The GOP-led House is BUSY busy. Police departments continue to be tone deaf AF. And Black history was made at the Grammys.
What the Health
The latest COVID numbers: 102M total cases & 1M total deaths (+283K & +3K from last week) in the US.
The headlines:
COVID hit different this winter…in a good way.
Y’all president plans to end the COVID national emergency in May. Benefits like free testing/vaccinations and automatic Medicare redeterminations will end along with it.
California is making its own insulin to give its residents a more affordable version of the drug.
Keeping Up with Biden & Harris
Tomorrow, Joe Biden will give his 2nd State of the Union speech. He’ll use it to soft launch his bid for re-election.
Speaking of 2024, Democrats have officially made South Carolina its first primary state for the next presidential election. Some feel this may give Black voters the chance to set the tone early on.
Things are heating up between the US & China again after a Chinese “spy balloon”–thought to be surveilling the country to collect intelligence–was shot down off the Carolinas over the weekend.
Another $2.2B is going to Ukraine.
Congress, What’s Good?
With the House under GOP control, they are not worried about keeping it cute with Democratsl. Ilhan Omar was voted out of the foreign affairs committee along party lines for statements they claimed were anti-Semitic (despite anti-Semitism being on their hands as well).
They also said “Fck yo civil rights” (again) by dismantling the Civil Rights and Civil Liberties subcommittee. This subgroup would play a role in investigating things around voting rights, criminal justice and freedom of assembly (aka protest). Oh, and the January 6th investigation.
While they’re one band, one sound on the committees, unfortunately, they still have some work to do on their debt ceiling approach. Conversations with Democrats are underway, but they’re a bit all over the place.
Oh yeah, and George Santos resigned from his committee assignments as folks continue to realize he’s a scamming scammer who scams. This decision comes amid news that the FBI is investigating him for stealing from a fundraiser and that he might owe thousands in traffic tickets.
Exciting times, y’all.
In upcoming committee meetings:
Free speech and Twitter’s suppression of the Hunter Biden laptop story (LOL the GOP is coming for blood)
Removing barriers to capital for small business owners
Social Justice Round Up
Though he’s not in the news as much as the 5 Black officers, the white police officer that was involved in Tyree Nichols’ death has finally been fired. Before last week, he was suspended with pay. 2 Memphis EMTs have also been fired for their role in the incident.
Massachusetts is considering a bill that will allow inmates to donate organs or bone marrow in order to reduce their sentences by anywhere from 2 months to a year. Currently Black people make up less than 10% of the state population, but 29% of its inmate population. Wild, but just another reminder that the Black body (and that of the poor) is always up for consumption one way or another.
Excuse us, what? Police departments in Miami & Columbus, OH police departments unveiled cars decorated for BHM as a genuine display of tone deafness.
Around the Diaspora
12 countries across Africa are banding together to combat neglected tropical diseases (like leprosy, dengue fever and rabies) across the Continent.
Grenada will soon receive a reparations payment of £100K from a wealthy British family seeking atonement for its role in slavery. The amount is ridiculously low, but do we need more families to be on this type of time?
Guyana is establishing a new scientific council to increase the quality of its heathcare.
Getting to the Money
Here’s another job board full of roles from companies that are currently hiring and who claim to be focusing on building more diverse teams.
Buying Black
Spruce up your mornings with Vicky’s Cakes pancake mix. A vegan recipe that was perfected over 40 years ago, Vicky Cakes will make breakfast seem like you’ve been transported to a distant place, like Saturday mornings at your granny house.
Culture that Pops
Beyoncé wanna know how many more times she gotta prove to yall that she’s the one? Queen Bey broke a Grammy record last night by winning her 32nd award, more than any other artist ever.
Last night, Viola Davis reached EGOT status, Kendrick proved he was a big stepper and Tennessee State made history. Read about more Grammy wins for the culture here.
Tap into these movies this Black History Month to learn more about the diaspora’s history through film.
Here’s a $100K payment we can get behind: E-40 donated to Grambling State University to support its music education programs.