Friday, February 5, 2021

And another day of libel lawsuits, firings, mockery, mass vaccination sites, censure, methane hunters, ownership, forgoing assistance, a death in Russia, a youth home closure, and guaranteed monthly income until their 24 comes to a close:

“I'm here tonight to say to my brothers & sisters in Congress & all around our country, I'm sorry. For I've never understood, really understood, what privilege really means. It took a violent mob of insurrectionists & lightning-bolt moment in this very room." -- Representative Dean Phillips

“American does not suffer from scarcity. We suffer from greed.” -- Ilhan Omar

“Only 11 Republicans voted against the woman who called for the execution of the Speaker of the House. Meanwhile, 61 Republicans vote against the woman who voted to impeach Trump for inciting an insurrection. Let that sink in.” -- Ilhan Omar

Deaths

US: 470,705 (+3717)

World: 2,308,853 (+14,4734)

Cases

US: 27,407,324 (133,434)

World: 105,907,233 (+490,109)

'There is real teeth to this': Legal experts weigh in on Smartmatic's $2.7 billion lawsuit against Fox News. "This is the definition of defamation."..."When you are making statements that are knowingly false, and you make them with malice, and you actually tarnish reputations and it has a financial consequence — that's why you have defamation lawsuits in the first place.”...”This case is about entertainers who gave fuel to lies in a desperate bid to keep Trump in power."..."Disinformation has a free rein right now. This kind of case can be a shot across the bow that courts can deliver that says, 'Let's get back to reality. Let's get back to factual reporting.”...This is partly why other legal experts are saying Smartmatic has a strong argument -- the lies are explicit and easily debunked. And that's why it may not be so hard to prove that Fox and its hosts knew, or should have known, that they were telling lies -- which is the 'actual malice' standard that public figures have to meet in defamation cases.”

Fox Business suddenly cancels 'Lou Dobbs Tonight,' its highest-rated show. Lou Dobbs, the longtime host of the signature right-wing talk show on the Fox Business Network, was canned by the network on Friday night. -- Hmmm. Seems libel lawsuits work.

Trump’s Impeachment Strategy Is Straight Out of the Pizzagate Conspiracy Playbook. Now, as Trump prepares for his second impeachment trial, he’s taking a cue from the most diehard believers in delusional theories like Pizzagate and QAnon. To defend himself, the former president is mounting a defense that pulls straight from the conspiracy theorist’s playbook and makes a mockery of the very idea of fact and truth.

Sasse's message to Nebraska GOP as he faces censure. "Let's be clear: The anger in this state party has never been about me violating principle or abandoning conservative policy -- I'm one of the most conservative voters in the Senate -- the anger's always been simply about me not bending the knee to one guy," Sasse said..."You are welcome to censure me again, but let's be clear about why this is happening: It's because I still believe -- as you used to -- that politics isn't about the weird worship of one dude.”

Every NFL team will make its stadium available as a mass vaccination site, NFL commissioner Roger Goodell wrote in a letter to President Joe Biden.

It's still safest to avoid indoor dining, even if more states are allowing it.

GOP lawmakers call for Pelosi to be fined over failing to abide by new screening rule that she pushed to be implemented.

An invisible, odorless gas is pitting Texas against the Biden administration. Deep in the heart of Texas, above an oil patch about the size of Kansas, a little team in a small plane is trying to reveal a big problem. They are methane hunters.

The Trump Organization negotiated on behalf of then-president Donald Trump to make Parler his primary social network, but it had a condition: an ownership stake in return for joining, according to documents and four people familiar with the conversations. The deal was never finalized, but legal experts said the discussions alone, which occurred while Trump was still in office, raise legal concerns with regards to anti-bribery laws.

Fearing Trump-era rule, families are forgoing health, food assistance. One Latino legal permanent resident who's 72 didn't apply for retirement benefits he qualified for so he wouldn't get his wife "deported."

Doctor who treated Navalny after poisoning dies. Sergey Maximishin served as deputy chief physician at the Omsk emergency hospital that immediately treated Navalny following the poison attack that the opposition leader has blamed on the Russian government. Maximishin died "suddenly" at the age of 55, the hospital said. -- Mmm hmmm.

After years of abuse allegations, Iowa youth home to close. An Iowa youth home dogged by abuse allegations, including a rape of a teen by a staff member, is closing down, company officials announced Friday.

Young adults are often supported by parents, but former foster kids rarely have that option. Programs abruptly end when they’re 18 or 21. To help ease this transition, Santa Clara County is the first to provide them a guaranteed monthly income until 24.

Life’s short. Live, love, create, and help others.

Until next time, my friends. Stay safe and stay sane. Good night.