Hi everyone,

Welcome back, and a happy Monday to you all, as we kick off the final stretch of February.  BDH and Little Buddha say today's to-do list isn't that long.  That works for me.  I've got no problem easing into a new week.  It sounds like this afternoon's weather should be decent, so maybe we'll go for a walk later. 

First, let's check out the headlines.  The guys made coffee, so grab yourself a nice medium DD, because it's time to clear out some Clutter.

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Republicans are scrambling to distance themselves from the recent Alabama Supreme Court ruling that claimed embryos have the same legal rights as children.  Conservative politicians know it's political suicide to publicly support this religious extremism that threatens the ability of couples seeking to grow their families via in vitro fertilization (IVF).  However, none of them are actually taking action to protect IVF, because this court decision is simply the latest weapon in the GOP's never-ending war on women.  They were never going to be satisfied with making abortion illegal, and they won't end with IVF.  These zealots are also coming for contraceptives, and they must be stopped.

The confirmed sex offender and his cronies will never stop attacking women.  (pic via www.post-gazette.com)

Donald Trump told supporters on Friday that his criminal indictments make him more popular with Black Americans, because they'll be able to relate better to his legal problems.  Critics like the NAACP were quick to point out that Trump's abuse of the courts is nothing like the discrimination Blacks have faced for centuries from our legal system.

Americans for Prosperity Action announced it is bailing on funding Nikki Haley's presidential campaign any further, following Haley's recent 20-point loss in the South Carolina primary.  It's hard to continue making an argument that you're a viable alternative when you lose your home state by that much, so the Koch-funded group is moving on to House and Senate races.  Haley herself has only said she'd stay in the race until "Super Tuesday" on March 5, so it appears the primary is almost over, not that the outcome was ever in doubt.

It's a sad commentary on the GOP that only Chris Christie was willing to take direct shots at Donald Trump right from the start, and he was run out of town for it.  Maybe this would have played out differently if Haley had found her backbone earlier.  This whole thing has been a waste of time and resources.

Ronna McDaniel is resigning as the chairwoman of the Republican National Committee next month, as Donald Trump continues his takeover of the RNC.  McDaniel did Trump's bidding at every turn since assuming the position after the 2016 elections, and he's still pushing her out the door.  Once again, the man who pathologically demands undying loyalty from every crony shows he'll turn on them on a dime if it suits his interests.

Keep an eye on tomorrow's Michigan Democratic presidential primary to see if protestors make enough of a dent in President Biden's total to push him to change his approach on the Israeli-Hamas war.

Don't expect Senate Democrats to waste too much time on the sham impeachment trial of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.  House Republicans had no legitimate grounds to take this action, and they only did it to distract from Donald Trump's legal problems.  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer is expected to put a prompt end to this nonsense.

As part of Florida's never-ending war on science, the state's surgeon general won't bar unvaccinated students from an elementary school that's currently dealing with a measles outbreak.  That's in direct contradiction to federal guidelines, but apparently Dr. Joseph Ladapo doesn't really care if the kids catch the contagious/potentially fatal disease and possibly spread it to their families and loved ones.  His alma matter, Harvard University, must be very proud.

Berkshire Hathaway's annual report came out last Saturday.  We read Warren Buffett's letter to shareholders like we do every year.  The billionaire always does a good job of explaining his views on investing in an easily digestible way.  Long story short, he likes well-run companies that he can invest in for a long time.  In fact, there are two (American Express and Coca-Cola) he says he doesn't ever imagine selling. 

A lot of the Clutter investment team's approach has come from reading about the "Oracle of Omaha."  He's one of the main reasons the staff has always been focused on the long-term picture and doesn't panic during times of trouble.

A new survey of economists now calls for the U.S. economy to grow 2.2%, after adjusting for inflation, in 2024.  Looks like we can pack up those recession predictions for the time being.  Some investors may not be happy to hear that, because it would seem likely to be reason for the Fed to delay any interest rate cuts for even longer.  However, put us in the camp of people who like to see this country succeed.

We've seen tech journalist Kara Swisher on CNBC many times over the years (although she's apparently moved over to CNN.)  Swisher's interviews were always interesting, so maybe we'll give her new book that criticizes the industry a look when it comes out tomorrow.  She seems to be in a good position to know the inside stories, so if she doesn't pull her punches, that might be a fun read.

Twitter is now providing users the ability to make audio and video calls, as part of Elon Musk's crusade to make the social media platform an "everything" application.  Friends, if anyone ever gets a call from us this way, it means we've been taken hostage, so please contact the authorities.

It sounds like Apple's next iOS update will include increased messaging privacy protection. 

Buffalo Wild Wings is giving away six free boneless or traditional wings today to pay off their Super Bowl promotion which offered the freebie if the game went to overtime.  No purchase is necessary, and the offer runs from 2:00-5:00 local time.  Hmm, we might have to take a drive this afternoon.  Thanks, Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers!

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said he's excited about a number of the team's prospects, but he knows how it can backfire when players get rushed to the major leagues.  Cora has a good eye for talent, so that does make us feel a touch better about the current rebuilding process.  However, we're still looking for more reasons to be excited about this season.

Boston Globe NFL writer Christopher Price named 10 free agent quarterbacks for the New England Patriots to consider.  We don't have any real problem with any of them as a veteran backup option for 1-2 seasons.  However, looking at that list just highlights how important it is for the Patriots to find their QB of the future via this year's draft.

We were sorry to hear that former NFL star/current Amazon Prime Video analyst Richard Sherman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence last weekend.  This is his second arrest.  The first time in 2021 was a particularly sad story where he crashed into a construction zone and then tried to break into his in-laws' house.  It sounds like Sherman needs help, and we hope he can access those services.

Russell Wilson claims he still wants to stay with the Denver Broncos, despite being being benched at the end of last season.  There's also a salary disagreement in play here.  With his 2025 pay becoming guaranteed in March, and a record of 11-19 with Denver, it's hard to see Wilson coming back for a third year.

Longtime football writer Peter King announced his retirement in an epic column today.  We were regular readers for many years, and we wish him the best with his next adventure.

The Hollywood Reporter has a look back at the making of Office Space, a cult classic which celebrated its 25 anniversary last week.  If you somehow haven't seen this movie yet, you should fix that error at the first possible opportunity.  It's a solid comedy from start to finish and is available via all major streaming services.

NCIS co-showrunner Steven Binder defended Mark Harmon not appearing in the recent tribute episode to the late David McCallum, saying it didn't make sense to bring him back for a two-minute cameo.  As we've said before, we can understand there might be real world issues preventing a Harmon return to the show.  However, from a storyline perspective, Gibbs absolutely would have been there for Ducky's funeral.  The two men had been friends for decades.  You can debate which other characters might have come back to say goodbye, but Gibbs was a no-doubter. That was the only real misfire in the story.

Linkin Park will release their first-ever greatest hits album, Papercuts (Singles Collection 2000-2023), on April 12.  The record includes the just-released single "Friendly Fire."  While we can't say we love the new tune, the other 19 tracks should make a good workout mix.

Zakk Wylde sounds like he'd be open to recording new music with the current Pantera celebration lineup, as long as it was released under a different name.  We're always interested in hearing the latest from the guitarist, but he's right - it's not Pantera without the late Abbott brothers.

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  Let's have Linkin Park close things out with a live version of, "Bleed It Out" for today's, "Song of the Day."

Thanks for stopping by, folks.  It was great to see you, as always.  Let us know if you're heading to Buffalo Wild Wings later, and maybe we'll see you there.  Otherwise, enjoy the rest of your day, be good, and we'll catch up with you again soon.  Until next time, that's today's Clearing out the Clutter, and we are outta here.