Today's Top Political and Coronavirus News Compilation - Friday, April 16, 2021

Below are some of the top political news stories of the day:


FILE - In this Feb. 5, 2021 file photo, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., speaks during a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington. Greene was briefly suspended from Twitter Sunday, April 4 in what the platform called an error. It's the second time in less than a month that that has happened to the Georgia Republican's account. Twitter said Monday, April 5 that automated systems were to blame for both. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)

New conservative group would save ‘Anglo-Saxon’ traditions
WASHINGTON (AP) — Hard-right House Republicans on Friday were discussing forming an America First Caucus, which one document described as championing “Anglo-Saxon political traditions” and warning that mass immigration was putting the “unique identity” of the U.S. at risk.

Updated 9:28 PM CDT

Biden’s appeals for action on guns, policing face reality

President Biden urges Senate to 'step up and act' on gun reform
Oath Keeper is 1st suspect to plead guilty in Capitol riot

White House Walks Back Order On Refugee Limits After Backlash

Russia bars entry to DNI Haines, FBI Director Wray, DHS Secretary Mayorkas, others, in response to sanctions

Gunman who killed 8 workers at Indianapolis FedEx site had been detained for mental illness

Gaetz does damage control, telling GOP colleagues he's been treated unfairly
Secret Facebook groups of special operations officers include racist comments, QAnon posts: report
FBI says it interviewed FedEx mass shooter last year

Pelosi reiterates call for commission to investigate January 6 insurrection

'Shameful,' 'unacceptable and unconscionable': Biden faces blowback from Democrats over refugee cap

McCarthy responds to MAGA caucus: GOP isn't party of 'nativist dog whistles'

After outcry, WH says Biden will lift refugee cap in May

Russia moves to outlaw Navalny's movement

McCarthy issues apparent rebuke of GOP caucus platform promoting 'Anglo-Saxon political traditions'

Japan, US showcase alliance, resolve in dealing with China

U.S. has new intel that Manafort friend Kilimnik gave Trump campaign data to Russia

Pompeo violated ethics rules by asking State Dept employees to do personal tasks -watchdog

Biden calls gun violence 'a national embarrassment' and order flags to half-staff after another mass shooting

Cash floods into battle for control of Congress

Russia to expel 10 US diplomats in response to Biden actions

Biden defends pushing other bills before gun control

'I think of it all the time': Capitol riot survivors reflect 100 days later

Georgia GOP Governor Brian Kemp faces primary challenge from former Democrat

Watchdog: Pompeo, his wife made more than 100 personal requests of State Department employees

Interior head Haaland revokes Trump-era orders on energy

Psaki says police ‘too often’ use ‘unnecessary force’ that results in ‘Black and brown deaths’

Minnesota mayor blasts police tactics to control protesters

Ethics committee finds probable cause in sexual misconduct allegation against Idaho lawmaker

Biden's health secretary takes heat for slow response to migrant kids

What to expect in closings for ex-cop’s trial in Floyd death

U.S. condemns sentencing of tycoon Jimmy Lai, other Hong Kong activists

DOJ investigating whether Kash Patel leaked classified info: Report

Cuba's Raul Castro confirms he's stepping down, says he's 'fulfilled his mission'

Marjorie Taylor Greene launching 'America First' caucus pushing for 'anglo-Saxon political tradition'

AP FACT CHECK: Biden hails record job growth, skips caveats
Capitol rioter could face jail time for ignoring court order mandating she wear a mask

Pentagon confirms authenticity of videos showing unidentified flying objects

FOX News panel debates Biden's proposed gun control measures

Justice Department sues Roger Stone over $2M in unpaid taxes

Gaetz ex-girlfriend feared alleged sex-trafficking victim taped call for feds

Four members of Sikh community among dead in Indianapolis FedEx shooting -group

Biden says Iran enriching uranium at 60% is not helpful, but is pleased country engaging in indirect talks

Garland rescinds Trump-era memo curtailing consent decrees

What we know about the fatal police shooting of 13-year-old Adam Toledo

Portland protesters disrupt investigation into fatal police shooting of man

Facebook Oversight Board to rule on Trump ban in 'coming weeks'

Critics Say Chauvin Defense 'Weaponized' Stigma For Black Americans With Addiction

Nazi sympathizer who stormed Capitol poses a threat to Jews, Justice Department says

Why Biden Isn’t Getting Flamed as Being Soft on Terror

Democratic Sen. Menendez rips Biden for keeping Trump's 15K refugee admissions limit

AP Interview: Beijing says US ‘too negative’ toward China

Why more CEOs are willing to address 'thorny political issues' like voting rights

FedEx cellphone policy under scrutiny after deadly shooting

Dem campaign chief snaps over 'defund the police' questions

Biden officials rescind Texas Medicaid waiver approved by Trump

Biden calls U.S. gun deaths a 'national embarrassment' after Indianapolis shooting

Federal officials reverse limits on fetal tissue research

Chicagoans plan rally for 13-year-old boy killed by policeman

Big spending on personal security ignites post-Jan. 6 debate over members' budgets

US likely to up Afghanistan force to ensure safe drawdown

Fox Nation takes a look at taxes: How Trump, Cuomo and the Rolling Stones have shaped the taxation debate

Florida passes bill to crack down on riots, but critics warn it threatens peaceful protest

Police warn LGBTQ community after transgender women shot dead at hotels

House GOP takes cash from casino mogul accused of misconduct

Black Lives Matter co-founder hits back against critics questioning property purchases

Hong Kong democracy leaders given jail terms amid crackdown

Biden demands Republicans move on gun background check bill

Comfort dogs find bipartisan support on Capitol Hill

Our reporters break down key moments in the Chauvin trial

Liberty University sues ex-president Jerry Falwell Jr. for concealing affair

Mass shootings in the U.S. in 2021

LSU reeling from ongoing reviews of sexual misconduct cases

Sen. Daines calls for public vote to ban 'swampy' earmark provisions

Senators Urge Biden To Shut Down Guantánamo, Calling It A 'Symbol Of Lawlessness'

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Posted at 7:30 AM CDT

GOP leaders diverge on Trump, putting party in limbo

Gunman kills eight before taking own life at FedEx site in Indianapolis -police

US has been wracked with several mass shootings in 2021

Biden White House's secret weapon on infrastructure: small businesses

Yang, under attack, widens lead — Fresh round of matching funds — De Blasio finally having fun

Gaetz and DeSantis: A friendship that may become a liability

Florida's Republican-controlled Legislature passes "anti-riot" bill amid racial unrest

Democrats, after slamming Trump for upending ‘norms,’ now eyeing sweeping changes of their own

Republicans struggle to craft counteroffer to Biden's $2 trillion jobs plan

Flynn: Election fights in MI, AZ are 'tactically' important

Biden's climate duo of Kerry and McCarthy puts U.S. back in global warming fight

NJ governor makes push for 'sweeping' gun law changes

'A nicer version of Trump': GOP donors flock to DeSantis

Biden meets Japan’s leader to boost China-facing alliances

Some Trump congressional backers see big campaign windfalls in 1st quarter

Texas Gov. Abbott calls on Biden, Harris to apply ‘terrorist’ label to Mexican cartels: report

A Castro not leading Cuba? Raul Castro steps down as head of its Communist Party

Migration strategy draws ire of Central American leaders

Biden infrastructure plan includes $18 bln for Veterans Affairs, far more needed -lawmaker

Biden wins over skeptical progressives

Election objectors leaned on small donors after corporate PAC backlash

Supreme Court to debate immigration case as Biden wrestles with crisis at southern border

Joe Biden stands down at a critical juncture for police reform

Can The Afghan Army Hold Off The Taliban Without The U.S.?

Pompeo pours cash into new PAC bearing his slogan in clearest sign of 2024 bid - Axios

Chicago’s Lightfoot appeals for calm, says, ‘We failed Adam’

Left willing to sacrifice Democratic majority ramming agenda through

After the Riot: 100 days since the attack on the Capitol

Opponents of Myanmar coup form unity government, aim for 'federal democracy'

US says Russia was given Trump campaign polling data in 2016

Appeals court upholds Canada-U.S. asylum-seeker agreement

Six key takeaways from Biden's Russia sanctions announcement

Progressives put Democrats on defense

Kamala Harris says migrant crisis won’t ‘be fixed overnight,’ hasn't spoken with El Salvador, Honduras leaders

Why Local Election Officials In Georgia Take Issue With Many Parts Of New Law

Democrats hand their foes a weapon as they weigh a filibuster loophole

China's massed drills near Taiwan take aim at Washington audience

'Take out the trash day' returns to White House under Biden

Democrats race to get ahead of stimulus fraud that plagued Trump administration - Axios

Maxine Waters tells Jim Jordan 'shut your mouth' during congressional hearing with Fauci

Attorneys for Black Army officer threatened by police criticize response as chief refuses to apologize

Testimony complete in Chauvin trial. Ex-cop didn't take stand

Report: Human smugglers increasingly use Facebook to advertise services on the US-Mexico border

Cuba readies for life without Castro

Rep. Ritchie Torres’ Big Idea: Create permanent monthly child allowance payments to parents

Biden's consoler in chief tone will be tested by midterms

Senators to Biden: Waive vaccine intellectual property rules

Losing It All: Mobile Home Owners Evicted Over Small Debts During Pandemic

Lawmakers scramble for 'musical chairs' to view Biden's first Capitol speech

In secret Facebook groups, America's best warriors share racist jabs, lies about 2020, even QAnon theories

Iran nuclear chief Salehi says 60% enrichment has started at Natanz site

Debate heats up over role of carbon offsets in Biden's 'net-zero' goal

Mary Carey, former porn star, running for California governor as Newsom faces recall

Anti-Trump lawmakers' private security expenses ballooned after Jan. 6 riot - Axios

Video: Chicago boy wasn’t holding gun when shot by officer

Houston, Abilene show how to make headway with homelessness

Ghislaine Maxwell wants trial delay, blames prosecutors

New Jersey high school wrestling coach is CEO of $100 million firm that owns one deli

Senate Republicans at war over earmarks

Researchers see links between renewable energy and improved health

Science journalist says planet is "on the verge of another mass extinction" - on "The Takeout"

Republicans And Democrats Largely Oppose Transgender Sports Legislation, Poll Shows

Adam Toledo case: AOC says prosecutor ‘lied about police killing a child’

Hong Kong: Jimmy Lai sentenced to 14 months for pro-democracy protests

AP Interview: China to send ‘positive message’ on climate

Theaters and music venues are still waiting on Covid relief funds approved in December

China's economy grew nearly 20 percent in first quarter: report

Indonesia arrests hackers over $60 million U.S. COVID-19 scam

'Nobody would tell me anything': Immigrant parents struggle to find children who crossed border alone

Coronavirus News and Updates:
Updated 9:28 PM CDT

US setting up $1.7B national network to track virus variants

Moderna plans to have third vaccine booster shot ready by fall

J&J scientists refute ‘class effect’ to blame for clots in those who got its COVID-19 vaccine

Celebrities make a stand for COVID vaccines on TV special

Vaccines are sitting on shelves in these states. They're getting desperate to give them out

Study shows vaccines carry much lower risk of blood clots than COVID-19

Ted Cruz says he is done with wearing a mask at the Capitol
FDA rescinds emergency authorization for COVID-19 antibody treatment bamlanivimab

Covid: Canada sounds the alarm as cases overtake US

White House urges Americans to get vaccinated

Coronavirus FAQ: You're Vaccinated. Cool! Now About Those 'Breakthrough' Infections...

Department of Defense will re-allocate Moderna doses to overseas bases following Johnson & Johnson vaccine pause

Pandemic destroyed fewer U.S. businesses than feared, Fed study shows

States are rolling out vaccination plans. Track the numbers inoculated across the country.

Will employees ever safely return to offices after COVID-19?
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Posted at 7:30 AM CDT

U.S. parents begin to ask: Should my child get a COVID-19 shot?

Amid hesitancy, Louisiana gets creative in vaccine outreach

US reports 30% of adults fully vaccinated; Florida education official tells schools masks optional: Latest COVID-19 updates

Biden working to ensure U.S. will have booster COVID shots if they're needed

Study finds young U.S. Marines without COVID-19 history at greater infection risk

White House faces new obstacles in COVID-19 fight

Analysis: Countries seek more Moderna, Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 shots as concerns mount over rival vaccines

A cautionary tale: COVID infection after vaccination is rare but breakthroughs can happen. It happened to this man

Despite increase in depression during pandemic, suicides may have decreased: Studies

Live Updates: UK Covid infections down to one-in-500 people

How New Zealand's much-admired COVID-19 response helped fuel a housing crisis

Prisons postpone vaccinations with Johnson & Johnson shots paused