White House defends Biden’s comment comparing Republicans’ behavior to ‘Neanderthals’ – live

2.51pm EST 14:51

Senate votes on whether to begin debate on coronavirus relief bill

The Senate is now voting on whether to begin debate on the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill.

The measure needs a simple majority to pass, and it is expected to be approved in a party-line vote.

Once the chamber votes to take up the bill, Republican Senator Ron Johnson is expected to ask Senate clerks to read the full text of the bill aloud, which could take around 10 hours.

The Senate will then proceed to a “vote-a-rama,” during which senators can introduce amendments to the bill. Republicans are expected to introduce many amendments, most of which will fail, in order to delay the final vote on the package.

2.39pm EST 14:39

Today so far

Here’s where the day stands so far:

The blog will have more coming up, so stay tuned.

2.14pm EST 14:14

Trump lashes out against McConnell and Wall Street Journal editorial board

The Guardian’s Daniel Strauss reports:

Former president Donald Trump has released a wide ranging statement criticizing opponents within the Republican party, as well as The Wall Street Journal editorial page. Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell and Georgia governor Brian Kemp were among Trump’s targets.

Trump’s screed may have been prompted by a recent Journal editorial questioning Trump’s usefulness to the Republican party after his 2020 election loss. The Journal published an editorial titled “The Grievances of Trump Past” which criticized the former president’s speech at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) over the weekend.

“Fortunately, nobody cares much about The Wall Street Journal editorial anymore,” Trump said in the statement, apparently unaware of the irony.

Trump often criticizes the Journal for being out of touch with the Republican Party, McConnell for being out of step and ungrateful for Trump’s leadership, and Kemp for how the Georgia governor ran the state during the 2020 presidential elections.

Updated at 2.35pm EST

1.48pm EST 13:48

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was just asked whether Joe Biden should set an example to Americans and stop traveling to Delaware.

“The president lives in Wilmington. It’s his home,” she replied.

The CDC currently recommends that Americans avoid travel due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

1.33pm EST 13:33

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked about Texas Governor Greg Abbott’s comments that Joe Biden is “importing” coronavirus into the US by releasing migrants after they have been processed by border officials.

“We’re about facts around here. It is not factual to say that,” Psaki replied.

Abbott’s comments came after the president accused the Republican governor of “Neanderthal thinking” over his decision to rescind the statewide mask mandate in Texas. Psaki also noted that Texas is supposed to be testing migrants for Covid-19.

Updated at 2.22pm EST

1.29pm EST 13:29

White House press secretary Jen Psaki defended Senate Democrats’ decision to limit eligibility for the direct payments in the coronavirus relief package.

Psaki noted that 98% of Americans who received stimulus payments in December will also receive them from this relief package.

The press secretary also emphasized that these payments of $1,400 are much larger than the $600 payments that Congress approved in December.

1.24pm EST 13:24

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked whether the Trump administration deserves more credit for developing a playbook to distribute coronavirus vaccines.

“I don’t think anybody deserves credit when half a million people in this country have died of this pandemic,” Psaki replied.

Joe Biden has similarly criticized Donald Trump’s handling of vaccine distribution, claiming his administration was left “a mess” in terms of vaccination planning.

Updated at 1.29pm EST

1.18pm EST 13:18

Psaki: Biden’s Neanderthal comments a ‘reflection of his frustration’

White House press secretary Jen Psaki was asked whether it was productive for Joe Biden to compare Republican governors to Neanderthals over their decisions to rescind mask mandates.

Psaki replied by emphasizing that the president was comparing the governors’ actions to “the behavior of a Neanderthal, just to be very clear, the behavior”.

Psaki said Biden’s comments were “a reflection of his frustration and exasperation” about the governors ignoring public health guidance on limiting the spread of coronavirus.

“It’s imperative that people listen across the country, whether they live in a red state or a blue state, to the guidance of public health experts,” Psaki said.

Updated at 2.34pm EST

1.10pm EST 13:10

White House press secretary Jen Psaki has taken over the briefing, and she opened her comments by drawing attention to the latest weekly unemployment numbers from the department of labor.

Psaki noted that initial jobless claims exceeded the pre-pandemic high for the 50th week in a row.

“We can’t get numb to what this represents,” Psaki said, adding that the numbers represent hundreds of thousands of Americans who are financially struggling amid the pandemic.

The press secretary argued that the latest numbers once again underscore the urgent need for Congress to pass Joe Biden’s coronavirus relief bill.

1.04pm EST 13:04

Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough said the department has been pleasantly surprised that vaccine hesitancy has been less than initially expected among VA patients.

“The big challenge for us is supply,” McDonough said of the vaccine distribution process.

The cabinet secretary applauded VA facilities for ensuring that vaccine allotments get in arms within two to three days of delivery.

McDonough once again emphasized that passage of the coronavirus relief bill would help ensure VA facilities have the resources needed to get vaccines distributed to veterans.