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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
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The Hill, Breitbart, Washington Examiner, The Guardian, RedState, Fox News, The Gateway Pundit, Raw Story, Mediaite and Political Wire
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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:
Washington Examiner, NBC News, Associated Press, KSTU, Townhall, TMZ.com and CNN

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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New York Times, Mediaite, RedState, New York Post, The Week, NPR and TMZ.com
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Olympia Dukakis, theater veteran and Oscar-winning ‘Moonstruck’ actress, dies at 89 — Oscar winner Olympia Dukakis, the theater veteran who rose to prominence late in her career with memorable turns in 1980s films such as “Moonstruck” and “Steel Magnolias,” has died at the age of 89.

Scoop: GOP leaders threaten Cheney ouster — Top Republicans are turning on Rep. Liz Cheney, the party's highest-ranking woman in Congress, with one conservative leader suggesting she could be ousted from her GOP post within a month. — Why it matters: The comments by Reps. Steve Scalise …
Discussion:
The Hill, RedState, Breitbart, Talking Points Memo, Raw Story, National Review and HotAir

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 …
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ABC News, Crooks and Liars and Insider
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Republican who let violent protesters into Oregon state capitol is charged
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New York Times and Washington Post
Hillary Borrud / Oregonian:
Oregon lawmaker who let far-right demonstrators into Capitol charged with criminal misconduct
Oregon lawmaker who let far-right demonstrators into Capitol charged with criminal misconduct
Discussion:
New York Post, Slate, Raw Story and Political Wire

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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Fredreka Schouten / CNN:
Republican state lawmakers look to empower partisan poll watchers, setting off alarms about potential voter intimidation
Republican state lawmakers look to empower partisan poll watchers, setting off alarms about potential voter intimidation
Discussion:
Breitbart

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, RedState, Fox News, Townhall, The Daily Caller, LGBTQ Nation, Insider, Deadline, Washington Examiner and 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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Andrew Yang Promised to Create 100,000 Jobs. He Ended Up With 150. … In Case You Missed It — How Pfizer Makes Its Covid-19 Vaccine — See how starter cells become a finished product. — Five Ways to Become a More Accepting Person — Pain can be difficult, writes Jenny Taitz, a psychologist.
Discussion:
The Week

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
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:
POLITICUSUSA, New York Post, LGBTQ Nation, Law & Crime, Crooks and Liars and Kansas Reflector

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.”
Discussion:
Washington Post

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.
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CNN
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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

How a brutal assault led a woman to one of the CIA's most valuable Russian spies — On a warm day in late September nearly 10 years ago, Lisa Sales was in the basement of her Virginia home, going through files belonging to her former tenant, a man who had just been arrested and would later plead guilty to assaulting her.

Cali Influencer Charged for Wild Claim That Latino Couple Tried to Kidnap Her Kids — Katie Sorensen went viral last December after saying a couple, who “didn't look necessarily clean cut,” attempted to snatch her kids from a crafts store. — A California mom and Instagram influencer …
Discussion:
BuzzFeed News, Raw Story and Erika Margarita Mitchell

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.

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

Clyburn: US must ‘get rid of these racist pockets’ — Share to Facebook Share to Twitter — Rep. Jim Clyburn (D-S.C.) said he does not believe America is a racist country but that lawmakers must fight against “racist legislation” being pushed across the country. — “Yes, I do agree with that.
Discussion:
RedState

Beam her up: Harris to chair the National Space Council — Kamala Harris is adding chair of the National Space Council to her expanding vice presidential portfolio, senior administration officials announced Saturday. — Harris will put her own “stamp” of priorities on the cabinet-level body …

‘Lefty social engineering’: GOP launches cultural attack on Biden's plan for day care, education and employee leave — It's not just the price tag. — Days after President Biden rolled out his American Families Plan — a sprawling $1.8 trillion proposal to expand federal investment in child care …
Discussion:
Lawyers, Guns & Money and No More Mister Nice Blog

The Jimmy and Joe Show — WASHINGTON — Joe Biden has respect for his elders. And there aren't that many of them. — Before the president's rally near Atlanta on Thursday, he and Jill went out of their way to pay respects to the 96-year-old Jimmy Carter.