Biden news: President meets with GOP on Covid bill as Democrats move to oust Marjorie Taylor Greene

Democrats are to start the process of kicking Republican Marjorie Taylor Greene off House committees, a report says.

The Independent’s Graeme Massie is following the story as it unfolds.

Former President Donald Trump and the Republican Party managed to raise more than $175m during November and December, pushing donors to give up their cash to help "stop the steal," the baseless conspiracy theory that Mr Trump lost the election because of widespread voter fraud. But only $10m was spent on legal costs trying to challenge election procedures and results.

Campaign finance reports filed on Sunday shows that the largest bill of Mr Trump's campaign during the month of December was for buying ads; the company that bought Mr Trump's TV ads was paid just under $5m. Another $4.4m was spent on online ads, according to The New York Times.

Gustaf Kilander has more.

Joe Biden is hosting a group of 10 Republican senators at the Oval Office to discuss if there is a way forward on a bipartisan Covid relief bill.

The president has released a proposal with a top-line $1.9trn price tag. The 10 Republicans, led by Maine Senator Susan Collins, have put together a $618bn package — less than a third of Mr Biden’s asking price.

The Independent’s Griffin Connolly sketches out a side-by-side comparison of the bills on the top-line issues:

Donald Trump’s former economic adviser hit the airwaves on Monday to oppose Covid stimulus checks that could be spent on the GameStonk frenzy.

“I’m OK with strictly targeted funding, particularly for health vaccinations and school openings,” he said on Fox news.

“I’m not OK with spending stimulus checks, sending out and spending stimulus checks on one penny or two penny stocks, which is what’s been happening with this incredible story of GameStop and some of these penny stocks. That’s so silly.”

“Giving out stimulus checks so people can buy penny stocks, not fine,” he added.

Investigators examining the shooting of Ashli Babbitt during riots at the US Capitol have determined that the police officer should not be charged over her death, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Quoting people familiar with the matter, the Journal reports that a final charging decision would need to be approved by the Justice Department but that the preliminary determination had been made in the review.  

The officer has been on leave since the shooting while investigators reviewed the death, including whether the shooting was a violation of Babbitt’s civil rights.

The Washington Metropolitan Police Department, which was examining the shooting, told the Journal it was “premature” to provide comment.

Ten Republican senators met with Joe Biden for more than two hours on Monday in a long-shot effort to come together on a sixth bipartisan Covid relief bill.

Senator Susan Collins of Maine, the leader of the GOP gang of 10,  

“It was a very good exchange of views,” Ms Collins told reporters gathered outside the West Wing on Monday evening.

“I wouldn't say that we came together on a package tonight. No one expected that in a two-hour meeting. But what we did agree to do is to follow up and talk further at the staff level, and amongst ourselves, and with the president and vice president on how we can continue to work together on this very important issue.”

Griffin Connolly is following the story as it unfolds.

An American health expert has warned the Biden administration to make changes to current vaccination plans, or see new coronavirus variants cause a surge in cases and deaths in the coming weeks.

Michael Osterholm, who served on President Joe Biden’s coronavirus advisory transition board, said on Sunday a “hurricane” was on the way, as he warned about an anticipated surge in cases by spring.

Among the concerns expressed by the top epidemiologist was the UK variant, which could be more contagious – and may potentially be more deadly – by as much as 30 per cent.

Gino Spocchia has more.