Today's politics recap
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Joe Biden spoke to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy this afternoon. The call came one day after the US delivered its written response to Russia’s demands on Ukraine, as Vladimir Putin builds up his troop presence along the border. Zelenskiy said he and Biden discussed recent diplomatic efforts to avoid a Russian invasion and the Ukrainian president thanked his American counterpart for ongoing US military assistance.
- The US has asked the UN security council to meet and discuss Russia’s threats to Ukraine. “The members of the security council must squarely examine the facts and consider what is at stake for Ukraine, for Russia, for Europe, and for the core obligations and principles of the international order should Russia further invade Ukraine,” said Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the US ambassador to the UN.
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Supreme court Justice Stephen Breyer confirmed he will retire after more than 27 years on the bench. In a letter to Biden, Breyer said he will officially step down when the court adjourns for its summer recess in late June or early July. Breyer’s departure will give Biden his first supreme court seat to fill.
- Biden reiterated his commitment to nominating a Black woman to the court, which will mark a historic first for the US. Appearing at the White House alongside Breyer, Biden said, “I‘ve made no decision except one. The person I will nominate will be someone with extraordinary qualifications, character, experience and integrity and that person will be the first Black woman ever nominated to the United States supreme court.”
- The White House said Kamala Harris will play a “central role” in selecting the supreme court nominee. “The vice-president will play a central role in this process and the president intends to consult with her very closely,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said. “Obviously, she has a long history as a former attorney general, as a member of the judiciary committee and he respects her opinion greatly.”
– Joan E Greve and Maanvi Singh
Updated
After flouting local health guidelines to dine inside a New York restaurant after testing positive for Covid-19, former Alaska governor Sarah Palin has reportedly returned to the restaurant.
The Washington Post reports:
Elio’s, an Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side, has faced blowback after Palin dined indoors at the establishment on Saturday, in violation of the city’s dining mandate for people to show proof of vaccination. The Manhattan judge in Palin’s defamation trial against the New York Times revealed Monday that the proceedings would be delayed because the Republican tested positive for the virus. It’s unclear when Palin first tested positive.
Even though local guidelines advise people who test positive to be in isolation for five days after their positive test, Palin returned to the restaurant on Wednesday night. In photos posted to Mediaite, the first to report the news, the former Republican vice-presidential nominee, who has said she would only get vaccinated against the coronavirus “over my dead body,” was seen dining at a heated outdoor area of the restaurant. The city’s vaccine requirement does not apply for outdoor dining.
Luca Guaitolini, a manager for the restaurant, told CNN that Palin dined outdoors on Wednesday so that staff could be protected against infection.
Here’s more context:
