7 Things: Blanchard to enter governor’s race, NYC sets private vaccine mandate, Carl hits Biden administration on illegal immigration and more …

7. Chris Cuomo has now been accused of sexual harassment, says CNN head knew he helped his brother

• Former CNN anchor Chris Cuomo was recently fired for using his resources at the network to get information on the women who had accused his brother, former New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, of sexual misconduct and harassment, but now Chris Cuomo has been accused of harassment. Another twist to this saga has Chris Cuomo alleging CNN president Jeff Zucker knew about the assistance that Cuomo was providing to this embattled brother.
• The woman who has accused Chris Cuomo has stayed anonymous, but it’s believed the accusation could have played a part in CNN firing the host. The accuser’s lawyer, Debra Katz, has not revealed specifics about the accusation publicly, but it’s suspected that this happened prior to Cuomo working for CNN. A spokesman for Cuomo said, “If the goal in making these false and unvetted accusations was to see Mr. Cuomo punished by CNN, that may explain his unwarranted termination.”

6. The attack was ‘no hoax’

• Actor Jussie Smollett has testified in the trial where he’s facing charges for lying to police. Smollett is accused of staging an anti-gay, racist attack where he also claimed the attackers in Chicago said, “This is MAGA county.”
• While testifying, Smollett said “there was no hoax,” but the two brothers that were involved in the attack have said Smollett paid them $3,500 for the planned attack. The actor claims that this payment was for meal plans and physical training. Smollett also claimed to have sexual encounters with one of the brothers.

5. Shutdown D.C. is attempting to shut down Washington, D.C. tomorrow

• Multiple liberal organizations are planning on taking to the streets of Washington, D.C. Tuesday in an attempt to bring attention to multiple liberal issues. The protesters want congressional action on climate change, immigration, racial justice, health care and child care, voting rights, and D.C. statehood.
• The organizations, which include ShutDownDC, SPACES In Action, CODEPINK, Arm in Arm Washington DC, Chesapeake Climate Action Network Action Fund and Extinction Rebellion DC, are planning to conduct rallies and street blockades to shut down traffic before marching to the U.S. Capitol to “shut down business as usual.”

4. Britt: Leaving the National School Board Association was the right decision

• The Alabama Association of School Boards has voted to leave the National School Board Association, with the national association’s controversial letter to the Department of Justice being the final reason to withdraw but not the only reason. U.S. Senate candidate Katie Britt has praised this move.
• Britt said this was “the correct decision,” adding, “NSBA has clearly lost its way and Alabama funds shouldn’t support its radical political agenda. NSBA should be advocating for more local control in education and less federal intrusion. Instead, the group asked the FBI to treat concerned parents as ‘domestic terrorists’ and usurp local law enforcement agencies. This is unacceptable and un-American. This shouldn’t be controversial: parents absolutely have the right to and should be involved in their child’s education.”

3. America’s border crisis is not over

• In an op-ed for Yellowhammer News, U.S. Representative Jerry Carl (R-Mobile) laments the ongoing failures of the Biden administration on the issue of illegal immigration. Carl is imploring the administration and his colleagues to get serious on this issue.
• Carl notes in the op-ed that the number of illegal immigrants that crossed the southern border in October would be “nearly enough people to fill both Bryant-Denny Stadium and Jordan-Hare Stadium every month.” Carl lays out this number is double the number of people that crossed the border illegally in 2020.

2. NYC mayor set first private vaccine mandate for a city in the nation

• Outgoing New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced a new wide-ranging vaccine mandate plan for his city’s private businesses and for kids 5-11 who want to go to restaurants, fitness or entertainment facilities in the city. The mandate goes into effect on December 27 and will affect all of the city’s 184,000 businesses. Questions remain about implementation.
• Meanwhile, the U.S. Senate may vote to block President Joe Biden’s vaccine mandate on private companies, with support from U.S. Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) who has said he does “not support any government vaccine mandate on private businesses.” It is far less likely the bill comes up in the U.S. House with Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) calling the shots.

1. Lynda/Lindy Blanchard is running for governor

• After rumors circulated for months about former U.S. ambassador to Slovenia Lynda Blanchard leaving the U.S. Senate race and instead running for governor of Alabama with a possible endorsement from President Donald Trump, Blanchard will be announcing her campaign for governor in Wetumpka. With a change of race, she will also change to using “Lindy” as her first name.
• Former gubernatorial candidate Tim James has also joined the race recently to challenge Governor Kay Ivey. When previously asked about possible intentions to run for governor, Blanchard gave indirect answers such as, “Any way that I can support the president and support the Republican Party, I’m willing to do.” She and James are now in the race for governor, which is expected to heat up in January.