Related video: Key moments from Biden’s first televised national address
In a note to clients, investment bank Goldman Sachs predicted that the post-pandemic period could see China-like economic growth in the US at rates not seen since the Reagan era.
The president also said that while there has been much speculation about his predecessor being asked to help promote the Covid-19 vaccine to his supporters, Mr Biden feels that local doctors and ministers would do a better job.
White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in Monday’s press briefing: “If former President Trump woke up tomorrow and wanted to be more vocal about the safety and efficacy of the vaccine certainly we’d support that.”
She also noted that every other living former president has done that and “they did not need an engraved invitation to do so.”
Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner has returned to the spotlight with a controversial op-ed written for The Wall Street Journal in which he refers to the Israel–Palestine conflict as a “real estate dispute” and boldly predicts: “We are witnessing the latest vestiges of what has been known as the Arab-Israeli conflict.”
Cuomo refuses to take questions
New York Governor Andrew Cuomo refused to take questions from the media during a trip to a vaccine site where he announced he was going to take the coronavirus vaccine, ignoring calls from from prominent politicians for his resignation over sexual harassment allegations.
To add heat to the already boiling water the governor has found himself in, Mayor Bill De Blasio of New York City has also called for an investigation into his vaccine czar to determine whether or not political favours were traded for access to Covid shots.
Graig Graziosi reports.
Justin Vallejo15 March 2021 23:50
Cuomo accuser says governor had a preoccupation with ‘large size of his hands’
Size matters to Andrew Cuomo, according to a lawyer for sexual harassment accuser Charlotte Bennett.
In a meeting with investigators on Monday, Ms Bennett revealed an alleged obsession with large hands not seen since “short-fingered vulgarian” Donald Trump guaranteed the world he didn’t have any little digit dilemmas.
“One piece of new information that came to light today was the governor’s preoccupation with his hand size and what the large size of his hands indicated to Charlotte and other members of his staff.”
The governor’s office did not immediately respond to The Independent’s request for comment on claims he was preoccupied with the size of his hands.
Justin Vallejo15 March 2021 23:25
BREAKING: Deb Haaland confirmed as first ever Native American cabinet secretary
Deb Haaland has been confirmed as the first Native American cabinet secretary – a historic victory for those campaigning for a more diverse and representative government.
The 60-year-old Democratic congresswoman, who represents New Mexico’s 1st congressional district, was confirmed as Joe Biden’s interior secretary, in a 51-40 vote in the Senate.
The Independent’s Andrew Buncombe has the story.
Justin Vallejo15 March 2021 23:00
Donald Trump calls Washington Post correction ‘media travesty’
Trump issued a lengthy statement on The Washington Post’s correction about his call between a Georgia election official, saying it shows that “legacy media outlets should be regarded as political entities—not journalistic enterprises”.
The Post on Monday issued a correction to a report in January about a call between the ex-president and Georgia elections investigator Frances Watson, in which it misattributed quotes to Trump saying she would be a “national hero” if she was able to “find the fraud”.
Trump said establishment media errors, omissions, mistakes, and “outright lies” slant one way against Republicans.
“Meanwhile, stories that hurt Democrats or undermine their narratives are buried, ignored, or delayed until they can do the least harm—for example, after an election is over. Look no further than the negative coverage of the vaccine that preceded the election and the overdue celebration of the vaccine once the election had concluded. A strong democracy requires a fair and honest press,” Trump said.
“In any event, I thank The Washington Post for the correction.”
Justin Vallejo15 March 2021 22:40
Alaska GOP censures Lisa Murkowski, vows primary challenge
The Republican party in Alaska voted to censure senator Lisa Murkowski for voting to impeach Donald Trump over the US Capitol riot
While the censure is just an official rebuke and expression of disapproval, the party followed up with a promise to recruit a challenger to oppose Murkowski in the primaries.
“We’re looking for somebody else to be our U.S. Senator in 2022, and somebody who will be more in line with the Republican philosophy,” Kris Warren, who wrote Saturday’s resolution and serves as the chairman of the Republican Party in an Anchorage House district, told The Anchorage Daily News.
He told The Hill, meanwhile, that the party had a number of issues with Murkowski over the last several years, including votes on the Affordable Care Act, trans women in sport, and were position during the nomination of Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh and support for Joe Biden’s head of the Interior Department.
Justin Vallejo15 March 2021 22:30
The Washington Post issues major correction over bombshell Trump Georgia call
In a significant mea culpa for a national newspaper, The Washington Post issued a correction to a report in January about the call between ex-president Donald Trump and Georgia elections investigator Frances Watson.
The quotes purporting to show Trump urge Georgia’s lead elections investigator she would be a “national hero” if she was able to “find the fraud” were widely reported in multiple media outlets, including The Independent.
“The recording revealed that the Post misquoted Trump’s comments on the call, based on information provided by a source,” the Post said in its correction.
“Trump did not tell the investigator to “find the fraud” or say she would be “a national hero” if she did so. Instead, Trump urged the investigator to scrutinize ballots in Fulton County, Ga., asserting she would find ‘dishonesty’ there. He also told her that she had ‘the most important job in the country right now’.”
Justin Vallejo15 March 2021 22:12
John Oliver eviscerates Tucker Carlson as ‘vessel’ for ‘white supremacist talking points’
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Oliver O’Connell15 March 2021 21:44
Capitol Police scaling back fencing around Congress
Capitol Police have modified the fencing around the congressional complex to improve conditions for drivers and pedestrians.
Earlier today, the acting House sergeant-at-arms sent a memo saying that they do not see a known or credible threat and the perimeter would be made smaller. Razor wire installed on the inner fence would be taken down.
A statement emphasises that the current National Guard support and infrastructure is temporary and not part of the long-term plans for improving security at the Capitol.
Oliver O’Connell15 March 2021 21:25
New Yorkers not convinced Cuomo should resign
Half of New Yorkers say Andrew Cuomo should not resign amid increasing calls from top state officials to step down amid sexual harassment claims.
A new poll from Siena College Research Institute released on Monday found 50 per cent think he shouldn’t resign compared to 35 per cent who think he should. More than a third of voters, 35 per cent, believe he committed sexual harassment while 24 per cent believe he had not.
The poll was conducted in the second week of March, before some of the latest allegations came to light and New York senators Chuck Schumer and Kristen Gillibrand joined calls for his removal in recent days.
Justin Vallejo reports for The Independent.
Oliver O’Connell15 March 2021 21:11
Pelosi hails ‘shots in arms, money in pockets’
Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi lauds American Rescue Plan that puts “shots in arms, money in pockets, children in schools, and people in jobs.”
Oliver O’Connell15 March 2021 20:59
Romney warns against Beijing Winter Olympics boycott
Utah Senator Mitt Romney has spoken out against calls to boycott next year’s winter Olympics in Beijing, writing that for the US to back out would be “unfair” to American athletes and would do nothing to change the behaviour of the Chinese Communist Party.
Andrew Naughtie reports.
Oliver O’Connell15 March 2021 20:52
Second gentleman visits Las Vegas food bank
Doug Emhoff makes his first stop on the Help Is Here Tour, visiting the Three Square Food Bank in Las Vegas.
The second gentleman will tour the facility and warehouse with Jodi Tyson, VP of Strategic Initiatives, and Brian Burton, President and CEO of Three Square.
There will then be a listening session with members of the Las Vegas community that have been affected by food insecurity.
Three Square is southern Nevada’s only food bank, and the area’s largest hunger-relief organisation, serving Clark, Lincoln, Esmeralda, and Nye counties.
Ms Tyson and Mr Emhoff discussed the Las Vegas area’s unemployment and food insecurity problems during the pandemic and how Three Square has adapted to meet new needs.
The second gentleman asked Ms Tyson how she is doing while dealing with all the difficulties of the past year. In answering her voice cracked and Mr Emhoff thanked her for all she does.
Three Square partners with the division of welfare and supportive services that works with SNAP and other services. The second gentleman is asked about resources.
“I wish you could see my smile right now. The changes we’ve seen already with the Biden and Harris administration — it hasn’t changed my life personally but the people that we serve — I had tears in my eyes because I knew they were going to be able to go back to work and start using that money,” said Robert Thompson, deputy administrator of Division of Welfare and Supportive Services.
“Even with the mask, I see your smile, I feel the passion, thank you,” Mr Emhoff replied.
Oliver O’Connell15 March 2021 20:32
Biden USPS board nominations to Senate
Joe Biden has sent four nominations to the Senate for the board of governors of the United States Postal Service.
Per a White House email:
Anton George Hajjar, of Maryland, to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2023, vice Carolyn L. Gallagher, term expired.
Amber Faye McReynolds, of Colorado, to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2026, vice David Williams, term expired.
Ronald Stroman, of the District of Columbia, to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2021, vice Ellen C. Williams, term expired.
Ronald Stroman, of the District of Columbia, to be a Governor of the United States Postal Service for a term expiring December 8, 2028.
In addition
Bonnie D. Jenkins, of New York, to be Under Secretary of State for Arms Control and International Security, vice Andrea L. Thompson, resigned.
Oliver O’Connell15 March 2021 20:12
US considers moving to three-foot distancing in schools
The nation’s leading infectious disease expert has suggested an update to the six-foot social distancing guidelines could mean US schools reopen much faster than previously expected.
Speaking to CNN’s “State of the Union” on Sunday, Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Disease, said a new study led by the Beth Deaconess Medical Center in Massachusetts could reshape the way students go back to school by implementing a three-foot social distancing guideline instead of the current six-foot measure.
Chris Riotta reports.
Oliver O’Connell15 March 2021 20:10
Harris stops for tacos
“No shirt. No shoes. No mask. No tacos,” the vice president joked to the co-owner.
Oliver O’Connell15 March 2021 20:02
Goldman Sachs predicts possible Biden boom
Joe Biden could preside over an economic boom and rapid growth as the US recovers from the crash caused by the coronavirus pandemic according to economists at Goldman Sachs.
The result could boost Democrat hopes of cementing their hold on power in the 2022 midterm elections.
Economists at the Wall Street investment bank forecast gross domestic product growth of more than 7 per cent in 2021 — up from 2.3 percent in 2019. Such China-like numbers have not been since the Reagan administration.
They also predict unemployment falling to 3.5 per cent from the current level of 6.2 per cent recorded February.
A note to clients said that pent-up savings, the reopening of economic activities, and a raft of federal Covid relief measures could form “powerful growth impulses” for the economy.
A booming economy and low unemployment could be a major factor in swing states and poorer regions when Americans head to the polls again.
Oliver O’Connell15 March 2021 19:55
Harris tours UNLV vaccination site
Vice President Harris has toured a vaccination site at the University of Nevada Las Vegas on the first stop of her schedule in the Help Is Here Tour.
“Thank you for being in the most noble profession in the world,” she says to healthcare workers.
Oliver O’Connell15 March 2021 19:35
Voices: Why has Biden done zero press conferences?
Though DC is panicking, us in the Midwest feel a little differently about the new president staying off our screens, writes Stephen Lyons.
Oliver O’Connell15 March 2021 19:31
McCarthy claims people on terrorist watch list crossing border
GOP House leader Keving McCarthy claims people on the terrorist watchlist are being caught crossing the southern border from Mexico into the US, including people from Yemen, Iran, and Turkey.
Oliver O’Connell15 March 2021 19:27
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