Good morning! Here is your news briefing for Monday May 24, 2021
1.) THE DAILY SIGNAL
May 24 2021
Good morning from Washington, where President Biden touts his American Families Plan as a cure-all for societal ills. But his proposal essentially would put the government in charge of families while neglecting critical issues, seven Heritage Foundation policy experts argue. Critical race theory casts blacks as helpless victims, Deroy Murdock writes. Plus: a school that put COVID-19 behind it months ago; drug cartels thrive under Biden’s border policy; and your letters on some hot issues. Eighty years ago today in the North Atlantic, Germany’s largest battleship, the Bismarck, sinks HMS Hood, Britain’s largest battle cruiser, killing 1,500.
Through a laundry list of proposals, the Biden administration’s so-called American Families Plan would significantly grow federal bureaucrats’ control of some of the most personal aspects of family life.
Black Lives Matter and the “diversity” police elentlessly claim that white privilege and white supremacy blockade black success. Blacks think, “Yes, we can.” The left replies: “No, you can’t.”
“President Trump absolutely has a way of throwing a wrench into a news cycle if he so chooses,” says Tim Murtaugh, Trump’s former campaign communications director and now a Daily Signal contributor.
When public schools announced last summer their plans to remain closed, Ambleside teachers and staff decided it was best for the students to learn in person, and pitched in to make opening possible.
“We are business owners in an area of Pennsylvania where ‘help wanted’ signs pepper the landscape. … We need to immediately end the federal government’s ‘enhanced’ unemployment bonus,” writes Barbara Orsag.
You are subscribed to this newsletter as rickbulow1974@gmail.com. If you want to receive other Heritage Foundation newsletters, or opt out of this newsletter, please click here to update your subscription.
With all that has been going on in America right now, you must agree that there has never been a more important time to have access to honest, fact-based news reported in Truth and Tradition.
For a limited time, get your first 2 MONTHS for just $1, and get Epoch TV FREE with a digital subscription.
Get 2 Months for $1
A picture is worth a thousand words. A video is priceless. Don’t just read the news. See it. Hear it. Experience it.
WORDS OF WISDOM
“Much of the best work of the world has been done against seeming impossibilities.”
The Epoch Times, 229 W 28th St, Fl.5, New York, NY 10001
With social media censorship sidelining many important headlines, our Morning Brief email is how we make sure you get the latest developments that our reporters have curated from around the world. It’s our way of keeping you truly informed so that you can make the decisions that align with your values. We hope you enjoy our coverage. Manage your email preferences here.
3.) DAYBREAK
Your First Look at Today’s Top Stories – Daybreak Insider
Having trouble viewing this email? View the web version.
WSJ: Report Reveals COVID May Have Come from Lab After All
The story begins: Three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick enough in November 2019 that they sought hospital care, according to a previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report that could add weight to growing calls for a fuller probe of whether the Covid-19 virus may have escaped from the laboratory (WSJ). From Jennifer Van Laar: It’s time to stop pussy-footing around all of the questions surrounding the origin of COVID-19 and deferring to the Oracle of Public Health, Dr. Anthony Fauci, and start demanding real, scientifically proven, independently verifiable answers about the origins of the pandemic that’s killed 3,000,000 people, wrecked the mental health and financial stability of millions, and changed the trajectory of all of our lives. It seems that we might finally be on the path to getting those answers, and in large part, we have Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) to thank (RedState). Fauci is now among those saying he’s “not convinced” the pandemic occurred naturally (National Review). Confidence in Dr. Fauci has plummeted (Breitbart). Remember when CNN (like so many others) mocked Trump for making this claim? (Twitter).
2.
Shoplifting in San Francisco Sending Stores Packing
After all, it is as close to legal as you can get. The article claims “Why San Francisco? If the problem stems in part from a change in California law, why aren’t other cities in the state seeing similar spikes in shoplifting?” They neglect to tell us what other cities have basically legalized shoplifting (NY Times). We knew this was coming (WSJ). From Byron York: Enforcing the law is out of fashion in some deep-blue cities (Twitter). From Rich Lowry: How to ruin a once-great city—a continuing story with evidently no bottom (Twitter).
Advertisement
3.
Top Female Runner in Connecticut Expresses Frustration of Losing to Males
From the op-ed by Chelsea Mitchell: …time after time, I have lost. I’ve lost four women’s state championship titles, two all-New England awards, and numerous other spots on the podium to male runners. I was bumped to third place in the 55-meter dash in 2019, behind two male runners. With every loss, it gets harder and harder to try again.
60 Minutes Covers the Many Trans Who Seek to Reverse Course
Helping expose the dangerous trend to rush individuals through the process, much of which can never be reversed (Daily Wire). From Abigail Shrier: IMPORTANT @60Minutes – acknowledging the role of peer influence & social media in encouraging trans identification in teens, the rising population of detransitioners, & a medical system that “affirms” self-diagnoses of gender dysphoria in place of adequate oversight (Twitter).
American Psychological Association Punishes Professor for Saying There are Only Two Sexes
From the story: John Staddon was removed from the Society for Behavioral Neuroscience and Comparative Psychology Division 6 listserv, which is overseen by the APA, after posing a series of questions to the group that apparently “upset others”…Staddon told the outlet that the post he believes resulted in his removal from the group was one in which he asked: “Hmm… Binary view of sex false? What is the evidence? Is there a Z chromosome?”
This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It is only sent to people who signed up from one of the Salem Media Group network of websites OR a friend might have forwarded it to you. We respect and value your time and privacy.
Unsubscribe from The Daybreak Insider
OR Send postal mail to:
The Daybreak Insider Unsubscribe
6400 N. Belt Line Rd., Suite 200, Irving, TX 75063
Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 5.24.21
Coffee is for closers. So is Sunburn, your morning rundown of Florida politics.
Happy Monday.
The weekend brought some good news on the pandemic front. It now seems likely that we’ll be able to spend Independence Day with friends and family — safely. New coronavirus cases are now at their lowest levels since June 2020. Whether you had a good weekend or a bad one, enjoy a share of the victory — assuming you’ve been vaccinated and done your part.
The Haitian community also has a good reason to celebrate. After many tough weekends in a row, the Joe Biden administration announced it is extending temporary protected status to the 54,000 Haitian immigrants who are living in the country, and potentially thousands more, sparing them from having to head back to their home country amid continuing civil unrest and human rights abuses. “Relieving weekend” may be a more apt description, but it was a good one nonetheless.
Now for something a little less somber: festivals are back!
This weekend saw more than 3,000 Floridians and tourists head to South Beach for the city’s annual Wine & Food Festival, and Tampa Pride 2021 drew a crowd 10 times as large — sure, it wasn’t the 70,000 that turned out in 2019, but it was infinitely more than the canceled 2020 edition. If you were one of the many to make the trip, chances are you had an amazing weekend — and a long-overdue one at that.
Festivals are back, starting with Tampa Pride 2021 — the first in the nation. Image via the City of Tampa.
However, the mood is a bit iffy in North Florida as the days of dialing seven digits are over. Starting Saturday, those living in the 850 area code had to start dialing all 10 digits to reach anyone. It’s been more than two decades since Northwest Florida split from Jacksonville and was assigned the 850 code, which covers Tallahassee and everything west of it. According to the North American Numbering Plan Administrator — the organization that plans out area codes — 850 will run out of numbers in about six months. But they aren’t waiting for it to be fully exhausted to make the switch. The new area code, by the way, is 448. Doesn’t have quite the same ring to it, does it?
Down in Parkland, Marjory Stoneman Douglas landed the Florida state baseball championship. The Eagles defeated Spruce Creek High to win the Class 7A state title. The 2020-21 team went 28-2 on the season to capture the school’s second-ever title. Some of the players on the roster were present during the 2018 shooting at the school — the freshmen that year are seniors today. It doesn’t erase what happened, but at least there will be a happy memory from their high school days to look back on years down the line.
Speaking of baseball titles … actually, let’s not jinx it … the Tampa Bay Rays are on a hot streak. The club beat the Blue Jays 3-1 on Saturday to notch their third nine-game win streak in franchise history. The Rays now sit at 28-19, putting them one game behind the Red Sox for the No. 1 spot in the American League. Across the bay, the Tampa Bay Lightning bounced back from a tough loss Thursday night and managed a dominant win over the Florida Panthers. They’re now just one game away from advancing to the second round of the NHL playoffs. Once again, don’t start the Champa Bay chants yet, but definitely keep your fingers crossed and wear your lucky socks.
Whether you spent the weekend sipping wine in South Florida, jumping up and down in the bleachers in Tampa Bay, or staring at your phone in bewilderment in North Florida, hopefully, you enjoyed this weekend because there may be a cruddy one on the way.
The first tropical storm of the year, Ana, formed about 200 miles off the coast of Bermuda, marking another year where the storms aren’t waiting for the official start of hurricane season on June 1. Luckily, Ana isn’t going to swing through Florida, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says we may make it all the way to “S” names this year. The annual disaster preparedness sales tax holiday starts Friday, which is as good an opportunity as any to build your kit and make your storm plans. Don’t forget.
Situational awareness
—@Fineout: What has to sting a bit here: (Chris) Sununu‘s shot at (Ron) DeSantis echoes that of @nikkifried— who also criticized the Governor for signing (in the middle of the night) the bill that required online retailers to start collecting Fla’s sales tax
—@AGGancarkski: Latest drop of @GovRonDeSantisschedule yet: 11:36 p.m. on a Saturday night. What intern got stuck with sending that one out?
Tweet, tweet:
—@FarmerforFLSen: With the real press I am a winner for fighting for what is just and right.
—@tomaskenn: Years in the making, but we finally got rid of the weighted vote, the archaic & undemocratic system that concentrated decision-making power in the hands of a few at @FlaDems. The new system is not perfect, but it allows for much more grassroots participation. We are now stronger.
Tweet, tweet:
Tweet, tweet:
Days until
‘A Quiet Place Part II’ rescheduled premiere — 4; Disaster Preparedness Sales Tax Holiday begins — 4; Memorial Day — 7; Florida TaxWatch Spring Meeting and PLA Awards — 10; ‘Loki’ premieres on Disney+ — 18; Father’s Day — 27; F9 premieres in the U.S. — 32; ‘Tax Freedom Holiday’ begins — 38; ‘Top Gun: Maverick’ rescheduled premiere — 39; 4th of July — 41; ‘Black Widow’ rescheduled premiere — 46; MLB All-Star Game — 50; new start date for 2021 Olympics — 60; second season of ‘Ted Lasso’ premieres on Apple+ — 60; the NBA Draft — 66; ‘Jungle Cruise’ premieres — 68; ‘The Suicide Squad’ premieres — 74; St. Petersburg Primary Election — 92; Disney’s ‘Shang Chi and The Legend of The Ten Rings’ premieres — 102; NFL regular season begins — 108; Broadway’s full-capacity reopening — 113; ‘The Many Saints of Newark’ premieres (rescheduled) — 123; ‘Dune’ premieres — 130; MLB regular season ends — 132; ‘No Time to Die’ premieres (rescheduled) — 138; World Series Game 1 — 155; Florida’s 20th Congressional District primary — 162; St. Petersburg Municipal Elections — 162; Disney’s ‘Eternals’ premieres — 165; San Diego Comic-Con begins — 186; Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ premieres — 200; ‘Spider-Man Far From Home’ sequel premieres — 207; NFL season ends — 230; Florida’s 20th Congressional District election — 232; NFL playoffs begin — 236; Super Bowl LVI — 265; ‘Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ premieres — 305; ‘Thor: Love and Thunder’ premieres — 347; “Black Panther 2” premieres — 410; ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ sequel premieres — 501; “Captain Marvel 2” premieres — 536.
Top story
“How Joe Biden’s cash paid for Florida GOP’s pet education projects” via Andrew Atterbury of POLITICO — Florida Republicans reject Biden’s policies but sure like to spend his money. The GOP-led Legislature was facing an education budget crisis at the start of the 2021 Legislative Session, with lawmakers seriously considering slashing K-12 budgets and increasing tuition at Florida’s public universities. In all, Florida had a nearly $3 billion budget shortfall. But the Biden administration’s $1.9 trillion federal stimulus package changed Florida’s dire budget situation and helped the state’s biggest-name Republicans achieve their personal policy goals. Although GOP lawmakers claimed the federal relief wasn’t needed, legislators allocated at least $7.4 billion from Biden’s rescue plan to K-12 schools next year and beyond.
Florida Republicans were quick to decry Joe Biden, and just as quick to spend his stimulus money. Image via AP.
Dateline Tally
Happening today — Florida TaxWatch announces its annual report on “turkeys” — wasteful spending — in the 2021-2022 state budget, 11 a.m., Florida TaxWatch, 106 North Bronough St., Tallahassee. Zoom link here.
“Florida consumers get back-to-school, hurricane and ‘freedom’ sales-tax holidays” via Gray Rohrer of the Orlando Sentinel — Florida consumers will save on hurricane and school supplies as well as concert tickets and outdoor gear under a $200 million bill signed by DeSantis. HB 7061 includes sales tax holidays on back-to-school and hurricane preparedness items that Floridians are used to, but it also has a sales tax holiday for outdoor recreation goods and tickets to sports and cultural events. DeSantis and lawmakers who pushed the new measure through the Legislature last month call it “Freedom Week,” which will last from July 1-7.
Tweet, tweet:
“Florida Senate staff receiving $1,000 bonuses for pandemic service” via Haley Brown of Florida Politics — Many front-line workers will be getting $1,000 bonuses from the state this year thanking them for their dutiful service during the COVID-19 pandemic. First responders like firefighters, police and paramedics are getting checks and teachers too. Thanks to Senate President Wilton Simpson, all 117 Senate district staff will also be receiving $1,000 bonuses for their service, which continued through the summer last year. In letters sent to district staff, Simpson thanked them for their hard work and dedication.
“’Harassment on Twitter is inevitable’: Ron DeSantis’ press secretary unlocks account” via Jason Delgado of Florida Politics — Christina Pushaw, DeSantis‘ newly minted press secretary, unlocked her Twitter account on Saturday after privatizing the account following a series of online threats. “Unlocked my account because I concluded that, unfortunately, harassment on Twitter is inevitable for a conservative in public life,” Pushaw tweeted. “I’ll still block & report — but only actual threats. This isn’t my official work account, but I will use it to debunk misinformation & spread truth.” Pushaw, a conservative journalist turned press secretary, locked her Twitter account on Thursday after “waves” of “disgusting” and “deranged” harassments and threats, she explained on Twitter.
Happening today — Attorney General Ashley Moody discusses hurricane preparedness at a news conference, 10:15 a.m., Attorney General Tampa office, 3507 East Frontage Road, Tampa.
🏼🏼 — Special Session winners and losers: In only three days, the 2021 Special Session was a big bet, with both winners … and losers. The Special Session gaveled in midday Monday, and a little over 48 hours later, both chambers had signed off on a new 30-year Gaming Compact with the Seminole Tribe of Florida. There are some obvious winners … and some obscure losers. It’s an extensive list, so be sure not to miss it.
It’s the definitive list of who’s up (and down) after the three-day Special Session.
“Brian Ballard: Long-term gaming stability may be in partnerships between Seminole Tribe, pari-mutuels” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — Ballard, whose Ballard Partners lobbying firm represents several interests in the gambling package the Legislature approved in last week’s Special Session — including three pari-mutuel companies in Florida — pointed out that for the first time the Seminole Tribe of Florida and its Florida gambling competition, the pari-mutuels, can become partners. Those partnerships — should they actually materialize — could arise from the new sports betting deal. Under the Compact, the Tribe will control sports betting in Florida. But the Tribe could license sports betting operations to the pari-mutuels, allowing them to open their own sports betting lounges. The two would split the net winnings. So now, one side’s winnings could help the other side prosper.
“Bestbet can add sports betting in Jacksonville and Orange Park, but slots remain off table” via David Bauerlein of the Florida Times-Union — The state Legislature has just approved a gambling bill with huge financial stakes for the future of gambling in Florida. The legislation opens the door for Bestbet to get into the sports betting business, but when it comes to slots, that’s no closer to happening in Jacksonville. Bestbet would be able to add a new line of gambling by offering customers the ability to place wagers on sports. However, that expansion is not a sure thing because opponents of the gambling legislation have vowed to sue the state over the sports betting provision.
“Is a Donald Trump South Florida casino in the works? Gambling deal makes it easier — and raises eyebrows” via Skyler Swisher of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — Florida legislators didn’t deliver a casino to Trump during their Special Session on gambling, but they cleared at least one hurdle from his path if he has those ambitions. In a deal approved this week, the Seminole Tribe of Florida agreed not to object to new gambling operations farther than 15 miles away from its Hollywood casinos. Trump Doral falls just outside that 15-mile zone, as does the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami Beach, which has also been mentioned as a possible casino site. Rep. Mike Grieco doesn’t think it’s a coincidence DeSantis and the Seminole Tribe’s agreement landed on a 15-mile buffer for the Seminole Tribe’s casinos instead of a larger one.
“Matt Gaetz’s ex-girlfriend to cooperate with federal authorities in sex trafficking investigation” via Paula Reid, David Shortell and Gloria Borger of CNN — Federal authorities investigating alleged sex trafficking by GOP Rep. Gaetz have secured the cooperation of the Congressman’s ex-girlfriend, according to people familiar with the matter. The woman, a former Capitol Hill staffer, is seen as a critical witness, as she has been linked to Gaetz as far back as the summer of 2017, a period of time that has emerged as a key window of scrutiny for investigators. She can also help investigators understand the relevance of hundreds of transactions they have obtained records of, including those involving alleged payments for sex, the sources said.
“Joel Greenberg kept committing crimes well after he learned feds were investigating him” via Martin E. Comas of the Orlando Sentinel — On an April morning in 2019, federal agents walked into the Tax Collector’s Office in Lake Mary and handed an employee a grand jury subpoena that revealed for the first time that the U.S. Department of Justice was investigating whether Greenberg had used public money to benefit himself. That initial request for records related to Greenberg’s spending and investments was revealed in a plea agreement Greenberg struck with prosecutors. The deal showed that federal investigators had been interested in Greenberg far earlier than had previously been confirmed. But perhaps more stunning is that it also showed Greenberg continued breaking the law for months after he first knew there was a federal investigation targeting him.
Joel Greenberg simply couldn’t help himself. Image via Reuters.
“‘Ghost’ candidate in key state Senate race had help from controversial political consultant” via Annie Martin and Jason Garcia of the Orlando Sentinel —About four months after Orlando political strategist Eric Foglesong pleaded guilty to stealing money from a campaign and was ordered to pay $20,000 in restitution, he waded back into local elections, contributing nearly $900 to a pair of little-known independent candidates who filed to run in two hotly contested legislative races. According to three handwriting experts who compared a photocopy of that check, Foglesong, who would soonbegin falling behind on his home rent payments, also likely wrote the $1,187 check that paid the qualifying fee for one of those candidates to writing on documents Foglesong filed in court.
“FSU presidential candidates picked in secret, search committee member says” via Drew Wilson of Florida Politics — A member of Florida State University’s presidential search committee doesn’t think the candidate interview and selection process was above board. In an email sent to State University System Chancellor Marshall M. Criser III, Committee member Craig Mateer said multiple committee votes were held by secret ballot, and he believes the candidate interviews were coordinated theater. “We were told we could not talk to the candidates. I asked specifically to do that before the formal interviews and was told that couldn’t occur. In addition, the questions we were to ask the interviewees were drafted in advance and given to us without our input (and we weren’t allowed to keep the questions, and they were collected on Saturday from us),” he wrote.
Happening today — The Florida State University Board of Trustees meets to consider three candidates for the next FSU president to succeed the retiring John Thrasher: Richard McCullough, vice provost for research at Harvard University; Robert Blouin, executive vice chancellor and provost of the University of North Carolina; and Giovanni Piedimonte, vice president for research at Tulane University, 9 a.m., Augustus B. Turnbull Florida State Conference Center, 555 West Pensacola St., Tallahassee. Online link here.
“Insurers are dropping homeowners left and right. Many will be forced to accept less coverage” via Ron Hurtibise of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — All but a handful of insurers, repelled by high rates of fraud and litigation, refuse to write new business in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. The remaining few will cover only new homes or existing homes with new roofs. You have options, but you probably won’t like them. One is Citizens Property Insurance Corp., which will leave you vulnerable to a surcharge of 45% of your annual premium if the company runs out of money paying claims after a catastrophic hurricane season. Another option is to buy a policy that will pay you only the depreciated value of your roof if it must be replaced, leaving you on the hook for the difference — thousands of dollars.
2022
“Panhandle Republicans endorse each other, move to thwart heated primaries” via Jason Delgado via Florida Politics — Republican Reps. Alex Andrade and Michelle Salzman publicly endorsed one another ahead of the 2022 election cycle, a move that may help stave off the trend of heated primaries within their districts. The endorsements come after Greg Litton, a former major league baseball player, opened an account Monday to run in the 2022 Republican primary for Andrade’s seat in House District 2. Both lawmakers praised each other’s track records and supported their reelection efforts. Salzman, a freshman, represents House District 1, a neighboring district that also encompasses Escambia County.
Michelle Salzman and Alex Andrade endorse each other to get out of tough primaries.
Corona Florida
“Florida vaccination total tops 10 million people” via Jim Saunders of The News Service of Florida — The Department of Health report showed that 7,965,477 people who had received shots — or nearly 80% of the 10,005,987 total — were considered fully vaccinated, as they had received two doses of vaccines produced by the drug companies Pfizer or Moderna or the one-dose vaccine produced by Johnson & Johnson. But while vaccinations helped restore more of a sense of normalcy, many of Florida’s nearly 22 million residents have not received shots. Data tracked by Johns Hopkins University indicated that Florida trailed 30 other states and the District of Columbia in the percentage of its population that is fully vaccinated, though underlying numbers posted online by Johns Hopkins differ from those in the DOH report.
Florida hits a vaccination milestone, but there is still a long way to go. Image via NSF.
“Florida nursing homes: A real-time test ground for COVID-19 vaccine immunity” via Cindy Krischer-Goodman of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — When COVID-19 vaccines arrived in Florida in December, seniors in elder-care facilities were among the first to get the lifesaving treatment. The strategy has paid off: COVID-19 cases in residents of Florida nursing homes and assisted living facilities fell 90% since January. Now senior advocate organizations are closely watching thenew case numbers and hospitalizations. No one — even vaccine manufacturers — knows for certain how long immunity will last, particularly in the elderly. Both Pfizer and Moderna CEOs have said it’s likely there will be a need for a third dose, somewhere between six and 12 months.
Corona local
“Welcome to public-comments hell: COVID-19 mask critics abuse county school board” via Frank Cerabino of The Palm Beach Post — When you give COVID-19 mask protesters a kvetching opportunity, you soon discover that for many, it’s really not about the mask. Complaining about wearing a mask is just an opportunity for them to put on their “patriot” attire, dust off their Nazi references and imagine themselves as God-anointed, heroic figures in American history. The Palm Beach County School Board activated this underwhelming stew of humanity again this past week while discussing the school’s mask-wearing policy for this summer and the upcoming fall term.
Corona nation
“Coronavirus infections drop below 30,000 daily in continuing sign of recovery” via Lenny Bernstein and Joel Achenbach of The Washington Post — For the first time in 11 months, the daily average of new coronavirus infections in the United States has fallen below 30,000 amid continuing signs that most communities across the nation are emerging from the worst of the pandemic. The seven-day average dipped to 27,815 on Friday, the lowest since June 22 and less than a tenth of the infection rate during the winter surge. The pandemic map remains speckled with hot spots, including parts of the Deep South, the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest. At the local level, progress against contagion has not been uniform as some communities struggle with inequities in vaccine distribution and the virus’s health impacts.
COVID-19 infections are at a low. Is it a return to normalcy? Image via Washington Post.
Corona economics
“Florida jobless rate at 4.8% in April” via Jim Turner of The News Service of Florida — The state Department of Economic Opportunity said the April rate was up from 4.7% in March. An estimated 487,000 Floridians were reported as jobless out of a workforce of 10.24 million. The number of people employed increased by 59,000 from March to April, while the workforce grew by 73,000 at the same time. Adrienne Johnston, the department’s chief economist, called the workforce increase “a positive sign.” “You want to see the labor force increasing. That may result in either a steady or a slight increase in the unemployment rate. That’s not necessarily a bad thing,” Johnston said. Johnston acknowledged that the return of workers to the leisure and hospitality sectors continues to be slower than in some other industries.
“Florida says it is researching whether to continue federal jobless benefits” via Rob Wile of the Miami Herald — Currently, a Florida worker filing for unemployment can earn up to $575 a week — or about $14.38 an hour — from $300 in supplemental assistance from Washington on top of the state’s $275 maximum credit. Before the pandemic, the state’s minimum wage was $8.65 an hour. “The Department continues to research and monitor whether the state should continue participating in all federal unemployment programs that were implemented to provide additional relief from the COVID-19 pandemic,” Florida Department of Economic Opportunity press secretary Andrew G. Nixon said.
Florida debates continuing with the federal unemployment supplement.
“Florida’s rigged economy is responsible for a working-class eviction crisis” via the Orlando Sentinel editorial board — If you work in the low-wage service economy, as many Floridians do, it’s unlikely you can afford to buy a home. Which means you have to rent. But if you fall behind on your rent payments, as many service workers did during the pandemic, you have just five days after getting a legal summons to pay the landlord what’s owed. Five days to come up with possibly thousands of dollars. Otherwise, you’re automatically in default and facing eviction. Contrast that with homeowners, who have far more time to make good on what they owe before losing their homes. Florida was one of just seven states where, with inflation factored in, the median hourly wage actually fell during the nine-year period from 2007-2016.
More corona
“CDC is investigating a heart problem in a few young vaccine recipients” via Apoorva Mandavilli of The New York Times — The CDC is looking into reports that a very small number of teenagers and young adults vaccinated against the coronavirus may have experienced heart problems. The group’s statement was sparse in details, saying only that there were “relatively few” cases and that they may be entirely unrelated to vaccination. The condition, called myocarditis, is an inflammation of the heart muscle and can occur following certain infections. The CDC’s review of the reports is in the early stages, and the agency has yet to determine whether there is any evidence that the vaccines caused the heart condition. The agency has posted guidance on its website urging doctors and clinicians to be alert to unusual heart symptoms among young people who had just received their shots.
Is there a link between vaccinations and heart problems in younger people?
“For colleges, vaccine mandates often depend on which party is in power” via Rukmini Callimachi of The New York Times — With many colleges facing falling enrollments and financial pressure, the decision whether to require vaccinations can have huge consequences. Particularly in Republican-controlled states, college presidents are weighing a delicate equation, part safety, part politics, part peer pressure, and part economic self-interest. Many universities have added a caveat to try to protect themselves from liability. Their mandates are contingent on one of the vaccines obtaining final regulatory approval, but they would allow students to return to campus after receiving any of them.
Presidential
“A changed Democratic Party continues to influence the Biden presidency” via Joe Dan Balz of The Washington Post — The President maintains he has not really gone far left since taking office. “The progressives don’t like me because I’m not prepared to take on what I would say and they would say is a socialist agenda,” he said. What he means is he won’t support a Medicare-for-all plan that Sanders favors. Nor will he embrace calls to defund the police, as some in the Black Lives Matter movement advocate. Biden will have to make some difficult choices about the unfinished parts of his economic and domestic agenda. He will continue to feel pressure from the left on voting rights, immigration, racial injustice, guns and the filibuster. So far, he has maneuvered through this with relative confidence, but circumstances have forced him to adapt to the changes within his party and govern accordingly.
Joe Biden is feeling the heat from all sides. Image via Reuters.
“U.S. again extending temporary protected status for Haitians” via The Associated Press — The Biden administration is allowing eligible Haitian nationals residing in the U.S. to apply for a new 18-month designation for temporary protected status, reversing a Trump administration effort that had sought to end the special consideration. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas cited security concerns, social unrest, an increase in human rights abuses, crippling poverty and other problems in Haiti for the decision. “After careful consideration, we determined that we must do what we can to support Haitian nationals in the United States until conditions in Haiti improve so they may safely return home,” Mayorkas said.
Epilogue: Trump
“Trump is sliding toward online irrelevance. His new blog isn’t helping.” via Drew Harwell and Josh Dawsey of The Washington Post — On the internet, Trump is sliding toward something he has fought his entire life: irrelevance. Online talk about him has plunged to a five-year low. He’s banned or ignored on pretty much every major social media venue. In the last week, Trump’s website, including his new blog, fundraising page and online storefront, attracted fewer estimated visitors than the pet-adoption service Petfinder and the recipe site Delish. Trump is still by far the Republican Party’s biggest star, and conservative lawmakers and provocateurs are now loudly sparring over the importance of loyalty to him ahead of the 2022 midterm elections or a potential second Trump presidential run.
Donald Trump’s blog is a flop.
“Since leaving office, Trump has charged the Secret Service more than $40,000 to use space at Mar-a-Lago” via David A. Fahrenthold and Josh Dawsey of The Washington Post — Trump charged the Secret Service more than $40,000 this spring for rooms that Trump’s own protective detail used while guarding him at his Mar-a-Lago Club, according to federal spending records. The records show that Trump’s club charged the Secret Service $396.15 every night starting Jan. 20, the day he left the White House and moved full-time into his Palm Beach, Florida, club. Ultimately paid by taxpayers, those charges continued until at least April 30, the spending records show, for a total of $40,011.15. The charges were for a single room used as a workspace by Secret Service agents.
D.C. matters
“Could congressional committees thoroughly investigate the Jan. 6 Capitol attack? There are … doubts” via Paul Kane of The Washington Post — Lawmakers are confronting a new challenge in probing the ugly Jan. 6 insurrection at the Capitol, debating whether congressional committees are truly capable of conducting investigations that will provide a full accounting and also be accepted by a bitterly divided public. Despite a bipartisan House vote Wednesday to create an independent commission, Senate Republicans signaled they would not go along with the proposal as it is currently drafted, preferring that their committees continue conducting reviews. Yet none of the existing probes is focused on the last central question of that fateful day what actions did Trump take inside the White House, if any, to help quell the rebellion led by his supporters.
“Filibuster brawl amps up with GOP opposition to Jan. 6 panel” via Burgess Everett of POLITICO — The filibuster has been on hiatus since Biden took over. Senate Republicans are about to change that — over a bipartisan commission to probe the Capitol riot. After more than four months of letting their power to obstruct lie unused in the Senate, the 50-member Senate GOP is ready to mount a filibuster of House-passed legislation creating an independent cross-aisle panel to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection. If Republicans follow through and block the bill, they will spark a long-building fight over the filibuster’s very existence.
Mitch McConnell may be ready to use the filibuster, untouched so far this Congress. Image via AP.
“A Florida Republican on election integrity and Trump’s fraud claims” via Astead W. Herndon of The New York Times — In Florida, a state Trump won easily, Republicans enacted a more targeted overhaul of elections law in lockstep with Trump’s allegations. Rep Byron Donalds believes the reaction to the new law is misguided and overblown. In an interview, he sought to explain Republican actions as distinct from Trump’s false claims, and in line with voter concerns. He argues that his state’s new law, and similar ones across the country, would inspire renewed confidence in the election process.
Assignment editors — U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor joins Tampa Mayor Jane Castor and Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers for a news conference to outline American Rescue Plan aid for the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County, 12 p.m., Lee Davis Neighborhood Services Center, 3402 N 22nd St, Tampa. RSVP at Rikki.Miller@mail.house.gov.
Local notes
“Palm Beach State Attorney Dave Aronberg steps aside as candidate for top federal prosecutor” via Jay Weaver of the Miami Herald — In a letter to a handful of South Florida politicians, Aronberg said he was “honored by reports” that he was being considered for the U.S. Attorney’s position, but he did not apply because of his “love” for his current job, which he has held since 2013. Aronberg, a white Democrat who has been a high-profile commentator on MSNBC, CNN and other cable networks, also said that he believes “our current national climate calls for a history-making appointment of the first Black U.S. Attorney from Florida.” Matthew Dates and Markenzy Lapointe are the only Black candidates, and both are former federal prosecutors in South Florida.
Dave Aronberg is forgoing a U.S. Attorney gig.
“How did a man die of a fentanyl overdose in the Palm Beach County Jail?” via Hannah Winston of The Palm Beach Post — In the year since Travis Fletcher died of a fentanyl overdose at the Palm Beach County Jail, investigators with the sheriff’s office have interviewed men who slept in the same dormitory, corrections deputies who worked the area where he was being held, medical staff and family members. Investigators know he was being treated for withdrawal symptoms for alcohol. Fletcher’s bunkmates said he had been sick recently. And one conversation during a monitored telephone call revealed that those in the jail knew he had died of an overdose before a toxicology report came back in the months after his death. On Thursday, the sheriff’s office confirmed no deputies ever were put on administrative leave or under investigation for Fletcher’s death.
“ACLU alarmed, seeks to overturn ruling on Boynton mom filming police” via Jane Musgrave of The Palm Beach Post — Journalism organizations and civil rights groups are joining forces to overturn a West Palm Beach appeals court decision that they claim could block the press and the public from videotaping police. Raising the specter of cellphone footage that captured George Floyd’s murder by Minneapolis police, ACLU attorneys urged the 4th District Court of Appeal to reconsider its decision to uphold the arrest of a Boynton Beach woman who turned her video camera on cops. “It’s a profoundly disturbing decision and contrary to a long line of federal court rulings,” said American Civil Liberties Union attorney Jim Green.
“‘The connection of oppression’: Jacksonville schools named after colonizers still debated” via Emily Bloch of the Florida Times-Union — In a region of the state that the Timucuan Tribe lived in and helped establish, debate continues regarding the legacy of colonizers like Andrew Jackson and Jean Ribault. This week Duval County Public Schools released the voting results surrounding the debate to rename nine local schools — six with ties to the Confederacy and three with ties to the marginalization of Indigenous people. Voting results: Duval County schools stakeholders vote to rename 6 schools named for Confederate leaders. Results showed that the community overwhelmingly wanted to change the Confederate-tied school names, but keep Andrew Jackson High School, Jean Ribault Middle School and Jean Ribault High School’s names.
“Moffitt Cancer Center reaches construction milestone for $400M hospital” via Veronica Brezina-Smith of the Tampa Bay Business Journal — On Wednesday, Moffitt leaders and local officials celebrated the ceremonial topping out for the new $400 million hospital on the McKinley East campus, marking the completion of the internal framework. The hospital will be a 10-story, 498,000 square-foot facility located on 20 acres across from the Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Outpatient Center. The construction for the new hospital started this year and is planned to open in July 2023. The hospital is key to Moffitt’s growing patient pool. The cancer center serves patients from 130 countries and locally serves every county in Florida. Over the next 10 years, Moffitt anticipates a 65% increase in patient volumes and a 33% increase in cancer surgeries.
“Mandatory 10-digit dialing began Saturday throughout Panhandle, new 448 area code added” via the Pensacola News Journal — Mandatory 10-digit dialing began Saturday as a new 448 area code is rolled out in the Panhandle to new customers, joining the 850 area code. The Florida Public Service Commission approved the 850/448 area code overlay in November 2019. The 850/448 area code region consists of 18 counties in the Panhandle, including the cities of Pensacola, Fort Walton Beach, Panama City and Tallahassee. Starting May 22, all calls, including local calls, must use all 10 digits when making a call, rather than seven digits. Existing and new phone numbers served by the 850 and 448 area codes will be affected.
“South Walton, ‘Birthplace of New Urbanism,’ seeks to keep unique aesthetics intact” via Jim Thompson of the Northwest Florida Daily News — Walton County Commissioners have taken steps to make it more difficult to attempt to change a critical component of a long-standing development design aesthetic in the south end of the county. With a unanimous vote earlier this month, Commissioners established a requirement for a “supermajority” vote on the Commission before any changes can be made to a provision of the land development code limiting building heights to 50 feet in the area south of Choctawhatchee Bay and the Intracoastal Waterway from the Okaloosa County line to the Bay County line.
“Quint Studer is ‘home and recovering’ after hit-and-run crash; PPD searching for black Altima” via Annie Blanks of the Pensacola News Journal — Studer, a local philanthropist and businessman, is “home and recovering” after being injured in a hit-and-run car crash in Pensacola on Saturday night. In a statement provided to The News Journal on Sunday, Studer said he was riding his bike home from the Blue Wahoos baseball game on Saturday night and was wearing a helmet, vest and lights when he was struck by a car. Studer praised the Pensacola Police Department, Ascension Sacred Heart, and medics who arrived on the scene to help, as well as attendees of the Gulf Coast Short Film Festival, who witnessed the accident firsthand. According to the Pensacola Police Department, Studer may have been struck by a black Nissan Altima. Police are still looking for the vehicle as of Sunday afternoon, which will likely have passenger-side damage and a missing side mirror.
“City anti-bias official leaves position” via John Henderson of the Gainesville Sun — Teneeshia Marshall, a Black woman, said she’s resigning because she has been treated with a lack of respect in her job. “I have experienced some things that for me were deal breakers, professionally,” she said in a recent interview. “Disrespect was one of them. Interference with my work was another.” The City Commission approved of an amendment to Marshall’s contract that says she will resign from her office on May 28 and then work as a “time-limited” employee to assist with the transition in the office until June 30. But the Commission did not grant her the 20 weeks’ severance pay she had requested after she refused to sign an agreement promising not to sue the city.
Gainesville’s anti-bias officer is leaving … due to bias. Image via WUFT.
“Bartram Trail sparks outcry after female students’ yearbook photos are digitally altered” via Sheldon Gardner of the St. Augustine Record — Bartram Trail High School, which made headlines earlier this year regarding its dress code, is under fire once again after 80 female students had their yearbook photos edited without their consent. The reason? To add more clothing. The controversy comes as the school is already embroiled in a debate over its handling of the district’s dress code, which some say is sexist and unfairly targets girls. Critics said the yearbook editing sends yet another harmful message to female students.
Top opinion
“John Legg: Something beautiful during the pandemic” via Florida Politics — This past school year, educators at all levels have overcome their fear, worked without a road map, shed tears, and relearned how to teach using new technology with little to no training. Educators quickly adapted and moved forward in the best interest of their students. Early on, it was clear Florida’s leadership was committed to putting students first. The vision came from DeSantis and Commissioner Richard Corcoran: students’ educational and social needs must take precedence. Yes, schools looked different — masks, social distancing, PPE, temperature checks, mobile hand-washing stations, and new systems and processes — but students were welcomed back. A vast majority of families chose to return to school in person.
“A year after George Floyd’s murder, Florida lawmakers inch toward police reform. Do more” via the Miami Herald editorial board — No argument. American policing has changed since George Floyd’s murder a year ago this week in the hands of Minneapolis police. Not nearly enough, of course. But the tragedy got attention in high places, where it had been missing. In Florida, departments from Miami and Miami-Dade to Jacksonville to the Panhandle have faced calls of defunding the police, of the firing of the bad apples, or heightened accountability. That’s good. But now we need better.
Opinions
“‘Isn’t it time we moved on?’” via Leonard Pitts Jr. of the Tampa Bay Times —You didn’t see what you thought you saw. You got it wrong; you misunderstood. Your memory is playing tricks. But who can blame you? It was so long ago. We’re talking way back on Jan 6. That’s four whole months. Weren’t the so-called insurrectionists really just tourists filing peaceably through the halls of government, occasionally pausing to take pictures and admire the statuary? Sure they were. If you don’t believe it, ask Rep. Andrew Clyde. “If you didn’t know the TV footage was a video from January the 6th,” he said recently, “you’d actually think it was a normal tourist visit.” And he’s not the only one.
“Biden’s Iran deal will weaken U.S. national security” via Mike Waltz for the National Interest — For weeks, the Biden administration and the Iranian regime have been negotiating the terms of their mutual return to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action). Iran’s President Hassan Rouhani proclaimed, “almost all the main sanctions have been removed.” If that’s true, it would be epic negotiating malpractice and an indefensible surrender of national security. The Trump administration’s “maximum pressure” campaign has brought the regime in Tehran to the weakest point since the 1979 Islamic Revolution. More than twenty countries that were once regular oil customers of Iran have zeroed out their imports. More than one hundred corporations have exited the Iranian market, taking with them billions of dollars in investment.
“Shame on secretive Senators for hiding gambling intentions” via the South Florida Sun-Sentinel editorial board — The new gambling deal between Florida and the Seminole Tribe is for 30 years. But it was done too hurriedly and rushed to passage in a three-day special session tarnished by a lack of transparency over something as basic as Senators’ own words. But Senators refused to allow their discussion of the implications of more gambling to be made part of the official proceedings in the Senate journal. Pretending it never happened, Republicans voted down a Democratic request that questions and answers about the Compact be transcribed and added to the Senate record. The shameful secrecy suggests that Republicans know they’re on shaky legal ground. Such utter disregard for transparency is an insult to Floridians and more proof of the arrogance that permeates one-party control in Tallahassee.
“The Legislature creates a direct path for more political cronyism” via the Tampa Bay Times editorial board — Originally, the Seminole Compact contained a provision that legislators could not serve on the Gaming Commission for two years after they left the Legislature, a smart move to cut down on obvious political patronage. So, of course, the Legislature took out that part. Sen. Jeff Brandes voted against the Gambling Compact and rightly acknowledged the obvious appearance problem with allowing lawmakers to so quickly join the Gaming Control Commission. “Shouldn’t we have a little distance between the last PAC check and your next vote on the Commission?” Yes, they should. But now they won’t.
“Michael A. McRobbie, John Thrasher: Time is now to boldly invest in America’s scientific enterprise” via Florida Politics — The “Endless Frontier Act” would authorize $110 billion in federal investment in scientific programs and emerging technologies critical to our economic competitiveness and national security. The Act would also expand the National Science Foundation through a new “directorate” within the organization to advance research and development in several key technological fields, including artificial intelligence, semiconductors, quantum computing, advanced communications, biotechnology and advanced energy sources. Such dramatic new investment in research, education and training, entrepreneurship, and technology transfer promises to spread the bounty of big tech beyond Silicon Valley to the other key regions of the U.S., where skilled workforces and first-rate research institutions like Florida State University and Indiana University are poised to build the industries of the future.
On today’s Sunrise
Florida TaxWatch is releasing its annual list of legislative projects that somehow made their way into the new budget without following the usual procedure. It’s called the “Turkey List” and TaxWatch will be recommending that the Governor use his line-item veto power to hunt them down.
Also, on today’s Sunrise:
— Gov. DeSantis signs the bill creating three sales tax holidays over the next two months. Along with the usual tax breaks for hurricane supplies and back-to-school supplies, there’s something new this year.
— “Freedom Week” includes the Fourth of July. The hurricane preparedness tax break starts Friday and just in time because there’s already a storm out there before the official start of the season. Florida’s new emergency management boss says this is becoming the rule rather than the exception.
— Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis says if you don’t stock up during the tax holiday, you might regret it. We can always count on the CFO to get to the bottom line.
— Despite all the help wanted signs across the state, Florida’s unemployment rate increased slightly in April to 4.8%. Florida added almost 17,000 new jobs in April, but the workforce grew by 73,000 as more people went looking for work … so the jobless rate went up.
— The rise of social media and the decline of traditional media has created an entirely new world. Orlando Public Relations expert Alex Armentano calls this the age of misinformation and he says we don’t seem to trust anyone anymore.
— Armentano shares three simple rules for countering misinformation and disinformation in the modern era.
— And finally, a Florida Man found more than a million dollars of cocaine floating in the Keys and a Florida Woman led deputies and troopers on a high-speed chase in a stolen Caddy — while naked.
“South Beach Wine & Food Festival helps hurting restaurants” via Kelli Kennedy of The Associated Press — Some of the biggest celebrity chefs are in Miami this weekend for the annual South Beach Wine & Food Festival, including Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis and Martha Stewart. But behind the glamour and private dinners that can sell for as much as $500 a ticket, the festival has been quietly working behind the scenes to help restaurants struggling during the pandemic. As restaurants laid off staff and closed up shop, festival creator Lee Brian Schrager jumped into action to help his cooks and servers. The festival partnered with Florida International University’s Chaplin School Hospitality to create a relief fundraising $1.6 million that went directly to unemployed cooks, servers, dishwashers and other staff at over 500 restaurants and bars across South Florida.
The South Beach Food & Wine Festival is coming to the aid of struggling eateries. Image via Visit Miami.
“Gold Coast Eagle hosts job fair for restaurant, hospitality industry” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Even in a rebounding post-pandemic economy, Florida restaurants are facing staffing shortages. But a Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association event in the Sarasota area aimed to change that. Hosted by Gold Coast Eagle Distributing in Sarasota, the May 18 event intended to connect those looking for work with employers in desperate need of workers. Gold Coast Coast Owner and CEO John Saputo said that it’s important to get a critical industry hit hard by the pandemic back on its feet. “Right now, tourism is booming at this particular point,” Saputo said, “but they can’t find enough people.” The shortage of restaurant and retail workers has caused alarm, with some businesses offering signing bonuses and even stipends just to show up for interviews.
“Theme parks aim to keep visitors safe — and screaming” via Andrea Sachs of The Washington Post — As luck would have it, the COVID-19 risk level at theme parks is fairly low, especially if most attendees are vaccinated. The bulk of attractions are outside and in constant motion, so air is always flowing. Most high-adrenaline rides last mere minutes, which limits exposure to strangers. Plus, the likelihood of engaging in a long conversation while upside down is low. Though queues can be lengthy, most boarding areas are open to the elements. To stay safe, Sean O’Leary, vice-chair of the committee on infectious diseases for the American Academy of Pediatrics, said unvaccinated thrill-seekers should limit their time indoors. Visitors should also check the positive case rate and prevalence of variants in the park’s region. But otherwise, he said, “We should start doing things we didn’t do last summer, and a theme park is a reasonable idea.”
Happy birthday
Belated happy birthday wishes to our friends, Dane Eagle and Eileen Stuart, as well as Sen. Ana Maria Rodriguez, Sam Ard, Jordan Raynor, Kevin Reilly, and Caleb Spencer. Celebrating today is the Chris Bosh of the Florida lobbying corps, Rob Johnson of The Mayernick Group. He runs with two all-stars, Tracy and Frank Mayernick, who may be bigger names, but even they will tell you the team would not be the same without their third star. So happy birthday to Rob, a great dad, husband, and friend — and an all-star in his own right. Also celebrating today is Zach Colletti.
___
Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter Schorsch, Phil Ammann, Renzo Downey and Drew Wilson.
Unsubscribe Having trouble viewing this email? View in browser
Markets: While the stock market takes nights and weekends off, the crypto market is a circus that runs 24/7. Prices for cryptocurrencies continued to tumble over the weekend, with bitcoin dropping to nearly 50% below its peak.
Covid-19: New daily cases in the US are at their lowest levels since June of last year. And new evidence emerged that may support the hypothesis that Covid-19 leaked from a lab: According to a US intelligence report viewed by the WSJ, three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became so ill they sought hospital care in November 2019.
Summer is here, which means it’s once again time to enter a dark, over-air conditioned space and stare at a screen for three hours.
At least that’s what the movie theater industry is hoping. After a debacle of a year in 2020 due to the pandemic, the lucrative summer movie season unofficially kicks off this year with A Quiet Place Part II and Cruella, which will hit US theaters Memorial Day weekend.
Early indicators for movie theaters are looking…better, relative to the utter collapse some predicted last year. The ninth installment of the Fast & Furious franchise, F9, debuted in international markets this weekend and brought in $162.4 million, $135.6 million of which came from China. That’s the best opening of a Hollywood film since the pandemic began.
When F9 hits the US box office on June 25 its performance, plus the success of the previously mentioned blockbusters, will help us learn more about the state of the theater industry.
What we already know
North American movie theater revenue plunged to $2.2 billion in 2020 from $11.4 billion in 2019 as the pandemic caused theaters to shut down for months. Closures were especially painful during the summer season, which brings in about 40% of the year’s total haul. Last summer, theaters grossed $176 million, a 96% decrease from 2019.
Now, even as the credits begin to roll on the pandemic, most film executives recognize that the future of moviegoing probably involves some moviegoing, some moviestaying. Every major studio outside of Sony now has an affiliated streaming service.
But how much of each is in the equation? No one knows the answer yet. This year, many movies will be released in theaters before coming to your small screen, but others will be rolled out in theaters and on streaming simultaneously, or they’ll ditch the theater part altogether.
Looking ahead…some of the year’s most anticipated releases include In the Heights (June 11), the new Space Jam (July 16), The Suicide Squad (August 6), and a Candyman reboot (August 27).
A routine commercial flight from Athens to Vilnius, Lithuania, spiraled into a dramatic international incident after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko forced the flight to make an unscheduled pit stop in Minsk, the capital of Belarus.
How it happened: As soon as the plane approached Lithuanian airspace, Belarusian authorities sent a fighter jet to accompany the plane to Minsk on account of a “bomb threat,” but that turned out to be a ruse. Lukashenko was after one of the passengers, dissident journalist and blogger Roman Protasevich, who was arrested once the plane landed in Minsk.
European leaders were stunned and outraged by Lukashenko’s move. Poland’s prime minister called it “an “unprecedented act of state terrorism” and Lithuania’s president asked NATO and the EU to “immediately react to the threat posed to international civil aviation by the Belarus regime.”
Big picture: Considered “Europe’s last dictator,” Lukashenko has held power in Belarus for almost 27 years, and his authoritarian actions—including a brutal crackdown on protesters last year following a disputed election—are increasing tensions with the West.
Looking ahead…EU leaders are meeting in Brussels today for a summit. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said officials will discuss taking action in response to the “outrageous and illegal behavior” of the Belarusian regime.
Yuan Longping, the Chinese agronomist credited with saving millions of people from dying of hunger, died at 90 on Saturday.
In 1973, Longping developed the world’s first high-yield hybrid rice strain, which produced 20% more rice per acre than nonhybrid varieties. That means his innovations helped feed an extra 70 million people per year.
The backstory: China suffered a disastrous famine in the early 1960s as a result of Mao Zedong’s Great Leap Forward plan to collectivize agriculture. Yuan said his experiences of seeing people starving to death led him to research rice, which serves as the main grain for half the world’s population.
Yuan’s breakthroughs turned him into a national hero in China and within the international agriculture community. He crisscrossed the globe introducing his rice hybrids to farmers in lower-income nations.
Looking ahead…food security remains top of mind for Chinese officials. Last year, President Xi Jinping called on citizens to stop wasting food and to be more conscientious about food consumption.
Want to explore these newfangled currencies running around the internet…but not sure where to start? We’ve got the answer: .
Right now, if you buy $1,000 worth of crypto on eToro, you’ll get $50 smackeroos. That’s a nice swordfish dinner, just for getting into crypto on eToro.
, you can…
Browse over a dozen cryptocurrencies
Experiment with a virtual portfolio—you get $100K in “play money” to help you get the hang of crypto trading
Copy the moves of top-performing traders automatically with CopyTrader™
Bone up on the industry with market guides and a weekly newsletter
20 million users worldwide are already on eToro. That’s 20 million people who don’t feel lost when crypto comes up in social conversations.
Stat: Sooo…apparently we were the only people not in Jackson Hole last month. In April, visits to Yellowstone National Park increased by 40% compared to 2019 and jumped 48% at Grand Teton National Park.
Quote: “With TV, the relationship is you’re the parent and it’s the child. It’s in your house. It’s smaller than you, you can turn it off, change it, and control it. With the movies, you’re the child and it’s the parent. You look up to it. It controls you and it is taking you where it wants to take you.”
Director JJ Abrams tried to articulate what makes movie theaters so special at a film industry event last week.
Read: What people are really doing when they play hard to get. (Luke Burgis)
One year later: Tuesday marks one year since the murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis, an incident that caused Corporate America to reflect on its role in perpetuating racial inequality. Floyd’s family will go to the White House while lawmakers debate new police reforms.
Earnings: This week offers an earnings smorgasbord across industries like tech (Snowflake, Salesforce, Nvidia), retail (Nordstrom, Best Buy, Costco, Dollar General), and housing (Toll Brothers).
Economic data: You might give up your house search altogether when new numbers on US home prices drop on Tuesday. Other data releases include the second estimate of Q1 GDP and consumer confidence.
Everything else:
The Friends reunion episode airs on HBO Max on Thursday.
The Champions League final in soccer is on Saturday.
Tuesday is National Wine Day. Remember, it’s perfectly okay to order the second-cheapest wine on the menu.
WHAT ELSE IS BREWING
Virgin Galactic completed its first space flight since 2019 on Saturday.
UK researchers found that a double dose of a Covid-19 vaccine was highly effective against the B16172 strain first discovered in India.
Democrats and Republicans are still far apart on the Biden administration’s infrastructure proposal.
A judge said that former Theranos CEO Elizabeth Holmes’s celeb-like lifestyle is mostly fair game as evidence in her upcoming criminal trial.
Phil Mickelson, 50, became the oldest golfer to win a major tournament after the lefty topped the field at the PGA Championship.
BREW’S BETS
24/7 peace of mind, 30% off. SimpliSafe’s Memorial Day Sale is happening now, and you can get 30% off their award-winning home security system plus a free HD camera right now. Protect your home before you head off this summer, check out SimpliSafe’s sale here.*
How’s that passive income coming along? With asset classes across art, real estate, legal finance, and more, Yieldstreet makes starting your passive income journey a cinch. Earn up to $500 when you sign up and fund your account today.*
Director’s cut: Vulture has an enlightening piece charting the 25 edits that define the modern internet video.
The bill was unveiled as negotiations between Senate Republicans and the White House over a broader infrastructure package were faltering. It would represent a significant boost to transportation spending but is not the kind of “generational investment” the administration has in mind.
…
For Republicans, it would deliver all of the funding they are seeking. It proposes an overhaul of the environmental review process for major projects, setting a goal of completing reviews in two years — one of the GOP’s top priorities. It also includes $2 billion for grants to rural communities.
…
The bill is just one part of a long-term reauthorizing of road, transit and safety programs that Congress must pass by Sept. 30. Republicans’ initial counterproposal to the [White House’s trillion-dollar infrastructure plan] called for $568 billion in spending, including $299 billion for roads. The Senate bill fulfills much of what Republicans are seeking, which could dampen their enthusiasm for continuing discussions with Biden.
All votes are anonymous. This poll closes at: 9:00 PST
YESTERDAY’S POLLShould police be required to wear body cameras?
Yes
90%
No
6%
Unsure
4%
506 votes, 49 comments
Context: Police bodycam footage appears to alter story of Ronald Greene’s death in 2019.
HIGHLIGHTED COMMENTS
“Yes – Bodycams will show which cops are acting within the law, or show if they are acting outside of the law. We expect cops to be our community’s finest exemplars of humanity so it makes sense that we hold them to the highest standards available. More importantly, cams can show if the training they are receiving is implemented well or if additional training is required.”
“No – They are encumbered with enough equipment as it is mak…”
“Unsure – I believe that body cameras should be worn but not released to the public until after all video…”
Why is the Biden administration extending the protected status of Haitian migrants?
Temporary Protected Status (TPS) shields migrants from designated nations from deportation and grants them work permits in the US on the basis that it would be…
Full summaries, images, and headlines for subscribers only.
Why did Belarus force a flight to land under questionable circumstances?
The Ryanair flight was passing through Belarus’ airspace while traveling from Athens [Greece] to Lithuania’s capital Vilnius, when it was diverted to Minsk…
Full summaries, images, and headlines for subscribers only.
“Rep. Omar accused Israel of carrying out acts of terrorism. That is a vicious lie. And to be honest, the Squad is acting more like the press secretaries for Hamas terrorists than they are like United States congressmen.”
A subtle shift in reporting on the origin of COVID-19 has taken place in the Fourth Estate. Formerly, those who suggested that the virus came from the Wuhan lab rather than from nature were scorned as conspiracists. Now, however, outlets like CNN and a prominent Washington newspaper are saying that although this theory is possible, finding the evidence of such may be impossible. CNN quotes a source as saying, “If the answer exists, it’s not going to be found by traditional spycraft.” How long before the scale moves once again?
Something political to ponder as you enjoy your morning coffee.
Mayor Tishaura Jones of St. Louis, MO, has put forward a plan to solve crime in the city with the highest murder rate in the nation: Less police, fewer funds, and close a prison. Jones explained her position to a British newspaper, saying, “more police doesn’t prevent crime.” This may come as a surprise to just about the entire nation, other than those who actively want the whole system to collapse on its way to a Marxist Utopia.
Stan Veuger and Daniel Shoag | The Journal of Law and Economics
This paper is the first nationwide evidence that “ban the box” policies do indeed increase employment opportunities in neighborhoods with many ex-offenders.
Reviving technology assessment today would help Congress fulfill its constitutional role and provide a venue for democratic deliberation about many of our most pressing problems.
This issue of AEI Polling Report explores major pollsters’ findings on LGBT identity, gay marriage, COVID-19 vaccine attitudes and post-vaccine life, support for Donald Trump and his election claims, and what the new census shows. Our monthly Ordinary Life feature looks at two kinds of weed: marijuana and gardening.
Worker productivity will likely improve over the next several years as businesses apply lessons about the benefits and shortcomings of remote work — accumulated during the COVID-19 pandemic — to the post-pandemic economy.
“U.S. intelligence agencies are expected to deliver a report on “unidentified aerial phenomena” to Congress next month, sparking renewed interest and speculation into how the government has handled sightings of mysterious flying objects — and if there’s any worldly explanation for them. NBC News
UFO stands for “unidentified flying object.” The US Navy prefers to refer to such objects as UAPs, or “unidentified aerial phenomena,” rather than UFOs. Washington Post
Many on both sides express concerns about national security:
“A number of reports — including an investigation by The Drive, based on Freedom of Information Act requests — suggest that UAPs are interacting with U.S. ships with alarming frequency. Such incidents are potential national-security threats, yet pilots seem reluctant to discuss them for fear of being stigmatized. As a report from the Senate intelligence committee warned last year, there’s also no standardized way to report or analyze them. The committee called for the creation of an interagency process, involving representatives from across the military and intelligence agencies…
“Such an approach — formal, bureaucratic, extraordinarily dull — is precisely what’s needed. It should lend sobriety and legitimacy to any findings, while ensuring that various parts of the government are sharing information. If necessary, it should also allow for a coordinated response.” Editorial Board, Bloomberg
“We are expected to believe that not only the crews of two F/A-18F Super Hornets but the officers and technicians of an entire carrier battle group and the multiple radar systems they employed were unable to figure out that they were looking at a distant 737 that was potentially wandering too close to restricted airspace? Or a bird? Come on… if nothing else, we’ll find out that the Russians have massively leapfrogged us in technology. Either way, wouldn’t you like to know?” Jazz Shaw, National Review
“The most compelling UFOs, those UFOs which lack conventional alternative explanation after exhaustive investigation, give credible indication of being highly advanced, intelligently controlled vehicles. The government’s confidence that these most compelling UFOs are vehicles versus amorphous ‘things’ takes root in data returns from multiple sensor platforms. These platforms include satellite, sonar, radar, full-spectrum electromagnetic, and trained military observer witness reports (such as Air Force and Navy ground and flight crews)…
“The intelligence community’s first responsibility is to gather and corroborate information that can be used to inform the nation’s national security leadership. As directed by Congress, as with this report, Director Haines and the intelligence community have an obligation to provide people with the best assessment of the available information. The possibility that something extraordinary is occurring is no longer a legitimate excuse for deflection.” Tom Rogan, Washington Examiner
“The vehicles observed and recorded by U.S. Navy fighter pilots seem impervious to altitude or the elements; they are able to maneuver above 80,000 feet; they can hover and then instantly accelerate to supersonic and even hypersonic speeds; they have very low radar cross-sections and use a means of propulsion and control that does not appear to involve combustion, exhaust, rotors, wings or flaps. Since the Navy asserts these are not U.S. aircraft, we are confronted by the daunting prospect that a potential adversary of the United States has achieved the ability to render our most sophisticated aircraft and air defense systems obsolete…
“I’ve interviewed numerous active-duty and retired military personnel who have encountered these mysterious vehicles. Without exception they express grave concern for their colleagues and near disbelief that our government is not reacting more vigorously… Indeed, examination of major US intelligence failures — from Pearl Harbor to the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Iraqi WMD — shows that, in each case, we had information that, properly analyzed and acted upon, could have prevented disaster. We’re at a similar place today, with ample warning lights flashing but no effective effort to pool relevant data from the myriad services and agencies that possess it.” Christopher Mellon, The Hill
Others on both sides express skepticism:
“If it flies like a duck, is the size of a duck, and quacks like a duck . . . it probably isn’t an alien spaceship or ultra-advanced drone from a foreign power. But headlines such as ‘U.S. Navy Pilot Spots UFO” generate more clicks than ‘Pilot Sees Goose on Infrared Camera.’…
“The U.S. government has a long history of letting the public imagination run wild with extraterrestrial conspiracy theories to divert attention from classified projects or accidents. The DOD only confirmed the videos’ authenticity because of a stunning number of Freedom of Information Act requests regarding the leaked videos; providing any additional clarification might risk revealing military secrets…
“In the 1950s and ’60s, the Air Force and CIA often intentionally called sightings of highly secret U-2 spy planes ‘UFOs’ to hide the true nature of the aircraft. It helped that when the planes’ original silver paint reflected sunlight, they took on an otherworldly, fiery appearance. A CIA official who worked on the U-2 and SR-71 Blackbird spy plane project later attributed over half of all UFO reports in the period to those two aircraft.” Andrew Follett, National Review
“We know the consequences of embracing bad science and replacing facts with conspiracy theories and pseudoscience. Stalin’s embrace of Lysenkoism ravaged Soviet science for decades… we shouldn’t let enthusiasts of space ghosts have the run of Washington to steer money and policy in the direction they want. If they insist UFOs are a national security threat, then the national media must take them at their word. No more chuckles. No more rhapsodies about mystery. We must hold Team Space Poltergeist to the levels of skepticism, seriousness, and scrutiny it pretends to demand.” Jason Colavito, New Republic
Still others on both sides urge us to focus on more immediate issues facing humanity:
“The most likely possibility is potentially a paralyzing one: that we are alone in the infinite dark. It’s an unbearably lonely idea. Maybe the Fermi paradox is right. Either aliens are real, but are so distant from us that they cannot reach us if they even cared to try; or they simply don’t exist, and we are all that may ever be… That knowledge may be depressing. But it contains the seeds of hope. If there’s really nothing out there, we are obligated to become our own saviors. There are exceptions to all the bloody truths of Earth. A repressive state will generate violence but it will also produce dissent. There are streets to reclaim, systems to overthrow, and tyrants to bring down low. Why wait? No one’s coming. Probably.” Sarah Jones, New York Magazine
“As I write this there are millions of Americans who are homeless or addicted to drugs or both, people who are mentally ill, the elderly, the homebound, the handicapped, untold thousands in so-called ‘detention facilities,’ and goodness knows how many unborn children who, as far as the rest of us are concerned, might as well be from outer space… We indulge ourselves with golden visions of interstellar tourism even as we accept that the science fiction future that awaits us looks a great deal more like WALL-E, with its obese screen-addicted masses being entertained by the devices they cannot escape than, say, The Empire Strikes Back…
“Why, apart from our reluctance to accept that this earth is the stage upon which the romance of human life will begin and end, are we still looking to the skies for answers, especially when we have no reason to believe that the officially unidentifiable black dots we have all seen are anything else but meaningless blots on screens that have nothing to do with the ordinary business of men and women and children and families?” Matthew Walther, American Conservative
Other opinions below.
From the Left
“Steven Dick, the former chief historian for NASA, has argued that indirect contact with aliens — a radio signal, for instance — would be more like past scientific revolutions than past civilizational collisions. The correct analogy, he suggests, would be the realization that we share our world with bacteria, or that the Earth orbits the sun, or that life is shaped by natural selection. These upheavals in our understanding of the universe we inhabit changed the course of human science and culture, and perhaps this would, too…
“There’s a school of thought that says interplanetary ambitions are ridiculous when we have so many terrestrial crises. I disagree. I believe our unsolved problems reflect a lack of unifying goals more than a surfeit of them. America made it to the moon in the same decade it created Medicare and Medicaid and passed the Civil Rights Act, and I don’t believe that to be coincidence. A more cohesive understanding of ourselves as a species, and our planet as one ecosystem among others, might lead us to take more care with what we already have, and the sentient life we already know.” Ezra Klein, New York Times
From the Right
“My personal favorite explanation—and I’m being serious here—is the Biblical one. The known universe, that we’re allowed to see by the laws of physics and our position in space-time, has massive holes in it. Dark matter, weird energy we can’t fit into our math, and strange quantum effects like ‘spooky action at a distance’ (quantum entanglement) vex us but push our imaginations and drive to experiment in new directions. It’s the best part of humanity, and it is the thread in the needle that unites us in the curious quest for knowledge…
“God put that there. He gave us a need to know Him, but not to blindly trust Him. He gave us the tools—our minds, our imagination (math is pure imagination), our ability to accumulate and pass on great stores of information—and the ability to explore the universe… And because there’s a God outside the limits of our mortal and material existence, what we call ‘supernatural,’ there are also other beings that God created who exist there… If you believe the Bible, then that makes sense. If not, then it’s just as good an explanation as fuzzy video, global NDAs, and government conspiracies can offer. Either way, it’s fun discussing aliens.” Steve Berman, Racket News
☕ Good Monday morning. Smart Brevity™ count: 1,380 words … 5 minutes. Edited by Zachary Basu.
⚡ Breaking: Blinken to Middle East … Secretary of State Tony Blinken tweeted this morning that he will travel “to Jerusalem, Ramallah, Cairo, and Amman to meet with the parties to support their efforts to solidify a ceasefire.”
1 big thing: New battle over kids’ screen time
Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios
After a year of screen-time amnesty, many kids will resist disengaging from devices and reentering real life as summer camps and other activities reopen, Axios’ Kim Hart writes in her “Tech Agenda” column.
Why it matters: Digital content, including social media, has addictive qualities.
Kim’s take: Like many parents, I’m embarrassed to admit how much screen time my kids have become accustomed to over the past year.
They’re glued not only to Minecraft, but YouTube videos of other people playing Minecraft.
They zone out in front of Disney+ and Netflix shows after school work, while my husband and I try to finish up our own work.
Getting them to shut off the tablets ends up in an epic power struggle.
Here are some strategies recommended by child psychologists for parents trying to reduce their kids’ screen time.
Include the child: Allow a child to have a say in resetting time limits.
Change the routine: Distract kids with alternative activities, such as going for a family walk, playing outside or visiting a park.
Use a timer: Once you set expectations about screen time limits, set a kitchen timer, use a timer app or set your home’s WiFi to cut off.
Give incentives.
Be age-appropriate: School-aged kids often rely on laptops and tablets for schoolwork, so try not to make that time count against the screen-time limits. Consider household rules of turning off screens an hour before bed and not taking devices into bedrooms overnight.
Model desired behavior: Try to cut back your own screen time and frame it as a positive change, not a punishment.
Go deeper: The American Academy of Pediatrics has templates for screen-time contracts.
2. “Axios on HBO”: Biden pushes electric cars
Photo: “Axios on HBO”
On “Axios on HBO,” White House national climate adviser Gina McCarthy called for a practical rather than idealistic approach to getting Americans to change their routines to save the planet.
McCarthy told me that with all the lost jobs, “Now is not the time to sit them down and say: ‘Let’s talk about climate. How can you sacrifice?’ … [I]t’s never going to be a winning strategy. Right now, it’s ridiculous.”
Why it matters: Electric vehicles have had a luxury image. But McCarthy took me for a spin in an electric Chevrolet Bolt before the interview, as part of an effort to show electric vehicles can be an economical part of the average American’s future.
McCarthy — the head of the EPA under President Obama, and now in a new job created by President Biden — noted that change is hard, because people love their routines.
“They don’t want to have to do research on things like cars,” she added. “They just want ’em to be what they used to be. And if you want to make the kind of shift that we need for climate, you’ve got to be optimistic about the future.”
See more of my interview with Gina McCarthy on “Axios on HBO,” on HBO and HBO Max.
3. NYPD steps up patrols after anti-Semitic attacks
Screenshot: CNN
The NYPD’s Hate Crime Task Force launched an investigation into a pair of anti-Semitic incidents in Brooklyn on Saturday night, Axios’ Zachary Basu reports.
The NYPD says 195 hate crimes were reported in the city between Jan. 1 and May 16 — an increase of 71% from the same period last year. The true total is likely higher, since many incidents go unreported.
What’s happening: Three suspects are wanted for harassing a group of Orthodox Jews outside of a synagogue in Borough Park and allegedly yelling, “Free Palestine — kill all the Jews,” according to Assemblyman Simcha Eichenstein.
The same group is suspected to have assaulted and yelled anti-Semitic language at two Jewish teenagers 45 minutes later, NBC New York reports.
Mayor Bill de Blasiomet yesterday with the NYPD and Jewish community leaders in Borough Park, a neighborhood with a large Orthodox Jewish community, to discuss strategies to combat hate crimes.
“The attacks we saw in Brooklyn … were pure, unbridled anti-Semitism,” de Blasio tweeted.
The big picture: After Israel-Gaza hostilities resumed, vandalism and harassment fueled by anti-Semitism and Islamophobia spiked throughout the U.S. and Europe.
Carrots that employers are offering employees to get vaccinated could run afoul of federal law if rewards are too big, Axios’ Bob Herman writes.
Why it matters: Instead of mandating COVID vaccination, more companies are offering employees cash, paid time off, and other financial incentives to get the shot.
The twist: The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission hasn’t issued updated guidance, so there’s no clear standard for how large those rewards can be without violating federal disability, anti-discrimination, and privacy laws.
The EEOC told Axios the update on “COVID-19 employer vaccine incentives and other issues is ongoing.”
5. Like “a Jason Bourne plot”: Plane diverted to nab reporter
The Putin-backed “strongman president of Belarus sent a fighter jet to intercept an [Ireland-based Ryanair] airliner traveling through the country’s airspace … and ordered the plane to land in the capital, Minsk, where a prominent opposition journalist aboard was then seized,” the N.Y. Times reports (subscription).
“The stunning gambit by Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, a brutal and erratic leader who has clung to power despite huge protests against his government last year, was condemned by European officials, who compared it to hijacking.”
Lead of the day … “It has all of the elements of a Jason Bourne plot: A commercial flight carrying a dissident journalist is intercepted by a MiG-29 fighter jet under orders from the strongman president of Belarus,” the N.Y. Times writes in a sidebar.
“This protagonist is very much real. His name is Roman Protasevich.”
6. Wuhan mystery: New doubts on virus origin
Security personnel keep watch outside the Wuhan Institute of Virology during a WHO visit in February. Photo: Thomas Peter/Reuters
“Three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick enough in November 2019 that they sought hospital care,” The Wall Street Journal reports from previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence.
Why it matters: The new reporting “could add weight to growing calls for a fuller probe of whether the Covid-19 virus may have escaped from the laboratory.”
In a letter published in the journal Science, leading researchers called last week for a renewed investigation of COVID origins.
🥊 Fauci doubts: “No, I am not convinced about that,” Anthony Fauci said at a PolitiFact event this month when asked if he was confident COVID developed naturally.
“I think we should continue to investigate what went on in China until we continue to find out to the best of our ability what happened.”
7. Black-owned businesses gain confidence
Illustration: Annelise Capossela/Axios
Digital campaigns supporting Black-owned businesses have slowed in the year since George Floyd’s death, but some owners say they’re now more confident of growth than ever before, Axios’ Hope King reports.
Why it matters: News outlets, social media and e-commerce platforms rushed to find ways to support the Black community, including the promotion of Black-owned businesses — but it was never clear whether that support was authentic or whether it would last.
Searches for “Black-owned businesses” peaked on Google during the first week in June last year, and have seen spikes every few months since. The last was in February, during Black History Month.
Yelp, which compared “identity attribute” terms such as “Black-owned,” saw search interest grow by more than 12,000% in June year-over-year. Growth is still high now, but not as dramatically high — up close to 480% as of March, the company tells Axios.
Beto O’Rourke is considering a campaign for Texas governor, three years after becoming a Democratic breakout star, and a year after crashing back to Earth in a short-lived presidential run, AP reports.
But O’Rourke, who announced for president on the cover of Vanity Fair, is being quiet about it. He says he hasn’t ruled out anything, but isn’t saying much else.
A top aide said O’Rourke, 48, hasn’t ruled out challenging Gov. Greg Abbott (R) in 2022 — but has taken no formal steps toward a campaign, like calling donors or recruiting staff.
9. Havana Syndrome: “American officials under silent attack”
Illustration: Timo Lenzen for The New Yorker. Used by kind permission
Beginning in 2016, the well-sourced Adam Entous writes in The New Yorker, CIA and State Department officials described being bombarded by buzzing in their heads:
[W]hat began with several dozen spies and diplomats in Havana now encompasses more than a hundred and thirty possible cases, from Colombia to Kyrgyzstan … At least four of the cases involve Trump White House officials, two of whom say they had episodes on the Ellipse. The C.I.A. accounts for some fifty cases. The rest are mostly U.S. military and State Department personnel and their family members.
“Top officials in both the Trump and the Biden Administrations privately suspect that Russia is responsible,” Entous reports:
Their working hypothesis is that agents of the G.R.U., the Russian military’s intelligence service, have been aiming microwave-radiation devices at U.S. officials to collect intelligence from their computers and cell phones, and that these devices can cause serious harm to the people they target. Yet during the past four years U.S. intelligence agencies have been unable to find any evidence to back up this theory.
Phil Mickelson — who, at 50, became golf’s oldest major champion in history — walks up the 18th fairway during the final round of yesterday’s PGA Championship on Kiawah Island, S.C.
Tensions among lawmakers have been running high since the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. As House members head out of Washington for three weeks, some Democrats have concerns for their security back home.
Wading into a growing Missouri Republican Senate primary campaign, state Attorney General Eric Schmitt is trying to distinguish himself as a voice of “flyover country” standing athwart coastal elites.
New York Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo makes an inviting 2022 target for Republicans due to his scandals and foibles. And Rep. Lee Zeldin has early advantages in securing the GOP nomination.
Anti-police attitudes and deep cuts to law enforcement budgets in cities run by left-wing governments have driven hundreds of officers from their jobs — and small towns are reaping the benefits.
Kidney transplant recipients are still at high risk of severe disease due to the coronavirus even after being fully vaccinated, disease experts have warned.
Three researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were hospitalized in November 2019, according to a previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report.
Former first lady Michelle Obama made an appearance at the Billboard Music Awards to praise singer-songwriter Alicia Keys as a “leader on social justice.”
Phil Mickelson has won the 2021 golf tournament conducted by the Professional Golfers’ Association of America, becoming the oldest player to win one of golf’s major tournaments.
The Justice Department has seized the roughly $90,000 that John Sullivan, a self-styled leftist activist disavowed by Black Lives Matter leaders, was paid by media outlets for footage he took during the storming of the Capitol in January.
A legislative bill named after sports star Tim Tebow has passed the Texas Senate, getting the state one step closer to allowing home-school students to compete in public school sports leagues and activities.
Residents of Massachusetts who are collecting unemployment insurance or coronavirus-related benefits will now be required to show that they are actively seeking employment to continue receiving payments.
A suspect accused of assaulting a Jewish man in New York showed no remorse from his jail cell, where he shouted that he would repeat the assault if he could.
You received this email because you are subscribed to Examiner Today from The Washington Examiner.
Update your email preferences to choose the types of emails you receive.We respect your right to privacy – View our Policy
Unsubscribe
18.) ASSOCIATED PRESS
May 24, 2021
View in browser
AP Morning Wire
Good morning from The Hague. In today’s Morning Wire, Western officials have condemned Belarus for diverting an airliner and arresting a prominent opposition leader. Investigations are underway in Italy into a cable car crash that killed 14 and left a lone child survivor, a 5-year-old Israeli boy, hospitalized. AP visits Central Falls in Rhode Island to tell the stories of residents of the small city that has been hammered by the coronavirus pandemic. In India, the COVID-19 death toll has surpassed 300,000. In golf, Phil Mickelson has recorded a win for the ages, clinching the PGA Championship at 50 to become the oldest major champion in history.
Also this morning:
Displaced Gazans face familiar plight after war.
Japan opens mass vaccination centers two months before Olympics.
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A founder of a messaging app channel that has been a key information conduit for opponents of Belarus’ authoritarian president was arrested Sunday after an airliner in which he was traveling on was diverted to Belarus because of…Read More
ROME (AP) — Italy’s transport minister was heading Monday to the scene of a cable car disaster that killed 14 people when the lead cable apparently snapped and the cabin careened back down the mountain until it pulled off the line and crashed to the…Read More
NEW DELHI (AP) — India crossed another grim milestone Monday of more than 300,000 people lost to the coronavirus as a devastating surge of new infections that exploded with fury has shown signs of easing. …Read More
CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. (AP) — The beleaguered people of Central Falls moved quickly through the high school gym’s injection stations and then to rest on dozens of metal folding chairs, borrowed from the Knights of Columbus. …Read More
KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. (AP) — Standing on the 18th tee with a two-shot lead in a championship he refused to imagine himself winning, Phil Mickelson took one last violent swing with a driver — the club that betrayed him 15 years earlier in the U.S. …Read More
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Members of George Floyd’s family, and others who lost loved ones to police encounters, joined activists and citizens in Minneapolis on Sunday for a march…Read More
TOKYO (AP) — Japan mobilized military doctors and nurses to give shots to elderly people in Tokyo and Osaka on Monday as the government desperately tries to accelerate its v…Read More
HUFFMAN, Texas (AP) — Don’t tell Laura Fields that providing $1.7 million to her flood-prone neighborhood would be wasteful spending. Her home in a Houston-area subdivision …Read More
BEIT HANOUN, Gaza Strip (AP) — It took Ramez al-Masri three years to rebuild his home after it was destroyed in a 2014 Israeli offensive. When war returned to the area last …Read More
“There are only two forces that can carry light to all the corners of the globe … the sun in the heavens and The Associated Press down here.”
Mark Twain
GET THE APP
Download the AP News app to get breaking news alerts from AP on your phone, tablet or watch.
Good morning, Chicago. Yesterday, Illinois recorded 943 new cases of COVID-19 and 24 additional deaths. This was the second time in a week that the state had fewer than 1,000 daily cases, after previously not recording such a low number of cases since mid-March. Officials also reported 60,746 doses of the vaccine were administered Saturday, and the seven-day rolling average of daily doses was 75,546.
Meanwhile, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention added another change to its virus guidelines for people who are fully vaccinated. Its new guidance says that people who are two weeks out from their vaccine shots and have no COVID-19 symptoms can largely skip getting tested — even if exposed to someone infected.
How do the changing guidelines make you feel? If you’re fully vaccinated, have you changed how often you’re getting tested for COVID-19? Send me an email at nistock@chicagotribune.com and let me know.
— Nicole Stock, audience editor
Here’s more coronavirus news and other top stories you need to know to start your day.
A year after most legislative initiatives were sidetracked by the COVID-19 pandemic, Illinois lawmakers are approaching the end of this year’s spring session facing a backlog of significant and as yet unresolved issues.
Paramount on the list is a new state budget, as legislators look for ways to close a $1.3 billion deficit. But of more political and long-lasting importance is the redrawing by Democrats of state legislative and congressional districts to reflect population changes over the last decade.
Although Mike Polisky stepped down as Northwestern’s athletic director after being swept up in a wave of protests, the difficult questions provoked by his selection are anything but settled. One former running back says the university has an opportunity to rebuild trust in the Black and brown communities based on whom it picks for leadership roles.
A year ago, the Chicago Tribune published a series, “Faces of Change,” that looked at ordinary people who answered the call for social justice. Today, in a country where Derek Chauvin was convicted of the murder of George Floyd, it seems little else has changed. But how does it feel for these same people?
Here are the first three entries in an effort to answer that question. On the same day that Chauvin was convicted, Ma’Khia Bryant was killed by police in Columbus, Ohio. Even though there aren’t protests in dozens of American cities, the emotions and the trauma are still all too real. Find out more in “Faces of Change: One Year Later.”
Nationwide, roughly three to four times as many students as usual took a gap year during the 2020-21 school year, according to Ethan Knight, executive director of the Gap Year Association. With international travel — often a staple of traditional gap year programs — on hold during the coronavirus pandemic, more students than ever made an independent itinerary for their year off from traditional school.
The number of students doing a traditional gap year program is trending back to ordinary levels for the 2021-22 school year. But Knight said the number of students doing independent gap years remains higher than normal.
The 2021 beach season — traditionally beginning Memorial Day — looks like it’s starting on a brighter note with COVID-19 mitigations becoming less strict and water levels also on the dropping. Many beaches will be closer to normal than 2020. Here are the public beaches from Michigan City, Indiana, to Zion along with hours, directions and helpful links.
They continue to push for civilian oversight of the police department and non-police alternatives to respond to mental health crises and provide public safety in schools.
Before his marriage to Tiff (Hannaha Hall), Emmett (Jacob Latimore) had a brief “entanglement” with his business partner, and he’s worried about his bride finding out.
With a new building in the Loop and another planned for North Lake Shore Drive, Jonathan Holtzman pursues a business model that calls for higher-end services.
Welcome to The Hill’s Morning Report. It is Monday! We get you up to speed on the most important developments in politics and policy, plus trends to watch. Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver are the co-creators. Readers can find us on Twitter @asimendinger and @alweaver22. Please recommend the Morning Report to friends and let us know what you think. CLICK HERE to subscribe!
Total U.S. coronavirus deaths reported Monday: 589,893.
As of this morning, 49.2 percent of the U.S. population has received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine and 39.2 percent is fully vaccinated, according to the Bloomberg News global vaccine tracker.
The chances of reaching a bipartisan, wide-ranging infrastructure deal have dimmed significantly as lawmakers, facing a loose deadline imposed by President Biden, continue to bicker over its price tag and how to pay for it with few signs of progress.
One week out from the administration’s deadline for progress, talks have gone in reverse in recent days. Republicans on Friday publicly panned the White House’s $1.7 trillion counteroffer on Friday, a slimmed-down bill from the initial $2.3 trillion plan. That could send Democrats back to the drawing board if a bipartisan bill is out of reach, forcing them to pass any bill via budget reconciliation and without GOP votes.
“He wants a deal. He wants it soon, but if there’s meaningful negotiations taking place in a bipartisan manner, he’s willing to let that play out. But again, he will not let inaction be the answer. And when he gets to the point where it looks like that is inevitable, you’ll see him change course,” said White House senior adviser Cedric Richmond in an interview with CNN’s “State of the Union.”
“But for now, we’re engaged in a — what we want to be — a bipartisan infrastructure bill that invests in the backbone of this country, the middle class, and our future,” Richmond added (CNN).
The Hill: Biden adviser: Infrastructure counterproposal shows “willingness to negotiate in good faith.”
However, the current Biden plan isn’t moving any Republicans, including those who would be ripe for the picking for a bipartisan package to move through Congress. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said that the continued banter between the two sides about the fundamental question of what constitutes “infrastructure” remains a major sticking point between the two sides. She indicated that until that question is resolved, compromise is difficult.
“I think negotiations should continue, but it’s important to note that there are some fundamental differences here, and at the heart of the negotiations is defining the scope of the bill. What is infrastructure?” Collins told ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. “We, Republicans, tend to define infrastructure in terms of roads, bridges, seaports and airports, and broadband. The Democratic definition seems to include social programs that have never been considered part of core infrastructure” (The Hill).
The New York Times: Hopes for bipartisan deals on Biden’s priorities dim.
Politico: Summertime scramble: Dems sweating a pileup of big votes on Biden’s agenda.
The most recent GOP proposal is $568 billion, one-third of the cost of the Democratic plan, with the party intent on keeping its proposals focused on traditional infrastructure programs. A spokesperson for Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.), the GOP’s lead infrastructure negotiator, said on Friday that the new White House offer was “well above the range of what can pass Congress with bipartisan support.”
Upshot: Any bipartisan infrastructure deal was going to take time and a lot of work. Is this a bump in the road or a permanent problem? Only time will tell.
The Washington Post: Biden’s big agenda stalls in Congress and a debt fight looms.
The New York Times: Defying critics, Biden and the Fed insist the economic recovery is on track.
The other question facing lawmakers: How to pick up the tab for a potential bipartisan bill? As The Hill’s Naomi Jagoda writes, Democrats continue to focus on raising the corporate tax rate from its current 21 percent and increased tax enforcement against corporations as the means to do so. Republicans, meanwhile, believe a fee on electric vehicles and repurposing unspent federal funds, such as from previously enacted coronavirus relief laws, could be the ticket to fund such a bill.
The Hill: Environmentalists see infrastructure as a crucial path to climate goals.
The Associated Press: As Congress returns to funding earmarks, who will benefit?
USA Today: Biden stays surprisingly on message as president.
More in Congress: The U.S. Postal Service is at an inflection point after a year of withering scrutiny and questions about the direction of the critical agency. Bipartisan legislation in the Senate and the appointment of three new board members by Biden have given the Postal Service a path to modernize and cut costs after its finances and operations were a focal point during the 2020 election (The Hill). … U.S. security assistance to Israel is increasingly finding itself in progressive lawmakers’ crosshairs after the recent conflict in Gaza. Despite the two-week ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, progressives are likely to continue questioning a staple of U.S. foreign policy: funding for Israel (The Hill). … The National Guard is ending its deployment in Washington, D.C., more than four months after troops were called to the District following the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol. More than 2,000 National Guard troops will return to their home bases this week after the Department of Defense did not request that the force extend its mission to help protect the nation’s capital past Sunday (The Hill).
A MESSAGE FROM UBER
Meet Fallon. Delivering with Uber Eats helps her pay for college. “I like the flexibility of driving with Uber,” she says. “I can drive when I want to.”
*Driver earnings may vary depending on location, demand, hours, drivers, and other variables.
ADMINISTRATION: Tuesday marks one year since George Floyd’s death on a street in Minneapolis, surrounded by police and bystanders. Biden will mark the day with remarks and by hosting Floyd’s family at the White House. The president is expected to voice his support once again for the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which is stalled in Congress. Biden had previously set the anniversary of Floyd’s death as the deadline for the bill’s passage, and he left deliberations largely to lawmakers (ABC News 11).
Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.), who drafted the Senate version of policing reform legislation passed by the House in March, said on Sunday that negotiators are making “meaningful progress,” including on the question of qualified immunity, which currently shields some officers from prosecution (The Hill). “To me, we need this to create real accountability,” the senator said on CNN. “So, I’m at the negotiating table fighting for that. We have to have a nation where when you do wrong, again, not the good officers, but when folks have done wrong, violated someone’s fundamental constitutionally protected rights, that there is not a shield in the judicial system but true, true accountability where they are not above the law.”
The Hill’s Amie Parnes revisits how Biden reacted to Floyd’s death in 2020. Those around the president now say the shocking videotape of Floyd’s killing under the knee of a police officer — who was found guilty last month on all counts of murder and manslaughter — left an indelible mark and became a turning point for some of his policies. “I think for him, it sort of made it more real, like it did for a lot of Americans,” said one longtime adviser, “to see a black man killed in public, to see the inhumanity.”
The Associated Press: Floyd’s killing prompts some states to limit or ban chokeholds.
The New York Times: Amid rising crime in U.S. cities, there’s a push to add more police officers.
The Washington Post: Minneapolis remains scarred and divided a year after Floyd’s killing.
Richmond, Va., Mayor Levar Stoney wrote an opinion piece for The New York Times’s section on Floyd and America titled, “I needed to lead my city. But I needed to apologize first.” He wrote: “There are two epidemics in America: COVID-19 and racism. One is now 14 months old, the other over 400 years old. Both are lethal. I knew I wasn’t going to be able to cure those issues that day.”
> Immigration: Biden’s efforts to dismantle former President Trump’s immigration legacy, including visa restrictions, are being hamstrung by a State Department still operating with limited capacity and maneuvering room due to the coronavirus (The Hill).
> Financial regulations: Interest in cryptocurrencies has surged over the past year and policymakers are scrambling to catch up. Investors have rushed into major digital currencies like bitcoin, and a growing industry of financial products tied to them, prompting regulators to lay out new rules for a rapidly growing and sparsely regulated world (The Hill).
IN FOCUS/SHARP TAKES
POLITICS: Republicans are having trouble at all turns at keeping their attention on the Biden administration as they repeatedly are being forced to confront the Jan. 6 insurrection on the U.S. Capitol, a political issue they seem intent on moving away from.
As The Hill’s Scott Wong and Mike Lillis write, Democrats are plowing ahead with plans for deep-dive investigations into the attack on the Capitol, with some GOP members attempting in recent weeks to whitewash and downplay the deadly incident.
All the while, Trump has continued to press his case that the election was stolen by corrupt officials, repeating the lie that inspired the Jan. 6 riot. His continued comments have made it nearly impossible for GOP leaders to turn their criticisms on the opening four months of the Biden agenda.
His nonstop remarks have also allowed Democrats to make the case for the Jan. 6 commission and use it as a political weapon in their bid to defy the odds and keep hold of the House in 2022. As Max Greenwood writes, the commission may not come to fruition as GOP leaders have come out en masse against it and argue that it’s “too early” to launch one, but that has only given Democrats more ammunition to use looking ahead to next year’s midterms.
The Hill: “QAnon Shaman” attorney is “advocate” with “big mouth.”
The Associated Press: The mob made me do it: Rioters claim Jan. 6 crowd at fault.
The Hill: Retired Lt. Gen. Russel Honoré: Jan. 6 “could have been totally different” if there were a quick reaction force.
> Abortion politics: Both parties are gearing up to make abortion a major campaign issue ahead of next year’s elections as the Supreme Court prepares to hear a case that could diminish Roe v. Wade.
As The Hill’s Julia Manchester reports, the issue is already impacting races, including in Virginia, where Democrats and pro-choice groups are hitting GOP gubernatorial nominee Glenn Youngkin for his anti-abortion stances ahead of the general election this November. Also on the political target list for Democrats and abortion rights groups is Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R), who on Wednesday signed legislation that would virtually ban all abortions in the state once a fetal heartbeat is detected.
The Washington Post: Republicans struggle to define a new governing coalition as Trump closes his grip on the party.
*****
CORONAVIRUS: Let’s start the week with some good news on the coronavirus front.
Infections with the virus in the United States are at the lowest level since last summer (The New York Times). And the United States is an inch away from achieving the inoculation of half the population with at least one dose of vaccine, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Those adults who are now fully vaccinated account for 40 percent of the population.
Nonetheless, 50 percent is not 70 percent (a goal for an approximation of herd immunity). States are increasingly turning to lotteries and potential cash winnings as a way to try to get hesitant people inoculated to roll up their sleeves. New York and Maryland announced vaccinated people would have the chance to win prize money this week, following Ohio‘s move earlier this month. More states could join the incentives bandwagon to increase the rate of COVID-19 vaccinations (The Hill).
Which states have already jabbed 70 percent of their adult populations? Rhode Island is the latest. The others passing that magic threshold: Connecticut, Hawaii, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey and Vermont (CNN).
U.S. families are just beginning to vaccinate their children and young teenagers. The CDC, which said coronavirus vaccines are safe for young people beginning at age 12 (based on clinical data), is investigating several dozen reports that teens and young adults may have developed myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscles, after vaccination. Whether COVID-19 vaccines caused the cardiac condition has not been determined (The New York Times).
Former President Obama and actor Eva Longoria are joining a social media chat today about COVID-19 vaccines, hoping to reach women, particularly women of color. Made to Save, the United State of Women, Supermajority, and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) are hosting the event on Facebook Live. Obama issued a similar video message for HHS on May 14 encouraging vaccinations while appearing in Greenbelt, Md. HERE.
The Associated Press: The value of testing for COVID-19 has diminished with the rising U.S. rate of vaccinations. The federal government not only eased its mask guidance but also instituted another major change: Fully vaccinated Americans can largely skip getting tested for the coronavirus. People who have been vaccinated can still catch the virus, but they face little risk of serious illness from it. Positive test results can lead to what many public health experts now say are unnecessary worries and interruptions at work, home and school, such as quarantines and shutdowns.
> Coronavirus variants: The Pfizer vaccine is effective against the COVID-19 variant found in India, according to British experts (The Hill). … The variant found in the United Kingdom and identified as B.1.1.7 was the dominant strain of the virus identified in Los Angeles County in the past week (NBC 4 Los Angeles).
> Where did the novel coronavirus come from? A meeting of the World Health Organization’s decision making body during a second phase of investigation is expected to highlight new recommendations from the United States and other nations to sharpen the depth of evidence gathered about COVID-19’s Chinese ’s origins, The Wall Street Journal reports.
The annual WHO Health Assembly begins today through June 1 and will be virtual.
U.S. intelligence sources say three researchers in November 2019 who worked in China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick enough to seek hospital care “with symptoms consistent with both COVID-19 and common seasonal illness.” Global public health and virology experts say that to be prepared for future coronavirus pandemics, tracking the origin of COVID-19 and determining how it infected humans remains important. Chinese officials have resisted.
The Associated Press: India now has the third-highest reported death toll from COVID-19 in the world. The country’s actual fatalities from the virus are thought to be significantly higher.
OPINIONS
How to kill the great American highway, by Noah Smith, columnist, The Wall Street Journal. https://bloom.bg/2REAogU
Seeking a cease-fire on our city streets, by the Minneapolis Star Tribune editorial board. http://strib.mn/2RJNMAm
A MESSAGE FROM UBER
Meet Fallon. Delivering with Uber Eats helps her pay for college. “I like the flexibility of driving with Uber,” she says. “I can drive when I want to.”
*Driver earnings may vary depending on location, demand, hours, drivers, and other variables.
The House meets on Tuesday at noon for a pro forma session. Lawmakers resume legislative work in the Capitol next month.
TheSenate will convene at 3 p.m. to resume consideration of the Endless Frontier Act.
The president and Vice President Harris will receive the President’s Daily Brief at 9:50 a.m. He will visit the headquarters of the Federal Emergency Management Agency in Washington for a briefing about the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season and federal preparedness at 1:30 p.m.
The vice president will host a listening session on investments in the American Jobs Plan at 2:15 p.m.
The White House press briefing is scheduled at noon.
➔ INTERNATIONAL: Iran’s parliament speaker, Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf, said on Sunday that surveillance images of the nation’s nuclear sites may no longer be observed and accessed by international inspectors, casting doubt over the possibility of salvaging the atomic accord with a slew of world powers. As The Associated Press notes, the comments come amid hopes in the Biden administration of rekindling a deal with the Islamic Republic. further underscored the narrowing window for the U.S. and others to reach terms with Iran. … In Belarus, President Alexander Lukashenko personally ordered a fighter jet to accompany an airplane carrying Raman Pratasevich, 26, a leading opposition figure and journalist, forcing the plane to land in Minsk so Lukashenko’s critic could be arrested. The plane was originally traveling from Greece to Lithuania. On Sunday, Secretary of State Antony Blinkencondemned the forced diversion and arrest and demanded Pratasevich’s release, adding that the United States called on the Council of the International Civil Aviation Organization to review the events (The Associated Press). … Fury over Lukashenko’s actions will dominate a European Union summit dinner tonight where punitive steps against Belarus are now under consideration (Reuters).
➔ COURTS: Biden’s order to the Justice Department last week aimed at improving access to defense counsel and adequate representation has advocates hopeful it could lead to a dramatic expansion of justice in civil courts — including for those facing immigration consequences (The Hill).
➔ STATE WATCH: Trump’s longtime chief financial officer Allen Weisselberg faces legal jeopardy in New York on multiple fronts over questionable financial activity linked to the former president and the Trump Organization (The Hill).
➔ SCIENCE: One important read (updated this month) appeared in The New York Times Magazine, which reviews in detail how humanity essentially achieved an extra life span over the past century. One reason: medical science. Another: activism. Recognition of this “extra life” holds important implications for the next 100 years. “Runaway population growth — and the environmental crisis it has helped produce — should remind us that continued advances in life expectancy are not inevitable. We know from our recent history during the industrial age that scientific and technological progress alone do not guarantee positive trends in human health,” wrote Steven Johnson, author of “Extra Life: A Short History of Living Longer.” Johnson is also a host of a four-part PBS-BBC series of the same title.
THE CLOSER
And finally … 🏌As CBS’s Jim Nantz put it so aptly, Phil Mickelson defeated Father Time to become the oldest golfer to win a major championship with his Sunday victory at the PGA Championship in Kiawah Island, S.C.
Mickelson, 50, defeated Brooks Koepka and Louis Oosthuizen by two strokes at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort’s Ocean Course to take home his sixth major championship, his first since his 2013 win at The Masters Tournament. Jack Nicklaus previously held the title as the oldest major winner, having won The Masters at age 46 in 1986 (ESPN).
The Morning Report is created by journalists Alexis Simendinger and Al Weaver. We want to hear from you! Email: asimendinger@thehill.com and aweaver@thehill.com. We invite you to share The Hill’s reporting and newsletters, and encourage others to SUBSCRIBE!
TO VIEW PAST EDITIONS OF THE HILL’S MORNING REPORT CLICK HERE
TO RECEIVE THE HILL’S MORNING REPORT IN YOUR INBOX SIGN UP HERE
President Biden will meet with the family of George Floyd tomorrow at the White House on the anniversary of Floyd’s death. https://bit.ly/3wtn1Px
TIMING — FLOYD POLICING BILL IS STALLED IN THE SENATE:
President Biden had set a May 25, 2021, deadline to pass the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act. Congress is expected to miss that deadline, though, as at least 10 Senate Republican votes are needed. https://cnb.cx/3ukWVMZ
The gist of what’s in the bill: The bill would ban chokeholds and end “qualified immunity” for law enforcement. NBC’s breakdown of what’s in the bill: https://nbcnews.to/3wufIqJ
INTERESTING READ — HOW GEORGE FLOYD SHIFTED BIDEN’S REALITY:
It’s Monday. Umm, how is this the last week of May…? Anyway, I’m Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what’s coming up. Send comments, story ideas and happy hour suggestions to cmartel@thehill.com — and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook.
Did someone forward this to you? Want your own copy? Sign up here to receive The Hill’s 12:30 Report in your inbox daily: http://bit.ly/2kjMNnn
Via The Hill’s Dominick Mastrangelo and Harper Neidig, “A former top diplomat who testified against former President Trump during his first impeachment trial is suing former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and the State Department, alleging that his legal fees were not paid as promised.” https://bit.ly/3fB7c2s
Details: “Trump’s former ambassador to the European Union, Gordon Sondland, is seeking $1.8 million in damages from Pompeo and the State Department in a suit filed in federal court in the District of Columbia on Monday.”
What Sondland is alleging: “Pompeo had promised him that the government would cover the necessary legal costs of complying with a House subpoena stemming from the inquiry but later backed out of the agreement when it became apparent that the former ambassador’s testimony would be damning for the Trump White House.”
Back and ready for vaccinated crowds!:
Via The Hollywood Reporter’s Alex Weprin, “CBS’ The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will return to The Ed Sullivan Theater on Broadway on June 14, the network said Monday morning.” https://bit.ly/2QL10MS
How it will work: “All guests of the show will need to require proof that they are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, and face masks will be optional for those in the crowd. Crew members will continue to be tested for the virus on a regular basis.”
Via The Hill’s Jordain Carney, “The Senate is set to have a jammed-packed week as senators try to bring a massive piece of legislation across the finish line and huddle behind the scenes on a slew of increasingly time-sensitive issues. The House is out of town until mid-June. The Senate is likely to leave on Thursday afternoon for a one-week break.” https://bit.ly/3oID8pI
WHAT’S ON THE MENU THIS WEEK:
China competitiveness bill: “The Senate is quietly making progress on a bill to invest more than $100 billion to counter China’s competitiveness, a rare area that has attracted across-the-aisle agreement. The Senate voted last week to start debate on the bill, and Schumer wants to get it wrapped up before the chamber leaves town.”
Jan. 6 commission: “Republicans are hardening against a House-passed bill to establish a commission to probe the Jan. 6 attack, signaling that without significant shifting it’s unlikely to get the 10 GOP votes to pass the Senate.” It’s possible the Senate could vote on the bill this week, but the China bill may keep the Senate busy.
Infrastructure: “Infrastructure talks between the Biden administration and a key group of GOP senators are bogging down over big differences between the scope of the bill, the price tag and how to pay for it.” Keep in mind: “Time is quickly running out to strike a bipartisan deal. Democrats and the White House have pointed to the end of May as the timeline for Republicans signaling whether they will get on board.”
Voting rights: “Democrats are poised to have another family meeting this week on the For the People Act, the party’s top legislative priority heading into 2022.”
CNN’s Kaitlan Collins tweeted, “25 states and DC have now fully vaccinated at least half their adult populations, per CDC data. The state with the highest number of adults fully vaccinated is Maine.” https://bit.ly/2SnxRrq
Via The Hill’s Alexander Bolton, “Democratic senators say if the Supreme Court strikes a blow against Roe v. Wade by upholding a Mississippi abortion law, it will fuel an effort to add justices to the court or otherwise reform it.” https://bit.ly/3uhzX9u
How so: “The Supreme Court’s conservative majority this week agreed to hear the Mississippi case, which could dramatically narrow abortion rights by allowing states to make it illegal to get an abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy.”
The Washington Post’s Ashley Parker has an interesting glimpse into the day of President Biden. https://wapo.st/3hPBEZp
“Current and former advisers say Biden’s typical day reveals a creature of habit with well-worn routines and favorite treats, from orange Gatorade to chocolate chip cookies; a tactile politician eager to escape the Washington bubble who meets privately with people who write him letters; and the patriarch of a sprawling Irish-Catholic clan who abruptly interrupts high-level meetings to take calls from family members.”
Funny tidbit, which I can relate: “Biden sometimes takes his lunch on the go to various meetings, in what [Sen. Chris] Coons [(D-Del.)] described as ‘not quite a lunch pail, but it’s his little bag of stuff, so if he gets peckish in a meeting he can have something healthy’— often a protein bar, a peanut-butter-and-jelly sandwich and a travel-size orange Gatorade. ‘He has the tastes of a 5-year-old,’ a longtime Biden adviser quipped.” https://wapo.st/3hPBEZp
5:30 p.m. EDT: The Senate holds a cloture vote on the nomination of Chiquita Brooks-LaSure as administrator of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.
WHAT TO WATCH:
11 a.m. EDT: National security officials testified on space program funding. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3yBQV5W
Noon: White House press secretary Jen Psaki is holding a press briefing. Livestream: https://bit.ly/3fgauJv
2:15 p.m. EDT: Vice President Harris hosts a listening session on access to affordable, high-speed internet for all Americans. Livestream: https://bit.ly/348vn30
NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF…:
Today is National Escargot Day.
And because you made it this far, here’s a turtle looking for a comfy spot to nap:
After more than a year of virtual-only advocacy because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the freshly vaccinated lobbying set is reemerging for real-life meetings on the Hill and in-person fundraisers, as well as meals and sit-downs to reconnect with clients and coworkers. Still, many say they expect the Zoom life to carry on. Read more…
The White House on Friday lowered its original $2.2 trillion infrastructure proposal by roughly $500 billion, calling it an effort to attract bipartisan support. Republican lawmakers said the parties remain far apart. Read more…
Democrats have rushed to support New Mexico state Rep. Melanie Stansbury’s bid to succeed Interior Secretary Deb Haaland in what’s considered a safe Democratic seat, new campaign finance disclosures show. Stansbury raised almost $1.2 million in roughly six weeks, almost triple the $344,000 raised by GOP opponent Mark Moores. Read more…
Click here to subscribe to Fintech Beat for the latest market and regulatory developmentsin finance and financial technology.
Rep. Steve Cohen whipped out a “you can’t handle the truth” meme in response to Republican opposition to the bipartisan Jan. 6 commission bill. Meanwhile, Rep. Tom Cole brought a birthday cake to the Rules Committee, some jokes from President Joe Biden fell flat and Rep. John Katko asked everyone to just take a breath. Read more…
A horse, a dog, a mockingbird, billions of cicadas — along with some Ben & Jerry’s — were just some of the highlights at the Capitol and around Washington last week. CQ Roll Call’s photojournalists bring you the best images of the week. Read more…
June and July are going to be busy for lawmakers as Congress looks to tackle a budget resolution, appropriations bills, debt limit legislation, infrastructure and more. CQ Roll Call’s Jennifer Shutt and David Lerman break down the next few months and look at how the Capitol Hill security spending bill may be in the mix. Listen here…
The Biden administration and some employers have not extended COVID-19 vaccine paid leave policies to parents helping kids get shots, which children’s health advocates say could make it difficult for some of the most vulnerable to get vaccinated. Read more…
CQ Roll Call is a part of FiscalNote, the leading technology innovator at the intersection of global business and government. Copyright 2021 CQ Roll Call. All rights reserved Privacy | Safely unsubscribe now.
1201 Pennsylvania Ave, NW Suite 600
Washington, DC 20004
THE WEEK AHEAD IN D.C. — Is bipartisanship alive in Washington?This week should give us a pretty good clue. It doesn’t look promising at the outset.
ON INFRASTRUCTURE: President JOE BIDEN set a deadline of Memorial Day to strike a deal with Republicans. And while both sides have put offers and counteroffers on the table, they ended last week accusing each other of gimmickry. Not a good sign.
That’s not to mention the colossal differences that remain over the price tag, pay-fors and scope — and the pressure Biden is under from his own party to just get on with it and turn to reconciliation. The big question for the next few days is this: Will Republicans counter the latest White House offer, which lowered the more-than-$2 trillion price tag to $1.7 trillion? The NYT has the latest here.
ON POLICING: Lawmakers are already downplaying the possibility of clinching a bipartisan accord before Biden’s other self-imposed deadline of the week: May 25, the anniversary of GEORGE FLOYD’S murder. The president will be hosting Floyd’s family at the White House on Tuesday. But while lawmakers appear to have made headway on some of the thorniest issues — including a possible middle ground regarding qualified immunity for cops — nothing is agreed to until everything is agreed to. And from what we’re hearing, that’s unlikely to be this week.
ENDLESS FRONTIER-PLUS: If you haven’t been following this rather wonky and massive, 1,400-page tech bill, we don’t blame you. But even if this isn’t your issue, it’s worth keeping an eye on whether this legislation passes this week for another reason: Senate watchers say if the upper chamber can’t clear this proposal aimed at outcompeting China, it won’t pass anything all year on a bipartisan basis.
That’s because Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER, for whom this is something of a pet project, has allowed the legislation to go through so-called regular order, a rarity these days on Capitol Hill. So the text, which seeks to juice at least $110 billion into research, tech and science, has been amended many times — including by Republicans — and is loaded up with tangential spending and policy riders.
Sometimes that helps get votes, giving lawmakers a personal reason to vote yes. But its chief co-author, Sen. TODD YOUNG (R-Ind.), has expressed concern with some of the changes. He’s on a new Indiana Business Journal podcast talking (positively) about the bill this morning.
JAN. 6 COMMISSION: We hate to keep beating this dead horse, but the all-but-doomed Jan. 6 commission proposal could get a vote in the Senate as early as this week. It’s worth watching for a potential spill-over effect.
Sen. JOE MANCHIN (D-W.Va.) was outraged that his GOP colleagues were suggesting they would filibuster the bipartisan setup. Could that be a tipping point for Manchin to greenlight his party to forge ahead with reconciliation for infrastructure? Manchin is the one blocking that move now, saying he wants an infrastructure deal to be bipartisan.
KNOWING DOUG — Be sure to check out Eugene’s profile of second gentleman DOUG EMHOFF, who’s still navigating the weightier responsibilities of his new perch — like how to take on food insecurity — with, well, just being a dude. For instance, when he showed up at an Annapolis bookstore last week and made a request, it wasn’t for a thick presidential biography but a new memoir by … SETH ROGEN.Lots more fun deets in the piece
BIDEN’S MONDAY — The president and VP KAMALA HARRIS will receive the President’s Daily Brief at 9:50 a.m. Biden will receive a briefing on the Atlantic hurricane outlook and preparedness efforts at FEMA headquarters at 1:30 p.m.
—Harris will host a listening session on the digital divide at 2:15 p.m. in the South Court Auditorium.
—Press secretary JEN PSAKI will brief at noon.
THE SENATE will meet at 3 p.m. to take up the Endless Frontier Act. It will vote at 5:30 p.m. on cloture for CHIQUITA BROOKS-LASURE’S nomination as Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services administrator.
THE HOUSE is out.
BIDEN’S WEEK AHEAD — On Tuesday, the president will meet with the family of George Floyd on the anniversary of his death. Biden will travel to Cleveland on Thursday to deliver remarks on the economy. He’ll travel on Friday to Wilmington, Del., for the Memorial Day weekend.
PLAYBOOK READS
THE WHITE HOUSE
REPUBLICANS SEIZE ON IRS BOOGEYMAN — Conservative groups are latching onto one of Biden’s recently proposed pay-fors for his massive spending plans: the idea of hiring 87,000 new IRS workers over the next decade to collect $80 billion from tax evaders. Anita Kumar has a story up this morning about how Republicans are accusing the Biden administration “of pushing for the IRS expansion as a way to raise taxes, increase dues paid to left-leaning unions, and increase oversight on political organizations, as happened with the rise of Tea Party groups during the Obama presidency.”
Marc Short, the former chief of staff to VP Mike Pence and founder of Coalition to Protect American Workers, said GOP messaging on this issue polled extremely well in critical swing districts. Now his group is up with six-figure cable and local TV ads in two states and planning to expand to 20 House battlegrounds in six. “I still think this is an Achilles’ heel for the overall plan,” he told Anita.
TOP-ED — “How Joe Biden Can Win a Nobel Peace Prize,”by NYT’s Tom Friedman. This is a must-read if for no other reason than the one Times media columnist Ben Smith noted in a tweet Sunday night: “You know one person who really reads and listens to @tomfriedman? Joe Biden …”
CONGRESS
THE SUMMER FROM HELL — Forget infrastructure, police reform and the massive voting overhaul Democrats want to pass this summer for just one moment. In the next two months before August recess — or just thereafter — Congress will also have to determine the fate of unemployment benefits, a debt ceiling increase and government funding, which require 60 votes in the Senate for passage. Add the rising temperatures in Washington — we’re not talking about the sweltering heat, but about partisan friction — and it doesn’t exactly tax the imagination to conjure what could go wrong.
In a story posted this morning, Marianne LeVine and Sarah Ferris lay out the next two months of the legislative calendar, and detail the rising panic setting in as Democrats see the clock ticking.
From the story:“Democrats are publicly grinning through the stress. But they also recognize that their summertime scramble will have enormous implications for the fate of the agenda that got Biden elected. Given the likelihood that next November’s midterm could wrest away the party’s grip on Congress, Democrats are eager for an intense burst of activity before Washington is overtaken by further preelection political paralysis.”
LINGERING FEARS — “Lawmakers worry the toxic atmosphere on Capitol Hill will follow them home, raising safety concerns,”WaPo: “Several Democratic members have privately expressed their concerns to leadership about security back home as threats have risen, according to people familiar with the discussions who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe the conversations. Some of these Democrats said they have paid out of their own pocket to increase security at their district offices or install security systems in their homes out of an abundance of caution.
“Members’ concerns have been validated by the U.S. Capitol Police, who report that threats against lawmakers have increased by 107 percent in just the first five months of the year compared with last year. … Democratic leaders said they are trying to be responsive to the concerns of members and included $21.5 million for member safety regarding travel and district office security upgrades as part of a $1.9 billion proposal to fortify security at the U.S. Capitol following the Jan. 6 attack. The bill passed the House on a narrow 213 to 212 vote last week.”
POLITICS ROUNDUP
GOING LOCAL — “They tried to overturn the 2020 election. Now they want to run the next one,”by Zach Montellaro: “The candidates include Rep. JODY HICE of Georgia, a leader of the congressional Republicans who voted against certifying the 2020 Electoral College results; Arizona state Rep. MARK FINCHEM, one of the top proponents of the conspiracy-tinged vote audit in Arizona’s largest county; Nevada’s JIM MARCHANT, who sued to have his 5-point congressional loss last year overturned; and Michigan’s KRISTINA KARAMO, who made dozens of appearances in conservative media to claim fraud in the election.
“Now, they are running for secretary of state in key battlegrounds that could decide control of Congress in 2022 — and who wins the White House in 2024. Their candidacies come with former President DONALD TRUMP still fixated on spreading falsehoods about the 2020 election, insisting he won and lying about widespread and systemic fraud. Each of their states has swung between the two parties over the last decade, though it is too early to tell how competitive their elections will be.”
— On a related topic, the AP’sNick Riccardi has the latest look at the kookiness surrounding Cyber Ninjas and its election audit in Arizona. This quote sums it up pretty well: “‘If I give you 20 M&Ms, and you want 30, you can keep counting it, but you did not get 30 M&Ms,’ said DAVID BECKER of the Center for Election Innovation and Research, a former Department of Justice voting rights attorney and elections expert. ‘This is not an effort to find the truth.’”
THE NATURAL STATE PETRI DISH — “Why Arkansas Is a Test Case for a Post-Trump Republican Party,”per NYT’s Jonathan Martin: “Arkansas represents the full spectrum of today’s G.O.P. There are Trump devotees fully behind his false claims of a stolen election and his brand of grievance-oriented politics. That faction is now led by the former White House press secretary SARAH HUCKABEE SANDERS … More ideological, and less Trump-centric, conservatives include Senator TOM COTTON.
“And then there are pre-Trump Republicans, like Gov. ASA HUTCHINSON, hoping against hope the moment will pass and they can return the party to its Reaganite roots. Finally, some Republicans are so appalled by Trumpism, they have left or are considering leaving the party. Perhaps most significant, each of these factions are bunched together in a state powered by a handful of corporations that are increasingly uneasy with the culture-war politics that define Trump Republicanism.”
TROUBLE FOR TIMKEN — “Top MAGA ally under fire for ‘squishiness’ on Trump,”by Marc Caputo and James Arkin: “During JANE TIMKEN’S tenure as Ohio’s GOP chair, Donald Trump won the one-time bellwether state by a whopping 8 percentage points. She put 150,000 miles on her car driving to the state’s 88 counties as a surrogate for the president. And she raised a total of $5 million for his two campaigns.
“But that sterling record of MAGA support might not be enough to guarantee the former president’s support in her bid for the GOP Senate nomination. Timken’s sin? In her capacity as state party chair, she failed to immediately condemn home-state Republican congressman, ANTHONY GONZALEZ, for voting to impeach Trump in response to the U.S. Capitol riot on Jan. 6.”
BEYOND THE BELTWAY
DO AS I SAY … “Whitmer apologizes after photo shows her at bar violating her own order,” Detroit News: “Michigan Gov. GRETCHEN WHITMER issued an apology Sunday after a photo emerged showing her at a restaurant with 12 other people gathered around tables pushed together in violation of her health department’s current epidemic order. The May 15 order from the state Department of Health and Human Services says no more than six people can be seated together and groups of patrons must be six feet apart. The conservative news outlet Breitbart first reported the photo Sunday.”
ONE YEAR LATER — “A Year After George Floyd: Pressure to Add Police Amid Rising Crime,” NYT: “[A] year after Mr. Floyd’s death, Los Angeles and other American cities face a surge in violent crime amid pandemic despair and a flood of new guns onto the streets. The surge is prompting cities whose leaders embraced the values of the movement last year to reassess how far they are willing to go to reimagine public safety and divert money away from the police and toward social services. … But more cops is what Los Angeles is getting.”
THE LATEST IN MINSK — “Belarus Forces Down Plane to Seize Dissident; Europe Sees ‘State Hijacking,’”NYT: “The strongman president of Belarus sent a fighter jet to intercept a European airliner traveling through the country’s airspace on Sunday and ordered the plane to land in the capital, Minsk, where a prominent opposition journalist aboard was then seized, provoking international outrage.
“The stunning gambit by ALEKSANDR G. LUKASHENKO, a brutal and erratic leader who has clung to power despite huge protests against his government last year, was condemned by European officials, who compared it to hijacking. It underscored that with the support of President VLADIMIR V. PUTIN of Russia, Mr. Lukashenko is prepared to go to extraordinary lengths to repress dissent.”
PLAYBOOKERS
SPOTTED: Marc Adelman, Phil and Chelsea Mattingly, Michael LaRosa, Missy Owens and Stacy Kerr at Rasika on Saturday night.
FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Paolo Mastrangelo is now senior director of government affairs at Humanity Forward. He previously was senior public affairs adviser for Holland & Knight’s public policy and regulation group.
TRANSITIONS — Tara Vales has joined Edelman’s external affairs team as VP of media and executive positioning. She previously was senior manager of public relations at CNN. … David Overy is now media and external relations specialist for the National Security Innovation Network. He previously worked in government affairs for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
ENGAGED — Tom Wilbur, director of public affairs at PhRMA, and Leslie Lake, VP at FleishmanHillard, got engaged Saturday at the National Arboretum, followed by a champagne toast with friends at James Creek Marina. The couple met about two years ago at PhRMA HQ and had their first date at Red Bear Brewing in NoMa.Pic… Another pic
WEDDINGS — Peter Murray, who was previously director of external engagement for former DOT Secretary Elaine Chao,and Rachel Chasteen, marketing manager at Grey Fox Strategies, got married this weekend in Tampa, Fla.
— Brittni Palke, owner of Palke Communications and a Senate Homeland Security Committee alum, and Brad Hurtig, a motivational speaker, got married May 1 in Willmar, Minn., near Brittni’s hometown of Clara City. Pic… Another pic
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Reps. Steve Cohen (D-Tenn.) and Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) … NBC/MSNBC’s Kasie Hunt … former Rep. Charlie Dent (R-Pa.) … Giovanna Gray Lockhart … Rory Cooper of Purple Strategies … Eric Schwerin …. Sara Olson … D.E. Shaw’s Randall Whitestone … NPR’s Tom Bowman … Mark Bescher of Mondelēz International … Signal Group’s Chelsea Koski … Craig Singleton … Atlantic Council’s Damon Wilson … Sarah Pavlus … Bob Franken … former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland … Deborah Hart Strober … Herbert Wachtell … Meredith Ritchie … Edelman’s Sarah Miller … Jason Wallace … Henock Dory … Fred DuVal … Bloomberg’s Alisa Parenti … Tom Maher … Rana Abtar … Debby Goldberg … Daniel Zingale … Kevin Tierney … Uzbekistani PM Abdulla Aripov (6-0) … Bob Dylan (8-0)
Send Playbookers tips to playbook@politico.com. Playbook couldn’t happen without our editor Mike Zapler, deputy editor Zack Stanton and producers Allie Bice, Eli Okun and Garrett Ross.
Saturday, a Black Lives Matter group had enough of the Antifa terrorists in Portland. The group had organized a protest march that Antifa had joined and, as usual, the Antifa members became violent. Of course, they are just an idea as President Joe Biden claims right? A video posted to …
CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) gained notoriety with Howard R. Bowen’s 1953 publication Social Responsibilities of the Businessman, and although times have since changed and CSR has taken on various forms, a constant question remains unchanged. What is the role of business in society? Some claim that a greater focus on …
We accrued roughly $42,000 in new debt per federal taxpayer thanks to Congress’s multi-trillion-dollar COVID “stimulus” efforts. The least one could hope for is that the money was well spent. But a new ProPublica exposé reveals that one of the biggest stimulus programs sent taxpayer dollars to hundreds of fake …
There are a plethora of articles available on our gun rights spelled out in the Second Amendment. I have also written on the topic several times. I do not think that we write and speak about it enough. The right to protect yourself from harm and ensure you can stand …
Biden’s experience isn’t translating into preparation . . . When President Joe Biden was elected, supporters argued few candidates were better prepared for the White House: eight years as vice president, 36 years in the Senate, and stints as chairman of the Foreign Relations and Judiciary committees. Since taking office, Biden has been caught flat-footed by several developments: the surge of migrants at the border, the uptick in inflation, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, and splits among congressional Democrats on how to deal with the Middle East, with a growing faction in the House increasingly outspoken in its criticism of the Jewish state. Democrats have such narrow margins in Congress that even a handful of defections can prove decisive. AnalysisWashington Examiner
DOJ Charges BLM Supporter Who Allegedly ‘Stormed Capitol,’ Sold Footage to News Outlets . . . The Department of Justice (DOJ) seized $90,000 from a Utah man who sold footage of Ashli Babbitt being shot during the Jan. 6 Capitol breach, according to court filings filed by federal prosecutors. John Earle Sullivan, a political activist who reportedly attended Black Lives Matter protests last year and who allegedly agitated rioters inside the Capitol, was also charged with new weapons charges. Sullivan portrayed himself as an independent journalist who was reporting on the chaos, but he actually encouraged other participants to “burn” the building and engage in violence. “We did this together. [Expletive] yeah! We are all a part of this history,” and “let’s burn this [expletive] down.” Epoch Times
Politics
Biden eyes course change as infrastructure plan hits impasse . . . Negotiations over President Biden’s massive infrastructure plan have hit a snag and the White House and congressional allies threatened Sunday to move toward a Democrat-only process if Republicans don’t acquiesce. Cedric Richmond, a top adviser to Mr. Biden, said Sunday that the president is prepared to shift tactics on getting a substantial infrastructure package through Congress if Republicans don’t get on board. Washington Times
White House drops “infrastructure” proposal by a half-trillion dollars . . . This still doesn’t get it close to the Republican proposal, they are still nearly $1 trillion apart. Unclear if the White House is being serious because it lacks the votes for what it wants to do, or if it’s a ruse so that they can accuse Republicans of being uncooperative. Or both. Press secretary Jen Psaki revealed Friday that the White House is offering to bring the price tag of its infrastructure package down more than a half-trillion dollars, from $2.25 trillion to $1.7 trillion, as negotiations with Republicans continue. “In our view, this is the art of seeking common ground,” she said. White House Dossier
Biden’s Top Energy Regulator Lobbied for Company Behind Admin-Approved Wind Farm . . . President Joe Biden’s pick to lead a major federal energy agency spent years lobbying for the renewable power giant behind an offshore wind farm backed by the administration. From 2001 to 2016, Richard Glick, Biden’s nom to chair the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission served as head lobbyist for Avangrid Renewables, the U.S. subsidiary of Spanish electric conglomerate Iberdrola. The company set to become the country’s first large-scale offshore wind farm after the Biden administration approved the project on May 11. Glick’s new role will give him the authority to prioritize environmental projects that bolster the White House’s green energy push and potentially enrich his former clients. Washington Free Beacon
Biden & Co.’s pervasive corruption has surfaced at every turn. Thanks to excellent investigative reporting by Free Beacon, we are learning about it.
Russia First: Biden playing pipeline favorites . . . Following a Biden administration move to lift U.S. sanctions blocking completion of Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, critics are charging that the new president — who canceled the Keystone XL pipeline on his first day in office — is more concerned about Russian energy jobs and independence than he is about America’s own. “President BIden, if [you] can’t put America First, can you at least not put Russia first?” form Secretary of State Mike Pompeo tweeted. Just the News
Biden Advisers Link Amnesty for Illegal Immigrants With ‘Environmental Justice’ . . . An advisory panel to President Joe Biden is trying to marry the issue of amnesty for illegal immigrants with what it calls “environmental justice,” the federal effort to confront climate change. The White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council last week released a report with about 90 pages of recommendations that seem to have at best a tenuous relationship to the environment “Lack of immigration status fundamentally limits the ability of immigrants to enforce their rights and have access to programs and services that would promote their food, housing, economic security, and improved environmental quality,” the White House report states. Daily Signal
Biden skips Notre Dame graduation amid uproar over abortion policies . . . President Biden did not deliver the address to the University of Notre Dame 2021 graduating class, breaking with recent tradition for newly installed administrations, as the nation’s second Catholic president continues to draw fire for pursuing a staunchly pro-choice policy agenda. The White House told the Catholic News Agency that the president was invited but had a scheduling conflict, avoiding a brewing uproar over whether the Catholic institution should celebrate Mr. Biden by awarding him an honorary degree, as is customary for commencement speakers. Washington Times
Progressives ramp up scrutiny of US funding for Israel . . . U.S. security assistance to Israel is coming under increasing scrutiny from progressive lawmakers in Congress after this month’s bloody conflict in Gaza. Progressives are expected to keep pressing the concerns they voiced during the conflict, including questioning the once sacred cow of U.S. funding for Israel. Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the first Palestinian American woman in Congress tweeted after the cease-fire was announced Thursday evening,“The U.S. must condition funding to uphold human rights, and end the funding entirely if those conditions are not met.” The Hill
Medical Tyranny Is the Next Great American Threat . . . With mask mandates lifted in most states, we are seeing the true faces of those in power who seek to use sensitive medical information — like vaccination status — to oppress others. Private companies, organizations, and educational institutions announce their plans as people return to the office and classrooms — some requiring proof of full COVID-19 vaccination before walking through their doors. Some businesses plan to even segregate the vaccinated from the unvaccinated. Not getting the “jab” is the new Scarlet Letter. Those who are open about their non-vaccinated status will be forced to exist on the fringes of society. CommentaryPatriot Post
Trump aides hope new rivalry helps sustain MAGA movement . . . The growing number of former Trump administration officials launching fledgling political groups naturally raises one key question: Can the MAGA movement avoid a post-Trump political fracture? In the months following the 45th president’s Washington exit, top ex-Trump aides, including Domestic Policy Council Director Brooke Rollins and former senior White House policy adviser Stephen Miller, have opened competing activism outfits.
Both organizations were designed with the explicit goal of fighting federal overreach in the judicial system, but Miller’s is open about its attempts to thwart President Joe Biden’s legislative agenda, while Rollins’s claims to be nonpartisan. Washington Examiner
National Security
Russia, China will look to expand influence in Middle East as US pulls back . . . Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie, commander of the U.S. Central Command, said that as the U.S. reduces its military footprint in the Middle East, competing world powers Russia and China would seek to expand their influence in the region. “The Middle East writ broadly is an area of intense competition between the great powers. And I think that as we adjust our posture in the region, Russia and China will be looking very closely to see if a vacuum opens that they can exploit,” McKenzie told reporters, according to The Associated Press. President Biden had ordered a full withdrawal of U.S. troops in Afghanistan by Sept. 11. The Hill
Someone ought to talk some sense into Biden and convince him not to make September 11th the official withdrawal completion date. So disrespectful to the victims of terrorist attacks and their families.
Microsoft says it was hit by Chinese hackers, but Biden admin won’t point finger . . . Microsoft and cybersecurity experts believe the massive hack against the Microsoft Exchange Server this year was conducted by a Chinese hacker group, but the Biden administration has yet to point the finger. President Joe Biden signed a cybersecurity executive order earlier this month, naming three recent prominent cyberattacks — SolarWinds, Colonial Pipeline, and Microsoft — with a White House fact sheet saying those “recent cybersecurity incidents … are a sobering reminder that U.S. public and private sector entities increasingly face sophisticated malicious cyber activity from both nation-state actors and cyber criminals.” The tech giant announced in March that it was hacked by a “state-sponsored” group dubbed “Hafnium,” which “operates primarily from leased virtual private servers in the United States.” Microsoft said the hacker group was “state-sponsored” and operating out of China. Microsoft has “high confidence” in this assessment. Washington Examiner
Well, Joe could just name them ‘China-based’ hackers, not connected to the government in Beijing, and still play footsie with Xi.
Son Of Hamas Co-Founder, A Christian Convert, Urges Israel To Kill Terror Group’s Leaders . . . Hassan Yousef, the son of a Hamas group co-founder, urged Israel to assassinate leaders of the terror group after the Friday ceasefire to “teach them a lesson.”
“Assassinating Hamas leadership will not destroy Hamas, but it will teach them a lesson,” Yousef told the Post. “Next time, before you get civilians on both sides involved in a bloodbath, you need to think 1,000 times. This is my personal suggestion.” Mosab Hassan Yousef was raised to be a leader in the Palestinian terrorist organization but converted to Christianity and sought asylum in the United States after witnessing Hamas operatives torture and murder Israelis. Daily Caller
Coronavirus
Three Wuhan Institute Of Virology Scientists Were Hospitalized In 2019 . . . Three researchers at the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) were reportedly hospitalized with an unknown infection in November 2019. The researchers were hospitalized around the time COVID-19 is believed to have begun circulating in China, according to a US intelligence report. The report raises new questions about the origins of the virus, which some researchers, intelligence officials, and politicians believe is likely to have escaped from the WIV. Daily Caller
New US COVID cases at lowest level in a year . . . The coronavirus pandemic continues to recede in America — as the average number of new cases and deaths plummeted to levels not seen in almost a year. The CDC reported Sunday that the rolling seven-day average of daily new coronavirus cases had dropped to 24,315 nationwide. The last time the average was that low was on June 15 of last year, when the CDC reported a seven-day average of 23,304 new cases. New York Post
International
Belarus forces down passenger plane to arrest foe, US condemns Lukashenka . . . President Alexander Lukashenka of Belarus has in recent months faced increasing opposition to his iron-fisted rule, leading to mass arrests and the departure of some opposition leaders from the country. He has been in power since 1994 in the former Soviet republic. “This shocking act,” Blinken said, “perpetrated by the Lukashenka regime endangered the lives of more than 120 passengers, including U.S. citizens. Initial reports suggesting the involvement of the Belarusian security services and the use of Belarusian military aircraft to escort the plane are deeply concerning and require full investigation.” Politico
Indeed, shocking.
Iran blocks watchdog access to nuclear site images . . . Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf announced on Sunday that the International Atomic Energy Agency would no longer have access to images of its nuclear sites from fixed cameras. In December, parliament passed a bill to suspend the watchdog’s access to those images if European signatories of the 2015 nuclear accord failed to provide the Islamic Republic with relief from oil and banking sanctions by a three-month deadline. This step, coming after the enrichment of uranium far beyond the limits set by the nuclear deal, ratchets up Iran’s negotiating stance in the Vienna talks to renegotiate the deal. DEBKAfile
Belgian Authorities on a Manhunt for Extremist Soldier . . . A weeklong manhunt for a Belgian soldier whom authorities suspect of planning a terrorist attack is highlighting concerns over right-wing extremism in Western militaries. Jurgen Conings, who was on a security watch list for his extremist views, disappeared Monday after taking weapons including rocket launchers from his army base and making threats against public figures and institutions, Belgian authorities said. Wall Street Journal
Money
G7 is close to deal on taxation of world’s largest companies . . . The Group of Seven top advanced economies are close to an accord on the corporate taxation of multinationals, paving the way for a global deal later in the year to create new rules for the imposition of levies on the world’s largest companies. A G7 pact could be sealed as early as Friday and would be a powerful force and prerequisite for a deal in the formal negotiations taking place at the OECD in Paris and directed by the wider G20. An OECD agreement would probably lead to the largest shake-up in international corporate taxation for a century, severely curtailing the ability of companies to shift profits to low tax jurisdictions. Financial Times
‘Woke capitalists’ provoke backlash from US conservatives . . . Why, a shareholder asked at Goldman Sachs’ annual meeting last month, was the bank supporting Marxists against the capitalist policies that had made it such a powerhouse? Had its board been taken over by “the far-left woke mob”? David Solomon, Goldman’s chief executive, replied equably to the demand to explain why he had joined hundreds of his peers in opposing legislation that makes it harder for eligible voters to cast a ballot. The exchange captured a shift in the politics around corporate America as chief executives used to being lambasted by the left as tax-dodging contributors to inequality and environmental degradation find themselves attacked from the right as “woke capitalists”. A conservative backlash against companies’ responses to the 2020 election, voting battles, racial equity protests and other issues dividing Americans is becoming increasingly visible at shareholder meetings and in Congress and the media. Financial Times
You should also know
Apple Employees Demand Company Stand With Palestinian Muslims . . . A group of Muslim employees at Apple is pushing the tech giant to publicly condemn Israel’s “illegal occupation” of the Gaza Strip following a recent spate of violence caused by the terrorist group Hamas. In a letter to CEO Tim Cook, members of the Apple Muslim Association on Monday expressed their “sadness, anger, frustration, and disappointment” about “the struggle and pain of the Palestinian people, and their decades-long existence under military occupation.” The employees, however, have yet to speak out about the treatment of Uyghur Muslims in China, where Apple’s supply chain is largely located. Seven Apple suppliers use Uyghur forced labor to make iPhone parts. Washington Free Beacon
Incoming: Congressional hearings on UFOs . . . The public profile of UFOs and unidentified aerial phenomenon — UAPs — continues to intensify following the recent public releases of telling military videos offering proof of such phenomena. A veteran in the field, however, has already been at work seeking out the truth of the matter. Stephen Bassett is a registered lobbyist, director of the Paradigm Research Group and founder of X-PPAC, the Extraterrestrial Phenomena Political Action Committee, launched in 1999. Mr. Bassett has leaned on lawmakers, the White House and assorted officials for years, urging them to disclose what they know about the extraterrestrial presence on Earth. Washington Times
Guilty Pleasures
Florida 11-year-old earns world record for mental math . . . An 11-year-old Florida girl earned a Guinness World Record for mental math when she solved a 12-digit multiplication problem without a calculator, pen or paper.
Sanaa Hiremath, who was diagnosed with Autism at age 2, started showing an unusual aptitude for math when her parents started to home-school her. Sanaa’s pediatrician led the parents to research whether their daughter’s gift could be a Guinness World Record.
The 11-year-old was given a 12-digit number to multiply, which she completed in under 10 minutes. Sanaa was awarded the Guinness World Record for largest mental arithmetic multiplication. UPI
Do you love Cut to the News? Let your family and friends know about it! They’ll thank you for it. Spread the word . . .
By Email – use the message that pops up or write your own.
Plus: Capitol Hill negotiations over infrastructure turn chilly.
The Dispatch Staff
6 min ago
Happy Monday! After a relaxing week off, Declan is back to remind you all that this is a Chicago Cubs newsletter—not a St. Louis Cardinals one—and that the Cubs just won two of three gamesin St. Louis this weekend. (Andrew suggests that’s big talk from a team that’s still two games back in the NL Central.)
Quick Hits: Today’s Top Stories
Iranian parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf said Sunday that the United Nations’ International Atomic Energy Agency will no longer be allowed to monitor Iran’s nuclear sites after a three-month agreement expired over the weekend.
The Biden administration moved on Saturday to grant 18 months of Temporary Protected Status to approximately 150,000 Haitians living in the U.S. illegally. Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas justified the deportations pause in a press release over the weekend: “Haiti is currently experiencing serious security concerns, social unrest, an increase in human rights abuses, crippling poverty, and lack of basic resources, which are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Belarusian dictator Aleksandr Lukashenko ordered a fighter jet to intercept a Ryanair flight traveling from Greece to Lithuania on Sunday and force it to land in Minsk so that Belarusian forces could detain an opposition journalist, Roman Protasevich, who was aboard.
The two Bureau of Prisons workers responsible for monitoring Jeffrey Epstein the night he killed himself admitted to falsifying records regarding their inattentiveness, but struck a deal with federal prosecutors to avoid any jail time.
The Wall Street Journal reported over the weekend that Abubakar Shekau—leader of the Islamic militant group Boko Haram—died after detonating a suicide vest following a confrontation with another sectional group. Shekau’s death, however, has been erroneously reported several times in recent years.
The United States confirmed 12,777 new cases of COVID-19 yesterday per the Johns Hopkins University COVID-19 Dashboard, with 1.3 percent of the 1,013,032 tests reported coming back positive. An additional 190 deaths were attributed to the virus on Sunday, bringing the pandemic’s American death toll to 589,893. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 23,917 Americans are currently hospitalized with COVID-19. Meanwhile, 1,779,363 COVID-19 vaccine doses were administered yesterday, with 163,309,414 Americans having now received at least one dose.
A State-Backed Hijacking
Longtime Morning Dispatch readers might remember our coverage of Belarus last fall, when a fraudulent presidential election and reactionary protests led to mass detainments nationwide. According to the Viasna Human Rights Centre—an activist organization based out of Minsk—more than 33,000 opposition politicians, bloggers, and voters were arrested in the months-long unrest. At least 1,000 were tortured in jail.
While the protests never fully let up, Belarus had largely fallen out of international headlines in recent months. It soared to the top of the press over the weekend, however, when President Alexander Lukashenko—often referred to as Europe’s last dictator—ordered an MiG-29 fighter jet to divert Ryanair flight FR4978. The move, which European nations have denounced as an act of “air piracy” and “state terrorism,” was an apparent effort to arrest an opposition activist.
Raman Pratasevich was taken into custody for his role in scheduling and publicizing last year’s demonstrations after being deboarded en route from Athens to Vilnius, Lithuania on Sunday. The activist is best known for his co-founding of the app Telegram’s Nexta channel, which provided up-to-date information on last year’s anti-government protests.
Belarus’ KGB security service added Pratasevich to a terror watch list for his anti-government advocacy in late 2020, which may have provided the pretext—reports of a “bomb threat”—for the forced landing in Minsk. Authorities later reported finding no explosives on board.
“We don’t yet know everything, but from the facts reported so far, it appears to be a truly egregious violation of international rules and human rights standards for political reasons, which should be of grave concern to the international community,” Matthew Rojansky, director of the Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute, told The Dispatch. “If intended to intimidate the domestic opposition, the move may actually further inflame and mobilize them.”
And indeed, Svetlana Tikhanovskaya—the opposition candidate “beaten” by Lukashenko in the illegitimate 2020 elections—was among the first to draw attention to Pratasevich’s arrest. In an interview with CNN on Sunday, Tikhanovskaya argued that because Lukashenko’s move endangered people from across the world, it “should raise much more attention to our question and should lead to stronger actions from democratic countries.” She noted that Belarus’ opposition politicians had spoken to officials from Greece, Ireland, Lithuania, Poland, and the United States in a plea for help.
The rhetorical response by the international community, particularly from nations within the European Union, was swift and condemnatory.
“The forced landing of a commercial plane to detain a journalist is an unprecedented, shocking act. We demand all passengers’ immediate release,” Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis tweeted Sunday. “Tomorrow’s #EUCO must address the need to step up pressure on Belarus. Enough is enough.”
Lithuanian officials, who had numerous citizens aboard the flight, also called for punitive action. On Sunday, President Gitanas Nausėda called on the European Union to bar Belarus aircrafts from EU airports and close Belarusian airspace to EU flights. Prime Minister Ingrida Šimonytė, meanwhile, chided Belarus for “state terrorism” against other European countries.
“Diverting a flight between two EU states under the pretext of a bomb threat is a serious interference in civil aviation in Europe,” German foreign minister Heiko Mass added in a statement. “Such an act cannot remain without clear consequences on the part of the European Union.”
U.S. officials and politicians also denounced Lukashenko’s behavior.
Rep. Michael McCaul, GOP ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, was one of the first Americans to respond with a statement yesterday. “To arrest a journalist for simply exposing the truth of the regime-sanctioned police brutality against anti-government protests in Belarus is abhorrent,” McCaul said. “To force an Irish aircraft with nearly 200 innocent civilians to land in order to make that arrest is an egregious affront to democratic societies around the world. The Belarusian dictator and those who continue to support him cannot go unpunished.”
“This shocking act perpetrated by the Lukashenka regime endangered the lives of more than 120 passengers, including U.S. citizens,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken said last night. “Independent media are an essential pillar supporting the rule of law and a vital component of a democratic society. The United States once again condemns the Lukashenka regime’s ongoing harassment and arbitrary detention of journalists. We stand with the Belarusian people in their aspirations for a free, democratic, and prosperous future and support their call for the regime to respect human rights and fundamental freedoms.”
An Infrastructure By Any Other Name
Thus far in year one of his term, President Joe Biden—who campaigned on his experience as an aisle-crossing dealmaker —hasn’t exactly put those supposed skills into practice. After a quick feint toward bipartisanship during negotiations over his pandemic aid bill weeks after taking office, Biden quickly changed course, opting instead to pass a mammoth package with only Democratic support.
Republican lawmakers who’d gone into pandemic negotiations in good faith felt stung by Biden’s about-face, but held out hope that later negotiations might look different—particularly those concerning Biden’s next major domestic initiative, a massive infrastructure bill. Lately, however, lawmakers are sounding more cynical about striking a deal—raising the prospect that Biden and the Democrats might soon wedge another piece of multi-trillion-dollar legislation through the evenly divided Senate via budget reconciliation.
The White House already dropped its asking price on infrastructure somewhat on Friday—from an original price tag of $2.3 trillion to a somewhat more svelte $1.7 trillion. But Senate Republicans poured cold water on that offer, saying in a statement it remained “well above the range of what can pass Congress with bipartisan support.” (The GOP offer on the table sits at $568 billion—less than a third of what Biden’s asking for, and even less when you consider that a decent chunk of that amount includes previously anticipated congressional spending for reauthorizations this year instead of totally new spending like Biden’s plan. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has previously said Republicans could stomach a bill as large as $800 billion.)
The key difference is the same as it’s been all along: Disagreement about how wide a range of programs and projects should qualify as “infrastructure.” Republican Sen. Susan Collins, one of the Senate’s most centrist members, said on Sunday that “fundamental differences” remain between the GOP and Democratic definitions, for the purposes of the bill.
“I think negotiations should continue, but it’s important to note that there are some fundamental differences here, and at the heart of the negotiations is defining the scope of the bill,” Collins told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos. “What is infrastructure? We, Republicans, tend to define infrastructure in terms of roads, bridges, seaports and airports, and broadband. The Democratic definition seems to include social programs that have never been considered part of core infrastructure.”
The biggest gap between the Republican and Democratic proposals is $400 billion in Biden’s proposal funding home care services for elderly and disabled Americans under Medicaid and raising wages for home caregivers. In the White House plan, another $300 billion would go to beefing up U.S. manufacturing, $213 billion would go to building new homes and retrofitting old ones for better energy efficiency, and $180 billion would go to research and development. (For a more detailed outline of the contours of Biden’s proposal, check out this breakdown from CNN.)
The tough reality, of course, is that Republicans simply don’t hold a very strong negotiating hand according to the basic legislative math of the current Congress. Democrats control the White House, the House, and the barest possible tiebreaking majority in the Senate. Under the procedures of the modern Senate, the Democrats could use the process of budget reconciliation to pass a bill without facing the possibility of a Republican filibuster. Reconciliation is a fiddly thing—not all bills are eligible, particularly those that permanently increase federal spending—but having that option on the table only strengthens Democrats’ temptation to simply bulldoze through GOP objections in any given legislative fight.
Republicans, then, have to put their hope for compromise on something else: The notion that either Biden or moderate Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema put enough of a premium on bipartisanship as an end in itself that they’ll be willing to hold that party-line reconciliation train hostage should Democrats try to use it too frequently.
Worth Your Time
“The paroxysms of outrage, panic, hatred, and denunciation that play out online and in real life every day hide our failing institutions in plain sight,” Kevin D. Williamson writes in his latest for National Review. “What is necessary to understand in the present is that our current cultural convulsion—the constant, distracting storm of outrage and panic and hatred and denunciation that plays out over social media and in real life every day—is being used as moral camouflage for failing institutions, from city governments to federal agencies and from the college campus to the commanding heights of media and technology.”
Over at Reason, C.J. Ciaramella reviewed Maurice Chammah’s new book on the history of the death penalty in the United States. “Let the Lord Sort Them opens with the U.S. Supreme Court’s momentous 1972 decision in Furman v. Georgia, which struck down every state’s death penalty scheme as unconstitutionally arbitrary and discriminatory,” he writes. “Rare though it has become, the death penalty commands a big hold on the public imagination. It is the most dramatic display of the state’s power over an individual, and the question of whether state-sanctioned killing is acceptable cuts to the core of one’s worldview.”
For last week’s Uphill, Haley asked more than 20 Republican senators for their thoughts on a bipartisan, 9/11-style commission looking at the events leading up to January 6. Most struggled to come up with good answers. “It’s clear much of the opposition among Republicans to the commission boils down to that point,” she writes. “They don’t want to look into Trump’s behavior or pursue information that could harm Republicans at the ballot box, even as the former president continues to spread lies about the 2020 election. And some of them are willing to say so directly.”
Rep. Chip Roy dropped by The Dispatch Podcast on Friday to discuss his vote against forming a commission looking into January 6, as well as his decision to run (unsuccessfully) against Rep. Elise Stefanik for House GOP conference chair, his vision for the future of the GOP, and much more.
Jonah’s Friday G-File focused on—what else—cicadas (with a political philosophy detour). There’s a cottage industry out there that has for years been pushing an insect-based diet, and Jonah isn’t having it. “I don’t want to eat bugs, because I don’t want to, and I shouldn’t have to tell you why,” he writes. “Because in a free society, you can’t make me.”
David’s Sunday French Press is a sobering one. With the recent violence in Israel leading to a wave of renewed anti-Semitism here in the United States, David dives into the long history of anti-Jewish sentiment in this country and around the world—and how American ideals were intended to overcome it. “It is no coincidence that the United States is home to the second-largest Jewish community in the world,” he writes. “The presence of a thriving Jewish community is evidence that American aspirations could become reality. Jewish safety and security is thus deeply rooted in the American founding. It’s part of our nation’s origin story.”
Let Us Know
It’s partially a result of weekend reporting delay, but the 12,777 new COVID cases we saw nationwide today was the lowest number in a long, long time. So here’s a bookkeeping question: How long should we keep doing the daily numbers update and chart? Is it nearly time to retire them for the sake of newsletter brevity—or, having kept it this long through all the depressing parts of the pandemic, should we keep it around for now for the pure pleasure of seeing those numbers (knock on wood) continue to flatline?
Kemberlee Kaye: “Huge thank you to those who participated in last night’s event!”
Mary Chastain: “How much longer will everyone ignore the constant attack on Jews? This is disgusting.”
Fuzzy Slippers: “I don’t think it’s at all surprising that support for Black Lives Matter is dropping across all demographics, but I do find it amusing to watch the Democrat activist media try to blame “white supremacy” and “racism” for the drop. What, white people suddenly realized that “Black Lives Matter” was about supporting black lives? They didn’t get that from the name? Of course it couldn’t be related at all to the burning, looting, and murder that swept Democrat-run cities throughout 2020. It couldn’t be at all related to BLM’s overt embrace of Marxism, it’s explicit opposition to America, to our Constitutional Republic, to the family unit, to American citizens’ freedom and liberty, to our socio-cultural Judeo-Christian foundations, to meritocracy, to the free market, to . . . well, everything that is great and good about America and everything that makes it possible for these unabashed grifters to become the ultimate oxymoron: Marxist multi-millionaires.”
Vijeta Uniyal: “In an apparent insult to President Joe Biden’s administration, China’s top military officials are refusing to talk to the new Pentagon chief despite repeated U.S. requests. Biden’s Defense Department approached the Chinese military top brass despite the U.S.-China bilateral summit ending in a disaster two months ago. The news comes as Beijing threatens and intimidates U.S. allies in Asia and the Pacific. Despite Requests, Chinese Military Officials Won’t Talk To Biden’s Pentagon Chief“
Stacey Matthews: “Just a reminder that Chris Cuomo isn’t the only CNNer caught giving political advice to someone running for election or reelection. Jake Tapper was caught, too.”
David Gerstman: “Leslie Eastman blogged about an effort of seven Oregon counties to secede and join Idaho. A number of years ago, there was similar talk in Maryland. If I remember correctly the rationale would be is that it’s easier Constitutionally to break off and join an existing state, that it would be to secede and create a new state. I wish I remember where I read the article.”
Legal Insurrection Foundation is a Rhode Island tax-exempt corporation established exclusively for charitable purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to educate and inform the public on legal, historical, economic, academic, and cultural issues related to the Constitution, liberty, and world events.
For more information about the Foundation, CLICK HERE.
DC Reality vs. American Reality You’ve seen gas prices go up and you’re probably noticing prices for a lot of other things going up. While DC and the Biden Administration celebrate ending the Keystone pipeline and enacting other job-killing policies, Americans are experiencing a different reality. Over the last couple weeks, DC has been consumed with what Newt Gingrich calls “gossip and speculation” like Rep. Liz Cheney’s leadership position and Pelosi fining Republicans who followed CDC guidelines to not wear a mask in the House Chamber despite everyone being fully vaccinated. More from Newt Gingrich:“All these Washington-centered conversations are like a mild spring rain behind which a mammoth hurricane is building.
That hurricane is the concerns and attitudes of the American people over what’s happening in the American reality.
The fiercest band of the hurricane is the looming acceleration of inflation. One report compared the average price of various commodities in May 2020 under President Donald Trump to those in May 2021 under President Joe Biden. Here are some staggering numbers:
Gasoline: $1.77 under Trump vs. $3 under Biden.
Lumber: $332 per 1,000 board feet under Trump vs. $1,570 per 1,000 board feet under Biden.
Home sales: $283,500 under Trump vs. $329,100 under Biden.
Coffee: $0.96 a pound under Trump vs. $1.50 a pound under Biden.
Wheat: $5 a bushel under Trump vs. $7.42 under Biden.
Corn: $3.19 a bushel under Trump vs. $7.22 a bushel under Biden.
Copper: $2.33 a pound under Trump vs. $4.76 a pound under Biden.”
And yet, we’re supposed to praise this…
A Concession on the Infrastructure Plan? Maybe it should be spent on roads, airports, and other real infrastructure needs and less on feel-good social programs and corporate handouts? Maybe, but only a little less. Yesterday on CNN’s “Face the Nation,” Biden senior adviser Cedric Richmond claimed a paltry reduction in spending on a so-called infrastructure plan signaled that the Administration’s “willingness to negotiate in good faith.” From The Hill:“When asked by host Dana Bash on CNN’s “State of the Union” if Biden is willing to “narrow his plans and his scope even further” to land a bipartisan deal on infrastructure, Richmond highlighted the administration’s counterproposal, which decreased their initial plan by $550 billion.
“The president coming down $550 billion off of his initial proposal I think shows the willingness to negotiate in good faith and in a serious manner. And the real question is whether the Republicans will meet the effort that the president is showing,” Richmond said.”
You may recall that the Biden infrastructure plan includes $20 billion to “advance environmental justice” and $100 billion to make schools greener by ditching paper plates, among many other silly things. Chris Barron of The Political Insider wrote, “First and foremost, while infrastructure spending can be a total waste of spending and a grab bag of social justice garbage when administered by Democrats, the fact of the matter is that infrastructure is key to protecting and growing the American economy.”
Americans should not be satisfied with empty concessions (or failure by Republicans over the previous years), especially as they live in the reality of the Biden economy while DC fiddles.
California Preachin’ Over the weekend I started binge-watching Chynna Phillips Baldwin’s Christian-based YouTube channel. Chynna is one-third of Wilson Phillips, daughter of John and Michelle Phillips of The Mamas and the Papas, and wife of actor Billy Baldwin. She shares her faith journey, what it was like growing up with famous, flawed parents, being a mom and wife, and California living. I especially love the “Chilly” (Chynna + Billy) episodes — the banter between her and her husband (a Hollywood marriage of over 25 years!) are hilarious.
What I’m Reading This Week This week I’m reading People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry. I previously read her book, Beach Read, and enjoyed it. From the description of People We Meet on Vacation:
“Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken one glorious week of vacation together.
Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven’t spoken since.
Poppy has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince her best friend to take one more vacation together—lay everything on the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees.
Now she has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong?”
A Case of the Mondays Great Dane Hailed as Hero For Saving Owner from Venomous Rattlesnake (Newsweek)
American Military Hero Dog Monument dedicated in Boca Raton (CBS)
Florida caseworker adopts 19-year-old who aged out of foster care system (Fox News)
Monica Lewinsky wins Twitter with this one (Twitter)
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list
Note: By using some of the links above, Bright may be compensated through the Amazon Affiliate program and Magic Links. However, none of this content is sponsored and all opinions are our own.
May 24, 2021 01:00 am
The human tendency to virtue signal through attire has gone into hyperdrive with the Democrats’ ever-changing mask narrative. Read More…
May 24, 2021 01:00 am
In the last twelve months we have been ceaselessly bombarded by claims that America is a racist society in which Black people are oppressed by White people. Nothing could be further from the truth. Read More…
May 24, 2021 01:00 am
Using a cocktail of post-Marxism and Islamism, the flirting-with-communism American left is trying to force Israel to leap back into the vile left quagmire. Read More…
Ladies and gentlemen this is impeachment #3
May 24, 2021 01:00 am
What do you do when the border is a mess and gasoline prices are out of control? You try to impeach Trump again by starting another investigation. Read more…
The Democrats’ equity scam
May 24, 2021 01:00 am
Democrats keep trying to hide from the fact that equity is an anti-American scam, only to be tripped up by the facts. Read more…
Progressives and the concept of truth
May 24, 2021 01:00 am
In the minds of progressives — in culture, government and religion — truth is purely subjective. Except when it comes to bolstering an agenda Read more…
Sports Illustrated now only illustrating wokeness
May 23, 2021 01:00 am
Sports Illustrated has completely given in to the mendacious minority mob that demands all things be seen exclusively through the prism of race/class/gender/politics. Read more…
American Thinker is a daily internet publication devoted to the thoughtful exploration of issues of importance to Americans.
This email was sent to <<Email Address>> why did I get this? unsubscribe from this list update subscription preferences
AmericanThinker · 3060 El Cerrito Plaza, #306 · El Cerrito, CA 94530 · USA
Parents and students at an elite $47,000-a-year private school in New York are “shocked and mortified” about a “porn literacy” class that was added to the curriculum without their knowledge. The risqué course for juniors at Manhattan’s prestigious Columbia Grammar & Preparatory School introduced teens to adult-themed topics such as “kink and BDS … Read more
Corporate environments like Amazon inevitably stifle innovation by relying on technology to be the intermediary for everything. No wonder employees feel they’re treated like robots.
Nobody elected Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and he has made no secret of his political bias. That should be enough to ban him from influencing election machinery.
Democrats want to deny deserving Asian-American students admission into elite schools to satisfy their vision of social justice. Republicans running for office should hammer this home with voters.
‘Why is it so hard for Joe Biden to criticize some of the extreme elements within his own party, who represent so much of a threat to Jewish Americans today?’
Cohen did a workmanlike job, but ‘Jeopardy!’ should have postponed the Tournament of Champions until the show’s eventual new permanent host is in place.
The Transom is a daily email newsletter written by publisher of The Federalist Ben Domenech for political and media insiders, which arrives in your inbox each morning, collecting news, notes, and thoughts from around the web.
,
You received this email because you signed up on our website.
Unsubscribe
40.) REUTERS
The Reuters Daily Briefing
Monday, May 24, 2021
by Linda Noakes
Hello
Here’s what you need to know.
Belarus is accused of a “warlike act” as it intercepts a passenger jet, Trump may face a legal probe in Scotland, and a dilemma for pot sellers
Today’s biggest stories
George Floyd’s cousin Shareeduh Tate (front R) holds a banner while marching with others during a rally hosted by the George Floyd Global Memorial, outside the Hennepin County Government Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, May 23, 2021. REUTERS/Nicholas Pfosi
U.S.
Relatives of George Floyd, the African-American whose death triggered protests against racism and police brutality across the United States and around the world, gathered in a rally to mark the first anniversary of his death in the first of several events planned nationwide.
Republicans in the U.S. Congress clashed over the need for an independent commission to investigate the January 6 Capitol riot, with one lawmaker warning that failure to create the panel could plague the party’s election prospects in 2022 and beyond.
The Scottish government is facing a new legal challenge over its February rejection of a motion to investigate former U.S. President Donald Trump’s all-cash purchases of two golf courses, reviving an effort to force Trump to disclose how he financed the deals.
A Ryanair aircraft, which was carrying Belarusian opposition blogger and activist Roman Protasevich and diverted to Belarus, lands at Vilnius Airport in Lithuania May 23, 2021. REUTERS/Andrius Sytas
Iran has informed the U.N. nuclear watchdog that it has decided to extend a monitoring deal with the agency for a month, avoiding a collapse that could have thrown wider negotiations on reviving the 2015 nuclear agreement with world powers into crisis.
A ceasefire between Israel and Hamas held into a third day as mediators spoke to all sides about extending the period of calm after the worst outbreak of fighting in years.
BUSINESS
The U.S. cannabis business has a very particular cashflow problem — too much of it. We look at the pot sellers stashing the cash as banks leave them high and dry.
Cineworld said its UK reopening weekend had topped expectations as animated comedy ‘Peter Rabbit 2’ drew crowds after months of lockdown, in a promising sign for the cinema industry ahead of the release of summer blockbusters.
Big U.S. banks are prepared for credit-card balances to start ticking up again this year as pandemic restrictions ease and stimulus checks stop arriving, setting up the industry for a bump in one of its most profitable businesses.
Quote of the day
“After the tulip bubble burst, there were still some beautiful flowers left. But when the virtual currency bubble bursts, what would be left are merely some computer codes”
Chen Jiahe
Chief investment officer of Novem Arcae Technologies
A volcanic eruption in eastern Congo left a smoking trail of destruction half a mile wide that buried hundreds of houses before halting just short of the city of Goma.
Phil Mickelson blocked out the distractions and kept his mind quiet in front of a raucous gallery to win by two strokes and become golf’s oldest major winner.
You are receiving this email because you signed up for newsletters from Reuters. No longer want to hear from us? Unsubscribe from The Reuters Daily Briefing.
This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you signed up to receive this newsletter on the RedState.com network OR a friend forwarded it to you. We respect and value your time and privacy. If this newsletter no longer meets your needs we will be happy to remove your address immediately.
This email was sent to rickbulownewmedia@protonmail.com. You are receiving this email because you asked to receive information from WND. We take your privacy and your liberty very seriously and will keep your information in the strictest confidence. Your name will not be sold to or shared with third parties. We will email you from time to time with relevant news and updates, but you can stop receiving information from us at any time by following very simple instructions that will be included at the bottom of any correspondence you should receive from us.
Our mailing address is: WND | 580 E Street PO Box 100, | Hawthorne, NV 89415
Unsubscribe or Update Preferences
45.) CONSERVATIVE REVIEW
46.) BIZPAC REVIEW
View this email in your browser
NOT GETTING OUR MAIL, YET?SIGN UP HERE FOR BPR DAILY EMAILS
Your input is critical to us and to the future of conservatism in America. We refuse to be silenced, and we hope you do too. Sign up for daily emails and never miss a story.
For the latest BPR videos subscribe to our Rumble page.
You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.
47.) ABC
May 24, 2021 – Having trouble viewing this email? Open it in your browser.
Morning Rundown
Biden to meet with George Floyd’s family 1 year after his death as policing bill stalls: President Joe Biden will mark the first anniversary of George Floyd’s death on Tuesday by meeting with members of the Floyd family at the White House. His meeting with Floyd’s family comes as Congress is poised to miss the president’s deadline for passing police reform legislation named in Floyd’s memory. The death of Floyd, who died a year ago Tuesday after former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin kneeled on him for over nine minutes, sparked protests around the world calling for police reform and an end to systemic racism. His death led to legislation called the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which was originally introduced in June 2020 and passed by the House of Representatives in March, and aims to ban chokeholds and end qualified immunity for members of law enforcement. But due to opposition by Republicans, it has faced an uphill climb in the Senate and it’s unlikely that Tuesday’s meeting will include a signing of the legislation. It’s unclear when the bill will be passed, but Biden said he is determined to “sign it into law as quickly as possible.”
Mother of 6-year-old killed in California road rage shooting pleads for justice: The mother of a 6-year-old boy who was fatally shot in an apparent road rage incident Friday in Orange, California, is calling for justice as the killer remains on the loose. Joanna Cloonan was taking her son, Aiden Leos, to school in Yorba Linda on Friday morning, when she said a white sedan cut her off abruptly while she was in the carpool lane driving northbound on the 55 freeway. Someone in the vehicle then opened fire on Cloonan’s car, striking Aiden in the backseat. “As I started to merge away from them, I heard a really loud noise,” Cloonan said. “And my son said, ‘Ow,’ and I had to pull over. And he got shot.” The boy’s uncle, John Cloonan, said a single bullet entered the back of the trunk and hit his nephew, who authorities say was sitting in his booster seat. Aiden was taken to the hospital where he was pronounced dead. Now, as California Highway Patrol officers investigate the incident and work to identify the motorist who fired the weapon at Cloonan’s vehicle, Cloonan vowed to raise awareness about gun violence in honor of her son. “It should never happen again,” she said. Gun violence is on the rise in the U.S. In 2021 alone, there have been a total of 17,009 deaths linked to gun violence and 227 mass shootings, according to Gun Violence Archive. After the fatal road rage incident on Friday in California, two more shootings occurred the following day in New Jersey during a birthday party, and in Minneapolis after a dispute happened between two people who both pulled out guns and started shooting at each other.
Pfizer’s new vaccine storage requirements could dramatically improve access: The U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave Pfizer permission this week to store its COVID-19 vaccine in a typical refrigerator for one month — freeing the vaccine from the need to be shipped in cumbersome boxes stuffed with dry ice. Pfizer’s vaccine, which was authorized for children ages 12 to 15 earlier this month, was notorious for its ultra-cold storage requirements, but now, experts are saying its new flexibility could dramatically accelerate the effort to vaccinate America’s teens and adolescents. With the simplification in storage requirements, experts say less vaccines will go to waste, and there will be more opportunities to vaccinate in pediatrician offices and school settings.
6-year-old football player is force to be reckoned with on field: A video of a girl leaving all her football opponents in the dust is having a viral moment on social media. In a video recording of her most recent game, Alessia Ashley, 6, of Westchester County, New York, can be seen running circles around the other players, zig-zagging past them while they either fall or try to catch up with her. Alessia, who is part of Sports Center Consulting, a league that allows kids of any gender to play together, is the only girl on her flag football team. She just started playing the sport earlier this year. “One day she just asked me, ‘Can I play football?’ and I said, ‘Are you sure? With the boys?’” Alessia’s mom, Marianna Ashley, told “GMA.” “She didn’t even care if she was the only girl. She was just happy to join the team.” Ashley, who shared the video on TikTok, where it has been liked and shared by thousands, said every time her daughter gets the ball during games, her entire team goes wild. “They know something crazy is about to happen,” she said. As the season comes to a close, Ashley said that she plans to get a trainer for Alessia to hone her skills and stay active with other sports.
GMA Must-Watch
This morning on “GMA,” stars of Freeform’s “The Bold Type” join us live to talk about the final season of the hit show. And the winner and the runner-up of the 19th season of “American Idol” both join us live! Plus, Deborah Roberts sat down with Brooke Shields to talk about her road to recovery after breaking her femur while exercising in the gym last January. All this and more only on “GMA.”
This morning we’re taking a look at President Joe Biden’s shifting legislative priorities, how the culture wars have shaped child care policy and how Phil Mickelson managed to surprise the golf world, again.
During his first major address to Congress last month, President Joe Biden set a clear goal for lawmakers: Pass a major police reform bill by the first anniversary of George Floyd’s death on May 25.
But as it became clear that a bill will not arrive by Tuesday, White House officials have been wrestling with how Biden could mark the moment.
Instead, Biden will host members of Floyd’s family at the White House.
With a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic exposing and aggravating the nation’s child care woes, conservative counterproposals to Biden’s families plan are still using a 50-year-old playbook: Promoting the traditional family despite the fact that U.S. marriage and birth rates have declined to record lows.
One young man from Ohio who defied his mother’s anti-vaccination position and got his childhood immunizations has a message for teenagers seeking Covid-19 vaccinations and getting pushback from their parents — get one if you can
By Bianca Britton, Mohammed Syed and Rima Abdelkader | Read more
She “used to play and laugh,” Randa Yousef, a father in Gaza City, told NBC News about his 5-year-old daughter last week. But now he said “she cries and screams.” He is one of many parents on both sides of the recent conflict worried about the long-term effects the latest violence will have on their children. Meantime, on the diplomatic front, the Biden administration says it is committed to a two-state solution between Israel and the Palestinians.
An upcoming government report on “unidentified aerial phenomena” is now the great white hope for UFO enthusiasts who feel like this subject has been unfairly derided.
Party leaders want to keep other Democrats off the ballot, even though it would mean forfeiting the governorship if Gov. Gavin Newsom loses his recall.
Looking to bring your child along while you exercise? Here are the best jog strollers of 2021.
One fun thing
More than four decades after departing Purdue University for the NFL, four-time Super Bowl champion Keena Turner, 62, was back in his old stadium last weekend.
But this time the former linebacker for the San Francisco 49ers was celebrating a very special victory with his 22-year-old daughter, Ella.
After years of hard work and remote classes during the Covid pandemic, the pair graduated side-by-side.
From NBC’s Chuck Todd, Mark Murray and Carrie Dann
FIRST READ: Biden’s non-virus agenda takes center stage as Covid starts to subside
Back in January, the United States was seeing, on average, about 200,000 new daily Covid cases and 3,000 Covid-related deaths per day.
By April, those numbers had dropped to about 70,000 new cases and some 700 fatalities per day.
REUTERS/Caitlin Ochs
Now as we approach Memorial Day? It’s down to an average of approximately 30,000 cases and 500 deaths a day – the lowest numbers here since last summer.
It’s pretty clear proof that the vaccines are working.
Consequently, the United States is now witnessing packed crowds at major golf tournaments, near-capacity attendance at NBA playoff games, fewer masks, graduation ceremonies and more reunions with friends and families.
And when it comes to politics, the dominant storyline has moved from the virus and even the vaccination rate, to the fate of President Biden’s non-Covid-related agenda on infrastructure and policing (more on that below).
That’s a BFD.
Data Download: The numbers you need to know today
33,281,701: The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the United States, per the most recent data from NBC News and health officials. (That’s 62,475 more than Friday morning.)
593,944: The number of deaths in the United States from the virus so far, per the most recent data from NBC News.(That’s 1,439 more than Friday morning.)
285,720,586: The number of vaccine doses administered in the U.S.
36.1 percent: The share of Americans who are fully vaccinated.
Reaching a deal on police reform by the anniversary of George Floyd’s death (which is tomorrow), and making “progress” with Senate Republicans on infrastructure by Memorial Day.
And so unless something radically changes today and this week, Congress is going to blow past both deadlines.
Per Memoli, Welker, Lee and Caldwell, Biden will mark tomorrow’s anniversary of George Floyd’s death by meeting with Floyd’s family at the White House – instead of with congressional negotiators.
“The president has spoken repeatedly to how meaningful his relationship with the Floyd family is to him,” an official told NBC News, “and on the first anniversary of George Floyd’s passing it is important to him to hear from them about their perspective on this moment in our history and the progress that must be made in order to stop the agonizing trend of people of color being killed at the hands of law enforcement and to rebuild trust between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”
And on infrastructure, “Republicans declared that they were ‘further apart after two meetings with White House staff than they were after one meeting with President Biden’” – after the White House released its $1.7 trillion counterproposal.
The reality is that achieving bipartisan deals in the 50-50 Senate remains incredibly difficult.
Especially in a political environment where Senate Republicans appear poised to filibuster the creation of a bipartisan commission to examine what happened on Jan. 6.
TWEET OF THE DAY: A year ago this week
Good (and bad) polling news for Andrew Cuomo
A new Siena College poll of New York contains good and bad news for embattled Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo.
The good news: A plurality of New York voters – 49 percent – say he should NOT resign from office.
The bad news A majority of voters – 53 percent – say they prefer voting for someone else rather than re-electing him in 2022, while a generic Democrat leads a generic Republican in next year’s gubernatorial race by a 55 percent-to-29 percent margin.
ICYMI: What ELSE is happening in the world?
The contours of the culture war around child care look a lot like they did 50 years ago, NBC’s Allan Smith writes.
The president of Belarus is accused of using a fake bomb threat to force a civilian flight to land so a political opponent could be arrested. Also, a cable car in Northern Italy plummeted to the ground and rolled down a hill, killing at least 14 people. All that and all that matters in today’s Eye Opener. Your world in 90 seconds.
Fully-vaccinated audience returns to “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”
“The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” is announcing the return of full studio audiences starting June 14. All must show proof of vaccination, and wearing masks will be optional. Meg Oliver reports.
Plus: Protesters increasingly hit with “civil disorder” charges, why cryptocurrency prices are falling, and more…
A new intelligence report lends support to the idea that COVID-19’s roots lie not in a seafood market but with researchers at a scientific lab. But officials, scientists, and the media are still bitterly divided over what to make of it.
From the earliest days of the pandemic, the prevailing theory about the new coronavirus’s roots was that it migrated from animals to humans at a “wet market” in the Chinese city of Wuhan. Yet doubts about that explanation have abounded, too, with others suggesting that it was accidentally leaked from a nearby lab facility that did research on coronaviruses. Now, evidence in a newly revealed U.S. intelligence report lends credence to the lab leak theory.
According to the previously undisclosed report, three scientists from the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) were hospitalized due to illness in November 2019—a.k.a., right around the time when COVID-19 is thought to have started spreading. The first documented case of the new coronavirus was on December 8, 2019.
How to interpret this revelation is up for serious debate.
U.S. headlines provide a good glimpse of this divide. “The ‘Wuhan Lab Leak’ Theory Looks More Credible Than Ever,” asserted the New York Post editorial board over the weekend. “No, Science Clearly Shows That COVID-19 Wasn’t Leaked From a Wuhan Lab,” saysForbes.
Media ambivalence echoes that from scientists and public health authorities.
“Current and former officials familiar with the intelligence about the lab researchers expressed differing views about the strength of the supporting evidence for the assessment,” notesTheWall Street Journal.
Top White House COVID-19 adviser Anthony Fauci—who said last year there was no scientific evidence that the virus was made in a lab—has recently been less convinced.Fauci was asked at the United Facts of America: A Festival of Fact-Checking earlier this month if he was still confident that the virus must have developed naturally. “No actually,” Fauci said. “I am not convinced about that.”
“I think we should continue to investigate what went on in China until we continue to find out to the best of our ability what happened,” he added.
Meanwhile, Chinese authorities continue to vehemently dispute the lab leak theory, along with the idea that the virus even started in China at all. They suggest that perhaps it originated in a lab at Fort Detrick in Maryland, though there is little to back this up.
The WIV team also dispute that COVID-19 came from their work and reject the idea that the hospitalized researchers are a smoking gun. From the Journal:
Shi Zhengli, the top bat coronavirus expert at WIV, has said the virus didn’t leak from her laboratories. She told the WHO-led team that traveled to Wuhan earlier this year to investigate the origins of the virus that all staff had tested negative for Covid-19 antibodies and there had been no turnover of staff on the coronavirus team.
Marion Koopmans, a Dutch virologist on that team told NBC News in March that some WIV staff did fall sick in the autumn of 2019, but she attributed that to regular, seasonal sickness.
“There were occasional illnesses because that’s normal. There was nothing that stood out,” she said. “Maybe one or two. It’s certainly not a big, big thing.”It isn’t unusual for people in China to go straight to the hospital when they fall sick, either because they get better care there or lack access to a general practitioner. Covid-19 and the flu, while very different illnesses, share some of the same symptoms, such as fever, aches and a cough. Still, it could be significant if members of the same team working with coronaviruses went to hospital with similar symptoms shortly before the pandemic was first identified.
U.S. research into the lab leak hypothesis and statements about it seem to have been stymied by political tension and posturing. The Trump administration was accused of being open to the theory because it made Beijing look bad, while the Biden administration seems reticent to take the theory more seriously precisely because it was pushed by Trump. One Biden administration official told the Journal that the Trump-era intelligence report first discussing sick Wuhan researchers was an attempt “to put spin on the ball.”
And the World Health Organization (WHO) has attempted to investigate but has been thwarted by a lack of transparency from China:
Members of the WHO-led team said Chinese counterparts had identified 92 potential Covid-19 cases among some 76,000 people who fell sick between October and early December 2019, but turned down requests to share raw data on the larger group. That data would help the WHO-led team understand why China sought to only test those 92 people for antibodies.
Team members also said they asked for access to a Wuhan blood bank to test samples from before December 2019 for antibodies. Chinese authorities declined at first, citing privacy concerns, then agreed, but have yet to provide that access, team members say.
FREE MINDS
Protesters are increasingly getting hit with “civil disorder” charges. “In the last year, the Justice Department has turned extensively to civil disorder, a once rarely used law, to crack down on crimes they say were committed during protests and other unrest,” reports NPR.
Civil disorder was criminalized as part of the 1968 Civil Obedience Act. It can carry a prison sentence of up to five years for interfering with police or firefighter duties during a protest or civil unrest in a way that “adversely affects commerce” or disrupts the “conduct or performance of any federally protected function.” In other words, it gives the feds a lot of leeway to charge protesters and people practicing civil disobedience.
“There’s overtly racist sentiments of the drafters of this statute,” Lisa Hay, a federal public defender for the District of Oregon, told NPR. “The statute was written during a time when senators were concerned with the civil rights movement and they wanted to stop the civil rights movement by arresting its leaders.”
These days, it’s been turned against racial justice protesters and protesters on the far right.
“During the last 30 years, civil disorder was used in roughly a dozen cases nationwide,” notes NPR. But “in the last 12 months, the Justice Department turned to the charge more than 125 times.”
FREE MARKETS
Why are cryptocurrency prices falling? Bitcoin dropped 29 percent last Wednesday alone, and other cryptocurrencies have seen prices fall as well. “Bitcoin has lost about 40% of its value since April 13 when it hit a high of more than $64,606 per coin,” notes CBS News. What gives?
In part, it’s threats of government regulation that are causing the decline:
Before Wednesday, Tesla’s decision to not accept the digital currency as payment for cars, along with concerns about tighter regulation of digital currencies, were major factors in the decline. The price is still up about 31% in 2021 and nearly 300% from a year ago.
• Officials roll back guidance on COVID-19 testing:
U.S. health officials say most fully vaccinated Americans can skip testing for COVID-19, even if they are exposed to someone who is infected. Experts say testing vaccinated people can lead to unnecessary worry and disruption at work and school.https://t.co/ZcQMwhnMZG
“This event is not about Trump,” said Annie Patnaude, the Michigan director for AFP, explaining why the Trump display had to move away from the live band and full buffet tables she had set up. “This is about pork.”
Rob Cortis, the float’s owner, hails from the now dominant part of the Republican Party, in which the former president is still celebrated by many as the rightful winner of the 2020 election, a debunked claim. A list of Trumpian priorities — from “infrastructure” to “Stop the Steal” — were bolted to his trailer, with no mention of the old conservative traditions of limited government or lower debt….
A new generation of Trumpist acolytes — such as Missouri attorney Mark McCloskey, who became famous for drawing a gun on Black Lives Matters protesters — have announced their intention to run for high office with a set of Trump issues that motivate them. McCloskey has announced plans to run for the Senate.
The moves pose a threat to the party’s efforts to reclaim moderate, largely college-educated voters who were turned off by Trump, while muddying an attempt to shift the national focus to the less popular parts of Democratic policies.
Elizabeth Nolan Brown is a senior editor at Reason, where she writes regularly on the intersections of sex, speech, tech, crime, politics, panic, and civil liberties. She is also co-founder of the libertarian feminist group Feminists for Liberty.
Since starting at Reason in 2014, Brown has won multiple awards for her writing on the U.S. government’s war on sex. Brown’s writing has also appeared in The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, The Daily Beast, Buzzfeed, Playboy, Fox News, Politico, The Week, and numerous other publications. You can follow her on Twitter @ENBrown.
Reason is the magazine of “free minds and free markets,” offering a refreshing alternative to the left-wing and right-wing echo chambers for independent-minded readers who love liberty.
You don’t put your hands on kids. You don’t put your hands on girls. It takes a special kind of scumbag to slap a ten-year-old girl. Bertram Jaquez is that special kind of scumbag. The now-former bus … MORE
This newsletter is never sent unsolicited. It was sent to you because you signed up to receive this newsletter on the Townhall.com network OR a friend forwarded it to you. We respect and value your time and privacy. If this newsletter no longer meets your needs we will be happy to remove your address immediately.
Visit the Townhall Media Preference Center to manage your subscriptions
You can unsubscribe by clicking here.
Or Send postal mail to:
Townhall Daily Unsubscribe
P.O. Box 9660, Arlington, VA 22219
* Copyright Townhall and its Content Providers.
All rights reserved.
55.) REALCLEARPOLITICS MORNING NOTE
05/24/2021
Share:
Carl Cannon’s Morning Note
Dodging Jan. 6; RCP Takeaway; When Morse Logged On
By Carl M. Cannon on May 24, 2021 08:33 am
Good morning, it’s Monday, May 24, 2021. On this date in 1844, Samuel Morse sent the first public message via telegraph. It went over the newly installed wire on Capitol Hill to his collaborator, Alfred Vail, who was awaiting the signal at a Baltimore railroad station. The words Morse typed out in the code that bears his name came from the Bible:
“What hath God wrought?”
It was a fitting message, as much in our time as it was then. I’ll have a brief additional observation about this technological milestone in a moment. First I’d point you to our front page, which aggregates, as it does each day, an array of columns and stories spanning the political spectrum. We also offer a complement of original material from RCP reporters and contributors, including the following:
* * *
Republicans Make Jan. 6 an Issue for 2022. A.B. Stoddard warns the GOP that its refusal to help find the truth about the Capitol assault will come back to haunt it.
Can Republicans Break Their Addiction to Trump? Bill Scher writes that the party can now be divided into three categories — addicts, enablers and interventionists — and without more of the latter, it is doomed to minority status.
The Real Big Lie: You Can’t Question Elections. Frank Miele argues that Liz Cheney and those who support her fail to acknowledge that the American electorate has the right to think for itself.
RCP Takeaway. In the new podcast episode, Susan Crabtree, Phil Wegmann, and Andy Walworth join me in talking about Jan. 6, and we discuss Susan’s reporting on new attack ads against “woke capitalism” messaging.
Republicans, Take the Next Step in Fight Against Discrimination. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Trey Grayson urge bipartisan support for the Equality Act, which would prohibit all forms of discrimination against gay and transgender people.
Oklahoma Is Wrong to Sue J&J Over Opioid Deaths. At RealClearPolicy, Jacob Rich argues that the recent increase has less to do with the number of people prescribed opioids and more to do with drug users resorting to black market drugs after government-mandated decreases in prescribing.
The Epic Trial to Squeeze More Profits Out of Apple. Also at RCPolicy, Carl Czabo asserts that it’s hypocritical for Epic to attack the Apple App Store while running its own successful online store and charging the same commission it’s suing against.
The Supreme Court Reins In the IRS. Joe Bishop-Henchman and Andrew Wilford spotlight a case they say makes the agency more accountable to taxpayers.
Energy Transitions Demands a U.S. Mining Revolution. Jude Clemente writes that minerals vital to creating a green power grid will be in short supply without policy priority changes.
Cyber and EMP Preparedness. At RealClearDefense, Peter Pry pens an open letter to a National Security Council official in light of the Russian hack of the Colonial Pipeline.
To Unite the Nation, Biden Should Take Up School Choice. Cooper Conway explains the connection in RealClearEducation.
* * *
Innovations in science and tech, in fields ranging from communications to miracle medical advances, are most often brought about through the cooperative efforts of government and private enterprise. This was certainly true of the Pfizer, Moderna, and Johnson & Johnson COVID vaccines developed last year. It was also true of the telegraph.
Samuel Morse first heard about electromagnetism while sailing to Europe. Returning stateside, he labored with Alfred Vail and New York University professor Leonard Gale on the mechanics of the device while also working out the dot-and-dash system still called the Morse code.
An unsuccessful foray into partisan politics had taught him enough to know that congressional support would be valuable in more ways than one, and Morse and his friends lobbied Congress to allocate $30,000 for construction of the telegraph lines between Washington and Baltimore.
The appropriation almost didn’t happen. It came about largely because of the dogged efforts of Henry L. Ellsworth, a college friend of Morse’s who was then commissioner of patents. Ellsworth’s efforts bore fruit just minutes before adjournment, when Congress finally approved the funds. It was Ellsworth’s wife who came up with idea for the initial words to be spoken over the wire, an inspiration she imparted to Morse via her daughter, Annie.
Fast-forward to Oct. 29, 1969.
On that date, the first message was sent over what we now call the Internet when UCLA student Charley Kline typed the letters “LO” on his computer, a message that was received by a similar machine at Stanford. I’ve always assumed Kline was starting to type the word “login,” but the computer crashed after he’d typed only two letters.
That research project by the forerunner of the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency was also funded by Congress, and by much more than 30 grand. But it paid off. Or did it? Maybe that initial message should have given us pause.
“It was inadvertent, but it turned out to be prophetic and powerful that the message we delivered was ‘LO’ — as in, ‘lo and behold,'” said UCLA professor Leonard Kleinrock, who headed the project.
Or, to paraphrase the biblical verse, “What hath man wrought?”
Amid the barrage of analyses of the April 16th summit meeting between President Biden and Japanese Prime Minster Yoshihide Suga, an article in Japan’s Asia Nikkei stood out – and offered a telling, if not amusing, look into the Japanese view of things.
Regardless of his genuine intentions, President Joseph Biden has announced policies toward Russia and Ukraine that substantially empower an aggressive Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Jews are often the proverbial “canaries in the mineshaft.” When societies tolerate, let alone enable, anti-Semitic sentiment and even attacks, they are usually in decline.
Good morning. It’s Monday, May 24, and we’re covering a fragile truce in Israel, testimony from Apple’s CEO, and more. Have feedback? Let us know at hello@join1440.com.
A fragile cease-fire between Israel and Hamas militants in the Gaza Strip held over the weekend, despite clashes between police and Palestinian protesters inside Israel at Jerusalem’s Al-Aqsa Mosque. One of Islam’s holiest structures, the mosque sits on the Temple Mount (known as the Noble Sanctuary by Muslims), a site also revered in Judaism and Christianity.
International groups have shifted focus to the challenge of rebuilding Gaza’s infrastructure and disbursing aid. Hamas—an Islamist political and militant group that has governed Gaza since 2006 (see 101)—wants aid routed through its organization. Israeli officials argue funding would be used to rebuild the group’s arsenal. Compounding difficulties is a blockade around the region (see map), which is meant to prevent smuggling but also slows down the import of aid and building materials.
In spite of the violence, Hamas appears to have gained support among Palestinians relative to the rival Palestinian Authority, which exerts partial authority over the West Bank.
Tim Cook Testifies
Apple CEO Tim Cook took the stand Friday, answering questions in a case pitting the tech giant versus Epic Games, maker of the popular Fortnite video game. Cook, facing allegations of anticompetitive practices around its App Store, argued the company’s strict control over how and which apps may be downloaded on iPhones is a privacy and security issue.
Apple’s iPhone makes up more than half of the US smartphone market, and reaches roughly 1.4 billion worldwide users—but apps can only be downloaded through the company’s App Store, a concept known as its “walled garden.” Among other policies, Apple requires all financial transactions made by user-downloaded apps to be processed by Apple—from which it takes up to a 30% cut. Epic argues Apple has used its dominance in one market (phones) to take unfair advantage in a second market (apps). See a deeper dive here.
Cook is the last witness to testify—both sides will make their final arguments today.
Mount Nyiragongo Erupts
At least 15 people were killed and thousands evacuated from their homes Saturday after Mount Nyiragongo erupted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Lava flows took villages by surprise but stopped short of reaching the city of Goma, home to almost 700,000 people.
One of Africa’s most active volcanoes, the eruption was the latest in what has become a roughly every-two-decade occurrence. A 2002 eruption killed an estimated 245 people while destroying more than 10% of Goma. A 1977 eruption killed at least 600 people while recording some of the fastest lava flows on record at 37 mph. Officials fear the death toll will rise as the search for survivors—including more than 170 children—continues.
Know what happens when you sweat? Yes, your body releases water, but also salt. A lot of it, at that. And too often, we drink water after working out, but forget to replenish critical electrolytes.
Trust us, LMNT Co-founder Robb Wolf knows what he’s talking about. He’s a former research biochemist, two-time New York Times bestselling author, and worked on the Navy SEAL resiliency committee for a decade. After years of mixing his own homemade electrolytes blends and frustration with the lack of healthy options on the market, LMNT Recharge was born.
>Phil Mickelson wins PGA Championship at age 50, becoming golf’s oldest major champion in history (More) | European Soccer: Liverpool and Chelsea qualify for Champions League in final day of English Premier League play (More) | Atlético Madrid wins its first La Liga title since 2013-14 (More)
>The Weeknd wins Top Artist at Billboard Music Awards; see full list of winners (More) | South Korean boy band BTS sets YouTube 24-hour record with 108 million views for new single “Butter” (More)
>Prince Harry reveals alcohol and drug use after death of his mother Princess Diana in new Oprah Winfrey interview in “The Me You Can’t See” documentary (More)
Science & Technology
>Scientists discover TMAO, a protein that helps animals cope with stressful conditions, in plants for the first time (More)
>Researchers achieve the highest-resolution images of individual atoms ever recorded, reaching the limit set by the natural vibrations of the atoms themselves (More)
>Heavy prenatal exposure to tiny air pollution particles—less than the width of a human hair—more than doubles the risk of early childhood asthma (More)
>Sales of existing US homes drop for third straight month by 2.7% in April; median April home price of $341K up 19% over last year (More)
>Kansas City Southern cancels $25B merger with Canadian Pacific Railway; will merge with Canadian National Railway in deal worth $33B (More)
>Bitcoin falls over 10% Sunday to lowest level since February, dragging other cryptocurrencies down, after China announces restrictions on cryptocurrency mining and trading behavior (More)
From our partners:0% APR is 100% insane. This card offers 0% APR for 18 months on balance transfers. And it also gives you the chance to rake in crazy cash back deals—with no annual fee.
Politics & World Affairs
>Three researchers at China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology had COVID-19 symptoms as early as November 2019, according to reports (More) | Ohio health officials report COVID-19 vaccinations jump almost 30% week-over-week after announcement of $1M vaccine lottery (More) | Average US cases drop to around 25,000 per day, with 61% of adults having received at least one shot (More)
>Tropical Storm Ana becomes the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, unlikely to make US landfall; marks the seventh straight year the first named storm has developed ahead of the season’s official June 1 start date (More)
>Biden administration makes counterproposal on infrastructure package, drops price tag from $2.3T to $1.7T; cost is still well above current GOP proposal of $570B (More)
The US Olympic Weightlifting team and dozens of professional sports teams across the NFL, NBA, and NHL trust LMNT to hydrate their athletes, and it’s also a perfect electrolyte mix for everyday athletes, health-conscious families, and anyone on a keto or low-carb diet. Try a FREE sample pack today, just for being a 1440 reader. You’ll just pay $5 S&H and get to try all of LMNT’s flavors.
Historybook: Samuel Morse sends first commercial telegraph message (1844); The Brooklyn Bridge is opened in NYC (1883); HBD Bob Dylan (1941); HBD musician Patti LaBelle (1944); RIP jazz legend Duke Ellington (1974).
“A problem is a chance for you to do your best.”
– Duke Ellington
Enjoy reading? Forward this email to a friend.
Why 1440? The printing press was invented in the year 1440, spreading knowledge to the masses and changing the course of history. Guess what else? There are 1,440 minutes in a day and every one is precious. That’s why we scour hundreds of sources every day to provide a concise, comprehensive, and objective view of what’s happening in the world. Reader feedback is a gift—shoot us a note at hello@join1440.com.
Interested in advertising to smart readers like you? Apply here!
Today’s newsletter reads like a thriller novel: The Wall Street Journal gives us a slightly better look at what U.S. intelligence knows about researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology requiring hospitalization in November 2019; why you should never fly over Belarussian airspace; and summer beach-reading season is almost upon us.
Did COVID-19 Put Three Wuhan Lab Researchers in the Hospital? Or Just ‘Common Seasonal Illness’?
Three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology became sick enough in November 2019 that they sought hospital care, according to a previously undisclosed U.S. intelligence report: the researchers with symptoms consistent with both Covid-19 and common seasonal illness.
This email was sent to rickbulow1974@gmail.com. You are receiving this email because you asked to receive information from The Gateway Pundit. We take your privacy and your liberty very seriously and will keep your information in the strictest confidence. Your name will not be sold to or shared with third parties. We will email you from time to time with relevant news and updates, but you can stop receiving information from us at any time by following very simple instructions that will be included at the bottom of any correspondence you should receive from us.
Our mailing address is: 16024 Manchester Rd. | St. Louis, MO 63011
Unsubscribe or Update Preferences
69.) FRONTPAGE MAG
70.) HOOVER INSTITUTE
A daily digest of analysis and commentary by Hoover fellows. Problems viewing this email? View this email in your browser
As the nation transitions from a public health focus in its schools to their education role, it is important to have a clear discussion of the direction and goals of America’s schools. There is no doubt that a key element of the nation’s historic strength and success has been the broad education of its citizens. But even before the pandemic there was vigorous discussion of how the schools could deal with new demands from the economy and do so in a more equitable way. The pandemic has amplified the need for picking up on this prior discussion and for making its desired improvements a reality.
The overriding problem with President Biden’s education scheme, as presented in his grandiose “American Families” package, is its focus on more schooling rather than more learning.
A senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute and a columnist for the Wall Street Journal, Jason Riley, joins Paul E. Peterson to discuss Riley’s new biography on Thomas Sowell, which chronicles the life of the long-time senior fellow at the Hoover Institution.
The Hoover Institution and the Center on U.S.-China Relations at the Asia Society hosts Toward a Democratic China:What Role Can Outsiders Play? on Monday, May 24 from 10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. PDT.
by Scott R. Baker, Nicholas Bloom, Steven J. Davis, Marco Sammon via VoxEu.org (Centre for Economic Policy Research)
When the stock market moves in a big way, journalists try to explain why. This column uses next-day newspaper accounts to characterise the drivers of more than 6,000 big daily moves (‘jumps’) across 16 national stock markets. Policy-driven jumps account for a greater share of upward than downward jumps in all countries. Jumps attributed to monetary policy foreshadow much lower levels of future stock market volatility than other jumps.
It takes humility, a knowledge of history and politics, and maybe a little chutzpah to understand the war in Israel, Gaza and the Palestinian Authority. We Americans, living in a far-off place and a foreign culture, often get matters wrong.
Journalist and author Jason Riley talks about race with EconTalk host Russ Roberts. Riley argues that the challenges facing Black America go beyond racial discrimination and the threat of police violence. He argues that both the history of Black Americans and the current situation has been distorted by activists who benefit from that distorted picture.
The Hoover Institution along with the Freeman Spogli Institute for International Studies and the Europe Center host Security in the Age of Liberal Democratic Erosion on Thursday, May 13 and Thursday, May 20.
Hoover Institution fellow H. R. McMaster talks about the ceasefire between Israel & Hamas. McMaster says this is just a pause between the next round of the long war with Hamas.
Hoover Institution fellow H. R. McMaster notes that a two-state solution isn’t possible for Israel and the Palestinians at this time, but that doesn’t mean the U.S. shouldn’t remain heavily invested in working towards peace in the region.
via Battlegrounds: International Perspectives On Crucial Challenges To Security
In this episode of Battlegrounds, H.R. McMaster and Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar discuss how the U.S. can work together with the world’s largest democracy on economics, diplomacy, and security to build a better future.
Evidence is growing that Covid-19 vaccines may worsen the disease in some recipients. The danger arises when a vaccinated person meets the actual virus. Antibodies developed as a result of the jab can end up enhancing disease rather than protecting against infection.
The paper gathered and analyzed more than 30,000 responses from working-age Americans as part of a monthly survey of questions dating back to May 2020, as well as informal conversations with dozens of business executives. But the paper boils down to one message — working from home will become a permanent part of the fabric of American work.
mentioning Andrew Grotto via Stanford Cyber Policy Center
On Wednesday, May 26 at 10 am pacific time, please join Andrew Grotto, Director of Stanford’s Program on Geopolitics, Technology and Governance, for a conversation with Nicole Perlroth, New York Times Cybersecurity Reporter, about the underground market for cyber-attack capabilities.
Standardized tests are returning to the nation’s schools this spring, but millions of students will face shorter exams that carry lower stakes, and most families are being given the option to forgo testing entirely.
The opinions expressed in this publication are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinions of the Hoover Institution or Stanford University.
Thank you for subscribing to the Hoover Daily Report.
This email was sent to: rickbulow1974@gmail.com
Remove me from this list Ι Update my settings
71.) DAILY INTELLIGENCE BRIEF
Daily Intelligence Brief.
Good morning, it’s May 24, 2021. On this day in history, the Methodist Church was established (1738), Samuel Morse tapped “What hath God wrought” in the world’s first telegraph message (1844) and four men convicted in the World Trade Center bombing in New York City were each sentenced to 240 years in prison (1994).
TOP STORIES
Eating Each Other Alive: Tlaib Goes For Biden’s Jugular
Fox News reported that President Biden and Rashida Tlaib engaged in a heated argument on the tarmac in Detroit. Although it was unclear what they were fighting about, it’s highly likely the disagreement was regarding the current Israel-Gaza conflict.
Interestingly, Biden, who has held back on condemning Israel’s actions to defend itself from Hamas missile attacks, later praised Tlaib during his speech in Dearborn, Michigan.
He stated, “I pray that your grandmom and family are well, I promise to do everything you (sic) see that they are in the West Bank.
“You’re a fighter, and God, thank you for being a fighter,” he added.
Tlaib is a Palestinian-American who has been a vocal opponent of Biden’s stance on the conflict between Hamas and Israel. She is far from a friend of Israel, and has gone out of her way to condemn the State during this current conflict.
“If you support a cease-fire, then get out of the way of the UN Security Council and join other countries in demanding it,” she tweeted at the President and Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
“Apartheid-in-chief Netanyahu will not listen to anyone asking nicely. He commits war crimes and openly violates international law,” she continued.
ATP comment: Tlaib seems to only have eyes for the Palestinian cause, and lacks any objective insight regarding not only the current situation, but also any potential diplomatic solutions. She is armed with her Left-wing squad of ultra-biased representatives, driven more by ideology than common sense.
Relooking at Roe v. Wade: Supreme Court May Breathe Life Back into the Fight to Limit Abortions
Last Monday, the Supreme Court agreed to hear a significant challenge to Roe v. Wade. The issue they will consider is not going to overturn the 1973 decision for good, but it will look at whether states have the right to bar nearly all abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy.
Thanks to the Conservative,Trump-era Supreme Court appointments, the decision to hear the case is very encouraging news for the pro-life movement.
According to theLos Angeles Times, “It is the court’s first major move to reconsider abortion rights since Justice Amy Coney Barrett replaced Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who died in September shortly after Mississippi had lodged its appeal. Barrett, who has acknowledged being personally opposed to abortion, is widely expected to be the vote that would allow the court’s conservative majority to rein in abortion rights.”
At issue is the appeal of a Mississippi case that determined U.S. states may not prohibit abortions until the time a fetus is viable, around 23 weeks gestation.
There have been several Republican-led states attempting to pass laws limiting abortion access at early stages of pregnancy, but every measure has been blocked because of the Supreme Court’s precedents on abortion. This appeal has the potential to change that.
The arguments of the case,Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, will be heard during the new court term in the fall. This will be a close one to watch as the implications are significant for the pro-life movement. For groups who have fought abortion rights for years, a Supreme Court decision in favor of the state’s right to regulate abortion could open the door to more state-level legislation designed to protect the unborn.
The Woke Movement Needs to Wake Up and Smell their Fair-Trade, Shade-Grown Coffee
Consumers’ Research is a respected consumer protection agency that has been around since 1929. The nonprofit started an initiative to protect consumers from “woke companies.”
As stated on their website, “Our mission at Consumers’ Research is to increase the knowledge and understanding of issues, policies, products, and services of concern to consumers and to promote the freedom to act on that knowledge and understanding. With the Consumers First Initiative we will put corporations on notice — It’s time to start serving your customers and stop serving woke politicians.”
The “name and shame” campaign is an initiative to fight against corporations that attempt to distract attention from their corporate failures by playing woke politics.
Included in the hall of shame are companies like American Airlines, Coca-Cola and Nike, for elevating woke politics above consumer interests.
The ads will air nationwide on cable and digital markets, as well as local markets where the companies are headquartered.
“American Airlines shrunk legroom for passengers and laid off thousands of employees during the COVID pandemic while receiving billions in taxpayer bailouts. Coca-Cola and Nike have both been exploiting foreign, potentially forced labor in China while American workers suffer. It is time these corporate giants were called to task,” said Consumers’ Research Executive Director Will Hild.
The Daily Intelligence Brief, The DIB as we call it, is curated by a hard working team with a diverse background of experience including government intelligence, investigative journalism, high-risk missionary work and marketing.
From All Things Possible and the Victor Marx Group we aim to provide you with a daily intelligence brief collected from trusted sources and analysts.
Sources for the DIB include local and national media outlets, state and government websites, proprietary sources, in addition to social media networks. State reporting of COVID-19 deaths includes probable cases and probable deaths from COVID-19, in accordance with each state’s guidelines.
Thank you for joining us today. Be safe, be healthy and
What you’ve missed: Suspect charged with the brutal beating of a Jewish man in New York is set free, and Antifa failed to shut down a right-wing flag event in Oregon City.
If this was forwarded to you and you enjoy the content, subscribe to receive our newsletter every weekday, right in your inbox!
Want to sponsor The Post Millennial?Register here and we’ll get in contact with you.
American corporations that have pledged to support black communities over the past year have been lax in paying out, according to a new study.
A total of approximately $50 billion has been promised by a slew of companies, including Facebook, Target and Apple. And of this amount, only about $250 million has been spent or even earmarked, the Financial Timesreported.
According to Fortune, other companies, such as Amazon, in addition to donating funds, have pledged to increase the number of people of color working for them as employees. Berkshire Hathaway, however, is bucking that trend. A shareholder proposal was voted down that would have made annual diversity reports mandatory in the company.
Target, which is headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the center of the George Floyd controversy, has decided to space out its investments, and has committed to spending a whopping $2 billion of that $50 billion over the next three-and-a-half years, mostly on black-owned business initiatives.
Apple had pledged $100 million of its own accord. In January, it announced that it was giving $25 million to a place called Propel Center, which helps fund black post-secondary educational institutions.
The company also said it was investing $10 million with an early-stage VC firm and $25 million in Siebert Williams Shank’s Clear Vision Impact Fund to help invest in companies with diverse founders.
Social media has exploded on Saturday with comments to Conservative Party Leader Erin O’Toole’s tweet that his wife “had a cold one waiting” after he finished his morning run.
Several claimed it’s sexist for a woman to get her husband a beer.
“Interested in comments on this post by CPC leader. The wife with a ‘cold one’ ‘ waiting for’ the man to come home is an old stereotype. What’s the message from a party that needs female voters? Some will dismiss it as nothing but personal posts of leaders are political messaging,” states one particular reply.
“Starting the long weekend off right. Rebecca had a cold one waiting for me after my run. Wishing everyone a safe and relaxing long weekend,” reads O’Toole’s original tweet. The “beer-hate” appeared to temporarily take over Twitter. Here are some particularly striking examples of social media outrage:
“Nothing better for your dehydrated body after a long, gruelling fake run than slamming a cold beer, fetched by the old ball and chain, amirite fellas? REBECCA!!! WHY IN THE F**K AREN’T MY PIPE AND SLIPPERS WAITING FOR ME AT MY LA-Z-BOY RECLINER IN MY 1955 LIVING ROOM????” one of the most rage-filled tweets displays.
“What kind of useless twit can’t get his own beer?” asked another Twitter user.
From the sublime to the ridiculous, another user saw it to drag out trope-y conspiracy theories. “[Conservatives] aren’t human,” the Twitter account posted. “Take below pic running in 30+ hot day and not even trace evidence of sweat. This could not happen to a normal human being. Think maybe there is something to that lizard Alian [sic] theory after all.”
The death of the Islamist militant group leader Abubakar Shekau has been confirmed by a number of sources.
Shekau is credited with transforming Boko Haram from a small radical sect into a powerful Islamist terror group. He gained worldwide attention when, under his control, Boko Haram kidnapped hundreds of schoolgirls in Nigeria.
This is not the first time reports of his death have been brought up. According to The Washington Post, “the Nigerian military and regional forces have declared Shekau dead at least four times since 2009.”
This time, reportsThe Post, it appears as though Shekau is actually gone for good. He is reported to have “detonated explosives that killed him Wednesday when fighters with the Islamic State West Africa Province, or ISWAP, tried to capture him in his Sambisa Forest Hideout.” Some are saying he may only be injured, but it is unlikely one would survive such as event.
The Nigerian military is currently investigating, and will release a statement as soon as more evidence is released.
Republicans Matt Gaetz and Marjorie Taylor Greene saw a turnout of at least 3,000 supporters following their inaugural event in Florida, when they took their show to Mesa, Arizona.
The two were supported by local Congressmen Paul Gosar and Andy Biggs.
The duo drove into the topic of election integrity and open border migration, both of which have become hot topic issues in the state as the Arizona audit continues apace.
The turnout at the event for Gaetz and Greene showed that Trump-era populism continues to run through the MAGA ranks. According to The National Pulse, the event drew over 150,000 online viewers.
The publication reported: “They all acknowledged – much to Liz Cheney’s chigrin – Trump’s position as leader of the movement. Gaetz bellowed, at one point, ‘This is Donald Trump’s party, and I am a Donald Trump Republican!'”
According to the Pulse, the Mesa event drew fraudulent activity “prompted by the Lincoln Project group” to over-subscribe RSVP lists and flatten the turnout.
“A concerted campaign has been aimed at nationalist-populist politicians to attempt to humiliate them and their event organizers, which failed at a recent Nigel Farage rally, and failed again in Arizona this weekend,” the Pulse reported, adding that a “handful of leftists gathered across the street” from the line of attendees to protest the event.
The duo will be next headed to Dalton, Georgia, which is Greene’s home district.
Will Reusch, a high school teacher in LA who also worked with the Heterodox Academy, asked to have a conversation with advocates for CRT in schools. That conversation revealed that CRT advocates do not believe in America’s founding documents, instead saying that “the constitution should be burned.”
Reusch spoke to Alfred “Shivy” Brooks who is running for Atlanta City Council, Dr. Kate Slater who has worked in teacher recruitment for a top prep school, and Louiza “Weeze” Doran who were proponents of critical race theory. While undoubtedly these folks would define it differently, critical race theory is the practice of looking at all events both current and historical through the lens of race and racism.
The conversation turned to the principles of Enlightenment as the foursome tried to find common ground. Reusch asked if they could all agree that those principles represented the way forward. They could not.
“I just want to jump in and bring it back to the point,” Doran said, turning to her computer to read off a definition of “Enlightenment principles.”
Doran read that these principles were centered around the idea “that reason is the primary source of authority and legitimacy and advocated such ideals as liberty, progress, tolerance, fraternity, constitutional government, and separations of church and state.” But she’s not into those things.
Technocrat medical policymakers have used fraudulent PCR tests from the start of the Great Panic of 2020, but critics were censored, shamed and silenced. Sweden suddenly discovers that the PCR test is not capable of determining infection. ⁃ TN Editor
ow thinly veiled can blackmail and extortion get? The totally corrupt World Health Organization is calling for global surveillance, authority and billions more in funding in order to ensure that there won’t be pandemics in the future.
The lines between nations within the US-centralized empire are no more real than the official elected governments of those nations. It’s just a single unified power structure which uses whatever narratives it requires to justify its continued campaign to rule the entire planet.
A new push is underway to sell wearable devices and sensors as the solution to the opioid and prison crises in the US. However, this “solution” is set to come at a major cost to civil liberties and human freedom in general.
The Pentagon under Biden-appointed Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is working to partner with the Southern Poverty Law Center and the Anti-Defamation League and spy on members of the military for signs of “extremism,” according to documents leaked to The Intercept.
Joe Biden has agreed to arm Israel to the teeth and replenish their Iron Dome missile supply as “Israel has the right to defend itself” but indicated the people of Gaza will only get US aid if they give up their right to defend themselves and accept being conquered.
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration threw workers under the bus over the weekend by pulling their new guidance which stated that employers they may be held liable for “any adverse reactions” if they mandate employees take COVID-19 vaccines “as a condition of their employment.”
In a previous article serving as an update of this kind, it was suggested that the prime motivation for the “Covid-19 vaccine” rollout was the induction of as many people as possible into being a client population for allopathic medicine and pharmaceutical drugs dependency, and therefore cash-cows for the movement of tax revenue into corporate coffers.
The Oregon Health Authority (OHA) is requiring that people in workplaces, businesses, and religious sites show proof of COVID-19 vaccination in order to be allowed maskless entry to the facilities.
The US Army continues to modernize its forces as a great power competition between China rages. The latest technology the service branch revealed to enhance nighttime lethality on the modern battlefield is next-generation night vision goggles. Such goggles resemble something from Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon video game.
The crisis of 2020 has created the greatest wealth gap in history. The middle class, capitalism and democracy are all under threat. What went wrong and what can be done?
If there was a conspiracy to assassinate a man who knew compromising information about the power elite, two of the lowest-level conspirators are getting away with no jail time.
You are subscribed to email updates from BlackListed News.
To stop receiving these emails, you may unsubscribe now.
Email delivery powered by Google
Google, 1600 Amphitheatre Parkway, Mountain View, CA 94043, United States
Welcome to the Monday edition of Internet Insider, where we dissect the weekend online. Today:
‘Puberty’ TikTok account called out for alleged grooming
Baked Alaska live-streams himself harassing Jack In the Box workers while out on bail
‘This is so tone deaf’: Model criticized for TikTok showing off free stuff she gets in NYC
BREAK THE INTERNET
‘Puberty’ TikTok account called out for alleged grooming
The TikTok account @pubertyhelper101 is being called out by users for potential “grooming” after posting a number of videos that people are calling “red flags.”
The account appears to have been created with the intent to give advice to children about their changing bodies. The bio of the account reads “I’m here for you young or older girls. Puberty is hard and I will help you learn.”
Video topics include how to wear tampons and pads when starting a menstrual cycle. The target audience for the account’s content seems to include kids approaching or in puberty, typically between the ages of 8 to 14.
Some users claim that the account looks helpful and innocuous at first, but a lot of the advice it gives is inaccurate or incorrect.
For example, one “instructional” tampon video from the account didn’t actually teach people how to use a tampon correctly. The now-deleted video utilized a teddy bear with a single slit cut into the bottom to deposit the tampon, which does not anatomically match a menstruating person’s body.
Grooming, according to the American Bar Association, is defined “as a method used by offenders that involves building trust with a child and the adults around a child in an effort to gain access to and time alone with her/him.”
The video that the creators said was a “red flag” has been taken down, but it implied that the person behind @pubertyhelper101 wanted to give some of their followers their personal phone number to “talk you through anything you need.”
Some commenters speculated that the tampon video showed an adult man’s hands, suggesting that the account may have been run by one.
The identity of the user behind the account is unknown, but as of May 23, the account is banned from TikTok for violating community guidelines. The Daily Dot has reached out to TikTok for comment.
Never stress about your kids losing their masks again
Keeping a mask on your kids’ faces is about as easy as teaching a cat to fetch. That said, at least if you stock disposable masks you don’t have to lose it when their cloth masks vanish for the 57th time.
Armbrust’s child-sized mask subscription will keep your household stocked and save you 30% off the cost at the same time. And with blue, pink, and orange to choose from, you can be sure they’ll never be bored with this now-crucial daily accessory.
Baked Alaska live-streams himself harassing Jack In the Box workers while out on bail
White nationalist Tim Gionet, known online as “Baked Alaska,” recently live-streamed himself harassing employees at a Jack In the Box over the restaurant’s mask policy.
In footage uploaded to Twitter on Friday, Gionet, who is currently out on bail after being arrested in late January for his alleged participation in the Capitol riot, can be seen arguing with the store’s staff while refusing to cover his face.
Gionet repeatedly asks to use the businesses’ bathroom despite an employee insisting that he must leave the building.
“I just need to use the bathroom, dude,” Gionet says.
After being told yet again that masks are required inside the store, Gionet erupts on the fast-food worker in a profanity-laced tirade.
“Dude, they’re not wearing masks in the White House, you fucking retard. Have you not seen?” Gionet says. “Joe Biden’s not wearing a mask. He’s the biggest cuck in the world. You’re a cuck, bro!”
Even as the employee threatens to call the police, Gionet continues to throw his fit. Shortly after, Gionet finally decides to leave, but not before throwing a homophobic slur at the employee.
Throughout the interaction, a majority of Gionet’s followers can be seen praising his actions in the video’s comments. The comment section is also filled with numerous antisemitic remarks.
Gionet in January live-streamed himself rummaging through several rooms in the Capitol, including that of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), after supporters of former President Donald Trump attempted to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election.
‘This is so tone deaf’: Model criticized for TikTok showing off free stuff she gets in NYC
A model’s TikTok showing the free items she can get in New York City is sparking debate online about who is entitled to complimentary items from businesses.
Liz Seibert regularly posts content about her life as a model in NYC. On May 19, she posted a video detailing all of the free stuff she received in one day, mostly using the Beauty Pass app.
Beauty Pass connects professional models and businesses, providing individuals with special perks and companies with inexpensive marketing.
Through the app, Seibert revealed that she got an açaí bowl, two salads, and two gourmet cupcakes for free. Additionally, she received two free donuts from Krispy Kreme for being fully vaccinated, used her complimentary “influencer” gym membership, and finessed her way into a comedy show without charge.
In total, she says she got $157.89 worth of free product.
The video has since racked up over 2 million views. People in the comments of her TikTok were divided about whether it’s fair for Seibert to receive free perks for being a model.
Some called it “pretty privilege” and inaccessible to many.
“Step 1: Be Hot,” a commenter remarked.
“This is so tone deaf,” another said.
“I feel like the beauty pass thing is making me icky, they could be using this for homeless individuals/families,” one viewer wrote.
Others said she’s just reaping the benefits of her job and that it’s not her fault that companies give exclusive access to models. Some defenders even accused her critics of “virtue signaling,” or expressing opinions with the intent to show good character.
In response to one commenter asking why models deserve free food as opposed to teachers or healthcare workers, Seibert said “I see your point and agree! But it’s just because it’s cheap marketing for the brands because we post about it.”
The Daily Dot has reached out to Seibert for comment.
The information presented here is for general educational purposes only. You should always consult with your personal physician regarding any personal health problem, and you should always consult with your financial adviser regarding investment decisions. FDA DISCLOSURE: The statements, articles, and products featured in Headline USA emails and at HeadlineUSA.com have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. No information or products appearing in emails or the website are intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. MATERIAL CONNECTION DISCLOSURE: Headline USA may have an affiliate relationship and/or another material connection to any persons or businesses mentioned in or linked to from emails or the website and may receive commissions from purchases you make on subsequent web sites. You should not rely solely on information published by Headline USA to evaluate the product or service being offered. Always exercise your own due diligence before purchasing any product or service.
HEADLINE USA • PO BOX 49043 • CHARLOTTE, NC 28277
Unsubscribe | Report Spam | View In Browser Forward to a Friend | Ensure Email Delivery
This email was sent to rickbulow1974@gmail.com. You are receiving this email because you asked to receive information from The Western Journal. We take your privacy and your liberty very seriously and will keep your information in the strictest confidence. Your name will not be sold to or shared with third parties. We will email you from time to time with relevant news and updates, but you can stop receiving information from us at any time by following very simple instructions that will be included at the bottom of any correspondence you should receive from us.
Our mailing address is: The Western Journal P.O. Box 74273 Phoenix, AZ 85087
We need your help to keep doing our work that holds politicians, corporations and other leaders accountable. Help us thumb our noses at political correctness and remind Americans everywhere that there are millions of us who remain clear-eyed about our country’s greatness. Patriots will be able to read Daily Caller without any of the ads that we have long used to support our mission, will have access to all premium content, and can participate in chats with our team. We can save America together. Become a Daily Caller Patriot today.
Please join us in prayer for our nation’s Military Patriots standing in harm’s way in defense of Liberty, for their families, and for our nation’s First Responders. We also ask prayer for your Patriot team, and our mission to, first and foremost, support and defend our Republic’s Founding Principles of Liberty, and to ignite the fires of freedom in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.
You have received this email because you are subscribed to The Patriot Post at rickbulownewmedia@protonmail.com. To manage your subscription or to unsubscribe, click here.
The Patriot Post is protected speech, as enumerated in the First Amendment and enforced by the Second Amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America, in accordance with the endowed and unalienable Rights of All Mankind.
This email was sent to rickbulow1974@gmail.com. You are receiving this email because you asked to receive information from Conservative Tribune. We take your privacy and your liberty very seriously and will keep your information in the strictest confidence. Your name will not be sold to or shared with third parties. We will email you from time to time with relevant news and updates, but you can stop receiving information from us at any time by following very simple instructions that will be included at the bottom of any correspondence you should receive from us.
Our mailing address is: Conservative Tribune P.O. Box 74273 Phoenix, AZ 85087
👑 “American Idol” crowned a winner after a nail-biter season finale.Here’s what went down, including the surprise return of a fan favorite.
🏫 A Florida high school is under fire after 80 girls had their yearbook photos edited without their consent. The reason? To add more clothing.
🎧 On today’s 5 Things podcast, Reviewed’s Amy Roberts gives some travel tips in the era of COVID-19. You can listen to the podcast every day on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or on your smart speaker.
Here’s what’s happening today:
The Weeknd, Drake and BTS are big winners at Billboard Music Awards
The Weeknd, Drake and BTS took home plenty of hardware at Sunday’s Billboard Music Awards . The Weeknd, who was nominated for 16 awards, brought home 10 wins — including top male artist and top Hot 100 artist. Meanwhile, BTS emerged as winners in the Top Duo/Group, Top Song Sales Artist and Top Social Artist categories. Drake took home Top Streaming Songs Artist and was Billboard’s artist of the decade. Country star Gabby Barrett also had a banner night, winning three awards and stealing the show in a gold dress by Lebanese fashion designer Nicolas Jebran.
Investigation underway after deadly New Jersey house party shooting
New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy is expected to provide an update Monday on a manhuntfor an attacker who opened fire at a crowded house party , killing two people and wounding 12 more. State police, called to the scene just before midnight Saturday, said they arrived to find the bodies of a 30-year-old man and a 25-year-old woman in Fairfield Township, about 50 miles south of Philadelphia. John Fuqua, a resident who runs Life Worth Living, a local anti-violence organization, said he was called out to assist families at the 90s-themed party, and added that the guests were of all ages.
What else people are reading:
💉 As the U.S. celebrates its lowest case rates in 11 months, India’s confirmed deaths near 300,000. Tap here for the latest COVID-19 updates.
Officials search for missing children after volcano erupts in Congo
Officials in Congo were searching for missing children Monday after the Mount Nyiragongo volcano erupted on Saturday night. The disaster left 15 people dead and destroyed more than 500 homes, according to officials and survivors. More than 170 children were still feared missing. The eruption sent about 5,000 people fleeing from the eastern city of Goma across the nearby border into Rwanda, while another 25,000 sought refuge to the northwest in the town of Sake, the United Nations Children’s Emergency Fund said.
NBA Playoffs continue with a pair of games
First-round action in the NBA Playoffs continues Monday with a pair of games on tap. The Milwaukee Bucks host the Miami Heat in a rematch of last year’s second-round series. The Bucks are up 1-0 this time after a thrilling victory Saturday night on Khris Middleton’s buzzer-beating jump shot in overtime. The other playoff game pits the Portland Trail Blazers against the Denver Nuggets. Portland stole the series opener on the road Saturday with a barrage of 3-point shots.
After George Floyd, other American families whose loved ones were killed by police battle for justice
Matchmaking apps making it easier to spot vaccinated singles
Dating apps are making it easier for singles to find others who have been vaccinated against COVID-19. Starting Monday, new features – including badges – by Tinder, Hinge, Match, OkCupid, Bumble, BLK and other dating sites , will begin launching. Users on OkCupid can add an “I’m Vaccinated” profile badge and be featured within “Vaccinated Stacks,” a new system that lets users search by inoculation status. On Tinder, vaccinated users get elevated to premium content such as a “Super Like” option to help them stand out.
📸 Pink, daughter Willow, stun with aerial performance at Billboard Music Awards 📸
Icon award recipient Pink performs with her daughter Willow.
Chris Pizzello, Invision
It was like mother, like daughter for Pink and 9-year-old Willow Sage Hart at the Billboard Music Awards, where the pop star was honored with the Icon Award.
Pink began her hits-filled medley with “Cover Me in Sunshine,” her sweet duet with Willow, who joined her mom on stage for a breathtaking performance of the track. Tap here for more photos from the night.
If you are on a mobile device or cannot view the images in this message, click here to view this email in your browser. To ensure delivery of these emails, please add emails@thedailybeast.com to your address book. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, or think you have received this message in error, you can safely unsubscribe.
Use of this Publisher’s email, website and content, is subject to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use published on AbsoluteNews.com. The content in our emails is for informational or entertainment use and is not a substitute for professional advice. Always check with a qualified professional for treatment advice and/or diagnosis. Be sure to do your own careful research before taking action based on anything you find in this content.
Daily Media
DBA Absolute News
274 Redwood Shores Pky #311
Redwood City, CA 94065
The feds are threatening to regulate Big Tech even as they’re relying on and negotiating multi-billion dollar contracts with the industry. Rep. Ken Buck (R-Colorado) talks about the federal government’s co-dependent relationship with Big Tech and a multi-billion dollar plan to move Pentagon data to The Cloud. He also gives a status report on The Swamp.
The following is a Real Clear Investigations report by Aaron Maté: The man cast as a linchpin of debunked Trump-Russia collusion theories is breaking his silence to vigorously dispute the U.S. government’s effort to brand him a Russian spy and put him behind bars. In an exclusive interview with RealClearInvestigations, Konstantin Kilimnik stated, “I have no […]
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is grappling with another public relations challenge after the disclosure that heart inflammation, known as myocarditis, has hit some teens and young people after Covid-19 vaccination. The news of potential heart-related concerns with the Pfizer and Moderna RNA vaccines comes on the heels of blood clot worries linked to […]
It’s estimated that about six million people in the U.S. have the dreaded form of dementia known as Alzheimer’s disease. The search for a cure has fallen frustratingly short. Now, one pharmaceutical company says a cure, at least for early Alzheimer’s, is on the horizon – just waiting for FDA approval. But it’s not so […]
My last batch of signed books is now available. The timing couldn’t be better. Give to somebody you care about in these uncertain times. Information is power. Find out what’s behind the death of the news, and who’s behind big tech censorship. There’s hope.
Rightwing.org represents the majority interested in protecting truth, justice, and the American way. We are the mortal enemy of misinformation, extremes, corruption, fake news, racial division, environmental assaults and the disarmament of Americans. Rightwing.org curates, summarizes and fact checks the day’s hottest news and views giving people a source of real American news that’s easier to trust.
DISCLAIMER
Report This
Use of this Publisher’s email, website and content, is subject to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use published on RightWing.org. Content marked “Special” or “Sponsored” may be a paid third party advertisement and are not endorsed or warranted by our staff or company. The content in our emails is for informational or entertainment use and is not a substitute for professional advice. Always check with a qualified professional for treatment advice and/or diagnosis. Be sure to do your own careful research before taking action based on anything you find in this content.
A dude that was alive before the microprocessor was invented just won a major golf championship.
At age 50, Phil Mickelson just became the oldest golfer to ever win a major, taking the PGA Championship by a margin of 2 strokes. He passes Julius Boros for the distinction, who was a sprightly 48 when he won the same championship in 1968.
What in the world is going on in this photo?
Okay, what’s going on here because I’m really confuzzled…
Watch: Woman laments that her infant is “a white male,” shares the woke books she reads him so he won’t “grow up to be awful”
Imagine being this disgusted with your own child:
This teenager built an underground literal man cave in his back yard after getting into it with his parents
A Spanish teenager named Andres Canto got into a heated argument with his parents regarding the fact that he really thought he was gonna wear a tracksuit down to the village in La Romana.
BAHAHA: Don Lemon said only Dems are “operating in reality” and then claimed he’s not a political person, just a “journalist” who “lives in reality.” 🤡
Donny McWokerson Lemon wants you to know he’s not a political person and that he’s a stunning and brave reporter whose very presence drove the Orange Terror from our shores.
WaPo grieves horror of no masks because “men will start telling women to ‘Smile!’ again”
Can somebody tell me which wave of feminism gave us this headline from the Washington Post, please?
World’s unluckiest thief tried to break into top UFC star’s SUV and got knocked the heck out
Derrick James Lewis (AKA “The Black Beast”) is one of the top heavyweight MMA fighters on the planet. If there are a few people in the world you should probably never tick off, he is one of them.
Our mailing address is:
Not the Bee, LLC
PO Box 87044
Canton, MI 48187-0044
You received this email because you are a subscriber to Not the Bee or you opted-in to our newsletter through a prompt on our website. If you no longer wish to receive these emails, click here to unsubscribe.
According to leading industry sources, grocery stores across the United States are worried about food shortages.
Experts say more grocery hoarding may come as disruptions push America’s food supply “near its breaking point”.
As a result of this crisis, survival food is more important than ever.
If you don’t take action or if you stockpile the wrong foods, you could be setting your family up to be hungry in a time of crisis.
It sounds harsh, but the truth is too many people with good intentions are making critical mistakes with their survival food.
Mistakes like…
Getting MREs with a 5-year shelf life – depending on where you purchase them from they could be near expired…
Getting gross survival foods that are tough to stomach and so high in salt, MSG and preservatives you could clog your arteries and get yourself sick…
Or simply getting the wrong foods and leaving a critical hole in your meal plan, which means your family can become malnourished…
Well, I decided not to worry anymore.
Obviously, waiting for the government to give me a handout in a disaster just wasn’t an option for me. And I was completely turned off by the crazy high cost of survival food sold by most stores.
Currently 4Patriots survival food kits are flying off the shelves because:
4Patriots Survival Food Kits are a tremendous value. This is not ordinary food. This is delicious, nutritious, good-for-25-years super survival food that protects you from going hungry in a crisis. This is high quality survival food without any fillers or poor-quality “frankenfood” that the other guys use to pad their survival meals. They are made right in the U.S.A. and you won’t believe how inexpensive these kits are – just a fraction of what some other brands charge.
There’s no fancy packaging, it’s military-grade sturdy stuff and can stand up to the crazy things that happen in a crisis. This food has a shelf life of up to 25 years, so you have complete peace of mind for the long term. And they’re using the most compact kits so you can store them anywhere in your house without any extra hassle. They’re sturdy, water-resistant and stack easily. And extremely covert too.
You can make these meals in less than 20 minutes. Just add boiling water, simmer, and serve. I tried ’em and I think they taste as good or better than any other survival food I’ve ever had. And you get a whole slew of choices for breakfast, lunch and dinner so you don’t get stuck eating the same thing day-in and day-out.
Last Time, Their Best-Selling 3-Month Kits Sold Out Completely In Just 4 Days… Today They Have Them Back In Stock!
Since they finally have these best-selling kits back in stock…
They’re going to load you up with FREE GIFTS when you get yours today. Just look at all you get with this special:
It starts with great savings on the 3-Month Kit. It retails for over $800, but during this special the standard retail pricing goes out the window.
So you spare a ton and they’re just getting warmed up, because…
FREE Bonus #1: because they are so popular and they are a true foundation for your preparedness plan, they’re going to give you 2 of their popular 72-hour Survival Food Kits when you get your 3-Month Kit today.
That’s extra meals (on the house), grab-and-go portability and a way to get through any short-term crisis without even breaking into your stash. People love these kits. It’s one of their top-rated items on our website.
So you’ll get those 2 complimentary 72-hour Survival Food Kits AND…
(Hold on to your hat, folks)
FREE Bonus #2: They’re also going to give you their Victory Garden Seed Collection. Each Victory Garden Seed Collection contains survival seeds from 8 varieties of garden favorites. You’ll harvest them again and again, season after season. And stored cold, they’ll be good for years.
FREE Bonus #3: You also get their Sun Kettle Personal Water Heater. With your Sun Kettle Personal Water Heater, you can boil water without fuel, flames, smoke or noise. Use your Sun Kettle to purify water, cook food, wash up, clean up and much more. It’s like having a mini-microwave the size of a thermos.
FREE Bonus #4: They’re also going to give you their Exclusive Ultimate Survival Digital Library. With these 4 digital books you’ll have the information and tips to help you prepare for an emergency. Together, these books are valued at $80 but they’re yours free as a thank you for your purchase.
But that’s not all because you also get…
FREE Bonus #5: You also get their Digital Meal Planning & Recipe Guide. Inside, you’ll find easy ways to whip up delicious meals you’d be proud to serve your kids. Normally valued at $19.95, you’ll get this brand NEW report for FREE.
FREE Bonus #6: You also get Freedom Joe’s Survival Coffee. Rich, aromatic coffee designed to last 25 years. Coffee is one of the most in-demand items when the “you-know-what” hits the fan. Stay alert when the going gets tough with a cup of premium survival coffee from 100% pure arabica beans. You get 30 servings of delicious, aromatic survival coffee added to your Kit.
FREE Bonus #7: You also get Bugle Boy Survival Cocoa. Warm up with each cup of chocolatey goodness that is sure to satisfy the young and the young at heart. With your Survival Cocoa Kits, you’ll have the satisfying comfort of a steaming cup of cocoa when you and your loved ones need it most. You’ll get 14 servings of this taste-tested hot cocoa FREE for arming yourself with survival food.
But we’re still not done because you also get…
FREE Bonus #8: You also get $25 OFF Your Next Purchase. This is FREE money in the bank for you. You get $25 off any future purchase of $100 or more. Use it to get our best-selling survival food, solar gadgets and so much more! Get whatever you need to round out your preparedness plan. It’s completely up to you. That’s what we call an incredible deal.
But we want to sweeten the pot more. So when you order your 3-Month Survival Food Kit today, you also get…
FREE Bonus #9: You get FREE Shipping and Handling. Last but not least, you’ll get FREE shipping on your 3-Month Survival Food Kit and all of your bonus items today. It’s not cheap to ship 688 servings of food in two totes (plus all the FREE gifts you’re getting). But you deserve it for becoming a loyal customer. And frankly, we want to do it for you.
The peace of mind that comes from having a survival food stockpile shouldn’t exclusively be for well-off Americans. So you’re getting huge savings today.
You’ll even get an easy, no nonsense monthly payment plan. Just the best-tasting, made-in-America survival food protection without the sticker shock.
Look, this food tastes homemade. It’s built to last the long haul. It’s a snap to prepare. And everyone from former Navy SEALs to middle-American grandmas are singing its praises.
First, you get their no-questions-asked 365-Day Double Satisfaction Protection. That way there’s no risk for you. And you can even keep the complimentary gifts for giving your survival food a try.
Second, if you open your 4Patriots meals anytime in the next 25 years and find your food has spoiled or gone bad, you can return the entire stockpile and they will still return triple your purchase amount.
That’s how confident they are that this food will stay delicious and nutritious for the next 25 years.
Because if you don’t take action to get your food stockpile today, you’ll be in the same boat as the brainwashed masses who think “everything is fine.” And if a crisis hits and your family asks, “What are we going to eat?” your mouth will go dry and you’ll feel powerless.
But what if you decide to secure your food stockpile instead? Just imagine how much better you’ll feel right away. When a crisis hits, you will be able to calmly reassure them that they’re safe and they will have plenty to eat.
Listen, I can’t predict the future. I don’t know exactly when or how a crisis will hit.
As it stands today, it’s every man for himself. In a crisis, the loss will be beyond what you can imagine. That’s why I want you to have the same peace of mind that I do.
I was surprised to find that the densely packed packages were easy to prepare and were tasty as well. I definitely recommend having survival food on hand for the times when ‘life’ happens while we are planning other things.
Billy H.
Received my food kit in the mail and I was able to make the potato soup on my cookstove. Just needed boiling water. Gave it a good stir and let it simmered. When I opened up the pot, it smelled so good. You can see the chunks of potatoes and carrots in each bite you take. It’s a good soup.
Kevin S.
72 hour kit is a perfect starter kit for any scenario. Put one in your car, work bag, in your house or RV. If you want to start preparing safe food, this is where to start.
Carol B.
Hey Frank, I have been iced in this weekend. I thought I would try my potato soup. To my utter delight ….. IT WAS DELICIOUS… Thank you for such a wonderful product and the peace of mind it brings.
Ken K.
I am not a full blown survivalist. I am not an idiot, either. I have been through enough in my life and have seen friends who have been through an emergency situation. Sure, sometimes it is for a few days and I pray that it is not longer than that for you or me or anyone we know. Save up if you have to, but get at least a month’s supply. It tastes good although if it is that dire of an emergency, you will be happy to eat anything. IF you have something to eat for your family. Get some water, too, and something to heat it with. We made some of this product and had family and friends over for them to taste and they all agreed they didn’t think anything would be this good and they will be ordering. Just do something. You can’t miss out on this deal.
Justin A.
My wife and I tried the food and we were both surprised about how good it tasted and how satisfied it made us feel afterwards. It feels good knowing that I can provide for my family if a crisis arose and I intend to get more in the future. Also the shipping and customer service has been top notch. This probably the cheapest survival food I have found and the company is great.
Gary M.
I actually had lost my job and was homeless for a while. I dug into my food supply, and I cannot fully describe how delicious and easy to prepare everything is. I felt like I was eating like a king. I am going to stock up again as soon as I settle into my new job. Everyone should participate with this company. You will not be disappointed.
John H.
We’re in Florida and have made many preparations for the aftermath of a possible hurricane. While we are thankful that Florida has not been hit in several years, it gives us great peace of mind to know we have our Food4Patriots kit stashed away, knowing it’s not a case of “if” but “when.”
This email is never sent unsolicited. You have received this Newsmax email because you subscribed to it or someone forwarded it to you. To opt out, see the links below.
If this email has been forwarded to you and you would like to sign up, please click here.
Remove your email address from our list or modify your profile. We respect your right to privacy. View our policy.
This email was sent by: Newsmax.com
1501 Northpoint Parkway, Suite 104
West Palm Beach, FL 33407 USA
DM221881
010502c6kwp1
99.) MARK LEVIN
May 21, 2021
Posted on
On Friday’s Mark Levin Show, The rise of Jew-hatred and anti-Semitism is frightening. Open borders in Europe have created no-go zones for Jews and Christians in certain areas in the Middle East and it looks like the United States is following suit. Bigots like the Rep Rashida Tlaib, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, and the squad stir the pot and inspire anti-Semitism. This hatred can destroy a country and affects all Americans that believe in a Constitutional system. Then, Palestinian groups in the United States have been attacking Jews in major cities across America. While we’ve heard of Islamophobia over and over again, yet we’ve heard nothing from President Biden, VP Harris who is married to a Jew, or Senate Majority Leader Schumer who is a Jew as well. Shockingly they are all silent. The FBI recently reported that 62% of all hate crimes are against Jews. Will the Democrats do anything to stop this radical wing within their Party? Later, Sen. Tom Cotton joins the show to reaffirm his support for Israel and question why Biden has been so weak in his defense of Israel. Cotton added that similarly, President Obama was also weak with Iran which has vowed to destroy Israel and the US. Cotton surmised that China’s preposterous cover-up about the virus originating from a wet market is steadily being disproved as more evidence emerges regarding the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Afterward, isn’t it interesting that when Donald Trump says that an election is rigged, people are asked to be quiet but when Stacy Abrams claims that an election was stolen, refuses to concede she is asked to make her case? It’s a ridiculously unfair double standard.
The podcast for this show can be streamed or downloaded from the Audio Rewind page.
Image used with permission of Getty Images / Spencer Platt
100.) WOLF DAILY
Wolf Daily Newsletter
We send our newsletter via email to avoid censorship. Please add news@mail.wolfdaily.com to your email contact list to make sure you are not missing any emails.
Three researchers from China’s Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) sought hospital care in November 2019, months before China disclosed the COVID-19 pandemic…
Two Manhattan jail guards who were on duty the night Jeffrey Epstein killed himself admitted to falsifying records but would avoid prison under an agreement with U.S. prosecutors to resolve criminal charges.
Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer issued an apology on Sunday after an image showed her to be apparently violating state-mandated social distancing guidelines at an East Lansing restaurant.
You are receiving this e-mail as a part of your free subscription to the Wolf Daily newsetter.
If you received this email in error, or would like to be removed from the Wolf Daily Newsletter, please click below to be removed from future mailings.
With much of Congress on Israel’s side as it wages a defensive war against the terrorist group Hamas, but a swath of Democrat lawmakers are expressing hostility to the Jewish state. Purge the party of these traitors.
#BidenCrisis The Democrat terror regime are making American taxpayers pay for rebuilding ‘Palestinian’-Hamas jihad terrorist regime, resupply weapons and rebuild their tunnels to terrorize the beleaguered Jewish state. During the Trump years, …
The relentless onslaught of Jew hatred is met with shrugs and apathy but the left-ruling elite. Democrats pose an existential threat to Jews here and across the world.
THROWING BOMBS AT JEWS. No outrage. No Democrat media coverage.No Governor. No Mayor. And American Jewish leadership has been so busy this past decade condemning proud zionists like myself and colleagues, while serving as court Jew for terror-tied …
For years, the Geller Report has extensively chronicled the overt anti-Israel bigotry of Senator Bernie Sanders. America’s mainstream Jewish organizations were to gutless to do the same. In part, because Sanders is a Jew. Today, Bernie Sanders has …
Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday acknowledged that Iran funds terrorist proxies across the Middle East, but confirmed that the Biden administration is looking to lift sanctions against the regime in Tehran anyway…
The mission of the Media Research Center is to create a media culture in America where truth and liberty flourish. The MRC is a research and education organization operating under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, and contributions to the MRC are tax-deductible.
Hi, just a reminder that you’re receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in ConservativeBrief.Com. Don’t forget to add email@conservativebrief.com to your address book so we’ll be sure to land in your inbox!
‘Accidental Voting Mistake’: Republicans Give Pelosi MAJOR Win
This seems very suspicious.
Auditors Discover ‘Fold Effect’ – Could Trigger RECOUNT
Auditors say it could affect the entire state.
Explosive Photograph Exposes Corrupt Dem Gov. Whitmer Violating Own Her Orders
She is a total hypocrite.
Another Humiliation – Chinese Military Send Message to ‘Weak’ Biden
They do not respect Biden one bit.
Hunter Busted On Air Force One – Secret Service Logs EXPOSE Biden
The corruption continues to seep out.
GOD BLESS AMERICA!
Apse Media LLC, PO BOX 1046, Smyrna, TN 37167, United States
You may unsubscribe or change your contact details at any time.