President Joe Biden has ordered the release of up to 1 million barrels a day from strategic oil reserves for the next six months in a bid to curb prices that have skyrocketed since the United States and its allies imposed severe sanctions on Russia. The announcement comes after both the White House and the Pentagon said they believed Vladimir Putin was being misinformed about the progress of the war by his top advisers and warned that Russian troops withdrawing from areas near Kyiv could simply be relocated. . The president, meanwhile, is celebrating Transparency Day, which he declared to “celebrate the activism and determination that fueled the trans equality struggle” and “recognize the adversity and discrimination that the trans community continues to face. It is facing our entire Nation and around the world “- this as various Republican-led states pass laws that directly target people who do not conform to gender, including children. On Wednesday, Mr. Biden also spoke about the state of the coronavirus pandemic, announcing the launch of a central resource site before receiving Pfizer’s second boost vaccine. The CIA director is the last person in the administration to test positive for the virus and meet with the president the day before – although they were distanced and covered up.
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Jen Psaki criticizes ‘extreme and harmful’ laws targeting trans people and abortions
White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki criticized four bills signed into law in Arizona and Oklahoma this week targeting trans youth and restricting abortion care, among dozens passed by Republicans and lawmakers with Republican lawmakers. abortion rights. Oliver O’Connell1 April 2022 04:45 1648782044
Biden: Putin seems to be “isolated” from advisers as the war in Ukraine stops
President Joe Biden said on Thursday that Vladimir Putin appeared to be “isolated” from his closest advisers, including top intelligence officials, as his invasion of Ukraine appeared to have largely stopped across the country. In a speech announcing efforts to cut gas prices, which the United States has blamed on Russian oil exports and inflation, the president said he did not “want to put too much stock” in the reports, but essentially confirmed reports that for weeks have indicated that there is a major rift between Mr Putin and his top aides and strategists. Oliver O’Connell1 April 2022 04:00 1648779344
The next Jen Psaki?
Kate Bendingfield’s debut in the White House press room this week took place under unbelievable circumstances – the dismissal of two of her colleagues over Covid-19 – but it could lead to more visibility for longtime communications director Joe Biden. “I know I’m not the redhead you’re used to seeing on this podium, but I hope you will do it for me nonetheless,” Bentingfield, 40, joked to reporters in her first briefing on Tuesday. John Bowden reports from Washington, DC. Oliver O’Connell1 April 2022 03:15 1648776644
Biden calls for ‘use it or lose it’ policy on oil leases on federal land: ‘I say enough’
President Joe Biden on Thursday criticized oil companies for refusing to increase production to make up for shortfalls caused by the removal of Russian oil from US markets. Calling the crisis over Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine “a moment of crisis and danger for the world and pain for American families,” Biden said the rise in oil and gas prices caused by the ban of US oil in Russia could be “a moment of patriotism” for domestic olive growers. Andrew Feinberg has the latest for The Independent from Washington DC. Oliver O’Connell1 April 2022 02:30 1648773044
ICYMI: 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. Andrew Feinberg has the story. Oliver O’Connell1 April 2022 01:30 1648770344
Pelosi: Ginny Thomas ‘proud contributor to a coup’
Speaker Nancy Pelosi issued a harsh sentence to Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas on Thursday as it became clear that the Supreme Court’s ethical standards and practices were subject to historical scrutiny. In the weekly press conference, the leader of the House Democrats told reporters that he never believed that Mr. Thomas should have joined the Court and added that his wife had been revealed as an “acceptable and proud contributor to a coup in our country.” “. The remarks were some of the harshest criticisms leveled so far by a senior Democrat leader as text messages sent by Ginny Thomas to then-White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows before and after the Jan. 6 attack continue. John Bowden reports from Washington, DC. Oliver O’Connell1 April 2022 00:45 1648767644
As gas and food prices soar, a key inflation rate hits a 40-year high
An inflation rate closely monitored by the Federal Reserve jumped 6.4% in February from a year earlier, with sharply higher prices for food, gasoline and other necessities squeezing US finances. The figure reported by the Commerce Department on Thursday was the largest annual increase since January 1982. Excluding volatile food and energy prices, so-called core inflation rose 5.4% in February from 12 months earlier. Oliver O’Connell1 April 2022 00:00 1648765844
Invoking the tribe, the judge overturns parts of the Florida electoral law
A federal judge overturned parts of Florida’s election law last year, saying in a ruling Thursday that the Republican-led government was using subtle tactics to crack down on black voters. The law has tightened rules on ballot papers, ballot boxes and other popular electoral methods – changes that have made it more difficult for black voters, who generally have more socioeconomic disadvantages than white voters, the US District Judge Marker wrote in his ruling. . Oliver O’Connell March 31, 2022 11:30 p.m. 1648763144
Activists celebrate as Biden announces gender X for US passports and neutral airport scanners
The Human Rights Campaign praised the White House’s transgender initiatives, saying LGBT + people have “an ally in the White House.” “The news of the Biden-Harris government’s commitment to policy reforms that will improve the lives of trans and non-trans people in this country is a great way to kick off this year’s International Transparency Day,” the campaign’s interim president said. Johnny Madison. he said in a statement. President Joe Biden will announce a new Gender Index on U.S. passport applications Thursday, as well as neutral airport scanners, in addition to other measures aimed at making the federal government more inclusive of trans people. Gustaf Kilander reports from Washington, DC. Oliver O’Connell 31 March 2022 22:45 1648762438
Statement by the Minister of Energy on the response to the increase in the price of gas
US Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm has issued the following statement on the historic response of President Joe Biden to the spike in gas prices as Russia’s war in Ukraine continues. The Department of Energy will authorize President Biden to immediately release one million barrels a day for six months from the Strategic Oil Reserve, and we are coordinating with our international allies and partners to participate in the release of additional oil reserves. This historic move is the latest move by the Biden-Harris government to cut energy costs for working families, including yesterday’s announcement of nearly $ 3.2 billion to address home weather through the bipartisan law on the Infrastructure. The Department of Energy also supports President Biden’s decision to use the defense production law to boost US production of critical minerals that are key to building clean energy supply chains. Putin’s actions in Ukraine and the ensuing turmoil in global energy markets have demonstrated the urgent need to accelerate our transition to clean energy, which will make our country more energy independent and much less vulnerable to the whims of dictators. The Department of Energy and this administration are investing aggressively in a wide range of clean energy technologies that will grow our economy, create well-paying jobs, reduce costs for American families, and combat the climate crisis. Oliver O’Connell March 31, 2022 22:33
