3 Things To Know Today

Vintage movie countdown, illustration

1 Biden Makes His Big Push

President Biden has big plans for America – and depending on your political perspective, it’s “progressivism” or it’s an explosion of “big government.” As the President sees things, America is on the road to recovery after the coronavirus pandemic. Here are some highlights: He declared that "America is on the move again" and is turning the crisis and hardship of the coronavirus into opportunity and strength. The President pointed to the progress in his first 100 days in office, from successfully rolling out COVID vaccines to taking steps to boost the economy. To keep that momentum going, Biden pushed an ambitious agenda. He explained the necessity of the American Jobs Plan – his giant, two-trillion-dollar infrastructure package. He also introduced his American Families Plan, which he says will support families with schooling and childcare. Biden said it starts with free preschool and two years of free community college. Both of those programs would be available regardless of income. He also called for 12-weeks of paid family and medical leave program that would provide up to $4,000 a month for 12 weeks for parental, family or personal leave. How to pay for all the spending he’d like to do? Taxes. wealthiest Americans to 39.6%, raising taxes on capital gains to 39.6% for households making more than $1-million and ending the estate tax loophole for gains in excess of $1-million. Biden also addressed racism and policing in the nation. He urged Congress to pass a police reform bill named after George Floyd, the man who was killed by a police officer in Minnesota. Biden noted that Republicans have been working with Democrats on this issue, but he stressed it's time to get the bill passed. To note the urgency, he said "we've all seen the knee of injustice on the neck of Black America."

2 The GOP Responds To Biden's Plan For America

South Carolina Republican Senator Tim Scott says President Biden's vow to bring the nation together sounds good – but is also coming up short. Scott delivered the GOP response to Mr. Biden's address to a joint session of Congress. And while the President took about an hour, Scott offered his remarks in about 15 minutes. Scott said that while the President says he wants to unify America, his policies and proposals are pulling the country farther apart. He argued that Republicans are all about expanding opportunities for all Americans – and that while Biden is taking credit for what’s going on, that he “inherited a tide that had already turned.” Scott also faulted states where schools remained shut down into this year. “Powerful grown-ups set science aside and kids like me were left behind,” he said. As part of that, Scott reflected on the notion that America is a racist country. Using his own family’s story – he was the son of a single mom and grandson to an illiterate Black man who was forced to pick cotton – Scott noted that he’s experienced discrimination from the very people who say they’re trying to help. "I have experienced the pain of discrimination," Scott said. "I get called Uncle Tom, and the N-word by progressives, by liberals.” He said he is confident that the nation's finest hour has yet to come – after all, his own grandfather in his 94 years "saw his family go from cotton to Congress in one lifetime." Still, he said Republicans are He rejecting the Democrats' plan for the economy with – as it’s big government expansion with more spending and no real solutions. “If we let them,” he offered. “They will turn our country into a socialist utopia, and history has taught us that path only leads to pain and misery.”

3 NC Judge Orders Andrew Brown Shooting Video To Be Held Back

A North Carolina judge has ruled against the release of the deadly police shooting involving Andrew Brown, Junior. The judge agreed with the Pasquotank County DA that releasing the video now could jeopardize an ongoing investigation. Brown’s family, protesters – and a number of news outlets – have been demanding to see the video since last week when Brown was shot while police tried to serve an arrest warrant on the 42-year-old. It's believed the footage will be released in about a month. His family say they only saw 20-seconds of redacted video this week, calling it an "execution." Meanwhile, the FBI has launched a civil rights investigation into the shooting.


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