Biden may express concern over India-Russia ties in meeting with prime minister Modi – live | US politics

A federal judge has indicated that an attempt to stop the far-right Republican congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene running for re-election will be allowed to proceed, with a ruling expected as early as today.

The challenge from a group of Georgia voters says Greene should be disqualified under the 14th amendment to the US constitution, because she supported insurrectionists who attacked the US Capitol on 6 January 2021.

A similar challenges in North Carolina, against Madison Cawthorn, another prominent supporter of Donald Trump, was blocked.

But on Friday Amy Totenberg, a federal judge in Georgia, said she had “significant questions and concerns” about the ruling in the Cawthorn case, CNN reported.

Totenberg said she was likely to rule on Greene’s attempt to have her case dismissed on Monday, two days before a scheduled hearing before a state judge.

the 14th amendment it was passed by Congress in 1866, a year after the end of the civil war, and ratified in 1868.

It says: “No person shall be a Senator or Representative in Congress, or elector of President and Vice-President, or hold any office, civil or military, under the United States, or under any state, who, having previously taken an oath … to support the Constitution of the United States, shall have engaged in insurrection or rebellion against the same, or given aid or comfort to the enemies thereof.”

Congress can reverse any such prohibition.

Read more here:

A plain-talking Joe Biden is likely to greet the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on their video call this morning, the president expected to seek a harder line from New Delhi towards Russia over the Ukraine war.

The US and allies are concerned by recent Indian actions, including abstaining from last week’s vote that saw Russia suspended from the United Nations human rights council, buying 3bn barrels of Russian crude while other nations were ramping up oil sanctions, and acquisition of Russia’s S- 400 air defense systems.

According to the White House press secretary Jen Psakiin a statement on Sunday, the Biden-Modi call will discuss: “strengthening the global economy, and upholding a free, open, rules-based international order to bolster security, democracy, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific.”

To many analysts, the softer language conceals what is expected to be a resolute US president setting out some hard truths to his Indian counterpart, and that consequences await if Modi’s government continues to court Moscow.

Vivian Salmathe Wall Street Journal’s national security reporter, characterizes (in this tweet) talk of deepening “ties between our governments, economies and people,” per Biden’s schedule announcing the meeting, thus: “This is White House speak for: ‘Potus to express deep disappointment in India’s ongoing ties with Moscow and will warn Modi about repercussions should he choose to accelerate energy imports from Russia.”

We’ll get the chance to assess the mood in the room when Biden and Modi appear briefly for reporters as they make the call, which is scheduled for 11am.

Good morning, happy Monday, and thanks for joining the blog for what promises to be another intriguing week in US politics.

Joe Biden will host a video call with the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi this morning, ostensibly billed as a meeting to “deepen ties between our governments, economy and people,” which the Wall Street Journal’s national security reporter Vivian Salma it is as White House speak for: “Potus to express deep disappointment in India’s ongoing ties with Moscow and will warn Modi about repercussions should he choose to accelerate energy imports from Russia.”

The Russian war continues to escalate in eastern Ukraine in particular, and you can follow developments in our live 24-hour blog here.

Here’s what else we’re watching in the US today:

• Biden will announce measures to restrict “ghost guns” – made from kits and without serial numbers – in an address at the White House at 2.15pm. The president will also introduce Steve Dettelbacha former justice department prosecutor, as his nominee for director of the bureau of alcohol, tobacco, firearms and explosives (ATF).
• A federal judge in Georgia could rule as early as today on a motion that could allow the progression of a lawsuit to disqualify the far-right Republican Marjorie TaylorGreene from Congress as an insurrectionist.
• The White House Press Secretary, Jen Psaki, will deliver her first briefing of the week at 1pm.
• The vice-president, KamalaHarris, will announce new action on relieving medical debt later this afternoon.