AM Quickie

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TODAY'S HEADLINES:

In a boost for global health equity, the US changes its position on coronavirus vaccine patents. If all goes well, corporate property rights may soon come second to boosting vaccine production.

Meanwhile, a federal judge strikes down a federal moratorium on evictions during the pandemic. That’s bad news, but, on the bright side, the Justice Department will appeal the ruling.

And lastly, some high-ranking Republicans are determined to force Liz Cheney from her leadership post in the House of Representatives. The leading candidate for Cheney’s replacement is Elise Stefanik, a Trump loyalist.

THESE ARE THE STORIES YOU NEED TO KNOW:

This encouraging news from the cutthroat global trade wars comes from the Associated Press. The Biden administration is throwing its support behind efforts to waive intellectual property protections for Covid-19 vaccines in an effort to speed the end of the pandemic. United States Trade Representative Katherine Tai announced the government’s position in a statement yesterday, amid World Trade Organization talks over easing global trade rules to enable more countries to produce more of the life-saving vaccines. Tai said, "This is a global health crisis, and the extraordinary circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic call for extraordinary measures."

According to the AP, no consensus – which is required under WTO rules – was expected to emerge from the ambassadors’ meeting yesterday and today. But WTO spokesman Keith Rockwell pointed to a change in tone after months of wrangling. Authors of the proposal, which has faced resistance from countries with influential pharmaceutical industries, have been revising it in hopes of making it more palatable. The argument centers on lifting patents, copyrights and similar trade protections to help expand the production of vaccines during supply shortages. The issue has become more pressing with a surge in cases in India, the world’s second-most populous country and a key producer of vaccines. More than one hundred countries have come out in support of the proposal. And a group of one hundred and ten members of Congress – all Democrats – sent Biden a letter last month that called on him to support the waiver. I guess he listened.

DOJ Will Appeal Evictions Ruling

Consider it a temporary setback. Politico reports that the Justice Department will appeal a federal judge’s decision vacating a national eviction moratorium, and seek a stay of the ruling pending appeal. US District Judge for the District of Columbia Dabney Friedrich ruled yesterday that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention exceeded its authority when it imposed a nationwide ban on evictions for nonpayment of rent in September. The order cited a 1944 public health law giving the Department of Health and Human Services certain powers to prevent communicable diseases from crossing state lines. Congress and the Biden administration have since extended the ban, which is slated to expire June 30.

HHS Secretary Xavier (Ha-vee-err) Becerra said the administration would fight the ruling. He said, "I believe the president will want to try to correct this, or certainly continue to fight to make sure we don't see Americans dispossessed and out on the street." Landlords and real estate agents have challenged the ban in courts around the country, arguing that it is an unconstitutional power grab by the CDC. They say it has devastating consequences for landlords who now must subsidize struggling tenants’ housing under the threat of criminal penalties and hefty fines. Courts have issued conflicting rulings. The Alabama and Georgia chapters of the National Association of Realtors, one of the most powerful lobbying groups in Washington, brought the challenge decided yesterday. You may have won this round, landlords and lobbyists, but the fight’s not over yet.

Republicans Seek Cheney’s Ouster

This update on the Republican psyche comes from the New York Times. House Republicans moved decisively yesterday to expel Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming from their leadership ranks for rejecting Donald Trump’s election lies. Meanwhile, top party leaders and the former president endorsed a replacement who has styled herself as a Trump loyalist. Representative Steve Scalise of Louisiana, the number two Republican in the chamber, became the highest-ranking figure to call for Cheney’s ouster and the elevation of

Representative Elise Stefanik of New York in her place as chairwoman of the House Republican Conference. Representative Kevin McCarthy of California, the minority leader, was also working the phones behind the scenes, urging colleagues to support Stefanik. Trump, who has seethed over Cheney’s criticism of him, piled on a short time later, deriding her as a "warmongering fool" and endorsing Stefanik.

The Times reports that Stefanik wasted no time after Trump’s endorsement in declaring her intentions. In a post on Twitter, she thanked him and said Republicans were unified and focused on winning Congressional seats in 2022. A spokesman for Cheney signaled yesterday that she was gearing up for a messy fight. The turmoil could come to a head as early as next week, when House Republicans may call a vote to replace Cheney. Speaking at the White House yesterday, President Joe Biden expressed bewilderment at the leadership fight, saying Republicans are further away from figuring out what they stand for than he thought. It seems it’s still Trump’s party.

AND NOW FOR SOME QUICKER QUICKIES:

According to the latest enforcement data, obtained by the Washington Post, the number of deportations carried out by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement last month fell to the lowest level on record. ICE deported two thousand nine hundred and sixty two immigrants in April. It’s the first time the monthly figure has dipped below three thousand. The less ICE does, the better, if you ask me.

The Guardian reports that environmental groups have accused a European prince of killing the largest bear in Romania, in contravention of a ban on trophy hunting large carnivores. NGOs allege that the bear, who was called Arthur, was shot in March in a protected area of the Carpathian Mountains by Prince Emanuel Von Und Zu Liechtenstein. Rest in peace Arthur, we hardly knew ye.

The AP reports that more than two hundred global organizations urged the UN Security Council yesterday to impose an arms embargo on Myanmar. The military there has killed at least seven hundred and sixty nine people since the February 1st coup, and detained several thousand activists, journalists, civil servants and politicians. Which is a good reason to stop selling them bullets.

According to the New York Times, a Facebook-appointed panel yesterday upheld the social network’s ban of Donald Trump after the insurrection in Washington in January. Facebook’s Oversight Board ruled the social network was right to bar Trump, saying he created an environment where a serious risk of violence was possible. Not to mention his constant whining!

MAY 6, 2021 - AM QUICKIE

HOSTS - Sam Seder & Lucie Steiner

WRITER - Corey Pein

PRODUCER - Dorsey Shaw

EXECUTIVE PRODUCER - Brendan Finn