jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 The Week @TheWeek 10 things you need to know today: theweek.com 10 things you need to know today: January 26, 2022 U.S. explores boosting Europe fuel supply if Russia cuts off gas, Pfizer starts testing of Omicron vaccine version, and more 7:07 AM · Jan 26, 2022·Sprout Social 1. Biden discussing gas alternatives for Europe if Russia cuts off fuel The Biden administration is exploring ways to boost liquefied natural gas deliveries to Europe if Russia cuts off fuel over the Ukraine crisis, CNN reported Tuesday, citing multiple U.S. officials familiar with the discussions. The United States has been talking for weeks to governments and companies in Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia to work out a global strategy to replace any lost gas exports from Russia. The discussions have reached a "fairly advanced stage," one senior U.S. official said. European allies are concerned Russia could withhold gas exports, weaponizing them to discourage a harsh response if it invades Ukraine. Ukraine's leaders said a Russian invasion isn't imminent but the threat is real. [CNN, The Associated Press] 2. Pfizer starts trial for Omicron vaccine Pfizer and BioNTech announced Tuesday that they had started a trial to assess the effectiveness of the version of their coronavirus vaccine adjusted to target the Omicron variant. The drugmakers said they were enrolling adults ages 18 to 55 in the U.S. and South Africa to test safety and protection of the new version against COVID-19 when given as an initial vaccination or a booster shot. Pfizer CEO Albert Bourla has said the company could seek authorization to begin distribution in March, if the trial shows it is safe and effective. Trial results are expected in the first half of the year. The companies said they could make four billion doses this year. Laboratory studies have shown that Omicron is more resistant to currently available vaccines than previous variants. [The Wall Street Journal] 3. College Board says SAT is going digital The College Board announced Tuesday that the SAT soon will go completely digital, with students filling it out on tablets and laptops instead of on paper with No. 2 pencils. The exam also will be shortened from three hours to two hours, starting in 2024 in the United States and in 2023 in other countries. The changes come after years of questions about whether the high-pressure college entrance exam is fair and necessary. The coronavirus pandemic has sped up the trend toward test-optional college admissions. The number of high school students taking the test fell from 2.2 million in 2020 to 1.5 million in the class of 2021, but has rebounded to 1.7 million so far for this year's seniors, according to the College Board. [The New York Times] 4. N.Y. appeals judge temporarily restores state mask mandate A New York appeals court judge on Tuesday temporarily restored the state's mask mandate, a day after a lower court judge ruled that Gov. Kathy Hochul needed approval from lawmakers to make people wear face coverings to fight the spread of the coronavirus. Appellate Division Justice Robert Miller granted the state's request to continue enforcing the policy while it appeals. The lower court's ruling had sparked confusion as school districts, primarily in heavily Republican parts of the state, hurried to make masks optional, and state education officials told districts to keep mask requirements in place. Attorney General Letitia James, a Democrat, said her office would defend the mandate because "we know that wearing a mask saves lives." [The Associated Press] 5. Biden administration pulls vaccine mandate for big companies The Biden administration is withdrawing its vaccine-or-test mandate for large companies, the Labor Department announced Tuesday. The Supreme Court blocked the policy earlier this month, and the decision to pull it suggested the administration sees no way to restore it. "It's their admitting what everyone had been saying, which is that the rule is dead," Brett Coburn, a lawyer at Alston & Bird, said to The New York Times. The Supreme Court's newly expanded conservative majority ruled that the Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, overstepped its authority by imposing the rule, which would have required about 80 million workers to show they had been vaccinated or submit to weekly COVID-19 tests. [The New York Times] 6. CDC report says Omicron results in less severe COVID-19 The Omicron coronavirus variant causes less severe cases of COVID-19 among people needing hospitalization than previous strains, researchers for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported Tuesday. People hospitalized after Omicron infections were admitted less frequently to intensive care, and had shorter hospital stays overall than patients sickened by previous variants. The report confirmed earlier signs that Omicron resulted in milder COVID-19 cases. Still, Omicron is so highly contagious that it has caused record numbers of infections, and the volume of the cases has pushed daily deaths to more than 2,200 on average, among the highest death tolls since early 2021. [The Washington Post] 7. U.K. police investigate Downing Street lockdown parties British police said Tuesday that they were investigating lockdown parties held at Prime Minister Boris Johnson's Downing Street official residence in what critics have said were violations of the government's own coronavirus restrictions. The allegations have left Johnson fighting calls for his resignation. Reports of copious amounts of alcohol and jokes by staff about how to explain the revelry to reporters have left Johnson's reputation badly tarnished and his ratings in a free fall. ITV reported Monday that Johnson and his now-wife Carrie went to a 30-person surprise party on his birthday in the Cabinet Room in June 2020, when his government had banned indoor gatherings. Johnson's office has said he spent "less than 10 minutes" at the birthday celebration, and that he didn't believe he had broken any laws. [Reuters, CNN] 8. Alex Jones says he pleaded the Fifth 'almost 100 times' during Jan. 6 testimony Far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones said Tuesday on his radio show that he used his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination "almost 100 times" on Monday during his testimony before the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 Capitol attack. Jones said he wanted to answer the questions, but "at the same time, it's a good thing I didn't, because I'm the type that tries to answer things correctly, even if I don't know all the answers, and they can then kind of claim that's perjury." The committee's chair, Rep. Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.), sent Jones a letter last month that stated the panel had evidence Jones helped plan and fund the "Stop the Steal" rally that was held immediately before the Capitol attack. [NBC News] 9. RFK Jr. apologizes for Anne Frank anti-vax remark Robert F. Kennedy Jr. apologized Tuesday for invoking the name of Anne Frank, a Jewish girl who died in a Nazi concentration camp, to suggest that Jews had freedoms during the Holocaust that unvaccinated Americans don't. RFK Jr. tweeted that he was "truly and deeply sorry" for the pain his remarks caused. "My intention was to use examples of past barbarism to show the perils from new technologies of control," wrote Kennedy, the son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy (D-N.Y.) and nephew of President John F. Kennedy. RFK Jr. has faced sharp criticism for his comments. The Auschwitz Memorial said that "exploiting" those "humiliated, tortured & murdered" by the Nazis "in a debate about vaccines & limitations during global pandemic is a sad symptom of moral & intellectual decay." [The Hill] 10. David Ortiz is lone player elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame Former Boston Red Sox slugger David Ortiz was the only player to be elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame this year. "I am truly honored and blessed," Ortiz said in a statement Tuesday. Ortiz, a.k.a. Big Papi, hit 541 career home runs, plus 17 in the postseason, and was a World Series champ three times. He was the second player from the curse-breaking Red Sox to be admitted to the Hall of Fame, joining former pitcher and fellow Dominican Republic native Pedro Martinez. Ortiz was named on 77.9 percent of ballots, surpassing the 75-percent threshold in his first year of eligibility. Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens, tarnished by suspicions of performance-enhancing drug use, were passed over in their 10th and final year of eligibility. [USA Today, The New York Times] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Mediaite @Mediaite Geraldo Challenges Tucker Praising 'Authoritarian' Orban: 'Do You Want America to Be More Like Hungary?' mediaite.com Geraldo Tests Tucker Over 'Authoritarian' Orban: 'You Want America to Be More Like Hungary?' Fox News' Geraldo Rivera asked network primetime host Tucker Carlson if he would like to see the U.S. become more like “authoritarian” Hungary on Tuesday. 7:20 PM · Jan 25, 2022·TweetDeck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Bill Kristol @BillKristol Tucker hates America. 8:53 PM · Jan 25, 2022·Twitter Web App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Mediaite @Mediaite Roger Stone believes "that Donald Trump made the political career of Ron DeSantis, and therefore DeSantis owes the former president wide berth." mediaite.com Roger Stone Says Trump 'Would Crush' Ron DeSantis in Primary "Prior to Donald Trump's endorsement, Ron DeSantis was a little-known congressman with an ill-fitting suit, a bad haircut, and an undistinguished record." 4:00 AM · Jan 26, 2022·TweetDeck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Daily Mail US @DailyMail Experts say Biden's offer to replace Europe's gas supplies if Putin turns off the taps 'is just not physically possible' dailymail.co.uk WH to brief congressional staff today on Ukraine-Russia conflict With Congress out of session, members will wait until next week for their own briefing on Ukraine, but Hill aides and committee staff will have two meetings with the administration on Tuesday. 6:11 AM · Jan 26, 2022·SocialFlow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 The Daily Beast @thedailybeast The Department of Homeland Security is warning that violent domestic groups and racially motivated extremists may attack the electric sector. thedailybeast.com DHS Warns That Right-Wing Extremists Could Attack Power Grid The Department of Homeland Security is warning that violent domestic groups and racially motivated extremists may attack the electric sector. 6:00 AM · Jan 26, 2022·SocialFlow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 The Associated Press @AP Pope Francis urged parents not to condemn their children if they are gay, in his latest gesture of outreach to the LGBTQ community which has long been marginalized by the Catholic hierarchy. apnews.com Pope urges parents to accompany, not condemn, gay children VATICAN CITY (AP) — Pope Francis urged parents on Wednesday not to condemn their children if they are gay, in his latest gesture of outreach to the LGBTQ community, which has long been marginalized... 12:01 PM · Jan 26, 2022·SocialFlow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Raw Story @RawStory Morning Joe warns Newt Gingrich and other Trump apologists: 'They're not going to outrun the law' rawstory.com Morning Joe warns Newt Gingrich and other Trump apologists: 'They're not going to outrun the law' MSNBC's Joe Scarborough blasted Republicans who are continuing to defend Donald Trump and his right-wing allies from the gathering legal storm.The twice-impeached one-term president continues to... 8:38 AM · Jan 26, 2022·Hootsuite Inc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 MSNBC @MSNBC 'I didn't know they were that far in the building': Jan. 6th hero officer breaks silence msnbc.com Jan. 6th hero officer breaks silence Capitol Police officer Eugene Goodman speaks publicly for the first time since the Jan. 6th insurrection. It comes as far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones confirms he met with the committee... 9:16 AM · Jan 26, 2022·SocialFlow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 World News Tonight @ABCWorldNews Some residents in Atlanta's wealthiest neighborhood say they want to leave the city and start a new one, saying they are concerned with crime. But the idea comes with an increasing number of economic and social concerns as it gains steam. abcnews.go.com Rising crime rate behind neighborhood's idea to secede from Atlanta The separation worries leaders in Atlanta of its potential impact in the region. 9:14 AM · Jan 26, 2022·SocialFlow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Axios @axios It's official: The stock market is having the worst start to a year ever axios.com It's official: Stock market having worst start to year ever Tech shares tend to get disproportionately dinged up when interest rates rise. 9:20 AM · Jan 26, 2022·SocialFlow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 HuffPost @HuffPost The Florida Republican railed against the "reckless spending" contained in the measure, which passed with wide bipartisan support last year. huffpost.com Florida Sen. Rick Scott Touts Infrastructure Funding He Voted Against The Florida Republican railed against the "reckless spending" contained in the measure, which passed with wide bipartisan support last year. 7:54 PM · Jan 25, 2022·PubHub by BuzzFeed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 The Associated Press @AP BREAKING: Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring from the Supreme Court. The vacancy created by the liberal judge gives Biden the first high court pick of his presidency. Breyer’s retirement gives Biden an opportunity to nominate a Black woman to the Supreme Court, a promise he first made during his campaign. No Black woman has ever before served on the nation's highest court. Breyer joined the Supreme Court in 1994 after being nominated by President Bill Clinton. At 83, he is the court’s oldest justice. With Breyer’s retirement, conservative Justice Clarence Thomas becomes the oldest member of the court at 73. apnews.com AP sources: Justice Breyer to retire; Biden to fill vacancy WASHINGTON (AP) — Liberal Supreme Court Justice Stephen Breyer is retiring, giving President Joe Biden an opening he has pledged to fill by naming the first Black woman to the high court, two sources... 12:20 PM · Jan 26, 2022·SocialFlow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Brian J. Karem @BrianKarem Question: What's the over/under on the time it will take members of the GOP to announce they'll try to resist seating a new justice until after midterms? 12:40 PM · Jan 26, 2022·Twitter Web App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Harry Litman @harrylitman It seems clear in retrospect that Breyer was urging calm in response to all the screams for his retirement and was planning to do it methodically in plenty of time for a new nomination.Traditional time for announcements is end of the term so this is planned to give WH extra time. 12:39 PM · Jan 26, 2022·Twitter Web App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Jennifer Bendery @jbendery Schumer on Breyer's retirement: “President Biden’s nominee will receive a prompt hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, and will be considered and confirmed by the full United States Senate with all deliberate speed.” 12:51 PM · Jan 26, 2022·Twitter Web App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 West Wing Reports @WestWingReport Biden's Supreme Court appointee won't change the current rightward tilt of the court, of course. After Breyer's retirement, the oldest two members of the court will be conservatives: Thomas turns 74 in June Alito turns 72 in April 12:53 PM · Jan 26, 2022·Twitter Web App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 philip lewis @Phil_Lewis_ potential nominees to replace Justice Stephen Breyer on the Supreme Court, including Sherrilyn Ifill and Ketanji Brown Jackson 12:53 PM · Jan 26, 2022·Twitter Web App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 Elie Mystal @ElieNYC There are about to be more Black Supreme Court justices than Black head coaches in the NFL. 12:57 PM · Jan 26, 2022·Twitter Web App Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 The Associated Press @AP President Joe Biden has nominated six lawyers to run U.S. attorney’s offices across the country, including the first woman to serve as a U.S. attorney in Utah and the first Black woman to serve as a U.S. attorney in Connecticut. apnews.com Biden nominating 6 lawyers for federal prosecutor posts WASHINGTON (AP) — President Joe Biden is nominating six lawyers to run U.S. attorney’s offices across the country, a diverse group of candidates in the latest picks for the top law enforcement... 11:18 AM · Jan 26, 2022·SocialFlow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 The Associated Press @AP The U.S. Coast Guard battled time and currents as aircraft and ships searched for 38 people missing in the Atlantic off Florida, four days after the capsizing of a suspected smuggling boat killed at least one and left one known survivor. apnews.com Coast Guard searches vast sea for 39 people lost off Florida MIAMI (AP) — The Coast Guard searched through the night Wednesday for 39 people missing from a capsized boat after a solitary survivor was found clinging to the overturned hull off the Florida coast. 11:31 AM · Jan 26, 2022·SocialFlow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jakeem Posted January 26 Share Posted January 26 NPR @NPR Peter Robbins, the actor who first gave voice to the beloved Peanuts character Charlie Brown, has died at age 65. Robbins embraced many aspects of having portrayed one of America's most beloved characters, including naming his own dog Snoopy. npr.org Peter Robbins, who voiced Charlie Brown in the 1960s, has died As a child actor, Robbins voiced one of Charlie Brown's most famous lines — "I got a rock" — in It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. 1:00 PM · Jan 26, 2022·SocialFlow Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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