The Morning Briefing: State of the Union, Learn to Code, and Much, Much More

Image Via Shutterstock, logo for Twitter.

Good Tuesday morning!

So last night, we chatted in Bible Study about loving your enemies. That’s becoming increasingly difficult when my enemies engage in character assassination against the Covington High School boys for “smirking,” so do pray for the state of my soul. I do send a prayer to the SPLC once in a while, and boy! do they need it… (And yes, prayers for your enemy to repent of their evil are still prayers for their good.)

Advertisement

The state of our union is … ON

Trump has come to an agreement with one of his enemies (who shouldn’t be his enemy, but I digress), and the State of the Union will be happening in the House of Representatives as is traditional.

The State of the Union will be a good break from the shutdowns, and I’m still thinking we’ll get a Valentine’s Day version next month — or a state of emergency. Imagine Trump declares a state of emergency during the State of the Union… crap, now it’s going to happen. I jinxed it.

Speaking of Trump and various states of being, the president may not be under investigation soon. As the screaming above-the-fold Drudge story tell us, acting Attorney General Matt Whitaker said Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe may be nearing its long-overdue end. Oh, and Michael Cohen may testify, after all.

Whatever happens in the State of the Union, it’s going to be interesting. Whatever you do, don’t be morbid and watch Ruth Bader Ginsburg the whole time. Remember that praying for your enemies bit? That’s for her. We all want Amy Coney Barrett on that Supreme Court, but let’s be courteous and charitable and pray for Ginsburg’s health — and perhaps that she’d have the good sense to retire.

Advertisement

“Learn to Code” becomes hate speech

So, in the days of yore known as 2011, the “learn to code” meme was born. Journalists wrote articles urging coal miners to train themselves for another profession — coding. BuzzFeed’s Katie Notopoulos wrote a humorous quiz showing just how many people have been encouraged to learn to code.

Well, the journalists got their comeuppance on this one. BuzzFeed and HuffPost laid off dozens in the last week, and apparently, these laid-off reporters are receiving the same advice some of them gave the coal miners years ago. Only now, Twitter will suspend anyone who tweets “learn to code” at reporters.

That’s hate speech.

Apparently, this wasn’t hate speech.

By the way, many of the reporters who were laid off also went after the Covington High School boys who dared to smirk at a Native American, as PJ Media’s Jim Treacher reported.

Advertisement

That doesn’t look good.

Donald Trump, Jr. was on point. (And no, it wasn’t trolling.)

Twitter later walked it back, but the damage was done.

The best burn came from Dave Rubin.

Lesbian and radical feminists denounce the transgender movement

Yesterday, I went to an event at the Heritage Foundation in Washington, D.C. Riveting, I know. What I saw there was truly remarkable, however. Radical feminists and a man who used to identify as a woman spoke to a conservative audience, and received a standing ovation.

Advertisement

Feminists opposed transgender activism because the very concept of gender identity muddies the definition of biological sex. Key protections for women get usurped by men who identify as women. Some men who identify as women claim to be lesbians, and aim to have sex with lesbians. This naturally makes lesbians rather uncomfortable…

Here’s lesbian Julia Beck on the issue.

Kara Dansky, a spokeswoman for the radical feminist group Women’s Liberation Front, called the transgender movement a “Men’s Rights movement.”

Here’s more on that story.

By the way, the feminists dropped a bombshell about Planned Parenthood. One mother told the story of her daughter, whose psychiatrist judged to be mentally ill. Planned Parenthood, ever dedicated to the transgender agenda, prescribed her transgender hormones — testosterone. When the parents complained, citing the psychiatrist’s opinion and giving Planned Parenthood the doctor’s phone number, the abortion clinic didn’t reverse its decision.

Advertisement

In other news, Google may find itself trapped in RICO and defamation lawsuits directed at the Southern Poverty Law Center.

Photo of the day

Or engraving of the day, rather.

Engraving of “The Raven” by Gustave Doré (1832-1883). Public domain.

As a wee lad, I learned Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Raven” by heart. The poem was first published on this day (January 29) in 1845. I can’t remember the whole thing now, but I do remember the end.

“And the raven, never flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting,

On the pallid bust of Pallas just above my chamber door.

And his eyes have all the seeming of a demon’s that is dreaming,

And the lamplight o’er him streaming throws his shadow on the floor;

And my soul from out that shadow that lies floating on the floor,

Shall be lifted — nevermore.”

I highly recommend the entire dark and haunting poem. We moderns often fail to appreciate just how rich we are, in material and health terms. Edgar Allan Poe lived a life of poverty and sickness. His wife (and cousin) died of tuberculosis after 11 years of marriage, and he died at age 40 of unknown causes — variously attributed to alcohol, cholera, drugs, heart disease, rabies, tuberculosis, and others.

Advertisement

Poverty is the constant and historic state of the human race. It is only through free markets, free trade, limited government, science, and many other benefits of a Judeo-Christian heritage that we can count ourselves much better off than Edgar Allan Poe. But that does not mean we can’t be inspired by his powerful poetry.

Other morsels

Abortion Doesn’t Just Kill The Child, It Psychologically Kills The Mother

My friend Sam Pauken has a new post up on the New York abortion law:

The Cult of Moloch: Abortion and a Nation Under Judgment

Battle of the Billionaires?

Ann Coulter Launches Into Anti-Gingrich Tirade Over ‘Fantasy Land’ Comments

The Left Is Shunning Liberals With Concerns About Transgender Agenda

Hmmm… Trump Outfoxes the Democrats

Limbaugh: Here’s What We’ve Learned About Democrats From Their Response To Covington Teens, NY Abortion Law

Interesting question from John Zmirak: Did the Media Do to Rep. Steve King What it Did to the Covington Boys? (An African-American pastors group recently defended King…)

Christians, Be Like Athanasius and Machen. Stand Against the World

Why China Is Militarizing Its Himalayan Frontier

Dallas and Westminster Conferences Tackle Science-Religion “Warfare Myth”

How Refusing To Direct Kids’ Sexuality And Aggression Fuels Identity Politics

Mollie Hemingway: What Pundits Get Wrong About The Border Security Fight

Democrats boycotting Starbucks?! Democrats threaten Starbucks boycott until former CEO Howard Schultz abandons 2020

That’s all for now, but PJ Media has a busy day ahead. Stay tuned.

Advertisement

Recommended

Trending on PJ Media Videos

Join the conversation as a VIP Member

Advertisement
Advertisement