Youngkin’s executive order to end school mask mandates gets pushback

The language of EO 2 seems clear, but Norfolk, VB, IOW, Northampton, Richmond, Fairfax, and Arlington have all said mask mandates will remain in place. I wonder what the rationale is. Maybe their legal departments think they have a defendable case if (when) it comes to that?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/01/13/glenn-youngkin-should-ban-remote-learning-in-public-schools/

Small government, intellectual freedom, anti-indoctrination Republican Hugh Hewitt wants the state to take over all education in the Commonwealth and use the military as staff (including in classroom).

https://unherd.com/2022/01/why-the-online-right-flirt-with-the-taliban/

I found this pretty interesting and am curious to hear everyone’s thoughts. I think she nails the parts about the Left.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/pelosi-defends-lawmakers-and-their-spouses-trading-stocks-we-are-a-free-market-economy-01639606786

Odd position for a Communist to take.

https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/danvergano/havana-syndrome-jason-crickets

While we’re on the topic of possibly lavish and unnecessary spending, the house just unanimously passed a bill providing even more generous healthcare to spies with a “disease” the State Department knows is fake. Are the fiscal conservatives here aghast at this?

Abolish the debt ceiling before it commits austerity again: The GOP used the debt ceiling to force spending cuts in 2011. It can’t be allowed again.

What remains to be seen is if GOP donors will allow them tank the economy in order to ensure wins in 2022 and 24.

If the last two centuries have taught students of world history anything, it should be this: most peoples will eventually expel foreign occupiers, unless you inflict genocidal levels of violence upon them or explicitly integrate them into your empire. 

https://fx.substack.com/p/misunderstanding-the-taliban?token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjo4NzQzMjM0LCJwb3N0X2lkIjo0MDc0Mzc4NCwiXyI6Im9VNXZLIiwiaWF0IjoxNjMwNTg2NTUyLCJleHAiOjE2MzA1OTAxNTIsImlzcyI6InB1Yi02NDc5Iiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.vKhAxfa8kNm11_uUcFhnZT7SIvdGTIqsOiyigaH7jQo

https://theintercept.com/2021/08/23/portland-police-proud-boys-protest/

Since we’re having a pity party for the Proud Boys, let’s see what they got up to over the weekend.

https://apnews.com/article/joe-biden-caribbean-united-nations-haiti-72c1f105550e1031212c30da17170fe9

Well this is about the least surprising development.

https://www.npr.org/2021/07/08/1014043094/fifteen-states-drop-opposition-to-controversial-purdue-pharma-oxycontin-bankrupt

“The Sacklers have never faced charges. Under this deal, they will admit no wrongdoing and will remain one of the wealthiest families in the U.S.”