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Federalism in Nigeria – Wikipedia

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Overview of federalism in Nigeria

Federalism in Nigeria refers to the devolution of self-governance by the West African nation of Nigeria to its federated states, who share sovereignty with the Federal Government.

Federalism in Nigeria can be traced to Sir Frederick Lord Lugard , when the Northern and Southern protectorates were amalgamated in 1914.

Federalism is a system of government in which governmental powers that exists in a country are shared between central government and component region. It is also defined as the system of government in which governmental powers are shared between the component units and the central government, i.e. the federal government and its components (state and local government).

Bernard Bourdillon the Governor-general at that time initiated and laid the foundation of federalism in Nigeria in 1939 by creating three provinces. He later handed over the constitution to his successor Arthur Richards and it became the Richards Constitution of 1946.At the beginning of formal British indirect rule in 1901, Nigeria was divided into two regions: Northern and Southern, both of which were divided into provinces. From 1901 to 1958, the number of regions was increased to three through both acquisition of territories and partition from existing provinces. However, while native-born chiefs and clerks were appointed to govern the provinces, the regions were governed by the British-appointed colonial authorities. Such regions were made dependent upon the colonial authorities for martial law, manpower and management of resources.

With the approach of independence, power over the regions was given to Nigerian-born citizens, and regional legislatures were established. By the time that Nigeria had declared itself a republic and replaced the post of Governor-General with the post of President, a national bicameral parliament was established and the country was considered a federation of the three regions. The Mid-Western Region was formed from the Western Region in 1966, and Lagos, the capital, was effectively governed as an unofficial fourth region outside the bounds of the Western Region.

After the first coup and under the short-lived military government of Aguiyi-Ironsi, Nigeria was reorganized under a central government. Following the counter-coup which resulted in Aguiyi-Ironsi's deposition and assassination, Nigeria was reorganized as a federal country, with three of the regions being divided into newer entities and all first-level subdivisions being renamed as states:

the states of former Eastern Region made a bid to secede from Nigeria as the states of Biafra and Republic of Benin, resulting in the Nigerian Civil War.

In 1976, six years after the end of the civil war, the states were further reorganized:

State boundaries and names were also reorganized.

The demand for the creation of newer states in Nigeria tends to emanate from sub-state groups, often ethnic- or tribal-interest groups, which accuse the current larger state governments of subverting or ignoring the interests and necessities of the more local regions. Nigeria also has too much power politically and economically the states have said.

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Federalism in Nigeria - Wikipedia

Co-operative federalism A tool for nations progress – The Times of India Blog

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Within the next few days, India will celebrate its 73rd Republic Day quoting seventy-three years of having the constitution into effect. Since then India is a federal republic (Union of states) however on actual grounds, We follow a quasi-federal structure. This certainly means that the centre will have a cutting edge in terms of powers as compared to states. British Raj introduced the process of civil services in India to streamline the process of administration. Ever since then the central government is run by a human resource mechanism called All India Services.

There have been several changes in past years regarding the process of hiring & training civil servants. Presently the Department of Personnel and Training takes charge of this process for the central government. Once the DOPT selects the candidates for All India Services via UPSC, It allocates state cadres to the selected candidates. Now a person has to serve in his/her cadre unless a deputation knocks at his/her door. In laymans language deputation is an ad-hoc service that an employee performs at a location different from his permanent job location.

Presently, As per the IAS (Cadre) Rules-1954: the State has to nominate the names of All India Services officers for deputation and a maximum of 40 percent of the total strength from the state can be sent for deputation, However on actual grounds the numbers have gone to 25% and very recently due to scarcity of IAS officers the percentage has dipped to 18-17%. Due to this, the centre is facing a huge shortage of mid-senior level IAS/IPS/IFoS officers.

Now let us understand why does central government requires All India Services officers, Central Government holds control of various ministries that are headed by the elected members however bureaucracy runs the day-to-day administration of these offices. Policy framing, brainstorming, sector-specific decision, and a lot more is driven by All India Services Officers. In order to run & deliver efficiently, Centre requires such sector-specific officers at deputation. Now there is a process to get these officers at deputation First is centre submits its request to DOPT for All India Services Officers. Secondly, States nominate the list of IAS/IPS/IFoS officers that they can afford for deputation. Thirdly the decision lies on the officers to accept the deputation.

Since this process is tightly coupled and adds a dependency on states recently an update was made in the deputation rules which mentions that Centre can get an All India Services officer on deputation without the prior consent of the state. This decision has ultimately added a question mark on centre and state relations.

For a nation to progress towards development, The centre and state must work in a synergy wherein the demands of deputation must be heard by the state government regardless of any political background(s) and having nations interest first policy. Secondly, the number of seats for all Indian services must be increased to cope up with the demand and supply of human resources chain, lastly lateral entry into sector-specific domains at mid-senior level bureaucracy must be entertained by the GOI.

Alexa Smart Said: Isnt it ironical approximately 10 lakh students appear for UPSC every year and We are short of IAS/IPS/IFoS officers?

Views expressed above are the author's own.

END OF ARTICLE

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Co-operative federalism A tool for nations progress - The Times of India Blog

Anti-Federalist vs Federalist – Difference and Comparison …

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Anti-Federalist vs. Federalist Debate

The American Revolution was a costly war and left the colonies in an economic depression. The debt and remaining tensionsperhaps best summarized by a conflict in Massachusetts known as Shays' Rebellionled some founding political members in the U.S. to desire for more concentrated federal power. The thought was that this concentrated power would allow for standardized fiscal and monetary policy and for more consistent conflict management.

However, a more nationalistic identity was the antithesis of some founding political members' ideals for the developing states. A more centralized American power seemed reminiscent of the monarchical power of the English crown that had so recently and controversially been defeated. The potential consequences of centralized fiscal and monetary policy were especially frightening for some, reminding them of burdensome and unfair taxation. Anti-federalists were closely tied to rural landowners and farmers who were conservative and staunchly independent.

The most important parts of this debate were decided in the 1700s and 1800s in U.S. history, and the Federalist Party dissolved centuries ago, but the battles between federalist and anti-federalist ideologies continue into the present day in left and right wing American politics. To better understand the history behind this ongoing ideological debate, watch the following video from author John Green's U.S. history Crash Course series.

Prior to the Constitution, there was the Articles of Confederation, a 13-articled agreement between the 13 founding states that covered issues of state sovereignty, (theoretical) equal treatment of citizenry, congressional development and delegation, international diplomacy, armed forces, fund raising, supermajority lawmaking, the U.S.-Canadian relationship, and war debt.

The Articles of Confederation was a very weak agreement on which to base a nationso weak, in fact, that the document never once refers to the United States of America as being part of a national government, but rather "a firm league of friendship" between states. This is where the concept of the "United States"i.e., a group of roughly and ideologically united, individually ruling bodiescomes from in the naming of the country. The Articles of Confederation took years for the 13 states to ratify, with Virginia being the first to do so in 1777 and Maryland being the last in 1781.

With the Articles of Confederation, Congress became the only form of federal government, but it was crippled by the fact that it could not fund any of the resolutions it passed. While it could print money, there was no solid regulation of this money, which led to swift and deep depreciation. When Congress agreed to a certain rule, it was primarily up to the states to individually agree to fund it, something they were not required to do. Though Congress asked for millions of dollars in the 1780s, they received less than 1.5 million over the course of three years, from 1781 to 1784.

This inefficient and ineffective governance led to economic woes and eventual, if small scale, rebellion. As George Washington's chief of staff, Alexander Hamilton saw firsthand the problems caused by a weak federal government, particularly those which stemmed from a lack of centralized fiscal and monetary policies. With Washington's approval, Hamilton assembled a group of nationalists at the 1786 Annapolis Convention (also known as the "Meeting of Commissioners to Remedy Defects of the Federal Government"). Here, delegates from several states wrote a report on the conditions of the federal government and how it needed to be expanded if it was to survive its domestic turmoil and international threats as a sovereign nation.

In 1788, the Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation, greatly expanding the powers of the federal government. With its current 27 amendments, the U.S. Constitution remains the supreme law of the United States of America, allowing it to define, protect, and tax its citizenry. Its development and relatively quick ratification was perhaps just as much the result of widespread dissatisfaction with a weak federal government as it was support for the constitutional document.

Federalists, those who identified with federalism as part of a movement, were the main supporters of the Constitution. They were aided by a federalist sentiment that had gained traction across many factions, uniting political figures. This does not mean there was no heated debate over the Constitution's drafting, however. The most zealous anti-federalists, loosely headed by Thomas Jefferson, fought against the Constitution's ratification, particularly those amendments which gave the federal government fiscal and monetary powers.

A sort of ideological war raged between the two factions, resulting in the Federalist Papers and the Anti-Federalist Papers, a series of essays written by various figuressome anonymously, some notfor and against the ratification of the U.S. Constitution.

Ultimately, anti-federalists greatly influenced the document, pushing for strict checks and balances and certain limited political terms that would keep any one branch of the federal government from holding too much power for too long. The Bill of Rights, the term used for the first 10 amendments of the Constitution, are especially about personal, individual rights and freedoms; these were included partly to satisfy anti-federalists.

Among anti-federalists, some of the most prominent figures were Thomas Jefferson and James Monroe. Jefferson was often considered a leader among the anti-federalists. Other prominent anti-federalists included Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee.

Alexander Hamilton, a former chief of staff to George Washington, was a proponent of a strong federal government and founded the Federalist Party. He helped oversee the development of a national bank and a taxation system. Other prominent federalists of the time included John Jay and John Adams.

Other figures, such as James Madison, greatly supported Hamilton's federalist intentions for a constitution and national identity, but disagreed with his fiscal policies and were more likely to side with anti-federalists on matters of money. Without Madison's influence, which included acceptance of anti-federalists' desire for a bill of rights, it is unlikely that the U.S. Constitution would have been ratified.

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Best of BS Opinion: Combative federalism, helping water security & more – Business Standard

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Our first edit says India would have gained from an early 5G roll-out. Read here The second edit talks of why the proposed IAS rule change weakens Centre-state relations. Read here

Tamal Bandyopadhyay: Time to address conflict of interest in parliamentary panels. Should MPs who own companies be part of parliamentary committees? Read here

Surinder Sud: Water security is not getting the attention it deserves. Read here

There will be more natural disasters, says Ajay Shah.

A greater focus on disaster relief and disaster risk resilience is called for. Read here

QUOTE OF THE DAY My father dreamt of an India where all religions coexist peacefully. The statue shouldnt be the only tribute to Netaji, we must also honour his values.

Subhash Boses daughter, Anita Bose-Pfaff

Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance.We, however, have a request.

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Best of BS Opinion: Combative federalism, helping water security & more - Business Standard

The Republic Day is a reminder of the spirit of federalism and why it is under strain – The Indian Express

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On January 26, 1950 when the Indian Constitution came into force, it was a big step for the nation that had longed to achieve the ideals of justice, equality, liberty and fraternity. Our Constitution tried to give a definite shape to the aspirations of the people for a sovereign, socialist, secular democratic republic through provisions like fundamental rights of all citizens. In a country of subcontinental proportions, it is necessary that the ideals mentioned in the Preamble to the Constitution should extend to all levels of governance. The overall emphasis on equality in the Constitution is visible in all arrangements made around the federal spirit and ideas.

Conscious of the differential needs of the populations of different states, the drafters of the Constitution made provisions for an equitable share of powers and responsibilities among different levels of governments. The lists in the 7th Schedule of the Constitution Union, state and concurrent are an example of this division, wherein each level of government has its own sphere, enabling context-sensitive decision-making. Later, institutions for local self government were added through the 73rd and 74th amendments, which strengthened grass roots democracy.

Article 246 and Article 243 G provide for this division of responsibilities. Article 280 provided for the constitution of Finance Commission to define the financial relationship and terms between the Union and states. Apart from these institutions and the Rajya Sabha, the Constitution makers also left much scope for consultative and deliberative bodies so as to strengthen the spirit of cooperation and federalism. Article 263 provided for the establishment of an Inter-State Council for smooth transition of business between the Union and states and resolution of disputes.

The Planning Commission always had space for discussion on issues concerning the federal nature of the polity and was sensitive to the different developmental requirements of states. The inter-state tribunals, the National Development Council and other informal bodies have served as vehicles of consultations between the Union, states and UTs. These bodies have been instrumental in tackling difficult issues democratically through deliberations while upholding the cooperative spirit between the Union and states. Unfortunately, we are now witnessing the worst assault on the federal system and on institutions.

The Planning Commission has been scrapped. The Inter-State Council has met only once in the last seven years while the National Development Council has not met at all. The tenure of the 15th Finance Commission was mired in controversy and many states expressed apprehensions about devolution. The misconceived GST has already taken away much of the autonomy available to states and has made the countrys indirect tax regime unitary in nature. Many important and politically sensitive decisions are taken without reference to, and consultation with, the concerned states. Article 370 was removed without consulting the state legislature.

Parliament legislated on agriculture, entry no. 14 in the state list, to enact the three contentious farm laws, overstepping its jurisdiction and imposing a law on the states. Students in Tamil Nadu have committed suicide over the discriminatory nature of the NEET examination. Other centralised examinations are also indifferent to languages spoken in different parts of India and education boards of different states. The New Education Policy has been flagged as encroaching on the federal nature of the polity. The BSFs jurisdiction was extended in Assam, West Bengal and Punjab without any consultation with the concerned states. The constitutional office of governor has come under scrutiny several times for encroaching on the powers of state executive and legislature. Recently, the rejection of the Republic Day tableaux of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal by the Centre prompted protests by the respective states.

These developments stem from an ideology that has disregard for the diversity of the country and a contempt for constitutional values. These are rooted in a monolithic conception of the country, which is the hallmark of the RSS and the BJP. Their obsession with homogeneity and the idea of Hindi-Hindu-Hindusthan is blinding. The philosophy of uniformity and flattening out diversity has disastrous consequences for our republic, society and ways of life. The obsession with homogeneity can escalate and destroy the progressive ideals of secularism, tolerance and mutual respect. It should be underlined that Article 1 of our Constitution declares that India that is Bharat is a union of states, and that devolution of powers is necessary in such a setting. A conscious recognition of the federal character of our polity is essential to protect our national character. A struggle at all levels against the Union governments moves to usurp federal rights has to be waged.

This column first appeared in the print edition on January 21, 2022 under the title The missing federal spirit. The writer is General Secretary, CPI

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The Republic Day is a reminder of the spirit of federalism and why it is under strain - The Indian Express

House Bill 454 Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired – Idaho Freedom – idahofreedom.org

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Bill Description: House Bill 454 amends Idaho Code to incorporate federal statutes by reference, including future amendments to those statutes.

Rating: -1

Does it violate the principles of federalism by increasing federal authority, yielding to federal blandishments, or incorporating changeable federal laws into Idaho statutes or rules? Examples include citing federal code without noting as it is written on a certain date, using state resources to enforce federal law, and refusing to support and uphold the Tenth Amendment. Conversely, does it restore or uphold the principles of federalism?

House Bill 454 amends Section 67-5408, Idaho Code, to incorporate by reference the "rehabilitation act of 1973, P.L. 93-112, as amended by the workforce innovation and opportunity act of 2014, P.L. 113-128, and all subsequent amendments thereto. ..." It goes on to say that the Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired "shall observe and comply with all requirements of such [federal] acts."

This is a classic example of making Idaho law subject to changeable federal laws. By obligating an Idaho commission to "observe and comply" with "all subsequent amendments" that may be made to a federal law, the Idaho Legislature abdicates its duty of responsibility and oversight.

If a federal law must be incorporated by reference, it should be limited to the law as it exists on a certain date, so that the federal government cannot effectively change Idaho law without the Legislature's express consent.

(-1)

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House Bill 454 Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired - Idaho Freedom - idahofreedom.org

Peace talks will be held if the NCA and the constitution do not affect the building of a union based on democracy and federalism: SAC’s Chair – Eleven…

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Senior General Min Aung Hlaing, chairman of the State Administration Council, said that peace talks would be held if the NCA and the constitution do not affect the building of a union based on democracy and federalism.

This was stated by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing at a meeting of the State Administration Council in Nay Pyi Taw on January 20.

Peace talks must be based on the Union. In the case of all ethnic groups, the federal states are given equal rights in a democracy and federalism. All ethnic nationalities must be given equal opportunities and cannot be prioritized by one person alone. Therefore, the peace process will be accepted as long as it does not affect the building of a union based on the NCA and the constitution and democracy and federalism, said Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

During the reign of the NLD government, the NLD often came to me to negotiate to amend Article 59 (f) of the Constitution. The Tatmadaw worked to amend the constitution in 2011-2015 period as well as in 2015-2020 period. Since the Constitution was start drafted around 1990, it is inconsistent with the current situation and understands that it needs to be amended. However, he added that the factors that could jeopardize our three main objectives were not included.

There are ethnic armed groups that have signed the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement (NCA), non-signatory ethnic armed groups and subsequent terrorist organizations. We are in regular talks with the NCA signatories and informally with the non-signatories. The KIA and KNPP, which are part of the non-signatory group, have supported CDM groups, provided bomb disposal training and provided ammunition. They themselves are involved in acts of terrorism and were involved in blowing up the roads and bridges, said Senior General Min Aung Hlaing.

The meeting was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Vice-Chairman of the State Administration Council Vice-Senior General Soe Win, council members General Mya Tun Oo, General Tin Aung San, Lieutenant General Moe Myint Tun, Mahn Nyein Maung, U Thein Nyunt, U Khin Maung Swe, Daw Aye Nu Sein, Jeng Phang Naw Taung, U Moung Har, U Sai Lone Saing, Saw Daniel, Dr Banyar Aung Moe, Lieutenant General Soe Htut, U Shwe Kyein, Secretary Lt-Gen Aung Lin Dwe and Joint Secretary Lt-Gen Ye Win Oo.

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Peace talks will be held if the NCA and the constitution do not affect the building of a union based on democracy and federalism: SAC's Chair - Eleven...

No political price yet – The Indian Express

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It is nice to hear voices singing a different tune. Once-upon-a-time Chief Economic Adviser, Dr Arvind Subramanian is, currently, a Senior Fellow at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs at the Brown University. He has excellent academic credentials and is a prolific writer. In an article in Foreign Affairs in December, Dr Subramanian has found fault with the economic policies of the government going under the tagline Atmanirbhar Bharat.

Multiple Concerns

Dr Subramanians top three concerns are subsidies, protectionism and shunning of regional trade agreements. His other concerns include suspect data, anti-federalism, majoritarianism and undermining of independent institutions. He has, unwittingly, let out the reasons why he left the government in 2018 after nearly four years when the government was happy to continue with him. He was not happy and perhaps anticipated that things will become worse.

Things have indeed become worse. The average tariff that was about 12 per cent under the UPA government has now increased to 18 per cent. There is indiscriminate use of safeguard duties, anti-dumping duties and non-tariff measures. India walked away from multilateral trade agreements that would have enormously benefited the country. It is ironic that while Mr Narendra Modi is eager to enter into politico-defence multilateral pacts (GSOMIA, COMCASA, QUAD, the Second QUAD, RELOS), he is averse to trade agreements.

Another once-upon-a-time economic adviser is also disenchanted with Mr Modis economic policies. Dr Arvind Panagariya is currently Professor of Economics at Columbia University and was Vice-chairperson of the Niti Aayog. In a recent article in The Economic Times, he sang the praises of the government but kept the sting in the tail. He wrote: it must open the economy wider through free trade agreements as well as roll back high tariffs, fix the higher education system by replacing the archaic University Grants Commission Act of 1956 by a modern law, and broaden the bases of both direct and indirect taxes. Privatization of PSUs must be accelerated and of PSBs begun.

Apart from the fact that Dr Arvind Subramanian and Dr Arvind Panagariya were government insiders until a few years ago, both are liberal economists, teach in reputed academic institutions, and are supporters of the private sector-led model. While they do not hesitate to identify the shortcomings of the economic policies, they are reluctant to list the disastrous consequences of such shortcomings.

Many Consequences

Readers of this column know what the consequences have been:

decline in per capita income in a country with many poor people;

increase in malnutrition, stunting and wasting among children;

slippage from rank 94 to rank 104 (out of 116 countries) in the Global Hunger Index;

millions of people pushed into poverty thanks to demonetisation, scant support for MSMEs, refusal to transfer cash to the poor and mismanagement of the pandemic;

high unemployment (urban 8.4 per cent, rural 6.4 per cent, CMIE);

high inflation (CPI 5.6 per cent);

high indirect taxes and indulgent direct taxes; poorly designed GST;

profiteering in sale of petrol, diesel and LPG;

return of the licence-permit regime;

emergence of monopolies;

crony capitalism;

flight of top-class business, engineering, medical and science talent.

While the people bear the economic price of the wrong policies and their consequences, the Modi government has not yet been called to bear the political price. In any other liberal democracy, the home-bound trek of millions of poor workers without money, food or medicines; the shocking shortage of oxygen, hospital beds, medicines, ambulances and even space in crematoriums and burial grounds; the uncertified and uncounted deaths of millions due to Covid-19; the thousands of bodies left to float on the Ganga or left on its banks; the callous neglect of the education of millions of children when the schools were ordered to be shut; and the rising number of unemployed youth, would have challenged the governments survival. Here, the government carries on nonchalantly, shuts down debate in Parliament,pursues Luddite policies, and dazzlesthe people with State-sponsored religious spectacles.

Growing Injustice

Meanwhile, inequality grows, along with inequity and injustice. The World Inequality Report 2022 authored by L Chancel, T Piketty et al has estimated that the top 10 per cent of the adult population of India garners 57 per cent of the national income and the bottom 50 per cent only 13 per cent. The top 1 per cent gets 22 per cent of the national income. The Oxfam Report released last Sunday endorsed those bleak conclusions and stated that the top 10 per cent holds 77 per cent of the nations wealth. The number of Indian billionaires grew from 102 to 142 while 84 per cent of households suffered a decline in their income in 2021. The billionaires wealth increased from Rs 23.14 lakh crore in March 2020 to Rs 53.16 lakh crore in November 2021 while more than 4,60,00,000 fell into extreme poverty.

The Budget (2022-23) is a few days away. It would be a tragedy if the government believed it is Teflon-coated and need not change course. The threat of paying a political price is the only deterrent to an uncaring government.

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No political price yet - The Indian Express

After Roe v. Wade: Now the fight for reproductive justice moves to the states – Salon

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Trepidation fills many progressives as we approach the 49th anniversary of Roe v. Wade. While most Americans continue to support legal access to abortion, a conservative Supreme Court supermajority stands poised to gut if not overturn the decision later this year in the Dobbs v. Jackson case. And it would be a foolish dream to imagine that our current fragile, deadlocked federal Democratic trifecta can shepherd legislation guaranteeing abortion access through to passage. The fight for reproductive rights is headed back to the states.

This makes building progressive, pro-choice power in our states urgent and existential. As we prepare for state battle, progressives must commit to two principles. First, we must embrace the fight for state power as a vital, necessary part of the progressive project. State and federal power exist in interdependence, and progressives must permanently pledge to build power at both levels. Second, we must envision the capacity of states to do more for us than solely protect the right to an abortion. Legal abortion is necessary, but not sufficient. It must be the floor, not the ceiling, in the struggle to establish the human right of bodily autonomy. In this moment, let us also reimagine what our states could do for us, and indeed to demand that our states create the conditions under which reproductive justice can be achieved.

Progressives have long been wary of "states' rights' and federalism. As dean of Yale Law School and federalism scholar Heather Gerken has explained, the concept of states' rights has been invoked to defend deeply abhorrent institutions in our history, including slavery and Jim Crow. Thus progressives look to national power, and rights derived under the federal Constitution, as the gold standard for establishing civil rights and other protections. In my view, progressives' continued wariness of states, in terms of both institution-building and narrative-building, leaves a tremendous amount of power on the table. By ceding institutional and narrative control about the importance and value of state power, progressives directly serve conservative interests that have ruthlessly and successfully sought to build power at this level of government for centuries.

RELATED:When SCOTUS guts Roe: The covert plan to provide abortion pills on demand and avoid prosecution

A different approach is to push beyond the stale, false binary choice between building federal power and building state power. They are interdependent levels of power we must do both. We can organize and advocate for electoral, policy and doctrinal victories at the federal level, and celebrate them when they occur. At the same time, we can also tend to the gardens of our states, where building power is just as important. We need to shift the narrative beyond the conception of state power as inferior and even unsavory, and instead understand federal and state power as interdependent, symbiotic and necessary at both levels to achieve progressive goals. In addition to that narrative shift, we need a massive redistribution of progressive effort, strategy and resources toward our states. As states grow in power, we must reckon with and embrace their positive potential in order to achieve the protections and conditions we so deeply desire.

Once we commit to invest as much in states as we do in federal power-building, we can do the work of envisioning states as virtuous venues for progress and demanding that they deliver on this promise. As the unparalleled, uncompromising American feminist bell hooks said, "To be truly visionary we have to root our imagination in our concrete reality while simultaneously imagining possibilities beyond that reality."

Want a daily wrap-up of all the news and commentary Salon has to offer? Subscribe to our morning newsletter, Crash Course.

In our current reality, we cannot rely on the courts or the federal government to protect our reproductive rights. But we can imagine different realities including one in which states are bastions of progressive policies that dismantle barriers to abortion access. And we can further imagine a reality in which reflective state legislatures create the conditions under which we have both the freedom to control our bodies and to parent with dignity, so that we can achieve full reproductive justice.

The reproductive justice organizing framework, created by Black women such as Loretta Ross, centers the experiences and leadership of Black women and communities most affected by oppression. It asserts the importance of fighting equally for several human rights, including the ability to choose to have a child, or not to, as well as the ability to parent with dignity. This framework includes abortion access as a key human right, and also recognizes that reproductive self-determination is directly linked to community conditions. Social and policy conditions as varied as the ability to access quality health care, to receive fair wages and experience safe work conditions and to live in safe homes with clean air and water are inextricably tied to reproductive autonomy, access and freedom.

Critically, many of these conditions have always been, and are now increasingly, controlled by state government. Indeed, as we brace for the potential of a "post-Roe America," we must remember that there has never even been a uniformly "Roe America." Abortion access has always been conditional on class, geography, race and ability. Decades of public policies at the state level rooted in systemic racism and inequality have created ground-level conditions in which poor people, Black people, indigenous people and other people of color often remain situated farthest from the promise of reproductive justice.

As we approach Roe's anniversary this year, progressives must be clear-eyed about the work ahead. We must push beyond stale narratives about "states' rights" and instead embrace the fight for state power as a necessary and permanent aspect of our struggle. We must reimagine states as expansive and transformative venues for the future not just the future of reproductive rights, but of reproductive justice.

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After Roe v. Wade: Now the fight for reproductive justice moves to the states - Salon

Liberal Journalist Mocks Republicans Trying to Help People …

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We reported earlier on the bad situation in Virginia where people were stuck in the snow on I-95 for up to a day. Sen. Tim Kaine (D-VA) was still stuck after 19 hours, earlier this morning.

As we noted, some on the left tried to blame the situation on recently elected Republican Glenn Youngkin. But Youngkin isnt even in office yet, so any government response that should have been done here is all on the current, Democrat Gov. Ralph Blackface Northam and he wasnt doing a great job at it.

People stuck for hours were left to fend for themselves to figure out what to do. So, some were using social media to help each other. This is the best of America, when people respond in this fashion to help each other out.

Now you wouldnt think that anyone could object to the people trying to help each other out in the middle of such a situation. But then, you wouldnt know liberal journalist Jonathan Chait, he who shall be permanently aggrieved no matter the situation.

In the middle of a snow emergency with these people trapped in the snow, this is what he thinks is a proper response? And by the way, Jonathan, this kind of response is pulling yourself up by your own bootstraps. When the government fails you, you figure out ways around it to help yourself and your neighbors. Its the very essence of Reaganism, but more broadly, being a good American.

The Reagan account is doing what it can to help people, and the liberal account of Jonathan Chait is carping and mocking people being in danger. Could there be a better example of why one philosophy is better than the other here? How soulless do you have to be when this is what youre thinking about at this point?

This is the same guy who mocked Americans last month who were concerned about the price of milk because of inflation. He has no soul and is all in with the tribalism.

Of course, it shouldnt be about politics now, but making sure everyone is safe, as the Reagan account pointedly told Chait, who doesnt seem to understand that.

My colleague Joe Cunningham does him in nicely here:

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Liberal Journalist Mocks Republicans Trying to Help People ...

Youth wing of Australia’s Liberal Party recognising the Republic of Artsakh and the Armenian, Assyrian, Greek Genocides Public Radio of Armenia -…

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The Young Liberal Movement of Australia has unanimously adopted a motion at its National Convention recognising the 1915 Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides, as well as acknowledging the rights to self-determination of the indigenous Armenian people of the Republic of Artsakh, reported the Armenian National Committee of Australia (ANC-AU).

The Young Liberal Movement is the youth wing of the Liberal Party of Australia, which is one of two major political parties in Australian politics and currently the party in Government federally, led by Prime Minister Scott Morrison.

The adoption of the motion demonstrates the growing discourse in Australian society supporting national recognition of the 1915 Genocides, which contrasts with the policy of the Morrison Government,who have continued to placate the denialist Turkish Government with the use of euphemisms instead of the word genocidewhen referring to the Ottoman massacres against the Empires Christian minorities.

Significantly, the motion also ensures the Young Liberals support the rights to self-determination of the Republic of Artsakh, which is currently under occupation by Azerbaijan following their attacks on the independent Armenian-populated state in 2020 during the Nagorno Karabakh War.

The 2022 Young Liberal Federal Convention was held from January 21 23, 2022 at the Hobart Convention and Exhibition Centre at the Hotel Grand Chancellor, with 44 voting delegates participating from six states and the Australian Capital Territory.

The motion was moved by ACT Young Liberal President Connor Andreatidis and seconded by one of his colleagues from the ACT Young Liberal delegation.

Andreatidis motion not only recognised the 1915 crimes committed by the Ottoman Empire, but also called on the Federal Government to recognise and condemn the Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides.

His motion also linked the Armenian Genocide to contemporary acts of aggression, notably Azerbaijani hostilities against the Armenian nation witnessed in September 2020 and the pan-Turkic attempts to ethnically cleanse the Nagorno Karabakh (Artsakh) region of Armenians.

Andreatidis motion called on the Federal Young Liberals to recognise the right to self-determination of the Armenians of the Republic of Artsakh, and that the recent and ongoing attacks against the Republic of Artsakh by Azerbaijan, backed by Turkey, are part of an ongoing legacy of Genocide and genocide denial.

Prominent members of the Australian Liberal Party were also present at the Federal Convention and witnessed the unprecedented motion, including longtime friend and ally of the Armenian-Australian community Senator Eric Abetz, fellow Tasmanian Senators Claire Chandler and Senator Jonathon Duniam, and Tasmanian Premier Peter Gutwein.

ANC-AU Executive Director Haig Kayserian welcomed the support of the Australian Young Liberal Movement and thanked them for adopting the motion.

This motion saw future leaders of our nation call out their current leaders by taking a unanimous stand in solidarity with the Armenian-Australian, Assyrian-Australian and Greek-Australian communities by addressing past and current injustices that remain unpunished, Kayserian said.

Thanks to the leadership of Mr Connor Andreatidis, some of the most politically active youth from around the country and members of our Prime Ministers own party have sent a collective, clear and unequivocal message that we must face our future challenges by recognising and condemning past injustices wherever they may take place, Kayserian added.

We thank Mr Andreatidis and past and present Young Liberal members who have supported this and similar motions which continue to demonstrate their ongoing commitment to advancing issues important to our communities.

In August 2020, the ACT Young Liberals passed a similar resolution recognised and condemning the 1915 Armenian, Assyrian and Greek Genocides and the right to self-determination of the Republic of Artsakh (seehere).

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Youth wing of Australia's Liberal Party recognising the Republic of Artsakh and the Armenian, Assyrian, Greek Genocides Public Radio of Armenia -...

OPINION/LETTER: Liberal progressives and a focus on feelings – Yahoo News

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Liberal progressives and a focus on feelings

The letter to the editor, Supreme Court is wrong in COVID-19 decision (Jan, 20, 2022), shows why liberal progressives are a danger to this country. The author says the U.S. Supreme Court should have based its recent mask and vaccine mandate ruling on what he feels would be best for the health and safety of the general public.

His letter shows he does not understand or chooses to ignore the role of the U.S. Supreme Court in our democracy. SCOTUS is meant to be a strictly judicial body. It is not supposed to advocate for or against social policy like mandated mask wearing and vaccination. Its job is to dispassionately decide whether government and private sector actions are constitutional.

SCOTUS ruled that the Constitution does not give the Biden administration the authority to force businesses to require employees to be vaccinated.

Liberal progressives who are rapidly gaining influence in Rhode Island politics are dangerous because reality, facts and the U.S. Constitution mean little to them, as the Jan. 20 letter to the editor makes clear. They demand laws and government policies be based on their feelings. Emotion-driven policies dont make for good government.

Rational people gather facts and draw logical conclusions to make sound public policy. Liberal progressives dont so they should never be elected to public office.

Robert King, Middletown

This article originally appeared on Newport Daily News: LETTER: Liberal progressives and a focus on feelings

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OPINION/LETTER: Liberal progressives and a focus on feelings - Yahoo News

MSNBC’s Tiffany Cross urges liberals to ‘pick up a weapon and get involved’ in ‘war’ for democracy – Fox News

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MSNBC host Tiffany Cross urged fellow progressives to "pick up a weapon and get involved" in the "war" for the survival of the country on Saturday.

Cross was discussing alleged Trump election interference with Democrat state representative Jasmine Crockett, who is running for Congress in Texas, during Saturdays edition of MSNBCs "The Cross Connection" when the duo speculated about how to fend off Republicans who could object to future results.

MSNBC host Tiffany Cross urged liberals to "pick up a weapon and get involved" in the "war" for democracy. (MSNBC)

KAMALA HARRIS MOST MEMORABLE, EMBARRASSING AND BIZARRE MEDIA MOMENTS

"How do we as a country protect this democracywhen these folks don't like the outcome of the next election, and Jasmine, you know, you're running for Congress inTexas where this is a problem, where they have partisan poll watchers,an open-carry state.It's a very fragile situation that we're in right now," Cross said. "What's your message to the people that you're running to represent? And what's your message to our viewers today?"

Crockett responded that "the role that Black women play in democracy" isnt talked about enough by the media, but she will fight for them in the ongoing "war" against people who oppose liberal viewpoints.

"So there's a bigger story that I think is brewing, and that is that Black women have consistently fought for our democracy on every single level," Crockett said. "And I think that Black women will continue to fight for our democracy. And that's exactly what I plan to do. I don't plan to give up. I know that I wouldn't be here but for those that fought before me, so I'm going to continue this fight. We can't let up. If we say we've been defeated, then they have won.This is a war.This isn't a battle, andwe absolutely will win this war."

NBC'S CHUCK TODD: BIDEN 'NO LONGER SEEN AS COMPETENT AND EFFECTIVE'

MSNBCs "The Cross Connection" namesake host agreed that its a "war," and took the analogy a step further.

"It is indeed a war.And I have to say, they have won some battles, Jasmine, but we have to keep our eye on the war.And everybody needs to pick up a weapon and get involvedbecause this is for the safety and lasting of the country," Cross said.

She appeared to be speaking metaphorically, but the language was still striking given the ongoing media conversation about charged rhetoric in politics and the press.

Cross, who has emerged as one of MSNBCs most liberal voices, also recently blastedRepublicanmembers of Congress as "White supremacists."

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MSNBC's Tiffany Cross urges liberals to 'pick up a weapon and get involved' in 'war' for democracy - Fox News

Liberal Boys and Girls Wrestling Teams Win at Atwood – KSCB News.net

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Tommy McClure

The Angry Red wrestling traveled up north to Atwood Kansas to compete in the Buffalo Invitational with an almost complete varsity boys and girls team and a few JV. The Redskins came off a loss to Garden City in their first WAC dual of the season. The Redskins looked more motivated than down going into Atwood. Both Redskin squads would come home with 1st place teams in the boys and girls division with 6 champions and 16 other placers.

The Lady Redskins would only have one individual champion in Mana Chanthasone at 106, but with a large number of girls vs a tournament filled with smaller schools, the lady red would put a placer in every bracket. Chanthasone would dominate her best of three series against Colbys Volger. Isabella Gutierrez would pick up a couple of pins to place 2nd. Leilani Torres would pin 3 of her girls on her way to a second-place finish in the tournament. Other placers were Amelia Alarcon 3rd at 120, Luz Tercero Vargas 2nd at 132, Angelica Quezada 2nd at 143, Alexa Valenzuela 3rd at 143, Rosa Pablo 3rd at 155, Jasmine Rangel 3rd at 170.

The boys would ratchet it up a notch and look the part of a top team. The Redskins big 5 took care of business and all won their brackets with ease. Irving Mendez pinned all three of his foes in the first period all in the first minute. Tommy McClure would pin one and put his other two opponents in grueling matches. Jesus Torres would pin all three of his opponents with his championship being the best of the three, as he would pin Atwoods Withington, who had a record of 23 and 1 record and a number 3 ranking in 3A, in 1 minute 24 seconds. Trystan Juarez, like Mendez, would not let his opponents even get a minute of wrestling in pinning all three. Javon Allen would start off tech falling his first kid in the first period, then made it easier on himself pinning the last 4 opponents.

Liberals biggest surprise came in at their 106-pound bracket with freshman Julian Orrantia, who was Liberals JV and non-scorer. Orrantia, who is almost 20 pounds under weight, broke brackets. He would defeat the number one seed and make it into the championship match. He would fall in the second period but wrestled as a master technician all day. Liberals Big freshman, Hudson Rice, continued his good showing taking 3rd in a round-robin, only getting third because of criteria due to the fact Hudson would beat the one wrestler who had pinned all the other heavyweights, but his early loss to Atwoods Bearley. Other placers were Trey Dinkins 4th at 285, Mathew Trejo 2nd at 195, Yahir Gomez 3rd at 160, Aldo Hernandez 4th at 138, Edgar Landa 4th at 120,

I was very impressed with how both the boys and girls teams bounced back after hard fought losses to Garden City on the previous Thursday night. Our Angry Red girls and boys teams came together to form a unified Liberal Angry Red wrestling team. The girls team are well balanced and a solid team, and they proved it by starting and finishing strong. The boys also had a dominating day from start to finish of the tournament. The boys have built their success on a trio of wrestlers for the 1st half of the season and now have expanded that to the BIG 5. The Angry Red boys wrestling teams BIG 5 consists of: Irving Mendez, Tommy McClure, Jesus Torres, Trystian Juarez, and Javon Allen. We are now focusing on trying to expand the BIG 5 up to the BIG 6 and then the BIG 7, and so on, Coach Fowler.

Liberal will travel to Lamar Colorado for a dual on Wednesday then Varsity Boys and Some Varsity girls will Compete in one of the states toughest tournaments Rocky Welton Friday, while JV boys and other Varsity girls will travel to Larned on Saturday.

Mana Chanthasone (14-2) placed 1st and scored 14.0 team points.

Isabella Gutierrez (12-9) placed 2nd and scored 14.0 team points.

Gisel Tarango (1-8) placed 5th and scored 0.0 team points.

Amelia Alarcon (4-10) placed 3rd and scored 9.0 team points.

Luz Tercero Vargas (5-9) placed 2nd and scored 9.0 team points.

Alexa Valenzuela (8-10) placed 3rd.

Angelica Quezada (6-11) placed 2nd and scored 7.0 team points.

Rosa Pablo (1-5) placed 3rd and scored 4.0 team points.

Jasmine Rangel (0-4) placed 3rd and scored 4.0 team points.

Leilani Torres (9-5) placed 2nd and scored 16.0 team points.

Julian Orantia (8-7) placed 2nd.

Eloy Trujillo (1-11) place is unknown and scored 4.0 team points.

Amedeus Holler (1-2) place is unknown and scored 1.0 team points.

Edgar Landa (10-10) placed 4th and scored 11.0 team points.

Irving Mendez (20-2) placed 1st and scored 20.0 team points.

Aldo Hernandez (4-6) placed 4th and scored 15.0 team points.

Edgar Dominquez (6-7) place is unknown.

Tommy McClure (29-4) placed 1st and scored 25.0 team points.

Mason Bickerstaff (0-2) place is unknown.

Jesus Torres (20-5) placed 1st and scored 28.0 team points.

Julian Harvey (2-5) place is unknown.

Alex Schwindt (5-11) place is unknown and scored 8.0 team points.

Yahir Gomez (8-3) placed 3rd.

Trystian Juarez (23-2) placed 1st and scored 24.0 team points.

Max Arcos (9-10) place is unknown.

Javon Allen (18-5) placed 1st and scored 23.5 team points.

Mathew Trejo (9-3) placed 2nd and scored 14.0 team points.

Daniel Don Juan (5-13) placed 5th.

Hudson Rice (17-5) placed 3rd and scored 14.0 team points.

trey Dinkins (2-3) placed 4th.

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Liberal Boys and Girls Wrestling Teams Win at Atwood - KSCB News.net

Liberal leadership speculation a distraction, Trudeau should shut it down firmly, say Liberal MPs, political insiders, and pollsters – The Hill Times

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If Prime Minister Justin Trudeau is definitely planning to lead his party in the next election, he should put an end to the speculation about the leadership election, or it could become a serious distraction for the government at a time when the country is dealing with the serious health and economic challenges of COVID, say MPs, Liberal political insiders, staffers and pollsters.

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, pictured Jan. 19, 2022, at a Hill presser in the Sir John A. Macdonald Building. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

If youve got rumours and second guessing and people mobilizing in the background, weve seen this before, and that rarely turns out well, either for the guy in the position [prime minister] or for the competitors to take over, said Frank Graves, president of Ekos Research, in an interview with The Hill Times.

If you dont pay attention, and all the other stuff is going on in the background, it puts you in a very weak position. If he [Trudeau] wants to stay, he should definitely make that point, extremely clear and well-known so that any successors [should be] aware that they can alter their plans or continue with them, but with the assumption that hes going to be there, said Graves.

Graves and others interviewed for this article referred to the infamous Liberal infighting back in 2000-2002 between the Jean Chrtien and Paul Martin camps, which along with the Liberal Sponsorship Scandal and them holding power since 1993 eventually contributed to the Liberals losing power to the Conservatives in 2006. It took the Liberals about 10 years to return back to power. In his first speech after winning the 2013 Liberal leadership election, Trudeau made a point of telling all Liberals that there should not be any divisions in the party and that there were no Chrtienites or Martinites anymore.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland is seen as the front-runner in the Liberal leadership potential candidates field whenever the contest opens up. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

If you want to deal with these seeds of a problem, you sort of get rid of them before they start to blossom, said one former senior Liberal. Right now, you could argue some seeds have been planted in a pot. The question: are they going to get some water, sunlight, or not? And Trudeau can make sure that theres no sunlight or water and he has the power to nip it in the bud.

Since the last federal election, political circles have been awash with speculation that Trudeau (Papineau, Que.) will not lead the party in the next election. Some have been arguing that he has won three federal elections in a rowone majority two minoritiesand will not run in a fourth as that could end in a defeat. They point out that in the last two elections, he ran against two different opposition party leaders and ended up with a minority, each time. In each of the three federal elections, the Liberal Partys share of support has gone down consistently which is seen as an indication that Trudeaus best before date is fast approaching.

Since the 2015 election when the Liberals won a landslide majority with 184 seats, the Liberal Partys popular vote support has gone down. Also, it failed to win a majority government in 2019 and 2021 and the number of seats in 2019 and 2021 are almost the same.

Last years election is the first time in Canadian history when a federal party formed government by winning only 32.6 per cent of the popular vote nationally. Prior to this, the lowest popular vote by which a party formed government was in the 2019 election when the Liberals formed government with only 33.1 per cent. And before that, the Joe Clark Progressive Conservatives formed minority government with 35.9 per cent of the votes in 1979.

So, Liberal insiders say that barring a major fundamental change in Canadian federal politics, Trudeau will not seek a fourth term as the party leader.

Hes done, he cannot go into another election, he will lose the next election, said one well-connected Liberal in an interview. People are going to want change. Even in a pandemic election, he could not win a majority. This is after the biggest spending boom, this is where you, your dog, and your cat, and your cousin, and everyone else got money. And if you cant get people to vote for you by giving them money, Im not sure how you can ever get them to vote for you.

Industry Minister Franois-Philippe Champagne will run in the next Liberal leadership election. The Hill Times photograph by Andrew Meade

Since the election, Trudeau has said a number of times that he will lead the party in the next election. But political insiders say he has no option to say otherwise because he would be a lame duck prime minister. They expect him to stick around for about 18 months and leave after that.

Because of this speculation, a number of potential candidates from within and outside of the caucus have been quietly putting together their teams and reaching out to potential supporters across the country. Some of the potential candidates expected to throw their hat in the ring include Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland (University-Rosedale, Ont.); Industry Minister Franois-Philippe Champagne (Saint-Maurice Champlain, Que.); Defence Minister Anita Anand (Oakville, Ont.); Foreign Minister Mlanie Joly (Ahuntsic-Cartierville, Que.); and Diversity Minister Ahmed Hussen (York South-Weston, Ont.). Other MPs might also throw their hat in the ring when the contest opens up.

Former Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney and former Montreal Liberal MP Frank Baylis are also said to be testing the waters.

Liberal staffers interviewed for this article said that their colleagues have already been talking about the post-Trudeau Liberal Party, and are in the process of deciding which leadership candidate they will work for. Prior to the Christmas break, one of the most talked about subjects among staffers and MPs at social gatherings was the Liberal leadership election. The Globe and Mails Bob Fife and Steven Chase also reported on the Liberal leadership speculation on Nov. 24, 2021. But because of the recent lockdown as a result of Omicron variant, almost everyone has been working from home and this subject has been on the back-burner for about a month. But they expect things to change when the House returns for the winter sitting.

Omicron has really killed a lot of that because now nobody is in the same room, said a Liberal insider. Im hearing a lot less right now. Quite frankly, [because of] the holidays people were busy, or busy keeping themselves safe and doing their own thing.

Some Liberal Hill staffers and backbench MPs told The Hill Times that since the election, most of the cabinet ministers and their staffers, especially potential leadership candidates, have been very prompt in returning their calls and unusually accommodating. Also, they find them unusually pleasant, respectful and deferential, making backbench MPs feel very special.

Everyones now suspicious about why these ministers are so nice all of a sudden, said one MP.

Meanwhile, Graves said that in the coming weeks and months, Trudeau and his cabinet will have to make some major decisions on issues like economy and health. But, if theres jockeying going on behind the scenes when the prime minister has no plans to leave, the government would not be able to do its job.

Darrell Bricker, CEO of Ipsos Public Affairs, said that if Trudeau is staying on and the party does not put a stop to the leadership speculation, it could end up in the same divisive situation Erin OTooles (Durham, Ont.) Conservatives are in now.

Just as it is for Erin OToole, where theres a lot of talk about inside baseball, and people are focused on things happening inside the caucus room, instead of being focused on trying to take on their opponents, or present a vision for the country looking like theyre not worried about that situation, said Bricker. To the extent that theyre distracted by it, theyll have the same problems as the Conservatives.

Nik Nanos, founder and chief data scientist for Nanos Research, said that with Trudeau as party leader, the Liberals can theoretically win another election. He said it would likely be a minority. If Trudeau decided to leave and theres a leadership election, things would become complicated as leadership elections are, by definition, divisive. Right now, its anybodys guess how divided the Liberals would be after the next leadership election, but a divided Conservative Party and a divided Liberal Party would be a good news for the NDP, said Nanos.

After each federal election, it becomes hard mathematically for the incumbent party to win the next election because every government has its best before date. So, in order for the Liberals to win the next election, not only do they have to do well, but also the opposition parties will have to make mistakes giving an opening to the Liberals. Also, they will have to give a convincing reason to Canadians why they should choose the Liberals over the other parties.

Stephen Harper was a successful prime minister and won a number of elections, but in the election that Stephen Harper lost, it was because he had been in power for a number of years and hadnt articulated why he still needed to be in power, said Nanos.

For the Liberals to win the next election, they have to hope that the Conservatives are disorganized, and Jagmeet Singh doesnt have a great campaign. And then they need to articulate especially if Justin Trudeau was the prime minister, whats left to be done to explain why Canadians should give Justin Trudeau and the Liberals another mandate, said Nanos.

The Hill Times

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Liberal leadership speculation a distraction, Trudeau should shut it down firmly, say Liberal MPs, political insiders, and pollsters - The Hill Times

Liberal media members heap praise on Biden following first solo press conference in months: ‘Quite the change’ – Fox News

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Media top headlines January 20

In media news today, Biden appears to lose his cool after a reporters question on divisiveness, NPR stands by mask report as three SCOTUS justices refute its claims, and MSNBCs Rachel Maddow says Biden used his long press conference to show Putin he has stamina.

President Biden was met with heaping praise from members of the liberal media Wednesday following a rare White House press conference that lasted nearly two hours.

Although Biden took heat for remarks suggesting Russia could get away with a "minor incursion" into Ukraine, casting doubt on the legitimacy of the 2022 elections, and lashing out at a reporter for questioning his stark rhetoric at his Georgia speech on voting, various reporters and commentators who are known for boosting Democrats were quick to applaud Biden.

They argued the nearly two-hour event was evidence he wasn't "senile," and they continued to contrast him with former President Donald Trump, despite the latter having been out of office for a year.

President Biden gestures as he speaks during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

BIDEN'S PRESS CONFERENCE GETS PANNED BY CRITICS: TOTAL DISASTER

"To go for an hour and 50 minutes and not screw up, really demonstrably not screw up really at all. Really hard to do that," MSNBC analyst John Heilemann said during an appearance on "Deadline: White House" following Biden's press conference.

"The best answer to that real jerk who thought that you could make news by asking the President of the United States, Hey, are you senile? You're not going to make news on that. And the president did the right thing, which was to say, I dont know what you're talking about. Let's move on,'" Heilemann said.

President Biden listens to a question during a news conference in the East Room of the White House in Washington, Wednesday, Jan. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

"But the best answer was, Hey, if you think Im senile, and I'm doddering, you get up here and try and do an hour and 45 minutes in front of you and your colleagues and not screw up. He didn't. I thought it was the best demonstration of the fact that the president's mind is perfectly fine," he added.

Heilemann's obsequious remarks came after Biden drew criticism for suggesting Russia could make a "minor incursion" into Ukraine and cast doubt on the 2022 elections, which both drew criticism and required walkbacks.

TRUMP ON BIDEN'S FIRST YEAR, SAYS HE HAD NO IDEA THE COUNTRY COULD GO DOWN SO BADLY AND SO QUICKLY

MSNBC's Rachel Maddow guessed Biden was trying to show Russian President Vladimir Putin a sign of his own stamina with the lengthy conference.

Left-wing MSNBC correspondent Yamiche Alcindor fawned over Biden's press conference in tweets applauding him for pushing back on his critics and taking responsibility for his mistakes. Like others, she framed Biden's performance against Trump, with whom she often sparred, gushing it was "quite the change."

Trump was known for pushing back heavily on media in hostile exchanges with liberal reporters like Alcindor and CNN's Jim Acosta.

Former President Trump and President Biden (James Devaney/GC Images | Alex Wong/Getty Images)

"Pres Biden, in the longest news conference in presidential history, made news, pushed back on critics, called out lies, took responsibility for mistakes he believes he made, expressed surprise at GOP, talked foreign policy and didn't lash out on reporters. Quite the change," Alcindor wrote.

BIDEN APPEARS TO LOSE HIS COOL AFTER REPORTER'S QUESTION ON DIVISIVENESS: GO BACK AND READ WHAT I SAID

Left-wing MSNBC producer Kyle Griffin criticized Trump more directly as he commended Biden.

"President Biden did not praise or defend Putin during his press conference. President Biden did not tout unproven treatments for COVID during his press conference. President Biden did not insult journalists during his press conference. President Biden did not lie about the 2020 election during his press conference," he tweeted.

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Other reliable Biden boosters like Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin, journalist Brian Karem, and commentator Tom Nichols also fawned over him afterward; Karem proclaimed, "He never once tried to belittle us."

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Liberal media members heap praise on Biden following first solo press conference in months: 'Quite the change' - Fox News

Tiley’s plan to ride out the Open storm – Daily Liberal

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Craig Tiley plans on riding out the storm and staying on as both Australian Open boss and Tennis Australia chief executive. Despite having the backing of the TA board, Tiley has come under intense pressure to step down following the Novak Djokovic visa scandal that has engulfed the Australian Open. But as the blame game drags on and fingers continue to be pointed at Tiley, TA, the Victorian and federal governments, Australian Border Force and Djokovic himself, the long-standing tournament director refuses to be drawn on who is ultimately responsible for the saga. "It's fair to say that everyone was committed to doing the right thing to get the event up and running - and that includes all forms of government, ourselves," Tiley told AAP at Melbourne Park. "Yes, it has been a distraction for the players and of course there's going to be lessons to be learned. "But we've bounced back and delivered a great event so far. "It's proof again that the Australian Open is bigger than anybody and anything." And, to many, too big an event for someone to control while doubling as TA chief executive and the demanding day-to-day duties involved with that enormous gig. "No, not at all," Tiley said when asked if it was unreasonable for anyone to juggle the twin commitments. "It's the same job. To be clear on that - it's one job. "It's one job because you're running the company." Tiley's dual role is in stark contrast to the situation at the other three grand slams, none of which are run by people who also double as the CEO of their national tennis federations. While refusing to accept any responsibility for the Djokovic drama, which came to a head when the world No.1 and nine-times champion was sensationally deported on the eve of his title defence, Tiley did admit to one big regret of TA's handling of the affair. That the locker rooms inside the one-time "Happy Slam" aren't so happy. "The regret I have is (we have) 256 main-draw players, 256 qualifying players and the feedback we're getting from them is that the environment here at the time was a distraction for them," Tiley said. "And also not just for the players but everyone. "So, yeah, that's the regret I have." Despite the Djokovic saga straining relations between the Serbian and Australian governments and drawing global attention, Tiley didn't necessarily agree that running the 2022 Open was any more challenging than other years. "We've had four years of pretty challenging times - from heat to smoke haze to the beginning of COVID," he said. "Remember COVID hit the 2020 event, at the end of it, and then 2021 - 14 days of quarantine (for overseas players). "This year all the variables we've put into it. I'm lucky we've got a great team and they've done an unbelievable job delivering what they have.". Asked if Djokovic deserved an apology from anyone after being led to believe he'd been granted the necessary paperwork - in the form of a medical exemption - to enter the country and the Australian Open, Tiley only wished to "talk from TA's point of view". "There'll be some lessons in this for us and probably starting from Tuesday of next week, we'll definitely review everything that we've done, like we do every year," he said. "What have we done well? What didn't we do well and then set it up for 2023. "So looking at the future, we'll make an assessment at the right time. "But at this point in time we're focused on getting on with the event and not be drawn into what happened." Australian Associated Press

/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-feed-data/f8b4f9af-77be-4ff9-ac39-0b24efc2a526.jpg/r0_74_800_526_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg

Craig Tiley plans on riding out the storm and staying on as both Australian Open boss and Tennis Australia chief executive.

Despite having the backing of the TA board, Tiley has come under intense pressure to step down following the Novak Djokovic visa scandal that has engulfed the Australian Open.

But as the blame game drags on and fingers continue to be pointed at Tiley, TA, the Victorian and federal governments, Australian Border Force and Djokovic himself, the long-standing tournament director refuses to be drawn on who is ultimately responsible for the saga.

"It's fair to say that everyone was committed to doing the right thing to get the event up and running - and that includes all forms of government, ourselves," Tiley told AAP at Melbourne Park.

"Yes, it has been a distraction for the players and of course there's going to be lessons to be learned.

"But we've bounced back and delivered a great event so far.

"It's proof again that the Australian Open is bigger than anybody and anything."

And, to many, too big an event for someone to control while doubling as TA chief executive and the demanding day-to-day duties involved with that enormous gig.

"No, not at all," Tiley said when asked if it was unreasonable for anyone to juggle the twin commitments.

"It's the same job. To be clear on that - it's one job.

"It's one job because you're running the company."

Tiley's dual role is in stark contrast to the situation at the other three grand slams, none of which are run by people who also double as the CEO of their national tennis federations.

While refusing to accept any responsibility for the Djokovic drama, which came to a head when the world No.1 and nine-times champion was sensationally deported on the eve of his title defence, Tiley did admit to one big regret of TA's handling of the affair.

That the locker rooms inside the one-time "Happy Slam" aren't so happy.

"The regret I have is (we have) 256 main-draw players, 256 qualifying players and the feedback we're getting from them is that the environment here at the time was a distraction for them," Tiley said.

"And also not just for the players but everyone.

"So, yeah, that's the regret I have."

Despite the Djokovic saga straining relations between the Serbian and Australian governments and drawing global attention, Tiley didn't necessarily agree that running the 2022 Open was any more challenging than other years.

"We've had four years of pretty challenging times - from heat to smoke haze to the beginning of COVID," he said.

"Remember COVID hit the 2020 event, at the end of it, and then 2021 - 14 days of quarantine (for overseas players).

"This year all the variables we've put into it. I'm lucky we've got a great team and they've done an unbelievable job delivering what they have.".

Asked if Djokovic deserved an apology from anyone after being led to believe he'd been granted the necessary paperwork - in the form of a medical exemption - to enter the country and the Australian Open, Tiley only wished to "talk from TA's point of view".

"There'll be some lessons in this for us and probably starting from Tuesday of next week, we'll definitely review everything that we've done, like we do every year," he said.

"What have we done well? What didn't we do well and then set it up for 2023.

"So looking at the future, we'll make an assessment at the right time.

"But at this point in time we're focused on getting on with the event and not be drawn into what happened."

Australian Associated Press

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Realizing Gene Therapy and Cell Regeneration in Heart Disease – BioSpace

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Only a few companies are using gene therapy to treat heart disease. One of them, Tenaya Therapeutics, is using adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) to deliver healthy copies of select genes to target cardiac tissue and express the protein of interest at high levels. Whats particularly interesting is that it also has a cell regeneration program that at least in animal models shows the potential toregrow cardiomyocytes (which die after heart attacks).

Were heart disease specialists with multiple approaches. We saw early opportunities for gene therapy to address genetic forms of heart disease, so we had good reason to go in that direction, Tenaya CEO Faraz Ali told BioSpace, emphasizing that Tenaya is modality agnostic. Its approaches include programs from three platforms, including cellular regeneration, gene therapy and precision medicine.

With three of its gene therapy programs in preclinical development, Ali said he expects TN-201 to be the first to enter the clinic, and Tenaya anticipates filing an IND for that program in 2022. It treats the leading genetic cause of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (gHCM). For many, this gHCM program is particularly exciting. It would be the first example of a disease-modifying therapy for that indication, Ali said.

TN-201 delivers a functional MYBPC3 gene via AAV9 to address gene mutations that lead to thickening heart walls, arrhythmia, dysfunction, heart failure and sudden cardiac death. There are approximately 115 thousand people in the U.S. with this disease. Disease symptoms can occur with only a single mutation in a single allele, but when two mutations occur, it is life-threatening within the first few months of life.

Weve shown, in animal models, that we can reverse the declining heart function, Ali said, as well as the arrhythmia and the hypertrophy (thickness of the heart), returning it to normal size after a single dose. In animals, prevention or reversal of symptoms leads to extended survival. To be clear, whether (such symptoms) can be returned to normal in humans is yet to be determined, but we think some symptoms could be significantly improved, he stressed. TN-201 was granted Orphan Drug Designation by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

This, and Tenayas other gene therapies are possible because of the revelation by multiple gene therapy pioneers that AAV9 vectors have a propensity to go to the heart.

They showed that AAV9 does a good job with broad distribution and transduction of the cells, Ali said. So, although not every target cell receives a healthy copy of the gene, the vector copy number, on average, is sufficiently high that each cell has a shot at being functionally corrected.

The other factor is the growing body of knowledge regarding the genetic forms of heart disease. We asked several leading gene therapy experts about the most attractive genetic forms of heart diseases, but couldnt get a good answer, Ali recalled. There was a gap in either their knowledge or their imagination.

Now, we have much better insight into the genetic forms of heart disease, such as hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (gHCM) and arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (gARVC). Once we started to ask the right questions, we found several opportunities. In Tenayas case, the technology to answer those questions coincided with advancements in delivery and manufacturing, which also created new opportunities.

Gene therapy isnt Tenayas only approach, though.

Some forms of heart disease are caused by the loss of cardiomyocytes, for example, after a heart attack, Ali pointed out. Once they are lost, no therapy exists today to bring those cells back. Our approach is to create new cells in vivo, using AAV to deliver proprietary combinations of genes.

That program is based on work by the company co-founders Deepak Srivastava, M.D., president of the Gladstone Institutes, and Eric Olson, Ph.D., at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Srivastava took Shinya Yamanakas work on induced pluripotent stem cells (for which he won the 2012 Nobel Prize) a step further, finding, with Dr. Olson, a combination of factors that could turn cardiac fibroblasts into new cardiomyocytes. By altering those factors, they found they also could induce existing cardiomyocytes to divide and create new cells.

Both of these approaches have achieved proof of concept in large animal models with human-sized hearts, Ali said. This means, potentially, that hearts may possibly be returned to normal function after heart attacks.

Another Tenaya program dubbed TYA-11631 uses a small molecule to treat heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) and Tenaya also expects to file an IND for that program in 2022. HFpEF disease involves a thickening and stiffening of the heart's ventricles (the major pumping chambers) that restricts the heart's ability to fill up with blood in between heartbeats. There are approximately 3 million people in the U.S. with this disease.

Each of our programs is built on strong scientific foundations. Were not a me-too company, Ali said.

The future of heart disease is changing dramatically with the steady advance of precision medicine approaches, doing for cardiac patients what has been done so successfully for oncology patients. After decades oftreating the big categories of heart disease hypertension, for example the ability to address the genetics of heart disease is within sight.

As Ali said, We have better tools now, and better delivery methods, and can begin to apply them to the leading cause of death throughout the world to address heart disease in a more precise way, thus turning large categories into ever-smaller categories of disease. As in oncology, the desired result with this approach is more precise and less expensive clinical trials, faster approvals and ultimately more hope and better therapies for patients.

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Realizing Gene Therapy and Cell Regeneration in Heart Disease - BioSpace

Bionano Genomics Announces its Support for the AGMG – GlobeNewswire

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SAN DIEGO, Jan. 19, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Bionano Genomics, Inc. (BNGO), pioneer of optical genome mapping (OGM) solutions on the Saphyr system and provider of NxClinical, the leading software solutions for visualization, interpretation and reporting of genomic data, today announced that it will financially support the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine and its Next Generation Fellowship & Residency Training Awards Program in genetics and genomics.

Patients with genetic and genomic disorders require access to medical professionals who are qualified to analyze and treat their often extremely rare conditions. Due to shortages in medical professionals in specialty areas of clinical genomics, it can be difficult for a patient to connect with board-certified PhDs or MDs in medical genetics and genomics. The Next Generation Fellowship & Residency Training Awards Program has been helping fill that gap for the past twenty years.

As the chief executive officer for the ACMG Foundation for Genetic and Genomic Medicine (ACMGF) and in support of the Next Generation Fellowship & Residency Training Awards Program, I want to personally thank and recognize Bionano Genomics. Their generous commitment to three years of support for our Laboratory Genetics and Genomics (LGG) fellowships will be critical to bringing new talent to our specialty field. We believe Bionanos support will contribute to the future of clinical genomics, and Im glad that Bionano Genomics recognizes the importance of supporting ACMGF and the program in laboratory genetic medicine, said Dr. Max Muenke, FACMG.

The Next Generation Fellowship & Residency Training Awards Program is focused on expanding the workforce pipeline by attracting excellent physicians and PhD laboratorians to genetic and genomic medicine. Bionanos three years of financial support in this program is expected to play a significant role in the ACMGFs work to add more experts to the field and expand the reach of genetic and genomic medicine.

Bionano is honored and proud to support theACMGF and the laboratory geneticists who will be supported by these fellowships, commented Erik Holmlin, PhD, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bionano. Bionanos mission is to transform the way the world sees the genome so we can elevate the health and wellness of all people. Supporting the development of the next generation of leaders in the practice of laboratory genetic medicine through theACMGF Next Generation Fellowship & Residency Awards Program is important in achieving that objective and we are thankful to theACMGF for the opportunity to be a part of their efforts.

About Bionano Genomics

Bionano Genomics is a provider of genome analysis solutions that can enable researchers and clinicians to reveal answers to challenging questions in biology and medicine. The Companys mission is to transform the way the world sees the genome through OGM solutions, diagnostic services and software. The Company offers OGM solutions for applications across basic, translational and clinical research. Through its Lineagen business, the Company also provides diagnostic testing for patients with clinical presentations consistent with autism spectrum disorder and other neurodevelopmental disabilities. Through its BioDiscovery business, the Company also offers an industry-leading, platform-agnostic software solution, which integrates next-generation sequencing and microarray data designed to provide analysis, visualization, interpretation and reporting of copy number variants, single-nucleotide variants and absence of heterozygosity across the genome in one consolidated view. For more information, visit http://www.bionanogenomics.com, http://www.lineagen.comor http://www.biodiscovery.com.

Forward-Looking Statements of Bionano Genomics

This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as may, will, expect, plan, anticipate, estimate, intend and similar expressions (as well as other words or expressions referencing future events, conditions or circumstances) convey uncertainty of future events or outcomes and are intended to identify these forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include statements regarding our intentions, beliefs, projections, outlook, analyses or current expectations concerning, among other things, the benefits of Bionanos support of ACMGF and its Next Generation Fellowship & Residency Awards Program, Bionanos anticipated role in advancing ACMGFs work and building the future of clinical genomics, and the contributions of Bionanos support toward bringing talent to the clinical genomics field. Each of these forward-looking statements involves risks and uncertainties. Actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected or implied in these forward-looking statements. Factors that may cause such a difference include the risks and uncertainties associated with: the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our business and the global economy; general market conditions; changes in the competitive landscape, including the introduction of competitive technologies or improvements in existing technologies; failure of ACMGF or its Next Generation Fellowship & Residency Awards Program to meet expectations; changes in our strategic plans; our ability to obtain sufficient financing to fund our strategic plans; and the risks and uncertainties associated with our business and financial condition in general, including the risks and uncertainties described in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including, without limitation, our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2020 and in other filings subsequently made by us with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date on which they were made and are based on managements assumptions and estimates as of such date. We do not undertake any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of the receipt of new information, the occurrence of future events or otherwise.

CONTACTSCompany Contact:Erik Holmlin, CEOBionano Genomics, Inc.+1 (858) 888-7610eholmlin@bionanogenomics.com

Investor Relations:Amy ConradJuniper Point+1 (858) 366-3243amy@juniper-point.com

Media Relations:Michael SullivanSeismic+1 (503) 799-7520michael@teamseismic.com

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Bionano Genomics Announces its Support for the AGMG - GlobeNewswire

Small children getting less sick from Omicron; Genetic mutation protects against severe COVID – Reuters

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A child is seen near a syringe containing a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine at Smoketown Family Wellness Center in Louisville, Kentucky, U.S., November 8, 2021. REUTERS/Jon Cherry

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Jan 21 (Reuters) - The following is a summary of some recent studies on COVID-19. They include research that warrants further study to corroborate the findings and that has yet to be certified by peer review.

Small children are getting less sick from Omicron

In very young children, the Omicron variant of the coronavirus causes less severe disease than the Delta variant, according to a new study.

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Researchers reviewed data on nearly 80,000 U.S. children under age 5 with a first infection, including 7,201 infected in late December or early January when Omicron was causing more than 90% of cases. After accounting for other risk factors, including medical conditions and socioeconomic circumstances, researchers found children infected during the Omicron surge had a 29% lower risk of emergency department visits, a 67% lower risk of hospitalization, a 68% lower risk of needing intensive care, and a 71% lower risk of needing machines to breathe, compared to children infected with Delta. However, "because of Omicron's increased transmissibility, the overall number of emergency department visits, hospitalizations, ICU admissions, and mechanical ventilator use in children may still be greater" with Omicron than with Delta, according to a report posted on medRxiv ahead of peer review.

The investigators have also observed that infection rates were disproportionately higher in Black and Hispanic children for both Omicron and Delta for this age group, and the gap widened for infections with Omicron, said study leader Rong Xu of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine. Not yet published data shows that "children under 5 had the highest infection rate with Omicron" compared to older children and adults in all age groups, she said.

Genetic mutation protects against severe COVID-19

New findings add to evidence that people with a certain version of a gene are less likely to develop severe COVID-19.

Earlier research had identified a specific group of genes, called the OAS1/2/3 gene cluster, as being involved in the risk for severe COVID-19. One version of a gene in that cluster - passed down from Neanderthals - appeared to protect against severe disease, reducing the risk by about 23%. The earlier research was done mainly in people of European ancestry. According to a report published in Nature Genetics, researchers now see the same association of this genetic variant with less severe COVID-19 in people of African ancestry.

"The fact that individuals of African descent had the same protection allowed us to identify the unique variant in the DNA that actually protects from COVID-19 infection," coauthor Dr. Jennifer Huffman of said in a statement. OAS genes are involved in a cascade of effects that help cells fight viruses, the researchers said. Understanding of these genes and their effect on COVID-19 risks could aid development of future drugs, they added.

Fewer Delta breakthroughs with Moderna vs Pfizer/BioNTech

When the Delta variant of the coronavirus was prevalent in the United States, recipients of two doses of Moderna's (MRNA.O) mRNA vaccine were less likely to experience a breakthrough infection - and if they did, were slightly less likely to be hospitalized - than recipients of two doses of the mRNA vaccine from Pfizer (PFE.N) and BioNTech , a large study found.

Researchers analyzed health records of more than 637,000 vaccine recipients who were not previously infected with the virus and had not gotten a booster shot. As reported on Thursday in JAMA, breakthrough infections steadily increased every month from July to November 2021, with higher rates in the Pfizer/BioNTech group. In November, there were 2.8 cases among every thousand people vaccinated with the Pfizer/BioNTech shots, compared to 1.6 cases per thousand recipients of the Moderna vaccines. The vaccines protected equally well against death, but the hospitalization rate was 12.7% for infected Moderna recipients and 13.3% for Pfizer/BioNTech recipients. When the researchers compared 62,584 Moderna recipients to a closely-matched equal-sized group of Pfizer/BioNTech recipients, the risk for breakthrough infection was 15% lower in the Moderna group.

"Although there is a difference in breakthrough infections, both vaccines are highly protective against SARS-COV2 infection and especially against the most severe consequences of infection," said coauthor Pamela Davis of Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in a statement.

Click for a Reuters graphic on vaccines in development.

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Reporting by Nancy Lapid; Editing by Bill Berkrot

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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Small children getting less sick from Omicron; Genetic mutation protects against severe COVID - Reuters