Rep. Hank Johnson arrested at voting rights protest
By Ali Zaslav, Paul LeBlanc and Nicquel Terry Ellis Rep. Hank Johnson was arrested by Capitol Police on Thursday during a protest on “Senate inaction on voting rights legislation,” according to a video posted on Twitter. Johnson can be seen in the video with his hands restrained behind his back while still participating in a chant with other protesters yelling, “Whose streets? Our streets. Whose House? Our House.” He is one of 10 people whom the Capitol Police arrested for “unlawfully demonstrating” outside the Hart Senate Office Building and charged with crowding, obstructing or incommoding. “Today, Congressman Hank Johnson was
Biden slams attempts to curb voting rights but says he isn’t ready to call for an end of the filibuster
By Kate Sullivan President Joe Biden said Wednesday that he did not want to get “wrapped up” in arguments about the filibuster and it would “throw the entire Congress into chaos,” as some Democrats call for weakening the Senate’s filibuster rules in order to pass voting rights legislation. “What I want to do is I’m trying to bring the country together, and I don’t want the debate to only be about whether or not we have a filibuster or exceptions to the filibuster or going back to the way the filibuster had to be used before,” Biden told CNN’s Don Lemon at a CNN town hall in Cincinnati.
Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes joins crowded Senate Democratic primary
By Dan Merica Wisconsin Lt. Gov. Mandela Barnes announced a Senate run Tuesday in Milwaukee, adding yet another name to the already crowded Democratic primary race for the seat. Barnes made the announcement in a video in which he touts his record and pledges to take on issues like climate change, voting rights, health care and education. “When you stay focused on why you are running, nothing can slow you down.” Barnes says as he literally runs in the announcement video. “I’m Mandela Barnes, I’m running for US Senate and I’m running for the people of Wisconsin.” At his official
Republicans plan to block vote on bipartisan infrastructure bill, pushing for more time to write it
By Alex Rogers and Manu Raju Senate Republicans are expected to block a vote Wednesday to start debate on a $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill, as they push for more time to strike a deal with Democrats and write the legislation. But lawmakers said their negotiations will intensify over the next few days with the goal of trying again to advance the measure by early next week. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer has defended his decision to set up the Wednesday vote despite Republican opposition, pointing out that the bipartisan group has spent more than a month negotiating. “There’s no
Democratic National Committee launches new coalition to target Black and brown voters
By Nicquel Terry Ellis The Democratic National Committee has launched a new team that will focus on attracting Black and brown voters in an effort to maintain political power ahead of the 2022 midterms. DNC officials say the Coalitions & Community Engagement department will focus on partnering with organizers in targeted communities to reach voters of color as well as identifying and developing future leaders and diverse political candidates for the Democratic ticket. The launch, first reported by CNN, comes as Democrats and civil rights leaders are in an uphill battle to protect voting rights they say are being stripped
Biden to focus on Covid-19, infrastructure, climate and cybersecurity at Cabinet meeting
By Kate Sullivan President Joe Biden is holding his second full Cabinet meeting on Tuesday to mark six months in office, and is expected to focus the discussion on Covid-19, infrastructure, climate and cybersecurity, a White House official tells CNN. Tuesday will be the first time Biden’s full Cabinet convenes in the Cabinet Room at the White House. The President’s first full in-person Cabinet meeting took place earlier this year in the East Room due to social distancing constraints due to the coronavirus pandemic. The meeting comes as the White House grapples with a recent surge in Covid-19 cases, which
Harris tests negative for Covid-19 following meeting with Texas Democrats who tested positive
By Jasmine Wright Vice President Kamala Harris tested negative for Covid-19 following a meeting with Texas state House Democrats, several of whom later tested positive, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Monday. An official in the vice president’s office said that Harris’ testing occurred before her “routine doctor’s appointment” at Walter Reed Hospital, not because of the meeting with Texas legislators. Asked whether there was a safety concern related to Harris’ time spent around President Joe Biden, Psaki told reporters at Monday’s press briefing that the vice president was tested and “there was no detection of Covid-19.” “We take
Fight for voting rights intensifies as the nation marks one year since civil rights icon John Lewis’ death
By Nicquel Terry Ellis The fight for voting rights intensified this week with a Black woman lawmaker being arrested while protesting, Texas House Democrats fleeing the state to block Republicans from passing voter restrictions, and Black civil rights leaders blasting President Joe Biden for falling short of their demand to discuss ending the filibuster in his speech. On Friday, 20 Black women organizers met with Vice President Kamala Harris to discuss their concerns about the nationwide assault on voting rights and the urgent need for support from the White House. The leaders of several Black civil rights groups met with
What’s in the restrictive voting bills being pushed by Texas GOP lawmakers?
By Paul LeBlanc Texas Democrats’ dramatic trip to Washington, DC, this week stemmed from uniform opposition to two voting bills being pushed by state GOP lawmakers: Senate Bill 1 and House Bill 3. Even as some controversial provisions in earlier legislation have been dropped, either bill would still bring a raft of new voting restrictions to the Lone Star State. Here’s what you need to know: What’s in Senate Bill 1? Partisan poll watcher protection. Partisan poll watchers would enjoy broad new protection and access in Texas. This includes being “entitled to sit or stand near enough to
Congress is up against the clock on key Biden priorities. Here’s what to watch.
By Paul LeBlanc Congress has just two weeks to ramp up negotiations on a number of key Biden administration agenda items before the end of the current work period threatens to halt any meaningful progress. Legislation addressing the infrastructure, voting rights and police reform will all be top of mind on Capitol Hill this week — though infighting in both parties could imperil, or even unravel, progress on all fronts. House lawmakers specifically will have a chance to cement a significant bipartisan breakthrough on legislation establishing an independent panel to investigate the US Capitol insurrection. Here’s what to watch: