By Donald Jeffries
President Donald Trump’s recent reported positive testing for Covid-19 and subsequent hospitalization spawned numerous conspiracy theories. Even the likes of pro-Trump Tucker Carlson remarked on the suspicious nature of the timing just a month before the election. Was this a plot to incapacitate the president and remove him from office? Was he really poisoned, in an attempt to assassinate him? Did he really even have it? Was it a ploy on his part to gain sympathy with the public?
When President Trump quickly recovered, with seemingly no ill effects, the theorizing began to diminish. The president’s many enemies were quick to blame his supposed failure to take the virus seriously for his positive testing and became apoplectic over his ride around the hospital in a limo to wave at his supporters and subsequent removal of his mask outside the White House before he attempted to reassure Americans by declaring, “Don’t be afraid of Covid. Don’t let it dominat
“As Senators-elect Warnock and Ossoff have rightly pointed out, a Democratic Senate means that families across the nation will receive $2000 survival checks,” Congressional Progressive Caucus Chairwoman Pramila Jayapal
Biden on Wednesday reiterated his desire to pass additional coronavirus relief legislation.
“We need urgent action on what comes next, because the COVID-19 crisis hits red states and blue states alike,” he said in a statement.
In addition to Biden and Schumer, Speaker Nancy Pelosi
ADVERTISEMENT
The commitment on direct payments from the three top Democrats signals near-term action on legislation is likely to be a priority, said Todd Metcalf, a principal in the tax policy services group at PwC who previously served as chief tax counsel for Democrats on the Senate Finance Committee.
ADVERTISEMENT
Biden said he has long felt Trump is unfit for the presidency, but that with 12 days until the inauguration he is focused on his agenda, particularly addressing the coronavirus pandemic and subsequent economic fallout.
Pressed on what guidance he would give to Congress if asked for his thoughts on impeachment, he again deferred. I d tell them that s a decision for the Congress to make. I m focused on my job, he said.
The president-elect later indicated he felt the best course of action may be to simply let the clock run out on Trump s term. I think it s important we get on with the business of getting him out of office. The quickest way that will happen is us getting sworn in on the 20th, Biden said. What happens before or after that is a judgment for the Congress to make, but that s what I m looking forward to: him leaving office.
The Obamas will join former President Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Biden served as vice president alongside Obama for eight years, and the two remain close friends. The 44th president campaigned for Biden in the final weeks of the 2020 presidential race, while Michelle Obama delivered a stinging rebuke of Trump during the Democratic National Convention in August. The former first lady, who is among the most popular figures in the party, otherwise stayed off the campaign trail last year.
Biden s inauguration will be scaled back due to the coronavirus pandemic, and officials have urged Americans to avoid traveling to the nation s capital to be there in person. Virtual events are planned, though the swearing-in ceremony is still expected to take place outside the Capitol.
“Absolutely not. No,” Manchin told The Washington Post in an interview published Friday. “Getting people vaccinated, that’s job No. 1.”
“How is the money that we invest now going to help us best to get jobs back and get people employed? And I can’t tell you that sending another check out is gonna do that to a person that’s already got a check,” he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Manchin in a tweet, later said if a new round of checks go out, they should be targeted to ensure they go to those in need.
If the next round of stimulus checks goes out they should be targeted to those who need it. https://t.co/MWvt9EHOBS Senator Joe Manchin (@Sen JoeManchin) January 8, 2021