“In other news early today, results from a U.S. trial of AstraZeneca’s COVID-19 vaccine may have used ‘outdated information,’ U.S. federal health officials said. The Data and Safety Monitoring Board said it was concerned that AstraZeneca may have provided an incomplete view of the efficacy data. AstraZeneca reported Monday that its vaccine provided strong protection among adults of all ages, a finding that could help move it a step closer to clearance for use in the U.S.” Read more at USA Today
“Ten people were killed Monday, including a police officer, when a gunman opened fire at a supermarket in Boulder, Colorado . It was the second mass shooting in the U.S. in a week. The police officer who died was identified as Eric Talley, 51, an 11-year veteran on the Boulder force, who was responding to the King Soopers grocery market when he was gunned down. Immediate details on the shooting were scant, but officials have confirmed that a suspect is in custody. No motive for the attack was disclosed. The White House said President Joe Biden has been briefed on Monday's attack and will be kept up to date on developments. The FBI office in Denver tweeted that it was assisting in the investigation at the request of the Boulder police.” Read more at USA Today
“White House officials are preparing to present President Biden with a roughly $3 trillion infrastructure and jobs package that includes high-profile domestic policy priorities such as free community college and universal prekindergarten, according to three people familiar with internal discussions.
After completing the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package this month, Biden administration officials are piecing together the next major legislative priority. Although no final announcement has been made, the White House is expected to push a multitrillion jobs and infrastructure plan as the centerpiece of the president’s ‘Build Back Better’ agenda.
That effort is expected to be broken into two parts — one focused on infrastructure, and the other focused on other domestic priorities such as growing the newly expanded child tax credit for several years. The people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe private conversations, stressed that planning was preliminary and subject to change. Some aides said that the package’s final price tag remains unclear.” Read more at Washington Post
“What Biden would do
Infrastructure. The centerpiece of the package is a set of proposals to improve the country’s infrastructure, including money for roads, bridges, broadband access and energy-efficient houses and electric cars. Many of the infrastructure provisions are “directly related to the fight against climate change,” our colleague Jim Tankersley told us. “Administration officials essentially see those two goals — building out 21st century infrastructure and transitioning to a low-carbon future — as inseparable.”
Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez told The Times’s Lisa Friedman that she was encouraged by what she had heard about the infrastructure policies and likened them to her Green New Deal plan. ‘One of the big goals we had when we introduced the Green New Deal was to show how people thought about climate change from being a billion dollar problem to a trillion-dollar opportunity,’ she said. ‘This infrastructure package generally seems to be shaping up in that kind of framework.’
Education. Biden wants to expand public education on both ends of the age spectrum. His plan is likely to make pre-K universal for both 3- and 4-year-olds, through federal funding of local programs, and would increase funding for community colleges. The ultimate goal is to move the public-education system from its current K-12 system to something that starts at age 3 and extends through two years of college.
Child payments and paid leave. The virus-relief bill included a few large items to help middle-class and poor families — but they all expire in the next year or so. This new package would extend a monthly child payment that starts at $250 per child for most families, as well as a big expansion of paid family leave. These provision would significantly reduce both economic and racial inequalities.
Health care. Biden’s plan would expand Obamacare by extending several two-year provisions in the virus-relief bill, The Times’s Margot Sanger-Katz says. It would cut costs for nearly every family that receives coverage through the law and expand subsidies to some making more than $100,000 a year.
The package may also include a measure to limit how much pharmaceutical companies can charge Medicare for prescription drugs, which could lead to lower prices for private insurance plans.
The plan does not appear to include another idea Biden has said he favors — expanding access to government insurance plans, through a public option or allowing younger people to buy into Medicare.
Paying for it
Lower prescription-drug costs would cover some of the package’s $3 trillion to $4 trillion in new spending over 10 years. But a bigger source of money would be higher taxes on the affluent — people making at least $400,000 a year — and on corporations.
Republicans are unlikely to support any such tax increases, which means Democrats would need to pass major parts of the package through a Senate mechanism known as reconciliation. Bills that go through reconciliation need only 51 votes in the Senate, rather than 60, to pass.
What’s next: Biden’s advisers are leaning toward splitting the package into two different bills, partly in the hope of securing Republican support for some of them.
That won’t be easy. Congressional Republicans have almost uniformly opposed the top legislative priorities of each new Democratic president over the past three decades.” Read more at New York Times
“The United States, the European Union, Britain and Canada each announced sanctions against China over human rights abuses in Xinjiang, a coordinated effort aimed at holding Beijing accountable for a years-long campaign against Uyghurs and other minority groups in the northwestern Chinese region.
The diplomatic push, announced Monday, comes just after a tense meeting between U.S. and Chinese officials and amid growing calls for democracies to work together to take on an increasingly authoritarian and assertive Beijing.
The E.U. was first to move, saying early Monday that it would hit four Chinese officials and a public security bureau with travel bans and asset freezes — its most significant measures since an arms embargo following the 1989 killings in Tiananmen Square.
China quickly responded, leveling similar measures against a list of its European critics.” Read more at Washington Post
“All New Yorkers age 50 and older on Tuesday become eligible to receive the coronavirus vaccine and can sign up beginning at 8 a.m. ET, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday. Previously, everyone age 60 and older could get vaccinated, as well as certain essential workers and people with select health conditions. Cuomo said the state expanded eligibility because of promises from the federal government that vaccine supplies will keep increasing. Also Tuesday, Russian president Vladimir Putin says he will get a vaccine shot, answering critics who complained that his reluctance to get vaccinated was slowing the country's rollout.” Read more at USA Today
“Miami Beach plans to extend its state of emergency instituted for the entertainment district by city officials Saturday to control spring break crowds. The declaration of extension, expected Tuesday, will authorize a curfew Thursday night through early Monday morning that will be eligible for extension on a weekly basis through April 13, Melissa Berthier, spokesperson for the city of Miami Beach told USA TODAY. The amended state of emergency will also limit traffic on three causeways leading to South Beach in an effort to keep all but residents, hotel guests and employees from driving onto the island. The decision comes after Miami Beach Police said more than 1,000 people have been arrested this spring break season.” Read more at USA Today
“With each shot in the arm, more and more of us are letting down our guards, Axios managing editor Margaret Talev writes from a new installment of the Axios/Ipsos Coronavirus Index.
Nine in 10 respondents said they know someone who's already been vaccinated, and 36% said they've been vaccinated themselves.
But it's the unvaccinated who are returning to activities outside the home at the highest rates.
52% of unvaccinated Americans reported seeing friends and relatives outside the home in the past week, compared with just 41% of those who'd been vaccinated.” Read more at Axios
“Jury selection in the murder trial of former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd will resume Tuesday ahead of opening arguments next week . Fourteen of 15 total jurors have been selected so far — 12 to deliberate and three to serve as alternates. Attorneys for the defense and prosecution have spent the past two weeks questioning potential jurors about their views on racism, discrimination, policing of communities of color and Black Lives Matter. As of Monday afternoon, the defense has used 14 of its 18 peremptory challenges, which it can use to strike potential jurors without having to explain why. The state has used eight of its 10. Chauvin is charged with second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter.” Read more at USA Today
“A national civic engagement group led by former first lady Michelle Obama and others is sending an open letter to Americans on Tuesday, urging them to press members of Congress to support sweeping voting rights legislation. The open letter from When We All Vote, first obtained by USA TODAY, calls for support of the voting rights bill being debated in the U.S. Senate. It is signed by more than 60 high-profile people, including celebrities, athletes and civil rights activists. The letter is part of a national campaign to ramp up pressure on Congress to pass S.1 or the ‘For the People Act.’ The legislation would, among other things, expand same-day voter registration and early voting. The move comes in the wake of many states adopting mostly Republican-sponsored election measures that restrict access to voting.” Read more at USA Today
589
“The number of digital ads the US State Department put on Facebook and Instagram to try to deter would-be migrants at the border. The ads have reached over 26 million people, with over 73 million impressions, according to the White House.” Read more at CNN
“Social media giants have scrambled to clear misinformation from their platforms, but those efforts aren't likely to appease furious lawmakers in both parties, Axios' Margaret Harding McGill writes.
When they testify virtually before House lawmakers on Thursday, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, Google CEO Sundar Pichai and Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey will argue they're doing what they can to stem misinformation and extremism online.
But those policy changes haven't always equaled results.” Read more at Axios
“DoorDash is offering same-day on-demand delivery of FDA-authorized COVID test kits.” Read more at Axios
“Jack Dorsey’s first tweet sells as NFT for $2.9 million. The first message that Twitter's chief executive posted to the platform in 2006 has become the latest digital collectible to haul in more than $1 million amid a flurry of interest from buyers. The winning bidder technically owns a digital certificate of the tweet.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“Krispy Kreme has come up with a way to make getting the Covid-19 vaccine extra sweet.
Starting Monday until the end of the year, if you take your vaccination card to any Krispy Kreme location in the US, you can get a free glazed doughnut each day, the company said in a news release.
The card must show one or two shots of any of the Covid-19 vaccines to qualify, and it must be redeemed at a store. You don't need to buy anything to get your daily free doughnut.
‘We all want to get COVID-19 behind us as fast as possible and we want to support everyone doing their part to make the country safe by getting vaccinated as soon as the vaccine is available to them,’ said Dave Skena, Krispy Kreme chief marketing officer.
However, the company acknowledges that not everyone will get the vaccine.
‘We understand that choosing to receive the COVID-19 vaccine is a highly personal decision,’ the news release says.
Those who decide not to get the Covid-19 vaccine can still get a free glazed doughnut and a medium coffee on Mondays from March 29 to May 24.” Read more at CNN
“Leon Black steps down as Apollo chairman. The investment giant's billionaire co-founder is giving up his role amid a governance overhaul kicked off by revelations of his ties to disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein. Black cited health issues in announcing the decision.” Read more at Wall Street Journal
“The Supreme Court will consider reinstating the death penalty for Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev.” Read more at Axios
“Two conservative Republicans — Eric Greitens in Missouri and Mo Brooks in Alabama — announced Senate bids.” Read more at New York Times
“Protesters have rallied across Britain in opposition to a bill that would give the police more power to crack down on nonviolent demonstrations.” Read more at New York Times
“Biden administration officials have sought to deter the news media from capturing images of unaccompanied minors housed in federal detention facilities at the U.S. southern border, especially during a pandemic. Lawmakers in both parties, however, are headed to such facilities this week with reporters in tow. Sen. Ted Cruz (Texas) and 14 other GOP lawmakers will be there this week, and Rep. Joaquin Castro (D-Texas) is requesting participation by colleagues for what he calls an ‘oversight’ trip. Texas Rep. Henry Cuellar (D) has already been there and shared with the news media his grim snapshots taken inside crowded facilities (Axios and The Associated Press).” [The Hill]
“The Senate confirmed Labor Secretary Marty Walsh on Monday by a vote of 68-29 (The Hill). He inherits an agency struggling with hurdles erected during the pandemic. Walsh is Boston’s former mayor and a former union leader and workplace safety and health advocates say they have a long list of issues they want to discuss with the secretary, reports The Hill’s Alex Gangitano.”
“The White House on Monday withdrew Elizabeth Klein, the president’s nominee to be deputy Interior secretary.” Read more at Politico
“Statehood for the District of Columbia earned yet another hearing on Monday in the Democratic-controlled House to debate whether the predominantly Black and progressive federal city with a population of 714,000 should become the nation’s 51st state. Democrats plan to put a statehood bill up for a vote on the House floor before the summer. The bill, sponsored by D.C. Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton (D), is expected to pass for the second time since last year. Republicans say they remain opposed on constitutional grounds.” Read more at The Hill and The Washington Post
“Scots challenge | First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is all but sure to survive a vote of confidence in the Scottish Parliament today after she was cleared by an independent investigation of charges of misconduct over her handling of allegations of sexual harassment against her predecessor. That should leave Sturgeon free to focus on campaigning for independence in May 6 elections, posing a reinvigorated challenge to U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson.” Read more at Bloomberg
“Another round | Israelis head to voting stations today in an all-too-familiar ritual that could deepen the country’s political impasse. As Amy Teibel explains, polls show neither Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu nor any of his rivals easily forming a coalition after the fourth election in two years.” Read more at Bloomberg
Election posters fearing defense minister Benny Gantz, who is leader of the Blue and White party, and Netanyahu, leader of the Likud party, in Tel Aviv today.
Photographer: Kobi Wolf/Bloomberg
“Aussie pressure | Prime Minister Scott Morrison — whose government’s popularity has fallen to a 13-month low — said a staff member involved in ‘disgusting and sickening’ behavior in parliament has been fired. It comes a week after women rallied across Australia to protest against sexual violence and Morrison’s handling of decades-old rape allegations and a separate alleged sexual assault in parliament in 2019.” Read more at Bloomberg
“Since Ellen DeGeneres apologized over accusations of workplace misconduct, her talk show has lost about one million viewers, more than 40 percent of its audience.” Read more at New York Times
“Harvard expects a ‘full return’ to campus this fall. The school was online-only for the entire 2020-21 school year.” Read more at Harvard Crimson
“Lives Lived: Elgin Baylor played above the rim in a Hall of Fame career with the Lakers. His acrobatic brilliance foreshadowed the freewheeling shows put on by future N.B.A. stars. Baylor died at 86.” Read more at New York Times
“Demi Lovato is opening up in a harrowing new YouTube docuseries ‘Dancing with the Devil,’ out Tuesday, which details the leadup and aftermath of her near-fatal overdose. The four-part documentary follows Lovato’s journey with her mental and physical health on the heels of the overdose and subsequent hospitalization in 2018. ‘I had a heart attack,’ Lovato said in the documentary’s trailer, adding that doctors told her she had been found maybe ‘five to 10 minutes’ before dying. In July 2018, Lovato was hospitalized for an overdose just a month after she admitted in her single ‘Sober’ that she had relapsed. Lovato told reporters a desire to help fans on similar journeys fueled her decision to talk openly about her experience.” Read more at USA Today
“Saudi minister floats Yemen cease-fire. Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, on Monday offered to lift a blockade on Houthi-held ports and airports in Yemen and restart political negotiations if the group agrees to a cease-fire. Yemen’s internationally recognized government has welcomed the Saudi proposal, although the Houthis appeared skeptical. ‘The ideas put forward have been discussed for more than a year, and there’s nothing new in it,’ Muhammad Abdussalam, a Houthi spokesman, said on a Houthi-affiliated television channel in Yemen.” Read more at Foreign Policy
“Massacre in Niger. Niger’s government on Monday issued a revised death toll from Sunday’s deadly raids on three villages in the country’s southwest. At least 137 people were killed in the raids, the government said, whereas previous accounts from local officials put the death toll at at least 60.
The attacks are the latest challenge to newly elected President Mohamed Bazoum’s pledge to tackle insecurity in the country after he ordered military reinforcements to the Tillaberi region following a massacre on March 15. The Sahel region as a whole has suffered greatly from the ongoing violence, leading to the displacement of 2 million people across Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger.” Read more at Foreign Policy
No posts