Politics

News brief: omicron overwhelms ERs, NATO-Russia talks, Trump interview

6:02am January 12, 2022

The U.S. hits another COVID record. NATO officials meet with a Russian delegation to try to prevent another invasion of Ukraine. Pressed on election lies, ex-President Trump cuts NPR interview short.

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Former Harry Reid staffer on Biden's support of getting rid of the filibuster

7:36pm January 11, 2022

NPR's Ailsa Chang speaks with Adam Jentleson, who served as the deputy chief of staff to Sen. Harry Reid, about the impact President Biden's support of changing Senate rules has on the filibuster.

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The Biden administration says it has a plan to clean up toxic coal ash

7:05pm January 11, 2022

by Amy Green

Even as coal plants shut down, they leave behind massive piles of toxic coal ash. About half that coal ash is unregulated, and environmental groups want the Biden administration to change that.

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President Joe Biden speaks in support of changing the Senate filibuster rules that have stalled voting rights legislation in Atlanta.

Biden calls for changes to the Senate's filibuster to pass voting rights bills

6:50pm January 11, 2022

by Alana Wise

The president's remarks were among his most forceful denunciations of voter suppression legislation introduced in a number of GOP-controlled regions as well as for changing the Senate filibuster.

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and chief medical adviser to the president, holds up printouts from Sen. Rand Paul's reelection campaign website.

Dr. Fauci says GOP Sen. Paul's false accusations have sparked death threats

6:27pm January 11, 2022

by Brian Naylor

Fauci and Paul sparred at a Senate hearing on COVID-19, escalating exchanges the two have had throughout the pandemic. Fauci also said Paul is attempting to raise money off "a catastrophic epidemic."

What President Biden's speech about voting rights legislation means for Georgia

5:28pm January 11, 2022

by Stephen Fowler

The president and vice president travel to Georgia to make the case for voting rights legislation. The state has been ground zero for debate over voting and elections reforms.

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Could the U.S. really cripple the Russian economy like Biden warns?

5:28pm January 11, 2022

by Jackie Northam

President Biden has threatened Russia with massive sanctions if it follows through on threats to take more Ukrainian territory.

Democrats are outraged over how Florida Gov. DeSantis' has handled COVID testing

5:28pm January 11, 2022

by Greg Allen

Democrats are scolding Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis for low test availability after his administration let nearly a million rapid COVID tests to expire. He now says there's too much unnecessary testing.

Fed chair Jerome Powell takes questions from Senate committee in confirmation hearing

5:28pm January 11, 2022

by Scott Horsley

Federal Reserve chairman Jerome Powell appeared before the Senate Banking Committee, which is considering his nomination for a second term. The central bank is under pressure to confront inflation.

Senate Democrats can't agree on Biden's push to pass voting rights legislation

5:28pm January 11, 2022

by Deirdre Walsh

President Biden called for changes to Senate rules in an effort to pass voting rights legislation. Among the challenges to his effort is a lack of unity among Senate Democrats to making those changes.