January 1, Churches burned to the ground in ‘anti-church hate crime wave’

Good morning Middle America,

In Canada, at least 20 churches have been burned or vandalized. Ezra Levant, the founder of Rebel News, took exception to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s response to the surging crime spree. “This is so explicitly an anti-church hate crime wave and yet Justin Trudeau, who is normally the first and the wokest, waited a week before saying anything and he literally said ‘that’s not the way to go,” Levant said. “The trouble is, from the very top, it’s either silence or tacit support.”

President Joe Biden fired Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul after he refused to comply with Biden’s request to submit his resignation. “Since taking office, Commissioner Saul has undermined and politicized Social Security disability benefits, terminated the agency’s telework policy that was utilized by up to 25 percent of the agency’s workforce, not repaired SSA’s relationships with relevant Federal employee unions including in the context of COVID-19 workplace safety planning, reduced due process protections for benefits appeals hearings, and taken other actions that run contrary to the mission of the agency and the President’s policy agenda,” a White House official said. Biden had requested for the top two officials at the Social Security Administration to resign.

General Motors is recalling over 400,000 pickup trucks due to the potential for the side airbags to explode without warning. The recall applies to certain 2015 and 2016 Chevrolet and GMC Sierra 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks. Three 2015 Silverado airbag inflators ruptured last month, two in Texas and one in Florida. All three trucks were unoccupied and no injuries were reported. GM says owners will be notified starting August 16, and dealers will replace both side airbag modules.

What’s in a name? Bug experts at the Entomological Society of America are searching for a new name for gypsy moths because of the term’s pejorative connotations. “It’s an ethnic slur, to begin with, that’s been rejected by the Romani people a long time ago,” society president Michelle S. Smith said. “Second, nobody wants to be associated with a harmful invasive pest.” The group is scrutinizing over 2,000 common insect names in order to remove those that are derogatory and geographically inaccurate.

Dr. Janet Woodcock, acting commissioner of the US Food and Drug Administration, requested an investigation into the polarizing approval of the Alzheimer’s drug Aduhelm. In an open letter, Woodcock said the review should consider interactions between Biogen, the manufacturer of Aduhelm, and the FDA during the process that led to the approval of the drug last month. “There continue to be concerns raised, however, regarding contacts between representatives from Biogen and FDA during the review process, including some that may have occurred outside of the form correspondence process,” Woodcock wrote.

In Michigan, a woman accidentally received an email from her prospective employer that contained an insult about her appearance. Gracie Lorincz, 21, applied for a brand representative position with Ava Lane Boutique. The VP of operations, Chuck DeGrenddel, mistakenly sent Lorincz an email that was meant for his wife who owns the store. “This girl is fresh out of college (Hope College) and not that cute,” the email read. “She applied to the sales model position. Are you sure you want me to interview her?” Lorincz shared a video on TikTok detailing the incendiary correspondence, which has amassed over 1.3 million views.

Best,

Fraser Dixon

Sources

• Churches burned to the ground in Canada in ‘anti-church hate crime wave’
• Biden fires top official at Social Security Administration after he refuses to resign
• GM Is Recalling Almost Half A Million Pickups Because Their Side Air Bags Can Explode
• Bug experts seeking new name for destructive gypsy moths
• Acting FDA commissioner calls for independent investigation into approval of Alzheimer’s drug
• Job applicant outs boss for calling her ‘not that cute’ in accidental email