Cross-Examination

• What does the law say about student loans? Former Representatives Buck McKeon (R-CA), John Kline (R-MN), and John Boehner (R-OH) filed an amicus brief with the U.S. Supreme Court on Friday. The former lawmakers who crafted the 2003 HEROES Act wrote “to make clear that Congress never intended anything like the [student] loan cancellation effort underway here.” They contend that the law is being “misused and distorted” to justify Joe Biden’s effort “to radically change the student loan system.” They further note the original purpose of the legislation was “to repay the brave Americans who endured great personal hardship in service to their country with a modest protection against the distractions of administrative obligations arising from their student loans.” The law was never intended to be used as a “pretext” to cancel billions in student loan debt to “absolve borrowers who haven’t suffered hardship from the responsibilities they took on as borrowers.” The brief pulls no punches regarding the Biden administration’s abuse of the legislation, asserting, “As they know, firsthand, Congress did not, and surely could not, have ever expected the Act to be misused and distorted by the Department in the policy now before this Court.” It later adds, “As the past 20 years of consistent understanding prove — Congress only ever understood the Act as a limited administrative tool to be used in narrow circumstances.” Hopefully this spells doom for Biden’s student loan cancellation gambit, saving taxpayers billions.

• Nearly half of House Dems refuse to condemn the horrors of socialism: Any honest look at history reveals the fact that socialism has been the cause of more impoverishment and death in the past century than any other political system, hands down. Indeed, there’s not even a close second. On the other hand, free market capitalism has seen wealth and life spread widely across the globe, seeing hundreds of millions raised out of abject poverty. But of course, when one’s political ideology is increasingly beholden to a perceived identity rather than reality, one is loathe to admit the truth. Last Thursday, House Democrats revealed this problem in spades as they split over a resolution condemning the “horrors of socialism.” The resolution introduced by Republicans is intended to remind the American public of socialism’s disastrous record. Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-LA) called it “one of the most destructive ideologies in world history.” While all Republicans eagerly voted in approval, the resolution split Democrats, with 109 voting in favor, 86 against, and 14 simply voting “present.” The resolution passed 328-86. This should have been unanimous, but, unfortunately, a growing contingent of Democrats have hitched their wagon to the bankrupt ideology of socialism, likely not so much because they truly believe in it but because it is a system that grows the power of government.

• A fried chicken apology: February is Black History Month, which continues despite the insightful objections of those like actor Morgan Freeman. To his point that always focusing on race will only continue to feed racism, last week food vendor Aramark apologized for being culturally insensitive after it served chicken and waffles at a New York middle school on February 1. The lunch meal included watermelon for dessert. Nyack Middle School principal David Johnson responded to the menu by offering an apology and calling it “regrettable.” He was “disappointed that Aramark would serve items that differed from the published monthly menu,” he said. “Especially items that reinforce negative stereotypes concerning the African-American Community.” Aramark explained that the “menu was not intended as a cultural meal,” while acknowledging “that the timing was inappropriate, and our team should have been more thoughtful in its service.” No word on whether the students enjoyed eating the tasty meal, but who knows how many students have now been conditioned by adults to see previously innocuous food choices as racist.

Headlines

• China threatens U.S. for popping balloon as American military begins recovery operation (Just the News)

• DNC approves sweeping overhaul of presidential primary process (National Review)

• Democrats becoming “majority-minority party” led by college-educated whites (National Review)

• Lying and denying: Left is still out to take away your gas stove (Daily Signal)

• Project Veritas releases part two of Pfizer report where exec admits the vax affects menstrual cycles (Not the Bee)

• Treasury Department expands definition of SUVs eligible for electric vehicle tax credit (The Hill)

• A transgender “mother” advocates for Minnesota to become a “trans refuge” (Townhall)

• Whatever happened to “Love Wins”? Canadian school bans Valentine’s Day to be more inclusive (Not the Bee)

• Satire: China assures warships heading for Taiwan are just meteorological warships (Babylon Bee)

For more editors’ choice headlines, click here.