- Democratic senator said in op-ed he won’t vote for voting rights legislation
- Manchin’s hard no on voting bill leaves Democrats seeking new path
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2.40pm BST
Former President Barack Obama went on CNN last night to criticize how Republicans have been “cowed into accepting” a series of positions that “would be unrecognizable and unacceptable even five years ago or a decade ago”.
In an interview with Anderson Cooper, Obama spoke of the 6 January attack on the US Capitol: “Suddenly you have large portions of the elected Congress going along with the falsehood that there were problems with the election.”
2.29pm BST
Vice-President Kamala Harris travels to Mexico today to meet with the country’s president, Alejandro Giammattei. But Harris is already drawing some criticism on her first official foreign trip.
In Guatemala yesterday, Harris was blunt in telling would-be migrants “do not come” to the US border.
This is disappointing to see.
First, seeking asylum at any US border is a 100% legal method of arrival.
Second, the US spent decades contributing to regime change and destabilization in Latin America. We can’t help set someone’s house on fire and then blame them for fleeing. https://t.co/vADyh5H0bw
Vice President Harris spox @SymoneSanders46: “The President and Vice President have been clear in dissuading people from making the dangerous and treacherous journey to the U.S./Mexico border.”
VP spox Sanders: “We encourage those who do want to come to the US to do so legally and seek legal immigration options in their home countries. The Vice President is committed to addressing the root causes of migration, which also addresses why migrants are coming to our border.”
Related: Kamala Harris faces doubts over retooled US policy in Central America
2.13pm BST
Hello, live blog readers. Hope you’re all doing well.
Two days after publishing an op ed on why he won’t vote for voting rights legislation for which he was a key vote, Democratic West Virginia senator Joe Manchin will meet with critics on the left today.
A Hill person familiar tells me Joe Manchin’s previously reported Tuesday meeting w/ NAACP on HR1 will now also include
Al Sharpton, Sherrilyn Ifill of NAACP LDF, Urban League prez Marc Morial, and a couple more. A full court press
Please tell me Manchin wasn’t singing “We Shall Overcome” the same day he published an OpEd about why he won’t vote to defend the voting rights civil rights leaders fought & died for. This is why West Virginians are holding #MoralMonday March on Manchin’s office next Monday 6/14.
Related: Joe Manchin’s hard no on voting bill leaves Democrats seeking new path