The Week in News
Before I head out with my nephew in search of Greek food, here’s the wrap-up of the week that was in news.
It’s Friday, and Chicago has finally hit 70 degrees (well, again), so my visit to mom’s is finally feeling springlike. Before I head out with my nephew in search of Greek food, here’s the wrap-up of the week that was in news.
Trumper-of-Convenience Elise Stefanik replaces Liz Cheney
New York Republican Elise Stefanik, who had been a moderate Republican for decades, decided two years ago that jumping on the Trump train would be good for her career, so she became a crazy Ever-Trumper and never looked back. Her bet paid off this morning, when House Republicans elected Stefanik to the #3 House leadership position, replacing Liz Cheney, who ironically is far more conservative than Stefanik, who talks a good pro-Trump talk, but voted with Trump far less than Cheney did.
I did a deeper dive into Stefanik’s rise, and what it means for the GOP’s future, on my podcast yesterday. In a nutshell, I think the GOP is planning another insurrection come 2022, but most certainly come 2024 if the Democrats win the White House again.
Fewer masks, maybe
The CDC has loosened up its mask requirement, but honestly I’m still a bit confused by it. They say to still wear masks in crowded places like buses, planes or trains. And that it’s safe outdoors, ish. (I’m not clear if it’s safe at, say, a baseball game outdoors.) Also, what about grocery stores? I suspect a lot of businesses are unclear what the new recommendations mean in practice for them.
I also worry that there’s going to be an element of the honor code involved in mask wearing inside stores. If you’re vaccinated, you don’t need one; if you aren’t, you will. But lots of people (aka Trumpers) will surely lie. Which makes me want to continue wearing my mask anyway, even though I’ve been vaccinated.
Also, I worry about the societal pressure of people NOT wearing masks, and whether it will make people who SHOULD still wear masks forgo them out of a sense of going along with the majority. When I was at my local public park a few months back, before we knew that outside was basically safe, there were lots of people out picnicking maskless. I’d say 95% of the park was maskless. And I felt like an idiot wearing my masks. I kept it on, but I felt like a loser. I suspect a lot of people will simply take the mask off under such circumstances, due to perceived peer pressure, and that concerns me.
This morning I heard that only 35% of the population is fully vaccinated, I thought it was around 50%. So I think I’ll be sporting my mask a little bit longer.
Trumper Congressman Matt Gaetz’s buddy Greenberg cops a plea in FBI sex trafficking investigation
The New York Times just reported that Trump’s top ally in the US House, Rep. Matt Gaetz (the guy who wore a gas mask during the first Covid vote in March of 2020), may be in serious legal jeopardy, as his friend and confidante, Joel Greenberg, just accepted a plea deal in which he confessed to, among other things, joining other unnamed adult men in “commercial sex acts” with minors. Greenberg also says he witnessed other men having sex with a minor. He doesn’t name names, but earlier this year, when news of a possible plea deal went public, Greenberg’s attorney told reporters: '“I'm sure Matt Gaetz is not feeling very comfortable today.”
Bill Gates’ secret microchip
A CNN poll shows that 40% of Republicans think Bill Gates is using the Covid vaccine to implant a microchip in their brains that will let him track their every movement. Little do they realize that their cell phones already do this.
Marjorie Taylor Greene is f’g bonkers
The QAnon-praising House Republican chased Democratic congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez down the halls of Congress, screaming at her, earlier this week. Greene denies screaming, but the screaming was witnessed by two reporters who say she in fact was screaming. You’ll recall Greene also followed/stalked Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg a few years back. And then there’s this video, from 2019, in which Greene was again stalking AOC outside her office.
The woman is not right. But she is a perfect example of what the modern Republican party has now become. Nasty, and f’g bonkers.
How much Red States & Blue States give and get from the federal trough
Take a wild guess which states give more to the federal government in taxes than they get back in federal funding, and which ones make out like bandits while constantly expressing a desire to secede from the union. (With such redistribution of wealth, one might even call it “socialism.”)
After all that effort, just give him the damn sandwich
Okay, that’s it for this week. I just bought some spanakopita at the Greek store, so looking forward to trying that out this evening. (Mom and I are both great Greek cooks, but sometimes it’s fun, and easier, to try the pre-made stuff at the store.) Otherwise, enjoy your weekend, and chat with you all next week.
JOHN