US Senate Committee Advances Nomination of Jennifer Granholm for Energy Secretary

The US Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee has voted on Wednesday to advance the nomination of President Joe Biden's pick Jennifer Granholm to be the next Secretary of Energy.

The Energy and Natural Resources Committee voted 13-4 to advance Granholm's nomination.

Granholm has pledged she would protect jobs while working to transition the United States to sustainable energy sources.

Granholm served as governor of Michigan from 2003 to 2011 during which time she aggressively pushed renewable energy initiatives in line with Biden's current stated plans to combat climate change, including a pledge to reach net zero emissions by 2050.

The nomination of the former Michigan Governor will now go before the full Senate for a final vote.

https://sputniknews.com/us/202102031081970350-us-senate-committee-advances-nomination-of-jennifer-granholm-for-energy-secretary/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jennifer_Granholm

Not even born in the US

IT’S OFFICIAL: Biden Breaks Promise To Provide $2,000 Direct Stimulus Checks – Psaki

No $2,000 stimulus payments will be provided by the Biden administration.

Joe Biden is officially breaking his promise to provide all Americans with a $2,000 direct stimulus check. Instead, Biden and Democrats in Congress plan to ram through a bill for a $1,400 stimulus check, claiming that the $600 provided by Republicans under the Trump administration was a “down payment” for the total of $2,000.

“The president also had the opportunity to meet in the Oval Office just a few minutes ago to meet with [Senate Majority] Leader Schumer and the Democratic chairs of the Senate committee with jurisdiction over the American rescue program,” said Biden White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki.

“They were in agreement over the need to move swiftly to be sure that we get $1,400 direct payments to middle and working class Americans as quickly as possible.”

They're doing $1400 checks, not $2000 checks. #PressBriefing pic.twitter.com/c7xRAwt0JF

— The Columbia Bugle 🇺🇸 (@ColumbiaBugle) February 3, 2021

Biden and the newly-elected Senate Democrats from Georgia promised voters that they would receive a $2,000 check immediately after Biden took the White House on January 20.

As Forbes noted, Biden’s final pitch to Georgia voters prior to the January 5 runoff election that saw two Democrats elected to the Senate, was that if voters elected the Democrat candidates, they would receive $2,000 from the government.

Now, two weeks after Biden took the reigns of power in the United States, that promise has been modified. Biden will instead offer $1,400 to Americans.

This payment amount is lower than the average mortgage payment in the United States, which Business Insider reports was $1,556 in 2018.

It is also lower than the average monthly rent payment in the United States, which was $1,468 in 2020.

Last weekend on Twitter the hashtag #BidenLied went viral and was the top trend on the website as leftists and Democrats became enraged that Biden appeared to be breaking his promise to provide direct stimulus payments.

https://nationalfile.com/its-official-biden-breaks-promise-to-provide-2000-direct-stimulus-checks-psaki/

Biden is Putting Migrant Kids in Cages And Now ‘AOC’ Doesn’t Care.

Joe Biden is re-opening a child migrant detention center, but neither the establishment media nor left-wing politicians appear to care. The response is starkly different from when President Trump operated the detention centers he inherited from the Obama-Biden administration.

The move is said to be a direct result of the relaxation of border enforcement, a stunning admission made in CNN reports.

A recent article states:

The Biden administration is opening an overflow facility for unaccompanied migrant children apprehended at the US-Mexico border, the federal agency tasked with the children’s care told CNN in a statement.

The Health and Human Services Department will reopen a facility in Carrizo Springs, Texas, that can accommodate about 700 children and can be expanded if necessary.

The reopening of the facility comes amid an increase in apprehensions of unaccompanied children on the Southwest border, fueled in part by deteriorating conditions in Latin America and a perceived possible relaxation of enforcement, and reduced capacity limits at other facilities due to Covid-19. It also comes as President Joe Biden rolls out new immigration executive orders tackling migration to the US southern border.

The silence from the national, establishment media as well as Democrats on Capitol Hill has been notable.

Once known for crying at a fence overlooking a parking lot, Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has – at the time of publication – said nothing about Biden’s new move to “put kids in cages.”

https://thenationalpulse.com/news/biden-is-putting-migrant-kids-in-cages-and-now-aoc-doesnt-care/

Why ARE coronavirus cases plummeting? New infections have fallen 44% in the US and 30% globally in the past 3 weeks and experts say vaccine is NOT the main driver because only 8% of Americans and 13% people worldwide have received their first dose

On Wednesday, a total of 110,679 new coronavirus infections were reported with a seven-day rolling average of 135,904, a 44% decline from the average three weeks earlier

The decline appears to be a global phenomenon, with new infections falling worldwide for the past three weeks in a row, the World Health Organization said Monday

Hospitalizations have fallen nearly 30% from a peak of of 132,474 on January 6 to 92,880, the lowest figure seen since November 29

Currently, 44 states are seeing a decline in cases with just Alabama, Louisiana, Montana, New Jersey, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania trending upward, according to Johns Hopkins data

California's 21,451 new confirmed cases on Tuesday are about one-third the mid-December peak of 54,000

New York recorded 8,215 new infections on Tuesday, down from the record-high of 19,942 new cases reported on January 15

Health experts say it is too soon for vaccines to be playing a major role in the decline with just 8% of the population having received the first shot and fewer than 2% being fully immunized

Officials say the drop is likely due to a higher number of people who've had the virus than official counts suggest, as many as 90 million people, and fewer people traveling than did over the winter holidays

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-9219379/Why-coronavirus-cases-falling-fast-New-infections-drop-44-three-weeks.html

>>12812480

>BAKER REQUEST A HANDY

5 dolla jiggy jig

Dubai has announced the creation of a Space Court in order to settle off planet commercial disputes.

Dubai announced Monday the creation of a “space court” to settle commercial disputes, as the UAE – which is also sending a probe to Mars – builds its presence in the space sector.

The tribunal will be based at the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts, an independent British-inspired arbitration centre based on common law.

His Excellency Zaki Azmi, Chief Justice, DIFC Courts, said: “An integrated space industry, supported by human resources, infrastructure, and scientific research, is under way.

The Courts of Space is a global initiative that will operate in parallel, helping to build a new judicial support network to serve the stringent commercial demands of international space exploration in the 21st century.

As space commerce becomes ever more global and countries ever more connected, diverse, and nimble economies will need to enable growth.

Complex commercial agreements will also require an equally innovative judicial system to keep pace, offering assurance and certainty to support and protect businesses.”

Space law is governed by international conventions and resolutions, including the UN Outer Space Treaty which entered into force in 1967. Several states have also signed bilateral or multilateral agreements to regulate their space activities.

https://www.blacklistednews.com/article/79180/dubai-has-announced-the-creation-of-a-space-court%C2%A0in-order-to-settle-off-planet-commercial.html

Six More Houston Cops Involved In Deadly Drug Raid Are Now Facing Criminal Charges

We still haven't seen an end to the fallout resulting from a botched (and bogus) drug raid in Houston that ended with two residents killed by police officers. It also ended with five officers wounded – one of them paralyzed. The raid was predicated on false statements made by Officer Gerald Goines, who secured permission from a judge to perform a no-knock raid, claiming the residents were armed and selling heroin.

While guns were recovered, no heroin was. Indeed, no evidence of drug dealing was recovered – just personal amounts of marijuana and cocaine. The informant that supposedly made the heroin buy never existed and the supposed result of this controlled buy was actually heroin pulled from an officer's squad car. All of Goines' lies led to two deaths and five injured officers. Goines is currently facing a slew of charges, including two counts of felony murder.

Other participants in the raid are facing charges as well. KHOU reports six more Houston PD officers have been indicted for their involvement in the raid or for other criminal acts they engaged in while working in the department's narcotics unit.

On Monday, a Harris County grand jury indicted another officer for murder and five others for engaging in criminal activity.

The six officers indicted Monday are in addition to the six officers who have already been indicted.

Felix Gallegos, the officer charged with murder, fired the shot that killed Dennis Tuttle, according to court documents.

That's 12 officers, all under indictment, and all involved in the drug raid. Following the ill-fated raid, the Houston PD investigated its own narcotics unit, "discovering" that it had been given free rein for years. Paperwork routinely went unreviewed and unapproved. And that's when there was any case-related paperwork to be found. In some cases, no warrants were filed. In others, supporting documents were missing. Multiple discrepancies in evidence and expense reporting were also uncovered. This hands-off approach is directly responsible for the travesty the Houston PD calls a "narcotics unit."

And it's this hands-off approach that's led to the charges facing five of these recently indicted officers – all accused of falsifying records to obtain pay for overtime hours they apparently didn't work. Some of this has been going on for a long time, which means the resulting sentences will be longer, too. Three officers are facing hefty felony charges for this time theft, ones that carry with them a maximum sentence of life in prison:

Oscar Pardo – (HPD) Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, to wit: Aggregate Theft by a Public Servant ($30,000 or more but less than $150,000) and Tampering with a Governmental Record (1st degree)

Cedell Lovings – (Status Unclear) Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, to wit: Aggregate Theft by a Public Servant ($30,000 or more but less than $150,000) and Tampering with a Governmental Record (1st degree)

Nadeem Ashraf – (HPD) Engaging in Organized Criminal Activity, to wit: Aggregate Theft by a Public Servant ($30,000 or more but less than $150,000) and Tampering with a Governmental Record (1st degree)

Two more officers Clemente Reyna and Thomas Wood have had identical theft charges added to the charges they're already facing for their participation in the drug raid.

And another two officers are facing lesser theft charges, but ones that still carry potential 20-year sentences. Five of these officers retired as soon as it became clear they might face criminal charges. The other seven are apparently still employed, though that will likely change now that they're under indictment.

There was a lot of trust to go around in the Houston Police Department. Not a lot of verification, though. It took the senseless killing of two harmless Houston residents to force the PD to take a look at what its officers were doing. And it's probably going to take several criminal trials to force the PD to actually care about officer accountability so it doesn't get to the point of felony murder charges and hundreds of thousands of dollars of illegally obtained paychecks before the PD can be bothered to police its own.

This isn't the final postscript on this horrific incident. There will certainly be more to come, what with a dozen officers facing the possibility of a trial and the PD forced to provide what will certainly be damning information in response to discovery requests.

https://www.techdirt.com/articles/20210126/14050046128/six-more-houston-cops-involved-deadly-drug-raid-are-now-facing-criminal-charges.shtml

Mike Lindell - Trump Miracle Coming This Friday!

Americans Buying Guns at ‘Blistering Pace,’ FBI Data Shows: Expert

Newly released background check data from January shows Americans are buying guns at a “blistering pace,” a firearms expert said.

“That’s undoubtedly connected to President Joe Biden’s plans to attack the firearm industry by undoing and rewriting regulations and executive actions to target the firearm industry,” Mark Olivia, director of public affairs at the National Shooting Sports Foundation, said in a statement.

Olivia pointed to the Biden administration freezing the publication of the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s “Fair Access” banking rule, and promises to try and repeal the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act to tighten restrictions on gun licenses, and to ban AR-15 style rifles.

The White House didn’t respond to a request for comment.

According to the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check (NCIS) data, 4.3 million firearm background checks were initiated in January. That’s the highest number on record, and up over 300,000 in comparison to December 2020. Three of the top 10 highest weeks are now from January 2021.

The National Shooting Sports Foundation’s adjusted background check figure of 2 million, reached by subtracting out background code permit checks and permit rechecks and checks on active concealed carry permits, was a jump from its adjusted figure of 1.1 million in January 2020.

“These are jaw-dropping figures to start the New Year. Americans are claiming their Second Amendment rights to provide for their own safety in record numbers,” Olivia said.

Jurgen Brauer, the chief economist for Small Arms Analytics, said in a statement that the new year “certainly started off with a sales ‘bang’ due to the turmoil surrounding the confirmation and inauguration of Mr. Biden as the new U.S. president.”

“The 79 percent year-over-year increase, however, was NOT unprecedented—an even higher increase, of just over 100 percent, was experienced in January 2013, the month Mr. Obama’s second presidential term began,” he added.

Everytown for Gun Safety said the continued increase in background checks highlights the need for Congress and Biden to implement gun restrictions.

“As the country reels from multiple crises, the gun industry has cashed in with record sales that have made Americans less safe,” Nick Suplina, managing director of law and policy for the group, said in a statement.

“Without swift changes in policy, our already devastating gun violence epidemic could get even deadlier. The good news, though, is that we finally have leaders in the White House and in both chambers of Congress who recognize that this crisis demands action.”

https://www.theepochtimes.com/americans-buying-guns-at-blistering-pace-fbi-data-shows-expert_3683064.html?utm_source=newsnoe&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=breaking-2021-02-03-2

Heckuva job Mayor Lightfoot: Chicago sees 51 homicides in January, highest in 4 years

Back in May 2019 Chiraq Mayor Lori Lightfoot (demorat) made some big promises. One of them was to confront chronic gun violence. At the time she said there’s “no higher calling than restoring safety and peace in our neighborhoods” and promised to develop a more proactive strategy against violence.”

Fast forward to yesterday’s headline from MyFoxChicago: “Chicago sees 51 homicides in January — highest in 4 years.”

“This January was the deadliest in Chicago since 2017, when 51 murders were recorded across the city, according to police statistics.

The January spike in murders comes after slayings in Chicago soared in 2020 after three years of declining violence.

https://www.investmentwatchblog.com/heckuva-job-mayor-lightfoot-chicago-sees-51-homicides-in-january-highest-in-4-years/

Progressive Los Angeles DA Supports Parole for Manson Family Murderer

Bruce Davis was a member of the Manson Family cult who participated in the torture and murder of Gary Hinman in 1969. Davis has now been recommended for parole, and the move has the support of new Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón.

Like many progressive DAs across the country who won with the financial backing of left-wing billionaire George Soros, Gascón operates more like a high priced defense attorney than a prosecutor.

Family members of Gary Hinman and other Manson Family victims are understandably outraged by the idea of parole for Davis.

Andrew Blankstein and Eric Leonard report at NBC News:

Relatives of Manson ‘family’ murder victims outraged by DA’s new policy

Whenever the notorious killer Charles Manson or one of his convicted followers would come up for parole over the last 40 years, a Los Angeles County prosecutor joined victims’ family members at a California state prison to argue against the release.

But when Kay Martley joined a California Board of Parole Hearings video conference to consider parole for convicted Manson “family” killer Bruce Davis earlier this month, she was stunned to learn she would be making the case on behalf of her murdered relative alone.

“I had no one to speak for me,” said Martley, 81, whose cousin Gary Hinman was tortured and killed by Manson followers on July 27, 1969. “I felt like no one cares about the victim’s families anymore. We are totally forgotten.”

The absence of a prosecutor was no oversight. It was the result of a policy shift ordered by newly elected Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón, who campaigned on promises to reduce the number of people in prison…

The Davis case illustrates how victims’ family members can feel as if they’re left out in the cold.

“My jaw drops. I’m outraged,” said Debra Tate, whose actress sister, Sharon Tate, was murdered by Manson followers.

Debra Tate has started a petition to deny Davis parole. Almost 25,000 people have signed it:

Keep Charles Manson Cult Killer Bruce Davis From Getting Parole

Bruce McGregor Davis (CDC# B-41079), Charles Manson’s true right-hand man, was recommended for parole release by the CA Board of Parole on January 22, 2021! Now, only CA Governor Gavin Newsom can reverse this unfortunate decision. Please sign & SHARE this petition to let the Governor know that you do not want this dangerous murderer set free!

Bruce Davis was convicted of the murders of both Gary Hinman & Donald “Shorty” Shea. In July, 1969, Bruce Davis drove Charles Manson to Gary Hinman’s house where they held him up at gunpoint- demanding money, as well as his cars (using a gun Bruce Davis bought with a fake I.D.). Charles Manson then sliced Mr. Hinman with a sword, cutting his face and his ear in half.

After 3 days of torture, Gary Hinman was eventually stabbed to death and suffocated with a pillow by other members of the “Manson Family” cult. Bruce Davis then personally stabbed Donald “Shorty Shea” in mid-August, 1969 near Spahn Ranch where the cult lived, as he was being murdered by several individuals. Donald Shea’s family had no idea where he was buried until his skeletal remains were located in December 1977- without any help from Bruce Davis to locate the body, despite his claims of being a Born Again Christian.

https://legalinsurrection.com/2021/02/progressive-los-angeles-da-supports-parole-for-manson-family-murderer/

House Votes On Major Security Upgrade, Will Fine Members $5K For Bypassing Metal Detectors

The House of Representatives voted in a major security upgrade on Wednesday, including a new $5,000-per-incident fine for bypassing metal detectors now stationed at the entrance to House chambers.

The fine, first proposed weeks ago by Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), is designed to prevent confrontations like the ones that took place in early January when select Republicans refused to open their briefcases for security or pass through metal detectors before heading to work.Pelosi and others demanded that the GOP comply with the new security measures in order to prevent a repeat of January 6th, when rioters, who stormed the Capitol seeking to disrupt a vote certifying the results of the Electoral College and officially declaring Joe Biden the winner of the November presidential election, got within feet of select lawmakers and then-Vice President Mike Pence.

“The rule gives the Sergeant-at-Arms the authority to fine lawmakers $5,000 for a first offense and $10,000 on a second if the legislators do not complete the security screening to enter the house, which includes walking through a metal detector,” USA Today reported Wednesday. “The new metal detectors were put at the House Chamber’s entrance in the wake of the mob that stormed the Capitol, incited by former President Donald Trump. However, some Republican members openly ignored and balked at the screening in the days that followed.”

Rep. Lauren Boebert (R-CO) was previously the most vocal critic of the new metal detectors; she has been pressing for the ability to open carry a personal weapon on the House floor, citing her own need to protect herself.Boebert pointed out, after the incident, that metal detectors would have done little to stop the Capitol incursion.

“It is a shame that Nancy Pelosi is trying to disarm Members of Congress in the very place that needed more protection on January 6,” she noted. “It is clear metal detectors would not have deterred the violent acts we saw; this political stunt does nothing to improve the safety of Members in the Capitol complex.”

The rule change also comes after 30 members of the House, Republicans and Democrats, claimed in an official letter to House leadership, that they were “targets” of right-wing violence, and demanded heightened security protection, both in Washington, D.C., and in their home districts, according to CBS News.“Protecting Members in their District is much harder because local law enforcement agencies are stretched and limited, and often don’t have sufficient staffing or money to provide regular protection to Members,” the group wrote. “Except for Leadership, Members do not have security details protecting them. The structure of the Capitol Police and the laws against threatening Members of Congress were first crafted in a much different time when the threat environment was significantly lower.”

“The increased level of threats has overwhelmed the Capitol Police Threat Assessment Section,” the group continued. “Today, with the expansion of the web and social media sites, so much information about Members is accessible in the public sphere, making them easier targets, including home addresses, photos, personal details about Members’ families, and real-time information on Member attendance at events. Current legal statutes make it extremely difficult to prosecute most threats made against Members of Congress.”

http://www.scoopyweb.com/2021/02/house-votes-on-major-security-upgrade.html