INSIDER
The first presidential election since the Jan. 6 attack will test new guardrails from Congress
Read full article: The first presidential election since the Jan. 6 attack will test new guardrails from CongressThis presidential election will be the first since the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the Capitol.
Walz and Vance go in depth on policy while attacking each other’s running mates in VP debate
Read full article: Walz and Vance go in depth on policy while attacking each other’s running mates in VP debateIn a debate that evoked a calmer era in American politics, Tim Walz and JD Vance on Tuesday went after each other’s running mates and sought to shore up their campaigns' vulnerabilities at a time of renewed fears of a regional war in the Middle East and sadness over devastation from Hurricane Helene.
Harris presses a more forceful case against Trump than Biden did on abortion, economy and democracy
Read full article: Harris presses a more forceful case against Trump than Biden did on abortion, economy and democracyKamala Harris has pressed a forceful case against Donald Trump in their first and perhaps only debate before the presidential election.
Harris' past debates: A prosecutor's style with narrative flair but risks in a matchup with Trump
Read full article: Harris' past debates: A prosecutor's style with narrative flair but risks in a matchup with TrumpKamala Harris steps on to the presidential general election debate stage for the first time Tuesday.
Populist conservative and ex-NBA player Royce White shakes up US Senate primary race in Minnesota
Read full article: Populist conservative and ex-NBA player Royce White shakes up US Senate primary race in MinnesotaPopulist conservative and ex-NBA player Royce White has shaken up a U.S. Senate primary race in Minnesota.
Sen. Klobuchar says she's cancer-free but will get radiation as precaution after a spot removal
Read full article: Sen. Klobuchar says she's cancer-free but will get radiation as precaution after a spot removalU.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar says she remains cancer-free following her bout with breast cancer in 2021, but doctors recently removed a small spot and that she’ll get radiation treatment as a precaution.
Building a new Key Bridge could take years and cost at least $400 million, experts say
Read full article: Building a new Key Bridge could take years and cost at least $400 million, experts sayExperts say rebuilding Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge could take anywhere from 18 months to several years.
Republicans block Senate bill to protect nationwide access to IVF treatments
Read full article: Republicans block Senate bill to protect nationwide access to IVF treatmentsSenate Republicans have blocked legislation that would protect access to in vitro fertilization, objecting to a vote on the issue Wednesday even after widespread backlash to a recent ruling by the Alabama Supreme Court that threatens the practice.
96-year-old Korean War veteran still attempting to get Purple Heart medal after 7 decades
Read full article: 96-year-old Korean War veteran still attempting to get Purple Heart medal after 7 decadesA 96-year-old Korean War veteran from Minnesota has been waiting for 70 years for a Purple Heart medal.
Schumer and other Senate Democrats call for a federal probe of huge oil deals by Exxon and Chevron
Read full article: Schumer and other Senate Democrats call for a federal probe of huge oil deals by Exxon and ChevronSenate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and other Democratic senators are urging federal regulators to investigate multibillion-dollar acquisitions by oil giants ExxonMobil and Chevron, saying the deals could lead to higher prices at the gas pump.
Meta and X questioned by lawmakers over lack of rules against AI-generated political deepfakes
Read full article: Meta and X questioned by lawmakers over lack of rules against AI-generated political deepfakesUS Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and U.S. Rep. Yvette Clarke of New York sent a letter Thursday to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and X CEO Linda Yaccarino expressing “serious concerns” about the emergence of AI-generated political ads on their platforms and asking each to explain any rules they’re crafting to curb the harms to free and fair elections.
Jimmy Carter: Family affair to the White House and beyond
Read full article: Jimmy Carter: Family affair to the White House and beyondWhen Jimmy Carter stepped onto the national stage, he brought along those closest to him, introducing Americans to a colorful Georgia family that helped shape the 39th president’s public life and now, generations later, is rallying around him for the private final chapter of his 98 years.
WATCH LIVE: Ticketmaster fiasco - US Senators expected to grill ticket company after last year’s breakdown during sale of Taylor Swift tickets
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Ticketmaster fiasco - US Senators expected to grill ticket company after last year’s breakdown during sale of Taylor Swift ticketsSenators grilled Ticketmaster Tuesday about its spectacular breakdown last year during a sale of Taylor Swift concert tickets.
Federal effort to boost election worker protections fizzles
Read full article: Federal effort to boost election worker protections fizzlesFederal proposals that would have significantly boosted security funding for election offices and heightened penalties for threatening their staff failed to advance this year.
EPA seeks to mandate more use of ethanol and other biofuels
Read full article: EPA seeks to mandate more use of ethanol and other biofuelsThe Environmental Protection Agency has proposed increasing ethanol and other biofuels that must be blended into the nation’s fuel supplies over the next three years.
Musk tweets link to an unfounded conspiracy theory
Read full article: Musk tweets link to an unfounded conspiracy theoryElon Musk tweeted a link to an unfounded rumor about the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s husband, just days after Musk’s purchase of Twitter fueled concerns that the social media platform would no longer seek to limit misinformation and hate speech.
Fighting bogus claims a growing priority in election offices
Read full article: Fighting bogus claims a growing priority in election officesLocal election officials preparing for the rapidly approaching midterm elections have one more headache: trying to combat misinformation that can confuse, anger and disenfranchise voters.
In new gun law, a quiet breakthrough for victims of abuse
Read full article: In new gun law, a quiet breakthrough for victims of abuseVictims of abuse and their families saw a quiet breakthrough this summer when a new bipartisan gun safety law made it more difficult for intimate partners convicted of domestic abuse to obtain firearms.
Facing threats, some election workers weigh whether to stay
Read full article: Facing threats, some election workers weigh whether to staySince the 2020 election, election officials and workers have faced an onslaught of harassment and threats stemming from false claims that the election was stolen from former President Donald Trump.
Former Rep. Giffords tells Congress 'be bold' on gun reform
Read full article: Former Rep. Giffords tells Congress 'be bold' on gun reformEleven years after her own life was massively altered by gun violence, former congresswoman Gabby Giffords stood in front of the Washington monument and once again lobbied for stricter gun laws after yet another string of mass shootings in America.
What GOP-nominated justices said about Roe to Senate panel
Read full article: What GOP-nominated justices said about Roe to Senate panelIn one form or another, every Supreme Court nominee is asked during Senate hearings about his or her views of the landmark abortion rights ruling that has stood for a half century.
Biden calls former VP Mondale 'giant' of political history
Read full article: Biden calls former VP Mondale 'giant' of political historyPresident Joe Biden has saluted his “friend of five decades” Walter Mondale, traveling to the University of Minnesota to remember the former vice president and Democratic Party elder whose memorial service was delayed for a year due to the pandemic.
New step to curb tech giants' power advanced by Senate panel
Read full article: New step to curb tech giants' power advanced by Senate panelCongress has taken a new step toward reining in the market dominance of Big Tech. Bipartisan legislation advanced by a Senate panel would bar the dominant online platforms from favoring their own goods and services over those of rivals on the platforms.
Minneapolis voters reject replacing police with new agency
Read full article: Minneapolis voters reject replacing police with new agencyMinneapolis voters have rejected a proposal to replace the city’s police department with a new Department of Public Safety — an idea that arose from the May 2020 death of George Floyd.
First steps made in Congress to honor pop superstar Prince
Read full article: First steps made in Congress to honor pop superstar PrinceMinnesota’s Congressional delegation on Monday is introducing a resolution to posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to pop superstar Prince, citing his “indelible mark on Minnesota and American culture,” The Associated Press has learned.
Facebook unveils new controls for kids using its platforms
Read full article: Facebook unveils new controls for kids using its platformsFacebook, in the aftermath of damning testimony that its platforms harm children, will be introducing several features including prompting teens using its photo sharing app Instagram to take a break, and nudging them if they repeatedly look at the same content that's not conducive to their well-being.
Ex-Facebook employee brings sharp criticisms to Congress
Read full article: Ex-Facebook employee brings sharp criticisms to CongressWhile accusing the giant social network of pursuing profits over safety, a former Facebook data scientist told Congress she believes stricter government oversight could alleviate the dangers the company poses, from harming children to inciting political violence to fueling misinformation.
Watch Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar discuss polarization in Washington, D.C., at The Texas Tribune Festival
Read full article: Watch Democratic U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar discuss polarization in Washington, D.C., at The Texas Tribune FestivalThe former presidential candidate will also talked about why she thinks breaking up big monopolies is good for America.
California recall brings Harris home to support Gov. Newsom
Read full article: California recall brings Harris home to support Gov. NewsomVice President Kamala Harris urged voters in her home state of California to defend the Democratic Party's progressive values by defeating the recall against Gov. Gavin Newsom.
Biden signs bill awarding medals to Jan. 6 first responders
Read full article: Biden signs bill awarding medals to Jan. 6 first respondersPresident Joe Biden offered “profound gratitude” to law enforcement officers who responded to the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection as he signed legislation to award them Congressional Gold Medals for their service.
‘This attack happened’: Medals to honor Jan. 6 responders
Read full article: ‘This attack happened’: Medals to honor Jan. 6 respondersThe Senate has voted to award Congressional Gold Medals to the Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department for protecting Congress during the Jan. 6 insurrection, sending the legislation to President Joe Biden for his signature.
Klobuchar: Infrastructure bill could include voting measures
Read full article: Klobuchar: Infrastructure bill could include voting measuresA key senator says congressional Democrats are exploring ways to include financial incentives for states to expand voting access as part of a multitrillion-dollar infrastructure bill.
Dozens of states target Google's app store in antitrust suit
Read full article: Dozens of states target Google's app store in antitrust suitDozens of states are taking aim at Google in an escalating legal offensive on Big Tech. A lawsuit filed late Wednesday targets Google's Play store, where consumers download apps designed for the Android software that powers most of the world’s smartphones.
Dems set voting bill showdown as GOP rejects Manchin plan
Read full article: Dems set voting bill showdown as GOP rejects Manchin planThe Senate will take a key vote next week on a sweeping rewrite of voting and election law, setting up a dramatic test of Democratic unity on a top priority that Republicans are vowing to block.
Police say nearly 250 arrested in Minnesota pipeline protest
Read full article: Police say nearly 250 arrested in Minnesota pipeline protestNearly 250 people were arrested when protesters attempting to stop the final leg of the reconstruction of an oil pipeline across northwestern Minnesota took over a pump station.
Takeaways: Senate report on 'absolutely brutal' Jan. 6 siege
Read full article: Takeaways: Senate report on 'absolutely brutal' Jan. 6 siegeA Senate report examining security failures surrounding the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol blames missed intelligence, poor planning and multiple layers of bureaucracy for the deadly siege.
Senate report details broad failures around Jan. 6 attack
Read full article: Senate report details broad failures around Jan. 6 attackA Senate investigation of the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol has found a broad intelligence breakdown across multiple agencies, along with widespread law enforcement and military failures.
EXPLAINER: What Biden’s new $100B plan for broadband means
Read full article: EXPLAINER: What Biden’s new $100B plan for broadband meansBroadband internet in the U.S. costs more than in many other rich nations, it still doesn’t reach tens of millions of Americans and the companies that provide it don’t face much competition.
Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floyd’s death
Read full article: Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floyd’s deathJury selection begins Monday, March 8, 2021, for Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)MINNEAPOLIS – Opening statements are set for Monday in the trial of a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. THE JUDGEHennepin County Judge Peter Cahill is respected and has a reputation as a no-nonsense, fair judge. PROSECUTIONDays after Floyd's death, Minnesota's governor announced that Attorney General Keith Ellison would take the lead on prosecuting the case. He helped win an acquittal for a Minnesota man who was charged with fatally shooting his unarmed neighbor in 2017.
Pelosi taps DC National Guard head to lead House security
Read full article: Pelosi taps DC National Guard head to lead House securityNational Guard troops were delayed in getting to the building as the rioters beat up police officers and smashed through windows and doors to get in. On Thursday, seven House committees asked 10 federal agencies for documents and communications from the government as part of a wide-ranging investigation. The Senate Homeland and Governmental Affairs Committee and the Senate Rules Committee have already held two hearings with security officials about what went wrong. The security officials described violent attacks on overwhelmed police officers and desperate pleas for backup. As the committees investigate, Capitol officials are improving the building's physical security, including reinforcing the House doors that the rioters attempted to breach.
Democrats launch Senate battle for expanded voting rights
Read full article: Democrats launch Senate battle for expanded voting rightsDemocrats and Republicans both see the legislation, which touches on nearly every aspect of the electoral process, as fundamental to their parties’ political futures. Republicans charge the bill would strip power from the states and cement an unfair political advantage for Democrats. It would expand voting by mail, promote early voting and give states money to track absentee ballots. Some measures would limit mail voting, cut hours at polling places and impose restrictions that Democrats argue amount to the greatest assault on voting rights since the Jim Crow era. The bill has already run into roadblocks that have become familiar since Democrats began their narrow control of the Senate two months ago.
Democrats launch Senate battle for expanded voting rights
Read full article: Democrats launch Senate battle for expanded voting rightsDemocrats and Republicans both see the legislation, which touches on nearly every aspect of the electoral process, as fundamental to their parties’ political futures. Republicans charge the bill would strip power from the states and cement an unfair political advantage for Democrats. It would expand voting by mail, promote early voting and give states money to track absentee ballots. Some measures would limit mail voting, cut hours at polling places and impose restrictions that Democrats argue amount to the greatest assault on voting rights since the Jim Crow era. The bill has already run into roadblocks that have become familiar since Democrats began their narrow control of the Senate two months ago.
Congressional Democrats push $50B bill for nonprofits
Read full article: Congressional Democrats push $50B bill for nonprofitsCongressional Democrats, including Klobuchar, and nonprofits are pushing for a federal bill that would give nonprofits $50 billion to help them retain employees, hire newly unemployed workers and expand their operations. The bill, which was reintroduced in the U.S. Senate this week by U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and three other Senate Democrats, would give individual nonprofits grants of up to $3 million. The bill would also allow intermediary organizations, which help and provide expertise for nonprofits, to get grants of up to $100 million. Nonprofits with 500 or fewer employees have been able to get forgivable loans for expenses through the government’s Payment Protection Program. More than 100 organizations have endorsed the bill, including the National Council of Nonprofits.
Battling bigness: Congress eyes action against monopolies
Read full article: Battling bigness: Congress eyes action against monopoliesKlobuchar, who heads the Senate Judiciary subcommittee on competition policy, has launched a broad examination by the panel of monopoly concerns. The current drift toward bigness began with a merger boom in the 1980s in corporate America that fattened profits for the dominant companies. But hold on, some are saying, let’s not punish bigness for its own sake; better to look at each case individually. They say big companies can bring efficiencies of scale, reduce prices and create jobs. He said as a candidate that breaking up Big Tech companies was something that should be considered.
Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floyd’s death
Read full article: Key players in trial of ex-officer charged in Floyd’s deathJury selection begins Monday, March 8, 2021, for Derek Chauvin, a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd's death. (AP Photo/Jim Mone, File)MINNEAPOLIS – Jury selection begins Monday for a former Minneapolis police officer charged with murder and manslaughter in George Floyd’s death. City, county and state officials are preparing for any sort of reaction that trial testimony or a verdict might elicit. AdTHE JUDGEHennepin County Judge Peter Cahill is respected and has a reputation as a no-nonsense, fair judge. AdPROSECUTIONDays after Floyd's death, Minnesota's governor announced that Attorney General Keith Ellison would take the lead on prosecuting the case.
Takeaways: What hearings have revealed about Jan. 6 failures
Read full article: Takeaways: What hearings have revealed about Jan. 6 failuresScott Applewhite)WASHINGTON – Many questions remain unanswered about the failure to prevent the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol. The Capitol Police also did its own intelligence assessment warning that Congress could be targeted on Jan. 6. Four House committees are probing what went wrong with that data collection, including the House intelligence committee. “I don’t want our committee’s examination to be about Trump or about Jan. 6,” Warner, D-Va., said in an interview. Thousands of National Guard troops still guard the Capitol, which is now surrounded by fencing and barbed wire and closed off to the public.
General: Pentagon hesitated on sending Guard to Capitol riot
Read full article: General: Pentagon hesitated on sending Guard to Capitol riotGuard troops who had been waiting on buses were then rushed to the Capitol, arriving in 18 minutes, Walker said. Much of the focus at Wednesday's hearing was on communications between the National Guard and the Defense Department. Contee said Sund pleaded with Army officials to deploy National Guard troops as the rioting escalated. AdAccording to the Defense Department, Walker was called at 3 p.m. by Army officials, and was told to prepare Guard troops to deploy. Thousands of National Guard troops are still patrolling the fenced-in Capitol, and multiple committees across Congress are investigating Jan. 6.
Capitol defenders cite missed intelligence for deadly breach
Read full article: Capitol defenders cite missed intelligence for deadly breachFormer U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund testifies before a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs & Senate Rules and Administration joint hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, to examine the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Sund said he hadn’t seen an FBI field office report that warned of potential violence citing online posts about a “war." Sund said he did see an intelligence report created within his own department warning that Congress could be targeted on Jan. 6. ”Sund and Irving disagreed on when the National Guard was called and on requests for the guard beforehand. A House subcommittee will examine damage to the Capitol on Wednesday and will hear testimony from current security officials, including Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman, on Thursday.
Takeaways from Congress' first hearing on Capitol riot
Read full article: Takeaways from Congress' first hearing on Capitol riotFormer U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund appears before a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs & Senate Rules and Administration joint hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, to examine the January 6th attack on the Capitol. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)WASHINGTON – Security officials testifying at Congress' first hearing on the deadly siege of the Capitol cast blame and pointed fingers on Tuesday but also acknowledged they were woefully unprepared for the violence. The security officials lost their jobs, and Trump was impeached by the House on a charge of inciting the insurrection, the deadliest attack on Congress in 200 years. But then-Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund testified that he only learned about it the day before Tuesday's hearing. But in closing, Klobuchar restated the testimony: “There was clear agreement this was a planned insurrection.”ONE OFFICER'S PERSONAL STORYThe hearing opened with Capitol Police Capt.
Capitol defenders cite missed intelligence for deadly breach
Read full article: Capitol defenders cite missed intelligence for deadly breachFormer U.S. Capitol Police Chief Steven Sund testifies before a Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs & Senate Rules and Administration joint hearing on Capitol Hill, Washington, Tuesday, Feb. 23, 2021, to examine the January 6th attack on the Capitol. Sund said he hadn’t seen an FBI field office report that warned of potential violence citing online posts about a “war." Sund said he did see an intelligence report created within his own department warning that Congress could be targeted on Jan. 6. ”Sund and Irving disagreed on when the National Guard was called and on requests for the guard beforehand. A House subcommittee will examine damage to the Capitol on Wednesday and will hear testimony from currrent security officials, including Acting Capitol Police Chief Yogananda Pittman, on Thursday.
Impeachment over, Congress shifts focus to security failures
Read full article: Impeachment over, Congress shifts focus to security failuresTwo Senate committees have summoned top security officials to testify, the beginning of a comprehensive look at what went wrong. In her letter to Democratic colleagues, Pelosi said the House will also put forth supplemental spending to boost security at the Capitol. The hearing will begin a broad examination of the security failures that led to the breach. The security breakdown on Jan. 6, as the House and Senate met for a joint session to count electoral votes, was severe. With the diminished security presence, the rioters not only breached the Capitol but entered the Senate chamber minutes after senators had fled.
Trial highlights: Trump grievances, angry outbursts and more
Read full article: Trial highlights: Trump grievances, angry outbursts and more"The Senate cannot ignore the First Amendment," said van der Veen. In a letter signed last week they wrote that “the First Amendment does not apply in impeachment proceedings, so it cannot provide a defense for President Trump." van der Veen bristled and inquired who had asked. Sanders responded, “I did.” van der Veen retorted: “irrelevant.”“No, it isnt!” Sanders angrily shot back from his desk, adding: “You represent the president of the United States!”He scoffed audibly when van der Veen avoided answering the question. “This is not whataboutism," said Michael van der Veen.
Democrats make federal election standards a top priority
Read full article: Democrats make federal election standards a top priorityDemocrats plan to move quickly on one of the first bills of the new Congress, which would set federal election standards. Advocates say the bill is the most consequential piece of voting legislation since the Voting Rights Act of 1965. House Democrats vowed two years ago to make the bill a priority, and they reintroduced it this month as H.R. That bill would restore a key provision of the Voting Rights Act that had triggered federal scrutiny of election changes in certain states and counties. In general, state election officials have been wary of federal voting requirements.
Who wore rare “Dior 1″ sneakers that sparked a mystery case on Twitter during Wednesday’s Inauguration Ceremony?
Read full article: Who wore rare “Dior 1″ sneakers that sparked a mystery case on Twitter during Wednesday’s Inauguration Ceremony?A pair of "Dior 1" sneakers (top, in circle) were spotted during Wednesday's Presidential Inauguration. HOUSTON – Social media -- and especially Twitter -- cracked the mystery case of who wore a pair of rare shoes to the inauguration on Wednesday. “I step away from Twitter for less than an hour for the Inauguration Ceremony and Nik’s shoes are #1 Trending?? I step away from Twitter for less than an hour for the inauguration ceremony and Nik’s shoes are #1 trending????? pic.twitter.com/95ZEFoQtx1 — Louidet Lebwaze (@louidet) January 21, 2021The wait for those Dior 1s pic.twitter.com/vekM88qBE7 — Troy 📺 🇦🇺 (@SpookLongley) January 20, 2021Y’all should’ve never let me see those Dior 1’s at the inauguration yesterday.
For a splintered nation, a delicate moment of continuity
Read full article: For a splintered nation, a delicate moment of continuityWhen it gazes into the mirror, the United States does not generally see a land of process and procedure. The bold, splashy storylines that Americans crave, and have used to construct their nation, don't always play well with repetition and routine. That's where process, procedure and ritual come in. And that for every deafening moment that lurches the nation forward, there are countless procedural ones that inch it along. For one moment, whatever kind of American you are, whatever you’re upset about and however you voted, this land was incontrovertibly your land.
Clyburn: Bush called him a 'savior' for boosting Biden
Read full article: Clyburn: Bush called him a 'savior' for boosting BidenHouse Majority Whip James Clyburn of South Carolina, and former President George Bush, take a selfie before the 59th Presidential Inauguration at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, Pool)COLUMBIA, S.C. – As they witnessed President Joe Biden take the oath of office on Wednesday, House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn said former Republican President George W. Bush lauded him as a “savior” for helping get Biden elected. The South Carolina Democrat is largely credited with giving Biden the endorsement he needed to shoot to the top of 2020′s large Democratic field and win his party's nomination. Clyburn, South Carolina’s only Democratic representative in Congress, is the dean of the state’s Democrats and the third-ranking member of the U.S. House. Clyburn said that his backing of Biden also came up Wednesday during conversations with former President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton, the party's 2016 nominee.
Biden faces challenge in guiding America past Trump era
Read full article: Biden faces challenge in guiding America past Trump eraWhen Biden takes office later this month, his biggest challenge may be navigating a deeply divided country past the turmoil of the Trump era. Biden essentially framed his presidential campaign as a response to Trump, pledging to “restore the soul” of America. He has said he decided to seek the White House after watching Trump say there were “very fine people on both sides” of a deadly white supremacist rally in Charlottesville, Virginia. “Biden has to be very conscious of dealing with President Trump," Updegrove continued. But the senator said the inauguration itself may offer the most important opportunity for Biden to set a forward-looking tone.
Capitol siege raises security worries for Biden inauguration
Read full article: Capitol siege raises security worries for Biden inaugurationSimilar structures have previously been used around the White House and in other cities that faced prolonged demonstrations. “The safety and security of all those participating in the 59th Presidential Inauguration is of the utmost importance,” the Secret Service said in a statement. A Trump rally in front of the White House helped rile up the mob that later stormed the Capitol. The inaugural committee said Biden would receive an official escort, with representatives from every military branch, for a block before arriving at the White House from the Capitol. Trump may not invite Biden to the White House while forgoing the inauguration, which Bendat said would amount to “an assault on our democracy” akin to the mob violence at the Capitol.
The day my 'second home,' the Capitol, was overtaken by mob
Read full article: The day my 'second home,' the Capitol, was overtaken by mobBut Wednesday was to be a momentous day watching the Senate debate whether to throw out the Electoral College votes of Arizona and Pennsylvania. Smith Goes to Washington” you've seen my work area since a press gallery scene from the movie was filmed there more than 70 years ago. (The Senate chamber, however, was a soundstage). Behind him were three boxes holding electoral college vote certificates. The Daily Press Gallery where I work had not been breached.
A moment in America, unimaginable but perhaps inevitable
Read full article: A moment in America, unimaginable but perhaps inevitableBut there it was, in the capital city of the United States in early January 2021: a real-time breaking and entering the likes of which the republic has never seen. The stars and stripes — soaring over public property — was lowered, then replaced as a blue Trump flag ascended. “This,” Republican Sen. Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania said, "is an absolute disgrace." The United States on Wednesday seemed at risk of becoming the very kind of country it has so often insisted it was helping: a fragile democracy. “This temple to democracy” was what Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-New York, called the Capitol building after things calmed down.
WATCH LIVE: Both houses of Congress recessed as protesters enter US Capitol
Read full article: WATCH LIVE: Both houses of Congress recessed as protesters enter US CapitolA woman was shot and killed inside the Capitol, and Washington’s mayor instituted an evening curfew in an attempt to contain the violence. Together, the protests and the GOP election objections amounted to an almost unthinkable challenge to American democracy and exposed the depths of the divisions that have coursed through the country during Trump’s four years in office. Democratic House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Congress would show the world “what America is made of" with the outcome. Some House lawmakers tweeted they were sheltering in place in their offices. As darkness fell, law enforcement officers worked their way toward the protesters, using percussion grenades to clear the area around the Capitol.
More GOP lawmakers enlist in Trump effort to undo Biden win
Read full article: More GOP lawmakers enlist in Trump effort to undo Biden winSen. Ted Cruz of Texas on Saturday announced a coalition of 11 senators and senators-elect who have been enlisted for Trump’s effort. But their challenges, and those from House Republicans, represent the most sweeping effort to undo a presidential election outcome since the Civil War. said the Republican effort to create a federal commission “to supersede state certifications" is wrong. On the other side of the Republican divide, several senators spoke out Saturday against Cruz and Hawley's effort. McConnell had previously warned GOP senators not to participate in raising objections, saying it would be a terrible vote for colleagues.
Myon Burrell enjoys 1st days of freedom after prison release
Read full article: Myon Burrell enjoys 1st days of freedom after prison releaseMyon Burrell is photographed at his home in Minneapolis, Thursday, Dec. 17, 2020, two days after his release from prison. … Every step that I took, it was just like bricks, just bricks and bricks and bricks, just being removed from my shoulders,” said Burrell, now 34, in his first interview from home. Burrell now has a job lined up, along with a wife and supportive family ready to help with his transition to freedom. With no idea how to navigate the criminal justice system, he said, many were easily convinced by defense attorneys to sign plea deals even when they weren’t guilty. “We need to make compassion and redemption part of our criminal justice system.”Burrell’s sentence was commuted to 20 years, but he was not pardoned.
Stay away: Thumbs down on inauguration crowds for Biden
Read full article: Stay away: Thumbs down on inauguration crowds for BidenThat's the message from the congressional committee organizing inauguration ceremonies for President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris. Despite this week’s rollout of the new vaccine, its availability to the general public is still months away. Biden's own inaugural committee, which works with the congressional committee, had already asked supporters to stay away from Washington and plan safe inaugural celebrations at home. Features of that convention, such as the virtual roll call from every state, may be incorporated into a virtual inauguration experience. Blunt said planners were developing "enhanced opportunities to watch the ceremonies online, in addition to the traditional televised national broadcast.”