“Rubio Signs Onto Bicameral GOP effort against Pelosi’s ‘Steal’ of Iowa House Seat” by The Floridian’s Javier Manjarres – As The Floridian first reported, a letter that was rumored to be circulating among Republican members of the U.S. Congress condemning Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s move to overturn a state-certified House election in Iowa. In a joint letter to Speaker Pelosi, Floridians Senators Marco Rubio and Rick Scott, along with House Republicans, Reps. Kat Cammack, Byron Donalds, Brian Mast, Gus Bilirakis, Greg Steube, Matt Gaetz, and the rest of the GOP delegation from Florida, called the speaker’s hypocritical move a blatant violation of the democratic election process. Rep. Donalds recently told The Floridian that the language of the letter speaks for itself and the entire caucus, while Rep. Bilirakis said that the letter was first discussed during the most recent Republican Conference meeting. Rep. Mast confirmed that the letter started making the rounds over the past weekend. “Iowans made their choice known at the ballot box and Congresswoman Miller-Meeks was elected fairly; the votes have been counted, recounted, and certified in a bipartisan manner,” the lawmakers wrote. “She has taken the Oath of Office and is already serving her constituents. We stand firmly with the American people of Iowa’s Second Congressional District – whose right and will it is for her to serve as their elected Representative in Congress.

“Biden Demands Congress To Move Fast On Assault Weapon Ban Hours After Colorado Shooting” by The Floridian’s Mona Salama – President Joe Biden called for Congress to quickly take action to enact legislation that bans assault weapons and high-capacity ammunition magazines, along with closing loopholes in the background check system, attempting to put new momentum behind gun-control efforts only just hours after a mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado grocery store left 10 dead. In brief remarks Tuesday afternoon before heading to Ohio, Biden noted that there are still many unknown details regarding the shooting, but will “not wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common-sense steps that will save lives in the future,” urging Congress to act now. “While we’re still waiting for more information regarding the shooter; his motive; the weapons he used — the guns, the magazines, the weapons, and the modifications that apparently have taken place to those weapons that are involved here — I don’t need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take commonsense steps that will save the lives in the future and to urge my colleagues in the House and Senate to act,” Biden said, speaking from the White House State Dining Room. “We can ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines in this country once again. I got that done when I was a senator. It passed. It was law for the longest time, and it brought down these mass killings. We should do it again,” Biden added, citing his work incorporating the Federal Assault Weapons Ban into his controversial 1994 crime bill that banned assault weapons and high-capacity magazines for 10 years.

“Fried hypocritically says DeSantis ‘snubbed’ Harris, forgets that she ‘snubbed’ Trump” by The Floridian’s Jim McCool – Yesterday, the Sunshine State was visited by Vice President Kamala Harris (D), who once again stood as the face of the Biden-Harris Administration, as she visited Florida to tour a FEMA COVID-19 vaccine site. Commissioner of Agriculture Nikki Fried (D-FL), also joined Harris, as the only statewide elected official present at the event. The two women bragged about the American Rescue Plan, and how it will help curve terrifying statistics, such as 40% of black and Hispanic families in the Jacksonville area facing chronic hunger. The commissioner did not fail to take shots at Governor Ron DeSantis (R-FL) in an email, claiming that he “snubbed” VP Harris, yet ignoring the numerous times President Trump (R) faced isolation from many Democrat leaders, including herself. Yes, Nikki Fried used to ‘snub’ President Trump whenever he came to town. Fried issued a statement yesterday on Florida’s progress with the vaccine and her allegiance to the Biden-Harris Administration: “I will continue standing alongside her [Harris] and President Joe Biden. I remain committed to working with the Biden Administration in a strong partnership to deliver results for all Floridians.”

“Biden Administration Blocks Media Access Inside Migrant Detention Facilities, Provides Edited Videos Of Orderly Scenes” by The Floridian’s Mona Salama – Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has now released its first official photos and B-roll videos from inside two large temporary facilities in Texas where unaccompanied migrant children and families are being held and processed by the Border Patrol, images the Biden Administration has tried to keep in secrecy from letting American public from seeing the surging crisis. CBP published 44 images from inside its two largest facilities — one in El Paso, Texas, and the other in Donna, Texas. The photos, according to CBP were taken on March 17 and 19 in an effort to “balance the need for public transparency and accountability.” The week-old video finally being released to the media for public viewing, show living conditions inside a processing facility in El Paso, Texas, and a holding facility in Donna, Texas, where unaccompanied children and some migrants families are being held as they await transfer to other federal agencies seeking asylum. The government-sanctioned edited 4-minute video from the Donna temporary facility shows children arriving, wear masks as they have their temperatures checked, and receive health scans. It then depicts a crowded but orderly facility, with children packed into enclosures and sleeping on mats on floors, curled up using silver space foil blankets inside clear plastic pods set up to prevent widespread coronavirus transmission. The video also shows the center fully stocked with enough items and food needed such including linens, diapers, food snacks, water, and hand sanitizer.

“Florida Democrats Announce $2 Million 2022 Turnaround” by The Floridian’s Daniel Molina – Although President Joe Biden (D) won the 2020 election, Democrats faced a number of defeats across the United States. In Florida, Democrats faced stunning losses in the House, and the party faced controversy after it was released that the party had accepted a PPP loan of $1 million dollars. This resulted in the party returning the loan, and the entire executive board quit after the 2020 election. However, the horizon appears to be brightening for Florida Democrats as the party has announced a $2 million turnaround. This, the party argues, allows them to “move ahead with ambitious plans to expand their operations ahead of the 2022 elections.” Florida Democratic Party Chair Manny Diaz commented that “first and foremost, you have to clean up your own house before looking outside.” This is exactly what the party has set its sights on tackling because “whatever we have done the last 10 years hasn’t worked.” However, in moving forward, Diaz expressed that “the path to victory here is building a strong Florida Democratic Party,” and to do that they intend to “invest in that party from the bottom up.” Currently, party officials detail that “they have roughly $750,000 in cash on hand between both their state and federal accounts.” Mayor Mike Bloomberg (I) financially contributed $500,000 and Mike Fernandez contributed $100,000, which is a departure from the traditional grassroots fundraising efforts that the party champions. Nonetheless, the party has raised $2 million to clear much of its debt and to help them move forward.

“Americans Support D.C. Statehood While Lawmakers are Split” by The Floridian’s Daniel Molina – As the nation discusses the possibility of D.C. gaining statehood, a new poll indicates that a growing number of Americans support the decision. This comes after the House Committee on Oversight and Reform held a hearing on a bill that would grant D.C. statehood. In January, Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton, who is a non-voting D.C representative, reintroduced H.R. 51, a bill that, if passed, would make it possible for D.C. to have two U.S. Senators and a House Rep. Last year, in a vote of 232-180, a similar bill was passed, but it was turned down in the Republican-controlled Senate. With Democrats controlling all chambers of government, a successful push to make the District of Columbia a state could be within reach. In a poll conducted by Data for Progress and the progressive advocacy coalition Democracy for all 2021 Action, 74% of Democratic respondents approved of D.C. gaining statehood while 34% of Republicans approved. Nationally, 54% of Americans approve of the move. In the Sunshine State, Florida Democrats are also championing the idea. Florida Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D) took to Twitter to express why statehood is the best choice for D.C. moving forward, noting that “the people of DC are American citizens like any other, but their problems are routinely ignored and their rights denied.” In turn, Wasserman Schultz argued that discussing this “isn’t a political issue, it’s a moral one.”

“Northwest Florida reps. back House bill allowing concealed carry at churches with schools” by WEAR’s Carolyn Cerda – Under current Florida law, religious institutions can allow gun owners to carry, but schools cannot. This means those wanting to bring a gun to church can't if that church is attached to a school. House Bill 259 would change that. The bill's sponsor -- Pace Rep. Jayer Williamson -- calls this a private property rights issue, saying churches should decide whether guns are allowed on their property. "So even if Pre-K met Monday-Friday when you carried concealed on Sunday, you would be inadvertently breaking the law, the way that it's written now, so this just fixes that glitch," said Williamson. Co-sponsor Michelle Salman says this bill ensures that. "It really should be minimizing opposition, because it gives institutions authority to post outside of their building that they don't want someone carrying. It still give the power to the property owners themselves," said Salzman. Rep. Salzman argues this bill also upholds gun rights. "Let's face it; our churches, our synagogues, a lot of religious institutions have been under attack," added Salzman. "There have been places where folks have shown up and just started opening fire."

“Doctor: Florida residents previously infected with COVID-19 being diagnosed with variant cases” by WESH – Florida recently became the first state to have more than 1,000 known cases of coronavirus variants. Dr. Aileen Marty at Florida International University said there is danger for people who have already had the original COVID-19. "We have had to hospitalize here in South Florida persons who had COVID previously, mild cases that had recovered, but now have been reinfected. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Florida has 1,070 variant cases, the majority of them the U.K. variant. Marty said people who have been vaccinated are safer from it because the structure of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines produce a higher quality antibody to fight the virus than what a person would get naturally. Florida has seen a large drop in cases in recent weeks, which is an encouraging sign, but the drop has also seemed to plateau lately. "We're quite worried, we're quite concerned that if we don't continue to adhere to the public health guidelines of distancing, masking and hygiene, we may see another uptick," Marty said. Florida's focus on vaccinating seniors should mean that if there is an increase in cases, it should be less deadly.

“Florida small business pharmacies call for PBM regulations” by State of Reform’s Mansur Shaheen – Small business pharmacies are supporting legislation that would regulate Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). Barnie Bishop, a spokesman for Small Business Pharmacies Aligned for Reform, told State of Reform that the proposed regulations would help small pharmacies survive. Pharmacy Benefit Managers manage prescription drugs for health insurers. They often serve as the middleman between drug manufacturers and pharmacies, setting prices for drugs and calculating reimbursement. They are largely unregulated around the country. This allows the managers to operate unrestricted, which small pharmacies say gives them unfair advantage. Currently, PBMs are allowed to distribute drugs as they please and often favor pharmacies they own for drugs that earn higher reimbursement. This shrinks the profit margins of small business pharmacies. There are seven PBMs Managers that operate in Florida, though three major ones dominate much of the market – Caremark (operated by CVS Health), Express Scripts (Cigna) and OptumRx (United Health Group). Bishop explained that these companies’ large market share allows them to take advantage of smaller pharmacies. If nothing is done to regulate them, according to small business pharmacies, they will monopolize the market.

“Florida’s court system still struggling due to pandemic” by News 4 Jax’ Scott Johnson – The ongoing struggles for Florida’s court system are taking a toll in major ways. They’re affecting everything from how much insurance companies are paying out to child support cases -- and those are just the beginning of the legal impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Hundreds of thousands of cases have been handled via Zoom, but there are still hundreds of thousands of cases that need to be heard from 2020. That’s affecting things like child support cases, criminal cases and insurance claims. News4Jax spoke with numerous attorneys about the issue of backlogs. That issue was also discussed in the newly released annual report by the Florida Supreme Court for 2019-20. “On July 1, 2021, an estimated one million cases beyond what would otherwise be anticipated will be pending,” reads one excerpt about the current backlog and where it’s expected to be this summer. One area where trial lawyers say this is hitting people hard is in personal injury law. News4Jax spoke with Steve Watrel, with Coker Law. He said this is making it easy for insurance companies to drag their feet knowing trials are delayed and people don’t have the resources to have lengthy court cases that stretch out years. He said one area of personal injury law being hit especially hard is nursing home abuse cases. Watrel said he’s representing clients that are simply too old to wait years on trial dates.

“Medicaid boost would give a year of postpartum care to Florida moms” by Tampa Bay Times’ Margo Snipe – New Florida mothers covered under Medicaid would receive a year of health care benefits after delivery instead of the current allowance of 60 days, under legislation announced Tuesday by House Speaker Chris Sprowls. “Today, the Florida House is making a meaningful commitment to address the disparities in health outcomes for our children and for their moms,” said Sprowls, a Palm Harbor Republican. “We believe that providing the access to postnatal coverage for up to one year after the birth can significantly boost health outcomes for moms and their babies and we know that healthy moms are better positioned to raise healthy and thriving children.” The postnatal period can be an especially vulnerable time, exposing mothers to a number of potential health complications. Of the approximately 700 deaths across the United States resulting from maternal health-related causes every year, one-third occur during the postpartum period, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. In Florida, the rate of maternal deaths has improved over the years, according to experts. Still, racial disparities persist. Of the 36 women who died in Florida due to pregnancy-related complications in 2018, about half were Black, according to Florida’s Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review data. “This problem impacts minority communities disproportionately,” state Rep. Kamia Brown, D-Ocoee, said during a news conference, where she appeared with Sprowls. Brown is sponsoring a similar bill, HB-645, along with several other proposals aimed at addressing racial disparities in maternal health care.

“Democratic Sen. Bracy hints at run for Florida governor” by Associated Press’ Brendon Farrington – State Sen. Randolph Bracy released a campaign-style video Tuesday strongly hinting that he’ll consider seeking the Democratic nomination to face Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis next year. In the video, Bracy discusses problems facing the state because of the coronavirus pandemic, says the state needs to change course and needs a governor who will work with both parties to help Florida through the crisis. He also discusses other issues facing the state, including health care, education and improving the economy. “We need to practice a new kind of politics, one that uses big ideas and bold thinking to solve problems. We need to leave behind the small fights at the Capitol and figure out how to work together to move Florida in the right direction. That’s what I want to do,” Bracy says in the video. But in a phone interview, Bracy said the video posted on his website isn't an announcement that he's getting in the race. “I want to be a part of the conversation in picking a leader from the Democratic Party. I think this video just explains that,” he said. “I have not committed to running.” He said it's too early to make a decision to run. Bracy, 43, of Orlando, was elected to the House in 2012, where he served before being elected to the Senate in 2016. Despite Republicans controlling the Senate, he was picked as the first African American to serve as chair of the chamber's Criminal Justice Committee. Democratic U.S. Rep. Charlie Crist, who served as a Republican governor from 2007 to 2011 and who lost a bid to return to the governor's office as a Democrat in 2014, is also considering another run at the office.

“Deaths, violence occur during Florida spring break” by Associated Press via Tampa Bay Times – Two North Carolina men on spring break in Florida have been charged with drugging and raping a woman who later died, possibly of a drug overdose in Miami Beach, police said Tuesday. Meanwhile, in Panama City, a man has been charged with fatally shooting a teenager from Kentucky and another Florida man died when he jumped from the 23rd story of a beach resort with a parachute that did not open, authorities said. The deaths and alleged crimes come amid continuing chaos in South Beach, where police have arrested hundreds of partiers involved in violence and property destruction. Most of those involved have not been college students on spring break, but adults from Florida and out of state, authorities have said. The two men arrested in Miami Beach, Evoire Collier, 21, and Dorian Taylor, 24, have been charged with sexual battery as well as burglary with battery, theft and credit card fraud. The woman was found dead last Thursday after officers responded to “reports of an unconscious female” at a South Beach hotel, according to a police report. The men are accused of stealing the dead woman’s credit cards to help fund their South Beach vacation, the report says. Online jail records did not indicate whether the two had an attorney who could speak for them.

“Companies fleeing NY for Florida over taxes, Sen. Rick Scott says” by Fox Business’ Catie Perry – Florida is a “welcoming state” for companies fleeing high taxes and regulations, according to Sen. Rick Scott. “We make it easy for people to move,” he told FOX Business’ Stuart Varney on “Varney & Co.” “That's what's continuing to happen in Florida.” His comments come as JetBlue becomes the latest company to consider relocating its head office to the Sunshine State when its lease ends in 2023, according to The New York Post. Scott believes New York is not the place for the airline to do business. “Cuomo and de Blasio are not going to let you prosper,” he said. “Tax increases -- that's all they do up there -- make it harder to do business.” States like Texas and Florida are seeing an influx of individuals, banks and tech firms looking for more affordable, tax-friendly costs of living. The trend, which was apparent even before 2020, has accelerated amid a pandemic-induced recession, and with more jobs now being able to operate via remote. Scott went on to say Americans are “sick and tired” of the government taking their money. “When are we going to say to government … ‘We're working our tails off for this money. And you guys want to take it all these different ways -- gas taxes, death taxes, income taxes, every tax in the world’?” he asked. He added Democrat states just want “more and more of your dollars.”

“FEMA pop-ups are moving to Sweetwater, Florida City again. Second doses only” by Miami Herald’s Michelle Marchante – The federally-supported vaccination pop-ups are on the move again and will be returning to Sweetwater and Florida City Wednesday to administer second doses. Tuesday is the last day you can get your first-dose Pfizer shot at Charles Hadley Park in Liberty City and at the South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center in Cutler Bay. The sites will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The FEMA pop-ups will then reopen at 9 a.m. Wednesday at Ronselli Park Youth Center, 250 SW 114th Ave. in Sweetwater, and Florida City Youth Activity Center, 650 NW Fifth Ave. Only second-dose Pfizer shots will be available at the two pop-ups. The sites will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and appointments are not needed. You can just show up and wait in line. You will need to show your CDC vaccination card and a state-issued ID like a driver’s license to get your second shot. A reminder: You should not get your second dose prior to the date listed on your vaccination card, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. No announcement has been made yet on how long the pop-ups will be in Sweetwater and Florida City before the sites move again to North Miami Beach and Miami Springs. As for the FEMA “hub” at Miami Dade College North campus, it will continue to offer first and second dose Pfizer shots until April 7. Then it will only offer second doses. The site opens every day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. and appointments are not needed.

National:

“U.S. judge criticizes prosecutors over '60 Minutes' interview about probe into Capitol attack” by Reuters’ Jan Wolfe and Mark Hosenball – A federal judge in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday criticized the U.S. Justice Department for speaking to the media about the ongoing investigation into the deadly Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol by former President Donald Trump’s supporters. In an unusual court hearing, U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta said he was “surprised” by remarks prosecutor Michael Sherwin made to the CBS television program “60 Minutes,” and troubled by a New York Times article that cited anonymous Justice Department sources. “I found it troubling that sources within the Department of Justice were detailing the possibility of additional charges in a pending criminal case and an ongoing criminal investigation,” Mehta said, adding, “this case will not be tried in the media.” Mehta said the news coverage could undermine due process rights of defendants and that he would consider imposing a gag order if the pattern continues. During the hearing, a Justice Department lawyer said Sherwin’s interview with “60 Minutes” was being referred for review to an internal watchdog, who would determine if department policies were violated. Sherwin, a career prosecutor from Miami who previously served as the interim U.S. Attorney for the District Columbia, told the program that investigators have found evidence that would likely allow the government to file sedition charges against some defendants.

“Senate Democratic moderates push for minimum wage compromise” by Politico’s Burgess Everett and Marianne Levine – Moderate Senate Democrats are pushing their leaders for a more modest approach to the party’s signature minimum wage hike, arguing for a compromise that can attract broader support after the defeat of a $15 hourly wage proposal. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer convened a meeting on the topic Tuesday afternoon that includes the eight Democratic caucus members who opposed Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-Vt.) $15 hourly wage plan earlier this month. Several of those members opposed that proposal because it eliminates the tipped wage, a lower minimum wage for restaurant workers and other employees who receive gratuities. It’s the first time Schumer held an in-person meeting with a disparate group of senators on an issue that electrifies his party's base but divides his caucus. Sanders requested the meeting, a Democratic aide said. Given the differences between Sanders and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on the issue, attendees expected a collision between the uncompromising liberal wing of the party and the centrist wing that recently voted down one of the party's longtime goals. But the meeting was promising, Democrats said. Manchin described it as a "wonderful conversation, and I don't think anyone will talk to you, it was so good." In the meeting, Manchin seemed steadfast about his support for an increase to $11 an hour, according to one attendee. Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-Ariz.) suggested that if the wage was raised to $11 now and was indexed at a rate faster than inflation, it wouldn't be far off from Sanders's goal of $15 an hour by 2024.

“North Korea Fires First Missiles During Biden Presidency” by WSJ’s Vivian Salama, Nancy Youssef, and Andrew Jeong – North Korea launched several short-range missiles over the weekend, U.S. officials said, in a show of defiance against President Biden and his administration that was widely anticipated after joint U.S.-South Korea military exercises. The weekend launches caused no damage and are being viewed more as a symbolic show of strength than one intended to inflict damage or hit any specific targets, according to two U.S. officials. U.S. officials declined to provide details about the short-range missile launches or even how many were launched. The launches aren’t covered by the United Nations Security Council resolutions that govern such activity and they were on the “low end” of routine activity from the North Koreans, two senior administration officials said. North Korea frequently fired off short-range missiles even as Kim Jong Un was negotiating with former President Trump and his administration on a denuclearization deal. Mr. Trump maintained that the short-range missiles weren’t a violation of the terms laid out in his discussions with Pyongyang, which ultimately failed to yield an accord. CBS News first reported the missile launches.

“Jury Seated in Derek Chauvin Trial for Killing of George Floyd” by WSJ’s Erin Ailworth and Joel Eastwood – After 11 days of questioning, lawyers Tuesday finished selecting a 15-person jury panel in the trial of the former Minneapolis police officer accused of murder in the death of George Floyd. The group that will hear the case against Derek Chauvin is made up of 12 jurors and two alternates. One extra person was chosen in case one of the seated jurors needs to be excused between now and opening arguments, which are scheduled for March 29. That extra person will otherwise be dismissed, said Judge Peter Cahill. The court said the 15 were chosen from an initial jury pool of 326, with lawyers questioning more than six dozen in court over the last few weeks. Much of that questioning centered around the jurors’ answers to a multipage questionnaire that asked them to rank their opinions on Messrs. Chauvin and Floyd, as well as on Black Lives Matter and Blue Lives Matter. Some prospective jurors said they supported the message of the Black Lives Matter movement but thought the organization behind it espoused positions they saw as too extreme. Some were also supportive of Blue Lives Matter, a slogan prevalent among supporters of traditional law-enforcement methods and police officers’ role in public safety, though one juror said she didn’t realize it referred to police. The case against Mr. Chauvin is the first stemming from the May 25, 2020, death of Mr. Floyd, a Black man, which sparked protests around the country over race and police violence. Mr. Chauvin faces charges of second-degree murder—unintentional, while committing a felony; third-degree murder; and second-degree manslaughter. He has entered a plea of not guilty.

“Biden pushes House-passed gun reforms in the wake of Colorado mass shooting” by CNN’s Kevin Liptak and Jeff Zeleny – President Joe Biden on Tuesday used the latest mass shooting to offer his most vocal push for gun control since taking office, saying the deaths of 10 people at a grocery store in Colorado should jolt Washington and the nation into action. It was a message past presidents have also wielded to disappointing results. But Biden -- who has a lengthy and mixed record on the issue -- signaled he was ready to press for legislation even as he balances other priorities in Congress. In somber remarks from the White House State Dining Room, he said he would do everything in his power to keep Americans safe and pushed a pair of House-passed gun reforms, including a universal background checks measure and an assault weapons ban. After acknowledging there were still outstanding details to be learned about Monday's massacre, including the shooter's motive and weapons, Biden insisted enough was known to make an ardent call for new gun control. "I don't need to wait another minute, let alone an hour, to take common sense steps that will save lives in the future," he said, listing a ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, as well as strengthening the background check system by closing loopholes, as areas he would like to see Congress act. "This is not -- it should not be -- a partisan issue. This is an American issue," he said. "It will save lives, American lives. We have to act."

“Sen. Ted Cruz tells Hannity taking away guns from law-abiding citizens makes victims vulnerable” by Fox News – Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, joined 'Hannity' to discuss calls for gun control following Monday's mass shooting in Boulder, Colorado. CRUZ: There have been too damn many of these [mass shootings], and we need to stop them. But the Democrat’s proposal, every time, is always the same, which is take away guns from law-abiding citizens. That is their political agenda every single day. It doesn’t work, it doesn’t reduce crime. And, in fact, it makes it worse, because it disarms the potential victims and makes them vulnerable to criminals. If you want to stop them, the way to do that, what works, is you target the bad guys. You go after violent criminals, you go after felons, you go after fugitives, you go after those with serious mental illness. You stop them from getting guns, and when they try to illegally buy a firearm, you lock them up and you put them in jail.

“U.S. Health Officials Raise Concerns Over AstraZeneca Vaccine Data” by WSJ’s Jenny Straburg, Thomas M. Burton and Joseph Walker – AstraZeneca AZN -3.52% PLC said it would update and reissue later this week efficacy data from human trials of its Covid-19 vaccine after U.S. officials took the rare move of publicly questioning their accuracy—the latest misstep by the British drug giant as it struggles to get its shot into American arms. In an early-morning statement, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases said it had been informed by the independent data-monitoring board working with AstraZeneca on the U.S. trials that the drug company might have used out-of-date information in its public disclosure of the vaccine’s effectiveness. The day before, AstraZeneca released interim data from a large-scale U.S. trial that it said found its Covid-19 vaccine to be 79% effective in preventing symptomatic disease. The results served as a short-lived vote of confidence in the shot, which has been clouded by uncertainty over previous, confusing efficacy results and large-scale production problems. More recently, reported cases of rare blood clotting in Europe raised concerns about the vaccine’s safety, though European regulators found no link between the clots and the drug, and have recommended its continued use. The U.S. trials showed no link between the clotting and the vaccine, and the NIAID statement Tuesday didn’t raise questions about that finding or other safety-related issues.

“Supreme Court to discuss case that could expand Second Amendment rights” by CNN’s Ariane De Vogue – When Supreme Court justices meet behind closed doors Friday, a conference that comes three days after the country's latest mass shooting, they are scheduled to discuss whether to add a blockbuster issue to the docket for next term: the scope of the Second Amendment. The court has largely dodged the issue since issuing two landmark opinions in 2008 and 2010, when it held for the first time that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to keep and bear arms at home for self- defense. Gun rights advocates and even some of the justices themselves have expressed frustration that the court has declined to further define the scope of the right as lower courts across the country have upheld restrictions. Three years ago, for example, Justice Clarence Thomas charged that the "Second Amendment is a disfavored right in this court." Justice Brett Kavanaugh, after the court effectively dismissed one case last term, wrote that he hoped that the justices would vote to take up a new case "soon." Still, last June, perhaps with the knowledge that there weren't five votes ready to decide, the court again declined to take up several new cases. With the addition of Justice Amy Coney Barrett, supporters of gun rights hope the justices will wade in now and experts wonder if the justices are poised to add the issue to next term's docket.

“Boulder shooting suspect Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa: What we know” by Fox News’ Stephanie Pagoners – More details are emerging the day after a 21-year-old identified as the alleged suspect killed 10 people, including a police officer, during a mass shooting at a Boulder, Colorado, grocery store this week. The suspect allegedly bought the firearm used in the attack six days earlier, and was known by former classmates to be short-tempered and paranoid, according to reports and an arrest affidavit released Tuesday. The document did not disclose where Ahmad Al Aliwi Alissa, from the Denver suburb of Arvada, bought the Ruger AR-556 but stated he did so on March 16. Just six days later, he allegedly shot multiple people outside the King Soopers on Table Mesa before entering the store and continuing the killing spree inside. Alissa was booked into Boulder County Jail on Tuesday after receiving treatment for a gunshot wound. He has been charged with 10 counts of first-degree murder. Police are still investigating the motive in the attack and said they are collecting statements from him. Officials did not provide much information about the suspect, but Boulder County District Attorney Michael Dougherty said Alissa had lived "most of his life in the United States."