According to the White House and US defense officials, the United States is starting to remove troops, contractors, and US government workers from Afghanistan. “A drawdown is underway,” Karine Jean-Pierre, White House Deputy Press Secretary, said. “While these actions will initially result in increased forces levels, we remain committed to …
Read More »Families Of Victims Of Police Killings Meet With Lawmakers On Capitol Hill
George Floyd’s family attorney, Ben Crump, met with lawmakers to search for bipartisan legislation to reform policing in the United States. “We’re optimistic that — as President Biden has encouraged us — to try to have this George Floyd Act pass before May 25, the one-year anniversary of the killing …
Read More »The FDA Announces Plan To Ban Menthol Cigarettes
On Thursday, the Food and Drug Administration announced its plan to ban menthol cigarettes in response to a 2013 citizen petition advocating the ban of mint-flavored cigarettes, the Washington Post reports. According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 20 million Americans smoke menthols. Phillip Gardiner, the co-chair of the …
Read More »President Biden Nominates Texas Sheriff For ICE Director
President Joe Biden will nominate Harris County, Texas, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez to serve as director of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. If confirmed, Gonzalez will be the first politically appointed director. Gonzalez, who has a decades-long career in law enforcement, was elected as sheriff of Harris County in 2016. He is …
Read More »Federal Agents Raid Rudy Giuliani’s Manhattan Home And Office
Federal agents executed search warrants at the Manhattan home and office of Rudy Giuliani. Guiliani, former President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, has been under investigation for two years for his activities in Ukraine. Federal prosecutors are trying to figure out whether he conducted illegal lobbying for Ukrainian officials. Federal agents …
Read More »Biden Raising Minimum Wage For Federal Contractors To $15
President Joe Biden is signing an executive order to increase the minimum wage to $15 an hour for federal contractors. The executive order states that federal agencies will have to include the $15 wage in new contracts by March 30, 2022. In 2014, the minimum wage was increased to $10.10. …
Read More »CDC Releases New Mask Guidelines For Fully Vaccinated People
The US Center for Disease Control and Prevention released new mask guidelines for fully vaccinated people. “If you are fully vaccinated and want to attend a small outdoor gathering with people who are vaccinated and unvaccinated, or dine at an outdoor restaurant with friends from multiple households, the science shows …
Read More »Democrats Are Pushing President Biden To Lower Medicare Eligibility Age
House Democrats are asking President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris to lower the Medicare eligibility age and expand its benefits in the American Families Plan. Congressman Joe Neguse, Representative Pramila Jayapal, Representative Conor Lamb, and Representative Jared Golden are leading Democrats in their efforts to expand Medicare. The …
Read More »Biden Calls For Everyone To Receive Paid Leave For Getting Vaccine
President Joe Biden wants employees to receive paid leave for getting vaccinated. “I’m calling on every employer, large and small, in every state to give employees the time off they need with pay to recover if they’re feeling under the weather after the shot,” President Biden said. “No working American should …
Read More »Vanita Gupta Confirmed As New Associate Attorney General
Vanita Gupta has been confirmed in a 51-49 vote as the associate attorney general for the Department of Justice. Gupta is the first woman of color and civil rights attorney to serve as associate attorney general. Gupta joins Attorney General Merrick Garland and Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco as the No. …
Read More »President Biden To Lift Trump-Era Refugee Cap After Pushback
President Joe Biden is amending refugee admission policies after receiving push back from Democrats and immigration advocates for keeping former President Donald Trump’s 15,000 refugee cap for Africa and the Middle East. “It is simply unacceptable and unconscionable that the Biden Administration is not immediately repealing Donald Trump’s harmful, xenophobic, …
Read More »Attorney General Garland Cancels Trump-Era Memo Curtailing Consent Decrees
Attorney General Merrick Garland canceled a Trump-era memo that limited the use of consent decrees. “This memorandum makes clear that the Department will use all appropriate legal authorities to safeguard civil rights and protect the environment, consistent with longstanding Departmental practice and informed by the expertise of the Department’s career …
Read More »Democrats Introduce Legislation To Expand The Supreme Court
On Thursday, Congressional Democrats introduced legislation to expand the Supreme Court from nine to 13 justices. The bill is headed by Senator Ed Markey and Representative Jerry Nadler. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi told reporters on Thursday she has “no plans to bring it to the floor.” “I don’t know that …
Read More »President Biden Slaps Sanctions On Russia For Cyberattack And Election Interference
President Joe Biden hit Russia with sanctions and diplomatic expulsions for its cyberattack and its interference in United States elections. “We cannot allow a foreign power to interfere in our democratic process with impunity,” President Biden said. “My bottom line is this: There is an interest in the United States …
Read More »Pres. Biden Set To Name Cindy McCain To Ambassador Post
President Joe Biden is said to be preparing to name Cindy McCain, the widow of the late Senator John McCain, as the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations World Food Programme, according to reports from Politico. Sources with knowledge of the matter say she is currently undergoing vetting for the position, which …
Read More »
Poli Alert Politics & Civics