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House Speaker vote derby the 'anti-Groundhog Day' because McCarthy's prospects keep getting worse, critics say

January 5, 2023 Published by

Unlike Bill Murray’s character in the film “Groundhog Day” – who was forced to relive February 2 over and over again – Kevin McCarthy seems to be experiencing an “anti-Groundhog Day” as his chances of being elected House speaker appear to be growing slimmer after several failed votes, Fox News host Greg Gutfeld said on “The Five” Wednesday.

“This is not Groundhog Day at all. It’s the opposite of Groundhog Day because in the movie, he actually got better,” Gutfeld said. “This is the opposite. He’s not. No one’s learning anything. It’s anti-Groundhog Day.”

“The Five” host nodded to observers making the point that the House Republican caucus‘ repeated votes to name a speaker continue to end in a repetitive, predictable stalemate.

HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS NOMINATES BYRON DONALDS FOR HOUSE SPEAKER

Rep.-elect Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., delivers remarks alongside House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep.-elect Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas.

Rep.-elect Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., delivers remarks alongside House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy and Rep.-elect Morgan Luttrell, R-Texas.
(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

McCarthy needs a majority – currently 218 votes – to attain the speakership. Democrats continue to stand in lockstep behind their chosen caucus leader, Rep.-elect Hakeem Jeffries of New York. In the outside chance some Republicans defect to Jeffries, he could become speaker instead with only a handful more votes.

The most recent vote tallies have recorded about 20 votes for Rep.-elect Byron Donalds, a conservative from Naples, Fla., who appears to have the support of most of the right-wing Freedom Caucus. 

House Freedom Caucus Chairman Scott Perry of Pennsylvania nominated Donalds with an impassioned speech. Rep.-elect Victoria Spartz, R-Ind., most recently voted “present.”

On “The Five,” Gutfeld said he is changing is mind on whether Republicans should come to a prompt conclusion of the speaker election.

REPUBLICANS TORCHED FOR MCCARTHY-HOUSE SPEAKER VOTE FIASCO: ‘WORST GAME OF CHICKEN EVER’

Rep.-elect Chip Roy, R-Texas, talks to Rep.-elect Byron Donalds, R-Fla., in the House Chamber during the second day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 4, 2023, in Washington, D.C. 

Rep.-elect Chip Roy, R-Texas, talks to Rep.-elect Byron Donalds, R-Fla., in the House Chamber during the second day of elections for Speaker of the House at the U.S. Capitol Building on Jan. 4, 2023, in Washington, D.C. 
(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

“I want it to go on forever. It’s like an extra inning game that, like. when it’s on, you go set the 22nd inning, you want it to go to 27, you want to go to that long disco,” he said. “It’s like a horrifying spectacle. But it’s also hypnotic.”

“I have a theory that this is all being done because it’s like they love to revert to being college kids pulling an all-nighter. So this is just an excuse to order 50 pizzas and make us pay for it.”

Co-host Judge Jeanine Pirro noted the “present’ vote by Spartz, reporting that the lawmaker wants to forge a discussion instead of continued rounds of voting-in-vain. 

On the Democratic side, some lawmakers have, however, appeared to signal they are open to consensus candidates for speaker.

MCCARTHY NOT BACKING DOWN FROM SPEAKER BID AFTER HEATED MEETING WITH GOP: ‘I’M NOT GOING ANYWHERE’

U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks

U.S. Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) speaks
(Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images)

Rep.-elect Ro Khanna of California told Fox News’ Neil Cavuto Wednesday that while he could not envision supporting Donalds, he would consider a crossover vote if the Republican were a moderate he has worked with constructively before, citing Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.

Fitzpatrick has himself bucked his party at times, notably being the only Republican member of the state’s delegation not to endorse 2022 gubernatorial nominee Doug Mastriano after the conservative Trump supporter won his crowded primary.

Speaking with a reporter from Spectrum News, Rep.-elect Marcy Kaptur, D-Ohio – the longest-serving woman in Congress – also floated the prospect of supporting a certain Republican member.

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“I wish I could be part of some kind of unity caucus that would yield [Kevin McCarthy] the votes because the Republicans hold the majority and maybe put us in a special category,” she said.

“I’m a Democrat, but I have many Republicans in our district. And not that we would agree with him on everything, but at least let the man become speaker,” Kaptur said.

Charles Creitz is a reporter for Fox News Digital. 

He joined Fox News in 2013 as a writer and production assistant. 

Charles covers media, politics and breaking news, and has covered the annual CPAC conference for Fox News Digital.

Charles is a Pennsylvania native and graduated from Temple University with a B.A. in Broadcast Journalism. Story tips can be sent to [email protected].

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Dry eye changes how injured cornea heals itself

January 5, 2023 Published by

A new study with mice finds that proteins made by stem cells that regenerate the cornea may be new targets for treating and preventing injuries.

People with a condition known as dry eye disease are more likely than those with healthy eyes to suffer injuries to their corneas.

Dry eye disease occurs when the eye can’t provide adequate lubrication with natural tears. People with the common disorder use various types of drops to replace missing natural tears and keep the eyes lubricated, but when eyes are dry, the cornea is more susceptible to injury.

“We have drugs, but they only work well in about 10% to 15% of patients,” says senior investigator Rajendra S. Apte, professor in the department of ophthalmology and visual sciences at Washington University in St. Louis.

“In this study involving genes that are key to eye health, we identified potential targets for treatment that appear different in dry eyes than in healthy eyes.

“Tens of millions of people around the world—with an estimated 15 million in the United States alone—endure eye pain and blurred vision as a result of complications and injury associated with dry eye disease, and by targeting these proteins, we may be able to more successfully treat or even prevent those injuries.”

For the study in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, the researchers analyzed genes expressed by the cornea in several mouse models—not only of dry eye disease, but also of diabetes and other conditions. They found that in mice with dry eye disease, the cornea activated expression of the gene SPARC. They also found that higher levels of SPARC protein were associated with better healing.

“We conducted single-cell RNA sequencing to identify genes important to maintaining the health of the cornea, and we believe that a few of them, particularly SPARC, may provide potential therapeutic targets for treating dry eye disease and corneal injury,” says first author Joseph B. Lin, an MD/PhD student in Apte’s lab.

“These stem cells are important and resilient and a key reason corneal transplantation works so well,” Apte explains. “If the proteins we’ve identified don’t pan out as therapies to activate these cells in people with dry eye syndrome, we may even be able to transplant engineered limbal stem cells to prevent corneal injury in patients with dry eyes.”

The National Eye Institute, the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, and the National Institute of General Medical Sciences of the National Institutes of Health supported the work. Additional funding came from the Jeffrey T. Fort Innovation Fund, a Centene Corp. contract for the Washington University-Centene ARCH Personalized Medicine Initiative, and Research to Prevent Blindness.

Source: Washington University in St. Louis

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Arizona judge’s decision on election misconduct challenged by Kari Lake

January 5, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

Former Arizona gubernatorial candidate Kari Lake filed two appeals on Wednesday, related to an election lawsuit she commenced last month, according to reports.

Lake lost her bid for Arizona governor by half a percentage point to Katie Hobs. After the results of the election were tallied, Lake challenged the result and claimed there were problems with ballot printers at some polling places on Election Day, which were the result of intentional misconduct.

Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Peter Thompson ruled against Lake’s challenge after finding the court was not presented with clear and convincing evidence in the widespread misconduct, she alleged influenced the election results.

ARIZONA JUDGE REJECTS REPUBLICAN KARI LAKE’S CHALLENGE TO GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION

Fox station KSAZ in Phoenix, Arizona reported that Lake, on Wednesday, filed an appeal with the Appeals Court on Judge Thompson’s ruling.

She also filed a motion to have the appeal sent to the Arizona Supreme Court, asking to basically skip a step with the Appeals Court.

Arizona’s Supreme Court denied the request to transfer the appeal, according to KSAZ.

ARIZONA JUDGE RULES TWO OF KARI LAKE’S ELECTION CHALLENGE CLAIMS CAN GO TO TRIAL

In its decision, the Supreme Court said, “no good cause appears to transfer the matter to this court.”

Election law attorney Tom Ryan told KSAZ he believes the court will toss the lawsuit.

“Election contests are supposed to be done and completed within 10 days of the canvass,” said Ryan. “They were given all the opportunity to have a trial. Judge [Peter] Thompson allowed in a lot of evidence most judges would not allow in, but he wanted to do it so he could show he gave due consideration and weighed the evidence.”

Lake’s gubernatorial opponent Hobbs was sworn into office on Jan. 2, just two days after the appeals were filed.

 

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Can The 2023 Toyota GR Corolla Beat The Honda Civic Type R In A Drag Race?

January 5, 2023 Published by

Carscoops 

The Honda Civic Type R is the benchmark for hot hatchbacks in the eyes of many. In 2022, Toyota decided to muddy the waters with its GR Corolla. Now, the two top-tier hot hatches are getting tested on the drag strip.

These two cars might sound similar on paper. In fact, the two specific cars here weigh within two pounds of one another. A quick peek under the sheet metal tells another story though. For one thing, the Honda puts its power down through the front wheels alone while the Toyota uses a clever AWD system.

The Civic Type R makes its reputation with a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that develops 315 hp (235 kW) and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque. Toyota’s GR Corolla with its three-cylinder turbocharged engine typically makes 300 hp (223 kW) and 273 lb-ft (370 Nm) of torque. The Morizo Edition in this test develops the same power but a total of 295 lb-ft (400 Nm) of torque.

More: Toyota Launches Lotteries To Decide Who Gets GR Corolla RZ And Two-Seat Morizo Edition In Japan

The gents over at Throttle House start this test with both cars standing still at the start of the quarter mile. Somewhat unsurprisingly, the AWD GR Corolla rockets off of the line so quickly that it’s quickly out of the picture from the camera in the Civic Type R.

Somewhere near the end of the track, the Honda reels the Toyota back in a bit but it’s roughly two car lengths back when the line is crossed. Things change when the two cars take off from a roll. Initially, the Toyota takes off again but that success is short-lived.

The Civic Type R doesn’t just walk around the Corolla, it manages to jump ahead by a couple of car lengths itself before the line. Clearly, neither one of these cars was crafted to be a drag racing king but it’s interesting just how close the two are in such a situation.

Regardless of which hot hatch you might personally prefer it seems that one thing is true. We’re all winners for having both as options now (if you want to pay a huge markup) and in the future.

Image Credit: Throttle House on YouTube

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Wisconsin historic canal filled with butter after dairy plant catches fire

January 5, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

A historic Wisconsin canal was filled with butter Monday evening after a fire broke out at a historic dairy plant. 

Firefighters in Portage, Wisconsin were called to the Associated Milk Producers Inc. (AMPI) plant after 9 p.m. Monday for a fire alarm. 

Fire crews attempted to gain access to the building, but heavy smoke and, primarily, butter runoff prevented them from entering, the Portage Fire Department said. 

VIDEO SHOWS HISTORIC PORTLAND CHURCH ENGULFED IN FLAMES; CRIME UNIT INVESTIGATING CAUSE

Fire Chief Troy Haase told WMTV that firefighters were “up to their knees” in butter. 

“When we first tried to go up the stairs to that part that collapsed, this stuff, the butter was running down like 3 inches thick on the steps so our guys were up to their knees trying to go up the steps to get to the top, and they’re trying to drag the hose line, the hose line got so full of butter they couldn’t hang onto it anymore,” Haase said.

The Fire Department later determined that the blaze had started in the room where butter was being stored. As it heated, the butter began to flow throughout the structure. 

Crews extinguished the fire before it could spread past the firewalls and throughout the building. A hazmat team was called in to contain the runoff into the storm sewers and the canal using a boom and other absorbents. 

No injuries were reported. The fire remains under investigation. 

 

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JESSE WATTERS: Biden White House met with the biggest crypto scam artist in US history

January 5, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

Fox News host Jesse Watters questions what was discussed between Biden advisers and Sam Bankman-Fried during his White House visits on “Jesse Watters Primetime.”

JESSE WATTERS: Tonight, we’re learning “Mini-Madoff” visited the Biden White House not once, not twice, not three times, but four times just last year. “Mini-Madoff” was at the White House as recently as September. At the exact same time, he was siphoning money from drug cartels and sending it to the Democrats’ Senate campaigns.

LIBERAL MEDIA’S ATTEMPTS TO REHAB SAM BANKMAN-FRIED’S IMAGE TORCHED: ‘SOMETHING IS GOING ON HERE’

…

So, who’s Steve Ricchetti? Well, he’s the counselor to the president, one of Biden’s most trusted guys. And who’s Bruce Reed? Well, he just happens to be the White House chief of staff deputy, basically the gatekeeper to Joe Biden. Hmm. So, what did “Mini-Madoff” talk to Biden’s closest advisers about four times last year? 

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…

The Biden White House was meeting all year about cryptocurrency with the biggest crypto scam artist in U.S. history. And all of that crypto money just wound up buying the Democrats the Senate? And then the Biden administration turns around after he won the Senate with the illegal campaign contributions and arrests the guy. Is anybody else in the media covering this story? This story is crazy. 

 

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Twitter erupts after Lauren Boebert calls out Trump during House Speaker vote

January 5, 2023 Published by

Latest & Breaking News on Fox News 

Twitter erupted after Rep. Lauren Boebert, R-Colo., called out former President Trump for telling her and some of her colleagues to “knock this off” and support Rep. Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., for House Speaker on Wednesday. 

“Even having my favorite president call us and tell us we need to knock this off, I think it actually needs to be reversed,” Boebert said as she nominated Rep. Byron Donalds, R-Fla., ahead of the fifth round of voting. “The president needs to tell Kevin McCarthy that sir, you do not have the votes, and it’s time to withdraw.”

McCarthy needs 218 Republican votes to become Speaker, however, he remains stuck at 201 votes after the fifth round of voting. Twenty House Republicans voted for Donalds. 

McCarthy told reporters on Tuesday after a contentious meeting with members of his party that the intends to become Speaker of the House. 

HOUSE FREEDOM CAUCUS NOMINATES BYRON DONALDS FOR HOUSE SPEAKER

“I’m not going anywhere,” he said. “We did have an intense conference, and it’s intense for a purpose.”

“Lauren Boebert calling out Donald Trump on the House floor was not on my 2023 bingo card,” Rep. Ritchie Torres, D-N.Y., wrote on Twitter. 

Politico’s Olivia Beavers said Boebert’s comments on Trump got a loud reaction from Democrats. 

“This got a loud reaction from Dems, who ooh’ed,” she said in a thread about the congresswoman’s nomination speech.

MCCARTHY LOSES HOUSE SPEAKERSHIP IN 4TH ROUND, SPLITTING VOTES WITH JEFFRIES, DONALDS

9News Denver host Kyle Cark wrote that Boebert’s open defiance of Trump and “giving him instructions” was an “interesting turn.” 

“Boebert got into Congress by primarying Trump’s Colorado campaign co-chair, GOP Rep Scott Tipton, and promising even greater loyalty to Trump,” he added. 

“Lauren Boebert getting a lot of points from me for sticking to her guns. Good for her,” author Karlyn Borysenko wrote.

“Trump is sequestered at Mar-a-Lago with his influence diminishing by the day,” MSNBC analyst Cristobal Alex tweeted. 

Democrat strategist Sawyer Hackett asked why the GOP lawmaker wasn’t nominating Trump for speaker. 

Democratic pollster and strategist Matt McDermott responded to Boebert’s decision to call out Trump with a gif of “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert eating popcorn.

CBS’ Shawna Thomas reacted to the news with the eye emoji. 

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Boebert told Fox News host Brett Baier that she didn’t support McCarthy for speaker because he rejected a “common sense” proposal 

“We have been in negotiations with Kevin McCarthy since the summer. Unfortunately, in the summer when those negotiations began, we were not taken seriously because our votes didn’t seem to matter as much as they do in this slim majority now,” she told Baier during “Special Report” on Tuesday. 

 

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China, Infrastructure and 3 More Investing Themes for 2023

January 5, 2023 Published by

Sharp declines in stocks and bonds made 2022 a difficult year for investors, but those moves have also created opportunities.

“The 2022 downturn has set the stage for a much improved long-term investing environment,” Philip Straehl, global head of research at Morningstar Investment Management, said in a commentary from the firm.

Morningstar cites five investing themes for 2023.

1. Return of the Stock Pickers

“Will 2023 finally be the year where stock-picking matters more than broad market performance?” wrote the report’s author, Morningstar columnist Sandy Ward.


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Raymond James sees clean energy stocks jumping 30% to 40% in 2023. Here are some favorite picks

January 5, 2023 Published by

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Photos of lawmakers’ kids looking tired perfectly encapsulates the House this week as the vote for speaker drags on

January 5, 2023 Published by

Business Insider 

A child sleeps in the House Chambers during the opening day of the 118th Congress on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at the US Capitol in Washington DC.

Photo by Matt McClain/The Washington Post via Getty Images

Several children were present on the House floor on Tuesday as the 118th Congress kicked off.
But those hoping to see their parents sworn in were let down as GOP disarray stretched through two days.
Yawns abounded as bored kids were forced to endure the political chaos. 

The first day of each new Congress is supposed to be a celebratory affair: Lawmakers come to the Capitol dressed in their very best, oftentimes with their entire families in tow, little kids strung along in tiny suits and dresses to observe the historic event.

But the scores of young children unlucky enough to find themselves on the House floor on the first day of the 118th Congress on Tuesday looked less than thrilled to bear witness to the chaos unfolding in the Republican Party as the GOP failed to elect a House speaker before adjourning.

The children hoping to watch their parents sworn into Congress were let down first on Tuesday and again on Wednesday as Rep. Kevin McCarthy lost six consecutive ballots for the leadership position. With an ultra-conservative faction of the Republican party stonewalling McCarthy’s bid, the speaker position remained empty as of Wednesday night when the House adjourned until noon on Thursday.

Members of Congress can’t be sworn in until a speaker is elected, so these children were waiting for a ceremony that never came.

These girls had expressions of sheer boredom.

—Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) January 3, 2023

Some had long given up trying to stay awake.

—Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) January 3, 2023

Yawns abounded among the young.

—This Side Op 📦 (@ThisSideOp) January 3, 2023

This toddler (and father) seemed absolutely over it.

Incoming U.S. Rep. Robert Menendez Jr. (D-NJ) holds his son Robert as his daughter Olivia sits near by, during the first day of the 118th Congress in the House Chamber of the U.S. Capitol Building on January 03, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

Some kids had no choice but to wade into the thick of the disarray.

—Johnny Kunza (@johnkunza) January 3, 2023

McCarthy chatted with some children in between his repeated losses.

House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) talks to a young child during a break as Representatives casts their votes for Speaker of the House, on the first day of the 118th Congress at the U.S. Capitol Building on January 03, 2023 in Washington, DC.

Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images

—Howard Mortman (@HowardMortman) January 3, 2023

Here’s hoping any youngsters dragged back for a third day get the resolution the rest of the country also awaits.

Read the original article on Business Insider

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