Democratic New Jersey Congressman Bill Pascrell has sent a formal letter to President Joe Biden asking the President to fire the entire US Postal Service Board of Governors, the Congressman announced in a tweet.

Pascrell cited the Board’s complicity in authorizing Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s directions to kneecap the operation of the Postal Service, particularly in his efforts to slow down deliveries during the 2020 election season.

Citing the USPS Inspector General’s report, Pascrell said, “As DeJoy’s efforts to dismantle mail sorting machines, cut overtime, restrict deliveries, and remove mail boxes slowed mail nationally, Donald Trump himself openly admitted that his administration was withholding funding for the Postal Service in order to make it harder to process mail-in ballots.”

“Today, Governor Kristi Noem introduced a bill to ban abortions based on a diagnosis of Down syndrome. ‘The Declaration of Independence summarizes what we all know in our hearts to be true: God created each of us and endowed all of us with the right to life. This is true for everyone, including those with an extra chromosome,” said Governor Kristi Noem. “I look forward to the day when the Supreme Court recognizes that all preborn children inherently possess this right to life, too. Until that time comes, I am asking the South Dakota legislature to pass a law that bans the abortion of a preborn child, just because that child is diagnosed with Down syndrome.’”

“Recent media reports illustrate that some European countries, like Iceland and Denmark, have virtually eliminated children with Down syndrome by aborting nearly every child that has it. Research estimates that two out of every three Down syndrome pregnancies in the United States end in an abortion. Tests to diagnose Down syndrome can be conducted as early as 10 weeks into pregnancy” – Statement via News.SouthDakota.gov

The White House welcomed the First Pets Monday, with family dogs Champ and Major joining the Bidens in Washington.  The previous family was the first since the Andrew Johnson administration in 1869 that did not have an animal family pet.

Champ and Major have joined us in the White House! 💕🐾 pic.twitter.com/R035YnavVo

— Jill Biden (@FLOTUS) January 25, 2021

“Dominion’s defamation lawsuit for $1.3B will allow me to investigate their history, finances, and practices fully and completely. The amount being asked for is, quite obviously, intended to frighten people of faint heart. It is another act of intimidation by the hate-filled left-wing to wipe out and censor the exercise of free speech, as well as the ability of lawyers to defend their clients vigorously. As such, we will investigate a countersuit against them for violating these Constitutional rights” – Rudy Giuliani via WABC 770.

If Chief Justice Roberts doesn’t preside, the American people will know this isn’t a serious impeachment trial. https://t.co/4m3u5sQ4QF

— House Judiciary GOP (@JudiciaryGOP) January 25, 2021

“Department of Justice (DOJ) Inspector General Michael E. Horowitz announced today that: The DOJ Office of the Inspector General (OIG) is initiating an investigation into whether any former or current DOJ official engaged in an improper attempt to have DOJ seek to alter the outcome of the 2020 Presidential Election. The investigation will encompass all relevant allegations that may arise that are within the scope of the OIG’s jurisdiction. The GIG has jurisdiction to investigate allegations concerning the conduct of former and current DOJ employees. The OIG’s jurisdiction does not extend to allegations against other government officials.”

“The OIG is making this statement, consistent with DOJ policy, to reassure the public that an appropriate agency is investigating the allegations. Consistent with OIG policy, we will not comment further on the investigation until it is completed. When our investigation is concluded, we will proceed with our usual process for releasing our findings publicly in accordance with relevant laws, and DOJ and OIG policies” – DOJ Press Release via MSNBC.

Business Insider: “Republican Sen. Josh Hawley, who backed former President Donald Trump’s voter fraud claims following the 2020 election, wrote a column in which he defended the Oklahoma City bomber when he was 15 years old, according to a report from the Kansas City Star. The Kansas City Star reported that following the 1995 bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Hawley wrote a column for his hometown paper, The Lexington News, in which he warned against calling anti-government militia members domestic terrorists. Timothy McVeigh and Terry Nichols – the men who carried out the bombing that killed 169 people – had ties with the Michigan Militia, an anti-government group dating back to the 1990s.”

“‘Many of the people populating these movements are not radical, right-wing, pro-assault weapons freaks as they were originally stereotyped,’ Hawley wrote about militia groups. ‘Dismissed by the media and treated with disdain by their elected leaders, these citizens come together and form groups that often draw more media fire as anti-government hate gatherings.’ ‘Feeling alienated from their government and the rest of society, they often become disenchanted and slip into talks of ‘conspiracy theories’ about how the federal government is out to get them,’ he added. Also in the column, Hawley said former Los Angeles police detective Mark Fuhrman was being unfairly depicted as a racist after his use of racial slurs became known during the OJ Simpson trial. ‘In this politically correct society, derogatory labels such as ‘racist’ are widely misused, and our ability to have open debate is eroding,’ he wrote.”

“The Hawaii GOP is facing backlash Sunday after a series of tweets – now deleted – that expressed support for QAnon conspiracy theorists. Tweets were posted Saturday night on @GOPHawaii and deleted Sunday morning without explanation. On Sunday night, Hawaii GOP vice Chair of communications Edwin Boyette resigned through a Facebook post. In his statement, he wrote ‘the discussion of the Q-Conspiracy was an error of judgement.’ The messages on the Hawaii Republican Party’s Twitter account said followers of QAnon don’t deserve mockery and that they were ‘largely motivated by a sincere and deep love for America.'”

“The tweets also called QAnon believers ‘patriots,’ while other tweets pointed blame toward the media for creating a ‘hyperbolic’ narrative. Hawaii’s Democratic party issued a statement saying: ‘There is nothing patriotic in defending QAnon adherents. There is nothing honorable in defending Proud Boy antics'” – Hawaii News Now.

Barron’s: “Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday dismissed claims by opposition leader Alexei Navalny that he owns a lavish property on the Black Sea, as the opposition urged fresh nationwide demonstrations. Fresh from protests last weekend, Navalny’s aides called again for Russians to take to the streets on Sunday ahead of a court case that could see Russia’s most prominent Kremlin critic put behind bars for more than three years. The 44-year-old campaigner was detained earlier this month when he returned to Moscow from Germany, where he had been recuperating from exposure to a Soviet-designed toxin.”

“He called on his supporters in dozens of cities to rally last weekend and released a two-hour investigation into the palatial seaside property to spur allies to demonstrate. The rallies saw a record number of arrests, and Putin on Monday denied having anything to do with the property in Navalny’s video, which has now been watched 86 million times. ‘Nothing that is listed there as my property belongs to me or my close relatives, and never did,’ Putin said during a video call with Russian students. Navalny’s report – his most-watched anti-corruption probe by far – claims the property is worth $1.35 billion and features everything from an underground ice rink to a casino.”

President Joe Biden has removed the White House physician who served during the latter half of his predecessor’s term, opting to replace Dr. Sean Conley with Dr. Kevin O’Connor, Politico reports.

It is not unusual for incoming Presidents to replace the sitting White House physician with someone he is more familiar and comfortable with.  Conley, however, became a controversial figure through his treatment of Donald Trump when he had coronavirus, including allowing Trump to return to the White House days after being admitted to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center.

While Conley was restricted by HIPAA in the amount of information he could release publicly regarding Trump’s condition, his demeanor during Trump’s coronavirus case raised concern that he was withholding vital information about Trump’s health that could impact Trump’s ability to serve in office.

The US Supreme Court has dismissed two cases brought by Democrats regarding foreign payments Donald Trump received through his businesses while he was the sitting president, a situation that taught most Americans what “emoluments” were, CNN reports.

The Court ruled that the cases were moot because Trump was no longer in office, and it ordered two lower court rulings against Trump wiped away.  This directive means that there will be no judicial decision on what is legal for a sitting president to receive and how, leaving the 250-year laws about emoluments unclarrified.

“The Supreme Court’s procedural order not only wipes away two lower court rulings, but it also orders dismissal of the entire dispute — leaving for some other time resolution of the many questions Trump’s conduct raised about the Emoluments Clause,” said Steve Vladeck, a CNN Supreme Court analyst and professor at the University of Texas School of Law.

“I feel fortunate to have been entrusted by the people of Ohio to represent them in the US Senate. Today, I am announcing that I have made a decision not to run again in 2022. This doesn’t mean I’m leaving now – I still have two more years in my term and I intend to use that time to get a lot done. I will be the top Republican on the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and I have a number of oversight projects and legislative initiatives I’m eager to get across the finish line. Over the next two years, I look forward to being able to focus all my energy on legislation and the challenges our country faces rather than on fundraising and campaigning. This was not an easy decision because representing the people of Ohio has been an honor. But I’ve been doing this a long time, longer than I ever intended” – Statement posted to Portman’s Senate.gov website.

Chicago-based cable station WGN America will rebrand as NewsNation and switch to an all-news format and expanding its prime-time lineup, a change that will start March 1st, the Chicago Tribune reports.

WGN kicked off NewsNation as a 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. CT newscast that pledge unbiased reporting, in the fact of competition from CNN, MSNBC and Fox News.  The programming bloc did not have opinion shows, but just three hours of news programming.

While the programming received praise from news and media critics, it has yet to catch on with viewers, with just 62,000 viewers watching the newscasts. CNN and MSNBC typically average more than 3 million viewers per night in prime time.

CNN: “President Joe Biden will sign an executive order Monday aimed at boosting American manufacturing, setting in motion a process to fulfill his campaign pledge to strengthen the federal government’s Buy American rules. Similar executive orders signed by former President Donald Trump had little effect because his administration waited to formalize changes until his second to last day in office. By contrast, Biden will set a 180-day deadline to deliver on fundamental change to the process, according to an administration official.”

“‘He believes we can rebuild the vitality of American manufacturing and our industrial strength. A big piece of that is centered around the idea that when we use taxpayer money to rebuild America, we buy American and we support American jobs,’ the official said. The order follows others Biden signed last week directing additional relief to the neediest Americans, as well as starting the process of raising the minimum wage for federal contractors and workers to $15 an hour.”

The only way Republicans are going to beat Democrats at the ballot box is by fixing problems at the mailbox.

— Rep. Matt Gaetz (@RepMattGaetz) January 25, 2021

“Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine is effective against new variants of the virus that first appeared in the U.K. and in South Africa, the company announced on Monday. The vaccine was as effective against the strain from U.K., but saw a six-fold reduction in antibodies against the South Africa variant. Even still, the neutralizing antibodies generated by the vaccine ‘remain above levels that are expected to be protective,’ according to the company. Moderna now says it is developing an additional booster dose against the South Africa strain, and another booster to fight other emerging strains” – Axios.

Politico: “White House aides and administration officials who once relished their West Wing perches have jetted off on remote getaways – cashing in on a mountain of unused vacation time. Others are frantically asking former colleagues for help finding work as they prioritize their own careers over whatever chapter Trump is planning for himself. ‘There’s a lot of resumé passing and people just wanting to help people land on their feet,’ said a former Trump White House official. It’s not been easy. Tainted by Trump’s reputation, several Trump aides described an increasingly bleak job market with virtually no chance of landing jobs in corporate America and some even having seen promising leads disappear after the rampage at the U.S. Capitol. A second former White House official said they knew of ‘people who got jobs rescinded because of Jan. 6.'”

“A Republican strategist was blunter. ‘They are really fucked’ the strategist said, pointing to some top officials who stuck with Trump until the bitter end. ‘The Hill scramble, one of the few places where they’d be welcomed, already happened a month or so ago… They were told over and over to take their hand off the hot stove, and they didn’t want to listen.’ It’s not just the lower- and mid-level staffers getting pinched. Two people familiar with his thinking said Trump’s former chief of staff Mark Meadows, who spent seven years in the House of Representatives before joining the White House, was even considering a position at the Trump Organization because of a lack of options.”

“Dominion Voting Systems filed a defamation lawsuit on Monday against Rudolph W. Giuliani, the lawyer for Donald J. Trump and former mayor of New York City who played a key role in the former president’s monthslong effort to subvert the 2020 election. The 107-page lawsuit, filed in the Federal District Court in Washington, accuses Mr. Giuliani of carrying out ‘a viral disinformation campaign about Dominion’ made up of ‘demonstrably false’ allegations, in part to enrich himself through legal fees and his podcast. The suit seeks damages of more than $1.3 billion and is based on more than 50 statements Mr. Giuliani made at legislative hearings, on Twitter, on his podcast and in the conservative news media, where he spun a fictitious narrative of a plot by one of the biggest voting machine manufacturers in the country to flip votes to President Biden” – New York Times.

Adam Serwer, The Atlantic: “Republicans now face a choice between their long-term interests and short-term self-preservation. It takes two-thirds of the Senate to convict a president, a threshold so high that it has never been reached. Convicting Trump and barring him from federal office would earn senators the wrath of the Trump faithful, upon whom the current composition of the Republican Party is dependent to win elections. Failing to convict him would leave open the possibility of a Trump restoration, which might offer some political advantages but would also exacerbate the ideological extremism that turned Arizona and Georgia into states with two Democratic senators. The reason to convict Trump and bar him from office forever is rather simple: No sitting president has ever incited a violent attack on Congress. Allowing Trump to do so without sanction would invite a future president with autocratic ambitions and greater competence to execute a successful overthrow of the federal government, rather than the soft echo of post-Reconstruction violence the nation endured in early January.”

“I recognize that the costs for the GOP in convicting Trump would be high, and in the aftermath of their 2020 electoral losses, Republicans are in no mood to offer more ammunition to their rivals. Democrats would obviously be delighted to see Republicans divided, and conservative lawmakers may believe that, even if Trump deserves conviction, the damage to their political and ideological priorities would be too great. To avoid a difficult choice, some Senate Republicans have coalesced around the cowardly and nonsensical argument that ex-presidents cannot be tried by the Senate. But neither the text of the Constitution nor the intent of the Framers can justify, say, a president ordering a drone strike on the Supreme Court and then resigning and retiring to private life without consequence. Or imagine a president ordering a politically aligned militia to assemble outside Congress in order to compel the opposition party to pass a law he favors, without explicitly ordering an attack. An acquittal would represent an invitation to a future president to use force to bend Congress to his will.”

Which is freaking hilarious, because that’s exactly what their right wing buddies here do whenever something goes wrong for them. AFP reporting.