Biden DOJ recommends no jail time for trans vandal of Catholic church: 'F--- Catholics'

 President Biden's Justice Department offered what critics are calling a sweetheart plea deal to a vandal who admitted to defacing a Catholic church with profane graffiti, destroying a statue of the Virgin Mary, assaulting a church worker, and resisting arrest. 

A plea agreement reviewed by Fox News Digital shows that the DOJ recommends zero jail time for the perp, Maeve Nota, a 31-year-old transgender individual who vandalized the St. Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue, Washington, following Roe v. Wade's overturning last June.

Nota sharply contrasts with the Biden administration's earlier approach of throwing the book at pro-life protesters outside abortion clinics.  

"It is very clear that the Biden Justice Department has politicized and weaponized the FACE Act to go after pro-life Christians praying outside of abortion clinics like Mark Houck while turning a blind eye to violent felons terrorizing and badly damaging Catholic churches like Maeve Nota," Mike Davis, founder of the Article III Project, told Fox News Digital.

Maeve Nota smashes a glass door at St. Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue, Washington. (Twitter)

"The Biden Justice Department tried to put Houck in prison for 11 years for defending his son while recommending no jail time for Nota after this deranged trans terrorist badly damaged a Catholic church, fought with the police, assaulted a church employee, and scared the hell out of a little old lady praying," Davis said.

Nota smashed two glass doors with rocks and spray-painted the church's outside walls with messages that read, "F--- Catholics," "rot in your fake hell," "kid groomers," and "woman haters," among several other messages.

A church staff member was spray-painted across their face while attempting to chase Nota away.

When officers located Nota, police said he used a backpack full of spray paint cans to smash the police vehicle before turning himself in. 

Nota appeared intoxicated during the arrest and was said to be angry about the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe. v. Wade the week before the incident, investigators previously told KOMO News.

Shortly following the event, Police Capt. Darryl McKinney told FOX13 Seattle that the $10,000 in damages fall under a hate crime statute.

According to filings from early March, Biden's Justice Department hit Nota with destruction of religious property, a misdemeanor that can carry up to one year in prison and $100,000 in fines.

A week later, however, a previously unreported plea agreement between the Justice Department, Nota, and his attorney shows that they will recommend no jail time and three years of probation at the time of his sentencing on June 2.

Door smashed by Maeve Nota in St. Louise Catholic Church in Bellevue, Washington. (Twitter via the Bellevue Police)

The Justice Department did not respond to a Fox News Digital inquiry on the recommendation. 

Nota's situation sharply contrasts with pro-life activist Mark Houck, whose encounter with a Planned Parenthood escort led to the Federal Bureau of Investigation raiding his home and the Biden administration wanting him to face 11 years in prison. 

A jury acquitted Houck after he allegedly pushed a Planned Parenthood escort during an encounter outside an abortion clinic. 

The Biden administration alleged Houck violated the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances (FACE) Act, which criminalizes using force with the intent to injure, intimidate and interfere with clinic workers.

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/biden-doj-recommends-no-jail-time-for-trans-vandal-of-catholic-church-f-catholics

Colbert pokes fun at Biden over bizarre Easter Egg Roll gaffe

 President Biden’s bizarre response in an interview during the White House’s Easter Egg Roll prompted renewed discussion over his mental acuity — even from “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert, who poked fun at the gaffe.

Biden struggled and stumbled over his words during the Monday interview when he told “Today” show meteorologist Al Roker he plans to run for re-election next year, though is “not prepared to announce it yet.”

“I plan on at least three or four more Easter Egg Rolls,” Biden chuckled. “Maybe five. Maybe six, what the hell? I don’t know.”

When Roker pressed the president to formally confirm his campaign plans, Biden blundered: “I’ll either be rolling an egg or end up being the guy who’s pushing ’em out.”

The gaffe was a perfect set-up for Colbert, who joked that the statement could be an indication of the president’s floundering mental fitness.

“That’s right, Jack! I got big Easter news: Joe Biden can lay eggs. Easy as pie. No, I push ’em right out the cloaca. Serve ’em up scrambled, or sit on ’em for a while, raise a beautiful flock of little baby Joes, ‘peep, peep, peep,’” Colbert said, while sporting a pair of aviator sunglasses like the ones Biden routinely wears.

“Point is, I am mentally fit to once again run for president of the United States. What’s goin’ on? Where’s Jill? Marco! Jill-o!”

President Biden and first lady Jill Biden attend the annual Easter Egg Roll on the South Lawn of the White House on April 10, 2023, in Washington, DC.

Getty Images

President Biden made the questionable Easter egg joke when Al Roker asked him if he planned to run for a second term.

FOX News

Biden’s presidency has been plagued with concerns that the 80-year-old is no longer fit for office, a worry that has only been exacerbated by his consistent gaffes.

In February, a poll proved that 57% of voters have doubts about the aging politician’s cognitive acuity. 

Biden — the oldest US president in history — passed his annual physical exam with flying colors, but the report suspiciously lacked any details about his mental capabilities.

“Late Show” host Stephen Colbert mocked Biden’s odd phrasing that he would enjoy pushing out eggs at future White House Easter Egg Rolls.

Youtube

Biden’s mental fitness came under intense scrutiny when he asked “Where’s Jackie?” and searched for the late Rep. Jackie Walorski (R-Ind.) in September, despite publicly mourning her death and even calling her family to offer his condolences in August.

Biden has publicly referred to his vice president, Kamala Harris, as the “president” at least six times and welcomed former President Bill Clinton back to “Congress” while delivering remarks at the White House earlier this year.

https://nypost.com/2023/04/12/stephen-colbert-pokes-fun-at-president-bidens-bizarre-easter-egg-roll-gaffe/

Biden Admin Drains SPR For 2nd Week In A Row As Granholm Confirms Refilling Plan

 Oil prices jumped this morning after a quiet overnight session thanks to the dovish CPI print exuberance.

“The petro-nations’ somewhat surprising supply cut last week triggered a shift in sentiment,” said Norbert Ruecker, head of economics at Julius Baer Group Ltd. in Zurich.

“Beyond the geopolitical noise, the ongoing fundamental trends seem robust.”

But all eyes remain on inventories for signs of trouble as recession anxiety grows.

API

• Crude  +377k (-1.3mm exp)

• Cushing -1.4mm

• Gasoline +500k

• Distillates -2mm

DOE

• Crude +597k (-1.3mm exp)

• Cushing -409k

• Gasoline -330k

• Distillates -606k

After API's reported small build, analysts still expected a draw in crude stocks (extending the recent trend) but they were wrong as the official data showed a small 597k build. Stocks at the Cushing hub slipped for the 6th straight week and products saw very small draws...

Source: Bloomberg

The so-called 'adjustment factor' actually turned red this week...

Source: Bloomberg

Crude stocks remain seasonally high...

Source: Bloomberg

US Crude production rebounded to cycle highs despite he slowing rig count...

Source: Bloomberg

WTI was hovering around $82.50 ahead of the official data, and held steady after...

Finally, after last week's OPEC+ 'rebellion', Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm confirmed that the US plans to refill the Strategic Petroleum Reserve to levels seen prior to President Joe Biden’s historic release last year following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Energy Department “will look to take advantage of prices if it is advantageous to the taxpayer in the rest of the year, but it’s a lot to refill,” Granholm said during remarks at an energy forum held by Columbia University.

But she appears to be full of shit as the Biden admin actually drained the SPR for the second week in a row (the 1.6mm barrel draw more than offset the 600k build in commercial stocks)...

WTF Jenny?

WTI’s prompt spread - the difference between its two nearest contracts - affirms that the oil market is tightening. It has swung to 8 cents a barrel in backwardation, the widest this year on a closing basis.

https://www.zerohedge.com/energy/wti-holds-gains-after-small-crude-build-product-draws

YoY Measures of Inflation: Services, Goods and Shelter

 Here a few measures of inflation:

The first graph is the one Fed Chair Powell has been mentioning.

Click on graph for larger image.

This graph shows the YoY price change for Services and Services less rent of shelter through March 2023.

Services were up 7.2% YoY as of March 2023, down from 7.6% YoY in February.

Services less rent of shelter was up 6.1% YoY in March, down from 6.9% YoY in February.

Will services ex-shelter inflation be persistent, or will it follow a similar pattern as goods?   This is a topic I discussed last month in Pandemic Economics, Housing and Monetary Policy: Part 2.

The second graph shows that goods prices started to increase year-over-year (YoY) in 2020 and accelerated in 2021 due to both strong demand and supply chain disruptions.

Durables were at -1.0% YoY as of March 2023, up from -1.8% YoY in February.

Commodities less food and energy commodities were up 1.6% YoY in March, up from 1.0% YoY in February.

Goods inflation was transitory.

Here is a graph of the year-over-year change in shelter from the CPI report (through March) and housing from the PCE report (through February 2023)

Shelter was up 8.2% year-over-year in March, up from 8.1% in February. Housing (PCE) was up 8.2% YoY in February.

The BLS noted this morning: "The index for shelter was by far the largest contributor to the monthly all items increase."

https://www.calculatedriskblog.com/2023/04/yoy-measures-of-inflation-services.html

69 Republicans ask appeals court to allow ban on abortion pill to go forward

 A group of 69 Republican members of Congress filed a brief urging an appeals court to uphold the decision of a federal judge in Texas last week that would halt the prescription of a widely used abortion pill, after over 200 congressional Democrats lobbied for a reversal of the ruling.

The House Republicans that signed on were led by Rep. August Pfluger (R-Texas) and included the likes of Reps. Lauren Boebert (R-Col.) and Jim Banks (R-Ind.). They argued that the federal government approval of the abortion drug mifepristone, which has been approved for over 20 years, is “unlawful.”

The 11 Republican senators who signed on were led by Sen. Cindy Hyde Smith (Miss.) and included Sens. Marco Rubio (Fla.) and Rick Scott (Fla.).

“The FDA’s (Food and Drug Administration) unlawful approval and deregulation of chemical abortion drugs subverts Congress’ public policy considerations and safeguards for patient safety,” the lawmakers said in the brief. 

A federal judge in Texas last week issued a stay that would block the prescription and distribution of mifepristone, giving the federal government a week to appeal the decision before it went into effect. The FDA quickly filed an appeal to the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals. 

Officials have warned that the decision from the judge in Texas could throw the federal government’s approval of a bevy of medications and vaccines into an upheaval, with courts second-guessing decisions from medical regulators. Democrats have also criticized it as another attack on abortion access from the judiciary.

The GOP lawmakers, who urged the appeals court to allow the stay from the federal judge in Texas to stand, filed their brief after a group of 240 congressional Democrats urged the appeals judge to overturn the decision.

The brief from Democrats, which included 50 senators and 190 House members, argued that the ruling from the district judge in Texas was an “extraordinary and unprecedented step,” arguing the courts have allowed the federal government to delegate regulatory responsibilities for drugs to scientists and medical experts.

“Emergency relief from the order is necessary to mitigate the imminent harm facing members of the public, many of whom rely on the availability of mifepristone for reproductive care — and many more of whom rely on the integrity of FDA’s drug approval process for continued access to life-improving and lifesaving drugs,” the Democratic lawmakers said in their brief to the judge.

But the Republican lawmakers said the decision to block the prescription of mifepristone would “protect women and girls” from what they say are the “harms” of such drugs, asking the appeals court to uphold the decision.

“We urge the Court to deny the emergency motion for a stay pending appeal, which will allow the District Court’s Section 705 stay to go into effect and protect women and girls from the harms of chemical abortion drugs,” the GOP lawmakers said.

https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/3945256-republicans-appeals-court-abortion-pill-texas/

6 in 10 say EVs only help address climate change a little or not at all: Gallup

 A new poll found that more than 60 percent of Americans said that they believe electric vehicles (EVs) only help address climate change a little or not at all.

The Gallup poll published Wednesday found that 35 percent of respondents said that electric vehicles address climate change “only a little,” while 26 percent said they do not address climate change at all.

Just 12 percent said that electric vehicles help a “great deal” and 27 percent said that they help a “fair amount.”

A Flourish chart

Respondents’ opinions were split among party lines, with 68 percent of Democrats saying electric vehicles help a “great deal” or “fair amount,” compared to only 12 percent of Republicans.

And nearly 90 percent of Republicans said that electric vehicles only help address climate change a little or not at all while 32 percent of Democrats agreed.

The poll also found that 41 percent of Americans said that they would not buy an electric vehicle, and 43 percent said that they might consider one in the future. Only 4 percent of respondents said they currently own an electric vehicle and 12 percent said that they are “seriously” considering purchasing one.

Pollsters found that 71 percent of Republican respondents said that they would never buy an electric vehicle and 17 percent of Democrats gave the same answer. Twenty-two percent of Democrats said that they were “seriously” considering buying an electric vehicle, as did just 1 percent of Republicans.

According to the Environmental Protection Agency, electric vehicles are usually responsible for lower greenhouse gasses than an average gasoline-powered car. Fifteen states have proposed banning gas-powered vehicles by 2035, a move to create zero-emissions on transportation to address rising climate concerns.

The Gallup poll of 1,009 respondents, conducted between March 1 and 23, has a margin of error of 4 percentage points.

https://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/3945645-roughly-6-in-10-say-evs-only-help-address-climate-change-a-little-or-not-at-all-gallup/

India's SII could resume Covishield shot production as COVID cases rise

 

The Serum Institute of India (SII) could resume production of the Covishield COVID-19 vaccine, a company spokesperson said on Wednesday, as infections rise in the country.

The world's biggest vaccine maker already has a stock of 6 million doses of Covovax, a version of a Novavax vaccine, the spokesperson added. Covishield is a version of an AstraZeneca shot.

https://www.marketscreener.com/quote/stock/ASTRAZENECA-PLC-4000930/news/India-s-SII-could-resume-Covishield-shot-production-as-COVID-cases-rise-43475451/