Biden Keeping Refugee Cap at Trump Levels – The Biden administration will keep the number of refugees allowed into the United States in 2021 at a record low – 15,000 – a number first set by the Trump administration, which was blasted by Democrats. The left argued that not allowing more people into the United States was unAmerican and inhumane, but Trump stood firm, saying that the cap must remain low until the border is under control. Now under President Biden, who loosened border policy, hundreds of thousands of illegal migrants have been streaming into the United States, overwhelming border protection agencies and prompting Biden to keep the refugee cap low.
Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Halted – The Johnson & Johnson Covid-19 vaccine was halted by all 50 US states upon recommendation from the FDA and CDC, after reports of at least six people who experienced dangerous and rare blood clots after receiving the vaccine. More than 6.8 million people have received the J&J vaccine and few have reported serious side effects, but regulators would like to identify whether the vaccine poses medical risks to people or specific populations before restarting the administration of the vaccine.
Riots in Minneapolis Over Police Killing – Riots broke out in Minneapolis after the apparently inadvertent killing of Daunte Wright, a black man who was shot during a traffic stop by a police officer who unintentionally grabbed her gun instead of her taser. Interestingly, the mainstream media, which has given Black Lives Matter protesters and rioters very favorable coverage, were chased away on multiple nights, with protesters saying they will spin things on air that don’t represent what is actually happening. In one instance, a CNN crew was chased and their car pelted with eggs by protesters.
Dems to Introduce Bill to Expand Supreme Court – Democrats are expected to introduce a bill in the House of Representatives to add 4 justices to the US Supreme Court to “offset” the current 6-3 conservative majority on the nation’s highest court. President Biden commissioned a panel to examine a potential expansion of the Supreme Court, but has expressed dissatisfaction with the idea, saying it would overly politicize the court and that whichever party is in power would simply add more seats to the court to give them an edge.
Mike Pence Receives Pacemaker – A pacemaker was inserted in former Vice President Mike Pence’s chest to treat a slow heartbeat. Pence had been identified as having a potential heart issue before becoming vice president, but the findings did not require any treatment at the time. Pence is considered a frontrunner for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination despite his spat with former President Trump over his certifying the electoral results of the presidential election in Congress.
US Slaps New Sanctions on Russia – The Biden administration expelled 10 Russian diplomats and slapped new sanctions on three dozen individuals and companies over attempted interference in the 2020 presidential election and for hacking into federal agencies. It marks the first public steps taken by the United States to address Russian shenanigans, both with electoral interference and over the SolarWinds hack, perhaps the largest, most widespread, and most serious cyber breach in US history.