January 1, Trump’s tax returns must be turned over to Congress

Good morning Americans,

The Justice Department says the Treasury Department must give the House Ways and Means Committee former President Donald Trump’s tax returns, in an apparent end to the lengthy legal battle over the records. The DOJ’s Office of Legal Counsel issued a 39-page memo outlining that the committee chairman “has invoked sufficient reasons for requesting the former President’s tax information.” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi reiterated legislators’ interest in the documents. “Access to former President Trump’s tax returns is a matter of national security. The American people deserve to know the facts of his troubling conflicts of interest and undermining of our security and democracy as president,” Pelosi said in a statement.”

President Joe Biden was handed a note on Friday informing him that he had a little “something” on his face. “Sir, there is something on your chin,” the paper reads, as visible in photos taken by the Associated Press. A separate AP photo from the same event appears to show a bit of orange schmutz on the chin of the commander-in-chief. An aide was said to have handed Biden the note.

California is once again recommending that people wear masks indoors, regardless of vaccination status. “The Delta variant has caused a sharp increase in hospitalizations and case rates across the state. We are recommending masking in indoor public places to slow the spread while we continue efforts to get more Californians vaccinated,” Dr. Tomás J Aragón, the State Public Health Officer, said in a statement.

Meanwhile, in Texas, Governor Greg Abbott banned mask mandates and COVID-19 vaccine requirements from government agencies and municipalities statewide. Abbott issued the executive order shortly after the CDC updated their recommendation for indoor masks in places with high transmission rates. Abbott defended his decision, saying that “the path forward relies on personal responsibility rather than government mandates.”

The Senate voted to move forward with the trillion-dollar bipartisan infrastructure bill. Senators voted 66-28 to proceed, which will make the legislation open to potential changes throughout the amendment process. Sixteen Republican senators voted alongside Democrats in favor of the bill. Any amendment would be subject to a 60-vote threshold before being added to the package. Some expect amendment votes to take place over the weekend.

Amazon delivery partners around the country are instructing workers to skimp on safety measures. The company requires contracted delivery drivers to inspect their vehicles at the beginning and end of shifts as a safety precaution. However, some say they receive pressure to ignore any faults they may find. “They’d tell us, just make sure everything’s great and go,” said Chastity Cook, a former employee of an Illinois Amazon delivery company. “We just checked down the list. We don’t even stop to read it and make sure everything is there.”

Be well,

Fraser Dixon

Sources

• Justice says IRS must give Trump tax returns to Congress
• Aide hands Biden note during governors meeting: ‘Something on your chin’
• California issues indoor mask guidance for all as Delta variant spreads
• Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signs order banning COVID vaccine, mask mandates
• Senate votes to move ahead on trillion-dollar bipartisan infrastructure deal
• Amazon delivery companies routinely tell drivers to bypass safety inspections