I unexpectedly skipped Monday’s newsletter because I needed a day. To be honest, I need a few days and I’ll be taking them next week so stay tuned for an update in the upcoming days.

In the meantime, let’s focus on today: President Joe Biden and First Lady Jill Biden this morning will travel to Buffalo to stand with the community as it grieves after another racist shooting at the hands of a young white supremacist.

A White House official said that after President Biden offers his condolences, he’ll give a speech during which he’ll call on Congress to take action on keeping assault weapons off the street and out of the hands of criminals and people with serious mental illness. But Senate Republicans aren’t having any of that and will continue to do the gun lobby’s bidding.

Karine Jean-Pierre on Monday afternoon dedicated the first few minutes of her first briefing as the new White House Press Secretary to eulogizing the victims who died during the shooting.

“We recognize their lives today and those lost and affected by gun violence this weekend in Houston, in southern California, Milwaukee, and communities across the country,” Jean-Pierre said, referencing the other mass shootings that occurred this weekend across the country. “And we honor the bravery of those in law enforcement who responded quickly and with professionalism in Buffalo, and who risk their lives every day to protect and serve their communities.”