7. There’s yet another variant
- There is another coronavirus variant that has emerged as a combination of variants BA.1 and BA.2, labeled the XE variant. The BA.2 variant is the current dominant strain in the United States, and it mimics symptoms of common seasonal allergies.
- So far, the World Health Organization has reported that the XE variant is 10% more transmissible, but there have only been 600 cases of the variant reported in the United Kingdom since it was first discovered in January.
6. $10 billion more for COVID-19 spending; Many upset we aren’t spending more globally
- A bipartisan group of U.S. Senators agreed to a deal that would spend $10 billion to fight COVID-19. Many are beside themselves because they aren’t spending enough for the United States to fund more of the global virus response.
- The deal repurposes previous unspent coronavirus funding, which helped secure the 10 GOP votes needed at a minimum to pass the bill. The bill isn’t making liberals in Washington, D.C. very happy because they wanted more than $22.5 billion and an additional $5 billion for a global response.
5. Teacher wants the whole district to take needless precautions for her
- In the Vestavia Hills school district, teacher Samantha Baulch at Louise Pizitz School did not have her contract renewed and has now filed a lawsuit against the district alleging that her contract wasn’t renewed due to her taking issue with coronavirus protocols not being followed at the school.
- During the school year, Baulch filed complaints with the Alabama Education Association about students testing positive for the virus and not having the necessary room to social distance. Baulch is an immunocompromised individual as a cancer survivor and stated she should’ve been given certain accommodations under the American Disabilities Act.
4. Push to increase defense budget
- Members of the House Armed Services Committee are asking that the national defense budget within President Joe Biden’s 2023 fiscal year budget be increased, with Republicans saying that there are currently “unprecedented threats.”
- U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-Saks) has said an increase is necessary for a “sufficient defense topline.” He added, “By failing to account for inflation, President Biden’s budget request would leave America weakened and vulnerable.”
3. Blanchard alleges that Ivey has a ‘liberal record’
- Lindy Blanchard has launched a new campaign ad in the gubernatorial race against Governor Kay Ivey, where she attacks Ivey’s record. The latest polls show Blanchard with only 8%, while Ivey has 48% and fellow candidate Tim James has 11%.
- In the ad, the narrator says, “Lindy believes the election was stolen from Trump. Kay Ivey thinks Biden’s victory was legitimate. Lindy believes Alabama should not do business with the Chinese. Kay Ivey expanded Chinese trade. Lindy will appoint conservatives as judges. Kay Ivey appointed Democrats to the bench. Trump-tested, conservative to the core. A clear choice.”
2. Brooks is focusing on RINOs
- In his bid for U.S. Senate, U.S. Representative Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) has released a new campaign ad aligned with his “Fire McConnell” tour, where he takes aim at U.S. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and RINOs.
- The ad features a narrator stating, “Since 2010, Mo Brooks has been one of the most conservative guys in Washington. Weak, big spending, open border Republicans, Mo’s fought them all. But there’s a cost of being a true conservative, and the swamp hates Mo Brooks. That’s why Mitch McConnell spent over $15 million attacking him. Washington RINOs don’t want a Senator Mo Brooks, but Alabama conservatives do.”
1. Biden deems Putin a war criminal; U.S. sending in tanks
- As more reports come out of Ukraine, President Joe Biden called Russian President Vladimir Putin “a war criminal” and added that there should be a war crimes trial against Putin for his decisions. Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said that what happened in Bucha was “genocide,” and while Biden did not go as far to echo these calls, he said that he would be looking for more sanctions to enforce against Russia.
- The U.S. and European nations are now preparing to send tanks into Ukraine, the first time non-defensive weaponry is being supplied by NATO nations with the United States brokering the deal. How this is different than supplying airplanes is unclear, but it could signal that the U.S. views Russia as far weaker than before.
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