Some members of the pro-Trump mob that stormed the Captiol in Washington were filmed wandering around the Senate floor after evacuation. People, who were asked to wear gas masks, were also evacuated from the House of Representatives after guards secured the area
Continue reading...Category Archives: House of Representatives
‘I just want 11,780 votes’: Trump pressed Georgia to overturn Biden victory
- Trump asked secretary of state to recalculate vote in phone call
- Republican push to keep Trump in power seems doomed
In an hour-long phone call on Saturday, Donald Trump pressed Georgia secretary of state Brad Raffensperger to overturn Joe Biden’s victory there in the election the president refuses to concede.
Related: Healthcare to the electoral college: seven ways 2020 left America exposed | Robert Reich
Continue reading...‘Traitors and patriots’: Republican push to keep Trump in power seems doomed
- Senators decline to defend electoral college ploy on TV
- Democrats and GOP leaders to block gambit aimed at party base
- Robert Reich: Seven ways 2020 left America exposed
All 12 Republican senators who have pledged not to ratify the electoral college results on Wednesday, and thereby refuse to confirm Joe Biden’s resounding victory over Donald Trump in the presidential election, declined to defend their move on television, a CNN host said on Sunday.
Related: Ted Cruz and other Republican senators oppose certifying election results
Continue reading...Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi homes vandalised in Covid protests
- Republican Senate leader blocked relief payment increase
- Kentucky protest unites progressives and pro-Trump crowd
- Republican senators oppose certifying election results
The Senate Republican leader, Mitch McConnell, decried what he called a “radical tantrum” on Saturday after his home in Kentucky was vandalised with messages apparently protesting against his refusal to increase Covid aid payments from $600 to $2,000.
The attack followed a similar one on the home of Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic House speaker, in San Francisco.
Continue reading...Mitch McConnell says ‘no realistic path’ for $2,000 relief checks bill
Attempts by Donald Trump and Democrats for bigger coronavirus relief checks fade in the Senate
Donald Trump’s demand for $2,000 relief checks to Americans struggling financially with the pandemic was all but dead after Senate majority leader Mitch McConnell said on Wednesday that a proposal from Democrats had “no realistic path to quickly pass the Senate”.
Declaring that he would not be “bullied” by Democrats into quickly approving the measure, McConnell effectively denied a final request for legislative action by the president in the waning days of his administration.
Continue reading...Trump claims to be ‘working tirelessly’ but leaves Covid relief in disarray
- President flies to Florida after throwing party ‘under a bus’
- Democrats seize chance to push for $2,000 payments
- Has Donald Trump finally split the Republican party?
Donald Trump went to his golf club in West Palm Beach, Florida on Thursday, after claiming to be “working tirelessly for the American people” with a schedule that included “many meetings and calls”. Back in Washington, a Democratic proposal to increase direct payments to Americans under the Covid relief bill, from $600 to $2,000, was blocked.
Related: Donald Trump's latest wave of pardons includes Paul Manafort and Charles Kushner
Continue reading...Congress passes spending bill to fund government through Sunday – live
- Measure passes hours before government was to shut down
- Mitch McConnell and Nancy Pelosi receive shots
- Joe Biden has said he will receive vaccine in public
- Mike Pence gets vaccine on TV
- FDA panel clears way for emergency use of Moderna’s vaccine
- Supreme court dismisses challenge to Trump’s census proposal
- McConnell: ‘I’m even more optimistic’ about Covid relief deal
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The Food and Drug Administration approved Moderna’s vaccine for emergency use. This is the second coronavirus vaccine to gain approval in the US.
The government can now begin to distribute 5.9m doses of the Moderna vaccine across the US.
Lawmakers from both sides of the aisle said they were optimistic they could reach a deal on a coronavirus stimulus bill this weekend.
The $900bn proposal currently on the table has been held up over an attempt by Republicans to curtail the Federal Reserve’s lending power - limiting its emergency lending efforts amid a deep economic crisis. Democrats said the provision would tie president-elect Joe Biden’s hands as he tries to rein in the economic fallout caused by the coronavirus crisis.
Continue reading...US scrambling to understand fallout of suspected Russia hack
At least six government departments breached in likely Russian intelligence operation thought to have begun in March
The US government is still in the dark over how deeply Russian hackers penetrated its networks during the worst ever cyber attack on federal agencies, members of Congress warned on Friday.
At least six government departments were breached in a likely Russian intelligence operation thought to have begun in March. Although there is no evidence that classified networks were compromised, it is not known what the hackers may have stolen or how long it will take to purge them.
Continue reading...Biden says deal close on new coronavirus relief bill as he hails latest pick for diverse cabinet – live
- Congress says $908bn bill is on track for approval soon
- Biden formally announces Buttigieg as transportation secretary
- US Covid vaccine shipments face delay amid snowstorm
- Trump’s Twitter account was hacked, Dutch ministry affirms
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That’s all for me today. My colleague Maanvi Singh in Oakland will be keeping you updated for the rest of the day. Here’s a rundown of the day’s biggest stories so far:
The availability of intensive care unit beds in the San Francisco Bay Area fell below 15% on Tuesday, the threshold that triggers a regional stay-at-home order.
Much of the Bay Area had preemptively enacted the stay-at-home order earlier in the month, but three counties did not. They will now have to enact the stricter rules by midnight Thursday.
Continue reading...How Trump’s presidency turned off some Republicans – a visual guide
As our maps and charts show, Trump not only lost to Joe Biden – he lost to other Republicans on the ballot
After four years of Donald Trump’s presidency, many voters who typically vote Republican turned against him.
For example, in Winnebago county, Wisconsin, about 72% of voters cast their ballot for the Republican House candidate – either Glenn Grothman or Mike Gallagher, depending on where they live. But just 52% cast their vote for Trump.
Continue reading...Donald Trump fires defense secretary Mark Esper – US politics live
- President announces ‘Mark Esper has been terminated’
- Biden gets to work as president-elect while Trump refuses to concede
- US coronavirus cases near 10m as Ben Carson tests positive
- Republicans back Trump challenge to Biden election victory
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Another adviser to Donald Trump has reportedly tested positive for coronavirus, amid an apparent outbreak among the president’s team.
According to Bloomberg News, David Bossie has now tested positive for the virus.
BREAKING: Trump outside adviser David Bossie tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, sources tell me.
Susan Collins has become one of the few Republican lawmakers to congratulate Joe Biden on his victory in the presidential election.
“First, I would offer my congratulations to President-elect Biden on his apparent victory – he loves this country, and I wish him every success. Presidential transitions are important, and the President-elect and the Vice-President-elect should be given every opportunity to ensure that they are ready to govern on January 20th,” Collins said in a new statement.
My statement on the 2020 Presidential election results: pic.twitter.com/8NY1WpaJpC
Continue reading...Biden and Harris release first public schedule as they begin transition – US election live
- Joe Biden wins US election after four tumultuous years of Trump
- President-elect says ‘This is the time to heal’ in victory speech
- Trump refuses to concede defeat as recriminations begin
- How do you feel? Share your reaction to the US election
- Biden’s win marks the end of Trump’s war on democracy and truth
- Trump v Biden – full 2020 results as they come in
Here are some details on the reaction to Biden’s win in Fiji, Papua New Guinea and other Pacific nations, from Ben Doherty, the Guardian’s Pacific editor:
Joe Biden’s presidential ascension had not even been settled when Fiji’s forthright prime minister was already urging greater US action on climate change from the incoming American leader.
Related: Pacific nations herald Biden presidency amid hope for action on climate emergency
There are a number of troubling statistics out today on the current state of Covid-19 in the US, the most urgent crisis Biden will inherit. Reuters has published an analysis of where things stand in the worsening pandemic in America, as the country nears 10m cases, becoming the first nation in the world to surpass that figure. Some specifics from the news agency’s report:
Related: Coronavirus live news: US nears 10m cases as global infections pass 50m
Continue reading...US election live: Joe Biden wins and says ‘It’s time for America to unite’
- President-elect Joe Biden to address nation at 8pm ET
- Full report: Biden wins US election after four tumultuous years of Trump
- Kamala Harris makes history as first woman of color elected VP
- Trump refuses to concede defeat as recriminations begin
- Obama: ‘Our democracy needs all of us more than ever’
- Analysis: Biden styled himself as the antithesis to Trumpism
- Trump v Biden – full 2020 results as they come in
Georgia’s Secretary of State has tweeted that that county of Fulton had “discovered an issue involving reporting from their work” on Friday.
Brad Raffensperger said officials will rescan the “work”, which I assume he means ballots, although the tweet is fairly vague.
Fulton has discovered an issue involving reporting from their work on Fri. Officials are at State Farm Arena to rescan that work. I have a monitor & investigators onsite. Also sent Dep. SOS as well to oversee the process to make sure to secure the vote and protect all legal votes
The Guardian’s Libby Brooks reports from Glasgow:
Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon has congratulated President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris following the US Presidential election.
Continue reading...‘Democracy works’: Biden addresses nation as vote count shows him on brink of victory – live
- Georgia heading for recount while Biden leads in two key states
- Joe Biden on course to win presidency after record turnout
- Why are the media reporting different US election results?
- Trump v Biden – full 2020 results as they come in
A campaign aide has also tested positive, Bloomberg reports. CNN and NBC have also confirmed the Meadows has contracted Covid-19.
Worth noting that Mark Meadows was at the election night party at the White House Tuesday that hundreds of people attended. Officials said everyone would be tested beforehand.
Mark Meadows has tested positive for coronavirus, according to reporters from Bloomberg news.
BREAKING: Trump's chief of staff, Mark Meadows, has the coronavirus. Meadows informed a close circle of advisers after the election.
Story by me, @tylerpager and @MarioDParker out soon.
Pelosi says Trump’s Covid medication has him ‘in an altered state’ – video
Nancy Pelosi has announced that the House will invoke the 25th amendment, which gives Congress power to evaluate the health and stability of US presidents in conducting the duties of their office.
Although the amendment enables the House Speaker to create a commission to review the president’s fitness for office, the House of Representatives would not be able to remove Donald Trump from office without the agreement of the vice-president, Mike Pence, and members of the cabinet.
Pelosi insisted the proposed commission was not about Trump, but said of the president: 'He is under medication. Any of us who is under medication of that seriousness is in an altered state.'
- Trump outraged by Democrats' plan to assess president's fitness to serve
- Trump unlikely to travel for rally while Pelosi says medication has him 'in an altered state' – live
House Democrats launch contempt proceedings against Mike Pompeo
Committee says secretary of state has refused to comply with subpoenas for documents connected to Ukraine scandal
Congressional Democrats have launched contempt proceedings against Mike Pompeo for his refusal to comply with subpoenas for documents connected to the Ukraine scandal that led to Donald Trump’s impeachment.
The move is the culmination of a long-running struggle over Congress’s authority to conduct oversight of government agencies. The secretary of state, who was a fierce advocate of congressional rights when he was a Republican representative from Kansas, has ignored a string of demands for documentation from the Democrat-controlled House foreign affairs committee (HFAC).
Continue reading...Trump announces emergency authorization for coronavirus plasma treatment – as it happened
- Convention: Ivanka Trump will speak in personal capacity
- Trump sister criticises president in bombshell secret tapes
- Biden won’t rule out run for second term if elected
- Opinion: How Donald Trump canceled the Republican party
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Here’s a rundown of Sunday’s events. We’ll be back tomorrow for all Monday’s news.
More a campaign-style press announcement than traditional news conference, Trump abruptly ends the proceedings after taking only three questions, including one from One America News Network.
The US president insisted today’s announcement, which comes one day after he accused “the deep state, or whoever, over at” the FDA of deliberately slowing coronavirus vaccine and therapy development, “has nothing to do with politics” despite its conspicuous timing on the eve of the Republican national convention.
Continue reading...Trump’s national security adviser tests positive for coronavirus
- White House insists ‘no risk’ of Trump being exposed
- Photos of Robert O’Brien’s Europe trip show lack of mask usage
- US politics – live updates
The national security adviser, Robert O’Brien, has tested positive for the coronavirus, but the White House insisted there was “no risk” of Donald Trump being exposed.
Related: Texas hospital forced to set up 'death panel' as Covid-19 cases surge
Continue reading...Ted Yoho: Christian group obtains resignation over Ocasio-Cortez attack
Nonpartisan organisation Bread for the World says Yoho agreed to step down following incident with congresswoman
A nonpartisan Christian organisation that seeks to end hunger says it has asked for and received the resignation of Republican congressman Ted Yoho from its board of directors, following what it called his “verbal attack” on Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
Democrat congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez had accused Yoho of using a vulgar and sexist insult while upbraiding her during a confrontation last Monday on the steps of the Capitol. Yoho maintained he did not use the words cited, though a reporter who witnessed the incident confirmed the language as she described it.
Continue reading...Ocasio-Cortez delivers powerful speech after Republican’s sexist remarks
Congresswoman condemned ‘violent language against women’ after Ted Yoho berated her on the House steps on Monday
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s outrage over a Republican lawmaker’s verbal assault broadened into an extraordinary moment on the House floor on Thursday as she and other Democrats assailed a sexist culture of “accepting violence and violent language against women” whose adherents include Donald Trump.
A day after rejecting an offer of contrition from Republican congressman Ted Yoho for his language during this week’s Capitol steps confrontation, Ocasio-Cortez and more than a dozen colleagues cast the incident as all-too-common behavior by men, including the president and other Republicans.
Continue reading...