President Joe Biden prepares to order the release of up to one million barrels a day from strategic oil reserves in a bid to control prices that have soared after US and allied Russia imposed tough sanctions on Russia. in Ukraine. The announcement could be made on Thursday, according to reports. Mr Biden spoke with Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The call comes as Ukrainian and Russian negotiators discuss a de-escalation deal that could lead Russia to withdraw troops from the area near Kyiv. Both the White House and the Pentagon have said they believe Russian President Vladimir Putin is being misinformed about the progress of the war by his top advisers. Mr Biden also gave a speech on the coronavirus pandemic situation, announcing the launch of a central resource site, before receiving Pfizer’s second boost vaccine. Meanwhile, after controversial nomination hearings that saw Republican senators harassing her over critical race theory, Ketanji Brown Jackson has found a critical supporter: Sen. Maine Susan Collins, who became the first Republican to announce vote to confirm it.
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ICYMI: Biden announces new Covid portal for Americans
Along with asking Congress for more emergency funding and shooting his second camera boost, Joe Biden announced yesterday a new site, Covid.gov, that provides Americans with “everything they need to deal with Covid.” ». Here is his announcement: Read more about his statements about the pandemic below. Andrew Naughtie31 March 2022 14:45 1648732527
Government departments will carry the trans pride flag
The Department of Health and Human Services will mark today the national visibility day proclaimed by Joe Biden with a demonstration of solidarity by the DC flagpole. Among the department’s top executives is Assistant Secretary of Health Rachel Levine, the highest-ranking openly transgender person to be confirmed by the Senate to date. The Ministry of Homeland Security, headed by Xavier Becerra, is also waving a flag. Andrew Naughtie31 March 2022 14:15 1648730692
Adviser Trump was outraged by the move to remove Title 42
Steven Miller, the hardline nationalist anti-immigrant who worked out much of Donald Trump’s border policy, has struck at the Biden administration’s move to repeal the provision known as Title 42, which barred most asylum applications at the point of entry. Warning on Twitter that the move could unleash “one of the most spectacular parodies in history” and “open the gates on a biblical scale”, Mr Miller was soon applauded by those on the other side of the argument. Among his critics was MP Brendan Boyle, who recalled his family debt’s more acceptable immigration policy. Andrew Naughtie31 March 2022 13:44 1648728627
Biden marks Transgender Day amid nationwide anti-trans reactions
Joe Biden has declared March 31 as Trance Visibility Day, an effort to “honor trans people fighting for freedom, equality, dignity and respect” and “celebrate parents, teachers, coaches, doctors and other allies who confirm the identities of their trans children and help these young people reach their full potential. “ It did so as trans people in the United States face an escalating legal effort to exclude trans women from women’s sport, limit the treatments available to gender-neutral children, and limit what students can be taught about with gender identity and sexuality. To all who celebrate Transparency Day, I want you to know that your President sees you. The First Lady, the Vice President, the Second Lord, and my entire Government see you for who you are – made in the image of God and worthy of dignity, respect, and support. Today and every day, we recognize the resilience, strength and joy of transgender, non-binary and non-gender compliant people. We celebrate the activism and determination that have fueled the struggle for trans equality. We recognize the adversity and discrimination that the trans community continues to face throughout our Nation and around the world … Trans people are some of the bravest Americans I know and our Nation and the world are stronger, livelier and more prosperous because of them. For trans Americans of all ages, I want you to know that you are so brave. You belong. I have your back. Andrew Naughtie31 March 2022 13:10 1648726827
Reports that the Biden administration will end the basic border policy of the Trump era
The Biden administration is reportedly planning to repeal Title 42, a controversial Trump-era border control policy invoked by the CDC at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The policy effectively suspended asylum applications at the point of entry into the United States due to control of the transmission of Covid-19. As a result, some 1.7 million asylum seekers were immediately expelled from the United States without being able to present their cases. Biden’s term has so far seen him refuse to rush into easing the Trump administration’s sometimes draconian border policies, and arrivals at the southern US border are expected to increase in the coming weeks and months. Andrew Naughtie31 March 2022 12:40 1648724787
Biden on new funding for Covid: “It’s not partisan, it’s medicine”
Congress recently refused to provide multibillion-dollar funding for the government’s Covid-19 campaign, and Joe Biden warned yesterday that the consequences could be serious if the money is not available soon. “If Congress fails to act, we will not have the commission we need this fall to ensure that the downloads are available for free, easily accessible to all Americans. “Even worse, if we need a different vaccine for the future, to fight a new variant, we will not have enough money to buy it,” he said. “We can not allow this to happen; we look forward to being in the middle of another explosion to act. It will be too late. “ “We have all worked so hard to reclaim our lives; together, we have turned unimaginable pain into extraordinary progress and purpose – Americans are coming back to life again,” Biden said. “It simply came to our notice then. Congress, please act – you must act immediately. “The consequences of inaction are serious, they will only increase over time, but it does not have to be that way.” Andrew Feinberg has the story. Andrew Naughtie31 March 2022 12:06 1648722807
Biden’s envoy to anti-Semitism confirmed after eight months of fighting
Deborah Lipstadt, a historian whose work to challenge Holocaust denial made her internationally known, has been confirmed as the Biden government’s special envoy to combat and monitor anti-Semitism. The affirmative vote was introduced with a speech by Democratic Sen. Jon Ossoff, the same descendant of Jewish refugees who fled anti-Semitism in Eastern Europe for a new life in the United States. Ms. Lipstad was nominated eight months ago, during which several Republicans blocked her because of her previous remarks about them. Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson was particularly angry, with the exception of a tweet accusing Ms. Lipstad of “white supremacy / nationalism” for the January 6 uprising. Andrew Naughtie31 March 2022 11:33 1648721187
Watch: the resignation of the convicted MP is read in the House of Representatives
Nebraska Republican MP Jeff Fortenberry recently resigned after being found guilty of lying on several counts of lying about illegally donating a foreign campaign. The moment follows when his resignation was officially read on the floor of Parliament. Andrew Naughtie31 March 2022 11:06 1648719147
ICYMI: White House spokesman for Trump and Putin
Speaking to the press at a news conference yesterday, White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield “Well, what I would say is this,” he began. “What kind of American, let alone a former president, thinks it’s the right time to get into a plan with Vladimir Putin and brag about his connections to Vladimir Putin?” “There is only one, and that is Donald Trump.” Andrew Naughtie31 March 2022 10:32 1648717673
Biden meets the parents of an American detained in Russia
Joe Biden met yesterday with the parents of Trevor Reed, a 30-year-old American citizen and former Marine who has been imprisoned in Russia since 2019. He was initially convicted and convicted of assaulting two Moscow police officers after a party under effect of intoxication. The allegations made by his parents and the US government were fabricated so that Reed could be used as a bargaining chip for a possible prisoner exchange. He is now on his second hunger strike in six months, and according to his parents he probably suffers from tuberculosis and a broken rib. The summary of the meeting from the White House is as follows: President Biden met today with Joey and Paula Reed, the parents of Trevor Reed, who is being held illegally in Russia. During their meeting, the President reiterated his commitment to continue working to secure the release of Trevor, Paul Whelan and other Americans illegally detained in Russia and elsewhere, and to provide all possible assistance until they and others are released. return to their homeland. families who so passionately advocate for their release. This is the President’s second interaction with the Reeds. On March 8, President Biden spoke to the Reeds by telephone while in Texas. The president’s national security team will remain in regular contact with the Reeds, the Whelan family and other American families being held hostage or illegally held abroad. We are grateful for their cooperation and comments. We will continue to work to ensure that we communicate and share information in a way that is useful to them …
