Here’s what you need to know to Get maximum performance and start your day.
(You can also receive “5 things you need to know today” in your inbox daily. Sign up here.)
1. Right to vote
Republicans in Georgia passed a broad electoral bill that, according to supporters of the right to vote, is a blatant attempt to suppress voters. The new law imposes new voter identification requirements for absentee ballots, empowers state officials to take over local ballot boxes, limits the use of ballot boxes and makes it a crime to approach voters in line to give them food and water. The law is seen as a victory for former President Trump and his allies, who falsely alleged widespread electoral fraud during the 2020 elections. Trump himself pressured Georgia’s leaders to overturn Joe Biden’s victory in the state. President Biden called projects like this “sick” and “anti-American”. Other Republican-led states are considering similar voter suppression laws, sparking calls for federal legislation to define a national baseline for voting rules.
2. Coronavirus
The United States has already exceeded 30 million total infections in the pandemic. CDC director Dr. Rochelle Walensky once again warned that despite the reopening and the growing desire to return to normal, the United States is still seeing about 1,000 deaths a day and facing the growing threat of coronavirus variants. She also said that vaccination efforts are helping the situation. The Biden administration says it will dedicate another $ 10 billion to expand access to the Covid-19 vaccine and boost confidence in the vaccine. The Senate voted to extend the application deadline for the Salary Protection Program, the main federal aid effort for small businesses, to May 31. Oh, and good news for new moms: new research shows that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are effective on pregnant and lactating women, who can transmit protective antibodies to newborns.
3. White House
Biden gave his first official press conference at the White House yesterday. During the long-awaited lecture, he took a firm stand on his goal of reforming the Senate obstruction. The obstruction generally refers to any time when senators demand a super majority to interrupt the debate and move to a real vote. Ending this would mean that the legislation would be passed by a simple majority – a critical thing to consider in a divided Senate. In discussing immigration, Biden downplayed the growing crisis on the southern border and said that his predecessor’s policies made it more difficult to adequately house and process the record number of migrant children in custody. On the international front, Biden said that one of his main priorities is to repair global relations. He also identified the main foreign policy problem he is now facing: North Korea.
4. Foreign policy
The Biden government also faces other foreign policy challenges. During his press conference, Biden expressed uncertainty about meeting the May 1 deadline for the total withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan. A six-month extension is being considered, and Biden said he “cannot imagine” American troops still in Afghanistan next year. In the meantime, the United States will resume diplomatic ties with the Palestinians that were severed under the previous government. Trump cut hundreds of millions of dollars in aid to the Palestinians, virtually paralyzing diplomatic contact. US Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Biden’s team will work towards a negotiated two-state solution that will guarantee Israel’s future as a democratic and Jewish state, while upholding legitimate aspirations of Palestinians by their own state.
5. China
China has launched more retaliatory measures in response to international sanctions against Xinjiang. The Chinese government has announced sanctions against lawmakers, academics and UK entities, preventing them from entering China and freezing their assets there. The United Kingdom’s ambassador to China was also summoned by Beijing. H&M, Nike and other major Western clothing brands have expressed concern in recent months over the alleged use of forced labor to produce cotton in Xinjiang, one of the types of human rights violations that China is accused of in the region. Now, these retailers are facing strong criticism, including threats to boycott and terminate contracts with some Chinese celebrities.
BREAKFAST RESEARCH
Jessica Walter, known for her roles in “Arrested Development” and “Archer”, died
Walter, 80, was a force on stage and also on screens and starred in several Broadway productions.
GameStop, AMC and other meme stocks are rising again
This time, it was fueled by real hopes of a GameStop revival.
People are fascinated by the watch of Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey
What, don’t you have a gadget displaying blockchain data in your luxurious but sparse billionaire kitchen?
A bottle of wine was launched into space. Here’s the taste of now
Space wine! Space wine!
An erupting volcano in Iceland is being called “fluffy”
Vulcanologists are understandably intrigued by our desire to anthropomorphize a deadly force in nature.
Pepsi’s newest flavor has Peeps in it
We are not going to say that. No, I will not ………… Peepsi.
TODAY’S NUMBER
706,000
That’s the amount of cubic meters of sand that Suez Canal officials say may need to be removed to free Ever Given, that oil giant that blocks Egypt’s important waterway.
TODAY’S QUOTES
“His brutal murder must not be overlooked and there must be justice.”
Rep. Gerry Connolly, which supports federal legislation aimed at punishing Saudi Arabia for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The Saudi Dissident Protection Act would go beyond what the Biden government did by holding the country’s crown prince responsible for Khashoggi’s death.
TODAY’S CLIMATE
Check your local forecast here >>>
AND FINALLY
Mmm, fried maple leaves
A new and exciting ultra-regional delicacy to wish for, this time from Japan! Alive! (Click here to view.)