Biden’s joint session
 THE BIG STORY
In Joe Biden's first address to Congress as president, he offered few surprises, even while pitching major change.
Biden stuck with the vibe that he's set during the first 100 days of his administration in his debut address to Congress. His primetime speech was predictable as the president largely reiterated the plans he's outlined for his administration during his time in office. Those plans, which if enacted would spend vast amounts of money remaking much of the US economy, are not themselves boring. They're just not suddenly coming out of nowhere, either.
The address, delivered to a limited-attendance room because of the pandemic, was not devoid of big proposals, even if many of them have become familiar: He called for lawmakers to allow Medicare to negotiate drug prices to bring down the costs of prescription drugs; said it was time to end the "forever war" in Afghanistan; and advocated for a wealth tax on Americans making more than $400,000 per year, vowing to "crack down on millionaires and billionaires that cheat on their taxes," while promising not to raise taxes on the middle class.
Biden did not mention Donald Trump by name, making good on his promise to allow the country to think about something other than the man who sucked up so much attention for the last half decade.
OTHER CHOICE QUOTES On policing: "We have all seen the knee of injustice on the neck of Black Americans. Now is our opportunity to make some real progress," Biden said while calling on Congress to pass the George Floyd police reform bill by the one year anniversary of Floyd's death next month. He later added the US has to "rebuild trust between law enforcement and the people they serve."
On transgender rights: "To all the transgender Americans watching at home — especially the young people who are so brave — I want you to know that your president has your back," he said, urging Congress to pass the landmark Equality Act that would expand federal civil rights protections to LGBTQ people. His comments come as state legislatures around the country are considering a variety of bills targeting transgender youth on issues from medical care to participation in school sports.
On gun control: Biden again called on federal lawmakers to pass a ban on assault weapons and high capacity magazines, his latest plea as the US has experienced a steady and shocking spate of gun violence in recent weeks. He also called on Congress to close the "boyfriend" loophole "to keep guns out of the hands of abusers," saying that more than 50 women are shot and killed by an intimate partner each month. "Let's pass it and save some lives," he said.
 Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi applaud as President Joe Biden addresses a joint session of Congress on April 28. Melina Mara / Getty Images SNAPSHOTS The US attorney's office in Washington, DC, has released video showing the moments Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick was hit with chemical spray on Jan. 6. A coalition of media outlets that included BuzzFeed News had petitioned a judge to order the government to release the clips.
Facebook temporarily hid posts calling for India's prime minister to resign over his handling of the coronavirus crisis. After hiding posts for about three hours, Facebook reversed its decision and allowed users to find posts critical of Narendra Modi.
AMERICAN MADE
Prosecutors are now calling the plot to kidnap Michigan's governor an act of domestic terrorism.
Last October, the Justice Department made headlines when they announced they had foiled a plot by extremists to break into the governor's home, snatch her, then put her on trial for being "a tyrant."
Five of the men originally indicted are now being accused of domestic terrorism by federal prosecutors, signaling a potential shift in how the Justice Department is handling one of its highest-profile cases involving anti-government activities. Although there are no statutory penalties for domestic terrorism at the federal level, defining the case that way could significantly increase the penalties the defendants would face if convicted on the other counts.
Defining the conspiracy as domestic terrorism also brings the case, which was first charged during the Trump administration, into line with a larger trend in the way the Justice Department under President Biden is tackling cases involving organized extremist groups. AN OPRAH INTERVIEW Elliot Page shed "tears of joy" telling Oprah about his happiest moments since his transition.
"It's, you know, getting out of the shower and the towel's around your waist, and you're looking at yourself in the mirror, and you're just like, 'There I am,'" Page said in an upcoming interview for Apple TV+'s The Oprah Conversation. "And I'm not having the moment where I'm panicked."
Following the emotional moment, Elliot assured Oprah his tears were "tears of joy" ❤️
Elsewhere in the interview, Elliot explained his decision to publicly come out as trans, saying it was "crucial and important" for both his own mental wellbeing and for the wellbeing of trans people all over the world.  Apple TV+ Don't forget to give yourself credit for whatever you've managed to get done lately.
Brandon (filling in for Elamin this week) 📝 This letter was edited and brought to you by Elamin Abdelmahmoud and BuzzFeed News. You can always reach us here.
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