MORNING NEWS BRIEFING – JANUARY 5, 2022

Good morning! Here is your news briefing for Wednesday January 5, 2022

1.) THE DAILY SIGNAL

Good morning from Washington. How do LGBT activists aim to win hearts and minds on the transgender issue? Mary Margaret Olohan examines a new strategy document for leftists. Meanwhile, Virginia Allen interviews Kara Dansky, a feminist and a Democrat who refuses to toe the party line and go woke on gender identity. Plus: Sarah Parshall Perry analyzes an important ruling on the military vaccine mandate and Tim Graham calls out the media’s biased view of President Biden.

NEWS
Transgender Activists Strategize to Overcome GOP Wins With 'Race-Class-Gender Narrative'
By Mary Margaret Olohan
The report urges adherents to both name and call out “the villains who violate our values” and “expose their motivation of getting back into or holding onto power.”
COMMENTARY
Court Delivers Win to Military Members Denied Religious Exemptions From Pentagon Vaccine Mandate
By Sarah Parshall Perry
“The COVID-19 pandemic provides the government no license to abrogate [religious] freedoms,” writes a judge. “There is no COVID-19 exception to the First Amendment.”
COMMENTARY
3 Books for Liberty-Loving Readers in 2022
By Veronique de Rugy
I’d like to recommend three books to read after the tumultuous events of 2021.
COMMENTARY
In Year-End Recap, ABC Saves Biden's Bacon
By Tim Graham
One of the most disturbing concepts in politics is the media elite providing the “first draft of history.”
ANALYSIS
Why This 'Radical Feminist' Won't Use the Word 'Transgender'
By Virginia Allen
“There is a massively well-funded industry that is pushing this agenda. And it manufactured the word ‘transgender,'” says author Kara Dansky.
COMMENTARY
ICYMI: Disclose Names of Men in Maxwell-Epstein Case
By Cal Thomas
Maxwell may be able to strike a bargain with the court for a reduced sentence if she releases the names and possible videos that Epstein shot of some of the men involved.
LOGO-CHARCOAL_75percent.jpg

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2.) THE EPOCH TIMES

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3.) DAYBREAK

Your First Look at Today’s Top Stories – Daybreak Insider
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1.
Chicago School Unions Vote to Bail on Students

At the last minute, leaving parents and the district in a bind. Teachers insist they will only teach remotely, putting students last (Chalkboard Review). From another story: Mayor Lori Lightfoot said teachers who do not come into work tomorrow will be put on no pay status (Twitter).

2.
Biden Blames Unvaccinated for High Covid Rates

Despite facts on the ground. Biden complained “There is no excuse — no excuse for anyone being unvaccinated. This continues to be a pandemic of the unvaccinated. So we got to make more progress.”

Fox News

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3.
Biden Approval Sinks to New Low

From James Freeman: Frustrations over the economy are the main culprit behind Biden’s flagging popularity as nearly every demographic declared it their No. 1 issue. The economy was the top priority for men and women, every age cohort, Latino and white voters, and those with and without college educations. Black respondents, who named racism their chief priority, said the economy takes second place.

WSJ

4.
Texas Challenges Biden Vaccine Mandate for National Guard

According to the story, a whopping 40 percent are refusing.

Washington Times

5.
Record 4.5 Million Americans Quit Their Jobs in November

From the story: Workers were most likely to quit their jobs in the hospitality industry, which had by far the highest quits rate at 6.1% in November, as well as those in health care. The numbers in transportation, warehousing and utilities also increased. How many of them were actually forced out by mandates?

CNN

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6.
Media Waking Up to Covid Reality

The Atlantic, which has preached doom and gloom for over a year, is suddenly realizing it’s not so bad (National Review). And many have mocked CNN for just now reporting that obesity is a problem for covid (CNN). From Patricia Heaton: This information was known from the very beginning of the pandemic, but was rarely discussed by the news media. Why? Obesity practically guaranteed hospitalization or death from Covid, but we’re only now seeing the topic front and center. Why? (Twitter).

7.
Schools Take Billions to Re-Open, Remain Closed

And some spent the money on Critical Race Theory. Big blue cities and states were the worst offenders.

Daily Wire

8.
Virginia Drivers Stranded by Massive Traffic Jam

Between ice and accidents, many were stranded for an entire day (Fox News). In shockingly bad timing, yesterday morning VP Harris tweeted “Because of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, America is moving again. That’s what infrastructure is all about: getting people moving” (Twitter).  A number of people blamed Governor-elect Younkin, not aware he has yet to take office (Fox News).

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9.
Los Angeles Pauses Criminal Trials for Covid

From the story: Presiding Judge Eric C. Taylor issued an emergency order temporarily delaying criminal jury trials from Wednesday through Jan. 19 in Los Angeles County, her emergency order issued on Tuesday said. Hours earlier, the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California announced an immediate three-week suspension of all federal jury trials.

Fox News

10.
Woke Arizona State University Students Apoplectic After Being Disciplined for Harassing White Students

They felt they had the right to harass white students who express support for police and don’t like Biden.

Daily Mail

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4.) THE SUNBURN

Sunburn — The morning read of what’s hot in Florida politics — 1.5.22

Good morning: Here’s your first look at the issues behind today’s Florida politics.

Good Wednesday morning.

First, I want to thank everyone for the notes and well wishes on my birthday yesterday. I’m humbled by your kindness and grateful for every one of you. Thanks again for making the day special.

___

Sunburn breaks news on personnel moves every week, but this one is bittersweet: our Senior Editor, Janelle Irwin Taylor, is leaving the journalism world to serve as communications director for incoming St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch.

“Working as a journalist, particularly the past nearly two years as senior editor at Florida Politics, has been a dream come true. Journalism was my first love and passion. But with all things, sometimes the time is right for change. I’m looking forward to channeling all I’ve learned throughout my career about politics, policy and strategy into this new endeavor and working with Mayor-elect Ken Welch to continue building progress in the Sunshine City,” she said.

Onward: Farewell to a talented editor, reporter, and a great person.

“I want to thank everyone at Florida Politics for being not just co-workers, but trusted friends. I know they will continue to do amazing work in the Tampa Bay area and beyond, and I look forward to continuing my relationship with them as I transition into this new and exciting role.”

Janelle has been covering local news and politics in Tampa Bay for nearly two decades. Her reporting talents have been showcased in hundreds of Florida Politics articles.

She was elevated to Senior Editor early in the pandemic. She has since become the glue that holds our virtual newsroom together, serving as both a trusted resource to our veteran reporters and a valuable adviser to our younger ones.

The Florida Politics family wishes her all the best.

— SITUATIONAL AWARENESS —

@EWErickson: I don’t think January 6th is going to help the Democrats like the media seems to think it will. But there is a genuine obsession in the press about it. It was a bad day, but it doesn’t outweigh crime, inflation, COVID, school closures, etc. for voters.

Tweet, tweet:

 

@Fineout: Campaign arm of @GovRonDeSantis sends out fundraising pitch that bashes (JoeBiden for failing to shut down the virus as promises — it came out just as DeSantis was saying the same thing at delayed news conference. Normally they come out after the news conference

@AngieNixon: I’m tripping because they didn’t even let him use his wheelchair to leave. Is this what we can expect of the Gov gets his own State Guards?

@Annette_Taddeo: It seems we were the ones with a MAJOR announcement today, and at a news conference with no arrests

@CarlosGSmithPlease STOP shaming folks for waiting in lines for COVID testing. Not everyone can just stay home for days on end WITHOUT pay. They need a negative test to return to work and without #PaidSickLeave they can’t afford to stay home. Floridians need #PaidLeave now.

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@Fahrenthold: It’s very hard to leave the @washingtonpost, especially at a time when it’s thriving and growing. I’ve loved it for 21 years. But when yr employee ID gets old enough to drink, it *might* be time to smack yourself in the face with a new challenge.

Tweettweet:

 

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— DAYS UNTIL —

Ken Welch’s inauguration as St. Petersburg Mayor — 1; NFL season ends — 4; 2022 Legislative Session starts — 6; Florida’s 20th Congressional District Election — 6; Special Elections in Senate District 33, House District 88 & 94 — 6; Florida Chamber’s 2022 Legislative Fly-In and Reception — 6; Florida TaxWatch’s 2022 State of the Taxpayer Day — 7; Joel Coen’s ’The Tragedy of Macbeth’ on Apple TV+ — 9; NFL playoffs begin — 10; ‘Ozark’ final season begins — 16; ‘Billions’ begins — 18; Red Dog Blue Dog charity event — 20; XXIV Olympic Winter Games begins — 30; Super Bowl LVI — 39; season two of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel’ begins — 44; ‘The Walking Dead’ final season part two begins — 46; Daytona 500 — 47; Special Election for Jacksonville City Council At-Large Group 3 — 49; CPAC begins — 51; St. Pete Grand Prix — 51; ‘The Batman’ premieres — 58; the third season of ‘Atlanta’ begins — 78; season two of ‘Bridgerton’ begins — 79; The Oscars — 81; federal student loan payments will resume — 116; ’Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness’ premieres — 121; ’Top Gun: Maverick’ premieres — 142; ’Platinum Jubilee’ for Queen Elizabeth II — 148; ’Thor: Love and Thunder’ premieres — 185; San Diego Comic-Con 2022 — 196; ‘The Lord of the Rings’ premieres on Amazon Prime — 240; ’Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ sequel premieres — 275; ‘Black Panther 2’ premieres — 310; ‘The Flash’ premieres — 313; ‘Avatar 2’ premieres — 345; ‘Captain Marvel 2’ premieres — 408; ‘John Wick: Chapter 4’ premieres — 443; ‘Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania’ premieres — 569; ‘Dune: Part Two’ premieres — 653; Opening Ceremony of the 2024 Olympic Games — 933.

— TOP STORY —

Ron DeSantis news conference shut down; well-known Black activist handcuffed and escorted out” via Issac Morgan of Florida Phoenix — A Tuesday morning news conference hosted by DeSantis was disrupted after a group of at least seven individuals refused to leave the public health department building in Duval County and demanded to speak to the Republican Governor. Ben Frazier, an activist and Black man, led the protest in Jacksonville and was eventually forced to leave the room where members of the media gathered for DeSantis’ news conference that was supposed to begin around 10:15 a.m. Frazier was told by a man who described himself as a facilities manager that the conference was only for “credentialed press” and asked everyone to leave “who is not media.” Frazier remained in the room, saying, “We’re not moving; we come in peace.” As law enforcement officers were present in the room, Frazier was later escorted out of the building in handcuffs.

To watch a video of the arrest, click on the image below:

Video Player

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DeSantis moves Jacksonville news conference after protest and handcuffing of community leader” via Dan Scanlan of The Florida Times-Union — DeSantis had to make new arrangements for his news conference in Jacksonville after a handful of people protested and refused to leave the Duval County Department of Health building. Officers detained Northside Coalition of Jacksonville community leader Frazier after being warned he was trespassing if he wouldn’t leave as asked. He was handcuffed and escorted from his motorized wheelchair to a patrol vehicle. While Frazier and a few other protesters argued the event was public and in a public building, the Governor’s staff said it was private and for credentialed media only. The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said that Frazier was later issued a notice to appear in court on a trespassing charge and released.

—”After news conference arrest, DeSantis bashes ‘authoritarian’ Joe Biden” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics


— STATEWIDE —

DeSantis takes anti-AOC case to Fox News prime-time” via A.G. Gancarski of Florida Politics — Last week, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez said DeSantis was “inexplicably missing,” just before Fox News reported DeSantis was accompanying the First Lady to cancer treatments. DeSantis discussed this during a morning news conference in South Florida, but he sharpened his arguments on Fox News prime-time. “It is a private matter, but if people are going to lie, we’re going to fight back,” he said. “And I can tell you when you have people like that Congresswoman, who ripped Florida because we’re open, who says you need lockdown policies, and then the first chance they get they come running down to my state? If I had a dollar for every lockdown politician who’s done that over the last couple years, I’d be awfully wealthy right now.”

Ron DeSantis takes his beef with AOC to prime time.

Report: Medicaid health plans, Florida Healthy Start don’t provide the same services” via Christine Jordan Sexton of Florida Politics — A look at the millions of dollars Florida is spending on health care and social services for pregnant women, infants and children shows little duplication and offers good news to those who support the programs. A recently released report conducted by the Office of Program Policy and Government Accountability shows there’s not much overlap in the care provided by state-contracted Medicaid managed care plans versus services offered by the Florida Healthy Start program. “Overall, the report is extremely positive,” Catherine Timuta, chief executive officer of the Healthy Start MomCare Network, said. OPPAGA began reviewing the services the network and statewide Medicaid managed care plans offer pregnant women to see if they were duplicating services and whether those services meet state and federal requirements.

Who put fliers on New Yorkers’ cars telling them to leave Florida if ‘woke’?” via The Associated Press — Someone had a warning for New Yorkers visiting former President Donald Trump’s new hometown — leave if you are “woke.” Palm Beach Police say someone placed fliers over the weekend on New York-licensed cars parked on the wealthy island reading, “If you are one of the those ‘woke’ people — leave Florida. You will be happier elsewhere, as will we.” The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “woke” in the political context as meaning “aware of and actively attentive to important facts and issues (especially issues of racial and social justice).” Some conservatives, however, use the word as an insult against liberals, saying it means the person is overly sensitive and moralizing and sees racism where it does not exist.

 

— DATELINE TALLY —

Nikki Fried, Michele Rayner-Goolsby promote clean water package” via Kelly Hayes of Florida Politics — Fried and Pinellas County Rep. Rayner-Goolsby promoted legislation that would revamp the state’s outdated clean water policies. The legislation (SB 904, HB 807) would build on the Agriculture Department’s Office of Agricultural Water Policy’s Clean Water Initiative. Sen. Gary Farmer is sponsoring the Senate legislation. Fried said that the initiative seeks to update and strengthen the Office of Agriculture Policy’s water policies, which haven’t been changed in more than a decade. The bill would require the department to develop and adopt “best management practices” (BMPs) producers to reduce the amount of fertilizers, animal waste and other pollutants that enter the state’s water system.

Nikki Fried teams with Michele Rayner-Goolsby to file a clean water package for 2022.

‘Markel’ grandparent visitation efforts see renewed hope through House, Senate bills” via Peter Schorsch of Florida Politics — For years, Florida lawmakers and advocates have attempted to thread an almost impossible needle: finding a way to secure access to courts for grandparents who became alienated from their grandchildren amid terrible circumstances, while preserving Florida’s exceptionally strong parental rights. HB 1119, sponsored by Rep. Jackie Toledo, and SB 1408, sponsored by Sen. Keith Perry, provide a vision for a path forward that would grant access to courts without compromising Florida’s strong commitment to parental rights. This effort, informally referred to as “The Markel Act” by advocates, says that if the surviving parent of a child has a criminal or civil finding of wrongful death against them, grandparents are given the ability to petition for visitation with a presumption that such visitation should be granted.

Cigarette sculptures highlight Joe Gruters’ push to snuff out beach smoking” via Jacob Ogles of Florida Politics — Sen. Joe Gruters for years has fought against the unsightly cigarette butts littering Florida’s beaches. Now, a work of art could drive that message home. Gruters joined the Ocean Conservancy for a news conference on Siesta Beach to discuss his latest legislative attempt to clean up the shore. Around the speakers stood the artwork of Sarasota sculptor Erin Ernst, depictions of oversized cigarette butts crumpled in the sand. The art itself was made from tiny plastic fibers, another poorly recycled material posing a threat to Florida’s waters. Once again, Gruters has filed legislation (SB 224) that would allow cities and counties the right to regulate smoking in public beaches and parks. Frequently, he’s discussed the international acclaim and expert listings for Siesta Key, which on multiple occasions has topped the Dr. Beach rankings. But those rankings consider whether beaches permit smoking.

‘It’s such a good policy:’ Rep. Jayer Williamson wants 60% incorporation threshold to be law” via Alex Miller of the Pensacola News Journal — Williamson has filed a bill (HB 1035) that would require communities to reach 60% approval in a local nonbinding referendum before presenting an incorporation bill in the state Legislature. Williamson, a Pace Republican, said the feedback he received from groups currently vying to incorporate Navarre prompted him to draft the bill. According to Williamson, this bill does not affect the current process of the two groups now advocating for the incorporation of Navarre, Preserve Navarre and Navarre Area United PAC. But he said it would help ensure there is an adequate amount of buy-in from residents. Williamson said part of why he wanted to turn his policy into law was to help clarify what all is required to incorporate.

Jayer Williamson says a supermajority is necessary for incorporation.

Bill proposes scholarships, business loans to pay back Groveland 4 legacy” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — After helping usher in formal state apologies, pardons, and exonerations for injustices leveled on the Groveland Four more than 70 years ago, Rep. Geraldine Thompson hopes to see Florida pay back a little to make up for the legacy. Thompson, the Orlando Democrat who’s been a leader in the eight-year crusade to clear the names of the four young Black men falsely accused of raping a White woman in 1949, is proposing legislation creating scholarships and business loans in their names. House Bill 1133, which Thompson introduced Monday, would create up to 50 college scholarships of up to $6,100 a year toward tuition and fees, which could be awarded to descendants of the Groveland Four, and to other students from Groveland, the Lake County town where the injustice began and echoed for decades among Black residents of the area.

Geraldine Thompson seeks to make amends for the Groveland Four.

Court official seeks to release sealed Jeffrey Epstein grand jury documents by changing Florida law” via Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — The official who holds court documents in Palm Beach County wants the Florida Legislature to change state law to allow the release of secret grand jury proceedings involving the deceased sexual predator Epstein. Joseph Abruzzo, the county’s Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, inherited custody of the Epstein grand jury materials when he took office a year ago. Abruzzo said Tuesday he’s seeking a change in state law to allow public release of those documents. He said he would “leave no stone unturned to do whatever I can to shed full light and public disclosure on the Epstein case.”

Late prisons chief was linked to legal precedents boosting defendants’ rights” via Florida Phoenix — Louie Wainwright dedicated much of his life to running Florida prisons. His death at 98 on Dec. 23 in Tallahassee was announced recently by officials at the Department of Corrections. Wainwright was the head of the department for 25 years, retiring in 1986 after a lifelong career at the agency. Associates credit him with changing the prison system into an agency that attempted to rehabilitate inmates instead of merely locking them up. But legal scholars will most remember him for two U.S. Supreme Court decisions in which Wainwright, as the secretary of corrections, was the lead defendant. Best known is Gideon v. Wainwright, the 1963 decision that guaranteed a constitutional right to have a lawyer appointed in state courts. In a unanimous decision, the Supreme Court ruled that defendants who could not afford a lawyer were entitled to have one appointed.

— AFP AGENDA —

Americans for Prosperity-Florida released an outline of its policy goals for the 2022 Legislative Session on Wednesday, just days ahead of when lawmakers are set to convene in the state Capitol.

The conservative advocacy group said it will spend Session pushing for bills that would expand school choice, make health care more accessible and affordable and cut the “red tape hindering Floridians.”

As ever, AFP-FL is taking a hard-line stance against perceived corporate handouts — funding for the Tampa Bay Rays proposed new stadium in Ybor City was explicitly called out as inappropriate use of taxpayer dollars.

Americans for Prosperity-Florida is targeting a possible Ybor City stadium as excessive government waste.

AFP-FL’s outline includes support for universal education savings accounts, an expansion to pharmacists’ scope-of-practice, and a “policy that prioritizes individuals before organizations regarding union membership.”

“Our advocates are already actively engaging on these critical issues, building off the momentum from the previous Legislative Session in the areas of education and health care. The pandemic put things into perspective for Florida families, and citizens are more engaged in our grassroots efforts than ever. Our conversations with concerned citizens over the past year have provided meaningful insights, and based on those we have put together a legislative agenda that addresses the top issues Floridians face each day,” AFP-FL State Director Skylar Zander said.

“We want to make sure legislators in Tallahassee hear the voices of students, parents, patients, and workers across the state so they can enact reforms that remove barriers to individual opportunity and success.”

— CORONA FLORIDA —

Nearly 2% of all Floridians had COVID-19 in the past week” via Scott Powers of Florida Politics — Florida’s COVID-19 winter surge added more than 372,364 new confirmed cases last week — meaning 1.7% of the state’s population was confirmed to have COVID-19 in one week. Florida had never before seen so much as 1% of its population confirmed with COVID-19 in a single week during the pandemic, now in its 23rd month. In just the seven days through Sunday, Florida confirmed more new COVID-19 cases than it did through the first four and a half months of the pandemic combined, through July 20, 2020. Florida’s fresh COVID-19 caseload for the period that ran from Dec. 27 through Sunday was more than double the 169,618 total new cases recorded the week before, which had been a record, and triple the total recorded the week before that.

Florida COVID-19: Cases, hospitalizations continue to rise” via David Schutz of the Orlando Sentinel — Florida’s COVID-19 cases continued to rise as 51,644 new cases were reported in the state Tuesday and the number of patients hospitalized with the virus passed 7,000 for the first time since late September, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control. As of Monday, at least 4,360,178 Floridians have been infected by COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic. An average of 22 Floridians per day have died of COVID-19 over the past week, and at least 62,541 have died in total. Meanwhile, an average of 99,267 vaccinations are being administered per day in Florida as of Friday. About 63.4% of Floridians are fully vaccinated and 31.3% have received booster shots.

Omicron is hitting Florida hard. Image via AP.

More antibody treatment coming if feds heed requests from Florida, DeSantis says” via Dan Scanlan of The Florida Times-Union — Jacksonville will be able to open additional monoclonal antibody treatment sites for COVID-19 if the state gets an additional 30,000 doses it is requesting from the federal government, DeSantis said. Following comments saying Biden’s allocation system for the Regeneron and Eli Lilly monoclonal antibody treatments was shortchanging Florida, DeSantis said Jacksonville officials asked for the state’s help in expanding them. DeSantis announced it will only take a day to open a new Jacksonville site if the President sends more doses to Florida, as he has urged the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to do. The Governor said federal officials “don’t believe” in the treatment, which is one possible reason why more access hasn’t been allocated to Florida.

DeSantis urges healthy, asymptomatic Floridians to forgo COVID-19 testing even as omicron case count skyrockets” via Liz Freeman and Frank Gluck of the Naples Daily News — DeSantis said Tuesday that Floridians who have not been credibly exposed to COVID-19 and have no symptoms don’t need to get tested and are overwhelming already overcrowded test sites. DeSantis, joined by Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo and Agency for Health Care Administration Secretary Simone Marstiller, announced the new testing guidelines. Ladapo and DeSantis used the example of seemingly healthy schoolchildren who have been exposed but are otherwise asymptomatic. Those children, they said, are being unnecessarily harmed by keeping them away from the classroom and their peers — as well as disrupting family life.

DeSantis’ vaccination status is now a state secret” via Jonathan Chait of POLITICO — DeSantis has been walking a delicate balancing act on vaccinations, assiduously courting vaccine skeptics without going so far to the right that he lands in Marjorie Taylor Greene territory. What’s revealing about his line is that it keeps moving further and further to the right. Last month, when asked if he had received his booster shot, DeSantis changed the subject. DeSantis spokesperson Christina Pushaw presented this refusal to answer as a matter of principle. This, however, was not always DeSantis’s position. Last spring, DeSantis told the news media he would let it know if and when he received his first dose. So, DeSantis’s position that his vaccination status is a completely private issue is new.

Democratic leaders call on DeSantis to open state testing sites” via Anne Geggis of Florida Politics — South Florida’s congressional Democrats and a Miami state Senator on Tuesday called for DeSantis to open state testing sites and blasted his response to the current surge of COVID-19 infections. They said DeSantis is missing in action at best and an actual health threat at worst, by downplaying vaccinations, face masks and testing asymptomatic patients as the seven-day average of positive COVID-19 cases reached new levels Tuesday. Sen. Shevrin Jones slammed the effects of a November Special Session that stopped businesses from requiring employees to get vaccinated without exceptions and prevented schools from mandating student face masks. It’s particularly egregious considering the current spike, the Democratic leaders said.

Florida Surgeon General: Omicron will wake people to feds’ pandemic failures” via Renzo Downey of Florida Politics — If there’s one blessing from the omicron variant, Florida Surgeon General Joseph Ladapo says it’s that people will hopefully realize the federal government’s shortcomings during the COVID-19 pandemic. Ladapo, appointed by DeSantis in September, has been a vocal critic of strict public health measures intended to fight the pandemic, including masking and vaccination requirements. He has also stressed the use of COVID-19 treatments. With a little more than three months into his time as Surgeon General, Ladapo said he is “entertained” by the narratives of pro-vaccination and pro-masking politics. With the rise of the omicron variant and an increased number of breakthrough cases, the Surgeon General sees the goal posts shifting.

Joe Ladapo is quick to point out the failure of the feds.

Workers’ compensation protection expires for COVID-19 cases in Florida” via Denise Sawyer of CBS12 — An executive order put in place to protect those who protect Floridians during the pandemic has expired. Now tens of thousands of first responders, health care workers, and other employees are left unprotected if they were to claim work-related coronavirus infection. You may assume that if you contract the virus while you are at work, you should be covered by workers’ compensation. Yet, that is not always the case. There’s a great deal of Complexity Behind Coverage for COVID-19 but to break it all down is workers’ compensation attorney Michael Horowitz in Vero Beach. “We had an executive order that protected front-line workers, but it ended, and I don’t know if anybody knows it ended,” said Horowitz.

Florida’s grad rate rises with test rules waived again” via Leslie Postal of the Orlando Sentinel — Florida’s high school graduation rate remained above 90% last year, but nearly 16,000 teenagers earned diplomas in 2021 because the state waived testing requirements amid the pandemic, state data released Tuesday showed. As a result, 8.5% of the class of 2021, or more than 15,780 students, graduated though they had not passed at least one of the tests, the Florida Department of Education noted in its annual report on graduation rates. For the class of 2020, about 7.1% graduated without passing the tests. As is typical, graduation rates varied by race, with 97.5% of Asian students, 91.8% of white students, 89.4% of Hispanic students, and 87.1% of Black students earning diplomas in 2021. The department said that the rates for all races have climbed in recent years.

Omicron leads to scores of absences as classes resume — Florida schools are reporting massive increases in absences and employees calling out sick as classes resume amid the omicron surge, Andrew Atterbury of POLITICO Florida reports. About 2,100 Miami-Dade County Schools’ instructional staff missed the first day of the semester, compared to 1,333 staff absences during the first day of the spring semester last year. In Broward County, 1,740 teachers were out sick on Tuesday and could not call in enough substitutes to cover them, forcing them to put non-instructional staff in classrooms. Central Florida counties are experiencing similar woes, with Osceola recording 314 teacher absences this week, up from 180 absences during the same week last year.

— CORONA LOCAL —

OCPS logs record COVID-19 cases, Osceola high absentee rates” via Leslie Postal of the Orlando Sentinel — Orange County Public Schools reported a record number of students with COVID-19 Tuesday as classes resumed after winter break amid a surge of virus cases fueled by the new omicron variant. The region’s largest school district logged 866 student COVID-19 cases on Monday, far surpassing the 491 reported Sept. 7, although Monday’s tally was a catch-up figure of all cases reported during the two-week school holiday. The Osceola County School District immediately saw the fallout from a spike in cases as student and teacher absences were far higher than normal. About 23% of Osceola’s students, or more than 12,600 youngsters, were absent Monday, more than double a normal winter day, said Dana Schafer, the district’s spokesperson, in an email. She added that the district had 314 teachers absent compared to 180 at the same time last year.

Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry tests positive for COVID-19, quarantines at home” via David Bauerlein of the Florida Times-Union — Curry tested positive for the COVID-19 virus and is quarantining at home this week while he recovers from the infection. Curry took an at-home test for the virus after experiencing “mild cold-like symptoms,” according to a statement. Curry is “fully vaccinated,” the statement said. Vaccinations do not prevent transmission of the virus with “breakthrough infections,” but they reduce the risk of grave illness requiring hospitalization. Curry will follow CDC guidelines and “continue to isolate at home throughout the week,” the statement said. Curry has become the latest top elected official at Jacksonville City Hall to come down with the virus since the pandemic started in early 2020.

Lenny Curry is the latest Jacksonville leader to catch a breakthrough case of COVID-19.

Leon County Schools: Employees required to wear masks, students strongly encouraged” via Ana Goñi Lessan of the Tallahassee Democrat — Leon County Schools employees, including teachers, will now be required to wear a mask indoors if they cannot safely socially distance from others, Superintendent Rocky Hanna said at a news conference Tuesday. Masked teachers is one of the many updates Hanna and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Alan Cox made to the school district’s COVID-19 protocols: “I think the worst is still yet to come now that we’re going to bring everybody back to schools,” Hanna said. School starts again Wednesday after the nearly three-week-long winter break. The district can no longer require students to wear masks after the Florida Legislature made a state law out of DeSantis‘ emergency order.

Palm Beach County approves up to $500,000 for at-home COVID-19 test kits” via Hannah Morse and Chris Persaud of the Palm Beach Post — Facing surging demand for COVID-19 tests and hourslong lines at some testing sites, Palm Beach County commissioners unanimously gave the county administrator the authority to spend up to $500,000 from the federal government on at-home test kits to distribute to residents. Palm Beach County has also requested 250,000 kits from the state, Administrator Verdenia Baker said. They have confirmed they’ll be getting 45,000 of those kits, with 24,000 that were expected to be in the county’s possession Tuesday. New coronavirus infections in Palm Beach County have skyrocketed since December. During the final week of 2021, the county’s coronavirus caseload exploded by 24,488 infections.

Fort Lauderdale cancels MLK parade, adds COVID-19 test site” via Roy Ramos of WPLG Local 10 News — Fort Lauderdale is boosting its COVID-19 testing capacity, but to slow the spread of the virus, the city has also announced the cancellation of its Martin Luther King Jr. Day parade. The parade was scheduled for the morning of Jan. 17 along Sistrunk Boulevard. Mayor Dean Trantalis said he supports that decision and hopes the community can find other ways to honor King’s legacy. With the rise of the omicron variant and COVID-19 infections surging across Florida, local leaders have taken action to step up testing. At Fort Lauderdale’s Mills Pond Park, 1,200 tests have been administered per day, but demand has exceeded that.

Neptune Beach COVID-19 testing site reaches capacity five minutes after opening” via Beth Reese Cravey of The Florida Times-Union — Because of heavy demand amid rising COVID-19 cases, a city-funded Neptune Beach testing site reached capacity five minutes after opening Tuesday. The site will resume offering tests at 7 a.m. Wednesday, according to Telescope Health, which runs the site. The city of Jacksonville used federal relief money to sponsor the site in the old Kmart shopping center in partnership with Telescope Health. City officials said Monday the demand exhausted the city’s initial round of funding and might need emergency financial support next week to keep operating.

Tampa Fire Chief warns ‘everybody’s going to get it’ as Tampa opens new COVID-19 test site” via Daniel Figueroa of Florida Politics — Tampa opened a new COVID-19 test site at Al Barnes Park Tuesday morning to meet increasing testing demands amid omicron variant-led surges in COVID-19 positivity. Most city and county-run sites began to close during the latter half of 2021 as cases began to drop. On Monday, the Miami Herald reported 85,707 cases and 61 new deaths. That’s the most significant multiday increase in cases since the pandemic began. “The omicron is a very contagious variant that’s out there,” Tampa Fire Chief Barbara Tripp said Monday. “The likelihood is that everyone’s gonna get it.” Tripp said the city has plenty of tests but encouraged anyone vaccinated and boostered who isn’t experiencing symptoms to follow CDC guidelines for exposure rather than run out for a test.

Barbara Tripp says omicron is everyone’s problem.

COVID-19 cases surge almost 300% in Okaloosa; Walton cases jump 231%” via Mike Stucka of USA Today Network — Okaloosa and Walton counties reported dramatic increases in COVID-19 last week, the second week in a row that cases surged. Okaloosa reported 862 cases during the week that ended Sunday. That was up 299.1% from the previous week when 216 cases were reported. Throughout the pandemic, the county has reported 36,397 cases. In Walton, 252 cases were reported last week, up 231.5% from the previous week, when 76 cases were reported. Throughout the pandemic, Walton has reported 13,359 cases. During the week that ended Dec. 26, cases jumped 74.2% in Okaloosa and 171.4% in Walton.

— 2022 —

As midterms and 2024 loom, Donald Trump political operation revs up” via Kenneth P. Vogel and Shane Goldmacher of The New York Times — Trump and his allies are scheduling events and raising money for initiatives intended to make the former President a central player in the midterm elections, and possibly to set the stage for another run for the White House. He and groups allied with him are planning policy summits, more rallies and an elaborate forum next month at his Mar-a-Lago resort for candidates he has endorsed and donors who give as much as $125,000 per person to a pro-Trump super PAC. The efforts seem intended to reinforce the former President’s grip on the Republican Party and its donors amid questions about whether Trump will seek the party’s nomination again or settle into a role as a kingmaker.

Donald Trump girds for political battle.

Fried political committee now accepts cryptocurrency” via Jason Delgado of Florida Politics — A political committee supporting Fried‘s bid for Governor is now accepting donations by cryptocurrency. The committee, Florida Consumers First, claims it is the first in state history to do so. Fried is Florida’s only statewide elected Democrat. “By building a forward-looking, 21st-century movement, we are giving our grassroots donors and others who feel abandoned by our corrupt political finance system a chance to participate in our mission,” said Florida Consumers First Treasurer Ben Kuehne. The committee announced the news in a video on social media. In it, Fried jabs at the banks, notably Wells Fargo, airing a list of grievances.

Assignment editors — Rep. Charlie Crist will join a group of leaders from the state’s senior communities for a virtual news conference unveiling the 6-point “Crist Action Plan for Florida Seniors,” 10 a.m. RSVP to press@charliecrist.com for the Zoom link. Livestreaming here on Facebook.

‘We must reverse course’: Daniella Levine Cava endorses Annette Taddeo for Florida Governor” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Levine Cava has officially endorsed Sen. Taddeo to be the next Governor of Florida. At a joint news conference Tuesday in downtown Miami, Levine Cava, the first woman Mayor of Florida’s most populous county, threw her support behind Taddeo, who, if elected, would become the state’s first woman Governor as well as the first Latina to hold the position. “We need fresh leadership (at) the top of state government,” Levine Cava said, describing herself as a “proud Democrat” who hopes to see less state interference in local matters. While Levine Cava did not elaborate on which instances of state overreach she was referring to, her administration and other local governmental bodies have repeatedly butted heads with the DeSantis administration.

Harnessing TikTok, U.S. Senate candidate Ken Russell crosses $1M” via Jesse Scheckner of Florida Politics — Russell’s bid to unseat U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio crossed the $1 million mark over the New Year’s holiday weekend, with a healthy push from TikTok users. Russell said his following on the social media platform grew tenfold in December after a video he posted went viral. The unedited snippet features Russell, a Democrat, telling the camera he believes TikTok can affect the outcome of a federal election and running through his campaign priorities, personal background and political history. To date, it has gathered more than 313,000 views, 71,000 likes, and nearly 4,400 comments.

Personnel note: Janet Cruz taps Anna Breedlove as campaign manager — Tampa Democratic Sen. Cruz has brought on Breedlove as campaign manager for her 2022 re-election effort. Breedlove is a Florida native who has worked in political organizing and campaigns across the state and nation. After working as the lead organizer for the San Diego County Democratic Party, she returned to Florida in 2016 and helped flip several municipal seats in Gainesville. In 2018, she was the field director for former Rep. Jennifer Webb’s successful campaign. “Anna’s extensive field, organizing, and digital experience will serve our campaign well as we work to connect with voters on critical issues facing our communities,” Cruz said.

Citing COVID-19 surge, Eunic Ortiz delays campaign kickoff — Democratic state Senate candidate Ortiz delayed an in-person campaign kickoff scheduled for Saturday due to rising COVID-19 case numbers. “We put together an event for this Saturday, which we have decided to postpone due to the rising COVID-19 cases,” she said. “In just the two weeks leading up to the new year, Florida had a 948% increase in cases. Once again, we are breaking records we could have prevented if Republicans in Florida focused on the needs of our residents instead of holding on to power.” Ortiz is running for what is currently SD 24, which covers part of Pinellas and is now held by term-limited Republican Sen. Jeff Brandes.

Happening tonight:

Anti-corruption lawyer drops bid against Mario Diaz-Balart, pivots to race for HD 120” via Bianca Padró Ocasio of the Miami Herald — Citing a desire to make “the biggest impact possible,” Adam Gentle, a 39-year-old lawyer vying to replace U.S. Rep. Diaz-Balart, announced Tuesday he is dropping his bid for FL-25. Gentle, who was running as a Democrat, said he is now running for Florida House District 120, a state district including parts of South Miami-Dade and the entire Florida Keys. The seat is currently held by Republican James “Jim” Mooney, who won in the 2020 general election after a contentious and close GOP primary in which he was accused of being a “communist sympathizer” by an opponent. Gentle did not speak about his decision to suspend his campaign for a majority-Hispanic district that Diaz-Balart won in 2018 with 60% of the vote. No opponents qualified to challenge him in 2020.

2 candidates, 2 generations, 2 styles compete for Palm Beach County state House seat” via Anthony Man of the South Florida Sun-Sentinel — The two Democrats competing to fill a Palm Beach County opening in the Florida House can’t be pigeonholed. On the surface, one seems more liberal, and the other is more moderate. But Jervonte “Tae” Edmonds and Clarence “Chief” Williams each advocate a mix of more liberal, progressive policies and espouse more conservative views on some issues. They’re also personally and professionally different. Williams, 69, is a retired Riviera Beach police chief and lawyer. Edmonds, 30, is a former legislative aide and founder of Suits for Seniors, a mentoring program for high school students. The winner of the Jan. 11 special Democratic Primary Election is the odds-on favorite to join the county’s roster of state Representatives.


— CORONA NATION —

A federal Judge blocks Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for teachers in Head Start” via The Associated Press — A Louisiana federal judge ruled Saturday that Biden cannot require teachers in the Head Start early education program to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The decision hands a victory to Florida and 23 other states that had sued the federal government. U.S. District Judge Terry Doughty wrote Saturday that the Biden administration unlawfully bypassed Congress when ordering that workers in Head Start programs to be vaccinated by Jan. 31. Head Start is a federally funded program that promotes education for children under the age of 6 from low-income families.

Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate hits a judicial speed bump.

Biden to the vaccinated: ‘You are highly protected.’ Biden to the unvaccinated: Be ‘alarmed.’” via Jorge L. Ortiz, John Bacon and Celina Tebor of USA Today — Addressing the country before a meeting with the White House COVID-19 response team, Biden once again exhorted Americans to get vaccinated and boosted and to wear masks in public to avoid spreading and catching the coronavirus. “We have the tools to protect people from severe illness due to omicron — if people choose to use the tools,’’ Biden said. “There’s a lot of reason to be hopeful in (2022), but for God’s sake, please take advantage of what’s available.’’ The U.S. topped the 1 million mark in new coronavirus cases for the first time Monday, a figure that was likely enhanced by holiday weekend backlogs but still obliterated the previous record of 591,000 set Thursday.

Navy blocked from acting against 35 COVID-19 vaccine refusers” via Robert Burns of The Associated Press — A federal judge in Texas has granted a preliminary injunction stopping the Navy from acting against 35 sailors for refusing on religious grounds to comply with an order to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The injunction is a new challenge to Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin’s decision to make vaccinations mandatory for all members of the military. The vaccination requirement allows for exemptions on religious and other grounds, but none of the thousands of requests for religious waivers so far have been granted. There was no indication that the order would affect service members beyond the 35 sailors who sued Austin and the Navy. In his decision Monday, U.S. District Judge Reed O’Connor wrote that the Navy’s process for considering a sailor’s request for a religious exemption is flawed and amounts to “theater.”

Why cloth masks might not be enough as omicron spreads” via Clare Ansberry and Nidhi Subbaraman of The Wall Street Journal — With infections surging due to the fast-spreading omicron variant, including among the vaccinated, physicians are now urging people to ditch cloth face masks, which they say may not provide enough protection against the virus. Instead, they recommend pairing cloth masks with surgical models or moving on to stronger respirator masks. The Mayo Clinic began requiring all patients and visitors to wear surgical masks or N95 or KN95 masks. Anyone wearing a single-layer, homemade cloth mask, gaiter or bandanna, or a mask with a vent, will be provided a medical-grade mask to wear over it. Single-layer cloth masks, which many people prefer for comfort and style, can block larger droplets carrying the virus, but aren’t as effective in blocking smaller aerosols or particles carrying the virus.

— CORONA ECONOMICS —

U.S. manufacturing activity slows to 11-month low in December” via Martin Crutsinger of The Associated Press — Growth in U.S. manufacturing slowed in December to an 11-month low with companies still combating supply chain problems. The Institute for Supply Management, a trade group of purchasing managers, reported Tuesday that its index of manufacturing activity fell to a reading of 58.7 in December, 2.4 percentage points below the November reading of 61.1. Any reading above 50 indicates growth in the manufacturing sector, which recorded 19 straight months of growth going back to spring 2020 when the pandemic hit. The December reading was the lowest since a matching 58.7 in January 2021. The slowdown in December reflected a decline in both new orders and in production.

Is U.S. manufacturing grinding to a halt or just slowing down?

A record 4.5 million workers quit or changed jobs in November\\” via Eli Rosenberg of The Washington Post — An estimated 4.5 million workers quit or changed jobs in November, as labor shortages have helped create one of the most worker-friendly job climates in years. The report shows a trend of high turnover in the labor market, a sign of how profoundly the economy has been reshuffled in the nearly two years since the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. The pandemic has triggered tremendous changes in the labor market, with more than 20 million workers losing their jobs in March and April 2020, followed by a wave of uneven hiring. Many businesses have found it hard to retain workers, though, as many employees have used the pandemic to reevaluate their situations, lured by hiring bonuses, more-flexible hours, or better working conditions. The number of workers quitting in November is up from the 4.2 million who left or changed jobs in October and surpassed the previous record of 4.4 million in September.

Are flights still being canceled? Yes. More than 1,400 cancellations so far Tuesday.” via Eve Chen of USA Today — Travelers hoping to fly out Tuesday faced another rude awakening. More than 1,400 U.S. flights were canceled as of 4:30 p.m. ET. Southwest has the highest number of cancellations among U.S.-based carriers, with nearly 400, representing 12% of the airline’s scheduled flights. “Following the winter weather that moved across the country this week, operational planners at Southwest are working to get our aircraft and crews back in place to support a more normal operation,” the airline said. Utah-based SkyWest has the next highest cancellations, with nearly 200, representing 9% of its scheduled flights. The third highest among domestic carriers is JetBlue, with 105 canceled flights, 10% of its flights for the day.

Office attire that makes a statement: ‘OK, let’s hug’” via Emma Goldberg of The New York Times — Preserving personal space in the office isn’t a challenge unique to this moment. Still, the pandemic has given the task higher stakes, especially for employees who may feel professional pressure to get face time with their bosses. And now, with case counts rising sharply, workers are in even greater need of safety strategies. At some workplaces, colorful wristbands have offered a way for people emerging from nearly two years of relative isolation to silently communicate their boundaries. As a bonus, wristband companies whose sales plunged in 2020, when events ground to a halt, are pleased to find business picking up again. A Wisconsin company, for example, has sold tens of millions of COVID-19-related bands to more than 3,000 organizations over the past 18 months.

— MORE CORONA —

Israeli study reports fivefold jump in antibodies with fourth Pfizer vaccine shot” via Steve Hendrix of The Washington Post — A fourth shot of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus vaccine generated a fivefold boost in antibodies a week after the jab. The findings offer one of the first looks at how effective a second booster shot might be at reducing the health impact of the omicron variant spreading rapidly around the globe. In a statement, Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett said the preliminary results indicated “a very high likelihood that the fourth dose will protect vaccinated people to a great degree against infection to some degree and against severe symptoms.”

Israel says you may have to roll your sleeves a fourth time. Image via AP.

Doctors bemoan limited supply of game-changing antiviral pills amid winter surge” via Katie Shepherd of The Washington Post — Easy-to-take antiviral pills, authorized just before Christmas, were hailed as a potential turning point in the fight against the coronavirus because of the medicines’ ability to keep high-risk people out of the hospital. But doctors say the limited initial supply of the pills, especially Pfizer’s Paxlovid, means they are unlikely to alleviate the strain on many hospitals confronting climbing admissions and staffing shortages made worse by omicron infections. In communities with soaring case numbers, physicians are especially eager to offer the pills, which people can take at home to avoid serious illness. “I don’t think they’ll end up being the game changers we want them to be,” because of scant supply, said Shelley Schmidt, a critical care physician and pulmonologist, who doesn’t expect to have access to the antiviral pills until mid-January.

What the pandemic’s ‘Open Streets’ really revealed” via Stephan Schmidt of Bloomberg — During the early phase of the COVID-19 crisis, scores of U.S. cities experimented with closing off streets to cars to create more public space. These initiatives went by many names; cities called them slow, open, or shared streets, among other terms, and covered a range of activities. In addition to full vehicle bans, cities created emergency sidewalk and bike lane extensions, allowed restaurants to carve out dedicated outdoor dining spaces and food loading/pick-up zones in former parking spaces, and lifted parking restrictions and fees on other areas.

COVID-19 brings America’s beer-vs.-liquor rivalry to a head” via Saabira Chaudhuri of The Wall Street Journal — Jim Koch, founder of Sam Adams maker Boston Beer Co., wrote to fellow brewers in April with a warning: Act now or prepare to lose billions in sales to liquor makers. Koch, over months, had watched distillers mount various state campaigns to cut taxes and expand the distribution of canned cocktails. He had also viewed a video of a liquor executive urging his industry in March to grab market share from brewers by using canned cocktails to appeal to young drinkers in places usually dominated by beer. COVID-19 has brought America’s long-running beer-vs.-liquor rivalry to a head. Brewers are struggling to retain their dwindling edge, while spirits makers see a chance to further their ascension by burnishing liquor’s reputation and using canned cocktails as a new beer rival while pushing to loosen restrictions.

— PRESIDENTIAL —

Biden ‘over-promised and under-delivered’ on climate. Now, trouble looms in 2022.” via Lisa Friedman of The New York Times — As the new year opens, Biden faces an increasingly narrow path to fulfill his ambitious goal of slashing the greenhouse gases generated by the United States that are helping to warm the planet to dangerous levels. His Build Back Better Act, which contains $555 billion in proposed climate action, is in limbo on Capitol Hill. The Supreme Court is set to hear a pivotal case in February that could significantly restrict his authority to regulate the carbon dioxide that spews from power plants and is driving climate change. And the midterm elections loom in November, threatening his party’s control of Congress. A Republican takeover of one or both chambers could freeze movement for years. The mounting challenges make the next few months critical to secure the safety of the planet as well as Biden’s climate legacy, analysts said.

— D.C. MATTERS —

Democrats gain control of a key regulatory agency” via Robert Kuttner of The American Prospect — Democrats will regain firm control of a key regulatory agency, the FDIC, thanks to the abrupt resignation of its Trump-appointed chair, Jelena McWilliams, on New Year’s Eve. Her departure takes effect in early February. Martin Gruenberg, a longtime progressive Democrat on the FDIC board and former FDIC chair, will become acting chair once again. The stakes are huge because several major bank regulatory issues will be decided this spring. Here’s the backstory. In early December, the three Democrats on the five-member FDIC board formally requested public comments on the need for tighter regulation of bank mergers. McWilliams strenuously objected and tried to block the proposal. She wrote an op-ed in The Wall Street Journal blasting the board majority’s move as a “hostile takeover.”

Martin Gruenberg returns the FDIC to the Democrats. Image via AP.

Assignment editors — U.S. Rep. Ted Deutch will host a virtual roundtable with Sen. Tina Polsky, Reps. Dan Daley and Christine Hunschofsky, as well as community advocates and leaders, to address the current status of gun safety legislation and examine next steps to address the crisis of gun violence, 2 p.m. Click here to RSVP and Zoom link for the roundtable.

Jason Coody named U.S. attorney for Northern District of Florida for next four months” via Jeff Burlew of the Tallahassee Democrat — Coody, who has served as acting U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Florida since the forced resignation last year of Larry Keefe, now has been appointed U.S. Attorney — though only on a limited basis. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland appointed Coody to the post effective Dec. 26, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He will serve a term of 120 days or until a presidential nominee is named and confirmed by the U.S. Senate. “It is an honor to serve the citizens of the Northern District of Florida and work every day to keep our communities safe,” Coody said in a statement. The Northern District stretches from Pensacola through Panama City and Tallahassee and south to Gainesville, covering 23 Florida counties.

— CRISIS —

Attorney General Merrick Garland plans speech on Jan. 6 investigation for Wednesday” via Matt Zapotosky of The Washington Post — Garland will give a speech Wednesday about the Justice Department’s efforts to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, stressing the department’s “unwavering commitment to defend Americans and American democracy from violence and threats of violence,” a Justice Department official said. In the address, the official said Garland will not speak about specific people or charges. Rather, Garland, the nation’s top law enforcement officer, will offer broad remarks about “the department’s solemn duty to uphold the Constitution, follow the facts and the law and pursue equal justice under law without fear or favor.”

Merrick Garland is set to lay down the law. Image via AP.

Facebook groups topped 10,000 daily attacks on election before Jan. 6, analysis shows” via Craig Silverman, Craig Timberg, Jeff Kao and Jeremy B. Merrill of The Washington Post — Facebook groups swelled with at least 650,000 posts attacking the legitimacy of Biden’s victory between Election Day and the Jan. 6 siege of the U.S. Capitol, with many calling for executions or other political violence. The barrage turned the groups into incubators for the baseless claims supporters of Trump voiced as they stormed the Capitol, demanding he get a second term. Many posts portrayed Biden’s election as the result of widespread fraud that required extraordinary action to prevent the nation from falling into the hands of traitors.

Why DOJ is avoiding domestic terrorism sentences for Jan. 6 defendants” via Josh Gerstein of POLITICO — The storming of the Capitol on Jan. 6 has been denounced by the White House, the FBI and the Justice Department as an act of domestic terrorism, but one year after the insurrection, prosecutors have yet to ask judges to impose the harsher sentences federal law recommends for defendants motivated by politics. Instead, even as some judges have publicly debated whether the charges against Jan. 6 defendants qualify as “crimes of terrorism,” prosecutors have repeatedly pulled back on tougher sentences, citing unspecified “facts and circumstances.”

Jan. 6 committee seeking phone records of 2 Florida-based Oath Keepers” via Kyle Cheney of POLITICO — Two Florida-based members of the Oath Keepers facing conspiracy charges for breaching the Capitol are suing the Jan. 6 committee to block a subpoena for their personal phone records. Kelly and Connie Meggs, two of 19 defendants in the most sprawling case to emerge from the mob attack on the Capitol, say they were notified of the subpoena by Verizon last month. The subpoena seeks phone records of their family plan from November 2020 through January 2021. It’s the first indication that the committee is seeking records of defendants facing criminal charges for storming the Capitol. The Jan. 6 committee has already subpoenaed Stewart Rhodes, the leader of the Oath Keepers, for documents and testimony.

— EPILOGUE TRUMP —

Breaking overnight — “Trump cancels Jan. 6 news conference at Mar-a-Lago, blames news media and House committee investigating attack on Capitol” via Felicia Sonmez and Josh Dawsey of The Washington Post — In a statement released Tuesday by his Save America PAC, Trump blamed the media and the bipartisan congressional committee that is investigating the attack. Trump’s lawyers are fighting the panel’s efforts to obtain his records. “In light of the total bias and dishonesty of the January 6th Unselect Committee of Democrats, two failed Republicans, and the Fake News Media, I am canceling the January 6th Press Conference at Mar-a-Lago on Thursday, and instead will discuss many of those important topics at my rally on Saturday, January 15th, in Arizona — It will be a big crowd!” Trump said. Trump wanted to make a scene and deride reporters at the event but had been told repeatedly by his advisers that it could be the kind of coverage he doesn’t want.

Inside Trump’s Jan. 6 cancellation” via Jonathan Swan of Axios — Before Trump canceled the plan, several key allies — including hard-line Fox News host Laura Ingraham and Sen. Lindsey Graham — made clear they thought it was a bad idea to invite the national media to Mar-a-Lago to mark the deadly riot. Trump would have inevitably used his news conference to portray the rioters as political prisoners, whitewash their actions that day and lie about a “stolen election.” Divisions had widened between the former President and congressional Republican leaders over how to handle the anniversary. Trump — like his most fervent allies — wanted to go on offense. Congressional leaders wanted to narrowly condemn the rioters, avoid criticizing Trump or assigning any responsibility to him.

A Jan. 6 news conference was a bad idea. Image via Getty.

Another far-right group is scrutinized about its efforts to aid Trump” via Alan Feuer of The New York Times — Congressional investigators are examining the role of another right-wing paramilitary group that was involved in a less publicly visible yet still expansive effort to keep Trump in power: the First Amendment Praetorian. Known in shorthand as 1AP, the group spent much of the postelection period working in the shadows with pro-Trump lawyers, activists, business executives, and military veterans to undermine public confidence in the election and bolster Trump’s hopes of remaining in the White House. By their own account, members of the 1st Amendment Praetorian helped funnel data on purported election fraud to lawyers suing to overturn the vote count.

The big red flag under Kanye West’s democratic fig leaf” via William Bredderman and Roger Sollenberger of the Daily Beast — While it initially seemed like Republican and Democratic operatives were both benefiting from West’s quixotic White House bid, The Daily Beast recently revealed it was mostly GOP insiders who ran Kanye’s campaign, with many of them taking extraordinary measures to hide their involvement. But there was one major exception to the political allegiances of Kanye’s consultants, giving the campaign the appearance of bipartisan cooperation: Millennial Strategies. The New York City-based firm has deep Democratic. However, that association between West and Millennial Strategies appears designed in part to mask the extent of other companies’ work for the West campaign. According to multiple people with knowledge of the arrangement, a substantial chunk of Millennial Strategies’ responsibilities was subcontracted to yet another consulting firm with right-wing ties: Mercury Public Affairs.


— LOCAL NOTES —

CEO of embattled CareerSource Pinellas faces new accusations of ‘toxic’ workplace” via Mark Puente of Florida Politics — Jennifer Brackney, CEO of CareerSource Pinellas, came under an internal investigation after an employee filed a 41-page whistleblower complaint in late October. The employee accused Brackney of inflating job placements and creating a toxic work environment. Those are similar to the allegations that led to federal and state investigations of the agency in 2018. At the time, Brackney was a top aide to then CEO Edward Peachey. He was fired and fell under state, FBI and U.S. Department of Labor investigations. CareerSource Pinellas and its sister agency, CareerSource Tampa Bay, paid $3.1 million in incentives and bonuses in recent years to employees who helped them record more hirings than any workforce board in Florida, the Tampa Bay Times reported in May 2018.

Jennifer Brackney is under the microscope. Again.

In 2021, Jacksonville’s homicide total dropped 30%. But it wasn’t enough to save Robin Clemons’s son.” via Katherine Lewin, Dan Scanlan, and Scott Butler of The Florida Times-Union — In the early hours of Sept. 29, Clemons first saw the news on television of a man shot to death on the street on the Northside of Jacksonville. She sent out a quick prayer to God that it wasn’t her son, Timothy Thomas Jr. Clemons hurried to her car. That’s when she noticed the unmarked police car outside of her house. And she knew …. Thomas was one of 125 homicides in 2021, in a city that likely had no place to go but down after a staggering 178 homicides the previous year. But it’s a bittersweet success for the family members of victims. Law enforcement and community members acknowledge the decrease but also realize it is still too many people whose lives were cut short.

By the numbers: Here’s a look at Jacksonville’s 2021 homicides compared to 2020” via Scott Butler of The Florida Times-Union — The city eclipsed 100 homicides for the 10th-straight year. It also marked the sixth straight year with at least 120. In the last decade, Jacksonville has lost 1,391 lives due to homicides. That’s an average of about 139 a year. The high since The Florida Times-Union began keeping track in 2003 was 2020’s 178 by far, and the low — also by far — was 86 in 2011. The 32209 ZIP code in the Moncrief/Grand Park area maintained its spot with the most homicides, 20, well ahead of 32206’s 14, 32210’s 11 and nine each in 32208, 32211, and 32254. A year earlier saw 31 people killed in 32209, followed by three tied with 19.

J.T. Burnette asks 11th Circuit to keep him out of prison pending appeal in corruption case” via Jeff Burlew of the Tallahassee Democrat — Burnette’s lawyers are asking an appellate court to let him remain free pending appeal of his conviction on public corruption charges, just weeks after a federal judge shot down a similar request. Lawyers with the Washington, D.C., firm Williams & Connolly filed a motion this week with the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals seeking continued release for Burnette, calling his trial “seriously flawed.” Burnette was convicted in August on extortion and other charges for his involvement in a bribery scheme involving former City Commissioner Scott Maddox.

Is Tampa’s tree canopy shrinking because of a change in state law?” via Charlie Frago of the Tampa Bay Times — Tree advocates and builders reached what was called a historic compromise on protecting the city’s award-winning tree canopy in the spring of 2019. A week later, a new state law gutted much of Tampa’s and other local governments’ power to set rules about tree removals. At the time, exasperated city officials and advocates raised concerns about the law’s provisions allowing grand trees to be cut down as long as a certified arborist or landscape architect signed off, cutting city inspectors out of the process. Some large-scale removals that summer ratcheted up their fears. Nearly three years later the city hopes to figure out if those fears were justified. Brian Knox, the city’s senior forester examiner, says an upcoming analysis of the city’s canopy is planned for release in 2022. A similar analysis in 2016 found 32% of the city was covered by tree canopy.

Jeff Vinik announces Lightning minority investor Arctos Sports Partners” via Kelly Hayes of Florida Politics — A private equity firm specializing in providing liquidity solutions to major sports franchises will be the new minority investor for the Tampa Bay Lightning, Vinik announced Tuesday. Arctos Sports Partners has made a minority investment into Vinik Sports Group, which the National Hockey League approved last month. The minority sale takes effect immediately, but details of the transaction are private, VSG said in a news release. Vinik will retain control as the majority owner, and there will be no change in the day-to-day operations of either the Lightning or VSG. General Manager Julien BriseBois and Lightning CEO Steve Griggs will remain alternative governors with the NHL.

Prince Andrew’s bid to dismiss sex suit because of Jeffrey Epstein settlement met with skepticism by judge” via Ben Wieder and Julie K. Brown of the Miami Herald — Prince Andrew’s bid to throw out the sex abuse lawsuit against him, citing a 2009 settlement Epstein reached with the same accuser, appeared to be met with skepticism in a hearing Tuesday. U.S. District Judge Lewis A. Kaplan, presiding over the federal lawsuit brought in New York, said that there are multiple ways to interpret the 2009 agreement but that the language suggested that only Epstein and accuser Virginia Roberts Giuffre could say exactly what the language was intended to mean. “But we don’t have Mr. Epstein here to say what his view was,” Kaplan said of the deceased financier, who died in federal custody in 2019 after he was arrested on sex charges.

Top suspect in Haiti assassination probe in U.S. custody in Miami” via Jacqueline Charles, Michael Wilner, and Jay Weaver of the Miami Herald — A key suspect in the assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moïse appeared in Miami federal court Tuesday afternoon after being arrested in the morning by federal agents upon arrival from Panama. Mario Antonio Palacios Palacios, 43, also known as “Floro,” is the first person allegedly involved in the assassination of the Haitian President on July 7, 2021, to be formally charged with a crime. Palacios had been in custody in Jamaica, which moved to deport him to his homeland of Colombia Monday. But during a layover in Panama, he agreed to travel to the United States, according to federal authorities.

Former IBM site in Boca Raton could add houses, hotel and shops to office complex” via Alexandra Clough of the Palm Beach Post — The Boca Raton office property where the personal computer was created could become a center for living as well as working, in a bold bid by its ownership group to remake this prime piece of land. CP Group, part of an ownership group that owns the former IBM building at 5000 T-Rex Avenue, is asking the city to rezone the site to create a mixed-use complex. The proposal features residences, shops, a grocery store, and even a hotel, among other elements. The move comes more than three years after a partnership led by CP Group, formerly Crocker Partners, paid $170 million for the iconic 123-acre site.

Keys politician charged with domestic battery after fight with wife over texts, cops say” via David Goodhue of the Miami Herald — A Florida Keys City Council member was arrested Monday night on a domestic battery charge after an altercation with his wife over his cellphone, according to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office. Trevor Wofsey, a 44-year-old elected Council member for the Middle Keys city of Marathon, remained in county jail on Stock Island Tuesday morning. Deputies arrested him outside his Marathon home the night before, where they found him shortly after 10 p.m. in his underwear, yelling that his wife punched him in the face while he was sleeping, according to an arrest report. Deputies said that the altercation was over text messages he received from another woman.

Trevor Wofsey learns that texting can get you in hot water.

Sunny Isles Beach Commissioner fined $20K for claiming homestead exemption in Hialeah” via Samantha J. Gross of the Miami Herald — Newly appointed Sunny Isles Beach Commissioner Johana Rabinovich was investigated and forced to pay back taxes last week after the Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser’s office concluded she improperly claimed a homestead exemption for years on a condo in Hialeah while her husband also claimed a homestead exemption on the condo where she votes and lives with their two children. Rabinovich says she never applied for a tax break on her Hialeah property and says the recorded exemption was an error on the part of the county. But under Florida law, a married couple can’t claim two exemptions.

FSU College of Medicine Dean John Fogarty retiring this summer” via Tristan Wood of Florida Politics — Fogarty will retire this Summer. Fogarty announced his upcoming retirement in an internal email to FSU employees on Nov. 15, 2021. The college also published an article in mid-December mentioning his retirement in which Fogarty reflected on his time with the university. In the email, Fogarty said he has decided to retire after 13 years with the college to enjoy more time with his family. “This has been an amazing experience for me here at FSU, and I am blessed to have worked with so many wonderful staff, faculty, students and community members who made this job a joy,” he said in the email. Fogarty, who turned 72 last September, said he originally planned to retire in 2021 but stayed on for another year because of issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

FedEx to build regional headquarters in Panama City; will service area from Pensacola to Tallahassee” via Patrick McCreless of the Panama City News Herald — According to the Bay County Economic Development Alliance, the new 251,000-square-foot FedEx Ground facility will support 208 jobs and will be built in the Port Panama City-owned Intermodal Distribution Center on Highway 231. Construction has begun, and the facility is set to open in the fall. “They could have gone anywhere in the Panhandle, but they chose us because we had a shovel-ready certified site,” said Becca Hardin, President of the Bay County Economic Development Alliance. “This will be their regional headquarters. … It’s a huge capital investment.” Hardin said that FedEx will replace a smaller, 60,000-square-foot facility it has operated at the Intermodal Distribution Center and move the existing 25 employees there to the new site.

Class-action lawsuit against Skanska seeks compensation for Pensacola commuters” via Jim Little of the Pensacola News Journal — A new class-action lawsuit was filed against Skanska last week on behalf of Northwest Florida commuters seeking to recover their increased costs from the loss of the Pensacola Bay Bridge for nine months following Hurricane Sally. The lawsuit is the latest in the ongoing legal battle against Skanska over its construction barges knocking out the Pensacola Bay Bridge when they broke free of the moorings during the hurricane. The lawsuit was filed the same day that a federal judge found that Skanska was negligent in its preparations ahead of the September 2020 hurricane. The federal judge ruled that Skanska could not limit its financial liability over the incident to the $1.2 million value of the barges as the company had sought to do.

Milton looks to offer 10 electric vehicle charging stations throughout city” via Alex Miller of the Pensacola News Journal — The Milton City Council agreed Monday to move forward on researching the implementation of electric vehicle charging stations around the city. The current proposal has 10 charging stations scattered across several different locations. The proposed locations are mixed between the downtown area and farther uptown closer to Milton High School. The charging stations the city is looking at are “Level 2,” which means they will charge vehicles in one to three hours. Milton Planning Director Tim Milstead said the city conducted interviews with owners of commercial spaces like shopping centers, restaurants and hotels in the area to learn about their interest in partnering to install them. City Manager Randy Jorgenson said several expressed interest.

Empty Stocking Fund breaks fundraising record for Okaloosa, Walton families in need” via Dusty Ricketts of Northwest Florida Daily News — Each year, the Empty Stocking Fund is facilitated through the Northwest Florida Daily News, with the Salvation Army of Okaloosa and Walton counties acting as a steward of the money. Dr. Gerald M. Hollingsworth, a longtime Fort Walton Beach resident, physician and businessman, recently donated $35,000 to this year’s fund. That pushed the total to more than $155,900, a record. The Empty Stocking Fund was initiated in 1984 by now-retired Northwest Florida Daily News newsroom secretary Dorothy Mullin. The drive begins each year in late November and continues into early January. The money assists people who face financial distress, often helping pay for past-due power bills, housing and rent costs or prescriptions.

‘The ones you don’t want to tangle with’: Man o’ wars found across Bay and Walton beaches” via Nathan Cobb of the Panama City News Herald — As of Monday morning, swarms of Portuguese man-o’-wars littered the coast of both Bay and Walton counties. While Panama City Beach officials could not comment before the deadline, David Vaughan, beach safety director for the South Walton Fire District, confirmed the issue was widespread. While the man-o’-war technically isn’t a jellyfish, Vaughan said it gets categorized as one by the general public because it has such a similar appearance. Of the five to seven species of jellyfish typically found off the coast of the Panhandle, it has the worst sting. Unlike other types of jellyfish, Man o’ Wars are “wind riders,” meaning that their migration patterns are “entirely dependent” on weather conditions, Vaughan said.

— TOP OPINION —

Omicron is bad. But we don’t need to resort to lockdowns.” via Leana S. Wen of The Washington Post — We are entering the third year of the pandemic with a confusing state of affairs. The United States far surpassed the number of daily COVID-19 infections compared with the previous peak last winter, yet many businesses remain open, stadiums are packed, and children are headed back to school. News headlines announce that “omicron infections seem to be milder” than earlier variants, yet this could be the “worst public health challenge of our lifetimes.” The risk to individuals is low, while the risk to society is high. Policy solutions that demand substantial individual sacrifice will not work. Out-of-control virus dynamics pose existential threats to society. As long as vaccines continue to protect against severe illness and the risk to most individuals remains low, our paradigm has to shift from preventing infection to stopping societal devastation.

— OPINIONS —

Every day is Jan. 6 now” via The New York Times editorial board — One year after the smoke and broken glass, the mock gallows, and the very real bloodshed of that awful day, it is tempting to look back and imagine that we can, in fact, simply look back. After four years of chaos, cruelty and incompetence, most Americans were desperate for some peace and quiet. Our political life seems more or less normal these days. In short, the Republic faces an existential threat from a movement that is openly contemptuous of democracy and has shown that it is willing to use violence to achieve its ends. Hundreds of bills have been proposed and nearly three dozen laws have been passed that empower state legislatures to sabotage their own elections and overturn the will of their voters. Above all, we should stop underestimating the threat facing the country.

Trump isn’t the only one to blame for the Capitol riot” via Osita Nwanevu of The New York Times — The Jan. 6 riot was an attack on our institutions, and of course, inflammatory conservative rhetoric and social media bear some of the blame. But our institutions also helped produce that violent outburst by building a sense of entitlement to power within America’s conservative minority. The structural advantages that conservatives enjoy in our electoral system are well known. Twice already this young century, the Republican Party has won the Electoral College and thus the presidency while losing the popular vote. Obviously, none of the structural features of our federal system were designed with contemporary politics and the Republican Party in mind. But they are clearly giving a set of Americans who have taken strongly to conservative ideology more power than the rest of the electorate.

Americans’ behavior gets worse. No wonder our politics are lousy.” via Jennifer Rubin of The Washington Post — If politics is downstream from culture, then culture is downstream from character. And right now, we have a character crisis in America. It’s often characterized as a civility crisis. “In a study of 1,000 American adults during the pandemic, 48% of adults and 55% of workers said that in November 2020, they had expected that civility in America would improve after the election,” The New York Times reports. It would be convenient to blame COVID-19 or Trump, but the problem started long before either became a national blight. Back in 2013, studies were warning that “civility in America continues to disintegrate and rude behavior is becoming the ‘new normal.’” Our capacity for inconvenience is as small as our national attention span.

Why the Republican Party isn’t concerned with popularity” via Daniel Cox of FiveThirtyEight — Despite the fact that the GOP is quite unpopular and that much of its current agenda — such as overturning the Affordable Care Act or advancing restrictive immigration policies — does not appeal to a majority of voters, the party is in an enviable position heading into the 2022 midterm elections and beyond. What is to make of this glaring disconnect? On the one hand, the GOP is fundamentally opposed to the type of legislation that tends to garner widespread public support: generous social-welfare policies. But the biggest reason why the GOP may not be pushing more popular policies is that recent history suggests it’s unnecessary. Trump’s startling 2016 election victory showed that an unpopular candidate with little interest in public policy can still win.

William Mattox: Making Florida the new ‘promised land’ for education-minded families” via Florida Politics — An exodus is underway — many Jews are leaving the Big Apple and moving to the Sunshine State. And their migration to Florida — America’s Promised Land — is being fueled in part by a very interesting factor: school choice. “Many young families up north are enticed by Florida’s robust menu of state-supported private-school scholarships,” writes Allan Jacob in The Wall Street Journal. “These programs make private school tuition far more affordable in Florida than in New York and New Jersey.” There is reason to believe many education-minded families move to freedom-loving states that facilitate parents’ efforts to direct the education of their children. In this new normal, Florida could easily become America’s unrivaled “education destination,” and enjoy the short- and long-term benefits of attracting education-minded parents (and their talented offspring) to the Sunshine State.

Senior living health care workers: Not gone, but definitely forgotten” via Gail Matillo of McKnight’s Senior Living — Over the past two years, health care workers have been championed as superheroes. What about the health care workers we’ve forgotten? The ones working in assisted living communities, memory care neighborhoods, and other long-term care senior living communities? They’ve been overlooked or worse, blamed for not doing enough when in fact, they stepped up to protect thousands of vulnerable residents from infection and cared for those who did contract COVID-19. Assisted living communities in the Sunshine State care for more than 118,000 older adults. Florida’s senior living providers have incurred more than $2.3 billion in procuring gowns, gloves, masks, infection control prevention and supplies, “hero pay,” additional staffing costs, and lost revenue due to record-low occupancy rates.

— ALOE —

Disney needs a comeback year. Will it get it?” via Julia Horowitz of CNN Business — Disney did not have a magical 2021. Even as COVID-19 vaccines allowed countries worldwide to lift restrictions, the company’s business struggled. Attendance at its parks disappointed, and momentum from its Disney+ streaming service, once a bright spot, cooled off. The company’s stock dropped almost 15%, making it the worst performer in the Dow. There’s hope that 2022 could be better. Disney “remains well-positioned for the recovery driven by a continued increase in capacity at theme parks and an improving content slate,” Bank of America’s Jessica Reif Ehrlich and Brent Navon said. The twist, of course, is the rapid spread of infections due to the arrival of the highly contagious omicron variant.

Disney needs a win for Wall Street. Image via AP.

USF coach Jeff Scott receives 2-year contract extension” via Matt Murschel of the Orlando Sentinel — USF football coach Scott received a two-year contract extension that keeps him signed with the school through the 2026 season. Scott, 41, signed a five-year deal worth $12.5 million when he took over the program in 2019. The Bulls are 3-18 in his two seasons, including 2-10 in 2021. But it’s his recruiting efforts that have helped USF land the top transfer class in the country, according to 247Sports. Scott’s also been an integral part of the program’s fundraising efforts to help upgrade facilities, including the new Indoor Performance Facility, which is scheduled to open this year. USF Athletics Director Michael Kelly threw his support behind Scott despite the struggles on the field.

— HAPPY BIRTHDAY —

Best wishes to Bruce CottonChristie Pontis Mason, and former state Rep. Doc Renuart.

___

Sunburn is authored and assembled by Peter SchorschPhil AmmannRenzo Downey and Drew Wilson.


5.) MORNING BREW

January 05, 2022
Morning Brew
Yieldstreet

Good morning. The theme for today’s issue: Being stuck—on interstates, in locked down cities, and in a world where JPEGs of apes sell for hundreds of thousands of dollars.

And now, you’re stuck with us for the next five minutes.

Neal Freyman, Jamie Wilde, Max Knoblauch

MARKETS

Nasdaq

15,622.72

S&P

4,793.54

Dow

36,799.65

10-Year

1.653%

Bitcoin

$46,072.71

Tesla

$1,149.59

*Stock data as of market close, cryptocurrency data as of 6:00pm ET. Here’s what these numbers mean.
  • Markets: Stocks did their best Two Face impression yesterday. The Dow, which is home to financials and industrials, climbed to a record, while the Nasdaq, home to many tech companies, took a dive. Bond yields gained thanks to bullish attitudes around economic growth.
  • Economy: The Great Resignation rolls on as a record 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November. That’s equivalent to 3% of the workforce.

AUTO

Toyota Says, ‘More Like Lieutenant Motors’

Toyota logo with a checkered flag and a No. 1 foam finger in the background Dianna “Mick” McDougall

Detroit-based General Motors has been the top-selling automaker in the US in every single year since 1931. But even Cadillacs lose their shine after a while.

Japan’s Toyota dethroned GM as the No. 1 automaker in the country in 2021, marking the first time on record that a foreign car manufacturer has topped the list.

Run the numbers:

  • Japan sold 2.3 million vehicles in 2021, up 10% from the year before.
  • GM sold 2.2 million, down 13% from 2021.

What happened: All automakers have had to navigate that nasty chip shortage during the pandemic, but Toyota managed to do it better than GM thanks to a bigger stockpile of chips it had set aside.

  • And even if GM recaptures the title next year, 2021’s results still show that the US auto winds have forever shifted. “The dominance of the US automakers of the US market is just over,” University of Michigan biz professor Erik Gordon told the NYT.

No car manufacturer suffered from a lack of demand in 2021—limited production capacity is primarily to blame for the bottleneck. Average new vehicle prices surged 20% last month to a record $45,700 according to J.D. Power, which reflects ravenous consumer appetite for cars paired with a supply crunch.

Speaking of strong demand…

Ford’s electric F-150 Lightning pickup truck is selling like hotcakes. The company, which itself was leapfrogged by GM in 1931 as the US’ top automaker, is doubling production capacity for the vehicle thanks to “huge demand,” according to CEO Jim Farley. It’s the second time the company has raised its production target for the pickup truck.

Big picture: Sales of the electric F-150 are considered the bellwether for interest in electric vehicles in the US, considering the F-Series has been the top-selling vehicle in the country for decades.

Ford stock popped another 11.7% yesterday, continuing its fantastic run of form. The company’s 137.5% gain in 2021 was among the best in the S&P 500, and its share price is now at its highest level in 20 years.—NF

            

TRAVEL

Stranded Drivers Had the Worst Snow Day Ever

A screenshot of the I-95 traffic on Google MapsGoogle Maps

Hundreds of motorists were stuck in their cars for nearly 30 hours Monday night into Tuesday, after truck crashes during a snowstorm brought over 40 miles of I-95 in Virginia to a standstill.

Drivers posted on social media about running out of food, water, and gas; having to trek into the storm to relieve themselves; and worrying about passengers with medical needs. As of yesterday afternoon, the Virginia State Police hadn’t reported any deaths or injuries tied to the gridlock.

Where was the help? State troopers went car-to-car to provide supplies, ambulances sheltered some children in need of warmth, and tow trucks hauled vehicles out of the snow and ice. Meanwhile, truck drivers and other good Samaritans shared extra supplies. But it’s been a slow fix—way too slow for many. Virginia’s governor rebuffed calls to deploy the national guard, saying that it wasn’t required.

The Virginia Department of Transportation told the NYT they expected to clear the interstate of stuck vehicles by end-of-day Tuesday. Virginia Senator Tim Kaine, for one, tweeted that he made it into Washington, DC, a mere 27 hours after he started his normally 2-hour trip from Richmond.—JW

            

COVID

Speaking of Being Stranded…

A worker delivers food in Xi'anVCG via Getty Images

Nearly all of the 13 million residents in the Chinese city of Xi’an have been quarantined in their homes since late December—and some have resorted to bartering due to shortages of food and supplies. A peek at how dire the situation is: One video circulating on Chinese social media shows a resident trading a Nintendo Switch for a packet of noodles and two buns.

How did Xi’an get here?

In late December, Xi’an households were forced to quarantine, but one family member was permitted to go on a grocery run every two days. The rules have since tightened: Now, residents must rely on government workers to provide daily necessities but have flocked to social media to complain they’re not getting enough.

Big picture: Unlike most other governments, China has followed a “zero Covid” strategy since the pandemic began, an approach in which it cuts off movement to and from any area that reports even a single case (think Wuhan in winter 2020). Xi’an has reported over 1,600 cases in the last two weeks.

On Monday, a second large Chinese city, Yuzhou, was locked down after three cases were reported.

Zoom out: China is frantically trying to contain Covid-19 ahead of the Beijing Winter Olympics and Lunar New Year; both are happening next month.—JW

            

TOGETHER WITH YIELDSTREET

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These alternative assets aren’t intimidating when you use Yieldstreet. They offer a unique suite of products with various yields, durations, and minimums, which have been scrutinized by Yieldstreet’s specialized teams. These folks have analyzed billions of dollars in transactions to pick out which opportunities make it onto the platform.

Yieldstreet even has a portfolio simulator, so you can get a feel for how you’d build your slate of alternative assets.

Join 340K+ members and get started with Yieldstreet today.

GRAB BAG

Key Performance Indicators

Shoes are placed at Ryerson Univerisity to mourn 215 indigenous children whose remains were discovered at a former residential schoolYu Ruidong/China News Service via Getty Images

Stat: Canada reached a $31.5 billion deal to reform the country’s discriminatory child welfare system and compensate Indigenous children who were removed from their families and put into the system. It’s the largest settlement in Canadian history, according to the government.

Quote: “The last time agriculture was on the precipice of this much change was when we were on the cusp of replacing the horse and plow.”

John Deere CTO Jahmy Hindman spoke to Axios about the company’s new 8R tractor. What’s so revolutionary about it? The 8R is the world’s first autonomous tractor, and it’ll be available for sale later this year.

Read: What money could look like in the metaverse. (The New Yorker)

            

NFTS

All My Apes Bored and Rich

Eminem's Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTBored Ape Yacht Club

The Bored Ape Yacht Club (BAYC), a collection of 10,000 ape avatars that individually act as tickets to an online social club, has become one of the most prominent brands in the NFT space. And now, the NFTs have generated more than $1 billion in total sales.

You’ve likely seen a Bored Ape—like the botched restoration of the Jesus Christ fresco, they’re somewhat…unforgettable to look at. They’re also highly sought after: Eminem bought one for ~$462,000 on Dec. 31, joining the ranks of other celebrity buyers like Jimmy Fallon and Steph Curry.

But if you’re as bored of looking at the apes as they are of existing, you aren’t alone. Critics have called the BAYC project cynical, accusing it of being more about showcasing wealth than art. The current minimum cost for a BAYC NFT is about 70 ether, or around $266,000.

And then there’s the crime aspect: The NFT space has faced ridicule for its security issues, and the BAYC has had some notable recent thefts. One collector fell prey to a phishing scam and lost his collection, including many BAYC NFTs, worth $2.28 million. In a now-iconic tweet, he wrote, “I been hacked. All my apes gone.”

OpenSea, the largest NFT marketplace, has reportedly “frozen” the stolen NFTs, raising even more questions from the crypto community about how a decentralized platform can freeze assets in the first place.—MK

            

WHAT ELSE IS BREWING

  • The CDC explained its decision for a shorter Covid isolation period and reiterated that testing isn’t needed to emerge from quarantine.
  • Bloomberg Media CEO Justin Smith and NYT columnist Ben Smith (no relation) are launching a new media company aimed at a global audience.
  • Novak Djokovic, the No. 1 tennis player in the world, will compete in the Australian Open later this month after being granted a medical exemption to play. He has previously said he didn’t want to be vaccinated.
  • Airbnb announced it would block hosts from seeing the full names of guests in Oregon in an effort to curb racial discrimination.
  • The Washington Football Team said it’ll announce a new name and logo on February 2. So if it’s anything other than the Groundhogs this is a fail.

BREW’S BETS

The World Ahead 2022. What better way to start the year than by knowing what’s going to (probably) happen? With “The World Ahead,” The Economist’s annual predictive report, you’ll read insights about everything from the midterms and US-China rivalry to space travel and the future of work. Read it here.*

 

Eating healthy shouldn’t be so hard. Daily Harvest agrees. They deliver delicious Smoothies, Bowls, Flatbreads, and more made with sustainably sourced whole fruits and veggies. Everything is delivered to your door and ready to enjoy in minutes. Get up to $40 off your first box here.*

Level up this year: To help you become a better you in 2022, the Brew launched the Work Life Challenge. Complete 12 easy tasks over the next two weeks, post about it on social, and you’ll be entered to win a fun prize to spruce up your WFH setup. Check out the details. (Terms and Conditions here.)

The game sweeping the internet: Wordle is a daily word game that is truly addicting. Play it here.

Arial? Comic Sans? Not quite. Here’s a thread of all the fonts used by big brands.

*This is sponsored advertising content

GAMES

The Puzzle Section

Word Search: Ireland’s government may not want you to play today’s Word Search, but you should anyway. See if you can find the beer logos.

For the Gram

Here are four sentences picked out by the WSJ editors that contain grammar/style errors. Can you spot them?

  1. And neither state judges nor clerks are adverse to providers’ interest.
  2. The maximum size of home-mortgage loans eligible for backing by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are expected to jump sharply in 2022.
  3. They arrested Sgt. Webb, who they found trying to hide his weapon, which police didn’t describe.
  4. Shortly after entering the London market, city regulators began accusing the company of safety and regulatory shortfalls.

ANSWER

  1. The word should be averse not adverse
  2. The size is expected to jump, not are
  3. Whom not who
  4. This is called a dangling gerund. It should read: “Shortly after the company entered the London market, city regulators began…”
          
Written by Neal FreymanMax Knoblauch, and Jamie Wilde

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6.) THE FACTUAL

5 JAN 2022

The Factual

Facts, not fear.

TRENDING TOPICS
In-person schooling • Vaccine religious exemptions • Failed drone attack • Americans quitting jobs • Virginia winter storm
FEATURED UNDER-REPORTED STORIES
Pay-as-you-throw waste • Universal sustainable development • Electronic health records
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TRENDING TOPICS, MOST CREDIBLE STORIES
#1 in U.S. News • 12 articles

How are schools resuming operations given a surge in Covid-19 cases?

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  1. Highly-rated – last 48 hrs
    In face of omicron surge, schools push ahead with in-person classes. [Free read link]
    Washington Post (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 80% • 5 min read

    Some districts announced a return to online school due to a spike in cases, including large systems in Cleveland, Atlanta and Newark. But the vast majority of schools opened Monday or plan to reopen this week, determined to avoid the academic, logistical and social-emotional disruptions that came with remote learning.

    As classes resumed in person Monday, the Chicago Teachers Union planned a vote on whether to defy the city’s order to teach in classrooms. Chicago Teachers Union spokesperson Chris Geovanis said the city was not taking steps necessary to keep schools safe for students and staff. An attempt to test students last week with take-home coronavirus tests failed when most of them were not processed in time and were spoiled.

    Burbio, a data firm that tracks school closures, found 2,753 schools closed for in-person classes this week, with the vast majority of them offering virtual lessons instead. That’s far more than most other weeks this school year, but a small fraction of some 130,000 schools in the United States.
  1. Different political viewpoint
    Can Democrats keep schools open during Omicron?
    Reason (Moderate Right) • Factual Grade 73% • 5 min read
  1. Selected long-read
    We learned our lesson last year: do not close schools. [Free read link]
    New York Times (Moderate Left) • Factual Grade 79% • 8 min read
  1. Recent poll
    Should students who test positive for Covid-19 but are asymptomatic come to school?
    523 votes • 52 comments

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#2 in U.S. News • 20 articles

Why has a judge stopped the Navy from enforcing its Covid-19 vaccine mandate?

U.S. District Court Judge Reed O’Connor, with the Northern District of Texas in Fort Worth, ruled Monday that the DoD has violated the sailors’ constitutional right to refuse the vaccine based on their religio…
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#1 in World News • 9 articles

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9.) UNITED PRESS INTERNATIONAL

 


10.) THE FEDERALIST PAPERS

 


11.) AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INSTITUTE

AEI’s daily publication of independent research, insightful analysis, and scholarly debate.
‘An Economist’s Outlook: Essays by John H. Makin from a Transformative Era’
John H. Makin, Carmen M. Reinhart, and Vincent R. Reinhart | AEI Press
This collection is an invaluable guide for both the beginner who wants to understand economic history, concepts, and policymaking and the seasoned expert who will appreciate John Makin’s impressive range and always thoughtful perspective on a transformative economic period.
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Democrats, voting rights are not the problem
Yuval Levin | The New York Times
Our debates about election reform this past year have been misdirected in ways that have rendered them more divisive than they have to be.
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China is running out of water, and that’s scary for Asia
Hal Brands | Bloomberg Opinion
Of all Bejing’s problems — demographic decline, a stifling political climate, the stalling or reversal of economic reforms — dwindling natural resources may be the most urgent.
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From the new issue of National Affairs: Dynamism as a public philosophy
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The trouble facing America’s heartland is more likely the result of a lack of dynamism than an excess of it.
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Economics, Housing, and Poverty
Asset prices are climbing as debt soars. Will we be ready when the music stops?
Desmond Lachman | Barron’s
The frustrating story behind ‘Earthrise,’ one of the most famous photos ever
James Pethokoukis | Faster, Please!
Funding longer life
Sita Nataraj Slavov | Stanford Center on Longevity
What we can learn about economics from nails (and nail guns)
James Pethokoukis | AEIdeas
Comment letter to the Securities and Exchange Commission: Proposed rule on amendments to federal proxy rules governing proxy voting advice
Benjamin Zycher | US Securities and Exchange Commission
AEI housing market indicators, December 2021
Edward J. Pinto and Tobias Peter | AEIdeas
Foreign Policy and Defense
The club of democracies starts with Taiwan
Michael Rubin | Washington Examiner
Don’t blame omicron for flight delays. Blame policy.
Michael Rubin | Washington Examiner
Politics, Society, and Culture
Why the Republican Party isn’t concerned with popularity
Daniel A. Cox | FiveThirtyEight
Race and identity in America: Highlights from my conversation with Thomas Chatterton Williams
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The Supreme Court confronts the administrative state
Peter J. Wallison | Law & Liberty
A vasectomy is not necessarily ‘an act of love’ when it’s an alternative to abortion
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12.) THE FLIP SIDE

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Wednesday, January 5, 2022

Harry Reid

The late Sen. Harry Reid, the Nevada Democrat who served as majority leader during a 30-year career in the Senate, will lie in state in the U.S. Capitol Rotunda next week.” AP News

From the Left

The left praises Reid’s accomplishments and style.
“Six weeks after Obama took office in 2009, all 41 Republican senators — just enough to sustain a filibuster — had signed a letter telling him they’d oppose any nominee for a judgeship unless Obama had advance approval of a Republican senator from the nominee’s state. Obama had already consulted with Republican Sen. Richard Lugar of Indiana before nominating a federal district judge from Indiana, David Hamilton, to the federal appeals court for the 7th circuit. Yet McConnell lined up every other Republican against Hamilton. The White House and Senate Democrats, including Reid, were stunned. Republicans’ message was clear: ‘They are not going to give Obama anyone without a fight’…

“When Republicans continued their obstruction into Obama’s second term, Reid dropped his longtime opposition to the nuclear option… Just over three years later, as majority leader, McConnell had his party end the filibuster for Supreme Court nominees, too. President Trump’s three picks — Neil M. Gorsuch, Brett M. Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett — wouldn’t have been confirmed otherwise. Some Democrats blame Reid for opening the door to McConnell’s action in 2017. But anyone who thinks McConnell wouldn’t have gone nuclear absent Reid’s precedent hasn’t paid attention to just how far McConnell will go to capture the courts for conservatives.”
Jackie Calmes, Los Angeles Times

“A one-man bulwark for the Social Security program, Harry Reid fought both Republican and Democratic administrations that dared to make any changes that would cut benefits for millions of people whose lives depended on them. In 2012, as many Democrats were entertaining cuts, Reid stated matter-of-factly: ‘We’re not going to mess with Social Security.’…

“At a time when many Republicans and Democrats were getting cozy with trade deals that benefited corporate interests, Reid defied the status quo. He said no to a president he loved, and he maintained his opposition to every trade deal that came before him. Expressing dire concern that American working-class families were losing quality middle-class jobs in a global race to the bottom, Reid defiantly declared his position on the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement: ‘The answer is not only no, but hell no.’…

“And on health care, Reid maneuvered and persevered to pass the Affordable Care Act. He took great pride in delivering millions of Americans greater access to Medicaid… Reid was a tireless warrior for the working class.”
Faiz Shakir, New Republic

“The refashioning of Nevada into a blue state has a fair amount to do with demographic changes. But it’s also a considerable organizing achievement that has largely been a partnership between Reid and the Vegas-based Culinary Union, which represents workers at many of the city’s hotels, restaurants, and casinos. The Culinary’s very existence is an organizing triumph as a rare private sector labor union to successfully organize workplaces and grow membership in a right-to-work state…

“The party Reid built in partnership with his state’s Latino community and its largest union (many of whose members are, of course, Latino) is in many ways an important template for the overall trajectory of the Democratic Party — grounded in voters of color and union organizing, and relying on appeals to bread-and-butter economic issues without tilting either to socialism or vacuous ‘wokeness.’… [Reid] was very much a man of his times, but also a forward-thinking political strategist whose legacy has more to offer as a vision of the future than as merely a nostalgic reminder of the past.”
Matthew Yglesias, Vox

From the Right

The right criticizes Reid’s style and argues that eliminating the filibuster ended up backfiring.
“Reid’s biggest legacy was the elimination of the judicial filibuster in the Senate, which ultimately resulted in today’s 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court. Now Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) is following in Reid’s footsteps — threatening to change the chamber’s rules, and weaken or even eliminate the filibuster by Jan. 17. It seems Democrats have not learned from Reid’s mistakes…

“Democrats should think back on all the conservative policies they delayed and derailed in the minority thanks to the filibuster — such as entitlement reforms, immigration reforms, lawsuit reforms, health-care reforms, budget cuts, expanded gun rights, protections for unborn life and defunding Planned Parenthood — and then imagine all that and more being enacted by simple majority vote when Republicans win back the House, the Senate and the presidency — which they likely will in the not-too-distant future. If Democrats like the Supreme Court Harry M. Reid wrought them, they will love a filibuster-free, McConnell-led Senate.”
Marc A. Thiessen, Washington Post

“From accusing Republican lawmakers of poisoning voters to accusing 2012 Republican nominee Mitt Romney falsely of being a tax cheat to nuking the filibuster, Reid would do or say anything if there were even a remote chance it would serve his and his party’s immediate interests. There was no legislative sleight of hand too deceptive nor any slander too low for Reid so long as it harmed his enemies and won his party more control…

“When reporters pressed the senator for evidence [that Romney committed tax evasion], he responded, ‘I don’t think the burden should be on me. The burden should be on him. He’s the one I’ve alleged has not paid any taxes.’ In 2016, during an interview with CNN, Reid essentially admitted to fabricating the tax cheat story. ‘I don’t regret that at all,’ he told CNN’s Dana Bash. ‘Romney didn’t win, did he?’”
Becket Adams, Washington Examiner

“In 2012, Democrats won Senate elections in Indiana, North Dakota, Missouri, Ohio, and Florida. Nine years is a long time in politics, but it’s not ancient history, especially considering the prevailing narrative on the left today that says the Senate is structurally rigged against Democrats. Nothing about the structure of the Senate changed between 2012 and today…

“What changed? Democrats under Harry Reid understood the Senate for what it was. They understood they had to win statewide elections to earn Senate seats. They nominated candidates and funded them accordingly. And guess what? They won a bunch of elections! Under Reid, it would have been unthinkable to let a sure loser like Amy McGrath suck up national media attention and $80 million in fundraising challenging Mitch McConnell…

“A weak and scandal-tinged candidate like Cal Cunningham wouldn’t have been the nominee in a competitive state. A nationwide slogan as obviously self-destructive as ‘defund the police’ would have been disavowed immediately and explicitly by every candidate…

“The Democratic Party under Harry Reid was much better at winning Senate elections than the Democratic Party today. And Reid did stuff that Democrats wanted: passed Obamacare, passed Dodd-Frank, passed the stimulus, nuked the filibuster, and lied about Mitt Romney not paying taxes. If [Democrats] want to learn anything from Harry Reid’s legacy, it should be this: If you want to govern, you have to win elections first.”
Dominic Pino, National Review

A libertarian’s take
“Reid pioneered the now-ubiquitous tactic of filling the amendment tree and filing cloture on bills preemptively once the Senate began debating them. Filling the amendment tree blocks opponents of the bill from offering alternative proposals and protects its supporters from having to cast votes that could be used against them in their future efforts to win re-election. And filing cloture preemptively speeds Senate consideration of legislation and often confronts senators with a fait accompli, forcing them to choose between offering their amendments and passing the underlying bill…“Before Reid, senators understood the majority leader’s primary responsibility to be facilitating the participation of interested senators in floor debates and keeping the legislative trains running on time. After Reid, senators understand the majority leader’s primary responsibility to be protecting senators from taking votes they want to avoid, crafting legislative compromises, and structuring the legislative process to ensure that the Senate approves them…

“Reid’s successors have struggled to imitate his example. They have successfully stifled deliberation on the Senate floor. But, unlike Reid, they have not figured out how to fashion bipartisan compromise on most controversial issues (e.g., not infrastructure). Consequently, today’s Senate neither debates nor deliberates. We have Harry Reid to thank for that.”
James Wallner, Reason

On the bright side…

The most stunning moments for animals in 2021 will make you cheer – and love them even more.
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13.) AXIOS

Axios AM

☕ Good Wednesday morningSmart Brevity™ count: 1,426 words … 5 minutes. Edited by Noah Bressner.

Breaking: California investigators have told prosecutors that a PG&E power line was responsible for last year’s nearly million-acre Dixie fire. PG&E said: “[A] large tree struck one of our normally operating lines.” L.A. Times

1 big thing — Exclusive poll: Americans fear 1/6 rerun

Data: Axios/Momentive polls; Chart: Will Chase/Axios

Data: Axios/Momentive polls; Chart: Will Chase/Axios

A majority of Americans expect a repeat in the next few years of the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, a new Axios-Momentive poll found.

  • Just half of those polled say they now have faith in American democracy, Axios’ Margaret Talev and David Nather report.

The survey finds fewer than six in 10 Americans say President Biden legitimately won the 2020 election — a share that hasn’t changed since our poll last year, published hours before the Jan. 6 insurrection.

  • The doubts have survived Biden’s inauguration and 11 months of governance — and multiple investigations and audits that debunked former President Donald Trump’s lie that the election was stolen.

Republicans (47%) more than Democrats (28%) say they’ve lost faith.

  • Republicans are three or four times as likely as Democrats to say voter fraud is a problem in their state.

Between the lines: Besides partisanship, age was another huge divide.

  • Older Americans were far more concerned about the fate of democracy than younger respondents, and also more likely to support the work of the Jan. 6 committee.

Share this story.

2. 📺 Jan. 6 probers may hold prime-time hearings
Letter: House January 6th Committee

The House’s January 6th Committee is considering rare prime-time hearings to help build a maximum audience for testimony about what happened during the Capitol riot, one year ago tomorrow.

  • Why it matters: The committee sees its eyewitnesses as building a “case” to combat doubts raised by former President Trump and his Republican allies.

A committee aide told me: “Members are still discussing potential formats and timing for the committee’s hearings.”

  • “The Select Committee views upcoming hearings as one of its most important opportunities to lay out facts and provide answers to the American people about the January 6th attack and its causes,” the aide added.
  • “[W]e want to tell a story … reaching as many people as we can. The Select Committee’s business meetings so far have been held in the evening, and that’s certainly an option … for future hearings.”

The committee’s chairman, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) told Bloomberg’s Billy House the hearings could open in late March or early April. I’m told they could extend into summer.

  • Thompson said: “The public needs to know, needs to hear from people under oath about what led up to Jan. 6th, and to some degree, what has continued after Jan. 6.”

🥊 Between the lines: The committee thinks these hearings will go very differently than impeachment, when Democrats would elicit testimony, then Republicans would try to poke holes.

  • The committee’s only Republicans — Rep. Liz Cheney of Wyoming and Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois — want the story told. So the usual bouts of partisan bickering are unlikely.

Go deeper: “Jan. 6 committee requests Sean Hannity’s cooperation,” by Jonathan Swan.

3. Wasserman first look: Happy surprise for Dems

Illustration: Brendan Lynch/Axios

David Wasserman has seen enough.

  • The litigation-strewn process for drawing new House lines for November’s midterms will go on for months.
  • But Wasserman — senior editor at The Cook Political Report with Amy Walter, who’s so steeped in the intrigue his Twitter handle is @Redistrict — concludes in an analysis posted this morning, “Still a GOP Advantage, but Redistricting Looks Like a Wash”:

The surprising good news for Democrats: on the current trajectory, there will be a few MORE Biden-won districts after redistricting than there are now — producing a congressional map slightly less biased in the GOP’s favor than the last decade’s.

The bad news for Democrats: if President Biden’s approval ratings are still mired in the low-to-mid 40s in November, that won’t be enough to save their razor-thin House majority (currently 221 to 212 seats).

Between the lines: “[T]he partisan distribution of seats before/after redistricting is only one way to gauge the process,” Wasserman writes.

  • “Because Democrats currently possess the lion’s share of marginal seats, estimating the practical effect of new lines in 2022 still points towards a wash or a slight GOP gain.”

Go deeper: Read the analysis.

4. 📷 Pics of the day
I-95 standstill near Carmel Church, Va. (Caroline County), yesterday. Photo: Steve Helber/AP

I-95 south of Washington reopened at 7 p.m. — 24+ hours after snow paralyzed cars for 48 miles, leaving hundreds stranded overnight as temperatures fell into the teens, The Washington Post reports.

  • Virginia officials blamed multiple crashes, including jackknifed tractor-trailers, for closing one of the nation’s busiest highways.

And a happier snow scene …

Photo: Olivier Douliery/AFP via Getty Images

… from the West Front of the U.S. Capitol.

5. Media disrupters chase global elite

Illustration: Aïda Amer/Axios

Calling legacy media “almost paralyzed,” two of journalism’s top disrupters — Bloomberg’s Justin Smith and Ben Smith of The New York Times — unveiled a long-secret idea for a richly-funded global news platform, Axios Media Trends author Sara Fischer reports.

  • The Smiths either are very early in their planning or are cleverly disguising their intentions: No name was announced, and neither could say where the venture will be headquartered.
  • So far all they’re saying is it will be new, globally-focused — not social-media-focused — and event-heavy.

Why it matters: Despite the vagueness, the two unrelated Smiths have such track records atop American media that their departures from Bloomberg and The Times elicited intense media fascination.

  • Both news veterans resigned just this week, but already are reaching out to potential recruits.
  • Ben Smith’s last day as The Times’ media columnist is next Monday.
  • Justin Smith will stay on as an adviser to Bloomberg Media through March 15th.

The new company aims to fill a void they say neither of their previous employers are capable of addressing, according to a memo obtained by Axios that Justin Smith sent to close confidants.

  • “Faced with the technological and societal disruptions of the past two decades, traditional editorial institutions have become almost paralyzed — operationally, politically, culturally,” the memo says.
  • The target market is what they say are 200 million members of an “English-speaking, college-educated, professional class” around the world.

Justin Smith noted in an interview that the success of Netflix, while spanning across many languages, shows that there’s a new affluent, global and digitally-connected audience today that’s willing to pay for high-quality content.

6. Theranos verdict puts tech on spot

Illustration: Eniola Odetunde/Axios

This week’s Elizabeth Holmes verdicts instantly became a Rorschach test for Silicon Valley’s self-image, Axios managing editor Scott Rosenberg writes from the Bay Area:

  • Critics of tech’s go-go startup culture saw the Theranos founder’s conviction on four counts of conspiracy and fraud as evidence that the entire industry sits on a foundation of deception and hype.
  • Others cited the outcome as proof that even a business built on daring the impossible has a ceiling on hubris.

Keep reading.

7. “Buy now, pay later” faces curbs
Featured image

Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios

The buy now, pay later (BNPL) industry — an increasingly important driver of retail sales — could face new rules as D.C. scrutiny builds, Axios’ Lucinda Shen and Hope King report.

  • The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is peering into the policies of Affirm, Afterpay, Klarna, PayPal and Zip — a few of the most notable players in the BNPL industry.
  • The move comes after half a dozen lawmakers, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), Jack Reed (D-R.I.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) called on the agency to review BNPL services.

Why it matters: The CFPB is concerned these platforms may encourage overspending and dodge existing regulations around credit and lending. It also plans to examine data collection practices.

How it works: Consumers can qualify and get approved for BNPL purchases much faster than for a new credit card. And they can take home the product before fully paying it off — typically through installments with little to no interest.

  • The payment option has helped drive $97 billion in e-commerce sales last year, according to research from payments giant Worldpay.

BNPL companies say they’re prepared to work with regulators.

  • “We believe proportionate regulation is a good thing,” a representative for Klarna wrote in an email. Affirm, Afterpay, Zip, and PayPal each echoed the sentiment when reached for comment.

Share this story.

8. 🥦🥕🌶 Lingo: Veganuary
Featured image

Illustration: Shoshana Gordon/Axios

Veganuary (pronounced with hard “g”), a campaign that started in the U.K. to get people to give up meat and dairy in the first month, has been slow to catch on in the U.S., Jennifer A. Kingson writes for Axios What’s Next.

  • A trickle of U.S. restaurant chains and food brands are signing on.

Why it matters: Food and drink companies are racing to introduce plant-based products. But many Americans want to pare back — not eliminate — consumption of animal-based foods.

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15.) THE WASHINGTON POST MORNING HEADLINES


16.) THE WASHINGTON TIMES

Senate Democrats returned to Washington on Tuesday with their domestic agenda in shambles and searching …
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January 5, 2022

   

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Chinese President Xi Jinping attends an event commemorating the 110th anniversary of Xinhai Revolution at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 9, 2021, in this file photo. China is expanding a network of more than 95 port facilities around the world and is working to establish a system of overseas military bases that analysts say will suppor Mr. Xi&#39;s announced ambition for global dominance. (AP Photo/Andy Wong, File)

Global reach: China expands port and military base network to boost commerce, clout

China is expanding a network of more than 95 port facilities around the world and is working to establish a … Read More

By Bill Gertz

Top Headlines

 

Record number of Blacks buy firearms, boost overall gun sales during COVID-19 pandemic

By Jeff Mordock – Read More

Democrats struggle on how to move forward with Build Back Better

By Haris Alic – Read More

Pelosi accused of hiding info on her role in security breakdown on Jan. 6

By Kerry Picket – Read More

GOP lawmakers urge SCOTUS to strike down Biden workplace vaccine-or-test order

By Tom Howell Jr. – Read More

Majority of Republicans believe FBI is acting as Biden’s ‘personal Gestapo,’ poll finds

By Emily Zantow – Read More

Expanding the Quad? Opening seen to boost pro-democracy alliance against China

By Ben Wolfgang – Read More

Opinion

 

Democrats rush to their extinction

By Don Feder – Read More

Politicized Department of Justice has forgotten what it stands for

By Stewart Whitson – Read More

U.S. adversaries are becoming South American conquistadores

By Clifford D. May – Read More

Politics

 

Rep. Conor Lamb, Pa. Senate candidate, promises to vote to end filibuster if elected

By Dave Boyer – Read More

Trump cancels Jan. 6 press conference

By Victor Morton – Read More

Sen. Joe Manchin skeptical about blowing up filibuster to pass Biden’s partisan voting overhaul

By Haris Alic – Read More

Security

 

NATO foreign ministers to huddle ahead of Russia talks on Ukraine

By David R. Sands – Read More

Hawaii orders Navy to shut down WWII-era leaking fuel tanks

By Mike Glenn – Read More

Texas challenges Biden vaccine mandate for National Guard; 40% refusing

– Read More

Sports

 

Washington to unveil new team name, logo on Feb. 2

By Matthew Paras – Read More

Confidence in the clutch has Kuzma emerging as Beal’s co-star

By Jacob Calvin Meyer – Read More

Eagles QB sends letter to NFL, Washington seeking action on ‘near-tragic’ railing incident

By Jacob Calvin Meyer – Read More

 

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22.) THE HILL MORNING REPORT

The Hill's Morning Report
Presented by Altria
Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.

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Welcome to The Hill’s Morning Report. It is Wednesday! 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 each morning this week: Monday, 826,064Tuesday, 827,749; Wednesday, 830,284.
As Roger Daltrey once sang, “Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.”

 

That dynamic played out once again on Tuesday as Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) laid out his desire to alter the chamber’s filibuster rules to enact voting rights reform, only to be swatted away by Sen. Joe Manchin (D) shortly thereafter.

 

The West Virginia centrist all but killed any chance for Democrats to change the 60-vote rule, warning that his “preference” is for any changes to be bipartisan.

 

“Being open to a rules change that would create a nuclear option, it’s very, very difficult. It’s a heavy lift,” Manchin told reporters when asked about using the “nuclear option,” in which Democrats would change the 60-vote legislative filibuster on their own. “I’m talking. I’m not agreeing to any of this. … I want to talk and see all the options we have open” (The Hill).

 

Nevertheless, Schumer reiterated his pledge to force a vote to nix the 60-vote threshold by Jan. 17 even though he noted that the party does not have the votes to make the change. As The Hill’s Jordain Carney notes, a group of Democrats that have spearheaded the voting rights discussion met with Schumer and Manchin (D-W.Va.) later in the day as part of running negotiations.

 

“It’s an uphill fight. I don’t want to give anybody the illusion that we’re there, but hopefully we can get 50 of us to come to an agreement,” Schumer said.

 

The Hill: Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) says Schumer “hellbent on breaking the Senate.”

 

Jordain Carney, The Hill: Democrats scramble to lock-down Manchin on filibuster.

 

For months, Schumer’s dreams and ambitions of enacting the Biden administration’s wide-ranging agenda in the upper chamber have been quashed at almost every turn, with Manchin often standing in the way to do the thwarting. It was a reminder that came up not once but twice on Tuesday, as Manchin also told reporters that at present there are no discussions taking place toward a new Build Back Better proposal.

 

“I’m really not going to talk about Build Back Better anymore because I think I’ve been very clear on that. There is no negotiations going on at this time,” Manchin said, referring to his opposition to the most recent iteration of the social spending and climate package last month (The Hill).

 

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., speaks during a news conference

© Associated Press/Susan Walsh

 

 

That state of play is not expected to last too much longer. According to The Hill’s Alexander Bolton, Senate Democrats indicated on Tuesday that they expect President Biden and Manchin to resume talks once debate on voting rights and election reforms wraps up in the coming weeks, referring to it as a “cooling-off period” between the two.

 

At a virtual lunchtime meeting on Tuesday, Senate Democrats agreed that everyone in their caucus would take a deep breath and step back from the heated debate over the mammoth social spending and climate legislation. The move would also give Manchin some space, giving the party hope that he will return to the negotiating table in due time.

 

“We all acknowledge, understand there’s a cooling-off period and we need to give a little distance to Manchin and Biden on this so they can come back together and try again,” said one Democratic senator who took part in Tuesday’s caucus discussion. “My guess is there will be a very significant reworking of the bill.”

 

The Wall Street Journal: Manchin deflates Democrats’ hopes of changing the Senate filibuster, passing election bills.

 

Axios: Omicron, snowstorm thwart Schumer’s midterm year quick start.

 

The Hill: Rep. Brenda Lawrence (Mich.) to retire, becomes 25th House Democrat to decide against running for reelection.

 

> Jan. 6 latest: As security preparations near the Capitol took place on Tuesday ahead of the anniversary, including the use of drone surveillance (seen below), the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol released a series of text messages from Fox News’s Sean Hannity and asked him to voluntarily cooperate with the committee.

 

In a letter to Hannity, the panel reviewed five communications he sent among dozens in the committee’s possession, including previously unreleased texts they argue show he “had advance knowledge regarding President Trump’s and his legal team’s planning for January 6th.” On Dec. 31, Hannity appeared to express concern over losing support from the White House legal team while relaying his advice to then-White House chief of staff Mark Meadows.

 

“We can’t lose the entire WH counsels office. I do NOT see January 6 happening the way he is being told. After the 6 th. He should announce will lead the nationwide effort to reform voting integrity. Go to Fl and watch Joe mess up daily. Stay engaged. When he speaks people will listen,” Hannity wrote that night (The Hill).

 

Shortly after, Trump canceled his plans to hold a news conference on the one-year anniversary of the deadly riot. In a statement, he blamed the House select committee charged with investigating the Jan. 6 riot for the cancellation. He said he would instead touch on many of the themes he had planned to discuss at the news conference during a rally in Arizona set for Jan. 15 (The Hill).

 

According to Axios, the decision came after two prominent Trump allies — Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Fox News’s Laura Ingraham — questioned whether he should move forward with it. (Graham offered his counsel during a round of golf over the weekend.)

 

“There could be peril in doing a news conference,” Graham told the outlet of his message to the ex-president, adding that it is “best to focus on election reform instead.”

 

Niall Stanage: The Memo: Threats to democracy are stark one year after Jan. 6.

 

The Hill: Biden to note “historical significance” of Jan. 6 at one-year mark.

 

An Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) tethered to a truck hovers near the U.S. Capitol

© Associated Press/Manuel Balce Ceneta

 

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Altria is working to create a more sustainable future — aligned with the expectations of society and our stakeholders. Learn about the goals we’ve set and the progress we’re making at Altria.com.
LEADING THE DAY
CORONAVIRUS: Biden on Tuesday urged Americans to approach the dramatic new surge in COVID-19 cases as a different and less dire phase of the pandemic, thanks to vaccines, antiviral medications and accessible tests. The president, who has said the government was not prepared for the speed with which omicron spread throughout the country, again urged unvaccinated Americans and those eligible for booster doses to get the shots.

 

“You can still get COVID, but it’s highly unlikely, very unlikely, that you’ll become seriously ill,” Biden said of vaccinated people.

 

“There’s no excuse, there’s no excuse for anyone being unvaccinated,” he added. “This continues to be a pandemic of the unvaccinated” (The Associated Press and The Hill).

 

The administration for nearly a year has tried to reassure Americans they would at some point be able to put COVID-19 behind them. However, Biden’s former talk of beating the coronavirus has given way to guidance about living with it. COVID-19’s viral adaptations have raced ahead of governments’ aspirations to outrun it with antibody-bolstered populations. Omicron is responsible for 95 percent of new U.S. infections, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

 

Experts debate whether the attention paid to the winter’s soaring infections is less important than the rate of hospitalizations, which has improved because more people are vaccinated and boosted. Biden’s pandemic strategy remains vaccine centered.

 

Hospital admissions averaged 14,800 per day last week, up 63 percent from the week before, but still short of the peak of 16,500 per day a year ago, when the vast majority of the U.S. population was unvaccinated. Deaths have been stable over the past two weeks at an average of about 1,200 per day, well below the all-time high of 3,400 last January (The Associated Press). Hospitals say omicron is sending many people to hospitals, but fewer COVID-19 patients to ICUs (The New York Times).

 

The peaks and troughs of new infections in the U.S. tell winter stories about omicron. Florida is now a hot zone, with confirmed infections up 849 percent in a two-week period (The Hill). ​​But in New York City, where omicron surged last month, infections may have peaked. It’s a pattern observed in South Africa and London, where omicron grabbed hold before spreading through U.S. travel hubs.

 

The Associated PressIsrael set a new COVID-19 record for cases amid zigzag government actions and a fourth jab for those with compromised immune systems. The omicron variant is outpacing the government’s ability to make and execute clear pandemic public policy.

 

A sign was posted at the front of this CVS pharmacy at the Capitol in Jackson, Miss.

© Associated Press/Rogelio V. Solis

 

 

> A federal judge in Texas on Monday blocked the U.S. Navy from taking punitive action against 35 sailors who refused on religious grounds to get required vaccinations for COVID-19 and sued the Navy and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin. To date, the Navy has granted zero requests for religious waivers (The Associated Press).

 

Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin speaks during a media briefing at the Pentagon

© Associated Press/Alex Brandon

 

 

Two Republican governors on Tuesday took dramatically different steps to address the COVID-19 challenges they are managing.

 

Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan (R), who last month tested positive for the coronavirus after being fully vaccinated and boosted, declared a 30-day state of emergency to deal with surging hospitalizations. He mobilized the National Guard to help staff testing and vaccine sites after Maryland hit a record high 3,057 COVID-19 hospitalizations on Tuesday, an increase of more than 500 percent in the past seven weeks (The Hill). In Texas, Gov. Greg Abbott (R) announced he is suing the Biden administration over its requirement that the National Guard be vaccinated against COVID-19 (The Hill). Meanwhile, hospitalizations are again on the rise from COVID-19 and straining medical facilities and staffing in Texas (The Texas Tribune).

 

The Wall Street Journal: Walmart and Kroger raised prices negotiated with the White House to sell popular BinaxNOW COVID-19 test kits for $14 after the agreement expired last month. Walmart said the price went up to $19.98, but BinaxNow kits are out of stock.

 

The Hill: COVID-19 vaccine doses do not pose increased risk of preterm births, according to a CDC study. The rate of preterm births in unvaccinated pregnant people was higher in the study.

 

The Hill: The U.S. ordered another 10 million courses of Pfizer oral treatment for COVID-19 infections known as Paxlovid.

 

The Associated Press: Chicago officials want students back in school but the city canceled classes today because the Chicago Teachers Union overwhelmingly voted for virtual learning, citing the high rate of COVID-19 infections. Mayor Lori Lightfoot (D) warned that teachers who do not show up for work today will be put on no-pay status (Chicago Tribune).

 

Among the many Americans on Tuesday who reported new COVID-19 infections were two members of Congress: Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who said he was asymptomatic and feeling “fine” while working remotely (The Hill), and Rep. Jim Hagegorn (R-Minn.), who is undergoing treatment for kidney cancer and was hospitalized as a precaution.

IN FOCUS/SHARP TAKES
POLITICS: Staffers at the Democratic National Committee on Tuesday voted to unionize and join with Service Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 500.

 

“We are incredibly excited to join SEIU Local 500 to live our Democratic values at our workplace,” Alison Goh, a DNC staffer and union leader, said in a statement. “Throughout this process, our aim has been not only to improve the lives of current and future staff at the DNC, but to ensure our staff, no matter where they live, are protected and given the resources they need to thrive in their careers and succeed in our mission to elect Democrats up and down the ballot.”

 

The vote was finalized by former Rep. Donna Edwards (D-Md.), who served as an independent neutral observer in the process. The vote allows the union and committee leadership to kick off contract negotiations (The Hill).

 

> Big tech: Twitter’s permanent ban and Facebook’s temporary suspension of Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s (R-Ga.) accounts are fueling GOP attacks against social media giants as the party makes opposition to those entities a cornerstone of it moving forward.

 

Trump, who got himself banned nearly one year ago, and House GOP lawmakers have bashed the platform for removing the congresswoman’s personal account over violating COVID-19 misinformation policies.

 

“Twitter (all big tech), if you shut down constitutionally protected speech (not lewd and obscene) you should lose 230 protection. Acting as publisher and censorship regime should mean shutting down the business model you rely on today, and I will work to make that happen,” House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) tweeted on Tuesday, name-checking Greene’s recent banishment. “Big tech’s censorship is out of control and must be addressed. A House GOP Majority WILL fight to hold them accountable.”

 

However, experts say that the ban on Greene sets a “more far-reaching precedent” than the one imposed on Trump last year, as he was already on his way out of office at the time (The Hill).

 

Reid Wilson, The Hill: In a drying West, Utah governor proposes major water investments.

 

*****

 

ADMINISTRATION: The Biden administration is confronting the nation’s four largest meatpacking companies to try to expand competitive markets for farmers and ranchers in one of the least competitive sectors of the U.S. economy. The president has called the companies’ dominance “exploitation.” The administration wants to create regional slaughterhouses beyond the control of Tyson, JBS, Cargill and National Beef, which purchase and process 85 percent of beef in the United States, and provide a pathway for the Justice Department to investigate anti-competitive practices in the meat industry. Critics, however, say the moves are not tough enough (The Hill).

 

> Climate change: Biden “over-promised and under-delivered” with the administration’s climate agenda in 2021, whether in the courts, legislatively or while bowing to existing statutes, according to advocates and analysts. The president faces major challenges this year as time runs out (The New York Times).

 

> VEEP staff turnoverVice President Harris is losing another member of her staff. Senior aide Vincent Evans, a former House aide, will become executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus (Bloomberg News).

OPINION
Theranos directors pay no price for Elizabeth Holmes’s fraud, by Timothy L. O’Brien, columnist, Bloomberg Opinion. https://bloom.bg/3FVnn6J

 

Medicare needs to test the new Alzheimer’s drug before paying, by Peter B. Bach and Rita F. Redberg, contributors, Bloomberg Opinion. https://bloom.bg/32PS6Uq

A MESSAGE FROM ALTRIA
Altria is working to create a more sustainable future — aligned with the expectations of society and our stakeholders. Learn about the goals we’ve set and the progress we’re making at Altria.com.
WHERE AND WHEN
The House returns to work on Monday.

 

The Senate convenes at 11 a.m. and will resume consideration of the nomination of Anne Witkowsky to be an assistant secretary of State.

 

The president and the vice president will receive the President’s Daily Brief at 10:10 a.m.

 

Attorney General Merrick Garland at the Justice Department at 2:30 p.m. will speak about the Jan. 6 attacks and “the department’s solemn duty to uphold the Constitution, follow the facts and the law and pursue equal justice under law without fear or favor” (The Associated Press).

 

Secretary of State Antony Blinken will meet with German Minister for Foreign Affairs Annalena Baerbock at 11 a.m. and hold a joint press conference with her at noon at the State Department.

 

The Federal Reserve will release minutes from the Dec. 15 Federal Open Market Committee policy-setting meeting.

 

The White House press briefing is scheduled at 12:15 p.m. The administration’s COVID-19 response team will brief journalists at 11 a.m.

 

📺 Hill.TV’s “Rising” program features news and interviews at http://thehill.com/hilltv or on YouTube at 10:30 a.m. ET at Rising on YouTube.

ELSEWHERE
 INTERNATIONAL: North Korea on Wednesday fired a suspected ballistic missile off its east coast, authorities in the region reported, underscoring leader Kim Jong Un’s New Year’s vow to bolster the military to counter an unstable international situation (Reuters).

 

 WEATHER SNARLS: Virginia Sen. Tim Kaine (D) (seen below) and hundreds of other travelers who were stuck in a snow and accident-triggered traffic jam 50 miles long on I-95 (for 27 hours, in Kaine’s case), were mostly freed by Tuesday evening after a portion of the major Northeast corridor was shut down to allow the much-criticized Virginia Department of Transportation to clear the clogged interstate and off-ramps (The Washington Post and The Associated Press). … Separately, Amtrak train passengers were trapped on tracks for 30 hours after they left Atlanta and encountered fallen trees because of winter weather conditions as they headed north (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution). … Airlines continued to blame COVID-19 staff shortages, weather and a holiday rush of passengers for flight cancellations and delays that affected many, many irate, exhausted people. The situation on Tuesday eased in comparison with Monday’s mess (The Associated Press). … Snow, ice and wind led to power outages on Monday for more than 200,000 customers in the Washington, D.C., region (NBC News 4), improving slightly to 100,000 homes and businesses with no electricity as of Tuesday afternoon (NBC News).

 

Sen Tim Kaine is finally at the Capitol, “26.5 hours later,” he told us.

© Twitter

 

 

This image provided by the Virginia department of Transportation shows a closed section of Interstate 95 near Fredericksburg, Va.

© Virginia Department of Transportation via Associated Press

 

THE CLOSER
And finally … 👏👏👏 After selling the Iowa Cubs, a AAA minor league baseball club, the outgoing owner, Michael Gartner, 83, made a generous decision last month to give team employees $2,000 for every year they had been with the organization for a total of $600,000. He called it “the right thing to do.”

 

“My jaw dropped,” said Alex Cohen, 33, the team’s radio broadcaster since 2018. “Seeing all the people who had been there for two decades, three decades, tears streaming down their faces, it was a very special, emotional day” (The New York Times).

 

Iowa Cubs owners shared profits from sale of the team with all 23 staff members

© Twitter

 

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23.) THE HILL 12:30 REPORT

 


24.) ROLL CALL

Image

Morning Headlines

ImageAfter the Capitol attack a year ago, dozens of company PACs turned off their political donations. Most resumed their giving within months, but a few plan to continue withholding donations to the 147 Republicans who voted against certifying Joe Biden’s Electoral College victory — at least through the 2022 midterm election cycle. Read more…

ImageAlthough many Capitol Hill staffers say they’re confident law enforcement could repel another Jan. 6-like event, each new security concern or pandemic surge adds to a feeling of unease that’s not easy to shake almost a year after the insurrection. Read more…

Jan. 6, 2021, the ‘New Right’ and a republic at risk

 

ImageOPINION — The insurrectionists of Jan. 6, 2021, had a lot in common with the populists of the New Right. But in 1980, most GOP members of Congress had respect for their institution, for the rule of law and even for their opponents. Unfortunately, the GOP has capitulated to Donald Trump and his allies, and the republic is at risk. Read more…

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Senate inches toward rules showdown over voting rights legislation

 

ImageSenate Democrats are focused on protecting voting rights ahead of Thursday’s one-year anniversary of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, but the caucus is a long way from sorting out the procedural mechanics of how to pass legislation without Republican support. Read more…

Jan. 6 panel asking Fox News host Sean Hannity for information

 

ImageThe House Jan. 6 select committee is asking Fox News host Sean Hannity to voluntarily participate in a transcribed interview and to preserve communications he had with former President Donald Trump, the White House and others concerning the attack on the Capitol. Read more…

Lawmakers push for surprise billing changes as law takes effect

 

ImageAll Americans are protected as of Jan. 1 from unexpected out-of-network medical bills, thanks to the implementation of legislation to ban surprise medical billing, but many lawmakers want the Biden administration to make more changes to line up with what they argue was Congress’ intent in crafting the law. Read more…

Rep. Bobby Rush joins Democrats choosing not to run again this year

 

ImageIllinois Democrat Bobby L. Rush, who was born in the rural South and became a political institution over his decadeslong career, announced Tuesday that he would not seek reelection to his Chicago-area district, making him the 24th House Democrat to announce plans to retire or seek another office in 2022. Read more…

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25.) POLITICO PLAYBOOK

POLITICO Playbook: Republicans dodge and deflect ahead of Jan. 6

Presented by

DRIVING THE DAY

HOT JOB: “The Virginia Department of Transportation seeks a Communications Manager to handle emergency response and crisis communications duties as needed.”

THE LEAD-UP TO ONE YEAR — Republicans don’t want to talk about Jan. 6. Period. End of story.

On a private call Tuesday, House GOP leaders encouraged their members to stick to attacking President JOE BIDEN  or, at most, talk about ongoing security concerns at the Capitol. Republican senators, meanwhile, dodged questions about the Thursday anniversary. Most of them are relieved they have an excuse to be out of town: attending former Sen. JOHNNY ISAKSON’s funeral in Atlanta.

Indeed, it’s becoming increasingly clear that — with the exception of Rep. LIZ CHENEY (R-Wyo.) and perhaps a few others — the day of remembrance will be a nearly all-Democratic affair.

It’s not surprising given how hard the GOP has worked to pivot from all things Jan. 6 over the past year. But the more they avoid the subject, the more the GOP base shrugs at what happened that day — and the stronger DONALD TRUMP becomes. For Republicans who want him gone, silence has only served as an enabler.

THE GOP DID GET SOME GOOD JAN. 6 NEWS TUESDAY NIGHT: Trump’s decision to cancel his Mar-a-Lago press conference, where he was expected to defend the rioters and spew election falsehoods. Congressional Republicans were privately dreading it, knowing reporters would once again demand their responses to whatever the former president said.

Just before Trump’s decision was announced, LAURA INGRAHAM seemed to question the wisdom of his event. “Given all the emotion and lies about what happened and what did happen criminally — some things were horrific that happened and shouldn’t have happened that day — is it smart for President Trump to do a rally on that particular day?” she asked Rep. JIM BANKS (R-Ind.) on her show. (Banks didn’t get her hint and said he was “looking forward” to Trump’s event.)

THE BACKSTORY: A Trump confidant told Playbook that a small group of his close allies confronted the former president and got him to change his mind. They made the case that the news conference would “be playing into the media’s hands.”

“No matter what he said, it would be reported as more egregious than it was,” one person told us.

NYT’s Maggie Haberman tweeted that Trump was told his event wouldn’t get the live TV coverage he wanted. Though our Meridith McGraw says his team was expecting a large contingent of reporters to attend.

ABOUT THOSE HANNITY TEXTS — The Trump retreat came about an hour after the Jan. 6 committee released text messages showing that SEAN HANNITY privately objected to Trump’s plans to try to overturn the election.

“We can’t lose the entire WH counsels office,” he wrote to JIM JORDAN and MARK MEADOWS on Dec. 31, 2020, likely referring to PAT CIPOLLONE’s opposition to pressuring MIKE PENCE to throw the Electoral College count. “I do NOT see January 6 happening the way he is being told… He should announce will lead the nationwide effort to reform voting integrity. Go to [Florida] and watch Joe mess up daily. Stay engaged. When he speaks people will listen.”

After Jan. 6, Hannity expressed frustration that Trump still didn’t seem to understand that he lost. “Guys, we have a clear path to land the plane in 9 days,” he wrote. “He can’t mention the election again. Ever. I did not have a good call with him today. And worse, I’m not sure what is left to do or say, and I don’t like not knowing if it’s truly understood. Ideas?”

The panel is asking Hannity to voluntarily speak with them, stopping short of a subpoena that would likely raise First Amendment objections. Hannity’s lawyer JAY SEKULOW still raised the First Amendment in a statement Tuesday night, though he declined to detail Hannity’s next move. Hannity did not address the committee request on his show Tuesday night.

Good Wednesday morning. Thanks for reading Playbook. Drop us a line: Rachael BadeEugene DanielsRyan LizzaTara Palmeri.

GOP WARMS TO ECA REFORM — As we reported Tuesday, there is growing support on the right to reform the Electoral Count Act, the arcane 19th-century law governing how Electoral College votes are certified and tabulated that Trump tried to exploit to overturn the 2020 election.

Sen. JOHN THUNE (S.D.), the No. 2 Senate Republican, told Axios’ Sophia Cai that there’s “some interest” among his GOP colleagues in rewriting the law.

As we noted, the potential counteroffer presents a political problem for Senate Majority Leader CHUCK SCHUMER. He doesn’t want a narrow ECA bill to supplant the much broader reforms Democrats are pushing in the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

Schumer said Tuesday it “makes no sense” to pass ECA reform absent a package of voting rights and election law changes.

What to watch: In order to defang Schumer’s rules change threat, does a bipartisan group come forward with a proposal that includes ECA reform as well as the core election subversion policies of the Freedom to Vote Act — but excludes longtime partisan policies that have no hope of garnering 60 votes, such as campaign finance reform?

More: A left-right group of four well-known election law experts calls for ECA reform in a new WaPo op-ed … The Dispatch’s David French writes, “Stop Screwing Around and Reform the Electoral Count Act”

BIDEN’S WEDNESDAY: The president and VP KAMALA HARRIS will receive the President’s Daily Brief at 10:10 a.m.

The White House Covid-19 response team and public health officials will brief at 11 a.m. Press secretary JEN PSAKI will brief at 12:15 p.m. with port envoy JOHN PORCARI.

The SENATE will meet at 11 a.m. to take up ANNE WITKOWSKY’s State Department nomination, with a cloture vote at noon. U.S. Capitol Police Chief THOMAS MANGER will testify before the Rules Committee for a Jan. 6 oversight hearing at 10 a.m. Manger will tell the committee how his department is implementing more than 100 recommendations for improvement as he attempts to address the deficiencies that were exposed by the attack, per the NYT’s Luke Broadwater.

The HOUSE is out.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

PLAYBOOK READS

THE WHITE HOUSE

ANOTHER TESTING BLACK EYE FOR THE W.H. — Walmart and Kroger are increasing the prices of BinaxNOW rapid at-home coronavirus test kits, after a deal with the White House to sell them at a certain price expired in December, WSJ’s Sharon Terlep reports. Instead of selling the kits at $14 per the White House’s agreement, Walmart is now selling the kits for $18.99 a box and Kroger for $23.99. “Even at the higher prices, tests are difficult to find,” Terlep notes. “BinaxNOW is sold out on many major retailers’ websites or takes more than a week to arrive. A Walmart spokeswoman said the BinaxNOW tests are more readily available in physical stores.” The White House did not respond to WSJ for the story.

CONGRESS

MCCARTHY THREATENS TWITTER (ON TWITTER) — House Minority Leader KEVIN MCCARTHY sent a warning shot to social media companies Tuesday afternoon, writing in a tweet that if Twitter — or any big tech company — “shut[s] down constitutionally protected speech (not lewd and obscene) you should lose 230 protection.”

McCarthy was referring to legal protections that bar social media platforms from getting sued for content their users publish. The threats matter because McCarthy is likely to be the next speaker and he appears to be outlining a future GOP policy.

It’s just the latest escalation in the GOP leader’s rhetoric against tech and social media firms, coming after Twitter suspended Rep. MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE (R-Ga.) over the weekend for tweeting Covid-19 misinformation. McCarthy also warned the social media companies that Republicans “will not forget” if they comply with subpoenas from the Jan. 6 committee.

More: “Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene calls on all GOP lawmakers to leave Twitter,” Washington Times

ALL POLITICS

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST — Michigan Democratic Rep. BRENDA LAWRENCE is the latest to announce that she’s retiring. That makes her the 25th. The Detroit News’ Melissa Nann Burke has the story.

WASSERMAN: REDISTRICTING ‘LOOKS LIKE A WASH’ — The Cook Political Report’s David Wasserman is out with a new midterms analysis that everyone should read this morning. The upshot: With redistricting more than halfway over, Democrats are doing much better than many thought they would — particularly given that Republicans oversaw the redrawing of 187 districts while Democrats had only 75.

Wasserman writes that the House map is now on track to have more Biden-won districts, “producing a congressional map slightly less biased in the GOP’s favor than in the last decade’s.” One explanation: “[M]any GOP-controlled states are already gerrymandered, limiting Republicans’ ability to wring them for additional gains.”

When it comes to this year’s midterms, though, take this with a grain of salt. Wasserman certainly does. This is still a midterm election following one-party rule, and historically that means Democrats will lose dozens of seats. Factor in the political climate with Biden’s low job approval reading, and Democrats still don’t have much to be excited about.

ALSO: Check out POLITICO’s redistricting tracker for a user-friendly state of play.

WILL THE REAL J.D. PLEASE STAND UP — WaPo’s Simon van Zuylen-Wood profiles J.D. VANCE, “Hillbilly Elegy” author and Ohio Senate candidate, and explores whether Vance’s more radicalized persona is an act.

STATE OF THE UNION — The DNC staff unionized Tuesday as two-thirds of eligible employees signed onto the effort, in what Insider’s Kayla Epstein calls “perhaps the most significant organizing effort in politics yet.” The drive could set an example throughout the Democratic Party. Next up are contract negotiations with management, which has been supportive of the unionization push. (Said the RNC’s chief of staff: “We applaud the DNC for rendering themselves even more useless. Perhaps they’ll offer tenure next.”)

JAN. 6 AND ITS AFTERMATH

NAVARRO SPEAKS — In a Rolling Stone interview, former Trump trade adviser PETER NAVARRO discussed the behind-the-scenes effort to thwart the certification of the 2020 election results. He said “there were over 100 congressmen — both the House of Representatives and Senators — that were lined up to execute” the plan administration officials came up with, where “contested states would revoke their certifications, deprive either candidate of the required 270 Electoral College votes, and give Trump one last shot [at] victory — with the House of Representatives ultimately voting to decide the outcome of the 2020 election, using an arcane protocol that favored Trump.” More from Rolling Stone’s Tim Dickinson

LAWSUITS TARGET TRUMP — Lawsuits from police officers who responded to the Jan. 6 attack against Trump are adding up, our Kyle Cheney notes: “A Capitol Police officer who defended lawmakers in the House chamber during the violent Capitol assault filed the first of two new lawsuits against Trump on Tuesday, asking a court to hold the former president responsible for the mob of his supporters who conducted the attack. The other lawsuit was filed by two officers with the Metropolitan Police Department who were called in to help the Capitol Police during the insurrection.”

LOOK WHO’S BACK — SEB GORKA sued the Jan. 6 committee Tuesday to prevent Verizon from turning over his phone records. More from Nicholas Wu and Kyle Cheney … The lawsuit

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Teen Vogue’s editor-in-chief Versha Sharma talks to Reps. CORI BUSH (D-Mo.), JAMAAL BOWMAN (D-N.Y.) and PRAMILA JAYAPAL (D-Wash.) about the anniversary of Jan. 6. Jayapal: “It was probably one of the most intense things I’ve ever been through.”

THE PANDEMIC

CDC NOT GIVING IN — Despite criticism of the CDC’s move not to recommend that people with the coronavirus test negative before ending their shorter quarantines, the agency doubled down Tuesday. Updated guidance “said people who have recovered from the virus and have isolated for at least five days can take a rapid test if they want, but they don’t have to,” per CNBC’s Spencer Kimball.

Critics said the refusal to add a testing recommendation was due to the nation’s test shortage; public health officials defended their decision as the best they could make facing a complex set of pressures.

THE VIEW FROM 1600 PENN — Amid the Omicron onslaught, the White House is moving quickly from a mindset of trying to end the pandemic to one of trying to live with it, report Adam Cancryn and Chris Cadelago. The immediate task at hand is “a triage operation focused on containing the reverberations of the surge well enough to avert breakdowns in essential services, mass school closures and overrun hospitals.”

But beyond that, there’s not much more the federal government can do, and now a weary West Wing’s broad goal is simply “to blunt Omicron’s impact on everyday life and the economy rather than to completely contain it.”

MEDIAWATCH

KEEPING UP WITH THE SMITHS — NYT’s David Gelles broke some major home news Tuesday: “Ben Smith, the media columnist for The New York Times, is leaving the media outlet to start a new global news organization with Justin Smith, who is stepping down as chief executive of Bloomberg Media.”

— In an interview with Puck News’ Dylan ByersJustin Smith provided some insight into what the company is looking to do: “I don’t think the newspaper article has changed in a long time, and I think readers’ consumption habits have changed radically. What we’re going to unleash at this new company is an innovation hothouse for journalism that is consumer-centric, that will push the envelope on new journalistic innovations to deliver quality content.”

PODCAST MISINFORMATION — A study of 1,500 episodes from 20 of the most popular political podcasts by the Brookings Institution found that “among episodes released between the election and the Jan. 6 riot, about half contained election misinformation.

“In some weeks, 60 percent of episodes mentioned the election fraud conspiracy theories tracked by Brookings. Those included false claims that software glitches interfered with the count, that fake ballots were used, and that voting machines run by Dominion Voting Systems were rigged to help Democrats.” NYT’s Stuart Thompson notes that the new research sheds light on “the extent to which podcasts have spread misinformation using platforms operated by Apple, Google, Spotify and others, often with little content moderation.”

PLAYBOOKERS

Tim Kaine (and countless others) spent 27 hours stuck in traffic on I-95. His survival strategy: turn the engine on briefly to warm up the car, then turn it off to conserve gas. “I would nap for 15 or 20 minutes — usually I’d wake up because I got too cold,” he told WaPo.

Vince Evans, the deputy director of public engagement and intergovernmental affairs for Kamala Harris, is moving to become executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus. (His departure from the VP’s office was reported in November.)

Melania Trump is doing the fancy person’s version of a garage sale online.

Donald Trump sent a fundraising email Tuesday with the subject line, “I have something BIG to show you.”

Jeff Bezos’ recent fashion choices are … turning heads.

Michael Wolff sent an off-the-record tweet to Brian Stelter.

Win McNamee of Getty Images won the White House News Photographers annual fantasy football championship.

Spencer Elden’s lawsuit against Nirvana was dismissed by a federal judge.

MEDIA MOVES — Chris Megerian will join the AP’s White House team. He currently is a White House correspondent for the Los Angeles Times. … Miranda Green is joining Floodlight as deputy editor and investigative reporter. She most recently was doing freelance reporting.

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK — Nina Schwalbe is returning to Spark Street Advisors after her detail as director of USAID’s Vaccine Access and Delivery Initiative ends today.

— Bill Parsons is now VP for federal and state affairs at the American Clean Power Association. He most recently was COO at the American Council on Renewable Energy, and is a Chris Van Hollen alum.

— John Perrino is now a policy analyst at the Stanford Internet Observatory, working on internet trust, safety and security issues. He previously was a director at the Glen Echo Group, leading cybersecurity policy and public sector comms work.

TRANSITIONS — Keegan Goudiss is joining Trilogy Interactive as executive media director. He previously ran Revolution Messaging. … Anthony Pardal is now VP for strategic engagement at the American Bankers Association. He previously was deputy federal affairs director for Florida Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, and is an Evan Bayh alum. … Putnam Partners is adding or promoting Jenna Kruse as SVP, Cristina González and Bryan “Boo” Yuen as VPs, Isaac Walker as senior associate and Syeda “Hubbul” Rizvi as an associate. …

… Julia Jackson Bellinger is now director of government affairs at the Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging. She most recently was at the International Hearing Society, and is a Smithbucklin, YMCA of the USA and Tim Penny alum. … Amanda Munger is now a partner at Melwood Global, leading the D.C. public affairs and strategic comms work. She’s an Obama DHS, DOI and Rick Larsen alum. … D’Seantè Parks is now an SVP in SKDK’s New York office. She previously had an independent public affairs consulting practice and founded a civic empowerment app, 1000 MORE.

ENGAGED — Amy Hasenberg, deputy comms director for Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), and Joshua Elliott, an associate at Stein Mitchell Beato & Missner LLP, got engaged Thursday in Chicago. While kind people passing by took their photo, Josh surprised Amy by getting down on one knee on the Adler Planetarium Skywalk. The couple were originally set up by friends Maria Giannopoulos and Brittany Psyhogios-Smith. Pic … Another pic

HAPPY BIRTHDAY: Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) … Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine … Allison Price … WSJ’s Nick Timiraos … Nick Lanyi … Gautam Raghavan of the White House … Ally Flinn of the Cook Political Report … John Solomon … Mimi Mager … DOT’s Jessie Torres Perkins … Jeff Hauser … former Reps. Tom Davis (R-Va.), Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.) and Carolyn McCarthy (D-N.Y.) … Alexis Bataillon … Allison Biasotti of Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer’s office … Mandi Merritt of Jane Timken’s Ohio Senate campaign … Caroline Anderegg … Competitive Enterprise Institute’s Christine Hall … Danielle Melfi … Niskanen Center’s Matthew La Corte … Walter Ludwig of Indigo Strategies … Josh Galper (5-0) … Kristen Grimm of Spitfire Strategies … former CIA Director George Tenet … former Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell … Pedro Ribeiro … David Bauder … Andrew Mills … Bush alum Carrie Underwood … Mercury’s Jake Dilemani … Veronica Vaquer … Patrick Ottenhoff … David Simas of the Obama Foundation

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26.) AMERICAN MINUTE

Religious Freedom! Who influenced Jefferson’s views on Separation of Church & State – American Minute with Bill Federer

  First Things First: Religious Freedom! Who influenced Jefferson’s views on Separation of Church & State – American Minute with Bill Federer

On JANUARY 1, 1802, the people of Cheshire, Massachusetts, delivered a giant block of cheese weighing 1,235 lbs to President Thomas Jefferson, being presented by the famous Baptist preacher, John Leland.

On the block of cheese, they put Jefferson’s motto, which was also on his personal seal: “Rebellion to Tyrants is Obedience to God.”

After delivering the cheese, John Leland was then invited to preach to the President and Congress in the U.S. Capitol.
The subject of his talk was “separation of church and state.”

Baptists had been particularly persecuted in colonial Virginia, as Francis L. Hawks wrote in Ecclesiastical History (1836):
“No dissenters in Virginia experienced for a time harsher treatment than the Baptists …

… They were beaten and imprisoned …
Cruelty taxed ingenuity to devise new modes of punishment and annoyance.”

So many Baptist ministers were harassed, and their church services disrupted, that James Madison introduced legislation in Virginia’s Legislature on October 31, 1785, titled “A Bill for Punishing Disturbers of Religious Worship,” which passed in 1789.

Colonial Virginia had a government imposed belief system, an “establishment” of the Church of England, or “Anglican Church” mfrom 1606 to 1786.
Establishment meant:
  • mandatory membership;
  • mandatory taxes to support it; and
  • no one could hold public office unless they were a member.
This was modeled after European nations who had establishments of different Christian denominations.
History records how oppressive governments are tempted to establish government mandated belief systems, from King Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 3), to Islamists, fundamental Hindus, and atheistic countries.

In Virginia, lax enforcement allowed immigration of “dissenting” religious groups, the first being Presbyterians and Quakers, followed by German Lutherans, Mennonites and Moravian Brethren, then finally Baptists.

Patrick Henry almost succeeded in having Virginia not ratify the Constitution as it did not have a Bill of Rights guaranteeing, among other things, the freedom of religion.

Baptist Preacher John Leland had considered running for Congress, as he wanted an Amendment added to the new United States Constitution which would protect religious liberty.

Leland reportedly met with James Madison near Orange, Virginia.
Upon Madison’s promise to introduce what would become the First Amendment, Leland agreed to persuade Baptists to get involved in politics and support Madison.

John Leland wrote in Rights of Conscience Inalienable, 1791, that they wanted not just toleration, but equality:
“Every man must give account of himself to God, and therefore every man ought to be at liberty to serve God in a way that he can best reconcile to his conscience.
If government can answer for individuals at the day of judgment, let men be controlled by it in religious matters; otherwise, let men be free.”

John Leland was following in the tradition of the Baptist Roger Williams, who fled England to Massachusetts, then fled to found Rhode Island.
The situation was that Puritans were persecuted by the established Anglican Church in England.
They fled in a Great Puritan Migration to Massachusetts, where they proceeded to establish Puritanism.

Supreme Court Justice Hugo Lafayette Black wrote in Engel v. Vitale, 1962:
“When some of the very groups which had most strenuously opposed the established Church of England found themselves sufficiently in control of colonial governments in this country to write their own prayers into law, they passed laws making their own religion the official religion of their respective colonies.”

Roger Williams wrote in his Plea for Religious Liberty, 1644:
“The doctrine of persecution for cause of conscience is most contrary to the doctrine of Christ Jesus the Prince of Peace …
God requireth not a uniformity of religion to be enacted and enforced in any civil state;
which enforced uniformity (sooner or later) is the greatest occasion of civil war, ravishing of conscience, persecution of Christ Jesus in his servants, and of the hypocrisy and destruction of millions of souls.”

A few years later, Quaker founder of Pennsylvania William Penn wrote in England’s Present Interest Considered, 1675:
“Force makes hypocrites, ’tis persuasion only that makes converts.”
Freedom of conscience gave birth to public evangelistic meetings.
It is rooted in the belief that God loves us and our response is to love Him back, but love, by definition must be voluntary.

Following George Whitefield’s First Great Awakening Revival, 1730-1755, a Second Great Awakening Revival took place between 1790-1840.
In Thomas Jefferson’s county of Albemarle, Baptist, Presbyterian and Methodist revival meetings were held.
Even Jefferson’s daughter, Mary, attended a Baptist revival preached by Lorenzo Dow.

On July 4, 1826, the editor of the Christian Watchman (Boston, MA) published an account:
“ANDREW TRIBBLE was the Pastor of a small Baptist Church, which held its monthly meetings at a short distance from Mr. JEFFERSON’S house, eight or ten years before the American Revolution.

… Mr. JEFFERSON attended the meetings of the church for several months in succession, and after one of them, asked Elder TRIBBLE to go home and dine with him, with which he complied.
Mr. TRIBBLE asked Mr. JEFFERSON how he was pleased with their Church Government?
 

Mr. JEFFERSON replied, that it had struck him with great force, and had interested him much; that he considered it the only form of pure democracy that then existed in the world, and had concluded that it would be the best plan of Government for the American Colonies.”

Thomas F. Curtis wrote in The Progress of Baptist Principles in the Last Hundred Years (Charleston, S.C.: Southern Baptist Publication Society, 1856):
“A gentleman … in North Carolina … knowing that the venerable Mrs. (Dolley) Madison had some recollections on the subject, asked her in regard to them.
She expressed a distinct remembrance of Mr. Jefferson speaking on the subject, and always declaring that it was a Baptist church from which these views were gathered.”

President Calvin Coolidge stated at the 150th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4, 1926:
“This preaching reached the neighborhood of Thomas Jefferson, who acknowledged that his ‘best ideas of democracy’ had been secured at church meetings.”

During the Revolution, Anglican ministers had sided with King George III, who was head of the Anglican Church.
As a result, patriotic parishioners gained courage to migrate out of the “established” churches and filter into “dissenting” churches.

Jefferson was baptized, married and buried in the Anglican Church, which was called “Episcopal” after America’s Revolution, as recorded in his family Bible.
In 1777, though, he started a dissenting church named the Calvinistical Reformed Church.

Jefferson drew up the bylaws of the church, which met in the Albemarle County Courthouse.
His idea was for it to be a “voluntary” church, supported only by the voluntary donations of those who attended.
This contrasted with the Anglican model of church support where citizen paid mandatory taxes to the government, which in turn dispensed funds to established churches.

Jefferson’s memorandum book showed he contributed to the evangelical pastor of the Calvinistical Reformed Church, the Rev. Charles Clay.
Jefferson also gave generously to missionaries and various other churches:
“I have subscribed to the building of an Episcopal church, two hundred dollars, a Presbyterian, sixty dollars, and a Baptist, twenty-five dollars.”

After the Revolution, the Virginia legislature rewrote its laws, removing all references to the King.
“Dissenting” churches lobbied Jefferson to take this opportunity to “disestablish” the Anglican Church.
Jefferson responded by writing his Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom.

In 1779, fellow member of Jefferson’s Calvinistical Reformed Church, Col. John Harvie, introduced the bill in Virginia’s Assembly.
It took seven years to pass.

Justice Hugo Black wrote in Engel v. Vitale, 1962:
“But the successful Revolution against English political domination was shortly followed by intense opposition to the practice of establishing religion by law.
This opposition crystallized rapidly into an effective political force in Virginia where the minority religious groups such as Presbyterians, Lutherans, Quakers and Baptists had gained such strength that the adherents to the established Episcopal Church were actually a minority themselves.
In 1785-1786, those opposed to the established Church … obtained the enactment of the famous ‘Virginia Bill for Religious Liberty’ by which all religious groups were placed on an equal footing.”

After three of Jefferson’s children died, his wife, Martha, died in 1782.
After her funeral, Jefferson suffered depression and withdrew from politics.

In his grief, he burned every letter he had with his wife and sequestered himself in his room for three weeks, only venturing out to ride horseback through the hills of his estate.

Jefferson’s daughter, Martha ‘Patsy’ Jefferson, described how he wept for hours:
“In those melancholy rambles I was his constant companion … a solitary witness to many a violent burst of grief … the violence of his emotion … to this day I do not describe to myself.”

Trying to help, Congress asked Jefferson in 1784 to be the U.S. ambassador to France.

France was going through a period of “French infidelity” prior to its bloody French Revolution and Reign of Terror.
Upon returning to America, Jefferson entertained liberal “deist-Christian” ideas, though in later life he was described simply as a “liberal Episcopalian.”

Jefferson’s bill, with the help of James Madison, finally passed by Virginia’s Assembly, January 16, 1786.
So significant was this, that Jefferson noted it on his gravestone as “The Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom.”
It stated:
“Almighty God hath created the mind free …
All attempts to influence it by temporal punishments … are a departure from the plan of the Holy Author of religion,
who being Lord both of body and mind, yet chose not to propagate it by coercions on either, as was in His Almighty power to do …
To compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions, which he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical …
Be it enacted … that no man shall … suffer on account of his religious opinions.”

This last paragraph, if applied today, would mean that Jefferson would have opposed Christian parents having to pay taxes to have their children indoctrinated in public schools with anti-biblical views on sex and marriage.

Jefferson acquired a Qur’an in 1765, but after studying it, he only had praise for the morality of Jesus, as he wrote to William Canby, September 18, 1813:
“Of all the systems of morality, ancient or modern, which have come under my observation, none appear to me so pure as that of Jesus.”
Jefferson wrote to Jared Sparks, November 4, 1820:
“I hold the precepts of Jesus as delivered by Himself, to be the most pure, benevolent and sublime which have ever been preached to man.”
Jefferson wrote to Joseph Priestly, April 9, 1803, regarding Jesus:
“His system of morality was the most benevolent and sublime probably that has been ever taught, and consequently more perfect than those of any of the ancient philosophers.”

Jefferson’s belief that “the Holy Author of religion … chose not to propagate it by coercions” is consistent with an account in the Gospel of John:
“Many of his disciples … said, ‘This is a hard saying; who can hear it?’
When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, ‘Doth this offend you?’…
From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Then said Jesus unto the twelve, ‘Will ye also go away?’
Then Simon Peter answered him, ‘Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.'”

Jesus’ example of being willing to let disbelievers voluntarily depart is in stark contrast with the coercion present in Islamic “ridda” apostasy laws, where Mohammed said:
“Whoever changes his Islamic religion, kill him.” (Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, No. 57)
Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by Abdullah:
“Allah’s Apostle said, ‘The blood of a Muslim … cannot be shed except … in three cases … the one who reverts from Islam (apostate) and leaves the Muslims.'” (Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, Vol. 9, Book 83, No. 17)
Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, narrated by Ikrima, stated:
“Ali burnt some people (hypocrites) … No doubt, I would have killed them, for the Prophet said, ‘If somebody (a Muslim) discards his religion, kill him.'” (Hadith Sahih Bukhari, Vol. 4:260, Vol. 9, Book 84, No. 57)
Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari stated:
“The punishment for apostasy (riddah) is well-known in Islamic Sharee’ah. The one who leaves Islam will be asked to repent by the Sharee’ah judge in an Islamic country;
if he does not repent and come back to the true religion, he will be killed as a kafir and apostate, because of the command of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allah be upon him): ‘Whoever changes his religion, kill him.'” (Hadith Sahih al-Bukhari, 3017)

Baptist founder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams, wrote:
“That religion cannot be true which needs such instruments of violence to uphold it.”

Jefferson’s efforts to disestablish the Anglican Church in Virginia would never have passed had it not been for Methodist Bishop Francis Asbury splitting the popular Methodist movement away from the Anglican Church into its own denomination in 1785, forming the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Francis Asbury also ordained Richard Allen as the first black deacon, and preached the dedication service at Allen’s “Mother Bethel” African Methodist Episcopal Church in 1794.

Virginia had notable leaders who resisted “disestablishing” the Anglican, or as it was now called, the Episcopal Church, such as Governor Patrick Henry.
This movement was later termed “anti-disestablishmentarianism,” which for decades was the longest word in the English Language.

Virginia built its first Jewish Synagogue, Kahal Kadosh Beth Shalome, in 1789.

Virginia built its first Catholic Church, St. Mary Church, in Alexandria in 1795.

John Leland then helped start Baptist churches in Connecticut — which was a State having the Congregational Church established from its founding in 1639 until 1818.

Baptists in Connecticut formed the Danbury Baptist Association which sent a letter to President Jefferson, October 7, 1801:
“Sir … Our Sentiments are uniformly on the side of Religious Liberty
–That Religion is at all times and places a Matter between God and Individuals
–That no man ought to suffer in Name, person or effects on account of his religious Opinions
–That the legitimate Power of civil Government extends no further than to punish the man who works ill to his neighbor:

… But Sir … our ancient (Connecticut) charter, together with the Laws made coincident therewith … are; that … what religious privileges we enjoy (as Baptists) … we enjoy as favors granted, and not as inalienable rights …
Sir, we are sensible that the President of the united States IS NOT the national Legislator
& also sensible that the national government CANNOT destroy the Laws of each State;
but our hopes are strong that the sentiments of our beloved President, which have had such genial Effect already, like the radiant beams of the Sun, will shine & prevail through all these States and all the world till Hierarchy and Tyranny be destroyed from the Earth.”

In other words, Baptists hoped that Jefferson’s sentiments which helped disestablish the Anglican Church in Virginia might also help disestablish the Congregational Church in Connecticut, and likewise influence all other States.
The Danbury Baptist letter to Jefferson continued:
“Sir … we have reason to believe that America’s God has raised you up to fill the chair of State … May God strengthen you for the arduous task which Providence & the voice of the people have called you …
And may the Lord preserve you safe from every evil and bring you at last to His Heavenly Kingdom through Jesus Christ our Glorious Mediator.”

Jefferson replied with his famous letter, January 1, 1802, agreeing with the Danbury’s Baptists, even repeating sections of their letter almost verbatim:
“Gentlemen … Believing WITH YOU
–that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God,
–that he owes account to none other for faith or his worship,
–that the legislative powers of government reach actions only, and not opinions,
I contemplate with solemn reverence that act of the whole American people which declared that their legislature should ‘make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof,’
thus building a wall of separation between Church and State …”

Jefferson ended:
“Adhering to this expression of the supreme will of the nation in behalf of the rights of conscience,
I shall see with sincere satisfaction the progress of those sentiments which tend to restore man to all his natural rights, convinced he has no natural right in opposition to his social duties.
I reciprocate your kind prayers for the protection and blessing of the common Father and Creator of man.”

Baptists were familiar with Jefferson’s metaphor “wall of separation,” as the Baptist founder of Rhode Island, Roger Williams, used it in his Bloody Tenet of Persecution for Conscience Sake, 1644:
“Jews under the Old Testament … and … Christians under the New Testament … were both separate from the world;

and that when they have opened a gap in the hedge, or wall of separation, between the garden of the Church and the wilderness of the world, God hath ever broken down the wall itself …
And that therefore if He will ever please to restore His garden and paradise again, it must of necessity be walled in peculiarly unto Himself from the world.”

Jefferson viewed the “wall” as limiting the federal government from “inter-meddling” in church government, as explained in his letter to Samuel Miller, January 23, 1808:
“I consider the government of the United States as interdicted (prohibited) by the Constitution from inter-meddling with religious institutions, their doctrines, discipline, or exercises.
This results not only from the provision that no law shall be made respecting the establishment or free exercise of religion, but from that also which reserves to the states the powers not delegated to the United States (10th Amendment) …”

Jefferson continued:
“Certainly no power to prescribe any religious exercise, or to assume authority in religious discipline, has been delegated to the General (Federal) government …
Every religious society has a right to determine for itself the times for these exercises, and the objects proper for them, according to their own particular tenets.”

Though Jefferson considered the Federal Government limited from “inter-meddling” with what was under States’ jurisdiction, it was not limited from spreading religion in Federal territories, as on April 26, 1802, Jefferson’s administration extended a 1787 act of Congress where lands were designated:
“For the sole use of Christian Indians and the Moravian Brethren missionaries for civilizing the Indians and promoting Christianity.”

And again, December 3, 1803, during Jefferson’s administration, Congress ratified a treaty with the Kaskaskia Indians:
“Whereas the greater part of the said tribe have been baptized and received into the Catholic Church … the United States will give annually, for seven years, one hundred dollars toward the support of a priest of that religion, who will engage to perform for said tribe the duties of his office, and also to instruct as many of their children as possible …
And the United States will further give the sum of three hundred dollars, to assist the said tribe in the erection of a church.”

When Abigail Adams died, Thomas Jefferson wrote to her husband, John Adams, November 13, 1818:
“The term is not very distant, at which we are to deposit in the same cerement, our sorrows and suffering bodies, and to ascend in essence to an ecstatic meeting with the friends we have loved and lost, and whom we shall still love and never lose again.
God bless you and support you under your heavy affliction.”

Twelve years before his death, Jefferson shared his personal views to Miles King, September 26, 1814:
“We have heard it said that there is not a Quaker or a Baptist, a Presbyterian or an Episcopalian, a Catholic or a Protestant in heaven; that on entering that gate, we leave those badges of schism behind …
Let us be happy in the hope that by these different paths we shall all meet in the end. And that you and I may meet and embrace, is my earnest prayer.”
Jefferson’s religious views went through four periods:
  • faithful Anglican prior to the Revolution, as one could not even hold office in colonial Virginia unless one took the Oath of Supremacy;
  • friend of the dissenters during the Revolution, championing the cause of Baptists and other non-conformists;
  • friend of deists after his wife died prior to the French Revolution, corresponding with Dr. Joseph Priestly;
  • liberal Episcopalian during his term as President, having his administration support Christian missionaries among the Indians and espousing the superior ethics of Jesus.
In a sense, one can have Jefferson say whatever one wants, just pick which period of his life to quote from.
Consistent throughout his life, though, Jefferson believed that there was a Creator and that the government should never force one’s conscience.

Over time, brilliant legal minds have used Jefferson’s words to prohibit Jefferson’s beliefs.

Jefferson believed in a Creator, as he wrote in the Declaration:
“All men are endowed by their CREATOR,”
yet in 2005, U.S. District Judge John E. Jones, in Kitzmiller v. Dover Area School District, ruled students could not be taught of a CREATOR: “to preserve the separation of church and state.”

In other words, activist judges have used Jefferson’s phrase “separation of church and state” out of context to remove national acknowledgments of God, despite Jefferson’s specific warning not to do that.
Inscribed on the Jefferson Memorial, Washington, DC is Jefferson’s warning:
“God who gave us life gave us liberty. Can the liberties of a nation be secure when we have removed a conviction that these liberties are the gift of God?
Indeed I tremble for my country when I reflect that God is just, that His justice cannot sleep forever.”

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27.) CAFFEINATED THOUGHTS

 


28.) CONSERVATIVE DAILY NEWS

CDN’s Daily News Blast delivers the day’s news first!
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CDN Daily News Blast

01/05/2022

Excerpts:

The Far-Left’s Mid-Term Game Plan: Go After Their Opponents’ Families

by Frank Salvato –

As we approach the 2022 Mid-Term Elections, the fact that the majority of the public has rebuked everything Democrats have tried to move during their total control of government has left them without a single marketable accomplishment on which to hand their election hopes. This set the table for what …

The Far-Left’s Mid-Term Game Plan: Go After Their Opponents’ Families is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

What’s Jan. 6 Really About?

by Star Parker –

As we await the findings and conclusions of the House Select Committee on the Jan. 6 attack, let’s take a moment and do our own soul-searching about what is going on. The House Select Committee is engaged in Washington’s favorite pastime — looking for whom to blame. The sidelight of …

What’s Jan. 6 Really About? is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

President Joe Biden’s Schedule for Wednesday, January 5, 2022

by R. Mitchell –

Summary: President Joe Biden will receive his daily briefing on Wednesday. That’s it… nothing else. President Joe Biden’s Itinerary for 1/5/22 Live stream links will activate as streams become available ALL TIMES EST 10:10 AM Receive daily briefing White House Briefing Schedule 12:15 PM White House Press Briefing [Live Stream] Keep an …

President Joe Biden’s Schedule for Wednesday, January 5, 2022 is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

Changes in federal law shortly before COVID-19 ‘pandemic’ allowed secretive exercises and use of false data

by Seth Hancock –

Life Site News has reported extensively on changes to federal law months before the so-called “pandemic” began that adds to the evidence that this was planned all along. Robert L. Kinney III, who reported on the changes, writes that it could be a coincidence but “it may serve as another …

Changes in federal law shortly before COVID-19 ‘pandemic’ allowed secretive exercises and use of false data is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

Toyota Smashes GM’s 90-Year Streak As Top US Car Seller

by Sebastian Hughes –

Japanese automaker Toyota overtook General Motors in 2021 as the top car seller in the U.S., breaking the American manufacturer’s 90-year streak, Reuters reported. Toyota sold 2.332 million vehicles, while GM sold 2.218 million, automakers said Tuesday, Reuters reported. GM’s dethroning marks the first time the Detroit company did not …

Toyota Smashes GM’s 90-Year Streak As Top US Car Seller is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

Facebook Reopens ‘Permanently Disabled’ Conservative Publisher Account Access

by Kendall Tietz –

Meta, Facebook’s parent company, reinstated the advertising account of a conservative children’s book publisher that was previously “permanently disabled,” Fox Business reported. On Dec. 23, Facebook said Heroes of Liberty (HOL) violated its rules regarding “Low Quality or Disruptive Content,” and the publisher appealed the decision before it was banned …

Facebook Reopens ‘Permanently Disabled’ Conservative Publisher Account Access is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

Border Patrol Saw 134% Increase in Fentanyl Seizures for Fiscal Year 2021

by Jennie Taer –

The lethal synthetic drug fentanyl has been increasingly trafficked into the U.S., and, in fiscal year 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) reported a 134% increase in seizures of the illicit drug. Fentanyl is 80 to 100 times stronger than morphine, and a lethal dose is about 2 milligrams, …

Border Patrol Saw 134% Increase in Fentanyl Seizures for Fiscal Year 2021 is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

European Natural Gas Prices Surge Higher As Russia Tightens the Neuse

by Thomas Catenacci –

The price of natural gas skyrocketed more than 30% in Europe on Tuesday after Russia continued to withhold key supplies with winter weather approaching. While the price, measured by the Dutch natural gas index, fell after its early spike, it remained about 20% higher at around midday Tuesday, Reuters reported. …

European Natural Gas Prices Surge Higher As Russia Tightens the Neuse is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

US-led coalition forces carry out airstrikes in Syria

by Liberty Loft News –

A US-led coalition has carried out airstrikes in Syria. The report comes from Reuters in Israel and was reported by the Jerusalem Post. An official, speaking on a condition of anonymity, shared that the forces struck targets that were near Green Village in Syria. The targets reportedly were a threat, …

US-led coalition forces carry out airstrikes in Syria is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

Teacher Reassigned After Allegedly Injecting A Minor With The COVID-19 Vaccine

by Kendall Tietz –

A Long Island, New York, teacher who allegedly illegally injected a 17-year-old boy with a COVID-19 vaccine was relieved of her classroom duties and reassigned, NBC 4 reported. Laura Russo was arrested on New Years Eve “for the Unauthorized Practice of a Profession,” according to a Nassau County Police Department report. …

Teacher Reassigned After Allegedly Injecting A Minor With The COVID-19 Vaccine is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

More Job Quits Than Ever As Openings Sit Near Record Highs

by Harry Wilmerding –

A record number of American workers quit their jobs in November 2021 as the gap between available jobs and potential workers continues to increase, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reported. Over 4.5 million workers quit their jobs in November 2021, a jump from October’s 4.1 million, the Bureau of Labor …

More Job Quits Than Ever As Openings Sit Near Record Highs is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

Biden’s Disapproval Rating Soars to Record High

by Harry Wilmerding –

President Joe Biden’s disapproval rating soared to a record high in December 2021 as voters showed widespread frustration with the president’s handling of the economy and COVID-19, according to a CNBC/Change poll. A record 56% of respondents said they disapprove of the work Biden has done as president, marking the …

Biden’s Disapproval Rating Soars to Record High is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

More than 1,300 Fake Championship Rings Worth $982K Seized in Cincinnati

by R. Mitchell –

CINCINNATI— During the holiday season, championship rings can be a fan favorite. Unfortunately, third party retailers are selling these counterfeit rings for top dollar conning the consumer out of a lot of cash. Most championship rings are made of cheap materials, are poor quality, and contain flaws. During the past …

More than 1,300 Fake Championship Rings Worth $982K Seized in Cincinnati is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

The Tyranny of Our ‘Health Authorities’

by James Howard Kunstler –

The year of sickening global psychosis ended with virologist and vaccine-uberspecialist Dr. Robert Malone truth-bombing the Internet with three hours of straight talk about the US health authorities’ campaign to destroy the lives of at least half a million US citizens (so far) and, leading by example, to harm multiples …

The Tyranny of Our ‘Health Authorities’ is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

The Behavioral Experiment That Helps Explain the Fall of Elizabeth Holmes—and the Horrors of Socialism

by Jon Miltimore –

The rise and fall of Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes finally came to an end Monday. A jury found the tech icon guilty of conspiracy to defraud investors and three counts of wire fraud. Few in history have risen faster—or fallen harder— than the 37-year-old entrepreneur who built her multi-billion dollar …

The Behavioral Experiment That Helps Explain the Fall of Elizabeth Holmes—and the Horrors of Socialism is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

Covid’s New Normal: White People Are Denied Equal Access To Healthcare

by Parker Beauregard –

Among the many Covid-related stories emanating from New York (mayor-elect Adams maintaining the vaccine passports, AOC bailing on her locked-down constituents for the free state of Florida, etc.), another alarming piece detailed how health officials are prioritizing Covid testing based on race. Quoting from leaked emails, the New York Post …

Covid’s New Normal: White People Are Denied Equal Access To Healthcare is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

Amazon, Google Lobbying Small Business Partners To Oppose Anti-Big Tech Bills

by Ailan Evans –

Amazon and Google are lobbying small businesses who use their services to oppose antitrust bills aimed at breaking up major tech companies, enlisting them to pressure lawmakers, Politico reported. The companies are conducting a public relations campaign in an effort to drum up opposition to antitrust legislation proposed in the …

Amazon, Google Lobbying Small Business Partners To Oppose Anti-Big Tech Bills is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

Antonio Biden

by Michael Ramirez –

See more Ramirez toons HERE.

Antonio Biden is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

Political Life Alert

by A.F. Branco –

See More Branco Toons HERE.

Political Life Alert is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

White House Press Briefing with Jen Psaki – 1/4/21

by R. Mitchell –

White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki holds a briefing today. The briefing is scheduled to begin at 2:30 PM EST. Content created by Conservative Daily News is available for re-publication without charge under the Creative Commons license. Visit our syndication page for details.

White House Press Briefing with Jen Psaki – 1/4/21 is posted on Conservative Daily News – Where Americans go for news, current events and commentary they can trust – Conservative News Website for U.S. News, Political Cartoons and more.

Read on »

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29.) PJ MEDIA

 


30.) WHITE HOUSE DOSSIER

 


31.) THE DISPATCH

 


32.) LEGAL INSURRECTION

 


33.) THE DAILY WIRE

 


34.) DESERET NEWS

 


35.) BRIGHT

 


36.) AMERICAN THINKER

 


37.) LARRY J. SABATO’S CRYSTAL BALL

 


38.) THE BLAZE

 


39.) THE FEDERALIST

 


40.) REUTERS

The Reuters Daily Briefing

Wednesday, January 5, 2022

by Linda Noakes

Hello

Here’s what you need to know.

The Kazakhstan government’s resignation fails to quell riots, North Korea fires a suspected ballistic missile, and France’s Macron says he wants to ‘piss off’ the non-vaccinated

Today’s biggest stories

A nurse prepares to enter the room of a COVID patient in the Intensive Care Unit at Western Reserve Hospital in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio, U.S., January 4, 2022. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton

COVID-19

The United States reported nearly 1 million new coronavirus infections, the highest daily tally of any country in the world and nearly double the previous U.S. peak set a week ago as the spread of the Omicron variant showed no signs of slowing.

Australia’s daily COVID-19 cases hit a record high for the third consecutive day, further straining hospital resources and testing facilities as public anger grows over the handling of the Omicron outbreak.

Hong Kong announced a two-week ban on incoming flights from eight countries and tightened local COVID-19 restrictions as authorities feared a fifth wave of coronavirus in the city.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said that England could withstand a surge in COVID-19 infections without shutting down the economy as Britain reported another record daily high in cases.

The French parliament suspended debate on a new COVID-19 law as opposition lawmakers demanded explanations from President Emmanuel Macron about comments in which he said he wanted to “piss off” unvaccinated people. The new legislation will make it mandatory for people to show proof of vaccination to enter a restaurant or cinema, or take the train.

 

WORLD

Protesters stormed public buildings in Kazakhstan’s biggest city as security forces struggled to impose control after the government resigned in response to popular anger over a fuel price increase.

North Korea fired a suspected ballistic missile off its east coast, just hours before South Korean President Moon Jae-in attended a groundbreaking ceremony for a rail line he hopes will eventually connect the divided Korean peninsula.

The European Union’s top diplomat visited the frontline of Ukraine’s war with Russian-backed forces, in what Kyiv welcomed as a show of solidarity against the threat of a major new military confrontation with Moscow.

Taiwan air force jets screamed into the sky in a drill simulating a war scenario, showing its combat readiness amid heightened military tensions with China, which claims the island as its own.

French prosecutors said they had opened a terrorism investigation into an explosion that went off under a French vehicle involved in the Dakar rally in Saudi Arabia. The blast seriously injured one of the rally competitors.

U.S.

The U.S. House of Representatives panel probing the deadly attack on the Capitol in January 2021 wants to question Fox News host Sean Hannity about his text messages with former President Donald Trump, his aides and lawyers from that time.

President Joe Biden will mark the one-year anniversary of the Capitol assault with a speech tomorrow warning of the threats to democracy, while Trump abandoned plans for a news conference that day as he reprised his attacks on Democrats and the media.

Democrats’ efforts to pass voting rights legislation in Congress appeared in jeopardy, as centrist Democratic senator Joe Manchin said he had little interest in a strategy that would allow the party to bypass Republican opposition.

A U.S. judge appeared skeptical of a bid by Britain’s Prince Andrew to dismiss Virginia Giuffre’s lawsuit accusing the Duke of York of sexually abusing her when she was 17 and being trafficked by the late financier Jeffrey Epstein.

Rescue crews in Virginia finished freeing the last of the travelers stranded overnight on a snowed-in highway, ending a crisis that had trapped thousands of people including U.S. Senator Tim Kaine.

BUSINESS

China Evergrande Group will seek a six-month delay in the redemption and coupon payments of a $157 million bond in a meeting with bond holders this weekend, underscoring the pressure on the debt-laden property developer.

Walmart said it plans to hire more than 3,000 U.S. delivery drivers and build out a fleet of all-electric delivery vans to support its “in-home” grocery delivery service, its latest investment in its last-mile fulfillment network.

Allegiant Air is poised to order 50 Boeing 737 MAX jets worth $5 billion at list prices, people familiar with the matter said, rejecting offers by traditional supplier Airbus as the no-frills carrier seeks to capture a boom in post-pandemic U.S. tourism.

Japan’s Sony plans to launch a company this spring to examine entering the electric vehicle market, looking to harness its strengths in entertainment and sensors to play a bigger role in next-generation mobility.

John Deere & Co said it will start commercial delivery this year of technology that enables a tractor to till a field without an operator in the cab, a first for the top North American tractor manufacturer after years of effort to automate farm work.

Quote of the day

“There should be no special rules for Novak Djokovic at all. None whatsoever”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison

 

Djokovic flying into vaccine exemption storm in Australia

Video of the day

Seed-dropping drone can plant 40,000 trees a day

The device combines drone technology, artificial intelligence and special seed pods designed to be fired into the ground from the air.

And finally…

Thailand allows visitors back to beach made famous by movie 

Thailand has reopened Maya Bay, a white sand beach made famous by the 2000 film ‘The Beach’ starring Leonardo DiCaprio, more than three years after closing it to allow its ecosystem to recover from the impact of thousands of visitors each day.

More from Reuters

COVID-19 The Great Reboot Disrupted Legal News Breakingviews

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41.) NOQ REPORT

 


42.) ARRA NEWS SERVICE

 


43.) REDSTATE

 


44.) WORLD NET DAILY

Web version
Breaking News Alert
This is a breaking news alert which we send infrequently to update you on emerging breaking stories.
Narrative smasher Dr. Robert Malone spills the brutal beans about Dr. Fauci
Posted by Art Moore
If you thought you knew everything there is to know about Dr. Anthony Fauci, here’s a delicious tidbit being voiced by vaccine expert Dr. Robert Malone. Read more…
Related
One state now investigating whether this ballot practice broke the law
Posted by WND Staff
Echoes of the 2020 election madness continue to sound as the secretary of state is reviewing charges of illegality in the voting process. Read more…
Related
Governor makes stunning admission about COVID hospitalizations
Posted by Art Moore
After top health official confessed she misled parents to promote vaccination of kids. Read more…
Related

 

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45.) MSNBC

 


46.) BIZPAC REVIEW

 


47.) ABC

January 5, 2022 – Having trouble viewing this email? Open it in your browser.
Morning Rundown
CDC clarifies isolation guidance after criticism but still doesn’t call for testing: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Tuesday clarified its guidelines around what to do when you get COVID-19, a move that comes after criticism last week that their new guidance to shorten the isolation down to five days without calling for a negative test was confusing and lax. The latest update still does not include a recommendation for people to get a negative COVID-19 test before leaving isolation, but gives guidance for people who “have access” and “want to test,” while still holding ground that a negative rapid test isn’t an all-clear. Currently, the CDC says that people who test positive after five days should isolate themselves for another five days, while people who test negative should still follow the guidance for those who don’t test: Until day 10, wear a mask, avoid high-risk people, don’t travel and don’t eat or drink around others. While the rollout of the guidance has been met with criticism, experts have noted that there is no easy one-size-fits-all solution. Meanwhile, as the omicron variant makes up 95% of COVID-19 cases in the U.S., President Joe Biden announced Tuesday afternoon that he is doubling the federal government’s purchases of Pfizer’s COVID-19 antiviral pill, from 10 million to 20 million treatment courses. “They’re a gamechanger and have the potential to dramatically alter the impact of COVID-19, the impact it’s had on this country and our people,” Biden said.
Groping charge against former New York Gov. Cuomo dropped by prosecutor: Albany District Attorney David Soares has decided against going forward with a forcible touching charge against former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. In a statement, Soares said that “the Albany County DA’s Office is the only one who has a burden to prove the elements of a crime beyond a reasonable doubt.” “While we found the complainant in this case cooperative and credible, after review of all the available evidence we have concluded that we cannot meet our burden at trial,” Soares’ statement continued. “As such, we have notified the Court that we are declining to prosecute this matter and requesting the charges filed by the Albany County Sheriff be dismissed.” The criminal charge, which had been based on the account of Brittany Commisso — who alleged Cuomo groped her breast during an encounter at the former governor’s mansion — was the only one to result from a report by the New York Attorney General’s office that found Cuomo sexually harassed 11 women. Cuomo denied doing anything criminal. Two other prosecutor’s offices — in Westchester County and Nassau County — declined to charge Cuomo over allegations that occurred in their jurisdictions.
79th annual Golden Globes will have no red carpet, no audience: The upcoming Golden Globes will be a very quiet affair. The 79th annual Golden Globes, which will be held Jan. 9 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, California, will have no audience, no red carpet and no media coverage. Variety reported earlier in the day that the Hollywood Foreign Press Association was having trouble booking celebrity presenters for the show. Instead, HFPA said in a statement that it will “celebrate and honor a variety of diverse, community-based programs that empower inclusive filmmakers and journalists to pursue their storytelling passions.” This comes nearly one year after Variety revealed that the HFPA hadn’t included a Black member in 20 years. Following the controversy, Hollywood shunned the organization and NBC severed ties with the awards show. The HFPA vowed to carry on and announced reforms to its bylaws and membership rules with the intention of bringing diversity to its ranks. But in December, after the organization tapped Snoop Dogg to read its usual list of nominees, most of them didn’t even acknowledge the honor.
12-year-old girl finishes high school, earns college degree: One talented Florida pre-teen is on the fast track to higher education. Sawsan Ahmed of Weston, Florida, graduated from Broward College with an associate degree and a 4.0 GPA on Dec. 15. In the spring, the 12-year-old will attend the University of Florida to study computer programming, chemistry and biology. Sawsan’s family said they noticed she was gifted during her homeschooling sessions, where she would fly through a curriculum several years above her grade level. At age 9, she earned her high school diploma and she passed a postsecondary education readiness test that allowed her to take college courses, according to her parents. Sawsan, who hopes to earn an M.D. or doctorate, has advice for other kids who have big goals like herself. “Shoot for the stars and don’t underestimate yourself,” she said. “That mentality is what brought me here.”
GMA Must-Watch
This morning on “GMA,” the stars of the latest installment of “Scream,” Neve Campbell and David Arquette, join us live to talk all about the movie. And don’t miss Chip and Joanna Gaines in Waco, Texas, with a BIG announcement. Plus, Rebecca Jarvis shares why now is the best time to ask for a raise and tips on how to capitalize on finding your dream job today. All this and more only on “GMA.”
‘The Maid’ by Nita Prose is ‘GMA’s’ January Book Club pick: Read an excerpt
January’s book pick is Agatha Christie meets “Knives Out.”
Put some good in your morning
PHOTO: Cher on Cher says she will never let her hair go gray, stars in M.A.C. Cosmetics campaign
VIDEO: 11-year-old has sold over 10,000 scrunchies using traditional First Nations scarves 11-year-old has sold over 10,000 scrunchies using traditional First Nations scarves
VIDEO: This couple hiked a 19,347-foot volcano before their wedding This couple hiked a 19,347-foot volcano before their wedding
PHOTO: Whoppers Bunny Tails. New Hershey’s candies to hit shelves for Valentine’s Day, Easter
Read more →
Pediatricians answer parents’ questions as kids return to school amid omicron surge
The symptoms of COVID-19 mimic those of the flu, adding to parents’ confusion.

48.) NBC MORNING RUNDOWN


49.) NBC FIRST READ

 


50.) CBS

 


51.) REASON

 


52.) MANHATTAN INSTITUTE

 


53.) LOUDER WITH CROWDER

 


54.) TOWNHALL

 


55.) REALCLEARPOLITICS MORNING NOTE

 


56.) REALCLEARPOLITICS TODAY

 


57.) CENTER FOR SECURITY POLICY

 


58.) BERNARD GOLDBERG

 


59.) SARA A. CARTER

 


60.) TWITCHY

 


61.) HOT AIR

 


62.) 1440 DAILY DIGEST

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Good morning. It’s Wednesday, Jan. 5, and we’re covering the continuing shift in the labor market, a precarious traffic jam outside the nation’s capital, and more. Have feedback? Let us know at hello@join1440.com.
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NEED TO KNOW

One Million Cases (in 24 Hours)

The US reported more than 1 million COVID-19 cases Monday, far surpassing previous peaks seen last winter and during the summer’s delta variant surge. Officials say the surge is driven by a reporting backlog from the New Year’s weekend, holiday travel, and the emergence of the omicron variant.

 

More than 1 in 100 Americans has tested positive for COVID-19 over the past week, 95% of which were caused by the omicron variant. Almost 113,000 patients have been hospitalized with the virus—around 20,000 are occupying ICU beds or 26% of total ICU beds from reporting hospitals (see dashboard).

 

The US is averaging near 1,250 COVID-19 deaths per day, a figure that has thus far held steady while cases skyrocket. The most recent data on breakthrough infections suggest fully vaccinated patients accounted for less than 10% of deaths (data here).

 

In related news, the Chicago Teachers Union voted to temporarily revert to remote learning, prompting city officials to cancel school today. Track school closures from around the country here.

Job Exits Hit Record High

An estimated 4.5 million workers voluntarily quit their jobs in the month of November, according to government data released yesterday. The quits rate, the percentage of resignations relative to total employment, hit 3% for the month—matching the rate in September. Both figures are the highest on record.

 

Economists say workers being able to quit their gigs for better jobs is a sign of a healthy economy, though some analysts fear high quit rates could lead to higher wage inflation. The data showed 6.7 million new hires were made in November, with 10.6 million job openings on the last business day of the month.

 

Experts have cited pandemic burnout, a shift in worker priorities, and better opportunities as reasons for what’s been known as the Great Resignation. The data on the labor market—including the government’s employment report expected to be released Friday—helps the Federal Reserve determine interest-rate policy.

Nightmare on I-95

Hundreds of drivers were stuck on a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 95 in Virginia in below-freezing temperatures for more than 24 hours yesterday, many passengers with no food or water. The traffic pileup was caused after multiple trucks crashed during a major winter storm Monday. Also contributing to the gridlock was ice accumulating around the stranded vehicles, making it difficult for workers to clear the roads. Gov. Ralph Northam (D) declined calls to bring in the National Guard.

 

The storm blanketed several states Monday, dumping nearly a foot of snow on the Washington, DC, area. At one point, more than 300,000 people were without power, and many schools were closed by the storm. In addition, five deaths across three states were reported.

 

A family traveling home from Florida handed out oranges to hungry passengers, including Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA), who was among those stuck on the interstate.

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> The 2022 Golden Globes to proceed Jan. 9 despite omicron concerns; ceremony will not have audience in attendance or celebrity red carpet (More)

 

> Washington Football Team to unveil new name Feb. 2; officially rule out fan favorites Wolves and RedWolves as options due to trademark concerns (More)

 

> NBC late night talk show hosts Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers both test positive for COVID-19; Meyers’ “Late Night” canceled for rest of week (More)

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Science & Technology

> China sets record with experimental fusion reactor, sustaining a 216-million-degree plasma for more than 17 minutes (More) | How tokamak reactors work to drive fusion power (More)

 

> BlackBerry formally ends service for classic smartphones; once claiming 85 million users, the company rapidly lost market share to Android and iPhone devices over the past decade (More)

 

> Hundreds of new bacteria and viruses identified on the human skin; species shed light on the diversity of the skin microbiome (More) | What is a microbiome? (More)

Business & Markets

> Industrial stocks lead Dow (+0.6%) to another record high; tech stocks weigh down broader markets: S&P 500 -0.1%, Nasdaq -1.3% (More)

 

> Toyota sold the most cars in the US in 2021; first time since 1931 General Motors hasn’t been top US auto seller (More) | Shares of Ford up over 10% after announcing company will nearly double production of electric F-150 to meet demand (More)

 

> Sports e-commerce giant Fanatics to acquire Topps trading cards in deal valued at approximately $500M (More)

Politics & World Affairs

> Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) will not face criminal charges linked to sexual misconduct allegations; Albany County district attorney says the complaint was credible but evidence insufficient to meet the burden of proof in court (More)

 

> Federal judge hears motion to dismiss sexual abuse complaint against Britain’s Prince Andrew; 38-year-old Virginia Giuffre alleges she was forced to have sex with the prince as part of Jeffrey Epstein’s underage sex trafficking ring (More)

 

> Canada reaches $31B deal to compensate Indigenous children and families harmed by the on-reserve child welfare system; marks the country’s largest class-action settlement (More)

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ETCETERA

America’s most relaxed cities (based on 311 complaints).

 

One hundred ways to improve your life without really trying.

 

Why humans love being in a “flow state.”

 

The best books since 1897. (paywall, NYT)

 

Exploring America’s most extreme places.

 

Oregon Zoo residents wish you a Happy New Year.

 

Mercedes electric concept car has seats made of mushrooms.

 

Nirvana’s naked baby lawsuit gets dismissed.

 

Clickbait: What is Wordle?

 

Historybook: Actress Jane Wyman born (1917); Dancer and choreographer Alvin Ailey born (1931); Construction of Golden Gate Bridge begins (1933); RIP scientist and inventor George Washington Carver (1943); Singer and congressman Sonny Bono dies in skiing accident (1998).

“The creative process is not controlled by a switch you can simply turn on or off—it’s with you all the time.”

– Alvin Ailey
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63.) AMERICAN INSTITUTE FOR ECONOMIC RESEARCH

 


64.) NATIONAL REVIEW

 


65.) POLITICAL WIRE

 


66.) RASMUSSEN REPORTS

 


67.) ZEROHEDGE

 


68.) GATEWAY PUNDIT

 


69.) FRONTPAGE MAG

 


70.) HOOVER INSTITUTE

 


71.) DAILY INTELLIGENCE BRIEF

 


72.) FOUNDATION FOR ECONOMIC EDUCATION

 


73.) POPULIST PRESS

Biden can only run for so long, his days are now numbered…

 

IN DEPTH ON HOMEPAGE:

  1. FDA Says Period Between Second Moderna Shot, Booster Still 6 Months  New
  2. From Entrepreneur to Governor: Thad Riley Seeks New Hampshire’s Top Seat  New
  3. School’s Promise Contradicts Gloomy Predictions for Fossil Fuels  1 hour ago
  4. Manhattan D.A. Closes Investigation Into Nursing Home Deaths Without Charging Andrew Cuomo  1 hour ago
  5. Federal Judge Suspends Vaccine Mandate for Military Members Seeking Religious Exemption  1 hour ago
  6. Sen. Rand Paul Quits YouTube Over Censorship  2 hours ago
  7. STUDY: More than Half of Teens Hospitalized for COVID-19 Have ‘Severe’ Obesity  2 hours ago
  8. Miracle on Titans Way: Fan’s lost wedding ring found  3 hours ago
  9. 5 Places Where World War III Could Erupt in 2022  3 hours ago
  10. Fighting Comes Into Focus for the Space Force in 2022…  3 hours ago
  11. Biden Vows to Act on Russia If Invasion…  3 hours ago
  12. Mask Freak Pentagon Chief Tested Positive for COVID…  3 hours ago
  13. Biden Finds a Scapegoat for his Record Inflation…  3 hours ago
  14. CDC Admits 61% Of Teens Hospitalized For COVID-19 Had Severe Obesity  3 hours ago
  15. Jason Aldean New Year w Trump: He is the ‘G.O.A.T.’  3 hours ago
  16. Explosive Loaded Drones Shot Down Over US Base…  4 hours ago
  17. ANOTHER CDC Reversal  4 hours ago
  18. Make 2022 a Year to Remember  4 hours ago
  19. What US must do about China Now  4 hours ago
  20. Solar to start new year with shadows  4 hours ago
  21. Biden’s foreign policy challenges  4 hours ago
  22. Social Media Ban of All Iranian Officials?  4 hours ago
  23. China Evergrande demolition order  4 hours ago
  24. 1 Million New Cases as Biden Fails  4 hours ago
  25. No One Can Win Nuclear War  4 hours ago
  26. Tesla Sets Vehicle Delivery Record  4 hours ago
  27. Apple first $3T company  4 hours ago
  28. CCP Olympic Venues Not Done  4 hours ago
  29. VA drivers snowed-in all night  4 hours ago
  30. Fully Vaxxed Colleges Shutting Down  4 hours ago
  31. Biden Impeachment 2022?  4 hours ago
  32. Trump: Twitter, Facebook Traitors  4 hours ago
  33. JW sues FBI for Garland’s CRT memo  4 hours ago
  34. 12 of 19 agencies get failing grade  4 hours ago
  35. Madison mayor continues fight re WI election investigation  4 hours ago
  36. MI gov seeks income tax elimination  4 hours ago
  37. Plastic bag tax in N. VA  4 hours ago
  38. Elizabeth Holmes Guilty  5 hours ago
  39. Omicron upends return to school & work  5 hours ago
  40. DeSantis Slams ‘Hysteria’  5 hours ago
  41. Blames feds for shortages…  5 hours ago
  42. Hospital workers sidelined, patient #s rise  5 hours ago
  43. 1918 flu more relevant bcuz omicron?  5 hours ago
  44. 666: Vax ID microchip co: No stopping it  5 hours ago
  45. THE LAST WAVE?  5 hours ago
  46. USA MILLION CASES IN DAY  5 hours ago
  47. NEW VARIANT SPARKS FEARS  5 hours ago
  48. THERANOS founder Holmes guilty  5 hours ago
  49. Mixed verdict caps downfall…  5 hours ago
  50. Landmark Silicon Valley case  5 hours ago
  51. Dems brace for post-Pelosi  5 hours ago
  52. CRUZ: GOP House Will Impeach Biden  5 hours ago
  53. ChinaRussia Challenge to US Power  5 hours ago
  54. Kremlin Insider Nabbed – Secrets of 2016 Hack?  5 hours ago
  55. How ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Became a Swipe at Joe Biden — And National Media  12 hours ago
  56. Democrat ‘Leaders’ Fail the Leadership Test  12 hours ago
  57. Union Bosses Against Union Jobs  12 hours ago
  58. Many More Trump Supporters are Dying From COVID-19 Than Democrats  12 hours ago
  59. Russia Is Not the Great Rival; China Is  12 hours ago
  60. Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? Ghislaine Maxwell’s Husband Leaves Her for Yoga…

 

IN DEPTH ON HOMEPAGE:

  1. Jan. 6 Detainee at Risk of Dying from Lack of Medical Care… 
  2. 3rd Chinese Scientist Pleads Guilty… 
  3. FDA Says Period Between Second Moderna Shot, Booster Still 6 Months  New
  4. From Entrepreneur to Governor: Thad Riley Seeks New Hampshire’s Top Seat  New
  5. School’s Promise Contradicts Gloomy Predictions for Fossil Fuels  1 hour ago
  6. Manhattan D.A. Closes Investigation Into Nursing Home Deaths Without Charging Andrew Cuomo  1 hour ago
  7. Federal Judge Suspends Vaccine Mandate for Military Members Seeking Religious Exemption  1 hour ago
  8. Sen. Rand Paul Quits YouTube Over Censorship  2 hours ago
  9. STUDY: More than Half of Teens Hospitalized for COVID-19 Have ‘Severe’ Obesity  2 hours ago
  10. Miracle on Titans Way: Fan’s lost wedding ring found  3 hours ago
  11. 5 Places Where World War III Could Erupt in 2022  3 hours ago
  12. Fighting Comes Into Focus for the Space Force in 2022…  3 hours ago
  13. Biden Vows to Act on Russia If Invasion…  3 hours ago
  14. Mask Freak Pentagon Chief Tested Positive for COVID…  3 hours ago
  15. Biden Finds a Scapegoat for his Record Inflation…  3 hours ago
  16. CDC Admits 61% Of Teens Hospitalized For COVID-19 Had Severe Obesity  3 hours ago
  17. Jason Aldean New Year w Trump: He is the ‘G.O.A.T.’  3 hours ago
  18. Explosive Loaded Drones Shot Down Over US Base…  4 hours ago
  19. ANOTHER CDC Reversal  4 hours ago
  20. Make 2022 a Year to Remember  4 hours ago
  21. What US must do about China Now  4 hours ago
  22. Solar to start new year with shadows  4 hours ago
  23. Biden’s foreign policy challenges  4 hours ago
  24. Social Media Ban of All Iranian Officials?  4 hours ago
  25. China Evergrande demolition order  4 hours ago
  26. 1 Million New Cases as Biden Fails  4 hours ago
  27. No One Can Win Nuclear War  4 hours ago
  28. Tesla Sets Vehicle Delivery Record  4 hours ago
  29. Apple first $3T company  4 hours ago
  30. CCP Olympic Venues Not Done  4 hours ago
  31. VA drivers snowed-in all night  4 hours ago
  32. Fully Vaxxed Colleges Shutting Down  4 hours ago
  33. Biden Impeachment 2022?  4 hours ago
  34. Trump: Twitter, Facebook Traitors  4 hours ago
  35. JW sues FBI for Garland’s CRT memo  4 hours ago
  36. 12 of 19 agencies get failing grade  4 hours ago
  37. Madison mayor continues fight re WI election investigation  4 hours ago
  38. MI gov seeks income tax elimination  4 hours ago
  39. Plastic bag tax in N. VA  4 hours ago
  40. Elizabeth Holmes Guilty  5 hours ago
  41. Omicron upends return to school & work  5 hours ago
  42. DeSantis Slams ‘Hysteria’  5 hours ago
  43. Blames feds for shortages…  5 hours ago
  44. Hospital workers sidelined, patient #s rise  5 hours ago
  45. 1918 flu more relevant bcuz omicron?  5 hours ago
  46. 666: Vax ID microchip co: No stopping it  5 hours ago
  47. THE LAST WAVE?  5 hours ago
  48. USA MILLION CASES IN DAY  5 hours ago
  49. NEW VARIANT SPARKS FEARS  5 hours ago
  50. THERANOS founder Holmes guilty  5 hours ago
  51. Mixed verdict caps downfall…  5 hours ago
  52. Landmark Silicon Valley case  5 hours ago
  53. Dems brace for post-Pelosi  5 hours ago
  54. CRUZ: GOP House Will Impeach Biden  5 hours ago
  55. ChinaRussia Challenge to US Power  5 hours ago
  56. Kremlin Insider Nabbed – Secrets of 2016 Hack?  5 hours ago
  57. How ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ Became a Swipe at Joe Biden — And National Media  12 hours ago
  58. Democrat ‘Leaders’ Fail the Leadership Test  12 hours ago
  59. Union Bosses Against Union Jobs  12 hours ago
  60. Many More Trump Supporters are Dying From COVID-19 Than Democrats  12 hours ago
  61. Russia Is Not the Great Rival; China Is  12 hours ago
  62. Should I Stay or Should I Go Now? Ghislaine Maxwell’s Husband Leaves Her for Yoga…

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74.) THE POST MILLENNIAL

 


75.) BLACKLISTED NEWS

 


76.) THE DAILY DOT

 


77.) HEADLINE USA

 


78.) NATURAL NEWS

NaturalNews.com
Global alert as 10 million people per day are set on course for vax death
Mike Adams This is a red alert for humanity. We have less time remaining than you might think.

I’ve done some rough math, and it’s beyond alarming. It spells the end of human civilization if we don’t stop the vaccine holocaust in the next 365 days.

As long as “clot shot” covid vaccines are being administered around the world, about ten million people each day are being put on an irreversible countdown to vaccine death.

That’s why we have less time remaining than you might think. And that’s why the vaccine zealots don’t care if they get stopped over the next 2-3 years by court challenges. By then it’s too late for humanity.

See the full, detailed analysis, evidence and links in this article and podcast here.

New Videos from Brighteon.com
Situation Update, Jan 4, 2022: Global alert as 10 M people per day are set on irreversible countdown to vaccine deathWatch this video
Vax Induced Mass Death: Funeral Director Predicts Covid Camps and Jab GenocideWatch this video
Dr David E Martin Explaining The 5th Circuit Court Decision Ending Vaccine Mandate… Employers May Not Coerce Employees. It Is A felonyWatch this video
Featured Articles
Top 12 takeaways from the Joe Rogan and Dr. Robert Malone interviewBy Lance D Johnson | Read the full story
CDC admits PCR tests are a fraud… so what about the last two years, then?By Ethan Huff | Read the full story
Sponsor: Lab-verified 5-HTP Powder supports optimal health, mood and sleep.
At least 150,000 Americans have been killed by covid shots… and countingBy Ethan Huff | Read the full story
Life insurance company says death claims up 40 percent after covid vaccinesBy Ethan Huff | Read the full story
Sponsor: Support healthy vision with FDA-registered Groovy Bee Pinhole Glasses.
Watch: Dr. Elizabeth Lee Vliet says that hospitalized U.S. covid-19 patients “are actually being treated worse than prisoners in American jails”By JD Heyes | Read the full story
Sponsor: O3 Ozone-Infused Oil Pulling Solution combines the ancient Ayurvedic practice of oil pulling and modern dentistry to help you maintain optimal oral health.
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More of Today’s ArticlesCommie corporations: Pfizer partnered with CCP to develop covid vaccine passport platform, says it’s “proud to stand with China leaders”
It has been revealed that the Pfizer pharmaceutical corporation partnered with a Chinese Communist Party (CCP) payment platform that is being used to implement Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19) …Dr. Robert Malone: FDA, BARDA blocked the use of HCQ as a Covid treatment
Dr. Robert Malone revealed that the heads of two government agencies blocked the use of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) as a treatment for Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. He named acting Food …Truth hurts: 96 percent of omicron cases in Germany are among the fully vaccinated
The Robert Koch Institute, a research agency under the German government, found that 96 percent of omicron cases in Germany are among the fully vaccinated. The Koch Institute also noted that 28 …

92 percent of LGBTQ community has received at least one covid jab, and many now demonstrate aggressive personality changes consistent with brain damage
The pro-LGBTQ Human Rights Campaign (HRC) conducted a survey recently which found that upwards of 92 percent of all members of its community have received at least one injection of a Wuhan …

Vaccine-induced “herd immunity” does not exist: German government admits that 95 percent of omicron cases are in fully vaccinated individuals
According to a new report from the German government, 95 percent of new omicron covide-19 cases are in “fully vaccinated” individuals. The Robert Koch Institute published the details in a report …

Hundreds of Salvadorians say Bitcoin has vanished from their government-issued centralized “Chivo” wallets
It is being reported that hundreds of people in El Salvador are unable to access Bitcoin in their centralized, government-issued “Chivo” Wallets. The unconfirmed reports are circulating …

Experts say Omicron is a “natural vaccine” – no need for any more boosters
As governments all around the world push a fourth “booster” shot for the Wuhan coronavirus (Covid-19), scientists like Prof. Ian Jones, a virologist at the University of Reading, are …

Dr. Robert Malone warns that Big Tech censorship and Big Pharma malfeasance has unleashed a “mass casualty event” qualifying as a crime against humanity
An Indiana life insurance company has found that deaths are up 40 percent among people ages 18-64. And the only thing that has really changed is the widespread administration of Wuhan coronavirus …

CDC sued for hiding covid vaccine safety data
Nonprofit organization Informed Consent Action Network (ICAN), an advocate for full transparency of the medical products’ safety and efficacy, filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Center for …

Dr. Robert Malone says he’s been “multi-dimensionally red-pilled” on covid, Great Reset, Big Tech censorship and more
Ever since getting banned from Twitter, Dr. Robert Malone, M.D., M.S., the inventor of mRNA (messenger RNA) technology, has been on a journey of truth discovery that he describes as being …

Now New York is refusing monoclonal antibodies for white people
The New York State Department of Health has announced that there are not enough monoclonal antibody treatments available to the public, which means that white people need not apply. In an …

Creator of mRNA tech banned on Twitter for warning public about COVID vaccine adverse effects
Dr. Robert Malone, creator of the mRNA technology, became one of the latest prominent individuals silenced by Twitter for exposing the risks associated with the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) …

FDA admits Pfizer’s antiviral drug paxlovid causes life-threatening reactions when taken with common medicines
The antiviral oral drug, paxlovid, that was developed by Pfizer to treat the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) can cause severe or life-threatening effects when used with common medications. The pill …

Big Pharma pushing approval of covid-19 vaccines for children in order to escape legal liabilities
Investigative journalist Jordan Schachtel said that presently there is no Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved vaccine for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) in the United States and that …

FDA authorizes covid boosters for children aged 12 through 15, declaring biological warfare on kids and guaranteeing mass death and infertility
They were never even at risk before their first two injections, but now children aged 12-15 are slated for a third “booster” shot, thanks to new approval from the U.S. Food and Drug …

T-Mobile network now actively stripping out all Gateway Pundit (TGP) news links from private text messages
The Gateway Pundit alternative news online website is extraordinary at getting the inside scoop on everything from political issues to whistleblowers about Covid. That is why the tech giants are …

Hochul drops covid vaccine mandate for MTA after workers quit in protest
Citing a lack of workers (due to the mandates), New York Gov. Kathy Hochul has announced that MTA (Metropolitan Transportation Authority) employees will no longer be required to get …

Anthony Fauci: Omicron significantly less severe than delta
White House Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci recently admitted that the omicron variant of the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) is less severe than previous strains, even as several …

Fauci to get largest retirement package in federal government history
National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) Director Anthony Fauci is set to receive the largest retirement package in federal government history. After working for the …

Anti-vaccine protesters in Amsterdam brutalized by law enforcement, police dogs
Protesters in the Netherlands who peacefully opposed the country’s draconian health measures faced attacks from police dogs and beatings from police officers. Officers from the Royal …

CDC shortens recommended isolation time for asymptomatic covid patients
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has shortened the recommended isolation time for asymptomatic patients who tested positive for the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19). While the …

      
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79.) POLITICHICKS

 


80.) BLACKPRESSUSA

 


81.) THE WESTERN JOURNAL

 


82.) CNN


83.) THE DAILY CALLER

 


84.) POWERLINE

 


85.) THE POLITICAL INSIDER – WAKE UP EDITION

 


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87.) DECISION DESK HQ

 


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89.) THE POLITICAL INSIDER – LUNCH BREAK

 


90.) CONSERVATIVE TRIBUNE

 


91.) USA TODAY

usatoday.com
Daily Briefing
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 5
Protesters hold signs during the Occupy City Hall Protest and Car Caravan hosted by Chicago Teachers Union in Chicago, Illinois, on August 3, 2020.
School’s out in Chicago
A COVID conflict leads the Windy City to cancel classes, the U.S. Capitol Police are in the spotlight and more news to start your Wednesday.
click here
Happy hump day, Daily Briefing readers! Lessons for hundreds of thousands of students in Chicago are on hold after city leaders canceled classes in response to teachers voting to switch to remote learning. The U.S Capitol police chief will appear before a Senate panel on the eve of the first anniversary of the Jan. 6 insurrection. And, CES is back! But, like everything else, it’s being hindered by COVID-19.
It’s Steve and Jane, with Wednesday’s news.
🦠 President Biden sought to reassure the public that the federal government is prepared to address the growing COVID-19 health crisis amid a staggering increase in infections driven by the omicron variant. For the latest COVID updates, tap here.
😷 Flu + Coronavirus = Flurona. The name conjures images of cheap cable horror flicks – think “Sharknado” — but the flu-COVID dual infections are real.
🏚 Home alone: The parents of an 11-year-old boy were arrested in Arizona after sheriff’s deputies alleged he was left alone at home and had not attended school for at least two weeks.
📺 Victim of a crime: “Jeopardy!” champion Amy Schneider said she is feeling “fine” after she was robbed of her credit cards, ID and phone over New Year’s weekend.
🏈 “I know I can do it”: Terrell Owens, 48, wants to replace Antonio Brown on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
😷 Reviewed: Should you be wearing an N95 mask? What to know and where to buy them online.
🎧 On today’s 5 Things podcast, domestic security correspondent Josh Meyer reports on government failures to stop domestic extremism. You can listen to the podcast every day on  Apple PodcastsSpotify, or on your smart speaker.
Here’s what’s happening today:

Trouble in Chicago: COVID conflict leads schools to cancel classes

Teachers in Chicago, the nation’s third-largest school district, voted late Tuesday to switch to remote learning, and city leaders reacted by canceling classes Wednesday for most of the district’s 330,000 students . The Chicago Teachers Union voted to pause in-person learning and work remotely until Jan. 18, or until COVID-19 cases fall below a particular threshold. The union, which has roughly 25,000 members, is also demanding the district require negative tests from students and staff before returning to school. Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot said the vote constituted an “illegal work action,” and Chicago Public Schools CEO Pedro Martinez described it as a “walkout.” Teachers who do not show up will not be paid, Lightfoot said. School buildings will be open Wednesday and will provide essential services, such as meals and COVID-19 testing, Martinez said. The status of instruction for the rest of the week remained in limbo, while district leaders said a plan to “continue student learning” would come later Wednesday.

US Capitol Police in the spotlight at Senate hearing

A Senate panel on Wednesday will hold a hearing on the U.S. Capitol Police in the aftermath of last year’s U.S. Capitol insurrection. U.S. Capitol Police Chief Thomas Manger and other witnesses are expected to appear at the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration hearing, which comes on the eve of the one-year anniversary of the attack on Jan. 6, 2021. Manger replaced ex-chief Steven Sund, who resigned on Jan. 7. In addition to the Senate hearing, Attorney General Merrick Garland is expected to give a speech Wednesday about the Justice Department’s efforts to investigate and prosecute those responsible for the attack. The Washington Post was the first to report about Garland’s speech. About 140 officers were injured in the Capitol attack, and four died by suicide in the weeks that followed. More than 700 people have been arrested and charged for their roles in the insurrection.

Just for subscribers:

🔵 “This is insane”: As Congress relives Jan. 6 horror, efforts to rewrite history stir fury on Capitol Hill.
⚖️ He spent 6 years in prison for a crime he didn’t do. Now he copes with the reality that his youth vanished in the years he spent behind bars.
🧪 Opinion: America has gone from Operation Warp Speed to Biden’s Snail Speed on COVID tests.
🩲 NASA and Tide are working on a long-standing space problem: cleaning astronauts’ laundry.
🤝 What is a platonic life partnership? These couples are breaking societal relationship norms.
These articles are for USA TODAY subscribers. You can sign up here. Here is all of our subscriber content

Major East Coast highway expected to resume normalcy for rush hour

Interstate 95 in Virginia is expected to resume normalcy  for the Wednesday rush hour after ice and snow stranded hundreds of motorists, some for as long as 27 hours. Problems began Monday morning when a truck jackknifed on I-95, the main north-south highway along the East Coast, triggering a swift chain reaction as other vehicles lost control, state police said. On a roughly 50-mile stretch of the interstate near Fredericksburg, drivers were stuck in their cars overnight while ice blanketed the freeway. People took to social media and shared their experiences about running out of fuel, food and water as they sat for hours without moving.  The Virginia Department of Transportation tweeted Tuesday evening that the traffic had been cleared. No injuries or fatalities from the storm or the traffic backup were reported in Virginia, but state officials were facing a slew of questions about how the situation was allowed to escalate.
Motorists sit stranded on Interstate 95 in Northern, Va., on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. Hundreds of motorists were stranded all night in snow and freezing temperatures along a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 95 after a crash involving six tractor-trailers in Virginia, where authorities were struggling Tuesday to reach them.
Motorists sit stranded on Interstate 95 in Northern, Va., on Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022. Hundreds of motorists were stranded all night in snow and freezing temperatures along a 50-mile stretch of Interstate 95 after a crash involving six tractor-trailers in Virginia, where authorities were struggling Tuesday to reach them.
WJLA via AP

Newsmakers in their own words: NFL MVP voter calls out Aaron Rodgers

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the field following a victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 2, 2022 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers acknowledges the crowd as he leaves the field following a victory over the Minnesota Vikings on Jan. 2, 2022 at Lambeau Field in Green Bay.
Photo by Dan Powers, Appleton Post-Crescent; USA TODAY Sports graphic
Hub Arkush, a veteran Chicago sportswriter, told the city’s 670 The Score radio station  Tuesday that he will not cast his NFL MVP vote for Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers.
Arkush insulted Rodgers in multiple ways during the interview, also calling the three-time NFL MVP “a bad guy.” Arkush added off-field issues had a lot to do with his decision. Rodgers is unvaccinated and spent 10 days on the COVID-19 reserve list.

Is tonight the night? Report say Nets’ Kyrie Irving to make season debut

Brooklyn Nets superstar Kyrie Irving is expected to make his season debut Wednesday against the Indiana Pacers in Indianapolis, according to multiple reports. Irving has not played this season after refusing to get vaccinated for COVID-19. A New York City mandate requires anyone over age 5 to be vaccinated in order to enter arenas, making Irving ineligible to compete in home games, though still eligible to play in most road games. The Nets originally decided Irving could not be a part-time player, but last month changed course and welcomed the seven-time All-Star back into the fold. On Monday, Nets coach Steve Nash said the organization is “hopeful” Irving could return Wednesday, “but no determinations have been made yet.”
Kyrie Irving remains unvaccinated against COVID-19.
Kyrie Irving remains unvaccinated against COVID-19.
Russell Isabella, USA TODAY Sports

ICYMI: Some of our top stories yesterday

🎂 Twins in California were born just 15 minutes apart, but their birthdays are on separate days, months and years.
🚗 “That’s what I get for $7,500?” Used-car buyers are balking at astronomical prices.
☄️ Equivalent to “30 tons of TNT”: A meteor exploded in Pennsylvania on New Year’s Day.
👶 Tristan Thompson confirmed he fathered a third baby and apologized to Khloe Kardashian: “You don’t deserve this.”
Tristan Thompson is kicking off 2022 with a public apology.
Tristan Thompson is kicking off 2022 with a public apology.
USA TODAY

CES kicks off, with both in-person, virtual events

The massive CES technology show will go on this week, starting Tuesday, in Las Vegas, but like many other recent events, it is being hindered by COVID-19. The Consumer Technology Association, which runs CES, had planned for a hybrid event to run Jan. 5-8, with some events to be held in-person and others virtually. That’s a step forward from last year’s CES, which was conducted completely online during the coronavirus shutdown as vaccines were just being deployed. However, in the days leading up to this year’s conference, some big name exhibitors have bowed out and some media outlets have canceled plans to cover CES in person, leading to the show being shortened by one day, closing on Jan. 7. More than 2,200 companies are expected to exhibit in person.

📸 Photo of the day: Long lines to get COVID tests remain 📸

Hundreds of people wait in line to be tested for COVID-19 at the Florida A&M University testing site Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Hundreds of people wait in line to be tested for COVID-19 at the Florida A&M University testing site Monday, Jan. 3, 2022 in Tallahassee, Fla.
Alicia Devine, Tallahassee Democrat / USA TODAY NETWORK
A tool to combat the spread of COVID-19 remains scarce even as the virus touches yet another calendar year – tests. In an address before Christmas, Biden acknowledged the country is “not where we should be” on testing capabilities.
“I know this remains frustrating,” Biden said Tuesday. “Believe me, it’s frustrating to me. But we’re making improvements.”
Biden said his administration has established federal testing sites “all over the country” in the past two weeks. Long lines remain at many sites across the country, however.
Head here to see more images as the U.S. focuses on testing and booster shots to combat the omicron variant.
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95.) RIGHTWING.ORG

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96.) NOT THE BEE

 


97.) US NEWS & WORLD REPORT

 


98.) NEWSMAX

 


99.) MARK LEVIN

January 4, 2022

January 4, 2022

On Tuesday’s Mark Levin Show, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is concealing information regarding her culpability for the security breach at the Capitol on January 6th, 2020. Our Congress trashes the Constitutional system and seeks to change the Constitution by appointing radical judges and by legislation, instead of by proposing amendments. The January 6 Committee’s agenda is clear, it’s to prevent Donald Trump from ever serving as President again, it has nothing to do with legislative inquiry. Then, Adam Schiff should be disbarred for his public behavior. But that’s not stopping the January 6 Committee from requesting the cooperation of Sean Hannity in their partisan smear job. This is all about politics and the destruction of press freedom so they can eventually define who is a journalist and who isn’t. Later, Democrats are trying to win the midterms by redistricting; adding Democrat seats in Republican states. They are also abusing the Civil Rights Division of the US Department of Justice to use litigation to achieve their goal. Afterward, Officer Kim Potter’s conviction was excessive, she made a mistake and now she’s been denied bail. This case is bigger than Potter’s case as this aggressive prosecution of Police Officers presents a larger danger. Lastly, getting rid of the filibuster rule would nullify the need for a Senate as a whole. What is the need for two Senators from each state if debate is removed and mob rule takes over? Democrats push for a majority-rule democracy, not the republic that this country was founded as.

THIS IS FROM:

Washington Times
Pelosi accused of hiding info on her role in security breakdown on Jan. 6

The Hill
Jan. 6 panel releases Hannity texts, asks for cooperation

Right Scoop
Schiff says Jan 6th committee targeting Hannity now

Just The News
Redistricting has so far given Democrats six seats ahead of 2022 midterms: analysis

The Blaze
Prominent Democratic lawyer predicts 2022 litigation aimed at removing Republican House of Representatives members from their seats

The Post Millennial
Daunte Wright reportedly crippled his childhood friend, robbed others during his lifetime

Fox Chicago
Bradley officer pleaded for her life before suspect allegedly fatally shot her with her own gun: prosecutors

Daily Caller
Stephanopoulos Claims Clinton Supporters Didn’t Riot After 2016 Election, Forgets 2017 Inauguration Day Riots

Rumble
Joy Reid Claims White Christians Threaten American Democracy

American Spectator
The Dangerous ‘Save Democracy’ Movement

Breitbart
Communists Sweep Sham Hong Kong Election

The podcast for this show can be streamed or downloaded from the Audio Rewind page.

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100.) WOLF DAILY

 


101.) THE GELLER REPORT

Breaking news stories the media complex won’t cover. Share widely.

For more information on any post below, click through to read the full article on our website.


Feds Finally Admit to Running Secretive DOJ “Commandos” at Jan. 6 Trump Protests

The real insurrection was the 2020 election steal and the ensuing Democrat coup.BREAKING: Feds Finally Admit to Running Secretive DOJ “Commandos” at Jan. 6 Trump Protests

By Jim Hoft, Gateway Pundit, January 3, 2022:

The Department …


BAIL FAIL: Texas’ largest county sees more than 150 killed by suspects out on bonds

Why are Americans sitting still for this? I cannot fathom it.Texas’ largest county sees more than 150 killed by suspects out on bonds, victims group says

Houston, the largest city in Texas, closed out 2021 with 473 murders, a sharp jump …


NYC DEATH BLOW: New Mayor Adams Mulls Booster Mandate Despite It’s Failures, Side Effects

NYC is dying. This will be the final nail in the coffin. People will not come here and the exodus will explode.Adams ran as antii-de Blasio, not a De Blasio stooge.

The vaccine passport system in NYC is 4 months old, and it abjectly failed …


Mass Murder: Anger erupts as Manhattan DA’s office refuses to file criminal charges against Cuomo over mass nursing home deaths

Cuomo implemented policies that guaranteed the death of tens of thousands of seniors when it was known that seniors were the most vulnerable.Killer Cuomo sent 6,300 COVID-19 stricken patients to nursing homes during pandemic

HORROR: Gov. …


1 million COVID-vaccine injuries now reported on CDC’s database

Bear in mind, VAERS reporting is voluntary. How many cases are not reported to the VAERs1 million COVID-vaccine injuries now reported on CDC’s database

Senator: ‘When will federal agencies start being transparent with Americans?’

By: …


U.S. judge blocks Pentagon from punishing Navy SEALs who refused COVID-19 vaccine

A moment of reason and lucidity in an America gone mad.U.S. judge blocks Pentagon from punishing Navy SEALs who refused COVID-19 vaccine

Jan 3 (Reuters) – A federal judge on Monday barred the U.S. Department of Defense from punishing a …


RACE BASED: NYC Admits Prioritizing COVID Testing Based on Race

This is pure racism – plain and simple. It is unconstitutional and typical of Obamacare politics.Photo: New York, NY – December 24 2021: New Yorkers scramble to get free COVID-19 test kits distributed by city


Senators Meeting with Manchin on Stealing the Vote Bills -Schumer

The voting bill is the final nail in the coffin that was America. it has become increasingly clear, Republicans have no representation in DC. it isn’t controlled opposition, it’s no opposition. If you federalize elections with at voting bill, free …


Unprecedented: Deaths in Indiana for ages 18-64 are up 40%

Jab induced inflammatory and autoimmune havoc is causing “non-covid” deaths down the line…The head of Indianapolis-based insurance company OneAmerica said the death rate is up a stunning 40% from pre-pandemic levels among working-age …


Nashville Doctor Dies After Receiving Pfizer Shot; Media Claims He Died from COVID

They are such liars. Bloody terrifying ….. and the band plays on.

Nashville Doctor Dies After Receiving Pfizer Shot; Media Claims He Died from COVID

By: Daniel G, We Love Trump, January 3, 2022:

Is it really that hard to report …


3,200-Plus Schools Closed for Omicron Despite No Risk

Low risk omicron may be the solution – little to no symptoms, giving the general population the once venerated herd immunity that the vaccine could never provide.The  Democrat and their stooges in teachers unions have destroyed public …


Registered Nurse in Ascension Health System: Stroke Victims Doubled Since Vax, Young People In Their 30’s, 40’s Who Have No Issues, Having Strokes

The side effects, dangers and contraindications of the jabs are being suppressed and censored. When the government took over and nationalized our healthcare system under Obamacare, not only did they destroy it, they weaponized it.I received …


NYC allows pot smokers to light up at quarantine hotels at taxpayer expense

Further proof the left wants people locked in their homes, high on something, and listening to all their fearmongering the media manufactures, out of touch with the real world.It shows how phony this thing is… number one organ system …


Iran intentionally shot down Passenger Flight PS752 in ‘an act of terrorism,’ Ontario court rules

Remember how the Left blamed President Trump for this terror attack? Iran is an enormous threat to the stability of the world. The JCPOA (Iran Nuclear Deal) does not put any limitations on Iran’s terror activities. And if Iran has the ability to …


DeSANTIS: ‘If I Had a Dollar for Every Lockdown Politician Who Escaped to Florida I’d Be Pretty Wealthy’

Brilliant! #DeSantis2024!DeSANTIS: ‘If I Had a Dollar for Every Lockdown Politician Who Escaped to Florida I’d Be Pretty Wealthy’

By The First, January 3, 2022

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis torched Congresswoman Alexandria …

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102.) CNS

 


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105.) DC CLOTHESLINE

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107.) BECKER NEWS

 


108.) SONS OF LIBERTY

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109.) STARS & STRIPES

 

 


110.) RIGHT & FREE

It's Time for a Spiritual Revival

Attention readers: Erick Erickson is off this week. Please enjoy the following column by Jackie Gingrich Cushman. These past few years have been challenging,…

This unmatched killer unleashed a lot of sadness and evil in 2021.

The establishment media acts like Fauci has a bulletproof reputation but according to Malone, there’s really more to the story.

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111.) UNITED VOICE

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We all want more energy. Now, one doctor says he’s found the secret.

According to Dr. Steven Gundry – a husband, father, and world-renowned cardiologist – tiredness and fatigue are an epidemic in America.

Fortunately, this is a problem you can easily solve at home.

Dr. Gundry – who turns 71 this year – says his secret involves a little-known food that’s been scientifically shown to “unlock” your true physical and mental potential.

News of this has caught the attention of the media.

And this “trick” is becoming popular with Americans in their 50s, 60s, and 70s – who are now reporting a pleasant surge of youthful vitality.

Dr. Gundry serves as the personal physician to many A-list celebrities. But you don’t have to be a Hollywood star to take advantage of this secret.

Because now – for the first time ever – Dr. Gundry has created a short video where he explains his method to from beginning to end (complete with instructions), so you can try it for yourself at home.

“Life’s too short to feel tired all the time,” he says. “So, if this tip can help folks put the bounce in their step, I’m happy to help! After all, energy is one of the greatest gifts you can have in life.”

The video has since gone viral and received over 250,000 views.

So far, the reviews have been stunning, with thousands of Americans feeling half their age.

One viewer commented: “This is amazing! I’m 63 and have more gusto than I know what to do with. I’ve even started dancing again. This is so easy, it almost feels like cheating”.

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112.) THE DAILY SHAPIRO

 


113.) INSURGENT CONSERVATIVES

 


114.) WAKING TIMES

 


115.) UNCOVER DC