Democrat Senator’s dramatic ‘no’ vote on $15 minimum wage
Applause broke out as Senate Democrats approved a massive Covid relief bill worth $1.9 trillion, after a marathon overnight vote and last-minute haggling between Democrats on issues like unemployment benefits.
Whilst the Capitol buzzes with the ongoing bill and its related stories, other corners of the building see President Biden fire Trump-hire Sharon Gustafson, general counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), after she refused to resign from her post.
Looking to another side of US Politics, former President Trump has submitted a cease-and-desist order for the use of his name and likeness to three major fundraisers for the Republican Party, as he is displeased that organisations that supported Republicans in their efforts to impeach him are using him as a campaigning tool.
Focusing on what matters: Dr Seuss
People were left baffled as House minority leader Kevin McCarthy released a five-minute video of himself reading Dr Seuss’ Green Eggs and Ham, days after six of the author’s books were pulled from publication.
Captioning the lengthy video on Friday evening, Mr McCarthy wrote: “I still like Dr Seuss, so I decided to read Green Eggs and Ham. RT if you still like him too!”
Mr McCarthy posted the video just a few days after Dr Seuss Enterprises, the company that manages Theodor Seuss Geisel’s estate, made the announcement that six of his books written under the pen name Dr Seuss had been pulled from publication over their use of “hurtful and wrong” imagery.
James Crump with the details.
Josh Marcus6 March 2021 19:56
But don’t get too optimistic about the pandemic
There’s an ongoing anti-mask protest this Saturday on the steps of the Idaho state capitol, including children burning masks.
Josh Marcus6 March 2021 19:45
And the early (negative) reviews are in on the stimulus plan
The 50-49 vote to pass the $1.9 trillion stimulus plan—all Democrats for, all Republicans against—should be a clear indication that not everyone was happy with the package.
Here are some of the criticisms of the bill from top Republicans.
Stay tuned with The Independent as we unpack what’s inside the massive plan.
Josh Marcus6 March 2021 19:16
Tucker Carlson calls QAnon supporters ‘gentle’ patriots a week after suggesting the conspiracy didn’t exist
Tucker Carlson appeared to change his tune on supporters of the false QAnon conspiracy theory during his primetime show on Friday, describing them as “gentle people waving American flags” following the Capitol insurrection.
The Fox News host said QAnon supporters “like this country” and suggested some were “maybe kind of confused with the wrong ideas” while referring to the entirely inaccurate conspiracy theory, which claims former President Donald Trump is defending the world from a wealthy network of child predators, conveniently including his apparent political enemies, like Hillary Clinton, while ignoring his own friends and allies.
Chris Riotta’s got the details on this generous bit of image rehabilitation.
Josh Marcus6 March 2021 18:14
What’s in the stimulus plan that just passed?
Here are some of the highlights of the major $1.9 trillion package:
$ 300 weekly unemployment benefits through September 6
$1400 stimulus cheques to many
Billions for state and municipalities, schools, small businesses, and vaccine distribution
Extends 15% increase in food stamp benefits
More Affordable Care Act federal health care subsidies
$8.5 bill for rural health providers
Josh Marcus6 March 2021 17:54
Applause breaks out as Senate passes Biden’s $1.9 trillion Covid relief bill
Applause broke out in the Senate on Saturday afternoon, as senators voted 50-49 to pass President Joe Biden’s $1.9 trillion (£1.3 trillion) Covid relief package.
James Crump is following this breaking news, stay tuned for more details to come.
Josh Marcus6 March 2021 17:34
Kayleigh McEnany mocked for claiming Trump finds Twitter ban ‘freeing’
This just in from the wishful thinking department:
Ms McEnany was recently hired as a Fox News contributor and appeared on Fox Business Friday morning, telling host Stuart Varney that Mr Trump “said it was kind of freeing not to have Twitter,” claiming that he’s “doing just fine”.
Following the Capitol riots, after which Mr Trump was banned, the ex-president reportedly was “ballistic.”
Gustaf Kilander is on that one.
Josh Marcus6 March 2021 17:21
Biden fires Trump official who refused to resign
President Biden has fired Sharon Gustafson, general counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) as appointed by former President Trump.
After refusing to resign, the White House informed Ms Gustafson that she was fired effective from 5pm on 5th March.
Republicans speedily came to criticise the termination of Ms Gustafson, with Andrea Lucas, a Republican-appointed commissioner to the EEOC, described the firing as a violation of Biden’s calls for unity.
Ms Gustafson’s term was originally supposed to end in 2023, with a statement made before her firing stating that she wanted to complete her entire term.
Bethany Dawson6 March 2021 16:48
