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| Biden addresses rising crime concerns: ‘We can’t turn our backs on law enforcement’ | Biden addresses rising crime concerns: ‘We can’t turn our backs on law enforcement’ |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| President announces that $350bn will go to fund police departments in cities that have seen a rise in crime – follow live | President announces that $350bn will go to fund police departments in cities that have seen a rise in crime – follow live |
| Joe Biden presented his administration’s plans to address crime and gun trafficking. Many of his proposed solutions include bolstering gun restrictions – but the president also wants to up policing, opening up $350bn in federal stimulus funds to fund police departments in cities that have seen an uptick in crime. | |
| The White House announced that Kamala Harris will go to El Paso, Texas, on Friday to visit the US-Mexico border. Republicans have been pressuring the vice-president, who has been tasked with managing migrants crossing the border, to pay a visit. The White House is not commenting on whether the trip is meant to coincide with a trip Donald Trump and other Republicans will take to the border next week. | |
| A 49-year-old woman from Indiana is the first person to receive sentencing for participating in the 6 January Capitol riots. The woman, who pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge, expressed remorse for taking part in the insurrection and faces three years probation. | |
| The supreme court issued a major free speech ruling against a Pennsylvania school that punished a student for using vulgar language on social media. The court ruled that schools are limited in their ability to regulate student speech off school grounds. | |
| Michigan Republicans who investigated allegations of fraud in the 2020 presidential election said today they found no evidence of fraud or interference. “There is no evidence presented at this time to prove either significant acts of fraud or that an organized, wide-scale effort to commit fraudulent activity was perpetrated in order to subvert the will of Michigan voters,” the report says. | |
| The head of US border patrol, Rodney Scott, announced he is resigning from his post, at the urging of the Biden administration.Scott has been in the position since February 2020, and had been expected to step down after Biden took office. An investigation by the Intercept found that Scott was a member of a border patrol Facebook group that published racist, sexist content. | |
| A bipartisan group of senators has reached an agreement with White House officials on an infrastructure compromise. Mitt Romney and Joe Manchin, both members of the bipartisan group, said they will meet with Joe Biden tomorrow to discuss the plan. The plan would invest $1.2tn over 8 years, including $579bn in new spending. | |
| – Lauren Aratani and Maanvi Singh | |
| A bipartisan group of senators has reached an agreement with White House officials on an infrastructure compromise. | |
| Mitt Romney and Joe Manchin, both members of the bipartisan group, said they will meet with Joe Biden tomorrow to discuss the plan. The plan would invest $1.2tn over 8 years, including $579bn in new spending. | |
| This same group of senators touted an infrastructure framework agreement last week, but were short on details. It’s also still very unclear whether this infrastucture compromise will get the support of enough Democrats and Republicans to pass. | |
| The head of US border patrol, Rodney Scott, announced he is resigning from his post, at the urging of the Biden administration. | The head of US border patrol, Rodney Scott, announced he is resigning from his post, at the urging of the Biden administration. |
| Scott has been in the position since February 2020, and had been expected to step down after Biden took office. An investigation by the Intercept found that Scott was a member of a border patrol Facebook group that published racist, sexist content. | Scott has been in the position since February 2020, and had been expected to step down after Biden took office. An investigation by the Intercept found that Scott was a member of a border patrol Facebook group that published racist, sexist content. |
| In a Facebook post addressing his step down, Scott said the Biden administration offered him the option of relocating, resigning or retiring from his post. He said he will remain in the position for 60 more days, and had yet to decide if he would leave border patrol. | In a Facebook post addressing his step down, Scott said the Biden administration offered him the option of relocating, resigning or retiring from his post. He said he will remain in the position for 60 more days, and had yet to decide if he would leave border patrol. |
| Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has said he wants to see a cultural shift in the border patrol. | Homeland Security secretary Alejandro Mayorkas has said he wants to see a cultural shift in the border patrol. |
| Socialist India Walton has defeated four-term Buffalo mayor in a primary upset. | Socialist India Walton has defeated four-term Buffalo mayor in a primary upset. |
| In her lifetime, India Walton has been a 14-year-old working mother, a nurse, a union representative and a socialist community organizer. | In her lifetime, India Walton has been a 14-year-old working mother, a nurse, a union representative and a socialist community organizer. |
| On Wednesday, she was on the cusp of yet another career change and a series of “firsts” after defeating a four-term incumbent in the Democratic primary race to become the mayor of Buffalo, New York state’s second-largest city. | On Wednesday, she was on the cusp of yet another career change and a series of “firsts” after defeating a four-term incumbent in the Democratic primary race to become the mayor of Buffalo, New York state’s second-largest city. |
| With no Republican challengers in the general election later this year, Walton is all but guaranteed to ascend to the mayoralty in solidly Democratic Buffalo. | With no Republican challengers in the general election later this year, Walton is all but guaranteed to ascend to the mayoralty in solidly Democratic Buffalo. |
| She would not only become the city’s first female mayor but also the first self-declared socialist to lead a major US city in decades. | She would not only become the city’s first female mayor but also the first self-declared socialist to lead a major US city in decades. |
| Walton would be the first socialist mayor of a major American city since 1960, when Frank Zeidler stepped down as Milwaukee’s mayor, the New York Times reported. | Walton would be the first socialist mayor of a major American city since 1960, when Frank Zeidler stepped down as Milwaukee’s mayor, the New York Times reported. |
| “This victory is ours. It is the first of many,” Walton said, adding: “If you are in an elected office right now, you are being put on notice: we are coming.” | “This victory is ours. It is the first of many,” Walton said, adding: “If you are in an elected office right now, you are being put on notice: we are coming.” |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Britney Spears asked a Los Angeles judge to end the court conservatorship that has governed her life for 13 years. | Britney Spears asked a Los Angeles judge to end the court conservatorship that has governed her life for 13 years. |
| Spears directly addressed the Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday in a hearing on the unusual legal arrangement that has stripped the singer of her independence since 2008. The conservatorship has given her father, Jamie Spears, control over her estate, career and other aspects of her personal life. | Spears directly addressed the Los Angeles courtroom on Wednesday in a hearing on the unusual legal arrangement that has stripped the singer of her independence since 2008. The conservatorship has given her father, Jamie Spears, control over her estate, career and other aspects of her personal life. |
| “I want to end this conservatorship without being evaluated,” Spears said in a long, emotional speech. | “I want to end this conservatorship without being evaluated,” Spears said in a long, emotional speech. |
| “This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good,” she said. “I deserve to have a life.” | “This conservatorship is doing me way more harm than good,” she said. “I deserve to have a life.” |
| The hearing comes one day after the New York Times reported on confidential documents revealing that Spears has for years strongly objected to the conservatorship and the many powers her father has had over her. | The hearing comes one day after the New York Times reported on confidential documents revealing that Spears has for years strongly objected to the conservatorship and the many powers her father has had over her. |
| The 39-year-old star almost never participates in the court proceedings, but her lawyer this year told the judge she wanted to speak out and requested a hearing “on an expedited basis”. | The 39-year-old star almost never participates in the court proceedings, but her lawyer this year told the judge she wanted to speak out and requested a hearing “on an expedited basis”. |
| Conservatorship is a type of court-appointed guardianship intended for people who can no longer make decisions for themselves, typically older and infirm people. But critics have argued that the process can be exploited and have pointed to Spears’s case as an example of such abuse. | Conservatorship is a type of court-appointed guardianship intended for people who can no longer make decisions for themselves, typically older and infirm people. But critics have argued that the process can be exploited and have pointed to Spears’s case as an example of such abuse. |
| Spears’s arrangement has faced intense scrutiny in the months since the release of Framing Britney Spears, a New York Times-produced documentary that chronicled the fraught process that led the courts to place the singer under a conservatorship. The film cast a harsh light on the abusive paparazzi and media that aggressively covered Spears’s mental health challenges, and also depicted her father as being largely absent from her life until he took control of her estate amid the singer’s struggles. | Spears’s arrangement has faced intense scrutiny in the months since the release of Framing Britney Spears, a New York Times-produced documentary that chronicled the fraught process that led the courts to place the singer under a conservatorship. The film cast a harsh light on the abusive paparazzi and media that aggressively covered Spears’s mental health challenges, and also depicted her father as being largely absent from her life until he took control of her estate amid the singer’s struggles. |
| A lawyer who claimed to have met with Spears in 2008 told the film-makers that she had said at the time she did not want her father as a conservator. The documentary further highlighted the apparent contradictions of her arrangement – that she could be performing sold-out shows and making millions, but also be considered incapable of making basic decisions about her health and finances. | A lawyer who claimed to have met with Spears in 2008 told the film-makers that she had said at the time she did not want her father as a conservator. The documentary further highlighted the apparent contradictions of her arrangement – that she could be performing sold-out shows and making millions, but also be considered incapable of making basic decisions about her health and finances. |
| Spears’s lawyers, appointed by the court, filed for Jamie to be removed as a conservator last year, alleging that the singer was “afraid of her father” and claiming she would not perform while he continued to exercise control of her estate. Jamie is a co-conservator of the estate alongside a corporate fiduciary, known as Bessemer Trust. | Spears’s lawyers, appointed by the court, filed for Jamie to be removed as a conservator last year, alleging that the singer was “afraid of her father” and claiming she would not perform while he continued to exercise control of her estate. Jamie is a co-conservator of the estate alongside a corporate fiduciary, known as Bessemer Trust. |
| Her father had previously acted as a personal conservator, giving him authority over her medical and mental health treatment, but a professional licensed conservator has taken over that job. | Her father had previously acted as a personal conservator, giving him authority over her medical and mental health treatment, but a professional licensed conservator has taken over that job. |
| Read more: | Read more: |
| Biden has announced his intent to nominate Cindy McCain for US representative to the United Nations food and agriculture programs. | Biden has announced his intent to nominate Cindy McCain for US representative to the United Nations food and agriculture programs. |
| McCain, the widow of Republican senator John McCain of Arizona, crossed party lines and endorsed Biden in the 2020 election. In the lead-up to the election, McCain appeared in a video that aired during the Democratic National Convention, in which she spoke about her late husband’s personal friendship and working relationship with Biden. Her nomination comes as Biden endeavors to emphasize the importance of bipartisanship, urging Democrats and Republican lawmakers to work together on infrastructure and other pressing issues. | McCain, the widow of Republican senator John McCain of Arizona, crossed party lines and endorsed Biden in the 2020 election. In the lead-up to the election, McCain appeared in a video that aired during the Democratic National Convention, in which she spoke about her late husband’s personal friendship and working relationship with Biden. Her nomination comes as Biden endeavors to emphasize the importance of bipartisanship, urging Democrats and Republican lawmakers to work together on infrastructure and other pressing issues. |
| Biden also announced he would be nominating Claire Cronin, a Massachusetts state representative, as ambassador to Ireland, and Jack Markell, the former governor of Delaware, to represent the US in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. | Biden also announced he would be nominating Claire Cronin, a Massachusetts state representative, as ambassador to Ireland, and Jack Markell, the former governor of Delaware, to represent the US in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development. |
| Rising homicide rates and gun violence has become a major issue in local political races, including in the New York mayoral primary elections. | Rising homicide rates and gun violence has become a major issue in local political races, including in the New York mayoral primary elections. |
| For Joe Biden, rising concern about crime has proved to be a politically convenient opportunity for him to boost gun control reforms he touted as a candidate. But the president’s wide-ranging policy proposals are sure to divide Democrats. | For Joe Biden, rising concern about crime has proved to be a politically convenient opportunity for him to boost gun control reforms he touted as a candidate. But the president’s wide-ranging policy proposals are sure to divide Democrats. |
| A year after nationwide protests erupted over the police killing of George Floyd, and activists’ calls to defund and abolish the police gained broad momentum, Biden is announcing that his administration will allow $350bn in federal stimulus funds to be used to pay to fund police departments in cities that have seen an uptick in crime. “This is not a time to turn our backs on law enforcement or communities,” Biden said. | A year after nationwide protests erupted over the police killing of George Floyd, and activists’ calls to defund and abolish the police gained broad momentum, Biden is announcing that his administration will allow $350bn in federal stimulus funds to be used to pay to fund police departments in cities that have seen an uptick in crime. “This is not a time to turn our backs on law enforcement or communities,” Biden said. |
| The ACLU’s Udi Ofer was one of many criminal justice reform advocates who were concerned that reactive responses to rising crime could undermine efforts to reform policing: | The ACLU’s Udi Ofer was one of many criminal justice reform advocates who were concerned that reactive responses to rising crime could undermine efforts to reform policing: |
| Biden is speaking at the White House to explain his administration’s plans to address crime and gun trafficking. | Biden is speaking at the White House to explain his administration’s plans to address crime and gun trafficking. |
| My colleague David Smith is covering the event live: | My colleague David Smith is covering the event live: |
| Many of his proposed solutions include bolstering gun restriction – but the president also wants to up policing. Through executive actions and by working with lawmakers, the president wants to hold rogue firearms dealers accountable for violating federal laws, invest in community violence interventions, expand programs to help formerly incarcerated people get jobs and reenter their communities, among other reforms. | Many of his proposed solutions include bolstering gun restriction – but the president also wants to up policing. Through executive actions and by working with lawmakers, the president wants to hold rogue firearms dealers accountable for violating federal laws, invest in community violence interventions, expand programs to help formerly incarcerated people get jobs and reenter their communities, among other reforms. |
| Here’s a summary of everything that’s happened so far today: | Here’s a summary of everything that’s happened so far today: |
| The White House announced that Kamala Harris will go to El Paso, Texas on Friday to visit the US-Mexico border. Republicans have been pressuring the vice president, who has been tasked with managing migrants crossing the border, to pay a visit. The White House is not commenting on whether the trip is meant to coincide with a trip Donald Trump and other Republicans will take to the border next week. | The White House announced that Kamala Harris will go to El Paso, Texas on Friday to visit the US-Mexico border. Republicans have been pressuring the vice president, who has been tasked with managing migrants crossing the border, to pay a visit. The White House is not commenting on whether the trip is meant to coincide with a trip Donald Trump and other Republicans will take to the border next week. |
| A 49-year-old woman from Indiana is the first person to receive sentencing for participating in the 6 January Capitol riots. The woman, who pleaded guilty for a misdemeanor charge, expressed remorse for taking part in the insurrection and faces three years probation. | A 49-year-old woman from Indiana is the first person to receive sentencing for participating in the 6 January Capitol riots. The woman, who pleaded guilty for a misdemeanor charge, expressed remorse for taking part in the insurrection and faces three years probation. |
| The supreme court issued a major free speech ruling against a Pennsylvania school that punished a student for using vulgar language on social media. The court ruled that schools are limited in their ability to regulate student speech off school grounds. | The supreme court issued a major free speech ruling against a Pennsylvania school that punished a student for using vulgar language on social media. The court ruled that schools are limited in their ability to regulate student speech off school grounds. |
| Michigan Republicans who investigated allegations of fraud in the 2020 presidential election said today they found no evidence of fraud or interference. | Michigan Republicans who investigated allegations of fraud in the 2020 presidential election said today they found no evidence of fraud or interference. |
| Stay tuned for more live updates. | Stay tuned for more live updates. |
| A group of protestors from the Poor People’s Campaign gathered outside of the supreme court today for a “Moral March on McConnell and Manchin”, criticizing Republicans for rejecting yesterday’s voting rights bill and Joe Manchin, the moderate Democratic senator from West Virginia, for resisting changes to the filibuster. Some participants, including the Rev Jesse Jackson, were arrested for not complying with police orders to move. | A group of protestors from the Poor People’s Campaign gathered outside of the supreme court today for a “Moral March on McConnell and Manchin”, criticizing Republicans for rejecting yesterday’s voting rights bill and Joe Manchin, the moderate Democratic senator from West Virginia, for resisting changes to the filibuster. Some participants, including the Rev Jesse Jackson, were arrested for not complying with police orders to move. |
| Anna Morgan-Lloyd, a 49-year-old from Indiana, is the first participant of the Capitol insurrection to receive punishment for participating in the 6 January Capitol riot. Morgan-Lloyd, who expressed remorse for participating in the attack, faces no jail time but will serve three years of probation, 120 hours of community service and pay a $500 fine, a judge ruled today. | Anna Morgan-Lloyd, a 49-year-old from Indiana, is the first participant of the Capitol insurrection to receive punishment for participating in the 6 January Capitol riot. Morgan-Lloyd, who expressed remorse for participating in the attack, faces no jail time but will serve three years of probation, 120 hours of community service and pay a $500 fine, a judge ruled today. |
| During her sentencing today, Morgan-Lloyd tearfully apologized for the “savage display of violence” during the riot and said she apologizes for participating in the riot. | During her sentencing today, Morgan-Lloyd tearfully apologized for the “savage display of violence” during the riot and said she apologizes for participating in the riot. |
| “I went there to support and show support for President Trump and I’m ashamed that it became a savage display of violence that day,” she said. | “I went there to support and show support for President Trump and I’m ashamed that it became a savage display of violence that day,” she said. |
| After the attack on 6 January, Morgan-Lloyd wrote on Facebook: “Best day ever. We stormed the capitol building” and said that she and a friend “were in the first 50 people in”. | After the attack on 6 January, Morgan-Lloyd wrote on Facebook: “Best day ever. We stormed the capitol building” and said that she and a friend “were in the first 50 people in”. |
| She is one of the defendants facing prosecution for taking part in the riots. While some are facing more severe federal charges for planning the attack and assaulting police officers, many participants like Morgan-Lloyd are facing more minor charges. Morgan-Lloyd plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of “parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building”. | She is one of the defendants facing prosecution for taking part in the riots. While some are facing more severe federal charges for planning the attack and assaulting police officers, many participants like Morgan-Lloyd are facing more minor charges. Morgan-Lloyd plead guilty to a misdemeanor charge of “parading, demonstrating or picketing in a Capitol building”. |
| Read more from Lois Beckett: | Read more from Lois Beckett: |
| Joe Biden is set to deliver remarks this afternoon with US attorney general Merrick Garland outlining his gun crime prevention strategy at the White House. | Joe Biden is set to deliver remarks this afternoon with US attorney general Merrick Garland outlining his gun crime prevention strategy at the White House. |
| A large part of the president’s strategy is allowing state and local governments to use $350bn in Covid-19 funding to bolster their law enforcement personnel numbers and invest in programs that target violent crime. The White House is also working with 14 cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore and Detroit, to increase investment in community violence intervention programs. | A large part of the president’s strategy is allowing state and local governments to use $350bn in Covid-19 funding to bolster their law enforcement personnel numbers and invest in programs that target violent crime. The White House is also working with 14 cities, including Atlanta, Baltimore and Detroit, to increase investment in community violence intervention programs. |
| Biden is also directing the labor department to bolster workforce development for young and formerly incarcerated Americans. | Biden is also directing the labor department to bolster workforce development for young and formerly incarcerated Americans. |
| Michigan state senate Republicans who investigated Michigan’s 2020 presidential election for months concluded there was no widespread or systemic fraud and urged the state attorney general to consider probing people who have made baseless allegations about the results in Antrim county to raise money or publicity “for their own ends”. | Michigan state senate Republicans who investigated Michigan’s 2020 presidential election for months concluded there was no widespread or systemic fraud and urged the state attorney general to consider probing people who have made baseless allegations about the results in Antrim county to raise money or publicity “for their own ends”. |
| The Associated Press brings us this report: | The Associated Press brings us this report: |
| Here’s what has happened today so far: | Here’s what has happened today so far: |
| The White House announced that Kamala Harris will go to El Paso, Texas on Friday to visit the US-Mexico border. Republicans have been pressuring the vice president, who has been tasked with managing migrants crossing the border, to pay a visit. | The White House announced that Kamala Harris will go to El Paso, Texas on Friday to visit the US-Mexico border. Republicans have been pressuring the vice president, who has been tasked with managing migrants crossing the border, to pay a visit. |
| The Supreme Court issued a major free speech ruling against a Pennsylvania school that punished a student for using vulgar language on social media. The court ruled that schools are limited in their ability to regulate student speech off school grounds. | The Supreme Court issued a major free speech ruling against a Pennsylvania school that punished a student for using vulgar language on social media. The court ruled that schools are limited in their ability to regulate student speech off school grounds. |
| The Associated Press has called Buffalo’s mayoral race in favor of India Walton, who is set to be the first socialist mayor of a major city since 1960. | The Associated Press has called Buffalo’s mayoral race in favor of India Walton, who is set to be the first socialist mayor of a major city since 1960. |
| Stay tuned for more live updates. | Stay tuned for more live updates. |