After Tyre Nichols funeral, Biden faces pressure on policing

When Vice President Kamala Harris was called to the pulpit at the funeral for Tyre Nichols, she said the White House would settle for nothing less than ambitious federal legislation to crack down on police brutality. “We should not delay. And we will not be denied,” Harris said to applause in Memphis, Tennessee. ”It is non-negotiable.” Back in Washington, however, progress appears difficult, if not unlikely. Bipartisan efforts to reach an agreement on policing legislation stalled more than a year ago, and President Joe Biden ended up instead signing an executive order named for George Floyd, whose murder at the hands of Minneapolis police set off nationwide protests nearly three years ago. Now, with a new killing in the headlines, Biden and Harris will meet with members of the Congressional Black Caucus on Thursday to explore whether it’s possible to get legislation back on track. “I am working to make sure that we have a clear plan,” said Rep. Steven Horsford, D-Nev., who chairs the caucus. The White House is facing fresh pressure to advance the issue, and even some political allies are frustrated with what they view as excess caution from Biden. “I think the president is missing the opportunity to be a historic president when it comes to the social issues that continue to plague our country,” said Rep. Jamaal Bowman, D-N.Y. “That’s what we need.”