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Trump impeachment: Pelosi to formally send article of impeachment to Senate today – live | |
(32 minutes later) | |
Former president charged with ‘incitement of insurrection’ after assault on Capitol by pro-Trump mob | Former president charged with ‘incitement of insurrection’ after assault on Capitol by pro-Trump mob |
You have not been able to move on the internet since Joe Biden’s inauguration without encountering the Bernie Sanders’ mitten meme, and I’m delighted to tell you that I’ve just noticed that this morning we have published Ellie Violet Bramley’s guide to how to make your own. | |
Get your knitting started here: How to make Bernie Sanders’ inauguration mittens | |
For Mitch McConnell, the top Republican in the Senate, the first few days of Joe Biden’s presidency has not been about fighting the new Democratic majority in government, it’s been about gaming out how much power he now has. | |
McConnell, the leader of Senate Republicans for over a decade, now finds himself in the position every caucus leader dreads: out of power in the chamber, in charge of a somewhat unruly bunch of politicians, and under pressure over how to handle the impeachment of the last Republican president. | |
Just as McConnell became the Senate minority leader last week, he was confronted with two pressing concerns: retaining power through early negotiations with counterpart Chuck Schumer, the new Senate majority leader, and figuring out how to proceed on the impeachment trial of Donald Trump, which is set to begin in early February. | |
It’s a unique predicament for a senator regarded by Republicans as a strategic mastermind of Senate procedure and one reviled by Democrats for obstructionism. | |
Democrats often point to McConnell’s vow to make then-president Barack Obama a “one term president” as the perfect encapsulation of him. Republicans like to highlight that McConnell was able to usher through over 230 conservative judges onto the federal judiciary. And all the while the ultra-savvy Kentucky Republican has staved off criticism from the insurrectionist elements of his party – like Senator Ted Cruz of Texas. | |
McConnell, now once again in the minority, will have to deal with anti-establishment colleagues like Cruz and Missouri senator Josh Hawley. Those two senators led the challenge to certifying Joe Biden’s victory that resulted in a mob invading Capitol Hill. McConnell has butted heads with Cruz and allies before and emerged victorious while effectively isolating the Texas senator as punishment. As his caucus knows, losing in a fight with McConnell has its consequences. | |
But the situation now is different. McConnell has been in ongoing negotiations with Schumer over rules for the Senate over the next two years and added protections for the filibuster, one of the most valuable and powerful stalling tools for the party in the minority in the Senate. The filibuster is a legislative maneuver that allows any senator to delay or even block legislation through ongoing debate unless 60 senators agree to end debate. The 60 senator threshold, especially in a partisan and evenly split Senate makes it especially difficult to advance legislation. | |
Read more of Daniel Strauss’ analysis here: Mitch McConnell ‘plays the long game’ to retain some power as it slips away | |
Dominion Voting Systems have today filed a defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani. | |
The 107-page filing with the Federal District Court in Washington seeks damages of more than $1.3 billion. It bases the claim on more than 50 statements made by Giuliani at legislative hearings, on his podcast, on his Twitter account and in the media. | |
As part of the lawsuit, Dominion cite the Capitol riot on 6 January as an example of the consequences of Giuliani’s claims. Thomas A. Clare, a lawyer representing Dominion, said: “From a defamation law perspective, it just demonstrates the depth to which these statements sink in to people. That people don’t just read them and tune them out. It goes to the core of their belief system, which puts them in a position to take action in the real world.” | |
The company has previously begun legal proceedings against another lawyer associated with Donald Trump’s campaign to overturn the 2020 election result, Sidney Powell. Their lawsuit against Powell opened: | |
A crucial part of today’s lawsuit notes that Giuliani never repeated his allegations about the Dominion voting machines in court, where he could have faced ramifications to his legal career for making false claims in court. | |
Last week a group of prominent lawyers asked New York’s judiciary to suspend Rudy Giuliani’s law licence for making false claims in post-election lawsuits and urging Donald Trump’s supporters to engage in “trial by combat” shortly before they stormed the US Capitol. | |
Giuliani will not be representing Donald Trump at the former president’s impeachment trial in the Senate, since he has had to recuse himself as he also took part in the rally on the morning of the Capitol riot where Trump is accused of “incitement of insurrection”. | |
As expected, Sarah Sanders has launched her bid to become the next Governor of Arkansas. | As expected, Sarah Sanders has launched her bid to become the next Governor of Arkansas. |
Andrew DeMillo of the Associated Press reports that the former White House press secretary, who left the job in 2019 to return to her home state, has launched the bid less than a week after the end of Trump’s time in office and as the ex-president faces an impeachment trial. | Andrew DeMillo of the Associated Press reports that the former White House press secretary, who left the job in 2019 to return to her home state, has launched the bid less than a week after the end of Trump’s time in office and as the ex-president faces an impeachment trial. |
But her announcement reflected how much she expected voters in solidly red Arkansas to continue to embrace the former president and his rhetoric. | But her announcement reflected how much she expected voters in solidly red Arkansas to continue to embrace the former president and his rhetoric. |
“With the radical left now in control of Washington, your governor is your last line of defense,” Sanders said in a video announcing her bid. “In fact, your governor must be on the front line. So today I announce my candidacy for governor of Arkansas.” | “With the radical left now in control of Washington, your governor is your last line of defense,” Sanders said in a video announcing her bid. “In fact, your governor must be on the front line. So today I announce my candidacy for governor of Arkansas.” |
The daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sanders had been widely expected to run for the office after leaving the White House and has been laying the groundwork for a candidacy, speaking to Republican groups around the state. | The daughter of former Gov. Mike Huckabee, Sanders had been widely expected to run for the office after leaving the White House and has been laying the groundwork for a candidacy, speaking to Republican groups around the state. |
Sanders joins a Republican primary that already includes two statewide elected leaders, Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin and attorney general Leslie Rutledge. The three are running to succeed current Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican who is unable to run next year due to term limits. No Democrats have announced a bid to run for the seat. | Sanders joins a Republican primary that already includes two statewide elected leaders, Lt. Gov. Tim Griffin and attorney general Leslie Rutledge. The three are running to succeed current Gov. Asa Hutchinson, a Republican who is unable to run next year due to term limits. No Democrats have announced a bid to run for the seat. |
During her nearly two-year tenure as Trump’s chief spokesperson, daily televised briefings led by the press secretary ended. But Trump’s tumultuous exit from the presidency or the legacy of her actions in the White House may do little damage to Sanders in Arkansas. Republicans hold all of Arkansas’ statewide and federal seats, as well as a solid majority in both chambers of the Legislature. | During her nearly two-year tenure as Trump’s chief spokesperson, daily televised briefings led by the press secretary ended. But Trump’s tumultuous exit from the presidency or the legacy of her actions in the White House may do little damage to Sanders in Arkansas. Republicans hold all of Arkansas’ statewide and federal seats, as well as a solid majority in both chambers of the Legislature. |
Trump in November won the state by nearly 28 percentage points, and Sanders’ nearly 8-minute video prominently features photos of Trump, along with references to his favorite targets such as “cancel culture,” socialism and the Green New Deal. | Trump in November won the state by nearly 28 percentage points, and Sanders’ nearly 8-minute video prominently features photos of Trump, along with references to his favorite targets such as “cancel culture,” socialism and the Green New Deal. |
Sanders, who published a book last year and joined Fox News as a contributor after leaving the White House, enters the race with a much higher profile than any of the other candidates. She remains an unknown on many of the state’s biggest issues, though in her announcement she called for reducing state income taxes and cutting off funding for cities that violate immigration laws. The gubernatorial election is in November 2022. | Sanders, who published a book last year and joined Fox News as a contributor after leaving the White House, enters the race with a much higher profile than any of the other candidates. She remains an unknown on many of the state’s biggest issues, though in her announcement she called for reducing state income taxes and cutting off funding for cities that violate immigration laws. The gubernatorial election is in November 2022. |
NPR have a piece teeing up the second impeachment of Donald Trump from Barbara Sprunt this morning, and in it she reminds us of what Rep. Joaquin Castro told NPR yesterday. The Texas congressman from San Antonio will act as one of the House impeachment managers. | NPR have a piece teeing up the second impeachment of Donald Trump from Barbara Sprunt this morning, and in it she reminds us of what Rep. Joaquin Castro told NPR yesterday. The Texas congressman from San Antonio will act as one of the House impeachment managers. |
Read more here: NPR – House poised to transmit article of impeachment against Trump to Senate | Read more here: NPR – House poised to transmit article of impeachment against Trump to Senate |
Natalia Abrahams has an interesting piece for NBC News this morning looking at groups trying to keep young voters engaged in the political process post-election: | Natalia Abrahams has an interesting piece for NBC News this morning looking at groups trying to keep young voters engaged in the political process post-election: |
Read more here: NBC News – Looking ahead, liberal groups try to keep young voters engaged | Read more here: NBC News – Looking ahead, liberal groups try to keep young voters engaged |
By the way, in case you were wondering what Sen, Josh Hawley had been up to overnight, he was complaining about having been muzzled and canceled on *checks notes* the front page of the New York Post which was promoting *checks notes again* his lengthy column for them complaining that he had been silenced. | By the way, in case you were wondering what Sen, Josh Hawley had been up to overnight, he was complaining about having been muzzled and canceled on *checks notes* the front page of the New York Post which was promoting *checks notes again* his lengthy column for them complaining that he had been silenced. |
David Litt, former speechwriter for Barack Obama, writes for us today, warning that Republicans will try to create an ‘ethics’ trap for Democrats, and Democrats shouldn’t fall for it: | David Litt, former speechwriter for Barack Obama, writes for us today, warning that Republicans will try to create an ‘ethics’ trap for Democrats, and Democrats shouldn’t fall for it: |
The Biden administration has unveiled the strictest ethics pledge in history, building on president Obama’s lobbying bans by covering not just registered lobbying but also the so-called “shadow lobbying” that long served as an ethics loophole. It’s another big step forward. But it’s also a reminder that Democrats and Republicans are on two entirely different trajectories. If past is prologue, Biden will face more criticism if he fails to perfectly implement his high standards than Trump faced for having practically no standards at all. And rather than feel any political or moral obligation to follow Biden’s example, the next Republican administration will pick up right where the last president of their party left off. | The Biden administration has unveiled the strictest ethics pledge in history, building on president Obama’s lobbying bans by covering not just registered lobbying but also the so-called “shadow lobbying” that long served as an ethics loophole. It’s another big step forward. But it’s also a reminder that Democrats and Republicans are on two entirely different trajectories. If past is prologue, Biden will face more criticism if he fails to perfectly implement his high standards than Trump faced for having practically no standards at all. And rather than feel any political or moral obligation to follow Biden’s example, the next Republican administration will pick up right where the last president of their party left off. |
In other words, Democrats and Republicans are playing by different set of rules. And not just when it comes to ethics pledges and lobbying bans. We now know that many of the principles we once imagined were pillars of our democratic society – a respect for truth; a belief in the importance of a free press; the rejection of nepotism; a commitment to honor the results of elections not just in victory but in defeat – are propped up almost entirely by the good faith of politicians. And as we learned over the last four years, in American politics, bad faith is hardly in short supply. | In other words, Democrats and Republicans are playing by different set of rules. And not just when it comes to ethics pledges and lobbying bans. We now know that many of the principles we once imagined were pillars of our democratic society – a respect for truth; a belief in the importance of a free press; the rejection of nepotism; a commitment to honor the results of elections not just in victory but in defeat – are propped up almost entirely by the good faith of politicians. And as we learned over the last four years, in American politics, bad faith is hardly in short supply. |
That’s why it’s not enough to usher in an administration that models good behavior. We must ensure that we create high standards that apply to everyone. | That’s why it’s not enough to usher in an administration that models good behavior. We must ensure that we create high standards that apply to everyone. |
That starts with changing political incentives that currently punish leaders who try to act responsibly and reward those who don’t. Some members of the press will surely be tempted to return to their own version of normalcy – one where Obama’s tan suit is a scandal, Joe Biden’s Peloton is a political liability, and it’s generally assumed that Republicans will behave like arsonists while Democrats behave like adults. Yes, the press should hold the Biden administration accountable. But it would do the American public a disservice to pretend the last four years didn’t happen. | That starts with changing political incentives that currently punish leaders who try to act responsibly and reward those who don’t. Some members of the press will surely be tempted to return to their own version of normalcy – one where Obama’s tan suit is a scandal, Joe Biden’s Peloton is a political liability, and it’s generally assumed that Republicans will behave like arsonists while Democrats behave like adults. Yes, the press should hold the Biden administration accountable. But it would do the American public a disservice to pretend the last four years didn’t happen. |
Read more here: David Litt – Republicans will try to create an ‘ethics’ trap for Democrats. Don’t fall for it | Read more here: David Litt – Republicans will try to create an ‘ethics’ trap for Democrats. Don’t fall for it |
With Democrats controlling the Senate, progressives want to repeal the Trump administration’s Wall Street-friendly rules, but they may struggle to win enough votes in a thinly divided Congress and risk obstructing President Joe Biden’s agencies from writing stricter new rules, Pete Schroeder and Michelle Price report for Reuters. | With Democrats controlling the Senate, progressives want to repeal the Trump administration’s Wall Street-friendly rules, but they may struggle to win enough votes in a thinly divided Congress and risk obstructing President Joe Biden’s agencies from writing stricter new rules, Pete Schroeder and Michelle Price report for Reuters. |
Sherrod Brown, expected chair of the Senate Banking Committee, said this month he was drawing up a list of rules passed by Trump regulators that he hopes to kill using the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a 1996 law that allows Congress to reverse recently finalized federal regulations. | Sherrod Brown, expected chair of the Senate Banking Committee, said this month he was drawing up a list of rules passed by Trump regulators that he hopes to kill using the Congressional Review Act (CRA), a 1996 law that allows Congress to reverse recently finalized federal regulations. |
Since 2017, regulators have eased dozens of rules created following the 2009 financial crisis and in the decades before, arguing they were outdated and stymied economic growth. Opponents say the changes saved Wall Street tens of billions of dollars while increasing systemic risks and hurting consumers. | Since 2017, regulators have eased dozens of rules created following the 2009 financial crisis and in the decades before, arguing they were outdated and stymied economic growth. Opponents say the changes saved Wall Street tens of billions of dollars while increasing systemic risks and hurting consumers. |
Reversing rules through an agency’s internal process can take years whereas the CRA allows Congress to swiftly kill rules passed during the final 60 working days of the previous Congress with a simple majority and the president’s approval. However, with a wafer-thin Congress margin, Brown may struggle to win vital support from moderate Democrats, especially from those whom have publicly supported similar rule-changes in the past. | Reversing rules through an agency’s internal process can take years whereas the CRA allows Congress to swiftly kill rules passed during the final 60 working days of the previous Congress with a simple majority and the president’s approval. However, with a wafer-thin Congress margin, Brown may struggle to win vital support from moderate Democrats, especially from those whom have publicly supported similar rule-changes in the past. |
Additionally, issues related to bank capital requirements and liquidity may be too arcane to compete for limited Senate floor time with healthcare, labor and immigration measures, said Gregg Gelzinis, a senior policy analyst at liberal Washington think tank the Center for American Progress, which is discussing CRA issues with lawmakers. | Additionally, issues related to bank capital requirements and liquidity may be too arcane to compete for limited Senate floor time with healthcare, labor and immigration measures, said Gregg Gelzinis, a senior policy analyst at liberal Washington think tank the Center for American Progress, which is discussing CRA issues with lawmakers. |
Before Trump took office, the CRA had been used successfully once. Republicans subsequently used it to reverse 16 rules created by Barack Obama administration regulators, according to Daniel Perez, senior policy analyst at George Washington University’s Regulatory Studies Center. | Before Trump took office, the CRA had been used successfully once. Republicans subsequently used it to reverse 16 rules created by Barack Obama administration regulators, according to Daniel Perez, senior policy analyst at George Washington University’s Regulatory Studies Center. |
Democrats, however, have never successfully used the CRA, according to Perez, and may veer into novel legal territory where their ultimate goal is to make rules tougher rather than scrap them. That’s because once a rule is reversed using the CRA, agencies cannot write a “substantially” similar rule. | Democrats, however, have never successfully used the CRA, according to Perez, and may veer into novel legal territory where their ultimate goal is to make rules tougher rather than scrap them. That’s because once a rule is reversed using the CRA, agencies cannot write a “substantially” similar rule. |
“Where perhaps Democrats might want to do something more stringent, I think that might give them pause,” he said. Progressives may want to rewrite some rules but could risk legal challenges arguing the new rule is substantially similar. | “Where perhaps Democrats might want to do something more stringent, I think that might give them pause,” he said. Progressives may want to rewrite some rules but could risk legal challenges arguing the new rule is substantially similar. |
A year into the pandemic, more than 13,500 Covid-19 patients are languishing in hospitals across Texas. With only 586 ICU beds left statewide and some regions already running out of space, “hospitals can’t take much more”, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) recently tweeted. | A year into the pandemic, more than 13,500 Covid-19 patients are languishing in hospitals across Texas. With only 586 ICU beds left statewide and some regions already running out of space, “hospitals can’t take much more”, the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) recently tweeted. |
Yet Covid is still raging: about one in six molecular tests in Texas comes back positive right now, well over the 10% threshold Greg Abbott, the state’s Republican governor, once viewed as a “warning flag” for high community spread. | Yet Covid is still raging: about one in six molecular tests in Texas comes back positive right now, well over the 10% threshold Greg Abbott, the state’s Republican governor, once viewed as a “warning flag” for high community spread. |
“The Covid-19 pandemic is at its worst in Texas,” DSHS wrote online earlier this month, and “it’s likely never been easier to catch”. | “The Covid-19 pandemic is at its worst in Texas,” DSHS wrote online earlier this month, and “it’s likely never been easier to catch”. |
Abbott has categorically rejected another lockdown, a successful but blunt instrument that would undoubtedly cause him political grief. And, though he has instituted business occupancy reductions and bar closures in regions with high hospitalizations, those restrictions have proven half-baked and mostly ineffective. | Abbott has categorically rejected another lockdown, a successful but blunt instrument that would undoubtedly cause him political grief. And, though he has instituted business occupancy reductions and bar closures in regions with high hospitalizations, those restrictions have proven half-baked and mostly ineffective. |
In fact, other than championing therapeutic treatments and boasting about the state’s vaccine rollout, Abbott’s administration has made shockingly little effort to mitigate the virus’s carnage in recent months, even as a new, highly contagious variant threatens further devastation. | In fact, other than championing therapeutic treatments and boasting about the state’s vaccine rollout, Abbott’s administration has made shockingly little effort to mitigate the virus’s carnage in recent months, even as a new, highly contagious variant threatens further devastation. |
“Republican politicians are acting like it’s business as usual,” said Abhi Rahman, communications director for the Texas Democratic party. “They’re acting like the pandemic never existed in the first place.” | “Republican politicians are acting like it’s business as usual,” said Abhi Rahman, communications director for the Texas Democratic party. “They’re acting like the pandemic never existed in the first place.” |
Last March, Dan Patrick, Texas’s lieutenant governor, stoked widespread backlash when he advocated for a swift reopening, insinuating that the nation’s elderly were willing to put their lives on the line to save the US economy. But despite Texas’s hasty emergence from lockdown in May, its struggling workforce has failed to bounce back, with the unemployment rate still lingering at 7.2% as of December, compared to 3.5% the year before. | Last March, Dan Patrick, Texas’s lieutenant governor, stoked widespread backlash when he advocated for a swift reopening, insinuating that the nation’s elderly were willing to put their lives on the line to save the US economy. But despite Texas’s hasty emergence from lockdown in May, its struggling workforce has failed to bounce back, with the unemployment rate still lingering at 7.2% as of December, compared to 3.5% the year before. |
Read more of Alexandra Villarreal’s report here: Texas governor’s hands-off approach to Covid-19 has allowed the virus to thrive | Read more of Alexandra Villarreal’s report here: Texas governor’s hands-off approach to Covid-19 has allowed the virus to thrive |
Yesterday there were 132,537 new coronavirus cases recorded in the US, and 1,775 further deaths. Numbers are often lower than average on Sunday due to different data collection practices around the US at the weekend. The total caseload, according to Johns Hopkins university figures is now over 25 million. The death toll stands at 418,887. There are still over 20 states showing a more than 5% week-on-week increase in cases. | Yesterday there were 132,537 new coronavirus cases recorded in the US, and 1,775 further deaths. Numbers are often lower than average on Sunday due to different data collection practices around the US at the weekend. The total caseload, according to Johns Hopkins university figures is now over 25 million. The death toll stands at 418,887. There are still over 20 states showing a more than 5% week-on-week increase in cases. |
There’s slightly better news on hospitalization levels, as according to the Covid Tracking Project the number of people in hospital in the US with Covid has fallen again to 110,628. While it is still true that at least 100,000 people have been in hospital with coronavirus every day since 2 December 2020, it marks the 11th consecutive day that the number has dropped. | There’s slightly better news on hospitalization levels, as according to the Covid Tracking Project the number of people in hospital in the US with Covid has fallen again to 110,628. While it is still true that at least 100,000 people have been in hospital with coronavirus every day since 2 December 2020, it marks the 11th consecutive day that the number has dropped. |
Mutated versions of the coronavirus are causing experts concern. “The best way to prevent the emergence of new variants is to do all of the things we’ve been talking about for months,” infectious disease expert Dr. Celine Gounder told CNN Sunday night. “The more you let the virus spread, the more it mutates, the more variants you’ll have.” | Mutated versions of the coronavirus are causing experts concern. “The best way to prevent the emergence of new variants is to do all of the things we’ve been talking about for months,” infectious disease expert Dr. Celine Gounder told CNN Sunday night. “The more you let the virus spread, the more it mutates, the more variants you’ll have.” |
It remains likely that it will be months until a vaccine is widely rolled out in the US. Gounder went on to say to CNN that “We’re looking at probably middle of the summer, end of the summer before the average, healthy, young American has access to vaccination.” | It remains likely that it will be months until a vaccine is widely rolled out in the US. Gounder went on to say to CNN that “We’re looking at probably middle of the summer, end of the summer before the average, healthy, young American has access to vaccination.” |