IF YOU TAKE IN TWO THINGS THIS WEEK…
Watch this. Biden’s first widely released campaign ad—watch all the way to the end. It’s just a minute. It’s fun. If you haven’t seen it, you’ll be glad you did. YouTube
Read Jennifer Rubin on our considerable strengths. She begins, “To say polls show President Biden would lose ‘if the election were held today,’ is silly. The election isn’t today, and its outcome will largely depend on what happens between now and then.” The election is no more predetermined, she says, than a Super Bowl winner before the start of the regular season. And then she really gets going, comparing Joe’s genuine strength to the other guy. Her positivity does the heart good. Washington Post
MORE POLITICS…
Let us not forget the triumphant State of the Union Address. Biden Raised $10 million in the following 24 hours while Trump is struggling to raise more than he is spending. Spectrum News
77,000 votes in Georgia for Nikki Haley were votes for Not Trump. Haley had already suspended her campaign. Yes, many voted early but, on primary day, 20,000 voted for her anyway. These are significantly more votes than Trump lost by in 2020. The Daily Beast
Utah is shaky. The Salt Lake Tribune wonders if Donald Trump will lose the general election after Republicans see low turnout and caucus chaos. He’ll probably win, the paper says, but there are worrying signs. The Salt Lake Tribune
The group, Republican Voters Against Trump, has laid out a $50 million plan of attack. They are running highly effective homemade videos of Americans who voted for Trump in the past but say they can no longer do so. The New York Times
A large labor union will be spending massively to help Biden. The Service Employees International Union is spending $200 million to mobilize working-class voters for Biden and other Democrats. With about two million members, they aim to reach six million voters of color in swing states, voters less likely to vote, and first time voters. The Hill
Harris’s dogged fight for abortion rights should scare Republicans. There’s a social side and a political side to this. Here’s the political side. The Washington Post
…AND THE LAW
Judge rules Georgia DA Fani Willis, who is managing Trump’s racketeering trial, can stay on the case. Charged with impropriety in a romantic relationship with her law partner, Nathan Wade, Wade has resigned to clear any questions. The trial can move forward. Newsweek The New York Times
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ war on woke appears to be losing steam. This week, a legal settlement reaffirmed the rights of LGBTQ+ students and educators to live and speak openly. Last week, a federal appeals court blocked a major component of his signature Stop Woke Act, ruling that preventing private companies from requiring diversity and inclusion training violates their free speech. Advocate NPR
INTERNATIONAL HOT SPOTS
For the first time, The Biden Administration has imposed sanctions on Israeli settlements in Palestinian territory, as Biden, Schumer, and others protest Israeli actions. The Washington Post
House Republicans will bring up votes for Ukraine aid, after backing down on their border demands. The Independent At the same time, Republicans for Ukraine have launched a new ad to put pressure on the House to act. The Hill
TO THE SOCIAL GOOD
President Biden and Vice President Harris are bolstering economic opportunity for women across America, from enforcing pay transparency, to lowering high costs of child care, boosting resources for women-owned businesses, and other measures. Democrats.org
Harris visited an abortion clinic, a first for any president or vice president, drawing attention to the “very serious health crisis” facing women who live in states with restrictions on abortion, after the Supreme Court overturned Roe v Wade. NPR
Kamala Harris will host a marijuana reform round-table, with rapper Fat Joe, Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear, and people who’ve received pardons for marijuana convictions. This is a kickoff event, as the administration looks to reduce legal problems caused by marijuana use, and make the criminal justice system more just. NBC News
Massachusetts leads the way, announcing sweeping pardons for simple possession of cannabis. Governor Healey says the pardons will be automatic and could affect ”hundreds of thousands” of people in Massachusetts. WBUR
35 miles east of Long Island, the U.S. has its first large offshore wind farm. Twelve turbines will generate enough power for 70,000 homes. NPR Marine Log
AND FINALLY
For pure fun, watch President Biden enlist advice from actors who played The President in movies and on TV. Morgan Freeman, Tony Goldwyn, Geena Davis, Michael Douglas, and Bill Pullman offer Biden what they learned when they were president. 3+ minutes. YouTube
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world;
indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has.
Margaret Mead