Tag: nominees

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Politics

White Home so as to add AAPI liaison after Democrats threaten to dam Biden’s nominees

White House to add AAPI liaison after Democrats threaten to block Biden's nominees

Senator Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill.

Tom Williams | CQ appeal | Getty Images

The White House said it would appoint a “high-level” liaison officer for Asia Pacific islanders, an official told NBC News on Wednesday.

The announcement came after two Democratic senators, Tammy Duckworth of Illinois and Hawaiian Mazie Hirono, vowed to vote against President Joe Biden’s candidates in protest at the lack of AAPI representation in his administration.

Duckworth and Hirono later went back on the threats, saying they had received new assurances from the White House.

The dispute over AAPI’s representation in the White House comes after Biden tried to rally the American people against an increase in violence and discrimination against Asian Americans last year amid the coronavirus pandemic.

“The president has made it clear that his administration will reflect the diversity of the country. That was and is our goal,” White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement.

“The White House will add a high-level liaison between Asia Pacific islanders that will ensure that the community’s voice is further represented and heard,” said Psaki.

Senator Mazie Hirono attends a Senate Judicial Committee hearing for Christine Blasey Ford to testify on allegations of sexual assault against Supreme Court candidate Brett M. Kavanaugh on Capitol Hill in Washington, United States, on September 27, 2018 .

Erin Schaff | Reuters

A day earlier, Duckworth criticized the government for not appointing “a single AAPI” official to a cabinet position.

“That’s not acceptable. I told the White House that,” said Duckworth, the first Thai American to be elected to Congress.

Duckworth said Tuesday that “until they find out,” she would “vote no on anything but the diversity contenders”.

Hirono joined Duckworth’s protest Tuesday evening, telling reporters they are demanding “a pledge from the White House that there will be greater representation of diversity in the cabinet and senior positions of the White House.”

Until then, Hirono said she would join Duckworth in “voting no to non-diversity nominees”.

But Hirono reversed course that night after posting initial reports on the new AAPI liaison role.

“I had a productive conversation with the White House today to clarify my perspective on the importance of diversity in the president’s cabinet,” Hirono tweeted.

“Based on the private conversation we have had, I will continue to vote to endorse the historic and highly qualified candidates that President Biden has appointed to his administration.”

Duckworth backed off her threat too.

The senator “appreciates the assurances made by the Biden administration that it will do much more to improve the voices and prospects of the AAPI at the highest levels of government,” spokesman Ben Garmisa said in a statement.

“Accordingly, it will not stand in the way of President Biden’s qualified candidates – including more AAPI leaders,” the statement said.

Program Notice: CNBC’s “Race & Opportunity in America: The Asian-American Experience” will air on Wednesday, March 31st at 8:00 pm CET.

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Business

The entire checklist of Academy Awards nominees

The complete list of Academy Awards nominees

History was made in the nominations for the 93rd Annual Academy Awards on Monday.

The 2021 Oscars marks the first time an all-black production team has been nominated for Best Picture. Producers Shaka King, Ryan Coogler and Charles D. King were honored for their work on “Judas and the Black Messiah”.

Monday’s announcement also marks the first time two actors of Asian origin have been nominated in the Best Actor category. Steven Yeun received a nod for his work on “Minari” and Riz Ahmed received a nod for “Sound of Metal”. Ahmed is also the first Muslim candidate in this category.

2021 is also the first year in which two women were nominated in the directing category. Chloe Zhao is nominated for her work on “Nomadland” and Emerald Fennell is nominated for “Promising Young Woman”.

Viola Davis, nominated for Best Actress for “Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom,” is the most nominated black actress of all time with four nominations and the only black woman with two nominations for best actress.

The competition for the best picture includes “The Father”, “Judas and the Black Messiah”, “Mank”, “Minari”, “Nomadland”, “Promising Young Woman”, “Sound of Metal” and “The Trial of the Chicago” 7 “. “”

Hollywood power couple Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas announced all the nominees in a two-part livestream that was streamed through the Academy of Motion Picture Sciences’ social media accounts and the organization’s website.

The funding period for this year’s nominations was unique. The ongoing pandemic has closed cinemas around the world for much of the past year, forcing the academy to make some changes to its rules.

For this year only, the organization has allowed films that would have gone to theaters to remain eligible if they debuted on streaming services.

Here are the nominees:

best picture
“The father”
“Judas and the Black Messiah”
“Defect”
“Ma Rainey’s black bum”
“Threatening”
“Nomadland”
“Promising young woman”
“Sound of Metal”
“The Trial of Chicago 7”

Best Actress
Viola Davis, “Ma Rainey’s Black Butt”
Andra Day, “The United States vs. Billie Holiday”
Vanessa Kirby, “Pieces of a Woman”
Frances McDormand, “Nomadland”
Carey Mulligan, “Promising Young Woman”

Best actor
Riz Ahmed, “Sound of Metal”
Chadwick Boseman, “Ma Rainey’s Black Butt”
Anthony Hopkins, “The Father”
Gary Oldman, “Mank”
Steven Yeun, “Minari”

Best animated feature
“Continue”
“Over the moon”
“A Shaun the Sheep Movie: Farmageddon”
“Soul”
“Wolfwalker”

Best director
Lee Isaac Chung, “Minari”
Emerald Fennell, “Promising Young Woman”
David Fincher, “Mank”
Chloe Zhao, “Nomad Land”
Thomas Vinterberg, “Another Round”

Best camera
“Judas and the Black Messiah”
“Defect”
“News from all over the world”
“Nomadland”
“The Trial of Chicago 7”

Best production design
“The father”
“Ma Rainey’s black bum”
“Defect”
“News from all over the world”
“Principle”

Best sound
“Greyhound”
“Defect”
“News from all over the world”
“Soul”
“Sound of Metal”

Best visual effects
“Love and monsters”
“The midnight sky”
“Mulan”
“The only Ivan”
“Principle”

Best film editing
“The father”
“Nomadland”
“Promising young woman”
“Sound of Metal”
“The Trial of Chicago 7”

Best international feature
“Another round”
“Better Days”
“Collective”
“The man who sold his skin”
“Quo Vadis, Aida?”

Best Documentary Short Topic
“Colette”
“A concert is a conversation”
“Do not share”
“Hunger Ward”
“A love song for Latasha”

Best documentary feature
“Collective”
“Crip Camp”
“The Mole Agent”
“My octopus teacher”
“Time”

Best original script
“Judas and the Black Messiah”
“Threatening”
“Promising young woman”
“Sound of Metal”
“The Trial of Chicago 7”

Best supporting actor
Sacha Baron Cohen, “The Trial of the Chicago 7”
Daniel Kaluuya, “Judas and the Black Messiah”
Leslie Odom Jr., “One Night in Miami”
Paul Raci, “Sound of Metal”
LaKeith Stanfield, “Judas and the Black Messiah”

Best animated short film
“Construction”
“Genius Loci”
“When something happens I love you”
“Opera”
“Yes people”

Best Live Action Short Film
“Feel through”
“The letter room”
“The gift”
“Two Distant Strangers”
“White eye”

Best costume design
“Emma”
“Ma Rainey’s black bum”
“Defect”
“Mulan”
“Pinocchio”

Best hair and makeup
“Emma”
“Hillbilly Elegy”
“Ma Rainey’s black bum”
“Defect”
“Pinocchio”

Best original score
“Da 5 Bloods”
“Defect”
“Threatening”
“News from all over the world”
“Soul”

Best original song
“Husavik (my hometown)”, “Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga”
“Fight for you”, “Judas and the black messiah”
“Io Se (seen)”, “Life Ahead”
“Speak Now”, “One Night in Miami”
“Hear my voice”, “The Chicago 7 Trial”

Best adapted script
“Borat Subsequent Movie”
“The father”
“Nomadland”
“One night in Miami”
“The White tiger”

Actress in a supporting role:
Maria Bakalova, “Borat Subsequent Film”
Glenn Close, “Hillbilly Elegy”
Olivia Colman, “The Father”
Amanda Seyfried, “Mank”
Yuh-Jung Youn, “Minari”

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Politics

Biden Cupboard nominees pledge to make use of federal powers to handle crises

Biden Cabinet nominees pledge to use federal powers to address crises

US President-elect Joe Biden speaks to reporters as he announces candidates and candidates during a press conference at his interim headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware on December 11, 2020.

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WASHINGTON – President-elect Joe Biden introduced several of his candidates to head domestic affairs agencies on Friday, highlighting how members of his cabinet would use the powers of the federal government to help Americans in need.

Accompanied by Vice President-elect Kamala Harris at the event at a Wilmington, Delaware hotel, Biden began making brief remarks on the coronavirus pandemic before introducing his candidate to lead the Department of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack.

He also introduced his nominee for Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Rep. Marcia Fudge, D-Ohio; his candidate for Secretary of Veterans Affairs, Denis McDonough; and for US sales representative Katherine Tai.

Biden also announced that Susan Rice, a former national security adviser to President Barack Obama, has agreed to serve as director of the White House Home Affairs Council, a powerful position in the west wing that will give Rice broad influence on a number of issues .

Taken together, Biden said his candidates bring “deep experience and bold new thinking” to federal agencies and the White House. “Most of all, they know how the government can and should work for all Americans.”

Biden stressed how any member of his cabinet would help Americans face multiple overlapping crises: the coronavirus pandemic, a deep recession, and an impending spike in evictions and food insecurity.

For example, Fudge will “use every lever at her disposal to help the millions of Americans facing eviction – trying to pay their mortgage and find their way through this crisis,” Biden said.

U.S. Representative Marcia Fudge speaks on December 11, 2020 after being named Secretary of Housing and Urban Development by U.S. President-elect Joe Biden (R) in Wilmington, Delaware.

Jim Watson | AFP | Getty Images

And Vilsack “knows the full range of resources available in the [Department of Agriculture] Get immediate assistance to those most in need and address crises in rural America. “

The nominees also made brief comments, emphasizing how various federal agencies would help a nationwide recovery from the coronavirus pandemic.

Rice spoke last and tied everything together.

US President-elect Joe Biden (R) watches as former National Security Advisor to Obama Susan Rice makes remarks after being unveiled as Biden’s decision to present his home affairs council on December 11, 2020 at the Queen Theater in Wilmington, Delaware, to direct.

Chip Somodevilla | Getty Images

“Today we face a profound series of crises: a relentless pandemic, a troubled economy, urgent demands for racial justice and justice, a climate that needs healing, a democracy that needs to be repaired, and a world that needs renewed Americans for leadership “, she said.

“Our top priorities will be to help end the pandemic and revitalize an economy that cares for all, brings dignity and humanity to our broken immigration system, promotes racial justice, justice and civil rights for all, and ensures that healthcare is affordable and to be accessible and educate and train Americans to compete and thrive in the 21st century, “Rice continued.

“I firmly believe that we can all move up or down together – absolutely all of us.”

Just 40 days before his inauguration, Biden is putting together a cabinet that is unprecedented in its racial and gender diversity. Tai, Fudge, and Rice are all women of color.

Earlier this week, Biden announced that retired General Lloyd Austin was his decision to run the Pentagon, making Austin the first black man to ever be appointed Secretary of Defense.

However, Biden has come under heavy pressure from civil rights groups to add even more diversity to his cabinet, particularly nominating an Asian American for a top position in the cabinet.

On Friday, several groups representing Asian Americans and Pacific islanders released a joint statement criticizing “the remarkable absence of Asian American cabinet secretaries” in the Biden administration.

“President-elect Biden is well on the way to being the first president in over 20 years to fail to nominate an Asian American for the role of cabinet secretary in his administration,” said the statement made by the National Council Asia Pacific has submitted to CNBC Americans.

But Asian Americans aren’t the only group currently pressuring Biden to be more prominent in his White House: on Tuesday, he and Harris met with leaders of older civil rights groups, including the NAACP and the National Urban League.

They called on Biden to create a new position in the White House, a racial justice advisor who should be tasked with coordinating government-wide efforts to combat systemic racism.

Biden has so far refused to comment on the specific recommendations and inquiries he receives from lawyers. But he told CNN last week, “Every advocacy group out there is pushing for more and more of what they want. That is their job.”

However, in the same interview, Biden also defended his cabinet selection, noting that they were already “the most diverse cabinet ever announced in American history”.