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Monday, December 20, 2021

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Manchin to Reject Build Back Better Act; Biden, “Undone by His Own Hubris”

New York Times: Senator Joe Manchin III, Democrat of West Virginia, said on Sunday that he could not support President Biden’s signature $2.2 trillion social safety net, climate and tax bill, dooming his party’s drive to pass its marquee domestic policy legislation as written (NewYorkTimes). Fox News: “When you have these things coming at you the way they are right now … I cannot vote to continue with this piece of legislation,” he said, stating that if he cannot explain to his constituents why he would vote for a bill, then he cannot vote for it, despite all the work he and other Democrats have put into trying to make it work (Fox News). Rich Lowry: He’s been undone by his own hubris and poor judgment (Twitter). Katie Pavlich: The White House is fuming after Democratic Senator Joe Manchin announced on Fox News Sunday he has no plans to vote for President Joe Biden’s multi-trillion dollar spending plan and will not vote to continue working on the legislation (Townhall). Breitbart: Democrats have hoped to use budgetary reconciliation to pass the legislation, as that would allow Democrats to pass the bill using a simple majority in Congress’ upper chamber. However, since Democrats only have a one-member majority, it would require the approval of two swing votes, Manchin and Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) (Breitbart). Breaking 911: Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin says he can’t vote for a $2 trillion social safety net bill, dealing a potentially fatal blow to President Joe Biden’s signature legislation (Twitter).

Governor Greg Abbott Oversees Beginning of Texas Border Wall

Texas Tribune: Texas Gov. Greg Abbott visited Starr County on Saturday to inaugurate the first stretch of a border wall being built by the state, calling it an “unprecedented” investment in border security. Construction crews on site said about 880 feet of barrier have been installed as of Saturday afternoon (TexasTribune). Austin American-Statesman reports: Border security has been a top priority for Abbott this year as he prepares to seek a third term next year. He has dedicated significant state resources toward the border, arguing that the Biden administration has failed to act to stem the influx of migrants there. “This unprecedented action is needed for one single reason,” Abbott said. “That’s because the Biden administration has failed to do its job as required by the Constitution, as required by laws passed by Congress to enforce the immigration laws of the United States of America” (AustinAmerican-Statesman). Governor Abbott: The Texas border wall is officially up. While Biden does nothing, we are stepping up to protect our communities. The Lone Star State is securing the border (Twitter).

South Dakota Governor Kristi Noem Files Bill to Protect Girls’ Sports

From Fox News: As more colleges see transgender athletes winning in girls sports, South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem joined ‘Fox & Friends’ Friday to provide details on her state’s new legislation to protect girls’ sports (Fox News). From Governor Noem: This issue is about basic fairness. Together, we will make sure that only girls are playing girls’ sports. Thank you for your support (Twitter)! From The Hill: Noem now is reportedly seeking to codify that executive order as legislation to promote “an equal playing field” for women. “Common sense tells us that males have an unfair physical advantage over females in athletic competition,” Noem said in a statement (TheHill). From Breitbart: Despite the governor’s orders, the state’s South Dakota High School Activities Association did not alter its policy of allowing transgender athletes to pick whatever category they want to play in (Breitbart). This marks a shift or a return to a more conservative position for Noem: In March she did not sign a bill with a similar aim (FoxNews).

Fauci: Masking on Airplanes Will Never Go Away; Gingrich: “Fauci Is Addicted to Power”

National Review: White House chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci on Sunday said he does not believe we are ever going to reach a point where Americans won’t be required to wear masks on airplanes due to Covid-19 concerns (NationalReview). Newt Gingrich: Fauci is addicted to power and publicity at the cost of science and common sense. Saying masks on airplanes will never go away is just plane ignorant. Planes have very sophisticated air filtering systems. Fauci has left science for personal fame and it has gone to his head (Twitter).

FDA Allows Abortion Pill To Be Delivered in the Mail

CNN reports: The US Food and Drug Administration announced Thursday that it is lifting a requirement that patients seeking medication abortion had to pick up the medication in-person, instead allowing pills to be sent by mail. The move comes as the Supreme Court is poised to undo its abortion rights precedent (CNN). New York Times: The F.D.A.’s action means that medication abortion, an increasingly common method authorized in the United States for pregnancies up to 10 weeks’ gestation, will become more available to women who find it difficult to travel to an abortion provider or prefer to terminate a pregnancy in their homes. It allows patients to have a telemedicine appointment with a provider who can prescribe abortion pills and send them to the patient by mail (NewYorkTimes). From Lila Rose: Despite the abortion pill killing 24 mothers and 3,700,000 children, the Biden FDA just permanently removed in-clinic dispensing requirements for abortion pills, allowing the deadly drugs to be sent by mail, prescribed by “doctors,” & fulfilled by pharmacies (Twitter).

Oxford University Under Scrutiny for Hiring Based on Woke Academics

Fox News: Professors at the University of Oxford are reportedly “furious” over a proposal being considered that would require all academic appointees to have demonstrated a past commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (FoxNews). Daily Mail reports: A consultation document from the university’s race equality taskforce reportedly states the importance of embedding EDI—equality, diversity and inclusion—into ‘all recruitment.’ An Oxford University spokesman stressed the document was a consultation rather than an agreed strategy. After reviewing student and staff responses, the taskforce will draw up a university-wide strategy which they hope will be approved by Oxford’s governing body by the end of the academic year (DailyMail).

Number One Cause of Death of Adults 18-45 Today: Fentanyl

More than COVID, more than motor vehicle accidents, more than cancer and more than suicide. Fox News: Between 2020 and 2021, nearly 79,000 people between 18 and 45 years old—37,208 in 2020 and 41,587 in 2021—died of fentanyl overdoses, the data analysis from opioid awareness organization Families Against Fentanyl shows (FoxNews). Nicole Saphier, M.D.: The WH is busy w/ boosters, but a stronger public health policy for this age group would be securing the SW border & withdrawing U.S. ambassadors from #China until they halt #Fentanyl shipments to Mexican cartels (Twitter).

Los Angeles District Attorney Gascón Launches “Diversion” Program for Youth Offenders

From Fox11: His critics call it a get-out-of-jail-free card for juvenile offenders. Deputy DA Jonathan Hatami, a longtime critic of Gascón, says, “You’re basically saying we’re going to give you a slap on the wrist” (Fox11). From Bill Melugin: According to this policy, prosecutors in the LA DA office tell me if a juvenile were to follow you home, pull a knife on you, threaten to kill you, then use force to rob you, and they are later arrested, they would be eligible for diversion rather than prosecution (Twitter). Daily Mail: Gascón is a progressive prosecutor who has been vocal about his belief that the criminal justice system needs to focus more on intervention and rehabilitation, blasting ‘tough on crime’ policies as racist and a failure (DailyMail).

San Francisco Mayor Declares State of Emergency to Combat Rising Crime

New York Post: The social experiment with people’s lives is over. The defund-the-police mayor of San Francisco, London Breed, just did a 180 on Lombard Street. I hope the New York City Council is paying attention. San Francisco embarked down its disastrous defund-the-police, fund-other-agencies road last year, and it didn’t turn out well. Its police department shrank, and violence, thefts, open-air drug dealing and overdose deaths soared. So now, the frustrated mayor announced her plan to reinvest in cops and get tough on criminals (NewYorkPost). The New York Times: Her announcement came as mayors across the country are grappling with a rise in gun violence, homicides and overdose deaths (NewYorkTimes).

10.

Vice President Kamala Harris Erupts in Interview When Pressed, “Who Is the Real President?”

Daily Wire: Vice President Kamala Harris erupted during a friendly interview this week with Charlamagne Tha God when the media personality asked Harris who was the real President of the United States. When Charlamagne first tried to ask the question, an aide for the vice president jumped in and apparently tried to suggest that they could not hear him and therefore they needed to end the interview…. “No, no, no, no, no, no, no. No. It’s Joe Biden,” Harris erupted. “And don’t start talking like a Republican about asking whether or not he’s president. And it’s Joe Biden, it’s Joe Biden, and it’s Joe Biden. And I’m vice president and my name is Kamala Harris” (DailyWire). RNC Research: Kamala Harris staffer attempts to shut down interview after Harris is asked a question she doesn’t like (Twitter).