I'm enjoying this year's Daytona 500

No Trump, Trump car or Confederate flags. This is long overdue.

At least six people who had provided security for Roger Stone entered the Capitol during the Jan. 6

At least six people who had provided security for Roger Stone entered the Capitol during the Jan. 6 attack, according to a New York Times investigation.

Videos show the group guarding Mr. Stone, a longtime friend of former President Donald J. Trump, on the day of the attack or the day before. All six of them are associated with the Oath Keepers, a far-right anti-government militia that is known to provide security for right-wing personalities and protesters at public events.

Mr. Stone, a convicted felon who was pardoned by Mr. Trump, has a long history as a self-proclaimed “dirty trickster” political operative who has lived by the edicts of attack, admit nothing, deny everything, and counterattack. He posted a message online denying involvement in “the lawless acts at the Capitol.”

We combed through hundreds of videos and photos, and drew on research from an online monitoring group called the Capitol Terrorists Exposers to track the security team that surrounded Mr. Stone on Jan. 5 and 6.



https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2021/02/14/us/roger-stone-capitol-riot.html

Democrats had a brutal 2020 in Pennsylvania besides Biden. Now they're charting a path forward.

Joe Biden won the critical battleground state. But the incumbent Democratic treasurer? Defeated. The open seat for state auditor general? No dice. Flipping either of the GOP-held congressional districts Democrats targeted? Nope. Taking over the state House? Not even close.

So now Democrats are searching for the path forward as redistricting looms this year before high-profile races for governor and U.S. Senate in 2022. Even as the Republican Party faces its own messy identity crisis, the 2020 election has left some Pennsylvania Democrats in deep introspection.

“It’s not surprising to me why we lost: We underestimated [Donald Trump’s] power and control, which we seem to do over and over again,” said Jamie Perrapato, executive director of the grassroots Democratic group Turn PA Blue, which organized in state legislative races.

“Now people realize we still have a lot of battles ahead of us,” she added. “We’re not really sure how to fix them.”

Biden’s Pennsylvania win was largely fueled by big support in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and other cities, as well as gains outside his native Scranton and the huge margins in Philadelphia that Democrats need to win statewide. But the party’s down-ballot losses in the same suburbs that drove Biden’s victory suggest his coalition might not be a reliably Democratic one.




https://www.inquirer.com/politics/pennsylvania/pennsylvania-democrats-2020-election-20210214.html

Woman Arrested Near WH With Loaded Gun in Car and Letter for Biden

A woman was arrested near the White House after reportedly telling cops she had a special delivery for President Biden -- a handwritten letter ... but much more ominous is that she had a loaded gun in her car.

The unidentified 66-year-old rolled toward a checkpoint in downtown D.C. Saturday evening ... close to the White House, which has a wide perimeter set for blocks on end. She was apparently with a man, and told cops they were there to meet Biden.

As for why ... cops say she told them she wanted to give him a letter. That prompted a search of the vehicle, where D.C. Metro says they discovered a loaded handgun. They claim the man she was with also had a BB gun -- but the woman was the only one arrested.

She was booked for possession of an unregistered firearm. The case has since been referred to the Secret Service.

The situation is eerily familiar ... there was another arrest like this back in January, when a Virginia man also drove up to a checkpoint, allegedly with fake inauguration credentials and a loaded firearm as well ... plus a ton of ammo, according to cops.




https://www.tmz.com/2021/02/14/woman-arrested-white-house-loaded-gun-car-letter-biden/

'Jersey Shore's Nicole 'Snooki' Polizzi Tests Positive For Covid-19, Says "It's Fricken Weird"

Jersey Shore alum Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi has tested positive for Covid-19. The reality show star confirmed the news on Instagram on Sunday.

“Happy Valentine’s Day! This [one’s] a bit different,” she wrote in a caption that featured her in a mask. “I have Covid. I’ve been isolated in my room since I found out. My family & I have been super cautious & careful, so this is super scary.”

She continued, “My symptoms started out as just a bad sinus cold. Headache, stuffy nose & mild cough. Then I felt super tired and ended up napping all day which made me go get tested.”

She said that she currently feels “groggy” and admitted to losing her taste and smell on Saturday. “It’s fricken weird,” she added. “I had a greasy cheese pizza & couldn’t taste a damn thing. WHAT A SIN.”

The rest of her family has tested negative and she has isolated herself until she gets through it. Polizzi remains in good spirits as her family gifted her roses and chocolates as they showed her some love during quarantine.




https://deadline.com/2021/02/jersey-shore-nicole-snooki-polizzi-covid-19-coronavirus-positive-1234693777/

NC-SEN: Lara Trump for North Carolina Senate Seat? Trump's Trial Is Renewing Talk.

WASHINGTON — A central issue in last week’s impeachment trial was whether former President Donald J. Trump deserves a political future. But his acquittal sparked speculation on Sunday about the electoral prospects of another Trump: his daughter-in-law, Lara.

Senator Richard M. Burr’s decision to vote for the conviction of Mr. Trump incensed many Republicans in his home state of North Carolina, and in doing so reignited talk that Ms. Trump, a native of Wilmington, N.C., would seek the Senate seat Mr. Burr will vacate in 2022.

“My friend Richard Burr just made Lara Trump almost the certain nominee for the Senate seat in North Carolina to replace him if she runs,” Senator Lindsey Graham, Republican of South Carolina, said in an interview on Fox News on Sunday.

Ms. Trump did not respond to a request for comment. One senior Republican official with knowledge of her plans said that the Jan. 6 riot soured her desire to seek office, but that she would decide over the next few months whether to run as part of a coordinated Trump family comeback.



https://www.nytimes.com/2021/02/14/us/politics/lara-trump-north-carolina.html

Spectacular blue ice glitters in Straits of Mackinac, leaving many in awe

It's a scene that leaves many in awe. Ice shards, glittering a hue of blue, rip from the Straits of Mackinac's frozen water.

This natural phenomenon attracts locals, tourists and photographers, who hope to capture the perfect moment when the sun hits the frozen water just right, allowing the bright blue ice to shine vividly.

Steve Baker, 69, of Indian River, is a retired veterinarian and serves on the board of Citizens National Bank in Cheboygan. He took photos of the blue ice, which the bank reposted on Facebook. The bank's post of Baker's blue ice photos went viral locally with the post receiving more than 200 shares.

Baker said he was coming back from photographing snowy owls with his friend when they decided to stop by the Straits of Mackinac.

"Our attention was drawn to the slabs of ice along the shore and we soon were exploring the Mackinaw City shoreline, searching for the what we hoped would be, the blue ice that can occur when the sunlight hits the clear ice," Baker said.




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Prince Harry And Meghan Markle Are Expecting Their Second Child

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex (aka Prince Harry and Meghan Markle) are expecting their second child, a spokesperson said in a statement to BuzzFeed News.

“We can confirm that Archie is going to be a big brother," the spokesperson said. "The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are overjoyed to be expecting their second child.”

The couple made their announcement on Valentine's Day with a touching new photo by longtime friend, photographer Misan Harriman.

The new royal baby will join older brother Archie, who turns two in May.

Even though Harry and Meghan have "stepped back" as working members of the royal family for a one-year review period, their second child will still be 8th in line for the throne, since the Queen didn't change the line of succession.


https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/ellievhall/meghan-markle-pregnant-prince-harry-royal-baby

Happy Valentines from the Obamas

Zack Snyder's Justice League Official Trailer