Good morning! Mark your calendars for April 28th. House President Nancy Pelosi formally invited President Biden to give his keynote address that evening. If it was sent to you, you can sign up here. I’m Brent Griffiths. Send tips to [email protected] or tweet me @BrentGriffiths.
This is what we are talking about today:
RESET OF PRESENTATION: Biden’s focus on Russia and China, while also planning to put an end to America’s longest war soon, underscores his commitment to recreating foreign policy.
The end of the war in Afghanistan: Later today, Biden must announce that he wants all U.S. troops to withdraw from Afghanistan by September 11, the twentieth anniversary of the terrorist attacks that began a war now older than some of those fighting it.
- The White House has made it clear that the time has come to draw American attention elsewhere: “[T]he president was consistent in his view that there is no military solution to Afghanistan, that we have been there for too long, “White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters. And he also believes that we must focus our resources on fighting the threats we face today, 20 years – almost 20 years after the war began. ‘
The new threats include repeated cyber attacks from Russia: Biden warned Russian President Vladimir Putin to ease tensions as thousands of troops gathered on the Ukrainian border. Biden also proposed a new summit with Putin to discuss arms control and Russian cyber-attacks and election interference.
China is expected to be a focal point later this week: Biden is hosting Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga in the White House, the first foreign leader to visit in person since the president was sworn in. Climate John Kerry will soon become the first high-level Biden official known to visit China as climate talks take place. between the two largest issuers in the world.
US must discontinue use of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine: Referring to concerns about rare blood clots, federal officials have temporarily recommended a halt in the deployment of the single-shot COVID-19 vaccine. The White House said the decision would not affect the government’s vaccination efforts, saying there were many doses of other vaccines. The decision was made out of “an abundance of caution”.
GET ANSWERED YOUR QUESTIONS: Insider is hosting a live event on Thursday to answer your questions about the vaccine news.
Johnson & Johnson’s coronavirus vaccination is given as a single shot, while both Pfizer and Moderna require two shots.
Thiago Prudêncio / SOPA Images / LightRocket via Getty Images
Fauci emphasizes the small chance that blood clots can form: “This is really a rare event. If you look at what we know so far, there were 6 out of the 6.85 million doses, which is less than one in a million,” said Dr. Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading infectious disease. expert, told reporters.
3. More response to the withdrawal in Afghanistan: Republicans had mixed reactions to the plan. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell calls it a ‘serious mistake’. But in a sign of how much politics has changed over the war, the sensation Ted Cruz and Josh Hawley, which may be underway in 2024, largely supported the decision. Some Democrats are also worried about a brave Taliban.
Demonstrations continued for a third night in Brooklyn Center: The protests began peacefully earlier in the day, the Star Tribune reported. After the evening, some protesters started throwing objects at officers. The Minnesota State Patrol fired riot gas, projectiles and more lightning. More on what happened last night.
A police spray tear gas by a kettingsheining while Center police station stand guard at the Brooklyn while protesters kill Daunte Wright by a police officer in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, was shot dead argument.
Kerem Yucel / AFP via Getty Images
A county attorney says the officer who killed Daunte Wright could face criminal charges: Washington County Attorney Pete Orput told the Star Tribune he spent hours reviewing footage and other evidence surrounding Wright’s death after a traffic jam. Applications can be submitted today.
5. The most important things for your calendar, always Eastern:
- 10:00: Chauvin’s trial resumes
- 10:00: House Minority Whip Steve Scalise and Republican House Speaker Liz Cheney and other members of the party’s leadership team hold a news conference
- 12:30: Psaki keeps the White House’s daily newsletter
- 14:15: Biden reveals his plans in Afghanistan. He later visited Arlington National Cemetery
6. A defense expert defends Chauvin’s treatment of George Floyd: Former Santa Rosa, California, police officer Barry Brodd called Chauvin’s actions “objectively reasonable.” His testimony, which kicked off the defense’s arguments, was completely different from the testimony of prosecutors’ law enforcement officers – including the Minneapolis police leadership. Brodd also called the crowd outside Cup Foods, who pleaded with officials to investigate Floyd, a ‘threat’. This repeats a previous point made by the defense.
7. A Republican senator says a dual infrastructure group wants to double Biden’s spending on roads and bridges: “Sen. Bill Cassidy, a Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, has indicated that another important infrastructure plan is being drafted by lawmakers looking for another option besides Biden’s $ 2.3 trillion proposal.” More on what might be in the counter-offer.
8. A scary report leads Capitol Police’s leadership decisions ahead of the deadly riot: A Capitol police officer was restricted to using crowd control techniques and tools such as stun grenades before the deadly January 6 riot, a 104-page internal review concluded. The report from the department’s inspector general also says that the Capitol police’s own intelligence unit warned that violence on January 6 could specifically target Congress itself. More on the findings of the bomb.
9. An employee of Representative Matt Gaetz has reportedly been working with federal investigators since last year: Joel Greenberg, a former Florida local official, told investigators he and Gaetz gave women cash or gifts in exchange for sex, The New York Times reported. The Florida congressman has repeatedly denied allegations that he had sex with a minor or paid for sex. More on the latest development.
10. Aaron Rodgers is RELA-Xed and having fun on Jeopardy !: The Packers QB, which famous fans told to relax, enjoyed its visit to the host. Rodgers had some fun with contestants on Tuesday’s episode after no one could name his Packers as the answer to a question. Does he touch a case to become the permanent host?
One last thing.
Today’s trivia question The Russell Senate Office served as the backdrop for some of the most dramatic hearings in the history of Theepot Dome and Watergate after the clash with the Army-McCarthy. But hearings about a disaster have inaugurated the room. What were they about? Send me your guess and a suggested question to [email protected].