Wake Up To Politics - September 10, 2021

Good morning! It’s Friday, September 10, 2021. Election Day 2022 is 424 days away. Election Day 2024 is 1,152 days away.

Tomorrow is the 20th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. Take some time this weekend to reflect on that somber milestone and honor the 2,977 Americans who lost their lives that day. May their memories be a blessing.

Biden announces sweeping new vaccine mandates

From the Associated Press:

“In his most forceful pandemic actions and words, President Joe Biden on Thursday ordered sweeping new federal vaccine requirements for as many as 100 million Americans — private-sector employees as well as health care workers and federal contractors — in an all-out effort to curb the surging COVID-19 delta variant.”

“Speaking at the White House, Biden sharply criticized the tens of millions of Americans who are not yet vaccinated, despite months of availability and incentives.”

“‘We’ve been patient. But our patience is wearing thin, and your refusal has cost all of us,’ he said, all but biting off his words. The unvaccinated minority ‘can cause a lot of damage, and they are.’”

“Republican leaders — and some union chiefs, too — said Biden was going too far in trying to muscle private companies and workers, a certain sign of legal challenges to come.”

. . .  “The expansive rules mandate that all employers with more than 100 workers require them to be vaccinated or test for the virus weekly, affecting about 80 million Americans. And the roughly 17 million workers at health facilities that receive federal Medicare or Medicaid also will have to be fully vaccinated.”

“Biden is also requiring vaccination for employees of the executive branch and contractors who do business with the federal government — with no option to test out. That covers several million more workers.”

The Rundown

What else you need to know this morning.

Biden withdraws ATF nominee. “The White House withdrew ­David Chipman’s nomination to run the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives on Thursday amid bipartisan pushback over his gun control advocacy.” Washington Post

• Background, via the Post: “President Biden nominated Chipman, who worked at ATF for more than two decades before joining the gun-control group led by former congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords (D-Ariz.), in April as part of a larger effort to curb gun violence. But his nomination faced unified opposition from Republican senators as well as concerns from a handful of Senate Democrats from states friendly to gun rights.”

DOJ sues Texas over abortion. “The Biden administration on Thursday sued the state of Texas over its highly restrictive abortion law that the Supreme Court allowed to take effect last week.” Politico

• What AG Merrick Garland said: “The act is clearly unconstitutional under longstanding Supreme Court precedent. This kind of scheme to nullify the Constitution of the United States is one that all Americans, whatever their politics or party, should fear.’”

Yang to launch a new party. “Former presidential and New York mayoral candidate Andrew Yang is set to launch a third party next month, according to two people familiar with the matter.” Politico

• Context: The new party is expected to launch in conjunction with the release of Yang’s new book, “Forward: Notes on the Future of Our Democracy,” on October 5.

Gabe’s Picks

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“What Does It Mean to ‘Never Forget,’” The New York Times

• On memories, forgetting, and remembering as the 20th anniversary of 9/11 approaches.

“Jane Roe’s Baby Tells Her Story,” The Atlantic

• Her conception gave way to American woman having the right to abort their pregnancies. But Shelley Lynn Thornton was still born, and is now identifying herself and telling her story for the first time. A fascinating, never-bef0re-heard side of history.

“A U.S. Marine, a curious Afghan boy, an unfathomable moment,” The Associated Press

• As the war in Afghanistan comes to an end, a Marine-turned-reporter reflects on one tragic moment from 20 years of combat and how the war become a “monster” in his life after returning from his service.

Daybook

What’s happening in Washington today. (All times Eastern)
Executive Branch
→ President Joe Biden will receive his daily intelligence briefing at 9 a.m. Then, at 9:30 a.m., he will visit a Washington, D.C., school with First Lady Jill Biden and Education Secretary Miguel Cardona. At 10:20 a.m., the president and first lady will deliver remarks about keeping students safe in classrooms. At 7:55 p.m., the Bidens will depart the White House for Queens, New York, where they will arrive at 9:10 p.m.

→ Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Hampton, Virginia, at 10 a.m. Then, at 11:30 a.m., she will tour the Center for Atmospheric Sciences at Hampton University. At 12:05 p.m., she will convene a roundtable discussion on STEM programs at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) such as Hampton. At 2:20 p.m., Harris will return to Washington, D.C.

→ White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki will hold her daily press briefing at 1 p.m.

→ U.S. public health officials will hold their weekly COVID-19 press briefing at 11:30 a.m. Participants will include CDC Director Rochelle Walensky, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and Dr. Anthony Fauci.
Legislative Branch
→ The Senate is on recess until September 13.

→ The House will briefly convene at 11:30 a.m. for a pro forma session. The chamber will not fully convene again until September 20.
Judicial Branch
→ The Supreme Court is on recess until October 4.

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