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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
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Lois Beckett and Joan E Greve

Richard Trumka, AFL-CIO union president, dies aged 72 – as it happened

Richard Trumka in December 2019. Trumka had been the AFL-CIO’s president since 2009.
Richard Trumka in December 2019. Trumka had been the AFL-CIO’s president since 2009. Photograph: Joshua Roberts/Reuters

Evening summary

We’re wrapping up today’s live politics coverage. Here’s an updated summary of the day’s key political news:

  • AFL-CIO leader Richard Trumka died unexpectedly at the age of 72. Numerous politicians offered their condolences to Trumka’s family, saying he had been instrumental in strengthening workers’ rights over his long career. “He wasn’t just a great labor leader. He was a friend,” Joe Biden said of Trumka.
  • Biden signed an executive order setting a goal of having half of all new US vehicles be electric by 2030. The order also established standards for car companies to gradually reduce vehicle emissions over the next five years. In a speech before signing the order, Biden argued the future of car manufacturing is electric. “The question is whether we’ll lead or fall behind in the race for the future,” the president said.
  • Biden also honored police officers who defended the Capitol during the 6 January insurrection, warning “We cannot allow history to be rewritten,” and calling the invasion of the Capitol an attack on democracy.
  • The justice department is launching a “pattern or practice” investigation into the Phoenix police department, attorney general Merrick Garland announced. The investigation will examine whether officers have engaged in excessive force, including lethal force, and whether they have behaved unlawfully toward people experiencing homelessness.
  • The Senate could hold its final vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill as early as this Saturday. Speaking on the Senate floor this morning, majority leader Chuck Schumer said, “Today, we’ll consider even more amendments, and then hopefully we can bring this bill to a close very shortly.”
  • The New York state Assembly’s impeachment inquiry into governor Andrew Cuomo is “nearing completion,” the chairman of the chamber’s judiciary committee announced. The Assembly will soon consider articles of impeachment against Cuomo, after an investigation found he had sexually harassed at least 11 women.
  • Coronavirus politics: as Florida governor Ron DeSantis, a potential Republican 2024 presidential candidate, feuds with the Biden administration over public health prevention measures, public health officials in Los Angeles said they believed they had evidence that the county’s renewed requirement to wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status, was slowing the rate of new coronavirus infections.

Los Angeles County public health officials argue indoor mask policy is working

New numbers from the Los Angeles public health department suggest the county’s requirement that people once again wear masks indoors is working, the public health director argued today.

Soumya Karlamangla of the New York Times also highlighted Barbara Ferrer’s argument that the rate that coronavirus cases are increasing in Los Angeles has slowed in the wake of the renewed mask mandate.

Rudy Giuliani still repeating false election fraud claims at New York GOP fundraiser

Donald Trump and Rudy Giuliani are together at a fundraiser for New York Republicans, the New York Times’ Maggie Haberman reports.

Florida governor feuds with White House as coronavirus cases rise

The Associated Press has an in-depth look at the political strategy of Florida’s governor, who is seen as a Republican contender for the 2024 presidential race, and who is also responsible for making key policy decisions in a state that is currently hard-hit by the ongoing pandemic:

As coronavirus cases rise across the Sun Belt, President Joe Biden asked GOP governors to “get out of the way” of efforts to contain the virus.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis fired back that he did not want to “hear a blip about COVID from you, thank you,” adding, “Why don’t you do your job?”

The exchange was unusually direct and bitter, particularly for politicians dealing with a crisis that is killing Americans in rising numbers...

DeSantis is up for reelection next year and is frequently mentioned as a 2024 presidential contender. His national profile has risen in large part because he spent the early part of the pandemic pushing a message that prioritized his state’s economy over sweeping restrictions to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

But his state is now an epicenter of the latest surge. Florida has repeatedly broken records for hospitalized patients this week, and it and Texas accounted for a third of all new cases nationwide last week, according to the White House.

DeSantis has responded by banning mask mandates in schools and arguing that vaccines are the best way to fight the virus while new restrictions amount to impediments on liberty.

“Florida is a free state, and we will empower our people,” DeSantis said in a fundraising email keying off his hitting back at the president. “We will not allow Joe Biden and his bureaucratic flunkies to come in and commandeer the rights and freedoms of Floridians.”

Report: Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes has child while awaiting trial

Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes is awaiting trial on fraud charges, and currently facing up to 20 years in prison, according to ABC News, after her much-hyped blood testing startup unraveled in the wake of an investigation from the Wall Street Journal.

On 10 July, according to birth records obtained by ABC News, Holmes and her partner had their first child.

The child’s birth delayed the start of Holmes’ criminal trial, which was originally scheduled to begin on 13 July, my colleague Kari Paul reported in March, noting that lawyers for Holmes asked the judge to delay the start of jury selection to 31 August, after her due date.

Vanity Fair reported that Holmes and partner Billy Evans were quietly married in 2019.

Updated

Immigration reporters highlight the number of migrant kids in custody in the US

Reporters for the Wall Street Journal and the New York Times are highlighting the number of migrant children and teens currently in custody of US Customs and Border Patrol:

Senators wrapping up $1tn infrastructure bill, voting ahead

Nearing decision time, senators are wrapping up work on the bipartisan infrastructure plan and talks were underway Thursday to expedite consideration of the nearly $1tn proposal, with votes expected in the days ahead, the Associated Press reports.

A much anticipated analysis of the bill from the Congressional Budget Office concluded that the legislation would increase the national debt by about $256bn over the next decade. Senators wanted that information before votes on the package, which could start soon and push into Saturday.

The Washington Post’s Heather Long broke down the numbers, and focused on a key takeaway: the current infrastructure bill would be “way cheaper” than tax cuts or the stimulus.

Updated

New York lawmakers’ impeachment inquiry into Cuomo nearing an end

New York state lawmakers announced Thursday that their impeachment investigation of Governor Andrew Cuomo is nearing an end and have given him a 13 August deadline to provide any additional evidence over sexual harassment allegations.

The letter was released to the public by the assembly judiciary committee chair, Charles Lavine, a Long Island Democrat. The committee has been investigating whether to impeach the governor over sexual harassment allegations, misleading the public about Covid-19 outbreaks at nursing homes and using state resources and staff for his $5m book deal.

The deadline came as liberal activists with ties to Cuomo were under scrutiny over attempts to discredit one of his accusers. An investigation found that Cuomo’s staff contacted a prominent advocate for sexual harassment victims and the leader of a gay rights group for guidance on how to discredit his accuser, former adviser Lindsey Boylan.

The liberal advocates are attorney Roberta Kaplan, a co-founder of Time’s Up Legal Defense Fund, and Alphonso David, the president of the Human Rights Campaign.

Updated

Biden, Harris acknowledge lasting toll of 6 January attack on Capitol police officers

The president and vice president both alluded to lasting trauma that officers who defended the capitol might have experienced, and Joe Biden urged anyone dealing with the after-effects of a traumatic event to seek help.

Earlier this week, Capitol police officials said that two more officers who had been present at the Capitol on 6 January had died by suicide, for a total of four. Some Democratic lawmakers shared the news with condolences to the families of the officers.

“I know there’s nothing happy about this, but it’s important,” Biden said quietly to the group of Capitol police officers and family members who had gathered around him in the Rose Garden as he signed the act awarding Congressional gold medals to the officers into law.

In the US, the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is at 800-273-8255 and online chat is also available. You can also text HOME to 741741 to connect with a crisis text line counselor. In the UK and Ireland, Samaritans can be contacted on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org or jo@samaritans.ie. In Australia, the crisis support service Lifeline is 13 11 14. Other international helplines can be found at www.befrienders.org

‘We cannot allow history to be rewritten’ Biden warns, describing 6 January attack

“It was a violent attempt to overturn the will of the American people...to replace the ballot with brute force,” Biden says of 6 January in a Rose Garden address, awarding congressional gold medals to officers who defended the Capitol

You can watch live here:

Biden awards Congressional gold medals to officers who defended Capitol on 6 January

“America owes you a debt we can never fully repay,” Joe Biden told the officers, citing the even larger number of officers who were injured and hospitalized after being “assaulted by thousands of violent insurrectionists” as Congress was attempting to certify the results of the 2020 presidential election.

While many of the Trump supporters who invaded the Capitol on 6 January called themselves patriots, Vice President Kamala Harris emphasized that the police officers who defended lawmakers and the Capitol were the real patriots.

Major Democratic fundraising platform kicks off Cuomo: report

This is Lois Beckett, picking up our live politics coverage from Los Angeles.

ActBlue, a key online fundraising site for Democrats, will no longer allow New York governor Andrew Cuomo to use its platform, Axios reports.

The “decision to cut off Cuomo following damning allegations of sexual harassment and assault deals a body blow to what’s left of his political future,” Axios’ Lachlan Markay reports.

Today so far

That’s it from me for today. My west coast colleague, Lois Beckett, will take over the blog for the next few hours.

Here’s where the day stands so far:

  • AFL-CIO leader Richard Trumka died unexpectedly at the age of 72. Numerous politicians offered their condolences to Trumka’s family, saying he had been instrumental in strengthening workers’ rights over his long career. “He wasn’t just a great labor leader. He was a friend,” Joe Biden said of Trumka.
  • Biden signed an executive order setting a goal of having half of all new US vehicles be electric by 2030. The order also established standards for car companies to gradually reduce vehicle emissions over the next five years. In a speech before signing the order, Biden argued the future of car manufacturing is electric. “The question is whether we’ll lead or fall behind in the race for the future,” the president said.
  • The justice department is launching a “pattern or practice” investigation into the Phoenix police department, attorney general Merrick Garland announced. The investigation will examine whether officers have engaged in excessive force, including lethal force, and whether they have behaved unlawfully toward people experiencing homelessness.
  • The Senate could hold its final vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill as early as this Saturday. Speaking on the Senate floor this morning, majority leader Chuck Schumer said, “Today, we’ll consider even more amendments, and then hopefully we can bring this bill to a close very shortly.”
  • The New York state Assembly’s impeachment inquiry into governor Andrew Cuomo is “nearing completion,” the chairman of the chamber’s judiciary committee announced. The Assembly will soon consider articles of impeachment against Cuomo, after an investigation found he had sexually harassed at least 11 women.

Lois will have more coming up, so stay tuned.

House speaker Nancy Pelosi offered her condolences to the family of AFL-CIO leader Richard Trumka, who has died unexpectedly at the age of 72.

“The Congress and Country are shocked and heartbroken by the passing of an unsurpassed titan of labor: Richard Trumka,” the Democratic speaker said in a statement.

“Personally and officially, I am greatly saddened by his passing, which is a great loss for the men and women of labor, and indeed, for all hard-working Americans.”

Pelosi applauded Trumka for having “fought with principle and persistence to defend the dignity of every person” throughout his long career in the labor community.

“Richard Trumka’s life was a testament to the power of organizing and mobilizing for progress, and his leadership leaves a legacy of inspired advocacy for workers,” Pelosi said.

Joe Biden responded to a couple of shouted questions from reporters as he left the event where he signed an executive order on expanding electric vehicle production.

One reporter asked the president for his response to Florida governor Ron DeSantis’ claims that he is protecting his state from federal overreach with his pandemic policies, which include banning mask mandates in school.

Biden replied with a simple, “Governor who?”

After signing his executive order on expanding the production of electric vehicles in the US, Joe Biden took the electric Jeep Wrangler for a spin around the White House.

White House staffers had set up several electric vehicles on the South Lawn to serve as a backdrop for Biden’s speech about the need to invest in the electric car sector.

Biden signs executive order requiring half of all new US cars to be electric by 2030

Joe Biden has signed his executive order requiring half of all new US vehicles to be electric by the end of the decade.

The order also sets standards for car companies to gradually decrease vehicle emissions over the next five years.

In his remarks before signing the order, Biden said the new policy was vital to strengthening the US economy because the future of car manufacturing will be electric.

“It’s electric, and there’s no turning back,” Biden said. “The question is whether we’ll lead or fall behind in the race for the future.”

'He wasn’t just a great labor leader. He was a friend,' Biden says of Trumka

Joe Biden began his remarks by expressing sorrow over the unexpected passing of AFL-CIO leader Richard Trumka, who has died at the age of 72.

The president said he was a little late arriving for his speech this afternoon because he was talking to Trumka’s wife and son on the phone.

“He wasn’t just a great labor leader. He was a friend,” Biden said of Trumka. “He was always there. He was an American worker.”

The president credited Trumka with helping to improve so many Americans’ lives, saying, “There’s no doubt that Rich Trumka helped build unions all across this country.”

Joe Biden will soon give a speech on his administration’s efforts to support and expand the production of electric vehicles in the US.

The president will deliver his remarks on the South Lawn, where the White House has set up some electric trucks as a backdrop for the event.

Biden is expected to sign an executive order requiring half of all new US vehicles to be electric by the end of the decade and setting standards to decrease vehicle emissions over the next five years.

The Guardian’s Oliver Milman has more details on the order here:

The justice department’s investigation into the Phoenix Police Department will examine whether officers have engaged in excessive force, including lethal force.

“The investigation will also seek to determine whether PhxPD engages in retaliatory activity against people for conduct protected by the First Amendment; whether PhxPD engages in discriminatory policing; and whether PhxPD unlawfully seizes or disposes of the belongings of individuals experiencing homelessness,” the DoJ said in a statement.

“In addition, the investigation will assess the City and PhxPD’s systems and practices for responding to people with disabilities.”

This is the third “pattern or practice” investigation of a police department that the justice department has launched since Merrick Garland was sworn in as attorney general.

The DoJ has also launched investigations into the police departments of Minneapolis, after the murder of George Floyd, and in Louisville, Kentucky, after the fatal shooting of Breonna Taylor. Both Floyd and Taylor were African American.

DoJ launches pattern or practice investigation into Phoenix police department

Attorney general Merrick Garland has just announced that the department of justice is launching an investigation into the city of Phoenix and the Phoenix police department.

Garland made the announcement at a press conference this afternoon, and he was joined by assistant attorney general Kristen Clarke.

“The investigation will determine whether the Phoenix police department engages in a pattern or practice of violations of the constitution or federal law,” Garland said.

The attorney general noted that department officials have already briefed Phoenix mayor Kate Gallego and Phoenix police chief Jeri Williams on the launch of the investigation.

“We are pleased with their pledge of support,” Garland said.

Texas governor calls another special session to pass Republican voting restrictions

The Republican governor of Texas, Greg Abbott, is calling another special legislative session to allow lawmakers to advance controversial voting restrictions.

“The Texas Legislature achieved a great deal during the 87th Legislative Session, and they have a responsibility to finish the work that was started,” Abbott said in a new statement.

“I will continue to call special session after special session to reform our broken bail system, uphold election integrity, and pass other important items that Texans demand and deserve.”

A man holds a sign that reads ‘Voter Protection Not Suppression’ to demonstrate for voting rights at the Texas Capitol.
A man holds a sign that reads ‘Voter Protection Not Suppression’ to demonstrate for voting rights at the Texas Capitol. Photograph: Bob Daemmrich/ZUMA Wire/REX/Shutterstock

Abbott’s announcement is hardly a surprise, given that Texas’ Democratic legislators fled the state to prevent their Republican colleagues from passing the voting bill during the last special session.

It was widely expected that Abbott would call another special session to put more pressure on the Democratic legislators, who currently remain out of state to deny the legislature of the necessary quorum to take up bills.

Asked about Abbott’s announcement, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said, “Our question is, what are you afraid of here? Are you afraid of more people getting out to vote, or what’s the concern?”

Psaki reiterated that Joe Biden hopes to sign federal legislation to protect voting rights, although two voting rights bills remain stalled in the Senate due to a Republican filibuster.

When a reporter asked whether the Texas legislators should remain out of state to further delay the bill’s passage, Psaki deflected the question, simply saying that the lawmakers have been “outspoken advocates and champions of voting rights”.

A reporter asked Jen Psaki about Joe Biden’s thoughts on the passing of AFL-CIO leader Richard Trumka, who was considered an ally to the White House.

“Richard Trumka was someone who the president considered a friend, he considered an ally in the fight for worker rights, for collective bargaining,” the White House press secretary said.

On the question of whether Biden might attend Trumka’s funeral, Psaki said that she was not aware of any specific plans so far for a service, but she added that the president would be “interested” in possibly attending once those plans are finalized.

No change here: White House press secretary Jen Psaki said there are no calls planned between Joe Biden and Andrew Cuomo, as the New York governor faces numerous calls to resign.

Psaki reiterated that the president has not spoken to Cuomo since the New York attorney general announced Tuesday that an investigation had found the governor sexually harassed at least 11 women.

Biden has already called on Cuomo to resign in the wake of the investigation, but the governor has currently given no indication that he plans to step down.

'Don’t be the reason why schools are interrupted,' Cardona tells governors banning mask mandates

Education secretary Miguel Cardona criticized the Republican governors of Texas and Florida, who have issued bans on mask mandates in schools.

“Don’t be the reason why schools are interrupted. Our kids have suffered enough,” Cardona told reporters in the White House briefing room.

“Let’s do what we know works. Let’s do what we know works across the country,” he added. “Politics doesn’t have a role in this. Educators know what to do.”

Cardona promised that the department of education would have conversations with state leaders if those leaders’ policies appear to be preventing students from accessing in-person instruction.

“At the end of the day, we’re all in this together,” Cardona said.

Updated

The White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, is now holding her daily briefing, and she is joined by education secretary Miguel Cardona.

Cardona began his remarks by outlining the Biden administration’s “return to school roadmap” to ensure that US schools can safely reopen in person this fall.

The education secretary said his department has three priorities in bringing children back to the classroom: protecting the health and safety of students and school staff, attending to communities’ mental health needs and accelerating academic achievement.

Cardona said the administration is also doubling down on efforts to get more students vaccinated before the start of the school year. Coronavirus vaccines are currently approved for anyone who is 12 or older.

“We need to make sure that we’re leading with health and safety first,” Cardona said. “We owe it to our students to build back better.”

In a statement, the AFL-CIO said it “lost a legend”

“Rich Trumka devoted his life to working people, from his early days as president of the United Mine Workers of America to his unparalleled leadership as the voice of America’s labor movement,” said AFL-CIO communications director, Tim Schlittner. “He was a relentless champion of workers’ rights, workplace safety, worker-centered trade, democracy and so much more. He was also a devoted father, grandfather, husband, brother, coach, colleague and friend.”

Trumka a ‘champion’ for American workers - Buttigieg

Transportation secretary, Pete Buttigieg, said: “Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Richard Trumka, a fierce and effective champion for American workers and an especially important voice in our time.”

New Jersey governor Phil Murphy ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in the state to mark Trumka’s death.

“America’s and New Jersey’s working families have lost one of their most steadfast and dedicated allies,” Murphy said in a statement. “Organized labor has lost one of its most powerful voices.”

Updated

Richard Trumka, president of the AFL-CIO labor union, has died at 72

The news of Trumka’s death was announced by Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer on the Senate floor on Thursday, the Associated Press reported.

Schumer, an ally of the union leader, said: “The working people of America have lost a fierce warrior at a time when we needed him most.”

Trumka had served as president of the labor federation, which has more than 12 million members, since 2009.

Richard Trumka dies at the age of 72
Richard Trumka dies at the age of 72 Photograph: Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA

Updated

Today so far

Here’s where the day stands so far:

  • The Senate is expected to hold its final vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill this Saturday. Speaking on the Senate floor this morning, majority leader Chuck Schumer said, “Today, we’ll consider even more amendments, and then hopefully we can bring this bill to a close very shortly.” Reports indicate Schumer will file cloture on the bill today, setting up the final Saturday vote, although he has not yet done so.
  • The New York state Assembly’s impeachment inquiry into governor Andrew Cuomo is “nearing completion,” the chairman of the chamber’s judiciary committee announced. The Assembly will soon consider articles of impeachment against Cuomo, after an investigation found he had sexually harassed at least 11 women.
  • Joe Biden is expected to sign an executive order requiring half of all new US vehicles to be electric by 2030. The order, which the president will sign this afternoon, will also set standards for car companies to gradually reduce vehicle emissions over the next five years.

The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.

Cuomo impeachment inquiry is 'nearing completion,' Assembly judiciary committee says

The New York state Assembly’s impeachment inquiry into governor Andrew Cuomo is “nearing completion,” the chairman of the chamber’s judiciary committee announced this morning.

“We write to inform you that the Committee’s investigation is nearing completion and the Assembly will soon consider potential articles of impeachment against your client,” committee lawyers told Cuomo, according to a statement from Democratic chair Charles Lavine.

“Accordingly, we invite you to provide any additional evidence or written submissions that you would like the Committee to consider before its work concludes. To the extent that you wish to share any such materials with the Committee, please do so by no later than 5:00 pm on August 13, 2021.”

New York State Assemblyman Charles Lavine, D-Nassau, attends a 2019 news conference in New York.
New York State Assemblyman Charles Lavine, D-Nassau, attends a 2019 news conference in New York. Photograph: Mark Lennihan/AP

The committee will hold its next meeting on Monday morning, as it looks to wrap up the investigation.

As a reminder, it takes a simple majority of Assembly members supporting impeachment to launch an impeachment trial, which could result in the removal of Cuomo from office.

According to a count conducted by the AP, a majority of Assembly members already approve of advancing impeachment proceedings, after an investigation found that Cuomo had sexually harassed at least 11 women.

Schumer expects votes on bipartisan infrastructure bill to wrap up 'very shortly'

Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer said he expects the amendment votes on the bipartisan infrastructure bill to come to a close “very shortly”.

“Today, we’ll consider even more amendments and then hopefully we can bring this bill to a close very shortly,” the Democratic leader said on the Senate floor moments ago.

“Our goal is to pass both a bipartisan infrastructure bill and a budget resolution during this work period, and we will stay here to get both done.”

Schumer said senators have had “extensive opportunities to offer amendments” to the bill, noting that the chamber has already voted on 22 amendments.

Reports indicate Schumer intends to file cloture on the bill today, which would theoretically set up a final vote for Saturday, but he has not formally done so yet. Stay tuned.

Democratic senator Jon Tester was optimistic this morning that the upper chamber will hold a final vote on the bipartisan infrastructure bill this Saturday.

Speaking to NBC News, Tester acknowledged senators “could play some games and probably screw that up,” but he noted the bill is “pretty straightforward,” so the Senate should be able to move toward a final vote.

Biden sets goal for 50% of new US vehicles to be electric by 2030

Joe Biden is setting a goal for half of all new US vehicle sales to be electric by 2030 while also tightening pollution standards for cars and trucks, in a barrage of action aimed at reducing the largest source of planet-heating gases in America.

On Thursday, the White House outlined its plan to tackle the climate crisis by cutting emissions from vehicles, with Biden set to sign an executive order demanding that 50% of all new cars and trucks sold by the end of the decade be powered by electric batteries.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and US department of transport, meanwhile, are unveiling new fuel efficiency standards for vehicles to bolster pollution rules that were weakened under Donald Trump’s presidency.

From 2023, new cars will be required to emit 10% less greenhouse gas emissions compared to the previous year, with further reductions of 5% a year mandated until 2026.

The crafting of this strategy follows months of talks between the Biden administration and major car manufacturers and, the White House hopes, be paired with a new infrastructure bill that will fund a major upgrade in electric charging points across the US.

The administration said the move will reduce CO2 emissions by 2bn tons, save 200bn gallons of gasoline and save drivers several hundred of dollars in fuel savings.

This is a real thing that just happened: Donald Trump released a statement attacking the US women’s national soccer team for winning bronze, not gold, at the Tokyo Olympics.

“If our soccer team, headed by a radical group of Leftist Maniacs, wasn’t woke, they would have won the Gold Medal instead of the Bronze,” Trump said. “Woke means you lose, everything that is woke goes bad, and our soccer team certainly has.”

Of course, winning a bronze model at the Olympics is nothing to turn your nose up at. It’s also worth noting that all members of the Canadian women’s soccer team, which defeated the US in the semifinals, kneeled for their anthem to protest racism.

Trump went on to say, “The woman with the purple hair played terribly and spends too much time thinking about Radical Left politics and not doing her job!”

That appears to be a reference to Megan Rapinoe, who scored two goals in her team’s final game against Australia to help the US win the bronze medal.

And just a reminder -- number of Olympic medals won by Trump: zero.

Hugo Lowell reports for the Guardian:

Top Republicans in Congress are embarking on a new campaign of revisionism seven months after the attack on the Capitol, absolving Donald Trump of responsibility and blaming the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, for the 6 January insurrection perpetrated by a mob of Trump supporters.

Some House and Senate Republican leaders stated in the charged moments immediately following the attack that Trump was squarely to blame, and amid blood and shattered glass at the US Capitol, some even considered his removal.

“The president bears responsibility,” the House Republican leader, Kevin McCarthy, said of Trump at the time, demanding that he “accept his share of responsibility”.

But after nearly 200 House Republicans voted to clear Trump in his unprecedented second impeachment and Senate Republicans scuttled a 9/11-style commission to investigate the events of 6 January, the Republican party made a call to shift all blame away from Trump.

The move to protect Trump from the fallout of the Capitol attack, at any cost, reflects the party leaders loyalty to a defeated former president, as well as the political self-interest of Republicans desperate to distance themselves from an insurrection they helped stoke with lies of a stolen election.

Even if the Senate can pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill this weekend, it may still face hurdles in the Democratic-controlled House.

Bloomberg Government reports:

House lawmakers, most notably House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chair Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.), have repeatedly criticized the Senate package for leaving out provisions from the House-passed surface transportation and water bill that address climate change and fossil fuel pollution.

But making those changes could jeopardize Republican support for the final product after a bipartisan group of senators crafted a compromise intended to win at least 60 votes needed to advance the measure in that chamber.

If the House alters the bill, the Senate would need to vote again to approve the changes, which could become a challenge for the legislation’s negotiators as they try to keep their bipartisan coalition together.

Joe Biden has repeatedly said he wants Congress to pass the bipartisan infrastructure bill as quickly as possible.

The president has described the bill -- which would provide $550bn in new federal funds for roads, bridges and other physical infrastructure projects -- as “the most significant long-term investment in our infrastructure and competitiveness in nearly a century”.

“This deal signals to the world that our democracy can function, deliver, and do big things,” Biden said in a statement last week.

“As we did with the transcontinental railroad and the interstate highway, we will once again transform America and propel us into the future.”

Biden acknowledged that Democrats did not get everything they wanted in the bill, but he added, “[T]he bottom line is—the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal is a blue-collar blueprint to rebuild America that will help make our historic economic recovery a historic long-term boom.”

Senate expected to vote Saturday on final passage of bipartisan infrastructure bill - report

Greetings from Washington, live blog readers.

Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer is reportedly expected to file cloture today on the bipartisan infrastructure bill, starting a countdown to the chamber’s final vote on the legislation.

Politico reports:

Democrats and Republicans are increasingly anticipating [Schumer] could move to cut off debate on Thursday, which would set up a pivotal Saturday vote and give senators a Friday ‘intervening day’ to go to former Sen. Mike Enzi’s funeral in Wyoming. Schumer and his office have not indicated this yet, but several in-the-know Democrats confirmed that’s the plan after the Senate processes more amendments on Thursday.

Because we’re dealing with the Senate, things could still change, but it’s possible the upper chamber will be able to pass the $1tn infrastructure bill as early as this weekend.

If the bill passes, it will then be sent to the House and ultimately to the desk of Joe Biden, who has wholeheartedly endorsed the legislation.

Assuming Schumer can get the bipartisan bill through the Senate, his attention will then turn toward an even larger spending package: Democrats’ $3.5tn reconciliation bill.

The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.

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