NEW THINGS: @23:30, , 2/2/21

Biden Travels to Capitol to Pay Respects to Brian Sicknick

Katie Rogers and Hailey Fuchs, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 48 minutes ago

Mr. Sicknick is only the fifth person to lie in honor in the Capitol Rotunda.

How the Biden Administration Can Help Solve Our Reality Crisis

Kevin Roose, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

These steps, experts say, could prod more people to abandon the scourge of hoaxes and lies.

Any single jodge of fact is subject to corruption.

A culture that values fact above drama and entertainment would be less subject to corruption.

Novelty must have a high value in that culture.

Judge Postpones Guantanamo Arraignments Over Covid Concerns

Carol Rosenberg, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

A military judge who was to travel to Guantánamo Bay this week ruled that the health risks the base posed were reason enough to delay the arraignments of three prisoners.

The prison at Guantánamo Bay is a warcrime,

Impeachment Case Argues Trump Was ‘Singularly Responsible’ for Capitol Riot

Nicholas Fandos and Maggie Haberman, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 2 hours ago

The House managers cited the Constitution’s framers in urging that Donald J. Trump be convicted and disqualified from holding office. Mr. Trump’s lawyers said the Senate had no jurisdiction.

There is precident for the impeachment and conviction of former office holders.

That Donald Trump is singularly responsible for the insurection is to be proven.

It should not be difficult.

Biden's Executive Orders: President to Sign 3 Rolling Back Trump's Immigration Agenda

Michael D. Shear and Zolan Kanno-Youngs, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

Officials and immigration advocates said the orders, which aim to reunite separated migrant families and review the former president’s actions, will broadly reshape policy, but not immediately.

Trump took a tangled immigration situation added whole new layers to the tangle

Biden has begun to untangle this gordian knot. Slashing it is not an option.

Trump Had Greatest Loss of Support in 2020 with White Male Voters

Maggie Haberman, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

The analysis of latino voters should be finer grained. Cuban refugees and their descendants

do not vote for Democrats.

Eugenio Martinez, Last of the Watergate Burglars, Dies at 98

Sam Roberts, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

A hero to exiles from Castro’s Cuba, he was the only person other than Richard Nixon to receive a presidential pardon in the scandal.

The record remains though the participants have passed on.

Republican Leaders Face Critical Test on Whether to Rebuke Taylor Greene, Cheney

Catie Edmondson, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 3 hours ago

The fates of Representatives Marjorie Taylor Greene and Liz Cheney have become a proxy battle for the soul of the party, prompting a clash among top Republicans.

The actions of Party leaders inform us about the party.

Liz Cheney will bear the censure.

New Democratic Ad Campaign Ties G.O.P. to QAnon

Reid J. Epstein, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee has started a $500,000 effort on television and online portraying House Republicans as aligned with Marjorie Taylor Greene and QAnon conspiracy theories.

The Democratic campaigne is observant.

Biden Reinstates Aluminum Tariffs, Reversing Trump's Decision

Ana Swanson, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

The move suggests the Biden administration may be inclined to maintain President Trump’s hefty tariffs, a decision that will please unions but disappoint manufacturers.

This may be a move on global warming.

Biden Reinstates Aluminum Tariffs in One of His First Trade Moves

Ana Swanson, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

The move suggests the Biden administration may be inclined to maintain President Trump’s hefty tariffs, a decision that will please unions but disappoint manufacturers.

This may be a move on global warming.

Biden and Drug Makers Look to Speed Coronavirus Vaccine Deliveries

Sharon LaFraniere, Noah Weiland and Rebecca Robbins, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 5 hours ago

Moderna will ask federal regulators to increase the amount of coronavirus vaccine it can put in each vial by as much as 50 percent, potentially bolstering availability quickly.

More vaccine out for a bit less regulation.

It looks like a good deal.

Ginni Thomas apologizes to her husband’s Supreme Court clerks for discord she says she caused.

Adam Liptak, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 6 hours ago

I am left to imagine the discord.

Pete Buttigieg Is Confirmed as Biden’s Transportation Secretary

Pranshu Verma, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 8 hours ago

Mr. Buttigieg, 39, became the first openly gay cabinet secretary to have been approved by the Senate and the youngest member of the president’s cabinet.

There is no reason he would not do a good job. The vetting process did not find any.

John J. Sweeney, Crusading Labor Leader, Is Dead at 86

Robert D. McFadden, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

As head of the A.F.L.-C.I.O., he embraced immigrants, women, minority groups and low-wage workers in an effort to reverse organized labor’s long decline.

It would have been better if he had won more contests.

Why Arizona’s Senators May Collide With Democrats Who Elected Them

Jennifer Medina, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 9 hours ago

Senators Kyrsten Sinema and Mark Kelly ran on bipartisan approaches to governing, but some Democrats in Arizona view their openness to Senate Republicans with skepticism.

I am not worried.

House Impeachment Managers Argue Trump Was 'Responsible' for Capitol Riots

Nicholas Fandos and Maggie Haberman, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 10 hours ago

That is the question to be decided.

Democrats push to roll back some business tax cuts in stimulus talks.

Jim Tankersley, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 10 hours ago

The debate continues.

Biden faces dilemma on what to do with watchdogs appointed by Trump.

Charlie Savage, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 14 hours ago

Let them dig and insist on a final report.

Will Biden’s ‘Excellent Meeting’ Bear Fruit?

Giovanni Russonello, NYT > U.S. > Politics - 16 hours ago