Top of the Fold

• Some good economic news: U.S. GDP accelerated at the end of last year as the fourth-quarter growth rate hit 6.9%, well ahead of the predicted 5.5%. “The strength of the economy last year stood in stark contrast to the collapse in activity in early 2020, but also speaks to the success of both the public and private sector in quickly adapting to the unprecedented challenges created by the pandemic,” stated Jim Baird, chief investment officer at Plante Moran Financial Advisors. The fourth quarter served to help push up the annual GDP for 2021 to 3.9%.

• U.S. trade deficit tops $1 trillion: 2021 saw the U.S. set a new record on its international trade deficit, which reached $1.08 trillion, according to MarketWatch. The previous record, set in 2020, was $893.5 billion. While the deficit indicates that America has been bouncing back economically, it’s also an indication that U.S.-based goods production and businesses are lagging behind international production. And increasingly relying on foreign production of goods won’t ultimately solve the ongoing supply chain crisis.

• On a horse with no name: Famed musician Neil Young recently issued an ultimatum to Spotify over its hosting of Joe Rogan’s podcast. Due to Rogan’s willingness to entertain alternative views on COVID, the aging rocker told the tech company, “They can have Rogan or Young. Not both.” Well, he got his wish. Spotify elected to drop Young, stating, “We regret Neil’s decision to remove his music from Spotify, but hope to welcome him back soon.” It looks like Young is back on that no-name horse.

• YouTube permanently bans Bongino: Conservative radio host Dan Bongino was permanently booted from Google-owned YouTube on Wednesday after he dared to suggest that masks are “useless.” YouTube explained its decision by pointing to its suspension rule that penalizes someone for posting content on another channel. Then again, did he quit? Bongino mocked the tech giant, stating, “Hilarious watching the @YouTube communists desperately try to save face after we told them to go f%^* themselves. They’re claiming we ‘tried to evade suspension.’ Really? By posting a final video LITERALLY titled ‘Why I’m Leaving YouTube’?”

• Biden’s disapproval rating keeps climbing: It’s becoming clearer by the day — Americans really don’t like how Joe Biden is running things. Multiple recent polls now show an average 53% of us disapprove of his leadership. Biden’s approval to disapproval is now 15 points underwater, 41% to 56%, respectively. Maybe the most surprising number comes from younger Americans age 18-29 who give Biden a whopping 63% disapproval rating, the highest of any demographic category. Biden’s refusal to back off his hard-left policy agenda and move to the center makes it difficult to see these numbers changing anytime soon.

More From Your Patriot Post Team

• Douglas Andrews: Justice Breyer Forced Out by the Left — Still stinging from their loss of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s seat, Democrats aren’t about to let it happen again.

• Nate Jackson: Get Ready for ‘Environmental Justice’ — A year after a big executive order, Team Biden tells us what ecofascist items are coming down the pike.

• Thomas Gallatin: Fauci’s Suppression of ChiCom Lab Leak Evidence — Emails indicate virologists believed the scientific evidence pointed to the lab leak explanation for COVID’s origin.

• Lewis Morris: Supreme Court Considers Race Discrimination — Colleges using race to determine whether minorities are admitted are violating the law.

• Emmy Griffin: Finland Is Cross With the Bible — A parliamentarian and Lutheran bishop are on trial for quoting the Bible and upholding the Christian view of marriage.

• Douglas Andrews: The AP Defends Racism in Medicine — By attacking Republicans while downplaying the practice of race-based medicine, the AP shows its true colors.

• In Brief: #DontBrowbeatMyPete — A satirical take on the recent flap between Joe Biden and Fox News’s Peter Doocy.

Security

• “Betraying the American people”: Leaked video shows Biden night flights of illegals (New York Post)

• While illegal immigration sets records, Team Biden says Ukraine matters because borders should be “inviolate” (Daily Wire)

• DHS secretary has a disastrous meeting with Border Patrol agents (Townhall)

Around the World

• ISIS rapidly regaining territory in areas where Trump wiped them out (Daily Wire)

• Five Ukrainian soldiers shot dead inside missile factory (Fox News)

Non Compos Mentis Award

• Los Angeles Super Bowl attendees will be forced by inquisitorial squad members to wear masks unless eating or drinking (Daily Wire)

Odds & Ends

• Federal Reserve signals likely interest rate hike in March (National Review)

• What Justice Stephen Breyer brought to the Supreme Court (Daily Signal)

• Down-ballot Republicans have advantage as Biden drags down Dems (Washington Examiner)

Closing Arguments

• Policy: The Supreme Court should kill affirmative action once and for all (National Review)

• Satire: Exclusive: The Babylon Bee has obtained Biden’s list of possible SCOTUS nominees (BB)

For more of today’s editors’ choice headlines, visit Headline Report.

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