Daily-Dose/archive-daily-dose/15 February, 2021.html

471 lines
56 KiB
HTML
Raw Blame History

This file contains invisible Unicode characters

This file contains invisible Unicode characters that are indistinguishable to humans but may be processed differently by a computer. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

This file contains Unicode characters that might be confused with other characters. If you think that this is intentional, you can safely ignore this warning. Use the Escape button to reveal them.

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="" xml:lang="" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><head>
<meta charset="utf-8"/>
<meta content="pandoc" name="generator"/>
<meta content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0, user-scalable=yes" name="viewport"/>
<title>15 February, 2021</title>
<style type="text/css">
code{white-space: pre-wrap;}
span.smallcaps{font-variant: small-caps;}
span.underline{text-decoration: underline;}
div.column{display: inline-block; vertical-align: top; width: 50%;}
</style>
<title>Daily-Dose</title><meta content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" name="viewport"/><link href="styles/simple.css" rel="stylesheet"/><link href="../styles/simple.css" rel="stylesheet"/><style>*{overflow-x:hidden;}</style><link href="https://unpkg.com/aos@2.3.1/dist/aos.css" rel="stylesheet"/><script src="https://unpkg.com/aos@2.3.1/dist/aos.js"></script></head>
<body>
<h1 data-aos="fade-down" id="daily-dose">Daily-Dose</h1>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" data-aos-anchor-placement="top-bottom" id="contents">Contents</h1>
<ul>
<li><a href="#from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-vox">From Vox</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</a></li>
<li><a href="#from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</a></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-new-yorker">From New Yorker</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Biden White House Is Tossing Obamas Economics Playbook</strong> - Joe Biden and Janet Yellen are proving to be far bolder than past Democratic Administrations. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-biden-white-house-is-tossing-obamas-economics-playbook">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Can Biden Reverse Trumps Damage to Latin America?</strong> - The new President has vowed to end his predecessors “incompetence and neglect” in the region, but first he must convince allies to trust Washington again. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/can-biden-reverse-trumps-lasting-damage-in-latin-america">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Trumps Impeachment-Trial Lawyers Refuse to Seriously Engage with the Constitutional Issues</strong> - What looks like incompetence by Bruce Castor and David Schoen may be better understood as contempt for the process. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/trumps-impeachment-trial-lawyers-refuse-to-seriously-engage-with-the-constitutional-issues">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Fight for Fifteen at an Orlando McDonalds</strong> - For Cristian Cardona and his co-workers, the pandemic brought new meaning to a nationwide movement to raise the minimum wage. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/us-journal/the-fight-for-fifteen-at-an-orlando-mcdonalds">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The Evolution of Alexey Navalnys Nationalism</strong> - The Russian opposition politician has placed the right to self-determination at the center of his politics. - <a href="https://www.newyorker.com/news/our-columnists/the-evolution-of-alexey-navalnys-nationalism">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-vox">From Vox</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>“We got what we wanted”: Democrats defend the decision not to call impeachment witnesses</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/MjCims_znOyrxCEtDEDBrmHDiHA=/257x0:4353x3072/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68818375/1301434897.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
House impeachment manager Del. Stacey Plaskett (D-VI) walks to the Senate Chamber on the second day of former President Trumps second impeachment trial on February 10, 2021. | Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Del. Stacey Plaskett told CNN that “we didnt need more witnesses, we needed more senators with spines.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="69SWi0">
One day after the <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/2/13/22280838/senate-acquits-donald-trump-impeachment-vote">acquittal</a> of former President Donald Trump, multiple House impeachment managers worked to explain their decision <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/2/13/22281605/trump-impeachment-witnesses-senate-vote">not to call witnesses</a> in his second impeachment trial.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="o4xNNU">
Witnesses initially were not expected to be called during the trial, but that expectation was upended Saturday morning when lead House impeachment manager Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD) called for Rep. Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA) to be deposed.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="RQB1YM">
On Friday, Herrera Beutler <a href="https://twitter.com/HerreraBeutler/status/1360419828721401856?s=20">released a statement</a> that <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/2/13/22281493/jaime-herrera-beutler-tuberville-impeachment-trial-trump-defense-team">confirmed details</a> from her previous account of Trumps conduct during the storming of the US Capitol on January 6, and that suggested the former president was not alarmed about the insurrection. Raskin argued for hearing more from Herrera Beutler, and the Senate voted to draft rules on calling witnesses. But amid <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/2/13/22281605/trump-impeachment-witnesses-senate-vote">opposition from Republicans</a> — and <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/powerpost/senate-democrats-learned-of-managers-witness-decision-only-minutes-in-advance/2021/02/13/8e3e821e-6e2d-11eb-ba56-d7e2c8defa31_story.html">reportedly, some Democrats</a> — impeachment managers ultimately settled for having Herrera Beutlers statement <a href="https://www.cnn.com/videos/politics/2021/02/13/raskin-herrera-beutler-witness-statement-second-impeachment-sot-vpx.cnn">read into the record</a> and calling no witnesses.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="KvKBeM">
The move was widely criticized as an “<a href="https://twitter.com/JakeSherman/status/1360647779392106501?s=20">an unbelievable cave by Democrats</a>,” ” a “<a href="https://twitter.com/AdamGreen/status/1360648518822674438?s=20">retreat</a>,” and “<a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/13/politics/senate-impeachment-democrats-witnesses/index.html">a non-serious move</a>.” Sunday, however, Democrats argued that they didnt back down.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aWAB2O">
“I think what we did was we got what we wanted,” US Virgin Islands <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSotu/status/1360962261280575494?s=20">Del. Stacey Plaskett told CNNs Jake Tapper on Sunday</a>. “Which was [Herrera Beutlers] statement, which was what she said, and had it put into the record. And being able to say it on the record, out loud, so others would hear.”
</p>
<div id="kZbFJX">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
“We didnt back down,” says House impeachment manager Stacey Plaskett on their decision to forego witnesses.<br/><br/>“We had sufficient evidence to prove that the President did what we said he did, which was incite an insurrection to overthrow our government.” <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CNNSOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CNNSOTU</a> <a href="https://t.co/6XoxBV4Mi0">pic.twitter.com/6XoxBV4Mi0</a>
</p>
— State of the Union (<span class="citation" data-cites="CNNSotu">@CNNSotu</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSotu/status/1360962261280575494?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a>
</blockquote></div></li>
</ul>
<h3 id="SktU5J">
Democrats argue witnesses would have been difficult to get — and wouldnt have mattered
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="bvhgJd">
According to Herrera Beutler, who was also one of just 10 House Republicans to vote to <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/1/13/22227519/house-second-impeachment-trump-incitement-insurrection">impeach Trump for a second time</a> last month, Trump spoke to House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) on January 6 as the Capitol building was under attack by a pro-Trump mob.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="R5WGge">
“Well, Kevin, I guess these people are more upset about the election than you are,” Trump reportedly <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/12/politics/trump-mccarthy-shouting-match-details/index.html">told McCarthy</a> as rioters stormed the Capitol.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="7xJmmr">
Herrera Beutler had previously recounted that conversation to a local news outlet, the <a href="https://tdn.com/news/herrera-beutler-works-hard-to-spread-facts-about-jan-6-says-her-decision-was-personal/article_07c75c39-59df-5f59-b9ef-fd50ba6104f2.html">Longview Daily News</a>, in January after her impeachment vote, but it garnered new attention when <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/12/politics/trump-mccarthy-shouting-match-details/index.html">CNN reported</a> additional details Friday.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="J7RsaV">
“You have to look at what [Trump] did during the insurrection to confirm where his mind was at,” Herrera Beutler told CNN Friday. “That line right there demonstrates to me that either he didnt care, which is impeachable, because you cannot allow an attack on your soil, or he wanted it to happen and was OK with it, which makes me so angry.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="JURZHP">
As compelling as Herrera Beutlers testimony might have been, though — <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-impeachment-trial-senate-chaos-witnesses-jaime-herrera-beutler-kevin-mccarthy-b1801923.html">she called Trumps comments “chilling”</a> — Democrats argued Sunday that it wouldnt have made any difference to the outcome of the trial, and it wouldnt have been worth the <a href="https://twitter.com/MeetThePress/status/1361008579579420679?s=20">delay</a> to other Senate business.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="oP2t7S">
“We could have had a thousand witnesses, but that could not have overcome the kinds of silly arguments that people like McConnell and Capito were hanging their hats on,” Raskin <a href="https://twitter.com/MeetThePress/status/1360961107536474113?s=20">told NBCs Chuck Todd on <em>Meet the Press</em></a> Sunday.
</p>
<div id="g5Lpyp">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
EXCLUSIVE: <a href="https://twitter.com/RepRaskin?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"><span class="citation" data-cites="RepRaskin">@RepRaskin</span></a> explains why Democrats chose not to hear from witnesses.<br/><br/>Raskin: “We could have had a thousand witnesses but that could not have overcome the kinds of silly arguments that people like McConnell and Caputo were hanging their hats on.” <a href="https://t.co/tkStrGVxUV">pic.twitter.com/tkStrGVxUV</a>
</p>
— Meet the Press (<span class="citation" data-cites="MeetThePress">@MeetThePress</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/MeetThePress/status/1360961107536474113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="dgf9Ft">
Plaskett took a similar line with Tapper. “We didnt need more witnesses, we needed more senators with spines,” she said Sunday.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="UMem0C">
Rep. Joe Neguse (D-CO), one of the impeachment managers, also <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1360978825757093891?s=20">told Margaret Brennan on CBSs <em>Face the Nation </em>Sunday</a> that “witnesses that were not friendly to the prosecution were not going to comply voluntarily, which meant that we were going to be litigating subpoenas for months and potentially years.”
</p>
<div id="uA1tLy">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
Why didnt House impeachment managers call for witnesses - like <a href="https://twitter.com/GOPLeader?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"><span class="citation" data-cites="GOPLeader">@GOPLeader</span></a> Kevin McCarthy, who spoke with former President Trump on Jan 6? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Impeachment?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Impeachment</a> Manager <a href="https://twitter.com/RepJoeNeguse?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"><span class="citation" data-cites="RepJoeNeguse">@RepJoeNeguse</span></a> explains &gt; <a href="https://t.co/yvBa9I03c2">pic.twitter.com/yvBa9I03c2</a>
</p>
— Face The Nation (<span class="citation" data-cites="FaceTheNation">@FaceTheNation</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/FaceTheNation/status/1360978825757093891?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="xOQS1j">
As both Neguse and Plaskett pointed out, Democrats are still engaged in a court battle to compel <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2020/12/16/mcgahn-nadler-house-testimony-447355">former White House counsel Don McGahns testimony</a> related to Trumps first impeachment trial.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="R2SB4R">
This all raises the question of why Raskin proposed deposing Herrera Beutler if getting her testimony might have been difficult and if it was seen as having little influence on the outcome.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="mTMURx">
For one, Herrera Beutler was <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/13/politics/jaime-herrera-beutler-senate-impeachment-trial/index.html">reportedly</a> prepared to testify if subpoenaed. <a href="https://twitter.com/SenWhitehouse/status/1360440160186478594?s=20">Other potential candidates for a deposition</a> — such as McCarthy himself, or Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville, <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/2/13/22281493/jaime-herrera-beutler-tuberville-impeachment-trial-trump-defense-team">who spoke to Trump on the phone</a> during the insurrection — may have been less willing, but <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/transcript-rep-joe-neguse-on-face-the-nation-february-14-2021/">Neguse said Sunday</a> that managers wanted to hear from just “one witness, not multiple witnesses.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="lr1bh1">
Why a deposition seen as futile was proposed appears more complicated.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="zxSrmz">
Pressure from Democratic Senate colleagues may have played a role in the House managers decision Saturday. <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2021/02/13/senate-democrats-impeachment-witnesses-468992">According to a Politico report</a>, Delaware Sen. Chris Coons cautioned his House colleagues that pursuing witness testimony would mean losing Republican, and possibly some Democrat, votes to convict Trump.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TifwME">
“The jury is ready to vote,” <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1360711852016209923?s=20">Coons reportedly said</a>. “People want to get home for Valentines Day.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1Ouc3P">
The managers also claimed Sunday that they were satisfied with having Herrera Beutlers words read into the record, because any deposition taken would have been similar to what the Washington representative had already said in previous statements.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="9Idmob">
“It became very clear to us the presidents counsel was willing to stipulate to allow that statement to come into evidence and be considered by the Senate,” Neguse said on CBS. “And that was an important stipulation.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="DZBOyk">
As <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/2/13/22281605/trump-impeachment-witnesses-senate-vote">Voxs Andrew Prokop</a> pointed out Saturday, there was little suspense about whether testimony could affect the final vote in the Senate. This made the argument for calling witnesses more about attempting to shed further light on Trumps state of mind — and chipping away at his support — than anything else.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="0XdhRD">
According to Prokop:
</p>
<blockquote>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="dqKxtw">
The outcome of the trial wasnt in serious question, since Democrats never got anywhere near the 17 Republican Senate votes theyd need to convict Trump. (For instance, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell announced he would vote to acquit Trump Saturday morning, ending rumors to the contrary.)
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="HBui3V">
This means the witness question would mainly be about attempting to further unearth facts about what happened, or aimed at hurting Trumps political support (rather than having a real chance of convicting him). But in the end, political leaders in both parties preferred the trial to end now, rather than dragging it out. Democrats hope to return to a focus on President Bidens agenda, and Republicans want the focus off Trumps ugly actions.
</p>
</blockquote>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YN0DhL">
As Neguse said Sunday: “I think its pretty clear, and lead manager Raskin touched on this, whether it was five more witnesses or 5,000 witnesses … it would not have made a difference to those senators.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="5KuDkg">
All told, 57 senators — 10 shy of the two-thirds majority needed to convict Trump — voted to find him guilty Saturday. Seven Republicans joined every Democrat in voting to convict Trump of inciting insurrection. Despite that verdict, which was widely, and accurately, seen as predetermined along largely partisan lines, House impeachment managers argued Sunday that their evidence, including Herrera Beutlers statement, speaks for itself.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="JebAm5">
“We had sufficient evidence to prove that the president did what we said he did, which was incite an insurrection to overthrow our government,” <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSotu/status/1360962261280575494?s=20">Plaskett said Sunday</a>. “I think that all Americans, when we rested our case, believed that we had proved our case.”
</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Lindsey Grahams latest Fox News Sunday appearance highlights the GOPs identity crisis</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6fQNffkjLgY0AIPq3onH2VKLmOE=/579x0:5219x3480/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68817897/1231149234.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Sen. Lindsey Graham leaves the US Capitol on February 13, 2021, after Trumps second impeachment trial concluded. | Joshua Roberts/Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Graham is still all in on Trumpism. Bill Cassidy? Not so much.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="JJHRmY">
Two very different interviews on the Sunday morning news shows illustrated the Republican Partys post-Trump impeachment acquittal identity crisis.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="zZDI5Z">
With Trump now out of office, banned from social media, and fresh off a trial in which a bipartisan majority of senators voted for his conviction, the Republican Party is polarized.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Qkz676">
Some Republicans want to try to finally push the party past Trumpism and its anti-democratic impulses, while others — perhaps more mindful of <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/2/10/22276210/trump-impeachment-trial-poll">Trumps continued hold over the GOP base</a> — are using his acquittal as an occasion to wrap their arms more tightly around him.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Qr9jJ7">
Sunday, the anti-Trump faction was represented by Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-LA). After four years of loyalty to Trump, Cassidy somewhat surprisingly joined six other Republican senators on Saturday and voted for <a href="https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2021/2/13/22279879/7-senate-republicans-convict-trump-romney-collins-murkowski-sasse-cassidy-burr-toomey">Trumps conviction on an article of impeachment</a> accusing him of inciting the January 6 insurrection. And while Cassidy has already been <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/2/14/22282742/bill-cassidy-richard-burr-censured-trump-impeachment">censured by the Louisiana Republican Party</a> for crossing the former president, he indicated during an interview on ABCs <em>This Week</em> that he has no regrets.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="vwae04">
“I think I may already represent a majority view,” Cassidy said, downplaying the censure. “I have voted to support and defend the Constitution … the Republican Party is more than just one person.”
</p>
<div id="7bNfmJ">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
Despite already being censured by the LAGOP, Sen. Cassidy (R) says he has no regrets about voting for Trumps conviction: “I may already represent a majority view … [but] I have voted to support and defend the Constitution … the Republican Party is more than just one person.” <a href="https://t.co/y0dlBqpMVx">pic.twitter.com/y0dlBqpMVx</a>
</p>
— Aaron Rupar (<span class="citation" data-cites="atrupar">@atrupar</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1360984489032376324?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a>
</blockquote></div></li>
</ul>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="Ja5ljE">
On the pro-Trump side stands Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC). Graham was one of Trumps most loyal supporters during his time in office, but that momentarily changed following the January 6 insurrection when Graham gave a speech distancing himself from Trump.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="wBfCAJ">
“Count me out. Enough is enough.” Graham <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/blog/electoral-college-certification-updates-n1252864/ncrd1253203#blogHeader">said</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gpMZYF">
Graham quickly had second thoughts about this stance, traveling with Trump during his last trip as president and shamelessly defending Trump on TV.
</p>
<div id="4IFIxr">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
Lindsey Graham is on Fox News trying to blame Nancy Pelosi for the Capitol riot <a href="https://t.co/vlOyPhPUxp">pic.twitter.com/vlOyPhPUxp</a>
</p>
— Aaron Rupar (<span class="citation" data-cites="atrupar">@atrupar</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1352318119944056832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 21, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="BReZKd">
If Grahams Sunday morning appearance on <em>Fox News Sunday</em> is an indication, his loyalty to the former president is stronger than ever.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="UoJXXe">
“Donald Trump is the most vibrant member of the Republican Party,” Graham said, distancing himself from former UN ambassador Nikki Haleys <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/12/politics/nikki-haley-donald-trump-gop/index.html">comments</a> about Trump not having a future in the GOP. “The Trump movement is alive and well … all I can say is that the most potent force in the Republican Party is President Trump.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="FxxGx0">
Those comments came at the end of an interview that began with Graham suggesting Republicans will go as far as to retaliate for Trumps second impeachment by impeaching Vice President Kamala Harris if they take back the House next year.
</p>
<div id="kNyviH">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
Lindsey Graham suggests Kamala Harris will be impeached if Republicans take back the House next year <a href="https://t.co/J68Or4k1la">pic.twitter.com/J68Or4k1la</a>
</p>
— Aaron Rupar (<span class="citation" data-cites="atrupar">@atrupar</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/atrupar/status/1360963559820320773?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="oMeZIc">
Both Cassidy and Graham were comfortably reelected for fresh six-year terms last November, but each lawmaker is using his mandate differently at a moment when principles and politics are at tension in the GOP.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="IiCJTU">
Cassidy is using his job security to distance himself from a president he views as violating his oath of office, but Graham seems to be calculating that Trumpism represents the Republican Partys best bet to retake one or both chambers of Congress next year.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gkihDl">
That was apparent toward the end of Grahams latest Fox News interview, when he basically endorsed Lara Trump — Donald Trumps daughter-in-law — to fill a North Carolina US Senate seat being vacated in 2022 by Sen. Richard Burr, who, also surprisingly, joined Cassidy in the camp of former Trump loyalists who voted to convict Trump.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ghfvij">
“North Carolina, the biggest winner, I think, of this whole impeachment trial is Lara Trump,” Graham said. “My dear friend Richard Burr, who I like and have been friends to a long time, just made Lara Trump almost the certain nominee for the Senate seat in North Carolina to replace him if she runs. And I certainly will be behind her, because I think she represents the future of the Republican Party.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="owMxjs">
A third Republican — Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan, who has been an outspoken critic of Trump — made a case on CNNs <em>State of the Union</em> Sunday morning that Cassidys stand should represent the future of the party.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="1AfXlx">
“I think the final chapter of Donald Trump and where the Republican Party goes hasnt been written yet, and I think were going to have a real battle for the soul of the Republican Party over the next couple of years,” Hogan said. “Are we gonna be a party that cant win national elections again, that loses the presidency, the House, and the Senate in a four-year period?”
</p>
<div id="bUyo5o">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
“Were going to have a real battle for the soul of the Republican Party.”<br/><br/>Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan tells CNNs <a href="https://twitter.com/jaketapper?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw"><span class="citation" data-cites="JakeTapper">@JakeTapper</span></a> he thinks the final chapter of Donald Trump and where the Republican Party goes hasnt been written yet. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CNNSOTU?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CNNSOTU</a> <a href="https://t.co/mVKIu6W8KO">https://t.co/mVKIu6W8KO</a> <a href="https://t.co/ibceHLwhaT">pic.twitter.com/ibceHLwhaT</a>
</p>
— State of the Union (<span class="citation" data-cites="CNNSotu">@CNNSotu</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/CNNSotu/status/1360981098726109185?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 14, 2021</a>
</blockquote>
</div>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="gN0xuk">
Hogan is right to point out that the two election cycles following Trumps 2016 victory over Hillary Clinton saw Republicans losing power in that way, which often served as a rebuke of Trumpisms broader appeal. But the former president remains very popular with the GOP base — polling conducted just before the second impeachment trial found Trumps approval rating among Republicans <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/13/politics/gop-senators-trump-impeachment/index.html">still in the 80s</a>.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="aetY8u">
So while Cassidys stand for democracy is commendable, and Hogans optimism notable, its an open question whether theres a place for people like them within a party so complicit in Trumps authoritarian attempt.
</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Two weeks after a coup, hundreds of thousands of people are protesting in Myanmar</strong> -
<figure>
<img alt="Protesters Take To Yangons Streets Despite Martial Law" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/F-5PFkuYWBR_77AK6PiKRV8b7mc=/166x0:2833x2000/1310x983/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/68817883/1301433523.0.jpg"/>
<figcaption>
Buddhist monks shout slogans and make three-finger salutes during a protest on February 10, 2021 in Yangon, Myanmar. | Hkun Lat/Getty Images
</figcaption>
</figure>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Myanmars military seized power earlier this month.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="TJeYti">
Protests continued in Myanmar on Sunday for the <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/2/8/22272367/myanmar-protests-coup-democracy">second week in a row</a> after the countrys military <a href="https://www.vox.com/22260076/myanmar-coup-military-suu-kyi-explain">seized power in a coup</a> and placed pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi under house arrest.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="EpcLmT">
The protests are the largest in more than a decade, <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-politics/tens-of-thousands-protest-myanmar-coup-after-night-of-fear-security-patrols-idUSKBN2AE01U">according to Reuters</a>, with hundreds of thousands of people turning out on Sunday despite the risk of a police crackdown on protesters. And they continue despite a move by the countrys new military government on Saturday to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-politics-idUSKBN2AD05A">suspend the need for security forces to obtain a court order</a> before detaining suspects for more than 24 hours or searching private property.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="cKgl9D">
Protesters are demanding Suu Kyis release and a return to democracy, but Myanmars new military government has shown no willingness to grant either request, despite nine days of mass demonstrations.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ewKhDC">
As <a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/2/8/22272367/myanmar-protests-coup-democracy">Voxs Jen Kirby</a> explained last week, the protests have mobilized a diverse coalition of people and are drawing on other regional pro-democracy protest movements for inspiration:
</p>
<blockquote>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="YhRsPP">
Reports indicate a wide swath of people joined in the demonstrations, from <a href="https://time.com/5936604/myanmar-coup-rohingya/">young activists</a> to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2021/feb/08/protest-myanmar-aung-san-suu-kyi-third-day-coup-spread">Buddhist monks</a> to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-55944482">teachers</a>, and many more. Some activists have <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/myanmar-coup-news-protests-aung-san-suu-kyi-military-threatens-action/">called for a general strike this week</a>, though its not clear how widely that message has circulated, compared to the outpouring on the streets.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="m3V01k">
Many demonstrators wore red, the color of Suu Kyis National League for Democracy party, which <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-54899170">overwhelmingly won a popular mandate in the last election</a>. Protesters held up three fingers in a salute — <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/08/three-finger-salute-hunger-games-symbol-adopted-by-myanmars-protesters">a symbol of resistance from the <em>Hunger Games</em></a> franchise thats been adopted by pro-democracy protesters in Myanmar and <a href="https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/10/15/asia-pacific/thailand-three-fingered-salute/">other countries in the region</a>.
</p>
</blockquote>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="oKkHsF">
<a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/13/how-myanmars-popular-uprising-aims-to-topple-the-junta">According to Al Jazeera</a>, protest tactics have had at least some success so far. Strikes and civil disobedience mean that “trains have ground to a halt, hospitals have closed, and ministries in the capital, Naypyidaw, are believed to be straining amid mass walkouts.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="imlcwv">
“The immediate aim is to take away the militarys power by stopping all of its governance mechanisms from working,” <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/13/how-myanmars-popular-uprising-aims-to-topple-the-junta">activist Thinzar Shunlei Yi told Al Jazeeras Joshua Carroll</a>. “It will disable the militarys ability to rule.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="q27Xpj">
Myanmars military government has responded by cracking down. Social media sites like Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and WhatsApp have all been <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/02/06/964830201/myanmar-blocks-facebook-twitter-access-as-anti-government-protests-grow">blocked</a> in the country, arrest orders have been <a href="https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-world-news-embassies-myanmar-china-142587aef9a789b29a16d2ddce28bbe6">issued</a> for prominent activists, and security forces have <a href="https://twitter.com/freya_cole/status/1358682674244820997?s=20">deployed</a> water cannons against peaceful protesters.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="mlCfLa">
The government also used either rubber bullets or live ammunition to disperse protesters near a power plant servicing the northern city of Myitkyina this weekend, according to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-politics/armoured-vehicles-deployed-to-major-myanmar-cities-after-mass-protests-idUSKBN2AE01U">Reuters</a>.
</p>
<div id="CKayBw">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" dir="ltr" lang="en">
NayPyiTaw: police use a water cannon in an attempt to disperse thousands of protestors - calling for an end to the military coup. Ive been told the cannon was dispersed without any prior knowledge at the peaceful protest <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Myanmar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Myanmar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HearTheVoiceOfMyanmar?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HearTheVoiceOfMyanmar</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/myanmarmilitarycoup?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#myanmarmilitarycoup</a> <a href="https://t.co/9tB0oo8gme">pic.twitter.com/9tB0oo8gme</a>
</p>
— Freya Cole (<span class="citation" data-cites="freya_cole">@freya_cole</span>) <a href="https://twitter.com/freya_cole/status/1358682674244820997?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">February 8, 2021</a>
</blockquote></div></li>
</ul>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="urLEUY">
On Sunday, the military deployed armored vehicles in Yangon, Myanmars largest city, for the first time since the coup took place on February 1, leading the US embassy there to <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56062955?xtor=AL-72-%5Bpartner%5D-%5Bbbc.news.twitter%5D-%5Bheadline%5D-%5Bnews%5D-%5Bbizdev%5D-%5Bisapi%5D&amp;at_medium=custom7&amp;at_custom4=2CC81770-6ED7-11EB-9AB8-3DDB4744363C&amp;at_campaign=64&amp;at_custom1=%5Bpost+type%5D&amp;at_custom3=%40BBCWorld&amp;at_custom2=twitter">urge</a> US citizens in Myanmar to “shelter in place.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="fcKZpB">
The crackdown is a grim throwback to an earlier era in Myanmars history. The country, which is also known as Burma, has been under military rule for much of its existence since winning independence from Britain in 1948.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="jChGI6">
<a href="https://www.vox.com/2021/2/8/22272367/myanmar-protests-coup-democracy">As Kirby points out</a>, Myanmars military has a history of using <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2007/12/07/burma-crackdown-bloodier-government-admits">lethal force</a> to quell protests, perhaps most notably during <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-politics/myanmar-army-hunts-protest-backers-over-social-media-comments-idUSKBN2AD05A">pro-democracy protests in 1988</a>. Already in 2021, at least one protester has been <a href="https://news.sky.com/story/myanmar-protests-we-knew-she-had-been-shot-brain-damaged-womans-sister-says-after-troops-open-fire-12215497">shot</a> and is believed to be in critical condition with “extensive” brain damage.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="mroAiT">
The country began a slow process of democratizing about a decade ago, as Voxs Alex Ward has <a href="https://www.vox.com/22260076/myanmar-coup-military-suu-kyi-explain">explained at length</a>, but though Suu Kyi — a popular leader who won the <a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1991/press-release/">Nobel Peace Prize</a> in 1991 and until this month held the title of “state counsellor” — was released from house arrest in 2010 and allowed to wield some power, the system was never fully democratic.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="He7aM9">
Ahead of the <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-politics-explainer/explainer-crisis-in-myanmar-after-army-alleges-election-fraud-idUSKBN2A113H">military coup</a>, it appeared more democratic reforms could be on the way: Suu Kyis party won parliamentary elections last year by a <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/myanmar-elections-democracy-suu-kyi/2020/11/18/5d3b9672-2588-11eb-9c4a-0dc6242c4814_story.html">landslide</a> on the promise to push constitutional reforms that would have further pared back the militarys political power.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="4bNsEo">
The military, <a href="https://www.vox.com/22260076/myanmar-coup-military-suu-kyi-explain">according to Ward</a>, decried those elections as fraudulent, though there is no evidence to support that claim, and finally moved to seize power on the pretense of a <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-myanmar-politics-military-text/statement-from-myanmar-military-on-state-of-emergency-idUSKBN2A11A2">national emergency</a> just before the election results were set to be certified by a new parliament.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="eCS0re">
As one expert, Northwestern University political science professor Sarah Bouchat, told Ward: “[The military is] potentially using this global opportunity, where other leaders are focused on all of the crises around Covid-19 and economic recession, to seize whatever power they can with impunity.”
</p>
<h3 id="yeZMm5">
The US is imposing new sanctions on Myanmars military leaders
</h3>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="pK4jUp">
Since the coup, Myanmars military government has been <a href="https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/1/world-reacts-to-military-coup-in-myanmar">widely condemned</a> by the international community, including by the US, the United Nations, and international organizations like Human Rights Watch.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="0HntxD">
“We call on Burmese military leaders to release all government officials and civil society leaders and respect the will of the people of Burma as expressed in democratic elections on November 8,” new US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement earlier this month. “The United States stands with the people of Burma in their aspirations for democracy, freedom, peace, and development.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="ZoRtYi">
The US has also officially labeled actions by Myanmars military a coup detat, which State Department officials say will “[trigger] certain restrictions on foreign assistance to the government of Burma” as well as “a broader review of our assistance programs.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="XDbSQF">
President Joe Biden announced Wednesday that the US will <a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/02/10/966366101/u-s-to-impose-sanctions-on-myanmar-military-officials-over-coup">impose</a> new sanctions on military leaders responsible for the coup, including senior general and coup leader Min Aung Hlaing, and freeze about $1 billion in funds currently held in the US.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="OYtW1P">
However, he said, the US will <a href="https://www.cbsnews.com/news/biden-myanmar-coup-sanctions/">continue to support</a> “health care, civil society groups and other areas that benefit the people of Burma directly.” (In 2016, the US <a href="https://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2016/10/07/497070188/u-s-lifts-economic-sanctions-against-myanmar">lifted longstanding sanctions</a> on Myanmar in response to the countrys now-undone democratic progress.)
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="0frEmk">
Some Myanmar experts, such as former US ambassador to Myanmar Derek Mitchell, caution that it wont be easy for the US to meaningfully affect events in Myanmar.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="xusmJS">
“We dont have a whole lot of leverage,” Mitchell <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-56053007">told the BBC</a> on Saturday. “The key is our allies. Thats a very difficult path, because some of our allies — Japan, India, Korea — have a lot of investment. They will be worried about growing Chinese influence there.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="N3MlWI">
White House press secretary Jen Psaki also <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/u-s-to-impose-sanctions-in-response-to-myanmar-s-military-coup-11612982342">signaled</a> that the possibility of China, which shares a border with Myanmar, taking advantage of changes in US policy was a concern.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom" id="vVJ5lt">
“Certainly, we are concerned about Chinas absence from the conversation and lack of a vocal role here,” Psaki said this week.
</p>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-sports">From The Hindu: Sports</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Rafael Nadal reaches Australian Open quarterfinals for 13th time</strong> - Rafael Nadal has advanced to the Australian Open quarterfinals for the 13th time.The No. 2-ranked Nadal closed his 6-3, 6-4, 6-2 win over 16th-seeded</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Top-ranked Ash Barty into Australian Open quarterfinals</strong> - Top-ranked Ash Barty moved into the Australian Open quarterfinals for the third straight year by beating Shelby Rogers 6-3, 6-4.Barty lost in the sem</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Wicketkeeper-batsman Naman Ojha retires from all formats</strong> - The Madhya Pradesh player, who represented India in all three formats, holds the record for the most dismissals by a wicketkeeper in the Ranji Trophy</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Rahul climbs to second spot, Kohli remains at 7th in ICC T20I rankings for batsmen</strong> - Among bowlers, South Africa spinner Tabraiz Shamsi grabbed a career-best second position</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Ind vs Eng, 1st Test, Day 3 | Ashwins master-class century puts India in command as England wobble in chase of 482</strong> - India were all out for 286 in their second innings on the third day of the match</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-the-hindu-national-news">From The Hindu: National News</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Farmers protest | Supreme Court panel on farm laws holds consultations with agri-professionals, academicians</strong> - The Supreme Court-appointed committee on the new farm laws on Feb. 15 said it held consultations with eminent academicians and agri-professionals on</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Re-polling today in three booths in Punjab civic polls</strong> - SEC takes serious note of damage to EVMs</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Government insulted farmers, ministers called them traitors: Priyanka Gandhi</strong> - Priyanka also criticised Haryana minister J P Dalal, who had stoked a controversy on Saturday saying the farmers who died during the course of the agitation would have passed away even if they had stayed back home.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>BBMP finds cluster in Bommanahalli zone</strong> - This is days after 40 students of a nursing college in the East zone tested positive for COVID-19</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Mamata Banerjee launches Maa scheme to provide meals at ₹5 to poor people</strong> - They will get a platter of rice, dal, a vegetable and egg curry for ₹5, she said adding that the State government will bear a subsidy of ₹15 per plate.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-bbc-europe">From BBC: Europe</h1>
<ul>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Catalonia Spain: Separatists set to boost majority in regional parliament</strong> - Pro-independence parties will continue governing the affluent region, near-complete results suggest.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Brexit: Musician fears being priced out of touring</strong> - Bristol singer Elles Bailey says costs due to post-Brexit travel rules risk making touring unviable.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Mario Draghi sworn in as Italys new prime minister</strong> - The former head of the European Central Bank must guide his country out of the Covid pandemic.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The video of a protesters arrest Russian police leaked to scare people</strong> - A leaked video shows Russian police interrogating protester Gennady Shulga while pushing him onto his dogs food bowl after a rally in support of opposition leader Alexei Navalny.</p></li>
<li data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>In pictures: Joy for Dutch as canals freeze over</strong> - People in the Netherlands are making the most of wintry weather that has frozen local waterways.</p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-ars-technica">From Ars Technica</h1>
<ul>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Chevrolet gives the Bolt EV a facelift, a stretch, and a price cut</strong> - There are new front seats, and the 2022 Bolt EV starts at $31,995. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1742250">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Jared Letos Joker is back in new trailer for Zack Snyders Justice League</strong> - “If you cant bring down the charging bull, then dont wave the red cape at it.” - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1742236">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>CDC releases updated “science based” school guidelines</strong> - CDC head Walensky promises the new guidance is “free from political meddling.” - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1742201">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>Why did the flywheel hybrid system never catch on for road cars?</strong> - Born for but never raced in F1, the idea found some success at Le Mans. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1741928">link</a></p></li>
<li><p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"><strong>The $3,000 eVscope makes stargazing easy and fun</strong> - Unistellars eVscope promises great stargazing whether youre in the city or country. - <a href="https://arstechnica.com/?p=1741999">link</a></p></li>
</ul>
<h1 data-aos="fade-right" id="from-jokes-subreddit">From Jokes Subreddit</h1>
<ul>
<li><strong>A kid is playing video games in his room, minding his own business. His mother walks in. “Honey, come meet my new boyfriend!” “Im kind of busy right now. Can you bring him in here instead?”</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
A minute or so later, her boyfriend walks in. “Hey, champ! How you doing?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The kid ignores him.
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Dont like champ, huh? Thats fine. How about BlueDragon72?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The kid turns his head quickly. “I havent heard that name since I was ten…” He then realized. “It cant be..”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
“Call of Duty, right? I told you Id bang your mom.”
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/YZXFILE"> /u/YZXFILE </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lk0oy5/a_kid_is_playing_video_games_in_his_room_minding/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lk0oy5/a_kid_is_playing_video_games_in_his_room_minding/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>A guy sat next to me in the bus today and pulled out a photo of his wife.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
He asked me “Aint she beautiful?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
I said “If you think shes beautiful, you should see my wife”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
He replied with “ Why, is she a stunner as well?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
I said “ No, shes an optician”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
Credit: not mine but i cant remember where I saw it
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/Tom42-59"> /u/Tom42-59 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/ljp54g/a_guy_sat_next_to_me_in_the_bus_today_and_pulled/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/ljp54g/a_guy_sat_next_to_me_in_the_bus_today_and_pulled/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>Did my taxes on Valentines Day</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
It was the only way I was getting fucked today.
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/KDN1692"> /u/KDN1692 </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lk6409/did_my_taxes_on_valentines_day/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lk6409/did_my_taxes_on_valentines_day/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>Had a girl try to choke me during sex recently.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
I was like woah woah woah, who kidnapped who here?
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/PenguinAreCake"> /u/PenguinAreCake </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lkbz3q/had_a_girl_try_to_choke_me_during_sex_recently/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/lkbz3q/had_a_girl_try_to_choke_me_during_sex_recently/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
<li><strong>An elderly man is stopped by the police around 2 a.m. and is asked where he is going at this time of night.</strong> - <!-- SC_OFF -->
<div class="md">
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The man replies, “I am on my way to attend a lecture about gambling, hookers, alcohol abuse and the effects it has on the human body, as well as smoking, and staying out late.”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The officer then asks, “Really? Who is giving that lecture at this time of night?”
</p>
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom">
The man replies, “That would be my wife.”
</p>
</div>
<!-- SC_ON -->
<p data-aos="fade-left" data-aos-anchor-placement="bottom-bottom"> submitted by <a href="https://www.reddit.com/user/im_full_of_air"> /u/im_full_of_air </a> <br/> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/ljpko5/an_elderly_man_is_stopped_by_the_police_around_2/">[link]</a></span> <span><a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Jokes/comments/ljpko5/an_elderly_man_is_stopped_by_the_police_around_2/">[comments]</a></span></p></li>
</ul>
<script>AOS.init();</script></body></html>