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Presented by Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance
Big Pharma hikes up drug prices every year, most recently on over 800 prescription drugs. But did you know these price hikes are often unjustified? For too long, Big Pharma has profited on the backs of hardworking Americans. Enough is enough.
![]() PRESENTED BY![]() BY JOHN BRESNAHAN, ANNA PALMER AND JAKE SHERMAN THE TOP![]() Getty Images We live in a society filled with politicians who make a range of really questionable decisions on a somewhat regular basis. We all watch career public servants act foolishly. In fact, it’s our job to document them and put their behavior in the larger context of clownery in our political system. We see so much stupid behavior that it takes a lot to surprise us. But this week, irrationality and silliness have reached new heights. It’s been the week for politicians to engage in a stunning level of self immolation. Welcome to “The Week of Self-Inflicted Wounds." → New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo — In the middle of a scandal that threatens his political future, called a Democratic state legislator to yell and threaten him. The legislator promptly spoke to the press, and Cuomo had another headache on his hands. → Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) said on Wisconsin radio that the armed insurrection at the Capitol was, in fact, not armed. Police recovered guns and other weapons. There are videos of people with bats. Five people died that day, and more afterward. Johnson made this claim after being escorted around the Capitol Jan. 6 by heavily armed police officers. What happened on Jan. 6 was the definition of an armed insurrection. → Texas Gov. Greg Abbott blamed the disaster in his state on the Green New Deal. The Green New Deal has never passed Congress. The proposal itself has only been around for a couple of years. The reality is that Texas and its top officials were woefully unprepared for the once-in-a-generation storm that slammed the Lone Star State, and most everyone realizes that. → Former Texas Gov. Rick Perry — a former secretary of Energy — suggested Texans don’t mind freezing for a few days to keep their freedom. Do we need to even put this in context? → And then there’s Sen. Ted Cruz, who somehow thought it wise to decamp to the Ritz-Carlton in Cancun while Texas was in a state of emergency. Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) in his infinite wisdom took the opposite position of every other human being by saying Cruz shouldn’t have apologized. Cruz, though, did apologize. Clowning by public officials — CPO, that’s a technical term, by the way — is getting more attention than it has in years. Joe Biden takes up a lot less oxygen and media attention than Donald Trump did. So crazy episodes by politicians not named Trump or Biden get more airtime than they might’ve otherwise. Now, these people aren’t dumb.They were all elected by large populations in big states. Some are, in fact, extremely smart. But, man, is this behavior something. The NYT’s Shane Goldmacher and Nick Fandos have the goods with text messages Cruz’s wife sent to friends inviting them on the Cancun excursion. … Cruz, appearing on the local ABC affiliate in Houston, said the trip to Cancun “was a mistake” and he wouldn’t have done it if he knew how it would be perceived. Cruz spoke with Fox News’ Sean Hannity. Hannity said Cruz’s plan was “to drop [his family] off and come home.” Minutes later, Cruz said that he had planned to stay through the weekend. Check the clip out. PRESENTED BY THE CLIMATE PLEDGE We go further and faster, together. The Climate Pledge celebrates the leadership the U.S. has shown by re-joining the Paris Climate Agreement to reach net zero carbon by 2050. 53 companies (and counting) know we can go faster. That’s why they’ve joined the Climate Pledge to be net zero carbon by 2040—10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement. Is your company in? Join us. HOW IT’S PLAYING ![]() PAC TRIPS IN THE ERA OF COVID Brady and Problem Solvers chair to Mont. ![]() Here’s a problem that might need solving: Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Rep. Tom Reed (R-N.Y.), the chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, are going to Big Sky, Mont., next weekend for a PAC ski trip. CLIP FILE AP: “Lights come back on in Texas as water woes rise in the South,” by Paul J. Weber and Jill Bleed “Biden to lay out his foreign policy at G-7, Munich summit,” by Aamer Madhani: “Joe Biden will make his first big appearance on the global stage as president on Friday, offering Group of Seven allies and other foreign leaders a glimpse into his plans to dramatically reshape U.S. foreign policy even as he deals with a number of international crises that are coming to a head. “In advance of Biden’s virtual appearances at a G-7 meeting and the Munich Security Conference, the White House sought to underscore that the new administration will move quickly to reorient the U.S. away from Donald Trump’s ‘America First’ mantra by announcing a pair of major reversals of Trump administration policies.” NYT: “Biden Administration Formally Offers to Restart Nuclear Talks With Iran,” by Lara Jakes, Michael Crowley, David Sanger and Farnaz Fassihi “2.5 Million Women Left the Work Force During the Pandemic. Harris Sees a ‘National Emergency,’” by Katie Rogers WaPo: “Gavel in hand, Bernie Sanders lays out an unabashedly liberal economic agenda,” by Mike DeBonis WSJ: “Facebook Blocks Collection of Sensitive Data Through Apps Following New York Probe,” by Jeff Horwitz Politico: “Biden privately tells governors: Minimum wage hike likely isn’t happening,” by Natasha Korecki and Chris Cadelago
PRESENTED BY THE CLIMATE PLEDGE Today the U.S. officially rejoins the Paris Climate Agreement. Our commitment to reaching net zero has never wavered, and we’re proud to say 53 companies have now joined our community to reach Paris’ targets, 10 years early. Together, we have what it takes to help save our planet. MOMENTS 8 a.m.: President Joe Biden will receive the daily brief. 9 a.m.: Biden will participate in a virtual G7 meeting. 11:15 a.m.: Biden will speak at the Munich Security Conference. 11:45 a.m.: The Covid-19 response team will brief. 11:55 a.m.: Biden will leave the White House for Andrews. He will fly to Kalamazoo, Mich. Jen Psaki will brief aboard Air Force One. 1:45 p.m.: Biden will arrive in Kalamazoo and will tour the manufacturing facility where Pfizer makes the Covid-19 vaccine. He’ll also meet with workers. 3:10 p.m.: Biden will speak. 3:50 p.m.: Biden will leave Kalamazoo for Washington. 5:20 p.m.: Biden will arrive at Andrews. 5:40 p.m.: Biden will arrive back at the White House. VP Kamala Harris and Doug Emhoff will be in Los Angeles this weekend. Note: Rep. Fred Upton (R-Mich.) — the veteran congressman who represents Kalamazoo — won’t be joining Biden today at the Pfizer plant. He toured the plant yesterday. He said he has a family commitment today. Biden and Upton are friendly and have worked together before. CELEBRATION D.C. will get a Latino Museum There will be an online celebration tonight to mark the passage of the National Museum of the American Latino Act, which took decades of work to achieve. The group Friends of the Latino Museum will host the event on Facebook. A celebration video, narrated by actor Tony Plana, will be shown. It includes appearances by John Leguizamo, Emilio Estefan, Gloria Calderón Kellett, and Mariana Atencio. Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) will make appearances, as will Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.) and former Reps. Will Hurd (R-Texas) and Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.). It took proponents 30 years to get this through Congress. It was finally included in a Covid relief package signed into law by former President Donald Trump in December. Congress will chip in half the funding for the museum, which is expected to run between $600 million and $800 million. The other half will come from private sources. Now proponents need to get Congress to come up with the money — only $20 million has been approved so far. PRESENTED BY THE CLIMATE PLEDGE Let’s save our planet and create the economy of the future. The Climate Pledge celebrates the leadership the U.S. has shown so far by re-joining the Paris Climate Agreement to reach net zero carbon by 2050. But we—and 53 other companies so far—know we can, and must, go even faster. That’s why they’ve joined the Climate Pledge—a commitment co-founded by Amazon and Global Optimism—to reach net zero carbon by 2040, 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement. By working together, we can find innovative solutions to help save our planet and create the low-carbon economy of the future. Are you in? Learn more about the Climate Pledge and join the campaign. ![]() Enjoying Punchbowl AM? ![]() Subscribe 10 friends with your unique link (below) and get a Punchbowl News hat! Your referral link is: Or share via You currently have: 0 referrals Was this email forwarded to you? Sign up https://punchbowl.news
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Presented by Pharmaceutical Reform Alliance
Americans know who to blame for rising drug prices: Big Pharma. A majority of Republicans, Democrats, & Independents all believe Big Pharma’s focus on profits keeps drug prices high. Let’s hold Big Pharma accountable – it’s an issue we’re united on.