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April 20th, 2021 
Awake Goy 
Biden announces Covid vaccines available for all adults
Joe Biden has paid tribute to Walter Mondale, the former vice president who has died aged 93.
Mr Mondale served as Jimmy Carter’s deputy and went on to lose the 1984 presidential election to Ronald Reagan. Mr Biden described him as “unwavering in his pursuit of progress” and said he commanded “universal respect” on Capitol Hill.
Meanwhile, Mr Biden’s administration has banned immigration authorities from using charged terms like “illegal alien”.
The head of US Customs and Border Protection claimed his agency intended to maintain “the dignity of every individual with whom we interact”.
Biden ‘to slash amount of nicotine in cigarettes’
The Biden administration may force tobacco companies to slash the amount of nicotine contained in cigarettes, a report says.
The White House is considering implementing a measure that would force cigarette companies to adjust the levels of nicotine in their products to a non-addictive or minimally-addictive level, according to The Wall Street Journal.
They are also reportedly considering a total ban on menthol products, which have long been considered a gateway product for younger smokers, writes Graeme Massie.
Jon Sharman20 April 2021 12:41
Biden administration weighing how to respond after verdict in Chauvin trial
The Biden administration is privately weighing how to handle the upcoming verdict in the trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, including considering whether Joe Biden should address the nation and dispatching specially trained community facilitators from the Justice Department, aides and officials told The Associated Press.
Closing arguments began Monday in Chauvin’s trial with a prosecutor telling jurors that the officer “had to know” he was squeezing the life out of George Floyd as he cried over and over that he couldn’t breathe and finally fell silent. Chauvin faces murder and manslaughter charges.
The plans for possible presidential remarks are still fluid, with the timing, venue and nature of the remarks still being considered, in part depending on the timing of the verdict, according to two White House aides who were not authorized to speak publicly about private conversations and spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity.
Jon Sharman20 April 2021 12:22
Donald Trump tells Sean Hannity border crisis ‘could destroy our country’
Donald Trump says the border crisis could “destroy America” in the ex-president’s first major TV interview since leaving office, writes Graeme Massie.
Mr Trump attacked the Biden administration’s handling of the immigration surge and told Sean Hannity of Fox News that the president should have stuck with his crackdown.
“They’re playing it down as much as they can play it down. It’s a horrible situation, could destroy our country,” said the one-term president.
Jon Sharman20 April 2021 11:58
Justice Amy Coney Barrett receives reported $2m advance for book deal
Supreme Court Justice Amy Coney Barrett, who was appointed by Donald Trump last year, has signed a book deal securing a $2m (£1.4m) advance, according to a report.
Ms Barrett, whose rushed appointment following the death of liberal champion Ruth Bader Ginsberg gave conservatives a convincing 6-3 majority in America’s top court, raised concerns among progressives due to her views on abortion and healthcare, writes Stuti Mishra.
Now, Ms Barrett has signed a deal to write a book about how judges should not bring their personal feelings into their decision making. The contract includes an “eye-raising” $2m forward payment, according to Politico, whichquoted three sources with knowledge of the deal.
Jon Sharman20 April 2021 11:30
Nine shot at child’s 12th birthday party in Louisiana
At least nine children were wounded in a shooting on Saturday, at a birthday party in Louisiana after a verbal duel between two groups of young boys, the police have said. Two out of nine are still in hospital on Monday while the rest were treated and released, writes Maroosha Muzaffar.
The birthday party of a 12-year old at Golfview Drive in LaPlace, Louisiana was taking place in a garage when neighbours heard gunshots around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday. The authorities have said that more than one weapon was used.
Eight of the nine victims were all boys between the ages of 12 to 17. The two, aged 14 and 16, still undergoing treatment at a hospital were shot in the head and stomach respectively. Doctors have said that they are in stable condition, St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office confirmed.
It comes amid a spate of mass shootings that will put pressure on Joe Biden to drive through reforms to gun rules. The president has already taken executive action on some peripheral issues – like so-called “ghost guns” – but is pushing for legislative measures.
“Gun violence in this country is an epidemic and an international embarrassment,” Mr Biden said earlier in April.
Jon Sharman20 April 2021 11:01
US ambassador leaves Moscow for ‘consultation’
The US ambassador in Moscow has announced he is returning home for consultations with the Biden administration.
John Sullivan said he would go back this week to discuss US-Russian ties, but added that he planned to be back in Moscow within weeks.
“I believe it is important for me to speak directly with my new colleagues in the Biden administration in Washington about the current state of bilateral relations between the United States and Russia,” Mr Sullivan said in a statement.
“Also, I have not seen my family in well over a year, and that is another important reason for me to return home for a visit.”
His departure comes after Russia stopped short of asking hime to leave on Friday, but said it “suggested” that he follow the example of the Russian ambassador to Washington who was recalled for consultations last month after Joe Biden’s description of Vladimir Putin as a “killer”.
Russia has set no time frame for Anatoly Antonov’s return to Washington.
On Thursday, the Biden administration announced sanctions on Russia for interfering in the 2020 US presidential election and involvement in the SolarWind hack of federal agencies – activities Moscow has denied.
Washington ordered 10 Russian diplomats expelled, targeted dozens of companies and people and imposed new curbs on Russia’s ability to borrow money.
Russia said this was “absolutely unfriendly and unprovoked” and retaliated by ordering 10 US diplomats to leave, blacklisting eight current and former American officials and tightening rules on the US embassy operations.
Additional reporting by AP
Jon Sharman20 April 2021 10:34
New York opens investigation into Governor Andrew Cuomo’s book
The New York state attorney general has opened an investigation into governor Andrew Cuomo’s possible use of state resources for the “development and promotion” of his book on the coronavirus pandemic, writes Akshita Jain.
State comptroller Thomas DiNapoli’s office authorised New York attorney general Letitia James to investigate if the process of writing and promoting the book, American Crisis: Leadership Lessons from the Covid-19 Pandemic, violated state laws.
The referral letter asks Ms James to look at “any indictable offense” in violation of the law which relates to ”the use of property, services or resources of the state for personal purposes, private business purposes or other compensated non-governmental purposes by the Executive Chamber”, according to The Hill.
Jon Sharman20 April 2021 10:05
US House condemns China over Hong Kong crackdown in near-unanimous vote
The US House of Representatives on Monday passed a near-unanimous resolution condemning China over the Hong Kong crackdown, with only one lawmaker against it, writes Mayank Aggarwal.
The resolution adopted by a 418-1 vote asks Hong Kong and the Chinese government to release pro-democracy activists and politicians who have arrested and imprisoned under the stringent national security law enacted by Beijing.
The House’s foreign affairs committee chairman Gregory Meeks said: “By passing this resolution, the House sends a strong bipartisan message demanding that the Chinese and Hong Kong governments respect the will of the people of Hong Kong,” according to The Hill.
Jon Sharman20 April 2021 09:02
Trump says he is ‘beyond seriously’ considering 2024 presidential run
Donald Trump has once again teased the idea of running for president in 2024, saying he is considering it “beyond seriously” as he is more popular now than he was during his four years in office, writes Shweta Sharma.
“I am looking at it very seriously, beyond seriously,” Mr Trump told Sean Hannity on the Fox News channel. “From a legal standpoint, I don’t want to really talk about it yet, it’s a little too soon.”
The former president said he was enjoying “more popularity” now than the day before the November election and hit out at Joe Biden’s decision making on immigration policies, gun regulations and tax changes.
Jon Sharman20 April 2021 08:41
Long after the loss, Mondale’s liberal legacy still relevant
In the last days of his life, former vice president Walter Mondale received a steady stream of phone calls of appreciation. Former presidents Jimmy Carter and Bill Clinton, president Joe Biden and vice president Kamala Harris all called to say goodbye and thank you.
It was a sign of respect for a man many Americans remember largely for his near-shutout defeat for the White House in 1984. But well after his bruising loss, Mondale remained a revered liberal elder — with a list of accomplishments that are still relevant today.
Jon Sharman20 April 2021 08:20
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