TULSI GABBARD, director of national intelligence (Wikipedia).

The security clearances of 37 current and former federal government officials have been revoked in what’s termed by some to be “retribution.”

The Associated Press is reporting that the announcement was made in a memo posted online by Tulsi Gabbard, a former Democratic Congresswoman and now the director of national intelligence.

Those affected were accused of the “politicization or weaponization of intelligence” and a “failure to adhere to professional analytic tradecraft standards.

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According to the AP, many of those noted have been critical of the Trump Administration or supported an intelligence community assessment that Russia had interfered in the 2016 presidential election on Donald Trump’s behalf.

Oklahoma will screen for “leftist ideology”

Applicants for teaching jobs in Oklahoma who come from California and New York must take and pass an exam aimed at safeguarding against “radical leftist ideology,” according to the Associated Press.

Ryan Walters, superintendent of schools in Oklahoma, is promoting the requirement of the test, the complete contents of which have not been made public. It’s been created by PragerU, a conservative non-profit organization.

“This MAGA loyalty test will be yet another turnoff for teachers in a state already struggling with a huge teacher shortage,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Federation of Teachers union.

Texas Democrats return; new maps approved

Ending a two-week walkout over Republican plans to redistrict Texas congressional districts to support their party’s slim lead in the U.S. House of Representatives, Democratic state legislators returned to Austin on Monday, allowing the proposed new maps to pass.

TEXAS STATE FLAG

The Democrats’ absence had prevented the Texas House of Representatives from having a quorum to do business. Faced with threats of fines and arrests, the Democrats finally showed up.

Opposition to the map isn’t over, said Democrats. Legal action will be taken, and some states such as California may seek to match Republican efforts with new maps of their own.

Weather: Getting a bit hotter

There will be little variation in the weather for our West Orange County cities as we move toward the weekend. The daytime high will hover from 85 to 86 with overnight lows from 67 to 70. The skies will be mostly sunny each day.

Great Thoughts

“The next strike brings you closer to the next home run.”
– Babe Ruth

“More than anything else, preparation is the key to success,:
– Alexander Graham Bell

“What is truth? A difficult question; but I have solved it for myself by saying it is what the “voice within” tells you.”
– Mohandis Gandhi