Senate Intel Committee postpones confirmation hearing for Biden’s spy chief
It’s not clear if President-elect Joe Biden will have any of his national security nominees confirmed by Day 1 of his presidency, a break with past practice.
The Senate Intelligence Committee was supposed to hold a hearing Friday for Biden’s chief intelligence nominee, Avril Haines. But at the last minute, the committee announced a delay, without specifying the reasons.
"Despite the unusual circumstances on Capitol Hill, the committee is working in good faith to move this nominee as fast as possible and ensure the committee's members have an opportunity to question the nominee in both open and closed settings," the committee’s acting chairman, GOP Sen. Marco Rubio, and vice chairman, Democratic Sen. Mark Warner, said in a joint statement late Thursday night.
Rubio and Warner said the hearing would take place next week but did not specify a date. Biden will be sworn in on Jan. 20.
"We are disappointed the hearing was delayed, particularly given the urgency to have national security leaders in place in this time of crisis," said Ned Price, a spokesman for the Biden transition. "Nevertheless, DNI-designate Haines eagerly awaits the opportunity to answer the Committee's questions next week."
The Senate is currently led by Republicans, but Democrats are poised to gain the majority after Jan. 20.
Two newly elected Democrats from Georgia will be sworn in after the results of that state’s runoff are certified – likely toward the end of next week – and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris will be able to cast a tie breaking vote in the 50-50 chamber.
For now, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell controls the schedule, under which the Senate will not fully reconvene for business until Jan. 19. Two other key Biden nominees are set to have hearings on that day: Lloyd Austin, his pick to lead the Pentagon, and Alejandro Mayorkas, Biden’s choice to serve as secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.
– Deirdre Shesgreen and Bart Jansen
Biden to name CIA veteran David Cohen as No. 2 at the spy agency
President-election Joe Biden will announce another key national security appointment Friday, naming David Cohen to be deputy director of the CIA, the Biden transition announcedy.
Cohen has held the job before – from 2015 to 2017 – when he helped to manage the agency’s global operations and led foreign intelligence collection, covert action and other espionage activities. An attorney by training, Cohen is an expert in tracking financial crimes, terrorism funding networks in particular, which he did as a top official at the Treasury Department.
But none of those skills came into play for his most public role: as an extra on the HBO series "Game of Thrones." Cohen snagged the cameo last year, appearing in the soup line as a nameless Winterfell resident during an April 2019 episode.
“A perk of working for CIA is world travel. Apparently that sometimes extends to other realms … ,” the CIA tweeted from its official account shortly before the show aired. "'Little birds,' be on the lookout for a former deputy director of ours wandering through #Westeros in tonight’s episode of #GameOFThrones."
"Way to blow my cover!" Cohen tweeted in response.
– Deirdre Shesgreen
Biden picks Jaime Harrison for DNC chair
President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday announced his picks for Democratic leadership, including Jaime Harrison, a U.S. Senate candidate from South Carolina in November's election, as Democratic National Committee chairman.
The move comes ahead of the 2022 election cycle in which Democrats will look to retain control of the Senate and House.
Harrison, who previously chaired the South Carolina Democratic Party, lost to Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. by 11 percentage points in the November election. It was a disappointing finish after Harrison brought in a record fundraising haul, but one that built his name in the party’s ranks.
The DNC is set to vote on its leadership next week. Voting will close Thursday.
Harrison would replace Tom Perez, who opted against running for a second term. Harrison unsuccessfully ran for DNC party chair against Perez in 2017. Although Harrison isn’t guaranteed the leadership position, the party historically defers to the president’s choice.
Biden also announced other DNC officers that include three women he considered for vice president who turned into key campaign surrogates: Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms, Michigan Gov. Whitmer and Illinois U.S. Sen. Tammy Duckworth. Each were named party vice chairs along with Rep. Filemon Vela Jr. of Texas.
"This group of individuals represent the very best of the Democratic Party," Biden said in a statement. "Their stories and long histories of activism and work reflects our party’s values and the diversity that make us so strong."
– Joey Garrison
What's in Biden's $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package
President-elect Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion spending package aims to speed distribution of the coronavirus vaccines and provide economic relief caused by the pandemic.
The package proposal includes investing $20 billion in a national vaccination program, $1,400 stimulus checks and expanding unemployment insurance supplements to $400 per week.
Biden’s proposed relief package comes several weeks after Congress passed a $900 billion COVID-19 relief package in December, which the president-elect said at the time was a "down payment."
The plan also includes:
- $170 billion to help reopen schools, as well as provide financial relief to students
- Expand to 14 weeks paid sick and family and medical leave
- $25 billion in rental assistance and an additional $5 billion to cover home energy and water costs
- Extending the 15% Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefit increase to September 2021
- $15 billion for grants to more than 1 million small businesses
- A $20 billion investment to Indian Country to support tribal governments' response to the COVID-19 pandemic
— Rebecca Morin
