7. Marshall fighting online censorship
- On the same day both U.S. Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and U.S. Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-GA) were suspended by social media companies, a joint initiative was announced by Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall and Louisiana Attorney General Jeff Landry that will launch a website where people can file a “Social Media Censorship Complaint Form.” The purpose of this initiative is to address censorship and issues with big tech.
- Marshall said in his announcement, “It should concern us all when platforms that hold such tremendous power and influence over information wield that power in contradiction of –and with undisguised disdain for – the foundational American principles of free speech and freedom of the press.”
6. Cuomo is resigning
- New York Governor Andrew Cuomo (D) has announced that he will be resigning as governor in 14 days due to the sexual harassment allegations made against him that have been supported by the Attorney General’s office.
- Cuomo said in his announcement, “The best way I can help now is if I step aside and let government get back to government.” The governor has also been under investigation for the way he handled nursing home regulations during the coronavirus pandemic, but he’s denied wrongdoing in the sexual harassment and nursing home scandals multiple times.
5. $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill passes in spite of opposition from both of Alabama’s U.S. Senators
- The U.S. Senate has passed the $1.2 trillion infrastructure bill that’s been supported by President Joe Biden. The package will now go through the U.S. House of Representatives before it can be approved by Biden. U.S. Senators Richard Shelby (R-AL) and Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) opposed the bill.
- The infrastructure package includes more than just infrastructure, though, since it also includes more regulation of cryptocurrency, electric school buses, and undoing street grids that were created in the 1950s and 1960s to reconnect mostly black neighborhoods. It also includes funding for roads, bridges and waterways.
4. Aderholt: Infrastructure spending is ‘reckless’
- Senate Democrats have started discussing a new budget plan for $3.5 trillion in spending, which comes just after the $1 trillion infrastructure bill passed the U.S. Senate. Now, U.S. Representative Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) is calling out the reckless spending.
- The $3.5 trillion plan includes free community college, a Medicare expansion, universal preschool and more, but Aderholt has deemed this as “reckless, and a leftwing smorgasbord.” Aderholt said that some of the recklessness is “also the way in which they want to use budget tricks to pass” the package.
3. Masking impacts child development
- System Chair of Pediatrics at Allegheny Health Network Dr. Joseph Aracri has said that children are starting to experience some negative impacts of the coronavirus pandemic, particularly related to mask-wearing and social distancing.
- Aracri said that these issues are due to the lack of socialization children are experiencing with masking and social distancing, and he said that they’ve “seen some language delays and more social anxiety. The inability of a child to leave their parent and go play with other children.” These impacts have mostly been seen in toddlers so far.
2. America’s only doctor believes some freedoms need to be curtailed and statewide mandates coming
- During one of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s numerous television hits yesterday, Fauci lamented Americans who would rather not be forced into a vaccine by their government or employers. Fauci said, “I’m sorry, I mean I know people must like to have their individual freedom and not be told to do something, but I think we’re in such a serious situation now that, under certain circumstances, mandates should be done.”
- Fauci’s constant shifting, now on mandates for government employees, is music to the ears of bureaucrats in Washington state, Washington, D.C., and New York City who have decided local mandates are needed. The thirst for more mandates (private and public) will grow, and the media will be leading the parade moving forward.
1. 3,800 new cases in Alabama, all Mississippi ICU beds are full
- Seven different counties saw triple-digit COVID-19 cases yesterday with Mobile (560) leading the way, followed by Jefferson (522), Madison (280), Baldwin (259), Montgomery (149), St. Clair (136) and Lee (111). While the increase in cases is slowing, 23 more people died of the illness and hospitalizations continue to rise showing that the worst of this wave is still yet to come.
- In Mississippi, there’s been some concerning news released as the state deals with an increase in coronavirus cases. In a single day, the state had 3,488 new cases and 36 deaths, but it was also announced that there are no available ICU beds in the state. Mississippi State Health Officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs stated, “Based on historical trends – this will translate into around 73 deaths in the coming days, almost all preventable.” Mississippi’s vaccination rate is currently at 36.5% of fully vaccinated adults, while Alabama is at 35.1%.
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