Biden news – live: President to give speech celebrating Ketanji Brown Jackson as Covid spreads in Congress
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Joe Biden will give a White House speech today celebrating the confirmation of his first Supreme Court nominee, Ketanji Brown Jackson, who will become the court’s first Black woman justice when she joins the bench later this year.
Having garnered the support of three Republican senators – Susan Collins, Lisa Murkowski, and Mitt Romney – she also received the support of all 50 Democrats. The president yesterday shared video of himself watching the confirmation vote with Ms Brown Jackson at his side.
Meanwhile, Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock has announced that he has tested positive for Covid-19, adding to a growing tally of Congressional cases. Earlier, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi shared the news that she has tested positive for Covid-19, this having just appeared next to President Biden, Chuck Schumer, and other senior figures at a bill signing. The speaker’s team said she is currently asymptomatic.
The news comes as a controversial Covid-19 vaccine for federal employees is reinstated by an appeals court, which overruled a January decision by judge in Texas. According to the White House, more than 93 per cent of government workers have received at least one shot.
Key Points
Ketanji Brown Jackson makes history as first Black woman Supreme Court Justice
Nancy Pelosi tests positive for Covid-19
White House dismisses Covid risk for Biden after Pelosi meet
Psaki says Abbott has no authority for ‘publicity stunt’ plan to bus migrants form Texas to DC
Democratic senator positive for Covid-19
13:50 , Andrew Naughtie
Democratic Senator Raphael Warnock has confirmed that he is positive for Covid-19, this just after House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced she was infected.
Late this afternoon after a routine test, I tested positive for COVID-19.
I’m so thankful to be both vaccinated & boosted, and at the advice of the Attending Physician I plan to isolate.
If you haven’t gotten your shot yet, I encourage you to do so.— Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock (@SenatorWarnock) April 7, 2022
What weapons has the US sent to Ukraine?
13:26 , Andrew Naughtie
The Biden administration’s efforts to assist Ukraine in its fight against the Russian invasion have been increasingly focused on so-called lethal aid, a matter on which the mainstream of both parties can agree. And now we have the clearest picture yet of what has been dispatched since the war began in earnest.
According to a fact sheet released by the Department of Defense, the scale of the US contribution is growing rapidly in both financial and hardware terms. Here’s a summary from defense chief Lloyd Austin.
Just since Feb 24th — when Putin launched his unprovoked and unjustified invasion of Ukraine — the U.S. has committed over $1.7b in security assistance to Ukraine. We will continue to work around the clock to fulfill Ukraine’s priority security assistance requests. pic.twitter.com/PQ8R3mkOw7
— Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III (@SecDef) April 7, 2022
Opinion: Ketanji Brown Jackson should take pride in representing Guantanamo inmates
12:35 , Andrew Naughtie
One of the many Republican lines of attack against Ketanji Brown Jackson during her confirmation hearings was her work defending terrorism suspects held at Guantanamo Bay. Arkansas Senator went so far as to proclaim that had Ms Jackson Brown been alive in the 1940s, she would probably have flown to Germany to defend the Nazis at the Nuremberg Trials.
Writing for The Independent, Eric Lewis takes the opposite line, insisting that the newly confirmed justice-to-be should have defended this part of her record more proudly.
Judge Jackson may have offered an entirely truthful account of her work, but it misses a larger point — namely, that her work on behalf of Guantanamo detainees should not be minimized or explained away. In fact, her efforts represent the very best traditions of the bar and some of the most important work that attorneys can do. I, as well as many others, have done this work for nearly 20 years; these have been the proudest moments of my career and those of many others, not because we support terrorism, but we support the rule of law.
Read his full piece below.
Ketanji Brown Jackson should never have downplayed her work with Gitmo inmates
Joe Biden and Ketanji Brown Jackson watch confirmation vote
11:50 , Andrew Naughtie
President Joe Biden yesterday shared a video of himself and Ketanji Brown Jackson watching her confirmation vote in the Senate, which was presided over by Kamala Harris. The sight of the first Black woman vice president overseeing the elevation of the first Black woman justice to the Supreme Court clearly moved them both.
Historic moment for our courts and for our country. Congratulations, Judge Jackson. pic.twitter.com/eLSfs1QoHB
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 7, 2022
ICYMI: Pelosi positive for Covid
11:18 , Andrew Naughtie
Nancy Pelosi yesterday announced that she had tested positive for Covid-1, making her the most senior member of the government currently infected. She is reportedly asymptomatic, but attended a signing ceremony with Joe Biden, Chuck Schumer and others.
Yet while she was in close proximity to the president, and even embraced him, a spokesperson for the speaker said that “The President is not considered a close contact of Speaker Pelosi as defined by the CDC. The President saw Speaker Pelosi at White House events and had brief interactions over the course of the last two days.”
John Bowden has the story.
Nancy Pelosi tests positive for Covid after attending White House event with Biden
Anti-vaxxers host mock trial for Dr Fauci charging $10,000 for VIP seats
10:10 , Andrew Naughtie
Anti-vaxxers are holding a mock grand jury trial of Dr Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and charging $10,000 a ticket for “VIP jurors”.
“America’s Grand Jury”, an organisation with no legal powers which includes among its members a former Trump administration official, a former state attorney general who faced sexual assault allegations, and a slew of right-wing activists, will hold the event over five days beginning on 11 April, according to The Daily Beast.
Read Graig Graziosi’s report
Anti-vaxxers host mock trial for Dr Fauci charging $10,000 for VIP seats
Jackson confirmation takes Biden political story full circle
09:35 , Andrew Naughtie
It’s a moment 46 days — and more than 46 years — in the making.
President Joe Biden on Friday will celebrate the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman to reach the Supreme Court, marking the pinnacle of her legal career and bringing his political story full circle.
Read full report
Jackson confirmation takes Biden political story full circle
Vaccine mandate reinstated by appeals court
08:59 , Andrew Naughtie
The vaccine mandate for federal workers that Joe Biden introduced last year has been reinstated by an appeals court after being blocked by a judge in Texas earlier this year.
Under the policy, about 3.5m government workers are required to be vaccinated (religious and medical exemptions notwithstanding) or face disciplinary proceedings and/or dismissal. The government’s appeal against the Texas ruling rested on the claim that the dispute over the mandate should have been heard via a civil service grievance resolution process rather than in judicial proceedings.
Read more below:
Appeals court OKs Biden federal employee vaccine mandate
Jen Psaki dismisses Abbott’s vow to bus migrants to DC ‘publicity stunt’
08:45 , Shweta Sharma
White House press secretary Jen Psaki called Texas governor Greg Abbott’s vow to send buses to bring undocumented immigrants to Washington a “public stunt”.
“I’m not aware of what authority the governor would be doing that under. I think it’s pretty clear this is a publicity stunt,” Ms Psaki said when asked about the threat during a press briefing.
“His own office admits that a migrant would need to voluntarily be transported, and he can’t compel them to because, again, enforcement of our country’s immigration laws lies with the federal government, not a state,” Ms Psaki added.
Mr Abbott had said that he would send back immigrants who would cross into Texas to Washington, in response to Biden administration’s move to rescind Title 4.
“We are sending them to the United States capital where the Biden administration will be able to more immediately address the needs of the people that they are allowing to come across our border,” Mr Abbott said.
Biden’s sanctions plan to starve Russia’s ‘war machine’, says deputy treasury secretary
08:00 , Shweta Sharma
US deputy treasury secretary Wally Adeyemo told Reuters that the US is ramping up sanctions against Moscow to deprive the country’s “war machine” of money and components needed to sustain its invasion of Ukraine, but curbing a main source of funding.
He said the US and its allies have “a lot more that we can and we will do”. “What this means is that Russia will be deprived of the capital it needs to build up its economy, but also to invest in its war machine,” Mr Adeyemo said.
He said the US and EU will target Russia’s military supply chains to deny access to “things that are important to building their tanks, to supplying missiles and making sure that they have fewer resources”.
“I think the impact will be immediate in the same way the impact on the economy has been immediate” from prior sanctions, Mr Adeyemo said.
US officials estimate that Russia’s economy is headed for a 10 per cent contraction this year and inflation is approaching 20 per cent.
Jackson will join more diverse and conservative high court
07:11 , Shweta Sharma
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson will join a Supreme Court which is ever more diverse and conservative than it’s been since the 1930s.
After being selected with a 53-47 vote by the Senate, she will join the court in the next several months, until Justice Stephen Breyer retires.
When Jackson takes the bench as a justice for the first time, in October, she will be one of four women and two Black justices — both high court firsts.
And the nine-member court as a whole will be younger than it’s been for nearly 30 years, when Breyer, now 83, came on board.
Read full report
Jackson will join more diverse and conservative high court
Delays expected in passing $10bn in Covid aid in Senate - report
06:58 , Shweta Sharma
A bill to pour $10bn more into Covid programs is reportedly being delayed until after Easter when the senators return from their two-week spring break, reported Politico, citing multiple senators.
“The Republicans are playing politics with the health of the American people,” said senator Elizabeth Warren. “Blocking Covid protection money is a ticking time bomb for public health. So Democrats will come back and try to get the money we need, but this is not a good day for the health of the world.”
This comes after Senate Republicans move to block the legislation from advancing as they were not guaranteed an amendment vote on reinstating Title 42 -- a policy by Mr Trump that allowed expulsion of migrants at the border during the pandemic.
Chinese scientist sentenced over 2 years prison for ‘spying'
05:41 , Shweta Sharma
Department of Justice sentenced over two years of prison term to a Chinese national for “conspiring to commit economic espionage”.
Xiang Haitao, 44, who was residing in Chesterfield, Missouri, pleaded guilty to the charge in January 2022.
According to court documents, Xiang conspired to steal a trade secret from The Climate Corporation, an internationally based company doing business in St Louis, Missouri, for the purpose of benefitting the People’s Republic of China (PRC).
“Xiang conspired to steal an important trade secret to gain an unfair advantage for himself and the PRC,” said assistant attorney general Matthew G Olsen of the Justice Department’s National Security Division.
“The victim companies invested significant time and resources to develop this intellectual property. Economic espionage is a serious offense that can threaten US companies’ competitive advantage, and the National Security Division is committed to holding accountable anyone who steals trade secrets to benefit a foreign government.”
Biden and Jackson celebrate moment with a selfie
05:30 , Oliver O'Connell
The eagle-eyed will notice the photo was taken while everyone waited for Senator Rand Paul to vote.
For those who are asking: pic.twitter.com/iMuM8BArF6
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 7, 2022
White House dismisses Covid risk for Biden after Pelosi meet
05:03 , Shweta Sharma
The White House has dismissed concerns over Joe Biden being at the risk of contracting Covid after he met with speaker Nancy Pelosi, who tested positive earlier in the day on Thursday.
“The way a close contact is defined, it’s not arbitrary, it’s not something made up by the White House, it’s CDC guidelines, and how they define it is being within six feet for a cumulative total of 15 minutes over a 24-hour period,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.
“They were not. All of their interactions were publicly available, I think you saw them, and that’s how that assessment is made,” Ms Psaki added.
The two were at the White House, at times in very close proximity, before Ms Pelosi tested positive during an event marking the Affordable Care Act at which former president Barack Obama was also in attendance.
History made: Ketanji Brown Jackson confirmed as first Black woman Supreme Court Justice
04:45 , Oliver O'Connell
Ketanji Brown Jackson made history on Thursday when the Senate voted 53 to 47 to make her the first Black woman Supreme Court Justice in the country’s history.
Vice President Kamala Harris, herself a historic first as the first Black and Asian American woman vice president, was on hand to preside over the confirmation vote. Ms Jackson’s ascent to the highest court in the land was a moment of celebration for many Democrats.
Eric Garcia reports for The Independent from Capitol Hill.
Ketanji Brown Jackson makes history as first Black woman Supreme Court Justice
Biden federal employee Covid vaccine mandate upheld by US court
04:43 , Shweta Sharma
A US appeals court on Thursday reinstated president Joe Biden’s executive order mandating that federal civilian employees be vaccinated against coronavirus.
In what is seen as a rare win for the administration, the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans reversed a lower court lawsuit challenging the mandate.
The appeals court has 17 active judges dominated by Republicans, including six Trump appointees.
It was after US District Judge Jeffrey Brown, who was appointed to the District Court for the Southern District of Texas by Donald Trump, had issued a nationwide injunction against the mandate in January by a 2-1 vote.
“The injunction seriously harms the public interest by impeding efforts to reduce disruptions from Covid-19 in federal workplaces,” the government’s lawyers said in their court filings.
Psaki: Governor Abbott has no authority for ‘publicity stunt’ plan to bus Texas migrants to DC
04:00 , Oliver O'Connell
White House press secretary accused Texas Gov Greg Abbott of promising an illegal “publicity stunt” on Thursday after the Republican governor vowed that he would place undocumented migrants on chartered buses to Washington DC.
Ms Psaki was asked about the governor’s announcement at her daily news briefing by Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy. In her response, she pointed out that no Texas official, including the governor, had the legal authority to forcibly move persons out of their state, enforce federal immigration law, or even take any official actions across state lines.
John Bowden reports.
Psaki says Abbott lacks authority for ‘publicity stunt’ plan to bus migrants to DC
Video: Obama visits Joe Biden's White House
03:30 , Oliver O'Connell
03:15 , Oliver O'Connell
The Senate has confirmed Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the United States Supreme Court.
This is a historic day for America. pic.twitter.com/xjydHgyPti— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) April 7, 2022
Voices: The most ridiculous questions asked of Ketanji Brown Jackson during her confirmation hearings
02:30 , Oliver O'Connell
Andrew Feinberg recalls some of the mystifyingly absurb questions asked in Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Senate hearings, including: “Do you think we should catch and imprison more or fewer murderers?”
The most ridiculous questions senators asked Ketanji Brown Jackson
ICYMI: US will boycott G20 meetings if Russia allowed to attend
01:45 , Oliver O'Connell
US treasury secretary Janet Yellen said Russia should be expelled from the Group of 20 (G20) and added that the US will boycott “a number of G20 meetings” if Russian officials show up.
Ms Yellen raised questions about Russia’s future in the G20 at a US House Financial Services Committee hearing on Wednesday.
Maroosha Muzaffar reports.
US says it will boycott G20 meetings if Russia is allowed to attend
Congress votes to suspend trade relations with Russia and Belarus and ban energy imports
01:00 , Oliver O'Connell
In a 420-3 vote, the House of Representatives passed legislation suspending permanent normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus amidst Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
The Senate passed the bill unanimously 100-0 earlier on Thursday and it now heads to the desk of President Joe Biden, who plans to sign it.
The three no votes in the House were: Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga), Thomas Massie (R-Ky), and Matt Gaetz (R-Fla).
In addition, in a 413-9 vote, the House passed legislation to ban imports of Russian oil, gas, and other energy products to the US.
The Senate also unanimously passed the bill 100-0 earlier in the day and Mr Biden is likewise planning to sign it into law.
The nine no votes were Republicans Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie, Matt Gaetz, Dan Bishop, Andy Biggs, Chip Roy, and Paul Gosar; and Democrats Ilhan Omar, and Cori Bush.
US warns Xi Jinping of ‘what might come his way’ if China supports Russia
Friday 8 April 2022 00:15 , Oliver O'Connell
A top US state department official has warned president Xi Jinping of “what might come his way” if China supports Russia’s Ukraine invasion.
China could face sanctions similar to Russia if it supported Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion, said Wendy Sherman, the state deparment’s deputy secretary and second-most senior official, to the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday.
Maroosha Muzaffar reports.
US warns Xi Jinping of ‘what might come his way’ if China supports Russia war effort
Voices: Democrats abandoned Ketanji Brown Jackson. Black women came to bear witness
Thursday 7 April 2022 23:30 , Oliver O'Connell
“The absence of Kamala Harris was sorely felt during a vicious set of confirmation hearings,” writes Eric Garcia.
Democrats abandoned Ketanji Brown Jackson. Black women came to bear witness
Senator Susan Collins tests positive for Covid
Thursday 7 April 2022 22:58 , Oliver O'Connell
Senator Susan Collins of Maine has tested positive for Covid-19 shortly after casting her vote to confirm Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson on the floor of the Senate.
Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins' office announced she tested COVID positive and is experiencing some symptoms. She voted to confirm Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court earlier today.
— Kelly O'Donnell (@KellyO) April 7, 2022
Thursday 7 April 2022 22:53 , Oliver O'Connell
Historic moment for our courts and for our country. Congratulations, Judge Jackson. pic.twitter.com/eLSfs1QoHB
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 7, 2022
Alabama legislators pass nation’s first bill making gender-affirming care for trans youth a felony
Thursday 7 April 2022 22:29 , Oliver O'Connell
Alabama’s state legislators gave final approval to a bill that could imprison doctors for up to to a decade for prescribing medical treatments to transgender youth.
The bill criminalising gender-affirming care for transgender people younger than 19 years old is the first in the US to make healthcare for young transgender patients punishable by up to 10 years in prison.
Alex Woodward reports.
Man accused of posing as federal agent mentioned ties to Pakistani intelligence
Thursday 7 April 2022 22:15 , Oliver O'Connell
A man accused of impersonating a federal agent mentioned ties to Pakistani intelligence and had visas for Pakistan and Iran .
One of the two men arrested for allegedly impersonating federal officials and giving real Secret Service agents gifts and free apartments in Washington, DC claimed to have links to Pakistani intelligence.
He also had visas showing that he travelled to Pakistan and Iran, federal prosecutors announced on Thursday.
Gustaf Kilander has been following the story in Washington, DC.
Man accused of impersonating federal agent mentioned ties to Pakistani intelligence
Watch - Obama visits Joe Biden's White House
Thursday 7 April 2022 21:52 , Oliver O'Connell
“I like what you’ve done with the place.” — Former President Barack Obama.
Voices: Ketanji Brown Jackson wrong to downplay work with Guantanamo Bay inmates
Thursday 7 April 2022 21:33 , Oliver O'Connell
“The justice was targeted during her Supreme Court hearings for supposedly helping ‘terrorists’. As someone who has done the same kind of work — and proudly — I find it sad that she felt she had to minimize what she did,” writes Eric Lewis.
Ketanji Brown Jackson should never have downplayed her work with Gitmo inmates
Elon Musk’s mom rips Biden for being ‘completely unaware’ of Spacex achievements
Thursday 7 April 2022 21:14 , Oliver O'Connell
Elon Musk’s mother has a message for the White House: pay more attention to my son.
Maye Musk took to Twitter – where Elon, never one to stay out of the spotlight for long, recently became a board member – to complain that the White House hasn’t sufficiently lauded Mr Musk for his technical achievements.
Josh Marcus reports.
Elon Musk’s mom blasts Biden for being ‘completely unaware’ of SpaceX achievements
Watch - Psaki says Texas governor doesn’t have authority for ‘publicity stunt’ plan to bus migrants to DC
Thursday 7 April 2022 21:05 , Oliver O'Connell
A presidential selfie to mark the historic day
Thursday 7 April 2022 21:02 , Oliver O'Connell
For those who are asking: pic.twitter.com/iMuM8BArF6
— President Biden (@POTUS) April 7, 2022
Two men charged with impersonating federal agents after meeting Jill Biden’s security detail
Thursday 7 April 2022 20:55 , Oliver O'Connell
Two men have reportedly been charged with impersonating federal agents, which enabled them to meet a member of the Secret Service and Jill Biden’s private security detail.
Federal prosecutors said the two men — Arian Taherzadeh, 40, and Haider Ali, 36 — were taken into custody on Wednesday after more than a dozen FBI agents stormed an apartment building in southeastern Washington DC, reports said.
Gino Spocchia has the story.
Two men charged with impersonating federal agents
Psaki says Abbott has no authority for ‘publicity stunt’ plan to bus migrants form Texas to DC
Thursday 7 April 2022 20:36 , Oliver O'Connell
White House press secretary accused Texas Gov Greg Abbott of promising an illegal “publicity stunt” on Thursday after the Republican governor vowed that he would place undocumented migrants on chartered buses to Washington DC.
Ms Psaki was asked about the governor’s announcement at her daily news briefing by Fox News correspondent Peter Doocy. In her response, she pointed out that no Texas official, including the governor, had the legal authority to forcibly move persons out of their state, enforce federal immigration law, or even take any official actions across state lines.
John Bowden reports.
Psaki says Abbott lacks authority for ‘publicity stunt’ plan to bus migrants to DC
