Biden wants Congress to take action on gun reform
The call for gun reform comes on the third anniversary of the Parkland shooting.
This is Day 26 of the administration of President Joe Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris.
Top headlines:
- Biden calls on Congress to take action on gun reform on 3rd anniversary of Parkland shooting
- 1st tweet from Biden after impeachment vote is focused on COVID relief
- Why Biden allies in Senate opposed calling witnesses: Sources
- Biden calls on Congress to pass COVID-19 relief
- Biden, Harris meet with bipartisan group of governors, mayors
US sanctions 10 Myanmar military leaders, 3 companies
The Biden administration sanctioned 10 leaders of Myanmar's military and three businesses connected to the armed forces for what the U.S. has labeled a "coup."
The officials include commander-in-chief Min Aung Hlaing and deputy commander-in-chief Soe Win, who were already under U.S. sanctions, and three lieutenants general and the first vice president, a former lieutenant general, who seized control on Feb. 1. Four other military leaders named by the military to cabinet roles were also sanctioned.
The U.S. is also freezing the assets of three businesses that are controlled by the military. It is unclear at this time what U.S.-based assets these companies would have, but the military's reach extends throughout the Southeast Asian country's economy after decades of rule.
The sanctions and other economic penalties come one day after President Biden announced he had approved an executive order authorizing the sanctions and freezing $1 billion of U.S.-based assets controlled by the military.
In addition, the U.S. Agency for International Development also announced Thursday that it is immediately redirecting $42.4 million of U.S. assistance that would have benefited the government, while the Commerce Department is reimposing export controls on the country's military and security forces.
It's unclear if the reimposed penalties will have any effect reversing the coup, which has been met by days of sustained pro-democracy protests.
-ABC News' Conor Finnegan
Biden says if US doesn't make infrastructure progress China will 'eat our lunch'
During his initial remarks in the Oval Office Thursday morning, Biden told reporters that his phone call with China’s President Xi Jinping Wednesday lasted for “two straight hours,” and if the United States does not get a move on infrastructure, China will “eat our lunch.”
He went over some of China’s initiatives and investments in transportation like high-speed rail and automobiles, saying the U.S. has to “step up.”
Biden and Harris met Thursday morning with a bipartisan group of Senators to discuss infrastructure, along with Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg (virtually since he is in quarantine).
Also in attendance were Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., Ranking Member of the Environment and Public Works Committee Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., former Chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee and current Ranking Member of the Armed Services Committee Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., and Chair of the Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md.
-ABC News' Justin Gomez
Biden says 'some minds may have been changed' on impeachment
At the top of a meeting with a bipartisan group of senators, Harris and Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg on infrastructure, Biden said “my guess is some minds may have been changed” on impeachment after saying he saw the newly unveiled video evidence used at Wednesday’s Senate impeachment trial of former President Donald Trump.
Biden initially tried to avoid directly answering if he watched any of the new videos, saying he’s focused on seeing through some of his policy priorities, but then admitted he “didn’t watch any of the hearing live” but got up to speed through news coverage.
“I think the Senate has a very important job to complete and I think -- my guess is -- that some minds may have been changed, but I don’t know,” he said.
Biden’s remarks on impeachment Thursday are the most he's publicly weighed in on the trial after his administration has repeatedly tried to avoid all questions on the matter and stay focused on seeing through a COVID-19 relief bill.
-ABC News' Justin Gomez
Biden focuses on infrastructure during Day Three of impeachment trial
Before the impeachment trial starts at noon, a bipartisan group of senators is meeting at the White House to discuss infrastructure.
Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, who is quarantining due to COVID-19 exposure on his staff, will join virtually.
At 3:45 p.m. the president visits the Viral Pathogenesis Laboratory at the National Institutes of Health, and at 4:30 p.m. he delivers remarks to NIH staff.