Biden news: President accuses Texas of ‘Neanderthal thinking’ as Trump said to fire Pence in a 2024 run
United States will now have enough doses for every adult to receive Covid vaccines by end of May
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Joe Biden said ending mask mandates is a “big mistake” after Texas and Mississippi governors moved to reopen their states after a year of pandemic lockdowns.
“The last thing, the last thing we need is Neanderthal thinking that in the meantime, everything’s fine, take off your mask, forget it. It still matters,” he says.
As Donald Trump considers beating Democrats “for a third time”, his allies reportedly want someone other than Mike Pence on the ticket. Quoting two people familiar with discussions, Bloomberg says Trump has privately considered black or female alternatives as he takes stock of who supported him to the very end.
Andrew Cuomo, meanwhile, appeared to get emotional as he apologized during his first press conference since more women began accusing the New York governor of inappropriate behaviour.
The Democrat refused to resign, however, after issuing denials that he touched anyone inappropriately and asked the public to wait for the facts to emerge from the state attorney general’s investigation into the allegations.
Over on Capitol Hill, the Senate is expected to take up Mr Biden's $1.9tn coronavirus relief package, with Democrats aiming to have the president sign it into law before some benefits expire on March 14.
But congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez called compromising on the $1,400 checks to narrow the eligibility an "own goal".
BREAKING: Warnings of possible QAnon threat to Capitol prompt House lawmakers to cancel Thursday schedule
The House of Representatives will dash its schedule for 4 March following warnings from security officials of a possible threat to the US Capitol, two months after a deadly insurrection inside the halls of Congress.
Alex Woodward is following this developing story.
Warnings of possible QAnon threat to Capitol prompt House lawmakers to cancel Thursday schedule
The House of Representatives will dash its schedule for 4 March following warnings from security officials of a possible threat to the US Capitol, two months after a deadly insurrection inside the halls of Congress.
Biden achieves a once in a century record… the longest time of a new president without holding a press conference
As CNN’s Jake Tapper pointed out on Twitter, 15 of Joe Biden’s predecessors over the past 100 years have held a press conference within 33 days of being sworn into office.
Biden is at 42 days and counting.
Press secretary Jen Psaki was asked on Monday what, exactly, is up with that.
“Not yet, but we will definitely have one,” Psaki said. “We will schedule it, and you’ll be the first to know. Cause you’re pivotal participants in that,” she told White House reporters.
Capitol rioter who ‘hit cops with fire extinguisher’ bused to DC by Turning Points USA
A pro-Trump rioter involved in the storming of the US Capitol who allegedly hit police officers with a fire extinguisher travelled to Washington, DC on a bus organised by conservative group Turning Points USA (TPUSA).
A court filing by the attorney for Robert Sanford, 55, reveals that he “traveled to the District on a bus organised by Turning Point USA, a mainstream young conservative organisation, with approximately fifty other people”.
The bus rides were promoted ahead of time by the group and conservative youth activist Charlie Kirk, founder of student organisation Turning Point Action, an offshoot of TPUSA.
Oliver O’Connell has the story.
Capitol rioter who ‘hit cops with fire extinguisher’ bused to DC by Turning Points USA
Conservative youth activist Charlie Kirk promoted buses in now-deleted tweet two days before storming of Congress
Watch: Klobuchar tears into Ron Johnson for blaming Jan 6 on ‘provocateurs’
"These people that were assaulting the Capitol in military gear and were pinning an officer between a door and were using bear spray on officers in the Capitol, would you title them, provocateurs?"
Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar has resisted Wisconsin Republican Senator Ron Johnson's repeated attempt to divert the blame from the Capitol riot onto a few so-called "provocateurs".
Johnson has previously said "this didn't seem like an armed insurrection to me" about the Capitol riot, a remark for which he was roundly criticised.
Gustaf Kilander has the story.
Klobuchar tears into Ron Johnson for conspiracy theory blaming Jan 6 on ‘provocateurs’
Johnson read yet again from same report into record as in February when he used it to downplay role of Trump supporters
Nikki Haley doesn’t understand Republican hatred of a diverse America, says former senior GOP strategist
A former senior strategist in the Republican Party has said that former Trump UN Ambassador and South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley does not understand the hatred of a diverse America brewing with the base of the GOP.
Accused of flip-flopping on Mr Trump's future in the party, Ms Haley again tried to get back into his good graces after his CPAC speech Sunday. Ms Haley tweeted: "Strong speech by President Trump about the winning policies of his administration and what the party needs to unite behind moving forward. The liberal media wants a GOP civil war. Not gonna happen."
The 2024 presidential hopeful tweeted favourably about the speech despite that it was filled with falsehoods including the fabrication that the election was stolen.
Gustaf Kilander reports.
Nikki Haley doesn’t understand Republican hatred of a diverse America, says former senior GOP strategist
Former strategist blasts Ms Haley for missing ‘what unites Trump voters in base of Republican Party today’
How Trump’s stolen election lies are shaping the future of democracy
After a massive voter registration and enfranchisement effort among voting rights groups in the state, Joe Biden won the presidency, and voters elected two Democratic senators, shifting the balance of power in Congress and affirming Donald Trump’s ejection from the White House, writes The Independent’s Alex Woodward.
“On the floor of Georgia’s House of Representatives on 1 March, state Democratic Rep Bee Nguyen warned her colleagues that the bill in front of them – a 66-page, Republican-backed proposal to drastically roll back voting access across the state – followed a months-long campaign from Donald Trump and his GOP allies to undermine millions of voters with baseless claims of widespread voter fraud and a “stolen” election.”
How Trump’s stolen election lies are shaping the future of voting
Republicans in 43 states have introduced more than 250 bills restricting voting rights, underscoring urgency in Congress to pass sweeping elections legislation, Alex Woodward reports
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments