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Last Updated: March 24, 2021, 12:17 AM EDT

This is Day 12 of the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Top headlines:

Here is how events are unfolding. All times Eastern.
Jan 29, 2021, 6:43 PM EST

White House ASL interpreter under scrutiny

The background of an American Sign Language interpreter who appeared during a White House press briefing Monday is raising questions about the Biden administration’s vetting process.

Members of the deaf community identified Heather Mewshaw on social media posts Monday, highlighting her previous work interpreting right-wing videos. She is also an organizer of Hands of Liberty, a group that provides ASL interpretation for right-wing videos, many of which contain misinformation.

While no public complaints have been made about Mewshaw’s interpretation of Monday's briefing, questions arose among the deaf community about whether Mewshaw could be trusted to accurately convey the Biden administration’s message, given her apparent political bias.

Mewshaw did not respond to requests for comment from ABC News on Friday. She has not interpreted for a White House briefing since Monday.

In a statement to ABC News, a White House official said the administration is not commenting on "specific people or personnel matters at this time."

-ABC News' Sarah Kolinovsky and Ben Gittleson

Jan 29, 2021, 4:10 PM EST

Biden recalls late son Beau’s last days during Walter Reed visit

As Biden visited the Walter Reed Military Medical Center to meet with wounded service members on Friday, the president reflected on the time he spent at the same hospital with his late son, Beau Biden. 

“You’ve been a great gift to my family,” Biden said to staff members, including the hospital’s director, Col. Andrew Barr.

“My son, Beau, after a year in Iraq came back with stage four glioblastoma,” he added. “You took care of him in his final days with great grace and dignity.” 

The president went on to speak about his experiences at the “old” Walter Reed and how much he loved the nurses. 

Biden also received a tour of the COVID-19 vaccination site at the hospital, which currently has 20 vaccination stations set up. 

The president walked from station to station and briefly chatted with people along the way. 

At the final station, Biden thanked the workers and chatted with one service member about to receive his first dose of the vaccine. 

“Thanks for what you’re doing. I really mean it,” the president said. “You're making a big difference. We’re going to make sure that everybody has enough. We’re going to get the supply up.” 

-ABC News’ Molly Nagle

Jan 29, 2021, 2:30 PM EST

Biden says no 'ifs, ands or buts' for COVID-19 relief bill before departing for Walter Reed

Biden left for Walter Reed Military Medical Center Friday to visit wounded service members.

President Joe Biden tours the COVID-19 vaccine center at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center with Col. Andrew Barr, director of Walter Reed, Jan. 29, 2021, in Bethesda, Md.
Alex Brandon/AP

The president took his first trip on Marine One to visit Walter Reed and briefly took questions from reporters before he boarded the chopper.

Biden said that he was going to Walter Reed meet with service members there, as well as look at their vaccination distribution plan. He noted that he spent quite a bit of time at Walter Reed for his own treatment.

Biden also spoke of his economic rescue package, saying that he supports passing it “with support from Republicans if we can get it.” 

“But COVID relief has to pass,” he added. “No ifs, ands, or buts.”

The comments are the first from Biden opening the door to passing the measure however Democrats can, despite his preference for working with Republicans.

Biden departed the Oval Office with his wife, Jill Biden, and walked hand-in-hand with her before they both lowered their masks and share a quick kiss before he departed.

-ABC News' Molly Nagle

Jan 29, 2021, 12:51 PM EST

Biden names Rob Malley special envoy for Iran

The State Department has confirmed that Rob Malley will return as the Biden administration’s Special Envoy for Iran. Malley served in the Obama and Clinton administrations, including as a key architect of Obama's 2015 Iran nuclear deal.

That's exactly why some GOP members advocated against his appointment, which 12 former Iranian hostages and human rights activists said "would send a chilling signal to the dictatorship in Iran that the United States is solely focused on re-entering the Iran nuclear deal and ignoring its regional terror and domestic crimes against humanity."

The State Department is pushing back on that, saying Malley will lead "a dedicated team, drawing from clear-eyed experts with a diversity of views," and bring "a track record of success negotiating constraints on Iran's nuclear program," according to spokesperson Ned Price. 

-ABC News’ Conor Finnegan

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