Category: Opinion

Republican Wisconsin Sen. Ron Johnson introduced legislation Wednesday aimed at blocking federal agencies from interfering with doctors’ rights to treat patients.

The legislation, titled “The Right To Treat Act,” was co-sponsored by Republican Indiana Sen. Mike Braun and would make it so no federal agency would have the authority to regulate the practice of medicine and that no federal law, rule, regulation, or policy would restrict the distribution of FDA approved drugs or a Right to Try drug.

Many other countries have experimented with off-label drugs to prevent or treat COVID-19. The drug Ivermectin has been studied in Japan and in the U.K. In early February, a Japanese pharmaceutical company found that Ivermectin had an “antiviral effect” against COVID-19.

The drug has not been approved by the FDA but made news after podcaster Joe Rogan said he used the drug to battle COVID-19 when he was infected. Some doctors have said the drug works, the FDA does not recommend taking the drug to treat or prevent COVID-19.

Johnson’s office said that at least 13 state legislatures are considering or have already passed bills to protect the physicians’ off-label prescribing rights.

“The pandemic exposed the fact that many doctors no longer call the shots when it comes to treating patients, the COVID Cartel does. The COVID Cartel includes the Biden Administration, federal health agencies, Big PHARMA, mainstream media, and Big Tech,” Johnson said.

“The Right to Treat Act would ensure that federal health agencies return to their proper functions of gathering and providing public health data and regulating drug safety – not telling doctors how to practice medicine,” he continued.

Johnson claimed that a large number of people died from COVID-19 due to federal health agencies dictating which American drugs would be effective.

“Because federal health agencies sabotaged the early treatment of COVID-19 using widely available and safe generic drugs, an untold number of people needlessly died from COVID-19. Americans and doctors should have the freedom to use fully approved drugs without fear of reprisal. It’s time to once again let doctors be doctors and allow them to fully practice medicine,” Johnson added.

Vice President Kamala Harris threatened “severe consequences” for Russia if it continues “aggressive action” toward Ukraine.

“We remain, of course, open to and desire diplomacy as it relates to the dialogue and the discussions we’ve had with Russia,” Harris said during her first bilateral meeting at the Munich Security Conference on Friday.

“But we are also committed — if Russia takes aggressive action — to ensuring there will be a severe consequence, in terms of the economic sanctions we have discussed,” Harris said.

Moscow has amassed tens of thousands of troops at the Ukrainian border, and President Joe Biden said Thursday that he believes Russia will invade Ukraine within “several days.” The Kremlin has denied having any plans to invade Ukraine and even said some of its troops would return to base after completing military drills, but Western intelligence indicates Russia has increased its troop presence instead.

“I am here to ensure that through our discussions and the discussions I will have with other of our allies, that we continue as these hours and days progress to stay in close contact,” Harris said.

“We understand this is a dynamic moment in time. So the work we are doing on a daily basis — and sometimes on an hourly basis to strengthen the relationship — to check in, in terms of our strategic imperative, is critically important and it’s one of the reasons I’m here,” she added.

Harris previously traveled to Mexico and Guatemala in 2021 to discuss the “root causes” of illegal immigration, and she took a trip to France in November 2021 amid high tensions with the U.S. over a submarine deal it negotiated with Australia and the U.K.

Buckingham Palace confirmed, Queen Elizabeth II has tested positive for COVID-19.

“She will continue to receive medical attention and will follow all the appropriate guidelines,” said officials from the palace in a statement.

The statement also reports the 95-year-old monarch is suffering from minor cold-like symptoms.

The Queen has been immunized three times, with the coronavirus vaccination being the most recent.

This month, the heir to the throne, Prince Charles, and his wife Camilla both tested positive for the coronavirus. After the positive tests, both are triple vaccinated and self-isolated.

A study released Thursday by Republican Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost suggested there is a link between the distribution of COVID-19 pandemic-related stimulus checks and the high rate of opioid-related overdoses in his state.

The pandemic along with the drug overdoses epidemic in the U.S. has created the “perfect storm” for high rates of overdose deaths, the authors of the study wrote.

“The link between pandemic relief money and opioid overdose deaths is now evident,” Yost said in a statement. “The intent was to help Americans navigate this deadly pandemic but it also fueled a tidal wave of overdoses.”

“Throwing money at a problem isn’t always the best solution,” Yost said. “Let the data be the guide to learn from the past. Addiction is a sickness you can’t cure with just cash.”

The study, based on data from the Ohio Department of Health and conducted by Yost’s Center for the Future of Forensic Science, found that opioid-related overdose deaths increased in Ohio during the second quarter of 2020, coinciding with the distribution of federal stimulus checks. More people died of opioid overdoses in Ohio than at any time since 2010.

The federal stimulus checks meant to aid in the recovery of the #COVID19 pandemic contributed significantly to the record surge in Americans who died of opioid overdoses, according to a study by AG Yost’s Center for the Future of Forensic Science.

The federal stimulus checks meant to aid in the recovery of the #COVID19 pandemic contributed significantly to the record surge in Americans who died of opioid overdoses, according to a study by AG Yost's Center for the Future of Forensic Science.
Details: https://t.co/8tVvZl8pmR pic.twitter.com/QFaW16sVsz

— Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost (@OhioAG) February 17, 2022

The study assessed weekly opioid overdose deaths between January 2018 and August 2020, and showed a significant spike in one particular quarter in 2020. In the first 16 weeks of 2020, the study found that the state’s average weekly opioid overdose deaths was 68.5. During weeks 17-32 of 2020, however, that figure increased sharply.

“The interrupted time series regression analysis indicated more than 203 deaths weekly for weeks 17–32 of 2020 compared to all other weeks,” the study said. “The result of the Granger causality test found that the identified change point (week 16 of 2020) directly influenced the increase in opioid overdose deaths in weeks 17–32 of 2020.”

Between April 2020 and April 2021, over 100,000 Americans died of drug overdoses.

According to the study’s findings, the high number of overdose deaths during the pandemic can be attributed to social isolation, loss of income or housing, decreased access to medications that aid in addiction recovery, and the rapid increase in the production of fentanyl.

Ukraine alleges that Russian-backed separatist forces shelled a kindergarten in the Donbas region, breaking a ceasefire that was established after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014.

“Ukrainian Staanytsia Luhanska village was shelled with heavy weapons from the occupied territory of the Donbas. Civilian infrastructure damaged,” Ukrainian foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said Thursday.

Kyiv said the attack is connected to Russia amassing tens of thousands of troops at the Ukrainian border and labeled it a “provocation,”. Russian state-backed media alleged that it was Ukrainian forces who fired shells into the Kremlin-backed territory, but the Ukrainian Joint Forces Operation denied those allegations.

“We call on all partners to swiftly condemn this severe violation of Minsk agreements by Russia amid an already tense security situation,” Kuleba said.

“With particular cynicism, the Russian occupation troops shelled the village of Stanytsa Lugansk in the Luhansk region,” the Ukrainian military said. “As a result of the use of heavy artillery weapons by terrorists, shells hit the kindergarten building. According to preliminary reports at least two civilians received shell shock.”

Several shelling incidents were recorded in eastern Ukraine early Thursday by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), amounting to the most breaches reported in the long-running conflict, a top Ukrainian government official said.

Russia has said it is not planning to invade Ukraine, announcing on Tuesday that some of the troops it had previously deployed, would return to their base after completing military drills, but the U.S. said it has yet to see any evidence Russia followed through on those claims.

The Walt Disney Company has plans to develop residential neighborhoods which will be staffed by Disney cast members, the first of which will be built in Rancho Mirage, California, according to a company announcement.

“We are developing new and exciting ways to bring the magic of Disney to people wherever they are, expanding storytelling to story living,” the company announced Wednesday. “We can’t wait to welcome residents to these beautiful and unique Disney communities where they can live their lives to the fullest.”

The housing project, “Storyliving by Disney,” will offer club membership that grants access to wellness programming, live performances, cooking classes, charitable activities, and other experiences, according to the company announcement.

The Rancho Mirage project will include estates, single-family homes, condominiums, and a section geared toward seniors according to Disney’s announcement. The company says it’s looking at more locations throughout the U.S. to develop more neighborhoods.

The Rancho Mirage-based Cotino neighborhood plan includes a 24-acre “grand oasis” featuring sustainably-built “crystalline lagoons” and an exclusive waterfront clubhouse that offers year-round Disney programming. There will also be a professionally-managed beach park accessible to the public with a day pass.

The project will include a mixed-use district with shopping, dining, and entertainment. Home prices and expected opening date have not yet been announced.

A convicted murderer who had escaped from a Mississippi prison three times was found in Harrison County Tuesday after he ran out of gas, according to the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

Michael Floyd Wilson, an inmate at the Central Mississippi Correctional Facility is serving three of eight convictions for murder, burglary, and escape, according to an article posted on the Mississippi Department of Corrections’ website.

Wilson previously escaped from prison in July 2018 before he was captured by police, the Department of Corrections said. Wilson was also convicted of escape in February 2020 and was sentenced as a habitual offender.

The Mississippi Department of Corrections held a press release where Commissioner Burl Cain detailed how police found the suspect.

“It’s kind of an interesting way that he was captured,” Cain said. “He, uh, was riding in a car with a lady that had picked him up and had given him a ride, and she realized that he was probably gonna hijack her car because he kept looking at the gas gauge.”

“And so finally he, uh, when she realized that, well then they had a little bit of an altercation, not very much in the car, but he took the car away from her.”

Cain said the woman contacted the police after Wilson took her car. He also said Wilson tried to outrun the police, but soon ran out of gas.

Wilson will be transferred to Walnut Grove Correctional Facility because the suspect would have “a hard time getting away from us there,” Cais added.

This incident marks Wilson’s third escape.

President Joe Biden issued a statement Tuesday addressing the tensions between Russia and Ukraine, telling Americans that the U.S. is “ready with diplomacy” while also issuing a warning for Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“We are prepared to continue to work on diplomacy, but we are also prepared to respond in a united and decisive way with our allies and partners should Russia proceed,” Biden said while speaking at the White House.

Biden warned of “the human costs for Ukraine … and the strategic cost for Russia” if Russia chooses to invade. The president also spoke about the opportunity for diplomacy throughout his speech while warning Russia that an invasion “will prove to be a self-inflicted wound.”

“If Russia attacks Ukraine, it will be met with overwhelming international condemnation,” Biden insisted. “The world will not forget that Russia chose needless death and destruction.”

The administration has been trying for months to negotiate an agreement to de-escalate Russia-Ukraine tensions. Biden spoke with both Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky over the weekend, and on Tuesday he stated that Russia now has more than “150,000 troops circling Ukraine and Belarus and along Ukraine’s border,” a much higher number than previously reported.

Biden also addressed Putin’s announcement alleging that some Russian troops would return to their base after completing military drills, stating that it had not yet been confirmed by the U.S.

“Indeed, our analysts indicate that they remain very much in a threatening position,” Biden said of Russian troops.

Biden also warned Americans that the cost of a Russian invasion of Ukraine could impact things like U.S. energy prices and the risk of cyberattacks.

Biden reassured that the U.S. has no plans to send American troops into Ukraine while at the same time saying that America “will defend every inch of NATO [North Atlantic Treaty Organization] territory with the full force of American power” if necessary.

“The American people understand that defending democracy and liberty is never without cost,” Biden said as he warned Americans of how an invasion could affect life within the U.S. “I will not pretend this will be painless.”

Jen Psaki, the White House press secretary, skirted questions about the ongoing Durham investigation, which alleges in a new filing that a group of researchers with ties to Hillary Clinton’s campaign watched Donald Trump’s web activity for ties to Russia and provided their results to the CIA.

Psaki was pressed twice by Fox News for a White House response to the new Durham filing.

“Durham says there was an outside company with ties to the Clinton camp monitoring server data info on the executive office of the president through the Obama administration, possibly into the Trump administration,” asked Fox News White House correspondent Jacqui Heinrich. “Do you know if there’s still a system picking up server data on the EOP and if not, when it stopped?”

“Again, I know you asked my colleague a few questions about this the other day,” Psaki answered. “But I would point any questions about this to the Department of Justice.”

Heinrich then asked for comments on claims of watching internet traffic.

“And then is what was described in the filing,” Heinrich asked. “They’re monitoring Internet traffic, is that generally speaking – would that be considered something along the lines of spying?”

“Again, I would point you to the Department of Justice,” Psaki said, dismissing the matter.

On Feb. 11, Durham filed a motion focusing on potential conflicts of interest in the representation of former Clinton campaign lawyer Michael Sussmann, who has been charged with lying to a federal investigator. Sussmann has entered a not-guilty plea.

Sussmann “had assembled and conveyed the allegations to the FBI on behalf of at least two specific clients, including a technology executive (Tech Executive 1) at a U.S.-based internet company (Internet Company 1) and the Clinton campaign.” according to Durham’s filing on Feb. 11.

The Senate Banking Committee was set to vote on President Joe Biden’s list of Federal Reserve nominees on Tuesday, but Republican committee members threatened to boycott the vote.

The conflict lies with Sarah Bloom Raskin, who Biden nominated to serve as vice-chair of supervision of the Federal Reserve System’s Board of Governors. Bloom Raskin has been accused of influence peddling, and Republicans want those accusations resolved before a vote.

“Until basic questions have been adequately addressed, I do not think the Committee should proceed with a vote on Ms. Raskin,” wrote Republican Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey in a statement. “Important questions about Ms. Raskin’s use of the ‘revolving door’ remain unanswered largely because of her repeated disingenuousness with the Committee … On 36 questions for the record, for example, Ms. Raskin claimed she either did ‘not recall’ or was ‘unaware’. Her repeated forgetfulness defies credulity.”

Republicans said they are still willing to vote on the other four Fed nominees — Jerome Powell, Lisa Cook, Lael Brainard, and Philip Jefferson — just not Bloom Raskin. If Democrats agree to delay Bloom Raskin’s confirmation vote, Toomey says, “Republicans will attend, we will vote actually, a significant majority of them will pass with Republican support…or he can choose to have none.”

“If my colleagues are as concerned about inflation as they claim to be, they will not slow down this process, which will only hurt workers, their families, and our recovery,” Democratic Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown said Tuesday.

There are 12 Republicans and 12 Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee. If all 12 Republican senators fail to appear for the vote, the committee would not reach a quorum, and the confirmation process would be delayed indefinitely.