News Roundup: Build Back Better-ish bill will need hard sell; Jan. 6 committee continues its work

It is a spooky Friday! That’s a Halloween joke! Have you heard of the story of the 74-year-old white guy that stole tens of millions of Americans’ chances at paid family leave? Have you heard of the terrifyingly cynical and corrupt monster called Manchinema? Unlike most Halloween monsters, this one is real and very dangerous and ultimately depressing. It’s not all doom and gloom though; Manchinema has also been able to get rid of the government’s power to negotiate lower prescription drug prices! They also successfully destroyed the expansion of Medicare coverage to include dental and vision. And the horrific twist ending is that … the watered-down legislation hasn’t moved an inch closer to actually being passed! ARGH!!!! 

Here are some stories you may have missed:

• Vulnerable Democrats pick up the pieces after Manchin, Sinema kill widely popular provisions
• Manchin, Sinema still holding out on passing Biden’s big agenda, continuing stalemate
• Justice Department lays out the constitutional stakes of the Texas abortion vigilante law
• Coup architect John Eastman to be subpoenaed by Jan. 6 select committee
• Boise mall shooter was a far-right gun rights extremist who stalked local antifascists at rally
• New Republican poll watchers in Virginia will learn that their leaders lied to them about 'fraud'​​​​​​​
• Justice Dept. reaches settlement with families of Emanuel AME victims, but gun sale loophole remains​​​​​​​
• Supreme Court lifts stay and executes Oklahoma inmate as he vomits and convulses on a gurney​​​​​​​

And from the community:

• Good News Roundup for Friday, October 29, 2021: We're Not Waiting for the Great Pumpkin
• Corporate Christianity: Some companies say Tomato, some say Tomahto, and some say Tomaht-Uh-oh!​​​​​​​