Biden's first full day in office

By Meg Wagner, Melissa Macaya, Veronica Rocha, Melissa Mahtani and Fernando Alfonso III, CNN

Updated 9:48 PM ET, Thu January 21, 2021
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5:10 p.m. ET, January 21, 2021

Still no call planned between Biden and Trump, White House press secretary says

From CNN's Jasmine Wright 

There are still no calls planned between President Biden and former President Trump, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said.

Asked again about the note Trump left Biden, Psaki said Biden telling reporters yesterday he wouldn’t reveal the contents of the “generous” letter until he spoke with him was not Biden seeking a call with his predecessor.

“There's no call planned. What he was conveying is that he didn't want to release a private note without having agreement from the former President. But I wouldn't say he's seeking it through a phone call, he just was even trying to be respectful in that moment of a private letter that was sent," she said.

5:21 p.m. ET, January 21, 2021

McConnell wants to delay impeachment trial until February and tells colleagues he is in no rush

Fom CNN's Manu Raju 

Pool/Getty Images
Pool/Getty Images

On a call with GOP senators, Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell told his conference he’s in no rush with regard to the impeachment trial, according to multiple GOP senators.

His point: The House moved quickly on impeachment but the Senate needs time to prepare for a full trial.

He is proposing to delay the start of the trial until sometime in February. He wants to give Trump's team two weeks to prepare their case, according to a source.

McConnell’s office says a formal statement on his remarks is coming shortly.

It remains to be seen if Democrats, who now hold a slim majority in the Senate, will go along with McConnell's proposed timeline.

House Democrats could still send the article of impeachment over at any time, and the Senate would be forced to start the trial the next day. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi has held the timing plans of delivering the article close to her vest.

5:10 p.m. ET, January 21, 2021

White House doesn't share specifics on how they will engage with states on Covid-19

From CNN's Betsy Klein 

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 21.
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 21. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was pressed Thursday on whether the Biden administration would provide guidance to states on some of its key priorities, like reopening schools and businesses, but she declined to share many specific details on how this administration plans to engage with state and local officials. 

Psaki suggested there will be “more engagement with states,” including “more clear guidance from the federal level,” going on to criticize the Trump administration’s communication with state and local officials.  

“Our objective is to ensure that health and medical experts are leading the effort in delivering guidance, determining guidance, and also communicating with the public whenever possible,” Psaki said.  

She continued, “But part of our priority and our focus here is on providing more engagement with states, more clear guidance from the federal level in terms of how we're planning to operate, what data we're seeing, how vaccines are being distributed, what we see as the challenges, and that communication has been lacking as we understand it from our conversations in the past few months so that is what we will focus on improving in the months ahead.”

She was unable to provide any specifics on how communication would be improved. 

Part of the Covid team’s role, she said, “will be engaging with governors, Democrats and Republicans, mayors local elected officials to gain a better understanding of what's happening on the ground.” 

President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, she said, will “also do engagement… because they also want to have that conversation with states and local officials on what they’re experiencing, what they see the challenges as, and how they can be addressed.”

She declined to say whether there would be any sort of official weekly call or report for states, as the Trump coronavirus task force previously did.

5:07 p.m. ET, January 21, 2021

Democrats frustrated as fight over filibusters stalls power-sharing agreement in Senate 

From CNN's Ted Barrett, Manu Raju and Ali Zaslav 

Senate Democrats are refusing to buckle to demands from Senate Republicans that they agree not to weaken filibusters against legislation. It's something many progressives are anxious to do in order to push through the Biden administration’s agenda as Democrats take control of the White House and both chambers of Congress for the first time in years.

"I think we ought to end the filibuster, unquestionably. It is an obstacle to conquering the pandemic and reviving the economy, getting stuff done,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal, a Democrat from Connecticut.  

The tense standoff over the issue is stalling a power-sharing agreement between the parties in the 50-50 Senate and could impact the confirmation of Biden's Cabinet nominees. That's because the Senate operates under the rules of the last Congress – when the GOP controlled the Senate majority and held the committee chairmanships – until a power-sharing deal is agreed.

Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, now in the minority, is insisting language assuring the protection of minority rights -– through the requirement that 60 votes are needed to overcome filibusters of bills – be added to a must-pass organizing resolution.

“Mitch McConnell was fine with getting rid of the filibuster to a United States Supreme Court nominee for a lifetime appointment, but he’s not okay getting rid of the filibuster for unemployment relief for families that are out of work because of COVID-19,” said Sen. Elizabeth Warren, a Democrat from Massachusetts. “I’ve just had enough of Mitch McConnell.”

While the Senate is evenly divided, Democrats have the edge because Democratic Vice President Kamala Harris can vote to break ties in their favor. But Democrats can’t take full control of the Senate until reaching an agreement with Republicans on an organizing resolution and therefore are operating on the organizing resolution from the last Congress, when the GOP was in the majority. Because of that, for instance, confirmation hearings for President Joe Biden’s cabinet picks this week are being chaired by Republicans.

Republicans are trying to leverage the urgency to pass an organizing resolution to press Democrats to agree not to gut the filibuster for legislation. With Democrats staunchly refusing to do so, it’s not clear how long it will take the sides to reach an agreement and it could drag out.

5:29 p.m. ET, January 21, 2021

Fauci disputes reports vaccine distribution efforts have to start "from scratch"

From CNN's DJ Judd 

Dr. Anthony Fauci seemed to contradict reports that the Trump administration had no plan for widespread Covid-19 vaccine rollout, telling reporters in the briefing room, “we’re certainly not starting from scratch, because there is activity going on in the distribution.”

He touted plans for community vaccine centers, pharmacy buy-in, and targeted use of the Defense Production Act, adding, “it's taking what's going on, but amplifying it in a big way.”

Earlier today, CNN’s MJ Lee reported that in the immediate hours following Biden being sworn into office Wednesday, sources with direct knowledge of the new administration's Covid-related work told CNN one of the biggest shocks the Biden team had to digest during the transition period was what they saw as a complete lack of a vaccine distribution strategy under former President Donald Trump, even weeks after multiple vaccines were approved for use in the United States. "There is nothing for us to rework. We are going to have to build everything from scratch," one source told MJ.

Fauci seemed to dispute that characterization, telling reporters,

“No, I mean we’re coming in with fresh ideas, but also some ideas with the, with the previous administration, you can’t say it was absolutely not usable at all. So, we are continuing but you're going to see a real ramping up of it.”

Watch the moment:

4:45 p.m. ET, January 21, 2021

Fauci says it's a "liberating feeling" to speak freely under Biden administration

From CNN's Maureen Chowdhury

Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 21.
Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks during a briefing at the White House in Washington, DC, on January 21. Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images

Dr. Anthony Fauci told reporters that he feels liberated to speak freely about the coronavirus pandemic and the science behind it under the Biden administration.

When asked if he felt differently now that he works under President Biden versus President Trump, Fauci said:

"I don't want to be going back, you know, over history, but it's very clear that there were things that were said, be it regarding things like hydroxychloroquine and other things like that, that really was uncomfortable, because they were not based on scientific fact. I can tell you, I take no pleasure at all in being in a situation of contradicting the President. So, it was really something that you didn't feel that you could actually say something and there wouldn't be any repercussions about it."

Fauci noted that under President Biden, he feels that he can speak to topics based on his expertise.

"The idea that you can get up here and talk about what you know, what the evidence —what the science is — and know that's it, let the science speak, it is somewhat of a liberating feeling," he said.  

Watch the moment:

4:41 p.m. ET, January 21, 2021

Under Biden's administration, Fauci said he won't "guess" when asked something he doesn't know

Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks with reporters at the White House on Thursday, January 21, in Washington, DC.
Dr. Anthony Fauci speaks with reporters at the White House on Thursday, January 21, in Washington, DC. Alex Brandon/AP

Dr. Anthony Fauci made it clear today during a White House news briefing that if he doesn't have an answer to a question pertaining to the coronavirus pandemic, he's not going to guess, which he called "one of the new things in this administration."

“You know, one of the new things in this administration, if you don’t know the answer, don’t guess. Just say you don’t know the answer," Fauci said.

When asked whether there are any actionable items left from the Trump administration in regards to the rollout of the Covid-19 vaccine, Fauci said some were indeed usable.

"We're coming in with fresh ideas but also some ideas that were not bad ideas with the previous administration. You can't say it was absolutely not usable at all. So we are continuing, but you're going to see a real ramping up of it," he added.

Watch the moment:

4:37 p.m. ET, January 21, 2021

Happening now: Dr. Fauci speaks to reporters in White House press briefing

From CNN's Betsy Klein, Veronica Stracqualursi and Kate Sullivan

Pool
Pool

Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is speaking now to reporters in a White House press briefing and is providing an update on the status of the pandemic in the country and distribution of vaccines.

"Obviously we are still in a very serious situation. To have over 400,000 deaths is something that is unfortunately historic in a very bad sense," Fauci said.

Fauci noted that while the number of new infections is still at a "very high rate," when you look more recently at the seven-day average of cases, "right now it looks like it might actually be plateauing in the sense of turning around."

The briefing comes after President Biden rolled out his national strategy to battle the coronavirus pandemic that includes several executive actions related to vaccinations and testing in hopes of moving the federal response in a different direction.

Biden signed executive orders ramping up supplies for vaccination, testing and personal protective equipment and another boosting development of therapeutics to treat Covid-19.

He said the plan was developed with input from Fauci and other advisers and experts.

Watch the moment:

4:07 p.m. ET, January 21, 2021

Right-wing extremism "will continue to be a persistent threat" to DC, official says

From CNN’s Mark Morales and Nicky Robertson

A large group of pro-Trump protesters stand on the East steps of the Capitol Building after storming its grounds on January 6 in Washington, DC.
A large group of pro-Trump protesters stand on the East steps of the Capitol Building after storming its grounds on January 6 in Washington, DC. Jon Cherry/Getty Images

Christopher Rodriguez, director of the Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency in DC, told reporters Thursday that the threat of right-wing extremism will continue to be a threat to the District of Columbia and the surrounding region.  

“Let’s be clear threat of right-wing extremism is here, right, and we saw it on Jan. 6th, and it will continue to be a persistent and real threat to the District of Columbia and to our region as well,” Rodriguez said in response to a question from CNN. 

DC Mayor Muriel Bowser said she has asked Rodriguez to prepare an “advanced posture” to deal with these threats. 

“I’ve directed Director Rodriguez and his team to begin working with our partners on our advanced posture to deal with the threat of White extremism and any other threat to our city,” Bowser said. 

“We are also evaluating now, the rest of the year, the next three weeks, the next six weeks, what we think would be intelligent from our federal partners that would suggest that we need more presence," the mayor added.

Bowser confirmed earlier CNN reporting that the out-of-state National Guard troops will begin to leave the District today, and are winding down numbers through the end of the month.

The mayor also said she believes that any future Joint Session of Congress should be considered a National Special Security Event, or some form of enhanced security, “I think it's very clear to me that any joint session of Congress should be a special security event or some package like that.”