Out d'Coup | No 15 for You; Attacking Syria; 500K Deaths; Climate Warnings; NYPD Robot Dogs; Fracking Ban; PA GOP Cryfest; Perseverance; Molson Coors Labor Fight; Sean's Whiskey; Free Will Releases

Democrats who have been luke-warm about passing a $15 minimum wage got the cover they needed yesterday as the Senate parliamentarian, Elizabeth MacDonough, advised that the $15 minimum wage cannot be included in a reconciliation package.  

Those Democrats who have been pushing for the $15 minimum wage have urged that Vice President Harris overrule the parliamentarian’s ruling, which is within her authority. On Twitter, Representative Ro Khanna wrote, “I’m sorry - an unelected parliamentarian does not get to deprive 32 million Americans the raise they deserve. This is an advisory, not a ruling. VP Harris needs to disregard and rule a $15 minimum wage is in order.”

It’s time to dump the filibuster and, as David Dayen argued this morning, it’s time to put the $15 minimum wage bill on the floor. 

And while the Biden administration and conservative Democrats are willing to throw up their hands and say there is nothing they can do when it comes to the minimum wage, they’re willing to roll out the tanks in support of Neera Tandem’s appointment to the Office of Management and Budget. 

Release the hawks. Biden orders air strikes in Syria against two Iranian-backed militias on the border with Iraq. The administration claims to have targeted and destroyed “multiple facilities located at a border control point used by a number of Iranian-backed militant groups.” The strikes were said to be in response to recent attacks on American contractors and properties in Iraq by militants. 

And the pandemic rages on. Even as cases began to drop, the U.S. passed the 500,000 COVID-19 deaths mark this week. 

A new report published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences warns that the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) sea currents are slowing faster than expected and may lead “tipping point” in climate change if swift action is not taken. Scientists have warned that the slowing or stopping of the AMOC will lead to large-scale impacts affecting live on the panet. 

New York City police deployed Boston Dynamics creepy and frankly dystopian robot dog to a live crime scene this week. The New York Post released footage of the robot dog to a home invasion crime scene in the Bronx. It wasn’t the first time, either. Back in October, the NYPD sent another robot dog into a building where a gunman had barricaded himself. According to the Post, the robot dog is in its test phase, equipped with lights and a camera. “This robot is able to use its artificial intelligence to navigate things, very complex environments,” according to NYPD’s Technical Assistant Response Unit’s Deepu John. Yeah, what could go wrong. 

The Delaware River Basin Commission lifted their moratorium and has banned fracking in the Delaware River Watershed.  This will protect the drinking water for tens of millions of residents living in New York, New Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania. 

Pennsylvania House and Senate Republicans threw a temper tantrum this week after the Dept of State released their ballot question on a constitutional amendment limiting the Governor’s powers on emergency declaration orders.  Apparently, the question was too straight forward and not confusing enough for Republicans.

Kendra Brooks, from Philly’s city council, is joining with Astra Taylor from the Debt Collective in calling bullshit on Biden’s claim that he can’t cancel $50,000 in student loan debt. 

Pennsylvania Republicans failed to cancel Pat Toomey after spending hours debating his vote to convict Donald Trump. 

The Mars Perseverance rover sent back amazing footage of the February 18 landing in Jezero crater. Just amazing. A couple days later we got the first full-color, 360 degrees view of what Perseverance sees. Gotta admit, I was in awe.  

Researchers are making a case that NASA should begin studying nuclear propulsion systems for future missions to Mars. 

Columbian County woman becomes one of NASA’s newest flight directors. Chloe Mehring grew up in Mifflinberg and started working with NASA in 2008 in the Flight Operation’s Propulsion Systems group. 

Put that sixpack back in the cooler. Molson Coors Beverage Company has locked out 300 workers at its Toronto brewery after workers overwhelmingly rejected the company’s “best and final offer” during contentious contract negotiations. Molson Coors had prepared for this move by posting ads for scab workers three weeks before their lockout. 

Sean has whiskey recommendations.

Free Will Releases: Sputnik 36 and Soul Supper. https://freewillbrewing.store/