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As it happenedended

Biden news: White House admits struggle to vaccinate Republicans as Trump accused of new vulgarity

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Joe Sommerlad,Justin Vallejo
Friday 12 March 2021 19:57 EST
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Watch live as press secretary Jen Psaki holds White House briefing

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The White House claimed Republican voters were hampering the vaccine effort after a new poll showed 49 per cent who identified as GOP-leaning men were hesitant to get a shot.

Asked how the White House intends to address vaccine skepticism as it hits 2.2 million doses a day as part of an aggressive vaccination campaign in coming weeks, press secretary Jen Psaki said “they do need to wear a Joe Biden sticker.”

New reports, meanwhile, claim that Donald Trump hit on the family members of his accountant Allen Weisselberg, who Manhattan prosecutors are trying to flip in their investigation of the ex-president.

According to The New Yorker, Mr Weisselberg’s daughter Jennifer Weisselberg said the ex-president showed off photos of himself with naked women on a yacht to attendees at a family shivah.

Joe Biden spent the day taking a victory lap after to celebrate the passage of a massive $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package – said the legislation “changes the paradigm” for American economic policy.

It came after his first primetime TV address as US president, in which he cast himself as the anti-Trump with the promise that Americans can celebrate 4 July cookouts as its “Independence Day” from the coronavirus.

Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for all immigration to stop under Biden and border wall funding in sweeping legislation

Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene is introducing legislation to halt all immigration for the duration of Joe Biden's presidential term and continuing the construction of the border wall.

Ms Greene's "Protect America First Act" legislation would "end Joe Biden's crisis at the Southern border by halting all immigration for four years, funding and building the wall, expediting the deportation of illegal aliens, rescinding DACA & DAPA and other measures protecting our national sovereignty".

The Congresswoman, who has taken up Donald Trump's hardline immigration politics, said the bill would "end the flood of illegal border crossings unleashed during the first 50 days of the Biden administration".

Graig Graziosi reports.

Marjorie Taylor Greene calls for all immigration to stop under Biden and border wall funding in sweeping legislation

Democrats may introduce a rule change to halt the congresswoman’s stalling tactics

Justin Vallejo12 March 2021 23:28

Greg Abbott, the Texas governor accused of being a Neanderthal for reopening state

Joe Biden did not mince his words when he was asked about the Texas governor’s decision to drop its mask mandate, writes Andrew Buncombe.

Republicans, apparently suddenly forgetful of the four years of insults heaped on people of all stripes by Donald Trump, all of which they had tolerated, tried to call foul. Presumably they were hoping “neanderthal”, could be seized on in the same way Trump had gladly made use of Hillary Clinton’s clumsy description of some of his supporters as “deplorables”.

Greg Abbott, the Texas governor accused of being a Neanderthal for reopening state

Nation’s second most populous state has previously been spring-board to White House, writes Andrew Buncombe

Justin Vallejo12 March 2021 23:45

Watch: Stephen Colbert says Trump ‘pathetic’ for claiming Covid vaccine credit

“First of all, that’s unbelievably sad. Second, pathetic.. Third, how did we even find out about this statement? He can’t tweet this stuff. Did he just print it out and staple it to telephone poles around Palm Beach? He might as well have just released, ‘ex-prez will take credit, and teach you guitar.’”

Stephen Colbert mocks Trump’s ‘pathetic’ vaccine statement.mp4

The TV host was addressing Trump hoping everyone remembers “if I wasn’t president, you wouldn’t be getting that beautiful ‘shot’ for 5 years, at best, and probably wouldn’t be getting it at all”.

Justin Vallejo13 March 2021 00:10

Alabama GOP passes declaration calling Trump one of greatest presidents of all time

Donald Trump has been officially declared “one of the greatest presidents of all time” by the leaders of the Alabama Republican Party.

The one-term GOP president will be presented with a framed copy of the declaration at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida.

Mr Trump, who was impeached a historic two times while in office, has been staying at his Palm Beach club since leaving office in January.

The framed copy will be delivered to Mr Trump by former state representative Perry Hooper Jr , who proposed the resolution, according to reports.

Graeme Massie reports.

Alabama GOP passes declaration calling Trump one of greatest presidents of all time

Framed copy will be handed over to former president at Mar-a-Lago

Justin Vallejo13 March 2021 00:35

Minneapolis moves to disband police force as George Floyd trial begins

The Minneapolis City Council on Friday voted to advance a proposal that would replace the Minneapolis Police Department with a new public safety department, following massive unrest across the city after the death of George Floyd while in the custody of the MPD.

The proposal, which passed 11-2, next heads to the city’s Charter Commission, which oversees the city’s charter, akin to a constitution. Then, it will return to the council, which could put the measure before voters in November.

It would put the city’s police force under the control of the council, rather than the mayor, as it is now.

Josh Marcus has the full story.

Minneapolis moves to disband police force as George Floyd trial begins

If it passes, it would be a major victory for activists, who have called for defunding or replacing the city’s police force

Justin Vallejo13 March 2021 00:50

Justin Vallejo13 March 2021 00:57

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