Stark link between obesity and Covid deaths revealed . . . Nine out of 10 deaths from coronavirus have occurred in countries with high obesity levels, according to World Health Organization-backed research that sets out the stark correlation between excessive weight and lives lost to the disease. The study from the World Obesity Federation (WOF), which represents scientists, medical professionals and researchers from more than 50 regional and national obesity associations, showed mortality rates were 10 times higher where at least 50 per cent of the population was overweight. Age has been seen as the biggest predictor for severe outcomes, which has led to priority being given to older people in most countries’ Covid-19 vaccine rollouts. But the WOF said its report “shows for the first time that overweight populations come a close second”. It is now calling for this group to be prioritized for immunisation. Financial Times

 

Experts warn US risks delaying 'normal' summer . . . President Biden's announcement that there will be enough vaccines for all adults by May is raising hopes for a return to normal soon. But the next few months in the pandemic are critical. Concern is growing over moves by some states to lift restrictions already, while new variants of the virus are on the rise in the U.S. Experts warn that actions taken now risk delaying getting back to some semblance of normal. Health officials are urging restrictions to remain in place for the final stretch. The Hill

Kamala Harris does yet another world leader call . . . Vice President Kamala Harris Tuesday spoke with yet another world leader on behalf of President Biden, this time with Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison. This is at least the third world leader call she has done, including calls with French President Emmanuel Macron and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. These are not just courtesy calls. These are our major allies. The press is portraying this as “training” for Harris, who lacks foreign policy experience. But it raises the obvious question of whether Biden is not vigorous enough to do all the tasks required of a president. White House Dossier

Biden reignites war powers fight with Syria strike . . . President Biden’s strike in Syria is reviving a dormant fight over war powers as Congress looks to claw back some of its authority. The military action sparked grumbling from Democrats who say they weren’t adequately consulted on the strikes and questioned where Biden drew the authority, which the White House says falls under his powers as commander in chief. The war powers debate will have repercussions beyond just Syria. The Hill

Pelosi election-overhaul bill passes without a single Republican vote . . . House Speaker Nancy Pelosi narrowly secured passage of her signature election-overhaul legislation Wednesday without a single Republican vote, sending the heated debate over how America votes to the Senate where the bill is all-but doomed. The proposal, which is known as H.R. 1, passed on a 220-210 vote almost entirely along party lines. Although one Democrat voted against the bill, the vote was otherwise entirely partisan, underscoring the gap between the two parties on election laws. Washington Times

Pence: Dems' voting plan gives leftists 'permanent, unfair, and unconstitutional advantage' . . . In an echo of his former boss Donald Trump, former Vice President Mike Pence called for tightening election security laws Wednesday in a stinging critique of congressional Democrats' comprehensive plan to federalize American elections. "After an election marked by significant voting irregularities and numerous instances of officials setting aside state election law, I share the concerns of millions of Americans about the integrity of the 2020 election," Pence wrote in an op-ed for The Daily Signal. "Election reform is a national imperative, but under our Constitution, election reform must be undertaken at the state level." Just the News

House passes 'George Floyd' police reform bill, Senate prospects unclear . . . The U.S. House of Representatives passed a bill on Wednesday banning controversial police tactics and easing the way for lawsuits against officers violating suspects’ constitutional rights, although the measure’s Senate prospects were uncertain. Democrats pushed the “George Floyd Justice in Policing Act” through the House by a vote of 220-212, with the support of only one Republican, just days before former Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin goes on trial on a state murder charge in the death of Floyd last year. Floyd, 46, an African-American man [with a criminal history - to include drug abuse, theft, criminal trespassing, and aggravated robbery - ] died when he was detained with Chauvin kneeling on his neck for nearly eight minutes. [Flyod resisted arrest, according to police claims.] His [tragic] killing sparked weeks of nationwide and global protests, many of which were led by Black Lives Matter activists. Reuters

Recording President Trump was discussed, Rosenstein concedes . . . Former Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein is finally opening up about his discussion with a top FBI official concerning the investigation into former President Donald Trump's potential ties to Russia. In his first TV interview since leaving the Trump administration in May 2019, Rosenstein told FOX 5 that there was talk of recording the 45th president for the inquiry but denied that he ever intended to wear a "wire" during the turbulent days that followed Trump firing FBI Director James Comey in 2017 before the appointment of Robert Mueller as special counsel. "I had a conversation with Andrew McCabe about an investigation that he was conducting involving the president. And there was a discussion about whether or not the president would be recorded in the course of that investigation," Rosenstein said in an episode of the Siege on Democracy podcast published last month. Washington Examiner

House Democrats surrender to QAnon, scrap March 4 session . . . Leaders of the House of Representatives decided to scrap planned votes on Thursday due to reports that QAnon conspiracy theory adherents may attempt to storm the Capitol in a far-fetched scheme to return former President Donald Trump to office, according to a Democratic congressman. The Capitol complex is ringed with non-scalable, barbed-wire topped 8-foot fences and is still guarded by hundreds of National Guard members following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, during which a mob of Trump supporters smashed into the building and disrupted certification of President Biden’s victory. But House leaders were fearful enough of another assault to move Thursday votes to Wednesday night. New York Post

 

 

 

Western powers scrap plan for IAEA rebuke of Iran, diplomats say . . . Britain, France and Germany have scrapped a U.S.-backed plan for the U.N. nuclear watchdog’s board to criticize Iran for scaling back cooperation with the agency, diplomats said on Thursday, amid concerns about efforts to revive Iran’s nuclear deal. The European powers, all parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, have been lobbying for the International Atomic Energy Agency’s 35-nation Board of Governors to adopt a resolution at this week’s quarterly meeting expressing concern at Iran’s latest breaches of the deal and calling on it to undo them. Reuters

 

Mississippi Middle School under fire for ‘slave letter writing’ assignment . . . A Mississippi school is taking heat over a “slave letter writing” assignment that asked a group of mostly white students to “discuss the journey to America” or “tell about the family you live with.” The assignment at Purvis Middle School also gave students the option to write about “how you pass your time when you aren’t working.” New York Post

Alternative Beef Threatens an Already Struggling Cattle Industry . . . According to a publication released by Oklahoma State University and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association, the beef cattle industry is estimated to lose $13.6 billion in revenue from COVID-19.  In the beginning of the pandemic meat packing facilities were unprepared for a health crisis of this magnitude. As workers became ill from the virus, facilities began shutting down—forcing producers to halt shipments on market–ready beef. With plants shut down, retail beef prices soared. As farmers and ranchers navigate the turmoil of the COVID-19 pandemic, another threat approaches on the horizon: alternative meats. Gingrich360