The Commentariat -- February 21, 2021

Afternoon Update:

Daniel Arkin of NBC News: "The U.S. death toll from the coronavirus topped 500,000 on Sunday, according to an NBC News tally -- a milestone that underscores the grave threat the virus still poses nationwide even as more Americans get vaccinated. The coronavirus has claimed the lives of more than 2,462,000 people worldwide, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. The death toll in the U.S. is the highest in the world, even though the country has less than 5 percent of the global population.... More than 28,206,600 cases have been confirmed in the U.S., according to the NBC News tally."

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

Katelyn Polantz of CNN: "A leader in an alleged Oath Keepers conspiracy in the US Capitol insurrection claims she was given a VIP pass to the pro-Trump rally on January 6, had met with Secret Service agents and was providing security for legislators and others, including in their march to the Capitol, according to a new court filing. Attorneys for Ohio Oath Keeper Jessica Watkins detail how the efforts among paramilitants who are now accused of conspiracy on January 6 were closer to the apparatus around ... Donald Trump and his rally than was previously known.... The US Secret Service, in response to Watkins' claims in the Saturday filing, denied that private citizens were working with the Secret Service to provide security on January 6."

Devlin Barrett of the Washington Post: "Attorney general nominee Merrick Garland plans to tell the Senate on Monday that if confirmed to become the nation's top law enforcement official, he will strive to lead an agency committed to battling discrimination in American life and extremist attacks on democracy. In written remarks prepared for delivery at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Garland, 68, highlighted the history of the Justice Department, noting that the agency was formed in the aftermath of the Civil War, and that many of the issues it confronted then remain pressing concerns today."

Nomaan Merchant of the AP writes a good overview of the Texas power crisis.

Florida. Shopping While Hispanic. Miami Herald in a Tampa Bay Times publication: "A Mount Sinai Medical Center anesthesiologist has been arrested and charged with a hate crime after police say she attacked a Hispanic man at a Hialeah Publix, vandalizing his car, calling him a racial slur and vowing to 'get rid of every single one of you.' She became enraged, police say, after the man asked her to maintain social distancing while in line at the supermarket. Dr. Jennifer Susan Wright, 58, a white ardent supporter of ... Donald Trump, has been charged with criminal mischief, tampering with a victim and battery with prejudice, a 'hate crime' enhancement that upgraded the charge to a felony." MB: I grew up in Hialeah; it makes me so proud to see my old home town make the news. Wright, BTW, is not from Hialeah, but from contiguous Miami Springs. Back when I went to high school, the Miami Springs kids went to Hialeah High; they were the (relatively) "rich kids," and many looked down their noses on us poor kids who lived in Hialeah. More than five decades later, it appears the demographic 'tude hasn't changed.

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Darlene Superville of the AP: "A month into the job..., [President] Biden is seeing his disaster management skills tested after winter storms plunged Texas, Oklahoma and neighboring states into an unusual deep freeze that left millions shivering in homes that lost heat and power, and in many homes, water. At least 69 deaths across the U.S. have been blamed on the blast of unseasonable weather. The White House announced on Saturday that the president had declared a major disaster in Texas, and he has asked federal agencies to identify additional resources to address the suffering.... The president is getting regular updates from his staff and already declared states of emergency in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana -- adding the disaster designation announced Saturday for Texas.... Biden has spoken to the governors of the seven states most affected by the winter weather. He tweeted a photo of himself on the phone with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas. Oklahoma's Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, a staunch supporter of Trump's, was quick to praise Biden for swift action on a disaster declaration." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Christopher Falvelle, et al., of the New York Times: "The week's continent-spanning winter storms triggered blackouts in Texas, Oklahoma, Mississippi and several other states. One-third of oil production in the nation was halted. Drinking-water systems in Ohio were knocked offline. Road networks nationwide were paralyzed and vaccination efforts in 20 states were disrupted. The crisis carries a profound warning. As climate change brings more frequent and intense storms, floods, heat waves, wildfires and other extreme events, it is placing growing stress on the foundations of the country's economy: Its network of roads and railways, drinking-water systems, power plants, electrical grids, industrial waste sites and even homes. Failures in just one sector can set off a domino effect of breakdowns in hard-to-predict ways. Much of this infrastructure was built decades ago, under the expectation that the environment around it would remain stable, or at least fluctuate within predictable bounds. Now climate change is upending that assumption."

David Smith of the Guardian: The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a confirmation hearing on Merrick Garland Monday, Biden's pick for attorney general. "Progressives are expected to grill the 68-year-old about his commitment to racial justice, voting rights and domestic terror. Republicans might seek to wrong-foot him on how law enforcement should handle mass protests and on potential prosecutions, from Biden's son Hunter to ... Donald Trump." ~~~

~~~ Mark Leibovich of the New York Times: "When President Biden nominated Judge Garland last month to be attorney general, the news conjured up his ordeal in 2016 as President Barack Obama's thwarted nominee to the Supreme Court. But Judge Garland's experience prosecuting domestic terrorism cases in the 1990s was the formative work of his career.... In addition to Oklahoma City, Judge Garland supervised high-profile cases that included Theodore J. Kaczynski (a.k.a. the Unabomber) and the bombing at the Atlanta Olympics in 1996.... Judge Garland will take over what prosecutors are calling the biggest, most complex investigation in Justice Department history, the Capitol assault that led to the second impeachment of ... Donald J. Trump."

Used-prez* Fatso to speak at CPAC next week, every U.S. news outlet reports on its front page.

Josh Gerstein of Politico: "A federal judge in Washington on Friday formally referred a Minnesota lawyer for potential discipline over a lawsuit filed in December seeking to overturn President Joe Biden's wins in at least five battleground states. U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg said the suit was so flimsy and legally flawed that it could merit the attorney who filed it, Erick Kaardal of Minneapolis, facing some sort of punishment from the court." (Also linked yesterday.)

Devlin Barrett of the Washington Post: "A 95-year-old former German concentration camp guard who made a new life in Tennessee was deported to his home country Saturday after an index card found in a sunken ship helped prove his Nazi ties. Friedrich Karl Berger was deported to Germany after U.S. authorities determined he once served at a subcamp of the Neuengamme concentration camp system near Hamburg. The camp held Russian, Dutch and Polish civilians, as well as Jewish prisoners and political opponents from France, Italy and other countries. In the winter of 1945, according to Berger's removal order, prisoners were forced to live in 'atrocious' conditions and work 'to the point of exhaustion and death.'... [Besides the deaths in the camp,] hundreds more were killed when they were placed on two ships at anchor in the Bay of Lubeck in the Baltic Sea. The ships were mistakenly bombed by British warplanes in May 1945 during the last week of the war in Europe. Justice Department historians were able to document Berger's service at the camp in part with information from an index card found in one of the sunken ships several years after the bombing. The card summarized Berger's work in the camp system." It's not clear Germany will prosecute him.

The Pandemic, Ctd.

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

Lauran Neergaard of the AP: "You're fully vaccinated against the coronavirus -- now what? Don't expect to shed your mask and get back to normal activities right away.... The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention hasn't yet changed its guidelines: At least for now, people should follow the same rules as everybody else about wearing a mask, keeping a 6-foot distance and avoiding crowds -- even after they've gotten their second vaccine dose.... The vaccines are highly effective at preventing symptomatic COVID-19, especially severe illness and death -- but no one yet knows how well they block spread of the coronavirus."

Florida. Matt Dixon of Politico: "Florida is getting four federally-backed Covid-19 vaccination hubs in largely low-income communities of color, an announcement that comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis initially clashed with the Biden administration over federal vaccine help. The new sites, which were announced Friday, will be in areas of Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami and Orlando picked through a federal vulnerability index that considered things like minority population, socioeconomic status and housing types.... DeSantis made no mention of the four new federally backed vaccination sites during a public event held shortly before they were announced. That event in Palm Beach County was set up by DeSantis' taxpayer-funded office, but had the appearance of a campaign rally, including a [MB: maskless] cheering audience and at least one attendee wearing a shirt that said 'Masks are Slavery.'... Last month, DeSantis dismissively referred to the Biden administration's planned vaccine sites as 'FEMA camps.'" MB: DeSantis really does not want minorities & Democrats to get the vaccines. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Beyond the Beltway

Texas. Dillion Collier of KSAT San Antonio: "Top officials of ERCOT, the Texas council that regulates the state's electric grid, spent less than 40 seconds discussing the impending winter storm during the entity's [two-and-a-half-hour] board meeting last week.... ERCOT President & CEO Bill Magness briefly addressed the winter weather at the start of his report before quickly moving on." Magness said "... We do have a cold front coming this way.... And operations has issued an operating condition notice just to make sure everyone is up to speed with their winterization and we're ready for the several days of pretty frigid temperatures to come our way...." MB: That went well. ~~~

~~~ Adding Insult to Injury -- Big-time. Brooke Seipel of the Hill: "Some Texans say they're getting massive electric bills following the winter storm that caused chaos throughout the state this past week. NBC News reports that some Texans are getting bills as high as $10,000, while local ABC News affiliate WFAA in Dallas says one man's bill shows him owing more than $17,000.... The families who saw their bills spike were reportedly on variable-rate plans with Griddy, an electricity provider in the state. Griddy had recommended that customers switch to a different provider this week, warning them to find fixed-rate plans instead as it predicted the climbing cost of electricity due to the spiking demand. But many customers who tried to switch said other companies were not accepting new customers until weeks into the future, leaving them stuck with their large bills." ~~~

     ~~~ New York Times Update: "... scores of Texans ... have reported skyrocketing electric bills as the price of keeping lights on and refrigerators humming shot upward. For customers whose electricity prices are not fixed and are instead tied to the fluctuating wholesale price, the spikes have been astronomical. The outcry elicited angry calls for action from lawmakers from both parties and prompted Gov. Greg Abbott, a Republican, to hold an emergency meeting with legislators on Saturday to discuss the enormous bills.... The steep electric bills in Texas are in part a result of the state's uniquely unregulated energy market...." This is part of a live-blog. MB: Look how Abbott again tried to shift the blame to Democrats: "[Abbott] added that Democrats and Republicans would work together to make sure people 'do not get stuck with skyrocketing energy bills.'" Democrats had nothing to do with creating this unregulated mess, & at least one Democratic legislator tried to reform the system, but Republicans refused to even hear the proposed bill.

~~~ What's a Rich Public "Servant" to Do? Ana Murillo of the Daily Beast: "Texas state lawmaker Gary Gates lost power at his Fort Bend County home on Tuesday evening, and on Wednesday morning he hopped on his private jet to the magical land of Orlando, Florida. His ill-timed escape came on the same day Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) and his family flew to Cancun, just as the extreme winter storm unfolded into a once-in-a-generation crisis in Texas.... Gates told local TV station KPRC 2 Houston in an interview that he needed to get to a place where he would have 'dependable power, dependable internet and dependable phone service' in order to continue his professional duties.... Adding confusion to an already baffling decision, a reporter from the Fort Bend Star tweeted that Gates' chief of staff told him Gates flew to Orlando for a business meeting." MB: Gates is a state rep. ~~~

~~~ Marie: A lot of Texans are secessionists. They think Texas is so exceptional that the state should declare independence & go it alone. Since I don't live in Texas, that's fine with me; they can go. Well, Texas' most exceptional quality is its multiples energy sources, so you might Texas would be the one state that never had an energy crisis. And now we see how that's worked out. They're calling FEMA & getting charity donations from Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez.

Way Beyond

Russia. Vladimir Isachenkov of the AP: "A Moscow court on Saturday rejected Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's appeal of his prison sentence, even as the country faced an order from a top European rights court to free the Kremlin's most prominent foe. A few hours later, a judge in a separate case ordered Navalny to pay a fine for defaming a World War II veteran. During the first court hearing, Navalny urged Russians to stand up to the Kremlin in a fiery speech mixing references to the Bible and 'Harry Potter.'" (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

News Lede

New York Times: "Shlomo Hillel, a Baghdad-born Israeli operative who in the late 1940s and early '50s used bribes, fake visas and a network of smugglers to move more than 120,000 Jews from Iraq to Israel, died on Feb. 8 at his home in Ra'anana, Israel. He was 97."

The Commentariat -- February 20, 2021

Afternoon Update:

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

Darlene Superville of the AP: "A month into the job..., [President] Biden is seeing his disaster management skills tested after winter storms plunged Texas, Oklahoma and neighboring states into an unusual deep freeze that left millions shivering in homes that lost heat and power, and in many homes, water. At least 69 deaths across the U.S. have been blamed on the blast of unseasonable weather. The White House announced on Saturday that the president had declared a major disaster in Texas, and he has asked federal agencies to identify additional resources to address the suffering.... The president is getting regular updates from his staff and already declared states of emergency in Texas, Oklahoma and Louisiana -- adding the disaster designation announced Saturday for Texas.... Biden has spoken to the governors of the seven states most affected by the winter weather. He tweeted a photo of himself on the phone with Republican Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas. Oklahoma's Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt, a staunch supporter of Trump's, was quick to praise Biden for swift action on a disaster declaration."

Josh Gerstein of Politico: "A federal judge in Washington on Friday formally referred a Minnesota lawyer for potential discipline over a lawsuit filed in December seeking to overturn President Joe Biden's wins in at least five battleground states. U.S. District Court Judge James Boasberg said the suit was so flimsy and legally flawed that it could merit the attorney who filed it, Erick Kaardal of Minneapolis, facing some sort of punishment from the court."

Florida. Matt Dixon of Politico: "Florida is getting four federally-backed Covid-19 vaccination hubs in largely low-income communities of color, an announcement that comes after Gov. Ron DeSantis initially clashed with the Biden administration over federal vaccine help. The new sites, which were announced Friday, will be in areas of Jacksonville, Tampa, Miami and Orlando picked through a federal vulnerability index that considered things like minority population, socioeconomic status and housing types.... DeSantis made no mention of the four new federally backed vaccination sites during a public event held shortly before they were announced. That event in Palm Beach County was set up by DeSantis' taxpayer-funded office, but had the appearance of a campaign rally, including a [MB: maskless] cheering audience and at least one attendee wearing a shirt that said 'Masks are Slavery.'... Last month, DeSantis dismissively referred to the Biden administration's planned vaccine sites as 'FEMA camps.'" MB: DeSantis really does not want minorities & Democrats to get the vaccines.

Vladimir Isachenkov of the AP: "A Moscow court on Saturday rejected Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny's appeal of his prison sentence, even as the country faced an order from a top European rights court to free the Kremlin's most prominent foe. A few hours later, a judge in a separate case ordered Navalny to pay a fine for defaming a World War II veteran. During the first court hearing, Navalny urged Russians to stand up to the Kremlin in a fiery speech mixing references to the Bible and 'Harry Potter.'"

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Anne Gearan of the Washington Post: "President Biden delivered a stark warning to global leaders and policymakers on Friday that 'democratic progress is under assault' in many parts of the world, including the United States and Europe. 'Our partnerships have endured and grown through the years because they are rooted in the richness of our shared democratic values,' Biden said during remarks by video to the Munich Security Conference. 'They're not transactional. They're not extractive. They're built on a vision of the future where every voice matters. Where the rights of all are protected and the rule of law is upheld. None of us has fully succeeded in achieving this vision....' The speech came on a day when Biden is delivering his most extensive remarks on foreign policy as president and inviting Iran to begin face-to-face diplomacy. Earlier Friday, the president addressed leaders of the Group of Seven in a virtual meeting." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

~~~ David Sanger, et al., of the New York Times: "President Biden used his first public encounter with America's European allies to describe a new struggle between the West and the forces of autocracy, declaring that 'America is back' while acknowledging that the past four years had taken a toll on its power and influence. His message stressing the importance of reinvigorating alliances and recommitting to defending Europe was predictably well received at a session of the Munich Security Conference that Mr. Biden addressed from the White House. But there was also pushback, notably from the French president, Emmanuel Macron, who in his address made an impassioned defense of his concept of 'strategic autonomy' from the United States, making the case that Europe can no longer be overly dependent on the United States as it focuses more of its attention on Asia, especially China. And even Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, who is leaving office within the year, tempered her praise for Mr. Biden's decision to cancel plans for a withdrawal of 12,000 American troops from the country with a warning that 'our interests will not always converge.'"

Matt Viser of the Washington Post: "President Biden toured a sprawling Pfizer manufacturing plant [in Portage, Michigan,] on Friday, seeking to draw attention to his plan to increase the number of coronavirus vaccine doses available to Americans and bolster the $1.9 trillion package he is pushing in Congress. The 1,300-acre facility, the largest Pfizer manufacturing site, is where millions of the first doses of the vaccine were produced and shipped out in December -- two of which were injected into Biden's own arm.... He touted some of the work he has done -- and also laid significant blame at the feet of ... Donald Trump, even as he hailed the development of the vaccine that occurred while his predecessor was in office." ~~~

     ~~~ Erica Werner of the Washington Post: "President Biden mounted a strong defense Friday of his $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan, addressing GOP critics who say it's too big and asking, 'What would they have me cut?... Should we not invest 20 billion dollars to vaccinate the nation?' Biden asked during a visit to a Pfizer plant in Kalamazoo, Mich. 'Should we not invest 50 billion dollars to help small businesses stay open when tens of thousands have had to close permanently?... How many people do you know will go to bed tonight staring at the ceiling saying, "God, what is going to happen if I don't get my job, if I don't have my unemployment check?"' Biden added."

Oliver Laughland of the Guardian & Agencies: "Joe Biden said on Friday he was ready to declare a major disaster in Texas after a deadly winter storm cut power and disrupted water supplies for millions across the state. Biden said the declaration, which follows a request from the Texas governor, Greg Abbott, would open up broader federal aid for immediate and long-term recovery efforts. A presidential visit to the state is being planned for next week. 'As I said when I ran, I'm going to be a president for all Americans,' said Biden, who won November's election without winning Texas, of his plans. 'If I can do it without creating a burden for folks, I plan on going.'" MB: In fairness to Donald Trump, he did go to San Juan to throw paper towels at Puerto Ricans & to California to tell them to vacuum the forest floors.

Darryl Fears of the Washington Post: "As Rep. Deb Haaland prepares for a Senate hearing Tuesday that could make her the first Native American in history to lead the Interior Department, her supporters are listening to Republican opposition to her nomination with worry -- and anger. Haaland, a New Mexico Democrat, is expected to face sharp questioning from GOP members on the Energy and Natural Resources Committee regarding her opposition to new oil and gas drilling leases on federal land -- a position she shares with President Biden. Her lifetime score on environmental issues with the League of Conservation Voters is 98 percent. In addition to breaking a barrier at Interior, Haaland would be the first Native American Cabinet secretary. In a letter to Biden last month, congressional Republicans asked him to revoke her historic nomination over their concerns. At least one Democrat, Sen. Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, the committee chairman, has said he has not decided how he will vote."

Jeff Stein & Colby Itkowitz of the Washington Post: "Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) on Friday announced his opposition to President Biden's choice to lead the White House budget office, imperiling her nomination in a narrowly divided U.S. Senate. Neera Tanden, tapped to be director of the White House Office of Management and Budget, has emerged as a lightning rod for criticism over her prior attacks against Republican lawmakers and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.).... Asked while leaving Air Force One if he was going to pull Tanden's nomination, Biden told reporters 'no' and expressed confidence that 'we are going to find the votes and get her confirmed,' according to a pool report. The White House also issued a statement defending Tanden." The New York Times' story is here. The NBC News story is here.

Spencer Hsu & Devlin Barrett of the Washington Post: "The Justice Department and FBI are investigating whether high-profile right-wing figures -- including Roger Stone and Alex Jones -- may have played a role in the Jan. 6 Capitol breach as part of a broader look into the mind-set of those who committed violence and their apparent paths to radicalization, according to people familiar with the investigation. The investigation into potential ties between key figures in the riot and those who promoted ... Donald Trump's false assertions that the election was stolen from him does not mean those who may have influenced rioters will face criminal charges, particularly given U.S. case law surrounding incitement and free speech, the people said.... However, investigators ... want to determine whether anyone who influenced them bears enough responsibility to justify potential criminal charges, such as conspiracy or aiding the effort, the officials said. That prospect is still distant and uncertain, they emphasized.... Shortly after the riot, Jones said on Infowars that he was invited by the White House on about Jan. 3 to 'lead the march' to the Capitol.... Jones ... told his viewers on Jan. 1, 'Roger Stone spent some substantial time with Trump in Florida just a few days ago, and I'm told big things are afoot and Trump's got major actions up his sleeve.'"

Katie Benner of the New York Times: "Justice Department officials are adding prosecutors and agents to their sprawling investigation into the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol as it moves into a more complicated phase and they strategize about how to handle the large caseload, including trying to stave off a potential backlog in the courts, according to law enforcement officials."

Marshall Cohen & David Shortell of CNN: "The Justice Department unsealed an indictment Friday tying together nine alleged associates of the right-wing Oath Keepers in the largest insurrection conspiracy charged to date related to the January 6 attack on the US Capitol. Prosecutors say the nine defendants from four states allegedly coordinated plans to travel to Washington to breach the Capitol and disrupt the certification of the presidential election. Three defendants were first charged last month, while six new defendants were arrested this week. The indictment unsealed Friday is the most significant step yet by federal prosecutors as they've mapped out organized activity within the massive mob that stormed the Capitol.... Searches of the defendants' cell phones and email accounts revealed coordinated logistics.... Some of the alleged co-conspirators were spotted in video footage moving in a military style formation through a crowd on the east side of the Capitol, and later congregated in the rotunda. And some of the defendants appeared to take their cues directly from ... Donald Trump, citing his public appeal for supporters to come to DC for a 'wild' rally on January 6." The New York Times' story is here.

Jane Winter in Yahoo! News: "The U.S. government is acknowledging for the first time that right-wing extremists were responsible for the majority of fatal domestic terrorist attacks last year, according to an internal report circulated by the Department of Homeland Security last week and obtained by Yahoo News. A review of last year's domestic terrorist incidents by a DHS fusion center -- which shares threat-related information between federal, state and local partners -- found that although civil unrest and antigovernment violence were associated with 'non-affiliated, right-wing and left-wing actors, right-wing [domestic violent extremists] were responsible for the majority of fatal attacks in the Homeland in 2020.'"

What Are Top Republicans Doing Today?

** International Mega-Criminal & Friend of Trump. Declan Walsh of the New York Times: "Erik Prince, the former head of the security contractor Blackwater Worldwide and a prominent supporter of ... Donald J. Trump, violated a United Nations arms embargo on Libya by sending weapons to a militia commander who was attempting to overthrow the internationally backed government, according to U.N. investigators. A confidential U.N. report obtained by The New York Times and delivered by investigators to the Security Council on Thursday reveals how Mr. Prince deployed a force of foreign mercenaries, armed with attack aircraft, gunboats and cyberwarfare capabilities, to eastern Libya at the height of a major battle in 2019. As part of the operation, which the report said cost $80 million, the mercenaries also planned to form a hit squad that could track down and kill selected Libyan commanders. Mr. Prince, a former Navy SEAL and the brother of Betsy DeVos, Mr. Trump's education secretary, became a symbol of the excesses of privatized American military force when his Blackwater contractors killed 17 Iraqi civilians in 2007.... The accusation that Mr. Prince violated the U.N.'s arms embargo on Libya exposes him to possible U.N. sanctions, including a travel ban and a freeze on his bank accounts and other assets...."

If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you. -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, February 2016 ~~~

~~~ Hating on Ted Is a National Pastime. Lisa Lerer of the New York Times: "For a politician long reviled not just by Democrats but also by many of his Republican colleagues in Washington, Mr. Cruz is now the landslide winner for the title of the least sympathetic politician in America.... Throughout his political career, Mr. Cruz has united politicians from former President George W. Bush to Senator Rand Paul in mutual distaste.... His opportunism often enraged fellow Republicans. After voting against federal aid for Hurricane Sandy, Mr. Cruz lobbied Congress five years later for billions of dollars as Texas cleaned up from Hurricane Harvey." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

~~~ "One Night in Cancun." Ashley Parker of the Washington Post: Ted Cruz's "brief tropical sojourn yielded at least two unflattering nicknames on social media -- Cancun Cruz and Flyin' Ted -- and prompted a Twitter-fueled news cycle that seemed to unite a broken nation.... Cancun-gate checked nearly every possible box of a scandal. The sad-sack black roller suitcase and oversize canvas tote, awaiting its beach debut! The fleece half-zip as part of the classic frumpy Dad ensemble! The 6 a.m. scramble to book a return flight! The politician seeming to blame his preteen daughters! The adorable family dog, possibly left home alone! The police escort! The leaked text messages, with a 'Real Housewives of Houston' mood!" (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

~~~ Some of Ted's few defenders argued that there's nothing a U.S. senator can do about a local distaster. Apparently Ted didn't agree with that a couple of years ago:

~~~ AND There's This. Jennifer Bendery of the Huffington Post: "Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has helped raise $2 million in direct relief for Texans struggling with power outages and freezing temperatures, and she announced Friday that she's heading the state to help distribute supplies to people in need. In other words, the Democratic congresswoman from New York City is doing more to help Texans rebound from the state's duel crises ― a devastating ice storm in the midst of a pandemic ― than their own Republican senator, Ted Cruz.... Ocasio-Cortez said she'll be meeting with Rep. Sylvia Garcia (D-Texas) in Houston to help get supplies out to people and amplify the region's needs and solutions." Thanks to RAS for the lead.

Constitutional Amendments Are Bad. Or Something. David Moye of the Huffington Post: "If you're a politician who has promised to uphold the Constitution, it might help if you're actually familiar with what document includes. Apparently, freshman Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-Colo.) isn't, based on a tweet she posted Friday morning. 'Protecting and defending the Constitution doesn't mean trying to rewrite the parts you don't like.'... Many Twitter users decided to give her the civics lesson she apparently missed in high school. Parker Molloy [tweeted,] 'That is literally what amendments are.'... Others pointed out that Boebert's alleged actions before and after the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection don't suggest someone who really is interested in 'protecting and defending the Constitution.'... One man pointed out the real irony of Boebert's tweet: She is currently co-sponsoring a Constitutional amendment to limit the number of terms a person can serve in Congress."

Josh Gerstein of Politico: "A federal judge has thrown out a lawsuit Rep. Devin Nunes filed in 2019 claiming he was libeled by CNN in reports alleging he was involved in an effort to dig up Ukraine-related dirt on Joe Biden. In a ruling Friday, U.S. District Court Judge Laura Taylor Swain granted the news network's motion to dismiss the suit, which sought a whopping $435 million in damages.... Swain dismissed the suit against CNN on a technical ground: She found California law applied to the case and Nunes had failed to request a retraction as required under the laws of the Golden State."

Robert Barnes of the Washington Post: "A federal judge whose son was killed and whose husband was critically wounded in an attack at their home in New Jersey said in a televised interview released Friday that the gunman also had targeted Justice Sonia Sotomayor. U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas told CBS's '60 Minutes' in an interview that will air Sunday that authorities found a locker used by the killer, Roy Den Hollander, a lawyer who had a case before Salas and who committed suicide after killing her 20-year-old son, Daniel, in the summer. 'They found another gun, a Glock, more ammunition,' Salas said. 'But the most troubling thing they found was a manila folder with a work-up on Justice Sonia Sotomayor.'" The CBS News story is here. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Marie: Yesterday, I linked to a "Fresh Air" interview of Heather McGhee, who has written a book about how "discriminatory laws and practices that target African Americans also negatively impact society at large." Today, Michelle Goldberg of the New York Times has more on McGhee: "McGhee's book is about the many ways racism has defeated efforts to create a more economically just America. Once the civil rights movement expanded America's conception of 'the public,' white America's support for public goods collapsed.... McGhee is trying to shift the focus from how racism benefits white people to how it costs them." MB: Smarter confederates, like Mitch McConnell, have long since figured out McGhee's thesis, and they use racism as a tool to advance their nasty preference for "small government." So-called "conservatism" is about conserving "white privilege," but only for those at the tippy-top of the economic and/or power scales. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

The Pandemic, Ctd.

The Washington Post's live updates of Covid-19 developments Friday are here. (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

New York. Jesse McKinley of the New York Times: "Trying to quell a growing outcry over the state's handling of nursing homes during the pandemic, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo on Friday launched into a 90-minute defense of his actions while lashing out at critics he said were operating in a 'toxic political environment.' Mr. Cuomo said he understood the outrage over his monthslong undercounting of deaths in those facilities, but insisted no state policy contributed to that toll. At the same time, however, the governor unveiled a series of reforms to address the management and safety of nursing homes, saying, 'that is the only way families will have peace of mind.'"

Beyond the Beltway

New York. Nick Niedzwiadek & Anna Gronewold of Politico: Gov. Andrew Cuomo's (D) over-the-top angry phone calls "have become commonplace in recent years and transcend political affiliation and other dividing lines. Many describe receiving angry calls late in the evening, or at other inopportune times, and being unable to get off the phone with New York's most powerful official. Warnings and browbeating aren't unusual, say those familiar with the governor's approach.... Now, Cuomo's cutthroat tactics -- already the stuff of legend in Albany's halls of power -- have been on full display as the Democratic governor faces his biggest firestorm in years over his administration's handling of nursing home fatalities during Covid-19 and his unsparing treatment of lawmakers who have dared to step out against him." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Texas. Andrew Freedman of the Washington Post: "The operators of Texas' electrical grid as well as state leaders and officials in surrounding states had ample warning that a winter storm would bring record cold that could cause power demand to spike and threaten electrical infrastructure, according to a review of publicly available data from the National Weather Service. In fact, forecasters warned of the Arctic outbreak's severity more than a week in advance, which might have been enough time to take some steps to help mitigate against the need to cut power to millions in Texas.... As early as Feb. 5, which was 10 days before the Arctic air moved into the South, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) highlighted the risk of unusually cold weather and winter storms across the central and southern U.S.." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

~~~ Giulia Nieto del Rio of the New York Times: "Judge Mark Henry, [Galveston C]ounty's top elected official, said he would have evacuated some of his most vulnerable residents in advance of the winter storm had he known that power outages would plunge the county into darkness for a few days. He said the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, which manages the state's power grid, had warned only of rolling blackouts.... Coming into clearer view were the dimensions of a public health crisis exacerbated by poverty, desperation and, in some cases, a lack of understanding of cold-weather safety. Texas hospitals and health providers saw more than 700 visits related to carbon monoxide poisoning between Monday and Wednesday. Thayer Smith, division chief with the Austin Fire Department, said his city had seen dozens of incidents of toxic exposure from people burning charcoal in their homes. The weather also hampered the response to the coronavirus pandemic. The White House on Friday said six million doses of coronavirus vaccines had been held up because of snowstorms across the country, creating a backlog affecting every state and throwing off the pace of vaccination appointments over the next week." ~~~

~~~ Hannah Knowles of the Washington Post: When the power failed at an H-E-B grocery store in Leander, Texas, near Austin, clerks allowed shoppers to take home their groceries without paying. "The show of kindness this week at the H-E-B grocery store in Leander, Tex., has gone viral, a bright spot in a crushing week for Americans weathering a deadly winter storm that left people scrambling for food and clean water after mass power outages.... A Friday op-ed in the Houston Chronicle contrasted the generosity in Leander with authorities' failures: 'Why H-E-B comes through in a crisis when Texas government doesn't,' the headline read."

~~~ Annals of Journalism, Ctd. Elahe Izadi of the Washington Post: "Among millions of Texans who survived without electricity or water this week were hundreds of local journalists, responsible for publishing crucial information about the deadly winter storm while they were at its mercy. Reporters, many of whom have spent nearly a year with no physical newsroom because of the coronavirus, wrote articles from cars and backyard sheds, searched for cell service on overloaded towers and met deadlines as their water pipes burst and gas leaked into their homes.... Smaller papers such as the Amarillo Globe-News and Midland Reporter-Telegram were forced to halt deliveries, but kept their websites going.... The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit news outlet based in Austin, has become a lifeline for people looking to find or give help. The outlet, which shares its work free with other news organizations, launched an emergency text message service after many Austin residents failed to receive official notices about unsafe tap water." CNN has a similar story.

News Lede

AP: "Debris from a United Airlines plane fell onto Denver suburbs during an emergency landing Saturday after one of its engines suffered a catastrophic failure and rained pieces of the engine casing on a neighborhood where it narrowly missed a home. The plane landed safely, and nobody aboard or on the ground was reported hurt, authorities said. The Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement that the Boeing 777-200 returned to the Denver International Airport after experiencing a right-engine failure shortly after takeoff. Flight 328 was flying from Denver to Honolulu when the incident occurred, the agency said.... The Broomfield[, Colo.,] Police Department posted photos on Twitter showing large, circular pieces of debris leaning against a house in the suburb about 25 miles (40 kilometers) north of Denver. Police are asking that anyone injured come forward. Passengers recounted a terrifying ordeal that began to unfold shortly after the plane full of vacationers took off.... The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating."

The Commentariat -- February 19, 2021

Afternoon Update:

The Washington Post's live updates of Covid-19 developments Friday are here.

Anne Gearan of the Washington Post: "President Biden delivered a stark warning to global leaders and policymakers on Friday that 'democratic progress is under assault' in many parts of the world, including the United States and Europe. 'Our partnerships have endured and grown through the years because they are rooted in the richness of our shared democratic values,' Biden said during remarks by video to the Munich Security Conference. 'They're not transactional. They're not extractive. They're built on a vision of the future where every voice matters. Where the rights of all are protected and the rule of law is upheld. None of us has fully succeeded in achieving this vision....' The speech came on a day when Biden is delivering his most extensive remarks on foreign policy as president and inviting Iran to begin face-to-face diplomacy. Earlier Friday, the president addressed leaders of the Group of Seven in a virtual meeting."

Robert Barnes of the Washington Post: "A federal judge whose son was killed and whose husband was critically wounded in an attack at their home in New Jersey said in a televised interview released Friday that the gunman also had targeted Justice Sonia Sotomayor. U.S. District Court Judge Esther Salas told CBS's '60 Minutes' in an interview that will air Sunday that authorities found a locker used by the killer, Roy Den Hollander, a lawyer who had a case before Salas and who committed suicide after killing her 20-year-old son, Daniel, in the summer. 'They found another gun, a Glock, more ammunition,' Salas said. 'But the most troubling thing they found was a manila folder with a work-up on Justice Sonia Sotomayor.'" The CBS News story is here.

Marie: Yesterday, I linked to a "Fresh Air" interview of Heather McGhee, who has written a book about how "discriminatory laws and practices that target African Americans also negatively impact society at large." Today, Michelle Goldberg of the New York Times has more on McGhee: "McGhee's book is about the many ways racism has defeated efforts to create a more economically just America. Once the civil rights movement expanded America's conception of 'the public,' white America's support for public goods collapsed.... McGhee is trying to shift the focus from how racism benefits white people to how it costs them." MB: Smarter confederates, like Mitch McConnell, have long since figured out McGhee's thesis, and they use racism as a tool to advance their nasty preference for "small government." So-called "conservatism" is about conserving "white privilege," but only for those at the tippy-top of the economic and/or power scales.

Andrew Freedman of the Washington Post: "The operators of Texas' electrical grid as well as state leaders and officials in surrounding states had ample warning that a winter storm would bring record cold that could cause power demand to spike and threaten electrical infrastructure, according to a review of publicly available data from the National Weather Service. In fact, forecasters warned of the Arctic outbreak's severity more than a week in advance, which might have been enough time to take some steps to help mitigate against the need to cut power to millions in Texas.... As early as Feb. 5, which was 10 days before the Arctic air moved into the South, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) highlighted the risk of unusually cold weather and winter storms across the central and southern U.S.."

If you killed Ted Cruz on the floor of the Senate, and the trial was in the Senate, nobody would convict you. -- Sen. Lindsey Graham, February 2016 ~~~

~~~ Hating on Ted Is a National Pastime. Lisa Lerer of the New York Times: "For a politician long reviled not just by Democrats but also by many of his Republican colleagues in Washington, Mr. Cruz is now the landslide winner for the title of the least sympathetic politician in America.... Throughout his political career, Mr. Cruz has united politicians from former President George W. Bush to Senator Rand Paul in mutual distaste.... His opportunism often enraged fellow Republicans. After voting against federal aid for Hurricane Sandy, Mr. Cruz lobbied Congress five years later for billions of dollars as Texas cleaned up from Hurricane Harvey." ~~~

~~~ "One Night in Cancun." Ashley Parker of the Washington Post: Ted Cruz's "brief tropical sojourn yielded at least two unflattering nicknames on social media -- Cancun Cruz and Flyin' Ted -- and prompted a Twitter-fueled news cycle that seemed to unite a broken nation.... Cancun-gate checked nearly every possible box of a scandal. The sad-sack black roller suitcase and oversize canvas tote, awaiting its beach debut! The fleece half-zip as part of the classic frumpy Dad ensemble! The 6 a.m. scramble to book a return flight! The politician seeming to blame his preteen daughters! The adorable family dog, possibly left home alone! The police escort! The leaked text messages, with a 'Real Housewives of Houston' mood!" ~~~

~~~ Some of Ted's few defenders argued that there's nothing a U.S. senator can do about a local distaster. Apparently Ted didn't agree with that a couple of years ago:

New York. Nick Niedzwiadek & Anna Gronewold of Politico: Gov. Andrew Cuomo's (D) over-the-top angry phone calls "have become commonplace in recent years and transcend political affiliation and other dividing lines. Many describe receiving angry calls late in the evening, or at other inopportune times, and being unable to get off the phone with New York's most powerful official. Warnings and browbeating aren't unusual, say those familiar with the governor's approach.... Now, Cuomo's cutthroat tactics -- already the stuff of legend in Albany's halls of power -- have been on full display as the Democratic governor faces his biggest firestorm in years over his administration's handling of nursing home fatalities during Covid-19 and his unsparing treatment of lawmakers who have dared to step out against him."

~~~~~~~~~~~

Lara Jakes, et al., of the New York Times: "The United States took a major step on Thursday toward restoring the Iran nuclear deal that the Trump administration abandoned, offering to join European nations in what would be the first substantial diplomacy with Tehran in more than four years, Biden administration officials said. In a series of moves intended to make good on one of President Biden's most significant campaign promises, the administration backed away from a Trump administration effort to restore United Nations sanctions on Iran. That effort had divided Washington from its European allies. And at the same time, Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken told European foreign ministers in a call on Thursday morning that the United States would join them in seeking to restore the 2015 nuclear accord with Iran, which he said 'was a key achievement of multilateral diplomacy.'"

Nick Miroff of the Washington Post: "U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers will need preapproval from a senior manager before trying to deport anyone who is not a recent border crosser, a national security threat or a criminal offender with an aggravated felony conviction, according to interim enforcement memo issued by the Biden administration Thursday. The narrower priorities are expected to result in a drop in immigration arrests and deportations. Biden officials said the new guidelines -- which will be in effect for the next 90 days -- will allow the agency to make better use of its resources while prioritizing public safety threats." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

~~~ Michael Shear of the New York Times: "President Biden's allies on Capitol Hill on Thursday unveiled a far-reaching overhaul of the nation's immigration system, describing it as a humane response to four years of ... Donald J. Trump's assault on immigrants. The U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021, formally introduced by a dozen Democratic lawmakers in the House and Senate, amounts to a lengthy wish list for pro-immigration activists and a down payment on Mr. Biden's campaign promise to provide a path to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants. It would allow virtually all undocumented immigrants to eventually apply for citizenship; increase legal immigration; add measures to secure ports of entry and speed processing of asylum seekers; and invest $4 billion in the economies of Central American countries to reduce migration.... The legislation ... drew the ire of some Republicans, who said it did not invest enough money in securing the border and would encourage illegal immigration and more foreign workers when Americans are already struggling."

Bad News for the Former Fraudster-in-Chief. William Rashbaum, et al., of the New York Times: "As the Manhattan district attorney's office steps up the criminal investigation of Donald J. Trump, it has reached outside its ranks to enlist a prominent former federal prosecutor to help scrutinize financial dealings at the former president's company, according to several people with knowledge of the matter. The former prosecutor, Mark F. Pomerantz, has deep experience investigating and defending white-collar and organized crime cases, bolstering the team under District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. that is examining Mr. Trump and his family business, the Trump Organization. The investigation by Mr. Vance, a Democrat, is focused on possible tax and bank-related fraud...." MB: Since Twump can't tweet, I'll do it for him: "IT'S A WITCH HUNT!!!" A Law & Crime report is here.

Best Sobriquet for Trump this week comes from contributor Jeanne, who described him as "used-prez Fatso." MB: I'm still laughing.

Marie: Not long ago, I suggested the feds should investigate Roger Stone's ties to the Proud Boys & Oath Keepers, with the idea that he may have served as a go-between for Trump & these groups. It turns out the feds were, in some respect, wa-a-ay ahead of me: ~~~

~~~ Katelyn Polantz of CNN: "Federal prosecutors investigated some of the Proud Boys, including their leader Enrique Tarrio, and their ties to longtime Trump confidant Roger Stone, in a previously undisclosed criminal probe in 2019 into whether the men intended to threaten a federal judge. The threat investigation did not lead to charges. But its existence, now revealed by CNN, sheds new light on how federal prosecutors had already looked into the far-right organization's ties to someone in ... Donald Trump's orbit ​before the siege of the US Capitol in January. Stone was accompanied on January 6 in DC by members of the paramilitary extremist group the Oath Keepers and Stone has long had close ties to prominent members of the fraternity-like pro-Trump group the Proud Boys. Members of the Proud Boys and Oath Keepers are central to some of the most aggressive parts of the FBI and DC US Attorney's Office's Capitol siege investigation.... In February 2019, less than a month after Stone had been indicted for lying to Congress, he posted on Instagram a photo of the judge presiding over his case, Amy Berman Jackson. The photo showed crosshairs behind her head. Stone -- testifying at a court hearing in 2019 to explain the post -- said at the time that a person working with him on his social media accounts had chosen it. Then, at another hearing the same year, Stone named names. Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys, had been helping him ​with his social media, Stone said under oath, as had [other Proud Boys]...." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Whitney Wild & Paul LeBlanc of CNN: "Six US Capitol Police officers have been suspended with pay, and 29 others have been placed under investigation, for their actions in the January 6 riot, a department spokesman said Thursday.... CNN reported in January that the USCP had placed at least 10 officers under investigation, and two others had been suspended. One of the suspended officers took a selfie with someone who was part of the mob that overtook the Capitol, according to Rep. Tim Ryan, a Democrat from Ohio. Another wore a 'Make America Great Again' hat and started directing people around the building, Ryan said. Last month, [Acting Chief Yogananda] Pittman said the department 'has been actively reviewing video and other open source materials of some USCP officers and officials that appear to be in violation of Department regulations and policies.'The suspensions and investigations come at a time of internal turmoil at the department as officers continue to grapple with the insurrection that led to the death of Officer Brian Sicknick. Members of the Capitol Police issued a vote of no confidence in the force's top leaders earlier this month."

Andrew Blankstein of NBC News: "A Federal Judge in California on Thursday sentenced a venture capitalist who donated nearly $1 million to ... Donald Trump's inaugural committee to 12 years in prison for falsifying records to hide his work as a foreign agent while lobbying high-level U.S. officials. Imaad Zuberi was also fined $1.75 million and ordered to pay $15.7 million in restitution. Zuberi, 50, agreed to plead guilty in 2019 to tax evasion, filing false foreign agent registration records and providing almost $1 million in illegal campaign contributions to various presidential election campaigns and other candidates for elected office, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Central District of California."

Michael Levenson of the New York Times: "When he died in November, Alex Trebek ... left behind 14 suits, 58 dress shirts, 300 neckties and other clothes that he wore on the show, which taped five episodes a day, twice a week. His son, Matthew Trebek, along with the producer of 'Jeopardy!'..., decided to donate the clothes to formerly homeless and incarcerated men looking for a fresh start. So it was that Mr. Trebek's 'Jeopardy!' wardrobe -- which also included 25 polo shirts, 14 sweaters, 9 sport coats, 9 pairs of dress shoes, 15 belts, 2 parkas, and 3 pairs of dress slacks -- arrived about two weeks ago at the Doe Fund, a New York City nonprofit that provides services, housing and job opportunities to men who have been in prison or homeless."

The Pandemic, Ctd.

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

Emily Rauhala, et al., of the Washington Post: "The White House is throwing its support behind a global push to distribute coronavirus vaccines equitably, pledging $4 billion to a multilateral effort the Trump administration spurned. At a Group of Seven meeting of leaders of the world's largest economies Friday, President Biden will announce an initial $2 billion in funding for Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, to be used by the Covax Facility, senior administration officials said in a briefing."

Beyond the Beltway

South Dakota. Neil Vigdor of the New York Times: "South Dakota's attorney general has been charged with careless driving but avoided more serious felony charges like manslaughter in connection with an accident in which he struck and killed a man with his car last September, prosecutors announced on Thursday. The attorney general,Jason Ravnsborg, a Republican, was also charged with using a mobile electronic device and failing to stay in his lane on the night of Sept. 12, Emily Sovell, the deputy state's attorney for Hyde County, said at a news conference. All three of the charges against Mr. Ravnsborg are misdemeanors, which each carry a penalty of up to 30 days in jail and a $500 fine, Ms. Sovell said.... Mr. Ravnsborg told the authorities at the accident scene that he believed he had struck a large animal like a deer. It wasn't until the next day ... that Mr. Ravnsborg returned to the accident scene and discovered [Joe] Boever's body.... The family of Mr. Boever, 55, whose pickup truck had been disabled in a nearby ditch, criticized the outcome of the investigation." A TPM story is here.

Texas. Jack Healy, et al., of the New York Times: "Power began to flicker back on across much of Texas on Thursday, but millions across the state confronted another dire crisis: a shortage of drinkable water as pipes cracked, wells froze and water treatment plants were knocked offline. The problems were especially acute at hospitals. One, in Austin, was forced to move some of its most critically ill patients to another building when its faucets ran nearly dry. Another in Houston had to haul in water on trucks to flush toilets. But for many of the state's residents stuck at home, the emergency meant boiling the tap water that trickled through their faucets, scouring stores for bottled water or boiling icicles and dirty snow on their stoves. For others, it meant no water at all. ~~~

~~~ Erin Douglas of the Texas Tribune: "Texas' power grid was 'seconds and minutes' away from a catastrophic failure that could have left Texans in the dark for months, officials with the entity that operates the grid said Thursday.... Officials with the Electric Reliability Council of Texas, or ERCOT, which operates the power grid that covers most of the state, said Texas was dangerously close to a worst-case scenario: uncontrolled blackouts across the state. The quick decision that grid operators made in the early hours of Monday morning to begin what was intended to be rolling blackouts -- but lasted days for millions of Texans -- occurred because operators were seeing warning signs that massive amounts of energy supply was dropping off the grid.... The worst case scenario: Demand for power outstrips the supply of power generation available on the grid, causing equipment to catch fire, substations to blow and power lines to go down."

Saving the Turtles. Alex Horton of the Washington Post: "The deadly winter storm that swept across Texas and parts of the South ... also created a catastrophe for animals statewide -- including for sea turtles prone to freezing in frigid waters. [Will] Bellamy, an Army and Marine Corps veteran who served in Iraq and Haiti, spotted some turtles Tuesday with his son Jerome.... He alerted Capt. Christopher Jason, the commander of Naval Air Station Corpus Christi in southeastern Texas, and his wife, Cheryl Jason. The commander grabbed his kayak, paddled into the cold waves and retrieved a lapful of cold-shocked turtles.... More than 1,100 turtles have since been plucked from Laguna Madre by a ragtag group of about 50 Navy pilots and flight students, military spouses, family members and military retirees, said Biji Pandisseril, the Navy installation's environmental manager. More turtles are still coming in, he said, and some have died. Green sea turtles, listed as a threatened species, feast on grasses found in the waters of Laguna Madre, but in winter weather, the chilling shallow water zaps strength from the coldblooded reptiles. They become immobile and unable to power their fins to warmer, deeper waters...."

Ted's Excellent Adventure. Shane Goldmacher & Nicholas Fandos of the New York Times: "As Texas was battered by an icy storm and widespread power losses that left millions of residents freezing and fearing for their safety, Senator Ted Cruz of Texas left the state on Wednesday and traveled to Mexico for a previously planned family vacation, according to a person with direct knowledge of the trip.... 'With school canceled for the week, our girls asked to take a trip with friends. Wanting to be a good dad, I flew down with them last night and am flying back this afternoon,' Mr. Cruz said, adding that ... his family had lost heat and power. Mr. Cruz insisted that he and his staff had been 'in constant communication' with state and local leaders during his brief Cancún trip.... In a radio interview on Monday, [Cruz] said..., '... Keep your family safe and just stay home and hug your kids.'..." As if Houston police didn't have enough to do in an outage crisis, Cruz requested that the police provide him "assistance upon arrival" at the Houston airport. Related story linked at the bottom of this entry. This is part of a live-blog. There's a full-blown story by Goldmacher & Fandos linked below. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Update: It seems Senator Ted & his staff were not exactly truthful. The "person with direct knowledge" described the Cancún excursion as a "previously planned family vacation." It turns out "previously planned" means "after the power went out" and "yesterday": Rebecca Shabad of NBC News reports that Cruz said Wednesday, "We had no heat and no power and yesterday my daughters asked if they could take a trip with some friends and Heidi and I agreed." As for Ted's "immediate return to Texas," Shabad reports, "A source with knowledge of the situation told NBC News that Cruz booked his return ticket at 6 a.m. Thursday but that he was initially booked to return home on Saturday." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

     ~~~ Update Update. Although Cruz tried to blame the trip on his daughters, it turns out it was Ted's wife Heidi Cruz who demanded the vacation. ~~~

     ~~~ Shane Goldmacher & Nicholas Fandos of the New York Times: "Text messages sent from Ms. Cruz to friends and Houston neighbors on Wednesday revealed a hastily planned trip. Their house was 'FREEZING,' as Ms. Cruz put it -- and she proposed a getaway until Sunday. Ms. Cruz invited others to join them at the Ritz-Carlton in Cancún, where they had stayed 'many times,' noting the room price this week ($309 per night) and its good security.... Houst[o]n police ... officers were seen accompanying [Ted Cruz] housupon his Thursday return." Also, at the time Heidi Cruz was planning the jaunt, she said the family was staying in the warm home of friends. ~~~

~~~ Frozen Snowflake: Dog Lovers' Alert. Bob Brigham of the Raw Story: When Ted & the Cruz family abandoned their self-described "freezing" house, they left their small poodle in the house to bear the cold. A security guard on the property said he was tasked with taking care of the dog, appropriately named "Snowflake." PETA, ASPCA, take note. ~~~

Just drove by Ted Cruz’s house in Houston. His lights are off but a neighbor told me the block got its power back last night. Also, Ted appears to have left behind the family poodle. pic.twitter.com/TmLyGQkASy

— Michael Hardy (@mkerrhardy) February 18, 2021

     ~~~ You can see Snowflake sitting at the door. Writer Michael Hardy also reported that Snowflake was barking even before Hardy approached the house. MB: Either Snowflake routinely barks at passersby or s/he was distressed & calling for help.

~~~ Sauce for the Goose.... Andrew Kaczynski & Em Steck of CNN: "Texas Sen. Ted Cruz ... has repeatedly criticized politicians who vacationed or took part in leisure activities during times of crisis, a CNN KFile review finds. This past December, Cruz attacked Austin Mayor Steve Adler for going to Cabo, Mexico, during the coronavirus pandemic.... Cruz said in 2017 then-New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie 'should go back to the beach,' referencing the outrage surrounding the governor's trip to a closed state beach with his family while the state's government was shut down.... In 2014, Cruz attacked then-President Barack Obama for attending a fundraiser during a crisis at the border in Texas and said the President spent too much time on the golf course.... A month earlier..., Cruz called Obama an 'absentee president,' who was 'not focused on the people who are hurting.'" ~~~

~~~ Matt Wilstein of the Daily Beast: Some in conservative media were willing to defend the indefensible, claiming that Ted was helping out the state by keeping his family from becoming a drain on the state's systems or wasn't needed in Texas because a U.S. senator can't do anything about a state problem.

~~~ The Texas Tribune has helpfully provided "13 curses to mutter against Ted Cruz while you boil snow to drink." MB: I tried to think of Ted living out each of the suggested curses, and it was a super-pleasant experience.

Paul Krugman of the New York Times: "Republican politicians and right-wing media, not content with run-of-the-mill blame-shifting, have coalesced around a malicious falsehood instead -- the claim that wind and solar power caused the collapse of the Texas power grid, and that radical environmentalists are somehow responsible for the fact that millions of people are freezing in the dark, even though conservative Republicans have run the state for a generation.... [This is] raw denial of reality, not just to escape accountability, but to demonize one's opponents. And it's another indicator of the moral and intellectual collapse of American conservatism.... When two-thirds of Republicans believe that Antifa was involved in the assault on the Capitol, selling the base a bogus narrative about the Texas electricity disaster is practically child's play."

Marie: I'm all for FEMA's helping out Texans who are victims of Texas's piss-poor planning. But the federal government should not give or lend a nickel to the state or to its energy companies until Texas legislators return oversight to the feds so the energy companies can be forced to maintain adequate levels of surplus energy for emergencies, join power-sharing pacts, & upgrade their facilities so operations continue during storms & frigid weather.

Wa-a-ay Beyond

Kenneth Chang of the New York Times: "NASA safely landed a new robotic rover on Mars on Thursday, beginning its most ambitious effort in decades to directly study whether there was ever life on the now barren red planet. While the agency has completed other missions to Mars, the $2.7 billion robotic explorer, named Perseverance, carries scientific tools that will bring advanced capabilities to the search for life beyond Earth. The rover, about the size of a car, can use its sophisticated cameras, lasers that can analyze the chemical makeup of Martian rocks and ground-penetrating radar to identify the chemical signatures of fossilized microbial life that may have thrived on Mars when it was a planet full of flowing water."