Trump and Biden: Democrat opposes key Cabinet pick as president apologises to G7 for predecessor
Follow for all the latest from the White House, Congress and Mar-a-Lago
Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox
Get our free Inside Washington email
Joe Biden said the world can't return to a Cold War with Russia and China and must seek ways to cooperate on global challenges like the Covid pandemic even as the two countries pose security risks to the western alliance.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Biden reaffirmed his commitment to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization while apologizing to European leaders for the last four years under Donald Trump.
That apology came with the Biden administration returning the US to the Paris climate accord, another reversal of Trump-era policies of the past four years.
The focus on foreign policy came as the Biden administration continued to face domestic crises in its first weeks, including unprecedented winter weather that delayed 6 million doses of Covid vaccine.
While Biden toured the Pfizer vaccine manufacturing plant in Michigan, Republican senator Ted Cruz stayed out of the spotlight after coming under intense scrutiny for fleeing Texas for the warmer climes of Cancun.
Congress continued going through its motions, with Democrat Joe Manchin announcing his opposition to the nomination of Neera Tanden to lead the Office of Management & Budget, Neera Tanden.
The White House has refused to withdraw her nomination, hoping instead to convince Republicans to confirm her post.
Trump himself, meanwhile, “did things that were terrible” when contradicted on the coronavirus pandemic, Dr Anthony Fauci has said in an interview.
Fauci said Trump entirely lost interest in tackling Covid-19 as it became clear he had lost November’s presidential election.
Ted Cruz’s criticism of lawmaker for Covid vacation resurfaces following Cancun controversy
Flyin’ Ted’s past remarks criticising Austin mayor Steve Adler for going away on holiday in the middle of a crisis in December are suddenly not looking too smart.
Here’s our report.
Ted Cruz’s criticism of lawmaker for travelling during Covid resurface following Cancun trip
‘Hypocrites,’ the senator wrote of Austin’s Democratic mayor, Stephen Adler, for vacation during Covid-19 pandemic
Fear of parasites in Texas water supply revived after winter storm damage
Currently adding to the Lone Star State’s misery is the bitter weather compromising its drinking water systems having inflicted damage on key infrastructure and pipes, with authorities advising 7 million people to boil their tap water before drinking it.
“The water is not clean for us and so, we shouldn’t drink it, we shouldn’t cook with it, and we shouldn’t give it to ourselves to drink or even to our pets,” Houston physician Dr Christine Le told ABC 13. “We have to be very safe at this time.”
“It’s very dirty, lots of germs, there could be viruses in there, hepatitis, there could be bacteria. These are germs that could definitely get a person very ill, get their pets ill, send you to the hospital... during this trying time, that’s just not something that could be very helpful for any of us.”
The fear of contaminated water appears to be behind a 1,250 per cent spike in Google searches for “Texas water parasite 2021” between Thursday and Friday, this week’s events bringing back an unwelcome reminder of an alarming death by brain-eating waterborne parasite last September.
Here’s my report.
Fear of parasites in Texas water supply revived after winter storm damage
Impact of extreme conditions on pipes and infrastructure prompts search spike for threat posed by brain-eating amoeba that caused tragic death of Lake Jackson boy in September
FBI ‘still looking for Capitol rioters'
In its latest tweet, the FBI has said it is “still seeking information about people” who took part in the insurrection at the US Capitol last month.
Attached are photos of a man variously wearing a Trump beanie, a Trump beanie with a baseball cap on backwards, as well as a Reagan/Bush T-shirt.
“If you know this individual, visit http://tips.fbi.gov to submit a tip that references photo 220.”
‘A dumbass move’: Ted Cruz’s former aide attacks Cancun trip
A former communications director for Ted Cruz has attacked the Texas senator’s controversial Cancun trip during a record breaking winter storm, and said his former boss made a “dumbass move”.
“In the very sophisticated world of political communication this is what you call a dumbass move,” said Rick Tyler to MSNBC on Friday. “There’s no excuse for it. It’s really remarkable”.
Mr Tyler was speaking after Mr Cruz admitted on Thursday that he made a mistake by travelling with his family to Cancun, Mexico, — while thousands of Texans were still without power or running water for the fourth day running.
Read more here:
‘A dumbass move’: Ted Cruz’s own aide attacks Cancun trip
‘This is gross, negligent, reckless incompetence,’ says former communications director of fiasco surrounding former boss
Biden to tell security conference democracy ‘is under assault'
In a virtual Munich Security Conference event today, Joe Biden will tell guests that democracy across the world, including in the US and Europe, is “under assault”.
“We are in the midst of a fundamental debate about the future direction of our world,” Mr Biden will say.
“Between those who argue that - given all of the challenges we face, from the fourth industrial revolution to a global pandemic - autocracy is the best way forward ad those who understand that democracy is essential to meeting those challenges.”
Joe Biden begins remarks at Virtual Munich Security Conference
The president begins talking about his record speaking at the conference in the Obama-Biden administration.
“When I last spoke in Munich I was a private citizen… but I said at the time we will be back,” he began. “American’s back.”
Biden reaffirms commitment to Nato alliance
The president said he welcomes increased military investment from Europe and that the US stands by the core Article 5 at the centre of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
“An attack on one, is an attack on all. That is our unshakable vow,” Biden says.
Biden halts Trump withdrawal of US troops from Germany
“I’m also lifting the cap imposed by the previous administration on the number of US forces able to be based in Germany,” Biden says.
“I know the past few years have strained and tested our trans-Atlantic relationship, but the United States in determined to reengage with Europe.”
This has been previously announced.
The US preparing for ‘long-term’ competition with China, says Biden
Joe Biden says the US has to “push back” against the economic abuses of China that undercut the international economic system.
“Everyone must play by the same rules,” he says.
He added: “We must prepare together for long-term strategic competition with China, how the United States, Europe and Asia work together to secure the peace and defend our shared values, advance our prosperity across the Pacific, will be among the most consequential efforts we undertake,” he says.
“Competition with China is going to be stiff. That’s what I expect. And that’s what I welcome. Because I believe in the global system Europe and the United States together with our allies.”
Russia ‘weaponizing corruption’, says Biden.
“The Kremlin attacks our democracies and weaponizes corruption to try to undermine our system of governance,” he says.
“Russian leaders want people to think that our system is more corrupt, or as corrupt, as theirs.”
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies