Cut to the News
Cut through the clutter to today's top news
February 10, 2021
Good morning
Welcome to today's top news.
Leading the News . . .
Senate votes impeachment trial is constitutional, will move ahead . . . The Senate voted Tuesday to proceed with the unprecedented impeachment trial of former President Trump after listening to nearly four hours of arguments on whether it is constitutional to try a president who is already out of office.
The vote was 56-44. Democrats are 11 votes short of what they will need to convict. The six Republicans who joined with the Democrats on voting to continue the trial were Sens. Susan Collins of Maine, Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, Lisa Murkowski of Alaska, Mitt Romney of Utah, Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Pat Toomey of Pennsylvania. White House Dossier
Brutal Covid-19 Surge in the U.S. Weakens Significantly . . . The most severe surge of the Covid-19 pandemic in the U.S. has weakened significantly, according to key metrics, though public-health experts and epidemiologists urge caution, given the spread of highly contagious new variants.
Newly reported cases have dropped 56% over the past month, based on a seven-day average, marking a significantly steeper fall than the U.S. saw after the spring and summer surges. Hospitalizations have declined 38% since Jan 6. The seven-day average of Covid-19 tests returning positive fell over the past week to 6.93%, the lowest since Oct. 31. Unlike during earlier moments in the pandemic, case counts are heading lower amid a mass-inoculation effort. Wall Street Journal
CVS, Walgreens, other pharmacies to begin delivering COVID vaccines within days . . . Within days, you might be able to get a vaccine from your local pharmacy. After weeks of vaccine distribution being largely limited to hospitals, health systems and local health departments, COVID-19 vaccines are poised to roll out at major pharmacies throughout the country, including the nation's two largest chains, CVS and Walgreens. While
state-determined eligibility and availability will remain limited for the time being, experts say they're hopeful that the nation's established network of pharmacies will help speed up distribution amid consternation over the pace of the rollout so far. USA Today
COVID vaccine may be cause of rare blood disorder in 36 people: report . . . At least 36 people may have developed a rare blood disorder, known as immune thrombocytopenia (ITP), after taking either Pfizer and BioNTech or Moderna's COVID-19 vaccines, according to a report. The condition develops when the immune system attacks platelets, a blood component essential for clotting, or the cells that create them, for unknown
reasons. An estimated 50,000 people in the U.S. are currently living with and successfully managing immune thrombocytopenia, according to the Platelet Disorder Support Association. Fox News
|
|
Impeachment managers pit McConnell against Trump as trial begins . . . Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell sat stone-faced with arms crossed in the august chamber Tuesday as Democrats made him part of the prosecution’s exhibit No. 1, watching himself in a video montage of the U.S. Capitol riot as former President Trump’s second impeachment trial got underway. The House impeachment managers used the Kentucky Republican’s words against
Mr. Trump. They reminded the senators that the chamber’s top Republican chided the former president’s repeated challenges to the 2020 election. Washington Times
Trump’s Rambling Impeachment Lawyer Gets Mocked From All Sides . . . Former President Donald Trump’s impeachment defense lawyer Bruce Castor Jr. got mocked from all sides of the political aisle Tuesday during his opening statement. Castor, who is part of a
last-minute impeachment team, delivered a lengthy, rambling statement where he argued that trying to impeach Trump a second time was partisan and based on emotions. Trump is being impeached on on one article of “incitement of insurrection” after some of his supporters stormed and rioted at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6. The lawyer’s speech appeared to draw a similar response from both conservatives and liberals – many were confused throughout. Daily Caller
Trump said to be furious with impeachment lawyers’ performance . . . President Trump was said by several reports to be furious with his impeachment team’s performance, particularly the widely panned and rambling presentation by attorney Bruce Castor. Mr. Castor, the first to speak, delivered a rambling, almost somnambulant defense of the former president for nearly an hour. Mr. Trump, who often leaves the television on in the background
even when he is holding meetings, was furious, people familiar with his reaction said. On a scale of one to 10, with 10 being the angriest, Mr. Trump “was an eight,” one person familiar with his reaction said. White House Dossier
Trumpers look to expose Dems' own incitement . . . "Many on the Trump team are excited that he's actually going to be able to embarrass ... the congressional leaders who voted for this," said Jessie Jane Duff, co-chair of Veterans for Trump. Even as Democrats present their case for convicting President Trump of allegedly inciting a violent insurrection on Capitol Hill, Republicans say they can use the occasion to go on offense and
embarrass Democrats for their own rhetoric. The public record is rife with statements from Democratic lawmakers that challenge the legitimacy of Republican electoral victories and could, if interpreted literally, be construed to encourage physical confrontation of conservatives. Just the
News
|
|
Pentagon's new blueprint transforms every soldier into a drone-fighter . . . The U.S. Army wants counterdrone capabilities to be in the arsenal of even the lowliest private on the battlefield. With what military planners call “unmanned aircraft systems” rapidly revolutionizing age-old war-fighting theories, every soldier, regardless of assignment, should know how to help knock out swarms of enemy drones before they can
wreak havoc on a unit in combat, the head of the Pentagon’s counterdrone effort said last week. Drones — armed and unarmed, sophisticated or off the shelf — represent a “rapidly proliferating, low-cost, high-reward asset” capable of reconnoitering an enemy position or carrying out direct, lethal attacks on U.S. personnel. The Army-led joint counter-small unmanned aircraft systems office was established to develop a strategy for addressing the growing threat. Washington Times
How about setting specific goals, developing the most suitable strategy and doctrine to defeat a particular adversary? Oh, yeah, and also defining victory before engaging in an 'endless war' of one sort or another? Rather than perpetuating the already highly technology-dependent warfigthing style.
Russia, Iran, and China to Hold Joint Naval Drills in Indian Ocean . . . Russia, Iran, and China are set to hold joint naval drills in the Indian Ocean, as the chief of U.S. Central Command acknowledged that the United States faces “increasing competition” in the Middle East. It comes as the United States is separately conducting joint exercises with Australia and Japan in Guam. Similar drills were held between the three countries in
the Indian Ocean in the Gulf of Oman off the coast of Iran in December 2019, in a move that appeared to counter U.S. activity in the region. The Gulf of Oman is a waterway that connects the Arabian Sea with the Strait of Hormuz, where about a fifth of the world’s oil passes through. Epoch Times
|
|
India and Twitter face off over content as officials flock to rival Koo . . . U.S. social media giant Twitter locked horns with India on Wednesday saying a government order to remove some accounts was not consistent with Indian law while politicians urged followers to switch to rival local app Koo. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has ordered Twitter to remove more than 1,100 accounts and posts which it says
are spreading misinformation about widespread protests by farmers against new agricultural laws. In a blog post on Wednesday, Twitter said it did not fully comply with some requests as it believed they were not in line with Indian law. Reuters
First, Facebook plays 'Doctor' by acting as an arbiter of which COVID advice is medically sound and which isn't and therefore must be deleted from its platform. Now, Twitter deems itself an 'Attorney,' specializing in Indian law. Big Tech is out of control.
|
|
Twitter survives Trump account ban with an increase in users . . . After kicking former President Donald Trump off its platform a month ago, Twitter announced Tuesday it gained more daily users in January than the average number it has added in that month over the past four years. While some critics were expecting a drop in users following the Trump ban and despite controversy, social media giant topped
$1B in revenue. Fox Business
China's Huawei files US lawsuit disputing that it is a security threat . . . China’s Huawei Technologies Co. filed a lawsuit in the U.S. disputing its designation as a national security threat by the Federal Communications Commission, stepping up legal challenges in the country despite a change of administration in Washington. The lawsuit filed Monday in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit asked for a review of an FCC ruling
last year that found the company poses a national security threat and blocked American telecommunications operators from accessing a multibillion-dollar fund to buy Huawei-made telecom gear. Former President Donald Trump’s administration blocked the company from accessing American technology and sought to persuade allies that Huawei’s telecom gear presented national security risks. Fox Business
|
|
Mark Cuban’s Mavericks won’t play national anthem anymore . . . Haven’t heard about any national anthem protests at Mavericks games? There’s a good reason for that: Dallas isn’t and won’t be playing “The Star-Spangled Banner” anymore. Mark Cuban told The Athletic it was his decision to eliminate the tradition of playing the anthem before games. The move went by unnoticed through the first 13 combined preseason and regular-season games at
American Airlines Center because the Mavericks did not publicize it, either within the organization or through an announcement to media. Monday marked the first game in which the Mavericks allowed a limited number of fans into their arena. New York Post
Cop-out.
Aunt Jemima rebranded as Pearl Milling Company . . . Quaker Oats has announced the new name for its “Aunt Jemima” products in response to criticism that was levied at the brand for featuring a racist stereotype of a Black woman. The name “Aunt Jemima” and the picture of a Black woman shown on the packaging, based on a former slave named Nancy Green, will be replaced with the name "Pearl Milling Company" and what appears to be a picture of
a 19th century water mill, CNN reports. The new brand is expected to launch in June, one year after Quaker Foods announced the rebranding of “Aunt Jemima” in the midst of Black Lives Matter protests calling for an end to racial inequality. The Hill
'Canceling' Aunt Jemima dishonors the memory of the black lady who took pride in her work helping establish the brand.
Utah Axes Gun-Permit Requirement . . . Residents of Utah will soon be able to carry concealed guns without a permit. Governor Spencer Cox (R.) will sign legislation into law this week to eliminate the permit requirement, his spokeswoman told the Washington Free Beacon on Tuesday. The act will allow any law-abiding person over the age of 21 to carry a gun under his or her clothes while in the state. Convicted felons, those adjudicated
mentally ill, and other people prohibited from owning a gun are excluded from the policy. The repeal of permit requirements for concealed gun carry has accelerated over the past decade in a show of the increasing influence of gun owners and Second Amendment groups, especially at the state level. Utah is the 17th state to adopt a permitless carry system. Washington Free Beacon
What about all the other states that currently honor the Utah concealed carry permit?
|
|
Zoom mishap turns lawyer into a cat during virtual hearing . . . A Texas lawyer attending a virtual hearing via Zoom had to clarify that he is "not a cat" when he was unable to turn off a filter that turned his face into a kitten. A video of the 394th Judicial District Court hearing, posted to YouTube, shows lawyer Rod Ponton struggling with some technical difficulties when he logged into the meeting to find his
photo was replaced with the image of a cat's face. "I'm here live. I'm not a cat," Ponton says in the video. Judge Roy Ferguson, who presides over the district, tweeted a clip from the video as a caution to other court professionals. "IMPORTANT ZOOM TIP: If a child used your computer, before you join a virtual hearing check the Zoom Video Options to be sure filters are off. This kitten just made a formal announcement on a case in the 394th," Ferguson tweeted. UPI
|
|
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.
|
|
|
