Republican lawmakers push measure to end catch-and-release policies



As massive quantities of migrants inundate America's southern border, a group of House GOP lawmakers is pushing legislation that would put the kibosh on catch and release policies.

"Catch and release is incentivizing historic levels of illegal immigration, stretching Border Patrol resources thin, and making our communities unsafe," Republican Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona, who introduced the legislation, said, according to a press release. "My legislation restores integrity in our immigration system by explicitly prohibiting DHS from paroling or otherwise releasing illegal aliens into the country. DHS can either detain the illegal alien or require them to remain outside the United States while their claim is pending. We must maintain operational control of the southern border and this legislation gets us closer to that."

Cosponsors for the commonsense measure include Reps. Scott Perry of Pennsylvania, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Andy Harris of Maryland, W. Gregory Steube of Florida, Randy Weber of Texas, Doug Lamborn of Colorado, Bob Good of Virginia, Mary E. Miller of Illinois, Jody Hice of Georgia, Michael Cloud of Texas, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Ralph Norman of South Carolina, and Tom Tiffany of Wisconsin.

"This is exactly what the GOP should be passing immediately after taking back the House," Boebert tweeted on Thursday.

\u201cToday my friend @RepAndyBiggsAZ introduced the End Catch and Release Act of 2022, and I\u2019m proud to cosponsor this legislation. \n\nThis is exactly what the GOP should be passing immediately after taking back the House.\u201d
— Rep. Lauren Boebert (@Rep. Lauren Boebert) 1663883387

Last year, Biggs put forward articles of impeachment targeting Department of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.

In a letter earlier this year, Biggs and dozens of other House GOP lawmakers called for Mayorkas to resign.

Similarly, more than a dozen Republican state attorneys general joined together in a letter earlier this year calling for the DHS chief to resign.

GOP Sen. Josh Hawley of Missouri is also calling for Mayorkas to step down. "Your intentional disregard for our country’s immigration laws makes you unfit to remain in office. You should resign," Hawley declared in a September 21 letter to Mayorkas.

Sen. Rand Paul and other Republicans seek end to mandatory mask-wearing on public transportation



Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and other GOP lawmakers are aiming to end mandatory mask-wearing on public transportation.

"The federal government forcing the American people to continue to wear masks despite the fact that we've already reached herd immunity is ridiculous and needs to end immediately," Paul said. "I am introducing the Travel Mask Mandate Repeal Act of 2021 to put a stop to this nanny state mandate of requiring masks on public transportation. In a free country people will evaluate their personal risk factors and are smart enough to ultimately make medical decisions like wearing a mask themselves."

Paul is a Kentucky Republican who has served in the Senate since 2011. The Senate edition of the legislation is co-sponsored by GOP Sens. Mike Braun of Indiana, Tom Cotton of Arkansas, Roger Marshall of Kansas, and Roger Wicker of Mississippi. GOP Rep. Andy Biggs of Arizona plans to introduce companion legislation in the House on Friday.

This Friday, I will be introducing a companion bill of @RandPaul's Travel Mask Mandate Repeal Act of 2021.Senator… https://t.co/4HwHCQwu4P

— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) 1626285798.0

Last Thursday, Paul had tweeted: "When the Senate returns to session, I will be introducing an immediate repeal of the mask mandate on planes. Enough! Time to stop this farce and let people travel in peace!"

Currently, travelers are required to wear face masks aboard public transportation, but the Travel Mask Mandate Repeal Act of 2021 would eliminate the existing public transportation mask requirements and prohibit federal agencies from imposing such requirements.

"Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no Federal agency shall impose any Federal requirement related to COVID-19 that an individual wear a face mask when utilizing any conveyance ... or transportation hub," the bill reads.

"Effective on the date of enactment of this Act, the order issued on January 29, 2021, by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention under section 361 of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 264) establishing a requirement for persons to wear masks while on conveyances and at transportation hubs, as well as any other related order, directive, and emergency amendment of the Transportation Security Administration ... shall have no force or effect," the bill declares.

According to the CDC, 48.2% of the total U.S. population has been fully vaccinated, while 55.7% of the total population has received at least one vaccine dose.

The Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccine only involves a single shot while the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines each require two shots.

Fauci eviscerated online for 'cashing in' on pandemic with new book about 'truth' and 'service'



Critics online are lashing out at Dr. Anthony Fauci following the all-too-predictable news that the infectious disease expert will be cashing in on the coronavirus pandemic by releasing a new "life philosophy" book this year.

The forthcoming book, titled "Expect the Unexpected: Ten Lessons on Truth, Service, and the Way Forward," was only just made available for pre-order purchase, but is already being hit with scathing criticism.

"Profiting from the pandemic with a book deal is truly a new low," Republican Rep. Andy Biggs (Ariz.) tweeted regarding the news.

Profiting from the pandemic with a book deal is truly a new low.https://t.co/sdsts2rtAg

— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) 1622558845.0

"How very expected," conservative commentator Caleb Howe added in a tongue-in-cheek quip about the book's title.

How very expected. https://t.co/efd57VqyWk

— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) 1622569014.0

Washington Times columnist Tim Young commented, "Fauci has a book coming out, because of course the highest paid Federal Government grifter is cashing in even more on the pandemic."

Fauci has a book coming out, because of course the highest paid Federal Government grifter is cashing in even more on the pandemic.

— Tim Young (@TimRunsHisMouth) 1622561036.0

Fauci, who in January was appointed to serve as President Joe Biden's chief medical adviser in addition to his decades-long role as director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, is reportedly the highest-paid employee in the federal government — making $417,000 a year, even more than the president. Nevertheless, the allure of a pandemic-related book deal proved to be too tempting a prospect to pass up.

Of course, he isn't the first public official to ruminate about his experiences leading pandemic response efforts. Last year, the embattled Democratic governor of New York, Andrew Cuomo, released a book highlighting his "true leadership."

Undoubtedly with that in mind, commentator Noah Blum suggested, "I really need the people in charge of handling this pandemic to stop writing books about how they're handling this pandemic while they're still doing it."

I really need the people in charge of handling this pandemic to stop writing books about how they're handling this… https://t.co/YEtnhYQnt0

— Noam Blum (@neontaster) 1622567715.0

The book's Amazon listing cues up the project's offering, saying, "In his own words, world-renowned infectious disease specialist Anthony Fauci shares the lessons that have shaped his life philosophy, offering an intimate view of one of the world's greatest medical minds as well as universal advice to live by."

It also bills Fauci as "America's most trusted doctor," a view presumably shared by many, but rejected wholeheartedly by others who have maligned his flip-flopping and at times authoritarian approach to the managing the health crisis.

"Dr. Fauci is publishing a book and became the highest paid federal government employee while you lost your business and had your kids out of school for a year," the Daily Caller's Greg Price lamented.

Dr. Fauci is publishing a book and became the highest paid federal government employee while you lost your business… https://t.co/sFbnoencSs

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) 1622569180.0

In addition to Biggs, several other Republican congressmen — including Reps. Jim Jordan (Ohio), Mark Meadows (N.C.), and Dan Bishop (N.C.) — blasted the news online, recalling how Fauci's leadership restricted the First Amendment, led to stringent lockdown mandates, and closed schools.

The book is set to be released in early November, according to Publishers Lunch.

NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo says people who refuse vaccine will kill their grandmothers — and gets immediate online backlash



Democratic New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo received immediate blowback from social media after he said that those refusing to be vaccinated would end up killing their grandmothers.

"Who are the groups who are terribly under-vaccination? The youthful and the doubtful," said Cuomo, addressing reporters at a media briefing Monday.

"And there is an attitude that they'll be fine, why should they take the vaccine? Maybe you will get a long-haul syndrome that we're not really sure what it is yet, but a lingering consequence of COVID," he continued.

"Or maybe you go home and kiss your grandmother and wind up killing your grandmother!" he added.

Many on social media thought the comment showed Cuomo to have an astounding lack of self awareness after being excoriated over the decision to place coronavirus patients at nursing homes. Thousands died and the governor's office has been implicated in a cover-up that lasted for many months.

"I mean, might as well get it from the leading expert on killing grandmothers," replied Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.).

I mean, might as well get it from the leading expert on killing grandmothers 🤷‍♂️ https://t.co/mMTjNHBXhm

— Rep Andy Biggs (@RepAndyBiggsAZ) 1620064593.0

"Maybe you order thousands of highly infectious patients into nursing homes full of vulnerable grandmothers, and then abuse your power to cover up the death toll for the better part of a year to sell a $4 million book? Actually, strike the maybe," tweeted columnist Phil Kerpen.

"Perhaps killing grandparents isn't the very best subject for him to talk about??" said James Higgins.

"This guy is a black hole of self-unawareness," said writer Doug Powers.

Others pointed to the humorous reply by Fox News "Outnumbered" co-host Harris Faulkner.

"Oooooh, oh my goodness!" she said, wide-eyed.

Cuomo went on in the briefing to defiantly refuse to admit guilt in the nursing home scandal or in the numerous accusations of sexual harassment and assault leveled against him .

"I did nothing wrong, period, and I am not resigning," he said.

He also lauded the "major" reopening planned for New York on May 19.

Here's the video of Cuomo's bizarre comments:

Gov Cuomo Says Kissing Grandma Could Kill Her If You Don't Get Vaccinated After Killing Elderlywww.youtube.com