WASHINGTON – Whether you’re Liz Cheney, Mitch McConnell or Mitt Romney, here’s your challenge as the impeachment moves to a Senate trial: The Republican Party is still Trump’s party.
At least for a while.
According to the new figures from our NBC News poll, only 8% of Republican voters support Trump’s impeachment and dismissal.
This is compared to 50% of all voters who say this, including 89% of Democrats and 45% of independents.
Also striking: these percentages – overall and by party – are virtually identical to Trump’s impeachment / removal figures during the Ukraine scandal.
It is largely the story of the Trump Era: numbers and party division rarely change, even after an attack on the Capitol.
And take a look at the opening paragraphs of this New York Times story.
“In Cleveland County, Oklahoma, the president of the local Republican Party openly asked himself ‘why violence is unacceptable’, just hours before a crowd invaded the United States Capitol last week. – What the fuck do you think the American revolution was? he posted on Facebook. ‘A pâté game?’ “
“Two days later, the Republican president of Nye County, Nevada, posted a letter full of conspiracy theories on the local committee’s website, accusing Vice President Mike Pence of treason and calling the rebellion an ‘event staged to blame the Trump supporters. ‘”
“And this week in Virginia, Amanda Chase, a two-time Republican state senator running for governor, said that President Trump could still be sworn in for a second term on January 20 and that the Republicans who blocked this ‘alternative plan’ would be punished by the president’s supporters ”.
If you are a Republican who opposes Trump – or simply the way he behaved before last week’s attack – you are in the minority in your party.
Back to the virus
Since January 6 – the day of last week’s attack on the Capitol – this country has seen more than 2 million new cases of coronavirus and more than 28,000 deaths from the virus.
Think about it again: in just over a week, 2 million new cases (!!!) and more than 28,000 deaths.
It is in this context – and presidential void – to see President-elect Joe Biden’s prime-time speech, where he launched his $ 1.9 coronavirus help package (more on that below).
The president who is leaving office is missing when it comes to the coronavirus. Therefore, the new president decided to face the issue head on before his inauguration.
And today, Biden comments on administering COVID vaccines to the US population.
Data download: the numbers you need to know today
23,421,473: The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the United States, according to the latest data from NBC News and health officials. (237,251 more than yesterday morning.)
389,652: The number of deaths caused by the virus in the United States so far. (That is 3,954 more than yesterday morning.)
128,947: The number of people currently hospitalized with coronavirus
275.78 million: The number of coronavirus tests that have been administered in the United States so far, according to researchers at The COVID Tracking Project.
965,000: The last initial weekly unemployment claims in the USA
5: The number of days until the day of possession.
Here’s what’s in Biden’s $ 1.9 trillion aid plan
President-elect Joe Biden on Thursday ordered a $ 1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package on Thursday, according to NBC’s Marianna Sotomayor.
The American Rescue Plan includes investments in a national vaccination program, additional direct payments and a $ 15 hourly federal minimum wage increase.
“We are in a race against time. We need these resources to vaccinate the vast majority of Americans and implement security measures that will help us leave Covid behind, so that we can reopen our schools, businesses and, once again, we can get there with our friends and family, “said a senior transition officer on a conference call with reporters.
Here are some of the requirements of the plan:
- Containing Covid-19 and reopening schools with the setting up of a national vaccination program – Total: $ 416 billion. (This amount includes $ 20 billion for a national vaccination program and $ 170 billion for schools).
- Helping working families facing economic difficulties – Total: US $ 1 trillion. (This amount includes direct payments of $ 1,400 per person and $ 400 / week unemployment insurance programs for hard-hit Americans).
- Assistance to small businesses, including owners of minority companies. (This includes $ 350 billion in emergency funds for state, local and territorial governments to pay frontline workers, as well as $ 15 billion in grants to help the most affected small businesses).
Tweet of the day
ICYMI: What else is happening in the world
Don’t miss this article by Benjy Sarlin on how members of Congress are afraid even of some of their own colleagues.
And here’s the Washington Post about how some Capitol police officers were beaten at the hands of protesters.
Republican Senator James Lankford apologized to Tulsan blacks for questioning the results of the 2020 elections.
See how Facebook and Twitter decided to do their actions on Trump’s accounts last week.
Biden chose his deputy director of the CIA.
And he chose his new vaccine director.
Rudy Giuliani may be out with most of Trump World, but he still wants to get in.
The New York Times spoke to state and local Republican Party leaders across the country. Many described their devotion to Trump with an almost religious fervor.
