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| FBI failed to fully investigate Brett Kavanaugh sexual misconduct allegations, Democrats say – live | FBI failed to fully investigate Brett Kavanaugh sexual misconduct allegations, Democrats say – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Senators say FBI gathered over 4,500 tips during investigation into Kavanaugh’s past but failed to follow them up – follow the latest news | Senators say FBI gathered over 4,500 tips during investigation into Kavanaugh’s past but failed to follow them up – follow the latest news |
| The White House press pool passes along the guestlist for this bill signing that should start soon. It’s a long list: | |
| The Vice President | |
| The Second Gentleman | |
| Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta | |
| Acting Assistant Attorney General Amy Solomon, Office of Justice Programs, DOJ | |
| Kristina Rose, Director, Office for Victims of Crime, DOJ | |
| Maryland Attorney General Brian Frosh | |
| Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring | |
| Senator Tammy Baldwin | |
| Senator Richard Blumenthal | |
| Senator Shelley Capito | |
| Senator John Cornyn | |
| Senator Catherine Cortez Masto | |
| Senator Joni Ernst | |
| Senator Dianne Feinstein | |
| Senator Lindsey Graham | |
| Senator Amy Klobuchar | |
| Senator Patrick Leahy | |
| Senator Cynthia Lummis | |
| Senator Lisa Murkowski | |
| Senator Chris Van Hollen | |
| Representative Deborah Dingell | |
| Representative Brian Fitzpatrick | |
| Representative Sheila Jackson Lee | |
| Representative Ann McLane Kuster | |
| Representative James Langevin | |
| Representative Lucy McBath | |
| Representative Gwen Moore | |
| Representative Jerrold Nadler | |
| Representative Ayanna Pressley | |
| Representative Mary Gay Scanlon | |
| Representative Jackie Speier | |
| Representative Ann Wagner | |
| Representative Jennifer Wexton | |
| Even as some of the most famous Republicans in the country urge Americans to get vaccinated, half of all Republicans in the House of Representatives won’t say whether they’ve been vaccinated or not. That’s according to a new report from CNN: | |
| More here. | |
| President Biden is due soon to deliver remarks at a bill signing for “H.R. 1652, the VOCA Fix to Sustain the Crime Victims Fund Act of 2021” as the White House press pool noted earlier today. | |
| Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, one of the signatories of a letter expressing concern to the FBI about its investigation into now supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh. Whitehouse’s tweets illustrate the sense of dissatisfaction he and the other Democratic senators feel about the FBI’s response to tips about Kavanaugh and its probe of his past conduct years before he became a judge. | Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, one of the signatories of a letter expressing concern to the FBI about its investigation into now supreme court justice Brett Kavanaugh. Whitehouse’s tweets illustrate the sense of dissatisfaction he and the other Democratic senators feel about the FBI’s response to tips about Kavanaugh and its probe of his past conduct years before he became a judge. |
| The Biden administration just released a new statement confirming earlier reports about incoming sanctions on new sanctions targeting specific Cuban regime officials. | The Biden administration just released a new statement confirming earlier reports about incoming sanctions on new sanctions targeting specific Cuban regime officials. |
| Here’s the key passage: | Here’s the key passage: |
| “Today, my Administration is imposing new sanctions targeting elements of the Cuban regime responsible for this crackdown—the head of the Cuban military and the division of the Cuban Ministry of the Interior driving the crackdown—to hold them accountable for their actions. This is just the beginning–the United States will continue to sanction individuals responsible for oppression of the Cuban people.” | “Today, my Administration is imposing new sanctions targeting elements of the Cuban regime responsible for this crackdown—the head of the Cuban military and the division of the Cuban Ministry of the Interior driving the crackdown—to hold them accountable for their actions. This is just the beginning–the United States will continue to sanction individuals responsible for oppression of the Cuban people.” |
| Asked about the president’s filibuster comments last night Jen Psaki digressed. First she said that the Senate makes the decisions on the filibuster. She said that Biden was only addressing what the process would look like to change the filibuster and not weighing in one way or another. | Asked about the president’s filibuster comments last night Jen Psaki digressed. First she said that the Senate makes the decisions on the filibuster. She said that Biden was only addressing what the process would look like to change the filibuster and not weighing in one way or another. |
| But she also said she Biden’s position had not changed. | But she also said she Biden’s position had not changed. |
| “What he was referring to was simply to what that process would look like,” Psaki said, going on to say that Biden would “continue to advocate for the For the People Act...and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.” | “What he was referring to was simply to what that process would look like,” Psaki said, going on to say that Biden would “continue to advocate for the For the People Act...and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.” |
| That’s in reference to two major voting rights bills Democrats want to pass into law. Psaki stressed though that Biden did not want to weigh in closely on Senate procedure though. | That’s in reference to two major voting rights bills Democrats want to pass into law. Psaki stressed though that Biden did not want to weigh in closely on Senate procedure though. |
| “He alone doesn’t have a role in making these changes in the Senate,” Psaki said. | “He alone doesn’t have a role in making these changes in the Senate,” Psaki said. |
| White House press secretary Jen Psaki just said there would be more from the State Department and the Treasury Department on the sanctions against Cuban officials later today. | White House press secretary Jen Psaki just said there would be more from the State Department and the Treasury Department on the sanctions against Cuban officials later today. |
| Background on that here. | Background on that here. |
| The White House’s daily press briefing is under way and commerce department secretary Gina Raimondo is addressing the country’s semiconductor chip shortage. | The White House’s daily press briefing is under way and commerce department secretary Gina Raimondo is addressing the country’s semiconductor chip shortage. |
| The country’s semiconductor chip shortage is an ongoing problem that nevertheless has been under the radar to much of the population. | The country’s semiconductor chip shortage is an ongoing problem that nevertheless has been under the radar to much of the population. |
| A number of Senate Democrats are questioning the FBI’s handling of tips into Brett Kavanaugh during the now Supreme Court justice’s confirmation process. Per The New York Times: | A number of Senate Democrats are questioning the FBI’s handling of tips into Brett Kavanaugh during the now Supreme Court justice’s confirmation process. Per The New York Times: |
| Here’s the letter from the senators to the FBI. Here’s a statement from Whitehouse’s office on the letter: | Here’s the letter from the senators to the FBI. Here’s a statement from Whitehouse’s office on the letter: |
| Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who is on the panel to investigate the 6 January mob attack, thinks it would be a good idea for Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, another outspoken anti-Trump Republican, to join the panel. | Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming, who is on the panel to investigate the 6 January mob attack, thinks it would be a good idea for Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois, another outspoken anti-Trump Republican, to join the panel. |
| Pelosi is weighing her options. She said as much during a news conference on Thursday. | Pelosi is weighing her options. She said as much during a news conference on Thursday. |
| “We’ll see” Pelosi said, adding “it’s not even bipartisan; it’s nonpartisan. It’s about seeking the truth and that’s what we owe the American people.” | “We’ll see” Pelosi said, adding “it’s not even bipartisan; it’s nonpartisan. It’s about seeking the truth and that’s what we owe the American people.” |
| The Biden administration is planning on imposing new sanctions on Cuban officials who are directly linked to human rights violations in the country, according to The Washington Post. | The Biden administration is planning on imposing new sanctions on Cuban officials who are directly linked to human rights violations in the country, according to The Washington Post. |
| Here’s more: | Here’s more: |
| The sanctions come during ongoing unrest and amid protests in Cuba. The Cuban government has sought to organize counter protests as well. | The sanctions come during ongoing unrest and amid protests in Cuba. The Cuban government has sought to organize counter protests as well. |
| The Biden administration has also looked into taking steps to increasing staffing at its Cuban embassy, according to the Associated Press. | The Biden administration has also looked into taking steps to increasing staffing at its Cuban embassy, according to the Associated Press. |
| The House of Representatives just passed legislation increasing the number of Afghan interpreters who have helped U.S. troops to immigrate to the United States. | The House of Representatives just passed legislation increasing the number of Afghan interpreters who have helped U.S. troops to immigrate to the United States. |
| It’s a move the Biden administration has acted on in increasing urgency. | It’s a move the Biden administration has acted on in increasing urgency. |
| Here’s more from The New York Times’ Luke Broadwater: | Here’s more from The New York Times’ Luke Broadwater: |
| Last night Joe Biden quashed any question that he’s moving on abolishing the filibuster. Speaking at a CNN townhall in Cincinnati the president warned that “there’s no reason to protect it other than you’re going to throw the entire Congress into chaos and nothing will get done. Nothing at all will get done. And there’s a lot at stake. The most important one is the right to vote.” | Last night Joe Biden quashed any question that he’s moving on abolishing the filibuster. Speaking at a CNN townhall in Cincinnati the president warned that “there’s no reason to protect it other than you’re going to throw the entire Congress into chaos and nothing will get done. Nothing at all will get done. And there’s a lot at stake. The most important one is the right to vote.” |
| He continued “Wouldn’t my friends on the other side love to have a debate about the filibuster instead of passing the recovery act?” | He continued “Wouldn’t my friends on the other side love to have a debate about the filibuster instead of passing the recovery act?” |
| Biden’s comments come amidst increasing pressure from progressives to gut the filibuster. But the president is not alone in being a holdout. Senators Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, two of the most moderate Democrats in Congress, have been outspoken holdouts as well. | Biden’s comments come amidst increasing pressure from progressives to gut the filibuster. But the president is not alone in being a holdout. Senators Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona and Joe Manchin of West Virginia, two of the most moderate Democrats in Congress, have been outspoken holdouts as well. |
| That’s despite arguments from other influential Democrats to at least allow a workaround for voting rights legislation. | That’s despite arguments from other influential Democrats to at least allow a workaround for voting rights legislation. |
| Speaking of the committee investigating 6 January, the chairman of the committee, Congressman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, said it’s possible that Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois could join the panel. | Speaking of the committee investigating 6 January, the chairman of the committee, Congressman Bennie Thompson of Mississippi, said it’s possible that Congressman Adam Kinzinger of Illinois could join the panel. |
| Kinzinger is one of the most outspoken opponents of Donald Trump in the House of Representatives. He’s also a staunch ally of Congresswoman Liz Cheney, the target of much of Donald Trump’s fury these days. | Kinzinger is one of the most outspoken opponents of Donald Trump in the House of Representatives. He’s also a staunch ally of Congresswoman Liz Cheney, the target of much of Donald Trump’s fury these days. |
| Pelosi has also floated bringing on former Congressman Denver Riggleman of Virginia as an adviser. | Pelosi has also floated bringing on former Congressman Denver Riggleman of Virginia as an adviser. |
| House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has gotten push back in some quarters for blocking two Republicans from joining the select committee charged with investigating the 6 January mob attack on the Capitol. | House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has gotten push back in some quarters for blocking two Republicans from joining the select committee charged with investigating the 6 January mob attack on the Capitol. |
| Pelosi, speaking at a press conference today, pushed back on that criticism. She said it would be “ridiculous” to include them on the committee. | Pelosi, speaking at a press conference today, pushed back on that criticism. She said it would be “ridiculous” to include them on the committee. |
| More background here. | More background here. |
| The Wall Street Journal got its hands on a memo from attorney general Merrick Garland reinforcing guidelines for the department of justice’s investigations, a move that is clearly in contrast to how critics saw the work of the department under the last administration. Here’s the Journal’s report: | The Wall Street Journal got its hands on a memo from attorney general Merrick Garland reinforcing guidelines for the department of justice’s investigations, a move that is clearly in contrast to how critics saw the work of the department under the last administration. Here’s the Journal’s report: |
| There’s no uniform consensus among Republican governors (who control the majority of governor’s mansions) over what to do about the coronavirus pandemic. In Missouri for instance, Governor Mike Parsons unveiled a new set of incentives for people to get vaccinated, following the example of other Republican governors like West Virginia’s Jim Justice or Ohio’s Mike DeWine. | There’s no uniform consensus among Republican governors (who control the majority of governor’s mansions) over what to do about the coronavirus pandemic. In Missouri for instance, Governor Mike Parsons unveiled a new set of incentives for people to get vaccinated, following the example of other Republican governors like West Virginia’s Jim Justice or Ohio’s Mike DeWine. |
| But in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott, who is up for reelection, is refusing to impose a statewide mask mandate even though cases are on the rise. Via the Texas Tribune: | But in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott, who is up for reelection, is refusing to impose a statewide mask mandate even though cases are on the rise. Via the Texas Tribune: |
| But the Tribune also notes that as of Sunday, just 43 percent of Texans were vaccinated. That’s well behind other states in the region and across the country. | But the Tribune also notes that as of Sunday, just 43 percent of Texans were vaccinated. That’s well behind other states in the region and across the country. |
| It’s a rare sign of the times and specific moment for Trump supporters: former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas, the former Republican presidential nominee, who endorsed Donald Trump now says the 45th president lost fair and square to Joe Biden. Here’s the key line from the USA Today report: | It’s a rare sign of the times and specific moment for Trump supporters: former Senator Bob Dole of Kansas, the former Republican presidential nominee, who endorsed Donald Trump now says the 45th president lost fair and square to Joe Biden. Here’s the key line from the USA Today report: |
| Goodmorning, Daniel Strauss here. Let’s get started. | Goodmorning, Daniel Strauss here. Let’s get started. |
| At the White House, officials are debating whether to urge Americans to wear masks more often to curb the spread of coronavirus. That’s according to a new report in The Washington Post detailing the still preliminary deliberations: | At the White House, officials are debating whether to urge Americans to wear masks more often to curb the spread of coronavirus. That’s according to a new report in The Washington Post detailing the still preliminary deliberations: |
| Those discussions come as governors across the country offer increasingly creative means to incentivizing people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. | Those discussions come as governors across the country offer increasingly creative means to incentivizing people to get vaccinated against the coronavirus. |
| Some of the most high profile -and at times bombastic- Republican figures in recent days have begun urging Americans to get vaccinated as well, amidst the ongoing spread of deadlier coronavirus variants. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida made one such plea earlier this week. | Some of the most high profile -and at times bombastic- Republican figures in recent days have begun urging Americans to get vaccinated as well, amidst the ongoing spread of deadlier coronavirus variants. Governor Ron DeSantis of Florida made one such plea earlier this week. |