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Thursday, March 4, 2021

Supreme Court rules against immigrant who was denied chance to make his case against deportation

WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled against an immigrant who has lived in the country illegally for 25 years and who asserted he was wrongfully denied a chance to convince a judge his deportation would cause unusual hardship on his son, who is a U.S. citizen.

Associate Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote the majority opinion and was joined by four of the court's conservatives. The high court found that Clemente Pereida did not meet the burden required to show he should have been allowed to present his case to an immigration judge.

Internal watchdog said ex-Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao misused position, referred case for prosecution

The U.S. Transportation Department's inspector general's office formally investigated former Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao for potential violations of ethics rules and misuse of her position — and ultimately referred the case for criminal prosecution in late 2020.

The inspector general's investigation focused, among other things, on how Chao — who is married to Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky. — may have aided her family's shipping company, Foremost Group, which does significant business in China, according to a report that was publicly released this week.

WASHINGTON — The House of Representatives canceled its Thursday session after receiving information about a possible security threat at the Capitol on March 4.

The United States Capitol Police said Wednesday they were aware of a “possible plot to breach the Capitol by an identified militia group,” and a notice sent to all congressional offices said the agency was bolstering its security presence on Capitol Hill.

The decision by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s administration to withhold the true COVID-19 death toll at nursing homes faces new scrutiny as a self-inflicted political wound that is contributing to the Democratic governor’s potential downfall.

Political observers suggested Cuomo should have acted sooner to release the number of nursing home residents who died of COVID-19 at hospitals last year as requested by lawmakers and reporters, thus avoiding the scandal of undercounting the deaths to seemingly boost his popularity and fend off political attacks from the Trump administration.

Six weeks into the Biden administration and there still has been no solo press conference from the president. That is the longest stretch of silence from any new president in at least a century. By refusing to speak directly to the media, Joe Biden is attacking our most cherished democratic norms. Even CNN is complaining about it.

We would echo those complaints if we really cared, but we’re happy to listen to Joe Biden’s flacks and mouthpieces explain why he bombed Syria, why he blocked the passage of a $15 minimum wage, and why Dr. Seuss is racist.

The White House raised eyebrows on Wednesday when it suddenly cut the feed of a virtual event after President Biden said he was "happy to take questions" from Democratic lawmakers.

Accompanied by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. and the House Democratic Caucus, Biden addressed lawmakers on the topics of COVID relief and the ongoing vaccine rollout. He closed his remarks by calling on Democrats to help "restore faith" in government.

US Capitol Police boost security amid siege threat

The US House of Representatives has cancelled a planned session after Capitol Police warned a militia group could be plotting to breach the building again.

The House had been scheduled to debate and vote on a police reform bill on Thursday (local time).

But a Democratic aide said plans changed due in part to the police warning, based on intelligence that “an identified militia group” could present a security threat.

108 illegal immigrants released by Border Patrol in Texas test positive for coronavirus, officials say

More than 100 illegal immigrants released by the Border Patrol into Texas since late January have tested positive for the coronavirus following their arrival, officials in a city on the U.S.-Mexico border tell Fox News.

Felipe Romero, a spokesperson for Brownsville, said Wednesday that the 108 positives represent 6.3% of the number of total migrants who have been rapid-tested at the city’s main bus station, where they are being released by the Border Patrol. Rapid testing of the individuals began there on Jan. 25.

Migrants wear Biden T-shirts at US-Mexico border, demand clearer policies

Migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border on Tuesday were photographed wearing T-shirts in support of President Biden at the San Ysidro crossing port in Tijuana, Baja California state.

One apparent migrant held up a poster that read, "Biden, please let us in!"

Prospective U.S. residents and progressive Democrats are hoping the new president will implement more lenient immigration policies than former President Trump, though some politicians like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., have expressed concern with Biden's use of migrant holding facilities at the border.

Rep. Crenshaw slams Biden's border policy: 'Prioritizing illegal immigrants over US citizens’

Rep. Dan Crenshaw, R-Texas, says he believes the Biden administration’s immigration policies are "prioritizing illegal immigrants over U.S. citizens."

President Joe Biden yesterday said the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border was not a crisis and that his administration "will be able to handle it." The comments come amid an Axios report citing DHS projections that 117,000 unaccompanied children are expected to cross the border in 2021

Republicans want briefing from Mayorkas after DHS chief claims 'no' border crisis

EXCLUSIVE: House Republicans on the Border Security Caucus are requesting a briefing by Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas about the escalating crisis at the southern border and warning that Biden administration policies are fueling it -- days after Mayorkas denied that there was a crisis at all.

Reps. Andy Biggs and Brian Babin, who are the heads of the Congressional Border Security Caucus, wrote to Mayorkas requesting a briefing on the administration’s plans to address what they see as a crisis.

Keith Olbermann roasted for asking why we’re ‘wasting vaccinations on Texas’ after state lifts mask mandate

Liberal pundit Keith Olbermann was roasted from both sides of the aisle on Tuesday for declaring that Texans don’t deserve access to the coronavirus vaccines because "Texas has decided to join the side of the virus" by lifting its mask mandate.

#Wednesdayvibe
Liberal pundit Keith Olbermann was roasted from both sides of the aisle because he’s that kind of a guy. pic.twitter.com/zGiNtEfZTT
— Alex Preiss (@AlexPreiss4) March 3, 2021

Olbermann, who walked away from ESPN to start an anti-Trump show on YouTube, responded to a tweet from Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott outlining plans to open the state back up and revoke mask mandates.

There is ‘video proof of Canberra double standards’ towards rape allegations

Sky News host Paul Murray says there is clearly “one rule for one and one rule for the other” when comparing the scrutiny given to former opposition leader Bill Shorten and Attorney General Christian Porter.

Mr Porter fronted the media on Wednesday where he vehemently denied any wrongdoing in relation to allegations of sexual assault dating back to 1988.

NSW Police had confirmed it won't proceed with an investigation into the historical rape allegation against the Cabinet minister.

Party store owner creates massive Ted Cruz pinata amid Mexico holiday scandal

One store owner decided to take a controversy on the news and make it into a party item.

Carlos De La Fuente, the owner of ABC Party HQ in Dallas, created a pinata inspired by the viral photos of Republican Senator Ted Cruz, walking through the Cancun International Airport.

The image circulated widely following the backlash over the senator’s recent trip to Mexico amid the state’s historic winter storm.

In the photo, Cruz sported a mask with the Texas flag as he rolled his suitcase.

Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy jailed for corruption and ‘influence peddling’

A Paris court has found French former President Nicolas Sarkozy guilty of corruption and influence-peddling and sentenced him to one year in prison and a two-year suspended sentence.

The 66-year-old politician, who was president from 2007 to 2012, was convicted for having tried to illegally obtain information from a senior magistrate in 2014 about a legal action in which he was involved.

Defence Minister Linda Reynolds called Brittany Higgins a ‘lying cow’ in office

Scott Morrison is facing double trouble with two cabinet ministers out on stress leave and his Defence Minister accused of calling an alleged rape victim a “lying cow.”

The shocking allegations will pile on the pressure for the Defence Minister Linda Reynolds to resign.

But she’s attempted to defend the remarks by explaining that the revelation by news.com.au that the ex-staffer was allegedly raped on her office couch was “a stressful time in the office.”

US forces: Rockets hit airbase in Iraq hosting US troops

BAGHDAD (AP) — At least 10 rockets targeted a military base in western Iraq that hosts U.S.-led coalition troops on Wednesday, the coalition and the Iraqi military said. It was not immediately known if there were any casualties.

The rockets struck Ain al-Asad airbase in Anbar province at 7:20 a.m., coalition spokesman Col. Wayne Marotto said. No one claimed responsibility for the attack.

Live stimulus updates: Senate braces for marathon debate on Joe Biden's COVID relief plan

WASHINGTON – President Joe Biden's months-long crusade to pass a $1.9 trillion COVID-19 stimulus plan may enter its final stretch Wednesday, when senators could begin 20 hours of debate on the measure that is expected to come to a vote later in the week.

Meanwhile in the House, leaders are already looking to take up the bill for a final vote as soon as Monday, a timeline that means the law – with its $1,400 stimulus checks, funding to state and local governments and tax credits for families – could become law by next week.

Will new school reopening plan work?

Good morning, California. It’s Tuesday, March 2. Third time’s the charm?

The school reopening deal Gov. Gavin Newsom and top lawmakers unveiled Monday stops short of requiring campuses to reopen — raising questions about whether it will actually accelerate students’ return to the classroom.

Will CA's New School Reopening Plan Work? https://t.co/eCOPMfccSd
— Orange County Patch (@OCountyPatch) March 2, 2021

The $6.6 billion proposal would incentivize schools to bring their youngest and most vulnerable students back by April 1 while financially penalizing campuses

California teachers' union president is blasted as a 'hypocrite' as he's filmed dropping off his 2-year-old daughter at her private preschool for in-person lessons - despite leading the charge that it's UNSAFE to open public schools

The president of a California teacher's union has been branded a hypocrite after he was caught dropping off his two-year-old daughter at her private preschool - despite saying it was unsafe for kids to be in classrooms.

California teachers' union president is blasted as a 'hypocrite' for dropping daughter off at private school, while keeping public schools closed. #WhiteGuyWithDreads https://t.co/Tqsx0ZYGeL
— Bart Marcois (@bmarcois) March 3, 2021

Matt Meyer, president of the Berkeley Federation of Teachers, has fought for what he called the 'gold standard' for educators in his district - insisting public schools should reopen for in-person learning only when the teachers are vaccinated, among other criteria, according to KQED.

Marissa DuBois in Slow Motion Full Fashion Week 2023, Fashion Channel Vlog,