Good Monday morning.
Two minutes of hate:
Today, the Senate will begin the confirmation hearing for Merrick Garland, the Biden Administration’s nominee for Attorney General. In his prepared remarks for today’s hearing, USA Today explains that Garland will vow “to defend the Justice Department’s independence from the White House and make the battle against extremism ‘central’ to the department’s mission.” Biden has said that the Garland nomination is “an attempt to reset a Justice Department roiled by politics and efforts by former President Donald Trump to use the institution to advance his political interests.” Sure, man.
Related: Questions the GOP Should Ask Merrick Garland
Democrat Representative and political operative Charlie Crist (D-Florida) wants the DoJ to investigate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis over allegations he chose vaccine sites to benefit political supporters. Obviously, this is an attempt to distract attention away from New York Governor and media darling Andrew Cuomo, who hid the number of nursing home fatalities he ordered from federal authorities and victims of his political decisions. DeSantis has successfully managed his state during the pandemic, opening it up for its residents so they may live as a free people. DeSantis is also a threatening presidential possibility so the Democrats need to neutralize him.
“I write with concern about reports that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is establishing coronavirus vaccine distribution and administration sites to select locations to benefit political allies and donors, over the needs of higher risk communities and existing county waitlists,” Crist wrote.
“In several cases, these sites seem to be targeted to wealthy communities with whom Governor DeSantis has clear political connections, allowing some to skip to the front of the line in counties with existing waitlists,” the representative continued.
Obviously, the Garland DoJ will not be “roiled in politics” and will turn away such political gamesmanship.
Finally, from the “No more mean tweet files” we have Iran announcing it will being limiting international monitoring of its nuclear sites. Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that:
IAEA surveillance cameras at some of Iran’s nuclear sites would be shut off Tuesday, in line with a law passed by Iran’s Parliament. These cameras were installed as part of an “additional protocol” of the nuclear deal. Also, some nuclear inspectors will be barred from the sites.
This certainly seems like a demonstration of good faith to me.
My latest podcast episode: Julie Kelly and I talk to Ben Weingarten about the Biden Administration’s war on political dissent.
Harris-Biden Administration:
Garland expected to become Biden’s AG after high court hold up
Merrick Garland vows to fight discrimination, domestic extremism as attorney general
Dems prepare for party-line House vote on Biden’s pandemic aid bill
Schumer says he is working with Biden ‘to find the extra votes’ to confirm Neera Tanden
Biden to mark upcoming 500,000 Covid deaths with candle lighting ceremony
Civil unrest/CRT/BLM:
2-year-old punched in the face by panhandler on Manhattan subway: cops
Former Florida officer arrested after live streaming from inside US Capitol during breach, FBI says
Yale Law Students Said a Top Journal Was Racist. Admissions Data Suggest Otherwise.
Malcolm X kin: Letter from former cop implicates NYPD, feds in his murder
Oath Keepers leader charged in Capitol riot claims she met with Secret Service
Man randomly slashed from cheek to neck at Bronx subway station
1 dead, 4 injured in shooting at American Legion in Missouri
Coronavirus news:
Good grief. Fauci: Possible we could still be wearing masks in 2022
Funny. ‘SNL’ under fire for ‘anti-Semitic’ joke about Israeli COVID vaccine rollout
Trump National Security Official Says Evidence For Wuhan Lab Error ‘Far Outweighs’ Other Theories
Wuhan Lab Kept NIH Funding Despite Trump Crackdown
Disgusting. The Non-Covid Spending Blowout
China has not given ‘sufficient original data’ on COVID origin: WH adviser
Facebook political ad ban blocks pro-vaccine messages
As 500,000th Covid death looms, US reaches pivotal moment
Other morsels:
Family of 11-year-old boy who died in Texas deep freeze files $100 million suit against power companies
$1.1M to be exact. Newsom recall proponents gather more than a million signatures
Windmills failed. As Texas went dark, Fox News blamed windmills
Arkansas’ Republican governor says he wouldn’t support 2024 Trump run
Amazon Removes Book Critiquing Transgender Movement
Idiots. Disney+ Puts Warning Label Ahead Of ‘The Muppet Show’ Episodes, Cites ‘Negative Depictions’
Armed Store Employees And Patrons Stop Gunman After 2 Were Fatally Shot
Minnesota returns land to Lower Sioux Indian Community after decades-long battle
Probably more. Almost half of Republicans would join Trump party: poll
Pence Declined Invitation To Speak At CPAC
AOC raises nearly $5 million in Texas relief efforts
And that’s all I’ve got, now go beat back the angry mob!