Justice Department punts mask ruling appeal to CDC
Administration officials publicly sent mixed signals throughout the day.
Today's Liberal News
Michigan State Senator Delivers Fiery Rebuke After Colleague Accuses Her Of ‘Grooming’ Kids
Mallory McMorrow gave a moving speech on the Michigan Senate floor after a Republican cohort attacked her for her support of the LGBTQ community.
Remember Uranus?
Let’s get it out of the way now. Any comments that might come to mind when you hear the name of the seventh planet from the sun pronounced a certain way—keep them to yourself. No giggles. Absolutely no wisecracks, damn it. No jokes! This is an earnest story about Uranus.Because this is a big day for Uranus.
‘It’s Just Scaring People, and It’s Not Saving Lives’
As the United States nears its numbing, millionth COVID death and shrugs its shoulders at a rise in cases, some Americans are feeling left behind. Immunocompromised people have suffered disproportionately throughout the pandemic, and even those who have been fully vaccinated wonder if they’re really safe. News stories highlight their struggles to adapt to a society that “doesn’t seem to care whether they survive.
The Stepparent’s Dilemma
A little over a decade ago, Lori and David Sims were on the brink of a divorce. Lori had one son from a previous relationship, David had four, and although blending the two families went swimmingly at first, “everything went to crap” in year two, Lori told me. She felt that David was too lenient with his kids, but they wouldn’t listen to her and seemed to deeply resent her involvement in their lives.
The Atlantic, Artist Glenn Kaino, and Superblue Announce A Forest for the Trees, an Immersive Show Opening May 13 in Los Angeles
The Atlantic, artist Glenn Kaino, and Superblue announce today the debut of A Forest for the Trees, an ambitious immersive show created and directed by visionary artist Glenn Kaino that is designed to inspire audiences to reimagine their relationship with the natural world.
The Shame Deficit
It’s odd.The United Kingdom has a hereditary monarchy and a hereditary aristocracy, but strong norms against nepotism in education and the workplace.The U.S. is a republic, a nation founded on anti-hereditary principles, where nepotism is not only permitted but codified—most obviously in the practice of legacy preferences in college admissions.
Biden admin to rescind Trump ‘conscience’ rule for health workers
The move comes as many GOP-led states are moving to limit access to abortions and transgender care.
IMF warns of ‘severe’ global economic risk from war in Ukraine
The war in Ukraine will “severely” set back the global recovery from Covid-19, according to the IMF.
Free Alaa Abd El-Fattah: Meet Sanaa Seif, Just Out of Prison, Calling on Egypt to Release Her Brother
Calls are growing for the release of imprisoned Egyptian activist Alaa Abd El-Fattah, who launched a hunger strike on April 2 to protest the harsh conditions he is held under at Cairo’s Tora prison. Abd El-Fattah, who became a leading voice of the Arab Spring revolution, has been in and out of prison for nearly a decade for his human rights activism. His family recently obtained U.K.
As “Battle of the Donbas” Begins, Russia Launches 1,200+ Strikes Across Ukraine; 7 Killed in Lviv
Ukraine’s president says Russia has started a major offensive to seize the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine while launching missiles at targets across the country. We go outside of Kyiv to get an update from Peter Zalmayev, director of the Eurasia Democracy Initiative. Facing a stronger resistance from Ukrainian defenses than anticipated, Russian President Vladimir Putin is practicing “scorched-earth tactics” and “venting his anger on Ukraine,” says Zalmayev.
Biden Covid chief dismisses utility of lockdowns like China’s
Ashish Jha casts doubt on China’s zero-Covid strategy.
Lawsuit seeks to overturn renewed Philadelphia mask mandate
The suit accuses city health officials of having “usurped the power and authority” of state officials.
‘Sense of urgency’ for HHS climate change office
Lack of dedicated funding and staffing threaten its health-equity goal.
What could go wrong with Biden’s booming economy? Here are the big risks.
The Fed’s campaign to raise interest rates — designed to reduce spending and curb inflation — will slow growth, which will have consequences for American workers.
U.S. inflation jumped 8.5 percent in past year, highest since 1981
Prices have been driven up by bottlenecked supply chains, robust consumer demand and disruptions to global food and energy markets worsened by Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Psaki: Student loan borrowers likely to have to pay debt ‘sometime’
The Biden administration recently extended a Covid-related pause on repayments.
Biden’s mounting midterm threat: Inflation angst outweighing historic job growth
White House officials deny any sense of panic over the economy or their midterm chances.
Democrats want to crack down on Wall Street. Guess who’s getting in the way.
The administration’s difficulties in getting bank cop nominees through a Democratic-controlled Senate underscore the fault lines within the party over how to approach financial regulation.
“Trigger Points”: Author Mark Follman on How the U.S. Can Prevent More Mass Shootings
As the United States reels from an epidemic of mass shootings in schools, trains and other public places, we speak with Mark Follman, national affairs editor at Mother Jones, where he covers gun violence. Follman says mass shootings are typically planned over a period of time and follow a “robust trail of behavioral warning signs” that offer opportunities in community-based violence prevention to stop the crime before it happens.
GOP Gov. Slams Trump-Backed Frontrunner To Replace Him: ‘Seek Help’
Term-limited Pete Ricketts of Nebraska had some blunt advice for Charles Herbster, who is accused of groping eight women.
Marjorie Taylor Greene Loses Bid To Block Reelection Challenge Over U.S. Capitol Riot
A federal judge opens the way for a dramatic showdown to determine the future of the Republican congresswoman who has supported the Jan. 6 insurrectionists.
Jen Psaki Ribs Fox’s Peter Doocy: You’re No Doc And Don’t Even (Usually) Play One On TV
Somebody get that Fox News reporter some first aid.
Ukraine update: Zelenskyy says new Russian assaults in Donbas are now underway
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today publicly announced that Russia’s long-expected Donbas offensive has now begun, with Russia boosting offensive operations throughout eastern Ukraine. What precisely that means is not yet clear; while Russian missile and artillery strikes have escalated in the past few days, the details on Russian ground assaults aren’t yet known.
J.D. Vance, Thrilled With Trump Endorsement, Reportedly Called Him ‘America’s Hitler’ In 2016
“I go back and forth to thinking Trump is a cynical asshole like Nixon … or that he’s America’s Hitler,” the GOP Senate candidate reportedly wrote.
Black immigrants welcome Cameroonian TPS, continue urging relief for Ethiopia and Mauritania
In a victory for Black immigrants and Black-led organizations that have been leading this years-long fight, the Biden administration announced on Friday that it will designate Cameroon for Temporary Protected Status (TPS), citing “extreme violence perpetrated by government forces and armed separatists.”
The decision stands to shield from deportation tens of thousands of Cameroonian immigrants who are already in the U.S., advocates said.
Ukraine Update: There’s no ‘off ramp’ for Putin as Russia’s weaknesses are laid bare to all
The Economist:
This unexpected weakness of Russia in military matters arises from four concurring causes, of which three are inherent in her system, and, if not absolutely incurable, are at best little likely to be cured …
The Russian armies are often armies on paper only.
Trump’s ‘parade of supplicants’ advised to woo the ocher ape with big fonts and color photos
I’m trying to think of anything more undignified than sucking up to colossal loser Donald Trump after everything that’s happened in the past few years—telling him he won elections he lost, groveling for his endorsement, buying overpriced tchotchkes at his cult compound/golf resort, and pretending you’re not staring directly into the sallow, rheumy eyes of primordial evil.
I wouldn’t hire Trump to manage a Chuck E.
Asian father lies in a coma after being carjacked, robbed, and brutally beaten
Across the country, attacks against Asian Americans are increasing due to misconceptions associated with COVID-19. In the most recent incident reported, a father was left in a coma after being brutally attacked in Chinatown in Chicago, Illinois, last week. Identified as Jin Yut Lew, the 61-year-old man was visiting his relatives when he reportedly never returned home after.
His children then made a Facebook page to spread the word about their missing father.
Kimberly Guilfoyle Meets With Jan. 6 Committee
Donald Trump Jr.’s fiance met with the House committee investigating the U.S. Capitol insurrection Monday — more than a month after she abruptly ended a voluntary interview with lawmakers.