Day 38: Calm Before the Storm

We're expecting a budget outline this coming week (expect it to be bad), as well as a new immigration order (expect it to be worse). Finally, we're getting Trump's first speech to congress on Tuesday (expect it to be disastrous). So, buckle your seatbelts! As usual, I'm not posting rumors, just actions.

• Republicans have admitted that they want to suppress the vote because it hurts their election chances. They're usually not so brazen about it. This is a major problem with the American electoral system: you can be rewarded for suppressing the vote. This incentivizes doing exactly that, of course.
• The administration is trying to crack down on leaks by staffers in the White house. I am highly amused that news of the crackdown was supposed to remain secret, but was promptly leaked. Keep it up, staffers. We're rooting for you.
• Republican in charge of House Intelligence Committee balks at investigating Trump's Russian links. Simply put, this is the House turning a completely blind eye to the President, because he'll rubber stamp their agenda. This is, of course, utter bullshit.
• Speaking at the CPAC (conservative garbage convention), the head of the EPA said that its opponents are justified in wanting to eliminate the agency. Given the good that the agency has done in cleaning up the air and waters around the country since its creation, calling for its elimination is bad at best, calling for its elimination as its head is utterly disgraceful. I wonder how morale is at the EPA nowadays?
• Another act of vandalism/desecration at a Jewish ceremony. No word from the administration (which is absolutely the least antisemitic administration in the history of the country, you know), of course.
• Informal talks with North Korea are apparently off, after news that a forbidden nerve agent was used in the assassination of the North Korean leader's brother.

And finally, because Texas can't figure out what transgender means, a transgender boy has been required to participate in girl's wrestling. He won the state championships, which has ruffled a few feathers. Maybe they'll learn something from this? That might be a hard ask...