With Democrats’ health agenda stalled, lawmakers turn to insulin
The push comes as many other Democratic proposals to lower health care costs remain on ice.
Today's Liberal News
As BA.2 spreads, Biden administration officials call on Congress to pass Covid-19 funding
The Biden administration is looking at approving a second booster shot for some adults within weeks, to improve older Americans’ immunity should infections rise due to the BA.2 subvariant.
The Threat to Free Speech, Beyond ‘Cancel Culture’
This is an edition of Up for Debate, a newsletter by Conor Friedersdorf. On Wednesdays, he rounds up timely conversations and solicits reader responses to one thought-provoking question. Every Friday, he publishes some thoughtful replies. Sign up for the newsletter here.
An Artist Who Makes Me Excited About the Future of Music
Apparently one of the most exciting stories in music this year is a lack of excitement about music. In January, the question “Is old music killing new music?” went viral when a newsletter by the jazz historian Ted Gioia (republished by The Atlantic) highlighted data showing that, from 2020 to 2021, listenership for freshly released songs—in comparison with listenership for older songs—decreased.
America Is About to Test How Long ‘Normal’ Can Hold
At this very moment, the United States, as a whole, remains in its legit pandemic lull. Coronavirus case counts and hospitalizations are lower than they’ve been since last summer. There’s now a nice, chonky gap between us and January’s Omicron peak.And yet. Outbreaks have erupted across Asia.
What Working Mothers Heard in Judge Jackson’s Words
Amid the partisan grandstanding and enumeration of credentials in Ketanji Brown Jackson’s Supreme Court confirmation hearings, a few lines about parenthood pierced me the most. Addressing her two daughters, seated in the audience, Jackson said: “Girls, I know it has not been easy as I have tried to navigate the challenges of juggling my career and motherhood. And I fully admit that I did not always get the balance right.
Biden administration eyeing booster shot recommendation within weeks
An additional dose for those 65 or older is under consideration. But there is concern about moving ahead of the normal FDA process.
Moderna to seek emergency authorization for Covid vaccine for young kids
The company says its shot is safe, effective for youngest children.
Zelensky May Have to Make “Painful Compromises” to End the War, Says Ukrainian Scholar Volodymyr Ishchenko
As the U.S. and its allies ramp up punitive sanctions on Russia and military support for Ukraine, they must be combined with active peace talks, says Ukrainian sociologist Volodymyr Ishchenko. This comes as Russian President Vladimir Putin refuses to rule out the possibility of using nuclear weapons in what has turned into a long, costly war.
GOP Senators Grill Ketanji Brown Jackson over Critical Race Theory, Child Sexual Abuse Cases
Republican senators grilled Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson over her views on critical race theory on the second day of her confirmation hearing to become the first Black woman on the U.S. Supreme Court. “The Republicans are mischaracterizing, misquoting, taking out of context words and speeches that Judge Jackson has made,” says Alexis Hoag, professor at Brooklyn Law School.
Ketanji Brown Jackson: I Was Standing Up for the Constitution by Representing Guantánamo Prisoners
To begin our coverage of day two of the historic nomination hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson, we discuss the attacks by Republicans on her work defending suspects at Guantánamo Bay prison.
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.
Health data breaches swell in 2021 amid hacking surge, POLITICO analysis finds
Health care organizations including providers and insurers in every state except South Dakota reported such incidents last year.
CDC email: Let’s do better with ‘our data’
Agency leadership seeks to improve how it collects and sifts through information to get at better outcomes.
Surgeon general: No need to panic over latest Covid spike in Europe
Vivek Murthy said the nation is in a good position to get through new waves.
U.S. health officials seek Covid-19 hospital safety complaints following POLITICO report
America’s hospital regulator wants patients to report facilities that request they remove their masks.
The South’s health care system is crumbling under Covid-19. Enter Tennessee.
The state is a poster child for how rural areas are suffering disproportionately amid the pandemic in the worst public health crisis in a century.
Opinion | When It Comes to Inflation, Our Focus Should Be On the Cost of Housing
The Federal Reserve is raising interest rates — but Congress has a chance to bring real relief.
U.S. inflation soared 7.9 percent in past year, a fresh 40-year high
The increase reported by the Labor Department reflected the 12 months ending in February and didn’t include most of the oil and gas price increases that followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb.
Russia oil shock looms over Fed inflation fight
The Fed is already expected to begin a campaign of interest rate increases next month in a bid to remove its support for economic growth amid a blistering job market and rapidly rising prices.
Biden takes victory lap with January jobs report
“America’s job machine is going stronger than ever,” Biden said at the White House.
U.S. employers shrug off Omicron, add 467,000 jobs in January
The burst of jobs came despite a wave of Omicron inflections that sickened millions of workers, kept many consumers at home and left businesses from restaurants to manufacturers short-staffed.
Exclusive: Sahrawi Activist Sultana Khaya Speaks from Moroccan-Imposed House Arrest in Western Sahara
In an exclusive interview, we speak with prominent Sahrawi human rights activist Sultana Khaya in occupied Western Sahara. Moroccan authorities have held her and her family under de facto house arrest for nearly 500 days, where she has been subjected to harassment and sexual abuse. A delegation of U.S.-based activists arrived at her home last week to break the siege and ward off police surveillance.
Ukraine update: Ukraine threatens to encircle Russian troops; Biden heads to Europe
The Ukrainian military is now acknowledging several new successes northwest of Kyiv, but whether those successes will result in the true encirclement of the Russian artillery positions north of the city remains unknowable. For the first time, however, such encirclement appears to be a genuine threat to Russian forces.
A tornado has struck New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward, leaving a path of devastation
A large wedge tornado, likely a class 4 or 5 storm, cut a path through New Orleans Lower Ninth Ward on Tuesday evening. It was part of a line of storms that cut across the South. The tornado in the Lower Ninth was just one of several tornadoes in the New Orleans area.
Details are still coming in.
@MargaretOrr here is a video of the tornado my husband matthew burke took in chalmette on chinchilla st. you all have permission to use it! pic.twitter.
Call For Koscar Nominations #3: Outstanding Story by a Downballot Candidate
Daily Kos was born on May 26, 2002. That makes 2022 our 20th anniversary year, and just one of the ways we’re celebrating is by bringing back the Koscars! One of the things that makes Daily Kos special is our open platform, where community members can publish stories alongside staff. The Koscars seek to acknowledge and honor outstanding writing contributions from everyone. The entire Daily Kos membership is “the Academy,” so your votes decide the winners.
Fox News Hosts Thank Pentagon For Rescuing Their Correspondent From Ukraine
“You didn’t help a little, you helped a lot,” Brian Kilmeade told Pentagon spokesperson John Kirby of helping get Benjamin Hall to safety.
Sarah Palin might run for Don Young’s House seat, proving she learned nothing in 2008
If you’re wondering when the Republican Party first took a hard right turn onto Loopy Lane, you need look no further than 2008, when a desperate Sen. John McCain, trying to distance himself from the noxious mound of still-moldering viscera that was the Bush II administration, tapped Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin in a bid to balance the Republican presidential ticket.
Ted Cruz throws tantrum after missing his return spring break flight
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas was hanging out in Montana this weekend, it seems. We only know this because someone who was at the Bozeman Airport on Sunday filmed Cruz freaking out about missing the check-in for his flight.
The GOP’s Cynical And Hypocritical Dark Money Attack On Ketanji Brown Jackson
Republicans relied on dark money to support their judicial nominees under Trump. Now they’re attacking Democrats for it.