Coming after some activists questioned how seriously the White House was taking the issue, an impassioned speech in Philadelphia marked a clear escalation of the president’s defense of voting rights. Biden did not mention the filibuster, the Senate rule under which 60 votes are required to proceed on legislation. Republicans used the rule last month to block sweeping voting rights reform. EmbedIn Philadelphia, he made it clear he was not giving up on federal voting rights legislation. Civil rights groups gave Biden’s speech a lukewarm reception, saying it was encouraging to see him denounce attacks on voting rights but that he needed to do more.

Source: The Guardian July 13, 2021 21:00 UTC