Biden news: Bernie Sanders unveils free college plan as Merrick Garland launches police review

Rolling updates on the day’s news from Washington and beyond

Joe Biden calls George Floyd’s family after trial verdict

Bernie Sanders, now chair of the Senate Budget Committee, has introduced a plan to pay for free college tuition by levying taxes on Wall Street, combining two of his signature issues into a highly ambitious policy with huge implications.

In the aftermath of the Derek Chauvin verdict, Attorney General Merrick Garland has launched a wholesale Department of Justice review of the Minneapolis Police Department, a probe set to investigate whether its officers routinely “engage in a pattern or practice of unconstitutional or unlawful policing”.

Meanwhile, progressive politicians including congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have revived the Green New Deal.

Speaking in Washington DC on Tuesday about tackling climate change, the New York representative said: “Do we intend on sending a message to the Biden administration that we need to go bigger and bolder? The answer is absolutely yes.”

Her words came as reports suggest that Joe Biden will pledge to halve the US’ carbon emissions by 2030 ahead of an important climate summit on Thursday.

The decision would encourage other countries to set more ambitious emissions targets, with 40 world leaders meeting for a two-day virtual conference on the issue.

The US’ reported 50 per cent target almost doubles the country’s last commitment, meaning that drastic changes in power and transportation will be required.

It would be an important step on the journey to net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050, something the president has vowed to work towards.

• George Floyd’s murder ‘ripped the blinders off’ to reveal systemic racism, Biden says in national address
• Joe Biden celebrates ‘some justice’ for George Floyd as AOC calls conviction not enough
• McEnany branded hypocrite for telling Biden words can inflame violence as president comments on Chauvin trial

Key Points

• Bernie Sanders proposes free college paid for by Wall Street
• Garland announces DOJ probe of Minneapolis police
• AOC reintroduces Green New Deal
• US expected to vow halving of emissions by 2030
• Chauvin conviction could be ‘giant step forward’ in fight against racism, Biden says

[21 April 2021 15:00 · Andrew Naughtie]

Biden’s contortions on refugee policy stoking anger

The Biden administration has drawn increasing ire from its own supporters for initially refusing to lift the cap on the number of refugees the US accepts every year, something Mr Biden promised to do during his campaign.

The Independent’s own Richard Hall has an insight into how serious the story is – not for those making the policy, but for those it affects.

[21 April 2021 15:20 · Andrew Naughtie]

Los Angeles given deadline to house homeless population

A federal judge has given the city of Los Angeles till October to find homes for every person experiencing homelessness on Skid Row.

With more than 1,383 unhoused people dying in the city last year, the downtown area is home to one of the biggest concentrated homeless populations in the US.

James Crump has more:

[21 April 2021 15:32 · Andrew Naughtie]

Bernie Sanders wants Wall Street to pay for free college

Former presidential candidate and Senate Budget Committee chair Bernie Sanders has unveiled a pathway to free college tuition, one of his longtime causes – and he plans to do it by taxing Wall Street, another of his signature issues.

“In the 21st century, a free public education system that goes from kindergarten through high school is no longer good enough,” he said in a statement today. “The time is long overdue to make public colleges and universities tuition-free and debt-free for working families.”

Read more here:

[21 April 2021 16:00 · Andrew Naughtie]

Wrapping up

That’s the end of today’s rolling updates, but The Independent will keep following all the day’s news. Follow us on all our channels for more.