Joe Biden defended his plan to raise the corporate tax rate to pay for his new spending bill, saying he’s tired of “ordinary people being fleeced”

The president said he would raise the corporate tax rate from 21 per cent to 28 per cent, while also closing loopholes that allowed 55 large corporations to avoid paying income tax in 2020.

“I’m not trying to punish anybody, but dammit, maybe it’s because I come from a middle-class neighbourhood, I’m sick and tired of ordinary people being fleeced,” he said.

In remarks urging Congress into action, Joe Biden has pressed Republicans to support a sweeping infrastructure package, what he has called a “once in a generation investment in Americans”, as White House officials begin designing the contours of the $2 trillion proposal.

The president said there is “no time to lose”.

“But here’s what we won’t be open to,” he said in remarks directed at GOP lawmakers. “We will not be open to doing nothing.”

“Inaction is simply not an option,” he said.

The squad member has taken a stronger stance than AOC in denouncing the president’s immigration policies.

“It’s shameful and unacceptable for @POTUS to continue the construction of Trump’s xenophobic and racist wall,” she said in a tweet.

Georgia lawmaker Park Cannon will not be prosecuted after her ‘disturbing’ arrest for knocking on the governor’s door in a voting rights protest.

The Black state representative was arrested and dragged off the state capitol grounds while protesting the signing of a sweeping Republican-backed overhaul of state elections.

A district attorney in Atlanta has now announced that she will not pursue charges against Ms Cannon for the incident that saw her handcuffed and taken away by police.

Joe Biden says the definition of infrastructure has always changed with the country. Railroads or highways weren’t considered traditional infrastructure when they were first laid across the country.

“Above all infrastructure is about meeting the needs of the nation and putting Americans to work and being able to do and get paid for doing, having good jobs,” he said.

“Plumbers and pipe fitters, replacing literally those thousands of miles of dangerous lead pipes. They’re still out there. Everyone remembers what happened in Flint. There are hundreds of Flints all across America.”

The president is scheduled to begin comments on his plan to invest in the country’s jobs.

Long-awaited by activists keen for action from the Biden administration, the move will fulfill a campaign pledge to make regulations of firearms a priority.

It is believed that Mr Biden will order that the buyers of “ghost guns” — homemade or makeshift weapons — be subjected to background checks.

Other specifics are unclear, but there could be actions related to concealed assault-style weapons; a ban on firearm purchases by those convicted of domestic violence; and federal guidelines on the storage of firearms at home.

Mr Biden may also announce his nominee to lead the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives — potentially one of the tougher confirmation hearings in the 50:50 split Senate.

Graeme Massie has more on this story.

Jen Psaki weighed in on the potential gubernatorial run of Caitlyn Jenner in California in the ongoing saga of the Gavin Newsom recall election

The former Olympian and reality TV star is talking to political consultants as she actively explores running for governor, according to Axios.

Asked if the White House welcomes the potential LBGT milestone of a first transgender governor, Psaki said they certainly welcome the “freedom of any human” to participate in the democratic process.

“Including of course transgender members of our society,” she said.

The defence, led by attorney Eric Nelson, argues that despite Mr Floyd’s eventual death, Mr Chauvin was both reasonable and legally clear to use force on Mr Floyd—and that his knee may not have been on his neck in the first place.

“A single photograph isn’t going to capture the dynamics of what’s happening,” attorney Eric Nelson said, arguing Mr Chauvin’s knee was closer to Mr Floyd’s shoulder blades.

The trial is less about where Mr Chauvin’s knees were moment to moment, but whether they should’ve been near George Floyd’s neck in the first place, writes The Independent’s Josh Marcus.

A senior member of Joe Biden’s cabinet has dodged a question as to whether the president will demand the sale TikTok’s US operations.

On Wednesday, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo was asked at the White House if she felt TikTok should be sold, and for her “broad view” of her advice to Mr Biden on tariffs with regard to China.

“I don’t want to get into details on any particular company,” she said.

“And my broad view, is what we do on offence is more important than we do on defence to compete in the long run with China.”