7 Things: Alabama students dropping out; China and Fauci defend China; and more …

7. It’s not ‘ok to be white’

• If you’re white, it’s racist to call other races racist. Scott Adams, the creator of the marginally funny Dilbert cartoon, discovered this the hard way after calling black people a “hate group.” As stupid as his comments are, the poll he referenced showed an astounding 47% of black people were unable to agree that “it’s ok to be white.” USA Today, other papers and his syndicator subsequently fired Adams for daring to call those black people racists. 
• Elon Musk responded to the news of his firing, commenting on the double standard applied to different races. He said the media, which was indeed racist toward black people for a long time, is now racist toward white people and Asians. The lede has been buried here – one guy is fired for being racist but the bigger story is being ignored.

6. Christian high school team forfeits against team with trans player

• A girls high school basketball team withdrew from the Vermont state playoffs rather than play against a team with a biological male. Mid Vermont Christian School’s team forfeited the game against Long Trail, who had a transgender player, losing their chance to continue in the playoffs. 
• The head coach of the school said, “We believe playing against an opponent with a biological male jeopardizes the fairness of the game and the safety of our players. Allowing biological males to participate in women’s sports sets a bad precedent for the future of women’s sports in general.”

5. “Supporting Families of the Fallen Act” goes into effect tomorrow

• U.S. Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-Auburn) will now be seeing his “Supporting Families of the Fallen Act” goes into effect Wednesday. It will raise the maximum amount of coverage offered under the Veterans Group Life Insurance and Service Members Group Life Insurance plans by $100,000, the first increase in coverage for either group since 2005.
• Tuberville said, “We can never fully repay our service members and military families for their sacrifice, but I am committed to finding ways to show our appreciation by doing everything I can to support our troops and their loved ones.”

4. The House of Mouse crumbles, DeSantis slays the mouse-eared beast

• Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis put an end to the reign of Disney’s “corporate kingdom.” He signed into law a bill that ends Disney’s self-governing power and puts them under the control of a state board. The bill requires the district which houses Disney to have term-limited members, not on Disney’s payroll, and ends their exemption from fire and building codes and state regulatory reviews. 
• DeSantis said, “Since the 1960s, they’ve enjoyed privileges unlike any company or individual in the state of Florida has ever enjoyed. They had exemptions from laws that everyone else had to follow. They were able to get huge amounts of benefits without paying their fair share of taxes.” All of this ends now.

3. No one will agree on uses for the surplus budget

• The Alabama Legislature is wandering in circles around the state’s excess budget. Up for debate are the same old ideas. Should we give a tax rebate or save the funds for a rainy day, perhaps if when/if the economy crashes? Should we cut taxes? They’re no closer to an agreement.
• Sen. Arthur Orr (R-Decatur) said all parties have good points and that we should be able to address multiple needs. “Senator Albritton makes an excellent point about the future and a recession and the economy. I can see a savings account, a rebate, maybe some tax cuts, smaller in nature but targeted to help … our retirees and … working families.”

2. Can we call it Wuhan Virus/China Virus?

• China is playing the victim, bemoaning the fact anyone blaming the Wuhan lab for leaking COVID-19 is simply playing politics. China’s spokesperson Mao Ning said, “Certain parties should stop rehashing the ‘lab leak’ narrative, stop smearing China and stop politicizing origins-tracing.”
• Meanwhile, Dr. Fauci is digging his grave deeper, defending Chinese officials despite how they consistently impeded scientists from investigating the source of the virus. He blames Beijing critics for this new information, which has not been released by the Department of Energy. U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) have reintroduced a bill that would require Biden to declassify all information regarding the Wuhan lab and COVID.

1. Alabama students are dropping out

• Last year, Alabama’s high school graduation rates were the lowest since 2017. The Class of 2022 had an 88.2% graduation rate, compared to 90.7% for the class of 2021. The class of 2022 started high school the year before the pandemic hit, so many are blaming the decreased graduation rate on the negative effects of the shutdowns. Three-fourths of those who did not graduate were from low-income families, and 6 out of 10 were male.
• However, other states have seen mixed results for the classes graduating following the pandemic years, with some graduation rates increasing, and others decreasing. So the jury is still out on the impact of COVID-19 on graduation rates overall.