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George Floyd killing: trial of police officer Derek Chauvin delayed until Tuesday – live Biden to address nation on Thursday to mark one year of Covid lockdowns – live
(32 minutes later)
Minneapolis judge delays start of trial of the former police officer who killed George Floyd Speech will be president’s first primetime address since becoming president
White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked about Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.
Psaki sidestepped the question, emphasizing that Meghan and Harry live as “private citizens” and that the US maintains a “special relationship” with the UK.
The press secretary added that Joe Biden always commends those who bravely come forward to discuss their struggles with mental health.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said most Americans would receive their payments from the coronavirus relief bill by the end of the month.
The relief bill, which passed the Senate on Saturday, includes $1,400 checks for American adults making less than $75,000 a year. The checks phase out completely for those making more than $80,000 a year.
The original House bill phased out the checks for those making more than $100,000 a year, as the first two rounds of stimulus payments did.
The change means Joe Biden will give checks to fewer Americans than Donald Trump did, although this check amount is higher than the first stimulus payment of $1,200 and the second payment of $600.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked (once again) whether Joe Biden would support eliminating the Senate filibuster to advance his agenda.
“The president’s preference is not to get rid of the filibuster,” Psaki told reporters.
The press secretary cited the Senate’s passage of the coronavirus relief bill as evidence of what Democrats can achieve without scrapping teh filibuster.
“Look at what we’ve been able to accomplish in the last six weeks,” Psaki said.
But the relief bill passed using reconciliation, a legislative mechanism that will not be possible for most of the administration’s other proposals, and the bill did not attract any Republican support in the Senate.
With the filibuster in place, Democrats will need to convince 10 of their Republican colleagues to join them to get bills passed, a hefty task given the intense level of partisanship in Congress right now.
Joe Biden will deliver a primetime address on Thursday to mark one year since the start of the coronavirus pandemic lockdowns, White House press secretary Jen Psaki just announced.
The speech will be Biden’s first primetime address since becoming president, and Psaki said he will use the speech to once again pay his respects to the more than 500,000 Americans who have died of coronavirus.
Biden will also likely tout his $1.9 trillion relief bill, which the Senate passed on Saturday. The House is expected to approve the bill tomorrow, and Biden could sign it as early as tomorrow night.
Psaki described the relief package as “one of the most consequential and most progressive pieces of legislation in American history”.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki noted that she and deputy press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre are wearing purple today, in honor of International Women’s Day.
Psaki joked that the new deputy press secretary, Chris Meagher, is also wearing a purple tie today as part of his “indoctrination” into the women-dominated team.
A reporter asked Julissa Reynoso, a co-chair of the gender policy council and chief of staff to the first lady, about her recent trip to the US-Mexican border.
Reynoso was one of several senior administration officials who recently visited the border to get a better sense of how the US is handling the recent surge in unaccompanied migrant children trying to enter the country.
Reynoso said she spoke to some of the migrant children detained near the border, and she said the Biden administration is “very mindful of the human cost here”.
She noted the officials who traveled to the border have not yet briefed Joe Biden on their trip, but they plan to do so this week.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki is now holding her daily briefing with reporters, and she kicked off the event by wishing everyone a happy International Women’s Day.White House press secretary Jen Psaki is now holding her daily briefing with reporters, and she kicked off the event by wishing everyone a happy International Women’s Day.
Psaki noted that Joe Biden signed two executive orders today to mark the occasion.Psaki noted that Joe Biden signed two executive orders today to mark the occasion.
One of the orders will establish the White House gender policy council, and the second will direct the department of education to review its policies on protecting students from sexual violence.One of the orders will establish the White House gender policy council, and the second will direct the department of education to review its policies on protecting students from sexual violence.
Julissa Reynoso, a co-chair of the gender policy council and chief of staff to the first lady, said the panel would help to “ensure we build a more equal and just democracy”.Julissa Reynoso, a co-chair of the gender policy council and chief of staff to the first lady, said the panel would help to “ensure we build a more equal and just democracy”.
Dr Marcella Nunez-Smith, a senior advisor to the White House coronavirus response team, noted that African Americans, Latino Americans and Asian Americans are still underrepresented among those who have been vaccinated.Dr Marcella Nunez-Smith, a senior advisor to the White House coronavirus response team, noted that African Americans, Latino Americans and Asian Americans are still underrepresented among those who have been vaccinated.
This disparity is occurring as African Americans, Latino Americans and Asian Americans are dying of coronavirus at disproportionately high rates.This disparity is occurring as African Americans, Latino Americans and Asian Americans are dying of coronavirus at disproportionately high rates.
Nunez-Smith said the Biden administration is working to “bend the vaccination process toward justice”.Nunez-Smith said the Biden administration is working to “bend the vaccination process toward justice”.
The health expert noted that the administration will be prioritizing pharmacies in its pharmacy vaccination program that do a better job addressing equity in administering vaccines.The health expert noted that the administration will be prioritizing pharmacies in its pharmacy vaccination program that do a better job addressing equity in administering vaccines.
Dr Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, summarized the new guidance from her agency on best practices for Americans who have been fully vaccinated.Dr Rochelle Walensky, the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, summarized the new guidance from her agency on best practices for Americans who have been fully vaccinated.
Walensky emphasized that “fully vaccinated” meant those who are at least two weeks out from receiving their final vaccine dose.Walensky emphasized that “fully vaccinated” meant those who are at least two weeks out from receiving their final vaccine dose.
The CDC director reiterated that those who have been fully vaccinated can visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors, without wearing masks or practicing physical distancing.The CDC director reiterated that those who have been fully vaccinated can visit with other fully vaccinated people indoors, without wearing masks or practicing physical distancing.
Fully vaccinated people can also visit with unvaccinated people from a single household, as long as everyone in that household is low risk and healthy.Fully vaccinated people can also visit with unvaccinated people from a single household, as long as everyone in that household is low risk and healthy.
Walensky added that those who have been fully vaccinated can refrain from quarantining after a known exposure to coronavirus, as long as they are asymptomatic.Walensky added that those who have been fully vaccinated can refrain from quarantining after a known exposure to coronavirus, as long as they are asymptomatic.
The CDC director described the latest guidance as “an important first step” to paving a path out of this pandemic, but she emphasized there would be additional guidance as health experts gain more information about the protection that vaccines provide.The CDC director described the latest guidance as “an important first step” to paving a path out of this pandemic, but she emphasized there would be additional guidance as health experts gain more information about the protection that vaccines provide.
“It is not our final destination,” Walensky said of today’s guidance.“It is not our final destination,” Walensky said of today’s guidance.
The White House coronavirus response team is now holding its briefing, to provide an update on the vaccine distribution process.The White House coronavirus response team is now holding its briefing, to provide an update on the vaccine distribution process.
According to senior White House adviser Andy Slavitt, the US administered an average of 2.2 million vaccine doses a day over the past week.According to senior White House adviser Andy Slavitt, the US administered an average of 2.2 million vaccine doses a day over the past week.
On Saturday alone, the US administered 2.9 million vaccine doses, setting a new single-day record.On Saturday alone, the US administered 2.9 million vaccine doses, setting a new single-day record.
The pace of vaccinations means Joe Biden is ahead of his goal to administer 100 million doses over his first 100 days in office.The pace of vaccinations means Joe Biden is ahead of his goal to administer 100 million doses over his first 100 days in office.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released its long-awaited guidance on best practices for Americans who have been fully vaccinated.The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has released its long-awaited guidance on best practices for Americans who have been fully vaccinated.
According to the CDC, those who have been fully vaccinated can visit indoors with others who are fully vaccinated without wearing masks.According to the CDC, those who have been fully vaccinated can visit indoors with others who are fully vaccinated without wearing masks.
Additionally, those who have been fully vaccinated can safely gather indoors with unvaccinated people from a single household without wearing masks, the CDC said.Additionally, those who have been fully vaccinated can safely gather indoors with unvaccinated people from a single household without wearing masks, the CDC said.
That second point will likely be a huge relief for older Americans, many of whom have already been vaccinated and have gone months without visiting their children, grandchildren and other relatives because of the coronavirus pandemic.That second point will likely be a huge relief for older Americans, many of whom have already been vaccinated and have gone months without visiting their children, grandchildren and other relatives because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The Guardian’s Sam Levine reports:
Today I’ll be watching the Georgia legislature, where the state senate will vote on several measures on Monday that could significantly restrict voting rights.
The proposals are being considered after Georgia saw record turnout, including surging turnout among Black voters, in the 2020 elections. Many of the proposals under consideration would harm Black voters, according to an analysis by the Brennan Center for Justice.
The most sweeping of the bills mirrors a proposal that passed the Georgia House last week. It would require voters to show identification information when they vote by mail, only allow local election officials to offer one Sunday of early voting and limit the use of absentee ballot drop boxes among other provisions.
But the senate is also considering even more changes. One of those would only allow voters who have a valid excuse or are 65 and older to cast an absentee ballot, eliminating the no-excuse system Georgia Republicans passed in 2005. It’s unclear, however, if Republicans have the votes to adopt that proposal and top Republicans in the state have signaled that Georgia should leave no-excuse absentee voting in place.
Another provision would eliminate a Georgia policy of automatically registering to vote anyone who interacts with the state’s motor vehicle agency, unless they opt out.
Monday is important because it is the deadline for bills to be passed out of either house in the legislature.
A Minneapolis judge has delayed the start of the trial of Derek Chauvin, the former police office who killed George Floyd.
Reuters reports:
Minneapolis has been on edge as it awaits the start of the trial, with many of the city’s African Americans residents dreading the prospect of justice yet again not being served.
Roy Blunt is the chairman of the Senate Republican policy committee, so his departure will leave an opening in the caucus’ leadership team.
The Missouri senator had also been viewed as a potential successor to Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell, raising more questions about the future of Senate Republican leadership.
Blunt’s departure, in combination with the retirements of four of his Republican colleagues, will also likely spark more questions about the direction of the party, as it remains closely tied to Donald Trump.
Senator Roy Blunt, a Republican of Missouri, has announced that he will not run for reelection next year.
“After 14 general election victories -- three to county office, seven to the United States House of Representatives and four statewide elections -- I won’t be a candidate for reelection to the United States Senate next year,” Blunt said in a video announcing the decision.
Blunt offered his thanks to his family, his team and Missourians for “giving me the chance to work for you” over the past 10 years.
“Another lesson I learned here: finish strong. And I intend to,” Blunt added.
Blunt is now the fifth Senate Republican to announce he will not seek reelection in 2022 -- after Senators Richard Burr of North Carolina, Rob Portman of Ohio, Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania and Richard Shelby of Alabama did the same.
That number could soon increase to six, if Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, who is 87, chooses not to seek another term.
The retirements mean the Republican party will be defending many seats with non-incumbent candidates as they seek to flip control of the Senate next year.
Representative Ro Khanna, a deputy whip for the Congressional Progressive Caucus, said he believed that the coronavirus relief bill has enough votes in the House to pass.
Khanna acknowledged that there has been some “frustration” among caucus members over many progressive provisions of the bill, including the $15 minimum wage proposal, being stripped out or narrowed in the Senate bill.
“But overall, no one wants to play games with people’s lives. People are suffering,” Khanna said. “So I believe it will have the votes to pass.”
The House is expected to take up the bill tomorrow, and Democrats will move toward a quick passage. If the bill passes, Joe Biden could sign the legislation as early as tomorrow night.
Joe Biden has released a statement celebrating Pope Francis’ recent trip to Iraq, which marked the first-ever papal visit to the country.
“Pope Francis’ visit was a historic and welcome first for the country. It sent an important message, as Pope Francis said himself, that ‘fraternity is more durable than fratricide, that hope is more powerful than death, that peace more powerful than war,’” Biden said.
“I congratulate the Government and people of Iraq for the care and planning that went into organizing this monumental visit, and continue to admire Pope Francis for his commitment to promoting religious tolerance, the common bonds of our humanity, and interfaith understanding.”
During the trip, the pope visited churches destroyed by the Islamic State, and he urged the region’s Christians to forgive the injustices that drove them into exile.
This is Joan Greve in Washington, taking over for Martin Belam.
The Senate passed Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package on Saturday, after a long vote-a-rama session, as Republicans attempted to derail the bill.
The bill will now go back to the House, which is expected to pass the final version of the legislation as early as tomorrow.
That means that Biden will likely sign the bill, marking his first major legislative victory as president, later this week.
The blog will have more details on that coming up, so stay tuned.
Mike Allen at Axios has a write-up this morning of his own TV interview with Sen Joe Manchin, who he describes as “America’s ultimate swing voter”. Allen writes:
Read more here: Axios – Manchin’s next power play
Sonia Elks reports for Reuters on International Women’s Day that 90% of Americans think the United States could have its first woman president within a decade, according to a new poll.
A Gallup poll conducted in 74 countries showed Americans were the most likely to say they thought a woman could lead their nation by 2030. Hillary Clinton won the popular vote in 2016, but was denied the presidency by the Electoral College system that the US uses to choose the president.
Kamala Harris’s election as the first female vice president last year was a significant boost for efforts to boost women’s political representation and help young women see themselves in top jobs, according to campaigners.
“We all believe Harris is going to run for president again very, very soon,” said Sara Guillermo, executive director of California-based young women’s political leadership organisation IGNITE, describing Harris’s election as a “huge cultural shift”.
“That is really huge, not just for the little girls of the world but for the little boys, to be able to fully understand that both genders can serve in the highest leadership role,” she told the Thomson Reuters Foundation in a video call.
Harris, 56, is seen as an obvious contender for her party’s 2024 candidacy should Biden, 78, decide not to run.
A journalist will face trial in Iowa today on charges arising from her arrest while covering a Black Lives Matter protest last year, in a case condemned by Amnesty International and news organizations across the US as an assault on press freedom.
Andrea Sahouri, a public safety reporter for the Des Moines Register, is charged with “failure to disperse and interference with official acts, misdemeanors”. If convicted, she could face a fine and 30 days in jail. She has pleaded not guilty.
Sahouri was arrested at the protest in Des Moines on 31 May, six days after the killing of George Floyd by officers in Minneapolis, which touched off months of international protests against police brutality and for racial justice.
She says she identified herself as a member of the press several times. But police pepper-sprayed and zip-tied her and her then boyfriend. Both were taken to Polk county jail.
A Des Moines police officer, Luke Wilson, has said he believed Sahouri was a protester because she was not wearing press credentials. Because Wilson did not turn on his body camera as he was supposed to, there is no video footage of the incident. Sahouri did film herself recounting what happened, while detained in a police car.
The judge in the case, Lawrence McLellan, has declined to drop the charges but has ordered police to give body camera training materials to Sahouri’s defense team.
Sahouri was one of many journalists targeted by police amid the wave of protests that followed the killing of Floyd. The trial of the officer who knelt on Floyd’s neck, Derek Chauvin, is scheduled to begin on Monday.
The CNN journalist Omar Jimenez, and his crew were arrested live on camera while covering a protest in Minneapolis. The NBC journalist Ali Velshi was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet, also live on camera. Donald Trump called what happened to Velshi “the most beautiful thing”.
According to the US Press Freedom Tracker, 127 journalists were arrested or detained in 2020, compared with nine arrested or detained in 2019. Sahouri is one of 13 to face criminal charges.
Read more of Erum Salam’s report here: Case of reporter facing trial over BLM coverage seen as attack on press rights