US News
- Congressman Matt Gaetz warns Republicans against opposing marijuana legalization. [Link]
- Biden’s choice for Health and Human Services Secretary is Xavier Becerra. As California’s AG Becerra pushed gun regulations, enforced marijuana laws, attempted to add regulations to ride-sharing apps, and conflates prostitution with sex trafficking. [Link]
- The proposed Covid bailout bill includes another $25 billion of taxpayer money to be gifted to airlines. The bailouts will save 35,000 jobs. It will cost over $700,000 to temporarily save each job. [Link]
- A school board is refusing to remove a suspension from a 4th graders record. The boy was suspended for having a BB gun appear on his video during an online class. [Link]
Foreign Policy
- Fourteen soldiers at Fort Hood were fired or suspended after a string of murders, sexual assaults, and harassment. [Link]
- Biden is now considering retired General Lloyd Austin to be Secretary of Defense. Biden received significant pushback on his first choice Michele Flournoy. Austin is a Raytheon board member and would need a waiver from Congress to sit in the position intended for civilians. [Link]
- The Pentagon spending bill passed by the House includes sanctions that target the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. [Link]
China
- The US announced a new $280 million weapons sale to Taiwan. [Link]
- The US sanctioned 14 Chinese officials. [Link]
- The US sanctioned several companies and ships for allegedly transporting North Korean coal. Several of the companies were Chinese. [Link]
Middle East
- Unnamed EU, US, and Israeli officials are leaking to the mainstream media to play up the threats of an Iranian attack. [Link]
- Senate Leader McConnell says he supports the $23 billion weapons sale to the UAE. a bipartisan coalition is attempting to block the sale. [Link]
- Influential Iraqi cleric Sadr is looking for more political power in Iraq, possibly to become the prime minister. [Link]
- The US sanctioned Iran’s envoy to Yemen. [Link]
- Fighting in central Yemen leaves 26 dead. [Link]
