NATIONAL CHOCOLATE FONDUE DAY UPDATES

In Case You Need Ideas for Valentine's Day - YOU'RE WELCOME!

-The battle lines have been drawn on border security, Ukraine aid, and Israeli aid in Congress. Last night, the bipartisan Senate committee working on the combined bill – combined at the behest of Republicans – released the legislative language that would formally provide desperately-needed $60B in aid for Ukraine (SLAVA UKRAINI!), $14B for Israeli aid, a myriad of other funding for other security issues, and the big one, $20B for border security highlighted by a controversial measure that would allow for a maximum of 5,000 people per day to be allowed to migrate into the U.S. – and the power to suspend all migrants into the country until and unless that figure is met. The bill was immediately endorsed by the White House and set for a Senate vote as early as Wednesday.

-Within two hours after the release of the bill, MAGAt-appointed House Speaker and Trump puppet Mike Johnson (R-Jay-EE-zuz!, LA) harrumphed on Elon Musk’s garbage heap social media network “X” that the bill – which has specific provisions previously asked for by Republicans and who chose to not be on the negotiations team to help shape – was “even worse than we expected” and was “dead on arrival!” House Whip Steve Scalise added that the Senate bill may not even be introduced on the House floor (likely because if it was it would pass) and instead will be ‘replaced’ by a “border security” bill that demands zero illegal immigrants (an impossibility) and an Israel-only funding bill.

-Given that Dear Leader Trump decreed that no border security bill should pass this year (as he just did again this morning on social media) in order to have the supposedly awful border security issue fester all year and be blamed on President Biden (since the economy is off the table as a campaign issue because of how amazing the economy is and people finally feeling it) and the MAGAt House Majority (as well as Johnson holding the gavel) is being held together by less than 5 votes at any given moment, and the potential that the issue may flip on Republicans who suddenly refuse to do anything when a bill will give them much of what they asked for, yesterday is likely just the first salvo in what could be one of the biggest non-courtroom issues that can shape the 2024 Biden/Trump Presidential rematch.

-And speaking of the border, right-wing media and organizations called for a massive protest on the U.S./Mexican border in Texas to highlight how thousands and thousands of immigrants are flowing freely across the border with WELCOME signs and Taylor Swift CDs being given away to everyone who makes it across the border … except … well, even Real America’s Voice and Newsmax had to note that the border is really, really, quiet and orderly! The only noises that were coming from the area, in fact, were news reporters, a concert featuring MAGAt superstars Sarah Palin and Ted Nugent, and preachers setting up tubs for impromptu baptisms. All American, none foreign. Or even Mexican.

-Huh.

-Fresh off reports reportedly claiming President Biden calls Trump “a sick fuck” and “a fucking asshole” to friends (FACT CHECKS: True and True!), a second report claims Biden is equally salty in his attitude towards Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – though in Bibi’s case, the White House is pushing back a bit. No, the spokespeople say, Biden did NOT call Netanyahu “A bad fucking guy!” and please don’t ask that question as a new wave of diplomatic efforts aimed at trying to prod Netanyahu away from wanting to stop just short of full annihilation of HAMAS and whatever Palestinians (and Israelis) they take with them. Opinion polls of Bibi are really, really bad – but whether there is an opponent that could beat him is an open question.

-THIS JUST IN: Britain’s King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer and is undergoing treatment that will keep him from his duties and public appearances per Buckingham Palace. The cancer was found during surgery conducted on him to treat prostate cancer earlier this year. No other details have been released on the type of cancer found or the King’s condition, but estranged son Prince Harry will be visiting his father in the days to come.

-Southern California continues to be whomped with rain today, with multiple warnings of massive flooding throughout the area impacting road travel throughout the area. That includes the area around where last night’s Grammy Awards ceremony took place, and the event was able to go forward with little meteorological incident – but a rather noteworthy show all in all.

-Yes, we covered the Taylor Swift news from the Grammys last night (fourth Best Album Grammy, announcement of a new album in April), but there was a LOT that happened. Of course there were emotional performances from Tracy Chapman (her first public show in nine years), Annie Lennox (in tribute to Sinead O’Connor), Billy Joel (debuting his first new song in 17 years), and Joni Mitchell (her first-ever Grammy performance at age 80). There was also excitement early in the evening when rapper Killer Mike won three pre-TV-broadcast Grammys and was then taken out of the arena in handcuffs after being arrested for a non-music matter. As for the awards, women ruled with multiple Grammy winners including Swift, Song of the Year winner Billie Eilish, Record of the Year winner Miley Cyrus (winning her first-ever Grammys) and the women-led indie supergroup boygenius. Go listen to them all!

-On this date in approximately 146 BC. The Roman Empire solidified its hold on power by capturing, destroying, and enslaving the citizens of Carthage. On this date in 1900, a treaty between the United States and Panama paved the way for construction of the Panama Canal. On this date in 2003, Colin Powell testified before the U.N. Security Council that the U.S. found weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, using false information given to Powell in doing so. And on this date in 2020, despite impeachment leader Adam Schiff warning that “if you acquit him, he will (commit impeachable offences) again!,” the U.S. Senate did acquit Ex-President Trump XCI for his impeachable crimes connected with linking lies about Joe Biden with aid to Ukraine – and Trump did, indeed, continue to commit impeachable crimes (and arguably continues to do so today).

-Notable premieres on this date: OTELLO (1887), the Mexican constitution (1917), United Artists (1919), MODERN TIMES (1936).

-Happy Birthday to Belle Starr, Andre Citroen, Adlai Stevenson II, John Carradine, William S. Burroughs, Red Buttons, Bernard Kalb, Andrew Greeley, Hal Blaine, Don Cherry, Hank Aaron, Alex Harvey, Jane Bryant Quinn, Barrett Strong, Stephen J. Cannell, Roger Staubach, Michael Mann, Nolan Bushnell, Al Kooper, Sarah Weddington, Charlotte Rampling, Darrell Waltrip, Barbara Hershey, Christopher Guest, Errol Morris, Nigel Tufnel, Tom Wilkinson, Elizabeth Swados, John Beilein, Jennifer Granholm, Tim Meadows, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Duff McKagen, Laura Linney, Jose Maria Olazabal, Boobby Brown, Cristiano Ronaldo, Neymar, and Trayvon Martin.

-Rest in Peace/Rest in Power to George Arliss, Thelma Ritter, Marianne Moore, Joe Raposo, Joseph L. Mankiewicz, Doug McClure, Franklin Cover, Maharishi Mahesh Yogi, Kirk Douglas, Christopher Plummer, Leon Spinks, and Pervez Musharraf.

-Feed the Worms: Romanian dictator and homicidal monster Nicolae Ceausescu entered Earth on this date.