‘Clearly not healthy’: Markets are giddy about reopening — and that’s the problem
Investors are pumping up bubbles across markets, with excitement growing about more stimulus and widespread vaccinations.
Today's Liberal News
‘The Democratic version of John McCain’
As the critical swing vote in a 50-50 Senate, Joe Manchin has emerged as the most powerful man in Washington.
Biden Canceled Trump’s “Remain in Mexico” Policy, But Asylum Seekers Still Wait in Squalid Refugee Camps
One of the most controversial Trump-era immigration policies — the so-called Remain in Mexico program, officially called the Migrant Protection Protocols — left about 25,000 asylum seekers stranded on the other side of the border while their cases progressed through U.S. courts. President Joe Biden has suspended that program, but immigrant advocates say his administration needs to move more quickly to undo the damage.
Photos of the Week: Giant Teapot, Arizona Sunset, Egyptian Goose
Moving a home through the streets of San Francisco, ski jumping in Germany, hiking the Great Wall in China, visiting a ski resort in Tehran, opening a “hug room” in Rome, taking a vaccination selfie in Spain, surfing in front of Mount Fuji, walking a snow maze in Manitoba, and much more.
Costco CEO Doesn’t Get Lindsey Graham’s Problem With A $15 Minimum Wage
Costco is upping its minimum pay to $16 an hour because “paying employees good wages makes sense,” W. Craig Jelinek told the Senate Budget Committee.
Thursday night owls: Climate change is weakening ocean currents that shape the weather
This is the final edition of Night Owls, a themed open thread
that has appeared at Daily Kos since 2007.
Bob Berwyn at Inside Climate News writes—Climate Change is Weakening the Ocean Currents That Shape Weather on Both Sides of the Atlantic.
The MyPillow Guy is ‘definitely’ just the beginning: Dominion CEO promises more lawsuits
The CEO of Dominion Voting Systems—which is either a nondescript electronic voting company or a Borg-like collection of sentient machines powered by Hugo Chavez’s ghost, depending on whom you ask—is clearly done playing games. But what he’s not done doing is suing the pants off his company’s detractors. (Not literally, of course. I mean, the company sued Rudy Giuliani, and the one thing you want to leave that guy with is pants.
Capitol Suspect’s Ex Turns Him In After He Calls Her A ‘Moron’ For Doubting Election Fraud
Pennsylvania man Richard Michetti apparently sent his ex-girlfriend text messages and two videos from inside the Capitol.
This Week in Statehouse Action: Good Grief edition
The pandemic situation is gradually improving (scary variants notwithstanding), but pretty much everything else is bad and getting worse.
I feel a little bad about sharing my sadness and dread here, but I’m always going to be honest with you about Statehouse Action.
You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown: Another week, another slew of voter suppression bills from GOP state legislators.
While U.S. taking steps to speed up release of asylum-seeking kids, advocates say concerns remain
The Biden administration will allow officials to bypass policy that required relatives and other sponsors to have to pay for the flights of unaccompanied asylum-seeking children in U.S. custody, the Associated Press (AP) reports. Government policy has typically required sponsors to have to pay for the transportation costs of children they’ve agreed to care for.
Mitch McConnell Says He’d ‘Absolutely’ Back Donald Trump In 2024 Presidential Race
It’s a stunning turnaround from his angry comments this month that Trump was “practically and morally responsible” for the deadly storming of the Capitol.
‘His eyes enlarged’: Chicago cops accused of violently arresting man for looking shocked to see them
Newly released police video shows a Black Chicago officer grabbing the neck of another Black man, slamming him against a brick wall, and forcing him onto the pavement, allegedly for looking shocked to see officers. That’s right. Officers claimed in an incident report ABC 7 Chicago obtained that they approached Leroy Kennedy IV on Aug.
Senate Parliamentarian Rules Against $15 Minimum Wage In COVID-19 Bill
This is a devastating blow to the campaign to raise the minimum wage
When a Company Invests in an ‘Underdog City’
The country is full of “underdog cities”—communities and regions that are aware of losing out and having been overlooked. Some are in Appalachia, some in the Deep South, some around the Great Lakes, some in inland regions of otherwise-prospering states in the West.
The Winter Surge Is Melting Away
Editor’s Note: The Atlantic is making vital coverage of the coronavirus available to all readers. Find the collection represent people who died on that day. Reported deaths lag behind cases by two to three weeks on average, and many reported deaths actually took place substantially earlier. When reported cases rose during previous surges, deaths lagged weeks behind. The same is true now, as cases decline.
The Fate Of Neera Tanden’s Nomination Comes Down To 1 Moderate GOP Senator
Alaska Sen. Lisa Murkowski is undecided on Joe Biden’s pick to lead a key White House office. She could be the decisive vote.
Listen: Infections, Vaccinations, and Other Questions
On this episode of the podcast Social Distance, listeners with mild COVID-19 cases call in with their questions. James Hamblin explains why he thinks the summer could be wonderful. And Maeve Higgins shares nun news from Ireland.Listen to their conversation here:Subscribe to Social Distance to receive new episodes as soon as they’re published.
100 Years Ago in Photos: A Look Back at 1921
A century ago, Russia was enduring a terrible famine, the Irish Free State was created, U.S. President Warren Harding was inaugurated, the Tulsa race massacre took place in Oklahoma, a new machine called a “dishwasher” was introduced, New York’s Madison Square Garden was home to “the world’s largest indoor swimming pool,” and much more. Please take a moment to look back at some of the events and sights from around the world 100 years ago.
What Those Shocking Texas Power Bills Have in Common With Uber Surges, Broadway Tickets, and Airfare
It’s called marginal-cost pricing, and it isn’t just a red-state problem.
Serve Up Your Crispiest Fantasies With This Air Fryer, Now on Sale
The Ultrean Air Fryer is now $59, or 38 percent off the regular price.
White House planning to forecast vaccine shipments months in advance
The longer planning window could address concerns from governors who complained that limited shipment forecasts affect their planning abilities.
“Decades in the Making”: How Mainstream Conservatives & Right-Wing Money Fueled the Capitol Attack
As more details emerge about those who attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, it’s becoming clearer that the insurrection was not the work of a “fringe” group, but rather the result of a decades-long conservative effort to undermine democracy, according to author Brendan O’Connor.
“Not Ready to Give Up”: Democrats Push Senate to Keep Popular $15 Minimum Wage in Stimulus Bill
As the House of Representatives prepares to pass a $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief package, a fight is brewing over the inclusion of an increase to the federal minimum wage to $15 an hour. The measure is at risk in the Senate, where conservative Democrats Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Arizona’s Kyrsten Sinema oppose its inclusion in the relief bill or suggest a lower amount.
100+ Countries Push to Loosen WTO Rules on Vaccine Patents. Why Is the U.S. Still Blocking the Way?
As the pandemic’s death toll nears 2.5 million, stringent rules around intellectual property rights could be preventing much of the world from obtaining COVID-19 vaccines. Over 45 million people in the United States have received at least one dose of a vaccine, according to the United Nations, while 130 other countries have not received any vaccines at all, leading to what some describe as “vaccine apartheid.
Ask a Teacher: Teachers Keep Telling Me My Stepdaughter Would Be Better Off With Her Mom
How can I get her teacher to stop making these comments?
Fraud fears and messy data stall FEMA program for Covid victims
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is set to dole out cash to families of Americans who died of Covid-19, but there is potential for widespread fraud.
How Screwed Is the Trump Hotel D.C.?
The former president is stuck with a money-losing monument to his administration’s graft, and so is Washington.
What Is Salesforce Really Selling?
Behind the flashy events and quasi-spiritual jargon is a software service that wants to swallow the whole business world.
The Bigger Issue Behind the Student Debt Forgiveness Debate
The argument over how much debt to cancel—and how to cancel it—needs to focus on the causes of the racial wealth gap.