The NewsRoom Syndicate

This morning the US Commerce Department released its second round of US Gross Domestic Product numbers for the fourth quarter of 2020, showing that the US economy grew by 4%. This is a sharp slowdown in the 33% expansion in the US economy that came as a third quarter rebound from the first half annual collapse thanks to the Covid shutdowns, lost jobs, and simple social distancing to avoid the virus undertaken by millions. Overall the US economy shrank by 3.5% in 2020.

The first half plunge in GDP in the United States was historic and the course of the year was a wild one of contraction and expansion, but as we go into 2021 things are slowing. Pockets of strength in the economy were in real estate, fixed investment, and stock market gains, all driven in part due to a Federal Reserve policy of zero interest rates and bond buying operations. While the economy grew in the second half of the year of 2020, the average American suffered as their personal income decreased $339.7 billion in the fourth quarter and $541.5 billion in the third quarter. Without the massive government stimulus the entire economy would collapse.

Donald Trump left the White House last week, but this week he is in Florida setting up his “Office of the Former President,” where he is hoping to keep his Trump movement going as a potent force in American politics. What is setting up is a war between the Trump faction of the American right-wing and the more “establishment” or “moderate” Republican Party, typified now by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Liz Cheney.

One test of the movement is emerging in Ohio, because of the announcement by Republican Senator Rob Portman that he is not going to run for re-election in two years. This is setting up a coming Republican Primary battle for that seat between what will be a Trump candidate and a more moderate Republican, or group of them.

Politico reports that “the Republican primary could quickly become crowded and nasty, especially as the party works to rebuild itself and figure out the path forward in the wake of Trump’s defeat. A number of Republicans could be in the mix. Rep. Jim Jordan, a close Trump ally, has previously been eyed as a potential statewide candidate.”

Other potential candidates include Ohio Treasurer Johsh Mandel, Representative Steve Stivers, and rumors that Hillbilly Elegy author J.D. Vance might make a go at running.

Meanwhile the New York Times reported that “Sarah Longwell, the executive director of the Republican Accountability Project, an anti-Trump group, said she and her colleagues planned to raise and spend $50 million to defend the 10 pro-impeachment House Republicans in primary contests and attack those who voted to object to the Electoral College results after the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol. She said the group would aim to defeat Mr. Jordan in an Ohio Senate primary if he runs against an establishment-minded Republican.”

Of course an open seat leaves a chance for Democrats to try to win another seat in Congress.

OHIO SENATE: Rob Portman’s surprise retirement gives Dems a critical opening they wouldn’t have had in 2022. Still, Ohio was Safe R with Portman, and TO START WITH, I’d lower it only to Likely R. Can’t ignore Ohio trends since 2016, plus midterm usually adds lift to out-party.

— Larry Sabato (@LarrySabato) January 25, 2021

NEW: Rob Portman (R-OH) will not seek re-election to the Senate in 2022. Republicans are also vacating seats in the swing states of PA and NC.

— Brian Tyler Cohen (@briantylercohen) January 25, 2021

The battle between the Trump movement and the rest of the Republican Party will be a key story for the next four years.

Bills filed in the Tennessee General Assembly would prevent governmental agencies from requiring vaccines or immunizations against a person’s will or as a condition of employment. Two in the Tennessee Senate and two in the Tennessee House are identical across the chambers. Senator Janice Bowling (R-District 16) introduced the Senate bills. “There should not be any coercion on anybody’s part to force someone to submit to any kind of medical procedure that they don’t want,” Bowling said.

Chris Stuckmann reviews Wonder Woman 1984, starring Gal Gadot, Chris Pine, Kristen Wiig, Pedro Pascal, Robin Wright, Connie Nielsen. Directed by Patty Jenkins.

Israeli Start-Up Streamlines Shopping: As Easy As Taking a Selfie

The nationwide coronavirus vaccination effort and his predecessor’s impeachment trial are among issues confronting the 46th US president.

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday called weekend protests demanding the release of Kremlin critic Alexei Navalny dangerous, adding that no one should use illegal actions “to reach their ambitious goals and objectives, especially in the field of politics.” Moscow residents also on Monday condemned the detentions of thousands of protesters. Police made more than 3,000 arrests Saturday and used force to break up rallies across Russia after tens of thousands of people ignored extreme cold and police warnings. Navalny had called on his supporters to protest after being arrested last weekend as he returned to Russia from Germany. It was the first he returned since being poisoned with a nerve agent he says was slipped to him by state security agents in August.