NEW THINGS: @10:40, 2/15/21

Pennsylvania G.O.P.’s Push for More Power Over Judiciary Raises Alarms

Nick Corasaniti, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

After fighting the election results, state Republicans are trying to increase their control of the courts. Outraged Democrats and good government groups see it as a new kind of gerrymandering.

As it should.

Pennsylvania Democrats and other Democrats must continue to organize.

Zoom Fatigue on the Campaign Trail: 5 Takeaways From the Mayor’s Race

Emma G. Fitzsimmons, Dana Rubinstein and Katie Glueck, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 7 hours ago

The candidates in New York City can barely keep up with a dizzying schedule of online forums. One candidate joins from his closet.

Running a rally over Zoom is impossible. This campaign must be done one on one.

That means the primaries will be run by organizations. The independents will not win.

The Simplest Explanation For Not Breaking Covid Vaccine Patents

Ian Welsh, Ian Welsh - 10 hours ago

The faster we get everyone immunized, throughout the world, the more likely we can stop Covid from going chronic, becoming the new flu (but more deadly, unless/until it mutates to become less fatal, which the untried models say it should.) However, if Covid is cured, well, you can’t make money off Covid any more, can […]

The vaccine makers do not want to be regulated. Antitrust could do the regulation.

The rollout is pure Trump and will be fixed as Biden gains control of the executive.

https://www.ianwelsh.net/open-thread-90/

Sooner is better. As soon as you can is best.

Biden Takes Center Stage With Ambitious Agenda as Trump’s Trial Ends

Michael D. Shear, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 15 hours ago

The president plans to quickly press for his $1.9 trillion stimulus bill, and then move on to infrastructure, immigration, climate change and other major priorities.

The $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief plan is well in hand.

Other work will follow. The executive offices are filling now that the senate is not preocupied.

Richard Burr’s Vote to Convict Renews Talk of a Lara Trump Run in North Carolina

Glenn Thrush and Annie Karni, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 15 hours ago

The senator’s decision added fuel to speculation that Lara Trump, Mr. Trump’s daughter in-law, will seek the North Carolina Senate seat Mr. Burr is vacating in 2022.

Trump is no longer a magic name.

Why Seven Republican Senators Voted to Convict Trump

Catie Edmondson, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 15 hours ago

The Republicans who broke with their party to find Donald J. Trump guilty were an eclectic group, bound by their shared lack of concern about retribution from the former president or his followers.

I want to see some evidence of Trump's continued power.

Calls Grow for Commission to Investigate Capitol Riot

Emily Cochrane, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 16 hours ago

Lawmakers are increasingly pushing for a 9/11-style panel that would examine failures and make recommendations. It could also be a final chance for Congress to hold Donald J. Trump to account.

These Trump enthusiasts should be brought to book.

Trump himself is nolonger a concern of Congress.

The state prosecutors can have at him.

Lara Trump for North Carolina Senate Seat? Trump’s Trial Is Renewing Talk

Annie Karni and Jonathan Martin, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 17 hours ago

Senator Richard M. Burr’s vote to convict the former president has intensified speculation that Ms. Trump might galvanize staunch Trump loyalists behind a possible bid for Mr. Burr’s seat in 2022.

Lara Trump has money to waste.

How a Minimum-Wage Increase Is Being Felt in a Low-Wage City

Sydney Ember, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 17 hours ago

Is $15 an hour too much, or not enough? Fresno, Calif., may be a laboratory for a debate over the minimum wage that is heating up on the national level.

The higher minimum wage should be preceeded by higher social support.

The customers must be able patronise the businesses.

A Year of Hardship, Helped and Hindered by Washington

Jason DeParle, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 19 hours ago

For Kathryn Stewart, a struggling single mother in Michigan, the past year showed how much safety net programs can help — and how the nation’s fickleness about them can add confusion and uncertainty to fear and worry.

Cruelty seems to have been the goal of Republican social programs.

I have been told that it is the case. It is demonstrated.

This is what we know about what Trump was doing from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 6.

Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Martin, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 20 hours ago

Trump should have been convicted.

Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – February 14, 2021

Tony Wikrent, Ian Welsh - 21 hours ago

Week-end Wrap – Political Economy – February 14, 2021 by Tony Wikrent Strategic Political Economy “How The US Legalized Corruption” [Indi Samarajiva, via Naked Capitalism Water Cooler 2-8-21] “Americans have this thing called a fundraiser where you put a pile of bribes on a table, wave a wand of asparagus over it, and it just […]

There is more speculation in this than I like.

Here are a few takeaways from the final day of Trump’s impeachment trial.

Eileen Sullivan, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 22 hours ago

Witnesses are a two edged weapon.

Donald Trump could have avoided his second ipeachment by yeilding the election.

The world reacts to Trump’s acquittal: ‘The U.S. remains in a precarious situation.’

Isabella Kwai and Austin Ramzy, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

The world is watching. The Republican party is pleasing the autarchs and displeasing the democracies.

Tom Perez on Democrats’ Mistakes and Why Iowa Shouldn’t Go First

Reid J. Epstein, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

In an interview, the former D.N.C. chairman discussed a possible bid for Maryland governor and said Iowa and New Hampshire starting the presidential nominating process was “unacceptable.”

I am not sure the parties control the primary election order.

Perez is talking candidate nice.

After the Speech: What Trump Did as the Capitol Was Attacked

Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Martin, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

New evidence emerged in the impeachment trial about what President Donald J. Trump did from roughly 1 to 6 p.m. the day of the Capitol attack. But many questions remain unanswered.

I hold no concern about Trump's federal misdeeds. State prosecutors should keep him in court for years. Income Tax evaision and multiple instances of fraud are waiting.

White House Press Aide Resigns Over Call to Reporter

Michael D. Shear, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

T.J. Ducklo, a former campaign aide, had apologized to the reporter and was given a one-week suspension. But Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, said his resignation was accepted on Saturday.

Sooner is better. As soon as you can is best.

Takeaways From Day 5 of Trump’s Impeachment Trial

Eileen Sullivan, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

Seven Republicans broke ranks in voting to convict former President Donald J. Trump, and despite moving to acquit the former president, Senator Mitch McConnell condemned him on the Senate floor.

The fragmentation of the Republican party has only begun.

For Trump, an Escape, Not an Exoneration

Peter Baker, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

The president who emerged from last year’s impeachment trial feeling emboldened emerges from this one secluded behind closed doors in Florida and facing an uncertain political and legal future.

Trump will soon be a fugitive.

Impeachment Briefing: The Senate Acquits Trump

NYT > U.S. > Politics - 1 day ago

The Senate voted 57-43 in favor of convicting him — not enough to meet the required two-thirds majority.

Too many Republican loyalists.