Good Monday morning,
Spain
Protests in Spain are big and for a fifth straight night gaining momentum and becoming violent. They are centred in Barcelona, where they were sparked by the jailing of controversial a rapper for glorifying terrorism and insulting royalty in his music and on Twitter, Pablo Hasél, 32, in a highly contentious free speech case.
But the anger was there, with youth unemployment soaring in Spain at more than 40% exacerbated by the pandemic, and of course the simmering fury over The Spanish Governments jailing of those who pushed Catalan independence in the 2017 vote.
Amnesty Int. has pointed to the jailing’s of several others in Spain saying it has a chilling effect on freedom on speech in the country.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/feb/20/spain-braces-for-fifth-night-of-protests-over-rappers-arrest
U.S. Rescue Plan
The House of Representatives passed the $1.9 trillion coronavirus relief bill requested by the Biden administration. The vote was 219 to 212, with two Democrats—Jared Golden (D-ME) and Kurt Schrader (D-OR)—voting no. Not a single Republican voted for the bill.
On Thursday, a poll by Morning Consult/Politico showed that 76% of Americans liked the measure, including 60% of Republicans. It includes $1400 stimulus checks which, together with the $600 checks in the previous package, delivers $2000 cheques.
It includes increased unemployment benefits of $400 weekly, provides $350 billion in aid to state and local governments, establishes tax credits for children, provides money to reopen schools, funds $8.5 billion to distribute vaccines, and gives small business relief. It is likely to pass in The Senate with difficulty, if Biden withdraws the minimum wage increase of 15 dollars an hour.
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/house-passes-biden-1-9-trillion-covid-19-relief-bill/
Trump
As expected Trump repeated lies about his election loss at the Republican conference this weekend. He addressed the largely maskless crowd saying the election was stolen and that he will return to lead the party in the next election. Trump is popular but his own party is divided over his corrosive leadership of America including his launch of the riot which became violent at the Capitol. There were notable absences at the convention including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, and Trumps V.P. Mike Pence, and Republican Liz Cheney. I have to say hasn’t it been more quiet and less disturbing with Trump out of the W.H. and off twitter?
https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/trumps-cpac-speech-repeats-false-election-fraud-claims/story?id=76173257&cid=clicksource_4380645_9_heads_posts_card_hed
Cuomo
Under attack for 2 allegations of sexual harassment the New York Governor makes an apology and promises an independent investigation.
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/28/nyregion/cuomo-investigation-sex-harassment.html
Brazil Variant
As vaccines are being rolled in the millions, this Brazil variant is bringing a huge amount of concern because it is vaccine resistant and it is spreading. Over the weekend news it has been found in England and Scotland and in several other European countries and also in Japan. That’s why vaccines are only a piece of the puzzle in fighting the pandemic and lockdowns and social distancing have to continue with mask wearing and sensible behaviour. We are still in lockdown in England, with schools set to reopen March 8, but most stores and restaurants closed until vaccines are more widely distributed.
https://news.sky.com/story/brazil-variant-where-in-the-uk-was-it-found-is-it-more-deadly-and-do-vaccines-work-against-it-12232126
If you are someone who thinks lockdowns and social distancing are not for you, you may be among those who derail efforts to shutdown this virus and prevent us from getting back to normal. Listen to this discussion of Zero Covid on Back Story with Dana Lewis because that’s what we should have pursued in the first place.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/7945540
Prince Harry
This is an interesting conversation on The Royals being had in Britain over Prince Harry and Meghan who are in Los Angeles attacking media coverage here of their wedding and life.
Harry appeared on James Corden’s Late Night to claim the “toxic” British press were destroying his mental health so he had no option but to leave the UK to protect his wife and son. He has left the UK and opinion here is deeply divided over his new wife Meghan Markle, and whether she pulled The Royal family apart. Ironically Prince Harry complains about media coverage as he stirs media coverage in The U.S. appearing later this Sunday on Oprah.
Is Harry and Meaghan, who has been criticized over her personal relationship with her father, victims or fortune hunters who only seek positive media coverage and don’t really want a low profiles, but a paying profiles and more money? That’s the discussion and it’s bound to be stirred further by the Oprah interview. Meantime as Harry was doing interviews, his 99 year old grandfather, The Queens husband, the Duke of Edinburgh remains in hospital from an infection.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/prince-harrys-james-corden-chat-23577403
Climate Emergency
Environmental groups warn one third of the Worlds fresh water fish are going extinct.
On Back Story I talk to rivers expert Jeff Opperman of the WWF who says that 80 freshwater species — which make up more than half of all the world’s species — have already been declared extinct, with 16 disappearing in 2020 alone.
And, Rod Schoonover on his new report for the Council For Strategic Risks warning ecological disasters are threats to national security.
https://www.buzzsprout.com/1016881/8035226
Share this podcast because what is more important today that saving the planet and we seem to have passed a tipping point that is alarming.
Truth
So many people saying they don’t know how to navigate news coverage this news letter is an attempt to give your reasonable sources of news and guide you through the top headlines of the day. Share it! You don’t have to pay but share it.
Thanks
Dana