Only six intensive care beds are available in the entire state of Mississippi, which typically has more than 900 in inventory.  Just north of the state, in Arkansas, only 25 ICU beds in the state’s hospitals are open for severely ill patients.

NBC News reports that as the highly contagious delta variant of the coronavirus has swept through the region, hospitals are filling up with unvaccinated patients who decided to take a chance with the virus.

“We are at the cusp of this. We know that we aren’t at the crest of this wave,” Dr. Jonathan Wilson, chief administrative officer at the University of Mississippi Medical Center said Wednesday. “It’s bad, but it’s probably going to get a little worse.”

https://youtu.be/GDBWB07mhX4

“He was one of the most important scientists in the world,” Republican out-of-work politician Newt Gingrich said on Fox News of Dr. Anthony Fauci.  “We’re worried about President Biden.  I worry about Fauci in terms of his cognitive impairment much more than I worry about President Biden.”

“A Supreme Court justice ruled Wednesday President Jair Bolsonaro should be investigated for unproven claims Brazil’s voting system is riddled with fraud, adding the far-right leader to an ongoing probe on the spread of fake news by his government. The ruling by Justice Alexandre de Moraes came after Bolsonaro stepped up his longtime attacks on Brazil’s electronic voting system, claiming – without evidence – that it is fraud-plagued and insisting there will be no elections next year if it is not overhauled. The Superior Electoral Court had asked the Supreme Court to issue the ruling, after itself putting the president under investigation for his campaign against Brazil’s voting system. The Supreme Court agreed, finding Bolsonaro should face investigation for slander and inciting criminal acts for his undocumented claims of massive vote fraud.”

“The electoral court’s own probe will investigate the president for abuse of office, improper use of official communication channels, corruption, fraud and other potential crimes. Bolsonaro has long criticized electronic voting, introduced in Brazil in 1996. He has stepped up his attacks in the build-up to the October 2022 elections, insisting on ‘printable and auditable’ paper ballots as a backstop to the electronic system. Opinion polls place the 66-year-old leader well behind leftist ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva in the presidential race. Bolsonaro’s popularity numbers have been sliding, and he is under fire on various fronts, including a Senate investigation into his government’s widely criticized handling of Covid-19. There are fears Bolsonaro could try to use fraud claims to undermine next year’s election if he loses, following in the footsteps of former US president Donald Trump, with whom he is often compared” – AFP.

Slate: “The fight over Arizona’s Trump-inspired audit of the 2020 presidential election in Maricopa County escalated again this week, with the Republican-led County Board of Supervisors calling it an ‘adventure in never-never land’ and rejecting the Arizona Senate’s demands that more materials be handed over to Cyber Ninjas, the conspiracy-theory promoting audit firm leading the effort… on Wednesday I learned that the Cyber Ninjas are now facing even greater scrutiny from a body that has the power to move faster than the courts: the House Oversight Committee.”

“Cyber Ninjas, I’ve been told, missed last week’s deadline to produce all materials surrounding the audit, as requested by the committee in a letter last month. The Cyber Ninjas have, according to an Oversight Committee staff member involved in the inquiry, requested through counsel more time to meet the letter’s demands. But the Oversight Committee is already preparing for what happens if the firm doesn’t cooperate. ‘Our expectation is that the company will comply in full with our requests in short order,’ according to the staff member. ‘If they do not, then the Chairwoman will take steps to ensure we get the answers from them that we need.’ Indeed, Oversight Committee chairwoman Carolyn Maloney confirmed that the committee would escalate the matter if Cyber Ninjas does not comply with its records request, which would likely mean Congressional subpoenas into every aspect of the Arizona audit. “Partisan audits funded by dark money groups undermine Americans’ confidence in elections,” Maloney said in a statement Wednesday, referring to the Trump-linked 501(c)(3) entities that have poured more than $5.7 million into the audit effort.”

“Defense Secretary Austin is expected to seek authorization to make vaccines mandatory for all active duty troops as soon as this week” reports CNN’s Kaitlan Collins.

“The Texas Republican Party is incredibly saddened to learn of the passing of State Republican Executive Committee (SREC) Member Scott Apley from Senate District 11. Scott was a first term member of the SREC who had a long history of conservative political activism. He leaves behind a wife and infant child. The entire staff of the Republican Party of Texas grieves his loss and extends our prayers of peace and comfort for Scott’s family in this difficult time. Texas GOP Chairman Matt Rinaldi said ‘Please join me in lifting the Apley family up in prayer. We will miss Scott deeply but find comfort knowing he is at peace in the arms of our Savior'” says a Texas GOP press release.

Missing from the statement is the circumstances of Apley’s death, mainly that the the 45 year old Dickinson City, Texas councilman expired while hospitalized with a Coronavirus infection, per the Galveston County Daily News. A screenshot from MeidasTouch of an early April tweet by Apley very strongly indicates that he was vehemently against vaccinations and we’d rate the chance that he had changed his mind, got vaccinated, and then somehow succumbed to a breakthrough infection over the course of the last four months to be extremely low to simply no, it didn’t fucking happen.

The latest polling from Quinnipiac University published Wednesday quantified assumptions most Americans have towards Republican voters as being deeply angry, cuntish malcontents with no redeeming qualities. QU found that 75% of Republican respondents believe it is “time to move on” from the Capitol riot, 63% of them oppose the House investigation of the insurrection, 90% indicated they are dissatisfied with the way things are going in the United States – of which 71% said they were “very dissatisfied”, and that 73% believe it would be a “good thing” for the country if Donald Trump runs for President again in 2024, all of which strongly suggested that these people are fundamentally debased lowlives who should pack their shit and leave already.

“Rudy Giuliani Wednesday slammed the treatment of Gov. Andrew Cuomo, comparing the sexual harassment allegations against the governor to those of former President Trump. Cuomo has faced intense pressure to step down after Attorney General Letitia James’ report released Tuesday detailed sexual assault allegations against the governor from 11 women.”

“President Biden, New York’s two senators and many more legislators have called for the governor’s resignation or impeachment, defending the report as thorough. But Giuliani late Tuesday said Democrats and Republicans alike were rushing to call for the ousting of Cuomo, who has denied the findings of the investigation. ‘Now we will find out who really believes in the rule of law,’ tweeted Giuliani, the former New York mayor and personal attorney to Trump. ‘It is very disappointing that some of the right wing protectors of due process for President Donald have convicted Cuomo on a report from 3 prosecutors who up until now were trying to frame Trump'” – 1010 Wins.

AP: “A book checked out a half-century ago has been anonymously returned to a library in northeastern Pennsylvania, officials said. The Wilkes-Barre Citizens’ Voice reports that the 1967 copy of ‘Coins You Can Collect’ by Burton Hobson arrived last month at the Plymouth Public Library in Luzerne County along with a $20 bill. An accompanying unsigned letter, written as if by the book itself, said ‘Fifty years ago (yes 50!), a little girl checked me out of this library in 1971. At this time, she didn’t know they were going to move from Plymouth. Back then, kids weren’t told things like that. ‘As you can see, she took very good care of me,’ the letter continued, explaining that it was packed away often for frequent moves but was ‘always with many other books.'”

“The writer, speaking in her own voice rather than as the book, then says she often intended to send the book back but somehow never got around to it. ‘This became a running joke in my family. Each time we moved, they always asked me if I packed ‘the Plymouth Book,’’ she wrote. The letter writer said she knew the $20 wouldn’t come close to paying the accrued fine, but suggested ‘Perhaps you can pay off some fines of some kids with it.’ Library director Laura Keller said she did just that, paying ‘some hefty fines’ of a young mother who wanted to start borrowing books again. Borrowing privileges at the library are suspended if fines exceed $5, she said.”

An image of Fox News daytime show “Outnumbered” that appeared in National Zero’s Twitter feed on Wednesday revealed guest panelist Republican California gubernatorial candidate and former US Olympic Gold Medalist named Bruce Jenner, Caitlyn Jenner, to be reacting with apparent disgust either toward the prospect of a Swedish meatball-scented candle being offered for sale at home furnishing retailer IKEA, her network’s coverage of it, or both. This in stark contrast to the other four panelists who seem to be sharing a good hearty laugh about the candle.

Non-Correction: The current version of this article misidentified the woman on the lower righthand corner of the image, Fox News anchor Dagen McDowell, as Republican California gubernatorial candidate Caitlyn Jenner. National Zero does not regret the error and will not be correcting it.

The government of Mexico filed a lawsuit in US federal court in Boston against US gun manufacturers and distributors, claiming that their negligence and illegal commercial practices are directly linked to the bloodshed on the streets of the country, the Associated Press reports.

The companies sued include Smith & Wesson Brands, Inc.; Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc.; Beretta U.S.A. Corp.; Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC, and Glock Inc. Another defendant is Interstate Arms, a Boston-area wholesaler that sells guns from all but one of the named manufacturers to dealers around the U.S.

The Mexican government estimates that 70% of the guns in the country entered Mexico illegally. In 2019, more than 19,000 murders in Mexico were committed using guns that were illegally in the country. 

Really had a hard time picking which part of Judge N. Reid Neureiter’s decision in favor of sanctions against a bunch of no-name MAGA lawyers to use for this article. Every page I’ve skimmed is a laugh at these assholes who sued – and this is a long list – Dominion, Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, Mark Zuckerberg’s wife for whatever fucking reason, each of the Governors and Secretaries of State of Georgia, Michigan, and Pennsylvania, plus Wisconsin Governor Toney Evers, and finally all six members of the Wisconsin Elections Commission – individually named since Wisconsin doesn’t have a Secretary of State – in a “class action brought on behalf of all American registered voters, alleging that their constitutional right to vote for President somehow was unconstitutionally infringed on or burdened by the Defendants” on in a Colorado federal court on December 22, 2020.

Tough as a choice it may be, I feel confident that Judge Neureiter’s findings win the day (page 64)

“The Department of Health and Human Services is now reporting a new all-time high number of COVID-19 hospitalizations in Florida. 12,408 inpatient beds. I will continue to get this info to you as quickly as we have it. This is the transparency you deserve and need in a democracy. Vaccinate to stay safe” – Florida Agricultural Commissioner Nikki Fried.

“Tennessee aims to levy fines starting at $1 million and rising to $5 million on school districts each time one of their teachers is found to have ‘knowingly violated’ state restrictions on classroom discussions about systemic racism, white privilege, and sexism, according to guidance proposed by the state’s department of education late last week. Teachers could also be disciplined or lose their licenses for teaching that the United States is inherently racist or sexist or making a student feel ‘guilt or anguish’ because of past actions committed by their race or sex. The guidance received immediate backlash from advocates of students of color in the state who say it would have a disproportionate impact on already underfunded, majority Black and Latino school districts.”

“‘There’s also a fear for young students of color who are in districts that are majority white and now there’s no protection for them and their white student peers in learning about truthful history and racism,’ said Cardell Orrin, the executive director of Stand for Children Tennessee, a group that advocates for historically disenfranchised students. The new guidance lays out the complaint process that a current student, parent, or employee can initiate against a district if they believe an educator has violated the law, but it does not elaborate on what specifically school districts are banned from teaching, as many teacher advocates had hoped. Instead, it cites 11 broad concepts that teachers can’t teach or use materials to promote. For example, students can’t be told that they are ‘inherently privileged, racist, sexist, or oppressive, whether consciously or subconsciously,’ or bear responsibility for past actions committed by members of their race or sex. Experts have called the language of these laws vague” – Education Week.

Politico: “Cori Bush arrived in Congress as an heir to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Now the political neophyte is coming into her own. Bush has led a one-woman protest on the Capitol steps over the last several days that forced the eviction crisis to the top of the nation’s agenda even after the House left town without taking action on the issue. Under intense pressure from the left, President Joe Biden on Tuesday afternoon announced a short-term fix to prevent millions of families from losing their homes despite questioning the constitutionality of doing so.”

“The Missouri Democrat’s surprising win after an impromptu vigil on the East Front – which has been broadcast on national television and drawn high-profile figures such as Jesse Jackson and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer – illustrates the burgeoning influence held by the freshman progressive and other members of the so-called Squad both inside and outside the Capitol. Once dismissed as liberal firebrands with large Twitter followings but little impact inside Congress, the Squad has added members and continued knocking off high-profile incumbents, forcing senior Democrats to listen. ‘This is why this happened. Being unapologetic. Being unafraid to stand up,’ Bush told reporters as Biden made his announcement Tuesday after she’d spent several days sleeping, mostly sitting up, on the building’s steps. ‘You did this,’ a jubilant Schumer told Bush and her group of allied Democrats after jogging across the Capitol plaza as the news broke. He bear-hugged Bush and Ocasio-Cortez, who hasn’t ruled out a primary challenge to him next year, declaring: ‘You guys are fabulous.'”

“Fundraising materials, including mass text messages and email blasts, sent to a number of registered Alabama Republicans appear to show coordination between the Alabama Republican Party and U.S. Senate candidate Mo Brooks to raise funds for Brooks during former President Donald Trump’s visit to Alabama later this month. Additionally, several sources within ALGOP told APR that Chairman John Wahl pledged to provide Trump’s political action committee with up to $300,000 of ALGOP funds to hold the rally. According to the state party bylaws, neither the party nor the chairman nor any finances from the party can offer preference to any candidate in an opposed primary. Several executive committee members expressed to APR that they fear explicit coordination with Brooks’ campaign at the highest levels of the party’s leadership. Some even question whether there could be a violation of federal campaign laws because the Save America political action committee is providing the tickets. The disclaimer on the ticket registration page reads: ‘Paid for by Save America and not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee.'”

“A text received by APR shows a message using WinRed, a fundraising tool promoting special access to the Trump event for those who donate to Brooks. Another text sent to Republicans offers further incentives to those attending the Trump rally who donate to Brooks. The message directs donations to Mo Brooks for Senate P.O. Box in Huntsville. The text messages sent to ALGOP voters offered tiers of support that included donating to either the Brooks campaign or the state party. In both instances, those who donate would receive better parking, access to air-conditioned tents, and photos with Brooks. Members of the party’s steering committee told APR on Tuesday evening that Wahl’s assistance to the Brooks campaign has angered several committee members and that the idea of impeachment is being seriously discussed” – Alabama Political Reporter.

NBC News: “Lawyers for Donald Trump on Wednesday urged a federal judge to block the Treasury Department from handing his tax returns over to the House Ways and Means Committee. The committee’s stated reason for seeing the returns, to examine how the IRS audits presidents, is simply a pretext for wanting to look for something embarrassing, they said.”

“‘The chairman’s request bore little resemblance to an effort to investigate how the IRS audits presidents. It asked for the information of only one president, asked for open files for which audits have not been completed, and never asked the IRS for the most relevant information – namely, how it audits presidents,’ They say the statute the committee cites, which allows the tax-writing committees to get copies of individual returns, has never been used against a president, a former president or any elected official”

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– The current sole comment on the DJHJ Media article “BOMBSHELL ** Dominion Whistleblower Releases Admin Password Proving Remote Access“, posted Wednesday morning.

“A 31-year-old Nashotah man and QAnon believer accused of firing paintball rounds at two reservists at the Wisconsin Army Reserve Center in Pewaukee will plead guilty, according to a plea agreement filed in U.S. District Court in Milwaukee on Aug. 2. Ian Olson was charged in a two-count indictment after he allegedly drove a car spray-painted with QAnon slogans to the Wisconsin Army Reserve Center in Pewaukee on March 15. The plea agreement stated Olson ‘knowingly assaulted and battered, and attempted to assault and batter, a United States serviceman on account of the military service of that serviceman and the status of that individual as a United States serviceman.'”

“According to court documents, two U.S. Army servicemen, who were on active drill orders and dressed in Army uniforms, were standing in the parking lot of the reserve station when Olson arrived. Olson got out of the vehicle and pointed a paintball gun at the servicemen and said, ‘This is for America!’ Olson, who was 15 yards away, fired the paintball gun directly at the servicemen. After two or three shots, the gun jammed, and Olsen stated, ‘You’re lucky it jammed’ to the servicemen. The two servicemen tackled Olson to the ground and held him until local police arrived. None of the projectiles hit the servicemen. Court records noted that the servicemen initially believed Olson had a real gun and was going to shoot and kill them. ‘Olson acknowledges that the evidence shows he willfully attempted and threatened to inflict injury upon the servicemen, which, when coupled with pointing a rifle at the servicemen, caused reasonable fear of imminent bodily injury,’ the plea agreement stated. Olson faces a maximum sentence of two years in prison, a $10,000 fine and one year of supervised release” – Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.