Capitol on Alert Amid March 4 Militia Threats & Extremism
By Geneva Sands and Zachary Cohen, CNN Federal law enforcement is on high alert Thursday in the wake of an intelligence bulletin issued earlier this week about a group of violent militia extremists having discussed plans to take control of the US Capitol and remove Democratic lawmakers on or about March 4 — a date when some conspiracy theorists believe former President Donald Trump will be returning to the presidency. US officials on Wednesday alerted lawmakers to a potential threat, for which security has been enhanced as a precaution. The House changed its schedule in light of warnings from US
Cecilia Rouse confirmed as Biden’s top White House economist
By Alex Rogers, CNN The Senate confirmed President Joe Biden’s nomination of Cecilia Rouse to chair the Council of Economic Advisers. The vote on Tuesday was 95-4. Rouse, a labor economist and dean of the Princeton School of Public and International Affairs, will be the first Black person to serve as the President’s top economist. She previously served as a member of President Barack Obama’s Council of Economic Advisers and worked for President Bill Clinton’s National Economic Council. Ohio Democratic Sen. Sherrod Brown, the chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, said Tuesday that Rouse had spent her career “focusing on
House Democrats push HR 1 voting rights and ethics reform
By Clare Foran and Annie Grayer, CNN The House is expected to vote Wednesday on HR 1, a sweeping government, ethics and election bill that Democrats have made a signature legislative priority. HR 1 passed the House during the last Congress after Democrats won back the majority, but it failed to advance in the Republican-controlled Senate. Now that Democrats also control the White House and the Senate, House Democrats, led by Rep. John Sarbanes of Maryland, are poised to pass the legislation again. It is still likely to hit a roadblock in the Senate, however, where it’s not clear there
Hospitals, nursing homes seek more Covid relief funding
By Tami Luhby, CNN Shut out of the stimulus package that passed the House last week, hospitals and nursing homes are hoping they can convince the Senate to give them an additional infusion of funding in its version of the $1.9 trillion relief bill. Congress last year created and poured $178 billion into the Provider Relief Fund to help hospitals, nursing homesand other health care providers pay for coronavirus-related expenses and offset revenue losses from postponing elective procedures. Hospitals, however, say that only $4.4 billion will remain in the fund by the end of the month. Yet the pandemicremains a
Biden’s diverse Cabinet nominees face scrutiny, bias claims
Analysis by Maeve Reston, CNN President Joe Biden succeeded in nominating the most racially diverse slate of Cabinet nominees in history. But now the slow and contentious process of getting some of his top picks confirmed is leading progressive groups to question whether his nominees of color are facing a higher level of scrutiny than White male nominees of past administrations. It’s not yet possible to make hard data comparisons with past administrations, in part because the confirmation process is ongoing and in part because Biden’s picks have been more diverse overall. But there is a growing sense of frustration
Biden, Senate Democrats push $1.9T Covid relief package
By Clare Foran, CNN President Joe Biden is expected to huddle with Senate Democrats on Tuesday as the chamber gears up to pass the White House’s top legislative priority: a major pandemic relief plan. Biden is slated to join Senate Democrats virtually during their caucus lunch Tuesday afternoon, a meeting that comes as Democrats face pressure to stick together to pass the sweeping rescue package. Biden also held a virtual meeting with a group of Senate Democrats on Monday. The President’s ongoing outreach underscores the important role the narrow Democratic majority will play in getting the Covid package across the
US democracy resilient after Capitol riot, says UN envoy
By Caroline Kelly, CNN US ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Monday that Congress’ work in the immediate wake of the US Capitol insurrection confirmed to her that American democracy had survived the January 6 attack. Asked by CNN’s Don Lemon how, as ambassador, she would calm allies’ potential concerns over what happened that day, Thomas-Greenfield replied: “What they saw on that day was extraordinarily painful for all of us. But what they also saw on that day that made us extraordinarily proud is that … after the riots ended, the Senate came back to their chambers and
Progressives push Harris on $15 wage in Covid relief bill
By Manu Raju, Chief Congressional Correspondent Liberal House Democrats are pleading with Vice President Kamala Harris to ignore the ruling of the Senate’s parliamentarian and decide that the $15 federal minimum wage can stay in the Covid relief package during Senate floor debate this week. Such a move has not been employed since 1975 — and taking that tack would generate pushback from senators from both parties who say relying on advice of the parliamentarian is paramount to maintaining order in the Senate. Moreover, the White House has been leery of taking that step, which would also generate staunch opposition
Lawmakers Reintroduce Bill for Federal Racial Justice Commission
By Nicquel Terry Ellis Two Democratic lawmakers will reintroduce legislation Thursday calling for the formation of the first federal racial justice commission tasked with examining the country’s history of systemic racism against Black people, addressing inequities and backing efforts to provide reparations for slavery. Rep. Barbara Lee of California, who first proposed the creation of a US Commission on Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation last summer following the police killing of George Floyd, will bring the bill back to the House and Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey will revive it in the Senate. The bill garnered 169 co-sponsors in
Kamala Harris Urges Communities of Color to Get Vaccinated
By Kate Sullivan and Betsy Klein, CNN Vice President Kamala Harris on Thursday visited a local pharmacy in Washington, DC, to highlight the Biden administration’s retail pharmacy vaccination program and combat vaccine hesitancy. Harris stressed the importance of all Americans, particularly those in communities of color hesitant about getting the vaccine, signing up for it as soon as it becomes available. The vice president spoke to a woman who was at the pharmacy receiving her second dose of the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine. After getting the shot, the woman told Harris she was looking forward to being able to see her
