Biden stands by Putin removal comment but insists he’s not changing policy
Joe Biden is speaking with Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the situation in Ukraine. The call comes after Mr Biden remarked that Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power”, and as Ukrainian and Russian negotiators discuss a de-escalation agreement that could see Russia draw down forces from the area near Kyiv.
After his call with the Ukrainian president, Mr Biden will give a speech on the state of the Covid-19 pandemic in the US. The FDA has just given clearance to a second booster shot for all Americans over 50 and those classed as clinically extremely vulnerable to the virus,
Meanwhile, after contentious nomination hearings that saw Republican senators harangue her about critical race theory and her record sentencing sexual offenders who targeted children, Ketanji Brown Jackson has picked up a crucial supporter: Maine Senator Susan Collins, who has become the first Republican to announce she will vote to confirm Joe Biden’s first Supreme Court nominee.
The news all but guarantees Ms Jackson’s confirmation. She has already secured the support of West Virginia Democrat Joe Manchin, who was thought to be the likeliest of his party’s 50 senators to withhold his support.
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 21:10
White House comments on ‘tension’ between Putin and advisers
After saying that there was “tension” between Vladimir Putin and his advisers over the war in Ukraine, White House Communications Director Kate Bedingfield said: “Putin is being misinformed … because his senior advisers are too afraid to tell him the truth.”
Pushed as to the reason the administration released the report on the alleged tension in the Kremlin and whether it was an effort to embarrass Mr Putin, she added: “Our aim is to show that this has been a strategic blunder.”
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 21:00
Morning Joe hosts slam Trump for asking Putin for dirt on Bidens
Johanna Chisholm reports.
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 20:40
White House slams Trump ‘scheme’ with Putin
At today’s White House press briefing, Communications Director Kate Bedingfield was asked about former President Donald Trump asking Putin for information on Hunter Biden.
She replied: “What kind of American, let alone an ex-president, thinks that this is the right time to enter into a scheme with Vladimir Putin … There is only one and it’s Donald Trump.”
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 20:32
Biden calls on Congress to increase Covid funding
President Joe Biden on Wednesday said the US government won’t be able to afford to provide Americans with the Covid-19 booster shot he received on-camera Wednesday if Congress doesn’t step up to allocate more funding for vaccines, tests, treatments, and other Covid-19 needs.
Andrew Feinberg reports from Washington, DC.
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 20:20
Report: Biden to lift Trump-era pandemic restrictions on US-Mexico border
President Joe Biden’s administration is expected to lift a public health order imposed by Donald Trump that blocked most asylum seekers from the US-Mexico border during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to reports citing administration officials familiar with the situation.
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 19:55
Biden peppered with impromptu questions during booster shot
As the president received his second booster shot of the Pfizer Covid vaccine, White House correspondents peppered him with questions on a variety of topics.
He declined to comment on whether US intelligence indicates Vladimir Putin is being misadvised by his aides, and in response to Fox News’ Jacqui Heinrich he said a decision is coming soon on an extension to Title 42.
In another response to a question from CNN’s Kaitlin Collins, Mr Biden said he is going to try to meet with the parents of Trevor Reed, the US Marine imprisoned in Russia. They are protesting in front of the White House today to bring awareness to his case and want a meeting with the president. Their son is starting another hunger strike.
Mr Biden rolled his sleeve back down after the shot and said it did not hurt a bit.
Oliver O’Connell30 March 2022 18:58
‘It’s not partisan, it’s medicine’
Biden calls on Congress to approve more funding to help with the Covid response, warning about the impact on treatments and testing.
“It’s not partisan, it’s medicine,” he says.
“We are already seeing the consequences of Congress’s inaction.” the president says.
“If we fail to invest, we leave ourselves vulnerable” if another wave hits.
He calls on those who have not go their first vaccine…
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