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6 days ago

Biden farewell speech live updates: Biden calls for Constitutional amendment ending presidential immunity

President Joe Biden warned ‘oligarchy is taking shape in America’ during his final address from the Oval Office

Oliver O'Connell,Joe Sommerlad
Thursday 16 January 2025 03:47 GMT
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Heated exchange breaks out between Sen. Adam Schiff and Pam Bondi during hearing

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President Joe Biden delivered his farewell address to the nation from the Oval Office on Wednesday evening, calling for a Constitutional amendment ending presidential immunity.

“We need to amend the Constitution to make clear that no president is immune from crimes that he or she commits while in office,” Biden said.

Last year, the Supreme Court ruled that former presidents have some immunity from prosecution for “official acts,” after President-elect Donald Trump’s lawyers filed an appeal in his federal election interference case arguing for total presidential immunity

Biden also warned of an “oligarchy” forming in the US.

“Today, an oligarchy is taking shape in America of extreme wealth, power and influence that literally threatens our entire democracy, our basic rights and freedom and a fair shot for everyone to get ahead,” Biden said.

This remark comes as Elon Musk, the world’s richest man, serves as a close ally to Trump, whose net worth is projected to be more than $6 billion. Musk gave millions to the president-elect’s campaign last year through his America PAC and is now set to co-lead the new Department of Government Efficiency.

Biden is now leaving office with a low approval rating — though higher than his predecessor and successor did.

6 days ago

Ahead of farewell address, Biden declares nation is ‘stronger, more prosperous, and more secure’

As he prepares to deliver an Oval Office address for the last time after a single term in the White House and a full half-century of service in the federal government, President Joe Biden declared Tuesday that America now stands “stronger, more prosperous, and more secure” than it was when he entered office amid the tumult of the COVID-19 pandemic four years ago.

Read on:

Ahead of farewell address, Biden declares nation ‘stronger, more secure’

‘History is in your hands. The power is in your hands. The idea of America lies in your hands,” Biden wrote in a heartfelt letter the day before his farewell address Wednesday night

Andrew Feinberg16 January 2025 00:50
6 days ago

How to watch Biden’s farewell address

President Joe Biden will give his farewell address from the White House at 8 p.m. Eastern Time this evening.

The White House will stream the event on YouTube, meaning anyone with a device can watch for free. You can also follow along here for live updates on Biden’s remarks from The Independent.

Major broadcast news networks including ABC, CBS, NBC and C-SPAN will also carry coverage of the speech this evening.

Katie Hawkinson16 January 2025 00:35
6 days ago

Trump voters will be ‘brutally scammed’ during his term, Nobel economist warns

A Nobel laureate is warning supporters of President-elect Donald Trump that they’ll feel as though they’ve been “scammed” once his second administration begins.

Continue reading:

Trump voters will be ‘brutally scammed’ during his term, Nobel economist warns

The president-elect has vowed to impose tariffs on leading trading partners

Michelle Del Rey16 January 2025 00:33
6 days ago

Musk is being sued by the SEC over his Twitter takeover — what we know so far...

The agency alleges that the billionaire failed to disclose his ownership of Twitter stock in a timely manner, saving himself at least $150 million “at the expense of shareholders.”

Rhian Lubin reports.

Elon Musk is being sued by the SEC over his Twitter takeover. What we know

The Tesla CEO bought Twitter in October 2022 for $44 billion and rebranded it as X

Oliver O’Connell16 January 2025 00:30
6 days ago

Biden leaves office with ceasefire deal — but it wasn’t soon enough to save Kamala Harris

John Bowden writes:

The news of a permanent ceasefire agreement being struck between Israel and Hamas on Wednesday resulted in a collective sigh of relief across the U.S. political spectrum.

Even many ardent supporters of Israel’s siege of Gaza had publicly fretted over the past year over what effects the conflict was having on the broader American public’s view of the Israeli state. Now, a new poll confirms that those fears were warranted — and validates warnings from the progressive left over the past year.

Continue reading...

Biden leaves office with a ceasefire deal. But it wasn’t soon enough to save Kamala

Poll shows Gaza was top issue for a third of Democrat-leaning couch-sitters in three key swing states

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 23:40
6 days ago

Trump Transportation pick vows to buck any pressure to help Elon Musk

Donald Trump’s pick to head the Transportation Department promised Wednesday to scrutinize Boeing‘s safety issues, streamline regulations and not interfere in ongoing agency investigations into Elon Musk’s electric car company if confirmed as secretary.

Former Wisconsin congressman Sean Duffy said at his Senate confirmation hearing that he would “restore global confidence” in Boeing, hire more air traffic controllers and create federal rules for self-driving cars instead of leaving that to the states, something Musk’s Tesla has been pushing for to help speed development of the technology.

Continue reading...

Transportation secretary pick vows to buck any pressure to help Elon Musk in agency probes of Tesla

Transportation secretary nominee Sean Duffy promised to not interfere in ongoing agency investigations into Elon Musk’s electric car company if confirmed to head the department

AP15 January 2025 23:20
6 days ago

Why is Michelle Obama skipping Trump’s inauguration?

Former First Lady Michelle Obama is skipping Donald Trump’s inauguration next week, and her supposed reason seems entirely justified — especially given Donald and Melania Trump’s absence from Joe Biden’s inauguration.

Rhian Lubin reports.

This is reportedly why Michelle Obama is skipping Trump’s inauguration

It was confirmed this week that former first lady would not attend the president-elect’s inauguration but her office did not give any further explanation

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 23:00
6 days ago

Trump classified documents lays out schedule for Friday hearing on Jack Smith’s report

Judge Aileen Cannon has written up a game plan ahead of Friday’s court hearing on whether Jack Smith’s Mar-a-Lago classified documents report will ever see the light of day:

  • Before tomorrow, Trump must tell the court whether his legal team wants to present an argument
  • The Department of Justice must provide the court with a copy of the report so parties can review it in the judge’s chambers
  • The hearing will be public obviously “but any discussions of specified content in Volume II will be conducted in closed, sealed session to preserve Defendants’ fair trial rights and to fully respect protective orders previously entered in this case”
  • The hearing is set for 2 p.m. ET on Friday
Alex Woodward15 January 2025 22:55
6 days ago

Obama hails ceasefire, hostage deal; praises Biden and negotiators

Former President Barack Obama has lauded the ceasefire and hostage release deal announced between Israel and Hamas, expressing gratitude to President Joe Biden, Secretary of State Blinken, and “all the leaders and diplomatic teams from around the world who have worked so hard to get this done.”

Here is the full statement from the 44th president:

The ceasefire and hostage release deal announced between Israel and Hamas is good news – for the families of the hostages taken on October 7th, for the Palestinian civilians who have suffered for more than a year, and for everyone who has prayed for an end to this awful chapter.

It’s important to recognize that no deal – including this one – can ease the pain of those who have lost loved ones, or resolve the longstanding conflict between Israelis and Palestinians. That work will be much harder, and take much longer. But it will put a stop to the bloodshed, allow people to return to their homes, and get much-needed aid to more than a million desperate, hungry people.

That’s something we should all support, and I’m grateful to President Biden, Secretary Blinken, and all the leaders and diplomatic teams from around the world who have worked so hard to get this done.

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 22:50
6 days ago

Watch: British politicians discuss help for rich Americans who want to flee Trump’s second term

British politicians discuss help for rich Americans who want to flee Trump rule

British politicians today (15 January) discussed help for rich Americans who want to flee Donald Trump’s impending rule in the US. Sir Ed Davey, the leader of the UK’s Liberal Democrat party, today called for UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer to create a new type of visa for those who want to flee from the president-elect, who will be inaugurated next week. Responding to Sir Ed’s plea in parliament, Sir Keir said he would “welcome all forms of investment to the UK”.

Oliver O'Connell15 January 2025 22:45

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