“It’s clear that Republicans have decided that the fate of the Biden presidency is tied to Covid. And Republicans have chosen to be on the side of the virus.”
— Democratic strategist Eric Schultz, quoted by the Associated Press.
Omicron Forces Biden to Shift Focus
Washington Post: “Biden and his aides have long said his political fortunes are tied to the pandemic response. After a difficult summer highlighted by climbing covid cases, a chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan and supply chain disruptions, White House officials were optimistic about shifting the focus to the president’s economic agenda as the ravages of the delta variant subsided. But the emergence of a new and potentially more dangerous variant has complicated the president’s messaging efforts.”
Politico: “President Joe Biden has staked his presidency on defeating the pandemic. But nearly a year into his term, the administration is crashing into the limits of its power to end the nation’s fight against Covid-19. And in the few places where it could go further, it seems unwilling to do so, as of now.”
GOP Tactics Herald a Grim New Era
Washington Post: “This week’s Senate gridlock, however, amounted to more than simply getting the old band back together for one more gig. After a 10-month flurry of legislating, it heralded a potentially excruciating new era of governing for President Biden and other Democratic leaders, who must deal not only with an emboldened GOP leadership that sees House and Senate majorities well within their grasp, but a cadre of conservatives eager to hijack the basic processes of government if only to make a point.”
Abortion Bans Could Be on Ballot In 3 Swing States
Washington Post: “In 21 states where abortion bans are on the books but Roe makes them unenforceable, a conservative victory in Dobbs could criminalize the practice immediately. Three of those states — Michigan, Arizona and Wisconsin — were decided by single digits in the 2016 and 2020 presidential elections. And each has elections for governor, attorney general and down-ballot offices next year, which could be fought over whether to change abortion bans passed before most voters were born.”
Liberty University Professor Charged In Abduction
“A professor at Liberty University is accused in the abduction and sexual battery of a student,” NBC News reports.
Omicron Wave Is Coming
“South Africa alerted the world to the Omicron variant. Now data out of South Africa may serve as a warning of what we’re facing,” Axios reports.
“South Africa recorded 11,535 new cases Thursday with 22.4% of tests coming back positive — up from an average of about 300 new cases, with a 2% test positivity rate 10 days earlier. The country’s top public health officials expect that exponential rise to continue as Omicron rapidly becomes the dominant variant.”
Washington Post: Coronavirus cases in South Africa nearly triple in three days as fears over omicron grow.
Early Winter Heat Shatters Records
“A widespread and intense heatwave is roasting large portions of the U.S. and Canada, shattering daily and monthly temperature records,” Axios reports.
“Winter is the fastest-warming season across the U.S., and the lingering warmth is shortening the snow season in places like Colorado and Montana, where mountain snowpack is a critical source of water during the summer months.”
McConnell Will Offer No Legislative Agenda for 2022
“Mitch McConnell has told colleagues and donors Senate Republicans won’t release a legislative agenda before next year’s midterms, according to people who’ve attended private meetings with the minority leader,” Axios reports.
“Every midterm cycle, there are Republican donors and operatives who argue the party should release a positive, pro-active governing outline around which candidates can rally. McConnell adamantly rejects this idea, preferring to skewer Democrats for their perceived failures.”
Senate Cuts Deal to Clear Funding Bill
“The Senate cut a deal on Thursday night to pave the way for passing a short-term government funding bill to avert a shutdown,” The Hill reports.
House Passes Funding Bill
“House lawmakers on Thursday adopted a bill to fund the federal government into early next year, but a Republican revolt in the Senate against President Biden’s vaccine policies threatened to grind the government to a halt,” the Washington Post reports.
“The 221-212 vote in the House marked an important development if lawmakers hope to stave off a shutdown set that is set to occur at midnight Friday. But its fate in the Senate seemed in great doubt, as Republicans doubled down in opposition to its swift passage with just over 24 hours before the crucial fiscal deadline.”
New Jersey Republicans Defy Vaccine Policy at Statehouse
“A number of Republican members of the state Assembly openly defied a new COVID-19 vaccine policy at the New Jersey Statehouse on Thursday and took their seats to cast votes anyway — a surreal scene that at one point included a 15-minute standoff between indignant conservative lawmakers and State Police troopers who tried to stop them from entering the chamber,” NJ Advance Media reports.
“The policy, installed Wednesday to combat the coronavirus pandemic, calls for all people to show proof of vaccination against COVID-19 or a negative test to enter the Statehouse.”
Extra Bonus Quote of the Day
“No. There’s a plan in place unless someone decides to be totally erratic.”
— President Biden, when asked if there will be a government shutdown this weekend.
Governor Quashed Report Showing Masks Saved Lives
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson (R) commissioned a report that showed mask mandates saved lives and prevented Covid-19 infections during the worst part of the delta variant wave, but it was never made public, the Kansas City Star reports.
CIA Report Shows Trump Abandoned His Duty
“The CIA is too polite to say this directly, but it has issued a report that shows that Donald Trump, while obsessing over his efforts to overturn the 2020 election, abandoned one of his primary duties as president: to stay fully informed about potential threats to the nation,” Mother Jones reports.
First Tranche of Infrastructure Funds to Fix Lead Pipes
“The first major infusion of federal cash from the bipartisan infrastructure law is on its way to states across the U.S. to overhaul the nation’s aging water infrastructure and dangerous lead pipes,” NBC News reports.
Senate Sinks Into Quagmire of Dysfunction
“The House is beset by historically deep personal animus and vitriol. The Senate is plumbing its own depths of straight-up gridlock,” Politico reports.
“Democratic leaders’ decision to kick some critical business until the end of the year allowed them to write a new infrastructure law and near agreement on a social spending bill. But as the end of the year draws closer, impending deadlines for government funding, the debt ceiling and the annual defense bill are empowering a handful of Republicans to muck everything up — with potentially massive consequences.”
Biden Vows to Fight Omicron with ‘Science and Speed’
“President Biden, confronting a worrisome new coronavirus variant and the potential of a winter surge, laid out a new pandemic strategy on Thursday that includes hundreds of vaccination sites aimed at families, boosters for all adults, new testing requirements for international travelers and free at-home tests that will be covered by private insurers or available at community health centers,” the New York Times reports.
“The push to expand access to at-home testing is a tacit acknowledgment by the White House that vaccination, which the president has touted as the path out of the pandemic, is not enough on its own.”
Washington Post: “The omicron variant has been detected in three U.S. states, with Minnesota and Colorado confirming cases Thursday, a day after one was announced in California.”
Feds Probing Sexual Harassment Claims Against Cuomo
“The U.S. Justice Department is probing claims of sexual harassment by former New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a newly disclosed document reveals,” CNBC reports.
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