‘You’ve got to be silly’: Biden hits back at Ukraine questions from Fox News reporter
Joe Biden spoke with Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the situation in Ukraine on Wednesday morning. The call comes as Ukrainian and Russian negotiators discuss a de-escalation agreement that could see Russia draw down forces from the area near Kyiv.
Both the White House and the Pentagon have said that they believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is being misinformed about progress in the war by his senior advisers who are afraid to characterise it as a “strategic blunder”.
Mr Biden also gave a speech on the state of the Covid-19 pandemic in the US announcing the launch of a central website for Covid resources, before receiving his second booster shot of the Pfizer vaccine. The FDA has just given clearance for a second booster shot for all Americans over 50 and those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable to the virus.
Meanwhile, after contentious nomination hearings that saw Republican senators harangue her about critical race theory and her record sentencing sexual offenders who targeted children, Ketanji Brown Jackson has picked up a crucial supporter: Maine Senator Susan Collins, who has become the first Republican to announce she will vote to confirm Joe Biden’s first Supreme Court nominee.
The news all but guarantees Ms Jackson’s confirmation. She has already secured the support of West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin, who was thought to be the likeliest of his party’s 50 senators to withhold his support.
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 23:10
Biden marks César Chávez Day
President Joe Biden marked César Chávez Day by hailing the champion for workers’ rights and social justice in a presidential proclamation.
Today we celebrate the life and legacy of César Estrada Chávez, a champion for social justice and advocate for hardworking people who build and sustain our Nation. Born into poverty and raised by migrant workers, Chávez courageously dedicated his life to improving conditions for workers across the country. Chávez witnessed firsthand the inequities of an economy that only served those at the top and left millions of hardworking Americans behind. Today, as we continue to build an economy from the bottom up and the middle out and that rewards work and not just wealth, we stand on the shoulders of César Chávez and carry forward his fight to advance the rights and dignity of working people and fulfill the promise of America for all Americans.
President Joseph R Biden Jr
Read the full proclamation here.
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 22:50
Women’s soccer team wear ‘GAY’ t-shirts to protest Florida anti-gay law
A professional women’s soccer team in central Florida has won praise for wearing “GAY” t-shirts in protest of a new anti-LGBT+ law in the state.
Orlando Pride players wore the t-shirts on Monday before Florida governor Ron DeSantis signed an anti-LGBT+ bill into effect, igniting protests across Florida and beyond.
Gino Spocchia reports.
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 22:30
Kyle Rittenhouse angry that Biden won’t call him back
Appearing on the conservative podcast The Jenna Ellis Show, Mr Rittenhouse slammed Mr Biden and the media while he again rejected claims that he’s a white supremacist.
Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, DC.
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 22:10
‘Your President sees you’: Biden marks Transgender Day of Visibility
President Joe Biden has issued a proclamation on Transgender Day of Visibility marking the progress made by the community while acknowledging the continuing challenges still faced including discrimination, harassment, epidemic levels of violence, and the damaging impact of anti-transgender bills in states across the country.
To everyone celebrating Transgender Day of Visibility, I want you to know that your President sees you. The First Lady, the Vice President, the Second Gentleman, and my entire Administration see you for who you are — made in the image of God and deserving of dignity, respect, and support. On this day and every day, we recognize the resilience, strength, and joy of transgender, nonbinary, and gender-nonconforming people. We celebrate the activism and determination that have fueled the fight for transgender equality. We acknowledge the adversity and discrimination that the transgender community continues to face across our Nation and around the world.
President Joseph R Biden Jr
Read the full statement here.
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 22:00
NBC News: Dems eyeing Chicago for 2024 election
NBC News reports that the DNC is eyeing Chicago for its 2024 National Democratic Convention.
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, and Senator Tammy Duckworth — who is also a DNC vice chair — have been coordinating on the possible bid along with the state’s Democratic Party Chair, Representative Robin Kelly, and Senator Dick Durbin.
A blue city in a blue midwestern state, once home to the popular Obamas and site of the 44th president’s currently under construction official library, makes it an attractive proposition but could highlight perceived policy failures such as crime and gun violence.
(Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 21:50
Graham: Administration reason for not sending planes to Ukraine is ‘bull’
Lindsey Graham spoke out after this afternoon’s classified briefing on Russia’s war in Ukraine saying the administration’s justification for not sending fighter planes to Ukraine was “bull.”
“We cannot let Putin tell us how to help Ukrainians help themselves … We’re five weeks into this thing and it seems like nothing changes.”
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 21:40
Report: Biden to invoke Defense Production Act got electric vehicle minerals
The Hill reports that President Joe Biden is set to invoke the Defense Production Act (DPA) as early as this week to step up production of minerals used in the manufacture of electric vehicle batteries, citing confirmation from a source familiar the plans.
Biden is set to issue a presidential determination to stoke domestic production of the minerals, which are used for both stationary batteries and vehicles. The person emphasized that the production will not bypass existing permitting or environmental review processes.
Biden adding certain minerals, such as lithium, cobalt, graphite, nickel and manganese, to the list of items covered under the law could give mining companies access to some $750 million under the DPA’s Title III fund, the person told The Hill.
The Hill
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 21:35
Schumer and McConnell chat after Ukraine briefing
Senator Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell were seen chatting as they left a classified briefing on the war in Ukraine this afternoon.
The briefing follows reports that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not been fully informed by his ministry of defence at every turn over the last month, as Pentagon spokesperson reiterated at today’s Department of Defense press briefing.
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 21:30
Voices: How Joe Biden finds common ground with ‘defund the police’ campaigners
‘Alternative forms of crime prevention’ are on the agenda, writes Eric Garcia in Washington, DC.
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 21:25