January 27, 2022

Late Morning/Afternoon Update:

"Now We Are Engaged in a Great Civil War." President Biden & Justice Breyer addressed the public early this afternoon: ~~~

     ~~~ The New York Times is liveblogging developments here: "In his letter to President Biden, Justice Breyer said he would leave at the end of the Supreme Court's current term, in late June or early July, 'assuming that by then my successor has been nominated and confirmed.' This is a hybrid model: Most retiring justices step down either at a set time or on the confirmation of their successor." The letter is reproduced in the item. Here's the letter (pdf) via the Court. ~~~

     ~~~ Nick Niedzwiadek of Politico: President "Biden said Thursday that he intends to nominate [Justice] Breyer's replacement by the end of February. But he spent the bulk of his remarks lauding the retiring justice for his 'practical, sensible and nuanced' judicial record." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: At the end of remarks, after Justice Breyer had spent some time discussing the importance of part of Lincoln's Gettysburg Address, President Biden invited the Breyers to spend the night in the Lincoln Bedroom, where there is a copy of the Gettysburg address, written in Lincoln's hand.

Whoever She May Be, She's Part of the "Radical Left." Michael Scherer & Seung Min Kim of the Washington Post: "Justice Stephen G. Breyer's planned retirement set up a new election-year challenge as the deadlocked 50-50 Senate confronts a heated Supreme Court confirmation fight focused on some of the most contentious issues in the nation's ongoing cultural divide.... Conservative voters have traditionally prioritized court politics far more than Democrats at the ballot box.... Republicans on Wednesday responded with efforts to mobilize their core voters in response..., and preemptively cast the yet-unnamed nominee to replace Breyer as a radical." MB: Mitch McConnell probably thinks Attila the Hun was a member of the radical left.

~~~ Linda Greenhouse of the New York Times: "Two misfortunes have befallen Stephen G. Breyer during his long Supreme Court career. One, which became apparent about halfway through his nearly 28-year tenure, was that it was his fate to be the quintessential Enlightenment man in an increasingly unenlightened era at the court. The second happened during this past year: the demand from the left that he step down and open his seat for President Biden to fill. Justice Breyer's belief in the power of facts, evidence and expertise was out of step in a postfactual age."

Talmon Smith of the New Yoirk Times: "Continuing to rebound from the shocks of the pandemic, the nation’s economy expanded by 1.7 percent in the final three months of 2021, the Commerce Department announced Thursday. The figure, which was adjusted for inflation, reflects the growth in gross domestic product -- the broadest measure of the goods and services produced. On an annualized basis, the increase for the quarter was 6.9 percent. For the full year, the economic expansion was 5.7 percent, the biggest since 1984 -- an impressive feat, though one that also reflects the depth of the damage inflicted by the coronavirus the year before." CNBC's report is here.

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** Adam Liptak of the New York Times: "Justice Stephen G. Breyer, the senior member of the Supreme Court's three-member liberal wing and a persistent if often frustrated advocate of consensus as the court moved sharply to the right, will retire upon the confirmation of his successor, people familiar with the decision said, providing President Biden a chance to fulfill his pledge to nominate a Black woman. Mr. Biden is expected to formally announce the retirement at the White House on Thursday, but the partisan machinery that has built up in recent decades around Supreme Court confirmations was already swinging into action on Wednesday as word of Justice Breyer's decision raced through Washington." ~~~

     ~~~ The Times' liveblog of Justice Breyer's retirement plans is here. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) The Washington Post report, by Robert Barnes, is here. The Post has a liveblog here. The NBC News story, by Pete Williams -- who broke the news -- is here. NPR's report, by Nina Totenberg, is here. (All also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Mike Memoli & Carol Lee of NBC News: "Though the White House and Biden himself withheld comment about the looming vacancy until Justice Stephen Breyer formally announces his retirement, a senior White House official told NBC News that internal preparations are now ramping up for what could be a quick selection process. Biden, who learned of Breyer's impending retirement in the middle of last week, is expected to put forward a nominee relatively quickly...."

~~~ Colleen Long, et al., of the AP: "President Joe Biden is eyeing at least three judges for an expected vacancy on the Supreme Court as he prepares to quickly deliver on his campaign pledge to nominate the first Black woman to the nation's highest court, according to aides and allies. With Justice Stephen Breyer planning to retire, early discussions about a successor are focusing on U.S. Circuit Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, U.S. District Judge J. Michelle Childs and California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, according to four people familiar with the matter.... Since Biden took office in January 2021, he has focused on nominating a diverse group of judges to the federal bench, installing five Black women on federal appeals courts, with three more nominations pending before the Senate. Other possible candidates for the high court could come from among that group, Biden aides and allies said, especially since almost all of the recent Supreme Court nominees have been federal appeals judges." ~~~

~~~ Tom Goldstein of ScotusBlog: "... we now kick off our analysis of potential nominees to replace him. President Joe Biden previously promised to nominate a Black woman, and we assume he will keep that commitment. Two potential nominees therefore stand apart from all others: Leondra Kruger, a justice on the California Supreme Court, and Ketanji Brown Jackson, a judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit."

Carl Hulse of the New York Times: "Democrats could confirm a successor to Justice Stephen G. Breyer without any Republican support under Senate rules that shield a Supreme Court nomination from a filibuster, but would have to hold their bare majority together to do so. The announcement of Justice Breyer's imminent retirement on Wednesday set off a sprint by top Democrats to prepare for a coming confirmation fight over President Biden's nominee to succeed him. It also prompted a collective sigh of relief from the party and its progressive allies, who had worried that a Senate takeover by Republicans in the coming midterm elections could block the president from filling any vacancies." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

~~~ Clare Foran & Manu Raju of CNN: "Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is looking at a quick time frame to confirm President Joe Biden's nominee to the Supreme Court -- and he will follow a similar timeline that Republicans employed to confirm Amy Coney Barrett to the court in 2020, according to a source familiar with his thinking. Senate sources also say that the Senate can act on the Biden nominee before Justice Stephen Breyer officially steps down from the court.... The late Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg died on September 18, 2020 -- and Barrett was nominated on September 26, 2020. She was confirmed October 26, 2020 -- just days before the election, prompting Democratic anger. Senate Democrats are confident that whomever Biden picks to replace Breyer, the nominee will receive enough votes to get confirmed, according to senior Democratic sources." ~~~

~~~ Steve M. already is wondering how nasty Republicans & their allies will be to Biden's eventual nominee. MB: I can guarantee they are already thinking up payback for how nasty they believe Democrats were to (alleged Rape Boy Bart O'Kavanaugh). Because it's wrong to interrogate a Republican who may have serially molested young women back in the day & then lied about it under oath for everyone to see.

Robyn Dixon & Rachel Pannett of the Washington Post: “A top Russian official warned Thursday that international tensions would be 'seriously complicated' if the United States and NATO did not meet the Kremlin's demand to bar Ukraine from joining the alliance, amid intensifying fears of a new Russian attack on its neighbor. Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now deputy chair of the Russian Security Council, said no one was looking for war but that 'we have practically exhausted the limits of retreat,' referring to NATO's expansion into Eastern Europe from 1997. 'They are now encroaching on our state borders.' Senior Russian officials have not yet commented on written proposals by Washington and NATO, delivered late Wednesday, that spelled out their response to Moscow's sweeping demands, including its ultimatum that the Western military alliance withdraw forces and equipment from former Soviet and Warsaw Pact countries."

Pro-Russia/Anti-America. Jonathan Weisman of the New York Times: "As President Biden tries to forge a united allied response to Russian aggression in Ukraine, unity on the home front is strained by a Republican Party torn between traditional hawks in the leadership and a wing still loyal to Donald J. Trump's isolationist instincts and pro-Russian sentiment.... Driven by a steady diet of pro-Russian or anti-interventionist rhetoric from the Fox News host Tucker Carlson, the Republican right has become increasingly vocal in undercutting not only U.S. foreign policy but also the positions of the party's leaders. The Republican representatives Matt Rosendale of Montana, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia; the Ohio Senate candidate J.D. Vance; and Donald Trump Jr. have weighed in to oppose confronting Russia or to suggest nefarious intentions on Mr. Biden's part.... Most Republicans are willing to disown [the far-right's pro-Russia view] only in private."

Robyn Dixon, et al., of the Washington Post: "The United States on Wednesday delivered written responses to Russia's demands for security guarantees over NATO expansion and activities in Eastern Europe, as senior government representatives of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine met in Paris in a bid to revive the stalled Ukraine peace process. The responses, which the U.S. ambassador to Russia sent to Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 'sets out a serious diplomatic path forward, should Russia choose it,' Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters. The document also lays out concerns 'about Russia's actions that undermine our security' and it offers 'our own proposals for areas where we may be able to find common ground,' he added." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Jeanna Smialek of the New York Times: "Federal Reserve officials signaled on Wednesday that they were on track to raise interest rates in March, given that inflation has been running far above policymakers' target and that labor market data suggests employees are in short supply. Central bankers left rates unchanged at near-zero -- where they have been set since March 2020 -- but the statement after their two-day policy meeting laid the groundwork for higher borrowing costs 'soon.' Jerome H. Powell, the Fed chair, said officials no longer thought America's rapidly healing economy needed so much support, and he confirmed that a rate increase was likely at the central bank's next meeting."

Finally! Darryl Fears of the Washington Post: "Two months after touring 'environmental justice' communities in three southern states, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan on Wednesday announced bold steps to address complaints from residents about tainted drinking water, chemical plants near homes and a school, and breathing toxic air. Regan said the agency will spend $600,000 to buy 'mobile air pollution monitoring equipment' to deploy along an 80-mile stretch of Louisiana along the Mississippi River known as 'Cancer Alley' for the many chemical plants, oil and gas refineries, and other industrial facilities located there.... The EPA is spearheading the Biden administration's push to place environmental justice at the center of the president's climate agenda and to undo burdens placed on Black, Latino, Indigenous and poor communities across the United States.... The program combines high-tech air pollution monitoring and 'boots-on-the-ground inspectors' to enforce pollution regulation in communities."

Dino Grandoni of the Washington Post: "The Biden administration has canceled two leases near Minnesota's Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness -- a remote, lake-pocked region at the center of a blistering fight over whether to mine near one of the nation's most popular wilderness destinations. On Wednesday, the Interior Department said it found that the leases to extract copper, nickel and other valuable hardrock minerals in northern Minnesota were improperly renewed under Donald Trump. The Biden administration's decision will help protect the hundreds of lakes, streams and wetlands in the 1.1 million-acre wilderness area hugging the Canadian border from the potential toxic leaching from mining."

Courtney Kube, et al., of NBC News: "The first chartered flight in months evacuating Americans from Afghanistan has left Kabul airport for Qatar.... The passengers on the Qatar Airways charter include more than 30 Americans.... The chartered flight, run by the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs and paid for by the U.S. State Department, is the first to leave Kabul since November." The Taliban had banned the flights, but the article doesn't address what, if anything, has changed to cause them to allow this flight.

** Colby Itkowitz & Harry Stevens of the Washington Post: "New congressional maps are completed in more than half the country, and so far Democrats have been spared the redistricting losses they endured a decade ago.... [That's because] the extreme gerrymandering of a decade ago maximized Republican seats so much that it gave Republicans fewer options to draw themselves new seats this time.... But advocates for voting rights say that raw political calculation overshadows another reality -- how map drawers have manipulated the lines mostly at the expense of minorities. Across the country, the White population has shrunk over the past decade as minority communities have swelled, according to the 2020 Census. Yet, the rapid growth of Latinos and Blacks is not reflected in any of the new maps passed so far, except California's, which added five seats where Latinos make up the majority of adults. Black-majority districts decreased by five seats while majority-White districts grew by eight seats, according to a Washington Post analysis looking at the 28 states that have completed congressional maps.... Judges have intervened in two states [-- Ohio & Alabama --] where Republican state legislators were accused by voting rights advocates of disenfranchising Black voters." Emphasis added. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Ryan Nobles, et al., of CNN: "Ben Williamson, a top aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, met on Tuesday with the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection.... Williamson was in the West Wing of the White House while the attack on the US Capitol was underway.... His cooperation with the committee is significant, given that his boss, Meadows, is currently facing possible criminal contempt of Congress charges because of his lack of cooperation with the committee." MB: I'm thinking a top aide to the chief of staff would know quite a lot about what-all was going on. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Josh Gerstein & Kyle Cheney of Politico: "A federal magistrate judge has rejected a bid for pretrial release by the founder of a right-wing militia group facing the rare charge of seditious conspiracy for allegedly orchestrating an attack on the Capitol during the certification of the presidential election results last January. The ruling Wednesday means Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes, 56, will remain in custody as his lawyers appeal to a federal judge in Washington overseeing the case against Rhodes and 10 other members of his group."

Another of Matt Gaetz's Very Fine Friends May Be Turning on Him. Steph Bazzle of the Hill Reporter: "... another associate and friend [of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.)] just pled guilty.... According to the Daily Beast, Joe Ellicot, known as a radio 'shock jock,' has pleaded guilty to fraud regarding 'bribes and kickbacks' to a public official, as well as to illegally selling Adderall. The public official in question is said to be Joel Greenberg -- that's right, the same Gaetz associate who pled guilty months ago [to "sex trafficking of a child, production of false identification, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, stalking and conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States,"] and agreed to cooperate with further investigations.... Text messages circulated last year in which Ellicott seemed to refer to the sex-trafficking allegations. Now, his attorney, Joe Zwick, says that Ellicot is specifically helping investigators with Gaetz' case, and will have a hearing to enter a plea deal in February." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

     ~~~ Sex, Drugs & a Witness. Matt Zapotosky of the Washington Post: "Justice Department investigators have reached a cooperation agreement with a man whose attorney says he witnessed Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) attend parties involving 'a whole lot' of sex and drug use -- another potential boon to the sprawling and slow-moving sex trafficking investigation into the congressman.... '[Joseph Ellicott] observed a lot of behavior that, if anybody saw it, would not think that it was the behavior you would expect from a U.S. congressman,' [Joe] Zwick, [Ellicott's lawyer,] said."

Elizabeth Dwoskin of the Washington Post: "Prominent figures known for spreading misinformation ... have flocked to Substack, podcasting platforms and a growing number of right-wing social media networks over the past year after getting kicked off or restricted on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.... Social networks use algorithms to spread content -- sometimes misinformation -- to users who don't want to see it. Newsletters and podcasts don't. These newer platforms cater to subscribers who seek out specific content that accommodates their viewpoints -- potentially making the services less responsible for spreading harmful views, some misinformation experts say.... Readers pay per month to subscribe to a certain author, and the author keeps 90 percent of the revenue, while Substack takes 10 percent.... Substack earns at least $2.5 million a year from just five anti-vaccine leaders who have amassed tens of thousands of subscribers, each paying $50 a month."

Maxine Joselow of the Washington Post: "Gas-burning stoves in kitchens across America may pose a greater risk to the planet and public health than previously thought, new research suggests. The appliances release far more of the potent planet-warming gas methane than the Environmental Protection Agency estimates, Stanford University scientists found in a study published Thursday in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. The appliances also emit significant amounts of nitrogen dioxide, a pollutant that can trigger asthma and other respiratory conditions.... The findings come as scientists and climate activists have increasingly urged homeowners to switch to all-electric stoves, water boilers and other appliances...."

The Pandemic, Ctd.

The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Thursday are here. The Washington Post's live Covid-19 updates for Thursday are here.

Tucker's "Most Dishonest & Dangerous Segment" Yet. Philip Bump of the Washington Post: "Tucker Carlson and Alex Berenson ... together, they have formed a Jack-Spratian marriage of leading Fox News viewers astray.... [On Tuesday, Berenson told Carlson,] 'The mRNA covid vaccines need to be withdrawn from the market now. No one should get them. No one should get boosted. No one should get double-boosted. They are a dangerous and ineffective product at this point against omicron,' the most prevalent variant in the United States.... Berenson's career is now largely predicated on precisely this sort of denialism.... Berenson and those like him are simply leveraging this impulse for attention and money." MB: Tucker, too. Not to mention Fox "News" & all the cable companies that carry it. These are mercenaries, killing people for money & laughing all the way to the bank. Capitalism is awesome. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: The viewers are the real marvels here. It is amazing to behold people who are willing to bet their lives -- and the lives of their loved ones -- on the existence of a global conspiracy to entice them with false assertions into getting shots & taking other safety precautions. After all, it isn't just Biden and members of his administration who are "lying" to us. Government officials throughout the world have joined the conspiracy. Infectious disease experts everywhere -- most of whom are not directly affiliated with any government entity -- are telling the same "lies." Scientists. Your doctor. Your pharmacist. How do Tucker's viewers hold onto the belief that tens of thousands of people are conspiring together, yet in more than two years, none of them has squealed?

Ben Sisario of the New York Times: "Spotify confirmed on Wednesday that it has begun removing [Neil] Young's music from the streaming service, two days after the star briefly posted a public letter calling on Spotify to choose between him and Joe Rogan, the star podcast host who has been accused of spreading misinformation about the coronavirus and vaccines. Young's challenge to Spotify has become a high-profile, if unexpected, flashpoint in the battle over misinformation and free speech online. It also raised questions about the power of performing artists to control where their work is heard. In a second statement that was posted to his website on Wednesday, Young called Spotify 'the home of life threatening Covid misinformation.' He added: 'Lies being sold for money.'" The Guardian has a story here.

Basta, Bongino. Daisuke Wakabayashi of the New York Times: "YouTube said on Wednesday that it had terminated accounts associated with Dan Bongino, a popular right-wing radio and Fox News host, nearly two weeks after it first suspended his channel for violating its Covid-19 misinformation policy. A former New York City police officer and Secret Service agent turned pundit, Mr. Bongino is a vocal critic of vaccine mandates. His posts are consistently among the most read on Facebook.... YouTube said one of Mr. Bongino's accounts had been issued a weeklong suspension on Jan. 14 after he posted a video saying cloth and surgical masks were useless.... Last Thursday, before the seven-day suspension had elapsed, a second account associated with Mr. Bongino posted another video that repeated his claim about the efficacy of masks. This again violated the misinformation policy and broke Google's terms of service for trying to circumvent the original suspension by posting content on a separate channel. After Mr. Bongino posted another video on Tuesday -- while his second suspension was still active -- YouTube decided to remove both of his channels permanently for trying to skirt the company's rules."

Meghan McCain gets a serious case of Covid, & blames President Biden for her depression in a Daily Mail op-ed. She also blames him for the lack of test kits, and I tend to agree with her that the Biden administration dropped the ball on test kits because there was some warming that Omicron was coming & a lot of people were going to get sick. However, she knew darned well she had Covid, so a test kit was a bit superfluous. Besides, it doesn't hurt that a white lady just found out what it's like to live in a Black shopping desert. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Virginia. Hannah Natanson of the Washington Post: "About a week after announcing his executive order making masks optional in schools throughout Virginia, Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R) said on a radio show that school districts statewide had rushed to comply. 'The reality is it's about 25 out of our 130 school systems across Virginia who aren't recognizing the rights of parents today,' Youngkin told conservative host John Fredericks on Monday.... But a Washington Post analysis shows that the majority of Virginia public school districts -- enrolling more than two-thirds of the state's students -- have opted to disobey Youngkin's mask-optional order. As of Wednesday, two days after the order was supposed to take effect, 69 districts, or 53 percent, are still requiring masks for all students inside schools. Cumulatively, those districts enroll 846,483 students, or about 67 percent of the state's public school student population...: Almost every district that opted to make masks optional is in a locality that voted for Youngkin in the 2021 gubernatorial election." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: So Youngkin is a liar, too. Quelle surprise.

Beyond the Beltway

California. Cheri Mossburg & Amir Vera of CNN: "The San Jose, California, city council voted Tuesday night to adopt a first-in-the-nation ordinance requiring most gun owners to pay a fee and carry liability insurance, measures aimed at reducing the risk of gun harm by incentivizing safer behavior and easing taxpayers of the financial burden of gun violence." The New York Times story is here.

Texas. Alexa Ura of the Texas Tribune: "In a sworn declaration submitted as part of an ongoing federal court challenge, a senior Republican state senator with redistricting experience said he believes his party violated federal voting laws when it drew new boundaries for state Senate District 10 in the Fort Worth area. 'Having participated in the 2011 and 2013 Senate Select Redistricting Committee proceedings, and having read the prior federal court decision regarding SD10, it was obvious to me that the renewed effort to dismantle SD 10 violated the Voting Rights Act and the U.S. Constitution,' state Sen. Kel Seliger said in a declaration signed in November.... A group of plaintiffs -- including state Sen. Beverly Powell, D-Burleson, who represents the current SD-10 -- is asking the federal judges to throw out the new district ahead of the March primaries."

Texas. CBS Dallas/Fort Worth: "The man who sold Malik Faisal Akram the gun he used to kidnap hostages in a Colleyville synagogue earlier this month was charged Tuesday, Jan. 25 via criminal complaint with being a felon in possession of a firearm. Henry 'Michael' Williams, 32, made his initial appearance before U.S. Magistrate Judge Renée H. Toliver on Jan. 26. A detention hearing was set for Monday, Jan. 31. '... As a convicted felon, Mr. Williams was prohibited from carrying, acquiring, or selling firearms. Whether or not he knew of his buyer's nefarious intent is largely irrelevant -- felons cannot have guns, period, and the Justice Department is committed to prosecuting those who do,' said U.S. Attorney Chad E. Meacham." The New York Times story is here.

Way Beyond

Russia: A New & Improved Russian Military. Paul Sonne, et al., of the Washington Post: "If the worst of scenarios materializes, Kyiv could soon confront the full power of a Russian military that has changed markedly, even in the eight years since Moscow annexed Crimea from Ukraine and started a separatist war in the country's east. These days, the Russian force is steeled with recent combat experience in Syria, modernized equipment, improved coordination and management, and a more sophisticated ability to strike targets from the air and from afar, according to military analysts. It also has reorganized its units specifically to prosecute a possible new war in Ukraine and rehearsed scenarios that U.S. officials now fear could become real, all while cultivating an industry of private military contractors."

Ukraine. Not Exactly Archduke Ferdinand. But. New York Times Live Updates: "A national guard soldier in Ukraine opened fire on Thursday at a missile and rocket factory in the eastern part of the country, killing five people, the police said. While details of the shooting were scarce and there was no immediate sign that it was related to the military buildup in the region, it underscored the dangers of the moment as fears of a Russian attack on Ukraine grow by the day."

January 26, 2022

Afternoon Update:

** New York Times: "Justice Stephen G. Breyer, the senior member of the Supreme Court's three-member liberal wing, will retire, two people familiar with the decision said, providing President Biden a chance to make good on his campaign pledge to name a Black woman to the court. Mr. Biden is expected to formally announce the retirement at the White House on Thursday, according to one person familiar with the planning for the event." This is a liveblog. ~~~

     ~~~ The Washington Post report, by Robert Barnes, is here. The Post has a liveblog here. The NBC News story, by Pete Williams -- who broke the news -- is here. NPR's report, by Nina Totenberg, is here. ~~~

~~~ Carl Hulse of the New York Times: "Democrats could confirm a successor to Justice Stephen G. Breyer without any Republican support under Senate rules that shield a Supreme Court nomination from a filibuster, but would have to hold their bare majority together to do so. The announcement of Justice Breyer's imminent retirement on Wednesday set off a sprint by top Democrats to prepare for a coming confirmation fight over President Biden's nominee to succeed him. It also prompted a collective sigh of relief from the party and its progressive allies, who had worried that a Senate takeover by Republicans in the coming midterm elections could block the president from filling any vacancies."

Robyn Dixon, et al., of the Washington Post: "The United States on Wednesday delivered written responses to Russia's demands for security guarantees over NATO expansion and activities in Eastern Europe, as senior government representatives of France, Germany, Russia and Ukraine met in Paris in a bid to revive the stalled Ukraine peace process. The responses, which the U.S. ambassador to Russia sent to Russia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 'sets out a serious diplomatic path forward, should Russia choose it,' Secretary of State Antony Blinken told reporters. The document also lays out concerns 'about Russia's actions that undermine our security' and it offers 'our own proposals for areas where we may be able to find common ground,' he added.:

Ryan Nobles, et al., of CNN: "Ben Williamson, a top aide to former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows, met on Tuesday with the House select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection.... Williamson was in the West Wing of the White House while the attack on the US Capitol was underway.... His cooperation with the committee is significant, given that his boss, Meadows, is currently facing possible criminal contempt of Congress charges because of his lack of cooperation with the committee." MB: I'm thinking a top aide to the chief of staff would know quite a lot about what-all was going on.

Another of Matt's Very Fine Friends May Be Turning on Him. Steph Bazzle of the Hill Reporter: "... another associate and friend [of Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.)] just pled guilty.... According to the Daily Beast, Joe Ellicot, known as a radio 'shock jock,' has pleaded guilty to fraud regarding 'bribes and kickbacks' to a public official, as well as to illegally selling Adderall. The public official in question is said to be Joel Greenberg -- that's right, the same Gaetz associate who pled guilty months ago [to "sex trafficking of a child, production of false identification, aggravated identity theft, wire fraud, stalking and conspiracy to commit an offense against the United States,"] and agreed to cooperate with further investigations.... Text messages circulated last year in which Ellicott seemed to refer to the sex-trafficking allegations. Now, his attorney, Joe Zwick, says that Ellicot is specifically helping investigators with Gaetz’ case, and will have a hearing to enter a plea deal in February."

** Colby Itkowitz & Harry Stevens of the Washington Post: "New congressional maps are completed in more than half the country, and so far Democrats have been spared the redistricting losses they endured a decade ago.... [That's because] the extreme gerrymandering of a decade ago maximized Republican seats so much that it gave Republicans fewer options to draw themselves new seats this time.... But advocates for voting rights say that raw political calculation overshadows another reality -- how map drawers have manipulated the lines mostly at the expense of minorities. Across the country, the White population has shrunk over the past decade as minority communities have swelled, according to the 2020 Census. Yet, the rapid growth of Latinos and Blacks is not reflected in any of the new maps passed so far, except California's, which added five seats where Latinos make up the majority of adults. Black-majority districts decreased by five seats while majority-White districts grew by eight seats, according to a Washington Post analysis looking at the 28 states that have completed congressional maps.... Judges have intervened in two states [-- Ohio & Alabama --] where Republican state legislators were accused by voting rights advocates of disenfranchising Black voters."

Meghan McCain gets a serious case of Covid, & blames President Biden for her depression in a Daily Mail op-ed. She also blames him for the lack of test kits, and I tend to agree with her that the Biden administration dropped the ball on test kits because there was some warming that Omicron was coming & a lot of people were going to get sick. However, she knew darned well she had Covid, so a test kit was a bit superfluous. Besides, it doesn't hurt that a white lady just found out what it's like to live in a Black shopping desert.

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Libby Cathey & Justin Gomez of ABC News: "President Joe Biden said Tuesday there could be some U.S. troop movements in the 'nearer term' in Eastern Europe -- and that he would consider personally sanctioning Russian President Vladimir Putin if Russia invades Ukraine -- a day after 8,500 American forces were put on 'heightened alert' in the region. 'If he were to move in with all those forces, it would be the largest invasion since World War II. It would change the world,' Biden told reporters at an unannounced stop at a local business in Washington." Includes video.

David Sanger of the New York Times: "The Biden administration announced on Tuesday that it was working with gas and crude oil suppliers from the Middle East, North Africa and Asia to bolster supplies to Europe in the coming weeks, in an effort to blunt the threat that Russia could cut off fuel shipments in the escalating conflict over Ukraine. European allies have been cautious in public about how far they would go in placing severe sanctions on Moscow if it invades Ukraine. Germany has been especially wary; it has shuttered many of its nuclear plants, increasing its dependence on natural gas imports to generate electricity." ~~~

~~~ Zachary Basu & Hans Nichols of Axios: "The emir of Qatar will meet with President Biden at the White House on Monday to discuss Afghanistan as well as contingency plans to provide natural gas to Europe in the event of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, Axios has learned."

Anonymous pointed out in commentary the other day that Marcy Wheeler of emptywheel had tweeted that "Russia has alerted Ireland that they plan war games off of Ireland's coast -- in what appears to be waters above the most important cable landings in the world[.]" ~~~

~~~ Kenneth Fox of the Breaking News Ireland: "... there are a number of underwater cables stretching across the Atlantic not far from where the drills are taking place. This underwater infrastructure runs along the southern coast and connect Europe and North America. The drills are due to take place directly above the nexus of many of the Internet cables which connect the two continents. Cutting them would immediately cripple the economies of Nato countries as well as Ireland. Cutting the cables was described by one naval source as 'the perfect counterpunch' against any Nato or US military response in Ukraine. 'If I wanted to invade Ukraine and hamstring my opponents, I would want to cut those cables. It would be lights out for the economy of western Europe.[']... While these exercises will not take place in Irish waters, they will be in Ireland's Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) where many ships travelling to Europe pass through.... As The Irish Times reports, despite being in Ireland's EEZ, there is nothing illegal about these drills because they are technically taking place in international waters as opposed to Irish waters." So ~~~

~~~ Louis Westendarp of Politico: "Irish fishing boats are planning to peacefully disrupt military exercises by the Russian navy, Patrick Murphy, chief executive of the Irish South and West Fish Producers Organisation, said Tuesday.... Irish fishermen are claiming that the drills threaten a crucial area for marine life and an important fishing region. According to Murphy, there are half a billion tonnes of blue whiting in the area where the Russian military drills would take place. He also fears seismic shocks that could be created by missiles fired during the drills as they could change the migration pattern of tuna for years.... 'Our boats will be going out to that area on the first of February to go fishing,' Murphy [told Politico]. When one boat needs to return to port, another will head out so there is a continuous presence on the water, he continued. 'If that is in proximity to where the [military] exercise is going, we are expecting that the Russian naval services abide by the anti-collision regulations.'"

Stef Kight & Jonathan Swan of Axios: "President Biden's advisers are crafting a plan to accelerate bringing potentially thousands of Afghans to the U.S. from Qatar, according to a source with direct knowledge of the administration's internal deliberations on the subject.... It would allow Afghans to be screened, vetted, approved for refugee status and placed on planes to the United States within 30 days of their arrival at the military site in Qatar being used to house them. It usually takes two to five years for refugee applicants to be resettled in the U.S."

Ana Swanson & Catie Edmondson of the New York Times: "The United States is facing an 'alarming' shortage of semiconductors, a government survey of more than 150 companies that make and buy chips found; the situation is threatening American factory production and helping to fuel inflation, Gina M. Raimondo, the commerce secretary, said in an interview on Monday. She said the findings showed a critical need to support domestic manufacturing and called on Congress to pass legislation aimed at bolstering U.S. competitiveness with China by enabling more American production." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Evan Perez & Tierney Sneed of CNN: "Federal prosecutors are reviewing fake Electoral College certifications that declared ... Donald Trump the winner of states that he lost, Deputy Attorney General Lisa Monaco told CNN on Tuesday. 'We've received those referrals. Our prosecutors are looking at those and I can't say anything more on ongoing investigations,' Monaco said in an exclusive interview.... This is the first time that the Justice Department has commented on requests from lawmakers and state officials that it investigate the fake certifications. The fake certificates falsely declaring Trump's victory were sent to the National Archives by Trump's allies in mid-December 2020. They have attracted public scrutiny amid the House's January 6 investigation into the pressure campaign that sought to reverse Trump's electoral defeat."

Felicia Sonmez & Donna Cassata of the Washington Post: "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) announced Tuesday that she is running for reelection, citing the 'crucial' need to defend American democracy through legislation on voting rights and other issues. Pelosi, 81, has served in Congress since 1987.&" The AP's story is here.

Dareh Gregorian of NBC News: "Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones said on his radio show Tuesday that he was deposed by the House Jan. 6 committee and that he exercised his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination 'almost 100 times.' Jones said he testified remotely Monday, and ... the committee lawyers who questioned him were 'polite, but they were dogged.... The questions were overall pretty reasonable. And I wanted to answer the questions. But at the same time, it's a good thing I didn't, because I'm the type that tries to answer things correctly, even if I don't know all the answers, and they can then kind of claim that's perjury' he said.... Despite his calls to action before the rally, Jones was seen on video outside the Capitol during the riot urging people not to be violent." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Not surprisingly, Jones made up a lame excuse for invoking the Fifth. I heard audio of Jones' on-air remarks, and right after he said that bit about trying to answer correctly even if he didn't know the answers, he elaborated on the idea that interviewers asked him a lot of questions about things like emails he hadn't seen or didn't remember. Of course that happens during legal proceedings all the time, & you don't plead the Fifth; you say, truthfully, that you don't recall (an evasion made famous by John Ehrlichman during his testimony before the Senate Watergate committee) or you aren't familiar with the document presented, or something to that effect. Every lawyer will tell her client never to answer a question with a guess. BTW, Jones, one of the nation's craziest conspiracy theorists, sounds more reasonable here than Donald Trump.

Spencer Hsu of the Washington Post: "Stewart Rhodes and nine alleged co-conspirators with the extremist Oath Keepers group pleaded not guilty Tuesday to seditious conspiracy and other charges in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol by a pro-Trump mob. An 11th defendant arrested with Rhodes on Jan. 13, Edward Vallejo, was not present during a court hearing in the case Tuesday and will be arraigned later. Rhodes and those charged with him are accused of plotting violence to prevent the confirmation of Joe Biden's election victory."

Colby Hall of Mediaite: “Brianna Keilar [of CNN] flatly called Tucker Carlson 'chief propagandist' after Fox News repeatedly called for political support for authoritarian Russian President Vladimir Putin over the emerging democracy of Ukraine. She then simply asked why Fox Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch is letting this 'bs' on the air.... CNN's New Day producers played a clip of Tucker Carlson arguing for Russia that ended with him saying 'Why is it disloyal to side with Russia but loyal to side with Ukraine? They're both foreign countries that don't care anything about the United States. Kind of strange." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

~~~ Derek Saul of Forbes: "Michael Flynn, the former national security advisor who resigned and pleaded guilty for misleading authorities over his ties to the Russian government -- before later pardoned by former President Donald Trump -- attacked the Biden Administration Monday for its support of Ukraine in an op-ed article on a right-wing site criticized for spreading misinformation, appearing to parrot the views of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Flynn alleged in his column appearing in Western Journal that the White House has 'sold an illusion' that the potential Russian invasion of Ukraine is not justified, reasoning that an increased NATO presence in eastern Europe will cause an 'existential threat' to Russia.... According to Flynn, NATO's bolstering of resources and reinforcements in countries close to Ukraine would be the 'principal cause of a devastating war,' echoing what Putin has suggested, though the NATO measures are in response to Russia's military buildup at the border." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

So Sad. Looks as if Mercenary Melanie, former White House denizen, didn't make nearly as much as she'd hoped auctioning off her broad-brimmed white chapeau, thanks to the crash of Solana, the cryptocurrency she required bidders to use. (WashPo link.) (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Marie: Doesn't this troubled young man have any family members who can help? But seriously, Junior is past due for an intervention. Thanks to unwashed for the link, via Jon Amato of Crooks & Liars:

Room Rater Weekend at Dumb Dumb's. After the blow was gone, he started drinking. #AllLinesMatter 0/10 @DonaldJTrumpJr pic.twitter.com/QdMBirhJVI

— Room Rater (@ratemyskyperoom) January 23, 2022

"He Who Represents Himself Has a Fool for a Client." Colin Moynihan of the New York Times: "Michael Avenatti, the brash lawyer who represented the pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels in a dispute with ... Donald J. Trump, seized center stage at his criminal trial on Tuesday, suddenly announcing that he wanted to act as his own lawyer.... Mr. Avenatti is accused of impersonating Ms. Daniels and persuading her literary agent to send him nearly $300,000 in publisher's payments that had been meant for her. His request to represent himself, which Judge Jesse M. Furman granted, makes it likely that Mr. Avenatti will cross-examine Ms. Daniels, who is widely expected to be called as a witness during the trial."

The Pandemic, Ctd.

The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Wednesday are here: "A coronavirus wave driven by the highly infectious Omicron variant wave may be cresting in parts of North America and Europe, but new cases are still climbing in less-vaccinated regions, and World Health Organization leaders warn that the global surge and the world's wide vaccine gap could set the stage for another dangerous variant."

~~~ The Washington Post's live Covid-19 updates for Wednesday are here.

Pam Belluck of the New York Times A study, published Tuesday by the journal Cell, found four factors that could be identified early in a person's coronavirus infection that appeared to correlate with increased risk of having lasting symptoms weeks later. The researchers said they had found that there was an association between these factors and long Covid (which goes by the medical name post-acute sequelae of Covid-19, or PASC) whether the initial infection was serious or mild.... One of the four factors ... is the level of coronavirus RNA in the blood early in the infection, an indicator of viral load. Another is the presence of certain autoantibodies -- antibodies that mistakenly attack tissues in the body as they do in conditions like lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. A third factor is the reactivation of Epstein-Barr virus, a virus that infects most people, often when they are young, and then usually becomes dormant. The final factor is having Type 2 diabetes, although ... it might turn out that diabetes is only one of several medical conditions that increase the risk of long Covid."

Liz Stark of CNN: "The Biden administration is withdrawing its Covid-19 vaccination and testing regulation aimed at large businesses, following the Supreme Court's decision to block the rule earlier this month. The US Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Tuesday it will be withdrawing the vaccination and testing emergency temporary standard for businesses with 100 or more employees, according to a statement on the agency's website. 'Although OSHA is withdrawing the vaccination and testing ETS as an enforceable emergency temporary standard, the agency is not withdrawing the ETS as a proposed rule. The agency is prioritizing its resources to focus on finalizing a permanent COVID-19 Healthcare Standard,' the statement read. The withdrawal of the emergency temporary standard 'does not affect the ETS's continuing status as a proposed rule,' a US Department of Labor spokesperson told CNN in a statement."

Aaron Blake of the Washington Post: "The Food and Drug Administration announced Monday that it would halt emergency-use authorizations for two monoclonal antibody therapies, one made by Regeneron Pharmaceuticals and one by Eli Lilly.... Citing studies showing a lack of efficacy, the FDA said it was no longer 'reasonable to believe that the known and potential benefits of these products outweigh their known and potential risks.'... The FDA decision has led to a vehement outcry from some on the right, including the Republican who has most forcefully promoted monoclonal antibodies: Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis. DeSantis said Monday that President Biden 'has forced medical pros to choose treating their patients or breaking the law. The governor added Tuesday morning, 'Without a shred of clinical data to support its decision, the Biden Administration has revoked the emergency use authorization for lifesaving monoclonal antibody treatments.'... DeSantis spokeswoman Christina Pushaw on Monday night even promoted a claim by a conservative conspiracy theorist that 'the FDA is trying to make it so that people in Florida die of Covid. They'll kill people to harm Republicans.'" ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Not really, dear. You-all have been doing a bang-up job of that on your own.

Caitlin O'Kane of CBS News: "Neil Young had a strong message for Spotify on Monday: 'They can have Rogan or Young. Not both.'... Joe Rogan ... has an exclusive deal with Spotify and has frequently spread false information about COVID-19. Rogan has famously questioned COVID-19 vaccines on his show, and when he got COVID-19 last year, said he took ivermectin, an anti-parasite drug that's been heavily promoted on social media despite having no proven benefit against COVID-19. In an open letter to his management and record label posted on his website, Young, who survived polio as a child, said he wanted to remove his music from Spotify because of the 'false information about vaccines being spread -- potentially causing death to those who believe the disinformation being spread by them.' Polio has been eliminated in the United States due to widespread vaccination against it." Young later deleted the statement from his Website. The New York Times story is here.

The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Tuesday are here. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

South Carolina. Matt Kaufax of Fox Carolina: "A newly proposed law in the South Carolina Statehouse would make it a criminal offense for your employer -- or anyone -- to ask about your vaccination status.... 'The government has no place in making you or telling you to take the vaccination, or threatening your livelihood if you don't,' said Upstate representative William 'Bill' Chumley (R, District 35), one of the co-sponsors of the bill. House bill H.4848 now heads to committee after being filed just days ago. It states: '...any representative of a public, private, or nonprofit entity ... who inquires about Covid-19 vaccination status ... must be fined not more than $14,000 or imprisoned not more than one year.'"

Beyond the Beltway

Florida. John Wagner of the Washington Post: "Chasten Buttigieg, an educator and husband of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, is speaking out against legislation advancing in Florida that critics have dubbed the 'Don't say gay bill,' arguing that it could lead to more suicides among LGBTQ youths. The legislation, which supporters say is about parental rights, would, among its provisions, bar school districts in Florida from encouraging classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary-grade levels or 'in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.' Parents would be empowered to sue if they think schools are violating the law. 'You're essentially pushing kids back into the closet,' Chasten Buttigieg said Tuesday during an appearance on CNN. 'You're saying we can't even talk about your families.'" (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: So in Florida's schools, in the name of "parental rights" -- that would be straight parents' rights -- you can't talk about gay people. In the name of possible white "discomfort," you can't talk about the history (and present) of infringing on Black people's fundamental rights. Who else will cause straight white people "discomfort"? Maybe the straight white people are Christians so talking about other religions will cause them "discomfort." What about other races, like Florida's Native American tribes? When I was in second grade, we little white kids made a field trip to a Seminole community in the Everglades and learned about a lifestyle different from our own. But, gosh, now that might discomfit some white parents. The Sunshine State? Bobby Lee in today's Comments says it's "gotten steadily darker" in Florida. The state may have to dream up a new motto. ~~~

     ~~~ Update. Bobby Lee suggests "the Swamp State." MB: As a long-time Floridian, that works for me, too. ~~~

     ~~~ As David Corn of Mother Jones pointed out on MSNBC, the underlying point to not educating students about the country's social failings is that if the public doesn't know about the problems, politicians won't have to take measures to mitigate them.

~~~ MEANWHILE, "concerned white parents" might want to take note that there now appears to be a Critical Race Theory Avenger. Thanks to RAS for the link.

New Hampshire. Marie: Speaking of state mottoes in states where I have lived, Lawrence O'Donnell of MSNBC disparaged New Hampshire's motto "Live Free or Die," which he correctly noted is embossed on state license plates. Just so you know, I went out of my to acquire four license plate frames that hide the motto.

New Jersey. Ed Shanahan & Tracey Tully of the New York Times: "A New Jersey political consultant admitted on Tuesday that he hired two men to kill a longtime associate who had worked for him on campaigns, and was found fatally stabbed in his burning apartment eight years ago, federal officials said. Over the years, the consultant, Sean Caddle, has counted several prominent North Jersey Democrats among his clients, including Senator Robert Menendez, according to interviews and federal election records. Mr. Caddle, 44, of Hamburg, N.J., pleaded guilty via videoconference in Federal District Court in Newark to conspiracy to commit murder for hire. A judge allowed him to remain free, confined to his home, on a $1 million bond. He faces up to life in prison. A sentencing date has not been set." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: When it comes to having shady friends & associates, Bob Menendez seems to be trying to rival Donald Trump. In a list of stereotypes about New Jersey, Bart Brooks of NJ.com debunked them all, except one: "New Jersey has corrupt politicians." (Unfortunately, the page Brooks links for this category comes up "Page Not Found.")

New York. Ali Watkins & Ashley Southall of the New York Times: "On Friday, as ... two [NYPD] officers [-- Wilbert Mora & Jason Rivera --] responded to a domestic disturbance call in Harlem, a gunman opened fire inside a cramped hallway, killing Officer Rivera and gravely wounding Officer Mora. On Tuesday, the police announced that Officer Mora had also died of his injuries. The two young officers -- Mora was 27, Rivera was 22 -- were emblematic of a changing police force that has struggled to repair its relationships with the city's Black and Hispanic communities. Both Latino in a department that was once overwhelmingly white, the officers were cognizant of problems with policing and eager to play a role in confronting them.... Officers Rivera and Mora were part of a growing contingency of Dominican officers."

Tennessee. Melissa Brown of the Tennessean: "Republicans in the Tennessee General Assembly pushed ahead Monday night on a once-a-decade redistricting plan, with a House vote all but guaranteeing the division of Davidson County [Nashville] into three separate congressional districts that will dilute the county's minority vote. The congressional plan cracks Davidson County through downtown Nashville, parceling pieces of the current 5th Congressional District into the largely white, historically Republican 6th and 7th districts. A new 5th would take in parts of Davidson, Williamson and Wilson counties, along with rural Lewis, Maury and Marshall counties. Political experts say the plan, approved on a 70-26 party-line vote, could flip the 5th to the Republicans, further entrenching the GOP in Tennessee with an 8-1 advantage in the congressional delegation." ~~~

     ~~~ Ally Mutnick of Politico: "Democratic Rep. Jim Cooper, a 32-year veteran of Congress, will retire at the end of this year, after Tennessee Republicans shredded his Nashville-based seat into three pieces in redistricting. He is the 29th House Democrat to leave the chamber to retire or seek higher office during this Congress. 'No one tried harder to keep our city whole,' Cooper wrote in a statement announcing his decision. 'I explored every possible way, including lawsuits, to stop the gerrymandering and to win one of the three congressional districts that now divide Nashville. There's no way, at least for me, in this election cycle.'" ~~~

     ~~~ Feliciz Sonmez of the Washington Post: Cooper accused Tennessee's "General Assembly of 'dismembering Nashville' in the once-a-decade redistricting process." MB: Don't know if they "dismembered" Nashville, but they sure "dismembered" him, inasmuch as he will no longer even be a member ... of Congress, that is.

Virginia. Youngkin's Tattletale Fail. Brad Reed of the Raw Story: "Virginia Republican Gov. Glenn Youngkin this week announced his office was opening a 'tip line' for parents who want to report their local schools teaching "divisive" topics such as critical race theory.... It has not taken long for pranksters to flood the email address he promoted with bogus tips.... 'I have heard reports that schools in Virginia are teaching ARABIC NUMERALS!' read one fake complaint. 'I fear we've become so focused on exposing Critical Race Theory in public education that we've forgotten all about creeping Sharia Law.'"

Wyoming. There's a New Sheriff in Town. (And He's Black.) Julian Mark of the Washington Post: According to a lawsuit filed by former Laramie, Wyoming, sheriff's deputy Jamin Johnson, Sgt. Sgt. Christian Handley, who is white, made racist remarks for years against Johnson (who is Black), Black arrestees, and even against Johnson's family members. But Johnson's complaints resulted only in "sham" disciplinary actions against Handley. "The lawsuit also reveals that Handley was fired last year following an internal investigation ordered by Wyoming&'s first Black sheriff, Aaron Appelhans, who was appointed to the post in December 2020." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

January 25, 2022

Afternoon Update:

The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Tuesday are here.

Ana Swanson & Catie Edmondson of the New York Times: "The United States is facing an 'alarming' shortage of semiconductors, a government survey of more than 150 companies that make and buy chips found; the situation is threatening American factory production and helping to fuel inflation, Gina M. Raimondo, the commerce secretary, said in an interview on Monday. She said the findings showed a critical need to support domestic manufacturing and called on Congress to pass legislation aimed at bolstering U.S. competitiveness with China by enabling more American production."

John Wagner of the Washington Post: "Chasten Buttigieg, an educator and husband of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, is speaking out against legislation advancing in Florida that critics have dubbed the 'Don't say gay bill,' arguing that it could lead to more suicides among LGBTQ youths. The legislation, which supporters say is about parental rights, would, among its provisions, bar school districts in Florida from encouraging classroom discussion about sexual orientation or gender identity in primary-grade levels or 'in a manner that is not age-appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.' Parents would be empowered to sue if they think schools are violating the law. 'You're essentially pushing kids back into the closet,' Chasten Buttigieg said Tuesday during an appearance on CNN. 'You're saying we can't even talk about your families.'" ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: So in Florida's schools, in the name of "parental rights" -- that would be straight parents' rights -- you can't talk about gay people. In the name of possible white "discomfort," you can't talk about the history (and present) of infringing on Black people's fundamental rights. Who else will cause straight white people "discomfort"? Maybe the straight white people are Christians so talking about other religions will cause them "discomfort." What about other races, like Florida's Native American tribes? When I was in second grade, we little white kids made a field trip to a Seminole community in the Everglades and learned about a lifestyle different from our own. But, gosh, now that might discomfit some white parents. The Sunshine State? Bobby Lee in today's Comments says it's "gotten steadily darker" in Florida. The state may have to dream up a new motto.

Wyoming. There's a New Sheriff in Town. (And He's Black.) Julian Mark of the Washington Post: According to a lawsuit filed by former Laramie, Wyoming, sheriff's deputy Jamin Johnson, Sgt. Sgt. Christian Handley, who is white, made racist remarks for years against Johnson (who is Black), Black arrestees, and even against Johnson's family members. But Johnson's complaints resulted only in "sham" disciplinary actions against Handley. "The lawsuit also reveals that Handley was fired last year following an internal investigation ordered by Wyoming's first Black sheriff, Aaron Appelhans, who was appointed to the post in December 2020."

So sad. Looks as if Mercenary Melanie, former White House denizen, didn't make nearly as much as she'd hoped auctioning off her broad-brimmed white chapeau, thanks to the crash of Solana, the cryptocurrency she required bidders to use. (WashPo link.)

Colby Hall of Mediaite: "Brianna Keilar [of CNN] flatly called Tucker Carlson 'chief propagandist' after Fox News repeatedly called for political support for authoritarian Russian President Vladimir Putin over the emerging democracy of Ukraine. She then simply asked why Fox Corp. chairman Rupert Murdoch is letting this 'bs' on the air.... CNN's New Day producers played a clip of Tucker Carlson arguing for Russia that ended with him saying 'Why is it disloyal to side with Russia but loyal to side with Ukraine? They';re both foreign countries that don't care anything about the United States. Kind of strange." ~~~

~~~ Derek Saul of Forbes: "Michael Flynn, the former national security advisor who resigned and pleaded guilty for misleading authorities over his ties to the Russian government -- before later pardoned by former President Donald Trump -- attacked the Biden Administration Monday for its support of Ukraine in an op-ed article on a right-wing site criticized for spreading misinformation, appearing to parrot the views of Russian President Vladimir Putin. Flynn alleged in his column appearing in Western Journal that the White House has 'sold an illusion' that the potential Russian invasion of Ukraine is not justified, reasoning that an increased NATO presence in eastern Europe will cause an 'existential threat' to Russia.... According to Flynn, NATO's bolstering of resources and reinforcements in countries close to Ukraine would be the 'principal cause of a devastating war,' echoing what Putin has suggested, though the NATO measures are in response to Russia's military buildup at the border."

~~~~~~~~~~

Robyn Dixon, et al., of the Washington Post: "President Biden on Monday held a video call with European leaders to discuss joint efforts to deter further aggression by the Kremlin against Kyiv, amid a massive buildup of Russian forces along Ukraine's border that has raised fears of a renewed invasion. The leaders -- including French President Emmanuel Macron, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and top NATO and European Union officials -- spoke of their 'shared desire for a diplomatic resolution to the current tensions,' according to a White House readout of the call. They also discussed preparations to impose 'massive consequences and severe economic costs' on Russia, as well as moves to reinforce security on NATO's eastern flank.... Macron said during the virtual meeting that de-escalating the situation would require 'strong, credible warnings to Russia' and 'constant coordination among European partners and allies.' Paris is hosting talks with Berlin, Kyiv and Moscow on Wednesday in a continuation of long-standing discussions between the four powers."

Robyn Dixon, et al., of the Washington Post: "The tense conflict over Ukraine shifted further into full crisis mode Monday, with NATO saying it was moving more military equipment into Eastern Europe and Russia continuing to build up massed forces along the border with Ukraine, amid fears that it will invade its neighbor.... Video surfaced on social media Monday showing Russian military convoys and trains with military equipment moving across southern Russia and Belarus. NATO said Monday that member nations would send additional ships and fighter jets to reinforce the alliance's eastern reaches, just as the Biden administration put 8,500 troops on heightened alert for a potential parallel deployment." An AP report is here. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

"What a Stupid Son of a Bitch." Michael Grynbaum of the New York Times: "In a hot-mic moment that may enter the annals of presidential insults, [President] Biden directed an under-the-breath expletive on Monday toward Peter Doocy, the White House correspondent for Fox News, that was amplified by a live microphone onto television and laptop screens around the world. The exchange came as reporters were being ushered away from a brief appearance by Mr. Biden in the East Room. Mr. Doocy called out a question: 'Do you think inflation is a political liability in the midterms?'... 'It's a great asset,' the president said in a sarcastic tone, seemingly to himself. 'More inflation. What a stupid son of a bitch.'... On Monday night, Mr. Doocy said on Fox News that the president called his cellphone about an hour after the incident and, in his words, 'cleared the air.'" A CBS News story is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: More hot-mic moments, please, Mr. President. The only other one I know of -- and it has entered the history books -- is when he whispered to Barack Obama, upon Obama's signing the Affordable Care Act, "This is a big fucking deal." So, to my knowledge, Biden's sotto-voce moments are 100 percent accurate. From herein after, Peter Doocy will be known as "that stupid son-of-a-bitch," an oh-so apt description. ~~~

~~~ This White House Is Extremely Transparent. Marie: The White House released a transcript of President Biden's (and others') remarks before meeting with the White House Competition Council. Last words: "THE PRESIDENT: No, it's a great asset. More inflation. What a stupid son of a bitch." So, already an official record for the history books.

Amy Wang & John Wagner of the Washington Post: "The Atlanta area prosecutor weighing whether ... Donald Trump and others committed crimes by trying to pressure Georgia election officials has been granted a special purpose grand jury to aid in her investigation. Fulton County Superior Court judges on Monday approved the request made last week by Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis and said Willis will be allowed to seat a special grand jury on May 2, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported. The special grand jury can continue for a period 'not to exceed 12 months,' Christopher Brasher, chief judge of Fulton County Superior Court, wrote in an order." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) The Hill's story is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: So maybe no decision till late spring 2023? At least that will leave Herr Trump twisting slowly, slowly in the wind for a good long time.

Luke Broadwater, et al., of the New York Times: "The National Archives has turned over to the House select committee investigating the assault on the Capitol last Jan. 6 a large batch of documents that ... Donald J. Trump had sought [unsuccessfully] to keep out of the panel's hands.... Here is a list of [the documents] as identified in the court filings, what is known about them and how they might fit into the larger narrative being assembled by the committee[.]"

Betsy Swan of Politico: "A former member of ... Donald Trump's legal team told the Jan. 6 committee that former Army colonel Phil Waldron first came up with the idea of Trump issuing an executive order to seize voting machines, according to a person familiar with the matter. Earlier this month, Bernie Kerik -- who worked with Rudy Giuliani on Trump's legal efforts to find evidence of voter fraud -- told the select committee that Phil Waldron originated the scheme, which would almost certainly have been illegal.... Waldron is best known for circulating a 38-page PowerPoint presentation that urged Trump to declare a state of emergency in the wake of the election, as The Washington Post has detailed."

Kyle Cheney & Nicholas Wu of Politico: "A federal judge indicated Monday he will reject an urgent bid by John Eastman -- the attorney who spearheaded Donald Trump's effort to pressure Mike Pence to single-handedly overturn the 2020 election -- to invalidate a subpoena issued last week by the Jan. 6 select committee to Chapman University, Eastman's former employer. Instead, Judge David Carter ordered Eastman to work with the Jan. 6 panel to produce a log of documents that Eastman wants the university to withhold.... Eastman was a central figure in Trump's last-ditch effort to subvert the 2020 election...." MB: Bill Clinton appointed Carter.

Rudy Tries to Profit Off 9/11 Catastrophe. Todd Niekirk of the Hill Reporter: "WABC Radio, where [Rudy] Giuliani has a regular show, is selling signed 9/11 shirts for $911.00. Customers can choose from 1 of 3 colors to be signed by the former Mayor. The fine print below notes that a 'portion of proceeds go to the WABC Radio Foundation, a 501c3 charity.['] How much that portion is, wasn't revealed."

Mariana Alfaro of the Washington Post: "A report by the Office of Congressional Ethics alleges that Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-Colo.) misused his congressional staff and resources having aides run errands for his family and that he solicited or accepted improper gifts from his subordinates. The report issued Monday found that Lamborn's staffers were often asked to help out his children, including preparing his son for interviews for a job in the federal government, and throwing a party for his daughter-in-law after she became a U.S. citizen.... Lamborn's congressional office drew the OCE's attention after a former aide, Brandon L. Pope, accused Lamborn in a May lawsuit of allowing his son to live in a storage space in the basement of the U.S. Capitol for several weeks and recklessly exposing staffers to the coronavirus."

Mariana Alfaro of the Washington Post: "The Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's challenge to House proxy voting rules, which were proposed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) in 2020 in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The rules allow absentee voting procedures, meaning House members can cast votes remotely because of the ongoing pandemic. The Supreme Court, as is typical, did not comment on why it declined to hear McCarthy's case.... Pelosi, in a statement, welcomed the court's decision to turn away Republicans' 'frivolous lawsuit,' describing it as 'a victory for the Congress, the rule of law and public health.'" McCarthy said nothing.

Adam Liptak & Anemona Hartocollis of the New York Times: "The Supreme Court agreed on Monday to decide whether race-conscious admissions programs at Harvard and the University of North Caolina are lawful, raising serious doubts about the future of affirmative action in higher education. The court has repeatedly upheld similar programs, most recently in 2016. But the court's membership has tilted right in recent years, and its new conservative supermajority is almost certain to view the challenged programs with skepticism, imperiling more than 40 years of precedent that said race could be used as one factor among many in evaluating applicants."

Uh-oh. Robert Barnes of the Washington Post: "The Supreme Court will take up a challenge to the Clean Water Act that could narrow the law's reach in ways long sought by businesses and home builders. The justices said Monday that they will consider, probably in the term beginning in October, a long-running dispute involving an Idaho couple who already won once at the Supreme Court in an effort to build a home near Priest Lake. The Environmental Protection Agency says there are wetlands on the couple's roughly half-acre lot, which brings it under the jurisdiction of the Clean Water Act, and thus requires a permit. The case raises the question of the test that courts should use to determine what constitutes 'waters of the United States,' which the Clean Water Act was passed to protect in 1972."

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post: "The weekend began with the March for Life. It ended with a march for death. Anti-vaccine activists decided to piggyback on Friday's annual antiabortion march in the capital by having a 'Defeat the Mandates' rally on Sunday. Combined, the two groups of (mostly) conservative activists engaged in a demonstration of mass inconsistency.... The crowds weren't the same, but collectively, the two rallies captured the hypocrisy of the right at this moment: Protect the unborn, but feel free to infect -- and perhaps kill -- innocent people already born, including, er, pregnant women. And yet both movements claim to be operating under the authority of 'God's mandate' and 'God's law.'... The dual events showed the changing nature of the political right. The March for Life, in its 49th year, is where the right has been; the march for death shows where it is going." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: I've always thought the so-called "pro-life" movement was actually pro-death, and that the advocates hit on the pro-life label to hide the fact that some women who don't have access to legal abortions will surely die as a result of illegal attempts to abort fetuses.

Jason DeParle of the New York Times: "A study that provided poor mothers with cash stipends for the first year of their children's lives appears to have changed the babies' brain activity in ways associated with stronger cognitive development, a finding with potential implications for safety net policy. The differences were modest -- researchers likened them in statistical magnitude to moving to the 75th position in a line of 100 from the 81st -- and it remains to be seen if changes in brain patterns will translate to higher skills, as other research offers reason to expect.... Evidence that a single year of subsidies could alter something as profound as brain functioning ... comes as President Biden is pushing for a much larger program of subsidies for families with children.... Researchers are still trying to determine why the money altered brain development. It could have purchased better food or health care; reduced damaging levels of parental stress; or allowed mothers to work less and spend more time with their infants." MB: Maybe all of the above??

Joey Roulette of the New York Times: "After traveling nearly one million miles, the James Webb Space Telescope arrived at its new home on Monday. The spacecraft's arrival checks off another tricky step as scientists on Earth prepare to spend at least a decade using the observatory to study distant light from the beginning of time."

The Pandemic, Ctd.

The Washington Post's live updates of Covid-19 developments Tuesday are here: "Free N95 masks are now available at some U.S. stores as part of the White House's plan to hand out 400 million of them from the Strategic National Stockpile."

Amanda Sealy of CNN: "Pfizer and BioNTech have begun a clinical trial for their Omicron-specific Covid-19 vaccine candidate, they announced in a news release on Tuesday. The study will evaluate the vaccine for safety, tolerability and the level of immune response, as both a primary series and a booster dose, in up to 1,420 healthy adults ages 18 to 55."

Jeremy Peters of the New York Times: "Sarah Palin has tested positive for the coronavirus, forcing the delay of her defamation trial against The New York Times until next week. The trial, which was set to begin with jury selection on Monday morning, is now scheduled to start on Feb. 3." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

     ~~~ Sarah Ellison of the Washington Post: "... U.S. District Court Judge Jed S. Rakoff told his Manhattan courtroom that he had learned Sunday night that Palin had tested positive on an initial test. 'She is, of course, unvaccinated,' he noted." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) A CNBC report is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Lock Her Up! Priya Krishna of the New York Times: "Sarah Palin, who is not vaccinated against the coronavirus, dined indoors Saturday night at Elio's, an Italian restaurant on the Upper East Side of Manhattan that regularly draws celebrities, despite New York City's requirement that all indoor guests show proof of vaccination. She tested positive for the virus on Monday.... Shawn McCreesh, a features writer for New York Magazine, tweeted Saturday that he had spotted Ms. Palin at Elio's while out to dinner on Saturday night. ('My mom thought she was Tina Fey,' he wrote in a follow-up tweet.)" (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

New York. Amy Cheng of the Washington Post: "A New York state judge on Monday struck down an indoor mask mandate imposed by Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) that had been set to expire on Feb. 1. The protocol was put in place last month as New York moved to curb a winter surge in coronavirus cases.... Hochul said in a statement that ... her office would pursue 'every option' to reverse [the decision]."

Beyond the Beltway

Alabama. Kim Chandler of the AP: “Federal judges on Monday blocked Alabama from using newly drawn congressional districts in upcoming elections, ruling that the state should have two districts -- instead of one -- in which Black voters are a sizeable portion of the electorate.... The three-judge panel wrote in the 225-page ruling that ... plaintiffs are 'substantially likely' to prevail on claims that the current districts violate the Voting Rights Act.... Alabama's seven-member congressional delegation consists of six Republicans elected from heavily white districts and one Democrat elected from the only majority-Black district.... The Alabama Legislature last year approved congressional district lines that maintain one majority-Black district.... Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall's office said the ruling will be appealed.... About 26% of Alabama's population is Black, and some lawmakers argued the state should have a second congressional district with a significant African-American population." MB: If my arithmetic is right, the one majority-Black district represents about 14 percent of Alabama's population.

Florida Is at the Forefront of Empowering Right-Wing Thought Police. Paul Krugman of the New York Times: "... freedom is under attack, on more fronts than many people realize.... But there are many ... areas in which freedom is not just under assault but in retreat. Let's talk, in particular, about the attack on education, especially but not only in Florida, which has become one of America's leading laboratories of democratic erosion.... Denunciations of [critical race theory] are basically a cover for a much bigger agenda: an attempt to stop schools from teaching anything that makes right-wingers uncomfortable.... There's a bill advancing in the Florida Senate declaring that an individual 'should not be made to feel discomfort, guilt, anguish or any other form of psychological distress on account of his or her race.'... The smear campaign against critical race theory is almost certainly the start of an attempt to subject education in general to rule by the right-wing thought police, which will have dire effects far beyond the specific topic of racism. And who will enforce the rules? State-sponsored vigilantes!"

New Jersey. Jonathan Edwards of the Washington Post: An adorable 22-month-old toddler bought his family a lot of furniture online. Armchairs are still arriving. The parents are "setting up passcodes on their phones and stopping their payment information from automatically loading for future orders."

New York. Jesse McKinley & Luis Ferré-Sadurní of the New York Times: "Sheldon Silver, the once-indomitable leader of the New York State Assembly whose career and reputation were undone by a 2015 corruption conviction, died on Monday. He was 77. Mr. Silver had been incarcerated at Devens Federal Medical Center in Ayer, Mass., according to Judith Rapfogel, his former chief of staff. Kristie Breshears, a spokeswoman for the federal Bureau of Prisons, said in a statement that Mr. Silver had died at the nearby Nashoba Valley Medical Center." Politico's obituary is here.

Virginia. Eugene Robinson of the Washington Post: "Virginians are discovering -- a bit late, unfortunately -- that there's no such thing as Trumpism Lite.... [Gov. Glenn] Youngkin's first week in office showed him to be a Trumpian culture-warrior. He immediately issued an executive order banning the teaching of critical race theory or any 'inherently divisive concepts' in Virginia schools. Because critical race theory is not actually being taught at K-12 public schools in the commonwealth, the order could only be an attempt to ban the accurate teaching of African American history.... Youngkin also issued an order banning mask mandates in Virginia's public schools -- although, during the campaign, he said whether to require masks in schools would be left to 'localities' to decide." And there's more. Of course there is. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Youngkin is smart enough & diabolical enough to know how to pander to reasonable people during a political campaign, then turn around & show his true colors -- or at least to pander to Trump -- once he's been elected.

Way Beyond

U.K. Happy Birthday, Boris, & Get Lost! William Booth of the Washington Post: "A British broadcaster on Monday reported that yet another alleged 'bash' occurred at 10 Downing Street during strict lockdown, this one to celebrate Prime Minister Boris Johnson's birthday in June 2020, at a time when rules designed to stop the spread of the coronavirus forbid indoor social gatherings. ITV News also said that on the evening of the same day, June 19, 2020, Johnson hosted family and friends upstairs in the prime minister's residence, another breach of the government's own orders.... The prime minister is facing a rebellion in his own Conservative Party by lawmakers upset over what they see as reckless hypocrisy." ~~~

~~~ Policing Boris. Annabelle Dickson of Politico: "The Metropolitan Police will investigate whether lockdown-busting parties were held in No. 10 Downing Street in breach of COVID-19 rules, head of the force Cressida Dick said. Appearing before the London Assembly's police and crime committee Tuesday, the police chief said that as a result of information provided by the U.K. government's investigation led by senior civil servant Sue Gray, the Met was 'now investigating a number of events that took place at Downing Street and Whitehall in the last two years in relation to potential breaches of COVID-19 regulations.' The Metropolitan Police chief has come under increasing pressure to investigate the Downing Street parties because other social gatherings held in London at the same time were investigated, and members of the public have been fined for breaching lockdown rules."