INSIDER
Biden condemns white supremacy in a campaign speech at a church where Black people were killed
Read full article: Biden condemns white supremacy in a campaign speech at a church where Black people were killedAt a Black church, President Joe Biden says white supremacy is a โpoisonโ and has no place in America.
Federal tax probe into Biden's son, Hunter, moves forward
Read full article: Federal tax probe into Biden's son, Hunter, moves forwardA federal grand jury has heard testimony in recent months about Hunter Bidenโs income and payments he received while serving on the board of a Ukraine energy company.
White House: Intel shows Putin misled by advisers on Ukraine
Read full article: White House: Intel shows Putin misled by advisers on UkraineThe White House says U.S. intelligence officials have determined that Russian President Vladimir Putin is being misinformed by advisers about his military's poor performance in Ukraine.
White House says it's working on access to migrant centers
Read full article: White House says it's working on access to migrant centersRepublican officials are also blaming the Biden administration for actions they say are leading more people from Central America to seek entry into the United States. โItโs not a crisis, itโs a complete loss of sovereignty down there,โ Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina said. AdGraham recently visited the border and said he saw a facility designed to hold 80 children with about 1,000 in it. โIt does not mean that they get to stay in the United States. AdPsaki said the administration is committed to transparency and providing access to those temporary Border Patrol facilities as soon as it can.
White House aide suspended for threatening reporter
Read full article: White House aide suspended for threatening reporterIn this Feb. 9, 2021 photo, White House deputy press secretary TJ Ducklo listens as press secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a press briefing at the White House in Washington. Ducklo has been suspended for a week without pay after he reportedly issued a sexist and profane threat to a journalist seeking to cover his relationship with another reporter. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)WASHINGTON โ White House deputy press secretary T.J. Ducklo has been suspended for a week without pay after he reportedly issued a sexist and profane threat to a journalist seeking to cover his relationship with another reporter. Psaki said in a statement earlier Friday that Ducklo had been suspended without pay with the approval of White House chief of staff Ron Klain. But the Biden White House sought to strike a more cordial and professional tone with the Washington press corps from the start, installing a cadre of seasoned Washington communicators led by Psaki.
Biden faces scrutiny over reliance on executive orders
Read full article: Biden faces scrutiny over reliance on executive ordersPresident Joe Biden signs a series of executive orders on health care, in the Oval Office of the White House, Thursday, Jan. 28, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)President Joe Biden and aides showed touches of prickliness Thursday over growing scrutiny of the new presidentโs heavy reliance on executive orders in his first days in office. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell said Thursday that Bidenโs early reliance on executive action is at odds with the Democratโs pledge as a candidate to be a consensus builder. Biden and aides, including top White House economists, have said that they believe executive action is a pale substitute for legislative action. But McConnell was far more understanding of Trumpโs decision to use executive orders to get around Congress at various points in the Republicanโs presidency.
The Latest: Trump predicts 'success' for new administration
Read full article: The Latest: Trump predicts 'success' for new administrationThe federal government has launched a new website that will serve as a clearinghouse for records from former President Donald Trumpโs administration. Biden brought a dark blue rug out of storage to replace a lighter colored one installed by former President Donald Trump. Workers removed the giant sign from the departmentโs C Street lobby on Wednesday shortly after President Joe Biden was inaugurated. ___4:55 p.m.President Joe Biden has directed that federal agencies halt all rulemaking until his administration has time to review proposed regulations. Former President Donald Trump flew to Florida before Biden was sworn into office.
Biden largely mum on Trump's effort to reverse election
Read full article: Biden largely mum on Trump's effort to reverse electionWhile some Democrats say Trump's actions merit new impeachment proceedings, Biden has been more circumspect. Bidenโs aides believe Americans outside Washington want to hear more about how the Biden presidency will help them and less about the partisan squabbling that has characterized the past four years of Trumpโs presidency. There was no widespread fraud in the election, which a range of election officials across the country, as well as Trumpโs former attorney general, William Barr, has confirmed. Indeed, by avoiding engaging with Trump, Biden is also hoping to maintain the opportunity for bipartisanship in the new Congress, which he's repeatedly emphasized will be key to his hopes of getting anything done. Jim Manley, a former longtime Senate Democratic leadership aide, said the party's failure to take on Trump's recent moves could set the tone for Bidenโs presidency and beyond.
Biden adviser Cedric Richmond tests positive for coronavirus
Read full article: Biden adviser Cedric Richmond tests positive for coronavirusRichmond, who is set to resign from Congress to join the incoming Biden administration as a senior adviser, tested positive on Thursday, Dec. 17, for the coronavirus, according to the Biden transition. โ One of President-elect Joe Bidenโs closest advisers tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, according to his transition team. Louisiana Rep. Cedric Richmond, who is set to resign from Congress to join the incoming Biden administration as a senior adviser, tested positive two days after traveling to Atlanta to attend a campaign rally that Biden headlined for Democratic Senate candidates Jon Ossoff and the Rev. Raphael Warnock, Biden transition spokesperson Kate Bedingfield said in a statement. Bedingfield said Richmond was not in close contact with Biden, Ossoff or Warnock, as defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Biden chooses an all-female senior White House press team
Read full article: Biden chooses an all-female senior White House press teamโ President-elect Joe Biden will have an all-female senior communications team at his White House, reflecting his stated desire to build out a diverse White House team as well as whatโs expected to be a return to a more traditional press operation. Biden campaign communications director Kate Bedingfield will serve as Bidenโs White House communications director. Four of the seven top communications roles at the White House will be filled by women of color, and itโs the first time the entire senior White House communications team will be entirely female. Bedingfield served as communications director for Biden while he was vice president, and Psaki was a White House communications director and a spokesperson at the State Department. โ Pili Tobar, who was communications director for coalitions on Bidenโs campaign, will be his deputy White House communications director.
Biden chooses an all-female senior White House press team
Read full article: Biden chooses an all-female senior White House press teamPresident-elect Joe Biden will have an all-female communications team at his White House, led by campaign communications director Kate Bedingfield. โ President-elect Joe Biden will have an all-female senior communications team at his White House, reflecting his stated desire to build out a diverse White House team as well as whatโs expected to be a return to a more traditional press operation. Biden campaign communications director Kate Bedingfield will serve as Bidenโs White House communications director. Four of the seven top communications roles at the White House will be filled by women of color, and itโs the first time the entire senior White House communications team will be entirely female. โ Pili Tobar, who was communications director for coalitions on Bidenโs campaign, will be his deputy White House communications director.
The Latest: Trump wants to hold rally in Florida on Saturday
Read full article: The Latest: Trump wants to hold rally in Florida on Saturday(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)WASHINGTON โ The Latest on the 2020 presidential campaign (all times local):10:05 p.m.President Donald Trump says he wants to try and hold a campaign rally in Florida on Saturday โif we have enough time to put it together.โHe also says he might also hold a campaign rally the following night in Pennsylvania. After Trump pulled out, Biden scheduled his own ABC town hall in Philadelphia for the same date. The Trump campaign had asked for the upcoming debates to each be postponed by a week. George Stephanopoulos will host the Biden town hall in Philadelphia. The Commission on Presidential Debate announced Thursday that next week's town hall debate in Miami would be held virtually because of Trump had the virus.
The Latest: Biden campaign faults Warren's health care math
Read full article: The Latest: Biden campaign faults Warren's health care mathA top Biden presidential campaign deputy said Warren's plan understates the cost and overstates savings while obscuring the costs to the middle class. Kate Bedingfield on Friday dismissed Warren's idea of having employers transfer to the government almost all of the $8.8 trillion she estimates will be spent on private insurance for employees. Health care is perhaps the starkest policy difference between Warren and Biden. Tom Vilsack says Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren's increase in taxes on wealthy Americans to finance her health care proposal is unrealistic. Detailed in a 20-page online post, Warren's proposal relies on employers transferring to the government nearly all of what they currently spend on private health insurance for employees.