7 Things: Alabama’s congressional districts blown up, the coronavirus has done more for school choice than Ivey and more …

7. Flurona is being found in Alabama

• The illness called “Flurona,” where a person has both the flu and coronavirus, has been somewhat rare, but now, two cases have been found in Alabama, both in children. The two cases were reported to have “significant symptoms” by the Compass Laboratory Services.
• Chief scientific officer of Compass Laboratory Services Dr. William Budd explained, “[W]e have seen many cases of co-infection between COVID-19 and respiratory bacterial pathogens,” despite these being the first “Flurona” cases. Budd added, “[I]t has been shown that nearly half of hospitalized patients with flu like illnesses are infected with more than one respiratory pathogen. Infection with multiple pathogens complicates treatment and is associated with poor outcomes.” He’s advocating for more research and testing on the issue.

6. Carl still going after Fauci’s financial records

• In the U.S. House of Representatives, new legislation targeting Dr. Anthony Fauci has been co-sponsored by U.S. Representative Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) as an effort to make his financial disclosers public. The legislation is titled the “Financial Accountability for Uniquely Compensated Individuals (FAUCI) Act.”
• Carl explained, “The American people should have full access to the financial disclosures and investments of government officials who are earning a taxpayer salary.” He added, “The FAUCI Act would require public access to financial disclosures of government officials who make as much or more than a Member of Congress, which is an important step to rein in the power of unelected bureaucrats and prevent them from enriching themselves off the taxpayer’s dime.”

5. Biden says what he really thinks about reporters

• During an event at the White House in the East Room, press were beginning to leave, but the event was still being broadcast on C-SPAN, and Fox News White House correspondent Peter Doocy asked President Joe Biden about the inflation crisis.
• In response to the question, “Do you think inflation is a political liability?” Biden replied, “That’s a great asset. More inflation? What a stupid son of a b****,” into a hot mic. Biden was also upset by a question about the situation between Russia and Ukraine, saying, “The only reason I don’t like doing this is you never report on why I called the meeting. And this is really important. I had a very, very, very good meeting. Total unanimity with all the European leaders. We will talk about it later.”

4. Constitutional carry is getting a statewide campaign

• There will now be a statewide effort to advocate for constitutional, or permitless, carry in Alabama. The effort is being promoted by the National Association for Gun Rights, as there are already two pieces of legislation in the State House to legalize constitutional carry.
• Young Americans for Liberty program legislative coordinator Ben Heckman said that with the people he’s already spoken to across the state, “people are quite excited for this bill.” He added that there are some who have expressed being pro-Second Amendment but still think permits are necessary. Nevertheless, the effort to push for permitless carry is growing across the state.

3. This must be where they finally get Trump, totally, for realsies this time

• The panel that’s investigating the U.S. Capitol riot from January 6, 2021, is now looking into an alleged executive order from then-President Donald Trump that would have resulted in ballot boxes being taken up by the National Guard in 2020. U.S. Representative Bennie Thompson (D-Miss.) said that they’ve already talked to former Attorney General William Barr about the order. Thompson adde, “We are concerned that our military was part of this big lie on promoting that the election was false.”
• This new story follows the Fulton County District Attorney from Georgia looking to investigate the angle Trump tried to create election interference when he called Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensberger telling him he thought there was voter fraud and wanted him to find it. Strangely, the DA doesn’t seem to even have the support of Raffensberger as she tries to appease her base in the media and their Democrats.

2. Ivey signaling support for school choice

• This week is “Alabama School Choice Week,” and Governor Kay Ivey has issued a proclamation recognizing the week that advocates for more school choice for K-12 schools in the state and follows the National School Choice Week. The proclamation comes five years into Ivey’s administration with zero movement on the issue and zero special sessions tackling it.
• In the announcement of her proclamation, Ivey said, “[E]nsuring every student in AL has access to an effective education is top priority. Research shows that providing children with multiple edu options improves academic performance.” She added that she’s “proud to support” the effort.

1. 3-court panel blocks Alabama congressional maps, for now

• Claims of gerrymandering follow every redistricting effort in Alabama, and everywhere else, and federal judges often declare the maps invalid as they did on Monday. The panel found the plantiffs were “substantially likely” to succeed because the new maps make it so “Black voters have less opportunity than other Alabamians to elect candidates of their choice to Congress.”
• This is hardly the last word on the matter, as usual, as an appeal by Attorney General Steve Marshall has already been promised. If the order stands, the state legislature will be forced to draw new districts and potentially alter the representation of the Alabama congressional delegation, specifically seeking to draw an additional black district.