A new Pew Research poll finds the share of Republicans who say the effect of science on society has been positive is down 13 points since 2019 — from 70% to 57%.
The Election Democrats Don’t Want to Happen
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Trump Takes Aim at Karl Rove
Former President Donald Trump issued a written statement which called on Fox News to fire Karl Rove as a political commentator, calling him a RINO “of the highest order,” USA Today reports.
Said Trump: “Karl Rove has been losing for years, except for himself.”
Beto O’Rourke Ignites Democratic Hopes He’ll Run
“Beto O’Rourke is on the road again, criss-crossing Texas and broadcasting his stops in small towns live,” CNN reports.
“His efforts have been focused on the crises that have gripped the state: Widespread power outages brought on by the failure of the state’s electric grid during last month’s freezing temperatures, and the battle against the coronavirus pandemic — which Republican Gov. Greg Abbott effectively abandoned this week by dropping the state’s mask mandate and its business restrictions.”
“But O’Rourke’s public re-emergence — and with it, the return of his from-the-road livestreams on Facebook, with 35 videos in the last two weeks — has ignited hopes in his supporters and among prominent Democrats in the state that the former congressman will take on Abbott next year. Increasingly, Democrats say they see Abbott as politically wounded and believe the former congressman who reinvigorated a moribund state party with his 2018 Senate run could offer the best chance of winning the governor’s office in more than a quarter-century.”
Mail Voting Didn’t Swing Election for Biden
Wall Street Journal: “The presidential-election results left the impression that mail-in voting increased turnout and propelled President Biden to victory. But the reality is that voting by mail didn’t do either, Stanford researchers say in a new paper based on the latest data. That finding is notable because mail-in voting has become a controversial topic as many state legislatures debate restricting its use in future elections.”
ABC News: Mail-in voting emerges as main target in renewed voting-rights battle.
Kentucky Bill Would Make It Illegal to Insult a Police Officer
“A bill moving through Kentucky’s Senate would make it a crime to insult or taunt a police officer during a riot,” CBS News reports.
“Supporters say the bill targets people who unlawfully ‘cross the line’ but opponents call it a blatant attempt to crush protests and a violation of First Amendment rights.”
Texas Opts Not to Reverse $16 Billion Electric Overcharge
“The Public Utility Commission of Texas on Friday signaled it didn’t intend to reverse $16 billion in electric overcharges that an independent market monitor had flagged as stemming from the state’s weeklong blackouts,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
Said Commission Chairman Arthur D’Andrea: “It is impossible to unscramble this sort of egg.”
Tina Smith Supports Ending the Filibuster
Sen. Tina Smith (D-MN) announced her support for eliminating the Senate filibuster.
Said Smith: “I’ve made up my mind. We need to move this country forward, and that’s why I’ve decided to come out in support of eliminating the filibuster.”
GOP Fundraises Off Dr. Seuss Being ‘Canceled’
House Republicans are offering donors copies of the Dr. Seuss classic The Cat in the Hat, seeking to capitalize on a new front in the culture war, Axios reports.
Quote of the Day
“I was one of the worst waiters in the history of the country but I was a waiter.”
— Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), quoted by the Washington Post, on raising the tipped minimum wage.
Catsimatidis Mulls Run for New York Governor
John Catsimatidis (R) has been gearing up to run for New York City mayor, but with Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s (D) ongoing scandals, is now “considering a run for governor,” the New York Post reports.
Ron Klain Learned from Obama Mistakes
“White House chief of staff Ron Klain is trying to avoid the pitfalls of the last Democratic administration with his approach to President Biden’s $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package: Don’t spend months pursuing Republican votes and don’t wait to start selling it to the public,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“Mr. Klain, a longtime adviser to Mr. Biden, watched the Obama administration struggle to gain public approval for its economic stimulus package and push for GOP votes for the Affordable Care Act… Now, he is advancing a White House strategy to engage Republicans while preparing to pass the president’s policies without their support.”
“He has also been a key messenger, appearing on cable shows and tweeting so much that some Republican aides on Capitol Hill said his feed has become a must-read.”
A Big Bet on Centrism
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Democrats Agree to Lower Jobless Benefits In Relief Bill
“Senate Democrats have agreed to lower the weekly unemployment benefits to $300 a week in their Covid-19 aid bill, down from $400, but extend them through September, one month longer than the House bill,” the Wall Street Journal reports.
“The first $10,200 of the unemployment benefits won’t be taxable.”
U.S. Sanctions Ukrainian Oligarch
The U.S. sanctioned Ukrainian billionaire and former public official Ihor Kolomoyskyy as an individual involved “in significant corruption.”
Pressure Builds on Biden to Back Ending Filibuster
“Pressure is building on President Biden, a longtime backer of traditional Washington rules, to do away with the filibuster and other procedures, as Democrats press him to seize what could be a fleeting moment of power to enact a progressive agenda,” the Washington Post reports.
“Democrats increasingly worry that popular pieces of Biden’s agenda will hit a wall in the Senate, including his plans for climate change, immigration, gun control, voting rights and LGBT protections. Failing to enact them, they fear, could be a political disaster for Democrats as well as a substantive one.”
Bolsonaro Tells People to ‘Stop Whining’ About Pandemic
Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro told his citizens to “stop whining” about coronavirus pandemic, as he criticized measures to curb the virus despite a surge in cases and deaths, the BBC reports.
Said Bolsonaro: “Stop whining. How long are you going to keep crying about it? How much longer will you stay at home and close everything? No one can stand it anymore. We regret the deaths, again, but we need a solution.”
Democrats Warn of Coming Crisis at the Border
Texas Democrats warn that a crisis at the border could be weeks or even days away, the Houston Chronicle reports.
The warnings come as the Biden administration moves to establish Ellis-Island-style rapid-processing hubs to release migrants into the U.S. within 72 hours.
