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Monday, February 1, 2021

Wake-Up Call: Biden, GOP Senators To Meet About COVID Relief


President Biden will meet at the White House today with a group of 10 Republican senators who have proposed a coronavirus relief package that's only about one-third of the $1.9 trillion proposal he's put forward. Biden issued the invitation for the meeting hours after the GOP lawmakers sent him a letter urging to negotiate instead of getting his package passed only on Democratic votes. The Democrats have the majority in the House and Senate and could use budget reconciliation rules to avoid the filibuster and get the aid package passed in the Senate with a simple majority. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said yesterday that Biden wants a, quote, "full exchange of views," but remains in favor of a robust relief package, stating, "With the virus posing a grave threat to the country, and economic conditions grim for so many, the need for action is urgent, and the scale of what must be done is large."

➤JANUARY WAS DEADLIEST MONTH OF THE PANDEMIC: January was the deadliest month of the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. so far, with more than 95,245 dead for the month as of the last day of January yesterday according to Johns Hopkins University data. That sobering news came as there was also a positive development over the weekend, with less than 100,000 Americans hospitalized for Covid-19 for the first time in almost two months. The COVID Tracking Project reported Sunday that there were 95,013 Covid hospitalizations across the country, after Saturday's number was 97,561, the first time the total has been under 100,00 since December 1st.

Wall Street Journal 2/1/21
➤AFTER DECADES OF DECLINE, SALES OF CIGARETTES FLATTENED IN 2020:  The American Lung Association recently warned that smoking is a risk factor when it comes to getting the most-severe symptoms of COVID-19, which is ironic, because is seems the pandemic has encouraged some to revisit their smoking habit. The Wall Street Journal reports that cigarette sales had been declining for decades at a fairly steady rate, dropping 5.5 percent in 2019, for example. But according to statistics released by Altria Group, which owns the Marlboro brand, cigarette sales in 2020 were simply flat compared to those from 2019—meaning there was no drop in sales. Altria notes that more people may have been tempted to smoke not only because of the stressors of the pandemic, but also due to situational circumstances, like being stuck at home more or having extra money to spend that would normally be put towards gas, entertainment, or vacation. E-cigarette users also started to turn away from vaping, and turning back to traditional cigarettes in some cases, even though experts say e-cigarettes are still safer overall than smoking.

➤AMERICANS USING LESS CASH:  Americans are using less cash during the coronavirus pandemic, and it's not only because of wanting to avoid paper bills and coins because of them potentially being sources of transmission of the virus. Other reasons for the shift toward digital payments include convenience and the fact that more shopping was pushed online due to retail store closures during lockdown and people's caution about being in public places. It's something that's also been seen around the world, and like other things during the pandemic -- such as working from home -- experts say it's speeding up trends that were already happening. Harvard University economic Kenneth Rogoff told the Wall Street Journal, "A central theme of Covid-19 is things that would have taken five years are taking five months, and it’s a reinforcing of existing trends. It’s the same with cash." Americans' use of cash had been gradually declining for years, used in 26 percent of all payments in 2019, down from 40 percent in 2012. What remains to be seen is how much spending will snap back to cash as the pandemic eases and eventually ends.


➤PROTESTS IN RUSSIA FOR SECOND WEEKEND, MORE THAN 5,100 ARRESTED: Tens of thousands of people protested across Russia on Sunday demanding the release from jail of opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the second weekend of demonstrations in support of Navalny. More than 5,100 people were arrested during yesterday's massive protests, which took place despite threats and warnings from President Vladimir Putin's government. Navalny’s team called for another protest in Moscow on Tuesday, when he'll have a court hearing that could send him to prison for years. The U.S. criticized the crackdown on protests and urged the release of Navalny, leading Moscow to accuse Washington of trying to destabilize the situation in Russia.
 

➤MILITARY SEIZES POWER IN MYANMAR, SENIOR POLITICIANS, INCLUDING SUU KYI DETAINED: The military seized power in a coup in Myanmar Monday, declaring a state of emergency and saying it was taking control for one year. Many of the country's senior leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi [CHEE], had been detained. Suu Kyi, as state counsellor, is the nation's top leader. The military said the reason for takeover was in part due to the government’s failure to act on the military’s claims of voter fraud in last November’s election and its failure to postpone the election because of the coronavirus crisis. U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken issued a statement expressing, quote, "grave concern and alarm" over the reported detentions, and calling on the military leaders to, quote, "respect the will of the people . . . as expressed in democratic elections."

➤TRUMP NAMES TWO NEW IMPEACHMENT ATTORNEYS AFTER PREVIOUS LAWYERS DEPART: Former President Donald Trump yesterday announced a team of two new attorneys for his upcoming impeachment trial, one day after it was reported that he'd parted ways with the previous attorneys who were supposed to have been his legal defense team due to differences over legal strategy. AP cited a source as saying Trump wanted them to use a defense that relied on allegations of election fraud, and the lawyers refused to do so. The two new attorneys who will represent Trump are defense attorney David Schoen, a frequent TV legal commentator, and Bruce Castor, a former Pennsylvania district attorney.


➤CHICAGO MAYOR ORDERS TEACHERS BACK TO CLASSROOM: Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot yesterday ordered that teachers return to the classroom today. The Chicago Teachers Union has been telling teachers to continue doing remote teaching because of coronavirus safety concerns. Lightfoot, who repeatedly said, "our schools are safe," stated that all pre-K to eighth grade teachers must return to the classroom today and said that if they don't, quote, "we're going to have to take action," without saying what that action would be.


➤POLL: MOMS WANT 'ME TIME' THIS VALENTINE'S DAY:  After a pandemic year in which there was a lot of forced family time together -- for good and for bad -- a new poll finds that what moms want this year is the gift of some "me time," coming in at the top of the list. The survey of 1,000 moms by OnePoll with Zulily found that 55 percent said they've spent too much time with their partner and want a little time to themselves, and when they are with their significant other, they want to make that time, quote, "more meaningful this Valentine's Day," with 46 percent saying they want quality time with their partner. The survey also found how couples' "love languages" -- acts and expressions of love -- have changed during the pandemic, with one-third reporting a change. Love languages now include things like: having partners do household chores; cooking a meal at home; sending and sharing memes; playing video games and other games at home; and lounging with their partner doing absolutely nothing.

🏈NFC WINS VIRTUAL PRO BOWL OVER AFC 32-12: In normal times, the NFL's Pro Bowl would have been held yesterday, the Sunday before the Super Bowl. But because of the coronavirus pandemic, it was canceled this year, and a virtual Pro Bowl was held instead, with current and former NFL stars, NASCAR driver Bubba Wallace, and rapper Snoop Dogg playing Madden. The NFC team was made up of Kyler Murray, Wallace, Jamal Adams and Marshawn Lynch and the AFC team was Deshaun Watson, Keyshawn Johnson, Derrick Henry and Snoop Dogg. Wallace turned out to be the standout for the NFC, with a three-touchdown second quarter, and his team beat the AFC 32-12.
 

⚾MLB PROPOSES DELAYING START TO APRIL 28TH, CUTTING SEASON TO 154 GAMES: Major League Baseball has proposed pushing back the start of the season by one month to April 28th, and cutting the season from 162 games to 154, according to media reports. The plan, which was presented to the players' union Friday, would also expand the playoffs from 10 teams to 14, the designated hitter would be used in the National League for a second straight season, and seven-inning doubleheaders and beginning extra innings with a runner on second base would again be used this year after debuting in last year's coronavirus-shortened season. The reasoning for the delay is to get more time for vaccinations and to better assess the health situation.

🏈LIONS QUARTERBACK STAFFORD TRADED TO RAMS FOR GOFF: Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is being traded to the Los Angeles Rams for quarterback Jared Goff and several draft picks, media reports said Saturday night (January 30th). The Lions will get a third-round pick in 2021, a first-round pick in 2022 and a first-round pick in 2023. The deal can't be made official until the start of the new league year on March 17th. The 32-year-old Stafford is leaving Detroit after 12 seasons as the team's all-time leader in every passing category, after being the Number 1 overall pick in the 2009 draft. The 26-year-old Goff was chosen as the Number 1 overall pick in 2016 by the Rams.

🏀NUGGETS END JAZZ WINNING STREAK AT 11 GAMES WITH 128-117 WIN: The Denver Nuggets beat the Utah Jazz 128-117 on Sunday to end Utah's winning streak at 11 games, which was the longest in the NBA so far this season. Denver's Nikola Jokic scored 47 points, matching his career high, 33 of them in the first half.

🏌REED WINS FARMERS INSURANCE OPEN: American Patrick Reed won the Farmers Insurance Open at Torrey Pines in San Diego Sunday, coming out on top by five strokes, the biggest margin of victory in his nine career PGA Tour wins. Reed finished at 14-under 274, with five players tied five shots back in second place: Americans Tony Finau, Xander Schauffele and Ryan Palmer; Sweden's Henrik Norlander; and Viktor Hovland of Norway.
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