PoliticsThe IndependentConservative Newsmax guest says Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was chosen 'probably for his skin colour'
Christian Whiton, a senior adviser in both the Trump and Bush administrations, told Newsmax that Joe Biden's Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin was likely hired because he was Black. Mr Whiton appeared on Newsmax to discuss an announcement from the Pentagon that it would enact military-wide stand downs for the next 60 days to tackle extremism and white supremacy within its ranks. The former Trump and Bush adviser said the decision to root out extremism in the military was "cancel culture" and then disparaged Mr Biden's pick for Secretary of Defense by claiming he was likely hired solely because he is Black.
U.S.The WeekProsecutors don't know where Kenosha shooter Kyle Rittenhouse is, want him arrested again
Prosecutors in Kenosha, Wisconsin, sought a new arrest warrant Wednesday for Kyle Rittenhouse, the teenager charged with killing two people during an Aug. 25 protest against the police shooting of Jacob Blake, a Black man now paralyzed from the waist down. The prosecutors said Rittenhouse has violated the terms of his $2 million bond by moving without informing the court or providing his new address. After a court filing sent to Rittenhouse was returned as undeliverable Jan. 28, Kenosha detectives visited Rittenhouse's listed address and discovered another man has been living there since mid-December, prosecutors explained.
WorldThe TelegraphIndian protesters burn pictures of Greta Thunberg after she sides with striking farmers
Outraged members of a Hindu nationalist group have burnt photographs of Greta Thunberg in New Delhi after the Swedish environmentalist tweeted in support of India's protesting farmers. Amid rising tensions between protesting farmers and the authorities, members of the United Hindu Front also held signs saying India will "not tolerate interference in internal affairs." Hundreds of thousands of farmers are occupying the streets outside of New Delhi ahead of a planned nationwide strike on Saturday, their numbers swelling after a farmer died after violent clashes with police on January 26.
BusinessAxiosDavid Hogg launching pillow company to compete with MyPillow's Mike Lindell
March for Our Lives co-founder David Hogg tweeted on Thursday that he and software developer William LeGate are launching a pillow company to compete against MyPillow, which is led by Trump supporter CEO Mike Lindell. Driving the news: Lindell is one of former President Trump's most adamant defenders and has repeatedly shared unsubstantiated conspiracy theories about the election since President Biden took office. Lindell had a tumultuous interview with Newsmax earlier this week, where anchors attempted to block the CEO from reiterating conspiracies about the 2020 election.
U.S.NBC NewsDriver stuck in snow burns to death after repeatedly revving SUV's engine
A New Jersey man was killed in a fire after repeatedly revving his SUV's engine while trying to get out of a snowbank, authorities said. Shortly after 9 a.m. Wednesday, police in Little Ferry said officers responded to a report of a car getting stuck in a pile of snow after going down an embankment near Losen Slote Creek Park, about 10 miles northwest of New York City. Little Ferry police Capt. Ronald Klein told NBC News on Thursday that two officers found a 62-year-old driver repeatedly revving up the engine and rocking his Mazda SUV back and forth to dislodge the vehicle from the snow.
PoliticsMiami HeraldMiami Republicans vote to kick Parkland conspiracy theorist off House committees
All three of South Florida's House Republicans voted Thursday to remove Georgia Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene — who previously questioned whether the 2018 Parkland school shooting actually happened and filmed herself harassing Parkland survivors who pushed for gun control — from the House committee that oversees education policy, breaking with their party and standing with a group of Parkland victims' families who urged them to vote yes. The votes by Reps. Mario Diaz-Balart, Carlos Gimenez and Maria Elvira Salazar came as a surprise at the last moment during a 30-minute vote late Thursday. They bucked House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, part of a group of Republicans who waited till the end to cast their “yes” votes for a resolution authored by Broward Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz.
U.S.NextSharkTeen Who Pushed Elderly Thai Man to His Death Pleads Not Guilty to Murder
A 19-year-old man facing murder and elder abuse charges over the death of 84-year-old Vicha Ratanapakdee has pleaded not guilty during his first court appearance at the Hall of Justice on Wednesday. Details -> https://t.co/6Z5rqIQpcZ pic.twitter.com/PJnuuWgE3Y — Evan Sernoffsky (@EvanSernoffsky) February 1, 2021 Ratanapakdee, who was originally from Thailand, died from injuries on Saturday after being slammed into the ground by Antoine Watson, NextShark previously reported. Watson was arrested on Saturday for the seemingly unprovoked attack on Ratanapakdee, reports SF Examiner.
PoliticsThe WeekMarjorie Taylor Greene tells lawmakers she regrets being 'allowed to believe things that weren't true'
Controversial lawmaker Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) acknowledged Thursday afternoon the 9/11 terrorist attacks really happened while insisting inflammatory remarks she's made "do not represent me." Greene, who has been under fire for past racist and anti-Semitic remarks and support of conspiracy theories including QAnon and the false assertion that school shootings are hoaxes, spoke on the House floor ahead of a vote to remove her from committee assignments, saying she regrets being "allowed to believe things that weren't true." "You see, school shootings are absolutely real," Greene said, adding that "9/11 absolutely happened" and "I do not believe that it's fake."
LifestyleArchitectural Digest27 Best Desk Lamps to Brighten Up 2021
Let there be light Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
U.S.NBC NewsMother died protecting daughter from hitmen allegedly hired by her brother
The mother, Brittany Cormier, was killed on Jan. 13 at her home in Montegut, about 70 miles southwest of New Orleans. Hope Nettleton, a neighbor visiting Cormier at the time, was also killed. Cormier's brother and convicted sex offender, Beaux Cormier, was arrested along with two of his friends, Andrew Eskine and Dalvin Wilson.
PoliticsThe IndependentBiden unites with all past presidents - apart from Trump - to call for end to ‘political extremism’
Donald Trump was absent as former presidents asked for unity and Joe Biden called for an end to “political extremism” during this year's National Prayer Breakfast. Speaking to the virtual breakfast on Thursday morning for the first time as US president, Mr Biden spoke about various topics including the ongoing coronavirus pandemic and last month's Capitol riots. Five people died and several more were injured, as a pro-Trump mob breached the US Capitol on 6 January during the certification of Mr Biden's presidential election victory.
HealthCharlotte ObserverHere’s what you should and shouldn’t do after getting a COVID vaccine shot
As vaccines for the coronavirus continue to roll out, questions still remain for some about how they should handle themselves and what they need to still be concerned about once they get a shot. More than 82,000 doses of the COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in Mecklenburg County as of Thursday. Both COVID-19 vaccines available right now require two injections, spaced weeks apart.
PoliticsThe WeekGOP Rep. Adam Kinzinger mocks GOP Rep. Matt Gaetz after House GOP votes to keep Liz Cheney in leadership
House Republicans voted by secret ballot Wednesday night to retain Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wy.) as the No. 3 leader in their caucus, so it's impossible to know which 145 Republicans voted to keep Cheney in leadership and which 61 voted to oust her for voting to impeach former President Donald Trump. No we voted.
- PoliticsYahoo News Video
Hoyer displays image of Marjorie Taylor Greene holding gun in Facebook post and asks colleagues, 'Tell me what message you think it sends'
In a speech on the House floor Thursday, Majority Leader Steny Hoyer held up a sign showing a Facebook post by then-House candidate Marjorie Taylor Greene that has since been taken down. The image shows GOP Rep. Greene posing with a gun next to photos of Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Rashida Tlaib.
PoliticsThe IndependentMarjorie Taylor Greene tweets rant at colleagues over report her own party plans to kick her off committees
Marjorie Taylor Greene has responded furiously to reports she will likely be removed from her committee assignments by her own party. Taking to Twitter on Wednesday morning, the Republican responded in anger and wrote: “No matter what GOP Leader [Kevin McCarthy] does it would never be enough for the hate America Democrats.” Speaking after Mr McCarthy met with Ms Greene on Tuesday, Politico's Rachel Blade said Mr McCarthy feared a vote on the House floor to remove Ms Greene altogether, which Democrats have threatened unless he responds to complaints against the congresswoman.
HealthMiami HeraldSide effects after your second dose of COVID vaccine may be more intense. Here’s why
Health experts say these side effects are just normal signs your body is building the immune response it needs to protect you from severe disease. But these signs tend to grab more of your attention after the second shot — kind of like a roadside billboard that's been revamped with flashing neon lights. The first shot floods your immune system with instructions that teach your cells to pump out harmless proteins similar to those the coronavirus uses to infect people.
PoliticsBusiness InsiderBiden supports canceling $10,000 in student loan debt, but Democrats are calling on him to forgive $50,000 through executive action
Press Secretary Jen Psaki said he wants Congress to pass a bill and send it to his desk. Congressional Democrats are urging Biden to forgive $50,000 per borrower through executive action. President Joe Biden supports relieving some federal student loan debt to help tackle the economic crisis caused by COVID-19, but congressional Democrats are urging him to raise the bar.
U.S.The Independent‘She’s lost it, she doesn’t deal in reality’: GOP congresswoman doubles down on claims over AOC Capitol ordeal
"I'm not going to discount the trauma ... but at no time were there rioters at our doors banging to get in," Ms Mace, who has her office two doors down from Ms Ocasio-Cortez in the Cannon office building, told Fox News who put up part of a Newsweek article on-screen as she spoke. The article said that someone entered Ms Ocasio-Cortez's office, but didn't show the part of the story saying that it was a police officer.
LifestyleFort Worth Star-TelegramDad died of COVID, but his Christmas lights comforted family. Then came ‘rude’ letter
Sara Pascucci says her father loved the holiday season. “He was always into Christmas, and those are our fond memories that we have of him, just always decorating and doing a lot of stuff during Christmas,” the Bethpage, New York, woman told WLNY. Pascucci and her family grieved as they planned two funerals, WCBS reported.
PoliticsBusiness Insider'She doesn't answer to you': Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's staffer scolds reporters ahead of her vote to be stripped from committees
Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene on Thursday ignored questions from reporters after she gave a speech on the House floor about her past support on social media for conspiracy theories and political violence. The Georgia Republican, who is likely to be stripped from her committees in an upcoming House vote, has repeatedly dodged speaking with the press this week.
PoliticsINSIDERCheck out Kamala Harris' new vice presidential offices, which are full of historic White House artifacts
The vice president has offices in the West Wing and the Eisenhower Executive Office Building. The ornate EEOB office is used for ceremonial gatherings and press events. The more modest White House office is a workspace in close proximity to the president.
U.S.Business InsiderProud Boys may have deliberately planned the Capitol siege as revenge against law enforcement, FBI says
The Proud Boys may have planned the Capitol siege as revenge on law enforcement, the FBI said. Officials said some members charged in the riot, including Ethan Nordean, had prepared for violence. They were angry at the police response to the stabbing of a member at a December rally, the FBI said.
EntertainmentArchitectural Digest9 Floral Boutiques That Literally Deliver Romance on Valentine’s Day
Don't get up; these flowers will come directly to you Originally Appeared on Architectural Digest
PoliticsBusiness InsiderMcConnell and the GOP are preparing a barrage of budget amendments to water down Biden's COVID-19 stimulus package
Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell is preparing a welter of amendments to a budget resolution - essential to passing President Joe Biden's COVID-19 stimulus package - for a grueling "vote-a-rama" on Thursday. Democrats have signaled that they will press ahead to pass the $1.9 trillion package without GOP support using budget reconciliation, a process that prevents filibustering and would allow the bill to pass with a simple majority of 51 votes. However, the price for using this measure is receiving a barrage of amendments from the GOP to the budget resolution needed to pass the stimulus package.
- NewsReuters Videos
Spectacular explosions as Mount Etna erupts
Bursts of sweltering hot lava shot into the sky at around 9 p.m. gmt). The 3,330-metre-high volcano can burst into spectacular action several times a year, spewing lava and ash high over the Mediterranean island of Sicily.
“We need to reverse this catastrophic choice to keep kids at home by ensuring the health and safety of our teachers.”
“It is decades of disinvestment in the public education of our most vulnerable students that’s keeping students out of classrooms.”
“We ultimately have to choose: bars and gyms or schools and daycares? Choose wisely.”
“Labor groups are continuing to flex their political muscle, most often pushing for a more conservative approach.”
“The terrible and mounting toll of the pandemic has caused positions to harden on both sides of the reopening debate.”