely that the president will be convicted.

He's been turned into a bobblehead by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and his miniature likenesses are record-breaking bestsellers. The Fauci frenzyThe first Fauci bobblehead, which featured a blue tie, had a limited production of 42,020 figurines, Sklar explained. And then somebody from the organization where we're donating to suggested a Fauci bobblehead Christmas ornament, so we did that," Sklar said. Recently the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum released a seventh Fauci bobblehead that features him wearing his lab coat. "Today we've raised over just over $300,000," Sklar said, noting the bulk of the donated money came from Fauci bobbleheads.

He's been turned into a bobblehead by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and his miniature likenesses are record-breaking bestsellers. The Fauci frenzyThe first Fauci bobblehead, which featured a blue tie, had a limited production of 42,020 figurines, Sklar explained. And then somebody from the organization where we're donating to suggested a Fauci bobblehead Christmas ornament, so we did that," Sklar said. Recently the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum released a seventh Fauci bobblehead that features him wearing his lab coat. "Today we've raised over just over $300,000," Sklar said, noting the bulk of the donated money came from Fauci bobbleheads.

Pakistan will be contributing $25,000 to the United Nation Secretary General’s Peace building Fund, to reaffirm its commitment and multilateral cooperation for preserving peace, preventing conflict and realizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), announced Foreign Minister, Makhdoom Shah Mahmood Qureshi,The minister made the announcement while speaking during a virtual High Level Replenishment Conference for UN Secretary General's Peace-building Fund. He said "The pledge underscores Pakistan's longstanding political, human and financial commitment to UN's endeavors in peacekeeping and peace-building”. "Yet despite our ongoing financial difficulties, I am pleased to announce a token contribution of 25,000 dollars to the Secretary General's Peace-building Fund," he added. He also welcomed the UN Secretary General's Peace-building Fund Strategy 2020-2024, focusing on the imperative of conflict prevention. Shah said, “Together with a quantum leap in support for the Fund, an effective strategy was required to optimize its scope and impact”.

He's been turned into a bobblehead by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and his miniature likenesses are record-breaking bestsellers. The Fauci frenzyThe first Fauci bobblehead, which featured a blue tie, had a limited production of 42,020 figurines, Sklar explained. And then somebody from the organization where we're donating to suggested a Fauci bobblehead Christmas ornament, so we did that," Sklar said. Recently the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum released a seventh Fauci bobblehead that features him wearing his lab coat. "Today we've raised over just over US$300,000," Sklar said, noting the bulk of the donated money came from Fauci bobbleheads.

A federal judge in Texas temporarily blocked the Biden administration from moving forward with a 100-day pause on many deportations across the US, saying Tuesday that it was not adequately reasoned or explained to the public. The temporary restraining order represents an initial setback for the Biden administration, which has vowed to reform agencies like Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) by restricting who is arrested and deported. Judge Drew Tipton, who was appointed by former president Donald Trump, ordered the Biden administration to immediately stop enforcing its moratorium on many deportations, which had gone into effect on Friday before Texas sued. On Jan. 20, the Biden administration issued a pause on deportations for many undocumented immigrants who have final orders of removal. Kate Huddleston, an attorney for the ACLU of Texas, slammed the lawsuit on Tuesday, saying Paxton "is attempting to force the Biden administration to follow Trump's xenophobic policies."

Watkins, Siniff said, began 2020 hopeful about the bar she’d rechristened the Jolly Roger, but COVID put her business in a perilous state. Last summer, the small paramilitary group Watkins formed, the Ohio State Regular Militia, was patrolling Louisville amid protests over the police killing of Breonna Taylor. By the fall, she was answering a call from the Oath Keepers to travel to Washington, DC, in support of Donald Trump’s efforts to overturn the election. It was there that she saw an interview with Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, who has been a regular guest on Infowars for years. Rhodes, a former paratrooper who later went to Yale Law School, founded the Oath Keepers in 2009.

The Justice Department on Tuesday rescinded the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy that led to the systematic separation of immigrant families at the border. “While policies may change, our mission always remains the same: to seek justice under the law,” Wilkinson said. In a statement, the Justice Department said the zero tolerance policy went against the long-standing principle that federal prosecutors exercise judgment and make individual assessments in criminal cases. The Trump administration's 2018 zero tolerance policy called for prosecuting everyone who was caught crossing the border illegally. Immigrants caught at the border are quickly sent back to Mexico — and in some cases their home countries via plane — without so much as a court hearing.

Twitter has not taken action against Kellyanne Conway, one of former president Donald Trump’s top campaign and White House aides, after her account posted a nude photo of her underage daughter Claudia. Kellyanne Conway had 3.3 million Twitter followers at the time this story was published. In a second TikTok, Claudia responds to a comment alleging that Kellyanne posted a photo of Claudia without her shirt on. The fleet posted on Kellyanne’s account appeared to be a photo taken of another phone’s screen displaying the image of Claudia. Claudia Conway has accused Kellyanne Conway of abusive parenting on TikTok over the past several months.

Paul forced a vote arguing that Trump’s second impeachment trial is unconstitutional because he is no longer in office. The 55–45 vote means Trump’s impeachment trial will go ahead. Though Paul’s attempt failed, he succeeded in showing that there are more than enough Republicans loyal to Trump to acquit him in the trial. Before the vote, Paul correctly predicted that north of 40 Republicans would object to the trial. Republican Sen. Ron Johnson went even further than Paul, urging senators to declare Trump’s impeachment unconstitutional whether or not that is true.

Biden and his allies say they want to undo the diplomatic harm caused by former president Donald Trump’s unilateral reimposition of sanctions on Iran, which happened over the objections of European partners. Along with rejoining the Paris climate accords, salvaging the 2015 Iran nuclear deal that Trump abrogated would demonstrate the Biden administration’s commitment to multilateral diplomacy with long-standing allies. While Biden is committed to re-engagement with Iran, his aides have yet to indicate clearly when and how, suggesting that the ball is in Iran’s court. ADADAs the Trump administration fired off a final salvo of punitive actions against Tehran, the regime responded by stepping up enrichment of uranium at five times the rate permitted under the nuclear deal. “We have weeks.”This standoff between Biden and Zarif’s boss, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, is made more fraught by domestic pressures within both countries.

A Georgia state lawmaker said his refusal to take a Covid-19 test got him kicked out of the House chambers on Tuesday. But Georgia House Speaker David Ralston said the lawmaker, Rep. David Clark, has repeatedly refused to follow House policy which states that all members and staff be tested for the coronavirus twice a week. As such, under the authority granted to the Speaker by House Rules, the member was escorted out of the Chamber by a member of the Georgia Department of Public Safety." But "what I will not do is be forced to have a Covid test, or any unnecessary medical test, done without a basis for doing so," he said. Ralston said in his statement that Clark will be allowed to return to the chamber after he complies with the policy.

ADVERTISEMENTThe AP this week cited witnesses who fled the Tigray region as saying Eritrean soldiers were looting, going house-to-house killing young men and even acting as local authorities. The Eritreans have been fighting on the side of Ethiopian forces as they pursue the fugitive leaders of the Tigray region, though Ethiopia’s government has denied their presence. “It remains unclear how many Eritrean soldiers are in Tigray, or precisely where,” it says. It was not immediately clear whether the U.S. has addressed its demand directly to Eritrean officials. Witnesses have estimated that the Eritrean soldiers number in the thousands.

On Monday, Mike Pence’s former homeland security advisor and lead staffer on the White House coronavirus task force, Olivia Troye, appeared on All In With Chris Hayes. Troye revealed that she was asked to spy on Dr. Deborah Birx, who was the coronavirus task force coordinator. “I'm the person that actually was brought into a room at some point when she first started,” said Troye. “I remember that day because Dr. Birx was really angry and she actually confronted me and said, ‘Do you know who created those graphs? Watch as Former deputy press secretary recalls Trump’s farewell ceremony was ‘like a funeral’:Read more from Yahoo Entertainment:Tell us what you think!

Marjorie Taylor Greene indicated support for executing Democrats before her election, report says (SAUL LOEB/AFP via Getty Images)Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene indicated her support for the execution of leading Democrats in 2018 and 2019 Facebook posts before winning election to Congress, it has been reported. pic.twitter.com/K3JuvqrDGS — Marjorie Taylor Greene ?? (@mtgreenee) January 26, 2021“They are coming after me because, like President Trump, I will always defend our values." Story continuesMs Taylor Greene last week, as a stunt, filed an article of impeachment against Joe Biden the day after his inauguration. Ms Taylor Greene has also been accused of posting false flag conspiracy theories about the Parkland high school shooting. Mr Trump campaigned on her behalf and called her a “future Republican star.”Read MoreMarjorie Taylor Greene files articles of impeachment against Joe BidenMarjorie Taylor Greene faces calls to resign over ‘false flag’ commentMarjorie Taylor Greene suspended from TwitterMarjorie Taylor Greene says she will reject Biden electors

A former adviser to Mike Pence says she was told to "spy" on Dr Deborah Birx, the White House's coronavirus taskforce coordinator during the Trump administration. In response to Ms Birx speaking out publically this week, Ms Troye said she saw first hand the "very challenging situations" the administration placed on its health expert. Mr Pottinger was Donald Trump's deputy national security adviser who resigned following the riot at the US Capitol. Ms Birx was also heavily criticized for not publicly speaking out against, or pushing back harder on Mr Trump, during her time on the coronavirus taskforce. And I said, well, you know that there has been an effort to manipulate the data to downplay this virus," Ms Troye said.

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Protesters set a large fire, damaged buildings and marched with signs late Sunday in response to a police car driving through a crowd in Washington state the day before, leaving at least two people injured. The demonstrators gathered near the intersection in Tacoma where the police car plowed through a crowd of pedestrians while responding to a reported street race Saturday evening. Several items were set up to create a barricade in the street where a large trash can was set ablaze. There were no known injuries from the demonstration, police said in a tweet, adding that the protest was cleared around 11 p.m. The officer drove forward through the crowd, and then stopped and called for medical aid, police said.

“I just said, 'Oh my goodness gracious,’” he recalled in a CNN interview about that day in April, when Mr Trump suggested bleach could act as a therapeutic to the novel virus from behind the White House podium. “I could just see what’s going to happen,” Dr Fauci added. "Sending me an envelope with powder that explodes in my face to scare me and my family, boy that tells you the depth of the divisiveness,” says Dr. Fauci of death threats he received during the Trump administration. Even leading disinfectant companies like Lysol and Clorox released urgent warnings to customers against using their products as potential therapeutics for the novel virus. Read MoreDr Fauci urges Americans to not ‘get complacent’ as cases declineTrump reportedly furious he can't lash out at Dr Fauci on TwitterFauci opens up on what working for Trump was really like

GettyDr. Anthony Fauci said he was worried that people would do "dangerous and foolish things" after former President Donald Trump suggested injecting disinfectants could be a treatment for COVID-19. I could just see what's going to happen," Fauci said when asked during a CNN interview on Monday. Top US infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said he was that people would do "dangerous and foolish things" after former President Donald Trump suggested injecting disinfectant could treat coronavirus infections. In April of last year, the former president made a comment during a press briefing suggesting scientists should research the effects of possibly injecting disinfectant to treat or cure COVID-19. In an interview on Monday with CNN's Erin Burnett, Fauci reflected on his thoughts during that moment, saying he was worried that the remark would make people do "dangerous and stupid things."

Mar-a-Lago is 10 minutes away from Trump Plaza in West Palm Beach, which voted to remove the ex-president’s name. The board of Trump Plaza in Florida has voted to remove the ex-president's branding from its twin-buildings following the riots at the US Capitol. Trump Plaza’s condo board voted on 19 January to rename the complex after two attempts in 2020. But the US Capitol riots were the "last straw" for residents, according to The Palm Beach Post. “It’s been a long time in coming," one Trump Plaza resident told the Post.

Brian Gundersen, a former football player, faces charges in connection with the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol. (Photo: FBI)Brian Gundersen, a former varsity football player for Byram Hills High School in North Castle Township, New York, is facing charges after the FBI received tips about a man seen storming the Capitol while wearing a letterman’s jacket. The jacket included the name of his high school and his former jersey number. Gundersen is reportedly 26 years old and reportedly graduated high school nearly nine years ago, in 2012. Brian Gundersen wore his high school varsity jacket to the attack on the U.S. Capitol.

White House National Economic Council Director Brian Deese told CNBC Tuesday that Biden is willing to negotiate the value of the direct relief payments included in the bill, among other things. “When it comes to the checks, we put forward a proposal that ... passed the House with 275 votes — 44 Republicans voted for it,” Deese said. “Certainly, if there are ways to make that provision, and other provisions, more effective, that’s something that we’re open to, that we’ll have conversations about. At the same time, he said he wanted to move quickly, and that he could not be sure that Republicans would support a bill in the end. The resolution would allow lawmakers to write a bill based on Biden’s relief proposal, and for it to pass with a simple majority.

Let's bring in Congressman Tom Malinowski, Democratic Congressman Tom Malinowski from New Jersey. And I think something similar to what President Biden proposed will be put on the floor of the United States Senate. TOM MALINOWSKI: Yeah, It's not either or. TOM MALINOWSKI: Yeah, well, look, I think that there's broad consensus that the Chinese Communist Party poses a threat to democracies around the world. But Congressman Tom Malinowski from the state of New Jersey, appreciate you coming on here to chat with us today.

Rep. Ro Khanna (D., Calif.) says if Republicans don’t get on board with President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus plan, the Senate should use reconciliation— a process that would allow the legislation to pass through Congress without any Republican support. This is not a far-left plan,” said Khanna in an interview with Yahoo Finance Live. ), have raised concerns about stimulus checks going to people who don’t need them. The process allows the Senate to pass certain legislation with only a simple majority. In 2017, Republicans used the process to pass the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

By Sarah N. Lynch and David ShepardsonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department's internal watchdog on Monday said his office was launching an investigation on whether current or former department officials made an "improper attempt" to seek to alter the results of the 2020 presidential election. “Throughout the past four years, I worked with Assistant Attorney General Clark on various legislative matters. In a meeting at the White House later that evening, senior Justice Department officials met with Trump and other White House lawyers and convinced Trump not to appoint Clark. Clark has since left the Justice Department and has not responded to multiple requests for comment. His office, he added, does not have jurisdiction to investigate other government officials outside of the Justice Department.

An Ohio lawmaker who caused an uproar last year when he asked whether the “colored population” was more susceptible to the coronavirus because they “do not wash their hands as well as other groups” has been chosen to lead the state Senate’s health panel. Tony Bishop, director of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, said the caucus wasn't happy with the appointment but were willing to give Huffman a chance. Angela Dawson, who is Black and heads the Ohio Commission on Minority Health, was on the receiving end of Huffman’s question. Could it just be that African Americans or the colored population do not wash their hands as well as other groups? "That is not the opinion of leading medical experts in this country," Dawson said, adding later: "Do all populations need to wash their hands?

Biden spoke by phone on Tuesday with Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg to convey that Washington intended to work with Nato allies on shared security concerns such as in Afghanistan, Iraq and Russia. Biden said the United States was committed to collective defence under the North Atlantic Treaty and "underscored his commitment to strengthening transatlantic security", the White House said in a statement. During his presidency, Trump repeatedly accused Nato allies, including Germany, of not "paying their fair share", and threatened to withdraw the US from the alliance. More from South China Morning Post:Read the original article on South China Morning Post. For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app.

A bill that would finally require lawmakers to show their hands on capital outlay projects “Zoomed” through a House committee meeting Monday and is headed for the House floor. House Bill 55 would require the Legislature to publish a list of capital projects approved each year with details on which legislators sponsored what projects, and how much funding they allocated to each one. The new House rules allow members to participate and vote online from their homes to protect members, staff and families from the coronavirus. Let’s hope the House quickly passes the capital outlay transparency bill, and that this time it moves smoothly through the Senate. Because reforming the capital outlay process would allow a permanent ray of sunshine into what has been a traditionally shrouded process.

In a recently declassified memo, CIA agents in 1991 described two Russian scientists who were conducting experiments on extrasensory perception, known as ESP, which is the ability to gain information, or influence physical objects, using only the mind. It is unclear what purpose the declassified document served, but it details the bizarre research of two Soviet scientists who performed ESP experiments in the 1980s. In 1987 and 1988, about 3,000 patients underwent “nontraditional medical treatment” at the institute, including “the use of psychic methods”. Greenewald on his website said the document was released to him in November 2020 after he filed a records request to the Defense Intelligence Agency for documents related to ESP. In a letter to Greenewald, the CIA said that one document on ESP must remain classified.

The mainstream media, they say, has been “gushing” over Joe Biden, offering “nauseating” coverage of the new president and “not hiding their excitement”. “You were very strong at the end of that press conference,” Hannity assured Trump during a Fox News interview in July 2018. “Well get ready, it’s gonna be four years of nauseating, gauzy coverage,” thundered Laura Ingraham on Fox News this week. Well, they’re just lapdogs.”Ingraham, host of the Ingraham Angle Fox News show, is something of an expert in this field. “Are you having fun in this job?” Ingraham asked Trump, later asking the president: “Look at the economy.

Juries should be temporarily cut from 12 to seven to help reduce delays in court trials and cut the backlog in cases, says Labour. David Lammy, shadow Justice Secretary, said smaller juries would reduce the space required to hold trials in a socially-distanced manner. Mr Lammy also urged ministers to speed up the roll-out of Nightingale courts, in order to help clear the Crown Court backlog of more than 54,000 cases. It comes after four criminal justice inspectorates for England and Wales warned of their ‘grave concerns’ about the impact of the backlog on the justice system. “It is important to reiterate at this crucial period that we must retain faith in the processes that have made our criminal justice system one of the fairest in the world.

The Prime Minister's spokesperson confirmed that England's lockdown restrictions are due to be reviewed on Feb 15. Mr Johnson has stated that lockdown measures could be in place until late March, following the vote in the Commons to make the restrictions law on Jan 6. When could we see the end of lockdown rules? Matt Hancock said that reaching a decision on when to lift lockdown restrictions was "difficult". Meanwhile, some councils around the country are being accused of implementing stricter lockdown measures, following the closure of beauty spot car parks and children’s playgrounds.

A pharmacist faces prison after he admitted deliberately spoiling hundreds of doses of coronavirus vaccine. Steven Brandenburg could serve up to 10 years behind bars after agreeing to plead guilty to damaging a batch of the Moderna vaccine being distributed in Wisconsin. The Moderna vaccine needs to be stored at very low temperatures in order to remain viable. Officials believe 57 people received doses of that vaccine before Brandenburg’s actions were discovered. In his plea agreement with the Justice Department, Brandenburg admitted to believing in “conspiracy theories” and that he was “sceptical of vaccines in general and the Moderna vaccine specifically”.

Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene indicated her support for the execution of leading Democrats in 2018 and 2019 Facebook posts before winning election to Congress, it has been reported. In one, from January 2019, Ms Taylor Greene liked a comment that said “a bullet to the head would be quicker” to remove House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California. Ms Taylor Greene took to Twitter to defend herself. Ms Taylor Greene last week, as a stunt, filed an article of impeachment against Joe Biden the day after his inauguration. Ms Taylor Greene has also been accused of posting false flag conspiracy theories about the Parkland high school shooting.

The protests demanding the repeal of new agricultural laws have grown into a rebellion that is rattling Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government. In a profoundly symbolic challenge to Modi's Hindu-nationalist government, the protesters who stormed Red Fort hoisted a Sikh religious flag. "If the farmers are agitated overall India, you can’t dismiss the protests as some opposition inciting the farmers". The government insists the agricultural laws passed by Parliament in September will benefit farmers and boost production through private investment. The government has offered to suspend the laws for 18 months, but the farmers want nothing less than a full repeal.

The second wife of former President Donald Trump, Marla Maples, was seen out and about shopping and eating lunch with a group of friends in Miami on Tuesday. 'I think he's going to set up shop with Palm Beach as the headquarters of his post-presidency Maga movement,' Dave Aronberg, state attorney for Palm Beach county, told The Guardian. Supporters of President Donald Trump cheer for the president in his final moments as POTUS. 'It's just the latest chapter in the ongoing saga between Donald Trump and the town of Palm Beach. Supporters of President Donald Trump cheer for the president in his final moments as POTUS.

AdvertisementDr Anthony Fauci says he's ready to put his rocky relationship with Donald Trump 'behind' him, despite giving several interviews this past week criticizing the former president after he left the White House. Speaking alongside Perino on Tuesday, co-host Bill Hemmer chimed in saying he had noticed an 'aggressiveness towards the Trump administration' in recent interviews with Fauci. Fauci confirmed the president's goal could be feasible once vaccine doses become available to the general population in April, which he referred to as 'open season.' Calling the push a 'wartime effort,' Biden said the administration was working to buy an additional 100 million doses each from drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna. Fauci told Perino on Tuesday that people requiring their second dose would also be prioritized when the next batch of vaccines come in.

NATIONALA clothing shop in Jung-gu, central Seoul, has closure signs up earlier this month as social distancing regulations stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic diminished revenues and income for small merchants and self-employed population. (Yonhap)The South Korean government and the ruling Democratic Party are pushing for legislation to compensate self-employed businesspeople and small-business owners for losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.But the move faces budgetary constraints and criticism from opposition parties, which say the ruling camp is using the plan to boost its ratings ahead of the April 7 mayoral by-elections.The Democratic Party is internally discussing a bill that it hopes will pass during the provisional session of the National Assembly, so the government can start distributing funds to sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.President Moon Jae-in lent his support to the move, calling on officials to “institutionalize loss compensation for small-business owners and the self-employed within a certain range that (the government) can afford.”“It is very important and urgent to protect the lives of the people from the economic and social blow caused by the coronavirus,” Moon said, emphasizing that a strong social safety net is needed to protect those who were affected by the virus and by the social distancing measures.But critics ask who should be entitled to support and how much. Furthermore, there are concerns that the government’s finances could be overextended. Some say the plan carries risks that may be too much for the government to bear.On the question of how much is needed, some estimates have put the figure at 100 trillion won ($90.54 billion) to cover four months’ worth of losses for businesses that were shuttered or forced to scale down their operations due to the social distancing rules.According to data from Rep. Min Byoung-dug of the Democratic Party, to compensate businesses for part of the revenue they lost as a result of so

After completing calls with his American and European counterparts, he is expected to call leaders of his Asian allies, including South Korea and Japan, in the coming days.The phone call between Moon and Xi was the first in almost eight months, with the Chinese president’s trip to Seoul that was supposed to be made last year delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cheong Wa Dae declined to confirm news reports claiming Beijing was the first to reach out.The call fueled speculations that China may be seeking to ramp up pressure on South Korea as the US-China rivalry enters a new chapter with the US presidential transition.At the World Economic Forum on Monday, Xi called for leaders to cooperate more with China in his speech. The Chinese leader added that North Korea seems to have not ruled out diplomacy with the South and the US, citing its statement during a recent party congress.Ahead of celebrating the 30th anniversary of their bilateral ties next year, the two leaders also agreed to establish a future committee consisting of experts from both countries to work together on a blueprint for renewed partnership for the next 30 years.A statement from Beijing on the call also referred to the future committee and its expectations about partnership in trade. But it did not mention Xi’s comments on his Seoul trip or North Korea.When asked about the discrepancies, a Cheong Wa Dae official said, “The two leaders had a friendly conversation. We disclosed all of the details as much as possible.”In the meantime, some analysts predicted China could adjust their pressure against South Korea considering smooth bilateral ties are needed to pave the way for several major events this year, including the annual “two sessions” parliamentary meetings in March, the 100th anniversary of the founding of the China Communist Party and the Beijing Winter Olympics in February next year.By Lee Ji-yoon ( jylee@heraldcorp.comRelated Stories

A phone call between President Moon Jae-in and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping underscored again South Korea’s tough job of striking a delicate balance between the US and China whose relations enter a new phase under the new Biden administration.The South Korean and Chinese presidents held the phone conversation Tuesday night to discuss a slew of topics ranging from Xi’s delayed visit to Seoul to Moon’s role in the frosty US-North Korea diplomacy and coronavirus response.There was nothing unusual in the president’s phone call with the Chinese leader, but the timing drew keen attention as it comes ahead of Moon’s first dialogue with US President Joe Biden.Biden, who took office last week, is holding a series of phone calls with world leaders. After completing calls with his American and European counterparts, he is expected to call leaders of his Asian allies, including South Korea and Japan, in the coming days.The phone call between Moon and Xi was the first in almost eight months, with the Chinese president’s trip to Seoul that was supposed to be made last year delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Cheong Wa Dae declined to confirm news reports claiming Beijing was the first to reach out.The call fueled speculations that China may be seeking to ramp up pressure on South Korea as the US-China rivalry enters a new chapter with the US presidential transition.At the World Economic Forum on Monday, Xi called for leaders to cooperate more with China in his speech. But it did not mention Xi’s comments on his Seoul trip or North Korea.When asked about the discrepancies, a Cheong Wa Dae official said, “The two leaders had a friendly conversation. We disclosed all of the details as much as possible.”In the meantime, some analysts predicted China could adjust their pressure against South Korea considering smooth bilateral ties are needed to pave the way for several major events this year, including the annual “two sessions” parliamentary meetings in March, the 100th ann

Rep. Katie Porter said she isn't sure if Sen. Ted Cruz thinks at all. "I struggle to understand how he thinks, if [thinking] is what goes on in his head at all," she told Vanity Fair. I'm not going to put myself in the shoes of people like Ted Cruz," Porter told Vanity Fair of impeachment. "I struggle to understand how he thinks, if [thinking] is what goes on in his head at all." She is even getting an "OVRSITE" vanity plate on her minivan, she told Vanity Fair.

Hundreds of posts and comments on Rep. Taylor Greene's Facebook revealed disturbing past comments. A spokesman for House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy told Axios he would have a conversation with Greene. House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy's office said in a statement to Axios Tuesday night that he was aware of "disturbing" comments Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene had made and/or endorsed before being elected to Congress in 2020. "These comments are deeply disturbing and Leader McCarthy plans to have a conversation with the Congresswoman about them," Mark Bednar, a spokesperson for McCarthy, told Axios. King's comments drew criticism from members of both parties, and McCarthy ensured that he would take action against King after having "a serious conversation."

But as the Senate prepares for an impeachment trial for Trump's incitement of the riot, few seem willing to hold the former president accountable. "The political winds within the Republican Party have blown in the opposite direction," said Ralph Reed, chair of the Faith and Freedom Coalition and a Trump ally. After Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer backed impeachment, Republican Tom Norton announced a primary challenge. "We're getting ready for an impeachment trial -- that's really the focus," said Trump adviser Jason Miller. And that his political activism or whatever role he would play going forward would be with the Republican Party, not as a third party," Cramer said.

Washington (CNN) Vice President Kamala Harris on Tuesday spoke in personal terms about a "full circle" moment after receiving the second dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine at the same National Institutes of Health building her late mother had frequented for work. Harris' mother, Shyamala Gopalan, was a breast cancer researcher who had "two goals in her life," the vice president said: "To raise her two daughters and end breast cancer. In fact, little-known fact, my first job was cleaning pipettes in my mother's lab." Gopalan, who raised her daughters as a single mother, died in 2009. Harris has frequently recalled her mother's profound influence on her life both in and out of politics.

Ms von der Leyen said the concerns of the world leaders have moved away from US tariffs to the long term impact of Mr Trump’s presidency. “A year ago, my bilateral talks revolved primarily around the question: Would the US government impose punitive tariffs on European carmakers? Today, a year later, we are worrying about whether democracy itself might have been permanently damaged in the last four years,” Ms von der Leyen said during her virtual address. She said such serious “interference with freedom of expression” wasn’t for internet companies to decide alone. “We want it clearly laid down that internet companies take responsibility for the manner in which they disseminate, promote and remove content,” Ms von der Leyen said in her address.

A California man sent threatening text messages to the families of a New York congressman and a journalist on the same day pro-Donald Trump rioters stormed the U.S. Capitol, federal authorities said Tuesday. Robert Lemke, 35, was arrested in California on Tuesday on a charge of making threatening interstate communications, according to the Justice Department. To the congressman’s brother, Lemke sent, “Your brother is putting your entire family at risk with his lies and other words. Lemke's texts also included a picture of a home in the same neighborhood as Jeffries’ brother’s house, according to the complaint. That's how we do it.”More than 400 suspects have been identified in relation to the riot that left five people dead.

Former White House coronavirus adviser Dr. Scott Atlas joined "The Ingraham Angle" Tuesday to respond to former White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx's claim that he provided former President Trump with "parallel data streams" about the pandemic. Birx told CBS News' "Face the Nation" Sunday that Trump was "presenting graphs that I never made ... I know what I sent up and I know that what was in his hands was different from that." DR. SCOTT ATLAS: I'm shocked to hear anyone that thinks that they own a monopoly or should be the sole purveyor of information to the president. EX-SURGEON GENERAL DEFENDS FAUCI, BIRX FOR STAYING ON TRUMP CORONAVIRUS TASK FORCEAnd then I come in in August and I say, "Well, what about this?

Congressional Democrats' push to convicted former President Donald Trump of impeachable offenses is "driven by the partisan rage and the partisan anger that the Democrats feel," Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, told "Hannity" Tuesday. Cruz told "Hannity" he heard the 46th president call for unity in his inaugural address, but Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., must not have gotten the message. "Unfortunately, congressional Democrats weren't listening to a word he said," Cruz said of Biden. Turning to the impeachment itself, Cruz argued the House's action "doesn't meet the constitutional standard. "I feel like I'm kind of trapped in 'Groundhog Day' where, apparently, every January, we're gonna be doing another impeachment."

White House Chief of Staff Ron Klain defended teachers' unions who refuse to resume in-person teaching despite studies that have shown a low risk of spreading the coronavirus. "Ron, why do you think that the teachers unions in many cases are overruling what the studies show?" CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"I don't think that teachers' unions are overruling studies," Klain said. "I think that what you're seeing that schools haven't made the investments to keep the students safe. They just want to know that it's safe and we as a country should make the investments to make it safe," Klain added.

U.S. Sen. Rand Paul declared former President Trump’s Senate impeachment trial "dead on arrival" on Tuesday after 45 Senate Republicans voted against holding the proceeding, viewing it as unconstitutional. FORTY-FIVE REPUBLICANS VOTE AGAINST PROCEEDING WITH SENATE IMPEACHMENT TRIALIf a trial were to proceed, Trump would become the first former president to face an impeachment trial. In floor marks ahead of the vote, Paul also claimed that the absence of the chief justice of the Supreme Court also made a Senate impeachment trial unconstitutional. RAND PAUL TO TRIGGER SENATE VOTE ON WHETHER TRUMP IMPEACHMENT TRIAL IS CONSTITUTIONAL"Impeachment is for removal from office and the accused here has already left office," Paul had argued prior to the procedural vote. He also claimed a Senate impeachment trial would be "the antithesis of unity" in a nation seeking healing after years of partisan division.

Bangkok, Thailand Thai lawmakers have voted in favor of allowing abortion up to 12 weeks of pregnancy while retaining penalties for later terminations, a move that pro-choice activists said fell short of protecting the rights of the mother. In a late night session of the Senate on Monday, legislators voted 166-7 in favor of amending a law that criminalizes abortion, backing a plan that seeks to tackle unregulated terminations by non-medical practitioners. Under the amendment, an abortion after 12 weeks would be allowed only in certain conditions and would otherwise be punishable by up to six months in prison, or a fine of up to 10,000 baht ($334) or both. "This mean abortion is conditional and can only be done by doctors according to the law," Senator Wanlop Tangkhananurak told Reuters. The amendment was passed by the lower house last week and follows a Constitutional Court decision last February that ruled that criminalizing abortion was unconstitutional and violated human rights.

Rachel Maddow notes that as long as the Republican Party is wrestling with the extremists in its ranks, the Democratic Party does not have a functional opposition that forms the basis of the two-party system in the United States.

With Trump silenced with Twitter and completely out of sight, why are so many Capitol Hill Republicans staying fiercely loyal to Trump ahead of his second impeachment trial? MSNBC's Brian Williams talks to Steve Schmidt.

The seventh day of the Biden presidency saw the president take executive action on racial equity and order a huge vaccine surge to states nationwide.

The moratorium is intended to allow time for officials to review the impact of oil and gas drilling on the environment and climate. Oil industry groups slammed the move, saying Biden had already eliminated thousands of oil and gas jobs by killing the Keystone XL oil pipeline on his first day in office. The pause in onshore drilling is limited to federal lands and does not affect drilling on private lands, which is largely regulated by states. Oil and gas extracted from public lands and waters account for about a quarter of annual U.S. production. Biden’s choice to lead the Interior Department, which oversees oil and gas leasing on public lands, is New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland.

Rachel Maddow outlines how Mitch McConnell first stalled the Senate to keep it from dealing with the article of impeachment against Donald Trump while Trump was still in office, and then voted with most Senate Republicans to say that Trump shouldn't be impeached because he's already out of office.

Rachel Maddow looks at how the Republican Party isn't merely dealing with a political course correction after losing an election, but rather, a existential turmoil that will determine whether it can continue to function in a way that sustains a democracy with only two major parties.

A court-appointed committee has yet to find the parents of 628 children separated at the border early in the Trump administration. A court-appointed committee has yet to find the parents of 628 children separated at the border early in the Trump administration. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department rescinded a Trump-era memo that established a “zero tolerance” enforcement policy for migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, which resulted in thousands of family separations. Most families have not been prosecuted under zero tolerance since 2018, when the separations were halted, though separations have continued on a smaller scale. The “zero tolerance” policy was one of several increasingly restrictive policies aimed at discouraging migrants from coming to the Southern border.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) repeatedly supported disturbing conspiracy theories and liked social media posts that suggested executing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and FBI agents, among others, according to several media reports published Tuesday. CNN’s KFile later found other troubling activity on Greene’s personal Facebook page after reviewing hundreds of her posts and comments. “Stage is being set,” Greene replied, according to the archives obtained by CNN. “Many posts have been liked. Fake News CNN is writing yet another hit piece on me focused on my time before running for political office.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is setting up a new test for House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy. What’s happening: The latest round of Greene comments, pulled from archives of her Facebook page, show the congresswoman promoting an outlandish, QAnon-adjacent conspiracy theory about Hillary Clinton cutting off and donning the face of a child. CNN reported Tuesday that Greene had floated executing House Speaker Nancy Pelosi for treason, and “liked” Facebook comments suggesting the execution of FBI agents. King had wondered publicly why terms like “white nationalism” and “white supremacy” had suddenly “become offensive.”Whether Greene’s comments cross the same line remains to be seen. In an interview with The Dispatch last year, King predicted McCarthy would use the threat of similar reprisals to keep Greene in line.

AxiosThe Biden administration today laid out its policies on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and stressed its intention to renew ties with the Palestinian Authority.Why it matters: The Trump administration dramatically changed U.S. policy on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. * Mills said the Biden administration will support a two-state solution, which it sees as "the best way to ensure Israel stays a democratic and Jewish state." * He added that the new administration will base its policies on consultations with both sides — by contrast, the Trump administration hardly spoke to the Palestinians for three years. * He said the Biden administration would renew ties with the Palestinian Authority, which boycotted Trump's administration after he moved the U.S. embassy to Jerusalem. * He added that the Biden administration would oppose one-sided or biased resolutions that single out Israel in international forums.What’s next: Mills said Biden welcomes the normalization agreements between Israel and Arab countries but doesn't see them as a substitute for Israeli-Palestinian peace.

AdvertisementAll vaccination locations, which can be viewed at https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine, require appointments, and individuals must present proof of eligibility to receive the vaccine. The vaccine requires two doses that must be received at the same location, according to state officials. The attestation form is used to demonstrate individuals are eligible for the vaccine. The form is only available for individuals 75 and over once Phase 2 is activated, which is at midnight Wednesday. Step 4On the day of your appointment, vaccination sites will likely ask for an insurance card or identification card upon arrival.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Fulfilling a campaign promise, President Joe Biden plans to reopen the HealthCare.gov insurance markets for a special sign-up opportunity geared to people needing coverage in the coronavirus pandemic. Biden is expected to sign an executive order Thursday, said two people familiar with the plan, whose details were still being finalized. Failure to repeal and replace “Obamacare” as he repeatedly vowed to do was one of former President Donald Trump's most bitter disappointments. The White House had no comment on Biden's expected order, but the two individuals familiar with the plan said the new enrollment period would not go into effect immediately. Instead, the White House wants to provide time for the Department of Health and Human Services to mount a marketing campaign, and for insurers to get ready for an influx of new customers.

Two suspects in Highland Park murder case more than 18 years ago have been sentenced, Michigan State Police announced Tuesday. In January 2020, the state police Second District Special Investigation Section re-opened the cold case in the slaying reported on Nov. 14, 2002. The Wayne County Prosecutor’s Office charged both suspects with first-degree murder and felony firearm charges in February 2020. Harris, also 45, pleaded guilty on Oct. 8 to second-degree murder and felony firearm. Michigan Department of Corrections records show he was sentenced to 12 years, six months in prison on a second-degree murder charge stemming from a 2009 incident.

The Senate has rejected a Republican attempt to dismiss Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial, allowing the case to move forward but also foreshadowing that there may not be enough votes to convict him.

Copyright © 2021 Albuquerque JournalSANTA FE – For years, minor party candidates in New Mexico have been largely relegated to afterthought status, only rarely affecting high-profile state races. But that could change under a legislative proposal to bring back “fusion voting,” which would allow minor parties – there are five such parties in New Mexico – to nominate a major party’s nominee for the general election ballot. Of that amount, 293,151 – or 21.6% of all voters – were independent voters who declined to state a party affiliation. The five minor parties in New Mexico are the Green Party, the Better for America Party, the Constitution Party, the New Mexico Working Families Party and the Party for Socialism and Liberation. The three major parties for the 2020 election cycle were the Republican Party, Democratic Party and Libertarian Party, which was elevated to major party status in 2018.

Three new Democratic senators have been sworn in to office by Vice President Kamala Harris. That means their party now has control of the White House and Congress for the first time in a decade.

Twice as many peers live in London compared with the population share, analysis has shown in the wake of Gordon Brown’s call for senate of the regions. According to data analysed by the Electoral Reform Society (ERS), 56 per cent of peers come from London, the South East and East of England, with more than 100 living in London. Based on the data available of 486 MPs, the ERS found 24 per cent of peers lived in London, compared to six per cent in the whole of the Midlands. Meanwhile, three per cent of peers were found to reside in the North East and 4.5 per cent in the North West. The ERS said that the Lords was “completely skewed in its regional representation when compared to the share of the UK population in each area”.

County lines gangsters face longer jail terms under new sentencing rules that will punish them for exploiting children to deal drugs. Gang members also face tougher sentences if they are caught with smaller amounts of drugs than previously, in recognition that their purity has increased. The National Crime Agency (NCA) estimates there are up to 2,000 county lines networks running a drugs trade worth £500 million a year. Largely based in cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester, they use “phone lines” to traffic drugs into towns and villages across the UK. “These new sentencing guidelines will ensure that victims, witnesses and the public will have clear information on how drug offences are sentenced.”

?Britons in up to 30 countries will have to pay for hotel quarantine if they return to the UK to prevent new Covid variants reaching this country from South Africa and South America. Boris Johnson was on Tuesday night expected to approve the plans for Australian-style hotel quarantine that will cost travellers up to £1,500 for 10 days self-isolating with meals served in their rooms and supervised by private security guards. The Cabinet’s Covid operations committee was expected to back away from imposing the requirement for quarantine hotels on all returning Britons and instead limit it to the 30 “high risk” countries currently covered by a travel ban for foreigners. All 30 bar Portugal and Cape Verde are in or around South Africa and South America, where three Covid variants have emerged, in addition to the one that emerged in Kent. Home Secretary Priti Patel is widely expected to announce a limited plan for new arrivals in England to quarantine in hotels when she later details to the House of Commons border protections against new coronavirus variants arriving from overseas.

After Mr Deese was announced, Obama advisor David Axelrod called Mr Deese's work responding to the 2008 recession "heroic", while Mr Obama in 2016, discussing his work on the Paris greenhouse gas agreement, told Rolling Stone that he "may have helped save the planet and he's just doing it while he's got two babies at home, and could not be a better person".

"When it comes to demographics, something that we saw very clearly was that there is a high correlation between a level of education and belief in the climate emergency. The more educated you are, the more likely you are to believe that there is a climate emergency," said Cassie Flynn.

Covid-19 cases and deaths have been kept below the dire forecasts at the start of the crisis by imposing restrictions on prisons. Food, medication and showers are still provided, alongside minimal daily exercise, with prisoners kept inside their cells almost all the time. Chief inspector of prisons Charlie Taylor told lawmakers at a hearing there was a "deep malaise" among prisoners, who were "chronically bored and frustrated". - 'Incredibly isolated' -A more contagious virus variant that has led to surging UK infections, and tougher restrictions nationwide this month, has made the situation worse. "There's no denying that when you're locked in a box for 23 hours a day, effectively, that definitely will impact on your well-being," Dyson told AFP.

The South Korean government and the ruling Democratic Party are pushing for legislation to compensate self-employed businesspeople and small-business owners for losses incurred during the COVID-19 pandemic.But the move faces budgetary constraints and criticism from opposition parties, which say the ruling camp is using the plan to boost its ratings ahead of the April 7 mayoral by-elections.The Democratic Party is internally discussing a bill that it hopes will pass during the provisional session of the National Assembly, so the government can start distributing funds to sectors affected by the COVID-19 pandemic.President Moon Jae-in lent his support to the move, calling on officials to “institutionalize loss compensation for small-business owners and the self-employed within a certain range that (the government) can afford.”“It is very important and urgent to protect the lives of the people from the economic and social blow caused by the coronavirus,” Moon said, emphasizing that a strong social safety net is needed to protect those who were affected by the virus and by the social distancing measures.But critics ask who should be entitled to support and how much. Furthermore, there are concerns that the government’s finances could be overextended. Some say the plan carries risks that may be too much for the government to bear.On the question of how much is needed, some estimates have put the figure at 100 trillion won ($90.54 billion) to cover four months’ worth of losses for businesses that were shuttered or forced to scale down their operations due to the social distancing rules.According to data from Rep. Min Byoung-dug of the Democratic Party, to compensate businesses for part of the revenue they lost as a result of social distancing, between 50 percent and 70 percent, the government would need around 25 trillion won.That amount could be even greater if the government chose to compensate businesses whose revenue diminished despite the social distancing regulation

Joe Biden’s choice to wear a US$7,000 Rolex watch on the day he was sworn in did not pass without comment. Photo: Getty Images

US President Joe Biden has spoken to Nato Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, pledging US support for stronger transatlantic security. Photo: AFP/Getty Images/TNS

But as the Senate prepares for an impeachment trial for Trump’s incitement of the riot, few seem willing to hold the former president accountable. “The political winds within the Republican Party have blown in the opposite direction,” said Ralph Reed, chair of the Faith and Freedom Coalition and a Trump ally. After Michigan Rep. Peter Meijer backed impeachment, Republican Tom Norton announced a primary challenge. “We’re getting ready for an impeachment trial — that’s really the focus,” said Trump adviser Jason Miller. And that his political activism or whatever role he would play going forward would be with the Republican Party, not as a third party,” Cramer said.

The safety and lives of people are being politicized at a time when the country should be coming together to improve our shared future.”Read more:SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT Never Miss a Beat. Get our best delivered to your inbox. Human Rights Challenges Remain in Biden Executive Actions on Restoring the Right to Seek Safety in the U.S. (news release, 1/20/21)All families seeking safety should be safe, free and together. People can learn more about Amnesty International USA’s work on the issue here. People can learn about Amnesty International USA’s priorities for the Biden administration here.

The Raise the Wage Act of 2021 would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 in five steps over the next four years. Beginning in 2026, the federal minimum wage would be indexed to median wage growth. "Raising the federal minimum wage to $15 by 2025 will be a boost to the economy, and a boost to our sales. “It is a national disgrace that the minimum wage has lost over 30 percent of its purchasing power since 1968. Now is the time to raise the minimum wage to a living wage – at least $15 an hour.

It is time for Congress to act to raise the minimum wage to at least $15 an hour." "Do I think we have 50 votes plus one [from Vice President Kamala Harris] to pass a $15-an-hour minimum wage? "A $15 minimum wage by 2025 would generate $107 billion in higher wages for workers," said Zipperer. "Raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2025 will help reduce poverty, narrow racial and gender pay gaps, and stimulate the economy. Minimum wage workers deserve a raise.

Read @Oceana’s latest analysis: https://t.co/4e70v6piJ2 #ProtectOurCoast pic.twitter.com/ZBH65iR8jp — Oceana (@oceana) January 26, 2021SCROLL TO CONTINUE WITH CONTENT Never Miss a Beat. "By permanently protecting our coasts from dirty offshore drilling and advancing clean energy sources like offshore wind, we can simultaneously combat climate change and safeguard our clean coast economy." A drilling moratorium would go a long way toward this goal, argues Oceana campaign director Diane Hoskins. "By permanently protecting our coasts from dirty offshore drilling and advancing clean energy sources like offshore wind, we can simultaneously combat climate change and safeguard our clean coast economy," she said. "President Biden has an incredible opportunity to act on climate change and protect our coasts once and for all by closing the chapter on future offshore oil leasing," Hoskins added.

House impeachment managers delivered the article to the Senate on Monday. While senators were sworn in on Tuesday for Trump's second impeachment trial, arguments aren't set to start until February 9. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) on Tuesday claimed that the trial is unconstitutional and forced a procedural vote on the matter. The 55-45 vote signals that the necessary two-thirds of senators do not support a conviction. That polling results also showed that 52% of the U.S. public wants the Senate to convict Trump on the impeachment charge.

President Biden: "We've never fully lived up to the founding principles of this nation." It does not apply to other federal agencies that contract with private prisons, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and the U.S. Kudos to @JoeBiden for swiftly ending DOJ contracts with private prisons. Private prisons and private detention centers should NOT exist. https://t.co/3Fsk3E2Twr — Pramila Jayapal (@PramilaJayapal) January 26, 2021The order on prisons was one of a set of racial equity measures enacted by Biden on Tuesday.

The virality of these shares has inspired clickbait titles like “Joe Biden Invades Syria with Convoy of U.S. Another inaccurate narrative that’s gone completely viral is the claim that Biden is sending more troops to Iraq. Trump may not have started any “new wars,” but he kept the old ones going and inflamed some of them. Rather than a throwback to “new wars” and the old-school ground invasions of the Bush era, the warmongering we’ll be seeing from the Biden administration is more likely to look like this. It appears clear that this would be the Biden administration’s preferred method of warmongering if given the choice.

BREAKING: Judge Tipton blocks the Biden administration's 100 day deportation moratorium. Big initial loss for the Biden administration as it moves forward with its immigration policies. "The court's order shows the uphill battle President Biden has in trying to reverse the prior administration's immigration restrictions." #FamiliesBelongTogetherhttps://t.co/oKN8Nw3uIb — Human Rights First (@humanrights1st) January 26, 2021"This action is a good start, but doesn't impact already separated families. Biden must reunite separated families in the U.S. and provide them citizenship, resources, and care," tweeted the ACLU, which is working to reunite families.

Josh HawleyWhat do major corporations mean when they say they’re cutting off campaign contributions to the congressional Republicans who tried to overturn the election in order to keep Donald Trump in power? It depends which company you’re talking about, because they’re all over the map. Others are somehow bothsidesing this, cutting off all federal campaign contributions. Still others are talking big but leaving the door open to resume contributions in time for the 2022 elections. Which makes the effort to undermine democracy perhaps the biggest thing Republicans have done to get corporate money out of politics in the past decade.

His type of questioning in that hearing is a small part of what I have dealt with white people in the rural areas in the state senate district. That didn't happen because the state legislative, and the state executive branches are controlled by the Ohio Republican Party. What makes this crazy is he is heading the state Senate Health Committee and his cousin, Ohio State Senator Matt Huffman, is helping him. And yes, I also wouldn't be surprised if Republican county sheriffs, Nino Vitale, LarryHouseholder, or any other Ohio Republican state representatives or state senators decide to run for this seat. Jesus, please take the wheel.

Remember, as president, Trump had some extra-special-presidential-ways of staving off prosecutions. Led by Democratic Attorney General Letitia James, the office is conducting a civil-fraud probe into Mr. Trump's financial dealings." And others questions you have about presidential immunity, and what will happen after DJT heads to Florida. Presidential immunity is a thing, but it’s not as all-encompassing as it sounds. In the two years she’s been in office, James’ office has filed 76 lawsuits against the Trump administration, of which it has won over 80%.

Biden signs executive action for racial equality. Mc Connell giving Biden a hard time. Susan Rice spoke for criminal justice reform Biden giving help from Fema then says, “Xenophobia is ‘unacceptable’”. Biden will Restore and expand the voting rights act. Biden will use Defense Production Act to expedite vaccine production.

The WeekWith former President Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial looming, several Republicans in the upper chamber are reportedly rallying around the argument that impeaching a president who is already out of office is unconstitutional. As The Dispatch and Politico note, scholars in legal circles that span the political spectrum generally disagree, and Trump himself suggested ex-presidents could be tried a year ago. Per The Washington Post, when Trump was impeached for the first time, he complained that Congress should be going after former President Barack Obama instead over comments he made about health care. "We should impeach him for that," Trump said. Gaetz didn't change his mind this time around, though he made the case Trump's actions aren't impeachment-worthy.

“Biden introduced a bold and sweeping immigration bill on day one,” campaign steering committee member America’s Voice said. “The new administration has already rolled out eight major executive actions on immigration policy. Biden’s initial actions on immigration policy are a welcome departure from the racism and xenophobia of the Trump era. Now it will be crucial for the administration to continue to take action to undo the criminalization and punitive nature of the immigration detention system.”The groups introduced the campaign in a moving video. “We are on the cusp of dismantling a dysfunctional, unjust, and inhumane immigration system, and winning laws and policies that respect the dignity and rights of immigrants.

We first noticed Mississippi Congressman Steve Palazzo because of how homophobic he is, but right now, we're focusing on how he's begun supporting a bunch of deranged seditionists who attacked the capitol on 1/6. And, we have concerns about Steve Palazzo because of his close ties with the anti-gay hate group, the Family Research Council, and its lunatic leader, Tony Perkins. Mind you, that isn’t the only example we have of Steve Palazzo irrationally hating President Obama. That would be the government shutdown that PALAZZO VOTED TO CREATE. One Year Ago, January 26th, 2020: Steve Palazzo (MS)… Original ProfileTwo Years Ago, January 26th, 2019: Phil Bryant (MS)… 2019 UpdateThree Years Ago, January 26th, 2018: Phil Bryant (MS)… 2018 UpdateFour Years Ago, January 26th, 2017:Phil Bryant (MS)… 2017 UpdateFive Years Ago, January 26th, 2016: Phil Bryant (MS)… 2016 UpdateSix Years Ago, January 26th, 2015: Phil Bryant (MS)… Original Profile

How the hell can you be a person who's very life could have been taken that day just let that go unanswered for? Only 5 Republican Senators Voted that its constitutional to move forward to Impeachment trial. Also Republicans are already trying to block everything good for us ,so we need to fight them and keep on them. They gonna block everything we need to hit back harder, use all the tools to get what need to be passed done. We can try unity first ,but the Republicans block everything bullshit, has begun so ,Democrats are gonna have to move past them, if they wanna play that game again.

: At the instigation of Donald Trump, insurrectionists assaulted the Capitol and put the survival of U.S. Democracy on a knife’s edge. Wednesday, January 13th: Impeachment : A week after seditious Donald incited insurrection, Trump became the first President to be impeached twice. : A week after seditious Donald incited insurrection, Trump became the first President to be impeached twice. : With a huge security presence to dissuade and deter another Cult 45 assault on the U.S. government, President Biden was sworn in as the 46th President. Notes:+ Okay, striving to stay with “I” is a bit of a stretch for Wednesday’s anticipated climate executive orders.

He is showing early signs of being a real heroDuring his confirmation hearing to become Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin promised to address the issue of rape in the military immediately. He had vowed to immediately address the problems of sexual assault and harassment in the ranks. “We will lead.” [snip] In his hearing and in the memo, Austin acknowledged that the military has long struggled with the problem, but must do better. It may or may not be part of the rape problem, depending on your point of view, but needs to be dealt with at the same time because the two are related. As a former general, SecDef Austin knows how to get military personnel to obey the orders of their superior officers.

The fact that Rand Paul has not faced an investigation into his ties to Russia tells you all you need to know about American politics. The letter highlighted how the U.S. wants to continue to work together with Russia on "countering terrorism, enhancing legislative dialogue and resuming cultural exchanges," Paul said. As an outspoken non-interventionist, Paul praised Trump's willingness to engage with Putin and said at the time that he would travel to Russia in early August to play shuttle diplomacy for Trump. On Wednesday, White House deputy press secretary Hogan Gidley said in a statement that it was Paul who had requested Trump to provide "a letter of introduction." "In the letter, the President mentioned topics of interest that Senator Paul wanted to discuss with President Putin," Gidley said.

Black celebrities with huge social media followings need to step-up and speak out to get our folks vaccinated. https://t.co/9JaxqoyeCm via @NBCNewsTHINK — Beyoncé’s adopted daughter (@KJbabi) January 23, 2021Dr. Ala Stanford wrote:I reflected on this complex relationship between racism and mistrust as I considered whether to take the Covid-19 vaccine. At this point, as more and more of us die, we need to get more people who Black folks trust (not talking about politicians) to help change minds, and we need to accelerate our debunk, block and report game. Trump was, as Ta-Nehisi Coates explained in 2017, the first American president to exist purely because of his whiteness. He brought no credentials or qualifications to the position outside of his role as a shamelessly racist retort to the political success of the disciplined and highly qualified first Black president.

In truth, he only graduated from the Army’s Ranger School, which gave him the right to wear the Ranger tab on his uniform. While there is some confusion among non-military types about this, military protocol is pretty clear—if you graduated from Ranger School, you only have the right to call yourself “Ranger qualified,” not a Ranger. He’s rightly proud of his service w/ 101st in Baghdad and w/ The Old Guard and of his Ranger Tab for Ranger School but never confused units or his service. In fact, he went further, pointing out that Cotton claimed to have actually seen combat duty while wearing the Rangers’ coveted tan beret. x The narrative has successfully been shifted to whether people who graduated from Ranger School are Rangers.

Greta on Capitol Hill in 2019www.alternet.org/…Alternet reports that Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has called on President Biden to declare a Climate Emergency. "I think it might be a good idea for President Biden to call a climate emergency," said Schumer [in an interview with Rachel Maddow]. But if ever there was an emergency, climate is one," Schumer [added]. "When we shift the zeitgeist, we shift what's politically possible, and what's politically necessary. Further, “Democrats could pass climate legislation through reconciliation” according to climatologist Michael E Mann, who was citing Schumer.

Senator, I’d fight to raise the national minimum wage to at least $15 an hour. The minimum wage wage in Pennsylvania hasn’t been raised in *more* than a decade. Sign your nameFor people trying to stay above water, the $7.25 minimum wage in Pennsylvania just isn’t enough to get by. The truth is that the same politicians blocking a $15 per hour minimum wage are waiting on the other side to shame you for needing assistance simply to eat. I think it’s high time for us to take on this issue the right way by raising the national minimum wage to at least $15 an hour.

I have served as a juror on a federal trial and I have watched the selection of jurors. I have seen the disqualification of some. I believe that some of the Senate jurors should be disqualified. I really believe that any Senator who supported and defended Trump in his lies about a stolen election should be disqualified. The impeachment managers should go for the jugular and hold Trump and every Republican Senator who has enable him accountable for what happen on January 6th.

I read somewhere that Bernie and Democrats are waiting to pass stimulus until March. Will this hurt them in midterms.

Page notes:"Olbermann Vs. Trump" now becomes "Olbermann Vs: ______" And we begin with the new Republican Congresswoman from Georgia, Marjorie Taylor Greene. Her previous attempt to overthrow the election, foment the attack on the Capitol, support Trump's coup, and - farcically - to "impeach Biden" on January 21 turn out to have been mere prelude. CNN has discovered a cache of her social media posts endorsing 'executing' Speaker Nancy Pelosi for 'treason.' And the not-so-thinly-veiled-threats extend to President Obama, Hillary Clinton, John Kerry, and other leading Democrats. While she has blamed "others" who have access to her Facebook account, the most damning words are contained in a video of a 2019 speech Taylor Greene herself gave.

Sneed's East Tennessee base remained loyal to the Union during the conflict, though he temporarily left Congress in 1863 when he was appointed state attorney general by military governor Andrew Johnson. Sneed returned in 1866 when Tennessee was readmitted to the Union after Johnson was elevated to the presidency after Abraham Lincoln's assassination, this time as a full-fledged member of the Republican Party. After the federal government abandoned Reconstruction, however, Republicans throughout the South quickly found themselves with little influence. Democrats hung on in Tennessee longer than in other corners of the South, but those days are long gone. Republicans gained control of the redistricting in 2010 for the first time since Reconstruction, and they’ll once again decide the new congressional map.

The complaint filed by advocates last month alleged a pattern of retaliation against immigrants who dared to speak out Amin’s abuse, including the use of deportation. That moratorium, along with an order rescinding the previous president’s deportation priorities, should’ve been protecting many immigrants who shouldn’t have been a target for ICE in the first place. But the out-of-control agency defied those orders and targeted a young immigrant formerly protected by the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program. ICE operates with impunity, and unless we come down hard on it, it’ll continue operating with impunity. This is why we have to remain vigilant when it comes to ensuring the women released from Irwin are able to safely fight for justice.

Nebraska alone has reported over 6,700 COVID-19 cases traced back to meatpacking plants, as well as 26 deaths. Data from the Mirgation Policy Institute shows undocumented people make up about 11% of the workforce at meatpacking plants in Nebraska. Now, as the COVID-19 vaccine begins to roll out around the country, immigrant justice and workers’ rights advocates are speaking out about how crucial it is to prioritize access to essential undocumented workers. Since the pandemic began, she said undocumented community members have even been scared to get tested for COVID-19 because they believed they had to show documents proving their “legal” status. Despite many attempts … nothing has been done [to protect meatpacking workers],” Vargas said in the Jan. 11 virtual press conference.

? Nov. 06—Trump campaign seeks volunteers to engage in election fraud in Pennsylvania by submitting late ballots. ? Nov. 10—William Barr authorizes U.S. attorneys to pursue false claims of election fraud, triggering resignation of DOJ’s Election Crimes Branch, Richard Pilger. Trump calls for MAGA revolt. Brian Kemp reminds Trump that election fraud is illegal after Trump posts series of tweets attempting to get Kemp to overturn election results. ? January 067:30 AM—Lauren Boebert tweets “Today is 1776.”8:17 AM— Trump once again tweets lies about election fraud.

Later, the video shows a crowd at the door of the Capitol building chanting “We want Pence,” over and over again. It’s not a bunch of people calling for Mike Pence to speak—that’s something that’s never happened in America, frankly. Video inside of the Capitol building hallways shows big bearded faketriots screaming at D.C. and Capitol police, telling them that “You’re outnumbered. You can argue that the people who believe the things that Donald Trump says are being conned. You can say all of those things because Donald Trump, the president of the United States, told them exactly that.

Linda Ellis, who took on the position as superintendent of the district last May, chose to instead focus on giving the appearance of political neutrality. x So basically we shouldn’t celebrate HISTORICAL MOMENTS if it offends a group of individuals??? If the 1st woman vp had been republican and white, would there be an issue??? A “violation of political neutrality? They can't seem to celebrate that a #woman holds the second-highest office in the nation.

First today, there is quite a bit of news out of both the White House and the Senate. These efforts are very real, and may well work, even in states which currently have Democratic Governors. "You've got a 50/50 body and yet, those 50 Democratic Senators are representing about 41.5 MILLION MORE PEOPLE. And then there's the need to get rid of the undemocratic filibuster in the already wildly undemocratic Senate if Democrats hope, as they are now promising, to quickly accomplish "big, bold things" done. Constituents of Democratic Senators Kyrsten Sinema in Arizona and Joe Manchin in West Virginia may wish to mention that to them.

“We want lone wolves, we want local cells without online recruitment,” a popular “accelerationist” account on Telegram recently urged its readers. A more dispersed and deliberately discreet approach is hard for law enforcement and monitoring groups to observe their activities and prepare accordingly. (It was largely inspired by the real-life serial-killing spree of white supremacist Joseph Paul Franklin.) The white supremacist website Stormfront and the jihadist website Azzam.com both appeared in the early days of the internet. Unlike older white supremacist websites such as Stormfront and even Vanguard News Network, these websites are totally unfiltered.

Meghan McCain just about lost it on The View as she described the degeneracy of the Republican Party. Meghan McCain laments the state of the GOPSee full episodes here. One had to feel somewhat sorry for Meghan McCain. The life-long Republican has watched the Republican Party as she knew it under her dad's guides and others disappear. "I'll die fighting for it," Meghan McCain said.

“It has been a week since Joe Biden has been elected, and I am disappointed in the lack of progress”“What’s the point of having a Democratic majority in Congress, and Democrat in the Whitehouse? it feels like nothing is changed!”These are some of the comments I am hearing from some of my son’s high school classmates, neighbors, and even some local Democrats who were actively involved during the election season. At first, I tried to explain how much Biden has already done within his first week. But before talking about Biden’s first week in office, we should be grateful that Trump is not in the office and causing damage to us domestically and internationally. We should also celebrate the fact that we have a team focused on building the nation with competency instead of actively destroying our country with deliberate incompetence like we have seen under DJT.

Trump's White House press office was a hostile work environment for journalists who strived to bring truthful information to the public. As reported by Politico:"White House officials promise a sea change from how the Trump White House interacted with the press. "'We expect reporters covering the White House to operate in good faith and tell their audience the truth, and this White House will do the same. We are moving forward with that mutual understanding,' said T.J. Ducklo, the deputy White House press secretary. If the Biden Press team sticks to those principles, they will have to ban to Fox News from the White House Press Room.

According to these reports, the mother and son pair were almost released from custody to walk free among us. CBS NewsNashville — A federal judge on Sunday blocked the release of a Tennessee man authorities say carried flexible plastic handcuffs during the riot at the U.S. Capitol. U.S. District Judge Beryl A. Howell for the District of Columbia also ordered that he be brought to Washington for further proceedings. TennesseanA federal judge on Monday ruled that Lisa Eisenhart, a woman who federal authorities say broke into the U.S. Capitol alongside her son in a violent mob on Jan. 6, could be released from federal custody as early as Tuesday night. I’m pretty sure they’re going to be restrained by a bit more than FlexiCuffs as they’re transported back to Washington, D.C. under federal custody.

That constitutional scholar Tommy Tuberville claims he wasn’t at a meeting with Trump the night before. “Lawmakers ‘perturbed’ when House Sergeant-at-Arms told them at least none of them died in Capitol attack.”As GOP defends Trump's impeachment on 'political speech' grounds, don't accept that framing. The proper framing is around the elements of his behavior: 1. Gave the charge to march on the Capitol. The newspaper also reported that Herbster ‘also met Tuesday in Trump’s private residence in his Washington, D.C., hotel with Trump’s sons, Donald Jr. and Eric, and other campaign advisers.’”

(CNN)Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene repeatedly indicated support for executing prominent Democratic politicians in 2018 and 2019 before being elected to Congress, a CNN KFile review of hundreds of posts and comments from Greene's Facebook page shows. In one post, from January 2019, Greene liked a comment that said "a bullet to the head would be quicker" to remove House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In other posts, Greene liked comments about executing FBI agents who, in her eyes, were part of the "deep state" working against Trump. In one Facebook post from April 2018, Greene wrote conspiratorially about the Iran Deal, one of former President Barack Obama's signature foreign policy achievements. A commenter asked Greene, "Now do we get to hang them ??

The Washington Post's sources say the action "is intended to reverse Trump-era changes to Medicaid." Whether that means undoing orders that allowed states to do things like impose work requirements or treat Medicaid like a block grant isn't clear at the moment. Biden can also revise the previous administration's hostility to Obamacare by providing all kinds of incentives for states that haven't expanded Medicaid to do it now. These are the immediate, COVID-19 emergency actions Biden is taking, but just the start to the Obamacare expansion he's got in the pipeline, but which will require congressional action. In addition to those orders, Biden is expected to rescind the Mexico City policy, the global gag rule that prohibits any international aid to international groups that provide or facilitate abortions in foreign countries.

Trump and Biden's unfavorable ratings are about the inverse of their favorable ratings. Both receive higher unfavorable than favorable ratings, although the balance of opinion is more negative for Trump. Trump now earns a -16 net-favorable rating (percentage favorable minus percentage unfavorable) while Biden has a -4 net-favorable rating. Melania Trump and Jill Biden are each viewed favorably by just under half of Americans -- 49% for Biden and 47% for Trump. However, one thing that can be said for 2020 is that the candidates' favorability ratings are better on average the candidates' ratings were in 2016.

During the 2021 Session, Georgia Tech will be operating a testing site for General Assembly Members and Capitol Staff. The test that Georgia Tech will be using is a saliva-based PCR test (no nasal swab required) and is intended for asymptomatic individuals only. If a Member or House staff has difficulty finding a testing site with availability, they should contact the Office of the Speaker for assistance.) [...] All Members and House staff will be required to be tested twice weekly during the 2021 Session. House staff must begin testing the week prior to session.

“They’re turning the court into an arm of their PR effort,” complained one GOP staffer closely tracking the lawsuits. “There’s probably been a couple hundred stories reprinting the AP” article summing up the lawsuits, the source added. Trump and his Republican backers have already beaten a similar Democratic lawsuit in federal district court in Arizona. Both Democratic and Republican sources tracking the litigation said they had their doubts a Supreme Court appeal would be very effective. While the Democrat vs. Republican litigation has a distinct partisan flair, it also has some practical effects, too.

The political and economic realities have changed a lot since 2009, which is allowing Biden to trade restraint for ambition. "This is an environment where there is very little regard for the consequences of higher federal debt, if any, on both sides," Holtz-Eakin said. Trump, who referred to himself as the King of Debt, saw the national debt soar by more than $7 trillion during his four years in office. "There's just a sense that they want to do bigger things," said Jason Furman, an economic policy professor at Harvard, of the progressives. Furman, who was a deputy director of the National Economic Council in the Obama administration, helped craft the 2009 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

A majority of Americans say they feel the country is headed in the wrong direction ahead of President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, a new poll shows. The NBC News poll showed that 73% of respondents indicated the country is on the wrong track, while only a mere 21% of Americans approve of the country’s direction. (RELATED: 68% Of Americans Approve Of Biden Transition, Poll Shows)An earlier Suffolk University Poll released on Sunday showed that 65% of Americans disapprove of the direction America is heading in. The NBC poll showed that 55% of Americans believe Biden’s rhetorical style as president will be more presidential than outgoing President Donald Trump’s and that 43% approve of his personal qualities. The poll also indicated 60% of respondents approve of Biden’s transition thus far, compared to 32% who disapprove of the team’s efforts.

The numbers on this page are estimates from exit polls conducted by Edison Research for the National Election Pool. These surveys interviewed voters outside of polling places or early voting sites, or by phone (to account for mail-in voters). While exit polls offer an initial indication of how groups voted on election night, they are not perfect. The polls are not precise enough to distinguish between, say, 53 percent support or 50 percent support from a certain group. Like any survey, they are subject to sampling error, and they rely on estimates of how many people voted in each group.

I don’t see a role for me as a lawyer,” said Alan Dershowitz, the Trump-allied attorney who joined Trump’s impeachment defense team last January. Nikki Haley and Mark Sanford, and serves as a judge advocate general officer for the South Carolina National Guard. Trump’s push to bolster his defense team comes one week after House Democrats impeached him for a second time on charges of inciting an insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. During that rally, Trump encouraged protesters “to walk down to the Capitol” — a phrase likely to become a focal point of his impeachment trial. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has asked for Trump to receive two weeks to prepare his legal case for trial.

The violent takeover of the Capitol Building was designed to stop the election certification. Only after the mob was cleared from the Capitol Building was Congress able to reconvene to do this. (Washington Post, Jan. 14)Why was the mob chanting “Find Mike Pence, Hang Mike Pence” when they marched through the Capitol Building? Given the level of awareness that an attack was coming, it is shocking that Capitol Police and other law enforcement bodies did not prepare more robust defenses around the Capitol Building. How did the attackers have such detailed knowledge of the notoriously difficult to navigate Capitol Building?

Ever since the first dismal days after President Donald Trump’s election, the Democratic Party has been falling for the FBI. Shortly after Comey was fired, the former FBI chief Robert Mueller was appointed special prosecutor and Democrats had found their vaunted hero and darling. Now he brings us the swashbucklingly titled The Threat: How the FBI Protects America in the Age of Terror and Trump. McCabe, who declares, “I love the FBI” during media interviews and book talks, is not at all apologetic about any of this. The FBI after 9/11 picked up one, then another, and then yet another suspect and put them all in detention.

It may seem to many Americans that Washington is entirely consumed by the impeachment inquiry, and that no other important business is getting done on Capitol Hill. But on Tuesday, in a break from televised hearings, the House of Representatives voted to fund the government through December 20. That’s all well and good, except that Democratic leaders had slipped something else into the bill: a three-month extension of the Patriot Act, the post-9/11 law that gave the federal government sweeping surveillance and search powers and circumvented traditional law-enforcement rules. Key provisions of the Patriot Act were set to expire on December 15, including Section 215, the legal underpinning of the call detail records program exposed in the very first Edward Snowden leak. Republicans have “decried FISA abuse” against the president and his aides, he said, referring to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, “and Democrats have highlighted Trump’s abuse of his executive powers, yet they’re teaming up to extend the administration’s authority to warrantlessly gather data on Americans.”

astead herndonAnd Joe Biden runs for Senate in 1971 as a new type of Democrat —archived recording (joe biden) I’m Joe Biden, and I’m a candidate for the United States Senate. archived recording (joe biden) Politicians have done such a job on the people that the people don’t believe them anymore. And at the exact same time, that’s when the young Joe Biden makes his way to Capitol Hill. archived recording (joe biden) In a nutshell, the president’s plan doesn’t include enough police officers to catch the violent thugs. archived recording (joe biden) Before I start, I’d like to say something about the debate we had last night.

The following is the Jan. 12, 2021 message to U.S. troops from the Joint Chiefs of Staff. MEMORANDUM FOR THE JOINT FORCESUBJECT: MESSAGE TO THE JOINT FORCEThe American people have trusted the Armed Forces of the United States to protect them and our Constitution for almost 250 years. The violent riot in Washington, D.C. on January 6, 2021 was a direct assault on the U.S. Congress, the Capitol building, and our Constitutional process. We mourn the deaths of the two Capitol policemen and others connected to these unprecedented events. [signed]Mark A. MilleyGeneral, U.S. ArmyChairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffJohn E. HytenGeneral, U.S. Air ForceVice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of StaffJames C. McConvilleGeneral, U.S. ArmyChief of Staff of the ArmyDavid H. BergerGeneral, U.S. Marine CorpsCommandant of the Marine CorpsMichael M. GildayAdmiral, U.S. NavyChief of Naval OperationsCharles Q.

“Our board has thus made the decision to exercise our right to terminate the contract to hold the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump Bedminster. His New Jersey course hosted the 2017 U.S. Women’s Open, and his course in Loudoun County, Va., hosted the Senior PGA Championship that same summer. As an organization we have invested many, many millions of dollars in the 2022 PGA Championship at Trump National Golf Club, Bedminster. ADThe e-commerce firm Shopify said it would no longer host the Trump Organization’s online retail store, which sold T-shirts, hats, scented candles and bath bombs with the Trump name. ADThe 2022 PGA Championship was supposed to be the high point of Trump’s relationship with the game, bringing one of golf’s most high-profile events to a course that Trump treats as a second home.

So who is John Sullivan, and what was his connection, if any, to Black Lives Matter and the wider left-wing activist community? Among the pro-Trump activists leading the charge against John Sullivan in Utah is his own brother, James Sullivan. James Sullivan is a Black Republican, inheriting the rigidly conservative political line of the white Mormon parents that adopted him. Like so many other right-wing activists, James Sullivan has been determined to pin the violence on leftist Antifa infiltrators. I learned about the unusual meeting between Cisneros and Sullivan from local BLM activists tracking John Sullivan’s movements in DC.

Liberals posed as Trump Supporters and stormed the Capitol to agitate real Trump supporters! They have coordinated a break in and staged a false flag inside the Capitol Building and blamed it on the Patriots. Trust me, if the Patriots were going to rush the Capitol they would do that in a different way. President Trump knew his people would come to DC on the sixth. He knew ANTIFA would show up.

Extremism experts have focused on Jan. 17, as well as Inauguration Day and the days surrounding it, as potential flashpoints for violence. So far, however, public online discussions of the purported Jan. 17 protests have been much less visible than the wave of talk in pro-Trump forums that preceded the Jan. 6 riot. A Minnesota group that has recently organized “Stop The Steal” events at the state’s capital issued a Facebook warning to followers about the Jan. 17 event. On Facebook, the group shared posters for the Jan. 17 event, and suggested that they were an “anarchist” plot. Still, the days surrounding Jan. 17 are also potential tinderboxes across the country.

Waving Trump flags, they easily pushed past the unusually light security, climbed the steps and began throwing chairs through windows. Inside, the Secret Service evacuated the vice president, who Trump had been threatening all week. — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) January 6, 2021The mayor of Washington and Speaker Nancy Pelosi requested the Pentagon send in the National Guard to protect them. When I wrote my reporting cables back to headquarters, I called these things what they were: an attempt to overthrow the legitimate government—an insurrection—a coup attempt. What will the Pentagon choose?

Both the fascist movement and their representatives were defeated that day—which is extremely important. It was and is extremely important that the Democrats immediately pushed forward the demand for impeachment and won the vote on this. The fascist Republican Party and its media mouthpieces, with way too few exceptions, still not only oppose punishing Trump in any way but act as if they (and he!) A section of the fascist party and fascist apparatus may have thought it wiser to not contest this particular election. As you do that, the place to begin is with the synthesized understanding brought forward by Bob Avakian (BA).

He demanded she “change the course” of the Socialist Party (PSOE)-Podemos government. Leaked WhatsApp messages of some of the former officers discussed shooting “26 million” people and imitating General Francisco Franco’s fascist coup that provoked the 1936-1939 Spanish Civil War. Amid mass deaths from the COVID-19 pandemic, millions view the Spanish officers’ threats with outrage and alarm. Trump’s plotting, culminating in the fascist coup to overrun the Capitol in Washington, is only the sharpest expression of a broad disintegration of democratic forms of rule, amid the pandemic and unsustainable levels of social inequality. The cowardly response of the Democratic Party to Trump’s coup attempt will, moreover, only bolster the Spanish fascist officers in their view that they might be able to carry out a far-right putsch.

PoliticsBiden: ‘Do I look like a radical socialist with a soft spot for rioters?’Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden on Aug. 31 said he wants a safe America.

President Trump wrote (October 9, 2019):“The United States has spent EIGHT TRILLION DOLLARS fighting and policing in the Middle East. President Trump pointed out that Democrats used the concocted Russia collusion story to rationalize their embarrassing 2016 election defeat. It was nothing short of treasonous.”At that July 16, 2018 press conference with President Putin, a reporter questioned President Trump: “President Putin denied having anything to do with the election interference in 2016. President Trump not only was the first US president to meet with a North Korean leader of state, but, unlike his predecessors, Trump displayed respect for its leader, Kim Jong Un. In a presidential debate, Trump defended his actions:“We have a good relationship with North Korea, we’re not in a war.

According to an email from Marissa Astor, Clinton campaign manager Robby Mook’s assistant, to Clinton campaign chair John Podesta, the campaign knew Trump was going to run, and pushed his legitimacy as a candidate. The memo, sent to the Democratic National Committee (DNC) also reveals the DNC and Clinton campaign were strategizing on behalf of their candidate at the very beginning of the primaries. Expecting Clinton to be the nominee, the DNC and Clinton campaign developed strategies for the general election. It was in the best interest of Clinton, and therefore the Democratic Party, that Trump was the Republican presidential nominee. “Clinton, Trump trade insults as rhetoric heats up between front-runners,” read the headline from a CNN article in September 2015.

The real estate magnate got $4.96 billion in free earned media in the year leading up to the presidential election, according to data from tracking firm mediaQuant. Over the past 12 months, the president-elect received more than $800 million in free earned broadcast media, compared to $666 million for Clinton, and $2.6 billion in free earned online news attention, compared to $1.6 billion for his rival. According to mediaQuant's estimates, as much as 23% of free earned media attention given to Trump during the election was negative, compared to about 12% for Clinton. During the election, Trump got about 50% more coverage than Clinton across all media but outdid her by 150% on Twitter. What remains uncertain moving forward is whether Trump's free earned media ride can be replicated by other candidates, or if we'll see 2018 and 2020 return to business as usual in terms of advertising and media.

Slideshow ( 2 images )WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President-elect Joe Biden’s administration will continue to recognize Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido as the South American country’s president, Anthony Blinken, Biden’s nominee for secretary of state, said on Tuesday. The United States, along with dozens of other countries, recognized Guaido - the leader of Venezuela’s opposition-held National Assembly - as the country’s president in January 2019, arguing Maduro’s 2018 re-election was rigged. Guaido’s push to oust Maduro - who has overseen a collapse in the once-prosperous OPEC nation’s economy and stands accused of corruption and human rights violations - has stalled. Maduro calls Guaido a U.S.-puppet seeking to oust him in a coup. His allies have expressed a desire to engage in negotiations with the Biden administration after years of tensions and escalating U.S. sanctions.

We've added enough new oil and gas pipeline to circle the Earth and then some," Obama said, with a nod to middle-school science class. Here, we decided to check something we haven't heard before -- that the United States has added enough oil and gas pipeline to circle the Earth since Obama took office. We asked two experts if the year-to-year comparison of pipeline miles is a valid measure and if anything else should be considered. For some perspective, we looked at the miles added during the last three years of George W. Bush's presidency. Our rulingObama said the U.S. has added enough pipeline in the last three years to circle the Earth "and then some."

“Our industry knows Joe Biden really well, and he knows our industry really well,” said Arnold Punaro, a retired Marine Corps major general and Democratic Senate staffer who works as a defense consultant. Stock prices of major defense contractors increased Wednesday, as Republicans appeared poised to hold on to the Senate, and held steady throughout the week. Major defense contractors benefited from well-funded weapons technology initiatives, including numerous hypersonic-weapons programs and accelerated purchases of new fighter jets. Some major defense contractors saw record sales as a result. Defense analysts have expected for years that the current defense budget would probably not increase further even under a second Trump administration.

Accordingly, to protect the Federal workforce and individuals interacting with the Federal workforce, and to ensure the continuity of Government services and activities, on-duty or on-site Federal employees, on-site Federal contractors, and other individuals in Federal buildings and on Federal lands should all wear masks, maintain physical distance, and adhere to other public health measures, as provided in CDC guidelines. Immediate Action Regarding Federal Employees, Contractors, Buildings, and Lands. (c) Heads of agencies shall promptly consult, as appropriate, with State, local, Tribal, and territorial government officials, Federal employees, Federal employee unions, Federal contractors, and any other interested parties concerning the implementation of this section. There is hereby established the Safer Federal Workforce Task Force (Task Force). (a) For purposes of this order:(i) “Federal employees” and “Federal contractors” mean employees (including members of the Armed Forces and members of the National Guard in Federal service) and contractors (including such contractors’ employees) working for the executive branch;(ii) “Federal buildings” means buildings, or office space within buildings, owned, rented, or leased by the executive branch of which a substantial portion of occupants are Federal employees or Federal contractors; and(iii) “Federal lands” means lands under executive branch control.

Former US President Bill Clinton speaks in Washington, DC, in 2015. “I signed a bill that made the problem worse,” Clinton told an audience at the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s annual meeting in Philadelphia. What’s more, Hillary Clinton has made criminal justice reform a staple of her campaign. “Our prisons and our jails are now our mental health institutions.”Both Clintons, however, pushed hard for the 1994 crime bill. This is not the first time Bill Clinton has said he regretted his impact on mass incarceration.

A new president, an ousted fascist predecessor, and an obstructionist opposition party that wants nothing to change despite losing a national election is a great time to take on this task. Change Department of Defense to Department of War. (And I wouldn't be surprised if some expert on US history didn't write in and tell me that actually the US started that war too.) Even the attack on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon on 9-11-2001 was not a war. Actually right up through World War II, the executive agency in charge of the military was aptly named the War Department, and was headed by the Secretary of War.

Today, Rep. Ro Khanna (D-CA) renewed his support for introducing a War Powers Resolution with Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) aimed at stopping the war in Yemen. Rep. Khanna affirmed his commitment to working with Sen. Sanders on the War Powers Resolution, during a global rally of activists, lawmakers, and celebrities calling for an end to the war. "Ending this war and providing the relief that is necessary to civilians and Yemen has to be our highest priority," Rep. Khanna said. I am committed to working with Senator Sanders and the Biden administration to bring this war to an end." Read the text of MP Corbyn's motion calling on the British government to end its support for the war.

In the wake of the Jan. 6 riots at the Capitol, "domestic terrorism" has become the new poster child for expanding the government's powers at the expense of civil liberties. Watch and see: We are all about to become enemies of the state. Cue the Emergency State, the government's Machiavellian version of crisis management that justifies all manner of government tyranny in the so-called name of national security. Investigative journalist Glenn Greenwald explains:Why would such new terrorism laws be needed in a country that already imprisons more of its citizens than any other country in the world as the result of a very aggressive set of criminal laws? What acts should be criminalized by new 'domestic terrorism' laws that are not already deemed criminal?

My objective is to remind progressives we're going to have to push Biden to do what needs to be done. Dear President Biden, Vice President Harris, DNC, DCCC:Congratulations on your winning both houses and your offices, though with an embarrassingly narrow margin, considering how destructive Trump and his often violent minions have been to our country and democracy. This narrow margin is a result of the Democratic Party - YOU - abandoning the working class. Without the progressive vote for you in this past election, Trump would have been re-elected and you would likely have lost both houses of Congress. Yes, we have no other party, but progressives can stay home or vote third party, which is a big part of why Hillary lost in 2016.

During the 1967 MOBE march and demonstration by several hundred thousand antiwar activists on the Pentagon to protest the Vietnam War, the feds didn't hesitate about arresting, charging, and then busing me and 700 other activists to federal prison in Occoquan, Va. While not all violent, all suspects clearly illegally entered or broke into the nation's Capitol, disrupting Congress. Now take a close look at top image above showing the peacefully seated protesters "occupying" the front mall entrance to the Pentagon in '67. Some 700 or more of us peaceful protesters were eventually yanked away by those marshals and were beaten as we were dragged to vans and buses to be hauled off to a federal prison in Occoquan, Virginia. All those of us who were snatched away were charged with various offenses, often grossly inflated.

But let me start by recounting the story of a famous Supreme Court episode. In 1964, the Court was confronted with the question of whether a Ohio theatre owner had violated an obscenity statue by showcasing a "pornographic" film. The theatre owner was declaring that his right to display these materials was protected under the free speech provision of the First Amendment. We are talking about a Supreme Court populated by nine middle-aged and old white guys. In a famous concurring opinion, Justice Potter Stewart, in attempting to define the parameters of "hard-core pornography," wrote the following:

Local National Guard commanders usually have the ability to take responsive actions when lives are at risk or significant property damage is possible in certain scenarios, particularly when it isn’t possible to obtain approval quickly. “All military commanders normally have immediate response authority to protect property, life, and in my case, federal functions — federal property and life. A detailed timeline of the day’s events shows that the Pentagon took about an hour and a half to approve requests for the National Guard to respond to the Capitol breach, according to reporting from The Hill. “We all know that’s true — and it’s unacceptable.”The D.C. National Guard wasn’t the only agency that didn’t prepare enough for the Capitol breach that took place on January 6, which resulted in the death of five individuals. Many believe Trump is to blame for having instigated his loyalists to attack the Capitol.

The American Exceptionalism Of Secretary Of State Antony Blinken“American leadership still matters. The reality is the world simply does not organize itself,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken proclaimed at his confirmation hearing. During President Barack Obama’s second term, Blinken was deputy secretary of state. Asked about the intense humanitarian crisis in Yemen, Blinken drew a false equivalency between the actions of the Houthis and the Saudis. Antony Blinken sworn in as Secretary of State (Photo: State Department)US Return To Iran Nuclear Deal Not Happening SoonIt was the United States under Trump that ditched the Iran nuclear deal, not Iran.

At least 43 refugees drowned on January 19 off the Libyan coast during their attempt to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. The mass death in the Mediterranean, for which the European Union (EU) bears responsibility, thus continues into yet another year. The experience of Souleymane, a refugee from Guinea, gives a sense of the tragedies taking place in the Mediterranean. But 11,891 refugees were seized at sea by the Libyan coastguard and returned to Libya’s torture camps. At the same time, the EU not only supported the Libyan coastguard’s illegal repatriation of refugees, but also conducted illegal “pushbacks” of refugees at sea.

Former President Donald Trump has not been open about what his future may hold, including whether he intends to run for office again or not. However, Trump indicated this week that he will attempt to play a role of some kind in the future of U.S. politics. Trump established “The Office of the Former President” on Monday, which will be located in Palm Beach County, Florida, not far from his current residence at Mar-a-Lago. That number has dwindled down to 42 percent in a more recent poll — still a plurality of support from GOP respondents, but a significant drop nonetheless. Trump has already begun backing people he perceives to be loyal to him for future Republican primary elections.

Long-time civil rights attorneys Flint Taylor and Jeffrey Haas will join Defending Rights & Dissent (DRAD) and Truthout as DRAD Policy Director and Still Spying Podcast host Chip Gibbons discusses the latest revelations about the FBI’s role in Fred Hampton’s death and why it matters. Fifty-one years ago, the Chicago Police raided the office of the Illinois Black Panther Party, killing Fred Hampton and Mark Clark. Fred Hampton was not only likely drugged by an FBI informant the night of the raid, but the raid was part of the FBI’s Counter Intelligence Program (COINTELPRO), covert actions designed to neutralize and disrupt political movements disfavored by the FBI. Their work led to the exposure of the FBI’s role in Hampton’s death and they are still working to shine a light on exactly what happened. On January 19, 2021, they published new revelations at Truthout: “New Documents Suggest J. Edgar Hoover Was Involved in Fred Hampton’s Murder.”This piece was reprinted by Truthout with permission or license.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) called on President Joe Biden to declare the climate crisis a national emergency, echoing calls that other Democratic lawmakers and activists have been making in past months and years. “I think it might be a good idea for President Biden to call a climate emergency,” said Schumer on MSNBC on Monday. But if there ever was an emergency, climate is one.”The emergency declaration would allow Biden to direct funds to clean energy projects and suspend activities like oil drilling and crude oil exports. He also joins over 380 climate groups that, in December, called on Biden to issue an executive order declaring an emergency over the climate crisis. Though, as Grist points out, Biden refers to the climate crisis as an emergency in speeches and documents, he has yet to formally declare one using his presidential powers.

With Democrats preparing for the Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., warned his colleagues that moving forward will only cause more damage to the nation. "I’d like to get this trial over sooner rather than later," Graham told "Hannity" on Tuesday. "To my Democratic colleagues, if you try to call one witness, you’re going to blow up the United States Senate. Graham encouraged the opposition to get the "travesty over with" as soon as possible, especially since Trump has already left office. Graham explained that on day one of the trial, there will be a motion to dismiss which he expects to occur.

President Biden "continued taking a wrecking ball to his unity goal" Tuesday by stating "that America, at her core, is racist," Laura Ingraham told viewers. "The Ingraham Angle" host asked rhetorically how Biden's decree that Americanism is at its roots racist and that its founders were men of unjust repute, can square with his own upbringing. His professors, who celebrated, for instance, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution as well as the men who sent them?" "The 1776 Commission understood that America is a great nation that nevertheless made some grave errors," Ingraham added. Ingraham later went on to say that Democrats "know all too well that Trump grew his political support among all minorities, especially Latinos and Asians.

Congressman Jamaal Bowman (D-NY) joins Lawrence O’Donnell to discuss New York’s Covid-19 vaccine shortage, President Joe Biden’s executive actions on racial equity and why, when it comes to prison reform, “we have to do more.”

Former Secretary of State John Kerry arrives for the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool)Former Secretary of State John Kerry arrives for the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Kerry’s diplomatic efforts match the fast pace of domestic climate directives by the week-old Biden administration, which created the job Kerry now holds. The role acknowledges what climate and military experts say will be growing conflicts around the world as climate change increases competition for natural resources. Kerry is expected to have desks at both the White House and the State Department.

By James PearsonHANOI (Reuters) - Vietnam's ruling Communist Party gathered for its first national congress since 2016 on Monday with a mission to select new leaders and shape policy for the next five years and beyond. The event, the 13th congress since the Communist Party of Vietnam was established in 1930, brought nearly 1,600 delegates from across the country to Hanoi. Vietnam officially has four 'pillars' of leadership: the Party chief; the state president; the prime minister and the National Assembly Chair. Vietnam's two-term Communist Party chief Nguyen Phu Trong, 76, has been struggling with bad heath but is expected by analysts to continue for a third term. The Communist Party retains tight control of domestic media and tolerates little criticism.

The multimillion-dollar #WeAreHome campaign was launched Monday by national groups including United We Dream and the United Farm Workers Foundation. Immigration remains a third rail dividing Republicans and Democrats in the U.S., and opponents of the measure have pledged to fight it. “The movement has matured,” said Lorella Praeli, the Peruvian-born co-president of Community Change, among the national groups leading the campaign. Praeli honed her skills as Latino communities outreach director for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign before addressing the 2016 Democratic National Convention. The five groups chairing the campaign are paying for the effort with their own fundraising,“We need an early breakthrough on immigration,” said Praeli.

Lindell, who says he “welcomes” a lawsuit, also personally visited the White House during Trump’s final days in office to sell him on his latest election fraud theory. “People the public recognizes cannot step out of line because you might convince others to do the same. With this particular thing that’s going on now, I’ve been all in trying to find the machine fraud and we found it, we have the evidence,” Lindell exclaimed. They don’t want that!”“No, they don’t,” Carlson muttered in response.“They’re not making conspiracy theories go away by doing that,” he continued, before adding: “You don’t make people calm down and get reasonable and moderate by censoring them, you make them crazier. Sign up now!Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you.

WASHINGTON - All but five Republican senators backed former president Donald Trump on Tuesday in a key test vote ahead of his impeachment trial, signaling that the proceedings are likely to end with Trump’s acquittal on the charge that he incited the Jan. 6 Capitol riot. After the vote, Paul declared that "the impeachment trial is dead on arrival." A few senators who voted with Paul disputed that Tuesday's vote was a foolproof indication of the trial's outcome. McConnell did not speak before Tuesday's vote or release any statement squaring his vote with his previous statements critical of Trump's behavior. The former president's aides also have started putting GOP senators on notice about the impending trial vote asserting that Trump will continue to be in a force within the Republican Party.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, focused on Putin’s response to Biden’s proposal to extend the last remaining U.S.-Russia arms control treaty. Former President Donald Trump’s administration had withdrawn from two arms control treaties with Russia and had been prepared to let New START lapse. Before he spoke to Putin, Biden also called NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to pledge U.S. commitment to the decades-old alliance founded as a bulwark against Russian aggression. Biden’s team has already reacted strongly to the crackdown on the protests, in which more than 3,700 people were arrested across Russia, including more than 1,400 in Moscow. Just from the public accounts, Biden’s discussion with Putin appeared diametrically opposed to Trump’s relationship with the Russian president.

Biden chastised Putin over the 2016 election interference and a reprise of that effort in 2020. Biden also told the Kremlin strongman that the United States was willing to defend itself and take action, which could include further sanctions, to ensure that Moscow does not act with impunity, according to Biden administration officials. On a positive note, Biden and Putin agreed on the need to maintain stability between the world's two biggest nuclear superpowers. Sign up to receive The 1600 Get our inside look at the White House and goings on in the Donald Trump administration. U.S. restores Palestinian relationsThe Biden administration announced Tuesday it was restoring relations with the Palestinians and renewing aid to Palestinian refugees, a reversal of the Trump administration’s cutoff.

In addition to the Hubbard Ballroom at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center on Michigan Avenue, the mayor's name is located around the city including Hubbard Drive near Fairlane Town Center. Hachem and other residents said it was a "cancel culture" decision by the City Council. "We're doing a disservice to the rest of the Hubbard family that provided decades and decades of service, not only to Dearborn but to Wayne County. Many of the Hubbard family still reside in Dearborn. In many respects, he was a very good mayor and did a lot of good things for the city.

GOP largely sides against holding Trump impeachment trialWASHINGTON (AP) — All but five Senate Republicans voted in favor of an effort to dismiss Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial on Tuesday, making clear a conviction of the former president for “incitement of insurrection” after the deadly Capitol siege on Jan. 6 is unlikely. While the Republicans did not succeed in ending the trial before it began, the test vote made clear that Trump still has enormous sway over his party as he becomes the first former president to be tried for impeachment. Many Republicans have criticized Trump's role in the attack — before which he told his supporters to “fight like hell” to overturn his defeat — but most of them have rushed to defend him in the trial. “I think this was indicative of where a lot of people’s heads are," said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, after the vote.

The moratorium is intended to allow time for officials to review the impact of oil and gas drilling on the environment and climate. Oil industry groups slammed the move, saying Biden had already eliminated thousands of oil and gas jobs by killing the Keystone XL oil pipeline on his first day in office. The pause in onshore drilling is limited to federal lands and does not affect drilling on private lands, which is largely regulated by states. Oil and gas extracted from public lands and waters account for about a quarter of annual U.S. production. Biden’s choice to lead the Interior Department, which oversees oil and gas leasing on public lands, is New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland.

Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi urged Moscow on Tuesday to release Russian opposition politician Alexei Navalny and peaceful protestors from detention, joining the United States and the European Union in expressing concerns over the crackdown. We want to request the release of Mr. Navalny and those who have been detained arbitrarily while engaging in peaceful demonstrations,” Motegi told a news conference. Navalny, known as a prominent critic of Russian President Vladimir Putin, was detained by police on Jan. 17 soon after he arrived in Moscow from Germany, where he had been recuperating for five months after a nerve-agent attack he blames on Russian authorities. Thousands of people demonstrating across Russia against the detention of Navalny were detained on Saturday. “Regarding the poisoning incident with Mr. Navalny, Japan calls on Russia to ensure transparency and bring the perpetrators to justice,” Motegi said.

As U.S. President Joe Biden prepares Wednesday to open an ambitious effort to confront climate change, powerful and surprising forces are arrayed at his back. Already, scientists say the irreversible effects of climate change have started to sweep across the globe, from record wildfires in California and Australia to rising sea levels, widespread droughts and stronger storms. “President Biden has called climate change the No. On his first day in office, he rejoined the Paris Agreement on climate change. So will Manchin, who campaigned for his seat with a television advertisement that featured him using a hunting rifle to shoot a climate change bill that Obama had hoped to pass.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell blasted Twitter after he was permanently banned from the platform for continuing to spread misinformation about election fraud, saying that if Twitter can silence him, it can silence anyone. Twitter said Lindell had been banned 'due to repeated violations' of its Civic Integrity Policy. 'This time, about 17 days ago, when someone put up on the Internet actual new machine election fraud, I retweeted it, and they took my Twitter down. SOME OF LINDELL'S CLAIMS ELECTION FRAUD Lindell has repeatedly claimed on Twitter and in interviews that the election was rigged. Even before his Twitter ban, Lindell was among the Republicans raging at 'cancel culture' after companies cut ties with MyPillow.

NATIONALInvestigators carry a box of documents out of the Ministry of Justice after making a raid into the ministry in connection with an investigation into an allegedly illegal overseas travel ban on Kim Hak-ui, a former vice justice minister, in Gwacheon, south of Seoul, last Thursday. (Yonhap)Prosecutors have raided the office of the anti-corruption team at the Supreme Prosecutors Office, intensifying an investigation into an allegedly illegal ban on a former vice justice minister from leaving the country two years ago.The Suwon District Prosecutors Office, in charge of the probe, sent prosecutors and police investigators to the team's office in southern Seoul on Tuesday afternoon to secure documents and data compiled when the justice ministry issued an urgent overseas travel ban on the former vice minister.The team is suspected of having pressed investigators looking into the case to dismiss the suspicions surrounding the ban when it first emerged in 2019.Kim Hak-ui, who briefly held the vice minister post in 2013, was stopped at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, from leaving the country in March 2019 as prosecutors sought to reinvestigate allegations that he received sexual favors from a local constructor more than a decade ago.He was initially cleared of the charges by prosecutors in 2013 and again in 2015 despite video footage allegedly depicting him in a sexual act.After the reinvestigation, he was convicted of bribery and sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison in October 2020 but was acquitted of the sexual favor charge as the statute of limitations had expired.However, a whistleblower filed a complaint with the state anti-corruption watchdog body in December, saying the ban enforced by the justice ministry did not follow due procedures. Kim was not a criminal suspect in any case at that time and the justice ministry illegally accessed Kim's travel records, he claimed. On Wednesday last week, the whistleblower filed an additional complaint about the

NATIONALRep. Jang Hye-young of Justice Party (Yonhap)Rep. Jang Hye-young of minor progressive opposition Justice Party has expressed her “regret” that a civic group filed a criminal complaint against former party leader who had sexually harassed her.She says recalling the damage again during an unwanted investigation “is a hindrance to her return to daily life.”Jang’s remarks on her social media comes after conservative civic group Hwalbindan said Tuesday it would file a complaint with the Seoul Southern District Prosecutor’s Office against former Justice Party leader Kim Jong-cheol on charges of sexual harassment. The group said it would also hold a protest in front of the Justice Party after submitting the complaint.Jang said earlier she would not sue, but sex crimes can be investigated even if they are accused by a third party.“Solidarity with the victim, approaching from the victim’s point of view and not forcing victimhood is not an abstract concept, but a very specific methodology,” Jang said on her Facebook account Tuesday.“This is to respect the victim’s intentions first and foremost in raising, solving and closing issues,” she added.“Despite the fact that I, as the victim, clearly expressed my desire to solve the issue within a community, I am very sorry for the criminal prosecution against the perpetrator, unilaterally ignoring my intentions without any communication with me.”“The decision not to proceed with the charges through the judicial system is not for the perpetrator, but for myself. Why do I have to recall and explain the damage again through unwanted third-party accusations and deal with the secondary damage that will inevitably accompany the process?”It’s just another imposition of victimhood to mislead the judicial process as if it were the victim’s duty, she said, adding, “I want to go back to my daily life the way I want to, without being trapped in any victimhood.”Hong Jung-sik, chief of Hwalbindan, said in the complaint on Tuesday, “As it i

(Yonhap)Prosecutors have raided the office of the anti-corruption team at the Supreme Prosecutors Office, intensifying an investigation into an allegedly illegal ban on a former vice justice minister from leaving the country two years ago. The Suwon District Prosecutors Office, in charge of the probe, sent prosecutors and police investigators to the team's office in southern Seoul on Tuesday afternoon to secure documents and data compiled when the justice ministry issued an urgent overseas travel ban on the former vice minister. However, a whistleblower filed a complaint with the state anti-corruption watchdog body in December, saying the ban enforced by the justice ministry did not follow due procedures. Kim was not a criminal suspect in any case at that time and the justice ministry illegally accessed Kim's travel records, he claimed. The commission said it was reviewing whether to transfer the case to the newly established Corruption Investigation Office for High-ranking Officials.

Rep. Jang Hye-young of minor progressive opposition Justice Party has expressed her “regret” that a civic group filed a criminal complaint against former party leader who had sexually harassed her.She says recalling the damage again during an unwanted investigation “is a hindrance to her return to daily life.”Jang’s remarks on her social media comes after conservative civic group Hwalbindan said Tuesday it would file a complaint with the Seoul Southern District Prosecutor’s Office against former Justice Party leader Kim Jong-cheol on charges of sexual harassment. The group said it would also hold a protest in front of the Justice Party after submitting the complaint.Jang said earlier she would not sue, but sex crimes can be investigated even if they are accused by a third party.“Solidarity with the victim, approaching from the victim’s point of view and not forcing victimhood is not an abstract concept, but a very specific methodology,” Jang said on her Facebook account Tuesday.“This is to respect the victim’s intentions first and foremost in raising, solving and closing issues,” she added.“Despite the fact that I, as the victim, clearly expressed my desire to solve the issue within a community, I am very sorry for the criminal prosecution against the perpetrator, unilaterally ignoring my intentions without any communication with me.”“The decision not to proceed with the charges through the judicial system is not for the perpetrator, but for myself. Why do I have to recall and explain the damage again through unwanted third-party accusations and deal with the secondary damage that will inevitably accompany the process?”It’s just another imposition of victimhood to mislead the judicial process as if it were the victim’s duty, she said, adding, “I want to go back to my daily life the way I want to, without being trapped in any victimhood.”Hong Jung-sik, chief of Hwalbindan, said in the complaint on Tuesday, “As it is not something that will end with resignation and di

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene—a freshman Republican lawmaker, prolific bigot and conspiracy theorist, and staunch backer of former President Donald Trump—repeatedly showed support online for executing prominent Democrats including House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, former President Barack Obama, and former Secertary of State Hillary Clinton, CNN reported Tuesday. Greene, who represents Georgia's 14th Congressional District, in January 2019 "liked" a Facebook comment asserting that "a bullet to the head would be quicker" to oust Pelosi (D-Calif.) from the House speakership. "We must be patient," wrote Greene. Greene also liked Facebook comments supporting the assassination of FBI agents who were purportedly part of the "deep state" opposition to Trump. On Tuesday, Greene tweeted that "fake news CNN is writing yet another hit piece on me focusing on my time before running for political office."

The text of the following statement was released by the G7 foreign ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union. Begin Text:We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America and the High Representative of the European Union, are united in condemning the politically motivated arrest and detention of Alexey Navalny. We the G7 Foreign Ministers call upon the Russian authorities for Mr Navalny’s immediate and unconditional release. We reiterate that any use of chemical weapons is unacceptable and contravenes international norms against the use of such weapons. We, the G7 Foreign Ministers, again urge the Russian authorities to investigate and credibly explain the use of a chemical weapon on its soil in the light of Russia’s obligations under the Chemical Weapons Convention.

HANOI (Reuters) - Nguyen Phu Trong, Vietnam’s ruling Communist Party chief and the architect of the country’s anti-corruption campaign, has been nominated to serve a rare third term, a Party official said on Wednesday, according to state media. FILE PHOTO: Vietnam's General Secretary of the Communist Party Nguyen Phu Trong speaks at the opening ceremony of the 13th national congress of the ruling communist party of Vietnam is seen at the National Convention Center in Hanoi, Vietnam January 26, 2021. On Monday, over 1,600 party delegates began nine days of meetings, mostly behind closed doors, at a five-yearly congress. Trong, 76, who is also Vietnam’s president, had been widely tipped to continue as party chief despite health issues and old age - which should technically disqualify him for the position, although “special case” exceptions are granted. Vietnam has no paramount ruler and is officially led by four ‘pillars’: the chief of its Communist Party, a president, a prime minister and the National Assembly chair.

(CNN) Sen. Patrick Leahy returned home Tuesday night from the hospital after seeking treatment out of an abundance of caution, according to a spokesman. Leahy had been hospitalized just hours after presiding over the opening of former President Donald Trump's second impeachment trial. "After getting test results back, and after a thorough examination, Senator Leahy now is home. As the Senate president pro tempore -- the longest-serving senator of the majority party -- the 80-year-old Vermont Democrat is presiding over Trump's impeachment trial in lieu of Chief Justice John Roberts. Roberts, who oversaw Trump's first impeachment trial, chose not to oversee the proceedings because Trump is no longer in office, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

(CNN) More than three dozen Capitol Police officers have tested positive for coronavirus since the Capitol riot on January 6, the union representing the Capitol Police told CNN Sunday. It's unclear how many of the 38 officers may have been on duty during the attack or when they contracted the virus. By Friday, 19 Capitol Police officers had tested positive in the more than two weeks since the attack, Gus Papathanasiou, chair of the United States Capitol Police Labor Committee, told CNN in an email. The union could also not confirm that those officers were on duty the day of the attack. Several lawmakers tested positive in the wake of the attack, with some Democrats saying they tested positive after sheltering in place with other members of Congress who were not wearing masks.

Officials in Oklahoma are reportedly trying to offload a $2 million stockpile of hydroxychloroquine — the malaria drug once touted by former President Donald Trump as a potential coronavirus treatment. Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt ordered the purchase of 1.2 million pills, or about 100,000 doses, from a California-based pharmaceutical wholesaler in April. At the time, Stitt was criticized by Democrats for the purchase but defended it by saying that the drug showed promise as a treatment in early March, and that he didn’t want his state to miss out on a chance to acquire it. Stitt’s spokeswoman Carly Atchison told The Frontier that: “Every decision the Governor makes is with the health and lives of Oklahomans in mind, including purchasing hydroxychloroquine, securing PPE, and now distributing vaccines as quickly and efficiently as possible to combat this COVID crisis.”With Post wires

Alongside the return to official skepticism from the top about Russian actions and motives, Biden made an expected offer to Putin to extend a key arms control agreement. “The two presidents agreed to maintain transparent and consistent communication going forward,” the White House statement said. On a number of occasions, the White House did not even acknowledge the calls until after an announcement by Moscow, and some reported by Moscow do not appear in archived public White House records. Asked in an interview with Axios whether he had raised the subject with Putin, Trump said it was “a phone call to discuss other things. They always bring up Russia, Russia, Russia.”

During her appearance, she denounced the violent demonstrators, but warned of efforts to combat domestic insurgents through surveillance and other monitoring activities. "We recognize that those who stormed the Capitol on January 6 trying to stop Congress from fulfilling their constitutional responsibilities, they were acting as domestic terrorists undermining our Constitution," Gabbard told host Tucker Carlson. "[However,] those like John Brennan, Adam Schiff and others are also acting as domestic terrorists because they are also undermining our constitution by trying to take away our civil liberties and rights that are guaranteed to us," she added. In the same interview, Brennan likened libertarians to "religious extremists, authoritarians, fascists, bigots, racists, [and] nativists." "If we do not and if they do not," said Gabbard, "then this country that we love and cherish will no longer exist."

Fox News senior political analyst Brit Hume warned Tuesday that those on the left calling for increased regulation of speech don't understand the concept of the First Amendment or the marketplace of ideas. BRIT HUME: What's most distressing to me ... is the extent to which journalists themselves are now participating ... it astounds me, frankly. It is alarming and it suggests to me that people who are calling for this stuff don’t really understand the basis of our concept of free speech, which is that people are better informed by hearing a wide range of voices and tolerating them, and that the answer to objectionable speech is not censorship. That’s the concept, open forums, free speech, if you find speech objectionable, respond to it with something better. What we are hearing and seeing now is journalists themselves trying to shut down other news organizations and channels, and I find it astonishing and alarming.

The Democrats' push to convict former President Trump in the Senate is dead on arrival, Sean Hannity declared Tuesday. Earlier in the day, the Senate voted 55-45 to end debate on Sen. Rand Paul’s point of order arguing that the impeachment trial is unconstitutional now that Trump is out of office. Most Republican senators found a post-presidency impeachment to be unconstitutional, but the "irrational psychotic rage" of the left continues to fuel Democrats' effort, the "Hannity" host said. "The Senate trial will be conducted as planned, but the Democrats do not have anywhere close to what would be the two-thirds supermajority that would be needed to convict." RUBIO SOUNDS OFF ON TRUMP IMPEACHMENT AFTER SENATE VOTE"They must appease this lunatic fringe that controls the entire Democratic Party establishment," he went on, before adding plainly, "the U.S. Senate cannot validate this insane snap impeachment.

California Labor Secretary Julie Su, President Biden’s reported pick to serve as deputy secretary in the US Department of Labor, could face tough scrutiny in the Senate regarding her handling of unemployment claims in the state during the coronavirus pandemic. Biden has pledged to raise the federal minimum wage to $15 and Su is a longtime advocate for workers’ rights, including increased wages. However, reports that a state agency under Su’s jurisdiction mistakenly paid out billions in false unemployment claims could complicate her candidacy. "California has not had sufficient security measures in place to prevent this level of fraud, and criminals took advantage of the situation." Aside from the fraud claims, state officials questioned the Su-led Employment Development Department’s preparedness to handle claims in the event of a crisis that led to an economic recession.

A confrontation between a Florida high school student and a school resource officer has been caught on camera Tuesday. UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA MODIFIES 'TATTLE BUTTON' AFTER PUSHBACK FROM STUDENTS, FACULTYIn the video posted to Twitter, an officer is seen slamming a young Black woman to the ground in an outside breezeway at Liberty High School in Osceola County. WARNING: GRAPHIC LANGUAGE IN VIDEO BELOWOsceola County School District spokesperson Dana Schaffer confirmed to FOX News that the incident occurred at Liberty High School but declined to comment further, referring all questions to the Osceola Sheriff's Office. "We know that the School Resource Officer was in the process of trying to stop the student from fighting another student in the hallway when the deputy took her into custody." A spokesperson for the Osceola County Sheriff's Office did not immediately return FOX News' request for comment.

SEE NEW POSTS'Snake oil' salesman in Washington state administered untested Covid-19 vaccines, officials say A man in Washington state was arrested on federal charges for allegedly administering an unauthorized Covid-19 vaccine to patients. Research supports "a path forward to maintain or return primarily or fully to in-person instructional delivery," according to the study. The recommendations provide some clarity about a contentious topic and offer much-needed guidance for local officials, school administrators and parents. “According to the plea agreement, Brandenburg stated that he was skeptical of vaccines in general and the Moderna vaccine specifically,” the department said Tuesday. A new shipment of 120,000 doses is expected to arrive in the Tar Heel State on Wednesday, though officials are lobbying for a boost.

Press play to listen to this article Voiced by Amazon PollyEurope has three days to decide how tough it will be in a global fight over restricting vaccine exports. Indeed, the call for export restrictions is pushing the European Commission's trade department into an excruciating position because it is normally one of the leading global forces preaching against trade restrictions and protectionism as a way of dealing with economic shocks. “It’s worth noting that we are not planning to impose an export ban or export restrictions,” he said when asked by POLITICO about the new law. “A legal obligation for authorization of vaccine exports at EU level makes sense," Spahn said on Twitter Monday, reiterating this point in several TV interviews. Escalation riskExperts and EU lawmakers were quick to warn that any export restrictions could promptly escalate into an all-out trade war over vaccine supplies.

He will not be president,’” Jeffries told Hayes on Tuesday. “Words are putting you and your family at risk,” the message said, according to the complaint. He was charged with making threatening interstate communications, which can carry up to a five-year prison sentence. His Facebook profile and phone records indicated he was a former member of the Alameda County Sheriff’s Department, the complaint said. “There is very false information on social media that a Robert Lemke worked for the Alameda County Sheriff,” the department said.

In a profoundly symbolic challenge to Modi’s Hindu-nationalist government, the protesters who stormed Red Fort hoisted a Sikh religious flag. The protesters have left the streets of the capital,? New Delhi police officer Anto Alphonse said Wednesday morning. Several of them jumped into a deep dry drain in the fort area to escape the protesters who outnumbered them at several places. The government insists the agricultural laws passed by Parliament in September will benefit farmers and boost production through private investment. The government has offered to suspend the laws for 18 months, but the farmers want nothing less than a full repeal.

By Trevor Hunnicutt and Steve HollandWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday for the first time since taking office and raised concerns about Russian activities including the treatment of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, the White House said. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki announced the phone call between the two leaders at her daily briefing. It came as Biden adjusts U.S. policy in a more robust way toward Russia after his predecessor, Donald Trump refused to take on Putin directly. "President Biden reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to collective defense under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and underscored his commitment to strengthening transatlantic security," a White House statement said. The arms control treaty limits the United States and Russia to deploying no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads each.

By Tarek Amara and Angus McDowallTUNIS (Reuters) - Tunisia's parliament on Tuesday approved a Cabinet reshuffle that deepened the conflict between the prime minister and the president, as hundreds protested outside the heavily barricaded parliament over social inequality and police abuses. Riot police turned water cannon on protesters outside the parliament earlier on Tuesday, trying to quell the largest rally since demonstrations began this month. ?"?Young people protesting outside parliament reminds us of our priorities. But President Kais Saied indicated on Monday he would reject the Cabinet reshuffle, condemned the absence of women among the new ministers and said some likely new Cabinet members may have conflicts of interest. Police blocked the march with barricades to prevent protesters approaching the parliament building where lawmakers were debating the government reshuffle.

Huawei is still the Chinese Communist Party's tech puppet and a serious threat to national security. However, Raimondo repeatedly emphasised to Cruz and other senators questioning her a commitment to safeguarding against possible national security threats posed by the use of Chinese telecommunications equipment. Raimondo, he noted, is a relative newcomer in terms of foreign policy and will need to defer to Blinken and others in the Biden administration. "This is not a position of the Biden administration at this point, so I think we'll have to wait and see. Sullivan said in a CNN interview earlier this month that the Biden administration would recognise China as a serious strategic competitor to the US.

WASHINGTON - President Joe Biden on Wednesday plans to make tackling America’s persistent racial and economic disparities a central part of his plan to combat climate change, prioritizing environmental justice for the first time in a generation. AdvertisementBiden will sign an executive order establishing a White House interagency council on environmental justice, create an office of health and climate equity at the Health and Human Services Department and form a separate environmental justice office at the Department of Justice, the individuals said. "The executive order will help to lay out a clear path to implementing President Biden's climate and justice commitments," Kelly said. AdvertisementRobert Bullard, a professor at Texas State University and longtime environmental justice advocate, praised the notion of linking the environment and health by establishing a dedicated office at HHS. And he said creating an environmental justice office at the Justice Department underscores that the problem is both important and pervasive.

Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich is asking the federal government to rescind a 100-day moratorium on most deportations that was announced on President Joe Biden's first day in office. Brnovich said Tuesday's letter was intended to serve as notice to Homeland Security that they had violated the agreement with Arizona for not consulting with the state before announcing the moratorium or giving them the 180-notice. The Department of Homeland Security referred a request for comment to the White House, which did not immediately respond. Advocacy groups who supported the moratorium on deportations criticized Tipton's temporary restraining order that is pausing its implementation for 14 days. Brnovich attached the copy of Arizona's agreement with the letter he sent to DHS on Tuesday.

Ohio political junkies are having fun speculating about which Republicans and Democrats could run for U.S. Senate in the wake of Rob Portman's decision not to seek another term. I wrote last spring that Democrats should consider her for a Senate run, in part, because of her statewide popularity. "They have a shot at winning in response to unforced errors from the Republicans," Niven added. "It's not completely hopeless for Democrats," Niven said of the Ohio U.S. Senate race. They're never going to win against a well-run Republican candidate who's throwing 100 mph fastballs.

That’s the new account for former President Donald Trump. His first message states, in part, “Today, the 45th President of the United States, Donald J. Trump, formally opened the Office of the Former President.” The email is datelined Palm Beach, Fla. The email adds “The Office will be responsible for managing President Trump’s correspondence, public statements, appearances, and official activities to advance the interests of the United States and to carry on the agenda of the Trump Administration through advocacy, organizing, and public activism. “President Trump will always and forever be a champion for the American People,” it concludes. The message comes as Senate Republicans revealed Tuesday they are unlikely to convict Trump when a second impeachment kicks off again the week of Feb. 8.

Before he spoke to Putin, Biden also called NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to pledge U.S. commitment to the decades-old alliance founded as a bulwark against Russian aggression. It also said Putin congratulated Biden on becoming president and “noted that normalization of ties between Russia and the United States would serve the interests of both countries." Among the issues the Kremlin said were discussed were the coronavirus pandemic, the Iran nuclear agreement, Ukraine and issues related to trade and the economy. The call came as Putin considers the aftermath of pro-Navalny protests that took place in more than 100 Russian cities over the weekend. More protests are planned for the coming weekend.

ROANOKE — Two Southwest Virginia counties have announced plans to resume jury trials after having taken a 10-month break due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Montgomery and Giles counties are the first court systems in the New River Valley to receive state approval to call jurors again, The Roanoke Times reported. In both court systems, procedures have been established to protect jurors from getting COVID-19. Jury trials across Virginia came to an abrupt halt last March as the coronavirus pandemic began and the Virginia Supreme Court declared a judicial emergency. Court systems were told to submit plans for how to safely hold jury trials.

Small protests in the industrial city, about 34 miles south of Seattle, flared on Saturday and Sunday nights after a police officer was recorded driving his vehicle into a crowd of pedestrians. "The officer, fearing for his safety, tried to back up, but was unable to do so because of the crowd." Then, in an event captured on cellphone videos, the officer drove the car forward into the crowd, appearing to run over at least one person. Police said at least two people were injured in the incident and taken to hospitals, where one remained Monday night. The demonstrators also rattled the fence and pounded on drums outside the county jail, chanting "Free them all", according to one video.

The board of Trump Plaza in Florida has voted to remove the ex-president's branding from its twin-buildings following the riots at the US Capitol. Trump Plaza’s condo board voted on 19 January to rename the complex after two attempts in 2020. But the US Capitol riots were the "last straw" for residents, according to The Palm Beach Post. The board voted against officially renaming the building in February, and unofficially removed the last remaining physical signs in June, but it had remained Trump Plaza until the latest vote. “It’s been a long time in coming," one Trump Plaza resident told the Post.

The Democrats’ incumbency and demographic advantages, along with the riots and bitter fight for the Republican Party’s soul, strongly favours them to retain the presidency come 2024. When it comes to the Republicans, the nominee market would be the one to focus on. It appeared fairly simple last time I looked, when I divided the candidates into three categories: a Trump, another Republican, or an outsider, perhaps resident Fox News demagogue Tucker Carlson. A sensible Republican challenger would be good for America, but I don’t think it will get one. South Dakota’s Kristi Noem or even Ron DeSantis in Florida, who are both 33/1 with Paddy Power look like live candidates.

An arm of the California government admitted that up to $31 billion in unemployment funds may have been sent to fraudsters. "Of the $114 billion in unemployment paid by California since March, approximately 10% has been confirmed as fraudulent. Gavin Newsom faces a growing recall effort in his state fueled by outrage over his handling of the coronavirus. Newsom was questioned if the lift on restrictions was due to the momentum behind the recall effort, which he denied. The recall effort, however, has garnered 1.2 million of the 1.5 million signatures needed by March.

He wanted Kennedy to succeed — or at least, to have a chance at success — and Smith’s control of the Rules Committee made that impossible. The Rules Committee could be as small as five members or as large as 15. With three additional members, two Democrats and one Republican, liberals and moderates would have an 8-7 majority. After his meeting with House liberals, Rayburn’s office told The New York Times of a plan to purge Colmer from the Rules Committee. On the last day of the month, Jan. 31, with Kennedy now in office, the House took a vote.

Democratic New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said “incompetent government kills people” during an interview Tuesday with MSNBC while discussing government response to the coronavirus. That’s the truth,” Cuomo said. Cuomo’s state of New York currently has the second-highest death rate in the country for the coronavirus, trailing only New Jersey, according to Heritage Foundation tracking as of Jan. 19. That’s the truth.” pic.twitter.com/kSiTDCUSFY — Tom Elliott (@tomselliott) January 26, 2021“That’s why hearing President Biden is such a relief,” Cuomo went on to say. The state has reportedly lost more than 1,000,000 jobs and thousands of small businesses since the pandemic began due to lockdown measures.

Giuliani, the lawsuit alleges, knowingly spread falsehoods about the company to bolster Trump’s failing attempts to overturn the reality of his election loss. ADADThe suit outlines how Giuliani often aligned his “direct-to-camera advertisements” with the falsehoods of the day. But Jones, like Giuliani, had also regularly advertised nutritional supplements during his videos, which attracted massive audiences. ADAD“Jones was able to hype up his supplement sales with this fantastical misinformation, these fantasies he would spin,” Bankston said. The Jones and Giuliani cases focus on specific harms from misinformation, “but what do we do when someone shares misinformation about the coronavirus that hurts us all?” he said.

"The View" co-host Meghan McCain said Monday that liberals like Katie Couric and others who had called for the "deprogramming" of some Donald Trump supporters could "go to hell." Couric and several others, including McCain's "The View" colleague Sunny Hostin, have referred to Trump backers as "brainwashed" or in need of "deprogramming" in the past two weeks. KATIE COURIC'S 'CONDESCENDING, ELITIST' REMARKS CALLING TO 'DEPROGRAM' GOP RETIRES JOURNO LABEL, CRITICS SAYCornell Law School professor and media critic William A. Jacobson told Fox News that "threats of 'deprogramming' Trump supporters have become "common among liberal journalists," calling Couric part of a "media complex" that deliberately stifled negative news about Biden during his 2020 campaign against Trump. McCain supported Biden, a close friend of her family, in the 2020 election, but the show's token conservative host has expressed sympathy for how Trump supporters are being portrayed by the media. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP"That 74 million Americans are basically irredeemable people ...

German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday rejected calls for Europe to pick sides between the U.S. and China, in a nod to the plea made by Chinese President Xi Jinping a day earlier. While the administration of U.S. President Joe Biden is looking to group together democracies to contain China, Merkel was pointedly wary about the formation of factions. “I would very much wish to avoid the building of blocs,” Merkel told the Davos World Economic Forum. This is not my understanding of how things ought to be.”Referring to Xi’s speech at the same forum, Merkel said: “The Chinese president spoke yesterday, and he and I agree on that. POLITICO Pro is our premium intelligence service for professionals.

US President Joe Biden has instructed federal departments and agencies to ensure they do not contribute to racism when referring to Covid-19. Photo: Getty Images

Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy has returned home from a brief hospital stay after undergoing a thorough examination, his spokesman announced Tuesday night. Leahy, 80, who will preside over President Trump’s impeachment trial, was hospitalized earlier Tuesday after he complained of not feeling well. “After getting test results back, and after a thorough examination, Senator Leahy now is home. He looks forward to getting back to work,” Leahy spokesman David Carle said in a statement. The constitutional role makes Leahy responsible for presiding over the new Democrat-controlled Senate, including the upcoming impeachment trial.

ADADSmith, who died Jan. 15, was the second officer who had been at the Capitol on Jan. 6 to take his life. Capitol Police Officer Howard Liebengood died Jan. 9. ADADContee sent D.C. officers to help overwhelmed Capitol officers retake control of the building. It took up to eight hours to clear the building and grounds, and by then Contee said 850 D.C. officers had been deployed to the Capitol and an additional 250 to the area around the federal complex. “This assault on the Capitol has exposed weaknesses in the security of the most secure city in the country,” Contee told lawmakers.

Biden will sign an executive order establishing a White House interagency council on environmental justice, create an office of health and climate equity at the Health and Human Services Department and form a separate environmental justice office at the Department of Justice, the individuals said. Robert Bullard, a professor at Texas State University and longtime environmental justice advocate, praised the notion of linking the environment and health by establishing a dedicated office at HHS. And he said creating an environmental justice office at the Justice Department underscores that the problem is both important and pervasive. ADThe president also has ordered federal agencies to review scores of climate and environmental policies enacted during the Trump years and, if possible, to quickly reverse them. The oil and gas industry already has begun to assail key Biden policy changes, including his decisions on the Keystone XL pipeline.

The Chinese Communist Party is looking for the "soft underbelly" of the Biden administration in the hope of achieving a series of endeavors Donald Trump stymied as president, according to former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. It's the right thing for the American people, it's how you put America First and something that the Chinese Communist Party will understand the most." We know that the Chinese Communist Party covered that up. These are things the State Department was talking about while I was secretary of state ...""These are important things," he added. They matter for our health, for our safety, for economic prosperity and for our security, and I hope and I'm counting on this next administration to do what the American people demand of them and continue to confront the Chinese Communist Party."

President Biden has taken steps to reverse Trump-era policies in the Middle East by throwing the administration’s support behind finding a two-state solution between Israel and Palestine. ISRAEL TEMPORARILY BANS ALL INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS IN RESPONSE TO NEW COVID-19 STRAINSThe Trump administration closed the Palestine Liberation Organization office in Washington, D.C., froze all federal contributions to the U.N. Mills recognized the challenge that lies ahead for the Biden administration as they attempt bridge a divide that has yet to be accomplished since Israel’s inception in 1948. But the acting U.S. ambassador also said that the Biden administration believes "the best way to ensure Israel's future as a democratic and Jewish state," is by securing their relationship with Palestine. Despite the Biden administration’s clear intent to reverse most Trump-era policies in how the U.S. works with Israel, Mills did not say they U.S. would remove the U.S. embassy from Jerusalem.

A Democratic candidate for mayor of New York City who has called for slashing the NYPD’s budget in half bragged Tuesday that nearly a third of her campaign’s donors are unemployed. "We are building a people powered movement that is making history," Dianne Morales, a former nonprofit CEO, tweeted Monday night. "Our most frequent donation is just $10, the average donation is $52 and 30% of our donors are UNEMPLOYED. We don't have to go ‘back to normal.’"More than 500,000 New York City workers lost their jobs between December 2019 and December 2020, according to the state’s Department of Labor. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPMayor Bill de Blasio is not expected to run for reelection due to term limits.

House impeachment managers led by Cheryl Johnson, clerk of the House of Representatives; and Timothy Blodgett, acting sergeant at arms of the House, return to the House side after delivering the article of impeachment against former President Donald...moreHouse impeachment managers led by Cheryl Johnson, clerk of the House of Representatives; and Timothy Blodgett, acting sergeant at arms of the House, return to the House side after delivering the article of impeachment against former President Donald Trump to the Senate for trial on accusations of inciting the deadly January 6 attack on the Capitol, at the Capitol building in Washington. REUTERS/Carlos BarriaClose

“It’s a totally different issue as far as I’m concerned,” Republican Senator Rob Portman told reporters. The senators voted after being sworn in as jurors for the impeachment trial. ‘MATTER OF POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE’Fellow Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who has been critical of Trump, rejected Paul’s move. But no Senate Republicans have said definitively that they plan to vote to convict him. First elected to the chamber in 1974, Leahy is the most senior Democrat in the chamber and holds the title of Senate president pro tempore.

REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File PhotoThe remarks are an apparent signal to U.S. President Joe Biden to tread cautiously in any diplomatic engagement with Iran. Such comments by Israel’s military chief of staff on U.S. policymaking are rare and likely would have been pre-approved by the Israeli government. Since Washington pulled out of the deal, Iran has gradually breached its key limits, building up its stockpile of low enriched uranium, enriching uranium to higher levels of purity, and installing centrifuges in ways barred by the accord. Kohavi said those actions by Iran, which denies it is seeking atomic arms, showed it could ultimately decide to push forward rapidly towards building a nuclear weapon. “In light of this fundamental analysis, I have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare a number of operational plans, in addition to those already in place,” Kohavi said.

After many controversial incidents with private prisons, President Biden is pulling America out of the private prison business in a significant break with what Trump’s administration had done. MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber is joined by Black Lives Matter activist DeRay Mckesson to discuss the significance of this action.

Biden administration officials say the executive orders are but one of several steps the president plans to take to battle racial disparities. It’s why both Biden and racial justice advocates demanding change view the executives orders the same way: as a good first step. Led by former Obama national security adviser Susan Rice, the council will focus its efforts largely on racial equity. When he signed the executive orders, Biden also called for restoration and expansion of the John Lewis Voting Rights Act, which would protect voter access. Organizers with the Movement for Black Lives say the Biden-Harris administration has warmed up to them — to a point.

Phil Scott and two top administration officials were tested Tuesday for the virus that causes COVID-19 and again tested negative. ____CORRECTIONSThe Vermont Department of Corrections says eight new cases of COVID-19 have been detected in corrections staff at two prisons and one probation and parole office. There have been no new cases reported among prison inmates. ____THE NUMBERSVermont reported 115 new cases of the coronavirus on Tuesday for a statewide total since the pandemic began of 11,285. The seven-day rolling average of daily new cases in Vermont did not increase over the past two weeks, going from 172.14 new cases per day on Jan. 11 to 135 new cases per day on Jan. 25.

The international community considers both areas to be occupied territory, and the Palestinians seek them as parts of a future independent state. Story continuesMills said peace can’t be imposed on either side and stressed that progress and an ultimate solution require the participation and agreement of Israelis and Palestinians. “In order to advance these objectives, the Biden administration will restore credible U.S. engagement with Palestinians as well as Israelis,” he said. “This will involve renewing U.S. relations with the Palestinian leadership and Palestinian people,” Mills said. The Trump administration closed the office of the Palestine Liberation Organization in Washington in September 2018, effectively shutting down the Palestinians’ diplomatic mission to the United States.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on January 3. Erin Scott-Pool/GettyGOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene repeatedly expressed support for assassinating powerful Democrats, CNN reported Tuesday. In 2018, Greene wrote on Facebook that "the stage is being set" to hang Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia repeatedly expressed support for assassinating leading Democrats, CNN's KFile reported Tuesday. Greene also expressed support for other Facebook comments that called for the execution of FBI agents, CNN said.

Donald Trump left Washington DC almost a week ago, but he continues to cast a long shadow over the Republican Party in Congress. After the vote Rand Paul, who pushed for the dismissal, crowed that the impeachment article delivered by the House on Monday was "dead on arrival". The rest contend that presidents can't face impeachment trials once they've left office. They'll also point out that while there is no historical precedent for such proceedings on the presidential level, a cabinet secretary in the 19th Century faced a Senate impeachment trial on corruption charges even after he resigned from office. During the impeachment debate in the House of Representatives two weeks ago, McCarthy said Trump "bears responsibility for Wednesday's attack by mob rioters" and recommended that he be formally censured by the chamber.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, focused on Putin’s response to Biden’s proposal to extend the last remaining U.S.-Russia arms control treaty. Former President Donald Trump's administration had withdrawn from two arms control treaties with Russia and had been prepared to let New START lapse. Before he spoke to Putin, Biden also called NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to pledge U.S. commitment to the decades-old alliance founded as a bulwark against Russian aggression. Biden’s team has already reacted strongly to the crackdown on the protests, in which more than 3,700 people were arrested across Russia, including more than 1,400 in Moscow. Just from the public accounts, Biden's discussion with Putin appeared diametrically opposed to Trump's relationship with the Russian president.

Vladimir Putin and Joe BidenUS President Joe Biden has warned Russian leader Vladimir Putin about election meddling in their first call as counterparts, the White House says. Mr Biden later appeared at the White House to sign four executive orders aimed at addressing what he called US systemic racism. I believe the vast majority of Democrats, Republicans and Independents share these values and want us to act as well," said Mr Biden. Mr Biden also directed the Department of Housing and Urban Development to take steps to eradicate racism from housing policy. Mr Biden also signed a directive rejecting coronavirus-related discrimination against the Asian-American and Pacific Islander communities.

The usher button, as it is formally known, is not gone, even if it is no longer used to summon Diet Cokes, a White House official tells Politico. The White House official "unfortunately wouldn't say what Biden will use the button for," Politico's Daniel Lippman writes, suggesting Biden might summon Orange Gatorade and not the obvious answer, ice cream — or, let's get real, coffee. In any case, it is not the placement of the button that matters, of course, but how you use it. And Biden will presumably know better than to order ice cream treats during a top-secret national security briefing. More stories from theweek.comSarah Huckabee Sanders' shameless campaign for governorChuck Schumer tried to unseat Susan Collins, and now it's personalDemocrats are getting Chuck Grassleyed

Members of the National Guard resting in the visitor center of the U.S. Capitol, Jan. 13, 2021. Story continues“I felt like I got a lot of support from friends and mentors for protecting democracy,” the guardsman said. “As people of color, we’ve had a long history of servicing the country and protecting this country. Members of the National Guard at the Capitol Building on Jan. 11, 2021. (Kent Nishimura/Los Angeles Times via Getty Images)“I really felt that I was there to protect democracy,” the guardsman said.

At least six members of the organization have now been charged in connection with the riot, including one of its top-ranking leaders, Joseph Biggs. Several members of both organizations have already been charged in connection with the Capitol attack, including three defendants who stand accused of the most severe conspiracy allegations leveled so far. Investigators involved in the Capitol attack have also focused their attention on the chairman of the Proud Boys, Enrique Tarrio. On the day of the attack, Tarrio took to Parler, calling members of the Proud Boys who took part in it “revolutionaries” and urging them not to leave. House Democrats have accused the former president of inciting the riot, which led to the deaths of five people, including one Capitol Police officer.

MADISON, Wis. — A priest who livestreamed exorcisms aimed at rooting out what he, former President Donald Trump and some Trump supporters have falsely claimed was widespread voting fraud in the presidential election has left a Roman Catholic diocese in Wisconsin. The Diocese of Madison said it and the Rev. Zuhlsdorf will relocate from the diocese ”to pursue other opportunities,” the diocese said in a statement earlier this month. Zuhlsdorf claimed he had permission from Madison Bishop Donald Hying to conduct the exorcisms. Hying said, however, that he didn’t give Zuhlsdorf permission to conduct exorcisms related to “partisan political activity,” but rather approved an exorcism for “alleviation from the scourge of the coronavirus pandemic.”Recordings of Zuhlsdorf’s exorcisms have since been removed from YouTube, the Wisconsin State Journal reported.

Should the next Hamilton County treasurer be the next county treasurer? That's the solution Democrat Jill Schiller has proposed to solve the upcoming vacancy when the current Hamilton County treasurer, Republican Robert Goering, steps down Feb. 11 to become a judge. Hamilton County Republicans are looking to appoint someone to fill the seat for about six months before Schiller takes the job. The current Republican treasurer, Goering, won a race for judge on the Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas, a term that starts Feb. 11. Hamilton County Republicans have 45 days from Feb. 11 to appoint a replacement, according to state law.

The board of the Trump Plaza condominium voted unanimously last week to change the legal name of the 32-story, twin-tower complex in West Palm Beach, the Palm Beach Post reported. Units at Trump Plaza start around $1 million and top out at over $4 million. “The Trump brand is damaged, so rebranding the complex is a wise move,” said Burt Minkoff, a Palm Beach real estate agent with Douglas Elliman Real Estate. Trump Plaza signs on the roofs were removed in 2017 as part of a renovation, and residents voted last February not to replace them. Trump Plaza signs at street level were removed in June in the wake of protests against police violence following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

Biden’s COVID-19 aid package includes money for vaccine distribution, school reopenings and $1,400 direct payments to households and gradually boosts the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour over five years. The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus of more than 50 House lawmakers met virtually Tuesday with top administration officials on the virus aid and economic recovery package. The bipartisan senators assembled privately again Monday evening. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters earlier Tuesday that Biden is still looking to negotiate on an aid package, while putting a priority on acting swiftly before aid lapses in March. Collins said Tuesday that the White House made good on its commitment to deliver a more detailed accounting of the proposed expenditure.

Joseph Kennedy III has found his next political gig — helping Democrats turn out the vote. Fresh out of Congress and undeterred by his double-digit U.S. Senate primary loss to incumbent U.S. Sen. Edward Markey, the former 4th Congressional District representative is refocusing his political efforts on his new “Groundwork Project” that aims to help Democrats broaden their base in Massachusetts and beyond. “For decades, the Democratic Party has under-resourced, under-valued, and under-recognized the importance of local political infrastructure and year-round grassroots organizing,” Kennedy wrote in materials prepared for supporters that were obtained by the Herald. “Groundwork will build on these relationships and support groups fighting in those communities to more equitably distribute power in Massachusetts,” according to a project description being circulated to supporters. To support his effort, the 4 MA PAC Kennedy launched as a freshman congressman filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission on Tuesday to rebrand as the Groundwork Project PAC.

CLAIM: Troops in Washington turned their backs on President Joe Biden’s motorcade as it passed on its way to his inauguration at the U.S. Capitol. “Many in the military turned their backs to Biden’s motorcade,” claimed one tweet with more than 3,000 likes that shared the footage. More than 26,000 Guard members from around the country were brought in to beef up security for the inauguration in the wake of the violent riots at the Capitol. The AP confirmed with the National Guard Bureau that Guard members had their backs turned to monitor all possible threats, in keeping with safety protocol. Some are facing out to ensure the safety of all,” said Darla Torres, a spokeswoman for the National Guard Bureau.

WASHINGTON (AP) — All but five Senate Republicans voted in favor of an effort to dismiss Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial on Tuesday, making clear a conviction of the former president for “incitement of insurrection” after the deadly Capitol siege on Jan. 6 is unlikely. While the Republicans did not succeed in ending the trial before it began, the test vote made clear that Trump still has enormous sway over his party as he becomes the first former president to be tried for impeachment. Many Republicans have criticized Trump's role in the attack — before which he told his supporters to “fight like hell” to overturn his defeat — but most of them have rushed to defend him in the trial. “I think this was indicative of where a lot of people’s heads are," said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. 2 Republican in the Senate, after the vote.

The leaders of the General Assembly finance committees are laying the groundwork now for a hard look at Virginia tax policy — particularly how the state taxes income — for possible action as early as next year after election of a new governor and House of Delegates. Senate Finance Chairwoman Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, said Tuesday that she is forming a special joint subcommittee to look at the state’s income tax and whether to make it more progressive by tying tax rates more closely to how much income people earn. On the other side of the assembly, House Finance Chairwoman Vivian Watts, D-Fairfax, is pushing for a detailed study of Virginia’s income tax by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission — over the objection of Republicans who hope to win back the governor’s office and House majority in elections in November. The study resolution, which the House approved 55-40 on Wednesday, would give JLARC until the end of 2022 to complete its work and report to the assembly at the beginning of its session in 2023. Watts said the two efforts should “dovetail,” with preliminary conclusions from the subcommittee by the next session, followed by more detailed recommendations after JLARC completes its work.

“There was deference made in the committee [to] freedom of speech, and even though freedom of speech is not absolute — you can’t yell ‘fire’ in a theater — there was some deference made to that,” he said. He also said he “gave her an opportunity on this floor to offer an apology and condemn the unacceptable actions” on Jan. 6. In a speech to the Senate on Friday, Chase sought to clarify her comments about the rally and apologized to anyone offended by her defense of the Constitution. “What she did, I think, in my opinion fell far short,” said Bell, who added that “many others” in the chamber share his view. Morrissey did not vote on the resolution last week that stripped Chase from her sole committee assignment.

Bell also noted that Chase had not testified on the original resolution before the committee, but sent a message asking for more time just before the vote. He also said he "gave her an opportunity on this floor to offer an apology and condemn the unacceptable actions on January 6th." In a speech to the Senate on Friday, Chase sought to clarify her comments about the rally and apologized to anyone offended by her defense of the Constitution. “What she did, I think, in my opinion fell far short," Bell said, adding that "many others" in the chamber share his view. Morrissey did not vote on the resolution last week that stripped Chase from her sole committee assignment.

Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, has reintroduced a constitutional amendment that would impose term limits on members of Congress. If passed, the amendment would limit U.S. senators to two six-year terms and members of the House of Representatives to three two-year terms. "The rise of political careerism in today's Congress is a sharp departure from what the Founders intended for our federal governing bodies," Cruz said. As I have done in the past, I urge my colleagues to submit this constitutional amendment to the states for speedy ratification." Under the amendment, terms beginning before its passage would not count toward a representative's term limit.

Forty-five Senate Republicans backed a failed effort on Tuesday to halt former U.S. President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, in a show of party unity that some cited as a clear sign he will not be convicted of inciting insurrection at the Capitol. The vote came after the senators had been sworn in as jurors for the impeachment trial. There is a debate among scholars over whether the Senate can hold a trial for Trump now that he has left office. But no Senate Republicans have said definitively that they plan to vote to convict him. First elected to the chamber in 1974, Leahy, 80, is the most senior Democrat in the chamber and holds the title of Senate president pro tempore.

In separate hearings, a federal magistrate judge in Nashville had ordered them released to home confinement. Prosecutors opposed the release, and at their request, the judge stayed his order until it could be reviewed by the District of Columbia court. Both Munchel and Eisenhart are charged with violent entry and disorderly conduct on the Capitol grounds, conspiracy and civil disorder. Prosecutors say the two wore tactical and bulletproof vests in the Capitol and Munchel carried a stun gun. Later, while walking through the Capitol, Munchel spots plastic handcuffs and says, 'Zipties.

Donald Trump was cultivated as a Russian asset more than 40 years ago which exploded into a decades-long 'relationship' of mutual benefit to both Russia and Trump, a shocking new book claims. A new book claims Donald Trump was cultivated as a Russian asset more than 40 years ago and that exploded into a decades long 'relationship' of mutual benefit to both Russia and Trump. Donald Trump and Tamir Sapir at the Trump Soho Launch on September 19, 2007 in New York City. It was a world of unimaginable decadence – gorgeous young women, private planes, spectacular residences – and sex with young girls. Trump and Putin pictured in 2017Enraged, Epstein never spoke to Trump again but showed around photos of Trump with topless young girls and one photo with semen stained pants.

The government has strenuously denied allegations that Somali troops were sent to battlefields in Tigray, where Ethiopian federal troops have been fighting with regional forces since November. There are reports everywhere that those taken to Eritrea were sent to fight in Ethiopia, and that some had died." Information minister Osman Abukar Dubbe on January 19 said "there were no Somali troops fighting in Tigray, and no such request made by the Ethiopian government", describing reports to the contrary as "propaganda". A military official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told AFP that some recruits were sent to Eritrea for training "but these reports about Somali soldiers sent to Tigray are baseless". Ethiopia last week denied the presence of Somali troops in Tigray, and continued to dismiss witness accounts of Eritrean involvement in the conflict.

NATIONALNorth Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during the first plenary meeting of the eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party in Pyongyang on Jan. 10, 2021, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA-Yonhap)North Korea's official newspaper on Wednesday stressed the importance of admitting flaws and fixing them at the right time as the country steps up efforts to carry out key policy goals unveiled in a rare party meeting earlier this month. "Revolutionaries must strictly stay away from praising one's own accomplishments and drifting into indolence, which is equal to giving up their struggle for the revolution," the Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the North's ruling party, said in an editorial. "During the meeting, Kim criticized officials for drafting economic goals without factoring in realistic conditions in its five-year economic plan and being "engrossed in subjective desires. (Yonhap)Related Stories

NATIONALMinistry of Foreign Affairs (Yonhap)The deputy nuke envoys of South Korea and Russia held phone talks to discuss the latest developments on North Korea, including the recent key party congress, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday.Lee Moon-hee, director-general for North Korean nuclear affairs at Seoul's foreign ministry, and his Russian counterpart, Oleg Burmistrov, shared assessments on the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula, including the eighth congress of the Workers' Party that ended earlier this month, the ministry said.They also discussed joint efforts for cooperation in advancing the process toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the settlement of permanent peace, the ministry said.In the phone talks, Lee also asked Burmistrov to visit Seoul for deeper consultation on the peninsula issues. Burmistrov, in turn, thanked Lee for the invitation and hoped for further cooperation in the peninsula issues at the UN and international levels, according to the ministry.

NATIONALSouth Korean President Moon Jae-in (Left) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in their summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in December, 2019. (Yonhap)Chinese President Xi Jinping has expressed his active support for Seoul's initiative to denuclearize the Korean Peninsula, calling the efforts in line with the common interests of both countries, according to Cheong Wa Dae on Wednesday.It said Xi delivered the comments during his phone talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday.During the talks, Moon said he hopes Seoul and Beijing can work together to open a trilateral summit between the two countries along with Japan. Xi replied by saying China will strengthen cooperation with South Korea to open the summit at the earliest date, according to Cheong Wa Dae.Seoul had planned to host the annual summit, held in turns in the three countries, last year, but was unable to do so apparently due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation.The two leaders also agreed that bilateral cooperation on coronavirus control turned out to be effective. Xi said he supports Moon's vision of creating a Northeast Asian cooperative body on public health.Xi also said he was aware of South Korea's plan to begin public coronavirus vaccination next month and expressed hope that Seoul's vaccination program could play a key role in the global fight against the pandemic.Cheong Wa Dae announced Tuesday after the phone talks that Xi expressed hope for an "early visit" to South Korea, as soon as conditions are created.Xi was quoted as saying that Beijing makes much of Seoul's role for a "political resolution" to the North Korea issue, while describing the Korean Peninsula situation as "stable in general."

NATIONALForeign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (center) attends a National Security Council meeting at Cheong Wa Dae last Thursday. (Yonhap)Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed Wednesday that the North Korean nuclear issue is an urgent matter that the two countries should work closely to resolve.They shared the understanding in their first phone talks that came just hours after Blinken officially took office as the country's top diplomat following the Senate confirmation on his nomination. "The two ministers shared the understanding that the North Korean nuclear issue is a matter that should be dealt urgently with under the Biden administration as well, and agreed to consult closely to resolve the issue," the foreign ministry said in a press release.Blinken said during his Senate hearing that Washington will review its "entire approach and policy" toward North Korea and come up with a strategy through close consultations with Seoul and other allies.In the phone talks, Kang also welcomed the inauguration of Blinken, who has a deep understanding about the bilateral alliance and the Korean Peninsula issues, and held out expectations for further development of the alliance during her time in office, the ministry said.They also vowed to enhance cooperation in tackling global challenges like climate change and the coronavirus pandemic, according to Kang's office.

This file photo shows an accommodation for conscientious objectors on alternative military service at the Daejeon Correctional Institution in the central South Korean city. (Yonhap)A conscientious objector, now carrying out his alternative military service as a prison staff member under the current law after refusing to enlist for religious reasons, has filed a constitutional appeal contending that the alternative military service law is unconstitutional due to its punitive nature, judicial officials said Wednesday. According to the officials, the conscientious objector, who began his alternative military service at a local prison last year, filed the petition with the Constitutional Court on Monday, saying that the alternative service act violates the freedom of conscience and the rights to happiness and equality. It is the first time that a constitutional petition has been filed in relation to the alternative service law. Discussions on the alternative military service began after the Constitutional Court, while upholding the criminalization of conscientious objection, ruled in June 2018 that not allowing alternative measures for military service objectors does not conform to the Constitution.

Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha (center) attends a National Security Council meeting at Cheong Wa Dae last Thursday. (Yonhap)Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha and new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken agreed Wednesday that the North Korean nuclear issue is an urgent matter that the two countries should work closely to resolve. They shared the understanding in their first phone talks that came just hours after Blinken officially took office as the country's top diplomat following the Senate confirmation on his nomination. "The two ministers shared the understanding that the North Korean nuclear issue is a matter that should be dealt urgently with under the Biden administration as well, and agreed to consult closely to resolve the issue," the foreign ministry said in a press release. They also vowed to enhance cooperation in tackling global challenges like climate change and the coronavirus pandemic, according to Kang's office.

Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Yonhap)The deputy nuke envoys of South Korea and Russia held phone talks to discuss the latest developments on North Korea, including the recent key party congress, Seoul's foreign ministry said Wednesday. Lee Moon-hee, director-general for North Korean nuclear affairs at Seoul's foreign ministry, and his Russian counterpart, Oleg Burmistrov, shared assessments on the recent situation on the Korean Peninsula, including the eighth congress of the Workers' Party that ended earlier this month, the ministry said. They also discussed joint efforts for cooperation in advancing the process toward the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the settlement of permanent peace, the ministry said. In the phone talks, Lee also asked Burmistrov to visit Seoul for deeper consultation on the peninsula issues. Burmistrov, in turn, thanked Lee for the invitation and hoped for further cooperation in the peninsula issues at the UN and international levels, according to the ministry.

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un speaks during the first plenary meeting of the eighth Central Committee of the Workers' Party in Pyongyang on Jan. 10, 2021, in this photo released by the North's official Korean Central News Agency. (KCNA-Yonhap)North Korea's official newspaper on Wednesday stressed the importance of admitting flaws and fixing them at the right time as the country steps up efforts to carry out key policy goals unveiled in a rare party meeting earlier this month. "Our revolution can only move a step higher when we boldly admit any bias and flaws blocking the path to progress and overcome them at the right time," the paper said. The North has often self-praised its accomplishments while downplaying flaws, but it has recently been pointing out its own problems and acknowledging the failure to reach economic goals. During the meeting, Kim criticized officials for drafting economic goals without factoring in realistic conditions in its five-year economic plan and being "engrossed in subjective desires."

South Korean President Moon Jae-in (Left) shakes hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping in their summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing in December, 2019. It said Xi delivered the comments during his phone talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday. During the talks, Moon said he hopes Seoul and Beijing can work together to open a trilateral summit between the two countries along with Japan. Xi replied by saying China will strengthen cooperation with South Korea to open the summit at the earliest date, according to Cheong Wa Dae. Cheong Wa Dae announced Tuesday after the phone talks that Xi expressed hope for an "early visit" to South Korea, as soon as conditions are created.

Mike Dunleavy has removed Anchorage Assembly member Jamie Allard from the Alaska Commission on Human Rights over comments she made on social media regarding a pair of Nazi-themed vanity license plates that surfaced in Anchorage recently. Dunleavy felt it was in the best interest of the board to remove her effective immediately.”Allard was appointed to the commission in 2019. Allard, a conservative Anchorage Assembly member representing Eagle River and Chugiak. The comments led another Assembly member, Meg Zalatel, to post that she was “disappointed” in what she called Allard’s defense of the words. “Etymology doesn’t change the racist and dangerous history in which the words Fuhrer and 3rd Reich came into popular English usage.”Allard did not immediately respond to attempts to contact her for this story.

(CNN) A federal judge's action Tuesday preventing President Joe Biden's 100-day pause in deportations demonstrated the land mines that await the new administration in the nation's courts. Trump Justice Department lawyers routinely were able to convince the Supreme Court to lift those injunctions, although that sometimes took months. The conservative Supreme Court majority may not be as sympathetic to Biden's ventures as it was to Trump's. Dispute over pause in deportationsThe pause on deportations, announced immediately after Biden's inauguration, reflects the desire to dismantle Trump's anti-immigrant practices. Regarding his imposition of a nationwide order, he wrote that the "100-day pause plainly affects national immigration policy, which demands uniformity."

Ron Klain Ron KlainSkepticism reigns as Biden, McConnell begin new era Sunday shows preview: All eyes on Biden administration to tackle coronavirus Presidential Twitter account follows Chrissy Teigen MORE, President Biden’s chief of staff, said schools should get more federal aid before they reopen amid a debate over starting in-class learning. When asked on CNN what schools would need to reopen safely, Klain simply responded, “Money.”“That’s why the president of the United States sent a plan to Congress even before he took office, to make the investments you need to make the schools safe,” he said. ADVERTISEMENT“President Biden has sent a plan to Congress that would make sure that a majority of our schools can be open within 100 days. Sadly, it costs money.”White House chief of staff Ron Klain says “out of 40 days” the Trump administration had “one day with a million” Covid-19 vaccinations. The remarks come as states across the country explore ways to safely reopen classrooms amid a national spike in coronavirus cases.

"Today, I'm directing federal agencies to combat the resurgence of xenophobia, particularly against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, that we've seen skyrocket during this pandemic. "I've asked the Department of Justice to strengthen its partnership with the Asian American Pacific Islander community to prevent those hate crimes. According to a United Nations report released in October, hate crimes against Asian Americans in the U.S. have reached an "alarming" level. The report cites more than 1,800 racist incidents against Asian Americans from March to May 2020The executive action is one of several signed by the president this week addressing systemic racism. CAA is based in the heart of San Francisco's Chinatown, where there's a large concentration of Asian Americans.

“Definitely systemic racism – just, you know, he was a native,” says his niece. So when Brenda Lucki, the RCMP commissioner, denied systemic racism in the force, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau stepped in. In an Angus Reid poll from the fall, 63% say that systemic racism is a serious problem for the RCMP. He says he never witnessed systemic racism, in the sense of one that permeates an entire organization. They also want more funding for their own resources to lessen dependence on the RCMP, Mr. Ginnish says.

Lawsuit filed after off-duty officer, 'mob' allegedly tried to force way into Black teen's home Two people have been criminally charged for the incident. Monica Shepard eventually forced Kita out of the doorway and the crowd dispersed, according to the suit. The missing girl was eventually found safe, according to the New Hanover and Pender County District Attorney's office. The suit also contends that the Pender County Sheriff’s Office did not do enough to investigate the mob or the incident. "We filed this lawsuit today to make it clear that Black people should not be subject to living in fear at the hands of an armed white mob without accountability."

The Capitol Police have a 2-square-mile jurisdiction, with exclusive jurisdiction over roughly one-half-square-mile in downtown Washington. But after the riot on Jan. 6, USA TODAY gathered as much data about the Capitol Police budget as it could find. Most recently, Congress increased the Capitol Police budget from $462 million to $516 million. U.S. Capitol Police Department budget over timeThe Capitol Police is budgeted to spend a little less money this year than the Metropolitan Police Department, which oversees the vast majority of the city of Washington, excluding federal buildings. Read more: 'It was a horrible scene': Capitol Police have a $500M budget.

Dive into the background of the nine impeachment managers Speaker Nancy Pelosi chose to present the case to the Senate in the second impeachment trial of former President Donald J. Trump, and a common thread will emerge: deep experience in the law. All equipped with law degrees, the nine managers include Democrats who served as notable characters in Mr. Trump’s first impeachment trial and some who have spoken out forcefully against Mr. Trump in the aftermath of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. Previous impeachment trials have shown that the role of impeachment manager can bring valuable recognition to representatives and elevate their political profile. Lindsey Graham, now the senior senator from South Carolina, served as an impeachment manager in the Senate trial of President Bill Clinton. Representative Adam Schiff of California served as the lead manager in Mr. Trump’s first impeachment trial.

Two days before the attack, Chief Sund asked that the Capitol Police Board declare a state of emergency and authorize a request to secure National Guard support. As the crowd became an increasing threat to the Capitol on Jan. 6, Chief Sund asked for more help from federal agencies and law enforcement agencies in the area. “He also lobbied the board for authorization to bring in the National Guard, but he was not granted authorization for over an hour,” Chief Pittman said. The third member, J. Brett Blanton, the architect of the Capitol, is still on the board. Mr. Blanton said in a statement that he was not included in any discussions about deploying the National Guard.

Former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has joined a conservative think tank in Washington DC — a move that could possibly set him up for a 2024 presidential run. Pompeo, who is now a private citizen, took a job with Hudson Institute, a non-profit based in DC, where he would have the opportunity to engage in policy discussions and be close to major donors of the Republican Party, Axios reported Tuesday. “I am pleased to be joining Hudson Institute and look forward to contributing to its mission of promoting American leadership and global engagement,” Pompeo said in a statement to the outlet. Hudson is popular among conservatives who view it as a platform for policy proposals. The day after President Biden’s inauguration, Pompeo tweeted, “1,384 days,” which happened to be the amount of days until the 2024 presidential election.

ADVirginia’s largest school system — Fairfax County Public Schools, whose 186,000 students are currently learning online-only — began administering vaccine shots to teachers in mid-January. And a handful of governors, citing their desire to reopen schools, are prioritizing teachers beyond what the CDC recommends. Kate Brown (D) is delivering the vaccine to teachers first, before the elderly and people with preexisting health conditions. “As for teachers, as supply increases we’ll eventually get there.”Elsewhere, officials are asking teachers to return to school without vaccinations — and that, too, is spurring protest. In the capital, Mayor Muriel E. Bowser (D) has stressed that the timing of school staff vaccinations will not be linked to reopening.

Newsweek is facing intense backlash after the publication retroactively edited a 2015 report about Army Ranger School in order to support Salon's reporting on Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark. The Republican is a Ranger School graduate and was awarded the coveted Ranger tab upon graduation. Cotton has never claimed to have served in the 75th Ranger Regiment, a Special Operations unit separate from Ranger School. "The same 2015 Newsweek story ... acknowledged that 'the 75th Ranger Regiment does not allow female Rangers.'" asked Cotton's colleague Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, a former member of the Iowa Army National Guard.

Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., told Fox News Tuesday that he will not seek the Republican nomination for president in 2024. "I've always said, Maria, that I'm not running for president," Hawley told "Fox News Primetime" host Maria Bartiromo. There's a lot of work to do, and I look forward to continuing to fight for Missouri every day that I can." Some Democrats have called for the resignation of Hawley and Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Fla., and some submitted an ethics complaint against him. Hawley, 41, was the first senator to promise to object to President Biden’s win in Congress.

A longtime California Democratic lawmaker badly bungled the Pledge of Allegiance during a Los Angeles city council meeting Tuesday morning, video shows. When asked by Council President Nury Martinez to lead the chamber in the Pledge of Allegiance Tuesday morning at a virtual meeting, Council Member Kevin de Leon replied, "It would be an honor." But then, according to the video, he said this:MICHIGAN TEACHER LEADS NEIGHBORHOOD KIDS IN PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AMID CORONAVIVRUS CLOSURES"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…undervisible, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America…for which it stands. The words to the Pledge are as follows:"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." He previously served in the state Senate as its Democratic majority leader, and in the state Assembly.

California state officials have said that at least $11.4 billion in unemployment benefits have been mistakenly paid out to fraudulent cases since March 2020, with some estimates ranging as high as $31 billion. Continue Reading BelowRoughly 10 percent of all unemployment claims paid out in California during the coronavirus pandemic -- which forced statewide shutdowns and unemployment increases -- have involved fraud. Another 17 percent of the total unemployment claims are under investigation, reported the Los Angeles Times. California has paid $114 billion in 19 million unemployment claims, since the onslaught of the pandemic. The state’s unemployment claims system, the Pandemic Unemployment Assistance Program -- which allows for unemployment benefits for those who would not normally qualify, such as independent contractors – has reportedly shown previous indications of fraud, including as recently as last week.

Dr. Ashish Jha told CNBC's "The News with Shepard Smith" Tuesday that U.S. states could start making decisions about opening up businesses and economies earlier than predicted if enough people get vaccinated. Biden said he will have the government by 200 million more doses of the vaccine — half from Pfizer and half from Moderna. Johnson & Johnson is expecting results on its Covid vaccine by early next week. That means the Johnson & Johnson results could reveal important information about how vaccines designed around the original Covid strain work against the emerging ones. Dr. Bruce Becker, adjunct professor of behavioral medicine and social science at Brown University's School of Public Health, told "The News with Shepard Smith" that the Johnson & Johnson vaccine requires only one shot and, therefore, immunity is achieved in 14 to 21 days.

SEE NEW POSTSCDC officials say schools can re-open during pandemic — but precautions are crucial Schools should reopen as soon as possible if social distancing and mask-wearing can be maintained to keep in-person learning safe, health officials with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a study published Tuesday. The research, published online in the journal JAMA, provides a framework for how to open schools safely while limiting the spread of Covid-19. Research supports "a path forward to maintain or return primarily or fully to in-person instructional delivery," according to the study. The recommendations provide some clarity about a contentious topic and offer much-needed guidance for local officials, school administrators and parents. But opening schools safely also requires controlling the virus's spread within communities, the scientists said.

SEE NEW POSTS'Snake oil' salesman in Washington state administered untested Covid-19 vaccines, officials say A man in Washington state was arrested on federal charges for allegedly administering an unauthorized Covid-19 vaccine to patients. Research supports "a path forward to maintain or return primarily or fully to in-person instructional delivery," according to the study. The recommendations provide some clarity about a contentious topic and offer much-needed guidance for local officials, school administrators and parents. “According to the plea agreement, Brandenburg stated that he was skeptical of vaccines in general and the Moderna vaccine specifically,” the department said Tuesday. A new shipment of 120,000 doses is expected to arrive in the Tar Heel State on Wednesday, though officials are lobbying for a boost.

SEE NEW POSTSWisconsin pharmacist who tried to destroy 500 Covid vaccine doses agrees to plead guilty The Wisconsin hospital pharmacist who was fired and arrested for intentionally trying to destroy hundreds of Covid-19 vaccine doses has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges, authorities said on Tuesday. The charges carry with them a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison for each count. “According to the plea agreement, Brandenburg stated that he was skeptical of vaccines in general and the Moderna vaccine specifically,” the department said Tuesday. Share this -North Carolina running out of vaccine doses North Carolina has doled out 95 percent of its allotted coronavirus vaccines, with demand now on the verge of eclipsing scheduled supply, officials said Tuesday. Boris Johnson ‘deeply sorry’ as U.K. Covid toll passes 100,000 Jan. 26, 2021 00:48 The prime minister's remarks came as the United Kingdom topped 100,000 deaths from the coronavirus.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Top U.S. Capitol security officials apologized on Tuesday for “failings” during the deadly attack on the building by followers of then-President Donald Trump in a bid to stop the certification of Joe Biden’s election victory. About one dozen officials from agencies including the FBI, National Guard, Justice Department and U.S. Capitol Police briefed House appropriators who are looking into the events of Jan. 6. She and Timothy Blodgett, the acting U.S. House of Representatives’ sergeant at arms, said security officials were working to do more to boost protection of the U.S. Capitol, the seat of government. In the weeks since the attack, security has been heightened around the Capitol and in Washington in general, with eight-foot-high fencing surrounding the Capitol’s perimeter and National Guard troops brought in for Biden’s inauguration on Jan. 20. Some 5,000 National Guard troops will remain in Washington through mid-March.

Russian President Vladimir Putin attends a meeting with university students via a video conference call at a state residence in Zavidovo, Russia January 25, 2021. Sputnik/Mikhail Klimentyev/Kremlin via REUTERS ATTENTION EDITORS - THIS IMAGE WAS PROVIDED BY A THIRD PARTY. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russian President Vladimir Putin will address the World Economic Forum (WEF) by video conference on Wednesday, Russian news agencies cited his spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying on Monday. The event, which gathers business chiefs, political thinkers and state leaders, is being held online due to COVID-19. The Interfax news agency said Putin had not taken part in a similar event since 2009 when he was Russian prime minister.

FILE PHOTO: Pump jacks operate in front of a drilling rig in an oil field in Midland, Texas U.S. August 22, 2018. Tribal lands, which host significant reserves of oil and gas, were not included in the Interior Department order, and will not be included in Biden’s executive order either, according to the sources. Biden’s other climate-related executive orders on Wednesday will include beefing up the use of climate science in policy decisions and setting up an international summit on climate change for April, according to a memo seen by Reuters last week. Advocates for the pause say the federal leasing system is in need of reforms to address its impact on climate change and ensure that taxpayers get fair returns. Of the 26 million acres of federal lands under lease, about half are currently producing oil and gas, according to Bureau of Land Management data from fiscal year 2019.

“It’s a totally different issue as far as I’m concerned,” Republican Senator Rob Portman told reporters. The senators voted after being sworn in as jurors for the impeachment trial. ‘MATTER OF POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE’Fellow Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who has been critical of Trump, rejected Paul’s move. But no Senate Republicans have said definitively that they plan to vote to convict him. First elected to the chamber in 1974, Leahy is the most senior Democrat in the chamber and holds the title of Senate president pro tempore.

Biden and other critics accused Trump of pursuing policies built around “white grievance” in a nation where the white population is declining by percentage. Black voters proved essential to Biden first in winning his party’s presidential nomination and then in defeating Trump in the Nov. 3 election. Trump condemned those protests and attempted to use them to stoke fear and unease among voters during the presidential campaign. On the day he took office last week, Biden signed an executive order establishing a government-wide initiative to address racial inequity and systemic racism in federal policies, laws and programs. “Housing is a right in America and home ownership is an essential tool to wealth creation and to be passed down to generations,” Biden said.

New York Times Justice Department reporter Katie Benner joins Chris Hayes to discuss her reporting that Trump weighed ousting the acting attorney general to install a loyalist in his place instead.

“This is something that unfolded on January 6th, directed at a family member of mine. This individual apparently had secured a phone number, secured an address, made it appear as though they were prepared to proceed violently,” says Rep. Hakeem Jeffries discussing the man charged with threatening his family.

Black Lives Matter Movement Co-Founder Patrisse Cullors calls President Biden’s executive orders on racial equity ‘a nod’ but "there's so much more to do and we will push this administration to do it."

WASHINGTON — Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy was taken to a hospital Tuesday evening after not feeling well and later sent home after tests, a spokesman said, hours after the 80-year-old Democrat began presiding over the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. Leahy, who’d been in his Capitol office, was taken to George Washington University Hospital “out of an abundance of caution” after being examined by Congress’ attending physician, Leahy spokesman David Carle said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)On Monday Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell dropped his fight over the filibuster. But the party can't celebrate quite yet with a political battle over Biden's coronavirus stimulus package on the horizon. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Majority Leader Chuck Schumer's weeklong fight over the filibuster is over - but another, larger battle over President Joe Biden's legislative agenda looms on the horizon. The New York Democrat said the party is now able to assume proper control of the Senate and get to work on Biden's promises. If Democrats decide to heed McConnell's ultimatums, they must then work with Republicans to deliver economic relief to Americans.

Jared Siskin/Patrick McMullan via Getty ImagesGhislaine Maxwell's lawyers made an attempt to have the charges against her dismissed. Ghislaine Maxwell made an audacious big to convince a judge to drop the charges against her Monday night. Story continuesIn the latest round of filings, Maxwell's attorneys say the charges should be dropped against her altogether. They also argue that the charges Maxwell faces for perjury should take place in a separate trial. Maxwell allegedly lied about her history with Epstein in a deposition for a separate defamation lawsuit with Virginia Giuffre, who's accused Maxwell, Epstein, and others of sexual abuse.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) and 45 members of his caucus backed an effort to declare the impeachment trial of former President Trump “unconstitutional” on Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer then moved to table Paul’s point of order, blocking the effort to preemptively invalidate the impeachment trial. At the close of the impeachment trial itself, at least 17 Republican senators would need to join Democrats in order to convict Trump. Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that McConnell voted to declare Trump’s impeachment trial unconstitutional. In fact, the minority leader voted against a motion to table Senator Paul’s point of order, which deems the trial unconstitutional.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy was taken to a hospital Tuesday evening after not feeling well and later sent home after tests, a spokesman said, hours after the 80-year-old Democrat began presiding over the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. Leahy, who'd been in his Capitol office, was taken to George Washington University Hospital “out of an abundance of caution" after being examined by Congress' attending physician, Leahy spokesman David Carle said. The senator underwent an evaluation before his release from the hospital and looks forward to returning to work, Carle said. Leahy had commenced his role of overseeing Trump's latest impeachment trial by swearing in his fellow lawmakers. Chief Justice John Roberts presided over Trump's first impeachment trial a year ago when Trump was still president.

By Aamer Madhani | Associated PressPresident Joe Biden on Tuesday ordered the Department of Justice to end its reliance on private prisons and acknowledge the central role government has played in implementing discriminatory housing policies. Biden directed the Department of Housing and Urban Development in a memorandum to take steps to promote equitable housing policy. The order to end the reliance on privately-run prisons directs the attorney general not to renew Justice Department contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities. The move will effectively revert the Justice Department to the same posture it held at the end of the Obama administration. GEO Group, a private company that operates federal prisons, called the Biden order “a solution in search of a problem.

Advertisement“Help them be able to build and strengthen,” Kennedy said, “so that we can drive the change that we want to see together. Kennedy, 40, said the idea for the project started to gel in the months after he lost the Sept. 1 Democratic primary. “What you don’t see is enough of the institutional support to build the lasting change.”That includes Massachusetts, Kennedy said. “You can’t tell me that we are living up to the values that people project on, or expect, in Massachusetts. The group is aiming to formulate an action plan for 2021 over the next four to six weeks, according to an aide.

Biden, who held a conference call with governors on vaccine distribution Tuesday, said he heard that complaint loud and clear. He also pledged to provide three-week forecasts, showing states how much vaccine they can expect to receive, to improve planning. Rules for vaccine distribution have varied from county to county, adding to the confusion. The site is meant to improve what has at times been unreliable data on vaccine distribution. “California labeled these workers essential when the state wanted their service through the pandemic,” SEIU California President Bob Schoonover said in a statement.

Phoenix City Councilmember Sal DiCiccio is quarantining after testing positive for COVID-19 earlier this month, according to his chief of staff, Sam Stone. DiCiccio is the latest in a slew of metro-area officials who tested positive for the virus in the last two months. Chandler Mayor Kevin Hartke tested positive last week, while Mesa City Councilmember Francisco Heredia and then-Gilbert Town Councilmember Jared Taylor contracted the virus in early January. DiCiccio took a rapid COVID-19 test on Jan. 14 and tested positive, according to Stone, and has been quarantining since in a separate room from his family. DiCiccio has been attending City Council meetings virtually and has not come into contact with other council members, Stone said.

Republican lawmakers are trying to block Arizona's clean-energy rules by prohibiting energy regulators from forcing electric companies to shift to 100% carbon-free energy. The measures, one of which passed the House Natural Resources, Energy and Water Committee on Tuesday, prohibit any new rules passed since June 2020 from taking effect. In November, with three Republicans in support, the Arizona Corporation Commission passed rules that update the Renewable Energy Standard and Tariff that was implemented by an all-Republican commission in 2006. Kennedy said letting the lawmakers take away their authority over energy rules was improper. Márquez Peterson said that there was no conflict until and if the bills passed commissioners could "address it at that time."

After being stifled by the coronavirus outbreak and a series of lawsuits from jilted applicants, state officials confirmed Tuesday that the process for issuing the next round of highly sought-after cannabis licenses is again moving forward. Rickey Hendon, a former state senator up for three dispensary licenses, has remained a vocal critic of how the application process has played out. Greene said some applicants who were sent deficiency notices last year were issued disqualification notices because they either failed to respond within the required window or responded inaccurately. But Allen claimed she never received a deficiency notice, echoing a claim previously made by some dispensary applicants. “This is just more of the same thing,” said Allen, a hemp grower who founded the Illinois Minority Cannabis Council.

The new president has been under pressure from state and local elected officials for more COVID vaccines. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)WASHINGTON — Under pressure from state and local elected officials for more COVID vaccines, President Joe Biden said he’s topping his plan to deliver 100 million vaccines to the American public in his first 100 days with an additional 500 million doses by the end of summer. Before Tuesday’s announcement, the Biden administration had planned to deploy 400 million doses of the coronavirus vaccine by the end of the summer in total. But today, the administration added 200 million more doses to that figure, for a total of 600 million. On Monday, Biden said that he would like to surpass his goal of overseeing 1 million vaccine shots per day to 1.5 million per day.

While the Republicans did not succeed in ending the trial before it began, the test vote made clear that Trump still has enormous sway over his party as he becomes the first former president to be tried for impeachment. Many Republicans have criticized Trump’s role in the attack — before which he told his supporters to “fight like hell” to overturn his defeat — but most of them have rushed to defend him in the trial.

A man who fraudulently obtained and sold 2,400 oxycodone pills by having others pass fake prescriptions at pharmacies in the Portland metro area was sentenced Tuesday to four years in federal prison. Chase Adam Conway, 36, would send women into the pharmacies to fill the bogus prescriptions, getting 90 to 180 pills at a time, according to prosecutors. Conway also obtained medical prescription paper, used his printer to place the doctors’ names and their DEA registration numbers on the prescriptions and provided his so-called “runners” with phony IDs to secure the pills. Conway was in charge of this ring of people he sent into these pharmacies across the metropolitan area,” Strickland said. Once Conway was sober, he said he realized that “all I was doing I was enabling their addiction.

Portland Police Chief Chuck Lovell wants to dedicate a patrol team of uniformed officers to respond to shootings and work closely with an on-call investigative team to stem the city’s significant increase in gun violence. Asked this week if he’s going to bring back the Gun Violence Reduction Team, Wheeler responded emphatically: “GVRT is gone. Commissioner Jo Ann Hardesty, who pushed for the disbanding of the Gun Violence Reduction Team, is opposed to any recreation of the team. Hardesty contends the specialized gun violence unit didn’t reduce shootings and that its dissolution hasn’t been a factor in the increase in gun violence. State Sen. Lew Frederick, D-Portland, said at a recent Portland community meeting that the gun violence crisis needs immediate attention.

Independent investigators spent nine months looking into allegations that Hernandez sexually harassed multiple women at the Capitol. They concluded Hernandez likely pressured the two women with whom he had brief, consensual intimate relationships in 2017, to restart those relationships. Hernandez kept pursuing her through the fall, sending anonymous gifts and asking to spend time together, investigators found. In their report, investigators pointed out the harassment rule that could apply but did not weigh in on whether Hernandez violated it. None of the women worked for Hernandez or any other lawmaker during the period covered by the investigation.

Jerry Martin Smith said in court Tuesday that he had no hard feelings against a Clermont County Sheriff's deputy who shot him four times, nearly killing him last spring. Common Pleas Court of Clermont County Judge Victor Haddad sentenced Smith to 16 months in prison including time already served on a jury's fourth-degree assault conviction. "You are the most unrepentant person I have ever met in my judicial career," Haddad said at one point. The judge said two witnesses testified at trial that Smith charged Deputy Carly Gebhardt twice and then grabbed her arm. Smith said he blamed the man who called 911 since the deputy was told there was a man with a gun.

The Satanic Temple is giving the city hell, filing suit in an effort to force the City Council to allow them to give the opening blessing for a meeting. The Satanic Temple — or TST , as it refers to itself — argues in a federal lawsuit that the temple’s members should be allowed to give the opening prayer for the City Council, just as various other religions do to start off weekly meetings. Instead, the Salem-based satanists say the city told them to get the hell out, literally. The Satanic Temple hasn’t been afraid of trying to bedevil organizations in the past, bringing actions against municipalities around the country, and more locally, suing Salem last year over billboards. Greaves said the temple is “non-theistic” — they don’t literally believe in and worship Satan — but that doesn’t mean they don’t take their religion seriously.

Updated 4 times AlertMePresident Joe Biden on Tuesday ordered the Department of Justice to end its reliance on private prisons and acknowledge the central role government has played in implementing discriminatory housing policies. In remarks before signing the order, Biden said the U.S. government needs to change “its whole approach” on the issue of racial equity. The order to end the reliance on privately-run prisons directs the attorney general not to renew Justice Department contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities. The move will effectively revert the Justice Department to the same posture it held at the end of the Obama administration. GEO Group, a private company that operates federal prisons, called the Biden order “a solution in search of a problem.

National ReviewSenate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) and 45 members of his caucus backed an effort to declare the impeachment trial of former President Trump “unconstitutional” on Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer then moved to table Paul’s point of order, blocking the effort to preemptively invalidate the impeachment trial. At the close of the impeachment trial itself, at least 17 Republican senators would need to join Democrats in order to convict Trump. Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that McConnell voted to declare Trump’s impeachment trial unconstitutional. In fact, the minority leader voted against a motion to table Senator Paul’s point of order, which deems the trial unconstitutional.

President Joe Biden signalled a tougher US stance on Russia Tuesday in his first phone call with President Vladimir Putin, raising concerns over human rights and "aggression" against Ukraine, but welcoming cooperation on a new nuclear weapons accord. The Kremlin said that in their call Putin and Biden "expressed satisfaction" over talks and the Russian leader later submitted a bill to parliament on the five-year extension. Story continues- Human rights -However, Biden also diverged strongly with Trump on his approach to Russia's human rights record and Ukraine. Biden confronted Putin on both issues. The Kremlin made no mention of these complaints in its readout of the call, saying instead that Putin urged "normalization of relations."

Biden, calling the push a “wartime effort,” said the administration was working to buy an additional 100 million doses of each of the two approved coronavirus vaccines. He acknowledged that states in recent weeks have been left guessing how much vaccine they will have from one week to the next. "Lives are at stake.”He promised a roughly 16% boost in deliveries to states over the next three weeks. The administration said it plans to buy another 100 million doses each from drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna to ensure it has enough vaccine for the long term. Even more vaccine could be available if federal scientists approve a single-dose shot from Johnson & Johnson, which is expected to seek emergency authorization in the coming weeks.

Supporters of the Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny have called for more rallies across the country this weekend to demand his release after he was put in pre-trial detention over parole violations he denies. ??54-?????? ????????? ?????, ??????? ???????? ?? ???????????? ???? ? ????? ? ???? ???????? 23 ?????? ? ?????-??????????, ???????, ??? ?? ???????? ????????, ?? ????? ??? ??????? ? ???????? ?????????? ? ???????????? ???????. pic.twitter.com/ODUWHSkWVN — ????? ?????? (@novaya_gazeta) January 25, 2021In the video, Yudina is seen falling back on the pavement after being kicked, banging her head hard. Although the officer visited her in hospital and apologised, Yudina told Novaya Gazeta newspaper on Tuesday that she wanted justice. She added that one of their goals was to stop president Vladimir Putin’s party, United Russia, in the upcoming parliamentary balloting.

U.S. President Joe Biden and President Vladimir Putin of Russia avoided a renewed arms race Tuesday when they formally agreed to extend the last remaining nuclear arms treaty between their countries. Biden, in contrast, had repeatedly called Putin a “KGB thug” and mocked Trump as “Putin’s puppy.” Putin, for his part, had chastised Biden for his “sharp anti-Russian” language. But there was an immediate need: The New START agreement, which limited the size of the two countries’ strategic nuclear arsenals, expires Feb. 5. U.S. President Joe Biden and President Vladimir Putin of Russia, pictured in 2011, formally agreed to extend the last remaining nuclear arms treaty between their countries on Tuesday. Putin and Biden “voiced their satisfaction” about diplomatic steps taken earlier in the day to exercise the extension, the Kremlin said.

Prof Neil Ferguson told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "Had we acted both earlier and with greater stringency back in September when we first saw case numbers going up, and had a policy of keeping case numbers at a reasonably low levels, then I think a lot of the deaths we've seen, not all by any means, but a lot of the deaths we've seen in the last four or five months, could have been avoided."

Amanda Gorman confirmed that she hopes to be at another inauguration sometime in the future — but as the president taking the oath of office. Gorman previously became the youngest inaugural poet in American history after she recited her poem The Hill We Climb to mark Joe Biden's swearing in as the 46th president of the United States. DeGeneres got on the topic after asking Gorman if she had 'always wanted to be president of the United States.' She got the idea after one of her math teachers jokingly suggested she run for president because she was a 'very passionate, feisty girl.' Although her sister though she might run for president in 25 years, Gorman has previously said she wanted to run in 2036, so that was the year DeGeneres chose for the shirts and smaller campaign items.

President Joe Biden has phoned Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time in office – and raised a series of sensitive issues that stand between the U.S. and Russia. President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, the White House said. 'He called President Putin this afternoon with the intent of discussing our willingness to extent New START for five years. President Trump made his infamous July 25 call to Ukrainian President Volodym Zelensky seeking an investigation of the Bidens. 'President Joseph R. Biden, Jr. spoke today with President Vladimir Putin of Russia.

In response, Greene did not denounce the suggestion of execution and instead wrote, “Stage is being set. The offices of Pelosi and House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) did not respond to requests for comment about Greene’s Facebook activity or the campaign for her removal. Instead, Greene wrote that she has had “teams of people manage my pages.”“Many posts have been liked," she said. It’s unclear whether Greene changed her privacy settings or Facebook removed the posts. Before she ran for office, Greene circulated a petition to have Pelosi impeached.

The Biden administration has resumed regular press briefings, and no journalist so far has made more of an impression in the Brady Briefing Room than Fox News’s Peter Doocy. One early indication that a more open dialogue was coming back could be found in Doocy’s exchange with White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki over coronavirus travel bans. As Mr Biden was walking away, after signing executive orders aimed at addressing racial inequity, Doocy shouted out, "Mr President, what did you talk to Vladimir Putin about?" Doocy was named White House correspondent for the network earlier this month. He’s the son of Steve Doocy, co-host of Fox News’s Fox and Friends, perhaps President Trump’s favourite show on the network before he eventually disavowed Fox for reporting that Mr Biden was winning the election.

DeLauro told CNN. After participating in the hearing, Rep. Matt Cartwright, a Pennsylvania Democrat, told CNN, "It was only by pure dumb luck that elected officials, staffers and more Capitol policemen were not killed." Cartwright said he directly asked those briefing the committee whether concerns about how security preparations would look was a reason for not acting. "I got no denials, and I got a couple of confirmations," he told CNN, declining to say who specifically confirmed that optics were a motive behind inaction. Officers have told CNN that they felt abandoned and betrayed by the department's leadership.

The White House will include an ASL interpreter at all press briefings moving forward. Last August, the National Association of the Deaf sued the Trump Administration for failing to provide an ASL interpreter. White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced Monday that the Biden Administration's daily press briefings will include an American Sign Language interpreter as part of the team's accessibility and inclusion efforts. "Their willingness to provide ASL interpreters at all press briefings should now be the standard for accessibility going forward for all presidential administrations." As of Tuesday, the White House had added captioning in addition to the interpreter, according to Rosenblum.

While Russian government officials and Kremlin-controlled state media condemned domestic protests, pro-Trump rioting in the United States was met with their total approval. Russian state media dutifully repeated Trump’s lies about a “stolen election” and disseminated information about the planned “Stop the Steal” rally on January 6th. Inspired by Trump’s false claims and rhetoric, generously amplified by the Russian state media, Russian speakers in the United States took part in the unsuccessful uprising that deeply wounded U.S. democracy—and subsequently delivered an infusion of fresh disinformation right back to Moscow, as “eyewitnesses” and first-hand participants. While domestic protests were widely condemned, events in the United States were viewed and portrayed through an entirely different lens, especially in light of the backchannel between the pro-Trump rioters and the Russian state media. Is it possible for us to expel those U.S. officials who maintain contacts with the organizers of the protests?” Zakharova coyly replied: “I’d rather not answer, we’re only getting started.”

Campaign launches for tough immigration bill fightImmigrant rights activists energized by a new Democratic administration and majorities on Capitol Hill are gearing up for a fresh political battle to help push through President Joe Biden's proposed immigration bill.

“All travelers should have a Plan B,” Mr. Brownlee said. “We urge folks to postpone their trips if they’re able.”Just one week into his administration, Mr. Biden is facing a convergence of crises. The vaccine rollout he inherited from his predecessor has been rocky, leaving Americans angry and frustrated over vaccination appointments canceled for lack of supply. At the same time, new, more infectious variants of the virus are making vaccination all the more urgent. “We’re not in a race with the variants — the variants have already won,” warned Michael T. Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.

The suspect in a brutal Oregon hammer attack was set free after his victim refused to testify at his assault trial without a mask, according to a report Tuesday. “It’s the second time I’m going through this trial,” Fawcett told the outlet. But the conviction was overturned when the US Supreme Court in April overturned an Oregon law that did not require unanimous jury verdicts for convictions. The retrial was due to begin this week, but Sanchez and his attorneys asserted his right to face his accuser face-to-face — demanding she testify without a mask. Rosemary Brewer, executive director of the Oregon Crime Victims Law Center, said the ruling jeopardizes the rights of crime victims in the state.

She told lawmakers that the department had more than 1,200 officers on site when the attack began. The D.C. police had also requested help from sister agencies in Maryland and Virginia, putting them on standby, as well as 300 members of the National Guard. ADSome lawmakers bristled at the idea that protecting the Capitol from rioters would require turning the Capitol into a partial fortress. Ryan said that in the short term, he supported keeping thousands of National Guard soldiers stationed at the building because Capitol Police needs time to recover. The new Capitol security profile, he said, “will basically be that next step, past the 9/11 adjustments that were made .

President Joe Biden: The First 100 DaysThe latestBiden issuing pandemic plan that aims to expand access to testing and vaccines, reopen schoolsBiden administration to pause deportations, curtail arrestsOn his first day, Biden signs executive orders to reverse Trump’s policiesThe Biden White House: A look inside Biden’s Oval OfficeThe inaugurationJoseph R. Biden Jr. is sworn in as the 46th President of the United States | Read his speechAmerica’s first Youth Poet Laureate: Amanda Gorman reads poem ‘The Hill We Climb’ at inaugurationWorld reaction: The world is watching as Biden assumes office, Trump era endsThe administrationThe Biden Cabinet: Who has been selected and who is in the runningBiden appointees: Who is filling key rolesThe Biden AgendaRead more about his plans on: Immigration | Foreign policy | Health care | Climate change | Social and Criminal Justice | Economic policy | Tech policyShow More

A determination in favor of the Yemeni petitioners by the commission, an independent body affiliated with the Organization of American States, would not necessarily force changes in U.S. military operations or policy. But it could have symbolic importance in highlighting the unintended outcome of counterterrorism operations. ADAD“A decision from the [commission] concluding that the U.S. is responsible for a particular human rights violation carries legal and moral weight internationally. The other six actions occurred during the Trump administration, when the pace of counterterrorism operations accelerated in Yemen as the new president loosened operational rules and new intelligence fueled additional operations. From 2017 to 2019, the military reported more than 160 strikes, the majority of which Reprieve said were carried out in Bayda.

So he said he did not hesitate to defend Trump, a job that lawyers at big, high-profile law firms apparently did not want. It’s all about the rule of law in the Constitution,” Bowers told The Washington Post in his first interview since Trump picked him. ADHe declined to discuss his legal strategy, whether Trump might appear at the trial, or whether he would call witnesses. Bowers said he is, as a Trump aide described him, the “anchor tenant” of the legal team. Bowers was described by associates as a serious-minded, taciturn lawyer who bears little resemblance to the bombastic, publicity-seeking lawyers who have sometimes represented Trump.

But more cynical sources think Portman scanned the Ohio political landscape and didn’t like the view. Portman, said one operative, “is a George Bush, Mitt Romney Republican, and he understands that’s not where the Ohio GOP is.”According to more than one observer, the Ohio GOP is now Jordan country. Among those competing for Trump’s base could be Rep. Warren Davidson and state Republican Chair Jane Timken. Meanwhile, Republicans staking out more moderate ground might include Rep. Steve Stivers, state Sen. Matt Dolan and Lt. Gov. The Ohio Democratic bench isn’t deep.

Andrew Cuomo said on Tuesday that President Biden’s plan to ramp up distribution of the COVID-19 vaccine was "not enough," as the Empire State faces a shortage of doses. Cuomo told the outlet that his state "is basically out of vaccine today – we're functionally out." New York State has administered 1.2 million first doses, or 93% of the doses it has received. The problem, Cuomo said, is supply of the doses, which is not controlled by the federal government, but rather by Pfizer and Moderna. Indoor dining in New York City, however, is not expected to be affected by forthcoming announcements this week.

The serious risks associated with COVID-19 far exceed the side effects of the "very effective, very safe" vaccine, Fox News medical contributor Dr. Marc Siegel said Tuesday. Siegel addressed vaccine hesitancy in an appearance on "Special Report," taking aim at those who spread misinformation on a basis of "fear and lack of science." "This is a very effective, very safe vaccine, and Dr. Fauci's right, it's the way out of this pandemic," Siegel said. The vaccine hesitancy, the anti-vaxxers, is an antiscientific movement." WHAT'S DRIVING CORONAVIRUS VACCINE HESITANCY IN THE US?

President Biden called Russia President Vladimir Putin Tuesday, to address a wide range of topics on national security, including the renewal of a nuclear arms treaty, bounties placed on U.S. soldiers in Afghanistan and interference in the 2020 election. The White House confirmed Tuesday that both the U.S. and Russia will "work urgently" to complete the extension by the Feb. 5 deadline. But Biden hit other tough topics in his first phone call with Putin since entering the White House last week. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPBiden also addressed concerns regarding reports by the intelligence community of a repeat in Russian interference in the 2020 general election. The president’s decision to address election interference with Putin is a direct contrast to Trump’s response of reports of election interference in 2016 -- at one point suggesting he trusted Putin's word over U.S. intelligence officials.

President Biden said Tuesday that masks are "the best defense against COVID-19" in the coming months as his administration acquires a sufficient supply of vaccine to innoculate the majority of Americans. Biden revealed the federal government will purchase an additional 100 million doses of vaccine each from Pfizer and Moderna as part of its effort to ramp up the unprecedented vaccination drive. "The brutal truth is, it’s going to take months before we can the majority of Americans vaccinated – months," Biden said. "In the next few months, masks, not vaccines, are the best defense against COVID-19. Biden issued an executive order on his first day in office requiring masks to be worn on federal land.

Washington Post fact-checker Glenn Kessler responded Tuesday to criticism of his intended coverage of the Biden administration after his paper intensely monitored President Trump's claims. "We welcome all suggestions for fact checks. Now that it's a Democrat president, they are fact checking Senators and saying they have no plans to fact check a President," Miller accused the Post. We base fact checks on actual policy statements, not headlines." He also shared a Washington Post headline that quoted Biden saying, "I will not ban fracking.

A man convicted of torturing, sexually assaulting and murdering a 17-year-old boy in 2001 will walk free because California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom took "no action" to prevent his release, according to the prosecutors who locked him up. In 2006, he was convicted of second-degree murder, torture and kidnapping and sentenced to 18 years to life in prison. According to California’s parole board, he’s had a "stellar disciplinary record" and has expressed remorse. The board once again recommended his release in October 2020, according to Ward.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailFmr. deputy assistant attorney general on whether a Trump can still be impeachedTom Dupree, former deputy assistant attorney general, joins Shep Smith to talk about whether the Senate will convict former President Trump. He says the fact that Sen. Leahy is presiding over the impeachment trial instead of a Supreme Court justice makes the process more difficult.

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailHow the Democrats could use reconciliation to push Biden's agendaNBC News Correspondent Sahil Kapur discusses how the Democrats could use budget reconciliation to push legislation through an evenly divided Senate.

Former President Donald Trump slammed Section 230 during a speech in Dalton, Georgia on Jan 4. "We have to get rid of Section 230, we have to get rid of Section 230, or you are not going to have a country very long," Trump said. One side includes free speech advocates who believe "that all social media sites and all protections should only apply essentially if there's no content moderation." Then there are those who believe the opposite, that Section 230 "should cover any form of content moderation, regardless of who originated those policies and who are putting those policies in effect." The adtech expert explained that reforming Section 230 will likely be focused on bridging the gap between content moderation and the First Amendment.

SEE NEW POSTSWisconsin pharmacist who tried to destroy 500 Covid vaccine doses agrees to plead guilty The Wisconsin hospital pharmacist who was fired and arrested for intentionally trying to destroy hundreds of Covid-19 vaccine doses has agreed to plead guilty to federal charges, authorities said on Tuesday. “According to the plea agreement, Brandenburg stated that he was skeptical of vaccines in general and the Moderna vaccine specifically,” the department said Tuesday. Share this -North Carolina running out of vaccine doses North Carolina has doled out 95 percent of its allotted coronavirus vaccines, with demand now on the verge of eclipsing scheduled supply, officials said Tuesday. A new shipment of 120,000 doses is expected to arrive in the Tar Heel State on Wednesday, though officials are lobbying for a boost. California will also launch a new online portal, called My Turn, where residents can make vaccine appointments and check their eligibility status.

(Reuters) - As the 76th anniversary on Wednesday of the liberation of Auschwitz draws closer, Bill Harvey, who survived the concentration camp, said he was shocked by displays of anti-Semitism during the U.S. Capitol riot. Harvey said he lost 37 members of his family at Auschwitz, including his mother and his father. The images also shocked people like Michele Gold, who runs the Holocaust Museum L.A. and whose mother was a Holocaust survivor. After the war, Harvey said, he never expected to see a swastika again. “We never want the history of the Holocaust to be a footnote in the history books,” said Gold.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Democrats in the U.S. Senate will move forward on U.S. President Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief plan without Republican support if necessary, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer said on Tuesday. “We want to work with our Republican colleagues to advance this legislation in a bipartisan way,” Schumer said on the Senate floor. Senate Republicans bemoaned that possibility. “I think that would be not just a big mistake at this stage at the start of this administration, but irresponsible given what’s happened with the COVID-19 package. In 2019, only three Republicans voted for a similar minimum wage hike in the House.

Goya’s board of directors has reportedly voted to censure CEO Robert Unanue after he made unfounded public claims about voter fraud during the 2020 presidential election. On Inauguration Day on Wednesday, Unanue appeared on Fox Business and said that President Joe Biden’s win was “unverified” and spoke of a coming war. "I think this is mission accomplished, by the union, the partnership, the conglomerate of social media, big tech, big media and big government for ushering in the dawn of a new world order,” Unanue said on air. Goya doesn’t publicly disclose financial earnings so it’s unclear what impact Unanue’s comments had on the company. But a source who spoke with CNN Business said the comments “imperiled the future of the company” and that “sales growth is less than it was” before his comments.

Senior Advisor to the President and director of the White House Office of Public Engagement Cedric Richmond tells Joy Reid that Congress needs to act on covid relief, calling it a matter of emergency for the country.

But several sources close to the White House confirmed that the document — even though clearly a draft — was authentic. But it also shows a White House making a gamble of sorts: that it can apply traditional communication methods to a nontraditional media climate. President Joe Biden signs executives orders related to his racial equity agenda in the State Dining Room of the White House. And that’s precisely what makes this strategy a rather complex one for Biden’s team. In turn, the White House press corps became intoxicated — and, perhaps, overdosed a few times — on his quick-change programming.

Some 81 percent of detained immigrants in ICE’s custody were held in for-profit detention centers as of January 2020, prior to the coronavirus pandemic, according to an ACLU report. Progressive groups have long fought the use of private facilities, arguing that the companies that run them are able to evade accountability and leave immigrants in terrible and deteriorating conditions. “This is great development & important step,” Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) tweeted after Biden signed the executive order on private prisons. We must include ending for-profit immigrant detention & examine the use of for-profit services that squeeze families of the incarcerated in public prisons, too.”The question of phasing out for-profit facilities detaining migrants came up at the end of former President Barack Obama’s administration. The report also found that ICE should look for ways to “reduce reliance on detention in county jails.”

Federal Judge Blocks Biden's 100-Day Deportation MoratoriumEnlarge this image toggle caption Lynne Sladky/AP Lynne Sladky/APTexas Attorney General Ken Paxton requested a temporary restraining order against the Department of Homeland Security last Friday. A federal judge granted the request Tuesday, suspending President Biden's 100-day deportation ban. Judge Drew Tipton agreed with Paxton that there was a chance the state would "suffer imminent and irreparable harm" if a temporary restraining order wasn't granted. It declared a review of policies and practices throughout the department and its components — including a 100-day pause on the removal of certain noncitizens. "The moratorium indicated a very clear understanding of the impact the Trump Administration has had on immigration over the last four years," Loweree said.

FRANKFORT, Ky. (AP) — Kentucky’s governor praised the federal government’s promise of increased COVID-19 vaccine deliveries as he announced the state’s first confirmed cases of a coronavirus variant Tuesday. The first two cases of the more aggressive virus strain that has been seen in the United Kingdom have been confirmed in Kentucky, Gov. The governor spoke only briefly about the new variant, saying on social media that “we knew we’d see it” in Kentucky. Meanwhile, the Democratic governor welcomed the announcement that Kentucky will receive larger supplies of COVID-19 vaccines along with other states. On Tuesday, the state reported 2,714 new COVID-19 cases, up from a week ago but down from two weeks earlier, the governor said.

FILE - In this June 15, 2020, file photo, South Korean army soldiers patrol along the barbed-wire fence in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea. A North Korean diplomat who served as the country's acting ambassador to Kuwait has defected to South Korea, according to South Korean lawmakers who were briefed by Seoul's spy agency on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)FILE - In this June 15, 2020, file photo, South Korean army soldiers patrol along the barbed-wire fence in Paju, South Korea, near the border with North Korea. (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon, File)SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A North Korean diplomat who served as the country’s acting ambassador to Kuwait has defected to South Korea, according to South Korean lawmakers who were briefed by Seoul’s spy agency. More than 33,000 North Koreans have defected to South Korea since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War, according to South Korean government records.

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Tuesday rescinded a Trump-era memo that established a “zero tolerance” enforcement policy for migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, which resulted in thousands of family separations. While the rescinding of “zero tolerance” is in part symbolic, it undoes the Trump administration’s massively unpopular policy responsible for the separation of more than 5,500 children from their parents at the U.S-Mexico border. Most families have not been prosecuted under zero tolerance since 2018, when the separations were halted, though separations have continued on a smaller scale. Then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions, along with Trump and other top leaders in his administration, were bent on curbing immigration. The “zero tolerance” policy was one of several increasingly restrictive policies aimed at discouraging migrants from coming to the Southern border.

Rep. Katie Porter said she isn't sure if Sen. Ted Cruz thinks at all. "I struggle to understand how he thinks, if [thinking] is what goes on in his head at all," she told Vanity Fair. I'm not going to put myself in the shoes of people like Ted Cruz," Porter told Vanity Fair of impeachment. "I struggle to understand how he thinks, if [thinking] is what goes on in his head at all." She is even getting an "OVRSITE" vanity plate on her minivan, she told Vanity Fair.

The firings follow the forced resignation of former President Donald Trump’s handpicked choice to lead USAGM only two hours after Joe Biden took office on Wednesday. Trump’s USAGM chief Michael Pack had been accused by Democrats and others of trying to turn VOA and its sister networks into pro-Trump propaganda machines. Pack had appointed all of those who were fired on Thursday and Friday to their posts only in December. Pack had not been required to submit his resignation as his three-year position was created by Congress and not limited by the length of a particular administration. VOA was founded during World War II and its congressional charter requires it to present independent news and information to international audiences.

Biden says Trump impeachment ‘has to happen’ although he admits it could affect his agenda (Samuel Corum/Getty Image)President Joe Biden has reportedly indicated he does not believe Democrats in the US Senate will have enough votes to convict Donald Trump during the former president’s second impeachment trial. “I think it has to happen,” Mr Biden said about the impeachment trial on Monday, suggesting there could be “a worse effect if it didn’t happen” in the weeks ahead. At least 17 Republican senators would have to join the 50 Democrats in the Senate for a conviction against Mr Trump. Mr Biden added: “The Senate has changed since I was there, but it hasn’t changed that much." "We all want to put this awful chapter in our nation’s history behind us,” Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D—NY) said on Friday while announcing the Senate impeachment trial schedule.

"Forty-five votes means the impeachment trial is dead on arrival." "It's a totally different issue as far as I'm concerned," Republican Senator Rob Portman told reporters. The senators voted after being sworn in as jurors for the impeachment trial. But no Senate Republicans have said definitively that they plan to vote to convict him. First elected to the chamber in 1974, Leahy is the most senior Democrat in the chamber and holds the title of Senate president pro tempore.

Engagement in public life in the U.S. has always carried risk, with public officials of both parties, journalists and even movie stars often the target of death threats and intimidation. Story continuesOver the past few years, scholars and experts have warned that the U.S. is at risk of widespread political violence and democratic instability. By the end of 2020, experts were raising the alarm that the country was spinning toward political violence. The Republican Party – with a few notable exceptions – embraced Donald Trump’s post-election rhetoric and the massive lie about election fraud. Republican Party members defend their actions by claiming they are legitimate efforts to protect democracy.

Gavin Newsom’s announcement Monday that the state would shift vaccine priority to an age-based eligibility structure has sparked concerns from groups representing some essential workers and disabled people who may now have to wait longer to get vaccinated. Before Newsom’s announcement, the state intended to give priority to several new groups after California is done vaccinating people 65 and older, including residents in incarcerated and homeless settings, essential workers and individuals with underlying health conditions. Further details will be released as the state progresses through the current Phase 1B Tier 1, a spokesperson for the California Department of Public Health told The Times. Advertisement“It sounds like it’s more bad news for people with disabilities,” Andy Imparato of Disability Rights California said following Ghaly’s briefing. In the letter, Executive Director Michael Pimentel noted that transit agencies have helped transport other essential workers to and from their jobs as well as low-income and older residents who need to get supplies and go to medical appointments.

Sen. Patrick Leahy was hospitalized out of an abundance of caution on Wednesday, just hours after presiding over the opening of former President Donald Trump’s second impeachment trial. Roberts, who oversaw Trump’s first impeachment trial, chose not to oversee the proceedings because Trump is no longer in office, according to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Sen. Dick Durbin, the second highest-ranking Senate Democrat, told CNN’s Wolf Blitzer on Tuesday evening that Leahy could be back in the chamber Wednesday. She says things are going well, so we have all got our fingers crossed he will be back tomorrow.”Leahy’s hospitalization came soon after the impeachment trial began Tuesday afternoon with his swearing in. House impeachment managers, a group of Democratic lawmakers who will act as prosecutors presenting the case against Trump during the trial, delivered the single article of impeachment to the Senate on Monday, which typically triggers a quick start to an impeachment trial.

Two Arizona legislators who went to the U.S. Capitol the day it was stormed by a mob earlier this month will not provide emails or text messages about their travel to Washington, D.C. The Arizona Republic asked the state House of Representatives to provide any such messages from Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley, and then-Rep. Anthony Kern, R-Glendale, under public records laws. But responding through a private attorney, and not the House, the duo said they would not turn over any records that are on their “personal devices,” arguing that these are not public records. A photo from Jan. 6 appears to show Kern on the Capitol steps wearing a coat and tie. However, the lawyer for Finchem and Kern, Alexander Kolodin, described the men as attending a rally as private citizens.

Turning Point Action, a separate but related nonprofit that is the political arm of Turning Point USA, sent seven busloads of people to Washington for the pro-Trump rallies on Jan. 6. Kennedy noted that Justin Olson, a Republican corporation commissioner, is also the chief financial officer for Turning Point USA. Brettler said the leaders of Turning Point USA and Turning Point Action, including Olson, condemned the violence in Washington that left five people dead. In an interview Tuesday, Ryan said Kennedy won't be bullied by Turning Point USA. Neither Brettler nor a spokesperson for Turning Point USA were immediately available Tuesday to comment on how the organization intends to proceed.

A Dallas police officer was arrested Monday on a family-violence assault charge, the department said Tuesday. Keith Huber, a senior corporal who has been with the department since 2002, was arrested by the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office and was taken to jail in Waxahachie, Dallas police said. Huber previously faced a family-violence charge and turned himself in to the Ellis County Sheriff’s Office in 2016, police said at the time. Court records show he was indicted on a felony charge of injury to a child and was accused of hitting a child with a surge protector. Huber was fired from the department in 2017 and had the right to appeal the termination at the time.

Late Tuesday, the presiding officer at the trial, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., was taken to the hospital for observation after not feeling well at his office, spokesman David Carle said in a statement. The vote means the trial on Trump’s impeachment will begin as scheduled the week of Feb. 8. The vote shows that “they’ve got a long ways to go to prove it,” Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst said of House Democrats’ charge. “You’re asking me to vote in a trial that by itself on its own is not constitutionally allowed?” he asked. Instead, Leahy, who serves in the largely ceremonial role of Senate president pro tempore, was sworn in on Tuesday.

Starting next week, the City of Milwaukee will be setting aside Mondays at the Wisconsin Center to provide the COVID-19 vaccine to those who are 65 and older. The city had requested 5,000 doses from the state for the week but received about 2,200, she said. "The Milwaukee Health Department and I want to get as many doses into as many arms as efficiently, as safely and as quickly as possible," Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett said. "That's why we've scaled up the Wisconsin Center vaccination site, and we're ready to handle more people." On Monday, American Family Field had 899 people tested while Northwest Health Center had 279 and Southside Health Center had 157 people tested, he said.

State Rep. Kelly Cassidy and two others interested in the appointment to outgoing state Sen. Heather Steans’ legislative seat will make their case to constituents Tuesday evening at a virtual meeting hosted by a group that has raised concerns that the selection process shuts out voters. Simmons — who like Cassidy and Koziatek is gay — founded Blue Sky Strategies, which focuses on equitable urban planning and anti-racism in public policy. The North Side Democrat jumped into the race the day Steans announced her plans to resign last week. Along with Cassidy, Simmons and Koziatek, the Indivisible chapter will also hear from those who are seeking the appointment to Cassidy’s seat should she ascend to the Senate. Leni Manaa-Hoppenworth, a co-coordinator of the host group, previously told the Chicago Sun-Times the appointment process “leaves behind the voters.”“It shuts out ... people and independent voices,” Manaa-Hoppenworth said.

Coming so soon in Biden’s administration, the action provides a first test of Republican opposition to the White House priorities as well as to the new president’s promise of a “unity” agenda. They have watched Republicans use similar procedural tools to advance their priorities, most recently the Trump administration’s GOP tax cuts. Biden’s COVID-19 aid package includes money for vaccine distribution, school reopenings and $1,400 direct payments to households and gradually boosts the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour over five years. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters earlier Tuesday that Biden is still looking to negotiate on an aid package, while emphasizing that several components of the existing aid will lapse in March. Collins said Tuesday that the White House made good on its commitment to deliver a more detailed accounting of the proposed expenditure.

DALLAS (AP) — A Texas man accused of taking part in the attack on the U.S. Capitol earlier this month while wearing a shirt with a message that stood for “murder the media” was arrested Tuesday, the FBI said. Investigators say DeCarlo, of Burleson, Texas, was seen in photos smoking a cigarette inside the Capitol on Jan. 6. He also claimed to work for MT Media News, which stands for Murder the Media News. In some photos, DeCarlo was seen with Nicholas Ochs, one of the founders of Hawaii's chapter of the Proud Boys, neofascist group. DeCarlo was wearing a shirt and hat that said “MT Media” with his thumbs up, according to the FBI.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Vermont Sen. Patrick Leahy was taken to a hospital Tuesday evening after not feeling well, a spokesman said, hours after the 80-year-old Democrat began presiding over the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. Leahy, who'd been in his Capitol office, was taken to the hospital “out of an abundance of caution" after being examined by Congress' attending physician, Leahy spokesman David Carle said. Leahy had commenced his role of overseeing Trump's latest impeachment trial by swearing in his fellow lawmakers. Leahy is presiding because he is the Senate's president pro tempore, a largely ceremonial post. Chief Justice John Roberts presided over Trump's first impeachment trial a year ago when Trump was still president.

Barely anyone spoke against the proposal to override the special mayoral election — but that didn’t stop the Boston City Council hearing about the matter from including some sharp criticisms about how the process has moved forward. The body held a hearing Tuesday afternoon about City Councilor Ricardo Arroyo’s petition to cancel a prospective special election that could be spurred by Mayor Martin Walsh’s confirmation as President Biden’s Labor secretary before March 5. Arroyo argued that holding four elections in 10 months, as a two-phased special election would bring about, would cause a “serious threat to the health of our residents and communities” during a pandemic. Council staff, researching the matter at Edwards’ request, sent around a legal opinion last week that Janey, as the acting-mayor-in-waiting, and City Councilors Andrea Campbell and Michelle Wu, who are running for mayor, shouldn’t vote or discuss this matter. Janey, though, shared an opinion she received from the State Ethics Commission that said she was able to vote.

In the wake of protests over the election results in Arizona, Republicans on a state Senate panel approved two changes in election laws Thursday that would audit more votes and require automatic recounts in more situations.

Updated 3 times AlertMeHOUSTON — A federal judge on Tuesday barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order sought by Texas, which sued on Friday against a Department of Homeland Security memo that instructed immigration agencies to pause most deportations. While Tipton’s order bars enforcement of a moratorium for 14 days, it does not require deportations to resume at their previous pace. That was a reversal from Trump administration policy that made anyone in the U.S. illegally a priority for deportation. The 100-day moratorium went into effect Friday and applied to almost anyone who entered the U.S. without authorization before November.

.......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... .......... ..........SANTA FE – The 1st Judicial District attorney says that the case of a Santa Fe man charged for his role in an Indigenous Peoples Day rally that turned destructive is essentially over, due to a Santa Fe police officer’s failure to meet court-ordered deadlines. Santa Fe Magistrate Donita Sena ruled Monday that the prosecution can’t call witnesses in the case because an officer failed to provide a witness list on time. As a result, District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies said her office won’t be prosecuting the case. Sunderland’s case had previously been dismissed, and then reinstated, after the Santa Fe Police Department prosecuting officer Jesse Campbell failed to show up for a motion hearing. “This does not say that the names contained within a report are sufficient for defense to know who those witnesses are named,” Sena said.

Vice President Kamala Harris and Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff have received a second dose of Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine. The vice president urged “everyone to take the vaccine when it is your turn.”“It is really pretty painless, and it will save your life,” she said. A bump to the nation’s supply would increase its stockpile to 600 million doses; both vaccines require two doses, several days apart. (AP)Mr Biden also said weekly allocations of vaccine doses will likely increase by 1.4 million doses beginning next week. Initial vaccine rollout was plagued by inconsistencies and insufficient infrastructure in the final weeks of Mr Trump’s term.

According to Ms Ellis, the Biden administration has already shown its commitment to all Americans in a short space of time. "In their first 48 hours they are the most LGBTQ progressive administration we have ever seen," she said.

The already formidable firepower will be boosted with more precision-guided missiles and possibly superfast hypersonic missiles that could travel 1,000 miles. The B-52 is versatile — able to fire long-range missiles and launch satellite-guided mines and bombs — and is the only current U.S. bomber that can be equipped with nuclear-tipped cruise missiles. At maximum strength, SAC had 3,000 nuclear weapons in the air on 15-minute alert, and 182 intercontinental ballistic missiles on B-52s. It later emerged that the population had been so demoralised by the relentless B-52 pounding that their leaders almost threw in the towel. B-52s dropped bombs and propaganda leaflets over Taliban-controlled Afghanistan after the 9/11 terror attacks of 2001.

Greene also liked comments that mentioned executing FBI agents because they were a part of the 'deep state' that was working against Trump. 'She's a traitor to our country, she's guilty of treason,' Greene declared in the clip. Greene has liked comments calling for the 'arrest' of Obama and former Secretary of State John Kerry. Greene has liked comments calling for the 'arrest' of Obama and former Secretary of State John Kerry. The ardent Trump supporter took to her own Twitter account after CNN reached out to her about the Facebook posts, comments and sentiments.

Oil industry groups, however, slammed the move, saying Biden had already eliminated thousands of oil and gas jobs by killing the Keystone XL oil pipeline on his first day in office. The policy is an abrupt about-face from his predecessor Donald Trump who sought to maximize the country's oil, gas and coal output. The pause in onshore drilling is limited to federal lands and does not affect drilling on private lands, which is largely regulated by states. Oil and gas extracted from public lands and waters account for about a quarter of annual U.S. production. Biden's choice to lead the Interior Department, which oversees oil and gas leasing on public lands, is New Mexico Rep. Deb Haaland.

The Justice Department on Tuesday rescinded a Trump-era memo that established a 'zero tolerance' enforcement policy for migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, which resulted in thousands of family separations. The 'zero tolerance' policy meant that any adult caught crossing the border illegally would be prosecuted for illegal entry. Most families have not been prosecuted under zero tolerance since 2018, when the separations were halted, though separations have continued on a smaller scale. The 'zero tolerance' policy was one of several increasingly restrictive policies aimed at discouraging migrants from coming to the Southern border. The watchdog report also found that Sessions and other top officials knew the children would be separated under the policy and encouraged it.

A federal judge in Texas on Tuesday temporarily blocked a move by President Joe Biden to halt the deportation of certain immigrants for a 100-day period, a swift legal setback for his ambitious immigration agenda. The Biden administration is expected to appeal the ruling, which halts the policy while both parties submit briefs on the matter. Court blow: Joe Biden suffered his first defeat in the federal courts with his 100-day deportation moratorium being struck downTrump appointee: Drew Tipton is the federal judge who blocked deportationThe 100-day moratorium went into effect Friday and applied to almost anyone who entered the U.S. without authorization before November. Paxton also said it went against the terms of an enforcement agreement Texas brokered with the Trump administration less than two weeks before Biden took office. Paxton also said it went against the terms of an enforcement agreement Texas brokered with the Trump administration less than two weeks before Biden took office.

Vermont Democratic Sen. Pat Leahy was hospitalized Tuesday just hours after being sworn in to preside over the second impeachment of President Donald Trump. In this image from video, Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, swears in Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the president pro tempore of the Senate, who will preside over the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington. A single Republican, Mitt Romney of Utah, voted for an impeachment article during Trump's first impeachment last year. He told reporters afterward the vote meant 'the impeachment trial is dead on arrival.' Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy is presiding instead of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who sat over Trump's first impeachment trial.

Critics accused Trump of pursuing policies built around "white grievance" in a nation where the white population is declining by percentage. Black voters proved critical to Biden first in winning his party's presidential nomination and then in defeating Trump in the Nov. 3 election. On the day he took office last week, Biden signed an executive order establishing a government-wide initiative to address racial inequity and systemic racism in federal policies, laws and programs. "And the simple truth is: our soul will be troubled as long as systemic racism is allowed to persist. "Housing is a right in America and home ownership is an essential tool to wealth creation and to be passed down to generations," Biden said.

NATIONALFormer US President Donald Trump (AP-Yonhap)WASHINGTON -- Former US President Donald Trump's push to revise the Korea-US FTA may have hurt the countries' alliance, a congressional report said Tuesday, noting the issue may need to be addressed by the Biden administration. The renegotiated FTA went into effect at the start of 2019.The report, however, noted Trump's push for a revised Korea-US FTA may have been driven by an ill-informed objective -- to strike a trade balance. "The Trump administration made trade balances a key metric of the success of US FTAs, yet most economists argue other factors largely determine trade balance outcomes," said the report. "Congress has constitutional authority to regulate foreign commerce, implements FTAs through legislation, and sets US trade negotiating objectives, but the Trump Administration negotiated modifications to KORUS without legislative approval by Congress. "How should President Biden address the Trump Administration import restrictions, which affect trade with South Korea?"

NATIONALSouth Korean President Moon Jae-in (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) (Yonhap)Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed hope for an "early visit" to South Korea, as soon as conditions are created, during his phone talks with President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday night, Cheong Wa Dae said.Moon told Xi that he expects the two countries to continue communication for the Chinese leader's trip here once the COVID-19 situation is stabilized.Xi responded positively, saying he is looking forward to traveling to South Korea and meeting with Moon at an early date as soon as conditions allow, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok.On regional security, Moon requested that China play a constructive role in resolving pending issues via dialogue.Xi said China supports North Korea-US negotiations and inter-Korean talks, Kang said.Xi was quoted as adding that Beijing makes much of Seoul's role for a "political resolution" to the North Korea issue, while describing the Korean Peninsula situation as "stable in general. "He cited North Korea's statement, issued at the latest congress of the Workers' Party, which he regarded as indicating that it has not closed the door for dialogue with the US and South Korea.Xi's message came days after the launch of the Joe Biden administration. Moon is expected to have a phone call with the new US president in the near future.Moon and Xi, meanwhile, declared 2022 as the South Korea-China year of cultural exchange during their first phone conversation in around eight months.The two noted that the neighboring countries will commemorate the 30th anniversary next year of the establishment of their diplomatic ties.And they agreed to come up with a blueprint for the bilateral relationship over the coming three decades via an envisioned joint committee of experts.The leaders pointed out that Seoul and Beijing have maintained close cooperation in the midst of the coronavirus crisis and agreed to boost people-to-people and economic exchang

The Korea-US FTA originally went into effect in 2012, but Seoul agreed to modify the Korea-US FTA in 2018 after Trump threatened to withdraw from the bilateral free trade pact altogether. The report, however, noted Trump's push for a revised Korea-US FTA may have been driven by an ill-informed objective -- to strike a trade balance. "Some analysts worry that trade tensions may influence South Korean views on the alliance and broader bilateral relations," it added. The report noted because such changes primarily required only South Korean regulatory changes, the Trump administration did not require action or approval by Congress. "How should President Biden address the Trump Administration import restrictions, which affect trade with South Korea?"

WORLDUS Secretary of State-designate Antony Blinken is seen speaking at a Senate confirmation hearing in Washington on Jan. 19, 2021, in this AP photo. "Together, we are far better positioned to counter threats posed by Russia, Iran and North Korea and to stand up for democracy and human rights," Blinken said earlier of US allies.He also said the new administration will review the country's "entire approach and policy" toward North Korea and find a way to bring the country back to the negotiating table. "But that starts with consulting closely with our allies and partners, particularly with South Korea and with Japan and others," he has said.North Korea has been staying away from denuclearization talks since leader Kim Jong-un's second meeting with former US President Donald Trump ended without a deal in February 2019. The first Trump-Kim summit was in June 2018.Blinken will likely be sworn in by Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday. Such ceremonies have so far taken place one day after a nominee is confirmed by the Senate.

NATIONALUS Secretary of State Tony Blinken speaks at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Delware on Nov. 24, 2020. (AP-Yonhap)South Korea welcomes the inauguration of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and expects that the alliance with the United States will develop further, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. "Our government welcomes the official inauguration of US Secretary of State Blinken following the Senate approval," ministry spokesperson, Choi Young-sam, said in a commentary. "We expect the South Korea-US alliance to develop further with the inauguration of the new secretary, who has ample experience and excellent leadership with a deep understanding of the bilateral relations and the Korean Peninsula issues," Choi said.Blinken won the Senate confirmation on Tuesday (US time) as the country's new top diplomat in a 78-22 vote, about two months after he was named to lead the State Department.During his Senate hearing, Blinken said the Biden administration will work with traditional allies, such as South Korea, to restore US global leadership.He also said the new administration will review the country's "entire approach and policy" toward North Korea and find a way to bring the country back to the negotiating table in close consultations with Seoul and other allies.

South Korean President Moon Jae-in (L) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) (Yonhap)Chinese President Xi Jinping expressed hope for an "early visit" to South Korea, as soon as conditions are created, during his phone talks with President Moon Jae-in on Tuesday night, Cheong Wa Dae said. Moon told Xi that he expects the two countries to continue communication for the Chinese leader's trip here once the COVID-19 situation is stabilized. Xi responded positively, saying he is looking forward to traveling to South Korea and meeting with Moon at an early date as soon as conditions allow, according to Cheong Wa Dae spokesman Kang Min-seok. In advance of the phone call, Xi sent a congratulatory letter to Moon for his Jan. 24 birthday. Xi was supposed to make an official visit to South Korea in 2020, but it has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

US Secretary of State Tony Blinken speaks at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Delware on Nov. 24, 2020. (AP-Yonhap)South Korea welcomes the inauguration of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and expects that the alliance with the United States will develop further, the foreign ministry said Wednesday. "Our government welcomes the official inauguration of US Secretary of State Blinken following the Senate approval," ministry spokesperson, Choi Young-sam, said in a commentary. Blinken won the Senate confirmation on Tuesday (US time) as the country's new top diplomat in a 78-22 vote, about two months after he was named to lead the State Department. During his Senate hearing, Blinken said the Biden administration will work with traditional allies, such as South Korea, to restore US global leadership.

US Secretary of State-designate Antony Blinken is seen speaking at a Senate confirmation hearing in Washington on Jan. 19, 2021, in this AP photo. (AP-Yonhap)WASHINGTON -- Antony Blinken was expected to take office as the new secretary of state on Tuesday after the Senate confirmed his nomination. The Senate voted 78 to 22 to confirm the former deputy secretary of state as the country's new top diplomat. Blinken underwent a Senate confirmation hearing last Tuesday, the day before Joe Biden took office as president. "But that starts with consulting closely with our allies and partners, particularly with South Korea and with Japan and others," he has said.

Elected officials may not be able to change the hearts and minds of Americans when it comes to racial equity. Racial equality was a key element in Biden's very decision to run in 2020, he has said. The growth of the Black Lives Matter movement after numerous cases of Black people dying in police custody has brought renewed attention to racial discrimination and inequity in criminal justice. But polling shows there are still deep divisions – along both party and racial lines – on matters involving racial justice. Derrick Johnson, president of the NAACP, called Biden's plan "a great initial start," telling MSNBC that Blacks "are taxpaying citizens.

The Rasmussen Reports daily Presidential Tracking Poll, Sponsored by SLANTED from Sharyl Attkisson, for Tuesday shows that 48% of Likely U.S. This gives him a Presidential Approval Index rating of -5. If your organization is interested in a weekly or longer sponsorship of Rasmussen Reports' Daily Presidential Tracking Poll, please send e-mail to info@rasmussenreports.com. To get a sense of longer-term job approval trends for the president, Rasmussen Reports compiles our tracking data on a full month-by-month basis. Daily tracking results are collected via telephone surveys of 500 likely voters per night and reported on a three-day rolling average basis.

Republicans close to former Vice President Mike Pence say they don't know where the former second couple is now living. In 1987, after a trip to see the local Republican kingmaker in Indianapolis, Mike and Karen Pence sold their modest single-family home near Butler University so they could move farther south into Indiana's then-Second Congressional District. Mike Pence and his wife Karen in their 2017 official holiday portrait taken at the vice president's residence. As vice president, Pence earned a salary of $230,700 a year. While in office, Karen Pence and their oldest daughter Charlotte Pence Bond, made a cottage industry out of publishing a series of children's books about their pet bunny through the conservative publishing house Regnery.

Axios first reported on Tuesday Kaine and Collins were pitching their colleagues on the idea of a censure resolution. That, like a censure resolution, could pass the Senate with only 60 votes compared to impeachment's two-thirds requirement. That means if every Democrat voted for a censure resolution they would need the support of at least 10 Senate Republicans. A group of House Republicans introduced a censure resolution earlier this month condemning Trump "for trying to unlawfully overturn the 2020 Presidential election and violating his oath of office on January 6, 2021." The House, instead, voted on a bipartisan basis to impeach Trump, making him the first president to be impeached twice.

Biden Administration Restores Aid To Palestinians, Reversing Trump PolicyEnlarge this image toggle caption Debbie Hill/AP Debbie Hill/APJust six days after taking office, the Biden administration took a sharp turn in U.S. policy in the Middle East, announcing it will resume contact with Palestinian leaders and restore U.S. contributions to the U.N. agency which provides aid to Palestinians. Mills also said the new administration is committed to a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with a secure Israel alongside a "viable Palestinian state." The Trump administration closed the Washington, D.C., office of the Palestine Liberation Organization; halted contributions to the U.N. Palestinians had seen that as a betrayal of Arab pledges to make peace with Israel only after the Palestinians made peace. With Biden in the country, Netanyahu's government announced an increase in settlement construction, which Biden took as a personal insult.

NEW YORK — The Biden administration announced Tuesday it was renewing US relations with the Palestinian leadership, and restoring “credible engagement” with the Palestinians, as it works toward a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. “In order to advance these objectives, the Biden administration will restore credible US engagement with Palestinians as well as Israelis,” he said. In 2019, the Trump administration shuttered the US consulate in Jerusalem, which served as the de-facto embassy to the Palestinians in East Jerusalem, the West Bank and Gaza. The Trump peace plan unveiled by the administration in early 2020 envisioned Israel annexing all of its settlements in the West Bank — a non-starter for Ramallah. US assistance benefits millions of ordinary Palestinians and helps to preserve a stable environment that benefits both Palestinians and Israelis,” Mills said.

In addition to directing the phase-out of private prisons, Biden recommitted the government to respecting tribal sovereignty, directed agencies to mitigate racial bias in federal housing policies and to address xenophobia and violence against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. The NAACP had called on Biden to create a policy "czar" position to put one person in charge of addressing racial justice and equity issues. The Racial Equity Anchor Collaborative, a coalition of racial justice and civil rights organizations, pushed Tuesday for Biden to establish a White House Office on Racial Equity and Inclusion to coordinate all actions. But administration officials emphasized what they said is an unprecedented move to embed racial equity throughout all agencies. In 2017, the Trump Justice Department rolled back an Obama administration directive to end the use of private prisons.

Biden announces 'wartime' boost in vaccine supplyThe Biden administration is boosting purchases of coronavirus vaccines to deliver enough to protect 300 million Americans by the end of the summer. It's also surging deliveries to states for the next few weeks and pledging greater transparency.

ALBANY – When Sen. Chuck Schumer talks about his new role as Senate majority leader, he weaves in how he will proceed with articles of impeachment against former President Donald Trump with how he hopes to bring more high-tech companies to Utica. He is New York's first Senate majority leader. More:'Buckle up': Sen. Chuck Schumer sees Senate majority leader role within reachMore:Schumer nears becoming first Senate majority leader from NY: 'It feels like a brand new day'Issues big and small for SchumerThen there are all the infrastructure projects that Schumer said he hopes to push through as majority leader. Second, he believes, is Trump should not be able to run for office again, which a Senate impeachment could ensure. And lastly for Schumer, he believes impeachment would actually unify the country, which opponents say would do just the opposite.

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., made a motion that the impeachment trial against Trump is unconstitutional in the Senate, arguing that Trump couldn’t be tried as a private citizen. The motion was rejected by a 55-45 vote, which suggests a lack of support for convicting Trump on the charge of inciting insurrection. Essentially, 45 Senators voted that the trial was unconstitutional, signaling they're likely to vote against conviction. Politics live updates: Senate upholds constitutionality of Trump impeachment trial; senators take oathMore:Senate Republicans overwhelmingly back failed challenge to impeachment trial, hinting at Trump acquittalRomney voted to convict Trump last year during his first impeachment, becoming the first senator ever to vote against his own party's president in an impeachment trial. More:Trump impeachment trial to begin week of Feb. 8, Senate leaders announceContributing: Bart Jansen, Christal Hayes, Nicholas Wu

The Capitol Police knew of a “strong potential for violence” ahead of the Jan. 6 mob attack but failed to take adequate steps to prevent the riot, the department’s acting police chief said. In a closed-door briefing with lawmakers, Yogananda Pittman, who was not the acting chief at the time of the siege, apologized for the security failures, including a delay in approving pleas for National Guard assistance. She described the riot as a “terrorist attack.”The admission came the same day that senators were sworn in for former President Donald Trump’s impeachment trial, with proceedings set to begin on Feb. 9. Republican senators voted en masse against holding an impeachment trial, strongly suggesting Mr. Trump is likely to be acquitted. Here’s where each one stands on conviction.

WASHINGTON — As President Biden prepares on Wednesday to open an ambitious effort to confront climate change, powerful and surprising forces are arrayed at his back. But what may well stand in the president’s way is political intransigence from senators from fossil-fuel states in both parties. Without doubt, signals from the planet itself are lending urgency to the cause. Last year was the hottest year on record, capping the hottest decade on record. Already, scientists say the irreversible effects of climate change have started to sweep across the globe, from record wildfires in California and Australia to rising sea levels, widespread droughts and stronger storms.

Mr. Davidson, too, had ties to the Trump administration: His longtime lawyer was part of a team that represented Donald Trump Jr. in recent years. But the unexpected decision was likely the product of several forces, including the influential advocacy of a former pardon recipient who retained close ties to Mr. Trump.. Because Mr. Howard was killed during the commission of the robbery and in service of the drug ring, Mr. Davidson was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison. Mr. Davidson, who was not accused of being present at the scene of the shooting, has maintained his innocence. But in 2014, when a judge reduced the sentence of Robert Lawrence, the man who shot Mr. Howard, the officer’s mother and sister pleaded in court that it be reconsidered.

The order does not end all government contracts with private prisons — administration officials confirmed it would not apply to other agencies, like Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which contracts with private companies to detain thousands of undocumented immigrants. That includes asking the department to review actions under Mr. Trump that sought to weaken some of that enforcement. “This represents a clear change of direction that gets us back on track to fulfill the Fair Housing Act,” said Julián Castro, who served as secretary of housing and urban development under President Barack Obama. “It’s sending a very strong signal that it’s a new day when it comes to fair housing and that HUD is going to be aggressive again. But given that the action came on Day 6 of the new administration, he said, it served as a “clear repudiation of Trump’s fear-mongering” about low-income housing invading white suburbs.

“I think it has to happen” the president said in a brief tv interview about his party’s bid to try Donald Trump. That’s the only possible answer because only Democrats would revolt if Trump were not put in the dock. And if Trump isn’t convicted, he can’t be barred from future public office, which is the ultimate aim of the Trump haters in both parties. With his Tuesday vote, McConnell sealed those floodgates shut. Cuomo chastised President Trump for even considering granting a pardon to the ever corrupt Sheldon Silver.

Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, swears in Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the president pro tempore of the Senate, who will preside over the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump. Sen. Patrick Leahy presides over the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump in the Senate. WASHINGTON — Democratic Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont, the lawmaker tapped to preside over President Trump’s impeachment trial, has been hospitalized, his spokesman said. “This evening, Senator Leahy was in his Capitol office and was not feeling well,” Leahy spokesman David Carle said in a statement. The constitutional role makes Leahy responsible for presiding over the new Democrat-controlled Senate, including the upcoming impeachment trial.

Listen To The Full Interview Below:On today's Guy Benson Show, Mo Elleithee, Executive Director of Georgetown University's Institute of Politics and Public Service & Fox News Contributor spoke about the constitutionally and politics of impeaching former President Donald Trump while he's out of office. Mo Elleithee said,"I think the constitutional question, frankly, was a bit of a. Hasn't happened often, but it has happened and most and most constitutional scholars argue that it is a legitimate right of the Congress to do a constitutional right for them to do. I think having said that, though, I think you're right. But, you know, I think it's going to I think it's going to be a heavy lift to get them there.

Late on the night of Jan. 6, those Senate Republicans decided that, in essence, the violent mob had a point. to finagle a lawyerly way to bolster Trump’s effort to overturn the election. And, on Tuesday, 45 senators voted to simply sidestep the trial resulting from Trump’s impeachment. ADADOne can debate the utility of the impeachment trial. How Republican senators view Trump’s rhetoric and actionsWe’ve broken down the views of the senators into four categories:

At least $11 billion has been looted from California’s coffers in an unemployment fraud scheme run rampant across the state, while another $20 billion in possible losses is still being investigated. "California has not had sufficient security measures in place to prevent this level of fraud, and criminals took advantage of the situation." The California Employment Development Department (EDD) froze the accounts of 1.4 million relying on the assistance earlier this month while it investigated the fraud. Some 19 million claims have been processed by the department. "It should be no surprise that EDD was overwhelmed, just like the rest of the nation’s unemployment agencies," Su said.

Experts say Biden is quickly undoing Former President Donald Trump’s immigration policies, and some fear these reversals will have huge impacts on national security. CHAD WOLF: BIDEN IMMIGRATION ACTION 'ABSOLUTELY' GOES AGAINST THE LAWImmigration Attorney Rachel Self said this immigration bill is "pretty ambitious." While Bensman and other experts worry Biden’s immigration policy will have negative effects on national security, Self said the government will ensure people granted immigration benefits are not a security threat. With roughly 7,500 migrants making their way on foot to Mexico and the U.S. just last week, Homan reiterated the importance of border security and the national security threat that could arise from Biden’s immigration policies. In a narrowly divided Congress, it remains to be seen whether or not Biden’s proposed immigration bill will pass.

Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., doubled down Tuesday on statements he made over the weekend calling next month's impeachment trial of former President Trump "stupid". "The automatic consequence of impeachment and trial, if you're convicted, the automatic consequence of it is you're removed from office," Rubio added. "That's the automatic consequence of this process. "How can you put someone through a process where the automatic consequence is impossible?" Later in the interview, Cavuto asked Rubio if Trump was still in office, "Do you think his language was incendiary enough" to warrant impeachment and removal.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Tuesday rescinded a Trump-era memo that established a "zero tolerance" enforcement policy for migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, which resulted in thousands of family separations. "Consistent with this longstanding principle of making individualized assessments in criminal cases, I am rescinding — effective immediately — the policy directive," Wilkinson wrote. FEDERAL JUDGE BLOCKS BIDEN'S 100-DAY MORATORIUM ON DEPORTATIONSThe "zero tolerance" policy meant that any adult caught crossing the border illegally would be prosecuted for illegal entry. Most families have not been prosecuted under zero tolerance since 2018, when the separations were halted, though separations have continued on a smaller scale. The "zero tolerance" policy was one of several increasingly restrictive policies aimed at discouraging migrants from coming to the Southern border.

Not long after the riot, insurrectionists knew they could be in trouble, with their largely unmasked faces in clear view, especially to family members and friends thousands of miles away. Reffitt allegedly said he would "do what he had to do" to his own family members in such an event, prompting the young man to ask: "Are you threatening us?" "I got in contact with the FBI after the Capitol riots about my dad," the younger Reffitt told KDFW. "I definitely feel like they should be held accountable for their actions," Helena Duke told NBC News. It’s like a betrayal of your family and you want to keep your family values whole."

Dare we call it unity? Presented byWith help from Allie BiceWelcome to POLITICO’s 2021 Transition Playbook, your guide to the first 100 days of the Biden administration. Before the Blinken vote, 10 Republican senators also switched their votes on JANET YELLEN. Where's KamalaOn the East Landing in front of the Treasury Department, where she swore in Treasury Secretary JANET YELLEN. Janet Yellen, this year’s valedictorian, was preparing her graduation speech.”“‘I’m the editor of The Pilot,’ I said, ‘and I’ve…’”“‘Just a minute,’ said Janet abruptly, ‘I’m thinking.’”So meta.

It bothers me as a citizen.”In 2016, the hard-right turn of the state GOP was a boon for the party: Trump became the first Republican to win the presidential election in Pennsylvania in nearly 30 years. After clinging to Trump, the GOP nominees for governor and senator in 2018 lost by double digits. Democrats also picked up House seats that year in part thanks to the Philadelphia suburbs, a former GOP stronghold. And in the fall, Biden took back Pennsylvania, again fueled by a Trump backlash in the populous suburbs of the state’s largest city. “It certainly lessened the influence of moderate Republicans.”Christopher Nicholas, a GOP consultant based in Pennsylvania, also pointed to population trends in central Pennsylvania as playing a role.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., who will preside over Trump's impeachment trial, was taken to the hospital on Tuesday, a spokesman said. "This evening, Senator Leahy was in his Capitol office and was not feeling well. Leahy, 80, who is third in the line of succession as the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, was just sworn-in to preside over the impeachment trial. The Senate is divided 50-50 between Republicans and Democrats and Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris acts as the tie-breaking votes. If a seat were vacant or a senator were unable to attend votes, the balance of power could be upended.

Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) expresses the need to convict former President Donald Trump of inciting an insurrection and speaks to how his Republican colleagues "participated in the lies" that led to the Capitol siege

Video sharing giant YouTube extended its suspension of former President Donald Trump’s channel indefinitely on Tuesday and restricted Trump adviser Rudy Giuliani’s ability to make money off the platform. The latest clampdowns: The Google-owned company announced that for the second time in two weeks, it would extend restrictions that block Trump from posting on the platform. The company initially blocked him on Jan. 12 amid fears of additional violence in the wake of the insurrection at the Capitol by Trump’s supporters. YouTube initially said it was giving Trump his first of three strikes before it would permanently ban him from the site under its content policies, suspending him for a minimum of one week. But the company offered no timetable for the latest extension, making his suspension effectively indefinite.

Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo calls the Biden administration’s rigorous and realistic approach to covid-19 “a welcome relief,” compared to the actions of the Trump administration

Brandon Straka, a gay Trump supporter who launched the #WalkAway social media campaign encouraging voters to leave the Democratic Party, has been arrested in connection with the assault on the U.S. Capitol this month. The affidavit says a video posted to YouTube by a witness shows Straka at the Capitol doors saying: "We're going in. Patriots began exiting shortly after saying Congress had been cleared." Straka is alleged to have tweeted after the assault that he was "confused'' by conservatives who disavowed the rioters. I will not," he wrote on Twitter, according to the complaint.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — An Alaska department plans to investigate the issuance of “3REICH” personalized license plates, while a spokesperson for Gov. Mike Dunleavy said Dunleavy removed a member of Alaska’s Human Rights Commission for comments she made about the controversy. The issue drew attention after a former newspaper editor, Matt Tunseth, posted a picture of the plate on social media. Tunseth later wrote he was at a stop light in Anchorage on Friday when he saw the plate and took a photo. An owner of a vehicle displaying an invalid plate can be ticketed just like an expired tag on a plate,” Hanke wrote.

Vermont Sen. Leahy taken to hospital for observationSen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., walks with reporters, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, as he leaves the Senate floor on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate’s longest-serving current member, 80-year-old Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy, was taken to a hospital Tuesday evening for observation after not feeling well, a spokesman said. Leahy was taken there for observation “out of an abundance of caution” after being examined by Congress’ attending physician, said Leahy spokesman David Carle. Leahy is presiding because he is the Senate’s president pro tempore, a largely ceremonial post. Carle’s statement did not name the hospital to which Leahy was taken or provide further detail about his condition.

'Time For Us To See Action': A Call To Carry Out Biden's Order On Trans TroopsEnlarge this image toggle caption Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images Tasos Katopodis/Getty ImagesPresident Joe Biden on Monday reversed a Trump-era ban on transgender people serving in the U.S. military on Monday. There is an estimated 15,000 transgender troops serving in the U.S. military, according to the National Center for Transgender Equality. King says it is now up to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who was confirmed into the position last Friday, to work with his staff to carry out Biden's reversal. The process to implement Biden's order should take around 60 days, according to a statement from Austin on Monday. You can also hear her on Morning Edition in 2019 when the Supreme Court allowed the Trump administration to enforce its ban on transgender military personnel.

Recurring payments, in theory, might ease that concern somewhat, by allowing families to plan for better months ahead, advocates say. In addition to Humanity Forward, some Democratic House members are pressing for recurring payments, but in much larger amounts instead of breaking up the $1,400 in the Biden plan. Rep. Ro Khanna, a Democrat from California and first vice chair of the liberal Congressional Progressive Caucus, has said he wants recurring payments in the stimulus package, but in a far bigger amount: $2,000 a month. The problem, Holtz-Eakin said, is not that incomes are down on average or that consumption has been constrained by lack of money. In those cases, Holtz-Eakin said, stimulus payments make sense because people spend, which preserves jobs, which keeps people spending.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, set to preside over the impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump beginning Feb. 9 as the chamber's president pro tempore, was taken to a hospital for evaluation Tuesday afternoon after feeling ill in his Senate office. CNN's Manu Raju quoted a spokesperson for the 80-year-old Democrat as saying Leahy had been examined at the Capitol by the attending physician and was then taken to an area hospital "out of an abundance of caution." Majority Whip Dick Durbin of Illinois, speaking to CNN, quoted Leahy's wife, a registered nurse, as saying that "things [were] going well" at the hospital. Leahy was first elected to the Senate from Vermont in 1974.

Similar to those intercepted by investigators before Biden’s inauguration, the threats law enforcement agents are tracking vary in specificity and credibility, said the official, who had been briefed on the matter. Mainly posted online and in chat groups, the messages have included plots to attack members of Congress during travel to and from the Capitol complex during the impeachment trial that begins Feb. 8, according to the official. said Linskey, who referenced the Jan. 6 Capitol assault that left five dead and jeopardized members of Congress. Others were arrested after posting threats against members of Congress. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump impeachment may bring new attacks on Congress, officials fear

"Forty-five votes means the impeachment trial is dead on arrival," Paul said after the vote. Roberts has reportedly signaled he does not want to be involved, and Senate President Pro Tempore Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) will preside over Trump's trial instead. Democrats and several legal experts say there is a precedent for the Senate to conduct an impeachment trial after an official has left office. In 1876, the Senate held an impeachment trial of a war secretary who resigned immediately before he was impeached by the House. Instead Republicans are focusing on the precedent of holding an impeachment trial for a former president.

Vice President Kamala Harris has received the second dose of her COVID-19 vaccine and urged everyone to get vaccinated. KAMALA HARRIS: OK.- How was that? KAMALA HARRIS: OK. KAMALA HARRIS: Thank you Nurse [? KAMALA HARRIS: Thank you very much.

OPINION: Like with our nation’s first Black president, there is some deep-felt anxiety about Kamala Harris’s safety after the Capitol insurrectionKamala Devi Harris has been sworn and is now the first female vice president in U.S. history. Read More: Vice President Kamala Harris salutes little girl after inaugurationVice President-elect Kamala Harris speaks during an event at The Queen theater, Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021, in Wilmington, Del. The reality that the safety of our new president and vice president is not certain. So is our new vice president, a woman, and a woman of color, safe in her new role? The post Protecting Madam Vice President Kamala Harris, a national treasure, at all costs appeared first on TheGrio.

The FBI on Monday charged a man accused of participating in the Capitol riots after they received multiple tips from people who recognized his varsity jacket and number in footage of the mayhem. Brian Gundersen, of Armonk, N.Y., was identified as a Capitol rioter by his varsity jacket. Other people had also sent tips to the FBI identifying Gundersen as the man wearing the letterman jacket. Brian Gundersen, of Armonk, N.Y., was identified as a Capitol rioter by his varsity jacket. Still, when he was interviewed by the FBI on Jan. 19, Gundersen denied being a part of the Capitol riots.

A man who faces five federal charges for his alleged involvement in the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol building has a brother in the Secret Service who once led former First Lady Michelle Obama's security detail. Scott Fairlamb is the brother of Preston Fairlamb III, a Secret Service agent who led the former first lady's detail while she was in office. Watch: Man who punched cop during Capitol riot has brother in Secret Service who is friends with Michelle Obama"All of us grew close to our agents over time. Scott Fairlamb was charged last Thursday amid a wave of arrests this month following the riot at the Capitol building. Story continuesSpokespersons for the Obamas and the Secret Service did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on Monday.

Late Tuesday, the presiding officer at the trial, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., was taken to the hospital for observation after not feeling well at his office, spokesman David Carle said in a statement. The vote means the trial on Trump's impeachment will begin as scheduled the week of Feb. 8. The vote shows that “they've got a long ways to go to prove it,” Iowa Sen. Joni Ernst said of House Democrats' charge. “You’re asking me to vote in a trial that by itself on its own is not constitutionally allowed?” he asked. Instead, Leahy, who serves in the largely ceremonial role of Senate president pro tempore, was sworn in on Tuesday.

The Kremlin readout of a phone call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin said they voiced satisfaction with the move. Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked Mr Biden what he discussed with Mr Putin on a recent call between the leaders. According to the White House, Mr Biden told Mr Putin that the US would defend itself from "malign actions by Russia". Mr Biden reportedly wanted to call other European leaders prior to his call with Mr Putin to gauge their concerns. Mr Putin was one of the last world leaders to congratulate Mr Biden on his electoral victory.

Pittman said her department knew that Jan. 6 would be unlike previous protests. She said her department knew that militia groups and white supremacists organizations would descend on Washington. “He also lobbied the board for authorization to bring in the National Guard, but he was not granted authorization for over an hour,” Pittman said. During the hearing, the commander of the District of Columbia National Guard told committee members that his authority to quickly deploy the guard was removed before the riot. Walker testified that Sund called him as the threat to the Capitol increased Jan. 6 and that he immediately notified the Army.

But government has to change as well.’'In remarks before signing the order, Biden said the US government needs to change “its whole approach” on the issue of racial equity. President Biden on Tuesday ordered the Department of Justice to end its reliance on private prisons and acknowledge the central role government has played in implementing discriminatory housing policies. The order to end the reliance on privately-run prisons directs the attorney general not to renew Justice Department contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities. The move will effectively revert the Justice Department to the same posture it held at the end of the Obama administration. GEO Group, a private company that operates federal prisons, called the Biden order “a solution in search of a problem. "

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate’s longest-serving member, 80-year-old Vermont Democrat Patrick Leahy, was taken to a hospital Tuesday evening for observation after not feeling well, a spokesman said. Leahy was taken there for observation “out of an abundance of caution" after being examined by Congress' attending physician, said Leahy spokesman David Carle. Hours earlier, Leahy commenced his role of presiding over the Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump by swearing in his fellow lawmakers. The actual trial will begin next month.

We are armed and nearby your house,” Lemke allegedly wrote in a text message to the brother of a Congressman on Jan. 11. We are not white supremacists,” Lemke also allegedly wrote to the Congressman’s brother. Don’t risk their safety with your words and lies.”On Jan. 6, Lemke allegedly texted a relative of the journalist a similar threat. We are nearby armed and ready,” he allegedly wrote, according to the complaint. Evidence shows fraud occurred and the Supreme Court cases will be successful,” Lemke allegedly posted.

Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly cast their first votes Tuesday related to the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, joining with Democrats and five Republicans to reject a vote on the constitutionality of the trial. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., forced the vote shortly after the senators were sworn in as jurors. He questioned the constitutionality for the impeachment trial, arguing that Trump, now a private citizen, has already left office, although scholars disagree. Sinema and Kelly voted to proceed with a trial, set for the week of Feb. 8. It charges Trump with “incitement of insurrection.”Neither Sinema nor Kelly said specifically how they are approaching the looming impeachment trial, despite pressure from state Democratic lawmakers to do so.

A White House official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the virtual conversation with the caucus, said there was agreement on the scope of the challenges facing the country and the need for additional relief. Biden and other members of his team intend to continue making their case to lawmakers about the need to act with urgency.

Every member of Congress from Colorado asked President Joe Biden‘s administration Tuesday to reconsider moving U.S. Space Command headquarters from Colorado Springs to Alabama. Just two weeks ago, President Donald Trump said the agency’s headquarters would move to Huntsville, Alabama, drawing bipartisan rebukes here. Jared Polis, members of Congress and business interests in the state had worked to convince the outgoing Trump administration that Colorado was best. Last week, the Colorado Economic Development Commission set aside $30,000 in additional marketing dollars with the goal of reversing the federal government’s decision. “In view of the effects on national security and the irregularities of the selection process, we request you pause all actions related to moving U.S. Space Command and immediately review the manner in which the Trump administration conducted this process,” Colorado’s members of Congress wrote.

MADISON - Wisconsin is expected to take in $1.2 billion more over three years than earlier projected, according to a report released Tuesday, giving Gov. The coronavirus pandemic has hurt the global economy but hasn't hit the state's bottom line as hard as officials have feared. By the summer of 2023, Wisconsin will take in $1.2 billion more than was projected two months ago, the report found. As of this summer, the state will have about $1.8 billion in its main account. If Congress passes a new stimulus package, state officials will have an easier time balancing their budget.

A Chicago man is facing federal charges after allegedly conspiring with a postal service carrier to steal coronavirus relief checks and sell them to others. Akeem Kosoko, 26, is charged with one count of conspiracy to steal mail and government funds, three counts of embezzlement of government property and three counts of receipt of stolen mail, according to an indictment. According to the indictment, Akeem Kosoko then allegedly changed the name of the recipients on the checks. He allegedly recruited people with bank accounts and deposited the stolen checks into their accounts. He also allegedly sold at least three of the stolen checks to others last May.

Associated PressMADISON, Wis. – A priest who livestreamed exorcisms aimed at rooting out what he, former President Donald Trump and some Trump supporters have claimed was widespread voting fraud in the presidential election has left a Roman Catholic diocese in Wisconsin. The Diocese of Madison said it and the Rev. Zuhlsdorf will relocate from the diocese ”to pursue other opportunities,” the diocese said in a statement earlier this month. Tech:Twitter permanently bans MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell after he continues to claim Trump won the electionZuhlsdorf claimed he had permission from Madison Bishop Donald Hying to conduct the exorcisms. Unity:President Biden and Republicans don't agree what that looks likeNew COVID-19 test requirement for international flights to the US begins:Are travelers (and airlines) ready?

Wide-spread logistical problems hindering the rollout have spurred the Nevada congressional delegation to pressure the Biden administration to streamline the process. The CDC ranked Nevada and South Carolina as the two worst states for administering doses, or “shots in arms,” following distribution. She signed onto a recent letter to the Trump administration urging it to actively engage with states’ vaccine distribution efforts. The coronavirus relief package passed by Congress in December included $9 billion for the CDC and the states for vaccine distribution. Alex Azar, former health and human service secretary under Trump, blamed states for distribution and administration of doses of vaccines.

“Have you gone out publicly and said that there was not widespread voter fraud and that Joe Biden is the legitimate president of the United States? If you said that, then I’m happy to listen to you talk about other things that might inflame anger and divide. But if you haven’t said that, that’s really what’s at the source of the anger right now,” Romney said. “You’ve got to have that get to the rearview mirror before you talk about the next stage” toward unity.

By SCOTT BAUERMADISON, Wis. (AP) — The Republican-controlled Wisconsin Senate voted Tuesday to repeal Gov. The Senate passed the resolution to repeal the mask mandate on an 18-13 vote, with all Democrats and Republican Sens. Wisconsin’s mask mandate, which took effect in August, is slated to run until March 20. “The Governor’s mask mandate saves lives,” the Wisconsin Council of Churches said in a statement opposing the repeal. Those included a ban on employers requiring vaccinations and prohibiting the closure of churches during a health emergency.

It is the first time in a decade the party has held the full sweep of power in Washington, and Democrats say they have no time to waste trying to broker compromises with Republicans that may, or may not, happen. They have watched Republicans use similar procedural tools to advance their priorities, most recently the Trump administration’s GOP tax cuts.

“It’s something we’ve been willing over the last few years to offer in exchange for iGaming and sports betting to allow the lottery to go online and allow keno to go online,” he said.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the president pro tempore of the Senate, pauses in the Rotunda of the Capitol before the article of impeachment against former President Donald Trump is delivered, alleging incitement of insurrection, in Washington, Monday, Jan. 25, 2021. Leahy will preside over the impeachment trial. (J. Scott Applewhite/AP)

Biden, calling the push a “wartime effort,” said the administration was working to buy an additional 100 million doses of each of the two approved coronavirus vaccines. He acknowledged that states in recent weeks have been left guessing how much vaccine they will have from one week to the next. "Lives are at stake.”He promised a roughly 16% boost in deliveries to states over the next three weeks. The administration said it plans to buy another 100 million doses each from drugmakers Pfizer and Moderna to ensure it has enough vaccine for the long term. Even more vaccine could be available if federal scientists approve a single-dose shot from Johnson & Johnson, which is expected to seek emergency authorization in the coming weeks.

WASHINGTON (AP) — All but five Senate Republicans voted in favor of an effort to dismiss Donald Trump's historic second impeachment trial on Tuesday, making clear a conviction of the former president for “incitement of insurrection” after the deadly Capitol siege on Jan. 6 is unlikely. While the Republicans did not succeed in ending the trial before it began, the test vote made clear that Trump still has enormous sway over his party as he becomes the first former president to be tried for impeachment. “I think this was indicative of where a lot of people’s heads are," said South Dakota Sen. John Thune, the No. Late Tuesday, the presiding officer at the trial, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., was taken to the hospital for observation after not feeling well at his office, spokesman David Carle said in a statement. The 80-year-old senator was examined by the Capitol's attending physician, who recommended he be taken to the hospital out of an abundance of caution, he said.

Relief is coming for states struggling to meet rising demand for COVID-19 vaccine with scarce suppliesGov. Andy Beshear said Tuesday evening that officials with the administration of President Joe Biden pledged to increase each state's supply of vaccine by 17%. The news came on a call between governors and members of the president's COVID-19 team, Beshear said. He initially pledged to provide 100 million shots in his first 100 days in office. “I hope we’ll be able to increase as we go along so we’ll get to 1.5 million,'' Biden said.

Vaccine passports will raise human rights issues and could become ID cards by the back door, the UK’s data watchdog has warned. Her comments came as it has emerged that the Government is funding eight different projects to develop immunity passports, although it has said it has no current plans to roll them out. She said: "I think with immunity passports some of the issues go beyond data protection. Ms Denham added ministers would also have to justify how immunity passports were a “proportionate” response to the problems they aimed to tackle. Ms Denham also revealed to MPs that she did not use either Facebook or WhatsApp herself and instead preferred the more privacy-focused rival messaging app Signal.

The 80-year-old senator from Vermont, set to preside over the second impeachment trial of former president Donald Trump, was “not feeling well” at his office at the US Capitol on Tuesday, according to a statement. The senator is third in the presidential line of succession behind Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. Senator Rand Paul failed to pass a motion to rule the former president’s trial as unconstitutional because he is no longer in office. The Senate president pro tempore has typically presided over impeachment proceedings for non-presidents. Mr Trump is the first president to face an impeachment trial after leaving office.

On Tuesday, by and large, Senate Republicans took it. (The House impeached Mr Trump on 13 January, a week before he was replaced by Joe Biden on 20 January.) Conviction appears increasingly remote since it would require support from at least 12 GOP senators who are now on record as fundamentally opposed to the impeachment trial itself. The Republican leader’s relationship with Mr Trump is reportedly in the gutter. Mr McConnell’s and other GOP senators’ votes to dismiss the impeachment trial does not necessarily spell doom for the House impeachment managers’ prosecution of Mr Trump.

Facebook has been condemned by a US senator for allowing “anti-democratic efforts” on its platform and for the way it recommends political groups to users. Ed Markey penned a blistering letter to the social media giant’s founder Mark Zuckerberg, accusing the company of allowing users to “organise and coordinate” violence on its pages. And he attacked the way that Facebook users are pushed towards other partisan political groups. "Facebook's system of recommending political groups poses grave threats to American democracy and public safety," wrote the lawmaker from Massachusetts. The pro-Trump rioters openly used social media platforms, including Facebook, to organise the attacks on the Capitol following Donald Trump’s “Stop the Steal” rally on 6 January.

A Conservative MP has defended accepting a coronavirus vaccine, despite not being in one of the top priority groups. Brendan Clarke-Smith, the 40-year-old MP for Bassetlaw, was given a COVID-19 jab on Friday after finishing a volunteering shift at Retford Hospital vaccination centre. Mr Clarke-Smith, who was elected in 2019, said his dose was "left over" from the day's stock and using it prevented it from going to waste. The MP added: "As a volunteer I was also asked to have a vaccine. He added: "I hope having the vaccine today will reassure people and that everybody who is offered a vaccine will take this up."

"My vote today to dismiss the article of impeachment is based on the fact that impeachment was designed to remove an officeholder from public office," Senator Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia said in a statement released after the vote. "The Constitution does not give Congress the power to impeach a private citizen."

Trump was said to have considered installing Clark as acting attorney general to carry out the scheme. “Throughout the past four years, I worked with Assistant Attorney General Clark on various legislative matters,” Perry said. Still, their assessment did not stop Trump from pressuring the Justice Department to fight harder to find a way to help him. Then-President Donald Trump and former Attorney General William Barr exit Air Force One at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, in September 2020. William Barr stated publicly early last month that the Justice Department had found no voting fraud on a scale that would affect the election results.

Vermont Democratic Sen. Pat Leahy was hospitalized Tuesday just hours after being sworn in to preside over the second impeachment of President Donald Trump. He took up his role presiding as other senators were sworn in as the court of impeachment Tuesday. 'This evening, Sen. Leahy was in his Capitol office and was not feeling well. Beyond his mostly ceremonial role at the trial, Leahy, like every other Senate Democrat, helps ensure the party's control of the 50-50 Senate. A single Republican, Mitt Romney of Utah, voted for an impeachment article during Trump's first impeachment last year.

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki has said 'all violence' will be reviewed as part of the Biden administration's efforts to tackle domestic violent extremism of all political stripes in the wake of the January 6 riot on the US Capitol as well as recent unrest in Portland, Seattle and Denver. 'All violence happening around the country will be reviewed by the national security team,' Psaki said. Psaki condemned the riots in Monday's White House press conference, saying smashing windows and looting is 'totally unacceptable' and not a peaceful protest. The review will be used as a foundation to develop policy, the White House said. Haines was confirmed on inauguration day to the nation’s top intelligence job as the new Director of National Intelligence.

Trump Avenue on the Canadian capital's west side is lined with brick homes, each with two-car garages and kids playing hockey in driveways. The Central Park neighborhood, known for New York City-themed street names, was built in the late 1990s -- long before a certain Big Apple real estate mogul entered politics. "Trump doesn't deserve the honor and I think it's inappropriate to have a street named after him in Canada's capital." Ottawa city councilor Riley Brockington started gathering support for the name change from people who live on the street this week. Most other New York names are already taken in Ottawa, and numbered street names such as Fifth Avenue won't do.

Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany is apparently in talks to sign with Fox News, according to reports. McEnany did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but according to journalist Yashar Ali, the network claims McEnany is not yet employed there. McEnany previously worked at Fox News early in her media career, as a producer for Mike Huckabee’s show and making regular appearances on shows like Red Eye. Following the president’s electoral defeat, she made near-nightly appearances on pro-Trump Fox host Sean Hannity’s primetime program to boost her boss’ baseless election-fraud conspiracy theories. In reality, Biden improved his margin of victory over Clinton in 31 out of 36 urban counties.

The Justice Department on Tuesday rescinded the Trump administration's "zero tolerance" policy that led to the systemic separation of immigrant families at the border. “While policies may change, our mission always remains the same: to seek justice under the law,” Wilkinson said. In a statement, the Justice Department said the zero tolerance policy was inconsistent with the longstanding principle that federal prosecutors exercise judgment and make individual assessments in criminal cases. The Trump administration's 2018 zero tolerance policy called for prosecuting everyone who was caught crossing the border illegally. Immigrants caught at the border are quickly sent back to Mexico, and in some cases their home countries via plane, without so much as a court hearing.

), after 44 GOP senators sided with Paul. Sen. Mike Rounds Mike RoundsThe Hill's Morning Report - Biden: Focus on vaccine, virus, travel Senators spar over validity of Trump impeachment trial Sunday shows - Biden agenda, Trump impeachment trial dominate MORE (R-S.D.) said the Tuesday vote was a “pretty good indication” that most Republicans don’t believe the trial is constitutional. Sen. John Thune John Randolph ThuneTrump, allies raise pressure on Senate GOP ahead of impeachment The Hill's Morning Report - Biden's crisis agenda hits headwinds Senate chaos threatens to slow Biden's agenda MORE (R-S.D.) The GOP strategy is a sharp shift from 2020 when Republicans were pledging publicly that they would acquit Trump and defended him publicly throughout the trial.

Mike Windle/Getty Images for Vanity FairSilicon Valley venture capitalist Chamath Palihapitiya has endorsed the efforts to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom and launched a website announcing his own potential candidacy. Palihapitiya, a former Facebook executive who is now the CEO of venture capital firm Social Capital and a minority stakeholder in the Golden State Warriors, has not filed any forms with the California's Secretary of State Office or taken any other concrete steps toward running for office.

Photo : Drew Angerer ( Getty Images )In 1993, Joe Biden took to the Senate floor to warn of predators in society that needed to be taken out. “We have predators on our streets that society has in fact, in part because of its neglect, created,” Biden said. We have no choice but to take them out of society.”In 1994, Joe Biden helped craft the federal crime bill, which would lead to the mass incarceration of Black folks. On Tuesday, President Joe Biden is slated to sign a series of executive actions around “equity” that will focus on “policing reform, prison reform and public housing,” according to CNN. From CNN:Another order Biden will sign will reinstate an Obama-era policy barring the transfer of military equipment to local police departments.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov arrives to the Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual news conference in Moscow, Russia December 20, 2018. The Kremlin declared the breakthrough, which was widely anticipated, in a statement announcing that Putin and Biden had spoken for the first time since Biden took office on Jan. 20. “They discussed both countries’ willingness to extend New START for five years, agreeing to have their teams work urgently to complete the extension by Feb. 5,” the White House said. The White House said last week Biden would seek a five-year extension. The White House stressed that it will raise matters where it disagrees with Russia, and said Biden had reaffirmed the United States’ “firm support for Ukraine’s sovereignty”.

Coming so soon in Biden’s administration, the action provides a first test of Republican opposition to the White House priorities as well as to the new president’s promise of a “unity” agenda. Biden’s COVID-19 aid package includes money for vaccine distribution, school reopenings and $1,400 direct payments to households and gradually boosts the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour over five years. The bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus of more than 50 House lawmakers met virtually Tuesday with top administration officials on the virus aid and economic recovery package. White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters earlier Tuesday that Biden is still looking to negotiate on an aid package, while emphasizing that several components of the existing aid will lapse in March. Collins said Tuesday that the White House made good on its commitment to deliver a more detailed accounting of the proposed expenditure.

Leahy is supposed to preside over President Donald Trump’s second impeachment starting on Feb. 9 as president pro tempore of the Senate. The president pro tempore is third in line of succession to the presidency and Leahy has already held the position twice. “The president pro tempore has historically presided over Senate impeachment trials of non-presidents,” he said in a statement earlier this week. “I consider holding the office of the president pro tempore and the responsibilities that come with it to be one of the highest honors and most serious responsibilities of my career. The Vermont Democrat, who has spent 46 years in the Senate, also just became chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

(CNN) President Joe Biden held his first call Tuesday with his Russian counterpart, according to the White House, confronting President Vladimir Putin over a range of issues from a recent massive cyberattack to the suspected poisoning of the country's leading opposition figure. The call, which occurred midday, amounted to Biden's opening bid at diplomacy with one of his chief adversaries, whom he has met previously but not dealt with as an equal. Biden's press secretary Jen Psaki said he entered the phone call with the intention of discussing the New START nuclear treaty, which the Biden administration hopes to extend; Russian aggression in Ukraine; the Solarwinds cyber hack, the extent of which is still being determined; reports Russia placed bounties on American troops serving in Afghanistan; Moscow's interference in US presidential elections; and the poisoning of Alexei Navalny"His intention was also to make clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of our national interests in response to malign actions by Russia," Psaki said, noting the call had taken place during her briefing and that a more fulsome summary would come later. The lengthy list of topics for Biden's first conversation with Putin illustrates the troubled state of affairs between Washington and Moscow that he inherited from the previous administration. Biden has accused his predecessor, President Donald Trump , of being too weak on Russia, accusing him of being "Putin's puppy" during one of their general election debates.

The United States and Russia "agreed in principle" to extend the New START arms treaty by five years, the Kremlin reported on its website Tuesday following a phone call between US President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), was signed in 2010 by former US President Barack Obama and his Russian counterpart at the time, Dmitry Medvedev. The last nuclear arms control agreementBiden had indicated during his presidential campaign that he favored extending the treaty, and Russia has long proposed its extension without any conditions or changes. However, negotiations to extend the treaty were stalled by the administration of former US President Donald Trump, which insisted on tougher inspections for Russia and for China to be included, which Beijing refused. During Trump's term, the US withdrew from a separate nuclear weapons control agreement with Russia, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty, making New START the last remaining nuclear weapons control treaty between Russia and the US.

The US and Russia have agreed to extend an arms control treaty limiting their deployed nuclear warheads after Joe Biden’s first phone call as president with Vladimir Putin. Biden challenged Putin on US intelligence reports that Russia had offered bounties to the Taliban and other extremist groups in Afghanistan for the killing of US soldiers. Biden and Putin discussed the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, which Trump left but Biden has said he is willing to rejoin, and the conflict in Ukraine between the government there and Russian-backed separatists. The Biden team has said its first foreign policy goal would be to repair relations with allies and global institutions ruptured by Trump. “The United States shares the goals of the ICC in promoting accountability for the worst crimes known to humanity.

Estonia’s new prime minister has promised to restore the Baltic nation’s reputation, after two turbulent years in which a far-right party was part of the country’s government. The 43-year-old Kallas becomes the country’s first female prime minister since Estonia regained independence in 1991. In December that year, the Estonian president Kersti Kaljulaid apologised to Finland, after interior minister Mart Helme, the EKRE leader, mocked Finland’s newly elected prime minister Sanna Marin as a “sales girl”. He resigned earlier in January, and a new coalition was formed between the Centre and Reform parties, with seven cabinet posts each and Kallas as prime minister. Kallas, a former lawyer and MEP, is the daughter of Sim Kallas, who founded the Reform Party and was prime minister in 2002-2003.

Sen. Patrick Leahy, the Vermont Democrat set to preside over the upcoming impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, was taken to a Washington hospital for evaluation Tuesday, his spokesman said. "This evening, Senator Leahy was in his Capitol office and was not feeling well," his spokesman David Carle said in a written statement. Leahy, 80, is the president pro tempore of the Senate, which makes him responsible for presiding over that chamber in the absence of Vice President Kamala Harris. The House impeached Trump earlier this month for inciting the riot by his supporters at the Capitol complex on Jan. 6. Five people, including a Capitol police office, died as a result of the riot.

Sean Spicer’s application to join the White House Correspondents’ Association was rescinded by his own employer, as Newsmax, the right-wing cable network where the former White House press secretary now hosts an evening show, reportedly decided they already have enough people on the job. Spicer’s pending request for credentials was thus “considered an unwanted headache at the WHCA,” Politico reports. Other members of the pro-Trump media are, however, still pursuing access to Joe Biden's White House. Rion kept showing up, however, thanks to Trump officials who had her to the White House as a guest—sway OAN surely won't have with Biden's team. Already, one White House reporter observed Rion “has been MIA since Biden took office,” according to CNN’s Oliver Darcy, who reports that the White House has not revoked access, despite Rion’s curious absence.

Just gotta update the ole résumé and I’ll be juggling more offers than I can shake a stick at. Mental note: Call Brooks Brothers and ask them to set aside a couple pairs of their finest chinos. And as it turns out, would-be employers don’t love the idea of hiring people in any way associated with all that. A second former White House official said they knew of “people who got jobs rescinded because of January 6.” A Republican strategist was blunter. “They are really fucked,” the strategist said, pointing to some top officials who stuck with Trump until the bitter end.

Long before pedophile and financier Jeffrey Epstein’s July 2019 arrest and subsequent suicide, the flight logs from his plane, reportedly nicknamed the Lolita Express, seemed to show that his crimes might be more far-reaching than previously imaginable. Later on, when Prince Andrew was downplaying his own involvement in the scandal, flight logs acquired by investigators and journalists implied that the prince had spent more time with Epstein and his alleged coconspirator, Ghislaine Maxwell, than he was admitting. Over the weekend, The Mirror said it tracked down David Rodgers, one of Epstein’s longtime pilots, at his home in Lake Worth, Florida. “He was trusted with his most prized and high-profile friends, not only the prince, but Bill Clinton too. Rodgers reportedly used the abbreviation for Andrew as well as Epstein’s designer Alberto Pinto, who died in 2012.

David Muhlbaum: Yeah. David Muhlbaum: Yeah. And then for the list of the most tax friendly states, the top seven states all are very low property tax states. David Muhlbaum: Yeah. David Muhlbaum: Yeah.

Senators swear in as jurors for President Trump's impeachment trialSenators took oaths to ensure “impartial justice” as jurors in former President Donald Trump's impeachment trial.

It's not hyperbole," Biden said during remarks on the COVID-19 pandemic at the White House. Biden outlined the new purchase plans along with an increase in the weekly vaccine allocation to states, tribes and territories from 8.6 million doses to a minimum of 10 million doses over the next three weeks. The additional purchases would raise the U.S. vaccine supply from 400 million doses to 600 million doses, ensuring that the country will eventually have two shots for nearly every American. A second shot should be administered about three or four weeks after the first, depending on which vaccine was given. Larry Hogan offered a more sobering assessment, noting the limited vaccine supply was "only a tiny fraction of what our citizens desperately need."

WASHINGTON – Democrats who now control Congress are proposing to raise the federal minimum hourly wage to $15 by 2025. The $7.25 an hour federal minimum wage is a starvation wage," said Sen Bernie Sanders, I-Vt., in announcing the bill Tuesday. The Raise the Wage Act of 2021 would increase the federal minimum wage to $15 in five steps over the next four years. Beginning in 2026, the federal minimum wage then would be indexed to median wage growth under the bill, a similar version of which also is being introduced in the House. In 2019, the House passed legislation gradually raising raising the federal minimum wage from $7.25 to $15 by 2025 mostly along party lines.

It's Ashley, and I'm ready to talk news (through two masks). Double masking 'just makes common sense,' Fauci saysThey say two heads are better than one, but can the same be said for masks? A study from July found that wearing two masks could increase protection from virus particles by 50% up to 75%. It also makes masks fit more snugly around the face, said study author Dr. Loretta Fernandez. That’s particularly notable given that President Donald Trump's two nominees for secretary of State were confirmed by relatively narrow margins.

Schumer: Must pass virus aid with or without GOPSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer says Democrats are prepared to push ahead with President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package, even if it means using procedural tools to pass the legislation without Republicans.

Former President Donald Trump's YouTube channel will remain suspended, the online video platform said Tuesday. YouTube suspended Trump's official channel on Jan. 12 from uploading new content for at least a week, at the time citing the potential for violence following the deadly Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol. "In light of concerns about the ongoing potential for violence, the Donald J. Trump channel will remain suspended," YouTube said in a statement to USA TODAY. Before YouTube suspended Trump's channel, Facebook and Instagram, along with Twitter and Snap had already blocked Trump in the aftermath of the Capitol riots. Last week, Facebook sent to its Oversight Board the issue to restore former President Trump's access to his accounts.

Kamala Harris receives 2nd COVID-19 vaccine doseVice President Kamala Harris has received the second dose of her COVID-19 vaccine and urged everyone to get vaccinated.

University students gather in Athens for a rally against educational reforms with a banner that reads, "The students are not criminals." ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s center-right government on Tuesday imposed a weeklong ban on public protests attended by more than 100 people, angering left-wing political opponents. The ban follows student demonstrations against plans by the government to police university campuses. The main opposition party, the left-wing Syriza, called the ban “arbitrary and undemocratic,” while the Greek Communist Party said it would continue to support student demonstrations planned later this week. The protest ban ends Feb. 1.

Click to email this to a friend (Opens in new window)Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)Tom Llamas, the weekend anchor of ABC’s World News Tonight, has dramatically quit the network to move to rival NBC. Llamas, 41, is being lined up for a wide-ranging role across NBC News that involves work across the network’s news shows, streaming services and MSNBC. Tom is a big talent and he could do lots of things across streaming, across the network, and even cable. “He started his career at NBC, he will be welcomed back.”Miami-born Llamas began his career in 2000 with the NBC News Specials Unit and moved to MSNBC as a reporter. In 2014 he moved to ABC News and substituted for Muir on ABC World News Tonight over the Christmas holiday period.

It includes carve-outs for officers who live in counties within 30 miles of the Big Apple’s boundaries. Officers and their unions quickly jumped on Yang for the remarks. “We can’t talk about changing the NYPD residency requirements without talking about police officers’ pay,” said Pat Lynch, the head of the city’s biggest police union, the Police Benevolent Association. Another NYPD union picked up that thread as it blasted Yang for his remarks. “Part of my job will require working with state officials and I will push non-stop to realize our anti-poverty agenda.”

One result of these changes is that we have seen a number of people elected to Congress who see their positions as a platform for celebrity more than legislation. That necessarily complicates President Biden’s push for a Congress which will engage in more traditional, less contentious legislative activity. In July 2008, less than half of the current Senate was in either the House or Senate. Scroll backward through time and watch the current members of Congress drop away. Boxes marked with a dot are current members of Senate who, in the selected year, were serving in the House.)

In a new Biden administration executive order that took effect Tuesday, the United States now requires all international entrants — including those returning home to the United States — pass two significant hurdles for entry. The measures aim to prevent new and more-contagious variants of the coronavirus from entering the United States, the administration said. Current CDC travel guidance recommends seven days of self-quarantine following international travel, as well as acquiring a coronavirus test three to five days into the quarantine. If a traveler cannot acquire a coronavirus test, CDC guidance recommends 10 days in quarantine. After 13 air crew broke quarantine, Sydney health officials will now police-monitor working flight attendantsAustralia largely beat the virus.

"Squad" member Rep. Pramila Jayapal, D-Wash., and Rep. Jesús Chuy Garcia, D-Ill., hosted a Facebook live video conference on Tuesday in support of their vision to transform the U.S. immigration system by expanding protections for noncitizens. The pair reintroduced legislation known as the "New Way Forward Act" during the event, where Japayal said it is not enough to simply reverse the "hateful" immigration policies of Donald Trump’s administration. "We have to deliver on a real, humane reform of our immigration system," Jayapal said. "America’s racist, xenophobic … immigration system has been broken for decades." It also decriminalizes border crossings with an eye towards the broader goals of restoring due process to the immigration system and disrupting the prison to deportation pipeline.

Google is the latest tech company to halt political donations to members of Congress who voted against certifying the results of the presidential election. Eight Republican senators and more than 100 House Republicans still voted against certifying Biden's win. The lawmakers refused to forfeit the debunked claims President Trump peddled weeks after the November election, insisting that there was widespread voter fraud, which caused him to lose the race to Biden. Other tech giants, including Facebook and Microsoft, have said they have halted political donations and are reviewing their policies before making a final decision. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX BUSINESS APPIf the pause on PAC donations from these companies continues to hold, Republican Sens.

The National Guard will remain in Washington, D.C., through the end of March over concerns of potential civil unrest, a spokesman confirmed for Fox News Tuesday. "As we continue to work to meet the final post-inauguration requirements, the National Guard has been requested to continue supporting federal law enforcement agencies with 7,000 members and will draw down to 5,000 through mid-March," National Guard Bureau spokesman Wayne Hall told Fox News. Chief of the National Guard Bureau Army Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, said that the deployment of 25,000 National Guardsmen called into Washington, D.C., from every U.S. state for the inauguration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, within a two-week time frame was exceptional. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPRoughly 13,000 guardsmen still remain in D.C. supporting federal agencies with security efforts. "The D.C. National Guard will remain on orders until March 31, 2021," a spokesman confirmed with Fox News Tuesday.

Iran has "no leverage left" over the U.S. that would enable them to pressure the Biden administration to rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal, former Deputy National Security Adviser K.T. McFarland told "The Story" Tuesday. "The Arab countries, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, they're as upset about the prospect of Iran getting nuclear weapons as Israel is," she said. Whether the Biden administration approved of what Trump did or not, Trump has given them a golden opportunity. "So if the Biden administration really wants success, I think they should push for a very different deal, if one at all."

CNN contributor Hilary Rosen raised eyebrows on Monday night by asserting that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., would "kill the filibuster" if he had the chance. "With this win, we can move forward with a 50-50 power-sharing agreement built on the 2001 precedent," McConnell tweeted. Critics mocked Rosen's accusation against McConnell, who did not kill the filibuster during his six-year tenure as Senate majority leader. Rosen's CNN colleague Scott Jennings similarly expressed. "#McConnell ended the filibuster for one of the most important votes Senators take, namely a Supreme Court nomination.

YouTube said Tuesday it had suspended Rudy Giuliani, former President Donald Trump's lawyer, from a program that allows partners to make money from ads on their videos, after Giuliani broke YouTube's rules by repeatedly sharing election misinformation. The suspension will last at least 30 days and has been in effect since last week, YouTube said in an email. YouTube's Partner Program allows video creators to share ad revenue as well as receive support from a company team, but channels that violate company policies can be removed. Giuliani, a former New York City mayor, has been a vocal proponent of baseless allegations of widespread fraud in the presidential election. Giuliani could appeal his suspension with YouTube or reapply to the Partner Program in 30 days if he addresses the underlying issues, the company said.

The Biden administration is purchasing an additional 200 million doses of the Covid-19 vaccine, a move that could provide enough doses for nearly every American to get fully inoculated by the end of the summer, a senior administration official said Tuesday. The new purchase of 100 million doses from Pfizer and 100 million from Moderna will be made available over the summer and are in addition to the 400 million combined doses the companies had already committed to providing to the U.S., the official said. The agreement will lessen the country's reliance on getting additional vaccines on the market from other manufacturers. The Trump administration had passed up on purchasing more vaccine doses from Pfizer and Moderna and was instead relying on additional vaccines from Johnson & Johnson and AstraZeneca coming to market. As of Jan. 26, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 23.5 million doses were administered and more than 3.4 million were people fully vaccinated.

That includes the surprise retirement announcement by Ohio Republican Sen. Portman's retirement is rightly understood as simply the latest piece of evidence that being a so-called establishment Republican -- or, really -- anything but a die-hard Trump Republican -- is no fun at all. And that series of retirement decisions follows several years of House Republicans walking away from Washington. He just spent four years under a Republican president with whom he disagreed on, well, a whole lot. A party that is barely recognizable from the one Portman has served in for much of the past three decades.

Experts are urging Biden administration officials to better understand the source behind Covid-19 vaccine skepticism across different Latino communities to improve vaccine rollout strategies nationwide. At least 28 percent of all Latinos surveyed by the Latino advocacy nonprofit UnidosUS in October reported that they were unlikely to get vaccinated for Covid-19. Over a third of all Latinas surveyed by UnidosUS stated they will likely not get vaccinated, compared to 22 percent of Latino men. The researchers are calling for officials to commission an in-depth study that identifies the most effective messaging strategies for different Latino subgroups. They also urge an aggressive use of fact-based information to counter the overwhelming amount of bilingual vaccine disinformation Latinos have been exposed to over the past months.

“It’s a totally different issue as far as I’m concerned,” Republican Senator Rob Portman told reporters. The vote came after the senators had been sworn in as jurors for the impeachment trial. ‘MATTER OF POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE’Fellow Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who has been critical of Trump, rejected Paul’s move. But no Senate Republicans have said definitively that they plan to vote to convict him. First elected to the chamber in 1974, Leahy, 80, is the most senior Democrat in the chamber and holds the title of Senate president pro tempore.

The town of Palm Beach, Florida, is reviewing Donald Trump’s use of his Mar-a-Lago Club as a residence, even as the former president is set to once again violate a length-of-stay provision he himself agreed to three decades ago. Palm Beach Mayor Kirk Blouin told HuffPost that Trump’s apparent decision to live there permanently is being examined by the town’s lawyer. “This matter is under legal review by our Town Attorney, John ‘Skip’ Randolph,” Blouin said, adding that the matter may come before the town council at its Feb. 8 meeting. It’s his club.”Nevertheless, Trump violated the seven-day limit three times during his four years in office, according to a HuffPost review of his travel schedule. Precisely why Trump insists on living at Mar-a-Lago in violation of his agreement is also unclear.

At least five people are believed to have died in connection with the riot. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was injured in the riot, died the following day. The officials insisted that the massive probe is not overwhelming investigators, prosecutors or the courts. And we do complex,” D’Antuono said, while acknowledging that in terms of the sheer number of suspects, the Capitol riot case stands alone. “If a crime was committed, whether it was inside or outside the Capitol, we are charging you,” Sherwin said.

Not long after the riot, insurrectionists knew they could be in trouble, with their largely unmasked faces in clear view, especially to family members and friends thousands of miles away. Reffitt allegedly said he would "do what he had to do" to his own family members in such an event, prompting the young man to ask: "Are you threatening us?" "I got in contact with the FBI after the Capitol riots about my dad," the younger Reffitt told KDFW. "I definitely feel like they should be held accountable for their actions," Helena Duke told NBC News. It’s like a betrayal of your family and you want to keep your family values whole."

Co-founder of the Lincoln Project Steve Schmidt remarks on the tough hand President Biden has been dealt by the Trump administration and its bungled coronavirus response

NBC News correspondent Garrett Haake and New York Times political reporter Nick Confessore on the difficulties the House Impeachment Managers will face after a majority of Republican senators voted against holding an impeachment trial

Democrats in Congress are looking to advance their longstanding goal of raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour, introducing legislation Tuesday that would do so over five years. "Minimum wage must be a living wage, enabling people to live with dignity. It is unacceptable that Congress has not passed an increase in the minimum wage since 2007 — 14 years ago.”President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion Covid-19 relief plan also contains a provision to raise the federal minimum wage from the current level of $7.25 an hour to the $15 minimum. The president also signed an executive order last week telling the Department of Labor to develop recommendations on providing the $15 minimum wage to federal workers. Marion said gaining $2.50 more an hour to bring her to the proposed minimum wage "would help us keep a permanent roof over our heads, food on our table, healthcare, and money to send them to college.

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro speaks during a ceremony marking the start of the judicial year at the Supreme Court in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix)CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro appears to be counting on yet another “miracle” to save his citizens from COVID-19, promoting a secretive solution with no published scientific evidence he claims will conquer the new coronavirus. “Ten drops under the tongue every four hours and the miracle is done,” Maduro said in a televised appearance on Sunday. Maduro said the treatment, which he called carvativir, has been under testing for nine months among Venezuelans ill with the coronavirus. Venezuela signed a contract in December with Russia to buy the vaccine, but inoculations aren’t scheduled to start until April.

Hundreds Identified, More Than 100 Arrested In Connection With Capitol InsurrectionEnlarge this image toggle caption Joe Raedle/Getty Images Joe Raedle/Getty ImagesThe Department of Justice has charged more than 150 people and identified hundreds more as suspects in the violent assault on the U.S. Capitol by supporters of former President Donald Trump. The acting U.S. attorney for Washington, D.C., Michael Sherwin, told reporters that the investigators have opened over 400 subject case files so far, although in some instances, authorities are still working to pin down the identity of the suspect. Sherwin said investigators are working off of tips from the public, in some instances provided by family members or friends of the suspects. As investigators gather more evidence, including from grand jury subpoenas and search warrants, he said prosecutors are looking to build more complex cases with more significant charges. "Everyone is all-in on these cases," Sherwin said.

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans voted overwhelmingly Tuesday against moving forward with Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial, making clear a conviction of the former president for “incitement of insurrection” is unlikely. That means the trial on Trump’s impeachment, the first ever of a former president, will begin as scheduled the week of Feb. 8. Not only are there legal concerns, but senators are wary of crossing the former president and his legions of followers. Chief Justice John Roberts is not presiding at the trial, as he did during Trump’s first impeachment, potentially affecting the gravitas of the proceedings. Instead, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D- Vt., who serves in the largely ceremonial role of Senate president pro tempore, was sworn in on Tuesday.

"Sen. Mitch McConnell has caved and Sen. Schumer has won that fight. No sooner has the portion of Rachel Maddow's interview with Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aired than Mitch McConnell has put out a statement that he is folding, ending the stand-off. "We will not let Mitch McConnell dictate to us what we will do and not do." Here's Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer earlier in his interview with Rachel Maddow, talking about the filibuster specifically, and getting things done. Senate Majority Leader Schumer cites Obama era lessons in prioritizing legislation over bad faith Republican 'bipartisanship.'

Mr Biden also raised concerns about Russian "aggression" against Ukraine, and reaffirmed Washington's "strong support for Ukraine's sovereignty." Mr Biden also raised concerns over Russian cyber hacking, interference in US elections, and treatment of peaceful protesters. Mr Biden made clear he would "act firmly in defence of our national interest in response to malign actions by Russia," the White House said. The Kremlin said Mr Putin told Mr Biden that he supports "normalisation" of relations between their two countries. Mr Navalny returned to Russia last week for the first time since he nearly died from poisoning with the nerve agent Novichok.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer then moved to table Paul’s point of order, blocking the effort to preemptively invalidate the impeachment trial. The resolution failed after a majority of senators voted against it, meaning the impeachment trial will go ahead as planned. At the close of the impeachment trial itself, at least 17 Republican senators would need to join Democrats in order to convict Trump. Editor’s Note: A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that McConnell voted to declare Trump’s impeachment trial unconstitutional. In fact, the minority leader voted against a motion to table Senator Paul’s point of order, which deems the trial unconstitutional.

The death of a person last week in Placer County has raised questions about a possible connection to a COVID-19 vaccine, and multiple agencies are investigating the fatality. Officials from the Placer County public health department and the Placer County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that the person, who died Thursday, had tested positive for the coronavirus in late December and had been given a vaccine several hours before dying. Placer County Public Health did not administer the vaccine and did not clarify in the statement whether the person had received the Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech shot. “Our thoughts are with the family of the deceased.”AdvertisementPlacer County public health officials declined to respond to questions Tuesday. During the first three weeks of the Moderna vaccine’s rollout in the U.S., there were 2.5 cases of anaphylaxis for every 1 million doses administered of the Moderna vaccine .

Advertisement’'The violence at the Capitol was a ‘false flag’ operation designed to discredit President Trump, his supporters, and all conservative Republicans; this provided the sham motivation to impeach President Trump in order to advance the Democratic goal of seizing total power,’' the resolution says. State Republican Parties nationwide have been castigating members for opposing Trump, voting to impeach him, and certifying Biden’s victory. Hours after Representative Tom Rice, Republican of South Carolina, voted to impeach Trump, the chairman of that state’s GOP released a scathing statement, blasting the congressman’s decision. Washington PostDonald Trump opens office to continue his agendaFormer president Donald Trump has opened an office to “advance the interests of the United States and to carry on the agenda” of his administration, according to a statement released Monday night. Bloomberg NewsTwitter bans account of MyPillow CEOTwitter has banned MyPillow chief executive Mike Lindell for amplifying misinformation, the latest blow to the ally of former president Donald Trump.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, focused on Putin’s response to Biden’s proposal to extend the last remaining US-Russia arms control treaty. Former president Donald Trump’s administration had withdrawn from two arms control treaties with Russia and had been prepared to let New START lapse. Before he spoke to Putin, Biden also called NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to pledge US commitment to the decades-old alliance founded as a bulwark against Russian aggression. It also said Putin congratulated Biden on becoming president and “noted that normalization of ties between Russia and the United States would serve the interests of both countries." Biden’s team has already reacted strongly to the crackdown on the protests, in which more than 3,700 people were arrested across Russia, including more than 1,400 in Moscow.

“Those in sanctuary have suffered enough,” read the letter to Biden led by Representative Joaquin Castro of Texas and Senators Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and signed by 27 other lawmakers. It also asks Biden to lift deportations against all people living in sanctuary within the first 100 days of his presidency, and to sign any legislation on behalf of people living in sanctuary. He had sued over a federal law that requires the Department of Homeland Security to consult with states before making changes to its policies. “The [deportation] moratorium is legally sound, morally necessary, and we are confident that this enormous miscarriage of justice will be rectified,” García said. Read the full letter:Reach Jazmine Ulloa at jazmine.ulloa@globe.com or on Twitter: @jazmineulloa.

Maricopa County Attorney Allister Adel is back to work part time after emergency brain surgery and treatment at Barrow Neurological Institute, her office said. "The county attorney has been in some form of communication with her executive team every day last week and periodically since late December," spokesperson Jennifer Liewer said. "As County Attorney, I have been clear that I will not prosecute a woman for her healthcare choices, and I stand by this position," Adel said in a statement. Blackman had endorsed Adel's appointment to the position by the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors, even though he lives in another Arizona county. The issue over prosecuting women for reproductive choices created heated exchanges between Adel and her Democratic opponent, Julie Gunnigle, during the 2020 county attorney race.

On Dec. 19, 2016, presidential electors across the nation, including Colorado, cast their ballots in their respective states. The Colorado electors were to vote in the Colorado capitol building. The vote of the Colorado electors was delayed due to the faithless elector controversy. Staff in the capitol building told us we could come inside to warm up if we left our signs outside. We went outside, picked up our signs and went home.

WASHINGTON – Wisconsin Republican Ron Johnson joined the vast majority of his GOP Senate colleagues in objecting Tuesday to the coming impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, a sign that Democrats are well short of the votes to convict Trump. A Republican motion to dismiss the impeachment case as unconstitutional failed 45-55. The trial of Trump, for "incitement of insurrection," is scheduled to begin Feb. 9. The Senate has in the past tried a former Cabinet official and former judges after leaving office. Mitt Romney of Utah, Susan Collins of Maine, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania joined Democrats in killing Paul's motion.

The Grafton pharmacist charged in Ozaukee County with trying to destroy COVID-19 vaccines has now agreed to plead guilty to federal tampering charges related to the same actions. Federal authorities charged Brandenburg, 46, Tuesday and filed his plea agreement at the same time. Brandenburg, a licensed pharmacist since 1997, worked the third shift at the Grafton hospital. "On the morning of December 26, 2020, 57 individuals at the Grafton Facility received doses of Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine that Brandenburg had previously removed from refrigeration. RELATED:Former Aurora pharmacist accused of intentionally destroying vaccine released from jail; charges uncertain until vials tested by ModernaContact Bruce Vielmetti at (414) 224-2187 or bvielmetti@jrn.com.

Nineteen apply to replace former state Sen. Yvanna Cancela, while six vie for ex-Assemblyman Alexander Assefa’s open seat. The Nevada Legislative Building in Carson City (K.M. Clary and fellow applicant David Lopez, who is a clerk for Nevada Defense Group, both ran for Las Vegas City Council in 2019. Levine, a longtime political director for Rep. Dina Titus, was appointed last summer to the Board of Regents to replace the late Sam Lieberman. The district serves about 129,000 people in a large swath of territory including the Strip and McCarran International Airport.

Felon and former 311 Boyz gang member Steven Gazlay is awaiting his release from custody after posting a bail bond in his mortgage fraud case. Ex-311 Boyz gang member Steven Gazlay appears in court at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, in his mortgage fraud case. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhotoEx-311 Boyz gang member Steven Gazlay appears in court at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, in his mortgage fraud case. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhotoEx-311 Boyz gang member Steven Gazlay arrives in court at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, for a hearing in his mortgage fraud case. Cannon/Las Vegas Review-Journal) @KMCannonPhotoEx-311 Boyz gang member Steven Gazlay waits in court at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, for a hearing in his mortgage fraud case.

It’s official — St. Paul Mayor Melvin Carter is running for re-election. Carter, a fourth-generation St. Paul resident, former city council member and son of a St. Paul police officer, won a four-year term in Nov. 2017 by a sizable margin, earning the title of the city’s first Black mayor and one of the youngest in city history. He ended election night with 51 percent of the vote, more than double the vote for second-place winner Pat Harris in a busy, ranked-choice election. Campaign finance reports on file with Ramsey County Elections show Carter begins the year with $81,000 in campaign funds on hand. The official filing period to run for St. Paul mayor is July 27 to Aug. 10.

The Army announcement has been long-planned, but it came just days after the Pentagon’s first Black defense secretary — Lloyd Austin — took over. Austin has vowed to try to root out racism and extremism in the ranks and foster more inclusion. Esper and many of the service leaders have also been taking steps to make the military more diverse, particularly in the higher ranks.

This month, Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Jody Luebbers became the first Democrat in at least a century to serve as the court's presiding judge. Luebbers, who has been a Common Pleas Court judge since 2008, was elected unanimously in December by her colleagues as the court's presiding and administrative judge. In that role, Luebbers is responsible for non-judicial court operations and duties, in addition to her own docket. Her father, Joseph Luebbers, was a Hamilton County Municipal Court judge for 30 years. Her great uncle, Al Luebbers, served as a judge in Hamilton County for 37 years.

Michael Balsamo and Colleen LongAssociated PressWashington — The Justice Department on Tuesday rescinded a Trump-era memo that established a “zero tolerance” enforcement policy for migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, which resulted in thousands of family separations. “Consistent with this longstanding principle of making individualized assessments in criminal cases, I am rescinding — effective immediately — the policy directive,” Wilkinson wrote. While the rescinding of “zero tolerance” is in part symbolic, it undoes the Trump administration’s massively unpopular policy responsible for the separation of more than 5,500 children from their parents at the U.S-Mexico border. Most families have not been prosecuted under zero tolerance since 2018, when the separations were halted, though separations have continued on a smaller scale. The “zero tolerance” policy was one of several increasingly restrictive policies aimed at discouraging migrants from coming to the Southern border.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The interim chief of the Capitol Police apologized Tuesday for failing to prepare for what became a violent insurrection despite having warnings that white supremacists and far-right groups would target Congress. Yogananda Pittman, in prepared testimony before Congress, said that the Capitol Police “failed to meet its own high standards as well as yours." “We knew that militia groups and white supremacists organizations would be attending,” Pittman wrote. “We also knew that some of these participants were intending to bring firearms and other weapons to the event. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that authorities have detected ominous chatter about killing legislators or attacking them outside the Capitol.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley just doesn’t want to make sure no murderers are executed, she’s also pushing the immediate release of all … fat prisoners. As Pressley blubbered in her press release, the panic “is claiming the lives of our most vulnerable.”Jailbirds are now our most vulnerable. So I did, asking her if she still supports her own Free Fat Felons bill. He was murdered in 1968 by Johnny Martorano, at the behest of Stevie Flemmi. Hey Ayanna, read up on the late Hubert Smith, Elizabeth Dixon and Douglas Barrett and tell me if you still think Stevie Flemmi should be “dismantled” from his life sentence.

The leaders of the General Assembly finance committees are laying the groundwork now for a hard look at Virginia tax policy - particularly how the state taxes income - for possible action as early as next year after election of a new governor and House of Delegates. Senate Finance Chairwoman Janet Howell, D-Fairfax, said Tuesday that she is forming a special joint subcommittee to look at the state's income tax and whether to make it more progressive by tying tax rates more closely to how much income people earn. On the other side of the assembly, House Finance Chairwoman Vivian Watts, D-Fairfax, is pushing for a detailed study of Virginia's income tax by the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission - over the objection of Republicans who hope to win back the governor's office and House majority in elections in November. The study resolution, pending before the House on Wednesday, would give JLARC until the end of 2022 to complete its work and report to the assembly at the beginning of its session in 2023. Watts said the two efforts should "dovetail," with preliminary conclusions by the subcommittee by the next session followed by more detailed recommendations after JLARC completes its work.

And, with a heavy domestic agenda and looming decisions needed on Iran and China, a direct confrontation with Russia is not likely something he seeks. Biden also raised the SolarWinds cyberhack, which has been attributed to Russia. reports of Russian bounties on American soldiers in Afghanistan, interference in the 2020 U.S. election, the poisoning of Navalny and the weekend crackdown on Navalny's supporters. “President Biden made clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to actions by Russia that harm us or our allies,” the White House said. Biden told Putin in the phone call, first reported by The Associated Press, that the U.S, would defend itself and take action, which could include further sanctions, to ensure that Moscow does not act with impunity, officials said.

"The projected shortfall will only in crease if any one or more of these items are added to the projections," Brown said in an email Tuesday. "You need to look at the fact that this pandemic has hit our city hard. "I'll be honest, as long as people are dying from this, my main worry is human life." Officials stressed that the presentation on the five-year revenue and expenditure projections Monday, which is required annually before Jan. 31, are based on early estimates that are subject to change. Fourth District Councilwoman Kristen Larson said projected budget shortfalls at this stage are fairly common.

“This bill is an overreaction to a few boaters who would best be handled individually through local enforcement for unsafe boating,” wrote one lake homeowner. “Denying recreation for 99% of the boaters because of the misdeeds of 1% of inconsiderate jerks is overkill and taking away people's rights of lake enjoyment. She’s delivered multiple speeches during session, much to the frustration of House Democrats tired of listening to the daily lectures from Republicans. Ken Plum, D-Fairfax, complained about the legislature getting involved in the “governance of Smith Mountain Lake.” Del. Marcus Simon, D-Fairfax, said the bill didn’t get a “proper discussion” in committees before it arrived to the House floor.

The international community considers both areas to be occupied territory, and the Palestinians seek them as parts of a future independent state. Mills said peace can’t be imposed on either side and stressed that progress and an ultimate solution require the participation and agreement of Israelis and Palestinians. “In order to advance these objectives, the Biden administration will restore credible U.S. engagement with Palestinians as well as Israelis,” he said. “This will involve renewing U.S. relations with the Palestinian leadership and Palestinian people,” Mills said. The Trump administration closed the office of the Palestine Liberation Organization in Washington in September 2018, effectively shutting down the Palestinians’ diplomatic mission to the United States.

WASHINGTON — The C.I.A.’s counterintelligence chief sent a note to retired officers this week warning against working for foreign governments either directly or indirectly. Across the government, there has been a push to raise awareness of foreign governments trying to get information from former officials. The warnings against working for foreign governments and disclosing sensitive material to the public were not touched off by any single incident or disclosure. More broadly, former intelligence officers consulting for foreign governments and companies have drawn scrutiny and criticism in recent years. Warns Former Officers About Working for Foreign Governments appeared first on New York Times.

Donald Trump is suspended from posting to YouTube indefinitely after the video platform’s parent company Google extended a ban put in place this month. “In light of concerns about the ongoing potential for violence, the Donald J Trump channel will remain suspended,” a YouTube spokesperson said. “Our teams are staying vigilant and closely monitoring for any new developments.”YouTube had announced on 12 January, following the insurrection at the Capitol, that it would suspend Trump’s account indefinitely. Under the suspension, Trump’s account will remain online but the former president will not be able to post new videos. YouTube is one of several major tech platforms that took action against Trump in early January, citing a risk his messages could incite violence.

Washington also withdrew 300 of its soldiers operating across Africa, before the Senate stalled further cuts to troop numbers. “All my experience tells me that in Africa, radicalisation and the [counter terrorism threat] are going in the wrong direction,” Mr Wallace told the Telegraph. “The spread of radicalisation on both sides of Africa often meets no barriers at all. "[In West Africa,] Boko Haram is gaining momentum, as are the Islamists in [the Sahel region, underneath the Sahara desert]. If radicalisation takes hold and if the states are not robust or resilient enough, it can spread really quickly."

In true regulatory state style, it merely established bureaucratic guidelines that outsourced all the real work to local government, healthcare providers and others, gathered in “local resilience fora”. Years before Covid-19, the UK government tested the regulatory state to see if it could withstand a pandemic. Some organisations named in the 2011 pandemic strategy document no longer existed, while others had yet to develop any plans. In fact, ministers were just following the agreed playbook and the diminished ambitions of Britain’s regulatory state. Political failure was compounded by institutional failure, as the hollowed-out regulatory state all but collapsed.

The prospect of Donald Trump being convicted in his second impeachment trial receded after the overwhelming majority of Republican Senators voted that the move was unconstitutional. Only five Republicans joined forces with the Democrats in voting down a Republican attempt to stop the hearing even taking place. Although the move to head off the trial was voted down by 55 votes to 45, it demonstrated that the Democrats’ chances of securing the 17 votes needed to convict the former president are slim. The vote came 24 hours after Democrats in the House of Representatives delivered the article of impeachment, accusing Mr Trump of “incitement of insurrection” following the Capitol Hill riots on January 6 which claimed five lives. Mr Trump will be the only US president to be impeached twice and the first to face trial after he left office.

The Lincoln Project slammed Missouri Senator Josh Hawley in its latest ad, tweeting that he “knew what he was doing. It opens up on Mr Trump saying: "Josh Hawley will be one of the greatest champions," at a rally. Before they attacked the Capitol, Mr Hawley could be seen raising his fist to the crowd in apparent support. Larry Sabato, the director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, tweeted on 9 January that “many senators now despise" Mr Hawley. from the stage at the ellipse next to the National Mall where Mr Trump spoke before the riot.

The Biden administration has purchased an additional 200 million vaccine doses from Moderna and Pfizer in an effort to vaccinate 300 million Americans by the end of summer. “This is enough vaccine to fully vaccinate 300 [million] Americans by end of the summer, beginning of the fall,” President Joe Biden said on Tuesday when making the announcement. Already the federal government received a commitment of 400 million doses between Pfizer and Moderna. The additional purchase from the two companies, which the country will receive by the summer, would bring the federal governments total stockpile to 600 million doses. Since each vaccine requires two doses, that means 300 million Americans could potentially access the jab in the summer months.

President Joe Biden has revoked the “zero tolerance” policy of prosecuting immigrants who illegally crossed the US-Mexico border for illegal entry, separating thousands of children from their families, according to the Associated Press. Most families have not been prosecuted under the Donald Trump-era policy since 2018, when the administration halted the policy. But rescinding the policy is likely to prevent the prosecution of individuals who cross the border seeking asylum. Roughly 5,500 children were separated under the Trump administration; many of their parents and families were deported without them. Lawmakers have also urged the president to create a task force to begin reuniting children with their families.

Fox News host Tucker Carlson is once again courting controversy after he likened media criticism of the QAnon movement to government censorship of the mind. After playing a montage of news clips that featured reporters arguing that QAnon is dangerous, Carlson railed against the idea of government censorship of people's minds. Carlson has invited QAnon adherents onto his show in the past. Members of the QAnon conspiracy theory movement participated in the attack on the US Capitol on 6 January. Travis View, the host of Q Anon Anonymous, a podcast that has followed the Q movement since its early days, dismissed Carlson's complaint.

I mean at some point, I mean give the man a break,” she told Fox’s Laura Ingraham. Following the 6 January attack on the capitol, Ms Haley, a Republican who previously served as South Carolina’s governor, harshly condemned those involved in the riot. “There are no excuses or defense for this moment,” Ms Haley wrote on 9 January. “If we are the party of personal responsibility, we need to take personal responsibility,” Ms Haley reportedly told the Republican National Committee’s winter meeting. “I’m really proud of the successes of the Trump administration,” Ms Haley recently wrote on Twitter.

Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy asked Mr Biden what he discussed with Mr Putin on a recent call between the leaders. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed that Mr Biden called Mr Putin on Tuesday. According to the White House, Mr Biden told Mr Putin that the US would defend itself from "malign actions by Russia". The Kremlin had a different account of the call, stating that Mr Putin and Mr Biden discussed "topical issues" like the economy and the coronavirus. Mr Biden reportedly wanted to call other European leaders prior to his call with Mr Putin to gauge their concerns.

The head of Capitol Police has apologised for "failings" during the deadly rioting in Washington DC earlier this month. Acting chief Yogananda Pittman said her department "failed to meet its own high standards" when it failed to prevent Donald Trump supporters storming the Capitol on 6 January. The force admitted it inadequately prepared for Mr Trump's Save America Rally that day, and the chaos that might ensue. She added: "The insurrectionists' actions and the department's inability to immediately secure the US Capitol emboldened the insurrectionists and horrified millions of Americans. The chief of Capitol Police at the time, as well as and House sergeant at arms, have since stepped down from their roles.

The high-profile opposition figure, a vocal critic of the Russian president, was jailed after returning to Moscow from Germany, where he was recovering after being exposed to novichok. His arrest sparked protests across Russia and led to 3,700 arrests, and more demonstrations are planned for the coming weekend. Moscow had contacted the White House to request the call last week, with Mr Biden opting to speak to European allies first - including the UK, Germany and France. Image: Mr Putin's relationship with Mr Biden will likely be a lot different to the one he had with the last US president. File picOn the call, Mr Biden also warned that the US is willing to defend itself - and enforce further sanctions - if Moscow acts with impunity.

Donald Trump was cultivated as a Russian asset more than 40 years ago which exploded into a decades-long 'relationship' of mutual benefit to both Russia and Trump, a shocking new book claims. A new book claims Donald Trump was cultivated as a Russian asset more than 40 years ago and that exploded into a decades long 'relationship' of mutual benefit to both Russia and Trump. Donald Trump and Tamir Sapir at the Trump Soho Launch on September 19, 2007 in New York City. It was a world of unimaginable decadence – gorgeous young women, private planes, spectacular residences – and sex with young girls. Trump and Putin pictured in 2017Enraged, Epstein never spoke to Trump again but showed around photos of Trump with topless young girls and one photo with semen stained pants.

A man from upstate New York has been charged with storming the US Capitol after videos have emerged on social media showing him smoking a joint inside the government building and bragging about it. On January 6, another co-worker of Bonet’s sent a screen-recorded video to their colleagues in a group chat showing him at the Capitol. In the video that shows this screenshot, Bonet reportedly can be heard responding to the chant 'Whose house?' Another video from the screen recording is taken from inside the Crypt of the Capitol, where Bonet is filming rioters celebrating and chanting. A third video, titled 'Made it in,' captures Bonet saying: 'we made it in the building b****es!

FILE PHOTO: Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin (R) shakes hands with U.S. Vice President Joe Biden during their meeting in Moscow March 10, 2011. But White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Biden also raised a raft of worries about the Russian authorities' treatment of opposition members, including the "poisoning of Alexei Navalny." The Kremlin said that in their call Putin and Biden "expressed satisfaction" over talks and the Russian leader later submitted a bill to parliament on the five-year extension. Biden confronted Putin on both issues. In addition to raising Navalny's case, Biden flagged the "treatment of peaceful protesters by Russian security forces."

The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Tuesday rescinded the Trump administration's “zero tolerance” border policy that led to separations of migrant families who entered the U.S. illegally. “Consistent with this longstanding principle of making individualized assessments in criminal cases, I am rescinding — effective immediately — the policy directive,” Wilkinson wrote in the memo obtained by The Hill. The rescission of the policy serves as one of the Biden’s administration’s first efforts to undo certain immigration restrictions during the Trump era. Under the zero tolerance policy, which was in effect from April 2018 to June 2018, all adults who illegally entered the U.S., including those with children, were referred for prosecution. Most cases prosecuted under the zero tolerance policy were done so in 2018, before the Trump administration stopped implementing family separations.

The move, though largely symbolic, officially removes the policy from the Justice Department's guidance to federal prosecutors and instructs prosecutors to use discretion when prosecuting misdemeanor border offenses. Though former President Trump ended the practice of separating migrant children when their parents were prosecuted through a June 20, 2018 executive order, the policy of zero tolerance, which directs U.S. Prior to zero tolerance, more serious border offenses, including violent offenses or illegal reentry at the border, were more commonly charged in federal court. "While the zero tolerance memo is a good start, what is really needed is for Congress to repeal provisions authorizing criminal penalties for illegal entry. In the meantime, we hope the Biden administration will not prosecute parents for illegal entry where doing so would mean family separation," Gelernt said.

“I am here to offer my sincerest apologies on behalf of the department,” she said. “Let me be clear, the department should have been more prepared for this attack,” Pittman added. “By January 4th, the department knew that the January 6th event would not be like any of the previous protests held in 2020. We knew that militia groups and white supremacist organizations would be attending. “So Capitol Police now admit they knew of potential for violence,” he noted via Twitter.

Reliable sources have informed SOHR that US forces continue their movements in north-east Syria region, as they brought in new military reinforcement, including Armoured vehicles and tanks, to their military base in Al-Malikiyah (Dayrik) in Al-Hasakah countryside near the Syria-Turkey border. US forces also conducted a patrol on the border strip in the area as a part of recent unusual movements in the region. In the past 48 hours, US forces brought in similar reinforcement to the same base, amid reports of their intention to establish a new base in Al-Malikiyah countryside (Dayrik) near the border triangle of Syria-Turkey-Iraq. A few hours ago, US forces ran a patrol of US armoured “Bradley” vehicles and other military vehicles today. The patrol took Al-Qamishli- Al-Malikiyah road from Kharab Al-Jir airbase in the south of Rumaylan town to Al-Malikiyah town (Dayrik).

Israeli intelligence is closely watching the Iranian nuclear facilities. “This pressure will continue and grow, as a preparation for a direct attack on targets in Iran,” the Israeli source here added. He said Israel could attack Iran’s nuclear program if the United States rejoined the nuclear deal, as US President-elect Joe Biden has indicated he plans to do. Israel will be left alone to act in open and covert actions against the Iranian nuclear program. Iran currently has 4.5% enriched material that, if enriched further, will be sufficient for more than two nuclear explosive devices.

Turkey sends 25 Military advisers to "support the Iraqi army"Category: Iraq NewsDate: 2021-01-26T12:56:16+0000Shafaq News / The Turkish Ministry of Defense announced that it had sent 25 military advisers to Baghdad to support the Iraqi army within the NATO mission. Last week, Turkish Defense Minister Hulusi Akar visited Iraq and held a series of "successful" meetings with officials in Baghdad and Erbil, to discuss security issues of common interests. "After intensive talks, we noticed the convergence of views between the two parties. We reached understandings on many issues." relatedTurkey arrests al-Baghdadi 's sisterDate: 2019-11-05 08:09:45Iraqis deported from Turkey on charges of terrorismDate: 2020-09-28 15:53:48Turkey reveals details of its military operation in IraqDate: 2020-06-15 09:41:56Turkey withdraws from Observation post in Syria’ AleppoDate: 2020-12-10 07:33:44Suspending flights between Iraq and Turkey until early OctoberDate: 2020-08-31 15:20:43Ministry of Immigration announces the return of 64 Iraqi refugees from TurkeyDate: 2019-11-07 12:06:35Turkey to suspend flights with IraqDate: 2020-10-01 19:40:15Iraq stops the visa granted facilities to the TurksDate: 2020-07-28 14:21:45

President Joe Biden had his first call with Russian President Vladimir Putin since taking office — and he immediately brought up several major points of contention between the US and Russia that his predecessor, former President Donald Trump, notoriously refused to address. Based on the litany of topics she relayed, it sounds like Biden took Putin to task in what was surely an uncomfortable conversation. If it seems like Biden was trying to stand his ground against Putin, it’s because he was, his staff told reporters. And in multiple meetings with Putin, Trump seemed to accept the Russian president’s denials that the Kremlin had meddled in America’s democratic process. In early 2018, Trump’s aides told him not to congratulate Putin on his reelection as Russia’s president during a call.

Seattle City Attorney Pete Holmes said by the end of October, the Seattle Police Department had referred 261 protest-related misdemeanor cases to his office, which declined 143 of them. Those remaining cases “have not been given a pass. “But we will get to them when the court can handle them.”The City Attorney's office has filed about nine cases related to several months of protests against police violence. Holmes said there are three active cases remaining. “The press conference itself was a bit of a surprise to me — actually a complete surprise,” Holmes said.

A court-appointed committee has yet to find the parents of 628 children separated at the border early in the Trump administration. A court-appointed committee has yet to find the parents of 628 children separated at the border early in the Trump administration. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Tuesday rescinded a Trump-era memo that established a “zero tolerance” enforcement policy for migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, which resulted in thousands of family separations. Most families have not been prosecuted under zero tolerance since 2018, when the separations were halted, though separations have continued on a smaller scale. The “zero tolerance” policy was one of several increasingly restrictive policies aimed at discouraging migrants from coming to the Southern border.

Kellyanne Conway, ex-counselor to disgraced former President Trump, allegedly posted a topless picture of her daughter Claudia, 16, on on Monday. Kellyanne Conway could not be reached for comment. The Fleet was removed but not before Twitter users documented it. In the videos, a visibly upset Claudia Conway speculated that her mother may have accidentally posted the image. If you see it, report it.”In one of the TikTok videos, Claudia Conway said that “nobody would ever have any photo like that, ever.

The Oklahoma Attorney General’s Office has been tasked with attempting to return a $2 million stockpile of a malaria drug once touted by former President Donald Trump as a way to treat the coronavirus. Alex Gerszewski, a spokesman for Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter, told The Frontier this week that the AG’s office was working with the state health department “to try to figure out a solution.”Gerszewski said Hunter’s office had gotten involved at the request of the Oklahoma State Department of Health. Stitt wasn’t alone in his support of hydroxychloroquine as a treatment for the coronavirus. In August, Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, promoted hydroxychloroquine as a viable treatment after he had contracted COVID-19. FFF Enterprises did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

And on January 19th, the day before Biden was sworn in as President, McConnell shocked political circles by denouncing Trump even more directly. But John Yarmuth, a Democratic representative from Louisville, Kentucky, who has known McConnell since the late sixties, told me he’d long predicted that the alliance between Trump and McConnell would end once the President could no longer help McConnell. But any pretense that McConnell could maintain control over Trump or over the Party’s fate unravelled after the 2020 election. “Trump could have attacked” the two Republican Senate candidates, Kelly Loeffler and David Perdue, or the National Republican Senate Campaign Committee. He has decided to cut his losses, and do what he can to make sure Trump is no longer a threat to the Republican Party.” McConnell and other Republican leaders, Manley suggested, “have gotten as much out of Trump as they can, and it’s now time to make sure Trump is damaged goods.”But the risks for McConnell and other Senate Republicans are high.

ET Microsoft’s Profits Rise 33%, Driven by Cloud Computing and Xbox: Live UpdatesMicrosoft profits jump 33 percent as pandemic continues shift to cloud computing. Ms. Yellen is the nation’s 78th Treasury secretary and the first woman to head the institution in its 232-year history. Standing outside the White House, Ms. Yellen took the oath of office with her husband, the economist George Akerlof, and her son by her side. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:01 - 0:00 transcript Biden’s Commerce Secretary Nominee Testifies Before Senate Gov. In this time of overlapping crisis, the Commerce Department must be a partner to businesses and workers to help them innovate and grow.” Gov.

But for now, the vote signaled the likelihood that Mr. Trump would for the second time in a year be acquitted by the Senate in an impeachment trial, spared by loyal Republicans who were reluctant to break with him. Immediately after taking office, Mr. Biden began dismantling some of his predecessor’s initiatives that were intended to curb both legal and illegal immigration to the United States. Mr. Blanton was nominated by Mr. Trump in December 2019 and confirmed by the Senate that same month. Mr. Biden also said the federal government’s weekly allocations of coronavirus vaccines would increase by about 1.4 million doses starting next week. In fact, it’s gotten worse.” All are departures from the foreign policies under Mr. Trump.

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene's appeared to endorse baseless conspiracy theories about school shootings in 2018, before she got elected to CongressGun violence prevention organizations are calling for freshman Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene to resign after it was revealed she publicly expressed support for baseless conspiracy theories that school shootings in Sandy Hook, Conn., and Parkland, Fla., never happened. "Taylor Greene's lies traumatize the survivors of shooting tragedies and put their safety in danger. Parents who lost children that day, including Nicole Hockley, whose son Dylan, 6, was killed along with 19 other first graders and 6 educators in one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history, are stunned by Greene's comments. Image zoom Mark and Daniel BardenBesides expressing her support for baseless theories about the school shootings, Greene has publicly expressed belief in the imaginary QAnon conspiracy theory, whose predictions about the 2020 election and other issues failed to materialize. In an emailed statement to PEOPLE, Greene's communications director Nick Dyer wrote, "Congresswoman Greene isn't concerned about what national Democrat fundraising groups have to say about her.

Last Thursday, seven Democratic lawmakers said that Hawley and Cruz's objection to the votes were grounds for an investigation by the Senate Ethics Committee. He closed his letter by writing that he would "not be intimidated" by attempts to blame him for inciting the riot. The dueling ethics complaints underscore the fallout from the attack, which forced lawmakers into hiding as throngs of Trump's supporters overwhelmed police and breached the Capitol. While both Hawley and Cruz have denounced the violence, they've also pushed back against criticism for their comments leading up to the insurrection. Representatives for Cruz and Hawley did not immediately respond to a request for further comment on Tuesday.

The three senior officials are the first Cabinet-level confirmations in a spate of history-making nominees in Joe Biden's administrationSeveral of President Joe Biden's Cabinet or Cabinet-level choices made history with their confirmations, days into his new administration. Janet Yellen was confirmed as the first female treasury secretary on Monday, days after the Senate confirmations of Avril Haines, the first woman to serve as director of national intelligence, and retired four-star Gen. Lloyd Austin as the first Black secretary of Defense. Monday's 84-to-15 vote marked the sixth time Yellen, 74, has been confirmed by the Senate. Former President Donald Trump also asked Congress to waive that same law for his first nominee for defense secretary: retired Marine Gen. James Mattis. His vice president, Kamala Harris, is the first woman and first Black and Asian person to hold her office.

"As a part of this administration's accessibility and inclusion efforts, starting today we will have an ASL, an American Sign Language interpreter, for our daily press briefings," Psaki said. "The White House's failure to provide ASL interpreters during Covid-19 related briefings, including press briefings, is against the law," the lawsuit argued, according to CNN. A court eventually ordered the White House to provide ASL interpreters at all COVID-19 briefings. Following the court order, the first interpreters began appearing White House briefings in November, according to NAD. NAD issued a statement this week lauding the decision by Joe Biden's administration to include ASL interpreters in all White House briefings.

UPDATE: On Tuesday, Jan. 26, a judge denied Mossimo Giannulli's request to modify his sentence after he spent 56 days in solitary confinement. In court documents obtained by E!

GOP senators to question basis for Trump impeachment, signaling likely acquittalAdded: 26.01.2021 20:04 | 11 views | 0 commentsSen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) offered procedural objection to the forthcoming impeachment trial, prompting a test vote that showed deep support in the GOP ranks for a theory questioning the constitutionality of impeaching a former president.

Live updates: In first call with Putin, Biden pressed Russian president on several issues, White House saysAdded: 26.01.2021 19:09 | 10 views | 0 commentsBiden plans to sign the latest batch of executive actions in the opening days of his presidency. He will speak later Tuesday about the containing the coronavirus pandemic.

Barr and Judiciary Committee clash in contentious hearingAdded: 29.07.2020 11:37 | 9 views | 0 commentsSource: alumni.msu.eduIn his opening statement, Barr told the committee that "what I'm trying to do is restore the rule of law." More in feeds.cbsnews.com »

Nearly all GOP senators vote against impeachment trial for Trump, signaling likely acquittalAdded: 26.01.2021 20:36 | 11 views | 0 commentsSen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) offered a procedural objection questioning the constitutionality of impeaching a former president, and it won the backing of all but 5 Republicans.

Democrats turn to quick action on Biden covid relief bill after power-sharing deal in SenateAdded: 26.01.2021 20:25 | 11 views | 0 commentsIn a bracing floor speech, the longtime Republican leader said the minority would grind the chamber to a halt if the 60-vote supermajority requirement is eliminated.

Added: 29.07.2020 15:29 | 11 views | 0 commentsSenate Republicans on Monday proposed a coronavirus relief plan that would significantly reduce the $600 weekly jobless benefit for Americans, a move that Democrats oppose. Meanwhile, President Trump's national security adviser, Robert O'Brien, became the highest-ranking administration official to test positive for COVID-19. Paula Reid reports.

Added: 29.07.2020 15:10 | 10 views | 0 commentsPresumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden says he's close to choosing a running mate. The former vice president said the decision will come next week. Ed O'Keefe reports from the campaign trail.

Added: 29.07.2020 14:09 | 11 views | 0 commentsTrump's reelection campaign and campaign committee are accused of hiding nearly $170 million in spending to vendors and Trump relations by funneling money through firms led by Brad Parscale and campaign officials.

Author Robert Draper on what led the U.S. to war in IraqAdded: 29.07.2020 12:02 | 11 views | 0 commentsOn "Intelligence Matters," Mike Morell and Draper discuss the key players, events and decisions that led to the George W. Bush administration's invasion of Iraq more than 15 years ago.

Added: 29.07.2020 16:29 | 11 views | 0 commentsActivists following in the footsteps of the late Congressman John Lewis are keeping up the fight for Black voters' rights. With less than 100 days to go until the presidential election, LaTosha Brown, co-founder of the Black Voters Matter Fund, joined CBSN's "Countdown to the Vote" special with more.

Added: 29.07.2020 16:29 | 11 views | 0 commentsPresident Trump's national security adviser Robert O’Brien is in quarantine after testing positive for the coronavirus. This comes as Mr. Trump touts progress in the race for a vaccine during a trip to battleground state North Carolina. Ben Tracy reports.

Added: 29.07.2020 15:40 | 8 views | 0 commentsAs U.S. COVID-19 deaths near 150,000, White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany joins "CBS This Morning" to discuss President Trump's controversial comments on hydroxychloroquine, which has been deemed not effective by medical professionals, and his retweeting of a video that contains mixed messaging on masks.

Added: 26.01.2021 3:47 | 18 views | 0 commentsMOSCOW — Allies of jailed Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, who faces years in prison, called for new protests next weekend to demand his release, following a wave of demonstrations that turned out tens of thousands across the country in a defiant challenge to President Vladimir Putin. Mass rallies took place Saturday in over 100 cities in what observers said was the largest outpouring of anger in years, and Navalny's supporters urged protesters to keep up the pressure. Navalny strategist Leonid Volkov tweeted Monday for more demonstrations on Jan. 31 in "all Russian cities. ... For Navalny's freedom. For our freedom.

Added: 26.01.2021 12:17 | 15 views | 0 commentsThe Russian side of the Russian-Turkish commission monitoring the implementation of the Syrian truce has registered 19 ceasefire violations in Syria over the past 24 hours, while the Turkish side has registered 13 truce breaches, the Russian Defense Ministry said on Tuesday MOSCOW (UrduPoint News / Sputnik...

Italian premier Conte resigns, sparking scramble for new alliesAdded: 26.01.2021 13:18 | 16 views | 0 commentsSource: www.breitbart.comItalian premier Giuseppe Conte has resigned after a key coalition ally withdrew his party’s support over the handling of the coronavirus pandemic, setting the stage for consultations this week to determine if he can form a third government. Mr Conte tendered his resignation to President Sergio Mattarella, who held off on any immediate decision other than to ask him to keep the government running in the near-term, Mr Mattarella’s office said. The president will begin consulting leaders of political parties... More in article.wn.com » President, SPA Tags: Government

Added: 26.01.2021 11:16 | 22 views | 0 commentsJOE BIDEN was recently inaugurated as America's 46th President, but it seems Mr Biden will have to wait before he receives the same honour the Queen awarded to Donald Trump.

Piers Morgan points out Joe Biden's 'Trump-sized lie' just days into new administrationAdded: 26.01.2021 13:17 | 12 views | 0 commentsPIERS MORGAN has already criticised Joe Biden's US presidency, pointing out his "Trump-sized lie" regarding the roll-out of the covid vaccine.

Donald Trump What is the Office of the Former President? Where is it? Added: 26.01.2021 17:19 | 16 views | 0 commentsDONALD TRUMP became an ex-President last week, as Joe Biden took his seat in the White House Oval Office and set up a new Office of the President. What is the Office of the Former President, and where is it?

Most Senate Republicans back measure saying Trump impeachment trial is unconstitutionalAdded: 26.01.2021 20:52 | 12 views | 0 commentsTrump's status as a former president has led to disagreement over the constitutionality of the trial.

Push to rename New York's Trump State Park after Sojourner Truth may not succeed. Here's whyAdded: 26.01.2021 20:17 | 9 views | 0 commentsThere are renewed calls for President Donald Trump's name to be removed from a state park in New York. That's not so easy to do.

McFarland: Iran has 'no leverage left' to pressure US to rejoin 2015 nuclear dealAdded: 26.01.2021 21:58 | 5 views | 0 commentsIran has "no leverage left" over the U.S. that would enable them to pressure the Biden administration to rejoin the 2015 nuclear deal, former Deputy National Security Adviser K.T. McFarland told "The Story" Tuesday.

CNN pundit mocked for claiming McConnell would 'kill the filibuster', despite not doing so in six yearsAdded: 26.01.2021 22:13 | 6 views | 0 commentsCNN contributor Hilary Rosen raised eyebrows on Monday night over her assertion that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell would "kill the filibuster" if he had the chance.

Added: 26.01.2021 19:55 | 8 views | 0 commentsHow long his President Biden's honeymoon period lasts and whether he can unify a deeply divided nation is anyone's guess.

Virginia police department fires 2 officers for storming US Capitol, official saysAdded: 26.01.2021 21:22 | 5 views | 0 commentsThe two officers, former Sgt. Thomas "T.J." Robertson and former Officer Jacob Fracker, were charged in the storming of the U.S. Capitol this month.

Added: 26.01.2021 21:16 | 8 views | 0 commentsKnown to millions around the world for her staunch defence of Trump, now it's her turn to speak for herself.

The original Buy American Act, which codifies these procedures, was created under President Herbert Hoover in 1933--also a time of economic stress. Buy American BacklashOf course, some businesses may lose out in the effort, adds Kerrigan. Former President Donald Trump also boasted Buy American policies through his "America First" agenda. The day before he left office, Trump also issued a final rule increasing the percentage of U.S.-made content that an end product may contain to qualify under "Buy American" rules. It also increased the price preferences for domestic goods under the Buy American Act.

Kellyanne Conway. Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP via Getty ImagesPolice in Alpine, New Jersey, say they are investigating former Trump adviser Kellyanne Conway. The announcement comes a day after a topless photo of Conway’s 16-year-old daughter, Claudia, was reportedly posted to Kellyanne’s official Twitter account. According to the Post, four police officers showed up at the Conway mansion in Alpine on Tuesday morning and spent about an hour inside before leaving. On January 19, Claudia posted a since-deleted TikTok containing footage from several incidents.

Georgia’s latest wingnut star, Marjorie Taylor Greene. And if you want to see the tip of the spear of unrepentant MAGA fury, a good barometer is freshman Georgia congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene. Greene thinks Biden should be impeached for “enabling” bribery and other misdeeds by his son. Hey, we’ll impeach Biden for what he did as vice-president four years after he left that office! If you want to see where the MAGA movement is going next, keep an eye on Marjorie Taylor Greene.

Photo: Seth Wenig/AP/ShutterstockA Delaware bankruptcy judge has approved a settlement of more than $17 million for women who have accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual misconduct. Under this agreement, accusers would submit claims, and the amount they receive would depend on the type of allegation. “This bankruptcy plan guarantees that Harvey Weinstein’s survivors will have the opportunity to be heard in a safe and confidential process. Under this plan, accusers can’t pursue legal claims against officers at the Weinstein Company — even if they wanted to opt out of the deal. It is possible to appeal the settlement plan.

Biden may not have much of a honeymoon in Congress or in public opinion, but he’s off to a better start than his predecessor. The reliably Republican-tilting robo-pollster Rasmussen, the only survey that regularly showed Trump at over 50 percent job approval, now has Biden at 48 percent approval, with 47 percent disapproval. Reuters/Ipsos, an online survey that doesn’t have much history of partisan lean, has Biden’s job approval at 57 among registered voters, with 32 percent disapproval (Biden’s job approval is 92 percent among Democrats, 21 percent among Republicans, and 52 percent among independents). So there are no signs just yet of any huge Biden public-opinion honeymoon, but he’s in better shape than Trump was for pretty much all of his presidency. But Clinton, George W. Bush, and Trump fell well short of that mark (Trump most conspicuously, at 41.4 percent approval).

Senate filibuster fight cools, but battles loomThe Senate is moving ahead with a power-sharing agreement after Minority Leader Mitch McConnell dropped his demands about preserving the filibuster, but the truce may be only temporary.

President Joe Biden is pushing full-steam ahead with more executive orders that undo former President Donald Trump's policies. Meanwhile, the Senate is ironing out details for Trump's impeachment trial. And amid it all, Biden and Republicans are still figuring out how to get along. 'A more equitable society'After focusing his first few days on the coronavirus pandemic, Biden is turning the spotlight on racial inequality. Trump's Senate impeachment trial is unusual in a number of ways.

AP Top Stories January 26 PHere's the latest from The Associated Press for Jan. 26th: Janet Yellen sworn in as Treasury Secretary; New COVID variant detected in Georgia; Thousands protest in India; Snow blankets midwest.

Biden replaces WH doctor, models virus safety tipsPresident Joe Biden has brought back Dr. Kevin O’Connor as his physician, replacing President Donald Trump’s doctor with the one who oversaw his care when he was vice president. (January 26)

President Biden jokes about phone call with Vladimir PutinPresident Biden joked around when a reporter asked about his first phone call with Vladimir Putin.

The far-reaching investigation into the deadly Jan. 6 Capitol siege continues to grow, as more than 400 suspects have been identified by federal authorities who expect to bring sedition charges against some of those linked to the insurrection. "We are working on those (sedition) cases," said Michael Sherwin, the chief federal prosecutor overseeing the inquiry, adding that officials expected the investigations to "bear fruit very soon." Nearly three weeks after the assault, which left five dead, at least 138 people have been arrested, and Sherwin said the numbers are "growing by the hour." "These cases are moving at a very rapid clip," the prosecutor said, referring to a flurry of 500 subpoenas and search warrants issued in support of the inquiry. D'Antuono said the components of the devices made them "viable" threats until they were discovered and disarmed by authorities.

You had better have a word with him,” Lemke allegedly wrote in the text message. On the same day, Lemke also allegedly texted a family member of an unidentified journalist while she was in the Bronx, the complaint states. After the threats were reported, investigators tracked down details about Lemke’s phone and his social media accounts. On his social media accounts, Lemke claimed to be an Air Force veteran and a retired sergeant in the Alameda Sheriff’s Office, prosecutors wrote in the complaint. “There is very false information on social media that a Robert Lemke worked for the Alameda County Sheriff.

“Time is of the essence to address this crisis,” Schumer (D-NY) said Tuesday during a briefing with Senate Democratic leaders. The first step to pursuing COVID relief legislation and reconciliation would be to pass a budget resolution. Schumer and McConnell have come to a tenuous understanding on the filibuster, which requires 60 votes to pass legislation. But Schumer is turning to reconciliation, which would allow Democrats to pass certain spending items as part of the COVID-19 package. Democrats control the chamber in a 50-50 split, with Vice President Kamala Harris poised to cast a tie-breaking vote.

Federal authorities are building sedition cases against some rioters who stormed the US Capital — and may bring indictments against those suspects “very soon,” a federal prosecutor said Tuesday. “We are closely looking at evidence related to the sedition charges … We are working on those cases. I think the results will bear fruit very soon,” Michael Sherwin, the acting US attorney for Washington, DC, said on a conference call with reporters. He added sedition charges against suspects would be in “significant” cases related to the Jan. 6 riot and would carry a 20-year sentence in federal prison. Sherwin’s office has brought federal charges against 150 suspected rioters in the three weeks since the siege, and they are continuing to investigate the more complicated cases they are hoping to bring in the upcoming weeks.

WASHINGTON — Five Republican Senators broke with their party on Tuesday afternoon and voted with Democrats to allow President Trump’s impeachment trial to proceed. GOP Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky introduced a motion to dismiss the trial, arguing the impeachment proceedings would be unconstitutional since Trump is now a private citizenBut the measure was blocked on a 55-45 vote with GOP Sens. Romney was the only Republican to vote to convict Trump on the abuse of power charge during his previous impeachment trial. The vote could suggest how lawmakers will vote during Trump’s impeachment trial. Ten GOP lawmakers also sided with Democrats to impeach Trump in the House in a 232-197 vote on Jan. 13.

When Australia called for an international investigation of the pandemic’s origins, an angry Beijing slapped restrictions and tariffs on Aussie imports and continues its own “cold war” against Canberra on multiple fronts. Yet Xi’s speech still insisted any confrontation, whether a “cold war, hot war, trade war or tech war” would “end up harming every nation’s interests and sacrificing people’s welfare.”Laughable, when Beijing sent eight bombers and four fighter jets into Taiwan’s airspace Saturday and another 15 aircraft Sunday. Washington responded quickly Saturday, sending a strike group led by the USS Theodore Roosevelt into the South China Sea. The State Department called it a move to protect “freedom of the seas” and the “rock-solid” US commitment to Taiwan. Xi’s “small cliques” jab may refer to President Biden’s plans to build an alliance to hold China to account.

CBS placed two top TV executives on administrative leave Monday night after an explosive report from the Los Angeles Times detailed allegations that they fostered a hostile work environment. Peter Dunn, president of CBS Television Stations and David Friend, senior vice president of news for the stations, were placed on leave “pending the results of a third-party investigation,” CBS said in a statement. Dunn and Friend oversee CBS’s 28 local stations in major markets across the US, including New York, Los Angeles and Chicago. He often referred to Washington as “a jive guy,” and derided him as “dancing” through his newscasts in front of other employees. Dunn also called one anchor “too gay,” according to Margaret Cronan, a former news director at CBS KWY.

President Biden has signed a record 37 executive actions in his first week in office, and the exact number of executive orders is not known because the Federal Register has not been updated since Jan. 21. Executive orders are legally binding, and as a result, are published in the Federal Register. On Tuesday, Biden signed four items, all focused on “racial equity.”The first order directed the Department of Housing and Urban Development to address the issue of housing discrimination. President Joe Biden signing his first executive orders in the Oval Office of the White House on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. A Biden administration spokesperson did not immediately respond to The Post’s request for comment on the record number of executive orders.

"It has a ring to it, but I don't know any particulars, I don't know what he's thinking. But I think the President means to be helpful and energizing those those good gentlemen, no matter what. "People like Mitch McConnell, John Thune, John Barrasso from Wyoming, Roy Blunt from Missouri, these Senators all are working very hard to undercut him. These people have become petty and vindictive and really are not honoring the guy that is the only good thing to happen to the Republican Party in the last of four cycles. And they did lose this year because the Republican Party forgot who was the true leader."

"They've become enemies now of the American worker. They talk about the green-on-blue fight that is occurring in the Democratic Party, the green green folks versus the blue collar. That is why President Trump had such a strong following of American workers, because he was standing up for them. We've become global energy dominant under President Trump because of the private sector and American innovation. Biden's taking us back to the dark days of the 70s."

LIVE NationalBiden delivers remarks on U.S. coronavirus effortsPresident Biden on Tuesday speaks on the fight to contain the coronavirus pandemic in the United States.

The mainstream media’s love affair with Vice President Kamala Harris doesn’t appear to be wrapping up anytime soon. The Los Angeles Times was ridiculed on social media Tuesday after announcing it would launch "Covering Kamala Harris," a project described as "a beat dedicated to her historic rise to the White House." "Covering Kamala Harris" was announced last week when the Los Angeles newspaper unveiled an Instagram account dedicated to Harris. "Kamala Harris is all kinds of firsts: the first woman, woman of color, Black woman, mixed-race woman and South Asian elected to national office. Others said the type of coverage simply isn’t journalism:The Los Angeles Times did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Since the inauguration of President Joe Biden on Jan. 20, the adult children of former President Donald Trump have enjoyed a boost in Twitter followers. Since Trump and former first lady Melania Trump boarded Air Force One en route to Palm Beach International Airport almost a week ago, Ivanka Trump, Tiffany Trump, and Donald Trump Jr. have all acquired thousands of new followers. Although his brother's account has risen incrementally to now more than 6.6 million followers, Donald Trump Jr. reportedly also saw his numbers decrease on Tuesday. Comparatively, Tiffany Trump has fewer than 1 million Twitter followers -- at more than 886,800 -- and even her numbers are shown falling. Line graphs that accompany their Twitter statistics show steep drops in "Monthly Gained Followers" starting around November of last year.

George state Rep. David Clark was reportedly booted from the House Chamber on Tuesday for allegedly refusing to get a COVID-19 test. Georgia Speaker David Ralston said he ordered George State Patrol officers to escort Clark of the state Capitol because he would not follow the bi-weekly testing requirements, Atlanta’s Fox 5 reported. All state lawmakers and their staff are required to get COVID tests twice a week during this session. A spokesperson for Ralston said Clark was "advised numerous times about the requirements and had refused to be tested at any point during this session." Writing on Twitter, Democratic Rep. Scott Holcomb said it was "absolutely necessary" for state lawmakers to get COVID-19 tests because they are indoors and "can’t always social distance."

American Federation of Teachers leader Randi Weingarten said Tuesday that Chicago educators are battling both the coronavirus pandemic and "fear" as an impasse continues over resuming in-person learning in America's third-largest city. "We're fighting a pandemic and now we're fighting fear," Weingarten told "The Faulkner Focus." Weingarten briefed Biden White House officials last week on the standoff betweeen Chicago public officials and the Chicago Teachers Union, an affiliate of Weingarten's AFT. Members of the Chicago Teachers Union overwhelmingly voted over the weekend to refuse a district order to return for in-person instruction on Monday. Biden sided with the union on Monday, saying that teachers want to work as long as it's in a safe environment.

A federal judge in Pennsylvania Tuesday ordered the woman accused of helping to steal Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s laptop during the Capitol riot to give up her Internet access and remain under house arrest. PENNSYLVANIA WOMAN ACCUSED OF STEALING PELOSI LAPTOP DURING CAPITOL RIOT COVERING TRACKS ONLINE: DOJ"She has a demonstrated history of deleting her own accounts and instructing other people to delete messages about the events that are under investigation," a Justice Department prosecutor said in court. In addition to alleged theft of government property, Williams faces a slew of other charges in connection with the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. Williams’ ex-boyfriend flagged her to authorities after he allegedly found her in a YouTube video of the Capitol riot, according to court documents. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APPAccording to the FBI, Williams intended to sell the stolen laptop to Russian intelligence agents.

In November, Biden said he was going to "shut down" coronavirus once in office. Biden was pressed Monday to explain the change of tone between his campaign promises and current sentiment. "Now that you're president, you're saying there's nothing we can do to change the trajectory of the pandemic in the next couple months," Doocy asked the president. Biden caused a stir with the grim outlook he offered on the nation’s ability to combat the coronavirus pandemic. "I believe President Biden made it very clear, the plane is in a nosedive, and we gotta pull it up.

Senators were sworn in as jurors to President Trump’s impeachment trial Tuesday as the Senate voted 55-45 to end debate on Sen. Rand Paul’s point of order arguing that the impeachment trial is unconstitutional now that Trump is out of office. Five GOP senators voted not to dismiss the impeachment trial of President Trump: Susan Collins, Maine, Lisa Murkowski, Alaska, Ben Sasse, Neb., and Pat Toomey, Pa. The Senate also passed its pre-trial organizing resolution 83 to 17, and the impeachment trial will be adjourned until Tuesday, Feb. 9, as Sen. Republican leader Mitch McConnell had been pushing for. Paul, in floor remarks ahead of the vote, claimed that the absence of the chief justice, who presides over impeachment trials in the Senate, made the trial unconstitutional. JONATHAN TURLEY, PROFESSOR WHO CALLED TRUMP IMPEACHMENT TRIAL UNCONSTITUTIONAL, TO ATTEND SENATE GOP LUNCHEONTrump was impeached in the House after for months claiming that he won the presidential election.

President Biden on Tuesday signed a series of executive orders aimed at promoting racial equity in America, following through on a campaign promise he made last year amid nationwide racial protests. "It marked a turning point in this country’s attitude toward racial justice." Floyd’s death quickly pushed longstanding concerns over police brutality against minorities and the broader issue of the country’s history of systemic racism firmly back into the national spotlight. Biden signed four executive actions, including one which he said would root out systemic racism in housing and criminal justice. He directed the Department of Housing and Urban Development, known by its acronym HUD, "to redress historical racism in federal housing policies."

McGuire's plan will also push for increased city cooperation with technology companies, from local startups to Silicon Valley giants, to help job growth. The former Citi executive aims to enact his jobs plan within his first 100 days if he is elected mayor. It would also include a new workforce development program to help people who lost their positions in other industries gain access to infrastructure jobs. McGuire's plan would rely on federal funds, and it touts the former Citi executive's relationship with President Joe Biden's administration. Biden has proposed overall federal spending of $3 trillion for green infrastructure projects and $100 billion for affordable housing.

New York (CNN Business) CBS (VIAC) has suspended two of its top TV executives following a Los Angeles Times investigation that alleged they cultivated a toxic work culture involving racist and misogynistic behavior. On Sunday, The Times published an investigation led by media reporter Meg James into the culture at CBS' TV stations. Dunn has managed CBS' 28 TV stations, which together employ 2,800 workers, since 2009, according to the article. The Times' investigation included allegations that Dunn disparaged female and Black employees. Friend, who works closely with Dunn, allegedly took part in the conduct and was also accused of verbal abuse, according to The Times' report.

SEE NEW POSTSPhiladelphia ends contract with vaccination provider over for-profit status change The city of Philadelphia has terminated its partnership with Philly Fighting COVID, a group that ran the city’s biggest Covid-19 vaccination site, after discovering the organization had changed its corporate status from nonprofit to for-profit, abruptly stopping offering testing, and updated the privacy policy on its vaccination sign up website in a way that could allow for the sale of user data. Three weeks ago, the city’s Department of Public Health announced a “unique public/private partnership” with Philly Fighting COVID, according to NBC Philadelphia, and urged residents to pre-register for vaccination on the group’s website. Under the new system, state officials will work with third party administrators to allocate vaccines directly to providers, including county public health systems, pharmacies, health systems, public hospitals, community health centers, pharmacies and pop-up sites. California will also launch a new online portal, called My Turn, where residents can make vaccine appointments and check their eligibility status. Boston joins other major marathons that are moving their events from early in the year to October to try to avoid cancellation.

SEE NEW POSTSNorth Carolina running out of vaccine doses North Carolina has doled out 95 percent of its allotted coronavirus vaccines, with demand now on the verge of eclipsing scheduled supply, officials said Tuesday. We are continuing enforcement of the Los Angeles County health orders to address underground party events. Share this -N.J. governor says state is 'desperately short' on vaccine doses Gov. He added that there are roughly 270 locations around the state ready to administer vaccine doses. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has repeatedly said the city's supply of vaccine doses is running very low, too.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris watches as President Joe Biden signs executive orders on his racial equity agenda at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 26, 2021. Critics accused Trump of pursuing policies built around “white grievance” in a nation where the white population is declining by percentage. On the day he took office last week, Biden signed an executive order establishing a government-wide initiative to address racial inequity and systemic racism in federal policies, laws and programs. Biden said there is “a battle for the soul of this nation.”“And the simple truth is: our soul will be troubled as long as systemic racism is allowed to persist. “Housing is a right in America and home ownership is an essential tool to wealth creation and to be passed down to generations,” Biden said.

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Fox Corp’s news division has hired Larry Kudlow, a former top economic adviser to ex-President Donald Trump, as a contributor to Fox News and host of a new weekday show on the Fox Business Network, the company said on Tuesday. FILE PHOTO: White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow looks on during a news conference in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., September 23, 2020. At Fox, Kudlow will “provide expert financial analysis on domestic and global affairs across all Fox News Media,” the company said in a statement. Fox News said in a statement that McEnany “is not currently an employee or contributor at Fox News.”McEnany could not immediately be reached for comment. Other Trump officials took jobs at Fox after leaving the White House, including former press secretaries Sarah Huckabee Sanders and Hope Hicks.

MOSCOW/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Russia and the United States have struck a deal to extend the New START nuclear arms control treaty, the Kremlin said on Tuesday, a move that preserves the last major pact of its kind between the world’s two biggest nuclear powers. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov arrives to the Russian President Vladimir Putin's annual news conference in Moscow, Russia December 20, 2018. Signed in 2010, the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) is a cornerstone of global arms control. “They discussed both countries’ willingness to extend New START for five years, agreeing to have their teams work urgently to complete the extension by Feb. 5,” the White House said. The White House stressed that it will raise matters where it disagrees with Russia, and said Biden had reaffirmed the United States’ “firm support for Ukraine’s sovereignty”.

There is a debate among scholars over whether the Senate can hold a trial for Trump now that he has left office. Slideshow ( 5 images )‘MATTER OF POLITICAL CONSEQUENCE’Fellow Republican Senator Lisa Murkowski, who has been critical of Trump, rejected Paul’s move. But no Senate Republicans have said definitively that they plan to vote to convict him. First elected to the chamber in 1974, Leahy, 80, is the most senior Democrat in the chamber and holds the title of Senate president pro tempore. The nine House Democrats who will serve as prosecutors set the trial in motion on Monday by delivering the article of impeachment to the Senate.

The Biden administration on Tuesday announced that the federal government intends to purchase 200 million additional doses of two federally approved COVID-19vaccines, potentially creating a stock large enough to reach nearly the entire U.S. population. A background briefing paper for reporters said that the administration is “working to purchase” more vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna. The discovery that vials contain enough extra liquid for extra doses means that the companies can produce their vaccines at a quicker rate than they initially anticipated. Pfizer’s chief executive officer said on Tuesday that the company would be able to deliver its initial shipment of 200 million doses by the end of May ? two months ahead of schedule. With the additional doses, administration officials said, the supply should be adequate to vaccinate nearly the entire population by the end of summer.

A legion of cicadas that have spent nearly two decades underground are predicted to emerge and fly across 15 states this spring and summer. Formally known as periodical cicadas, or Magicicada, the insects spend 13 to 17 years beneath the ground in a slow period of maturation during which time they feed on the roots of plants and trees. Eventually the juvenile cicadas ? known as nymphs ? grow to adulthood and leave the soil in large groups before mating and dying, usually three to four weeks after their emergence. “In some years, both a 13- and 17-year brood will emerge, but not in the same location. Despite their extreme numbers, the insects themselves are harmless, and Raupp described their once-every-two-decades emergence as a “a wonderful opportunity for millions of people to witness and enjoy a remarkable biological phenomenon in their own backyard that happens nowhere else on the planet.”

A bankruptcy judge has approved a plan to liquidate the Weinstein Company that allocates slightly more than $17 million to Harvey Weinstein’s sexual abuse victims. The money will form a Sexual Misconduct Claims Fund, court documents stipulate. Nearly 40 women with sexual abuse claims against Weinstein who were a part of the lawsuit voted to move forward with the plan earlier this month. “Every victim of Harvey Weinstein was victimized and deserves to have a say into the plan confirmation. HuffPost has reached out for comment to attorneys for the Weinstein Company but did not receive an immediate response.

HOUSTON — A federal judge on Tuesday barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order sought by Texas, which sued on Friday against a Department of Homeland Security memo that instructed immigration agencies to pause most deportations. The order represents a victory for Texas' Republican leaders, who often sued to stop programs enacted by Biden's Democratic predecessor, President Barack Obama. That was a reversal from Trump administration policy that made anyone in the U.S. illegally a priority for deportation. The 100-day moratorium went into effect Friday and applied to almost anyone who entered the U.S. without authorization before November.

Forty-five Senate Republicans voted Tuesday to dismiss the trial as unconstitutional. For many Republicans, an argument over the legality serves as a process-based justification to acquit the former president. The vote isn't necessarily indicative of the final outcome as some senators who voted to dismiss haven't ruled out a conviction. "If more than 34 Republicans vote against the constitutionality of the proceeding, the whole thing's dead on arrival," Paul said before the vote. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., has emphatically rejected the argument that a trial is unconstitutional, and promised that it will go forward.

Senators took an oath and were sworn-in ahead of the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.

Former Secretary of State John Kerry arrives for the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool)Former Secretary of State John Kerry arrives for the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. Kerry’s diplomatic efforts match the fast pace of domestic climate directives by the week-old Biden administration, which created the job Kerry now holds. The role acknowledges what climate and military experts say will be growing conflicts around the world as climate change increases competition for natural resources. Kerry is expected to have desks at both the White House and the State Department.

NEW YORK (AP) — Trump administration alumni Larry Kudlow is joining Fox News amid reports that a colleague, former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, will soon be joining him. Fox announced Tuesday that Kudlow, a former CNBC personality who was national economic council director in the just-concluded Trump administration, will host a weekday program on the Fox Business Network and be a commentator across all of Fox’s platforms. McEnany, Trump’s final press secretary, had worked at CNN before joining Trump. Fox said Tuesday that McEnany is not a Fox employee. The person said that Fox is open to hiring McEnany in the future.

A court-appointed committee has yet to find the parents of 628 children separated at the border early in the Trump administration. A court-appointed committee has yet to find the parents of 628 children separated at the border early in the Trump administration. (AP Photo/Gregory Bull, File)WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department on Tuesday rescinded a Trump-era memo that established a “zero tolerance” enforcement policy for migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, which resulted in thousands of family separations. Most families have not been prosecuted under zero tolerance since 2018, when the separations were halted, though separations have continued on a smaller scale. The “zero tolerance” policy was one of several increasingly restrictive policies aimed at discouraging migrants from coming to the Southern border.

(Senate Television via AP)WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans voted overwhelmingly Tuesday against moving forward with Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial, making clear a conviction of the former president for “incitement of insurrection” is unlikely. That means the trial on Trump’s impeachment, the first ever of a former president, will begin as scheduled the week of Feb. 8. While most Republicans criticized Trump shortly after the attack, many of them have rushed to defend him in the trial, showing the former president’s enduring sway over the GOP. ADVERTISEMENTChief Justice John Roberts is not presiding at the trial, as he did during Trump’s first impeachment, potentially affecting the gravitas of the proceedings. Instead, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D- Vt., who serves in the largely ceremonial role of Senate president pro tempore, was sworn in on Tuesday.

The Senate voted 55-45 to reject the Kentucky Republican's argument that the impeachment trial is unconstitutional because Trump is no longer in office. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., notably voted with most of the GOP conference in support of Paul's motion. Before the vote, Paul spoke on the Senate floor and called the impeachment effort a "partisan exercise." Impeachment is for removal from office, and the accused here has already left office," he said. Romney told reporters earlier Tuesday that he disagrees with Paul's claims on the trial's constitutionality.

Josh Hawley issues counter-complaint against Democrats who called for investigation into him over Capitol insurrection (Greg Nash-Pool/Getty Images)Republican Senator Josh Hawley filed an ethics counter-complaint against seven Democratic senators who called for an investigation into him and Ted Cruz. Both senators have faced widespread criticism and calls for them to resign for their role in trying to challenge Joe Biden’s election victory. Mr Hawley and Mr Cruz have been accused of helping provoke the violence with their refusal to accept Mr Biden’s legal victory over Donald Trump. That group had collectively written to the Ethics committee last week demanding an investigation of Mr Hawley and Mr Cruz. Cruz, Hawley

A Capitol Police officer stands at the East Front of the US Capitol ((EPA))Close to 40 Capitol Police officers have tested positive for Covid-19 in the weeks since the riot at the US Capitol on 6 January. Mr Papathanasiou told the Post that the majority of the cases were among officers and supervisors, but it was unclear how many were directly involved in the riots at the Capitol. Around 1,500 Capitol Police officers responded to the riots on 6 January, alongside close to 1,000 members of the DC Metropolitan police force. According to Johns Hopkins University, there are now more than 25.1 million people who have tested positive for the coronavirus in the US. Read MoreUS police weigh officer discipline after rally, Capitol riotUS judge blocks release of Tennessee man in Capitol riot

National ReviewSenate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) voted in favor of a resolution declaring the impeachment trial of former President Trump “unconstitutional” on Tuesday. The resolution failed after a majority of senators voted against it, meaning the impeachment trial will go ahead as planned. At the close of the impeachment trial itself, at least 17 Republican senators would need to join Democrats in order to convict Trump. Senator Marco Rubio of Florida said it would be “arrogant” for the Senate to prevent Trump from running again. “Who are we to tell voters who they can vote for in the future?” Senator Tom Cotton of Arkansas also voiced skepticism regarding the impeachment trial.

President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris Jim Watson/AFP via Getty ImagesPresident Joe Biden issued four executive orders on Tuesday. One of them will order the DOJ to halt any new contracts with private prisons. In a series of executive actions announced on Tuesday, President Joe Biden will halt any new contracts between the Department of Justice and private prisons. The new executive actions from Biden were framed as part of a broader initiative in a White House news release. She also said subsequent executive actions could precede fuller legislation in Congress.

Newsmax host Sean Spicer, as White House press secretary in 2017 (PA)Former White House press secretary Sean Spicer has had his application to the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) cancelled by Newsmax. Anyone who works as a White House correspondent can apply to the body, and they must do so annually through the media outlet they are employed by. He added to Politico last week that he already had a White House “hard pass” – which allows reporters to move around the complex as they please – as well as credentials to cover Congress. “I cover the White House every day on the [Spicer & Co] show, and I have obviously had a lot to say about the coverage of the White House and the Correspondents’ Association over the last few years,” said Mr Spicer of the application. Story continuesNewsmax, which employed Mr Spicer in March 2020, was meanwhile said to have attracted viewers of Fox News since Mr Trump’s election loss, and subsequent White House departure.

HOUSTON — A federal judge on Tuesday barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order sought by Texas, which sued on Friday against a Department of Homeland Security memo that instructed immigration agencies to pause most deportations. The order represents a victory for Texas' Republican leaders, who often sued to stop programs enacted by Biden's Democratic predecessor, President Barack Obama. That was a reversal from Trump administration policy that made anyone in the U.S. illegally a priority for deportation. The 100-day moratorium went into effect Friday and applied to almost anyone who entered the U.S. without authorization before November.

"Sen. Mitch McConnell has caved and Sen. Schumer has won that fight. No sooner has the portion of Rachel Maddow's interview with Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aired than Mitch McConnell has put out a statement that he is folding, ending the stand-off. "We will not let Mitch McConnell dictate to us what we will do and not do." Here's Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer earlier in his interview with Rachel Maddow, talking about the filibuster specifically, and getting things done. Senate Majority Leader Schumer cites Obama era lessons in prioritizing legislation over bad faith Republican 'bipartisanship.'

(Bloomberg) -- YouTube said it suspended Rudy Giuliani from its partner program for at least 30 days after he repeatedly shared misinformation about the 2020 presidential election. That limitation has been in effect since last week, YouTube said Tuesday. Giuliani promulgated conspiracies and other misleading claims about the November U.S. presidential election, which Joe Biden won. The last upload on his YouTube channel, which has 583,000 followers, was Jan. 1. The service also banned Steve Bannon’s podcast after Giuliani appeared on an episode in early January and shared election misinformation.

The Senate primarily divides its work among 20 permanent committees, such as the intelligence and judiciary, with 13 to 19 members each. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., Senate Judiciary CommitteeSen. Dick Durbin. “The Senate Judiciary Committee will conduct vigorous oversight of these matters," Durbin wrote in the letter, which was addressed to acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson. Mark Warner, D-Va., Senate Intelligence CommitteeSen. Mark Warner. (Steve Helber/File/AP)Warner served as the vice chair of the Senate intelligence committee, which conducted one of two congressional investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

The Biden administration has renewed a plan to replace President Andrew Jackson with Harriet Tubman on the $20 bill. "The Treasury Department is taking steps to resume efforts to put Harriet Tubman on the front of the new 20-dollar notes," Psaki said. The replacement of $20 bill with abolitionist Tubman was announced in 2016 by Obama administration. "Ready to help the Biden admin see this through so we can finally give Harriet Tubman the honor and recognition she long deserves." While the date of the change remains unclear, Tubman will be the first Black person to appear on U.S. currency.

Twitter permanently suspended the account of MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell, due to what it said was repeated violations of the site's Civic Integrity Policy. Twitter (TWTR) - Get Report has permanently suspended retailer MyPillow Chief Executive Mike Lindell's account from its platform for what it said was spreading conspiracy theories about the presidential election held in November. Lindell's account, which reportedly had close to 413,000 followers, was "permanently suspended due to repeated violations of our Civic Integrity Policy,” a Twitter spokesperson told TheStreet in an emailed response. Twitter banned Trump's account on Jan. 6 due to what it said was the risk of further incitement of violence. The San Francisco company said the service would bring subscription revenue to writers on the platform through paid newsletters.

Fox News Media announced Tuesday that Kudlow, 73, will have a daily program on Fox Business Network starting Feb. 8. He is the first Trump White House official to join Fox or any other TV news organization since Trump lost the election in November and is likely not to be the last. The company did not say who Kudlow will replace on Fox Business Network, which is the home of its most fiery right-wing commentator, Lou Dobbs. He fronted programs on CNBC from 2001 to 2014 and remained a commentator at the network until he joined the Trump White House in 2018. The door has swung the other way as well, with Fox News personnel and executives joining the Trump administration.

The Biden administration plans to rush additional vaccine doses to states, territories and tribal governments, senior officials said, ramping up its effort to inoculate more Americans, more quickly, as the death toll from COVID-19 continues to rise. The officials spoke on the condition of anonymity before President Biden formally unveils the initiative on Tuesday afternoon at the White House. Under the plan, 10 million doses would be distributed each week for the next three weeks, up from the current 8.6 million. Biden also plans to announce the purchase of an additional 200 million vaccine doses to be delivered this summer, bringing the total purchased to 600 million. “We’re leaving no stone unturned as we work as quickly as we can.”AdvertisementInsufficient vaccine supplies are not the only challenge, however.

A law enforcement official told the Associated Press that authorities had detected ominous chatter about killing legislators or attacking them outside the Capitol. Five people died, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher. The Defense Department has said it asked the Capitol Police if it needed the Guard, but the request was denied. Several law enforcement and congressional reviews are underway. Both Pittman and Timothy Blodgett, the acting House sergeant-at-arms, told Congress on Tuesday that they needed stronger communications and more fortifications around the Capitol building.

He went on to describe in detail how the GOP would respond if Democrats changed their position and moved to eliminate the filibuster to pass their agenda. ’'None of us on either side want to live in a scorched-earth Senate,’' McConnell said. After Democrats blocked some of President George W. Bush’s judicial nominees, Republicans responded with a broader blockade of President Barack Obama’s nominees and agenda. In 2013, Democrats led by Senator Harry Reid, Democrat from Nevada, moved to eliminate the filibuster requirement for executive branch nominees and lower-court judges. While Republicans have given Biden’s proposal a chilly reception, Democrats are ready to move forward using special budget procedures that can skirt a filibuster under the current Senate rules rather than eliminate the filibuster entirely.

Nomaan MerchantAssociated PressA federal judge on Tuesday barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order sought by Texas, which sued on Friday against a Department of Homeland Security memo that instructed immigration agencies to pause most deportations. Tipton said the Biden administration had failed “to provide any concrete, reasonable justification for a 100-day pause on deportations." That was a reversal from Trump administration policy that made anyone in the U.S. illegally a priority for deportation. The 100-day moratorium went into effect Friday and applied to almost anyone who entered the U.S. without authorization before November.

The Biden administration’s 100-day freeze on certain deportations was temporarily halted by a federal judge Tuesday in an early legal contest from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Texas is the first state in the nation to bring a lawsuit against the Biden administration. Within six days of Biden’s inauguration, Texas has halted his illegal deportation freeze.”Paxton added in the tweet, “This was a seditious left-wing insurrection. The department-wide memo applied to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Customs and Border Protection, and Citizenship and Immigration Services agencies. “I told the Department of Homeland Security and Joe Biden last night to rescind its deportation freeze, which is unconstitutional, illegal, and bad for Texas and the nation,” Paxton wrote in a tweet.

“We want the platforms to be transparent about how their algorithms work,” von der Leyen said. Hungary’s justice minister said Tuesday that large tech companies might face Hungarian government regulation over what she called “deliberate, ideological” censorship on social media. Opposition parties have used social media to reach potential voters amid a lack of coverage in Hungary’s public outlets. Last week, Varga claimed that tech companies “limit the visibility of Christian, conservative, right-wing opinions,” and that “power groups behind global tech giants” were capable of deciding elections. She alleged that she had personally been “shadow banned” by Facebook, a term referring to social media platforms restricting the visibility of users’ profiles or posts without their knowledge.

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans voted overwhelmingly Tuesday against moving forward with Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial, making clear a conviction of the former president for “incitement of insurrection” is unlikely. That means the trial on Trump’s impeachment, the first ever of a former president, will begin as scheduled the week of Feb. 8. While most Republicans criticized Trump shortly after the attack, many of them have rushed to defend him in the trial, showing the former president’s enduring sway over the GOP. Chief Justice John Roberts is not presiding at the trial, as he did during Trump’s first impeachment, potentially affecting the gravitas of the proceedings. Instead, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D- Vt., who serves in the largely ceremonial role of Senate president pro tempore, was sworn in on Tuesday.

Kenosha prosecutors have filed arson charges against a man involved in key confrontations during August unrest there, while dropping a charge he had fired a gun immediately prior to Kyle Rittenhouse killing his first victim in the chaos. Joshua Ziminski now faces a felony count of arson, along with misdemeanors of disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer. Rittenhouse supporters had referred to those charges as "the first shot," and suggested it was close enough in location to make Rittenhouse think he was being fired upon. Ziminski and his wife, Kelly, were also seen on various videos of the evening's events hanging out with Rittenhouse victim Joseph Rosenbaum, including right before Rosenbaum began chasing Rittenhouse. Another video shows Ziminski near an overturned trailer that was on fire, and "manipulating the fire with his right foot."

Steve Sisolak announced Tuesday that he is appointing Elisa Cafferata as the permanent director of the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation. (Bizuayehu Tesfaye/Las Vegas Review-Journal)After nearly six months on the job as acting head of Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation, Gov. Steve Sisolak said Tuesday that Elisa Cafferata will now become the agency’s permanent director. “I am pleased to appoint Elisa as the permanent director at DETR. The services rendered by DETR are now more vital than ever and during her time as Acting Director, Elisa has proven her commitment to progress,” Sisolak said in a release Tuesday.

Illinois House Speaker Emanuel “Chris” Welch plans to cancel all but one day of the Illinois House’s session next month. “Therefore, with the health and safety of members, staff, and the public being the priority, the Speaker plans to cancel the session dates set for February 2-4, 9, 11, and 16-18,” Basham’s email reads. Members should still expect to return to Springfield Feb. 10 to adopt the rules for the General Assembly’s procedures. Allowing the House’s committees to meet remotely is part of the rules package members will decide on on Feb. 10, Anderson said. “They’re trying to preserve as much normalcy as possible in a way that is still responsible and safe,” Anderson said.

WASHINGTON — The Justice Department on Tuesday rescinded a Trump-era memo that established a “zero tolerance” enforcement policy for migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border illegally, which resulted in thousands of family separations. “Consistent with this longstanding principle of making individualized assessments in criminal cases, I am rescinding — effective immediately — the policy directive,” Wilkinson wrote. While the rescinding of “zero tolerance” is in part symbolic, it undoes the Trump administration’s massively unpopular policy responsible for the separation of more than 5,500 children from their parents at the U.S-Mexico border. Most families have not been prosecuted under zero tolerance since 2018, when the separations were halted, though separations have continued on a smaller scale. The “zero tolerance” policy was one of several increasingly restrictive policies aimed at discouraging migrants from coming to the Southern border.

“We also knew that some of these participants were intending to bring firearms and other weapons to the event. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that authorities have detected ominous chatter about killing legislators or attacking them outside the Capitol. Five people died, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher. The Defense Department has said it asked the Capitol Police if it needed the Guard, but the request was denied. Several law enforcement and congressional reviews are underway.

The fact that, before filing a formal allegation with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Chicago, one of the brothers wrote a letter to Pfleger asking for a $20,000 payment “to help me move on in this troubled and confused time in my life” smacks of an attempted shakedown. But former FBI agent Jeffrey Rinek, author of “In the Name of the Children: An FBI Agent’s Relentless Pursuit of the Nation’s Worst Predators,” told me Tuesday such a demand is not necessarily an indication that an accusation is false.

The stand-off between McConnell and new Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had all but ground the Senate to a halt in the early days of the Democratic majority and threatened President Joe Biden’s agenda. “I’m glad we’re finally able to get the Senate up and running,” Schumer said Tuesday as he opened the chamber. Schumer’s office said the Republican leader had no choice but to set aside his demands. “We’re glad Sen. McConnell threw in the towel and gave up on his ridiculous demand,” said Justin Goodman, a spokesman for the Democratic leader. He wanted to prevent Schumer from taking it to the next level and ending the filibuster for legislation.

The Kremlin, meanwhile, focused on Putin’s response to Biden’s proposal to extend the last remaining U.S.-Russia arms control treaty. Former President Donald Trump’s administration had withdrawn from two arms control treaties with Russia and had been prepared to let New START lapse. Before he spoke to Putin, Biden also called NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to pledge U.S. commitment to the decades-old alliance founded as a bulwark against Russian aggression. Biden’s team has already reacted strongly to the crackdown on the protests, in which more than 3,700 people were arrested across Russia, including more than 1,400 in Moscow. He also downplayed Russia’s involvement in the hack of federal government agencies last year and the allegations that Russia offered the Taliban bounties.

WASHINGTON — Senate Republicans voted overwhelmingly Tuesday against moving forward with Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial, making clear a conviction of the former president for “incitement of insurrection” is unlikely. That means the trial on Trump’s impeachment, the first ever of a former president, will begin as scheduled the week of Feb. 8. While most Republicans criticized Trump shortly after the attack, many of them have rushed to defend him in the trial, showing the former president’s enduring sway over the GOP. Chief Justice John Roberts is not presiding at the trial, as he did during Trump’s first impeachment, potentially affecting the gravitas of the proceedings. Instead, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D- Vt., who serves in the largely ceremonial role of Senate president pro tempore, was sworn in on Tuesday.

On Monday, Nick Sandmann terminated Wood from his legal team. In an email, Wood told The Enquirer: "I love Nicholas Sandmann, and I wish him the very best going forward." The split comes several weeks after Sandmann, in social media posts, challenged Wood's statements about now-former Vice President Mike Pence. Then in a Twitter post Sunday, Sandmann highlighted a lengthy statement Wood made on the app Telegram. The Washington Post and CNN settled with Sandmann last year.

The court announced Friday that it will consider an appeal of Hamilton County Common Pleas Judge Megan Shanahan's temporary restraining order against Terhas White and Julie Niesen. Lawyers for Terhas and Niesen appealed the restraining order to the Ohio Supreme Court, which agreed to hear the case Friday. She said, at this stage, the Ohio Supreme Court could overturn the restraining order, but not the entire case. It is unclear when the Ohio Supreme Court will hear arguments about the restraining order. I think under that Supreme Court decision recently, I'm not sure that that's going to rise to the level of a full order.

From a wood-paneled library in his Boston mansion, new climate envoy John Kerry is talking the U.S. back into a leading role in global climate action, making clear the nation isn't just revving up its own efforts to reduce oil, gas and coal pollution but that it intends to push everyone in the world to do more, too. Kerry’s diplomatic efforts match the fast pace of domestic climate directives by the week-old Biden administration, which created the job Kerry now holds. Success for Kerry is hardly assured. At home, he faces pushback from the oil and gas industry and hears concerns that jobs will be lost. Internationally, there's uncertainty about whether Biden's climate commitments can survive the United States' intensely divided politics, let alone the next presidential transition.

(AP) — Four new proposed abortion restrictions passed the state House Tuesday in Montana, one of several states where GOP gains are lending more momentum to prohibitions on the procedure. The bills come as President Joe Biden looks to change course nationally on the issue, though the Supreme Court has a conservative majority that's given hope to anti-abortion activists. In Montana, GOP lawmakers are hoping to capitalize on the election of a Republican governor after 16 years of pro-abortion access Democratic governors. The Montana bills largely echo legislation already passed in other Republican-controlled states — including a ban on abortion in most cases after 20 weeks of gestation; a requirement that health care providers give pregnant women the opportunity to view an ultrasound before performing an abortion; and a requirement that abortion pills be administered in-person rather than through telehealth. Another bill would ask voters to approve a requirement to care for fetuses born alive during abortion procedures.

Gina Raimondo, President Biden’s pick to oversee the Commerce Department, took a tough line on China in her confirmation hearing Tuesday. “China’s actions have been anti-competitive, hurtful to American workers and businesses, coercive, and, as you point out, they’re culpable for atrocious human rights abuses,” Raimondo said in response to a question from Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas. “COVID has shined a light on the inequities in our economy,” Raimondo said. U.S. companies need to get a license to sell sophisticated technology to companies on the list. She’s expected to handily win a confirmation vote, but it’s unclear when that vote will occur.

Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford on Tuesday slammed the upcoming impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump as "political theater." Shortly after being sworn in as a juror for the trial set to begin in two weeks, the Republican said, “This is not a trial; this is political theater. In this trial there is no current President, no Chief Justice, and no possibility someone could be removed from office because they are not in any office. In a moment when our nation needs to unite, this trial will only create even deeper divisions.”Lankford and Sen. Jim Inhofe were among the 45 Republicans who backed a procedural move by Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul on Tuesday to declare the impeachment trial unconstitutional. Therefore, I agree with Sen. Paul’s point of order because it is not constitutionally permissible to try a former president.”

But organizers say they enjoy the momentum of a new administration and growing public support for giving people in the U.S. illegally a chance at citizenship. “The movement has matured,” said Lorella Praeli, the Peruvian-born co-president of Community Change, among the national groups leading the campaign. Praeli honed her skills as Latino communities outreach director for Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign before addressing the 2016 Democratic National Convention. She said the new battle is being waged on various levels, from grassroots organizing in communities to lobbying on Capitol Hill. The five groups chairing the campaign are paying for the effort with their own fundraising,“We need an early breakthrough on immigration,” said Praeli.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans voted overwhelmingly Tuesday against moving forward with Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial, making clear a conviction of the former president for “incitement of insurrection” is unlikely. In a 55-45 procedural vote, the Senate set aside an objection from Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul that would have declared the impeachment proceedings unconstitutional. That means the trial on Trump's impeachment, the first ever of a former president, will begin as scheduled the week of Feb. 8. While most Republicans criticized Trump shortly after the attack, many of them have rushed to defend him in the trial, showing the former president's enduring sway over the GOP. “If more than 34 Republicans vote against the constitutionality of the proceeding, the whole thing’s dead on arrival,” Paul said shortly before the vote."

Many states began reexamining no-knock warrants after Louisville Metro Council unanimously passed Breonna’s Law in June 2020, banning no-knock warrants. Breonna Taylor’s mother, Tamika Palmer, was in attendance and said, "Breonna was an EMT and always wanted to save lives. With the passage of Breonna’s Law, she will save lives forever." The Kentucky General Assembly should pass Breonna’s Law in 2021 and join Virginia, Florida and Oregon. Passing Breonna’s Law would be a step toward healing, justice and the preservation of life.

(CNN) Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene repeatedly indicated support for executing prominent Democratic politicians in 2018 and 2019 before being elected to Congress, a CNN KFile review of hundreds of posts and comments from Greene's Facebook page shows. In one post, from January 2019, Greene liked a comment that said "a bullet to the head would be quicker" to remove House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. In other posts, Greene liked comments about executing FBI agents who, in her eyes, were part of the "deep state" working against Trump. "She's a traitor to our country, she's guilty of treason," Greene says in the video, which she posted on Facebook at the time . Greene, who has embraced and spread the baseless conspiracy theory about a "deep state" working to usurp Trump's agenda, suggested in Facebook posts that FBI agents disloyal to Trump were traitors.

FILE - In this March 10, 2011, file photo, then-Vice President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko, File)FILE - In this March 10, 2011, file photo, then-Vice President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in Moscow, Russia. President Joe Biden has been thrown into a high-wire act with Russia as he seeks to toughen his administration's stance against Putin while preserving room for diplomacy in a post-Donald Trump era. The Kremlin, meanwhile, focused on Putin’s response to Biden’s proposal to extend the last remaining U.S.-Russia arms control treaty. Before he spoke to Putin, Biden also called NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg to pledge U.S. commitment to the decades-old alliance founded as a bulwark against Russian aggression.

Sign up for the Guardian's First Thing newsletterDonald Trump’s hopes of avoiding conviction by the US Senate received a boost on Tuesday when 45 Republicans tried to dismiss his impeachment trial before it even began. Romney was the sole Republican to vote for Trump’s removal from office at his first impeachment trial a year ago. Instead, Senator Patrick Leahy, a Democrat who serves in the largely ceremonial role of Senate president pro tempore, oversaw proceedings. Larry Sabato, director of the Center for Politics at the University of Virginia, tweeted: “45 GOP Senators just voted that Trump’s trial is unconstitutional since he isn’t in office now. Those who thought 17 R Senators would somehow vote to convict Trump have presumably awakened from their dream.

A federal judge on Tuesday barred the US government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of the new president, Joe Biden. US district judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order sought by Texas, which sued last Friday against a Department of Homeland Security memo that instructed immigration agencies to pause most deportations. Biden promised during his campaign to pause most deportations for 100 days. That was a reversal from Trump administration policy that made anyone in the US illegally a priority for deportation. The Biden administration argued in court filings that the agreement is unenforceable because “an outgoing administration cannot contract away that power for an incoming administration”.

The US and Russia have agreed to extend an arms control treaty limiting their deployed nuclear warheads after Joe Biden’s first phone call as president with Vladimir Putin. Biden challenged Putin on US intelligence reports that Russia had offered bounties to the Taliban and other extremist groups in Afghanistan for the killing of US soldiers. Biden and Putin discussed the 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, which Trump left but Biden has said he is willing to rejoin, and the conflict in Ukraine between the government there and Russian-backed separatists. The Biden team has said its first foreign policy goal would be to repair relations with allies and global institutions ruptured by Trump. “The United States shares the goals of the ICC in promoting accountability for the worst crimes known to humanity.

Asked whether the EU had left it too late, Mr Soriot replied: “I will not pass judgment on this. The UK contract was signed three months before the European vaccine deal. So with the UK we have had an extra three months to fix all the glitches we experienced. Mr Soriot said that his firm had never made a contractual commitment to supply the doses, as Brussels has suggested. The best efforts falls short of a contractual commitment, which would weaken the EU's position were it to attempt to take legal action against AstraZeneca.

The foreign aid budget will be slashed next year, Dominic Raab has said, as a former Government law officer warned the cut would be unlawful unless approved by Parliament. According to the figures released on Tuesday, the aid budget will now fall to £9.9bn, down from £13.9bn in 2019-20, the last year for which comparable data is publicly available. The UK's foreign aid spending is already believed to have fallen significantly this year due to the impact of the pandemic on the economy. Under the 2015 International Development Act, ministers cannot intentionally plan to miss the 0.7 per cent target. Asked about the letter while appearing before the Commons development committee, Mr Raab rejected suggestions the Government was “flouting” the legislation and added he would set out the next steps shortly.

Boris Johnson told the nation he was "deeply sorry" for a coronavirus death toll that passed the 100,000 mark on Tuesday and accepted "full responsibility" for the grim milestone. Many experts believe Britain's relatively elderly population, high obesity rates and high population density may have played a part in the death rate. Ministers have committed to a full inquiry once the pandemic has come to an end. During the second wave, people living in the most deprived areas were dying at a rate up to six times higher than those in the wealthiest areas. Mr Johnson promised that, when the Covid crisis has ended, there will be a national commemoration to remember and honour all those who have died, including the "selfless heroism" of those "who gave their lives to save others".

Ms Maxwell was arrested in July 2020 having been accused of both providing Epstein with underage girls to abuse, as well as allegedly participating in the abuse. Ms Maxwell’s team argues that jurors did not represent a fair cross-section of the community, a right guaranteed by the sixth amendment, as Black and Hispanic people were underrepresented in the predominantly white locale. “The fact that Ms Maxwell herself is neither Black nor Hispanic does not deprive her of standing to raise this challenge,” her lawyers wrote. Prosecutors maintain they could proceed with the charges against Epstein and others involved in the sex-trafficking scheme regardless of that deal. Ms Maxwell was detained by authorities on 2 July 2020 and has remained in custody due to fears she may flee the country.

Netflix has unveiled the trailer for Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel, an upcoming true-crime documentary investigating the 2013 death of 21-year-old Canadian student Elisa Lam. Berlinger also directed the 2019 biographical film Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile starring Zac Efron as Bundy. As reflected in Tuesday’s trailer, Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel examines the many theories that took hold after Lam’s body was discovered in a water supply tank on the roof of the hotel. The trailer includes excerpts from surveillance footage of Lam in a lift prior to her disappearance. The video has been a source of speculation online and has fuelled many of the theories surrounding Lam’s death.

Mitch McConnell was among Republican senators who sought to declare Donald Trump’s impeachment trial unconstitutional, signalling that the the US Senate does not have enough votes to convict the former president. Senator Rand Paul failed to pass a motion to rule the former president’s trial unconstitutional because he is no longer in office. Shame," said Senator Paul, who accused Democrats of being “deranged by their hatred" of the former president. That would require support from senators who now have put on record that they believe the trial is unconstitutional. “The whole thing’s dead on arrival,” Senator Paul declared.

The coronavirus has infected more than 100 million people worldwide about 13 months after the novel virus was first detected in Wuhan, China, according to Johns Hopkins University. The grim milestone comes at a time when the world surpassed two million deaths from Covid-19 on 15 January. In the US, more than 423,000 Americans have died from the novel virus. Experts warn the actual death toll from the novel virus was likely higher due to people dying without a firm diagnosis. Mass vaccination campaigns were taking place around the world as one way to respond to the novel virus.

Biden raises election meddling with Putin in first phone call Published 10 minutes agoimage copyright Getty ImagesUS President Joe Biden has spoken to Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin for his first time as president, warning him about 2020 election meddling. Mr Putin congratulated the new US president on winning the election, according to a Russian statement. The call comes after criticism that former President Donald Trump was not forceful enough in his condemnation of Mr Putin. Mr Biden later appeared at the White House to sign a series of executive orders aimed at addressing what he called US systemic racism. I believe the vast majority of Democrats, Republicans and Independents share these values and want us to act as well," said Mr Biden.

Republican Senator Rand Paul forced the Senate to vote on the issue, arguing the trial was illegal given that Trump no longer occupies the Oval Office. It would take two-thirds of the Senate to convict Trump, which would mean 17 Republican senators would have to cross ranks and vote for the conviction. He told reporters afterward the vote meant 'the impeachment trial is dead on arrival.' Republican Senator Lindsey Graham, who is acting as a liaison between Trump and the Republican senators said he spoke to the former president Monday night. Democratic Senator Patrick Leahy is presiding instead of Supreme Court Chief Justice John Roberts, who sat over Trump's first impeachment trial.

Police on Saturday detained nearly 3,900 people -- a record for a single day -- at rallies in more than 100 cities across the country, where demonstrators called for Navalny's release and protested against the government. Navalny accuses the Federal Security Service (FSB) of carrying out the poisoning on Putin's orders, a claim the Kremlin has repeatedly denied. On Tuesday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the demonstrators as "lawbreakers" and rally organisers as "terrorists" in comments to reporters. She predicted that the rallies will continue because "unfortunately there is simply no other instrument for Russians to declare their rights". Violence against government officials is punishable by five to 10 years in prison depending on the severity of the violence.

January 26, 2021MEMORANDUM FOR THE HEADS OF EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENTS AND AGENCIESSUBJECT: Tribal Consultation and Strengthening Nation-to-Nation RelationshipsAmerican Indian and Alaska Native Tribal Nations are sovereign governments recognized under the Constitution of the United States, treaties, statutes, Executive Orders, and court decisions. The United States has made solemn promises to Tribal Nations for more than two centuries. Tribal consultation under this order strengthens the Nation-to-Nation relationship between the United States and Tribal Nations. The plan shall be developed after consultation by the agency with Tribal Nations and Tribal officials as defined in Executive Order 13175. Recommendations for improving the plans and making the Tribal consultation process more effective, if any, should be included in this report.

GOP Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene repeatedly expressed support for assassinating powerful Democrats, CNN reported on Tuesday. In 2018, Greene wrote on Facebook that "the stage is being set" to hang Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. In 2019, she liked a Facebook comment suggesting Nancy Pelosi get a "bullet to the head." Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia repeatedly expressed support for assassinating leading Democrats, CNN's KFILE reported Tuesday. Greene also reportedly expressed support for other Facebook comments that called for the execution of FBI agents.

The agenda for the Biden-Putin conversation was long, running from areas of cooperation, such as nuclear arms control, to areas of contention, such as Russia's military aggression toward Ukraine. During the campaign, Biden promised to take a tougher line with Putin than ex-President Donald Trump did. Trump often seemed to reluctant to confront Putin on Russia's antagonistic behavior, particularly Moscow's efforts to undermine U.S. elections. That major arms control pact expires on Feb. 5, so it’s an urgent matter. In 2011, for example, Biden was in Russia for a meeting with Putin when Biden made a startling remark about Putin’s character.

President Joe Biden on Tuesday spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin for the first time as commander-in-chief. Biden pressed Putin on an array of topics, including Russian election interference. The president pressed Putin on "the SolarWinds hack, reports of Russia placing bounties on United States soldiers in Afghanistan, interference in the 2020 United States election, and the poisoning of Aleksey Navalny." The Biden administration has called on the Russian government to release Navalny and people arrested in protest of his detention. The issue of Russian election interference was a major thorn in Trump's side throughout his presidency, and he often railed against the special counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into the matter.

Jan 26, 2021The Anadolu Agency, Turkey’s state-run media outlet, has lashed out at news that former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and her daughter Chelsea have acquired the rights to produce a TV series based on a forthcoming book by bestselling American journalist and novelist Gayle Tzemach Lemmon on the Syrian Kurdish women fighters who helped defeat the Islamic State. Anadolu claimed that the Clintons would be “whitewashing terrorists” and went on to list Turkey’s standard gripes about the United States’ alliance with the Syrian Kurdish People’s Protection Units (YPG) and their all-female arm, the Women’s Protection Units (YPJ). Turkey insists both groups are terrorists because of their links to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been waging a 36-year-old insurgency against the Turkish state. lham Ahmed, the executive chair of the Syrian Democratic Council and who is among the most powerful women in the Syrian Kurdish movement, welcomed the news of the Clintons' decision to acquire the broadcasting rights for "The Daughters of Kobani." This series will be a very important endeavour, indeed a strategic one from the point of view of women's freedom."

President Joe Biden signs executive orders in the State Dining Room of the White House, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, in Washington. In remarks before signing the order, Biden said the U.S. government needs to change “its whole approach” on the issue of racial equity. The order to end the reliance on privately-run prisons directs the attorney general not to renew Justice Department contracts with privately operated criminal detention facilities. The move will effectively revert the Justice Department to the same posture it held at the end of the Obama administration. GEO Group, a private company that operates federal prisons, called the Biden order “a solution in search of a problem.

Protesters in NY rally against India farm lawsDozens of demonstrators from around the U.S. rallied in New York on Tuesday, India's Republic Day, to protest new laws that they say will hurt farmers.

Biden: 'Now is the time to act' on racial justicePresident Joe Biden signed a series of orders and memorandums designed to make combating racial injustice a central focus of his presidency. "Now is the time to act," on tackling racial injustice Biden said, before signing the orders.

AUSTIN – A federal judge on Tuesday temporarily barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium, a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden. "Texas is the FIRST state in the nation to bring a lawsuit against the Biden Admin," Paxton, a conservative Republican, wrote on Twitter. Within 6 days of Biden’s inauguration, Texas has HALTED his illegal deportation freeze. “This lawsuit should not be allowed to proceed,” said Kate Huddleston, attorney for the ACLU of Texas, said on Tuesday. The freeze also doesn’t apply to those who voluntarily waive the right to remain in the United States.

Rand Paul: Impeaching Trump 'antithesis of unity'Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky is challenging the legitimacy of Donald Trump's second impeachment trial and forced a Senate vote on whether the impeachment trial of a former president is Constitutional. The vote failed 55 to 45.

Biden signs new executive orders, says 'now's the time to act' on racial equityPresident Joe Biden signed four new executive orders, building on steps taken as part of his campaign promise to create a more equitable society.

ET Janet Yellen Sworn In as Treasury Secretary: Live UpdatesVerizon is still investigating the cause of a widespread internet outage on the East Coast. Ms. Yellen is the nation’s 78th Treasury secretary and the first woman to assume that role in the institution’s 232-year history. Standing outside the White House, Ms. Yellen took the oath of office with her husband, the economist George Akerlof, and her son by her side. Video transcript Back bars 0:00 / 1:01 - 0:00 transcript Biden’s Commerce Secretary Nominee Testifies Before Senate Gov. Janet L. Yellen was confirmed as Treasury secretary on Monday and was sworn in on Tuesday.

MOSCOW — President Biden and President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia agreed to extend the last remaining nuclear arms treaty between their countries, but Mr. Biden confronted his counterpart over the poisoning of a Russian opposition leader and other issues, the White House said. It was the first call between the leaders of the world’s two nuclear superpowers since Mr. Biden’s inauguration. The New Start treaty, which limits the size of the two countries’ strategic nuclear arsenals, expires on Feb. 5, and the call appeared to seal a last-minute agreement to extend the treaty after the Trump administration declined to do so. But on a host of other high-stakes matters, Mr. Biden sent the message that he would be taking a harder line on Russia than his predecessor. He raised the poisoning of the Russian opposition leader Aleksei A. Navalny, whose arrest on Jan. 17 sparked protests across the country last weekend, the White House said.

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders is dodging questions on when or if he will move forward with President Biden’s pick for budget chief — given their rocky history. Asked by Punchbowl News whether he would push Neera Tanden’s nomination to run the Office of Management and Budget forward, Sanders (I-Vt.) was cagey. Tanden, president of the Center for American Progress (CAP), was tapped by Biden as his pick for budget chief in late November. President Biden tapped Neera Tanden as his pick for budget chief. We’re talking about a woman who’s notorious for assaulting Bernie Sanders’ campaign manager,” Briahna Joy Gray, Sanders’ 2020 campaign press secretary, told Politico of the choice.

WASHINGTON — The US Senate was sworn in as jurors for the second impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump on Tuesday afternoon. Congress is gearing-up for its second impeachment trial in 13 months on accusations Trump incited the Jan. 6 riot at the US Capitol by encouraging his supporters to overturn the presidential election. Under normal rules, the impeachment trial would begin at 1 p.m. the day after the articles are presented to the Senate. Sen. Patrick Leahy getting sworn in to preside over the second impeachment trial of President Donald Trump on January 26, 2021. Members of the US Senate are sworn in as jurors Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, for the second impeachment trial of President Donald Trump.

ADAs of Tuesday, the number of Maryland residents eligible for a vaccine was roughly three times larger than the number of doses available. The number of appointments available at those sites will be based on dose allocations from the federal government. ADMembers of Congress from Virginia sent a letter to FEMA’s acting director Tuesday asking for a mass vaccination site in Northern Virginia like those Hogan is setting up in Maryland. Democratic Reps. Jennifer Wexton, Don Beyer and Gerald E. Connolly wrote that the region has both the capacity and the demand to support one of the 100 federally operated mass vaccination sites that the Biden administration has proposed. President Biden unveiled the proposal to create mass vaccination sites on his first day in office.

Trump’s trial is not scheduled to begin until Feb. 9, but senators were set to be sworn in for the proceedings Tuesday. ADA week after a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol, the House passed one article of impeachment against the president for inciting an insurrection. If convicted, Trump could be barred from holding future office with a subsequent majority vote. Paul sought to muster at least 34 votes to signal there are enough senators with constitutional misgivings to secure an acquittal. Rather than Roberts, presiding over the trial will be Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) — the Senate president pro tempore and longest serving senator.

President Biden has ordered a 90-day commission to pursue solutions to sexual misconduct in the military, but Mr. Austin said he didn’t want to wait to take action. I know you have worked this problem for many years,” he wrote. Yet reports of sexual assaults have increased steadily since 2006, including a 13 percent jump in 2018 and a 3 percent increase in 2019. “My hope,” Don Christensen, president of Protect Our Defenders, told Military Times, “is that leadership is honest in its assessment. If they are they will see they have made no real progress in reducing the rate of sexual assault and are failing when it comes to accountability.”ADAD

The acting chief of the U.S. Capitol Police offered an unbridled apology to lawmakers Tuesday, adding that officials “fully expect to answer to you and the American people for our failings on January 6.”“The Department also knows that you — the Congressional community — expect excellence from the Capitol Police and depend on us for your safety, but, most importantly, the protection of the democratic process,” acting chief Yogananda D. Pittman told lawmakers during a closed-door briefing, according to a copy of her prepared remarks obtained by The Washington Post. “I am here to offer my sincerest apologies on behalf of the department.”Pittman is one of several officials testifying before members of the House Appropriations Committee about the events and decisions that led to rioters storming the Capitol on Jan. 6, and the steps that security outfits are taking to ensure such a breach is not repeated. She backed up the former police chief’s assertion that he had asked for National Guard backup ahead of time but had been denied — but also acknowledged that the police failed to execute a fully secured lockdown procedure and lacked the weapons to fend off the attackers. Security officials around the Capitol, including the former House sergeant-at-arms, have said since the riot that they struggled to find the proper balance between protecting the Capitol and preserving the public’s access to the building colloquially known as the People’s House. In a sobering warning, Pittman told lawmakers Tuesday that there was no way that the police could have both prevented the riot and preserved the demonstrators’ First Amendment right to stage the protest before the storming of the building took place.

In a victory for Planned Parenthood, the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday overturned two lower court rulings that had sided with GOP officials in banning most abortion procedures in Texas in an effort to conserve medical resources at the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. KAMALA HARRIS' ROE V. WADE POSTS DRAWS TENNESSEE GOVERNOR'S RESPONSEThe ban was issued as part of an executive order by Gov. Planned Parenthood and other pro-choice groups had filed a lawsuit to stop the ban, arguing it was issued in bad faith, as abortion is time-sensitive and a part of essential health care. Many Texans left the state during the onset of the pandemic to end their pregnancies elsewhere, The Texas Tribune reported. In a tweet the day before the Supreme Court ruling, Abbott announced that Texas will fully end taxpayer funding of Planned Parenthood by Feb. 3, adding that: "Innocent lives will be saved."

A left-leaning advocacy group launched a campaign Tuesday which calls for major corporations to pledge not to hire former senior Trump administration officials who helped to implement what it described as "cruel and anti-democratic policies." Dubbed the "Campaign against Corporate Complicity," the initiative is a collaboration between the public interest groups American Oversight and Accountable.us. The campaign will keep a rolling list of former Trump administration officials and track their career moves following their exits from the White House. In an open letter, the groups called on American CEOs to shun senior officials as they enter the private sector. "As senior Trump administration officials seek refuge in corporate America, companies should fully vet applicants for their participation in cruel and anti-democratic policies," the campaign’s website says.

The world has now seen more than 100 million cases of the novel coronavirus since the outbreak of the deadly disease began a year ago. The United States leads the world with most cases, with more than 25.3 million total cases as of this writing, according to estimates from the university’s Coronavirus Resource Center. India follows behind with some 10.7 million cases. Brazil, meanwhile, is third in the world for most reported cases of COVID-19, recording some 8.9 million cases to date. But the rollout of these jabs has been slow, with recently-inaugurated President Joe Biden hoping to speed the process by vaccinating 100 million Americans in his administration’s first 100 days.

EXCLUSIVE: Former Obama and Bush-era homeland security secretaries on Tuesday urged the Senate to "swiftly" confirm Alejandro Mayorkas to lead DHS, saying "any further delays" will "hinder" the country’s ability to respond to national security risks. The four former homeland security secretaries pointed out that in the past four years, DHS "has seen no fewer than six people — two Senate-confirmed, four acting — at the helm of the 24,000-person agency charged with protecting the American people and their homeland." "The president-elect could not have found a more qualified person to be the next homeland security secretary," they wrote. We urge the Senate to act swiftly to put Mayorkas in place." The letter comes after Mayorkas was voted out of the Senate Homeland Security Committee by 7-4, with Democrats and GOP Sens.

Gavin Newsom of hiding coronavirus data on Tuesday. McCarthy, who represents California's 23rd Congressional District, criticized Newsom for lifting a regional stay-at-home order less than a week after President Biden took office and failing to explain why the state dropped its ICU capacity threshold for determining lockdowns. At the start of last week, no regions appeared likely to have the stay-at-home order lifted soon because their capacity was well below 15%. But within a day, the state announced it was lifting the order for the 13-county Greater Sacramento area. "There is more uncertainty created by NOT releasing the data that only the state has access to," he said in an email.

U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton sided with the state of Texas, which is arguing that a Jan. 20 memorandum issued by acting Homeland Security Secretary David Pekoske freezing deportations is unlawful. In an 18-page order, Tipton wrote that the Biden administration's memorandum likely exceeds the administration's authority, and that it may violate federal laws governing administrative procedure. "Defendants are free to conduct a 'measured and considered assessment' of immigration policies regardless of the existence of the January 20 Memorandum's 100-day pause," Tipton wrote. Tipton wrote that his order will apply for 14 days, as Texas and the Biden administration continue to litigate the matter. "Within 6 days of Biden's inauguration, Texas has HALTED his illegal deportation freeze."

That includes $1,400 stimulus checks to bring the $600 payments Congress authorized in December to $2,000 in total. The package also calls for raising the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. How the $1,400 payments could changeThe idea of new direct payments is popular with Americans. Such a change could mean fewer people may qualify for the full $1,400 payments. $15 minimum wage faces hurdlesProtestors call for McDonald’s Corporation to raise wages to a $15 minimum and allow unionization in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on May 23, 2019.

The source said this is a "full stop" on Unanue speaking to the press, not only about politics, but also about the company itself. "They accomplished what they set out to do, which was get President Trump out of the way," he said. Those comments did not get as much attention as his July remarks praising President Trump , likely because of all the other news surrounding the inauguration. Unanue and Goya said at the time that he was at the White House to announce the donation of millions of cans of Goya products to food banks. That in turn prompted a so-called "buy-cott" by Trump supporters, including Ivanka Trump , who urged the president's backers to buy Goya products.

Indoor gatherings remain limited to 10 people and outdoor gatherings are limited to 25. "The goal of these enforcement actions is to reduce the spread of #COVID19 and the risk to our vulnerable populations." The Boston Marathon is usually held in April and was canceled last year because of Covid-19, though there was a virtual edition. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has repeatedly said the city's supply of vaccine doses is running very low, too. "These findings suggest that the prevalence of self-reported psychological distress among school-aged children and adolescents during the Covid-19 pandemic was relatively high," the researchers said in a summary of the study's key findings.

SEE NEW POSTSBoris Johnson says he's 'deeply sorry' for Covid-19 deaths, takes 'full responsibility' British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Tuesday he was "deeply sorry" for every life taken by Covid-19 as he insisted his government has done "everything we could" to ease the pain of the pandemic. California will also launch a new online portal, called My Turn, where residents can make vaccine appointments and check their eligibility status. We are continuing enforcement of the Los Angeles County health orders to address underground party events. "The goal of these enforcement actions is to reduce the spread of #COVID19 and the risk to our vulnerable populations." The Boston Marathon is usually held in April and was canceled last year because of Covid-19, though there was a virtual edition.

SEE NEW POSTSCalifornia officials take control over state's slow vaccine rollout California is changing its vaccine delivery system to give the state more control over who gets doses amid growing frustration over a slow rollout that has forced people to wait hours, and months, for their shots. Under the new system, state officials will work with third party administrators to allocate vaccines directly to providers, including county public health systems, pharmacies, health systems, public hospitals, community health centers, pharmacies and pop-up sites. California will also launch a new online portal, called My Turn, where residents can make vaccine appointments and check their eligibility status. He emphasized that unlike other states, New Jersey was sticking with an "appointment-based system" for vaccine distribution instead of a first come, first served model. Murphy, a first-term Democrat, expressed confidence that the Biden administration would help speed the vaccine rollout nationwide.

SEE NEW POSTSNorth Carolina running out of vaccine doses North Carolina has doled out 95 percent of its allotted coronavirus vaccines, with demand now on the verge of eclipsing scheduled supply, officials said Tuesday. We are continuing enforcement of the Los Angeles County health orders to address underground party events. Share this -N.J. governor says state is 'desperately short' on vaccine doses Gov. He added that there are roughly 270 locations around the state ready to administer vaccine doses. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has repeatedly said the city's supply of vaccine doses is running very low, too.

ASYLUM AND REGIONAL MIGRATIONBiden plans to rescind some Trump policies that made it harder to obtain asylum in the United States, according to the memo. REUNITING FAMILIES SEPARATED BY TRUMPBiden will create a task force to reunite migrant families who were separated by Trump’s immigration policies. Biden pledged during his presidential campaign to create a task force to reunite children and parents separated at the U.S.-Mexico border. REVIEW OF THE LEGAL IMMIGRATION SYSTEMBiden is expected to issue an executive order that would remove barriers to legal immigration and citizenship. The new actions expected on Friday come after Biden issued six immigration-themed executive orders on Jan. 20.

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Migrants return to Mexico using the Puerta Mexico bridge that crosses the Rio Grande river on the border with Brownsville, Texas. | AP Photo/Emilio EspejelThe 100-day pause went into effect on Friday. The agreements, signed on the final days of the Trump administration, were first reported by Buzzfeed News. However, Tipton’s order specified that the decision was not based on that agreement between DHS and Texas. The Justice and Homeland Security departments did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

This week Chris sits down with professor and historian David Bligt to talk about his Pulitzer winning book "Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom." And Frederick Douglass is in a somewhat similar category in so far as like, yes, we know Fredrick Douglass. Well, and it's also, I mean, after my encomium Frederick Douglass, he was, of course, not unflawed either. But first, I guess, for people that have not read the biography, which is probably the large majority of the listeners right now, just tell me a little bit about how does Frederick Douglass become Frederick Douglass? The book we were just discussing "Frederick Douglass: Prophet of Freedom."

In a statement, Kudlow said he was “excited to join many of my former colleagues now at FBN, creating a show that speaks to the real issues truly impacting Americans.”Suzanne Scott, Fox News Media’s chief executive, said in her own statement that Kudlow’s “vast experience in policy making coupled with his intuitive on-air presence will add depth and insight to our business analysis programming.”Kudlow’s transition to Fox is not his first foray into the world of broadcasting. The former Wall Street economist served as a CNBC contributor before joining Trump’s White House, and he had previously hosted shows on the network, including “The Kudlow Report.”Trump’s choice of Kudlow to replace his first economic adviser, Gary Cohn, in 2018 was widely regarded as another example of the former president’s proclivity for plucking camera-ready administration officials out of “central casting.”A former Reagan administration official who preached the importance of a free market, Kudlow often found himself defending tariff policies and other executive actions by Trump that were antithetical to his own economic views. Last year, amid the coronavirus pandemic and the crushing economic fallout, Kudlow echoed Trump in making numerous misleading predictions about the U.S. outbreak and downplaying its significance. But he was not as combative or partisan as some of his White House colleagues, and frequently took questions from reporters outside the White House with a generally amiable attitude.

I mean, Texas is a microcosm for the bigger trends in the country. ABBY LIVINGSTON: That's right. Those are ranches that's ... that's not metro area stuff. I think that's the debate that's happening right now. ABBY LIVINGSTON: That's my Austin.

Senator Elizabeth Warren discusses her hopes for the new Biden administration, highlights among new staff members she is enthusiastic about, and expectations that Democrats will hold together to advance an agenda.

Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) talks to Chris Hayes about the importance of the Senate becoming a more active legislative body with Chuck Schumer serving as the new Senate Majority Leader.

A portrait of Benjamin Franklin and busts of Cesar Chavez, Rosa Parks, and Eleanor Roosevelt are just some of the changes President Joe Biden has brought to the Oval Office. NBC News’ Geoff Bennett explains what these personal touches signify.

While giving his inaugural address, Pres. Joe Biden called for a divided America to unite. Will the new president's call for unity resonate with the nation? We talk to Baratunde Thurston and Bill Kristol.

Is House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy trying to have it both ways when it comes to messaging on impeachment and Trump's role in the U.S. Capitol riots? The Morning Joe panel discusses.

QAnon believers looked to Inauguration Day for Trump to stop Biden from taking office and Democrats - who they believe to be pedophiles and cannibals - to be arrested. Ben Collins and Jen Golbeck discuss how Q loyalists reacted after none of that happened.

The House has delivered the Trump impeachment article to the Senate, and the stage is now set for the fmr. president's second impeachment trial. Meanwhile, Biden is pushing to get his agenda in motion before the trial begins.

HuffPost’s Matt Fuller and Chris Hayes discuss Republican Rep. Andy Harris getting caught trying to bring a gun onto the House floor—just two weeks after the Capitol insurrection.

“I think a lot of people are shocked and disappointed at the willingness of Senators Cruz and Hawley—in pursuit of political ambition—to basically disregard the Constitution of the United States,” says George Conway.

Congressman Ted Lieu says impeaching Trump is a matter of deterrence: “Future presidents need to know they cannot attempt a coup to hold on to power."

On Sen. Mitch McConnell wanting to prevent Senate Democrats from getting rid of the filibuster, Joy says: "The guy who made it his number one priority to block President Barack Obama's agenda and use the filibuster at levels rivaled only by Southern Dixiecrat filibusters of civil rights legislation during the 50s/60s wants to make sure he can rinse and repeat with Biden."

“This was—as we have argued and intend to show—the worst presidential crime against the Republic in American history,” says House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) just announced Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial schedule has been agreed to and will begin in a little more than two weeks on February 8. MSNBC's Ari Melber reports on the breaking news, announcing the House managers will formally present the articles of impeachment to the Senate on Monday, January 25.

In a ReidOut exclusive, DNC Chairman Jaime Harrison tells Joy Reid that he wants the party to invest in a 50 state strategy to be prepared for the next races.

Since taking office, President Biden has already issued a series of executive orders addressing Covid-19, student debt, climate change and immigration. Oscar winning filmmaker Michael Moore joins MSNBC's Ari Melber to discuss Biden's aggressive agenda for his first 100 days in office, Moore asserting Biden needs to address the crippling debt Americans are facing in light of the pandemic and should implement universal healthcare. Moore also hits out at Republicans, arguing Biden needs to ensure they "answer for what they did" to enable Donald Trump and subvert democracy.

Washington Post Political reporter David Fahrenthold says that any hope former President Trump had of his businesses recovering after the pandemic was killed after the events of January 6th

President Trump is using his final hours in office to look at presidential pardons. Former RNC Chairman Michael Steele and Politics War Room co-host James Carville join Stephanie Ruhle to discuss how some people are spending big bucks to get on the pardon list.

New evidence continues to emerge detailing the insurrection that occurred at Capitol Hill, some videos showing how rioters developed elaborate plans for extending their crimes. MSNBC’s Ari Melber walks through the evidence and emphasizes that the insurrectionists share Sen. Ted Cruz’s goal of overthrowing the election – new video revealing rioters argued Cruz would support their crimes.

A look back at President-Elect Joe Biden’s life-long career in politics, that spans more than five decades. It all began in November of 1972, and this week, Biden will become the President of the United States.

Joe Biden will be sworn in as the 46th president of the United States on Wednesday, January 20 in a ceremony that will keep with tradition while being unlike any other inauguration in U.S. history. The Morning Joe panel discusses.

On Trump's last day in office, he leaves in more disgrace than most modern presidents, dogged by more convictions of top advisers in his first term than any other president. As Trump faces late backlash, MSNBC's Ari Melber and The New York Times columnist Michelle Goldberg discuss what it took to dent Trump's impunity.

On President Trump's final full day in office, the Morning Joe panel discusses the role social media played in Trump's presidency and what type of politician could come in the future if social media sites remain unchecked.

Climate change activist Greta Thunberg says that the climate goals from the Biden administration are "very far from being in line with the Paris Agreement" but welcomes the new tone from the president.

It was a fitting cap to Trump’s corrupt administration that in his final hours, he pardoned Bannon— forgiving his alleged crime of fleecing Trump's own supporters—and rescinded the lobbying ban that he had put in place at the start of his term.

Chris Hayes: “Democrats are going to have to choose really soon: do they roll over for phony calls for unity that absolve the Republican Party for its trespasses against American democracy? Or, do they wield the rare power they have won through democratic means to repair democracy and people's lives?”

The impeachment articles against Donald Trump will formally go the to Senate in mere days. But as MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber explains, Trump’s second impeachment will be different from his last. Democratic Senator Chuck Schumer is now in charge, which means there could be more evidence and witnesses admitted in trial- two things Republicans blocked last time- and Trump is now out of office, ensuring the entire case is about whether or not he should be convicted. Melber asserts the Senate will decide something “that shapes history” and that may ensure Trump “never has power again.”

President Biden is making his first call to a foreign leader today since his inauguration, putting a focus on the United States’ relationship with other countries around the world. Eurasia Group founder and president Ian Bremmer join Stephanie Ruhle to discuss why his call might be a little tense.

The House on Monday is set to send the article of impeachment to the Senate. This move comes amid new revelations that then-President Trump considered naming a new attorney general to help push baseless claims of voter fraud.

Republican legislators across the country are preparing new voting restrictions in the wake of former President Donald Trump’s defeat, Politico reports. The panel discusses.

Senate Republicans Tuesday voted for a measure declaring the impeachment proceedings against former President Donald Trump to be unconstitutional because Trump is no longer in office. One proponent of that view, George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley, spoke to Senate Republicans at a lunch ahead of the swearing-in on Tuesday. While some senators have likened their role in the impeachment trial to jurors, they're actually more than that. The Senate trial is expected to begin the week of Feb. 8 under a deal struck between the parties. Senate Republicans had requested extra time to allow Trump's lawyers to prepare.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, the first phone call between the two since Biden took office last week, the White House confirmed. "President Biden made clear that the United States will act firmly in defense of its national interests in response to actions by Russia that harm us or our allies," the White House said in a statement. In addition, Biden raised the issue of 2020 election interference and the poisoning of Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny. Biden has spoken to a number of America's allies since taking office, including the leaders of Canada, Germany and France. "Vladimir Putin congratulated Joseph Biden on the start of his work as President of the United States," the Kremlin described the call in a translation of a readout of the call.

A California man was arrested Tuesday after federal authorities said he sent threatening text messages to family members of a New York City congressman and journalist. "We are nearby armed and ready," the suspect allegedly said in one text described in the document. “Your brother is putting your entire family at risk with his lies and other words. In the text to the lawmaker's brother, authorities said Lemke wrote: “your words have consequences. Members of Lemke's family could not be reached for comment at several publicly listed phone numbers for them in Northern California on Tuesday afternoon.

Senate Republicans have figured out a way to wiggle out of passing judgment on President Donald Trump in his impeachment trial: claiming that the Senate has no ability to try him after he leaves office Wednesday. Every impeachment trial is basically a blank canvas for the Senate to impress its stamp upon. Article I, Section 3 of the Constitution says the Senate "shall have the sole Power to try all Impeachments." Unlike this time last year, Republicans will no longer hold the majority by the time the trial is likely to start. And finally, any challenge to the ability of the Senate to hold the trial should be deemed out of order.

But this time, the insurrection was televised — and hosted on social media websites around the world. In response to the Trump-supporting extremists storming the Capitol, platforms like Twitter and Facebook have finally taken the previously unprecedented leap to ban or block Trump’s account. We do not want extremism to proliferate freely on social media websites, radicalizing vulnerable people and potentially infecting all of society, with often violent results. Trump himself has not been a fan of social media platforms, despite being an incredibly prolific user, of Twitter in particular. Trump himself has not been a fan of social media platforms, despite being an incredibly prolific user, of Twitter in particular.

Experts are urging Biden administration officials to better understand the source behind Covid-19 vaccine skepticism across different Latino communities to improve vaccine rollout strategies nationwide. At least 28 percent of all Latinos surveyed by the Latino advocacy nonprofit UnidosUS in October reported that they were unlikely to get vaccinated for Covid-19. Over a third of all Latinas surveyed by UnidosUS stated they will likely not get vaccinated, compared to 22 percent of Latino men. The researchers are calling for officials to commission an in-depth study that identifies the most effective messaging strategies for different Latino subgroups. They also urge an aggressive use of fact-based information to counter the overwhelming amount of bilingual vaccine disinformation Latinos have been exposed to over the past months.

There's a lot more work that needs to be done.”The memorandum issues guidance for the DOJ on how to better collect data and assist with the reporting of anti-Asian hate incidents. Many officials warned that the term and others like it would perpetuate the racist association between the disease and Asian Americans, prompting more hate attacks. Research published in the journal Health Education & Behavior suggests that such racist rhetoric has already had a profound impact on how those in the United States see Asian Americans. The language led to an increased subconscious belief that Asian Americans are “perpetual foreigners,” researchers said. More than 40 percent of the incidents were identified as anti-Asian incidents.

The FBI on Monday charged a man accused of participating in the Capitol riots after they received multiple tips from people who recognized his varsity jacket and number in footage of the mayhem. Brian Gundersen, of Armonk, N.Y., was identified as a Capitol rioter by his varsity jacket. Other people had also sent tips to the FBI identifying Gundersen as the man wearing the letterman jacket. Brian Gundersen, of Armonk, N.Y., was identified as a Capitol rioter by his varsity jacket. Still, when he was interviewed by the FBI on Jan. 19, Gundersen denied being a part of the Capitol riots.

The suspension will last at least 30 days and has been in effect since last week, YouTube said in an email. YouTube’s Partner Program allows video creators to share ad revenue as well as receive support from a company team, but channels that violate company policies can be removed. Giuliani, a former New York City mayor, has been a vocal proponent of baseless allegations of widespread fraud in the presidential election. In a series of news conferences and court hearings after the election, his team pushed allegations of voter fraud that had already been debunked. Giuliani could appeal his suspension with YouTube or reapply to the Partner Program in 30 days if he addresses the underlying issues, the company said.

U.S. Capitol Police hold rioters at gun-point near the House Chamber inside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)U.S. Capitol Police hold rioters at gun-point near the House Chamber inside the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that authorities have detected ominous chatter about killing legislators or attacking them outside the Capitol. Five people died, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher. The Defense Department has said it asked the Capitol Police if it needed the Guard, but the request was denied.

Circuit Court of Appeals in Richmond, Virginia, heard arguments Tuesday on the constitutionality of the watchlist, also known as the Terrorism Screening Database. Government lawyers urged the judges not to intervene in the executive branch’s administration of the list and its national security judgments. They said in court papers that the government uses the database to help determine whether to place air marshals on certain flights, for example. Trenga ruled that the travel difficulties faced by plaintiffs and their concerns about erroneous placement on the list are legitimate. Wilkinson said the lack of due process for people who believe they are wrongly placed on the list is troubling.

President Biden announced executive orders he would be signing that focused on his administration's plans for racial equity. This includes a move to eventually end the Justice Department's use of private prisons.

President Joe Biden made history Jan. 19 when he announced the nomination of Dr. Rachel Levine to be his assistant health secretary — if approved, she would become the first openly transgender federal official confirmed by the U.S. Senate. However, some prominent figures on the right responded to the news by launching transphobic attacks against herMost notably, a Republican lawmaker from Pennsylvania, state Rep. Jeff Pyle, authored a Facebook post mocking Levine’s appearance. The post drew a swift backlash, with some people responding to his post with calls for him to resign. They don’t care about Dr. Levine’s record on managing the crisis, which, according to most indicators, seems to be exemplary,” Suen added. Branstetter also shared that Levine was a source of inspiration for her during a pivotal time in her own life, when Branstetter covered Levine while working as a health care reporter in Pennsylvania.

'Take The Politics Out Of The Census,' Biden's Commerce Pick Raimondo SaysEnlarge this image toggle caption Jonathan Ernst/Bloomberg via Getty Images Jonathan Ernst/Bloomberg via Getty ImagesPresident Biden's nominee for overseeing the Census Bureau, Rhode Island Gov. "I believe that we need to take the politics out of the census, and we need to rely on the experts," Raimondo, a Democrat, told lawmakers Tuesday. "The experts and statisticians in the Census Bureau are top-notch, so I, once confirmed, intend to rely on them." Raimondo's comments during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee were the governor's first public remarks about the national head count since becoming Biden's pick for secretary of the Commerce Department, which oversees the bureau. ), the outgoing chair of the Senate Commerce Committee, said before ending Tuesday's hearing.

“In keeping our options open, on our caucus call today, I informed senators to be prepared that a vote on a budget resolution could come as early as next week,” Schumer said Tuesday at a press conference. Read more: A guide to budget reconciliation, which Democrats could use to push Biden’s agenda“We want to work with our Republican colleagues to advance this legislation in a bipartisan way. But the work must move forward, preferably with our Republican colleagues, but without them, if we must,” Schumer said. Incoming Senate Budget Committee Chairman Bernie Sanders, an Independent from Vermont who caucuses with Democrats, said his staff is already busy writing the instructions to committees that would be included in a budget resolution. We’re going forward, soon and aggressively,” Sanders told reporters at the U.S. Capitol.

HOUSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order sought by Texas, which sued on Friday against a Department of Homeland Security memo that instructed immigration agencies to pause most deportations. That was a reversal from Trump administration policy that made anyone in the U.S. illegally a priority for deportation. The 100-day moratorium went into effect Friday and applied to almost anyone who entered the U.S. without authorization before November. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that the moratorium violated federal law as well as an agreement Texas signed with the Department of Homeland Security late in the Trump administration.

Simpson, were among the lawyers on Trump's team. Trump's first impeachment trial united Republicans on Capitol Hill. More: Trump impeachment trial to begin week of Feb. 8, Senate leaders announceMore: The second Trump impeachment trial is set for February. GOP lawmakers divided on Trump's fateThe path to convicting Trump is an uphill one, though the political climate has shifted since his last impeachment trial. Contributing: David JacksonThis article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Trump's second impeachment trial missing star lawyers, united GOP

Evan Vucci/APEvery incoming president gets to redecorate the Oval Office, and Biden has added his own touches. Every incoming president gets to redecorate the Oval Office to their taste, but few have packed in as many personal touches and as much symbolism as President Joe Biden. Keep scrolling for the hidden meanings behind some of President Biden's décor choices. The dark blue rug was last seen in the Oval Office during the Clinton administration. President Biden sits in front of an American flag and a presidential seal flag.

RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) — A North Carolina state senator announced Tuesday that he's running for the U.S. Senate in 2022, hoping to flip fortunes for Democrats from his state to serve in the chamber after a string of defeats. Jackson, 38, is the second high-profile Democrat to enter the race to succeed three-term Republican Sen. Richard Burr, who is not seeking reelection. North Carolina native Lara Trump, the daughter-in-law of former President Donald Trump, is also considering a bid. Jackson decided against running for Senate in 2020 after meeting with then-Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. He remains a military attorney in a North Carolina National Guard unit and is a former local prosecutor.

Texas AG Ken Paxton filed a lawsuit to halt the Biden administration’s “unlawful” freeze on deportationsA federal judge has temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s move to freeze deportations of illegal immigrants for the next 100-days. The 14-day restraining order issued by Texas judge Drew Tipton follows a legal challenge by the state’s attorney general Ken Paxton. In his complaint, Mr Paxton said the directive violates the Administrative Procedure Act, which required that the department seek input from Texas. Read more: Follow live updates on the Biden administrationThe Biden administration argued in court filings that the agreement is unenforceable because “an outgoing administration cannot contract away that power for an incoming administration”, according to The Associated Press. In announcing the deportation freeze, DHS’s acting secretary, David Pekoske, said the pause on certain removals would allow them to focus resources on where they are most needed.

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — An Iranian-American has been sentenced by Iran to 10 years in prison on spying charges, despite his family alleging he never had a trial or an opportunity to defend himself. A family spokesman Tuesday confirmed the sentencing of Emad Shargi, the latest dual national to be held in Iran amid tensions with the West. It wasn’t immediately clear which court sentenced Shargi. However, cases involving dual nationals have found themselves tied to money frozen overseas wanted by Iran. Other Americans held by Iran include Baquer and Siamak Namazi and conservationist Morad Tahbaz, who also holds British citizenship.

WASHINGTON — In a briefing with reporters on Tuesday afternoon White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki confirmed President Joe Biden was set to talk to the Russian president, Vladimir Putin. Russian intelligence has also been tied to efforts to interfere in recent American elections. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin. While the Trump administration went along with Congressional sanctions on Russia, Trump was criticized for not doing more to publicly criticize Putin. At an unrelated White House event shortly after Psaki’s briefing, Biden was asked about his call with Putin by Peter Doocy, a correspondent with the Fox News Channel.

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia and the United States traded documents Tuesday to extend their last remaining nuclear arms control treaty days before it is due to expire, the Kremlin said. “In the nearest days, the parties will complete the necessary procedures that will ensure further functioning of this important international legal nuclear arms control tool," the Kremlin said. Top members of the Kremlin-controlled parliament said they would fast-track the issue and complete the necessary steps to extend the treaty this week. After both Moscow and Washington withdrew from the 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty in 2019, New START is the only remaining nuclear arms control deal between the two countries. The Trump administration then proposed to extend New START for just one year and also sought to expand it to include limits on battlefield nuclear weapons.

"Sen. Mitch McConnell has caved and Sen. Schumer has won that fight. No sooner has the portion of Rachel Maddow's interview with Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer aired than Mitch McConnell has put out a statement that he is folding, ending the stand-off. "We will not let Mitch McConnell dictate to us what we will do and not do." Here's Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer earlier in his interview with Rachel Maddow, talking about the filibuster specifically, and getting things done. Senate Majority Leader Schumer cites Obama era lessons in prioritizing legislation over bad faith Republican 'bipartisanship.'

HOUSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order sought by Texas, which sued on Friday against a Department of Homeland Security memo that instructed immigration agencies to pause most deportations. The order represents a victory for Texas' Republican leaders, who often sued to stop programs enacted by Biden's Democratic predecessor, President Barack Obama. That was a reversal from Trump administration policy that made anyone in the U.S. illegally a priority for deportation. The 100-day moratorium went into effect Friday and applied to almost anyone who entered the U.S. without authorization before November.

By Ted HessonWASHINGTON (Reuters) - A federal judge in Texas on Tuesday temporarily blocked a move by new U.S. President Joe Biden to halt the deportation of many immigrants for a 100-day period, a swift legal setback for his ambitious immigration agenda. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton, an appointee of former President Donald Trump in the Southern District of Texas, issued a temporary restraining order that blocks the policy nationwide for 14 days following a legal challenge by Texas. The Biden administration is expected to appeal the ruling, which halts the deportation freeze while both parties submit briefs on the matter. In a complaint filed on Friday, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton said the state would face irreparable harm if the deportation freeze was allowed to go into effect. Paxton, a Republican, said it would increase education and healthcare costs as more immigrants remained in Texas illegally.

By Jeffrey HellerJERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel's top general said on Tuesday that its military was refreshing its operational plans against Iran and that any U.S. return to a 2015 nuclear accord with Tehran would be "wrong." The remarks are an apparent signal to U.S. President Joe Biden to tread cautiously in any diplomatic engagement with Iran. Such comments by Israel's military chief of staff on U.S. policymaking are rare and likely would have been pre-approved by the Israeli government. "In light of this fundamental analysis, I have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare a number of operational plans, in addition to those already in place," Kohavi said. Story continuesNetanyahu had threatened possible Israeli strikes against Iran in the run-up to the accord.

A federal judge on Tuesday barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Biden. It also showed that just as Democratic-led states and immigration groups fought former President Trump over immigration in court, often successfully, so too will Republicans with Biden in office. That was a reversal from Trump administration policy that made anyone in the U.S. illegally a priority for deportation. The 100-day moratorium went into effect Friday and applied to almost anyone who entered the U.S. without authorization before November. Gen. Ken Paxton argued that the moratorium violated federal law as well as an agreement Texas signed with the Department of Homeland Security late in the Trump administration.

“I just said, ‘Oh, my goodness gracious,’” Fauci recalled during a CNN interview Monday night. AdvertisementIn addition to frustration with medical misinformation, Fauci shared what he thought when seeing the attack on the Capitol earlier this month. “Until the examination came back and we found out it was harmless powder, my children were very, very distraught,” he said. “And that’s more painful to me than somebody, some jerk, threatening my life.”But things are looking up for the 80-year-old. Late last week, the new administration announced that the United States will resume funding for the World Health Organization.

Biden has looked to establish a sharp break from the warm rhetoric often displayed toward Putin by his predecessor, former President Trump. AdvertisementAnd on Tuesday before his call with Putin, Biden spoke to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, pledging the United States’ commitment to the decades-old alliance founded as a bulwark against Russian aggression. Biden told Putin that his administration was assessing the SolarWinds cyberbreach and the reports that Russia offered the Taliban bounties to kill American troops in Afghanistan. Biden said the United States is willing to defend itself and will take action, which could include further sanctions, to ensure that Moscow does not act with impunity, according to the administration officials. Biden on Monday told reporters he hoped the U.S. and Russia could cooperate in areas where both see benefit.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has rejected a Republican attempt to dismiss Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial, a vote that allows the case on “incitement of insurrection” to move forward but also foreshadows that there may not be enough votes to convict him. While most Republicans criticized Trump shortly after the attack, many of them have rushed to defend him in the trial, showing the former president's enduring sway over the GOP. Chief Justice John Roberts is not presiding at the trial, as he did during Trump’s first impeachment, potentially affecting the gravitas of the proceedings. AdvertisementInstead, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D- Vt., who serves in the largely ceremonial role of Senate president pro tempore, was sworn in on Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said failing to conduct the trial would amount to a “get-out-jail-free card” for others accused of wrongdoing on their way out the door.

“We also knew that some of these participants were intending to bring firearms and other weapons to the event. A law enforcement official told The Associated Press that authorities have detected ominous chatter about killing legislators or attacking them outside the Capitol. Five people died, including Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick, who was hit in the head with a fire extinguisher. The Defense Department has said it asked the Capitol Police if it needed the Guard, but the request was denied. Several law enforcement and congressional reviews are underway.

By Nomaan Merchant | Associated PressHOUSTON — A federal judge on Tuesday barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order sought by Texas, which sued on Friday against a Department of Homeland Security memo that instructed immigration agencies to pause most deportations. That was a reversal from Trump administration policy that made anyone in the U.S. illegally a priority for deportation. The 100-day moratorium went into effect Friday and applied to almost anyone who entered the U.S. without authorization before November. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that the moratorium violated federal law as well as an agreement Texas signed with the Department of Homeland Security late in the Trump administration.

By LARRY NEUMEISTER | The Associated PressNEW YORK — A California man disgruntled about the presidential election result was arrested Tuesday on charges alleging he threatened family members of a New York congressman and a journalist in text messages sent during the attack on the Capitol, authorities said. Robert Lemke, 35, was arrested in Bay Point, California, on charges filed in Manhattan federal court. He was scheduled to make an initial appearance in federal court in Northern California on Wednesday. The identities of the member of Congress and the journalist were not revealed in court papers. “Rather than peaceably disagree, Lemke allegedly threatened to harm those individuals’ families, demanding they retract their statements,” she said.

The California Housing Partnership on Tuesday released the Roadmap Home 2030 plan, backed by CZI and the nonprofit Irvine and Hilton foundations. Related Articles Governor, state lawmakers propose extending ban on evictionsWill San Jose move to densify single-family neighborhoods like Sacramento just did? It backs $10 billion in bonds for affordable housing and expansion of the state’s Project Homekey program to buy and rehabilitate housing for the homeless. The plan is also backed by the chairmen of state legislative housing committees, San Francisco Democrats Sen. Scott Wiener and Assemblymember David Chiu. “Small solutions don’t solve big problems,” said Wiener, author of SB 50 and several other housing reform bills.

While most Republicans criticized Trump shortly after the attack, many of them have rushed to defend him in the trial, showing the former president’s enduring sway over the GOP. Not only are there legal concerns, but senators are wary of crossing the former president and his legions of followers. Chief Justice John Roberts is not presiding at the trial, as he did during Trump’s first impeachment, potentially affecting the gravitas of the proceedings. Instead, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D- Vt., who serves in the largely ceremonial role of Senate president pro tempore, was sworn in on Tuesday. For the Democratic-led Senate, the intervening weeks provide prime time to confirm some of Biden’s key Cabinet nominees.

Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kellyin the new 50-50 Senate. Kelly joined the Senate in December and helped torpedo former President Donald Trump’s controversial nomination of Judy Shelton to the Federal Reserve. And while the filibuster’s future remained unclear, Kelly during his 2020 Senate campaign declined to take a position on whether it should stay or go. Kyrsten Sinema seems to think things are working just fine in Washington D.C.” one ad from the group on Twitter said. Throughout his 2020 run for the Senate, Kelly ran largely as a centrist candidate who would make decisions independent of the Democratic Party.

At the same time, it shows it is unlikely there will be enough votes for conviction, which requires the support of all Democrats and 17 Republicans, or two-thirds of the Senate. While most Republicans criticized Trump shortly after the attack, many of them have rushed to defend him in the trial, showing the former president's enduring sway over the GOP.

WASHINGTON — The Senate has rejected a Republican attempt to dismiss Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial, a vote that allows the case on “incitement of insurrection” to move forward but also foreshadows that there may not be enough votes to convict him. While most Republicans criticized Trump shortly after the attack, many of them have rushed to defend him in the trial, showing the former president’s enduring sway over the GOP. Chief Justice John Roberts is not presiding at the trial, as he did during Trump’s first impeachment, potentially affecting the gravitas of the proceedings. Instead, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D- Vt., who serves in the largely ceremonial role of Senate president pro tempore, was sworn in on Tuesday. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said failing to conduct the trial would amount to a “get-out-jail-free card” for others accused of wrongdoing on their way out the door.

The Nevada Legislative Building in Carson City (K.M. The commission will also select a new Assembly member, following the resignation of incumbent Alexander Assefa amid an investigation into campaign finances. Clary and fellow applicant David Lopez, who is a clerk for Nevada Defense Group, both ran for Las Vegas City Council in 2019. Levine, a longtime political director for Rep. Dina Titus, was appointed last summer to the Board of Regents to replace the late Sam Lieberman. The district serves about 129,000 people in a large swath of territory including the Strip and McCarran International Airport.

HOUSTON — A federal judge on Tuesday barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden. U.S. District Judge Drew Tipton issued a temporary restraining order sought by Texas, which sued on Friday against a Department of Homeland Security memo that instructed immigration agencies to pause most deportations. That was a reversal from Trump administration policy that made anyone in the U.S. illegally a priority for deportation. The 100-day moratorium went into effect Friday and applied to almost anyone who entered the U.S. without authorization before November. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that the moratorium violated federal law as well as an agreement Texas signed with the Department of Homeland Security late in the Trump administration.

In this image from video, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the president pro tempore of the Senate, who is presiding over the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, swears in members of the Senate for the impeachment trial at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)In this image from video, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., makes a motion that the impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump is unconstitutional in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. (Senate Television via AP)In this image from video, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D-Vt., the president pro tempore of the Senate, who will preside over the impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump, swears in members of the Senate for the impeachment trial against former President Donald Trump in the Senate at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. While most Republicans criticized Trump shortly after the attack, many of them have rushed to defend him in the trial, showing the former president’s enduring sway over the GOP. Instead, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D- Vt., who serves in the largely ceremonial role of Senate president pro tempore, was sworn in on Tuesday.

At the same time, it shows it is unlikely there will be enough votes for conviction, which requires the support of all Democrats and 17 Republicans, or two-thirds of the Senate. While most Republicans criticized Trump shortly after the attack, many of them have rushed to defend him in the trial, showing the former president’s enduring sway over the GOP.

In response to the order, Paxton tweeted “VICTORY” and described the deportation moratorium as a “seditious left-wing insurrection,” an apparent reference to the Jan. 6 insurrection in which Trump supporters stormed the Capitol as Congress was certifying Biden’s victory. The House has since impeached Trump for incitement of the siege. Five people died in the Capitol riot, including a Capitol Police officer.

By LISA MASCARO and MARY CLARE JALONICKWASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Republicans voted overwhelmingly Tuesday against moving forward with Donald Trump’s historic second impeachment trial, making clear a conviction of the former president for “incitement of insurrection” is unlikely. That means the trial on Trump’s impeachment, the first ever of a former president, will begin as scheduled the week of Feb. 8. While most Republicans criticized Trump shortly after the attack, many of them have rushed to defend him in the trial, showing the former president’s enduring sway over the GOP. Chief Justice John Roberts is not presiding at the trial, as he did during Trump’s first impeachment, potentially affecting the gravitas of the proceedings. Instead, Sen. Patrick Leahy, D- Vt., who serves in the largely ceremonial role of Senate president pro tempore, was sworn in on Tuesday.

WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden had his first call with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, the White House and Kremlin said. Biden has looked to establish a break from the warm rhetoric often displayed toward Putin by his predecessor, Donald Trump. On Tuesday before his call with Putin, Biden spoke to NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg, pledging the United States’ commitment to the decades-old alliance founded as a bulwark against Russian aggression. Biden told Putin that his administration was assessing the SolarWinds breach and the reports that Russia offered the Taliban bounties to kill American troops in Afghanistan,. Biden on Monday told reporters he hoped the U.S. and Russia could cooperate in areas where both see benefit.

There are conflicting accounts of why the Capitol Police did not have more backup. In her testimony, Pittman said Sund asked the Capitol Police Board, which oversees the department, to declare a state of emergency and allow him to request National Guard support, but the board declined. The Defense Department has said it asked the Capitol Police if it needed the Guard, but the request was denied.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton argued that the moratorium violated federal law as well as an agreement Texas signed with the Department of Homeland Security late in the Trump administration. That agreement required Homeland Security to consult with Texas and other states before taking any action to “reduce, redirect, reprioritize, relax, or in any way modify immigration enforcement.”

The mayor's race got smaller, not bigger Tuesday with announcements from former Mayor Mark Mallory and former city and county leader David Pepper that they would not run. It was a difficult decision, Mallory told The Enquirer. Business leaders and some politicians had hoped either might run in the 2021 mayoral race as the city tries to recover from the arrests of three Cincinnati City Council members and what U.S. District Attorney David DeVillers called a "culture of corruption." The filing deadline is Feb. 18. More:Here's who's running for mayor of Cincinnati (and who might)

President Joe Biden on Tuesday ordered the Department of Justice to end its reliance on private prisons and acknowledge the central role government has played in implementing discriminatory housing policies. In remarks before signing the order, Biden said the U.S. government needs to change “its whole approach” on the issue of racial equity. He added that the nation is less prosperous and secure because of the scourge of systemic racism. Biden rose to the presidency during a year of intense reckoning on institutional racism in the U.S. The moves announced on Tuesday reflect his efforts to follow through with campaign pledges to combat racial injustice.

BRUSSELS (AP) — The European Union called Tuesday on U.S. President Joe Biden to help draw up a common rule book to rein in the power of big tech companies like Facebook and Twitter and combat the spread of fake news that is eating away at Western democracies. In a speech to the Davos World Economic Forum, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen urged the Biden administration to join forces against “the darker sides of the digital world,” which she said was partly behind the “shock” storming of Capitol Hill on Jan. 6. “The business model of online platforms has an impact and not only on free and fair competition, but also on our democracies, our security and on the quality of our information,” von der Leyen said. “That is why we need to contain this immense power of the big digital companies.”She urged the White House to join the 27-nation bloc’s efforts, saying that “together, we could create a digital economy rule book that is valid worldwide,” and would encompass data protection, privacy rules and the security of critical infrastructure.

MOSCOW (AP) — Russia and the United States traded documents Tuesday to extend their last remaining nuclear arms control treaty days before it is due to expire, the Kremlin said. A Kremlin readout of a phone call between U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin said the two leaders voiced satisfaction with the exchange of diplomatic notes about extending the New START treaty. “In the nearest days, the parties will complete the necessary procedures that will ensure further functioning of this important international legal nuclear arms control tool," the Kremlin said. The pact's extension doesn't require congressional approval in the U.S., but Russian lawmakers must ratify the move. Top members of the Kremlin-controlled parliament said they would fast-track the issue and complete the necessary steps to extend the treaty this week.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Senators took oaths Tuesday to ensure “impartial justice” as jurors in Donald Trump's historic impeachment trial, proceedings that will test Republican loyalty to the former president and the power he still wields after the deadly siege at the U.S. Capitol. But some Republican senators are challenging the legitimacy of the trial and questioning whether Trump's repeated demands to overturn Joe Biden’s election really constitute “incitement of insurrection” in the Jan. 6 riot. Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky said he plans to force a vote on whether the impeachment trial of a former president is allowed under the Constitution. “A sham, this is, a travesty, a dark blot on the history of our country,” Paul said in a fiery speech on the Senate floor. He called on Senate colleagues to stop this “kangaroo court” and compared the way Trump egged on the crowd outside the White House before the mob stormed the Capitol to past speeches by Democratic lawmakers, including now-Vice President Kamala Harris.

Kamras would only say via email that he hopes to remain "for many, many years." Since becoming public, the debate over his tenure has roused the superintendent's supporters, activists groups, parents and students into speaking out. 5th district Board member Stephanie Rizzi said she and her colleagues have heard from Kamras' supporters. She said some have gone as far as to accuse her of antisemitism; she has not publicly stated her stance on the contract. Dozens sent in public comments during a recent School Board meeting to say RPS needs consistent leadership.

Several events are scheduled next week marking the 70th anniversary of the executions of seven men — four on Feb. 2 and three on Feb. 5, 1951 — for the rape of a Martinsville woman. The Black men, known as the "Martinsville Seven," died in the electric chair at the former Virginia State Penitentiary in Richmond for the 1949 rape of a 32-year-old white woman, the largest group execution for a single-victim crime in Virginia history. In the days and weeks preceding the executions, pleas for mercy flooded Richmond from around the world. Ralph Northam to posthumously pardoned the seven men. {{featured_button_text}}Organized by the Martinsville Seven Initiative Inc., the Martinsville 7 Project — https://martinsville7.org/ — and the Free Minds Book Club & Writing Workshop — https://freemindsbookclub.org/ — the events include:

As quickly as that fence went up, it's clear that the state could have waited until it had the court's OK to remove the statue. In the meantime, the plaintiffs' doubling down in court to keep Lee on his perch is ill-considered in a nation at war with itself. Historically, this nation has fashioned virtue out of treason, heroism out of Black subjugation, patriotism out of sedition. Meanwhile, veterans sworn to uphold the U.S. Constitution played a disturbingly high-profile role in a Capitol mob whose ranks included white supremacists and far-right extremists. This insurrection demonstrates that you can't swear an oath of loyalty to both the Constitution and white supremacy.

Senators were sworn in on Tuesday as jurors for former President Trump Donald TrumpSchumer: Impeachment trial will be quick, doesn't need a lot of witnesses Nurse to be tapped by Biden as acting surgeon general: report Schumer calls for Biden to declare climate emergency MORE's impeachment trial, which is expected to start in roughly two weeks. Sen. Patrick Leahy Patrick Joseph LeahyBiden says Trump's impeachment trial 'has to happen' House formally sends impeachment to Senate, putting Trump on trial for Capitol riot Most in new poll support Trump impeachment, want Senate conviction MORE (D-Vt.), who will preside over the Senate during the trial, swore in senators. WATCH: Sen. Patrick Leahy is sworn in as the presiding officer in Trump's second impeachment trial https://t.co/DPPUdXQxTg pic.twitter.com/OxD9EOlZd2 — Bloomberg Quicktake (@Quicktake) January 26, 2021ADVERTISEMENTUnderscoring the seriousness of the trial, senators stood at the desk to be sworn in. In addition to senators being sworn in, under the agreement a summons will also be issued on Tuesday to Trump. Trump's response to the article and House's pretrial brief will be due by Feb. 2, and Trump's pretrial brief will be due six days later.

Two high-ranking members of Louisville Metro's Emergency Medical Services team have filed a lawsuit against the department and the city, claiming they were demoted because they encouraged a female EMS employee to file a sexual harassment complaint against her supervisor. Diane Vogel and Jeremy Koonce, two leaders of Louisville EMS, filed the lawsuit Jan. 18, one day after the demotion went into effect and more than four months after the complaint against another EMS employee was filed. For subscribers:Ex-Marine attorney receives punishment for beaning lawyer with a can of LysolMeiman is named as a defendant in the suit, along with Deputy Director Kelly Jones, Louisville EMS and Louisville Metro Government. But Koonce and Vogel, Clay said, appear to have been the only employees to have faced serious consequences. Their demotions were the only permanent staffing moves noted in the email sent Jan. 14 announcing the department reorganization.

A federal judge on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden. A federal judge on Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021, barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden. Tipton said the Biden administration had failed “to provide any concrete, reasonable justification for a 100-day pause on deportations.” (AP Photo/Emilio Espejel, File)HOUSTON (AP) — A federal judge on Tuesday barred the U.S. government from enforcing a 100-day deportation moratorium that is a key immigration priority of President Joe Biden. That was a reversal from Trump administration policy that made anyone in the U.S. illegally a priority for deportation. The 100-day moratorium went into effect Friday and applied to almost anyone who entered the U.S. without authorization before November.

There is a "real danger" that schools could remain closed until the summer, the Children's Commissioner warned as she blamed ministers for a "lack of planning". In a new policy briefing on schools, Ms Longfield said: "Everyone recognises the necessity of reopening schools as soon as possible, but hope alone will not make it happen. There is a real danger that schools will remain closed until Easter at the earliest, or even into the summer – not because the virus makes this inevitable, but because of a lack of planning." On Tuesday, Gavin Williamson, the Education Secretary, came under fire for failing to appear in the Commons to answer Labour's urgent question on schools reopening. Instead, the schools minister Nick Gibb was pressed by MPs on what the Government's plan to reopen schools is.

Former White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany spent her time as the president's mouthpiece, spinning his words, attacking his enemies, and attempting to undermine the credibility of reporters. Government watchdog organisation CREW obtained a financial disclosure report that showed Ms McEnany and Fox News entered into an employment agreement on 1 January. Ms McEnany appeared frequently on Fox News in the past. Fox News issued a statement to The Hill claiming that Ms McEnany "is not currently an employee or contributor" to the at the network. A source close to the matter told The Hill that the negotiations between Fox News and Ms McEnany have been put on pause.

A federal judge has temporarily blocked the Biden administration’s move to freeze deportations of illegal immigrants for the next 100-days. The 14-day restraining order issued by Texas judge Drew Tipton follows a legal challenge by the state’s attorney general Ken Paxton. Read more: Follow live updates on the Biden administrationThe Biden administration argued in court filings that the agreement is unenforceable because “an outgoing administration cannot contract away that power for an incoming administration”, according to The Associated Press. The administration also suspended the policy of having non-Mexican asylum-seekers to wait in Mexico for court hearings in the US. In announcing the deportation freeze, DHS’s acting secretary, David Pekoske, said the pause on certain removals would allow them to focus resources on where they are most needed.

Republican Sen. Mitt Romney reportedly wants to keep some of the damage done during the US Capitol insurrection on 6 January. While many Republican lawmakers spoke out against the violence at the Capitol, Mr Romney was one of the few who directly blamed Donald Trump for inciting the attack. What happened here today was an insurrection, incited by the President of the United States," Mr Romney said in a statement. Mr Romney is the only Republican Senator who voted to convict Mr Trump during his first impeachment trial. Mr Romney disagreed, arguing instead that unity would only be possible through justice.

Prosecutors are asking the judge in the case to prohibit further internet access. Part of the conditions of that release from jail, owing to Ms Williams lack of a previous record, was that she avoid contact with any witnesses or victims of the 6 January riot in Washington. Ms Williams mother could be criminally punished if her daughter violates the terms of release. “Your mother is making an enormous leap of faith on your behalf,” US magistrate judge Martin Carlson said last week. The tipster also said he believed Ms Williams wanted to give the laptop to a friend in Russia, who intended to sell it to the country’s intelligence services.

Twitter users celebrated the historic nature of the first female vice president, Kamala Harris, swearing-in Janet Yellen, the first woman to serve as Treasury Secretary. Ms Yellen was confirmed by the Senate with large bipartisan support, 84 to 15. Ms Yellen took the oath of office with her husband and son, both economists, by her side. Congress and the White House have entered negotiations regarding President Joe Biden's $1.9-trillion Covid relief package, negotiations Ms Yellen will help steer. Arizona congresswoman Ann Kirkpatrick tweeted:The Governor of the Central Bank of Kenya, Patrick Njoroge, tweeted at Ms Yellen is "a great economist and human being."

All 100 US senators have been sworn in as jurors for the upcoming impeachment trial of Donald Trump, as more than two dozen remain undecided about whether they will vote to convict the former president for inciting a bloody insurrection at the Capitol on 6 January. At Tuesday’s swearing-in, Kentucky Senator Rand Paul put forth a motion to declare the impeachment trial unconstitutional since Mr Trump is no longer in office. At least 17 Republicans must vote with all 50 Democrats (including Mr King and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont) to convict Mr Trump and bar him from ever holding federally elected office again in the future. Crucially, one of the senators who is still weighing whether to convict Mr Trump is Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who has previously indicated the pro-Trump mob was “fed lies” by the former president about a “stolen” 2020 election. But in a sign the GOP leader has grown more and more uneasy with the prospect of voting to convict Mr Trump, Mr McConnell on Tuesday voted in favour of Mr Paul’s motion to dismiss the impeachment trial on constitutional grounds.

The introduction of catch certificates and customs declarations has led to delays at the border. Fishermen feel deceivedDave and his son Simon’s family, have been fishing in these waters, off the Devon coast, since the 16th century. All those people that voted hoping for the fishing industry to become a better industry – they’ve all been lied to. "All written on the side of buses, driving round London: 'We’re going to fight for the fishing industry.' “All the EU that used to buy a lot of our fish, they’ve stopped because the fish that were getting transferred were going bad.

U.S. President Joe Biden had his first call with Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, raising concerns about the arrest of opposition figure Alexei Navalny while pressing the Russian president on his nation’s involvement in a massive cyberespionage campaign and bounties on American troops in Afghanistan, two senior administration officials said. Biden has looked to establish a sharp break from the warm rhetoric often displayed toward Putin by his predecessor, Donald Trump. Biden agreed but wanted first to prepare with his staff and speak with European allies, including the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany. And on Tuesday before his call with Putin, Biden spoke to NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg, pledging the United States’ commitment to the decades-old alliance founded as a bulwark against Russian aggression. The call came as Putin considers the aftermath of pro-Navalny protests that took place in more than 100 Russian cities over the weekend.

The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Antony Blinken as America's top diplomat, tasked with carrying out President Joe Biden's commitment to reverse the Trump administration's 'America First' doctrine that weakened international alliances. Senators voted 78-22 to approve Blinken, a longtime Biden confidant, as the nation's 71st secretary of state, succeeding Mike Pompeo. Blinken, 58, served as deputy secretary of state and deputy national security adviser during the Obama administration. He is expected to start work on Wednesday after being sworn in, according to State Department officials. (AP Graphic)Blinken inherits a deeply demoralized and depleted career workforce at the State Department.

A federal judge in Texas on Tuesday temporarily blocked a move by President Joe Biden to halt the deportation of certain immigrants for a 100-day period, a swift legal setback for his ambitious immigration agenda. The Biden administration is expected to appeal the ruling, which halts the policy while both parties submit briefs on the matter. The 100-day moratorium went into effect Friday and applied to almost anyone who entered the U.S. without authorization before November. Paxton also said it went against the terms of an enforcement agreement Texas brokered with the Trump administration less than two weeks before Biden took office. Paxton also said it went against the terms of an enforcement agreement Texas brokered with the Trump administration less than two weeks before Biden took office.

Article contentOTTAWA — Canadians should cancel any non-essential travel plans they might have, whether it’s abroad or even between provinces, as new restrictions are on the way, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Tuesday. “The bad choices of a few will never be allowed to put everyone else in danger,” he said at a news conference outside his Rideau Cottage home in Ottawa. Try refreshing your browser, or Cancel non-essential travel plans — even within Canada — Trudeau urges Canadians Back to videoTrudeau said while the number of new cases linked to travel remains low, a single case imported from abroad is a case too many and the federal government is actively looking at ways to tighten the border. Trudeau said the government wants to ensure any measures don’t cut off the flow of trade, noting that commercial flights coming into Canada from around the world might have non-essential travellers on board, but essential cargo in the belly of the plane. Canada has had a ban on non-essential travel into the country by anyone who isn’t a citizen or permanent resident since last March but it can’t as easily bar the flow of Canadians in and out of the country.

The party disclosed Kim’s sexual harassment and even identified the victim, at her request. Oh Keo-don stepped down as Busan mayor due to sexual harassment of his female aide. He disclosed his sexual harassment in a press conference on April 23. The National Human Rights Commission announced Monday that Park’s behavior amounted to sexual harassment. Secondary victimizing has no place in dealing with sexual offense victims.

Trump’s trial is not scheduled to begin until Feb. 9, but senators were set to be sworn in for the proceedings Tuesday. If convicted, Trump could be barred from holding future office with a subsequent majority vote. Paul sought to muster at least 34 votes to signal there are enough senators with constitutional misgivings to secure an acquittal. ADSen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said he hoped that Tuesday’s vote would prompt Democrats to reassess if it was even worth having a trial. Rather than Roberts, presiding over the trial will be Sen. Patrick J. Leahy (D-Vt.) — the Senate president pro tempore and longest serving senator.

And political quarrels have emerged, particularly between China and the United States, with the Trump administration assigning blame on China for the pandemic. Tightly controlledWhile WHO scientists say they hope that Chinese scientists will be forthcoming, Beijing is known to have controlled information about the coronavirus. Kevin Frayer / Getty ImagesThe problem, Huang of New Jersey’s Seton Hall University said, are the possibly contradictory motivations driving the Chinese scientists and politicians. Experts from China and the World Health Organization joint team visit the Wuhan Tongji Hospital in Wuhan in February 2020. “The last thing China wants is to publicly quarrel with the WHO, because that would look bad diplomatically and politically.”

The Senate voted 55-45 to set aside Paul's motion, with all but five GOP senators siding with Paul. The vote is the clearest sign yet that Trump is heading toward a second acquittal and offers an early insight into which Republicans are lining up behind an argument that his second impeachment trial isn't constitutional. ADVERTISEMENTTrump will be the first president to undergo a trial after leaving office, but the Senate previously held an impeachment trial for a Cabinet official after they left office. Trump will be the first president to undergo a trial after leaving office, but the Senate previously held an impeachment trial for a Cabinet official after they left office. Though some GOP senators have said they are waiting to hear presentations during the trial, a growing number appear to be latching onto the argument that the trial, which will start next month, is not constitutional.

Mitch McConnell was among Republican senators who sought to declare Donald Trump’s impeachment trial as unconstitutional, signalling that the the US Senate does not have enough votes to convict the former president. Senator Rand Paul failed to pass a motion to rule the former president’s trial as unconstitutional because he is no longer in office. The vote to table the measure passed by a vote of 55-45. Just five Republican senators – Mitt Romney, Ben Sasse, Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski and Pat Toomey – were among the votes to table the measure, while 45 Republicans believe the trial is unconstitutional. Mr Trump spent several months accusing Democrats of manipulating the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.

REUTERS/Amir CohenThe remarks are an apparent signal to U.S. President Joe Biden to tread cautiously in any diplomatic engagement with Iran. Such comments by Israel’s military chief of staff on U.S. policymaking are rare and likely would have been pre-approved by the Israeli government. Since Washington pulled out of the deal, Iran has gradually breached its key limits, building up its stockpile of low enriched uranium, enriching uranium to higher levels of purity, and installing centrifuges in ways barred by the accord. Kohavi said those actions by Iran, which denies it is seeking atomic arms, showed it could ultimately decide to push forward rapidly towards building a nuclear weapon. “In light of this fundamental analysis, I have instructed the Israel Defense Forces to prepare a number of operational plans, in addition to those already in place,” Kohavi said.

White House adviser Kellyanne Conway speaks to reporters at the White House in Washington, U.S., August 6, 2020. "I have no comment," Kellyanne Conway told CNBC when asked about the police visit and how a photo of her daughter was posted as a Twitter Fleet. Kellyanne Conway, who had helped run former President Donald Trump's 2016 campaign, served as a senior White House advisor until last August, when she resigned. A Twitter spokesperson told CNBC, "Through technology and human review, we'll proactively remove any images that violate the Twitter Rules." Claudia Conway, in a TikTok on Monday addressing the photo of her, warned Kellyanne Conway by name that she, Kellyanne, could go to jail.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden spoke to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday for the first time since taking office and raised concerns about Russian activities including the treatment of jailed Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny, the White House said. FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Joe Biden speaks about administration plans to strengthen American manufacturing during a brief appearance in the South Court Auditorium at the White House in Washington, U.S., January 25, 2021. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki announced the phone call between the two leaders at her daily briefing. “President Biden reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to collective defense under Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty and underscored his commitment to strengthening transatlantic security,” a White House statement said. The arms control treaty limits the United States and Russia to deploying no more than 1,550 strategic nuclear warheads each.

One man was arrested Tuesday morning in Frankfurtshortly after allegedly stabbing four people in the street near the city's main railway station, police said. The victims were taken to area hospitals, three with severe injuries, although none are believed to be life threatening. Police are now investigating if there was any relationship between the suspected attacker and the stabbing victims. The streets near the crime scene were closed after the attack as investigators collected evidence. Frankfurt's station district is a notorious hotspot for drugs, crime and prostitution.

A Georgia state lawmaker said his refusal to take a Covid-19 test got him kicked out of the House chambers on Tuesday. But Georgia House Speaker David Ralston said the lawmaker, Rep. David Clark, has repeatedly refused to follow House policy which states that all members and staff be tested for the coronavirus twice a week. "The member refused to leave of his/her own accord. As such, under the authority granted to the Speaker by House Rules, the member was escorted out of the Chamber by a member of the Georgia Department of Public Safety." Ralston said in his statement that Clark will be allowed to return to the chamber after he complies with the policy.

Courtesy of Terraye Morris Brittany KittrellOne week before she died, Brittany Kittrell spoke with her sister and mother on a video call. Four days after being booked into the Durham County jail, the sheriff’s office reported that Kittrell was transported to Duke Hospital, where she later died. The sheriff’s office said Kittrell’s official cause of death is still being determined and will be later released by the state medical examiner. Morris said that her family has been calling the state medical examiner’s office in Raleigh, but officials there haven’t returned their calls. After Kittrell became addicted to heroin, her family begged her to go into treatment, but she wasn’t willing, her sister said.

So pervasive has violence been in postcolonial societies that it can seem like the key thread linking their otherwise disparate experiences. The violence of postcolonial societies should be understood as fulfilling the logic of colonialism. Rather than a return to atavistic tribal ways, the violence of postcolonial societies should be understood as fulfilling the logic of colonialism. In a comparative analysis of five countries—or, more accurately, five country-specific “moments”—he locates the origin story of contemporary postcolonial political violence far back in history. Nuremberg was the international trial that broke with both the sovereignty of the state and the assumed link between mass violence and war—it tried Nazis for crimes committed beyond state borders, and before the war began.

× Expand STRF/STAR MAX/IPx 2020 First100-012621 Postal Service delivery times actually went down after the election. Postal Service Board of Governors, the 11 members who operate as kind of a board of directors for one of the nation’s largest employers. Most of the people in New Jersey got their card in January.”Pascrell has been a longtime supporter of the Postal Service. Give what you can... SUPPORT THE PROSPECTThis latest recommendation falls squarely within the law: the president can absolutely fire Postal Service board members for cause. The Senate can confirm new board members by a majority vote, and Democrats are united on the Postal Service.

After nearly a decade of activism, the Fight for $15 stands closer than ever to achieving its most visible goal: a $15 federal minimum wage. Separately, a group of congressional Democrats today are reintroducing the Raise the Wage Act, which would gradually move the federal minimum wage up to $15 over a period of five years. “We’ve never given up that dream, as much as Fight for $15 has been characterized as a minimum wage movement,” says Henry. When he joined the Fight for $15 in 2014, he was making $7.47 an hour at McDonald’s. If the Democrats do manage to raise the minimum wage, Terrence Wise — a grown man with a family, a job, and years of activism that have taken him all over America — would get a raise.

Others among the “Fight for Trump” crowd, buying into the “Wild Time” promised by the presidential twitter feed, were independent contractors, self-employed professionals, the pettiest of the petty bourgeoisie. This dangerous militia-like presence in the Trump crowd no doubt provided a good part of its discipline and preparedness. The result was that when the Trump crowd proceeded to the Capitol, it had something of a cakewalk. Race was undoubtedly an important component of this political disaffection, but a lot more was also swirling in the witch’s brew on which the Trump crowd was drunk and disorderly. Many white protesters have found themselves on the wrong, and occasionally lethal, side of law’s vengeance.

× Expand Photo via the Square One Project Mayoral candidate Elaine O'NealRetired Durham superior court judge, former law school dean, and racial equity champion Elaine O’Neal is running for mayor. “She’s Durham born, Durham bred, and during her life she’s seen all the changes, gentrification, the gun violence, and changes in the schools. O’Neal returned to the law school in 2018 and served as interim dean for two years during a period when the school was having accreditation issues. Prior to her stint as law school dean, she worked as a Durham County Superior Court judge from 2011 until 2018. She served as a district court judge from 1994 until 2011, with the last eight years of her tenure as the county’s chief district court judge.

Review of Red Metropolis: Socialism and the Government of London by Owen Hatherley (Repeater Books, 2020). It is this London that is the subject of Owen Hatherley’s new history of municipal socialism in the British capital, Red Metropolis. The Rise of Municipal London Most of the municipal formations that have ruled London have not been oriented toward transforming the social order but maintaining it. The origins of municipal London can be found in a secretive, unelected public organization. In 1889, the scandal-ridden MBW was replaced by the London County Council (LCC), which was the first elected municipal body to govern London.

Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. Support Progressive Journalism The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. The Nation is reader supported: Chip in $10 or more to help us continue to write about the issues that matter. But while democracy can be periodically delayed, it can never be permanently defeated.”Yet it would be a mistake to think the fight to preserve and revive our flawed democracy concluded on Inauguration Day.

This story was produced for Student Nation, a section devoted to highlighting campus activism and student movements from students in their own words. For more Student Nation, check out our archive. The Student Nation program is made possible through generous funding from The Puffin Foundation. But as the Covid-19 pandemic persisted, said Emmaline Bennett, cochair and master’s student at Columbia Teachers College, the student group’s work began to feel less salient. “I think a lot of people are passionate, but don’t know how to go beyond social social media as an advocacy platform,” said Farmer.

In one area, however, senior Biden officials have not only praised Trump’s endeavors but promised to carry them further: mobilizing the nation for a new Cold War, this time with China. Signs Point to a Possible US Attack on Iran December 10, 2020 Trump Is Leaving Us With a New Cold War December 8, 2020 Author pageWhy this single-minded focus on girding the nation for a catastrophic war with China, or at the very least, a mutually debilitating Cold War? This is the real China threat in the minds of America’s top leaders, and they will do whatever it takes to prevent it from occurring. A harsh Cold War environment will also stymie any hope of diverting funds from the US defense budget to domestic revival in other areas, such as health, education, and the environment. China Policy Biden’s China Problem: Resisting a New Cold War in Asia Jeet HeerIt is essential, then, that thoughtful, peace-minded people in the United States—and China, wherever feasible—take steps to oppose the rush toward a new Cold War while proposing peaceful, mutually beneficial solutions to the divisive issues in US-China relations.

Sandra Bland was arrested for kicking a Texas state trooper during a traffic stop where he threatened to tase her and drag her out of the car. Some activists say that she would never have died or been arrested if the Legislature banned arrests for fine-only misdemeanor arrests. Criminal justice reform advocates say police use fine-only misdemeanor arrests to punish people who tick them off—for “contempt of cop” as Scott Henson, policy director for Just Liberty, puts it. Some large cities in Texas already have limits on fine-only misdemeanor arrests. In December, Marco Puente filed a lawsuit against the Keller police officers who arrested him; Dillon will soon join the suit.

It's not just about our political figures looking great — which they certainly did on Inauguration Day — it's also about the message they send with the clothes they choose. Her decision to wear these ensembles, which showcased and uplifted emerging Black fashion designers, underscored the Biden-Harris administration's values of unity and inclusivity, and celebrates the importance of the American fashion industry. "Particularly on a day like Inauguration Day . "I don't think that she had a particular desire or interest in working to elevate the American fashion industry. We obsessed over her mix of high and low fashion, the various American designers she championed, and her overall understated elegance.

MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell has remained loyal to former President Donald Trump even as other corporate allies have jumped ship. And now, the MyPillow guy has followed him into another ignominy — getting himself, like Trump, permanently banned from Twitter for spreading misinformation. Lindell has used his account to promote false claims of election fraud since November. MyPillow guy Mike Lindell has been banished to Twitter hell with Trump pic.twitter.com/ZqyzIcsuor — Aaron Rupar (@atrupar) January 26, 2021Trump’s and Lindell’s claims of voter fraud have been thoroughly — and repeatedly — debunked. In getting banned, Lindell joins other Trump allies, including former White House chief strategist Steve Bannon and campaign consultant Roger Stone.

A federal judge in Texas on Tuesday temporarily blocked President Joe Biden’s attempt to pause deportations for 100 days, marking the new administration’s first major defeat on immigration policy. The agreement demands that DHS provide 180 days' notice and consult with Texas before implementing certain changes to immigration policy. The moratorium on deportations, one of Biden’s key campaign promises on immigration, went into effect on January 22. The Biden administration has also argued that it has vast discretion over immigration enforcement, and that the agreements aren’t binding. There is no federal law that gives DHS the ability to “contract away” its powers over immigration enforcement to state and local authorities, it said.

Also on Saturday, the Arizona Republican Party passed official resolutions censuring three prominent party members — Gov. The state GOP accuses Ducey — who is, again, the sitting Republican governor — of seizing “dictatorial powers” by imposing coronavirus lockdowns. Moreover, new political science research suggests that what’s happening to these state parties is very much representative of broader national trends. Now, you might expect that this is just a reflection of national parties, that the RNC and DNC began to polarize and the state parties just followed their lead. During the recent Arizona Republican Party meeting, CNN spoke with two local GOP activists named Barbara Wyllie and Corky Haynes.

President Joe Biden on Monday raised his Covid-19 vaccination goal to 1.5 million shots a day, up from 100 million in his first 100 days (or 1 million a day), following criticism that the previous goal wasn’t ambitious enough. Then, over the weekend, the US surpassed 1 million shots a day, before Biden’s policies and executive actions had any time to really sink in. That means 245 million Americans likely have to be vaccinated, with 19 million already getting at least their first doses. At a rate of 1 million shots a day, the US may not hit herd immunity until as late as next year. Knowing this, Biden’s team is working to balance expectation-setting with finding an ambitious goal for the vaccine campaign.

Dogs are back in the White House. After four years of a dog-less Trump administration, Major and Champ, President Joe Biden's pups, have officially moved into the White House residence after they made the trip to their new D.C. residence on Sunday. Very important breaking news: Champ and Major Biden have moved into the White House pic.twitter.com/LiBh8c1qZ9 — Alli Hedges Maser (@AllisonLHedges) January 25, 2021"We're also hearing Republicans have launched an investigation into the dogs," Berman added jokingly. ?: The First Dogs arrived at the White House Sunday, including Major, the first rescue dog ever to live in the White House. The Biden family wanted to get settled in the White House before moving Champ and Major from Delaware to Washington, per First Lady Jill Biden’s office.

President Joe Biden signed an executive order Monday morning overturning the Trump-era ban on openly transgender Americans serving in the military. "President Biden believes that gender identity should not be a bar to military service, and that America’s strength is found in its diversity," the statement reads. It reversed a 2016 Obama administration mandate that lifted the previous ban on transgender service members. “This discriminatory ban cheapened the bravery and patriotism of transgender service members and transgender people seeking to serve. BREAKING: President Biden has ended the ban on transgender military service set in place under the Trump administration.

MSCHF, the group behind offbeat projects like Walt's Kitchen and "killing brands" on TikTok, had this forethought when they created In The Year 2024. MSCHF is domain squatting, or buying urls in the hopes of flipping them for more money. MSCHF broke the urls into 100 shares, which are available for purchase for one dollar each. If you buy shares for a url and MSCHF later sells it, you'll get a cut of the profit. UPDATE: Jan. 25, 2021, 4:57 p.m. EST An earlier version of this story reported that MSCHF broke each url into 1,000 shares instead of 100.

David A. Graham: Don’t let them pretend this didn’t happenAfter the election, Trump pressed Attorney General Bill Barr to turn up evidence of fraud in the voting. The president then began badgering Jeffrey Rosen, the acting attorney general, to intervene in lawsuits filed by his allies about election results and to appoint a special counsel. But Trump and Clark apparently developed a plan in which the president would fire Rosen and install Clark in his place. Trump’s real aim seems to have been giving the appearance of a federal challenge to the vote, which would have given Georgia legislators a pretext to throw out the state’s election results. The episode has to be viewed in the context of Trump’s broader effort to steal the election.

The Space Force has always been more boring than its name implies, amounting to some organizational reshuffling of Air Force personnel and operations. On the day of the Capitol attack, some supporters in Washington, D.C., and around the country complemented their Trump regalia with Space Force flags. We’ll call it the Space Force,’” he said in March 2018, speaking to an audience of marines in California. “He only asks me about the Space Force every week,” then-Vice President Mike Pence joked as staff worked to formulate the plans. In public, Trump avoided the full truth of the final product—that the Space Force would operate within the Department of the Air Force rather than stand alone, that Congress stipulated that its workforce must be built from existing Air Force personnel.

"If you picked up this book hoping to read a scathing chapter on my mom, you’re going to be disappointed," she writes. However, Oshry writes about how living in the public eye comes with a price, one she is clearly struggling with. In her new memoir, released on Tuesday, Instagram personality Claudia Oshry — aka Girl With No Job — has a lot to say on "cancel culture," her racist tweets, body image, celebrities, privilege, relationships, and weight loss. Oshry does seem to express genuine remorse for her racist tweets, saying she felt mortified by "the person [she] used to be" when they came to light. “The last few years have seen the rise of one of the most alarming (and annoying) cultural phenomena: cancel culture," she writes.

President Joe Biden is directing the Justice Department to not renew contracts with private prisons, as part of a slew of executive orders focused on racial equity he is signing Tuesday. The Biden administration will not enter new contracts with private prisons, according to a senior administration official. Susan Rice said that the executive order would only apply to Department of Justice facilities and not to Department of Homeland Security facilities, like private ICE detention centers. “It addresses the Department of Justice prisons in the first instance and is silent on what may or may not transpire with ICE facilities,” Rice told reporters. Biden had promised to make racial equity a central part of his presidency on the campaign trail and during his inauguration last week.

Twitter has not taken action against Kellyanne Conway, one of former president Donald Trump’s top campaign and White House aides, after her account posted a nude photo of her underage daughter Claudia. Kellyanne Conway had 3.3 million Twitter followers at the time this story was published. In a second TikTok, Claudia responds to a comment alleging that Kellyanne posted a photo of Claudia without her shirt on. The fleet posted on Kellyanne’s account appeared to be a photo taken of another phone’s screen displaying the image of Claudia. Claudia Conway has accused Kellyanne Conway of abusive parenting on TikTok over the past several months.

This week, a judicial review will look into accusations that the Crown Prosecution Service has dropped “weak” rape cases that it thinks are unlikely to win. Here's what you need to know about the Crown Prosecution Service trial on rape cases. Bonny Turner’s case is being used in the trial; she was raped in 2016, but her case was later dropped. The CPS added that an independent inspector didn’t find evidence of risk-averse decision making in choosing which cases to go to court. What The Victims Have SaidAhead of the case being brought in front of the High Court, some rape victims have spoken about having their cases dropped.