October 22, 2021 Briefing
Politics:
“Texas on Thursday asked the U.S. Supreme Court to keep in place a law that imposes a near-total ban on abortion and urged the justices that if they quickly take up a legal challenge brought by President Joe Biden's administration they should overturn the landmark ruling that legalized the procedure nationwide.”
“Almost 9 in 10 voters worry about inflation, as most report prices are up for everyday items -- assuming they’re not out of stock altogether. “
“Biden’s approval rating has dropped to 38%, according to a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday. That’s down from 42% three weeks ago and from a high of 50% in mid-February.”
Business:
“Thousands of unvaccinated workers across the United States are facing potential job losses as a growing number of states, cities and private companies start to enforce mandates for inoculation against COVID-19.”
“Over the span of about a weekend, Southwest canceled around 2,000 flights, according to monitoring website FlightAware. While the firm blamed poor weather conditions and unspecified staffing issues on the cancelations, other major U.S. carriers appeared to operate normally.”
“The report published by the U.N. Environment Program found that while governments have made ambitious pledges to curb greenhouse gas emissions, they are still planning to extract double the amount of fossil fuels in 2030 than what would be consistent with the 2015 Paris climate accord’s goal of keeping the global temperature rise below 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit).”
“The stock price of SPAC company Digital World Acquisition Corp. skyrocketed on extremely heavy trading volume Thursday after news of a merger that would launch former President Donald Trump’s planned social media platform.”
Culture:
The Parkland, Fla., school gunman pleaded guilty in one of the worst school shootings in U.S. history. He could face the death penalty. - New York Times
“Armed with a legally purchased semiautomatic rifle, Nikolas Cruz killed 14 students and three faculty members and injured 17 more people in one of the deadliest school shootings in American history.”
Video: Legally armed bystander shuts down Pennsylvania mall shooting after several people are struck by bullets - Blaze Media
“According to the report, an unnamed 16-year-old male started shooting after engaging in a fight with another person. The teen, according to WGAL-TV, pulled out a gun and fired multiple shots. At that point, the report noted, multiple people became involved in a struggle for the gun. The legally armed bystander intervened and was able to hit the teen suspect, sending him to the ground.”
“The NFL and lawyers for thousands of retired NFL players have reached an agreement to end race-based adjustments in dementia testing in the $1 billion settlement of concussion claims, according to a proposed deal filed Wednesday in federal court.”
Laundrie family has been notified bones found in Florida swamp are Brian Laundrie: LIVE UPDATES - Fox News
“The FBI on Thursday confirmed remains recovered from the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in North Port, Florida, on Wednesday were fugitive Brian Laundrie's.”
Health:
Moderna and J&J Covid-19 Boosters, Mixing and Matching Authorized by the FDA - Wall Street Journal
“U.S. health regulators significantly widened the nation’s Covid-19 booster campaign, clearing use of extra doses of Moderna Inc. and Johnson & Johnson vaccines and also saying people can get a shot that is different from what they had previously received.”
“Though scientists and federal health officials are adamant that the vaccines work well to protect against hospitalization and death, it's unnerving to hear of fully vaccinated people like Powell, or perhaps your own friends and neighbors, falling severely ill with COVID-19.”