Here are the main events that occurred in Politics this week
1. President Joe Biden Announces Sweeping Coronavirus Vaccine Mandate Covering Nearly 100 Million Americans
In his most forceful pandemic actions and words, President Joe Biden, on September 9 ordered sweeping new federal vaccine requirements for as many as 100 million American 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, President 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.”
2. In Major Victory For Democratic Party, California Governor Gavin Newsom Survives Recall Election
A Republican-led bid to recall Governor Gavin Newsom of California ended in defeat, as Democrats in the nation’s most populous state closed ranks against a small grass-roots movement that accelerated with the spread of COVID-19. Voters affirmed their support for Governor Newsom, whose lead grew insurmountable as the count continued in Los Angeles County and other large Democratic strongholds after the polls had closed. Larry Elder, a conservative talk radio host, and Donald Trump accolade led 46 challengers hoping to become the next governor. The vote spoke to the power liberal voters wield in California, as no Republican has held statewide office in California since Governor Arnold Schwartzenegger left office in 2010. Additionally, the vote also reflected the state’s recent progress against the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed more than 67,000 lives in California. California has one of the nation’s highest vaccination rates and one of its lowest rates of new virus cases, which Governor Newsom tirelessly argued to voters were the results of his vaccine and mask requirements.
3. Pennsylvania Republican Lawmakers Approve Wide-Ranging Subpoenas For Personal Information Of 2020 Voters
Republican lawmakers in Pennsylvania on September 15 approved subpoenas for a wide range of data and personal information on voters, advancing a probe of the 2020 election in a key battleground state former president Donald Trump has repeatedly targeted with baseless claims of fraud. The move drew a sharp rebuke from Democrats who described the effort as insecure and unwarranted and said they would consider mounting a court fight. Among other requests, Republicans are seeking the names, dates of birth, driver’s license numbers, last four digits of Social Security numbers, addresses, and methods of voting for millions of people who cast ballots in the May primary and the November general election.
4. Report: US Top General Secretly Called China Over Fears Donald Trump Could Spark War During His Final Days In Office
The top US general secretly called his Chinese counterpart twice over concerns then-President Donald Trump could spark a war with China as his potential election loss loomed and in its aftermath, the Washington Post reported on September 14. US General Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, called General Li Zuocheng of the People’s Liberation Army on October 30, 2020, four days before the election, and again on January 8, two days after Trump supporters led a deadly riot at the US Capitol, the newspaper reported. In the calls, Milley sought to assure Li the US was stable and not going to attack and, if there were to be an attack, he would alert his counterpart ahead of time, the report said. The report was based on “Peril,” a new book by journalists Bob Woodward and Robert Costa, which they said relied on interviews with 200 sources and is due to be released next week. Former President Donald Trump, in a statement, cast doubt in the story, calling it “fabricated.” He said if the story was true Milley should be tried for treason. “For the record, I never even thought of attacking China,” Trump said.
