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| Dozens of medical groups call for mandatory health worker vaccinations – US politics live | Dozens of medical groups call for mandatory health worker vaccinations – US politics live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Statement comes as vaccinations stall in US and Delta variant surges and New York mayor requires city workers to get vaccinated | Statement comes as vaccinations stall in US and Delta variant surges and New York mayor requires city workers to get vaccinated |
| Jen Psaki has wrapped the White House briefing for the day, as the press goes off to see Joe Biden and the Iraqi PM. It was a wide-ranging briefing with, as Joanie showed below, a lot of questions about the Delta Covid variant, its surging case numbers and its effects on travel and the US economy. | |
| Psaki made a spot of news earlier, as it happens, by telling Snapchat the Biden administration engages with Fox News because its viewers “might” listen to its medical experts about the need to beat Covid. | |
| She was speaking to Good Luck America after a week in which Fox News denied reports it had engaged in high-level discussions with the White House before hosts including Sean Hannity (if not Tucker Carlson) exhorted viewers to get Covid-19 vaccinations. | |
| Asked why any member of the administration should engage, given that Fox News was “only going to lash Democrats”, Psaki referred to primetime hosts such as Hannity and Carlson when she said: “Well first, we don’t do a lot of the personalities on Fox. | |
| “Look, I would say that the president’s No 1 goal still is beating the pandemic, our objective is to put people back to work, and we need to talk to Fox and Fox viewers in order to do that. | |
| “Now, they are not waiting for the president, the vice-president and other people from the administration to tell them what to do. | |
| “But they might have listened to medical experts or some of our doctors. They might. There might be information that strikes them because it’s so fact-based, if we conveyed to Fox that they may hear that.” | |
| Full story: | |
| Jen Psaki downplayed the latest disagreements between Senate Democrats and Republicans over the bipartisan infrastructure bill. | |
| The White House press secretary said such hurdles are “expected” as Congress tries to reach a final deal on a bipartisan proposal. | |
| “We always know that there is some wrangling at the end of a process,” Psaki said. | |
| The press secretary’s comments came as Senate Republican aides accused Democrats of backpedaling on previous promises about the legislation, per the Washington Post: | |
| One reporter asked Jen Psaki whether Joe Biden will watch the January 6 select committee’s first hearing tomorrow. | One reporter asked Jen Psaki whether Joe Biden will watch the January 6 select committee’s first hearing tomorrow. |
| The press secretary said that the president has a busy scheduled but may watch some clips of the hearing during the day. | The press secretary said that the president has a busy scheduled but may watch some clips of the hearing during the day. |
| Psaki also reiterated that Biden supports House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s goal of getting to the bottom of what happened on January 6, when a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol. | Psaki also reiterated that Biden supports House speaker Nancy Pelosi’s goal of getting to the bottom of what happened on January 6, when a pro-Trump mob stormed the Capitol. |
| Members of the US Capitol Police force and the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, who provided security on that violent day, are scheduled to testify tomorrow before the select committee. | Members of the US Capitol Police force and the Metropolitan Police Department of Washington, who provided security on that violent day, are scheduled to testify tomorrow before the select committee. |
| The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, began her daily briefing by once again encouraging all eligible Americans to get vaccinated against coronavirus. | The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, began her daily briefing by once again encouraging all eligible Americans to get vaccinated against coronavirus. |
| Psaki noted that nearly 70% of American adults are now at least partially vaccinated, a benchmark that Joe Biden had hoped to reach by July 4. | Psaki noted that nearly 70% of American adults are now at least partially vaccinated, a benchmark that Joe Biden had hoped to reach by July 4. |
| The press secretary emphasized that those who are vaccinated are far less likely to be hospitalized with coronavirus, as the delta variant continues to spread across the US. | The press secretary emphasized that those who are vaccinated are far less likely to be hospitalized with coronavirus, as the delta variant continues to spread across the US. |
| “The reality is: it’s preventable,” Psaki said. | “The reality is: it’s preventable,” Psaki said. |
| The press secretary also confirmed earlier reports that the US is keeping travel restrictions in place for now because of the spread of the delta variant and concerns about unvaccinated Americans. | The press secretary also confirmed earlier reports that the US is keeping travel restrictions in place for now because of the spread of the delta variant and concerns about unvaccinated Americans. |
| Trump ally Tom Barrack is headed for trial, after pleading not guilty today in court in Brooklyn, New York to charges of illegal lobbying for the United Arab Emirates. | Trump ally Tom Barrack is headed for trial, after pleading not guilty today in court in Brooklyn, New York to charges of illegal lobbying for the United Arab Emirates. |
| Barrack, who played a key role in fundraising for Donald Trump’s (much legally troubled) inauguration in 2017, was arrested and bailed (in a $250m deal) last week. | Barrack, who played a key role in fundraising for Donald Trump’s (much legally troubled) inauguration in 2017, was arrested and bailed (in a $250m deal) last week. |
| Magistrate judge Sanket Bulsara accepted his plea on seven counts, including secretly lobbying the Trump administration for the UAE between 2016 and 2018. Barrack, 74, also pleaded not guilty to lying to investigators. | |
| Barrack has long been close to Trump. For example, in his book Fire and Fury, Michael Wolff characterised the two men and the financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was later convicted of sex trafficking before killing himself in custody, as a “set of nightlife musketeers” in the 1980s and 1990s. | Barrack has long been close to Trump. For example, in his book Fire and Fury, Michael Wolff characterised the two men and the financier Jeffrey Epstein, who was later convicted of sex trafficking before killing himself in custody, as a “set of nightlife musketeers” in the 1980s and 1990s. |
| Here’s more on the case at hand: | Here’s more on the case at hand: |
| Here’s where the day stands so far: | Here’s where the day stands so far: |
| Dozens of medical groups called for health care facilities to require coronavirus vaccinations for their workers. The groups, which included the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, described a vaccination mandate as the “logical fulfillment of the ethical commitment of all healthcare workers to put patients as well as residents of long-term care facilities first and take all steps necessary to ensure their health and wellbeing”. | Dozens of medical groups called for health care facilities to require coronavirus vaccinations for their workers. The groups, which included the American Medical Association and the American Academy of Pediatrics, described a vaccination mandate as the “logical fulfillment of the ethical commitment of all healthcare workers to put patients as well as residents of long-term care facilities first and take all steps necessary to ensure their health and wellbeing”. |
| All New York city workers will be required to get vaccinated, mayor Bill de Blasio announced this morning. Starting September 13, all city employees will either need to get vaccinated or receive weekly coronavirus tests. “Let’s be clear about why this is so important: this is about our recovery,” de Blasio said. | All New York city workers will be required to get vaccinated, mayor Bill de Blasio announced this morning. Starting September 13, all city employees will either need to get vaccinated or receive weekly coronavirus tests. “Let’s be clear about why this is so important: this is about our recovery,” de Blasio said. |
| Joe Biden commemorated the 31st anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The president announced that some Americans with long-term symptoms of coronavirus qualify for ADA protections, including accommodations in schools and offices to guarantee their success. | Joe Biden commemorated the 31st anniversary of the signing of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The president announced that some Americans with long-term symptoms of coronavirus qualify for ADA protections, including accommodations in schools and offices to guarantee their success. |
| The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. | The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned. |
| One of the members of the January 6 select committee, Democrat Adam Schiff, said he expected the panel to issue subpoenas in the course of its work. | One of the members of the January 6 select committee, Democrat Adam Schiff, said he expected the panel to issue subpoenas in the course of its work. |
| “We want to make sure, for example, when we request documents that we get all of them, that we don’t have people withholding information because it’s a voluntary request,” Schiff told MSNBC today. | “We want to make sure, for example, when we request documents that we get all of them, that we don’t have people withholding information because it’s a voluntary request,” Schiff told MSNBC today. |
| “So, yes, I fear we’re going to subpoenas and going to them early. And with witnesses, I expect that some of them will be reluctant to testify, and they will need to be compelled. So that’s certainly my expectation.” | “So, yes, I fear we’re going to subpoenas and going to them early. And with witnesses, I expect that some of them will be reluctant to testify, and they will need to be compelled. So that’s certainly my expectation.” |
| Schiff also said that he did not expect the select committee to wrap up its work within the year, although he noted the members feel a “sense of urgency” about the work. | Schiff also said that he did not expect the select committee to wrap up its work within the year, although he noted the members feel a “sense of urgency” about the work. |
| The congressman added that the committee’s timetable will depend upon how much obstruction members encounter as they carry out the investigation. | The congressman added that the committee’s timetable will depend upon how much obstruction members encounter as they carry out the investigation. |
| Hugo Lowell reports for the Guardian: | Hugo Lowell reports for the Guardian: |
| The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, is readying the committee that will on Tuesday begin its investigation into the attack on the Capitol to press ahead with an aggressive inquiry into Donald Trump, as she seeks to exploit a Republican refusal to participate that could leave the former president unguarded. | The House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, is readying the committee that will on Tuesday begin its investigation into the attack on the Capitol to press ahead with an aggressive inquiry into Donald Trump, as she seeks to exploit a Republican refusal to participate that could leave the former president unguarded. |
| Pelosi’s move last week to block Jim Banks and Jim Jordan – vociferous allies of Trump – from serving on the House select committee, prompted the House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, to boycott the inquiry, pulling his three other Republican picks from the panel. | Pelosi’s move last week to block Jim Banks and Jim Jordan – vociferous allies of Trump – from serving on the House select committee, prompted the House minority leader, Kevin McCarthy, to boycott the inquiry, pulling his three other Republican picks from the panel. |
| But Pelosi won strong support from Democrats and told lieutenants she may have emerged with the upper hand ahead of the select committee’s first hearing. | But Pelosi won strong support from Democrats and told lieutenants she may have emerged with the upper hand ahead of the select committee’s first hearing. |
| “We have the duty, to the constitution and the country, to find the truth of the 6 January insurrection and to ensure that such an assault on our Democracy cannot again happen,” Pelosi said of the investigation in a letter to Democrats. | “We have the duty, to the constitution and the country, to find the truth of the 6 January insurrection and to ensure that such an assault on our Democracy cannot again happen,” Pelosi said of the investigation in a letter to Democrats. |
| The speaker has suggested to top Democrats in recent days that McCarthy’s move to boycott the panel leaves Trump without any defenders in the high-profile investigation into the 6 January insurrection, according to a source familiar with the matter. | The speaker has suggested to top Democrats in recent days that McCarthy’s move to boycott the panel leaves Trump without any defenders in the high-profile investigation into the 6 January insurrection, according to a source familiar with the matter. |
| House minority leader Kevin McCarthy was among those who attended Joe Biden’s speech on the Americans with Disabilities Act. | House minority leader Kevin McCarthy was among those who attended Joe Biden’s speech on the Americans with Disabilities Act. |
| Before the president’s remarks, the Republican leader was asked about his thoughts on a second member of his caucus, Adam Kinzinger, accepting speaker Nancy Pelosi’s invitation to serve on the January 6 select committee. | Before the president’s remarks, the Republican leader was asked about his thoughts on a second member of his caucus, Adam Kinzinger, accepting speaker Nancy Pelosi’s invitation to serve on the January 6 select committee. |
| McCarthy reiterated his previous criticism of Republican members accepting committee invitations from a Democratic speaker, describing the situation as unprecedented. | McCarthy reiterated his previous criticism of Republican members accepting committee invitations from a Democratic speaker, describing the situation as unprecedented. |
| McCarthy dismissed Kinzinger and congresswoman Liz Cheney, who previously accepted Pelosi’s invitation to serve on the committee, as “Pelosi Republicans”. | McCarthy dismissed Kinzinger and congresswoman Liz Cheney, who previously accepted Pelosi’s invitation to serve on the committee, as “Pelosi Republicans”. |
| Joe Biden took a couple questions from reporters as his event celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act was wrapping up. | Joe Biden took a couple questions from reporters as his event celebrating the Americans with Disabilities Act was wrapping up. |
| Asked about whether he’s confident the US can get more unvaccinated Americans vaccinated, Biden replied, “We have to.” | Asked about whether he’s confident the US can get more unvaccinated Americans vaccinated, Biden replied, “We have to.” |
| The president was also asked whether he is optimistic about the chances of a bipartisan infrastructure deal being reached this week. | The president was also asked whether he is optimistic about the chances of a bipartisan infrastructure deal being reached this week. |
| “You know me, I’m always optimistic,” Biden said. | “You know me, I’m always optimistic,” Biden said. |
| The bipartisan group crafting the infrastructure bill is still working to reach a final agreement, and it’s unclear whether negotiations will conclude this week. | The bipartisan group crafting the infrastructure bill is still working to reach a final agreement, and it’s unclear whether negotiations will conclude this week. |