Congressman Mark Green weighs in on Russia-Ukraine tensions following trip to Kyiv
In a show of support, members of Congress recently visited Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, as tensions escalate with Russia. Republican Congressman Mark Green of Tennessee, who was part of that congressional delegation, joined CBS News' Vladimir Duthiers and Anne-Marie Green to discuss the situation.
news.yahoo.comReport into Partygate highlights serious failures of government, calls for Boris Johnson to resign
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson apologized Monday after an inquiry found that Downing Street parties while Britain was in lockdown represented a “serious failure” to observe the standards expected of government or to heed the sacrifices made by millions of people during the pandemic. Imtiaz Tyab speaks with Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen, who is critical of Johnson.
news.yahoo.comTop U.S. diplomat meets with Russian foreign minister amid heightened tensions
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with his Russian counterpart in Geneva on Friday in an effort to prevent a Russian military invasion of Ukraine. The discussions didn't end with any resolutions, but Blinken said he felt the meeting was productive. CBS News foreign correspondent Holly Williams reports on the latest from Kyiv, Ukraine, and CBS News correspondent Christina Ruffini joined CBSN from Geneva to discuss the diplomatic talks.
news.yahoo.comKayleigh McEnany calls the Biden administration the 'biggest contributor to vaccine hesitancy' on Fox News, claiming the Trump administration was more 'consistent' with messaging
The former Trump press secretary did not mention her former boss' refusal to get vaccinated on camera, nor the reversal in mask guidance from 2020.
news.yahoo.comFox News host Kayleigh McEnany says she ‘never lied’ as Trump press secretary
Ex-White House official complains about press calling her a liarPolitifact rates denial Trump played down Covid ‘pants on fire’ Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington. Photograph: Evan Vucci/AP The White House press secretary turned Fox News contributor Kayleigh McEnany has claimed she “never lied” while speaking for Donald Trump. Addressing a conservative group on Sunday, McEnany said of her first steps in the role: “And then there was the question, ‘Will you
news.yahoo.comMcEnany: Sen. Scott's rebuttal to Biden's joint address highlights 'the future' of GOP party
"Outnumbered" co-host and former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany praised Sen. Tim Scott's rebuttal to President Biden's joint address on Wednesday's "Hannity," claiming his message was in stark "contrast" to the president and is "exactly what the American public wants to hear."
foxnews.comGOP praises Trump after he urges Republican donors to send money directly to him
The leaders of three top Republican Party committees praised former President Donald Trump on Wednesday for pledging his support to them, even as Trump is actively urging GOP donors to send their money directly to him. Trump is instead directing people toward his own political action committee, Save America. In his most recent statement Tuesday night, Trump said, "I fully support the Republican Party and important GOP Committees, but I do not support RINOs and fools." That statement claimed that by donating to Save America, "you are helping the America First movement and doing it right." That money can be used for "just about anything" Trump wants, experts say — including providing benefits for himself and his family.
cnbc.comKayleigh McEnany signs on as Fox News contributor
FILE - In this Dec. 2, 2020 file photo, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington. McEnany has signed on as a Fox News contributor. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)NEW YORK – As widely anticipated, Fox News said Tuesday that it had signed former White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany as a contributor to offer commentary on various network programs. Before working for Trump, McEnany was a commentator at CNN. AdWhile at the White House, McEnany frequently appeared on Fox News programs for interviews.
Even without listening, US lives in Limbaugh’s media world
Limbaugh, the talk radio host who became the voice of American conservatism, has died. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky, File)NEW YORK – You didn't have to like or even listen to Rush Limbaugh to be affected by what he did. Bumper stickers proclaimed, “Rush is Right.”“There is no talk radio as we know it without Rush Limbaugh. As Limbaugh's political strength became evident, many Republican politicians felt they couldn't cross him, or run the risk of alienating his millions of listeners, Hemmer said. “Many of these listeners didn't care if Rush Limbaugh crossed the line (of propriety),” she said.
White House adding sign language interpreter for briefings
WASHINGTON – The Biden administration is adding a sign language interpreter to its daily press briefings. White House press secretary Jen Psaki announced the move during Monday’s briefing, and an interpreter could be seen on the White House’s YouTube stream of the event. The next month, a federal judge ordered the White House to include American Sign Language interpretation at all televised briefings on the virus. The ruling said the interpreter could be in the frame physically near the speaker or off-site. It said the White House was required to make the interpreter feeds accessible online and on television using a picture-in-picture format.
Smooth Psaki shows new tone in first Biden press briefing
NEW YORK – If there's one thing clear after White House press secretary Jen Psaki's first session with reporters on Wednesday, it's that she's determined to minimize drama in the briefing room. The 42-year-old Psaki (pronounced SOCK-eee) was a State Department spokesperson and White House communications director in former President Barack Obama's administration. Psaki showed a bone-dry wit when one reporter asked if Biden planned to keep the new color scheme that Trump ordered for Air Force One. CNN's chief White House correspondent, Kaitlan Collins, pointed to the lack of attacks on reporters coming from the podium. “This is the way it should have been for four years with President Trump.
President Trump won’t attend Joe Biden’s inauguration
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump said Friday he will skip President-elect Joe Biden’s inauguration, refusing to fulfill the outgoing president's traditional role in the peaceful transition of power and undercutting his own message just one day earlier on the need for “national healing and unity." Historian Douglas Brinkley said that while attending the inauguration “would be a wonderful olive branch to the country,” he wasn't surprised by the decision. “Donald Trump doesn’t want to be in Washington as the second-fiddle loser standing on stage with Joe Biden,” he said. “To all of those who have asked, I will not be going to the Inauguration on January 20th,” Trump said in a tweet. White House counsel Pat Cipollone has repeatedly warned Trump that he could be deemed responsible for inciting Wednesday’s violence.
Trump finally faces reality — amid talk of early ouster
WASHINGTON – With 13 days left in his term, President Donald Trump finally bent to reality Thursday amid growing talk of trying to force him out early, acknowledging he’ll peacefully leave after Congress affirmed his defeat. Trump led off a video from the White House by condemning the violence carried out in his name a day earlier at the Capitol. Deprived of that social media lifeblood, Trump remained silent and ensconced in the executive mansion until Thursday evening. Staff-level discussions on the matter took place across multiple departments and even in parts of the White House, according to two people briefed on the talks. Few aides had any sense of the president’s plans, with some wondering if Trump would largely remain out of sight until he left the White House.
White House press secretary gives one-minute statement on Capitol siege
White House press secretary gives one-minute statement on Capitol siege Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany delivered a one-minute statement "on behalf of the White House" condemning the storming of the U.S. Capitol. She then walked off without taking any questions.
cbsnews.comTrump honors golfing greats with award in private ceremony
The award is one of the nation’s highest civilian honors. President Donald Trump has generally held public ceremonies when presenting the honor, but Thursday’s event was closed to the media. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany released a statement on the awards, which for Sorenstam and Player had been previously announced last March. She was an all-around athlete nicknamed “Babe,” after Babe Ruth. Zaharias was still a top-ranked professional golfer when she died from cancer in 1956.
Thousands of National Guard members head to the Capitol to tamp down pro-Trump insurrection
The National Guard and state forces responded at the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday after pro-Trump rioters overran the building during the Electoral College vote count. The New York Times reported that Pence and not the president gave the order to mobilize the National Guard. Members of the National Guard arrive to secure the area outside the U.S. Capitol, Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, in Washington. Ralph Northam also said he would send his state's National Guard along with 200 state troopers to the Capitol. The mission Miller approved directed unarmed National Guard members to help direct traffic and support local police with crowd control.
cnbc.comTrump’s loyal fans pose challenges for Republicans, Biden
(AP Photo/Julio Cortez, File)WASHINGTON – Their candidate may have lost the election, but President Donald Trump’s supporters have no intention of fading away. Trump will leave the White House on Jan. 20 with an iron grip on a Republican Party that has been transformed on his watch. But among "those that are circling the 2024 race, beyond President Trump, it seems that many of them are headed in the same, more populist-oriented direction,” he said. Trump will “loom very large over the Republican Party," predicted Alyssa Farah, until recently White House communications director. No matter what happens in 2020, 2024 is there for his taking," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a recent appearance on Fox News Channel.
White House wins ruling on disclosing health care prices
The White House praised the decision to reject the American Hospital Association's challenge to the plan. The rule mandating that hospitals disclose their privately negotiated charges with commercial health insurers is scheduled to take effect Jan. 1, 2021. “This transformative hospital price transparency rule has been fought at every step by the swamp and defenders of the status quote," White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany said in a statement. “We also believe it will accelerate anticompetitive behavior among commercial health insurers and hinder innovations in value-based care delivery. The industry argues that forcing the disclosure of prices negotiated between hospitals and insurers amounts to coercion.
Trump pardons security contractors involved in Baghdad massacre
President Donald Trump has pardoned four former Blackwater security contractors who were previously convicted in the murders of civilians during the 2007 Baghdad massacre. Nicholas Slatten, Paul Slough, Evan Liberty and Dustin Heard, served extensive prison sentences before their pardons. The private security firm deployed thousands of former veterans and contractors to Baghdad around 2007. On September 16, 2007, Slatten, Slough, Liberty and Heard were in Baghdad when they opened fire on a crowded intersection in Nisoor Square. The pardons of Slatten, Slough, Liberty and Heard were part of Mr. Trump's last executive clemencies while in office.
cbsnews.comNew round of Trump clemency benefits Manafort, Stone, other allies
The pardons Wednesday of Manafort and Roger Stone, who months earlier had his sentence commuted by Trump, were particularly notable, underscoring the president's desire to chip away at the results and legacy of special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Though the charges against Manafort did not concern the central thrust of Mueller's mandate — whether the Trump campaign and Russia colluded to tip the election — he was nonetheless a pivotal figure in the investigation. Manafort, in a series of tweets, thanked Trump and lavished praise on the outgoing president, declaring that history would show he had accomplished more than any of his predecessors. Trump and the elder Kushner knew each other from real estate circles and their children were married in 2009. Trump’s legally troubled allies were not the only recipients of clemency.
Biden gets COVID-19 vaccine, says ‘nothing to worry about’
The president-elect took a dose of Pfizer vaccine at a hospital not far from his Delaware home, hours after his wife, Jill Biden, did the same. The injections came the same day that a second vaccine, produced by Moderna, will start arriving in states. “I'm ready,” said Biden, who was administered the dose at a hospital in Newark, Delaware. President Donald Trump is discussing with his doctors the timing for taking the vaccine, the White House has said. Trump was hospitalized with COVID-19 in October and given an experimental monoclonal antibody treatment that he credited for his swift recovery.
As end approaches, Trump gets doses of flattery, finality
Barr offered his resignation last Monday after weeks of tension with Trump brought about an early exit from his post. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, File)NEW YORK – President Donald Trump’s administration is ending how it began, with over-the-top declarations of praise for the chief executive. Attorney General William Barr offered his resignation last Monday after weeks of tension with Trump brought about an early exit from his post. In the six weeks since his defeat by Biden, Trump has been increasingly disengaged from his job. But with Trump largely in hiding, it fell to Pence to make a public show of meeting with those distributing the vaccine.
Pence, top congressional leaders get vaccines; Trump absent
Vice President Mike Pence receives a Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine shot at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House complex, Friday, Dec. 18, 2020, in Washington. Conspicuously absent: President Donald Trump, who has remained largely out of sight five days into the largest vaccination campaign in the nation’s history. Trump did appear at a White House “summit” ahead of the Food and Drug Administration's approval of the Pfizer vaccine last week. “Don’t let Joe Biden take credit for the vaccines,” Trump has told reporters. “It simply isn’t good enough to have Vice President Pence as a proxy."
Turning the page? Republicans acknowledge Biden's victory
The moves come a day after electors nationwide formally cast votes affirming Biden's victory in last month's presidential election. As Republicans began discussing a Biden presidency more openly on Tuesday, Trump still pledged to press forward with almost nonexistent legal options. There has never been anything like this in our Country!” Trump tweeted just as members of his party were publicly recognizing Biden's victory. The normally humdrum political ceremony didn’t change the facts of the election, but was nonetheless used as political cover by leading Republicans. Unless Democrats win both those races, Senate Republicans will have the power to block many of Biden's Cabinet nominations, not to mention thwart his policy initiatives.
Turning the page? Republicans acknowledge Biden's victory
The moves come a day after electors nationwide formally cast votes affirming Biden's victory in last month's presidential election. As Republicans began discussing a Biden presidency more openly on Tuesday, Trump still pledged to press forward with almost nonexistent legal options. There has never been anything like this in our Country!” Trump tweeted just as members of his party were publicly recognizing Biden's victory. The normally humdrum political ceremony didn’t change the facts of the election, but was nonetheless used as political cover by leading Republicans. Unless Democrats win both those races, Senate Republicans will have the power to block many of Biden's Cabinet nominations, not to mention thwart his policy initiatives.
The Latest: Biden announces Buttigieg as transportation pick
President-elect Joe Biden speaks at a drive-in rally for Georgia Democratic candidates for U.S. Senate Raphael Warnock and Jon Ossoff, Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)WASHINGTON – The Latest on President-elect Joe Biden (all times local):7:55 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden has formally announced former rival Pete Buttigieg as his pick to be secretary of transportation. ___1:30 p.m.President-elect Joe Biden says he’s spoken with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell after the Electoral College affirmed his victory Monday. ___8:40 a.m.Two foreign leaders who had not congratulated President-elect Joe Biden have now done so. ___7:30 a.m.Top U.S. infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci says President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris should be vaccinated for COVID-19 as soon as possible.
Trump tries to revive stalled election-eve drug discounts
FILE - In this Oct. 10, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump speaks from the Blue Room Balcony of the White House to a crowd of supporters in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is trying to revive the president's stalled election-eve plan to send millions of Medicare recipients a $200 prescription discount card. White House spokesman Judd Deere confirmed the administration is continuing to move forward. “It’s simply good policy, and demonstrates President Trump is continuing to deliver on his promises to our nation’s seniors to lower drug prices." Pallone dismissed the latest White House push.
House approves defense policy bill with a veto-proof margin
The measure guides Pentagon policy and cements decisions about troop levels, new weapons systems and military readiness, military personnel policy and other military goals. It follows Trump's bid to sabotage the package with an earlier veto threat over Confederate base names. If he does veto the defense bill, Congress could cut short its Christmas recess to hold override votes, senior House members said. And I think he will get substantial pressure, advice (from Republicans) that, you know, you don’t want to put the defense bill at risk.'' The defense bill is typically a widely bipartisan measure, one of the few areas of common ground.
House approves defense bill with veto-proof margin
It follows Trump's bid to sabotage the package with an earlier veto threat over Confederate base names. If he does veto the defense bill, Congress could cut short its Christmas recess to hold override votes, senior House members said. And I think he will get substantial pressure, advice (from Republicans) that, you know, you don’t want to put the defense bill at risk.'' The defense bill is typically a widely bipartisan measure, one of the few areas of common ground. Some Democrats, including Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer, agree the Section 230 provision could be revisited, even as they disagree with Trump’s tactic of attaching it to the defense bill.
Fauci's plea 'Wear a mask' tops list of 2020 notable quotes
Made during a May 21, 2020 interview on CNN, Fauci's pleas for people to "wear a mask" to slow the spread of the coronavirus, tops a Yale Law School librarian's list of the most notable quotes of 2020. (Kevin Dietsch/Pool via AP, File)NEW HAVEN, Conn. – A plea from Dr. Anthony Fauci for people to “wear a mask” to slow the spread of the coronavirus tops a Yale Law School librarian’s list of the most notable quotes of 2020. “Wear a mask.” — Dr. Anthony Fauci, CNN interview, May 21. — Trump, in remarks at a White House Coronavirus Task Force news briefing, April 23. You have my word on that.” — White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany, at her first press briefing, May 1.
Pence comes to Georgia as calm before potential Trump storm
Vice President Mike Pence speaks during a briefing on COVID-19 at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Friday, Dec. 4, 2020, in Atlanta. There have even been suggestions from some Trump allies that conservative voters should sit out the Jan. 5 Senate runoffs in protest, a notion Pence took head on. Pence, as he did two weeks ago when campaigning with the Georgia senators, tried to strike a balance. But this time, Pence's message comes as Georgia completes yet another recount of presidential ballots and in the wake of Trump escalating his attacks on Georgia Republicans. As Pence arrived in the state, Georgia officials were in the final stages of a third count requested by Trump’s campaign.
Trump expected to flex pardon powers on way out door
WASHINGTON – Advocates and lawyers anticipate a flurry of clemency action from President Donald Trump in the coming weeks that could test the limits of presidential pardon power. No, Mr. President, that would be a gross abuse of the presidential pardon authority,” Schumer said. Trump then featured Johnson's story in a Super Bowl ad and pardoned her during this year's Republican National Convention. He has participated in several meetings at the White House during Trump's term as officials brainstormed potential changes to the formal clemency process. “For those people that should be free," he said, Trump's friends-and-family approach to pardons is "a deep and real tragedy."
Psaki, next White House press secretary, a veteran messenger
FILE - In this Feb. 16, 2011, file photo Jen Psaki is seen in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House in Washington. Much of that work will fall to Jen Psaki, Biden's pick for White House press secretary. “This job becomes one of the most recognizable people representing both the administration and the government writ large,” said Robert Gibbs, a former Obama press secretary. Both the president and his media team were frequently at odds with White House reporters while routinely spreading falsehoods. A native of Stamford, Connecticut, and a graduate of William & Mary, Psaki is part of an all-female senior communications team for the Biden White House.
Trump's grievances feed menacing undertow after the election
Local and state election officials are being hounded into hiding. Neutral public servants, Democrats and a growing number of Republicans who won’t do what Trump wants are being caught in a menacing postelection undertow stirred by Trump’s grievances about the election he lost. Tough beans, Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani said of the state officials who are fearing for their safety. Have you no shame?”Said Sterling, the Republican Georgia election official: “Someone’s going to get hurt. Members of Trump’s administration have affirmed the legitimacy of the election, though at least one, Krebs, got fired for it.
Congress swats back Trump's veto threat of defense bill
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a briefing at the White House, Wednesday, Dec. 2, 2020, in Washington. But interjecting the complicated tech issue threatens to upend the massive defense bill, which Congress takes pride in having passed unfailingly for half a century. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany said at briefing Wednesday that the president is serious about vetoing the defense bill unless Congress repeals Section 230. Some Democrats, including Schumer, agree the Section 230 provision could be revisited, even as they disagree with Trump’s tactic of attaching it to the defense bill. But he also said he doesn’t believe Trump will veto the must-pass defense bill.
Politicians eat own words after dining out, taking trips
Gavin Newsom, San Francisco Mayor London Breed and Los Angeles County supervisor all dined outdoors, conflicting with their own messaging to stay home. Gavin Newsom, who won plaudits for issuing the first statewide stay-at-home order in the U.S. back in March. San Francisco’s mayor, London Breed, was at the same $350-a-plate restaurant a day later, dining with a San Francisco socialite and six others. Breed has also won accolades for imposing some of the strictest rules in California, keeping coronavirus rates relatively low. White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany called out what she called “Democrat hypocrisy" Wednesday as she displayed images of the same politicians.
White House refuses to say Trump has faith in Attorney General William Barr
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany takes questions during a press briefing in the Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, U.S., December 2, 2020. Jonathan Ernst | ReutersPresident Donald Trump's spokeswoman refused to say Wednesday whether Trump still has faith in Attorney General William Barr, a day after Barr said the Justice Department has not found evidence that widespread ballot fraud led to President-elect Joe Biden's victory. That interview sparked immediate speculation that Trump would fire Barr, who until Tuesday was seen as a staunchly loyal supporter of the president. During a press conference Wednesday, a reporter asked White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, "Does [Trump] still have faith in Attorney General Bill Barr? US President Donald Trump (L) shakes hands with US Attorney General William Barr (R) during the Public Safety Officer Medal of Valor presentation ceremony at the White House in Washington, DC on May 22, 2019.
cnbc.comTrump teases 2024 run at White House Christmas party
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump teased running again for president in 2024 as he hosted a holiday reception at the White House. “It’s been an amazing four years,” Trump told the crowd, which included many Republican National Committee members. It showed dozens of people crammed into the broad Cross Hall of the White House state floor, standing closely together. White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany on Wednesday defended the Trumps' decision to host the parties. Stephanie Grisham, the first lady’s spokeswoman and chief of staff, had said last month that the White House would be moving forward with events, “while providing the safest environment possible."
Trump team making false argument about his 2016 transition
President Barack Obama shakes hands with President-elect Donald Trump in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2016. President Trump and his allies are harking back to his own transition four years ago to make a false argument that his own presidency was denied a fair chance for a clean launch. Press secretary Kayleigh McEnany laid out the case from the White House podium last week. That's a far cry from the description issued by McEnany as pressure mounts for Trump to concede and for his administration to begin cooperating with Biden's transition team. But Trump's team largely ignored advice from Obama staffers, leaving briefing books unopened and ignoring special iPads loaded with materials.
Trump tries to leverage power of office to subvert Biden win
President Donald Trump listens during an event in the briefing room of the White House in Washington, Friday, Nov. 20, 2020, on prescription drug prices. Experts on Michigan election law said the Board of State Canvassers' authority was limited in scope. The Michigan Legislature would be called on to select electors if Trump succeeded in persuading the board not to certify the results. In two Democratic-leaning counties in Wisconsin that are recounting votes, Trump’s campaign sought to discard tens of thousands of absentee ballots that it alleged should not have been counted. "It’s an open attempt to intimidate election officials, it’s absolutely appalling.
Harvard petition demands scrutiny of ex-Trump officials
FILE In this May 30, 2019 file photo, graduates of Harvard's John F. Kennedy School of Government hold aloft inflatable globes as they celebrate graduating during Harvard University's commencement exercises in Cambridge, Mass. A petition circulating at Harvard University demands that school officials create new accountability standards for former Trump administration officials who seek to work or speak on campus, an idea that has drawn outrage from prominent conservatives. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)
Harvard petition demands scrutiny of ex-Trump officials
A petition circulating at Harvard University demands that school officials create new accountability standards for former Trump administration officials who seek to work or speak on campus, an idea that has drawn outrage from prominent conservatives. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File)BOSTON – A petition circulating at Harvard University demands new accountability standards for former Trump administration officials who seek to work or speak on campus, an idea that has drawn outrage from prominent conservatives. The new petition argues that Trump officials deserves more scrutiny than those tied to past presidents. Kayleigh McEnany, the White House press secretary and a Harvard Law School graduate, urged Harvard to reject the petition. “This is not an administration whose officers can be treated normally.”The Harvard petition goes further in demanding additional scrutiny of speakers and fellows, not just faculty.
Trump makes late-term bid to lower prescription drug costs
The Trump administration disputes that and says its rule could potentially result in 30% savings for patients. Trump has taken other action to lower prescription drug costs by opening a legal path for importing medicines from abroad. Also, Medicare drug plans that cap insulin costs at $35 a month are available during open enrollment, currently underway. The Food and Drug Administration has put a priority on approving generics, which cost less. Asked about when President Trump might concede the election to President-elect Joe Biden, she said that the result is pending litigation.
The Latest: McConnell proposes shifting funds to COVID aid
Scott Applewhite)WASHINGTON – The Latest on President-elect Joe Biden (all times local):2:45 p.m.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is proposing that Congress funnel $455 billion of unspent small business lending funds toward a new COVID-19 aid package. The Republican leader’s offer Friday comes after a morning meeting with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows. Critics said the Treasury Department’s move was designed to hinder President-elect Joe Biden’s administration by halting needed lending. Democrat Joe Biden was declared the winner of the election on Nov. 7, but President Donald Trump has refused to concede. Upton says he has not been in contact with the lawmakers from his state who are meeting later with Trump at the White House.
Top Pentagon official tests positive for coronavirus
WASHINGTON – A Pentagon official installed in a top policy job last week has tested positive for COVID-19, the Pentagon said Thursday, just days after he met with the Lithuanian defense minister, who had contracted the virus. Jonathan Hoffman, the chief Pentagon spokesperson, said Anthony Tata, who is serving as the undersecretary of defense, was tested Thursday after learning that Defense Minister Raimundas Karoblis had tested positive. White House chief of staff Mark Meadows tested positive after attending an election night party at the White House. Others who were at the party also tested positive, including White House political director Brian Jack, former White House aide Healy Baumgardner and Trump campaign advisers David Bossie and Corey Lewandowski. The assistant commandant of the Marine Corps later also tested positive, and all the chiefs were forced to quarantine at home for at least 10 days.
White House press secretary refuses to acknowledge outcome of election in first briefing since Trump lost
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany refused to acknowledge President-elect Joe Biden's victory in a press briefing on Friday— her first press briefing since October 1 and since President Trump lost the election. Mr. Trump refuses to concede and continues promoting false claims of voter fraud. She did not say when Mr. Trump would concede, but said there were "very real claims" of voter fraud without identifying any evidence. However, the Wayne County canvassers certified Mr. Biden's victory in the county that night, and the president-elect's win was then certified across the state. On the topic of the pandemic, McEnany claimed "the beginning of the end of the pandemic started with the leadership of President Trump."
cbsnews.comTrump, still not conceding defeat, trumpets vaccine progress
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany, meanwhile, said Trump is “not even at that point yet” when it comes to conceding to Biden. Trump spoke with conservative media on Friday, including Fox News' Geraldo Rivera, suggesting he would acknowledge the loss only after exhausting his legal options. “While we are not there yet, we are close to the objective” to having a vaccine ready for deployment by the end of the year, he said. “The governor will let us know when he’s ready," Trump said. Others at the party also have tested positive, including White House political director Brian Jack, former White House aide Healy Baumgardner and Trump campaign advisers David Bossie and Corey Lewandowski.
McEnany wears 2 hats as WH press secretary, campaign adviser
WASHINGTON – A White House press secretary who refers questions to the White House? Kayleigh McEnany is wearing two hats, one as a Trump 2020 campaign adviser and the other as the White House press secretary, charged with articulating the administration’s policies and positions to the press and the public. “Well, I haven’t spoken to the president about that, so that would be a question more for the White House,” she said. Joe Lockhart, who served as White House press secretary under President Bill Clinton, tweeted that McEnany’s “behavior is both outrageous and damaging.” He called for House lawmakers to conduct an inquiry. Bookbinder said McEnany bolstered her position by not taking a question about White House policy in the Fox interview.
BuzzFeed pulls White House reporter over coronavirus concern, saying Trump aides largely not wearing masks
Members of the White House press corps work outside the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 2020. BuzzFeed News pulled its political reporter out of the White House press pool on Wednesday, saying that Trump administration aides in the facility have "largely not worn masks" or abided by other basic coronavirus protections. The news site's decision to withdraw journalist Kadia Goba from the press pool came after images showed White House aides standing outside the White House not wearing masks. President Donald Trump, first lady Melania Trump, Trump aide Hope Hicks and White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany all have tested positive for Covid-19 since last Thursday, along with multiple other people connected to the White House and the president. Politico reporter Meridith McGraw was dispatched to the White House to replace Goba in the press pool.
cnbc.comTrump Toll: Rising Covid-19 Cases in the White House as Staffers Fall Ill
Two of her aides, Chad Gilmartin and Karoline Leavitt, also tested positive. Also clobbered by Covid-19: at least three journalists, according to the White House Correspondents Association. Ray is the most senior military official known to have tested positive for Covid-19. White House physician Sean Conley insisted Monday that Trump’s tweets can be taken as a sign that he’s not impaired. Congress/Cabinet should insist on it… and do so stat.”(Edited by Allison Elyse Gualtieri and David Martosko)The post Trump Toll: Rising Covid-19 Cases in the White House as Staffers Fall Ill appeared first on Zenger News.
thewestsidegazette.comTrump press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and two deputies test positive for coronavirus
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany and two of her deputies have tested positive for the coronavirus as President Donald Trump remains hospitalized with the virus. It was not clear when Gilmartin, who is principal assistant press secretary, and Leavitt, who is assistant press secretary, tested positives for Covid-19. In addition, at least three journalists who were at the White House over the past week have tested positive for the coronavirus, according to the White House Correspondents Association. Kayleigh McEnany, White House press secretary, left, and Chad Gilmartin, principal assistant White House press secretary, arrive to a news conference in the James S. Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S. on Thursday, July 16, 2020. "I definitely had no knowledge of Hope Hicks' diagnosis prior to holding a White House press briefing on Thursday," McEnany tweeted Monday.
cnbc.comTrump 'doing very well,' has started Remdesivir therapy, White House physician says
President Donald Trump was taken to Walter Reed Medical Center on Friday "out of an abundance of caution" following his coronavirus diagnosis, the White House said. White House physician Sean Conley said in a statement late Friday that Trump is "doing very well," has started Remdesivir therapy and does not require supplemental oxygen. Trump was seen wearing a mask as he departed the White House shortly after 6:15 p.m. After his departure from the White House, the president's official Twitter account shared a video of him appearing to speak from the Oval Office. Earlier Friday afternoon, the White House physician said Trump was "fatigued but in good spirits."
cnbc.comLawmakers push back against Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power
A day after President Donald Trump refused to promise a peaceful transfer of power if he loses the 2020 election, lawmakers pushed back on his statements. How many places in the world where you actually have a peaceful transfer of power to begin with?" Graham added, "there is no alternative to a peaceful transfer of power." "Fundamental to democracy is the peaceful transition of power; without that, there is Belarus," tweeted Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, who has been critical of Trump. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said Thursday, "There will be a very peaceful transition," according to The New York Times.
cnbc.comTrump heckled while viewing Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg's casket at Supreme Court: 'Vote him out!'
President Donald Trump was loudly heckled by a crowd chanting, "Vote him out!" as he and first lady Melania Trump paid their respects on Thursday at the casket of Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg on the steps of the Supreme Court. The crowd erupted into jeers and boos as Trump, uncharacteristically wearing a mask, stood in back of Ginsburg's casket, with the first lady nearby. The president and Melania Trump then turned and walked back into the Supreme Court building as the heckling continued. The negative reception Trump received during his visit to the Supreme Court is not surprising.
cnbc.comTrump press secretary defends her own mail-in votes after attacking expanded absentee ballot access
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany holds her first on-camera news conference in the James Brady Press Briefing Room at the White House May 01, 2020 in Washington, DC. WASHINGTON White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany defended her decade-long record of voting by mail, arguing Wednesday that her public opposition to expanding mail-in voting for other people is not incompatible with her personal use of mail-in ballots. "President Trump is against the Democrat plan to politicize the coronavirus and expand mass mail-in voting without a reason, which has a high propensity for voter fraud. In addition to being an absentee voter herself, McEnany is also a high-profile defender of President Donald Trump's recent attacks on expanding mail-in ballots. In Washington, Republicans have loudly opposed state efforts to expand ballot access by mail in light of the coronavirus threat, and few more than Trump himself.
cnbc.comPence keeping his distance from Trump for a few days: White House
REUTERS/Carlos Barria/File PhotoWASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. Vice President Mike Pence is keeping his distance from President Donald Trump for a few days in the wake of his press secretary testing positive for the coronavirus, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany told reporters on Tuesday. The vice president has made the choice to keep his distance for a few days, McEnany told a news briefing. Many senior officials were seen wearing masks in the White House Rose Garden on Monday during Trumps news conference. Trumps senior aides are tested daily for the virus, as are many other officials in the White House. Members of the White House press pool are now expected to be tested daily as well.
feeds.reuters.comWhite House defends coronavirus safety measures as another staffer falls ill
Weve taken every single precaution to protect the president, McEnany insisted to reporters at a White House news briefing. She also pointed to regular cleanings and adherence to distancing guidelines of six feet between individuals that are not always followed at crowded White House events. Weve done every single thing that Dr. (Deborah) Birx and Dr. (Anthony) Fauci have asked us to do, she added, referring to highly respected physicians on the White House coronavirus task force. The White House has also instituted daily, as opposed to weekly, coronavirus tests of Trump and Pence. DICTATORS, KINGS, AND QUEENSEven as White House staffers don masks, protective facial coverings have been a harder sell for Trump and Pence.
feeds.reuters.comU.S. CDC reopening guidelines are under review: White House
White House Press Secretary Kayleigh McEnany speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington, U.S., May 8, 2020. REUTERS/Tom BrennerWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Preventions recommended guidelines on when and how localities should reopen activity are being edited, White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany told reporters on Friday. An administration official on Thursday said the White House had shelved a step-by-step guide prepared by CDC officials to help states safely reopen public places closed by the novel coronavirus pandemic.
feeds.reuters.comTrump administration shelves detailed CDC guide to reopening the country
The guidance was described in AP stories last week, prior to the White House decision to shelve it. Traditionally, it's been the CDC's role to give the public and local officials guidance and science-based information during public health crises. White House spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany echoed that at a briefing Wednesday: "We've consulted individually with states, but as I said, it's (a) governor-led effort. The White House guidance also included advice developed earlier in the pandemic that remains important like social distancing and encouraging working from home. The person said that White House officials have refrained from offering detailed guidance for how specific sectors should reopen because the virus is affecting various parts of the country differently.
cnbc.comNew White House press secretary breaks with Trump tradition by holding a traditional briefing
WASHINGTON Newly minted White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany gave the first formal White House daily press briefing in more than a year on Friday. She was also quick to distance herself from previous Trump press secretaries, who were widely criticized for lying to reporters. The last time a Trump press secretary answered reporters questions live on camera was on March 11, 2019, while Sarah Huckabee Sanders was still in the job. The coronavirus pandemic has only served to highlight the president's role as the chief communicator for the White House. By contrast, Friday's briefing with McEnany felt more like a press briefing from the pre-Trump era, before the president had ever labeled the press the "enemy of the people."
cnbc.comWatch live: White House holds first press secretary briefing in over a year
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany is expected to hold a press briefing Friday, the first in more than a year. The last press briefing was on March 11, 2019, when Sarah Huckabee Sanders was still in the role. Stephanie Grisham, President Donald Trump's previous press secretary who took over for Sanders never held a briefing. McEnany, who only recently took the White House press secretary job, used to be Trump's 2020 campaign spokesperson. The White House announced that McEnany would assume the press secretary role on April 7.
cnbc.comWhite House press secretary says she will "never lie" to the press
White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany briefed reporters Friday afternoon in the first formal briefing by a press secretary in over a year. Stephanie Grisham, who was last press secretary before McEnany, did not hold any briefings in the 10 months she served in the position. McEnany was named the new White House press secretary in April. McEnany's briefing comes after weeks of daily press conferences by the White House Coronavirus Task Force, led by Mr. Trump. Mr. Trump has minimized his appearances in the past week, attending only one formal press briefing on Monday.
cbsnews.comTrump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis meet at White House as states start to reopen
Ron DeSantis during an event at the Sharon L. Morse Performing Arts Center on October 03, 2019 in The Villages, Florida. President Donald Trump and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis met Tuesday at the White House, just days before Florida's coronavirus stay-at-home order is set to expire. Speaking to reporters, Trump and DeSantis touted Florida's relatively low Covid-19 infection rate, compared to what many experts predicted for the state. But he took no questions at Friday's briefing, and the White House canceled the briefing scheduled for Monday evening suggesting a shift in how the White House delivers its messaging, which it has struggled to control amid the pandemic.
cnbc.comWhite House's McEnany says coronavirus task force will resume briefings later this week
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump will hold a press availability on Monday as he meets with chief executives and industry leaders but the White House coronavirus task force will not hold a briefing, a White House spokeswoman said. The task force will resume briefings later in the week as the administration enters the reopening phase of the fight against the coronavirus, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany told reporters. They might have a new look to them, a new focus to them, she said, but I would not read into that anything that said we see them as negative because in fact we think that they have been a very positive, helpful opportunity for the president to speak to the American people.
feeds.reuters.comTrump insists "testing is not going to be a problem at all"
The White House guidance provides some assistance to states, but also requires them to forge their own paths. "The testing is not going to be a problem at all," the president told reporters in the White House Rose Garden. "I hope he's fine, I do know how he's doing," Mr. Trump said, before adding in a subsequent sentence that no one knows where the dictator is. The Rose Garden event is the latest addition to Mr. Trump's schedule, which initially included a briefing from the White House Coronavirus Task Force. They get record ratings, & the American people get nothing but Fake News," Mr. Trump tweeted.
cbsnews.comTrump immigration ban halts green cards, not temporary visas
While a hard stop on immigration would normally affect millions of people, much of the immigration system has already ground to a halt because of the pandemic. Trump said that the move would not impact those in the country on a temporary basis and would apply only to those looking for green cards in hopes of staying. President Donald Trump announced Tuesday he will be placing a 60-day pause on the issuance of certain immigration green cards in an effort to limit competition for jobs in a U.S. economy wrecked by the coronavirus. Trump has often pivoted to his signature issue of immigration when he's under criticism. In March, amid pressure by Congress and a tight job market, the administration raised the annual quota to its highest level under Trump.
cnbc.comWhite House spokeswoman Grisham switches to first lady's staff
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - In a White House communications shakeup, press secretary Stephanie Grisham announced plans to leave on Tuesday and administration officials said she was expected to be replaced by a spokeswoman for President Donald Trumps re-election campaign, Kayleigh McEnany. The shuffle, in which Grisham will become first lady Melania Trumps chief of staff, is seen as a sign of the internal influence of new White House chief of staff Mark Meadows, who took over barely a week ago. The positions have less relevance in the Trump White House, since the president sets the news agenda each day with tweets and frequent encounters with the news media. Grisham took over from Sarah Sanders as press secretary last June, the third person to hold the role in Trumps high-turnover White House. Sean Spicer was Trumps first press secretary.
feeds.reuters.comTrump campaign spokeswoman McEnany to become White House press secretary: CNN
FILE PHOTO: A lectern stands at the ready outside the West Wing of the White House in Washington, U.S., July 24, 2017. REUTERS/Joshua RobertsWASHINGTON (Reuters) - A spokeswoman for President Donald Trumps campaign, Kayleigh McEnany, will become the new White House press secretary, CNN reported, in the latest shakeup of the presidents communications office. The newspaper said McEnany, who was spokeswoman for the Republican National Committee before joining Trumps re-election team, will take over from Stephanie Grisham. Grisham had only been in the post since June, when she took over from Sarah Sanders.
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