Barack Obama supports ending the Senate’s filibuster rule if that’s what it takes to pass voting rights legislation, the former US president indicated during his eulogy for the late Congressman John Lewis on Thursday.

At his speech in Atlanta on Thursday, Mr Obama, the first black president in US history, advocated for several reforms to make it easier for Americans to vote

Griffin Connolly reports: 
 

Former President Barack Obama has made it clear what he thinks about the current state of the United States during his eulogy for Congressman John Lewis. 

“Bull Conner may be gone, but today, we witness with our own eyes police officers kneeling on the necks of black Americans. George Wallace may be gone, but we can witness our federal government sending agents to use tear gas and batons against peaceful demonstrators,” Mr Obama said. 

He then mentioned the issues with voting in the United States, including the current controversy of allowing mail-in ballots for citizens so they don’t have to line up to vote amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

“We may no longer have to guess the number of jelly beans in a jar in order to cast a ballot, but even as we sit here, there are those in power that are doing their darndest to discourage people from voting,” he added. “Closing polling places, attacking our voting rights with surgical precision, even undermining the postal service in an election that’s going to depend on mail-in ballots.” 

Donald Trump had a variety of topics on his mind this morning when he was tweeting. 

One tweet involved him blaming the news media for its coverage on other countries and how they are handling the coronavirus pandemic. The US hit a grim milestone yesterday of 150,000 deaths, making it far above any other country in its death toll from the novel virus.

Mr Trump also tweeted against Big Pharma and promoted a Long Island pizza company to his more than 84 million followers. 

Former President Jimmy Carter did not attend John Lewis’ funeral in Atlanta on Thursday, potentially because of his age, he’s 95 years old, and the coronavirus. 

But he did pen a letter to honour Congressman John Lewis, which was read by Reverend Dr Raphael Warnock, senior pastor of Ebenezer Baptist Church. 

“Throughout his remarkable life, John has been a blessing to countless people and we are proud to be among those whose lives he has touched,” the president wrote. 

He added: “While his achievements are enjoyed by all Americans, we Georgians know him as our neighbour, friend and representative.”

Mr Carter’s letter means that all living former president’s have contributed in some way to honour Mr Lewis’ life during the Atlanta funeral. President Bill Clinton and President George W Bush have already delivered touching remarks during the service. President Barack Obama is expected to deliver the eulogy later. 

A federal appeals court will review a judge’s attempt to examine the Justice Department’s decision to drop its criminal case against Donald Trump’s first national security adviser, Michael Flynn.

The long-unusual saga got even more unusual on Thursday when the full US Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit agreed to examine US District Judge Emmet Sullivan’s appointment of a retired federal judge to look at how DOJ handled its case.

Oral arguments are slated for 11 August.

John T Bennett has more on this breaking news: 
 

Mike Pence met with doctors from viral video containing false coronavirus claims

US vice president Mike Pence met this week with doctors featured in a viral video containing misinformation about the coronavirus, it has emerged.

The meeting took place just as the doctors’ video, which was shared by both the president and his son, was removed by social media platforms on the grounds that it contained misleading information.

The group, calling itself “America’s Frontline Doctors”, posted the video on Monday. In it, they appear wearing white medical coats on the steps of the Supreme Court, taking turns to speak into a microphone at which they falsely claim that masks do not help control Covid-19 and that the anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine can cure the disease.

Andrew Naughtie reports: 

Donald Trump has targeted Oregon Governor Kate Brown in a tweet on Thursday. 

He blamed her leadership for why Portland has had nightly protests since the death of George Floyd. This tweet comes after Ms Brown reached an agreement with the federal government to remove all federal agents from the city. 

But Mr Trump has claimed that the agents would not leave until safety was restored in the city.

The president’s tweet contrasts what Ms Brown has said would happen with federal agents. 

President Bill Clinton followed his predecessor President George W Bush in a moving speech about the civil rights icon. 

“He got into a lot of good trouble along the way but let’s not forget he also developed an absolutely uncanny ability to heal troubled waters,” Mr Clinton said. “He thought that the open hand was better than the clenched fist.” 

“He was after all a human being. A man like all other humans, born with strengths that he made the most of when many don’t. Born with weaknesses that he worked hard to beat down when many can’t,” he said. 

The former president then ended his speech by acknowledging how much he loved his friend. 

“I just love him. I always will. And I’m so grateful that he stayed true to form. He’s gone up yonder and left us with marching orders. I’d suggest … we salute, suit up, and march on.”

President George W Bush’s glowing words for Congressman Lewis included him praising the civil rights icon for what he did for the country. 

“We live in a better and nobler country today because of John Lewis and his abiding faith in the power of God, in the power of democracy and in the power of love to lift us all to a higher ground. The story that began in Troy isn’t ending here today, nor is the work,” Mr Bush said.  

The former president was one of three invited to Congressman John Lewis’s Atlanta funeral service on Thursday. 

At the start of the speech, George W Bush mentioned how Mr Lewis grew up feeding chickens in his backyard. HIs family would then sometimes cook one of the chickens for food, and Mr Lewis would refuse to eat it. 

“Going hungry was his first act of non-violent protest,” Mr Bush joked.

He added: “John and I had our disagreements…but in the America John Lewis fought for and the America I believe in, differences of opinion are inevitable elements and evidence of democracy in action.”

Michelle and Barack Obama appeared to take aim at Donald Trump in a new podcast launched by the former first lady this week.

The couple were discussing America’s current political discontent amid protests and the coronavirus crisis when they appeared to deride the White House incumbent’s apparent inability to “read and know history”.

Ms Obama, who launched her podcast on Wednesday with an interview with her husband Barack, introduced the former US president as someone “who reads and knows history”. 

Former presidents Bill Clinton and George W Bush have arrived at Ebenezer Baptist Church to pay tribute to civil rights icon John Lewis as Barack Obama plans to deliver a eulogy.

After the coffin was carried into the Atlanta church on Thursday morning, the service began with a moment of silence as more than 500 churches across the country rang bells 80 times to honour the late congressman, who died at the age of 80.

Republican and Democrat lawmakers have reacted online and on Capitol Hill to the president’s tweet calling for a delayed election. 

Unsurprisingly, the Democrats reacted negatively to the tweet and reminded the public that Congress has control over federal election dates, not the president. 

Some Republicans, including Senator Lindsey Graham, even joined in on the conversation and expressed they did not support delaying the election. 

But Republicans like Majority Leader Mitch McConnell declined to speak on the subject when approached by reporters on Capitol Hill. 

In another sign of an electoral map that has shifted rapidly in recent months, the Biden campaign is about to launch an ad campaign in Ohio.

The Buckeye State, which Donald Trump won by 8 points in 2016, had been considered until the last few months as solidly in Republican hands by political strategists of both parties.

Herman Cain, a business executive and former Republican presidential candidate, has died after contracting the novel coronavirus. He was 74-years-old.

Chris Riotta has more on this breaking story: 
 

FEC Commissioner Ellen Weintraub has released a statement to Reuters stating the president does not have power to change the election, “nor should it be moved”,