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Two leaders of President Joe Biden's coronavirus response team on Wednesday downplayed the idea of of requiring Americans to take any of the approved COVID-19 vaccines. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky and Dr. Anthony Fauci, head of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, both said at a White House briefing on Wednesday that it's too early to consider such a mandate.. Walensky said 32 million people in the United States have already received one of the two available vaccines, and predicted that many more will follow. Fauci added that there aren't enough doses...

After months of waiting, high school winter contact sports can finally move forward with their respective seasons. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer officially announced the return of high school winter contact sports in a Thursday afternoon press conference after the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued new orders to allow competition and full-contact practice to being on Feb. 8 for girls and boys basketball, competitive cheer, ice hockey and wrestling. “This is exciting news,” Whitmer said in a press conference. “I’m so glad that our kids are going to be able to get back into playing the sports that...

This week’s Senate Transportation Committee meeting made painfully clear what the current state is of cruises leaving from Florida. It’s proving to be toilsome and there is a long road ahead before sailings can effectively resume. Michael Rubin, the Florida Ports Council government representative, told members of the Senate committee that it would be months before a resumption will happen. It could also be 2022 or later before we see cruises on any significant level, let alone the same levels as pre-pandemic. Are the CDC’s Measures Too Harsh? If we look at the immediate start of cruises from Florida, it...

OAKLAND, Calif. - California Gov. Gavin Newsom doesn’t want to talk about the recall. But his allies can’t ignore it. The campaign to oust Newsom went from unlikely to unavoidable this week as pervasive frustration with Newsom’s pandemic management cut sharply into his approval numbers. The longer businesses have been closed, hospitals full and school campuses shut, the more the movement has gained traction beyond conservative social media circles. The nation's biggest Democratic vulnerability after a score of blue victories has become an irresistible nightly feature on Fox News. Should the effort qualify, look for money to pour into the...

PAUL: “Do you think it’s fair to have boys running in the girls’ track meet?” CARDONA: “I think it’s appropriate for — I think it’s the legal responsibility of schools to provide opportunities for students to participate in activities, and this includes students who are transgender.” PAUL: “So you don’t have a problem then with boys running in girls’ track meets, swimming meets? You’re okay then with boys competing with girls?” CARDONA: “Respectfully, Senator, I think I answered the question. I believe schools should offer the opportunity for students to engage in extracurricular activities, even if they’re transgender. I think...

Johnson & Johnson asked U.S. regulators Thursday to clear the world’s first single-dose COVID-19 vaccine, an easier-to-use option that could boost scarce supplies. J&J’s vaccine was safe and offered strong protection against moderate to severe COVID-19, according to preliminary results from a massive international study. It didn’t appear quite as strong as two-dose competitors made by Pfizer and Moderna — a finding that may be more perception than reality, given differences in how each was tested.

Total Doses Distributed: 57,489,675 Number of People Receiving 1 or More Doses: 27,905,197 Number of People Receiving 2 Doses: 6,926,050

Explanation: Fifty years ago this Friday, Apollo 14's Lunar Module Antares landed on the Moon. Toward the end of the stay astronaut Ed Mitchell snapped a series of photos of the lunar surface while looking out a window, assembled into this detailed mosaic by Apollo Lunar Surface Journal editor Eric Jones. The view looks across the Fra Mauro highlands to the northwest of the landing site after the Apollo 14 astronauts had completed their second and final walk on the Moon. Prominent in the foreground is their Modular Equipment Transporter, a two-wheeled, rickshaw-like device used to carry tools and samples....

PHOENIX (AP) - Republicans who control the Arizona Senate voted Thursday to fast-track a resolution finding Maricopa County in contempt for failing to turn over elections equipment and ballots cast in the November election as a subpoena demanded. The rules change brought furious opposition from minority Democrats, who called the effort further evidence that GOP senators have bought into unfounded conspiracy theories that President Joe Biden won Arizona because of problems with vote counting. “The more we play along with this silly game the more we are lying to the people of Arizona about it,” Sen. Martin Quezada, a Glendale...

Wisconsin Governor Tony Evers on Thursday slapped down the state's Republican-controlled legislature repeal of his statewide mask mandate by issuing a new order. "Every step of the way, our statewide strategies to contain this virus and prevent the spread have been met with lawsuits, political rhetoric and obstruction," Evers said in a video posted to Twitter. "Unfortunately, that happened again today, when Republicans in the legislature came in to vote down our state's public health emergency and end requiring face coverings in public places." "That's why today we will be issuing a new public health emergency order requiring face coverings...

CHICAGO — Illinois Rep. Adam Kinzinger got hit with his first formal rebuke late Wednesday from Republican officials in his district for voting to impeach former President Donald Trump. The LaSalle County Republican Central Committee overwhelmingly passed a resolution censuring the GOP congressman for taking actions “contrary to the values” of the party, county GOP Chair Larry Smith announced. In a statement, Smith said the measure passed with 88 percent support. The voting started Tuesday night but the results were released a day later. Republicans, he said, are also concerned that Kinzinger hasn’t engaged with county Republicans for six years...

Representative Jim Jordan went off on cancel culture and how the last 4 years ago Dems pushed and peddled a Russian hoax theory that came up with zero collusion. “Everyone has said things they wish they didn’t say, everyone has done things they wish they didn’t do. So who’s next? Who will the cancel culture attack next?” said Jordan. Rep. Jordan brought up the former New York Times editor Bari Weiss who was not a conservative but she had to reign for engaging in wrong think/ wrong speak. NY Times wrote about Ms. Weiss, “has been known to question aspects...

Joe Biden delivered remarks at the State Department on U.S. diplomacy and global challenges. He began his remarks by declaring “America is back, America is back. Diplomacy is back, at the center of our foreign policy,” and later speaking about rebuilding alliances that have “atrophied over the past few years of neglect, and I would argue abuse.” The president said he had spoken to President Putin of Russia, saying they have reached an agreement to preserve the START Treaty, and that the days of America “rolling over” to Russia are done, and that the United States “will not hesitate to...

Jeffrey Epstein is seen cuddling a sleeping young girl on his lap while on board his private jet after a VIP visit to Walt Disney World, in disturbing photos obtained by DailyMail.com The haunting images of the pedophile financier at 30,000ft provide a chilling look at the billionaire's unrestricted access to young girls

Marty Schottenheimer, a former long-time NFL head coach, was moved to a hospice facility near his home in Charlotte, N.C., on Saturday because of complications from Alzheimers disease, his family said in a statement Wednesday given to ESPN. The 77-year-old Schottenheimer, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2014, is listed in stable condition, according to the website. “As a family we are surrounding him with love,” Schotteheimer’s wife, Pat, said in a statement, also speaking on behalf of the couple’s children, Kristin and Brian, “and are soaking up the prayers and support from all those he impacted through his incredible...

By the numbers, Joe Biden is president of the United States because he won the swing states of Arizona, Georgia and Wisconsin by a combined total of some 43,000 votes. But he also owes his victory to the groundwork laid by Democrats and their media allies one year before, during the first impeachment of Donald Trump over his supposedly strings-attached demand that the Ukrainian government investigate alleged corruption involving Biden’s son, Hunter. The first impeachment failed to oust Trump from office, but it helped secure the White House for Biden. It shielded him from scrutiny, enabling him and his supporters...

The left is apoplectic about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. We all know that. But why? Why her? Some say because she deserves it. Others because of her “crazy” beliefs. Still others because, well, they can. She is an easy target, “low hanging fruit” if you will. But is there another reason? Perhaps the real reason? We believe that there is something else at play here. Could it be her faith? She is very vocal about it. Here is the video of her speech today in response to the whirlwind she finds herself in:

New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), during a lengthy Instagram Live video Monday night, tearfully revealed that she is a survivor of sexual assault. She then proceeded to sacrifice the somberness of the moment by comparing Republican senators Ted Cruz (TX) and Josh Hawley (MO) to her abuser over their alleged role in the Capitol riots. AOC provided no details regarding her assault but was willing to use it to make a political statement. “The reason I’m getting emotional in this moment is because these folks who tell us to move on, that it’s not a big deal, that we...

The Pontifical John Paul II Institute Triggers Controversy The John Paul II Pontifical Theological Institute for Marriage and Family Sciences generated a flurry of controversy in the Italian Catholic blogosphere last week after a strange message posted on its Facebook page defended Joe Biden’s support of legal abortion.The Institute was the scene of strong unrest following the publication of its new statutes in July 2019. Let us briefly recall this episode. Among the main points which had provoked outrage was the suppression of the teaching of basic moral theology. Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop Emeritus of Milan and former Rector...

ATLANTA — The U.S. House stripped Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene from her committee assignments Thursday afternoon. Greene, a freshman member from Georgia’s 14th Congressional District, has a long record of making incendiary remarks ranging from allegedly supporting violence against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Democrats, to spreading baseless claims that mass school shootings were staged. Greene sat on the House Education and Labor, and Budget Committees.