Biden's inaction on death penalty may be a top campaign issue as Trump and DeSantis laud executions
Capital punishment could emerge as a major campaign issue in the U.S. presidential race for the first time in 30 years, with top GOP candidates already one-upping each other by touting tougher, more far-reaching death penalty laws.
Biden nixes Trump design for Air Force One over cost, delay
President Joe Bidenโs administration has scrapped former President Donald Trumpโs red, white and blue design for the new generation of presidential aircraft after an Air Force review suggested it would raise costs and delay the delivery of the new jets.
George P. Bushโs defeat could be the end of the line for a four-generation political dynasty
Bushโs defeat in the race for attorney general could mark the end of a four-generation political dynasty, and the end of an era of Texas politics that began when the first George Bush moved to Odessa in 1948.
3 lawyers readying arguments in high court abortion case
Supreme Court justices considering a major abortion case Wednesday will hear from just three lawyers: one representing the state of Mississippi, another representing Mississippiโs only abortion clinic and the last representing the Biden administration.
Engine that carried George H.W. Bush to final resting place reaches its permanent Texas home
COLLEGE STATION, Texas โ The Union Pacific No. 4141 Engine, a locomotive painted to match Air Force One, ended its journey Monday at its permanent home in front of the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Museum. He traveled to Union Pacific Railroad headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska. โWeโre very proud to be part of this one.โDavidson, the former CEO of Union Pacific who helped create No.
Biden White House: keeping control of the daily message
President Joe Biden participates in a roundtable discussion on a coronavirus relief package in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 5, 2021. It reflects a White House media strategy meant both to reserve major media set-pieces for the celebration of a legislative victory and to limit unforced errors from a historically gaffe-prone politician. In a sharp contrast with the previous administration, the White House is exerting extreme message discipline, empowering staff to speak but doing so with caution. The volume has been turned so low in the Biden White House that they need to worry about whether anyone is listening," said Frank Sesno, former head of George Washington University's school of media. โPresidential press conferences are not on the top of the agenda for Americans who are worried about COVID and the economic disaster that has befallen so many families,โ he said.
Biden White House: message discipline, no news conference
President Joe Biden participates in a roundtable discussion on a coronavirus relief package in the State Dining Room of the White House in Washington, Friday, March 5, 2021. It reflects a White House media strategy meant both to reserve major media set-pieces for the celebration of a legislative victory and to limit unforced errors from a historically gaffe-prone politician. In a sharp contrast with the previous administration, the White House is exerting extreme message discipline, empowering staff to speak but doing so with caution. The volume has been turned so low in the Biden White House that they need to worry about whether anyone is listening," said Frank Sesno, former head of George Washington University's school of media. โPresidential press conferences are not on the top of the agenda for Americans who are worried about COVID and the economic disaster that has befallen so many families,โ he said.
At Camp David retreat, Biden hangs out, shows he's got game
FILE - In this July 1981 file photo released by The White House, U.S. President Ronald Reagan, left, and Vice President George Bush go horseback riding at Camp David, Md. He capped it off by beating one of his granddaughters at Mario Kart during his first presidential visit to Camp David, the historic retreat for U.S. leaders. Thatโs what Camp David has traditionally offered presidents: a respite from Washington where they can shed their ties and relax with family. Bill Clinton tried to replicate that diplomatic alchemy when he invited Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak and Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat to Camp David for Mideast peace talks in 2000. He said when foreign leaders descend on Camp David, it can be like an โadult sleepover.โโGoing to camp in the cabins creates an atmosphere where leaders are very close together.
Blair House guest quarters a temporary home for VP Harris
In this Jan. 25, 2021 photo, Secret Service vehicles parked outside of Blair House in Washington. Blair House, the official government guest house, is serving as a temporary home for Vice President Kamala Harris. AdSo Harris moved into Blair House, where President Harry Truman lived from 1948-1952 during major renovations to the White House. The original Blair House was built in 1824 by Joseph Lovell, the Army surgeon general, and later sold to journalist Francis Preston Blair. The Blair family sold the house to the U.S. government in the early 1940s, and it was turned into the president's official guest house.
Jill Biden signals sheโll be more active as first lady
First lady Jill Biden's necklace says "Mama," as she takes a tour of Whitman-Walker Health, Friday, Jan. 22, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, Pool)WASHINGTON โ Five days into her new role, Jill Biden signaled Monday that sheโll be a more active first lady, with a trio of virtual appearances before governorsโ spouses, young Latinos and library officials. Jill Biden's early moves seemed designed to signal that she intends to be more active than her predecessor, Melania Trump. On Monday, Jill Biden took on the role of top surrogate for the president, encouraging unity and promising the administration would listen to all voices. Joe Biden was a U.S. senator for 36 years, followed by eight years as vice president.
Pets are back: Bidenโs 2 dogs settle in at White House
(AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)(AP) โ The patter of paws is being heard in the White House again following the arrival of President Joe Bidenโs dogs Champ and Major. The dogs moved into the White House on Sunday, following Biden's inauguration last week. โPets have played an important role in the White House throughout the decades, not only by providing companionship to the presidents and their families, but also by humanizing and softening their political images,โ said Jennifer Pickens, author of a book about pets at the White House. Among the stranger White House pets was Calvin Coolidge and first lady Grace Coolidgeโs raccoon Rebecca. But instead she got an embroidered collar with the title โWhite House Raccoonโ and entertained children at the White House Easter Egg Roll.
GOP Ohio Sen. Portman not seeking reelection, cites gridlock
(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik, File)CINCINNATI โ Ohio Sen. โOur country is very polarized,โ Portman said, adding that former President Donald Trump did not help with the polarization. โBoth in his words before the attack on the Capitol and in his actions afterward, President Trump bears some responsibility for what happened,โ Portman said. โAnd right now the kind of candidate thatโs going to come out of a Ohio Republican primary is not going to be that kind of candidate. โYeah, sure, some people are mad at him,โ said Ohio Republican strategist Ryan Stubenrauch.
At 78 and the oldest president, Biden sees a world changed
WASHINGTON โ When Joe Biden took the oath of office as the 46th president, he became not only the oldest newly inaugurated U.S. chief executive in history but also the oldest sitting president ever. Thatโs 78 days older than President Ronald Reagan was when he left office in 1989. A look at how the country Biden now leads has changed over his lifetime and how his presidency might reflect that. The world population in Bidenโs lifetime has grown from about 2.3 billion to 7.8 billion. The month Biden was born, a dozen eggs averaged about 60 cents in U.S. cities -- two hours of minimum wage work.
Trump shuns 'ex-presidents club' โ and the feeling is mutual
Now that he's left office, it's hard to see him embracing the stately, exclusive club of living former presidents. โHe kind of laughed at the very notion that he would be accepted in the presidents club,โ said Kate Andersen Brower, who interviewed Trump in 2019 for her book โTeam of Five: The Presidentsโ Club in the Age of Trump." Obama, Bush and Clinton recorded their video after accompanying Biden to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Solider following the inauguration. When Hurricane Katrina blasted the Gulf Coast, Bush, father of the then-current president George W. Bush, called on Clinton to boost Katrina fundraising relief efforts. Obama tapped Clinton and the younger President Bush to boost fundraising efforts for Haiti after its devastating 2010 earthquake.
Trump's pardon largesse a boon for well-connected fraudsters
Trump is expected to pardon Bannon, Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, as part of a flurry of last-minute clemency action that appears to be still in flux in the last hours of his presidency. For instance, joining Cunningham on the pardon list was Steve Bannon, Trumpโs former chief strategist. The pardon nullified the prosecution of Bannon while the trial was still months away, eliminating the prospect for any punishment for him. He pleaded guilty last fall to acting as an unregistered lobbyist and was awaiting sentencing at the time of his pardon. In the final minutes of his term, Trump pardoned Al Pirro, the ex-husband of Fox News Channel host Jeanine Pirro, in a tax evasion case.
Biden's nominees promise fresh approach on national security
President-elect Joe Bidens pick for national intelligence director Avril Haines arrives for a confirmation hearing before the Senate intelligence committee on Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, in Washington. Neither Blinken nor Biden's other nominees for national security Cabinet posts encountered substantial opposition Tuesday. โWhen it comes to intelligence, there is simply no place for politics โ ever,โ she told the Senate Intelligence Committee. The House majority leader, Rep. Steny Hoyer, indicated Tuesday that the full House would consider an Austin waiver bill on Thursday. Like Blinken, Austin said he views China as the leading international issue facing Biden's national security team.
โRooting hard for youโ: Will departure notes end with Trump?
Ron.โThus was born the tradition of departing presidents leaving a handwritten note in the Oval Office for their successors. President Donald Trump has refused to accept the results of Novemberโs election and vowed not to attend Joe Bidenโs inauguration on Wednesday. I know you will feel that, too,โ Bush wrote in the note, adding, "I wish you great happiness here. Updegrove said even if the note tradition stops with Trump, it could easily start again when Biden leaves office. He has already been vice president and spent 36 years in the Senate, where tradition and bipartisan congeniality are strong.
FBI, Justice Department leaders stay out of sight after riot
When Rosen spoke, he did it through a nearly four-minute prerecorded video released at 12:01 a.m. Wednesday by the Justice Department. Rosen has not once addressed Justice Department reporters since becoming acting attorney general late last month. Beyond those statements, Justice Department spokesman Marc Raimondi said, the department has issued โsignificant" amounts of information through the offices that are running it. Gerson, who became acting attorney general after Barr left the department at the end of George H.W. I was empowered to speak for the Department of Justice in the administration that I was in,โ Gerson said.
Hank Aaron, civil rights leaders get vaccinated in Georgia
Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron waits to receive his COVID-19 vaccination on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, at the Morehouse School of Medicine in Atlanta. Aaron and others received their vaccinations in an effort to highlight the importance of getting vaccinated for Black Americans who might be hesitant to do so. (AP Photo/Ron Harris)ATLANTA โ Baseball Hall of Famer Hank Aaron, former U.N. Ambassador and civil rights leader Andrew Young and former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Louis Sullivan got vaccinated against COVID-19 in Georgia on Tuesday, hoping to send a message to Black Americans that the shots are safe. Getting vaccinated โmakes me feel wonderful," Aaron told The Associated Press.