The Covid-19 pandemic has been a source of confusion and debate since it began in late 2019, with the US Department of Energy recently adding to the confusion with its assessment that the most likely cause was a laboratory leak in Wuhan, China. Rep. Seth Moulton and the FBI have sided with the lab hypothesis, but divisions remain in the US intelligence community. President Joe Biden has called for a full report from the intelligence community, and has said he will accept its conclusions.
News Mash
Rep. Elissa Slotkin of Michigan has announced her candidacy for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Democrat Debbie Stabenow in 2024, making her the first high-profile candidate to enter the race. In her announcement video, Slotkin highlighted her service in the CIA, U.S. military, and private sector, emphasizing her experience in the national security space and her work to help small businesses and veterans. It is expected that more candidates will enter the race in the coming months.
Scott Adams, creator of the popular Dilbert comic strip, has faced the biggest consequence of his recent comments about race, with Andrews McMeel Universal, the syndication company that distributes Dilbert, announcing it was severing its relationship with him. Adams' comments were denounced as racist, hateful and discriminatory by various media publishers, and he has since apologized for them and said he is "working to make amends." The future of the Dilbert comic strip is now uncertain.
Ren Zhiqiang, a renowned real estate tycoon in China, has been missing for 10 days. His company, China Renaissance Holdings, has now released a statement that its missing chairman and star dealmaker Bao Fan is currently cooperating with relevant Chinese authorities conducting an investigation. The company has also stated that its business and operations are continuing normally and that it will cooperate with any lawful requests from the relevant PRC authorities.
Michigan Representative Elissa Slotkin has announced her bid for the open U.S. Senate seat in the state, launching her campaign with a video on YouTube and a website. Slotkin, a former CIA analyst and Pentagon official, echoed the call for a “new generation of leaders” made by retiring Democratic Sen. Debbie Stabenow and spoke about the current state of the nation. With her official entry into the race, Slotkin is now poised to be a major player in the 2024 Senate race.
Residents of Jackson, Mississippi, gathered at New Jerusalem Church last week to receive free cases of bottled water and to stand in solidarity against the proposed Republican state lawmakers' "takeover of the city and disenfranchising local voters". The Mississippi Capitol Police has been at the center of the controversy, with an unusual level of authority and no body cameras, resulting in the fatal shooting of a 25-year-old father of two and the injury of a 49-year-old woman. The event was a call to action for the community to stand up against the proposed takeover and to support the victims and their families.
The U.S. Supreme Court is set to hear arguments on Tuesday, February 28th, regarding President Joe Biden's plan to provide targeted relief to student loan borrowers, which could provide up to $20,000 in debt forgiveness for over 40 million Americans. Ellen Weber, a 36-year-old therapist from St. Louis, Missouri, is one of the millions of Americans who could benefit from the proposed relief. However, the plan faces an uphill battle in the Supreme Court, as it is unlikely that the court's conservative supermajority will rule to uphold the plan, with the state of Missouri, driven by Republican officials, attempting to block it. The outcome of the case could have major implications for the millions of Americans struggling to pay off their student loan debt.
Last week, a severe ice storm and tornado swept through Norman, Oklahoma and the greater Detroit area, causing widespread damage, including downed trees and power lines, road closures and damage to homes. Over 165,000 homes and businesses in the Detroit area are still without power, and residents of both areas are working together to restore power and rebuild.