Harris Leads White House Push to Protect Voting Rights
By Arlette Saenz and Jasmine Wright Vice President Kamala Harris is making voting rights her top public focus, elevating a long-shot battle as she seeks to more clearly define her role and stake out high-value territory within the Biden administration. A little more than six months into her time in office, Harris is also hiring new staff to replace those who announced their departures earlier this summer. One source says they’re even considering additions to her communications team, citing heightened interest in her vice presidency, which at times has seen some missteps and intense scrutiny. The vice president’s carefully crafted
Rep. Hank Johnson Arrested in 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 Resists Filibuster Change Despite Voting Rights Push
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.
Mandela Barnes Launches 2022 Wisconsin Senate Campaign
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
Senate GOP Poised to Block Bipartisan Infrastructure Vote
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
DNC Launches Outreach Team to Engage Voters of Color
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’s Cabinet Meets on Covid, Infrastructure, Cybersecurity
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 After Meeting Texas Democrats with Covid
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
Voting Rights Fight Honors John Lewis Amid Growing Tensions
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
Texas Democrats Fight Voting Bills Amid GOP Push
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
