Welcome to Wednesday, January 19th, colleagues…

SCOTUS struck down vaccine-or-test requirements for private-sector employers but upheld the mandate for healthcare workers.

The Justices split 6-3 along ideological lines in the private sector mandate case, with the Court’s conservatives holding that the Biden administration and the Occupational Health and Safety Administration (OSHA) overstepped their legal authority by issuing an emergency temporary standard (ETS) requiring private employers with at least 100 employees to either show proof of vaccination or show a negative once a week and wear a mask on the job.

The Court’s three liberal justices dissented. The unsigned majority opinion read in part:

“Contrary to the dissent’s contention, imposing a vaccine mandate on 84 million Americans in response to a worldwide pandemic is simply not “part of what the agency was built for."

How do you feel about the rulings?

U.S. Intel Warns Russia is Prepping ‘False Flag’ Operation as Pretext for Invading Ukraine

The “false flag” operation would likely involve sabotage or an apparent attack on ethnic Russians and a related propaganda campaign that would occur a few weeks prior to a military invasion. Such tactics are similar to those Russia used against Ukraine in 2014 when it seized Crimea and made an incursion into the Donbas in Eastern Ukraine. 

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he will only withdraw his military from Ukraine’s border if the U.S. and its NATO allies commit to never admitting Ukraine as a member.

Are you concerned about Russia using a false pretext to invade Ukraine?

Inflation Surged 7% Over Past Year in December, Highest Level Since 1982

The Bureau of Labor Statistics recently reported that the all items consumer price index rose by 7% over the last 12 months through December, which is the highest rate since a comparable period ending in June 1982 and more than three times the Federal Reserve’s target rate of 2%.

What goods did prices increase the most for?

• Gasoline prices for all types of gas increased 49.6% over the last 12 months.
• Lodging away from home increased 23.9%.
• Fresh fish and seafood increased 10.2%.

Read the full rundown then join the conversation:

How do you feel about the rise in consumer prices?

All the Memes Fit to Post

And, In The End...

Wallow in some pre-COVID nostalgia for...

—Josh Herman

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