WASHINGTON — If it’s Monday ... The U.S.-Canadian bridge reopens after Canadian police clear trucker blockade. ... President Biden, in interview with NBC’s Lester Holt, criticizes NFL for lack of Black head coaches. ... Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., says he’ll be back at work in a few weeks. ... Early voting begins today in Texas primaries. ... U.S. racks up more medals in Winter Olympics. ... And the West Coast represents at last night’s Super Bowl — in more ways than one.
But first: We remain in a holding pattern on two huge stories — one global, the other domestic.
The first story: Russia’s likely/looming/imminent invasion of Ukraine.
In a pair of weekend phone calls, Biden told Russia’s Putin that there would “swift and severe” consequences if Russia invades, and he relayed to Ukraine’s Zelenskyy that the United States and allies would respond "swiftly and decisively" if that happens.
US orders most embassy staff to leave Ukraine amid tensions with Russia
Feb. 14, 202203:11
The second story: Biden’s upcoming Supreme Court pick, which he said he’d unveil by the end of this month.
On Friday, NBC’s Kelly O’Donnell reported on “Nightly News” that the president has narrowed his shortlist to three contenders — federal appeals Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, California Supreme Court Justice Leondra Kruger, and district court Judge J. Michelle Childs.
And over the weekend at Camp David, O’Donnell added, Biden was expected to review the finalists’ writings and opinions, and in-person interviews could begin as soon as this week.
There’s been a temporary lull in the political news cycle.
But that seems destined to change in the coming days.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. The outpouring of support from New Mexicans and folks all around the country gives me strength every day. Excited to get back to work. pic.twitter.com/qRH2JjLTpp
— Senator Ben Ray Luján (@SenatorLujan) February 13, 2022
That’s the number of National Football League franchises that have never hired a Black head coach (not including interim head coaches, according to NFL.com), a situation President Joe Biden commented on during his pre-Super Bowl interview with NBC’s Lester Holt.
“The commissioner pointed out — they haven't lived up to what they committed to,” Biden said.
“The whole idea that a league that is made up of so many athletes of color, as well as so diverse, that there’s not enough African-American qualified coaches to manage these NFL teams just seems to me that it’s a standard...
