Joe Biden 29 , CD3 DFL

Conservatives are accidentally telling on themselves with their new complaint about Biden

President Joe Biden’s inaugural speech won praise from many observers, who appreciated his calls for unity and his unflinching but still optimistic assessment of the problems the country faces and the path forward. But many Republicans and conservatives lashed out against Biden in the days that followed, picking up on what others might have assumed were innocuous passages and using them as a source of outrage.

The talking points quickly became quite common on the right, revealing disturbing trends in right-wing thought.

On Fox News, Guest Dan Henninger said of Biden’s speech: Continue reading.

Meet the man tasked with fixing America’s bungled COVID vaccine rollout

President Joe Biden has appointed former Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner David Kessler to take on one of the least enviable yet most important roles of his upcoming administration: overseeing the rollout of COVID vaccines.

Kessler is a longtime FDA vet, physician, and lawyer who oversaw the critical agency from 1990 to 1997. But he has his work cut out for him as the push for widespread COVID vaccination brushes up against logistical uncertainty and an unruly rollout that has already frustrated multiple state leaders and public health officials.

Why Kessler for this highly specialized role, technically dubbed the chief science officer for COVID response? A breadth of experience across the medical industry and regulatory agencies. As a former FDA commissioner and medical school dean, Kessler understands the intricacies of how health systems work with the federal government and has a finger on the pulse of public health messaging. Continue reading.

FEMA would operate up to 100 federally run mass vaccination sites under Biden plan

NOTE: This article provided for all to read by The Washington Post.

A draft document envisions different models for sites, with the largest capable of handling 6,000 doses a day

Up to 100 sites run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency could begin offering coronavirus vaccine within the next month, part of a strategy that would dramatically expand the federal government’s role in the effort to corral the pandemic.

The plan, which was announced by President Biden on his first day in office, is already taking shape in the form of a draft “Concept of Operations,” which was obtained by The Washington Post. The document envisions FEMA, which previously had more of a piecemeal role in pandemic response, fully unleashed.

Its mission will be to “provide federal support to existing or new community vaccination centers and mobile clinics across the country.” Continue reading.

Joe Biden Will Sign 2 Executive Orders on Economy Friday—Here’s What They Are

President Joe Biden will sign two more executive orders on Friday—the latest in a raft of actions he’s taken with just the stroke of his pen since taking office on Wednesday.

“The American people can’t afford to wait—so many are hanging by a thread, and they need help,” Biden’s top economic adviser Brian Deese told Newsweek and other reporters in a preview of the anticipated orders. “We are committed to doing everything we can to provide that help with this quickly as possible.”

One will direct federal agencies to extend various forms of emergency relief, as possible with existing authority. The second will increase pay and provide additional protections for federal workers and contractors. Continue reading.

Biden Orders Sweeping Assessment of Russian Hacking, Even While Renewing Nuclear Treaty

There will be no “reset” of the American relationship with Moscow, administration officials say. But in an era of constant confrontation in cyberspace, the president seeks to avoid a nuclear arms race.

WASHINGTON — President Biden ordered a sweeping review on Thursday of American intelligence about Russia’s role in a highly sophisticated hacking of government and corporate computer networks, along with what his spokeswoman called Moscow’s “reckless and adversarial actions” globally and against dissidents inside the country.

At the same time, White House officials said the president would seek a clean, five-year extension of the last remaining nuclear arms treaty between the two countries, which expires in two weeks.

While Mr. Biden has long favored the extension, there was debate among his top aides about how long it should be. He chose the most time available under the treaty’s terms, in hopes, his aides said, of preventing a nuclear arms race at a time the new president expects to be in a state of near-constant, low-level competition and confrontation with Moscow around the world — and particularly in cyberspace. Continue reading.

Here’s the real reason Trump didn’t fire FBI director Chris Wray: NYT’s Haberman

Rumors swirled in the months leading up to the 2020 presidential election that former President Donald Trump wanted to fire FBI Director Christopher Wray, with whom he openly feuded about the origins of the investigation into the Trump campaign’s contacts with the Russian government.

But after losing the 2020 election, Trump decided against firing Wray — and according to New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, his restraint in this case was driven by self-interest.

“Trump made clear to aides a week after the election he wouldn’t fire Wray, in part because he was afraid a new FBI director would be more incentivized against him,” Haberman writes on Twitter. Continue reading.

Biden signs order requiring masks on planes, buses, trains and at airports

NOTE: This article is provided free to read by The Washington Post.

President Biden signed an order Thursday mandating masks in airports and on many planes, trains, ships and intercity buses. His action comes on the heels of a Wednesday order — his first as president — requiring masks on federal property.

Together, the two orders come as close to a national mask mandate as his federal powers may allow, leaving it to states and municipalities to require residents to wear masks at a local level.

Biden’s choice of masks as a leading item on his agenda illustrates a possible early win in tackling the virus and the challenges he faces in trying to turn around the nation’s response to the coronavirusand reduce its devastating death toll. It’s also a break from the Trump administration’s handling of the issue. Continue reading.

Biden administration to seek five-year extension on key nuclear arms treaty in first foray with Russia

President Biden is seeking a five-year extension with Russia on the only remaining treaty limiting the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals just days before it expires, said two senior U.S. officials.

At the same time, his administration is preparing to impose new costs on Russia pending a newly requested intelligence assessment of its recent activities. The officials said Biden is ruling out a “reset” in bilateral relations with Moscow as many U.S. presidents have done since the end of the Cold War.

“As we work with Russia, so, too, will we work to hold Russia accountable for their reckless and aggressive actions that we’ve seen in recent months and years,” said a senior U.S. official, who like others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive security matter. Continue reading.

Biden to keep Wray as FBI director

President Biden plans to keep FBI Director Christopher Wray in his position, allowing him to continue serving out his 10-year term.

Wray was nominated by then-President Trump to helm the FBI in June 2017, after Trump abruptly fired James Comey from the position as the bureau was investigating his campaign’s communications with Russia.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki did not directly answer when asked at a briefing Wednesday evening whether Biden had confidence in Wray, saying she had not spoken with Biden about Wray specifically “in recent days.” Continue reading.

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: