President Joe Biden (photo via campaign) Economists at Goldman Sachs have forecast the unemployment rate dropping to as low as 4.1 percent by the end of the year. Via The Hill:
The research outlook suggests that as the virus recedes, many of the industries that have been stuck in limbo such as leisure and hospitality will spring back to life, and workers who have been on the sidelines will make their way back to the job market.
Ultimately, the bank forecasts that unemployment will drop to 3.2 percent by 2024. If that were to happen, it would surpass the 50-year record set in the Trump administration, notching a significant win for President Biden and boosting his chances for reelection.
But the research note also pointed out that generous unemployment benefits approved in the $1.9 trillion relief plan may play a role in pushing the recovery toward the end of the year.
The youngest rioter to be charged with the storming the Capitol on Jan. 6 had begged a judge let him to go home after being denied bond, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports.
Bruno Joseph Cua, 18, is facing multiple charges including assaulting a federal officer, and has been in jail since Feb. 5. His parents drove him from Atlanta to D.C. for the so-called “Stop the Steal” rally.
Prosecutors say the teen shoved a cop and made it all the way to the Senate floor. Videos show him carrying a baton through the halls of the Capitol.
In a letter submitted to the judge on Thursday, Cua said he is “deeply remoursefull [sic] and regretful. After all, that’s what jail’s for, right? Teaching people a lesson?” He added, “I just want to go home to my Mom and Dad, I am truly sorry.”
Sorry. I have no sympathy. Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time. Check out some of the screen captured tweets in the second tweet below. He was being tough guy then, he can summon some of that toughness now.
Bruno Joseph Cua, 18, is facing multiple charges including assaulting a federal officer, and has been in jail since Feb. 5. https://t.co/S76S03ixhn
🧵CAPITOL ARRESTS – PART 2 ARRESTED: Bruno Joseph Cua, 18, from Milton, GA is charged with ASSAULT against a federal officer: “This is the third time he’s [Trump] tweeted about it. This isn’t a joke, this is where & when we make our stand Fight for Trump” https://t.co/X1QYlz70FNpic.twitter.com/N27ZryJYHR
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that, as of Sunday, 90,351,750 Americans have received at least one shot of coronavirus vaccine. Breaking those numbers down, 58,873,710 Americans have received one shot of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine (which constitutes 17.7% of the population), and 30,686,881 have received both shots (9.2%). So far, 116,363,405 doses of vaccine have been delivered to healthcare professionals to use. Herd immunity would be reached, at the earliest, with an estimated 70% of the 330,000,000 people in the U.S. vaccinated, which would be about 231,000,000 people. (graphic via CDC)
In this week’s podcast: • A new Gallup Poll shows more people identify as LGBTQ than ever before • Virginia has outlawed the use of the ‘gay panic’ and ‘trans panic’ legal defenses • Houston police have arrested a man who assaulted and killed a man he met using Grindr • The Equality Act begins its trek through Congress (again) • The largest Protestant adoption and foster agency has announced it will open up its services to LGBTQ families • And the creators of the acclaimed FX series POSE have announced the upcoming 3rd season will be its last All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report podcast
The U.S. Capitol building (via senate.gov) After a 27 hour marathon session, the U.S. Senate voted 50-49 on Saturday to approve President Biden’s $1.9 trillion COVID relief package. The vote was split down party lines with all 50 Democrats voting for the bill and all Republicans (minus one absent GOP senator) voting against. The $1.9 trillion price tag is less than the $2.2 trillion package passed with bipartisan support last March. This vote makes clear the Senate Republicans plan to obstruct the Biden administration. The package heads back to the House due to some changes made to the legislation in the Senate most notably removing language that would raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour. Last month, the Senate parliamentarian ruled the minimum wage language was not allowed since the Democrats were using a simple majority vote via budget reconciliation. In its present form, the bill will:
• Provide $46 billion for COVID testing and tracing; $7.6 billion for pandemic response at community health centers; $5.2 billion to support research, development and manufacturing of vaccines, therapeutics and other medical products; and $7.7 billion to expand the public health care workforce.
• $1,400 stimulus payments for most Americans. • $128.6 billion to help K-12 schools reopen. • $350 billion in state and local aid. • $25 billion in aid to restaurants and other food and drinking establishments. • $19 billion in emergency rental assistance. • $7.25 billion in funds for Paycheck Protection Program loans. • Extends the enhanced federal unemployment insurance of $300 per week through September 6 and will make the first $10,200 of unemployment benefits received in 2020 non-taxable for households making less than $150,000. President Biden issued a short statement about the passage of the American Rescue Plan (including throwing some shade in the direction of “the former guy”):
“When I was elected, I said we were going to get the government out of the business of battling on Twitter and back in the business of delivering for the American people, of making a difference in their lives, giving everyone a chance, a fighting chance of showing the American people that their government can work for them.
“I really want to thank the American people for making all this possible. Without the overwhelming bipartisan support of the American people, this would not have happened. Your elected officials heard you.”
Today, the Senate passed the American Rescue Plan – bringing us one step closer to delivering much-needed relief. Tune in as I deliver remarks. https://t.co/wX8fXNGYqi
Jacob Chansley (screen capture) Some news items you might have missed: • Fox News: The ‘QAnon Shaman’ (aka Jacob Chansley) says not receiving a presidential pardon “wounded” and “deeply disappointed” him. “I regret entering that building. I regret entering that building with every fiber of my being.” • The Daily Beast: The governor of Texas didn’t consult his team of medical experts before lifting the state’s face mask mandate. Anyone surprised? Anyone? Me neither… • BosGuy: The Boston Eagle (aka ‘The dirty bird’) has officially closed after 40 years of operation and its location is available for rent. • New York Times: Richard Barnett, the Arkansas man charged with breaking into Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s office and stealing her mail during the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol, threw a tantrum during a virtual court hearing on Thursday, yelling at the judge and his own lawyers that it wasn’t “fair” that he was still in jail weeks after his arrest. He’s the guy photographed with his feet on Pelosi’s desk. • Stonewall Gazette: The 1999 docudrama Beefcake is an entertaining homage to muscle magazines that were popular from the 1940s to the 1960s. Athletic Model Guild and Physique Pictorial magazine provided not only eye-candy but a way to explore inner desires for millions of gay and bisexual men at a time when homosexuality was illegal. • Boy Culture: Matt Rettenmund writes, “This butt is wasted, but at least it’s had its picture taken …” #BigBooty
Dr. Yazan Abou-Ismail (via Instagram) Some news items you might have missed: • Out: A transgender woman has filed a lawsuit against staff at the Michigan Department of Corrections where she was imprisoned, claiming she was raped after staff forced her to share a cell with a convicted rapist and murderer. She was raped a second time by another inmate after staff forced her to share a cell with him (another convicted rapist) following her return from the hospital. • Greg In Hollywood: Today marks the 12th anniversary of the longtime LGBTQ blog run by the awesome Greg Hernandez. In recognizing the date, Greg says he’s going to take some time off – but not permanently – before heading into his next year of celebrity/entertainment news. • The Hill: Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI), a Trump ally and fiscal conservative, says he plans to force the Senate clerks to read aloud the entire $1.9 trillion COVID-relief bill on the Senate floor, which could slow it down by as much as 10 hours. It’s worth noting a wide a majority of Americans support the legislation: a new Morning Consult poll shows 77% of Americans support the bill.
Ron Johnson: “I’m going to make them read their 600-700 page bill.”
Johnson also plans to force votes on a HUGE amount of amendments to drag it out. “We need to keep this process going…I’m going to lead the effort to resist this thing.” Suggests it could drag into Sunday — Manu Raju (@mkraju) March 3, 2021
• Washington Post: The House of Representatives will not be in session on Thursday as planned after officials warned of credible threats of violence circulated by right-wing extremists that March 4 is the “true Inauguration Day” when former president Donald Trump will be sworn in for a second term. • CBS News: Gov. Andrew Cuomo of New York addressed the mounting sexual harassment allegations against him Wednesday. “I now understand that I acted in a way that made people feel uncomfortable. It was unintentional and I truly and deeply apologize for it. I feel awful about it and, frankly, I am embarrassed by it.” Cuomo said he will “fully cooperate” with the attorney general’s investigation, adding he’s “learned an important lesson.” • InstaHunks: Woofy Dr. Yazan Abou-Ismail (top photo) is giving you serious furry goodness. He also has a fun sense of humor.
The U.S. Capitol building (via senate.gov) Senate Democrats have agreed to narrow the income limits for those who would receive stimulus checks in order to draw in more support from moderate Senators. From the New York Times:
Like the House bill, the proposal under discussion would send $1,400 checks to people earning up to $75,000 and households earning up to $150,000, with those earning more receiving smaller payments.
But the Senate proposal would end the checks altogether for those making $80,000 or couples earning $160,000, while the House measure had a higher cap of $100,000 for individuals and $200,000 for households.But Senate Democrats have agreed to the House-passed proposal to provide a $400 weekly federal unemployment payment through the end of August, rejecting a bid by some moderate senators to keep the weekly benefit at the current amount of $300 per week.
Read the full article. This morning, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer issued a statement saying he has confidence Democrats have the votes to pass the measure.
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says "we'll have the votes" to pass COVID relief bill in the Senate this week https://t.co/Na5yOErxM9
(image via Flickr/Thomas Arnoux) A Delta Air Lines passenger on a flight from Miami to Atlanta now faces a $27,500 fine for slapping a flight attendant while arguing over the flight attendant’s instructions to follow safety and the airline’s mask policy, officials said. The Federal Aviation Administration handed down it’s decision that the passenger pay the fine on February 26. From FOX35:
The FAA said the unnamed passenger was traveling with another person who refused to wear his mask, fasten his seat belt or put up the tray table in front of him. As a result, the flight returned to the gate due to his refusal to follow the flight attendant’s instructions and the two passengers were asked to voluntarily get off the plane, the agency said.
“In response, the passenger accompanying the non-compliant traveler ignored the flight attendant’s instructions, began yelling expletives at the flight attendant and other passengers, and struck the flight attendant under her left eye,” the FAA said in a statement.
President Joe Biden (screen capture) Due to ramped up manufacturing of coronavirus vaccine supply, President Biden announced today that by the end of May there will be enough vaccine supply for every adult in the U.S. to get vaccinated. Biden had previously indicated that it would be closer to the end of July before enough vaccine would be available. The shortened timeline is due, in part, to the approval of the Johnson & Johnson 1-shot vaccine being approved by the FDA. Plus, pharmaceutical giant Merck & Co has agreed to help manufacture the J&J vaccine under a new deal brokered by the White House. Biden is also asking every state to prioritize teachers for vaccination.
Biden: "We're now on track to have enough vaccine supply for every adult in America by the end of May." pic.twitter.com/QEPBhvR7kY
Today, I am directing every state to prioritize educators for vaccination. We want every educator, school staff member, and child-care worker to receive at least one shot by the end of this month.
It’s time to treat in-person learning like the essential service that it is.
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