Happy Lunar New Year! Welcome to the year of the Rat.
The coronavirus epidemic prompts me to remind you of a congressional anomaly. In the Senate, health policy is set by a committee that also does education and labor issues. In the House, however, health laws are written by the Energy and Commerce Committee. Why? Because more than a century ago that panel had jurisdiction over “quarantine” laws and had created the Public Health Service to protect us from overseas illnesses. Over time it expanded its jurisdiction over all health laws except Medicare.
Another congressional item: in the House, often the only way the minority can influence bills is through a “motion to recommit.” Speaker Pelosi has already lost several such votes and wants to avoid another. So the war powers bills coming up next week are to be attached to a Senate-passed bill as amendments, thus preventing the MTR [Lesson: the rules matter.]
NYT reports that the Pentagon prevailed over Commerce in a fight about how restrictive to be on Huawei products.
NYT also reports that Mexico is being very helpful in enforcing Trump administration immigration policies.
There were more big demonstrations in Iraq calling for withdrawal of US forces. NYT notes how well orchestrated the demonstrators were, with most signs in English.
Yahoo news has a story of a chance to kill Suleimani that was rejected.
I read the Post in broadsheet, but a writer for Columbia Journalism Review reports what the paper does to maintain its huge lead over NYT online. Think about this as you read the news. Yes, you are being manipulated.
The Arab street is still sympathetic to the Palestinians, but it has little say. Restraint…
I hope they will also consider another dimension: decent v indecent. You know what I…
It is hard to see how four nuclear powers in the Middle East will serve…
Israel yesterday bombed Hezbollah headquarters in Dahiyeh, south of Beirut's center, and killed its leader,…
Netanyahu use the next six weeks to continue to do as much damage as he…
Vucic will take EU money and American political pressure on his opponents, but neither will…