INSIDER
Oil company Phillips 66 faces federal charges related to alleged Clean Water Act violations
Read full article: Oil company Phillips 66 faces federal charges related to alleged Clean Water Act violationsOil company Phillips 66 has been federally indicted in connection with alleged violations of the Clean Water Act in California.
Trump appeals to women in return to North Carolina without Mark Robinson, a top in-state supporter
Read full article: Trump appeals to women in return to North Carolina without Mark Robinson, a top in-state supporterDonald Trump has returned to North Carolina to stump in the southern battleground state that both Democrats and Republicans are treating as increasingly critical to victory in November.
Wind, rain but no name as tropical disturbance approaches Carolinas coast
Read full article: Wind, rain but no name as tropical disturbance approaches Carolinas coastHeavy winds and rains from a storm in the Atlantic that wasn’t quite organized enough to get a name hit a stretch of the southeastern U.S. coast.
Biden to host 'Quad' leaders from Australia, India and Japan in his Delaware hometown
Read full article: Biden to host 'Quad' leaders from Australia, India and Japan in his Delaware hometownPresident Joe Biden will host the leaders of Australia, India and Japan next weekend in his Wilmington, Delaware, hometown, the White House announced, as he looks to burnish his legacy before leaving office in January.
Biden holds social event with ice cream to thank campaign staff after bowing out of election
Read full article: Biden holds social event with ice cream to thank campaign staff after bowing out of electionPresident Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, has hosted a thank you event for hundreds of staffers who worked on the reelection campaign.
Hunter Biden drops lawsuit against Fox News over explicit images featured in streaming series
Read full article: Hunter Biden drops lawsuit against Fox News over explicit images featured in streaming seriesHunter Biden has dropped a lawsuit accusing Fox News of illegally publishing explicit images of him as part of a streaming series.
Man charged with threatening FBI agent who had been involved in Hunter Biden laptop investigation
Read full article: Man charged with threatening FBI agent who had been involved in Hunter Biden laptop investigationA Texas man has been charged with allegedly threatening an FBI special agent who had been involved in an investigation into the dissemination of personal data from Hunter Biden’s laptop.
Biden, after meeting with families of officers killed in NC, says the nation is grieving with them
Read full article: Biden, after meeting with families of officers killed in NC, says the nation is grieving with themPresident Joe Biden has met privately with the families of law enforcement officers shot to death on the job in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Biden signs $1.2 trillion funding package after Senate's early-morning passage ended shutdown threat
Read full article: Biden signs $1.2 trillion funding package after Senate's early-morning passage ended shutdown threatPresident Joe Biden has signed a $1.2 trillion package of spending bills that Congress just passed, ending the threat of a potential partial government shutdown.
The Hur interview transcript offers a window into the life of 'frustrated architect' Joe Biden
Read full article: The Hur interview transcript offers a window into the life of 'frustrated architect' Joe BidenPresident Joe Biden's sprawling home outside downtown Wilmington, Delaware, has a special place in his heart.
Biden: Netanyahu 'hurting Israel' by not preventing more civilian deaths in Gaza
Read full article: Biden: Netanyahu 'hurting Israel' by not preventing more civilian deaths in GazaPresident Joe Biden says he believes Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is “hurting Israel more than helping Israel” in how he is approaching its war against Hamas in Gaza.
Seven of 9 Los Angeles firefighters injured in truck blast have been released from a hospital
Read full article: Seven of 9 Los Angeles firefighters injured in truck blast have been released from a hospitalSeven of nine Los Angeles firefighters injured when a truck’s fuel tank exploded have been released from a hospital.
President Joe Biden to travel to East Palestine next week, a year after derailment
Read full article: President Joe Biden to travel to East Palestine next week, a year after derailmentPresident Joe Biden will travel to East Palestine, Ohio, about a year after a Norfolk Southern train derailed there and spilled a cocktail of hazardous chemicals.
Special counsel investigating Biden's handling of classified documents has completed probe, AG says
Read full article: Special counsel investigating Biden's handling of classified documents has completed probe, AG saysAttorney General Merrick Garland says the Justice Department special counsel investigating President Joe Biden’s handling of classified documents has completed his inquiry and a report is expected to be made public soon.
Police say driver accidentally struck parked SUV in Biden's motorcade near campaign headquarters
Read full article: Police say driver accidentally struck parked SUV in Biden's motorcade near campaign headquartersWilmington police say 46-year-old driver believed to be drunk accidentally plowed into a parked SUV that was guarding President Joe Biden’s motorcade Sunday night while the president was leaving a visit to his campaign headquarters.
DeSantis won't condemn Musk for endorsing an antisemitic post. 'I did not see the comment,' he says
Read full article: DeSantis won't condemn Musk for endorsing an antisemitic post. 'I did not see the comment,' he saysRepublican presidential candidate Ron DeSantis is refusing to condemn Elon Musk’s post endorsing an antisemitic conspiracy theory.
Biden says 'revitalized Palestinian Authority' should eventually govern Gaza and the West Bank
Read full article: Biden says 'revitalized Palestinian Authority' should eventually govern Gaza and the West BankPresident Joe Biden says that achieving a cease-fire amid Israel’s war with Hamas “is not peace” and that an important key to lasting stability is a reunited Gaza Strip and West Bank that can be governed under “a revitalized Palestinian Authority.”.
Jury deliberates fate of suspected serial killer accused in six deaths in Delaware and Philadelphia
Read full article: Jury deliberates fate of suspected serial killer accused in six deaths in Delaware and PhiladelphiaJury deliberations are under way in the trial of a suspected serial killer accused in the deaths of six people in Delaware and Pennsylvania in 2021.
Hunter Biden must come to court in person for firearms case, judge rules
Read full article: Hunter Biden must come to court in person for firearms case, judge rulesA judge has ruled that Hunter Biden must appear in person for a hearing where he is expected to plead not guilty to federal firearms charges filed after the collapse of a plea deal in a long-running federal investigation.
House Republicans subpoena IRS and FBI agents involved in Hunter Biden case
Read full article: House Republicans subpoena IRS and FBI agents involved in Hunter Biden caseHouse Republicans have subpoenaed several FBI and IRS agents involved in the federal investigation into Joe Biden’s son Hunter Biden.
FBI searches Biden's vacation home; no classified documents
Read full article: FBI searches Biden's vacation home; no classified documentsThe FBI has searched President Joe Biden’s Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, home as part of its investigation into potential high-level mishandling of classified records.
Feds finalize tighter regulations on gun stabilizing braces
Read full article: Feds finalize tighter regulations on gun stabilizing bracesThe Justice Department is finalizing tighter regulations on guns with accessories known as stabilizing braces, a gun-control action touted by President Joe Biden after the devices were used in mass shootings.
Biden's Delaware home is now a player in document drama
Read full article: Biden's Delaware home is now a player in document dramaIt’s President Joe Biden’s refuge from Washington — a place that’s part home office, part Sunday family dinner venue, a safe place for his treasured 1967 Corvette and a makeshift campaign studio during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Biden marks 50th anniversary of death of wife, daughter
Read full article: Biden marks 50th anniversary of death of wife, daughterPresident Joe Biden and his family held a private memorial service Sunday to mark the 50th anniversary of the car crash that killed his first wife and their baby daughter.
EXPLAINER: Musk Twitter turnaround reflects legal challenges
Read full article: EXPLAINER: Musk Twitter turnaround reflects legal challengesElon Musk’s sudden about face on a $44 billion agreement to acquire Twitter, reversing an earlier attempt to rescind that offer, came as a surprise even from the mercurial billionaire who loves to shock.
Man who tried to breach FBI office killed after standoff
Read full article: Man who tried to breach FBI office killed after standoffThe Ohio State Highway Patrol says an armed man who tried to breach the FBI’s Cincinnati office was shot and killed by police after he fled the scene and engaged in an hourslong standoff.
Elon Musk gives about $5.7 billion in Tesla stock to charity
Read full article: Elon Musk gives about $5.7 billion in Tesla stock to charityTesla CEO Elon Musk says in a regulatory filing that he donated about 5 million shares of company stock worth roughly $5.7 billion to an unidentified charity in November.
Bidens pack carrots, apples into boxes during food bank stop
Read full article: Bidens pack carrots, apples into boxes during food bank stopPresident Joe Biden and first lady Jill Biden packed carrots and apples into food boxes for the hungry and chatted with volunteers Sunday at a food bank as part of a day of service for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
California plan to ban community oil drilling far from final
Read full article: California plan to ban community oil drilling far from finalCalifornia Gov. Gavin Newsom's plan to ban new oil and gas wells within 3,200 feet of neighborhood sites is drawing cautious optimism from environmental groups but strong pushback from the oil industry and its labor allies.
Biden imposes sanctions against Belarus' Lukashenko regime
Read full article: Biden imposes sanctions against Belarus' Lukashenko regimePresident Joe Biden says the United States is levying new sanctions against Belarus, marking the one-year anniversary of Alexander Lukashenko's election win that the U.S. and international community said was fraught with irregularities.
Biden praises Olympians for inspiring Americans with courage
Read full article: Biden praises Olympians for inspiring Americans with couragePresident Joe Biden praised U.S. Olympians for navigating the difficulties of a coronavirus tarnished games with “moral courage” that made Americans’ “hearts swell” with pride.
Biden declines to call for Cuomo to resign, awaits probe
Read full article: Biden declines to call for Cuomo to resign, awaits probePresident Joe Biden speaks to the gathered media members upon arrival at the White House in Washington from a weekend trip to Wilmington, Del., Sunday, March 14, 2021. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden on Sunday passed up an opportunity to join other Democrats calling for the resignation of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who is under investigation after multiple allegations of sexual harassment. However, his comments reflect the wait-and-see position the White House has taken regarding Cuomo's future. On Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki would not say whether Biden believes Cuomo should resign.
Police groups endorse Biden’s pick for civil rights chief
Read full article: Police groups endorse Biden’s pick for civil rights chiefAssistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division nominee Kristen Clarke speaks during an event with President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON – Some of the largest law enforcement groups in the U.S. are throwing their support behind President Joe Biden’s nominee to run the Justice Department’s civil rights division. Other supporters also include the National Association of Police Organizations, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the Hispanic American Police Command Officers Association, the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives and dozens of crime victims. As attorney general in the Obama administration, Eric Holder frequently criticized violent police confrontations and opened a series of civil rights investigations into local law enforcement practices. The civil rights investigations often ended with court-approved consent decrees that mandated reforms.
Live Stream: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to deliver remarks in celebration of International Women’s Day
Read full article: Live Stream: Joe Biden and Kamala Harris to deliver remarks in celebration of International Women’s DayThen-presumptive Democratic presidential nominee and former Vice President Joe Biden, along with his running mate, former Sen. Kamala Harris, arrive to deliver remarks at the Alexis Dupont High School on Aug. 12, 2020 in Wilmington, Delaware. (Getty Images)
Biden's trade pick vows to work more closely with allies
Read full article: Biden's trade pick vows to work more closely with alliesFILE - In this Dec. 11, 2020, file photo Katherine Tai, the Biden administration's choice totake overas the U.S. trade representative, speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. President Joe Bidens pick to be the top U.S. trade envoy is promising to work with Americas allies to combat Chinas aggressive trade policies. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden's pick to be the top U.S. trade envoy is promising to work with America's allies to combat China's aggressive trade policies, indicating a break from the Trump administration's go-it-alone approach. Fluent in Mandarin, Tai served several years as head of China enforcement at the trade representative's office. Far from working with allies on trade, Trump sparred with them instead, putting tariffs on imported steel and aluminum and threatening to target European cars, too.
Biden moves to reengage with Palestinians after Israel focus
Read full article: Biden moves to reengage with Palestinians after Israel focusFILE - In this Nov. 24, 2020, file photo President-elect Joe Biden listens as his Secretary of State nominee Tony Blinken speaks at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. The State Department said Tuesday that a U.S. delegation attended a meeting of a Norwegian-run committee that serves as a clearinghouse for assistance to the Palestinians. Although little-known outside foreign policy circles, the so-called Ad Hoc Liaison Committee has been influential in the peace process since Israel and the Palestinians signed the Oslo Accords in 1993. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is close to Trump, has eschewed the two-state solution. The Trump administration had presented its own version of a two-state peace plan, though it would have required significant Palestinian concessions on territory and sovereignty.
Vilsack confirmed for 2nd stint as US agriculture secretary
Read full article: Vilsack confirmed for 2nd stint as US agriculture secretaryFILE - In this Dec. 11, 2020, file photo former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who the Biden administration chose to reprise that role, speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)WASHINGTON – The Senate on Tuesday voted overwhelmingly to confirm Tom Vilsack as agriculture secretary, his second run at the Cabinet post. The former Iowa governor spent eight years leading the same Department of Agriculture for former President Barack Obama's entire administration. “We’re going to be a USDA that represents and serves all Americans,” Vilsack said after the vote. AdWith systemic racial inequity now a nationwide talking point, Vilsack also envisioned creating an “equity task force” inside the department.
Justice Dept. drops Yale admissions discrimination lawsuit
Read full article: Justice Dept. drops Yale admissions discrimination lawsuitFILE - In this May 24, 2010 file photo, future graduates wait for the procession to begin for commencement at Yale University in New Haven, Conn. The Biden Justice Department says it is dismissing its discrimination lawsuit against Yale University. On Feb. 3, 2021, the Justice Department noted in its filing that it was voluntarily dismissing the action. AdYale said its practices comply with decades of Supreme Court precedent and that it looks at “the whole person" when deciding which applicants to admit. Biden’s Justice Department is working to undo Trump policies, including “zero tolerance,” the immigration policy that was responsible for family separations.
Agriculture secretary nominee Vilsack endorses biofuels push
Read full article: Agriculture secretary nominee Vilsack endorses biofuels pushFILE - In this Dec. 11, 2020, file photo former Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who the Biden administration chose to reprise that role, speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)WASHINGTON – Tom Vilsack, President Joe Biden's nominee for secretary of agriculture, pledged Tuesday to focus on climate change initiatives and work to address racial inequities in agricultural assistance programs. Vilsack, who testified before the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee, would bring much on-the-job experience to the position. In addition to serving two terms as the governor of Iowa, he spent eight years as President Barack Obama's Agriculture Secretary. But if you don’t have a grocery store, what then?”AdVilsack seems to enjoy bipartisan support and faced no serious criticism from Republicans on the committee.
The Latest: Wet snow turns to sleet in northern New England
Read full article: The Latest: Wet snow turns to sleet in northern New EnglandA sprawling, lumbering winter storm has walloped the Eastern U.S., shutting down coronavirus vaccination sites, closing schools and halting transit. In its second day in the Northeast, a snow storm left nearly 15 inches (38 centimeters) of snow piled up in parts of New Hampshire. The Yale New Haven Health system, which runs several hospitals in southern Connecticut, said its vaccination sites were closed Tuesday and staff were contacting people to reschedule appointments. In New England, nearly 15 inches (38 centimeters) of snow piled up in southeast New Hampshire, and the mountains were getting heavy snow as well. The National Weather Service reported 30 inches of snow fell in parts of Sussex and Morris counties on Monday.
Biden's pick for UN post calls China 'a strategic adversary'
Read full article: Biden's pick for UN post calls China 'a strategic adversary'United States Ambassador to the United Nations nominee Linda Thomas-Greenfield testifies during for her confirmation hearing before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021, in Washington. Johnson asked her why she had said the United States is not in a new Cold War with China. “This speech is cheerleading for the Chinese Communist Party” and makes no mention of China’s human rights violations, he said. Johnson asked her what the stronger language and tougher tactics would be toward China. “And yet, I had an extraordinary 35-year career, that culminated as the assistant secretary of state of African affairs,” Thomas-Greenfield said.
Biden's Commerce pick, Raimondo, voices tough line on China
Read full article: Biden's Commerce pick, Raimondo, voices tough line on ChinaGina Raimondo testifies remotely during her nomination hearing before the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington, Tuesday, Jan. 26, 2021. Gina Raimondo, a former venture capitalist, would be responsible for promoting opportunities for economic growth domestically and overseas. U.S. companies need to get a license to sell sophisticated technology to companies on the list. Raimondo promised to give the Census Bureau more time to crunch the numbers for the 2020 census if needed. “I believe we need to take the politics out of the census and we need to rely on the experts,” Raimondo said.
Yellen's nomination as treasury secretary advances in Senate
Read full article: Yellen's nomination as treasury secretary advances in SenatePresident-elect Joe Biden announced Yellen as his nominee for Treasury Secretary. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)WASHINGTON – The Senate Finance Committee approved President Joe Biden’s nomination of Janet Yellen to be the nation’s 78th treasury secretary on Friday, setting up a final vote that would make her the first woman to hold the job. The Finance Committee approved her nomination on a 26-0 vote. Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden of Oregon, the incoming chair of the Finance Committee, said he hoped to get Yellen's nomination approved by the full Senate later Friday, but the vote was not scheduled. Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, told Yellen that Biden’s plan represented a “laundry list of liberal structural economic reforms.”As treasury secretary, Yellen, 74, would occupy a pivotal role in shaping and directing Biden’s economic policies.
@POTUS resets as Twitter juggles presidential accounts
Read full article: @POTUS resets as Twitter juggles presidential accountsIts a Twitter users worst nightmare: Wake up to find most of your followers gone. But thats exactly what will happen on Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, to the official presidential accounts on Twitter. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)It's a Twitter user's worst nightmare: Wake up to find most of your followers gone. But that's exactly what will happen on Wednesday to the official presidential accounts on Twitter. That's unlike the previous Twitter transition, when then-President Barack Obama's official accounts were transferred to President Donald Trump with followers intact.
The Latest: Trump declassifies Crossfire Hurricane material
Read full article: The Latest: Trump declassifies Crossfire Hurricane material___HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN’S INAUGURATION:President-elect Joe Biden appeared at a memorial for COVID-19 victims at the Lincoln Memorial on Tuesday evening. ___4:45 p.m.President Donald Trump does not mention his successor, Democrat Joe Biden, by name in his farewell address. A person familiar with Pence’s schedule cited “logistical challenges” in getting from the air base to President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration ceremonies on Wednesday. The information was passed from the National Guard Bureau to the D.C. National Guard. ___10:45 a.m.Three new Democratic senators are set to be sworn into office after President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration Wednesday.
The Latest: Hawley blocks quick confirmation of DHS nominee
Read full article: The Latest: Hawley blocks quick confirmation of DHS nomineeHomeland Security Secretary nominee Alejandro Mayorkas testifies during his confirmation hearing in the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, on Capitol Hill in Washington. Hawley said he made the move because Mayorkas, in his confirmation hearing, would not commit to spending the $1.4 billion appropriated to expand the border wall with Mexico. Alejandro Mayorkas was asked about it Tuesday at his Senate confirmation hearing. ___10:30 a.m.One of President Donald Trump’s national intelligence directors is introducing President-elect Joe Biden’s nominee for the job at her confirmation hearing. Avril Haines faces a confirmation hearing Tuesday before the Senate intelligence committee.
Live Stream: Biden introduces members of his science team
Read full article: Live Stream: Biden introduces members of his science teamPresident-elect Joe Biden arrives to speak at an event at The Queen theater, Friday, Jan. 15, 2021, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)(Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Confirmation hearing postponed for Biden's intel chief pick
Read full article: Confirmation hearing postponed for Biden's intel chief pickFILE - In this Nov. 24, 2020, file photo President-elect Joe Biden's nominee for Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines speaks at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)WASHINGTON – A confirmation hearing for President-elect Joe Biden's pick for national intelligence director has been postponed until next week, according to leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee. Avril Haines, a former CIA deputy director and former deputy national security adviser in the Obama administration, was to have appeared Friday before the Senate Intelligence Committee. The hearing was announced Wednesday, setting Haines up to be the first of Biden's picks to face a Senate committee for confirmation. “We are disappointed the hearing was delayed, particularly given the urgency to have national security leaders in place in this time of crisis.
President-elect Biden announces $1.9 trillion COVID economic plan
Read full article: President-elect Biden announces $1.9 trillion COVID economic planFILE - In this Friday, Jan. 8, 2021 file photo, President-elect Joe Biden speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., to announce key administration posts. U.S. President-elect Joe Biden should bring fundamental change to U.S. policy on human rights and allow criminal investigations of President Donald Trump, the head of Human Rights Watch said on Wednesday Jan. 13, 2021. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)President-elect Joe Biden announced a $1.9 trillion economic plan to help stem the virus and provide financial assistance to individuals, businesses and state and local governments during a live event Thursday. Learn more about the economic plan here. Once inaugurated on Jan. 20, Biden has promised to support a new economic plan that would deliver larger stimulus checks and financial relief to individuals and businesses struggling amid the pandemic’s economic fallout.
President-elect Biden introduces new economic team
Read full article: President-elect Biden introduces new economic teamPresident-elect Joe Biden speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, to announce key nominees for the Justice Department. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)(Copyright 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Biden blames Trump for violence at Capitol that's shaken US
Read full article: Biden blames Trump for violence at Capitol that's shaken USPresident-elect Joe Biden speaks during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Thursday, Jan. 7, 2021, to announce key nominees for the Justice Department. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday denounced the rioters who stormed the U.S. Capitol as “domestic terrorists” and he blamed President Donald Trump for the violence that has shaken the nation's capital and beyond. It was chaos.”Those who massed on Capitol Hill intending to disrupt a joint session of Congress that was certifying Biden’s election victory over Trump “weren’t protesters. The remarks came during an event in Wilmington, Delaware, to introduce Biden's Justice Department team, to be led by federal appeals court judge Merrick Garland as attorney general. The Justice Department is expected to dramatically change course during the Biden administration, with a greater focus on civil rights issues and a review of policing policies.
President-elect Biden introduces Department of Justice nominees
Read full article: President-elect Biden introduces Department of Justice nomineesPresident-elect Joe Biden held a live event Thursday to introduce key nominees to serve in his administration’s Department of Justice just one day after chaos consumed the Capitol in Washington. This live stream has now ended. UPDATE: Biden names Judge Merrick Garland as Attorney General after Obama-era Supreme Court snubPresident Donald Trump now says there “will be an orderly transition on January 20th” after Congress concluded the electoral vote count certifying President-elect Joe Biden’s victory and after a day of violence when his supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol. Read the full story here. Read more: Politics
Biden urges restoring decency after 'assault' on democracy
Read full article: Biden urges restoring decency after 'assault' on democracyPresident-elect Joe Biden speaks at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021. Biden has called the violent protests on the U.S. Capitol "an assault on the most sacred of American undertakings: the doing of the people's business." – President-elect Joe Biden called Wednesday for the restoration of “simple decency” as a mob incited by his predecessor stormed the U.S. Capitol and delayed Congress from certifying the results of November's election. But shortly before he was to begin speaking, demonstrators broke into the Capitol building, reaching as far as the Senate floor. In an address that took only about 10 minutes and was televised against a split screen of the still-occupied Capitol building, Biden attempted to project calm and to say that a deeply divided country can still come together.
Biden's pick to lead Treasury made over $7M in speaking fees
Read full article: Biden's pick to lead Treasury made over $7M in speaking feesYellen’s was among three financial disclosures turned in by Biden transition officials that were made public on Thursday by the Office of Government Ethics. She took in the speaking fees in 2019 and 2020. Hillary Clinton faced criticism from the left wing of the Democratic Party while running for president in 2016 for having received lucrative speaking fees at Wall Street firms. "She’s been fully transparent.”Also released Thursday were disclosure forms from Biden’s choice to be secretary of state, Antony Blinken, who detailed his work at a consulting firm he co-founded, WestExec Advisors, LLC. Avril Haines, Biden’s choice to be national intelligence director, disclosed being a consultant at WestExec Advisors and collecting around $55,000 in fees between October 2017 and last summer.
Biden criticizes pace of vaccine rollout, vows to accelerate
Read full article: Biden criticizes pace of vaccine rollout, vows to accelerate“We need to be honest — the next few weeks and months are going to be very tough, very tough for our nation. Maybe the toughest during this entire pandemic,” Biden said during remarks in Wilmington, Delaware on Tuesday. At the current pace, Biden said, “it’s gonna take years, not months, to vaccinate the American people.”President Donald Trump deflected Biden's critique. Biden received his first dose of the vaccine on live television last week, and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris received hers, also on television, on Tuesday. Still, Biden warned that it would take months after he’s in office for Americans to see positive change in the course of the virus.
Watch live: Biden delivers remarks on COVID-19 pandemic
Read full article: Watch live: Biden delivers remarks on COVID-19 pandemicPresident-elect Joe Biden speaks at The Queen theater, Monday, Dec. 28, 2020, in Wilmington, Del. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)
Biden warns of Trump officials' 'roadblocks' to transition
Read full article: Biden warns of Trump officials' 'roadblocks' to transition– President-elect Joe Biden is warning of massive damage done to the national security apparatus by the Trump administration and “roadblocks” in communication between agency officials and his transition team that could undermine Americans’ security. “Right now we just aren’t getting all the information that we need from the outgoing administration in key national security areas. Trump has implemented an “America First” foreign policy that saw the U.S. retreat from longstanding global alliances and treaties. The Trump Administration cut funding from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, withdrew from the World Health Organization and the Paris Climate Accords. Trump himself has had a contentious relationship with the intelligence community, criticizing its findings that Russia interfered in the 2016 election to boost his candidacy.
Biden: Reversing Trump border policies will take months
Read full article: Biden: Reversing Trump border policies will take monthsPresident-elect Joe Biden pauses as he leaves to listen to a reporter's shouted question at The Queen Theater in Wilmington, Del., Tuesday, Dec 22, 2020. U.S. authorities encountered migrants at the border with Mexico more than 70,000 times in October and in November, four times April's tally. On his campaign website, Biden promised to end the agreement with Mexico, known as the Migrant Protection Protocols, within the first 100 days of his presidency. This effort will begin immediately but it will take months to develop the capacity that we will need to reopen fully,” she said. “The Biden administration’s work to end cruelty must start immediately,” said Linda Rivas, executive director and managing attorney of Las Americas Immigrant Advocacy Center in El Paso, Texas.
The Latest: Biden says months to fix Trump border policies
Read full article: The Latest: Biden says months to fix Trump border policies– The Latest on President-elect Joe Biden (all times local):4 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden says he won’t immediately roll back President Donald Trump’s actions on immigration despite some advocates pushing for action as soon as he takes the oath of office in January. Biden says he’s working with immigrant advocates and having discussions with Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and Latin American leaders. —-3:45 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden says he is not discussing the investigation of his son with any prospective candidates for attorney general. —-3:25 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden says that the nation has a long way to go in fighting the coronavirus pandemic and is encouraging Americans to avoid large gatherings over the Christmas holidays. ——3 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden says the coronavirus relief package passed by Congress is “just the first step” and a “down payment” in addressing multiple crises facing America.
Biden: Trump 'failed' to shore up nation's cybersecurity
Read full article: Biden: Trump 'failed' to shore up nation's cybersecurity– President-elect Joe Biden on Tuesday assailed the Trump administration for failing to fortify the nation's cyber defenses, and called on President Donald Trump to publicly identify the perpetrator of a massive breach of U.S. government agencies — a hack some of Trump's top allies have blamed on Russia. Biden, who is being briefed on high-level intelligence in preparation for taking office next month, said planning for the hack began as early as 2019. “There’s still so much we don’t know,” Biden said during a news conference in Wilmington, Delaware. “The truth is, the Trump administration failed to prioritize cybersecurity,” Biden said. Reed served as Biden’s chief of staff during his first term as vice president and has long been a close member of Biden’s inner circle of advisers.
Biden's profoundly private Pentagon pick joins Twitter
Read full article: Biden's profoundly private Pentagon pick joins TwitterRetired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin, the Biden administrations choice to be secretary of defense, speaks at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. Well, today I’m learning about Twitter,” Austin, 67, tweeted mid-morning. Under the law, a service member must be out of uniform for at least seven years before serving as defense secretary. Austin retired in 2016. Austin's Twitter video treads a careful line between touting his military career and emphasizing his current status as a civilian.
Aide: Biden won't talk about son Hunter with AG candidates
Read full article: Aide: Biden won't talk about son Hunter with AG candidatesFILE - In this Nov. 7, 2020, file photo, President-elect Joe Biden, right, embraces his son Hunter Biden, left, in Wilmington, Del. Bidens son Hunter says he has learned from federal prosecutors that his tax affairs are under investigation. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, Pool)WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden’s incoming press secretary said Sunday that Biden would not discuss the investigation of his son with any prospective candidates for attorney general. A federal investigation into the finances of Biden’s son, Hunter, will likely be a major point of contention during Senate confirmation hearings for Biden's nominee to lead the Justice Department. Psaki also said the topic of Hunter Biden would not come up in interviews.
President-elect Biden introduces appointees for new climate, energy team
Read full article: President-elect Biden introduces appointees for new climate, energy team(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris introduced the individuals nominated and appointed to their climate and energy team at an event on Saturday, Dec. 19. On Tuesday, a report from CNN indicated that Biden would nominate former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm to lead the U.S. Department of Energy. Progressives, energy lobbyists, environmental groups and auto workers welcomed Biden’s choice of popular former Mayor Pete Buttigieg as transportation secretary. Jennifer Granholm for energy secretary and former Environmental Protection Agency chief Gina McCarthy as leader of domestic climate efforts also were met with general applause. Biden is also tapping environmental lawyer and Obama administration official Brenda Mallory to run the Council on Environmental Quality, the president-elect announced Thursday.
The Latest: Bidens to get first vaccine dose on Monday
Read full article: The Latest: Bidens to get first vaccine dose on MondayPresident-elect Joe Biden and his wife Jill Biden pause to talk with Ashley Biden and her husband Howard Krein as they walk from St. Joseph on the Brandywine Roman Catholic Church in Wilmington, Del., Friday, Dec. 18, 2020. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)WASHINGTON – The Latest on President-elect Joe Biden (all times local):1:30 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden and his wife, Jill, will be getting their first dose of the coronavirus vaccine on Monday. She said the Bidens would also be thanking workers at the Delaware medical facility where they will receive their injections. Joe Biden had just been elected to the Senate and was in Washington setting up his new office at the time of the accident. Biden and his wife, Jill Biden, attended the Friday morning service in Delaware at St. Joseph on the Brandywine, a Roman Catholic church.
Watch live: Biden delivers remarks on electoral college vote certification
Read full article: Watch live: Biden delivers remarks on electoral college vote certification(Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. – Watch live coverage as President-elect Joe Biden speaks from Wilmington, De., after the electoral college voted to make his victory in the 2020 election official. Biden has cleared the 270-electoral-vote mark to formalize his presidential victory with California’s 55 votes. The voting milestone came late Monday when California electors affirmed Biden’s massive 5 million-vote win last month in the nation’s largest state. Live Coverage
The Latest: Biden urges public to have confidence in vaccine
Read full article: The Latest: Biden urges public to have confidence in vaccinePresident-elect Joe Biden announces his choice for several positions in his administration during an event at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Friday, Dec. 11, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON – The Latest on President-elect Joe Biden (all times local):3:05 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden says the American public should have confidence in a coronavirus vaccine that may soon begin to become available. Shots could begin within days, depending on how quickly the Food and Drug Administration signs off, as expected, on the expert committee’s recommendation. Arguing that “there is no political influence” in the vaccine, Biden stressed the scientific research that has “led us to this point.” He also reiterated his “bold and doable” commitment to trying to vaccinate 100 million Americans in the first 100 days of his administration. Biden fills Cabinet with former White House leaders— Hundreds of GOP members sign onto Texas-led election lawsuit— Joe Biden, Kamala Harris named Time magazine’s Person of the Year
White House threatens FDA chief's job over vaccine approval
Read full article: White House threatens FDA chief's job over vaccine approvalThe FDA granted emergency use for the vaccine produced by Pfizer Inc. and its German partner BioNTech. Friday’s threat marked the latest attempt by the Trump administration to override government scientists working to combat the deadly pandemic. “Get the dam vaccines out NOW, Dr. Hahn,” Trump tweeted Friday. Hahn told The Associated Press earlier this week that his agency had already teed up authorization by prefilling all the necessary legal paperwork. “We’re doing everything we can to cut down on the red tape, which I think is really important,” Hahn told the AP.
The Latest: Biden signals limit on executive authority use
Read full article: The Latest: Biden signals limit on executive authority usePresident-elect Joe Biden speaks during an event to announce his choice of retired Army Gen. Lloyd Austin to be secretary of defense, at The Queen theater in Wilmington, Del., Wednesday, Dec. 9, 2020. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON – The Latest on President-elect Joe Biden (all times local):6:10 p.m.Joe Biden has suggested he can’t go as far with executive authority as some of his most vocal supporters would like, declaring that he won’t violate the Constitution in a leaked recording of his call with civil rights leaders. Biden is urged to use executive action to promote police reform and is heard promising to use his presidential power to overturn “every single damn thing” that President Donald Trump did via executive action. Executive authority that my progressive friends talk about is way beyond the bounds.” He cited the specific example of assault-style weapons, saying it’d be unconstitutional to ban them with executive action. ___7 a.m.President-elect Joe Biden is heading to Georgia to campaign for the Democratic candidates in the state’s two critical U.S. Senate runoffs.
Hunter Biden tax probe examining Chinese business dealings
Read full article: Hunter Biden tax probe examining Chinese business dealingsHunter Biden confirmed the existence of the investigation on Wednesday, saying he learned about it for the first time the previous day. Federal investigators served a round of subpoenas on Tuesday, including one for Hunter Biden, according to another person familiar with the investigation. Hunter Biden has a history of international affairs and business dealings in a number of countries. Hunter Biden has been caught up in controversies before. In a CNN interview last week, President-elect Biden addressed the business dealings of his son Hunter and his brothers, pledging that they would avoid any perceived conflicts of interest during his time in office.
AP sources: Biden to pick Katherine Tai as top trade envoy
Read full article: AP sources: Biden to pick Katherine Tai as top trade envoy(AP Photo/Susan Walsh)WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden is set to nominate Katherine Tai to be the top U.S. trade envoy, according to two people familiar with his plans. Biden's selection of Tai, who is Asian American, reflects his promise to choose a diverse Cabinet that reflects the makeup of the country. Fluent in Mandarin Chinese, Tai earlier oversaw China trade enforcement for the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, setting U.S. strategy in trade disputes with China. Biden’s trade representative will inherit a trade war with China, put on pause by an interim trade pact in January that left many of the hardest issues unresolved and U.S. taxes remaining on $360 billion in Chinese imports. As the top trade staffer at Ways and Means, Tai handled negotiations last year with the Trump administration over a revamped North American trade deal.
Biden predicts 'bleak future' if Congress doesn't act on aid
Read full article: Biden predicts 'bleak future' if Congress doesn't act on aid– President-elect Joe Biden is predicting a “bleak future” if Congress doesn't take speedy action on a coronavirus aid bill amid a nationwide spike in the virus that's hampering the country's economic recovery. “If we act now — I mean now — we can begin to regain momentum and start to build back a better future,” he said. While the Trump administration has undertaken some planning around vaccine distribution, Biden said Friday that their proposal lacks significant details. Democrats and Republicans have been deadlocked on a coronavirus aid bill for months, with Republicans opposed to a previous, more expensive bill that passed the House. Biden said Friday that he plans to ask Congress for funding for expanded testing, vaccine distribution, jobless aid and help for those at risk of eviction.
The Latest: Biden: Trump inaugural presence important to US
Read full article: The Latest: Biden: Trump inaugural presence important to USWASHINGTON – The Latest on President-elect Joe Biden (all times local):9:55 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden says it is important that President Donald Trump attend his inauguration only in the sense that it would demonstrate the nation’s commitment to a peaceful transfer of power between political rivals. ___8:45 p.m.Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus have made a fresh push for President-elect Joe Biden to nominate New Mexico Gov. But $207.5 million came in after Election Day as Trump repeatedly – and falsely – claimed President-elect Joe Biden won due to voter fraud. Gina Raimondo has knocked down talk that she is in the running for President-elect Joe Biden’s secretary of health and human services. ___12:25 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden has tapped former Obama administration senior economic adviser Brian Deese to be director of the National Economic Council.
Unveiling economic team, Biden pledges, 'Help is on the way'
Read full article: Unveiling economic team, Biden pledges, 'Help is on the way'He picked liberal advisers who have long prioritized the nation’s workers and government efforts to address economic inequality. Biden repeatedly evoked his work as vice president when the Obama administration oversaw the economic recovery following the 2008 financial crisis, noting that many of those on his newly formed economic team worked closely with him then. “We might have to ask Lin-Manuel Miranda, who wrote a musical about the first secretary of the treasury, Hamilton, to write another musical about the female secretary of the treasury,” Biden joked. The president-elect also selected Wally Adeyemo to be Yellen’s deputy, which would make him the first Black deputy treasury secretary. As he has in recent weeks, Biden repeated calls for Congress to pass immediate pandemic relief funding even before he takes office.
Top secret: Biden gets access to President's Daily Brief
Read full article: Top secret: Biden gets access to President's Daily Brief– Joe Biden has had his first look as president-elect at the President's Daily Brief, a top secret summary of U.S. intelligence and world events — a document former first lady Michelle Obama has called “The Death, Destruction, and Horrible Things Book." More than a decade ago, Biden read President George W. Bush's PDB during Biden's transition into the vice presidency. After that, he read President Barack Obama's PDB for eight years. Later in his presidency, he liked reading the ultra-secret intelligence brief on a secured iPad. Before Trump authorized Biden to get the PDB as president-elect, Biden was given some intelligence background briefings as a candidate.
Biden fractures foot while playing with dog, to wear a boot
Read full article: Biden fractures foot while playing with dog, to wear a bootBiden slipped while playing with his dog Major, and twisted his ankle. – President-elect Joe Biden fractured his right foot while playing with one of his dogs, an injury discovered in a scan Sunday and that will likely require him to wear a boot for several weeks, his doctor said. Reporters covering the president-elect were not afforded the opportunity to see Biden enter the doctor's office Sunday, despite multiple requests. Leaving the doctor's office to head to an imaging center for his CT scan, Biden was visibly limping, though he walked without a crutch or other aid. Biden sustained the injury playing with Major, one of the Bidens’ two dogs.
The Latest: Biden says split Congress affects Cabinet picks
Read full article: The Latest: Biden says split Congress affects Cabinet picks(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)WASHINGTON – The Latest on President-elect Joe Biden (all times local):7:15 p.m. Late Monday, the General Services Administration “ascertained” that Biden is the apparent winner of this month’s presidential election. Biden spoke as he rolled out his picks to fill top national security slots in his Cabinet including secretary of state, national security adviser and a new, Cabinet-level post dedicated to climate change. ___1:20 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden says his national security team will lead the way in reflecting the fact that “America is back” on the world stage. The choice of words is noteworthy because it implies that President Donald Trump has been defeated by Joe Biden.