Biden administration unable to continue $300 weekly pandemic unemployment benefits that GOP governors are slashing
By Jeff Zeleny and Tami Luhby The Labor Department has exhausted its options for continuing to pay an extra $300 a week in federal unemployment benefits to jobless people in the 22 GOP-led states that are ending them early, an administration official told CNN Thursday. Roughly 3.6 million out-of-work Americans will forgo a total of $21.7 billion in benefits as a result of the state actions, according to an analysis by The Century Foundation. Texas, Indiana and South Carolina are among those terminating the pandemic jobless programs early. “There is nothing we can do,” the official said, adding that the
Lawmakers see promise in police reform negotiations as Biden plans meeting with George Floyd’s family
Analysis by Maeve Reston President Joe Biden will mark the solemn anniversary of George Floyd’s death this week by hosting Floyd’s family at the White House, giving the President a fresh chance to pressure lawmakers on Capitol Hill to reach an agreement on police reform legislation. The need for greater accountability in policing has only grown more pronounced in the year since Floyd was killed by a White police officer, who was convicted of murder in April. Egregious cases of police brutality, as well as examples of the disproportionate use of force by police toward Black and Brown people, have
Bipartisan talks over infrastructure deal on the brink of crumbling days before deadline
By Phil Mattingly and Lauren Fox Bipartisan talks over a cornerstone infrastructure package sit on the brink of falling apart completely just days before a White House-imposed deadline for tangible progress. Gone is what for several weeks appeared to be positive, if cautious, sentiment about the prospects of President Joe Biden and a group of six Senate Republicans reaching consensus on a deal to inject hundreds of billions in investment into the nation’s aging infrastructure. In its place is a clear inflection point on talks that have yet to make the kind of progress to advance beyond Biden’s Memorial Day
Harris to the Class of 2021: ‘You have the strength to get through anything’
By Chandelis Duster Vice President Kamala Harris on Sunday applauded members of the Class of 2021 on their perseverance in earning their high school diplomas during the coronavirus pandemic, which upended classrooms and shuttered a number of extracurricular activities such as sports. “You now know, that you have what it takes to get through pretty much anything. So when you come up against an obstacle, when you experience a setback — and you will, we all do — remember the resilience that you showed this past year. The determination. Remember, that you have the strength to get through anything,” Harris
Biden signs bill aimed at addressing rise in anti-Asian hate crimes
By Maegan Vazquez President Joe Biden signed into law on Thursday a bill that is aimed at countering a rise in anti-Asian hate crimes during the coronavirus pandemic, saying the legislation is part of the nation’s first step toward unity. “I believe, with every fiber of my being, that there are simple, core values and beliefs that should bring us together as Americans. One of them is standing together against hate, against racism — an ugly poison that has long haunted and plagued our nation,” Biden told a group of advocates, agency officials and a bipartisan group of lawmakers inside
Biden, staring down first Mideast crisis, touts ceasefire
By Kaitlan Collins and Kevin Liptak President Joe Biden — having weathered the first major foreign crisis of his presidency that tested the bounds of his decades-long friendship with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu — touted Thursday a ceasefire deal that appears to end the bloody 11-day conflict between Israel and Hamas. In hastily arranged remarks from the White House delivered one hour before the truce was due to take effect, Biden credited his administration’s own “quiet and relentless diplomacy,” along with efforts by Egypt, in arriving at the agreement. “We’ve held intensive high-level discussions, hour-by-hour, literally, (with) Egypt, the
Kamala Harris to keynote star-studded CNN special honoring Class of 2021
By Paul LeBlanc CNN will air a star-studded prime-time special on Sunday honoring the class of 2021, as millions of students across the nation graduate following a year shaped by the coronavirus pandemic. “Graduation 2021: A CNN Special Event” will air Sunday, May 23 at 7 p.m. ET on CNN, CNN International and CNN en Español. The special will feature a keynote address from Vice President Kamala Harris along with musical performances from Portugal. The Man, Andy Grammer, Lukas Graham and EARCANDY. Students from the Duke Ellington School of Arts in Washington, DC, and the Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School
House to vote on $1.9 billion Capitol security bill after January 6 insurrection
By Clare Foran and Annie Grayer The House of Representatives is expected to vote on Thursday to approve a $1.9 billion spending bill to increase security at the US Capitol in response to the deadly January 6 insurrection. The sweeping legislation, introduced by House Appropriations Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, covers a range of priorities, including funding to enhance security across the Capitol grounds as well as provisions to bolster protections and increase preparedness for lawmakers, including at their district offices, and the Capitol Police force. After the House takes up the bill, it would also need to pass
Michigan judge dismisses one of the last lawsuits claiming 2020 election fraud in the state
By Taylor Romine A Michigan judge dismissed an election fraud case Tuesday that state officials said was the last of the lawsuits challenging the 2020 election. The suit, which was originally filed by Michigan voter named William Bailey on November 23 of last year, alleged that “material fraud or error” took place when inaccurate results were shared, according to court documents. They specifically placed blame on Dominion Voting Systems, which Michigan hired for election management and voting machines. State officials repeatedly said over the last six months that Antrim County initially released incorrect unofficial election results caused by human error,
Val Demings plans to run for Senate against Rubio, sources say
By Dan Merica and Daniella Diaz Florida Rep. Val Demings plans to run for US Senate against Republican Sen. Marco Rubio in 2022, two sources familiar with the plan told CNN Tuesday. The planned bid provides Democrats with a high-profile candidate in a key Senate race against a nationally known — and well-funded — opponent. The Orlando Democratic lawmaker spent the last few months mulling over a statewide race and recently decided on a bid for the Senate over governor, a source close to the congresswoman told CNN. The congresswoman plans to make her official announcement in the coming weeks,