Source: Newsweek

Criticism of Health and Human Services Secretary nominee Xavier Becerra is largely coming from the Republican side of the aisle but at least one Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin, isn't sold on President Joe Biden's pick.

Confirming Biden's Cabinet picks requires a simple majority in the Senate, which Democrats have with the support of the two independents that caucus with them. However, there is no wiggle room, and Manchin opposing any of Biden's nominees creates a need for Republican support, an uphill battle for some of his picks.

Manchin's spokesperson, Sam Runyon, told the National Review on Monday that the West Virginia senator hasn't decided if he will support Becerra's nomination. His hearings are set to begin on Tuesday and Republicans are likely to target him for his pro-choice record, opposition to President Donald Trump and support for Medicare for All.

"Curiously, the president's candidate to run the Department of Health and Human Services is the famously partisan attorney general of California," Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell said in a floor speech in January. "His recent experience in health policies seems largely limited to promoting abortion-on-demand and suing groups like the Little Sisters of the Poor, which dare to live out their religious convictions."

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/joe-manchin-throws-another-wrench-joe-bidens-nominees-not-sold-hhs-pick-becerra-1571101

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So Manchin's spokesperson is talking to far-right National Review?

Source: NBC NY

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio didn't mince words Thursday morning when asked about allegations that Gov. Andrew Cuomo threatened a Queens assemblyman, saying he believed the charges "100 percent."

Ron Kim says he was yelled at and threatened by Cuomo after criticizing his handling of COVID-19 deaths at nursing homes – which is now being looked into by federal authorities.

"It's a sad thing to say ... but that's classic Andrew Cuomo. A lot of people in New York state have received those phone calls. The bullying is nothing new. I believe Ron Kim and it's very, very sad, no public servant no person who's telling the truth should be treated that way. The threats, the belittling, the demand that someone change their statement right that moment ... many many times I've heard that and I know a lot of other people in this state have heard that," De Blasio said in an MSNBC interview.

"It's just the script, it's exactly what a lot of us have heard before. It's not a surprise, it's sad. It's not the way people should be treated," De Blasio said.

Read more: https://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/politics/de-blasio-on-cuomo-bullying-allegations-thats-classic-andrew-cuomo/2895771/

Source: NBC News

Bob Dole, the former longtime Kansas senator and 1996 Republican presidential nominee, said Thursday that he has stage 4 lung cancer.

“Recently, I was diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. My first treatment will begin on Monday,” Dole, 97, said in a statement.

“While I certainly have some hurdles ahead, I also know that I join millions of Americans who face significant health challenges of their own,” Dole added.

Dole served as a U.S. senator from Kansas from 1969 to 1996 and also served as both the Senate majority and minority leader during his long career. He was the GOP presidential nominee in 1996, losing to Bill Clinton.

Read more: https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/bob-dole-diagnosed-stage-4-lung-cancer-n1258241

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Horrible at any age, but I can't imagine going through it at 97. I wish him well.

If not, where's the best place to post a topic about collecting?

Source: CNN

(CNN)A 12-year-old shot at two masked intruders who broke into his grandmother's home just before 1 a.m. on Saturday, according to police in Goldsboro, North Carolina.

The intruders had demanded money from 73-year-old Linda Ellis and subsequently shot her, police said in a statement posted on the Goldsboro Police Department's Facebook page.

Police said the juvenile fired "in self-defense" at the suspects who then fled. Officers found one of the suspects, 19-year-old Khalil Herring, at an intersection near the Ellis home, suffering from an apparent gunshot wound, the statement said.

"Preliminary evidence suggest(s) Khalil Herring was one of the two masked intruders and was shot during the robbery," police said.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/14/us/boy-shoots-intruder-north-carolina/index.html

Source: Newsweek

Full title: Kyrsten Sinema Joins Joe Manchin in Rebuking $15 Minimum Wage Being Put in Stimulus, Dashing Progressives' Hopes

Arizona Senator Kyrsten Sinema, a moderate Democrat, has rejected inclusion of a $15 minimum wage in President Joe Biden's coronavirus stimulus package, dashing hopes for progressive lawmakers who are pushing for the raise.

Sinema joined Democratic Senator Joe Manchin, a fellow moderate from West Virginia, in publicly rebuking the idea that raising the minimum wage is appropriate amid the ongoing stimulus bill negotiations.

The Arizona senator made her views clear during an interview with Politico this week, in which she said would "not support" any provisions not directly related to providing immediate COVID-19 relief.

"What's important is whether or not it's directly related to short-term COVID relief. And if it's not, then I am not going to support it in this legislation," Sinema told Politico.

Read more: https://www.newsweek.com/kyrsten-sinema-joins-joe-manchin-rebuking-15-minimum-wage-being-put-stimulus-dashing-1568931

I'm not feeling up to saying very much, but he was only 64 and a non-smoker, and in pretty good shape. He was last seen shoveling snow Sunday, and never even made it to watch his beloved Super Bowl. I'm extremely upset right now, he did nothing to deserve this.

My sister was telling me about a week and a half ago that I shouldn't shovel snow, being in my 40's. I brushed her off with "as long as you don't overdue it blah blah blah." I talked to her last night and she once again stressed for me to never shovel snow anymore, begging this time.

I still can't figure out the science of why shoveling at a certain age causes heart attacks, but there's one thing that I know for sure. It's real.

It's a weed stock, and it's absolutely skyrocketed over the past 6 months or so. As of now it's at $7.24 a share, and up 10.70% today alone. I think it can go to $50 or even $100 in the long run. What does everyone think?

I know many will say "Good, Doug Jones or another Democrat will easily beat that lunatic!", please remember, it's Alabama. Roy Moore is perhaps even crazier, and he would have won had it not been for allegations of going after underage girls. This worries me a lot.

Mo Brooks expresses interest in running for Shelby's Senate seat

The price has skyrocketed over the past month or so, up to $1,738 at the time of this posting. Any predictions? It seems to be Bitcoin's most serious contender.