In other news, lawmakers in North Carolina say they've changed their mind about passing an anti-transgender sports ban because they could not actually find a single complaint about the issue.
House Speaker Tim Moore confirmed to The News & Observer Thursday that House Bill 358, also known as the Save Women’s Sports Act, is dead after legislative staff found that there had been no complaints in North Carolina on this topic.
“A wise legislature does not go out looking for social issues to tap,” Moore said.
No shit?
Meanwhile, India recorded a new global record of over 401,000 coronavirus infections yesterday, but health officials believe that's an underestimate. They're burning bodies on pyres in parking lots.
Finally, national security officials are reportedly investigating unexplained attacks near the White House that closely resemble the attacks on diplomats in Cuba.
WASHINGTON — Federal agencies are investigating at least two mysterious incidents on U.S. soil with some hallmarks of the “Havana syndrome,” invisible attacks reported by American diplomats based in Cuba.
Lawmakers on the House and Senate Armed Services Committee confirmed to NBC News on Thursday that they were briefed in April on the investigation. One of the unexplained attacks, reported by CNN, occurred in November near the Ellipse, the oval lawn south of the White House. The person who was sickened by the attack is a National Security Council official, people told CNN.
This phenomenon keeps popping up and I continue to follow it because I am genuinely curious. The general perception is that Russia has been behind it all along, but we haven't seen the proof or an explicit allegation.
Programming note... As I briefly mentioned last week, I am taking a much-needed mental health break. I'm scheduled to receive my second dose of Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine on Tuesday, May 4th and I'm prepared to be wiped out by that in any case, but I also need some time away from the daily news cycle that has included a new anti-transgender bill almost every day for months at this point.
I'm tentatively planning to be back here on Tuesday the 11th. But why the 11th and not the 10th? Because the 10th is my first birthday; it's my one-year anniversary of starting hormone replacement therapy (HRT). I'm getting my hair done on the 10th and spending time with friends that night. I'm going to try very hard not to be hungover the next day, but I can't make any bold promises. If my return slips by one day, don't say I didn't warn you!
Thank you all for supporting me and I'll see you again soon.