New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D) is expected to announce Monday that the state will no longer require students and school employees to wear masks, the New York Times reports.
Andrew Cuomo Says He Regrets Resigning
Former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo (D) told Bloomberg that if he had to do it all over, he wouldn’t have resigned.
Said Cuomo: “I never resigned because I said I did something wrong. I said, I’m resigning because I don’t want to be a distraction.”
“During the interview, Cuomo studiously deflected questions about his political future, repeatedly changing the subject to his sense of anger and betrayal over the probe… He said he can’t begin to talk about his political future until he’s gotten some measure of closure on the Attorney General’s report, preferring instead to re-litigate the details of the accusations against him and the credibility of his accusers.”
Ex-Garcetti Aide Wants Him Charged with Perjury
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti’s (D) onetime chief spokeswoman “has filed a complaint with local, state and federal prosecutors, demanding that he be prosecuted for perjury for repeatedly denying that he knew about another former aide’s alleged sexual misconduct,” the Los Angeles Times reports.
This is not the kind of headline you want while you’re awaiting Senate confirmation to be ambassador to India.
Trump ‘Confused’ That Staff Didn’t Enjoy Capitol Riot
Former White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham told the House Select Committee investigating the Capitol riots that Donald Trump was enjoying watching the riot so much on television that he rewound the video several times to watch it over again, the AP reports.
Grisham said Trump told his staff to “look at all of the people fighting for me” but he was apparently “confused” about why staffers weren’t as excited as him while watching the violence unfold.
The Booster Problem
David Leonhardt: “The United States has a vaccination problem. And it is not just about the relatively large share of Americans who have refused to get a shot. The U.S. also trails many other countries in the share of vaccinated people who have received a booster shot.”
“This is a different problem from outright skepticism of the vaccine. The unvaccinated skew heavily Republican… The vaccinated-but-unboosted more closely resemble the country as a whole. Millions of Americans who have already received two vaccine shots — eagerly, in many cases — have not yet received a follow-up. The unboosted include many Republicans, Democrats and independents and span racial groups.”
Trump Making Millions from Coffee Table Book
CNN: “There wasn’t the huge fanfare most former presidents receive when they ink deals for a memoir; news of the book, a coffee table tome with pictures detailing Trump’s presidency — retailing about $75 and $230 if signed — made barely a blip in the media. But the deal, which CNN can confirm included a multimillion dollar advance for Trump, has quickly and significantly plumped the pockets of the former President.”
“Sales of the book, Our Journey Together, grossed $20 million in less than two months since it went on sale in late November… Part of the book’s popularity among Trump’s base is the captions, all of which he wrote himself, and most of which feature unbridled hot takes on his political enemies.”
Biden Task Force Moves to Strengthen Labor Unions
“A Biden administration task force on organized labor on Monday issued a set of recommendations that could make it easier for federal workers and contractors to unionize,” the AP reports.
Free Community College Proposal Is Dead
“During his first address to Congress last spring, President Biden said that Jill Biden, the first lady, would lead an effort to fulfill his administration’s promise to provide two years of free community college to all eligible students,” the New York Times reports.
“That provision, tucked inside a massive social spending package that has struggled to win the support of all the senators who caucus with the Democrats, was the first lady’s signature legislative initiative. But on Monday, Dr. Biden will address a summit of community college leaders and confirm what her husband has recently suggested: The plan has no future in a bill that Democrats are trying to whittle down in order to salvage.”
Israel Police Used Spyware Against Top Officials
“Israel Police used NSO’s Pegasus spyware to hack the phones of public figures, including protest leaders, journalists, government employees and associates of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu,” Haaretz reports.
Germany Pretends to Be a Reliable NATO Partner
Eurointelligence: “What is not fully appreciated is the sheer degree to which Germany has become a Russian ally. This is not just about Gerhard Schröder, though his influence in the SPD is still very strong. There are many Germans who feel culturally and politically closer to Russia.”
“They may disagree with Putin, but the Russian leader is kind of the devil they know, whereas your average German struggles to figure out US leaders like George W. Bush or Donald Trump.”
Deleted Stacey Abrams Tweet Causes Uproar
Stacey Abrams (D) tweeted a photo of her appearance at a school honoring Black History Month — but she was not wearing a mask like the schoolchildren, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reports.
But the now-deleted post “triggered a Republican backlash that could factor into the November race for governor.”
House Moves Ahead on Short Term Funding Bill
“House and Senate appropriators from both parties negotiated throughout the weekend on a ‘topline number’ for the FY 2022 spending bills. But the two sides didn’t come to an agreement,“ Punchbowl News reports.
“So with no deal in hand, the House is expected to vote on a short-term funding bill this week. Leaders are discussing March 11 as an expiration date for the continuing resolution, but like everything else about this appropriations season, it’s not finalized yet. The Senate could take up the CR this week or next, depending on how quickly the House acts. Funding expires on Feb. 18.”
Trump Stole Documents from White House
“Donald Trump improperly removed multiple boxes from the White House that were retrieved by the National Archives last month from his Mar-a-Lago residence because they contained documents and other items that should have been turned over to the agency,” the Washington Post reports.
“The recovery of the boxes from Trump’s Florida resort raises new concerns about his adherence to the Presidential Records Act, which requires the preservation of memos, letters, notes, emails, faxes and other written communications related to a president’s official duties.”
Can the Democrats Defy History In the 2022 Midterms?
Doug Sosnik tells Playbook that there would need to be a series of developments in order for the Democrats to defy history:
- The virus needs to be contained with the country returning to a new normal.
- Inflation needs to start going down by summer.
- The economy and the stock market need to maintain steady growth, particularly as interest rates begin to rise.
- The supply chain needs to return to normal.
- There is not a global crisis.
- Biden’s job approval rating needs to be in the high 40s by summer.
- Republicans need to nominate unelectable general-election candidates and run lousy campaigns.
- Trump and Republicans need to keep talking about the 2020 election.
Top Biden Adviser Bullied and Demeaned Subordinates
“President Joe Biden’s top science adviser, Eric Lander, bullied and demeaned his subordinates and violated the White House’s workplace policy, an internal White House investigation recently concluded,” Politico reports.
How the Parties Are Killing Competition
“The number of competitive congressional districts is on track to dive near — and possibly below — the lowest level in at least three decades, as Republicans and Democrats draw new political maps designed to ensure that the vast majority of House races are over before the general election starts,” the New York Times reports
“With two-thirds of the new boundaries set, mapmakers are on pace to draw fewer than 40 seats — out of 435 — that are considered competitive based on the 2020 presidential election results.”
Canada-Style Protest Goes Global in Australia
Bloomberg: “A group of anti-vaccination demonstrators and conspiracy theorists have blocked roads and targeted businesses in the Australian capital of Canberra ahead of the return of federal parliament on Tuesday, in an echo of similar protests in Canada.”
Ottawa Mayor Declares State of Emergency
“After nine days of noisy and chaotic disruption, Ottawa’s mayor declared a state of emergency as major cities across the country were hit over the weekend by protests opposed to vaccine mandates and other pandemic restrictions,” the Globe and Mail reports,
“With no end in sight to the protests in the country’s capital, Ottawa police announced that they would begin arresting anyone who attempted to bring material aid, such as fuel, to the protesters, some of whom have set up camp in the city.”
Politico: “It’s not every day that Canada becomes the red-hot center of a global protest movement.”
“But what started as a rally of Canadian truckers angry at cross-border vaccine mandates has fast become a magnet for far-right grievances around the world.”
