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
Joe Biden confronts a leadership moment
Analysis by Stephen Collinson, CNN An exhausted and impatient nation needs the kind of clarity and leadership only a president can provide as the coronavirus pandemic reaches a potentially decisive stage. President Joe Biden’s responsibilities go far beyond the $1.9 trillion Covid-19 rescue plan on the launchpad in Congress, a federal effort to swiftly accelerate vaccines and a push to get more relief to millions of unemployed. There have been some signs in recent weeks that an injection of new White House urgency has improved the organization of the anti-Covid-19 effort and coordination with state governors who cried out for
Senate passes legislation to award Officer Eugene Goodman Congressional Gold Medal
By Clare Foran and Ted Barrett, CNN The Senate on Friday approved legislation to award a Congressional Gold Medal to Capitol Police Officer Eugene Goodman, who became a national hero for his actions defending the Senate during the siege of the Capitol on January 6. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer paid tribute on the Senate floor to Goodman Friday evening and announced that he would ask the Senate to pass legislation to award him the honor. It passed by unanimous consent. “In the weeks after the attack on January the sixth, the world learned about the incredible bravery of Officer
The end of Trump’s trial lifts an oppressive cloud from Washington
Analysis by Stephen Collinson, CNN The conclusion of Donald Trump’s impeachment trial finally ends the ex-President’s stranglehold on Washington’s every waking moment and offers President Joe Biden a first chance to fully exercise his influence and power. While the coming days in the capital may not be as wrenching as last week — which saw a horrific recreation of the terror inside the Capitol on January 6 by House impeachment managers — they will be even more critical to the nation’s short-term fate. Biden can now claim the full attention of Congress and the public as he seeks to drive
Why Rep. James Clyburn is pushing to make ‘Lift Every Voice and Sing’ the US national hymn
By Eryn Mathewson and Zoë Saunders, CNN This year, Rep. James Clyburn (D-SC) is bringing some extra attention to “Lift Every Voice and Sing” and sponsoring a bill that would make it the US national hymn. “My goal is to make a contribution to trying to bring this country back together,” he told CNN’s Don Lemon on Silence Is Not an Option. “I just think that if we were to make this hymn our national hymn, it will help us to really create a climate within which we can find common ground.” After the racial reckoning that unfolded last year,