Hi everyone,

How are you?  Yesterday was generally productive, although I wish I could have grabbed a quick nap before my meeting.  I think it went okay, though.  Got a little gardening time at the end of the day, so that's a win.  BDH and Little Buddha say today's to-do list isn't anything crazy, which is fine.  It doesn't sound like the weather is going to be that great, so it's just as well if I don't have to do much running around.

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

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President Biden endorsed House Speaker Mike Johnson's plan to introduce foreign aid bills for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan yesterday.  The packages are reportedly expected to be voted on this Saturday.  However, Speaker Johnson will need Democrats to help pass the proposals, because pro-Russia Republicans oppose any measure to help Ukraine.  Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene is still holding the threat of removal over Speaker Johnson's head, so we'll see if this plan is enough to get her to pull the trigger.  Speaker Johnson is about as conservative as they get, but the MAGA cult demands 100% obedience to the whims of Donald Trump.

Will President Biden's approval mean the end of Speaker Johnson?  (pic via www.yahoo.com)

The House foreign aid package will reportedly also include the mandate that TikTok be sold to another owner or else face being banned in the United States.  That's still a terrible idea.  Whatever issues the social media platform may or may not have, blocking its use is the move of an authoritarian government, not one that supports free speech.

Senate Democrats wasted no time dismissing the articles of impeachment against Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas yesterday.  This whole thing was a sham from the beginning.  Republicans never had any evidence of Secretary Mayorkas committing the necessary "high crimes and misdemeanors" to warrant removal.  This was all performative theater to work the GOP base up into a lather, while Donald Trump did his best to kill any immigration bill.

If Donald Trump testifies at his hush money trial, prosecutors want to be able to ask him about his civil suit defeats as a way to discredit him. They'll have plenty to talk about, including sexual assault, fraud, and tax evasion.   Judge Juan Merchan will need to set a date for a hearing to discuss the scope of allowable questions. 

A new Harvard Institute of Politics poll shows President Biden with a healthy lead among young likely voters.  The younger generation is much more progressive than their parents and grandparents, and they clearly understand that Donald Trump and the MAGA mob are a direct threat to the issues they care about. 

On a related note, the Congressional Progressive Caucus is expected to release their agenda for 2025 today, assuming President Biden wins re-election.  The proposals are said to be focused heavily on economic issues like the minimum wage, capping child care costs, expanding Social Security benefits, and more.  Voters should choose the officials who actually want to help middle and lower-class Americans, instead of the party that does nothing but push pro-Russia propaganda, give unnecessary tax cuts to the rich, and wage an unrelenting assault against women.

Members of the Kennedy family are endorsing President Biden at a Pennsylvania event today in order to further distance themselves from Robert F. Kennedy Jr's crackpot campaign.

Arizona Republicans once again blocked an attempt to repeal the state's pre-Civil War abortion ban yesterday.  As the late great Maya Angelou said, "When people show you who they are, believe them."  Conservatives are obsessed with controlling every aspect of women's lives.  This is what Donald Trump inflicted upon the country when he appointed the U.S. Supreme Court justices who helped overturn Roe v. Wade. 

A new study of state executions since 1982 shows that they were more likely to be botched for Black inmates.  Capital punishment is inherently racist in general, and we see that the prejudice continues down to the final steps.  The death penalty is an abomination, and no country which allows it can claim the moral high ground on any issue.

The Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 2-0 last night, thanks to a complete game from starter Tanner Houck.  The righty only needed 94 pitches to throw Boston's first shutout since 2022.  Houck also allowed just three hits and no walks, which is huge for him.  He's showing signs that this might be the year he becomes the complete pitcher the Red Sox envisioned, which would be a huge development for Boston. 

Next up:  The Red Sox try to split the series against the Guardians this afternoon.  Brennan Bernardino will take the mound first, in what will be a bullpen game for Boston.

Unfortunately, yesterday's news wasn't all positive for the Red Sox:  Pitcher Garrett Whitlock is heading to the 15-day IL with a left oblique strain, thus even further depleting Boston's starting rotation. 

ESPN.com has a lengthy look at Bill Belichick's inability to find a new job this NFL offseason.  A variety of factors seemed to be working against him, including his age, his history of being in charge of everything and not playing well with others, and perhaps some negative talk behind the scenes by Robert Kraft.  Belichick seems like an obvious choice for another gig, given his historic record of success.  However, will teams want to invest in the 73-year-old if it's only for a few years?  The Dallas Cowboys might still be an option, but other than that, the doors seem to be closing for the coach.

This CNBC.com article on Vince McMahon's life after being kicked out of the WWE reads like a press release from his publicist.  Sure, the disgraced McMahon has been accused of sexual abuse and trafficking, but he brought some kittens and puppies for friends to adopt, so everything is fine.

Quentin Tarantino has reportedly dropped the idea of directing The Critic as his final movie.  Apparently Tarantino just changed his mind after writing the script and has decided to start over.  We look forward to seeing whatever ends up being his last project.  In the meantime, here's hoping the script for The Critic eventually makes its way online.

Pamela Anderson is reportedly joining Liam Neeson for next year's Naked Gun remake.  That pairing is a little hard to imagine.  However, after watching Pamela, a Love Story on Netflix last year, we're rooting for the actress to succeed, so here's hoping this movie turns out well.

Did you know James Gandolfini reprised the role of Tony Soprano as part of a recruiting video to bring LeBron James to the New York Knicks in 2010?  The skit with Edie Falco's Carmella Soprano is a little silly, but it still works as a postscript to the Sopranos series finale.  It's hard to believe this didn't work on James.

We want to wish the happiest of birthdays to Clutter favorite David Tennant.  The 10th/14th Doctor turns 53 years old today.

SNL's Heidi Gardner talked about losing it during last week's skit that featured Beavis and Butthead. 

It's disappointing to hear that a second season of Daisy Jones & the Six isn't in the cards for the time being.  That feels like an idea which could be revisited down the road, so hopefully the powers that be will change their minds in the future.

A number of stars from The Office reunited for an AT&T commercial.  Actually, at almost six and a half minutes, it's more like a mini-episode featuring the actors as themselves.  If you need a Dunder Mifflin fix, enjoy the ad.

Taylor Swift's new album comes out at midnight on the East Coast, so you West Coast folks can actually get it at 9:00 tonight.  (Lucky you!)  While you wait, here's what you need to know about The Tortured Poets Department.

Black Crowes front man Chris Robinson says the band, "doesn't know shit about music," and that's a good thing in his view.

Okay kids, that's going to do it for now.  Here's Pearl Jam to close things out with their new single, "Wreckage" for today's, "Song of the Day."

Thanks for stopping by, folks.  It was great to see you, as always.  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.