* The RNC announced plans to require GOP presidential candidates to sign a pledge saying they will not participate in any debates sponsored by the Commission on Presidential Debates. This should have blindsided nobody. Recall that Trump spent years accusing the non-profit CPD of unfair treatment, and the RNC knows that fealty to Trump—and his electoral-loss-prevarication drumbeat—now define a degraded party.
* “Electability used to be fool’s gold in Republican politics. Now it’s not. Now it’s a factor. Ideology is not the only measure anymore. The Republican electorate is allowing for imperfect nominees just to make sure we win.”–Jeff Roe, Ted Cruz’s 2016 presidential campaign manager.
* Of the 10 Republicans who voted to impeach Trump last year, three–so far–will not seek re-election. The most recent: New York Rep. John Katko.
* The Supreme Court, as it should during a pandemic, tells lawyers and reporters in the courtroom to wear medical masks. But not everyone, ironically, got that public health memo. That was apparent recently when the justices took their seats and heard arguments about President Biden’s vaccine mandate–the one the conservative-majority court voted down, 6-3. The memo-challenged Justice Neil Gorsuch listened to arguments sans mask. That’s not the optics–or proper public health concern for others, including colleagues–for an ostensibly impartial judge. Even one appointed by Trump.
* Heil, Donald. “Instead of listening and trying to govern with the people, (Trump) is trying to govern over the people, and, you know, that, I’m sorry, I’m a student of history too. I saw the rise of Hitler.”–Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried.