Biden Tracking Newsletter #12
Day 757 (2/15) through Day 775 (3/5)
This is the twelfth edition of the Biden Tracking newsletter. I’m sorry about taking a hiatus from these newsletters. It has been a busy few weeks for me. The last few weeks, the Biden Administration proposed a plan to keep Covid vaccines, treatments, and tests free for the uninsured into 2024, officially announced a Trump-era Asylum Transit Ban, and said he would not veto a resolution opposing criminal justice reform in Washington D.C. It is Monday, March 6th, 2023, day 775 of the Biden Presidency.
Wednesday, February 15th (Day 757)
Biden Admin Withdraws Nomination of Law Professor for Describing Israel as an Apartheid State
On February 15th, The Guardian reported that the Biden Administration had pulled the nomination of James Cavallaro to an international human rights post. The Biden Administration said they pulled the nomination after Cavallaro described Israel as an “apartheid state” and accused the top Democrat in Congress of being “bought” by pro-Israel groups. Pulling the nomination because he called Israel an apartheid state is disturbing. Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and the leading Israeli human rights group, BTselem, have all used the description of Israel. However, Cavallaro saying “Bought. Purchased. Controlled.” in response to a Guardian story about the gratification of pro-Israel groups at the election of Hakeem Jeffries as House minority leader, could be argued to be anti-semitic.
Thursday, February 16th (Day 758)
On February 16th, Politico reported that the Biden Administration was “zeroing in” on a plan to keep Covid vaccines, treatments, and tests free for the uninsured into 2024. The Biden Administration intends to end the COVID-19 public health emergency in May, and when that occurs the cost of COVID vaccines, treatments, and tests could skyrocket, especially for the uninsured. This is an incredible concern to many, myself included, hopefully, the Biden Administration can figure this out. Under the tentative plan, the administration would stockpile a limited supply of shots, treatments, and tests that would be distributed freely to the uninsured. The article also claims that the administration does not plan to shift responsibility for vaccines and treatments to the private market until late summer at the earliest, which should give the Biden Administration time to have a clear plan in place. Despite what the Biden Administration may claim, COVID is not gone. The Biden Administration must ensure that the American people can still cheaply access the vaccines, treatments, and tests they need.
Thursday, February 16th (Day 758)
On February 16th, The Lever reported that the Department of Justice was supporting Norfolk Southern in their fight to overturn Pennsylvania’s law that permits plaintiffs to file suit against any corporation registered to do business there. While this was reported after the Norfolk Southern train disaster in East Palestine, support for Norfolk Southern from the DOJ came last September. This is a much more complicated case than just “Norfolk Southern Bad,” but it would introduce more limits on where big corporations could be sued.
Thursday, February 16th (Day 758)
Despite voicing “deep dismay” at Israel's decision to expand Jewish settlements in occupied Palestinian territory, the Biden Administration, on February 16th, said that a UN Vote on a resolution denouncing the expansion would be “unhelpful.” Specifically, the State Department argued, “steps like the introduction of such a resolution, are unhelpful and put us further away from a negotiated two-state solution.” The State Department’s reasoning is still unclear, but it seems the Biden Administration still does not want to go too hard on Israel.
Friday, February 17th (Day 759)
On February 17th, New Republic reported that the Biden Administration was hesitant to revive an Obama-era rule mandating trains carrying hazardous and flammable materials to have updated electronic brakes instead of Civil War-era ones. When pressed, a Biden official specifically cited “strong pushback from industry for that rule in 2016.” This is unacceptable. Appeasing the Rail Industry cannot be a priority in these circumstances. There is a reason the Obama Administration implemented the rule, and, shockingly, the disaster in East Palestine did not make that abundantly clear.
Monday, February 20th (Day 762)
The Biden Administration is Allowing Tribes to Manage Their Own Land
On February 20th, the Huffington Post brought to light new reporting about the Biden Administration working with Native tribes to become co-stewards of the land their ancestors were forcibly or illegally removed from by the government. According to the article, since President Biden took office, there have been nearly two dozen co-stewardship agreements with tribes. Co-stewardship allows the tribes to bring back their historical ways of caring for their land. It should be noted that co-stewardship is not the same thing as returning the land to tribes that were illegally taken from them. Many argue that justice for Natives will only truly be had when their former lands are actually returned to them. However, co-stewardship is still a historic step in the right direction.
Tuesday, February 21st (Day 763)
Biden Administration Officially Announces Trump-era Asylum Transit Ban
On February 21st, the Biden Administration officially announced their Trump-era Asylum Transit Ban. As expected, it largely bans asylum for anyone arriving at the border who does not use the new "CBP One" appointment process, or who has not applied for and been denied asylum in a transit country. The only exceptions to the rule are having an acute medical emergency, proving an imminent and extreme threat to life and safety, or being a victim of a severe form of trafficking. However, these exceptions could be incredibly hard to prove. The CPB One app, see below, also has serious systematic issues. All-in-all this policy will take away the legal right to Asylum. The ACLU, if the plan gets implemented, will sue the Biden Administration to stop this policy.
Friday, February 24th (Day 766)
CPB One app is Leading to Family Separation at the Border
On February 24th, the Los Angeles Times reported that the expanded use of the CPB One app for immigration into the United States was inadvertently leading to family separation. The app is currently the sole way to get appointments to apply for Asylum in the United States. Unfourtantly because of this, and a lack of appointments being made available, appointments run out incredibly quickly. Families need to have appointments for every member of the family, and if they do not families, out of desperation, have separated. While this is one of the app's worst problems, it’s far from its only problem. The app is prone to crashing and unavailable in most languages, and the facial recognition feature has failed to capture users with darker skin or fidgeting babies. The Biden Administration has gone all in with this app, it is clear, despite what the Admin may claim, that this was a massive mistake.
Friday, February 24th (Day 766)
On February 24th, the Biden Administration moved to require patients see a doctor in person before getting attention deficit disorder medication or addictive painkillers, in an attempt to toughen access to the drugs. The requirement was dropped during COVID, enabling doctors to write prescriptions for the medications without seeing patients in person. The Biden Administration argues that the lax rules allow profit seekers to sell the medicines to people who may not need them. However, many activists are worried that these new rules will make it even harder for people to access the medications they need.
Thursday, March 2nd (Day 772)
On Thursday, President Biden told Senate Democrats that he would not veto a GOP-backed bid to repeal changes to the D.C. criminal code. The Biden Administration specifically mentioned decreases to the penalties for carjacking, but, when pressed, could not say exactly why they were so mad about the reduction (which still carries a penalty of 24 years). This move is incredibly disappointing from a Biden Administration that claims to support D.C.’s ability to govern itself. The D.C. City Council voted unanimously twice for the changes, which would not be fully implemented for several years anyway.
Saturday, March 4th (Day 774)
Marianne Williamson runs for President
On Saturday, Marianne Williamson officially became the first major challenger to the Democratic nomination against President Biden in 2024. (Jermone Segal, a political activist, is the only other sort of notable candidate running.) Williamson is a long shot at winning the nomination, but despite her flaws, she would likely be a far better President than Biden.
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