Top Items:
Francisco Kjolseth / Salt Lake Tribune:
Mitt Romney booed at raucous Utah GOP convention as speakers attack the Biden agenda — With 2,145 of registered delegates in attendance at in-person convention — and masks in short supply — state's Republican leaders urge party unity after a divisive year. — By Bryan Schott and Tony Semerad
Discussion:
Insider, The Hill, Fox News, RedState, Breitbart, The Guardian, Mediaite, Washington Examiner, Raw Story, The Gateway Pundit and Political Wire
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Francisco Kjolseth / Salt Lake Tribune:
Utah GOP state convention delegates defeat move to censure Sen. Mitt Romney — Convention attendees split 798-711 after a spirited debate, with some accusing Romney of betraying party values in twice supporting President Trump's impeachment. — By Bryan Schott and Tony Semerad — West Valley City
Discussion:
KSTU, NBC News, Washington Examiner, TMZ.com, Townhall, Associated Press and CNN
Kansas City Star:
Kansas Rep. Mark Samsel arrested for battery after physical altercation with student — Kansas state Rep. Mark Samsel was arrested on charges of misdemeanor battery on Thursday after getting into a physical altercation with a student while substitute teaching in Wellsville.
Discussion:
Lawyers, Guns & Money, LGBTQ Nation, New York Post and Kansas Reflector
Hollywood Reporter:
Olympia Dukakis, Oscar Winner for ‘Moonstruck,’ Dies at 89 — The veteran stage actress also appeared in ‘Steel Magnolias,’ 'Mr. Holland's Opus' and as a transgender landlady four times on ‘Tales of the City.’ — Olympia Dukakis, the dignified actress who received a supporting Oscar …
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Jon Levine / New York Post:
Powerful teachers union influenced CDC on school reopenings, emails show … The American Federation of Teachers lobbied the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on, and even suggested language for, the federal agency's school-reopening guidance released in February.
Discussion:
Fox News
TMZ.com:
Caitlyn Jenner Says Biological Boys Shouldn't Compete in Girls' Sports — Caitlyn Jenner has a take on trans athletes you might not expect — namely, if you're born as a biological boy, you shouldn't be allowed to compete in girls' sports ... at least while you're still in school, anyway.
Discussion:
Page Six, Fox News, RedState, Townhall, Deadline, The Daily Caller, Insider, Washington Examiner and LGBTQ Nation
Dirk VanderHart / NPR:
Oregon Lawmaker Who Opened State Capitol To Far-Right Protesters Faces Charges — Oregon state Rep. Mike Nearman, the Polk County Republican who allowed far-right demonstrators to breach the state Capitol in December, now faces criminal charges. — According to court records …
Discussion:
ABC News, Crooks and Liars, Raw Story and Insider
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Nick Corasaniti / New York Times:
G.O.P. Seeks to Empower Poll Watchers, Raising Intimidation Worries — Republicans in several states are pushing bills to give poll watchers more autonomy. Alarmed election officials and voting rights activists say it's a new attempt to target voters of color.
Discussion:
Talking Points Memo
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Politico:
Charlie Crist's bid for Florida governor faces early threats — Former Florida Gov. Charlie Crist officially launches his comeback campaign for his old job early next week — his third bid for the office but the first as a likely underdog in what could be a crowded field.
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Charlie Savage / New York Times:
Trump's Secret Rules for Drone Strikes Outside War Zones Are Disclosed — The release of the 2017 policy — with redactions — stemmed from open-records lawsuits by The Times and the A.C.L.U. — WASHINGTON — The Biden administration has disclosed a set of rules secretly issued …
Deval Patrick / Newsweek:
Voter Suppression: Bad for Democracy, Bad for Business, Bad for America — Across the nation, state legislators have proposed over 300 bills to make it harder to vote. Republicans are driving these proposals, targeting voters who have voted for Democrats in the past. Sadly, voter suppression is not new in America.
Discussion:
Atlanta Journal-Constitution
New York Times:
India's Covid-19 Crisis Shakes Modi's Image of Strength — Overconfidence and missteps contributed to the country's devastating second wave, his critics say, tarnishing the prime minister's aura of political invulnerability. — NEW DELHI — His Covid-19 task force didn't meet for months.
Discussion:
CNN
Ashton Pittman / Mississippi Free Press:
Systemic Racism Built Mississippi. Gov. Reeves Says It Doesn't Exist. — On the penultimate day of the Confederate Heritage Month he proclaimed for the second year in a row, Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves made a bold declaration: “There is not systemic racism in America.”
Alexandra Villarreal / The Guardian:
Austin voters to decide on restoring rules criminalizing homeless activities — A proposition on Saturday's ballot would impose fines for behavior such as camping, panhandling and sleeping outdoors — Summer Wright experienced homelessness on and off for years as a teenager and young adult.
Jillian Kay Melchior / Wall Street Journal:
Covid Unemployment Relief Makes Help Impossible to Find — Congress's enhanced benefits make it more remunerative not to work. Employers are struggling. — Christie Phelps came near her Covid breaking point last year as she contended with a naughty 5-year-old boy, “the most hyper child I've ever …
Discussion:
Daily Kos
Megan Specia / New York Times:
'Every Time I'm Calling, Someone Has Died': The Anguish of India's Diaspora — In WhatsApp chats, video calls, Facebook groups and forums, a global community has scrambled to save, and sometimes mourn, Covid-stricken loved ones. — LONDON — First, there was the scramble to find her father a bed in intensive care.
Wall Street Journal:
Saudi Crown Prince's Vision for Neom, a Desert City-State, Tests His Builders — A project intended to help diversify the nation's economy is mired in delays and dealing with an employee exodus — RIYADH—If Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman realizes his dream, a $500 billion city-state dubbed Neom …