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Breonna Taylor's family to speak after second night of protests for justice – live Breonna Taylor's family to speak after second night of protests for justice – live
(32 minutes later)
Taylor’s family to give first press conference since grand jury verdict Taylor’s family to give first press conference since grand jury verdict as Ruth Bader Ginsburg becomes first woman to lie in state in US Capitol
Rabbi Lauren Holtzblatt delivered remarks reflecting on the life and legacy of Ruth Bader Ginsburg during the Capitol ceremony.
“Justice Ginsburg’s dissents were not cries of defeat,” Holtzblatt said of Ginsburg’s supreme court opinions. “They were blueprints for the future.”
A rabbi just sang Min HaMetzar to honor Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who is the first Jewish person to lie in state at the Capitol.
From a Politico reporter:
House speaker Nancy Pelosi said she welcomed Ruth Bader Ginsburg to the Capitol with “profound sorrow and deep sympathy to the Ginsburg family.”
The Democratic speaker noted Ginsburg’s casket is resting on a wooden catafalque built in 1865 for Abraham Lincoln.
A military honor guard has carried Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s casket into Statuary Hall for this morning’s ceremony honoring the late supreme court justice.
Ginsburg is the first woman and the first Jewish person to lie in state.
House speaker Nancy Pelosi will be the first lawmaker to deliver remarks at the ceremony.
The Democratic presidential ticket, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, are now both seated in Statuary Hall for the ceremony honoring Ruth Bader Ginsburg.The Democratic presidential ticket, Joe Biden and Kamala Harris, are now both seated in Statuary Hall for the ceremony honoring Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
According to a CBS News reporter, this marks the first time Biden and Harris have been together in person since last month’s Democratic convention.According to a CBS News reporter, this marks the first time Biden and Harris have been together in person since last month’s Democratic convention.
Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has arrived at the Capitol to attend this morning’s ceremony honoring Ruth Bader Ginsburg.Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden has arrived at the Capitol to attend this morning’s ceremony honoring Ruth Bader Ginsburg.
The president paid his respects to Ginsburg yesterday at the supreme court, where he was booed by those assembled there for her public viewing.The president paid his respects to Ginsburg yesterday at the supreme court, where he was booed by those assembled there for her public viewing.
Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s casket has arrived at the Capitol, where she will lie in state today.Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s casket has arrived at the Capitol, where she will lie in state today.
Ginsburg will be the first woman and the first Jewish person to lie in state at the Capitol, House speaker Nancy Pelosi noted yesterday.Ginsburg will be the first woman and the first Jewish person to lie in state at the Capitol, House speaker Nancy Pelosi noted yesterday.
Lawmakers, including Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, have already started arriving in Statuary Hall for this morning’s ceremony to honor Ginsburg.Lawmakers, including Democratic vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris, have already started arriving in Statuary Hall for this morning’s ceremony to honor Ginsburg.
This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam.This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam.
White House chief of staff Mark Meadows attacked FBI Director Christopher Wray for not backing up Trump’s baseless claims about voter fraid.White House chief of staff Mark Meadows attacked FBI Director Christopher Wray for not backing up Trump’s baseless claims about voter fraid.
Meadows told CBS News this morning, “With all due respect to Director Wray, he has a hard time finding emails in his own FBI, let alone figuring out whether there’s any kind of voter fraud.”Meadows told CBS News this morning, “With all due respect to Director Wray, he has a hard time finding emails in his own FBI, let alone figuring out whether there’s any kind of voter fraud.”
Meadows’ comments come one day after Wray told the Senate homeland security committee that the FBI had not seen evidence of a national voter fraud effort.Meadows’ comments come one day after Wray told the Senate homeland security committee that the FBI had not seen evidence of a national voter fraud effort.
“We have not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election whether it’s by mail or otherwise,” Wray said.“We have not seen, historically, any kind of coordinated national voter fraud effort in a major election whether it’s by mail or otherwise,” Wray said.
“We have seen voter fraud at the local level from time to time, so my comments should in no way be construed as minimizing how seriously we take our responsibility to investigate such incidents.”“We have seen voter fraud at the local level from time to time, so my comments should in no way be construed as minimizing how seriously we take our responsibility to investigate such incidents.”
Trump has been trying to sow doubts about the legitimacy of the presidential election by claiming voting by mail will be tainted by widespread fraud, even though voter fraud is actually very rare.Trump has been trying to sow doubts about the legitimacy of the presidential election by claiming voting by mail will be tainted by widespread fraud, even though voter fraud is actually very rare.
Tom McCarthy reports for us on how attorney general William Barr appears to see himself locked in a historic struggle against literal evil, and he appears to regard the upcoming election as the climactic battle.Tom McCarthy reports for us on how attorney general William Barr appears to see himself locked in a historic struggle against literal evil, and he appears to regard the upcoming election as the climactic battle.
Read it here: ‘His abuses have escalated’: Barr’s kinship with Trump fuels election fearsRead it here: ‘His abuses have escalated’: Barr’s kinship with Trump fuels election fears
And that is it from me in London. I’m handing over to Joan Greve, and I will see you here, same time, same place, next week…And that is it from me in London. I’m handing over to Joan Greve, and I will see you here, same time, same place, next week…
It feels like the news is quite court heavy today, what with the Justice department seeking immediate action to ban WeChat [see 8:11], a federal judge insisting that the US census must carry on through October [see 7:32] and Trump’s attempt to stop his tax returns being handed over to a New York prosecutor [see 6:52]. But there’s more.It feels like the news is quite court heavy today, what with the Justice department seeking immediate action to ban WeChat [see 8:11], a federal judge insisting that the US census must carry on through October [see 7:32] and Trump’s attempt to stop his tax returns being handed over to a New York prosecutor [see 6:52]. But there’s more.
Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old accused of killing two protesters days after Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, faces a hearing on whether he should be sent to Wisconsin to stand trial on homicide charges that could put him in prison for life.Kyle Rittenhouse, the 17-year-old accused of killing two protesters days after Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wisconsin, faces a hearing on whether he should be sent to Wisconsin to stand trial on homicide charges that could put him in prison for life.
Rittenhouse was arrested at his home in Antioch, Illinois, a day after prosecutors say he shot and killed two protesters and injured a third on the streets of Kenosha on 25 August.Rittenhouse was arrested at his home in Antioch, Illinois, a day after prosecutors say he shot and killed two protesters and injured a third on the streets of Kenosha on 25 August.
His attorneys have said Rittenhouse acted in self-defense and have portrayed him as a courageous patriot who was exercising his right to bear arms during unrest. He has become a bit of a cause célèbre among right-wing and gun rights circles.His attorneys have said Rittenhouse acted in self-defense and have portrayed him as a courageous patriot who was exercising his right to bear arms during unrest. He has become a bit of a cause célèbre among right-wing and gun rights circles.
Rittenhouse is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the killing of two protesters and attempted intentional homicide in the wounding of a third. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of underage firearm possession for wielding a semi-automatic rifle.Rittenhouse is charged with first-degree intentional homicide in the killing of two protesters and attempted intentional homicide in the wounding of a third. He also faces a misdemeanor charge of underage firearm possession for wielding a semi-automatic rifle.
A judge in Lake County, Illinois, is expected to rule on whether to send Rittenhouse to Kenosha to face the charges. A judge postponed a decision on his transfer last month after Rittenhouse’s public defender at the time asked for a delay in the extradition hearing so he had time to hire a private attorney.A judge in Lake County, Illinois, is expected to rule on whether to send Rittenhouse to Kenosha to face the charges. A judge postponed a decision on his transfer last month after Rittenhouse’s public defender at the time asked for a delay in the extradition hearing so he had time to hire a private attorney.
Rittenhouse, who has been in custody in Illinois since his arrest, appears to have few options to fight the extradition.His lawyers could argue that he’s mentally unfit and isn’t cooperating with them, which could delay the process, former Illinois judge and prosecutor David Erickson told the Associated Press.Rittenhouse, who has been in custody in Illinois since his arrest, appears to have few options to fight the extradition.His lawyers could argue that he’s mentally unfit and isn’t cooperating with them, which could delay the process, former Illinois judge and prosecutor David Erickson told the Associated Press.
“A prosecutor has to show that a crime was committed in the state of Wisconsin and, more likely than not, this is the guy,” he said.“A prosecutor has to show that a crime was committed in the state of Wisconsin and, more likely than not, this is the guy,” he said.
Cheryl T. Bormann, a Chicago-area defense lawyer who’s not involved in the case, said fighting extradition is a “losing proposition” and that Rittenhouse’s guilt or innocence has no role in whether Illinois will honor Wisconsin’s request.Cheryl T. Bormann, a Chicago-area defense lawyer who’s not involved in the case, said fighting extradition is a “losing proposition” and that Rittenhouse’s guilt or innocence has no role in whether Illinois will honor Wisconsin’s request.
“The only real defense to extradition would be that Kyle Rittenhouse is not Kyle Rittenhouse. In other words, his lawyer would have to show that they got the wrong guy,” Bormann said.“The only real defense to extradition would be that Kyle Rittenhouse is not Kyle Rittenhouse. In other words, his lawyer would have to show that they got the wrong guy,” Bormann said.
Reuters report that President Vladimir Putin has called for an agreement between Russia and the United States to guarantee not to engage in cyber-meddling in each other’s elections.
In a statement ahead of the US election, Putin called for a reset between Russia and the US and said he wanted an agreement between the two countries to prevent incidents in cyberspace.
“(I propose)... exchanging guarantees of non-interference in each other’s internal affairs, including electoral processes, including using information and communication technologies and high-tech methods,” he said.US intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia interfered in the 2016 election with the aim of tilting it in Donald Trump’s favour, including by hacking into the campaign of his rival Hillary Clinton. Moscow denies that charge.“One of the main strategic challenges of our time is the risk of a large-scale confrontation in the digital sphere,” Putin said in the Kremlin statement.
“We would like to once again appeal to the United States with a proposal to approve a comprehensive program of practical measures to reset our relations in the use of information and communication technologies.”
He proposed the two countries reach an agreement to prevent major cyberspace incidents, something he compared to a 1972 US-Soviet treaty reached at the height of the Cold War to prevent incidents at sea and in the air from escalating.
He also called for the two countries to fully restore communication lines between their respective agencies to discuss key international information on security issues.
Russia has denied it is attempting to interfere in the 2020 US campaign, despite evidence to the contrary. Microsoft said two weeks ago that hackers linked to Russia, China and Iran were trying to spy on people tied to both Trump and Biden. Russia and China dismissed the allegations.
Earlier this month, Microsoft also alerted one of Biden’s main election campaign advisory firms that it had been targeted by suspected Russian state-backed hackers. The Kremlin called the report “nonsense”.
If you fancy something to listen to, this week our Politics Weekly Extra podcast features Jonathan Freedland and Daniel Strauss talking about how important this year’s Senate race could end up being.
I should imagine we’ll have new polling news every day between now and the election, and this morning is no exception.
Chris Kahn at Reuters this morning says the latest data shows the presidential race is much closer than national surveys suggest - which currently give Biden an eight-ish point lead. But the latest Reuters/Ipsos opinion polls in battleground states show Joe Biden with only a slim lead over Donald Trump in three highly competitive states and in a dead heat in three others.
They have Biden and Trump tied among likely voters in Florida and North Carolina. Biden leading by 1 percentage point in Arizona, 3 points in Pennsylvania and 5 points in Wisconsin and Michigan. All six are critical to determining who wins.
This is the key point though – in each of the states, the difference between the two candidates was near or within the poll’s sampling error, meaning that neither candidate has a clear advantage.
Kahn says the state and national surveys show the 2020 election may wind up with the same mixed result as 2016, with the Democrats receiving a majority of the votes but the Republicans winning the Electoral College and the White House. While Biden has an early advantage in winning the national popular vote, Trump has nearly the same chances of winning the battleground states, and with them enough electoral votes for a second term.
If you want to get a broader overview of what is happening with polling in those key states, please allow me to recommend our US election poll tracker.
Jennifer Steinhauer and Helene Cooper report for the New York Times this morning that there is anxiety at the Pentagon that Donald Trump will attempt to drag the military into any post-election chaos. They write:
In a paragraph they probably didn’t ever expect to have to write, Steinhauer and Cooper note that there has been some discussion of which branch of the nation’s security forces would be used to haul a recalcitrant president from the White House.
The bigger headache, it seems, is how the military would react if Trump were to attempt to use the two-century-old Insurrection Act, which enables a president “to send in active-duty military troops to quell disturbances over the objections of governors.”
Read it here: New York Times – At Pentagon, fears grow that Trump will pull military into election unrest
Associated Press are reporting that the Justice department has put in a court filing this morning seeking an immediate ban on downloads of WeChat in Apple and Google app stores.
Last week the US Commerce Department moved to ban WeChat from app stores but on Saturday, Magistrate Judge Laurel Beeler in California agreed to delay the restrictions, saying they would affect users’ First Amendment rights.
The Justice Department has now asked Beeler to allow for an immediate ban while the case works its way through court.
WeChat is a messaging-focused app popular with many Chinese-speaking Americans that serves as a lifeline to friends, family, customers and business contacts in China. It’s owned by Chinese tech giant Tencent.
The Justice Department says WeChat allows the Chinese government to collect and use personal data on Americans to advance its own interests. It argues that the US will suffer irreparable harm, both substantive and procedural, if the court does not stay its decision.
Here’s a bit more on that incident in Los Angeles last night where two people were injured by vehicles during protests for justice for Breonna Taylor. ABC News report:
Shortly after this happened, a second vehicle hit a car participating in the same protest as it tried to leave the area.
Police said that a white Prius had attempted to drive around the same protest, but a truck involved in the protests pinned it in, forcing it to stop. The driver of the Prius put the car in reverse to leave the area but then hit a green Mustang that was participating in the protest. Protesters then surrounded the vehicle.
Police state that all drivers and victims in both altercations have been identified and their investigation is ongoing.
You can see the incident take place in this clip, which also gives an idea of the scale of the crowd the vehicle was attempting to drive through. A warning though, the clip does show the injury taking place.
Donald Trump has gone one of his wild early morning tweeting and retweeting sprees. Among his targets this morning are Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker who Trump has trashed as a Republican-in-name-only over mail in ballots in the state.
The president of the United States is also unhappy about the polling figures being produced by Fox News.
But perhaps the most significant thing, and certainly very much targeted at firing up his base, the president seems to be trawling through the last week’s worth of tweets from the National Rifle Association of America and amplifying their attacks on Joe Biden. So far Trump has scrolled back as far as 17 September on their timeline.
Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and wife Jill visit Washington today to pay respects to supreme court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg at the US Capitol this morning.
The Bidens will be hoping for a better reception than Donald Trump received yesterday, when he was booed and jeered.
The Washington Post has this to say today on the process going on behind Donald Trump’s upcoming supreme court pick, claiming that the process of inviting senators to meet with the nominee has already started. Seung Min Kim reports:
Read more here: Washington Post – White House starts outreach to key senators on Supreme Court pick
US District Judge Lucy Koh has been hearing a case in California over the plans to cut short the US census, and she delivered her ruling late last night. She has ordered the once-a-decade head count of every US resident to continue for another month through to the end of October, saying a shortened schedule likely would produce inaccurate results.
Civil rights groups and local governments had sued the Census Bureau, which was proposing to end the count at the end of September. Attorneys for the civil rights groups and local governments said the shortened schedule would undercount residents in minority and hard-to-count communities. Koh had also expressed concerns earlier in the hearings that a September deadline would make it harder to count people who had been displaced by California’s record-breaking wildfires.
Koh said inaccuracies produced from a shortened schedule would affect the distribution of federal funding and political representation, report the Associated Press. The census is used to determine how $1.5 trillion in federal spending is distributed each year and how many congressional seats each state gets.
Government attorneys had argued that the census must finish by the end of September to meet a 31 December deadline for turning over numbers used for deciding how many congressional seats each state gets. Koh’s preliminary injunction suspends that end-of-the-year deadline, too.
The San Jose, California-based judge had previously issued a temporary restraining order prohibiting the Census Bureau from winding down field operations until she made a ruling in the lawsuit. Attorneys for the Census Bureau and the Department of Commerce, which oversees the agency, had said during the hearing they would likely appeal.