Biden stands by Putin removal comment but insists he’s not changing policy
As President Joe Biden refused to back down from comments he made at the weekend saying Russian President Vladimir Putin cannot remain in power, a photographer managed to snatch a picture of a list of “tough Putin Q&A talking points” he was carrying at a press conference. Under a question about what he meant when he said Mr Putin “cannot remain in power”, it reads “I was expressing moral outrage I felt toward the actions of this man” and “I was not articulating a change in policy”.
Republicans who have mocked Mr Biden for using notes and said it is a sign of “cognitive decline” have been accused of hypocrisy given that Donald Trump did the same.
The former president has also restoked the right’s obsession with the current president’s son, making the extraordinary request in the midst of a war for Vladimir Putin to dig up dirt on Hunter Biden’s relationship with Russian oligarchs.
Meanwhile, the president yesterday unveiled his budget proposal for the next fiscal year. Among other things, it calls for lower federal deficits, more money for law enforcement, and greater funding for education, public health, and housing. Included is a proposal for a so-called “billionaire tax” on the super-rich that it is estimated would hit Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos to the tune of $50bn and $35bn respectively.
Oliver O’Connell29 March 2022 21:59
Durbin rails against GOP lawmakers ‘only scoring points on the QAnon website’ in SCOTUS hearing
Mr Durbin, who also serves as Senate majority whip, made the remarks on Tuesday when discussing Ms Jackson’s confirmation hearing during Democrats’ weekly press conference. He was quick to add that most Republicans conducted themselves properly.
Eric Garcia reports for The Independent from Capitol Hill.
Oliver O’Connell29 March 2022 21:50
Ketanji Brown Jackson courting potential GOP yes votes for SCOTUS confirmation
Supreme Court nominee Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is at the Capitol courtin potential yes votes from the Republican side of the aisle.
She first met with Mitt Romney who said in a statement: “Judge Jackson and I had a wide-ranging discussion about her experience and qualifications. Her dedication to public service and her family are obvious, and I enjoyed our meeting.”
“I appreciate the time she spent answering my questions, which was helpful as I continue my review of her record and testimony.”
Judge Jackson is now meeting with Susan Collins who says she hopes to speak about questions she has from last week’s confirmation hearing.
“They all arise from her answers at the hearing,” she says. “I need clarification on some of [the answers she gave].”
Oliver O’Connell29 March 2022 21:34
Biden signs Emmett Till Antilynching Act into law
President Biden: “I just signed the Emmett Till Antilynching Act into law — making lynching a federal hate crime for the first time in American history.”
He specifically thanks Vice President Kamala Harris for her role in shepherding the bill as well as a number of other lawmakers present for the signing.
The president notes that hundreds of similar bills have failed in the past to specifically prohibit lunching at the federal level until today.
Oliver O’Connell29 March 2022 21:19
Watch: Biden signing Emmett Till Antilynching Act into law
Oliver O’Connell29 March 2022 21:11
Doug Emhoff ‘back in action’
Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff is pleased to be “back in action” following his case of Covid.
He is with the National Mall’s Park Service at the height of Washington, DC’s famed cherry blossom season.
Oliver O’Connell29 March 2022 21:02
News you can use: Biden did not watch the Oscars
And no, there is no White House comment concerning the onstage altercation.
Oliver O’Connell29 March 2022 20:54
Schumer joins call for Thomas to recuse himself from cases related to Jan 6
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has joined calls for Justice Clarence Thomas to recuse himself from cases related to the 6 January 2021 insurrection in light of the revelations about his wife’s text messages with then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows.
He said that he also supports a code of ethics for Supreme Court justices.
Oliver O’Connell29 March 2022 20:51
With Jared Kushner set to testify before the January 6 Committee on Thursday, Ms Bedingfield says “the White House has decided not to assert executive privilege over the testimony of Jared Kushner and Ivanka Trump”.
Oliver O’Connell29 March 2022 20:25
The White House says Biden’s remark in Poland this weekend about Putin not being able to remain in power was not raised on the president’s call today Europeans leaders Emmanuel Macron, Olaf Scholz, Mario Draghi, and Boris Johnson.
Ms Bedingfield says the White House defers to the Ukrainians to discuss the specifics of the negotiations with Russia that are currently underway.
She also echoes the Pentagon’s line saying that any movement of Russian forces away from Kyiv is a redeployment, not a withdrawal.
Oliver O’Connell29 March 2022 20:22