Courtesy of Spelman College Spelman College has been awarded a $2.5 million grant from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to establish the Spelman Strategic and Security Studies Center. The Center will serve as an advanced educational hub specializing in
MoreMaxine Waters is planning to call multiple hearings on the GameStop frenzy
By Matt Egan, CNN Business Congresswoman Maxine Waters plans to thoroughly investigate the GameStop trading frenzy by holding multiple hearings on the matter. Waters, the chairwoman of the powerful House Financial Services Committee, told CNN Business she will likely hold three hearings, with the first one occurring Thursday. Subsequent hearings could focus on expert testimony and potential legislation, Waters said. “The size of the occurrence is such that we need to put substantive time on it,” Waters said in an interview, “to make sure we understand exactly what happened, how it happened and whether or not there are conflicts of
Biden administration confronts regulatory maze and hazy messaging in push to reopen schools
Analysis by Maeve Reston and Stephen Collinson, CNN President Joe Biden’s promise to try to open schools within his first 100 days has become one of most vexing puzzles facing the new administration, leading to confusion and anger among parents who still aren’t getting clear answers. There are few more urgent issues facing the country with the pandemic about to hit the one-year mark. Many kids have been out of in-person school for almost that long. Online school is especially tough for lower income children, particularly for households where parents cannot oversee daily school work because their careers require them
White House announces sweeping immigration bill
By Priscilla Alvarez and Lauren Fox, CNN The White House announced a sweeping immigration bill Thursday that would create an eight-year path to citizenship for millions of immigrants already in the country and provide a faster track for undocumented immigrants brought to the US as children. The legislation faces an uphill climb in a narrowly divided Congress, where House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has just a five-vote margin and Senate Democrats do not have the 60 Democratic votes needed to pass the measure with just their party’s support. Administration officials argued Wednesday evening that the legislation was an attempt by President
Two lifelines for America
Analysis by Zachary B. Wolf, CNN Two different Americas are waiting on lifelines. For part of the country, it’s a literal shot in the arm — the vaccine. For the other it’s a metaphorical shot — the new stimulus package that will help keep them going while we’re stuck in the Covid economy. Tuesday’s CNN town hall was President Joe Biden’s moment to move on from the impeachment trial that wrapped up over the weekend. Here are 6 of Biden’s top priorities On vaccines: CNN reached out to all 50 states about what their health departments would like to see
Biden says teachers should move up in priority to receive Covid-19 vaccine
By Christina Maxouris, CNN President Joe Biden said during a CNN town hall Tuesday that teachers should be moved higher on the list of those who are getting vaccinated against Covid-19. “I think that we should be vaccinating teachers. We should move them up in the hierarchy,” he said. Later, responding to a question from a high school teacher on how schools can safely reopen and whether school staff should be vaccinated before returning to class, Biden said officials are not suggesting large classes to resume at this time, urging instead for “smaller classes, more ventilation, making sure that everybody
Leading House Democrat sues Donald Trump under a post-Civil War law for conspiracy to incite US Capitol riot
By Jessica Schneider, CNN Former President Donald Trump and attorney Rudy Giuliani are being accused of conspiring with the far-right groups Proud Boys and Oath Keepers to incite the January 6 insurrection in a civil lawsuit filed Tuesday in federal court by the Democratic chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. The suit cites a post-Civil War law designed to combat violence and intimidation by the Ku Klux Klan. The lawsuit, filed by Mississippi Democratic Rep. Bennie Thompson in his personal capacity, is the first civil action filed against the former President related to the attack at the US Capitol
6 TAKEAWAYS FROM JOE BIDEN’S CNN TOWN HALL
Analysis by Chris Cillizza, CNN Editor-at-large President Joe Biden took part in his first town hall since entering the White House last month, answering questions from CNN’s Anderson Cooper (and audience members) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. I watched, took notes and have some thoughts about what mattered most — and why. My takeaways are below. 1. A hard deadline on vaccinations: Less than five minutes into the town hall, Biden made a promise that will be the big news not just tomorrow but for months to come: He said that “by the end of July, we’ll have over 600 million doses,
Here’s what’s in the House Democrats’ stimulus relief plan
By Tami Luhby and Katie Lobosco, CNN House Democrats were busy last week advancing a wide range of coronavirus relief provisions, all part of President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus package. This coming week, the House Budget Committee will assemble a final bill based off the measures approved by at least nine committees. Most of them — but not all — adhere closely to what Biden outlined in his proposal last month. The full House may pass the legislation as soon as next week, but it could face hurdles in the Senate, where Democrats can’t afford to lose a single
Black leaders want targeted federal funds for Black businesses hit hard by pandemic
By Nicquel Terry Ellis and Adrienne Broaddus, CNN Civil rights activists and business leaders have asked President Joe Biden’s administration to include targeted funding for Black-owned businesses in the next Covid-19 relief package. They also say that without the federal aid many businesses could be forced to close their doors in the next 90 days. Members of the National Urban League and the U.S. Black Chambers are among the groups demanding that Biden’s $1.9 trillion stimulus plan allocate money that will exclusively go to Black entrepreneurs. “It should be specific,” said Ron Busby, president and CEO of U.S. Black Chambers.
Kamala Harris’ marriage could challenge a racial taboo
Analysis by John Blake, CNN Nikki Buskirk was watching vice presidential nominee Kamala Harris and her husband Doug Emhoff wave to supporters at an Election Night celebration in November when the future second gentleman did something that made Buskirk glow with admiration. The couple had just taken the stage in downtown Wilmington, Delaware, when red, white, and blue fireworks suddenly exploded in the evening sky. Buskirk says she watched as Emhoff instinctively stepped toward Harris to protect her. That gesture touched Buskirk because her marriage had set off some fireworks of its own. She’s a proud Black woman and Black