1. I've had second thoughts about the value of the extensive weasel words the @adndotcom published from the lips of @SenDanSullivan the other day. Thanks to @AK_OK for offering this profile in evasion. I've added annotation.
#aksen

2. Sullivan covers for Trump, the inciter-in-chief with a deflection, never admitting that Trump lit the fuse. "I think had the president accepted the election results earlier and repudiated the mob violence earlier and more forcefully, it could have had an impact yesterday.”

3. As late as Monday Jan. 4, Sullivan's office refused comment on the GOP coup proposed by members of Congress. On Jan. 7, Sullivan said he had "decided a number of days ago" to oppose the coup. So he stayed silent in the corner, avoiding triggering Trump or Trump voters.

4. Embarrassed by the rioters, Trump defenders like Sarah Palin started the lie—rejected by the FBI—that the terrorists were Antifa. Sullivan won't call it a lie.

5. Sullivan and other Republicans refused to denounce the torrent of lies from Trump about the election, setting the stage for the GOP terrorists. Sullivan still excuses himself and refuses to call out Trump's lies, knowing that Trump is popular with Sullivan voters.

Bad news. The day before yesterday, we had confirmation of 3 new variants of concern in the US. As of yesterday, we now have 4. Three of the 4 variants have just been confirmed in the last month. The new one yesterday is the South African variant.

What does this mean for

Americans?
1. If you have been lucky and been able to get away with being in gatherings and not wearing a mask up until now, your luck is about to run out. It’s time to take the public health guidance seriously and don’t get in large gatherings, especially indoors, and you need

to wear a mask.
2. We need to slow down the transmission of this virus or we are going to get yet more variants. I have fought against the suggestions by some that we should lock up the elderly & high risk individuals at home & then let everyone get back to normal and spread the

virus to get herd immunity for a year. It is a dangerous proposal and the proliferation of new variants is a consequence.
3. We need to get as many people vaccinated as soon as possible.
4. There are discussions that since schools have operated safely in the past (by and large,

they have), we should now bring students back for full in-person classes. This is a mistake for several reasons. First, our data that these decisions and the recent CDC report were based on was with the majority of schools in hybrid. The first rule of interpreting scientific

Stepping back from the ledge - a thread.

The military and veterans have been mythologized far too long. All are infallible heroes regardless of their service record. 1/

Yet on Jan 6th, veterans and some members of the military, encouraged by the President and other politicians, actively participated or supported the insurrection in DC. 2/

All this because the favored candidate lost and a self-fulfilling prophecy of alleged election fraud led to his inevitable defeat. Defeat equated to theft. 3/

How did we get here? In part, a disinterested public willing to overlook our flaws while correcting Vietnam’s scornful legacy. Military leaders repeatedly telling their subordinates how special they were – the 1% trope. 4/

#Washington #DC
Chants of “USA! USA! USA!” before a line of police officers; some in crowd control helmets.

1/ Delighted to announce that 1INCH Token is LIVE! 🌟

Learn more about the governance/utility token and the token architecture:

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2/ 💡Introducing a new framework where 1INCH token holders and key stakeholders (LP’s) vote DIRECTLY on protocol parameters—

Introducing Instant Governance:

3/ 📅Over 4 months, 1inch validated its AMM thesis that delayed price updates ⬇️ arbitrageurs’ profits and ⬆️ liquidity providers’ profits.
Upgraded & rebranded the v1 AMM @mooniswap
Introducing — 1inch Liquidity Protocol

4/ Introducing the Aggregation Governance Module.

🙆‍♂️Where users can vote on Spread Surplus settings (positive slippages)

🙋‍♀️And reward to stakers with a Governance Reward
Read more:

5/ We’ve introduced a Liquidity Protocol Governance Module:

👏Pools can directly govern their own parameters:

🚨Must read thread on GB News! 🚨

Andrew Neil claims that “British people are crying out for a news service that is more diverse and more representative of their values and concerns”

Whose concerns will it REALLY represent?

We investigate... /1

The best place to start is always an analysis of the economic base.

Does this match with the show’s focus on the concerns of the British people?

As you’ll see below, the two main funders are mega-rich New Zealand and US businessmen… /2

“Co-lead investor in GB News, is the New Zealand-born, Dubai-based Christopher Chandler”

“US media group Discovery Inc is the other co-lead investor. Its significant shareholder is John Malone, the libertarian and erstwhile Murdoch cable

Still, at least ONE major investor is British…

“The channel’s third major investor is British businessman and philanthropist Sir Paul Marshall”

According to Byline Times, Marshall is the man who convinced Michael Gove to throw his political weight behind Brexit... /4

Marshall's hedge fund “successfully bet on the ensuing political and economic chaos after its initial big wins on Brexit”

Meanwhile, he made clear that he is as avariciously “British” as the rest of his investors by…“setting up a fund in Dublin..."

/5

NEW from next week’s issue of @newyorker: Luke Mogelson, who has been reporting on MAGA protesters for months, provides a firsthand account of the Capitol invasion.

After this, we’re going to walk down, and I’ll be there with you,” Trump told the crowd. The people around me exchanged looks of astonishment and delight.

There was an eerie sense of inexorability, the throngs of Trump supporters advancing up the long lawn as if pulled by a current. Everyone seemed to understand what was about to happen.

For the new issue of @TheProspect, I sat with @RepMarieNewman, @RepCori, @RepBowman, and @RepMondaire to talk strategies/priorities for the next two years, how and where they plan to wield power. If you're into these left strategy debates, this is for you.

No two members of The Squad are the same—@AOC's approach is different than @IlhanMN's is different than @AyannaPressley's. The new squad, or the reinforcements, or whatever, will all bring their own quirks to governing different from how they campaigned.

The Democratic majority in the House is so small that these four alone could effectively decide whether things live or die. But with Pelosi's grip on the chamber they will have few opportunities to legislate. But they're also part of a newly empowered CPC.

Here's Marie Newman on the #ForcetheVote strategy, and what she makes of claims that progressives have abandoned their commitment to get Medicare for All done. There's a plan, she says, that doesn't suck.

Here's Cori Bush on her theory of the bully pulpit, and how she plans to use outside channels to get stuff done.

1/ @kyrstensinema I’m not sure if you remember me, and no worries if you dont. We shared a donut in the call center during the Prop 107 campaign. I helped a little with your social media on your 2010 State Senate run. I helped gather signatures to get you on the ballot in 2012...

2/ @kyrstensinema ...I mention all that so you know I’ve been a supporter with my time and effort since you started public service and so you don’t think I’m some random troll when I ask you what I’m about to ask you...

3/ @kyrstensinema ...I’ve watched you thread a nearly impossible needle of being blue at heart but still growing your influence in a red state. You’re a proud member of the LGBTQ community, a Democrat and a woman, who now sits in Barry Goldwater’s Senate seat. It’s astonishing...

4/ @kyrstensinema ...That balance you’ve maintained so you can grow has led you to be sometimes not as far left as I’d like, but I still trust and support you because of what I’ve seen you do. You led Arizona to be the first state ever to defeat an anti-LGBTQ ballot measure...

5/ @kyrstensinema ...the influence you’ve grown in Arizona and the Country has never been more needed than it is at this moment. The President of the United States tried to start a war with the People of the United States and he had the help of other members of the Senate...

Thanks to everyone who supported me and contributed ideas over the past nine months! Here’s where I think we are and where we’re going:

First, my philosophy: The purpose of government is to set frameworks that allow each of us to safely pursue our own version of happiness. Government should *expand* freedom, not constrain it.

Banks and other corporations are supposed to respond to demand by providing those things people want and are willing to pay for.

But sometimes institutions decide people’s ideas or economic choices are wrong, and then try to suppress those ideas or choices.

Hence decentralization: an *open* internet and an *open* financial system put power back in the hands of the actual people for whose benefit government and corporations are supposed to exist.

For those expressing “shock” at yesterday’s ransacking of the U.S. Capitol, think back.

Think back to @realDonaldTrump tweeting “LIBERATE Michigan” and then voicing approval as armed mobs assaulted the Capitol building in Lansing, Michigan.

Okay, so... let's start going down the list. Who is really behind the False Flag storming of the Capitol on Jan 6th, and who is behind the onslaught of social media attacks? My short list of possible culprits.

Former CIA Director John Brennan
Retired Gen. Stanley McChrystal
...

My money is on Brennan for directing the whole thing.

"Former CIA Director John Brennan Calls for Mao-Like Public Humiliation Sessions for Trump Supporters Before They Are Accepted Back into

Retired Gen Stanley McChrystal on the other hand, seems to be disgraced and out of

McChrystal directed the usage of DARPA software used to disrupt ISIS, by Democrats, against

This article about Jack Dorsey's connections to the Clintons and the CIA is enlightening to say the

THREAD: Research Fellow @hu_rdman writes about the attack on Aden airport on Dec 30, 2020, when he and other colleagues narrowly escaped death at what should have been a celebratory occasion welcoming the arrival of the newly formed Yemeni government.

At the #Aden airport, "the crowd was divided in two: to the right were #STC supporters... and to the left were supporters of the #GoY. However, the groups soon mingled and exchanged greetings... I whispered to a colleague: “It seems Santa Claus has been generous this year."

But around 2:00 pm, the airport was hit by three explosions, & it took @hu_rdman awhile to realize what had happened. "Five minutes & just 20 meters saved us from certain death. A loud explosion rocked the airport lounge, where we were supposed to go to carry out live coverage."

The attack caused a frenzied chaos and people ran either toward the ICRC aircraft or ditch in the dirt. "I thought to myself that perhaps it was better to stop than run blindly with no direction, but with my family in mind I decided to keep on running."

Ten minutes passed without hearing any further explosions, and everyone began checking on friends via phone. We then returned to the scene of the explosions to help the injured and examine the damage.

The Pennsylvania State Senate begins its new legislative session of the people's business with.....

An argument about masks and whether or not Senators on the floor should be required to wear them.

#WTAE

They're taking a vote now to require senators on the floor to wear masks for today's session.

They DID NOT call on Jim Brewster for this roll call.

Some

OK.

Democratic Senator Steve Santarsiero from Bucks County has requested a delay in swearing in Senators pending resolution of the judicial challenge to Brewster's win.

Critical of Ziccarelli's "specious" actions, and says she didn't go through proper procedure in courts.

"This happens not in a vacuum, it happens in the context of some very serious threats to our democracy today," Santarsiero said.

Brings up tomorrow's certification challenges expected in DC despite Joe Biden being elected and certified as the winner of Presidential election.

"They are not intending to seat Senator Brewster despite the fact that the people of the 45th district have spoken."

"This is the most serious issue that has come before us" in his time in the senate, Santarsiero said.

"All because one candidate is displeased with having lost."

1/THREAD: NEW DoD SECURITY CLEARANCE REFORM WILL HELP THOUSANDS

In little known move, on 1/14, then Acting USDIS @EzraACohen issued ground breaking memo to significantly reform @DeptofDefense #securityclearance program & enhance individual due process & increase transparency.

2/Many ppl have been working for decades to effect these changes & with one swoop of pen, it is FINALLY now official policy. I cannot speak highly enough of what was accomplished & it needs to be known.

3/Memo follows through on what President Eisenhower started 60 years ago w/Executive Order 10865, still in effect today, what President Clinton created w/EO 12968 in 1995, & what SECDEF Bob Gates ordered in 2011. DoD must now consolidate, centralize & unify all existing

4/admin processes at every component, incl DoD IC agencies (DIA, NSA, NRO, etc) for unfavorable #securityclearance eligibility determinations (denial/revocation) into single process handled by Defense Office of Hearings & Appeals (DOHA), which has been hearing cases for decades.

5/Memo extends due process protections & grants authority to DOHA to hear not only defense contractor cases but also all @DeptofDefense civilians and military members, and importantly all Sensitive Compartmented Information (SCI) appeals, which it previously could not do.

There's a R1000 maintenance tweet doing the rounds. It's not it per se I want to talk about but the conversation on it does trigger a lot of things in me& life in SA generally. The issue of low or nonexistent incomes in many households tends to escape us.

We tend to view life only with our lenses of privilege or bias depending on our station in life. The reality for many rural &township households is extremely brutal in this country. There are still people who earn R1000 or less as a month's wage. They often do heavy manual labour

It took time for my grandparents to be convinced to go over R1000 in paying their live-in helper. That was some years ago. My grandfather had pension from eThekwini municipality &my grandmother is on SASSA.They were lucky to accumulate some savings, they run their household fully

But we are a very lucky few to have grandparents in their late 80s who are still this financially independent. Sure we do things at home but not the basics, including not having to build a house for them etc. This is almost out of the norm experience.

A lot of people in our country have salaries below R10 000 pm. They have to divide this between their needs (food&transport), some dependents and sending remittances back home so that their parents and other loved ones can put some bread on the table &complement some grants.

Here's something we all know is true:

When things go well, whoever is president benefits -- whether he deserves it or not.

When things go badly, the president gets blamed -- whether he deserves it or not.

Let's go from there:

1/11

We all know what Occam's Razor is: The principle that the simplest of competing theories is most likely true.

Folks, we're standing in Occam's Sawmill staring right at Occam's Buzzsaw here.

Covid cost Donald Trump re-election. 2/11

Perhaps he would have lost anyway. Perhaps not. But covid slammed the lid.

If you believe Trump didn't deserve blame for the pandemic, I won't argue.

No one whose house got flattened by a tornado deserved that either.

3/11

Truth be told, the fact Trump's clear and decisive loss wasn't worse than it was is an impressive testament to the underlying political strength of the Republican Party.

4/11

The idea Trump's defeat is attributable to fraud would have been a hard sell before he and his allies racked up a 1-59 win/loss record in court. And the one win, in Penn., was trivial. 5/11