Cut to the News
Cut through the clutter to today's top news
February 3, 2021
Good morning
Welcome to today's top news.
Leading the News . . .
Biden decides to works from home, cancels speech at State Department . . . President Biden decided to work from home — the White House — Monday despite what New Yorkers getting pounded by a foot-and-a-half of snow would consider a mere dusting for DC, as just about 2 inches coated the nation’s capital. Biden kept late-afternoon plans to host 10 Republican senators to discuss COVID-19 relief at the White House, but canceled plans
to speak at the State Department a few blocks away. After 10 p.m. Sunday, Biden tweeted a daytime photo of himself outside a snowy West Wing, writing, “Grateful for the short commute on days like these.” White House Dossier
Putin, in solidarity, will also telecommute for the rest of the Russian winter - till May 28th.
World Health Organization investigators probe Wuhan virology lab . . . The World Health Organization team investigating the origins of coronavirus has visited a Wuhan laboratory that has become the focus of theories suggesting a leak was responsible for the pandemic. The heavily-guarded team of experts was escorted from the cordoned-off wing of their hotel to the Wuhan Institute of Virology on Wednesday by a
delegation that included plainclothes security as well as foreign ministry staff. The team of epidemiologists, zoologists, virologists and public health experts has been tasked with resolving the politically charged question of how Sars-Cov-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, first infected humans. Financial Times
|
|
Trump Lawyers Counter Democrats With These 4 Impeachment Arguments . . . Former President Donald Trump’s lawyers have fired back against House Democrats’ charge that he incited an insurrection. Two Trump lawyers, David Schoen and Bruce Castor, filed a 14-page counterbrief Tuesday, the same day Democrats’ impeachment managers made an 80-page filing. The Trump brief denies that calling for supporters to “fight” is
inciting a riot. It also disputes that the Senate has jurisdiction to hold an impeachment trial, since Trump became a private citizen again Jan. 20. See the key points made in the brief by Trump’s lawyers in Daily Signal
Gulf grows between GOP's McConnell, McCarthy . . . The gulf between the two top Republicans on Capitol Hill grew even wider this week after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell took the unusual step of plunging into a pair of controversies that House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy is struggling to contain in the lower chamber. In the span of an hour, McConnell issued two separate statements, one condemning the “loony” conspiracy
theories of first-term Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, a follower of the pro-Trump QAnon movement; the other praising Rep. Liz Cheney as she faces backlash from former President Trump loyalists after her vote to impeach the 45th president. Those dynamics have created a rare and growing rift between the top GOP leaders across chambers at the very moment when Republicans are trying to unite against the ambitious legislative agenda of the new Democratic president, Joe Biden. The Hill
Trump appointees to Pentagon boards blocked by Biden defense chief . . . In a sweeping move this week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin blocked hundreds of members from serving on various Pentagon advisory boards – including numerous nominees who were appointed by former President Trump, according to a report. The move came after the process for approving Trump’s nominees to the boards was halted last week. Among those blocked
were Corey Lewandowski and David Bossie, both former members of Trump campaigns. Fox News
GOP seeks to remove Omar from committees as Dems press to drop Taylor Greene from panel . . . House GOP lawmakers are seeking this week to oust Democratic Rep. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota from her committee assignments as Democrats push for similar action against embattled Republican Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia. The House is set to consider a measure this week that calls for Taylor Greene, a controversial first-term lawmaker known
for her support of the QAnon conspiracy theory, from her assignment on the Education and Labor Committee. Republicans argue that Omar has made anti-Semitic comments that are grounds for dismissal. Fox News
FBI director to testify as demands for answers on Capitol riot security failures increase . . . The top two members of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday demanded the Justice Department and FBI answer questions about security failures that led to the attack on the U.S. Capitol last month. The panel also announced that FBI Director Christopher A. Wray will testify on March 2, his first public appearance since the Capitol riot.
Incoming Chairman Richard J. Durbin, Illinois Democrat, and the panel’s top Republican, Charles E. Grassley of Iowa, sent a letter to acting Attorney General Monty Wilkinson and Mr. Wray requesting answers to questions about the riot. Washington Times
Georgia secretary of state opens investigation into Lin Wood over illegal voting allegations . . . Georgia’s secretary of state office has opened an investigation into whether pro-Trump attorney Lin Wood voted illegally in the November election. ABC’s Atlanta affiliate station, WSB-TV, first reported the investigation into Wood, which Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger's (R) office later confirmed to the Atlanta
Journal-Constitution, NPR and other news outlets. The investigation comes after Wood became one of the most prominent legal voices in former President Trump’s campaign to overturn election results in key states over claims of widespread voter fraud. The Hill
GOP Demands Hold on Biden Commerce Pick Over Huawei Concerns . . . Leading House Republicans are calling for a hold on the Biden administration’s nominee to lead the Commerce Department, citing her refusal to commit to keeping Chinese telecom giant Huawei on the U.S. Entity List as a result of its global spy operations. Gina Raimondo, Rhode Island’s Democratic governor and Biden's commerce nominee, drew scrutiny earlier this month
when she declined during her confirmation hearing to answer questions about how the administration will approach Huawei, the top Chinese telecom company that is suspected of helping the Communist Party spy on users across the world. Huawei was put on the Commerce Department’s Entity List in 2019, restricting its access to U.S. technology that could be used to fuel Beijing’s spy operations. Washington Free Beacon
REPORT: Adam Schiff Pushing For Gov. Gavin Newsom To Appoint Him California AG . . . Democratic California Rep. Adam Schiff is reportedly pushing for Democratic California Gov. Gavin Newsom to appoint him the state’s next attorney general, people familiar with the matter told Axios. Schiff currently chairs the House Intelligence Committee and is a close ally of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, meaning House Democrats could lose an influential
member and further narrow their already slim majority if he were appointed. But Pelosi has reportedly offered her support for Schiff’s bid. Daily Caller
Elizabeth Warren to introduce wealth tax . . . Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren, plans to reignite calls for a wealth tax targeting the nation’s richest individuals and families. Warren’s office said the progressive Democrat plans to introduce legislation calling for a wealth tax on fortunes valued at more than $50 million as she joins the Senate Finance Committee in the 117th Congress.
As opposed to taxes levied on income and payrolls, a wealth tax would target the value of accumulated assets owned by rich Americans – or their net worth. The idea, generally, is to combat growing economic inequality, creating a more level playing field among the wealthy and middle classes by adjusting the tax system. Fox Business
Yeah, let's get those "ultra-millionaires." How dare they getting ahead of others. Everyone must be equal. Worked very well in Russia and China, so we should try that approach too.
White House asking to know questions for Press Secretary Psaki in advance . . . If you’re a reporter with a tough question for the White House press secretary, Joe Biden’s staff wouldn’t mind knowing about it in advance. According to three sources with knowledge of the matter, as
well as written communications reviewed by The Daily Beast, the new president’s communications staff have already on occasion probed reporters to see what questions they plan on asking new White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki when called upon during briefings. White House Dossier
Works well for Putin and his Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov. Why not try it?
|
|
Iran agrees to free South Korean ship crew after a month of captivity . . . Iran appears ready to free the crew of a South Korean tanker ship after it was captured early last month. Both countries announced on Tuesday that the 20-member crew, which includes South Korean, people of Myanmar, Vietnamese, and Indonesian sailors, would be freed after South Korea agreed to address Iran’s complaints about the release of some $7 billion in assets
that were frozen in Seoul because of United States sanctions against the Iranian regime. The MT Hankuk Chemi, which was carrying some 7,200 tons of chemicals, was seized by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps in the Persian Gulf on Jan. 4. Washington Examiner
|
|
Hungary follows Poland in taking on Big Tech ‘censors’ . . . Hungary and Poland intend to take measures against social media companies to fight what they believe is bias against conservatives.
Judit Varga, Hungary’s justice minister, announced last week in the wake of former US president Donald Trump’s permanent expulsion from Facebook and Twitter that the hardline government of premier Viktor Orban would not tolerate intrusions on free speech. Earlier in January, Poland’s conservative-nationalist administration proposed legislation that would make it possible for social media companies to be fined for removing posts that do not break Polish law. Financial Times
Myanmar police file charges against Aung San Suu Kyi after coup . . . Myanmar police have filed charges against ousted leader Aung San Suu Kyi for illegally importing communications equipment and she will be detained until Feb. 15 for investigations, according to a police document. Myanmar’s army seized power on Monday, detaining Nobel laureate Suu Kyi and cutting short a transition to democracy in a takeover that has drawn condemnation
from the United States and other Western countries. A police request to a court detailing the accusations against 75-year-old Nobel laureate Suu Kyi said walkie-talkie radios had been found in a search of her home in the capital, Naypyidaw. It said the radios were imported illegally and used without permission. Reuters
|
|
Bezos to step down as Amazon CEO as sales rocket past $100 billion . . . Amazon founder Jeff Bezos will step down as CEO and become executive chairman, naming the head of its lucrative cloud computing division as successor in a sign of the company’s transformation from web retailer to internet conglomerate. This summer, Bezos, 57, will hand the keys of the world’s largest online retailer to Andy Jassy, head of its cloud division Amazon
Web Services known as AWS. Bezos is ending his role as CEO on a high note: the business he began as an internet bookseller 27 years ago is now one of the world’s most valuable companies. On Tuesday, Amazon reported quarterly sales above $100 billion for the first time. Reuters
Treasury's Yellen calls top regulator meeting on GameStop volatility, consults ethics lawyer . . . U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen is calling a meeting of top financial regulators this week to discuss market volatility driven by retail trading in shares of GameStop Corp , silver and other stocks favored on social media.
Yellen will convene the heads of the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Federal Reserve, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, the Treasury said on Tuesday. Reuters
|
|
Ex-FBI Lawyer Who Forged Email in FISA Process Suspended by DC Bar . . . Ex-FBI attorney Kevin Clinesmith, who was recently sentenced to 12 months of probation, has been temporarily suspended from practicing law in Washington. The D.C. Bar, the official organization responsible for licensing and disciplining attorneys in the area, indicated on its website that Clinesmith received a suspension “on an interim basis based
upon his conviction of a serious crime in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia.” Clinesmith was sentenced on Jan. 29 to 12 months of probation after he pleaded guilty to falsifying an email that FBI agents relied on to obtain a secret court warrant to spy on a former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. Epoch Times
What about all the other corrupt Deep State creatures who orchestrated a 'Russia collusion' hoax against Trump? Anyone will go to jail for abuse of power and for misusing the intelligence process and resources?
Facebook Bans Second Amendment Group Without Explanation . . . A top Virginia gun-rights group was booted from Facebook without explanation on Tuesday, a move the tech giant confirmed but refused to explain. Philip Van Cleave, president of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, told the Washington Free Beacon that the group's page disappeared without explanation. The company said the decision to remove the page is final—but did not provide
further details. Van Cleave said the group used its Facebook page exclusively to communicate with its members as well as organize electoral and legislative efforts. Washington Free Beacon
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki ridicules the Space Force . . . “Wow. Space Force. It’s the plane of today,” Psaki said during her daily briefing, in answer to a question. The comment was apparently a reference to a previous discussion about Air Force One. “It is an interesting question,” she added after the reporter followed up. “I am happy to check with our Space Force point of contact. I’m not sure who that is. I will find out and see
if we have any update on that.” White House Dossier
Psaki is an arrogant ignoramus. The reason fTrump stood up Space Force was to prepare US military for the possibility of so-called space warfare as well as to deter our adversaries from engaging in it. Both Russia and China have been developing space doctrines, forces and weapons targeting the United States.
|
|
In Effort To Appeal To Socialists, Mike Lindell Introduces ‘OurPillow’ . . . Mike Lindell, more commonly known as the “MyPillow Guy,” is making headlines once again with his newest line of pillows. MyPillow is now targeting the socialist demographic with the release of OurPillow. “MyPillow did really well in the Trump era, but now with a new administration, it’s time to try out OurPillow, my comrades!” said an
exuberant Mike Lindell. “And we are proud to announce that we are transitioning to overseas factories so every OurPillow will be made 100% in the communist utopia of China!” A recent "As Seen On TV" commercial revealed that OurPillow will no longer perfectly adjust to fit individuals, but instead it will conform to the masses. It also boasts a patented, quick-drying, liberal tear absorbing foam. "It’s guaranteed the most comfortable pillow the State will ever own and let you use!" said
Lindell.
“We love how inclusive OurPillow is, and now that the government is paying for it, everyone can enjoy!” said democratic socialist Millie Lenin. “Not to mention-- the built-in deodorizer is a nice touch.”
When asked how to order OurPillow, Mike Lindell replied: “Look for OurPillow today being distributed at a breadline near you!” Babylon Bee This is a satire.
|
|
Do you love Cut to the News? Let your family and friends know about it! They'll thank you for it. Spread the word . . .
By Email - use the message that pops up or write your own. On Facebook - On FB, write your own message
Thank you for doing it.
Have a great day.
Rebekah
Rebekah Koffler
Got this from a friend? Subscribe here and get Cut to the News sent to your Inbox every morning.
|
|
|
