“Omicron infections are trending down nationally, but the number of deaths is as high now as it was during the summer’s Delta wave,” Axios reports.
War May Loom, but Are There Offramps?
“Russian troops are encircling Ukraine from three sides. In Washington and Brussels, there are warnings of crushing sanctions if Vladimir Putin orders an invasion. Embassy families — both American and Russian — are being evacuated from Kyiv,” the New York Times reports.
“Yet there are still diplomatic options — ‘offramps’ in the lingo of the negotiators — and in the next several days the Biden administration and NATO are expected to respond, in writing, to Mr. Putin’s far-reaching demands.”
“The question is whether there is real potential for compromise in three distinct areas: Russia’s demand for ironclad assurances that Ukraine won’t enter NATO; that NATO won’t further expand; and that Russia can somehow restore some approximation of its sphere of influence in the region to before the strategic map of Europe was redrawn in the mid-1990s.”
Court Throws Out Alabama Map
“A panel of three federal judges threw out Alabama’s congressional map on Monday and ordered state lawmakers to draw a new one with two, rather than just one, districts that are likely to elect Black representatives,” the New York Times reports.
“The case is certain to be appealed and could lead to the U.S. Supreme Court addressing the question of whether lawmakers can draw political maps to achieve a specific racial composition, a practice known as racial gerrymandering.”
Bipartisan Infrastructure Group Turns to Election Reform
“The bipartisan group focused on updating the Electoral Count Act of 1887 is seizing on this recess period to court senators more freely,” Axios reports.
“The group is led by Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) and includes many members who helped reach the bipartisan infrastructure deal. They see themselves as the only hope of creating an election reform package able to muster 60 votes in the Senate.”
Pompeo Spends Big on Media Training
“Mike Pompeo’s political action committee spent $30,000 on media training from last March to June — the most on any service beyond payroll during the first six months of 2021,” Axios reports.
“The former secretary of State hasn’t just been losing weight but working to hone his media skills amid speculation about a possible presidential run, records show.”
“The spending highlights the premium Pompeo places on upgrading his personal and political brand, amid a renewed presence on the airwaves.”
Democratic Lawmaker May Have Bribed Primary Rival
The Office of Congressional Ethics said that it had found reason to believe that Rep. Marie Newman (D-IL) offered a job to a potential primary opponent in exchange for the rival to drop out of the race, Insider reports.
The case now goes to the House Ethics Committee, where it will be reviewed by her peers.
Exchange of the Day
At the end of a photo op, Peter Doocy of Fox News shouted a question to President Biden:
DOOCY: Do you think inflation is a political liability in the midterms?
BIDEN: It’s a great asset—more inflation. What a stupid son of a bitch.
Sheldon Silver Dies In Prison
“Sheldon Silver, the Democratic powerhouse who ruled Albany until he was convicted on federal corruption charges in a stunning fall from grace, has died,” the New York Post reports.
Basketball Star Claims 100 Athletes Died of Vaccine
Hall of Fame basketball player John Stockton falsely told the Spokane Spokesman-Review that more than 100 professional athletes have died of Covid vaccination.
Said Stockton: “I think it’s highly recorded now, there’s 150 I believe now, it’s over 100 professional athletes dead – professional athletes – the prime of their life, dropping dead that are vaccinated, right on the pitch, right on the field, right on the court.”
Turkish Journalist Arrested for Insulting Erdogan
A Turkish journalist has been sent to prison for “insulting” the nation’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, CNN reports.
Why More Inexperienced Candidates Are Running
Geoffrey Skelley: “For starters, inexperienced contenders just don’t face the same barriers they once did in attracting financial support from interest groups and donors. Traditionally, it’s been a challenge for newcomers to attract donations from political action committees, which are often key to congressional candidates raising enough money to win their elections.”
“Beyond money, though, voters are also increasingly disillusioned with our institutions, especially Congress, and are also attracted to anti-establishment rhetoric. As a result, they may assign less value to a candidate’s previous elected experience and may be more receptive to outsider candidates with messages promising to shake things up.”
“The increased success of inexperienced candidates may also speak to the weakness of our political parties, which serve less of a gatekeeping role than they once did.”
Judges Greenlight Special Grand Jury In Trump Probe
“A panel of Fulton County judges on Monday cleared the way for a special grand jury to be used as part of District Attorney Fani Willis’ investigation of former President Donald Trump and his efforts to overturn Georgia’s 2020 election results,” the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
“Special grand juries, which include 16 to 23 people, are rare in Georgia. They can’t issue indictments but can subpoena witnesses and compel the production of documents and information. Unlike regular grand juries, they can be seated for longer than two months and are focused on a singular case.”
New York Democrats Will Control Redistricting
“New York’s bipartisan redistricting commission has failed to reach consensus on a new congressional map, ensuring that the state’s Democratic lawmakers will redraw district lines in a process that could affect control of the U.S. House of Representatives in November’s midterm elections,” Reuters reports.
“The panel had until Tuesday to vote on a map to send to state legislators. Instead, Democratic and Republican commissioners exchanged accusations of political bias in dueling statements on Monday that made it clear no agreement would be forthcoming.”
Aid to Poor Mothers Improved Brain Function in Babies
“An experiment 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 New York Times reports.
Tucker Carlson Viewers Want U.S. to Side with Russia
Rep. Tom Malinowski (D-NJ) tweeted that people have called his office telling him the U.S. should be “siding with Russia” instead of Ukraine as tensions escalate between the two countries.
Said Malinowski: “My office is now getting calls from folks who say they watch Tucker Carlson and are upset that we’re not siding with Russia in its threats to invade Ukraine, and who want me to support Russia’s ‘reasonable’ positions.”
Pentagon Puts 8,500 Troops on Heightened Alert
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has placed 8,500 U.S. troops on “heightened preparedness to deploy” to eastern Europe in case NATO activates its rapid-response force over tensions with Russia, Axios reports.
GOP Lawmaker’s Wife Improperly Involved In His Office
“A newly released report by the Office of Congressional Ethics alleges that Rep. Doug Lamborn’s (R-CO) wife has been improperly involved in the running of his congressional office, including routinely asking staffers to perform personal errands on official time, such as moving furniture or setting up Zoom meetings,” Punchbowl News reports.
“Jeanie Lamborn ‘often sleeps’ in the office with the congressman, and she reportedly had an official House email address.”
California Lawmaker Proposes Student Vaccine Mandate
California state Sen. Richard Pan (D) “is proposing to require that all schoolchildren receive a Covid-19 vaccine starting in 2023, a law that would be the nation’s strictest student mandate if approved,” Politico reports.
