Highlights of the News

ITEM 1: While Democrats work to end private gun ownership, they also are reducing the penalty for using a gun to commit crimes.

California's General Assembly is consider AB 1509 under the title Anti-Racism Sentencing Reform Act. The LB Report said the bill would:

1) Repeal the sentence enhancement for committing or attempting to commit a street gang crime while carrying a firearm.

2) Repeal the sentence enhancement for committing or attempting to commit a felony while armed with a firearm or while using a deadly or dangerous weapon.

3) Delete the sentence enhancement for possessing ammunition that penetrates metal or armor while armed with a firearm in the commission or attempted commission of a felony.

4) Repeal the sentence enhancement for furnishing a firearm to another during the commission or attempted commission of a felony.

5) Repeal the enhancement for use of a firearm, machine gun, or assault weapon in the commission or attempted commission of a felony.

More details are here.

Democrats want violent crime. Every city they control is a murderopolis. Every state they hold wants to end incarceration for violent crime.

It is insane.

ITEM 2: Note to Republicans, include the word "anti-racism" in every bill proposal from now on.

Toss in anti-sexism, anti-Islamophobic, and anti-transphobic for good measure.

ITEM 3: Citizen Free Press reported, "Kevin McCarthy paid only $1,500 a month for a room in Frank Luntz luxury apartment

"It’s a 7,000-square-foot space — a combination of four penthouse apartments — with what appear to be homeowner’s association (HOA) fees of nearly $5,000 per month.

"In August and September of 2018, Luntz purchased four adjoining penthouse units in the Clara Barton building in Penn Quarter for a total of almost $4.3 million. Combined, the units totaled 6,960 square feet and had 12 bedrooms, 12 full bathrooms and four half-baths. The HOA fees alone on the units are $4,976 per month each.

"Besides the room he rented, McCarthy would have had access to a 24/7 concierge, a rooftop pool, a fitness center, a media room, a business center, and a party room with a bar and pool table."

Hey, Republicans, when you take out the trash and kick Liz to the curb on Wednesday, toss McCarthy too.

And start an ethics investigation.

Go with Scalise, not this sleaze.

ITEM 4: Reuters reported, "Top U.S. fuel pipeline operator Colonial Pipeline has shut its entire network, the source of nearly half of the U.S. East Coast's fuel supply, after a cyber attack that the company said was caused by ransomware.

"The incident is one of the most disruptive digital ransom operations ever reported and has drawn attention to how critical U.S. energy infrastructure is vulnerable to hackers. The shutdown has raised fears of a price spike at gasoline pumps ahead of peak summer driving season if it persists.

"Colonial transports 2.5 million barrels per day of gasoline, diesel, jet fuel and other refined products through 5,500 miles (8,850 km) of pipelines linking refiners on the Gulf Coast to the eastern and southern United States.

"Colonial said it shut down systems to contain the threat after learning of the attack on Friday. That action also temporarily halted operations and affected some of its IT systems, the company said.

"While the U.S. government investigation is in early stages, one former official and two industry sources said the hackers are likely a professional cybercriminal group. The former official said investigators are looking at a group dubbed DarkSide, known for deploying ransomware and extorting victims while avoiding targets in post-Soviet states."

Russia?

Try Red China.

We are in a trade war with Red China, which is determined to destroy our economy. First covid. Now this.

The details are likely on Hunter's new laptop.

ITEM 5: CNN reported, "Everywhere you look, there are headlines about higher prices.

"Some are tied to commodities, which are getting snapped up as the global economy emerges from its long slumber. Lumber prices are at an all-time high thanks to an epic home-building boom. Copper and steel prices have also reached records.

"Agricultural products aren't exempt. The price of corn is at its highest level since 2012. Same goes for soybean prices. Even sales of block cheese futures have been soaring in anticipation of grilling season.

"Then there's consumer products. Diaper prices have gone up in the past year, and two major producers — Kimberly-Clark and Procter & Gamble — have warned customers that fresh hikes are coming. Shortages of computer chips, meanwhile, are helping to push up car prices, and could soon do the same for electronics and household appliances.

"This doesn't just matter for Americans guarding their pocketbooks. Price increases are also being closely scrutinized by investors and economists, who are desperate to know: Is this a passing phenomenon as the country emerges from a once-in-a-lifetime economic shock, or a more sustained trend that evokes the 1970s?"

Pumping trillions of dollars into Wall Street to give the appearance of prosperity is insane.

Without farms and factories, there can be no prosperity.

I am an optimist. Maybe the coming Biden Depression will last only 10 years.

FINALLY, Highlights today is short and late due to a power outage that affected only my street. Crazy. I looked out the back window and saw the steam billowing from the John Amos power plant while I was in the cold and dark.

But if that is the worst thing that happens to me today, I am a lucky man.