The Attitude with Arnie Arnesen, Jan. 4, 202104

January 4, 2021

rethink the week: 

Dean Spiliotes -SNHU
Val Engress -RI College
Paul Glastris -Washington Monthly

topics and links:

We have a wide-ranging discussion about the current state of the US.

Concern Increases Over Slow Rollout of COVID-19 Vaccines in U.S. 
​https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/01/concern-increases-slow-rollout-covid-vaccines.html

Twenty states raise minimum wage at start of new year  https://thehill.com/policy/finance/532279-twenty-states-raise-minimum-wage-at-start-of-new-year
Economist Moore says he’s not sure US needs ‘massive stimulus bill’
https://thehill.com/homenews/news/532381-economist-moore-says-hes-not-sure-us-needs-massive-stimulus-bill
or Tom Friedman https://twitter.com/tomfriedman/status/1344307149686665218

Poverty surges but the rich got richer   https://www.salon.com/2021/01/03/amid-surging-worldwide-poverty-planets-500-wealthiest-got-18-trillion-richer-in-2020_partner/

redistricting 
https://www.wsj.com/articles/lawmakers-prepare-for-battles-over-congressional-redistricting-11609151400

The Culture Wars Have Barely Begun
Republicans used to think they’d succeed through moderation and inclusion. That’s over.   https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2021/01/bob-good-denver-riggleman-republicans-virginia/617495/

Homes of McConnell and Pelosi Vandalized With Messages on Stimulus Checks  https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/01/homes-mcconnell-pelosi-vandalized-stimulus-checks.html 

Eleven Senate Republicans Led by Ted Cruz Vow to Reject Electoral College Count  https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/01/senate-republicans-ted-cruz-eject-electoral-college.html

GOP Takes Another Step Toward Radical Authoritarianism As Senators Object to Biden’s Win

Trump, the GOP arsonist
https://www.axios.com/trump-republicans-georgia-runoffs-tweets-7997c1d8-9f1b-47ae-8353-94864426eaea.html

Trump Calls Georgia Runoffs “Illegal and Invalid” as Republicans Try to Get Voters to Polls    https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/01/trump-georgia-runoffs-illegal-invalid-turnout.html

Judge Throws Out Lawsuit Calling on Pence to Interfere in Electoral College Count  https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2021/01/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-gohmert-pence-electoral-college.html

Growing old alone
https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2021/01/social-depression-america-failed-its-elderly/617496/

It was an epic year for disasters
A record number of billion-dollar disasters struck the US in 2020 amid the Covid-19 pandemic. https://www.vox.com/22202889/disasters-2020-flood-hurricane-wildfire-australia-california-covid-pandemic

Louisiana Congressman dies at 41 from Covid 19
https://www.vox.com/2020/12/30/22206161/luke-letlow-louisiana-covid-19-congress