Milestone: In an emotional speech last night at the White House, President Biden marked the milestone of a half million deaths in the coronavirus pandemic. “For the loved ones left behind: I know all too well,” he said. “I know what it’s like to not be there when it happens. I know what it’s like when you are there holding their hands, there’s a look in their eye and they slip away,” Biden said. 

  Bells rang at the National Cathedral 500 times and Biden ordered flags at half-staff. It was an act of national consolation that never occurred to his predecessor. Biden said, “I know that when you stare at that empty chair around the kitchen table it brings it all back no matter how long ago it happened, as if it just happened that moment.”

  As of this morning, 500,441 Americans have died of Covid19. Six percent of the country has been fully vaccinated and 13 percent has had the first dose. The Biden administration appears to be on track to fulfill his pledge of 100 million vaccinations in his first 100 days.

Big Fish: After a long legal fight, the Supreme Court ruled that former President Donald Trump must turn over his tax returns to Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, who’s been digging into the mogul’s finances.

  “No citizen, not even the president, is categorically above the common duty to produce evidence when called upon in a criminal proceeding,” Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. wrote for the majority 

  Trump claimed victimhood in a statement saying, “The Supreme Court never should have let this ‘fishing expedition’ happen, but they did,” He said, “This is something which has never happened to a president before, it is all Democrat-inspired in a totally Democrat location, New York City and State, completely controlled and dominated by a heavily reported enemy of mine, Gov. Andrew Cuomo.”

  Vance issued a brief tweet saying, “the work continues.” The subpoena demanded Trump’s tax records and financial statements since 2011.

  Trump’s returns would be subject to grand jury secrecy rules, but they are no longer a secret. The NY Times obtained the documents last year and reported that the former president avoided paying federal income taxes in 11 of the 18 years they examined and paid just $750 in the year he ran for president and his first year in office. 

  Not just tax returns, but business records also will unravel the Trump financial web. Mike McIntire writes for The NY Times that investigators “will discover a veritable how-to guide for getting rich while losing millions of dollars and paying little to no income taxes.”

First Priority: Judge Merrick Garland told the Senate yesterday that the US faces “a more dangerous period” from domestic extremists than it faced at the time of the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing and that  investigating the Capitol insurrection will be his top priority at attorney general. 

  “I can assure you that this would be my first priority and my first briefing when I return to the department if I am confirmed,” Judge Garland told the Senate Judiciary Committee at his confirmation hearing. 

  The 68-year-old Garland also pledged that he would run a non-political Justice Department and “I do not plan to be interfered with by anyone.” His predecessor, William Barr, had a reputation for doing the bidding of Donald Trump.

  Among troublesome issues he’ll face will be the investigation of President Biden’s son, Hunter, an investigation into the background of the Trump-Russia investigation, and a brewing call for investigation of New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo for his handling of nursing home deaths in the pandemic.

  Garland became emotional speaking about why he wants the job. “I come from a family where my grandparents fled antisemitism and persecution. The country took us in, and protected us,” he said, struggling. “I feel an obligation to the country to pay back and this is the highest, best use of my own set of skills to pay back.”

It’s Political: The nomination of Neera Tanden to run the Office of Management and Budget appears to be in danger after two of the Senate’s more centrist Republicans said they would not support her confirmation because of her record of political attacks.

  Tanden is an experienced political operative who now serves as president of the Center for American Progress, a liberal advocacy organization. 

  Senators  Susan Collins of Maine and Mitt Romney of Utah say they will not support Tanden’s confirmation to lead OMB. Sen. Joe Manchin of West Virginia had already announced his opposition.

  In a Senate hearing, Sen. Rob Portman of Ohio said to Tanden,  “You wrote that Susan Collins is, quote, ‘the worst.’ That Tom Cotton is a fraud. That vampires have more heart than Ted Cruz. You called leader McConnell ‘Moscow Mitch’ and ‘Voldemort,’ “

  Anybody got a problem with that? 

The Bulletin Board: Emma Coronel Aispuro, the wife of notorious Mexican drug trafficker El Chapo, was arrested at Washington’s Dulles Airport and charged with helping her husband run his multibillion-dollar empire and plotting to break him out of prison in 2014. — A 27-year-old father-to-be dad-to-be in Liberty, New York was killed when a device he was building for a gender reveal party exploded. — Actress Shailene Woodley, 29, confirmed that she’s engaged to marry Aaron Rodgers, 37, quarterback of the Green Bay Packers.

The Cure: Lucia DeClerck,  105-year-old resident of a New Jersey nursing home credits her longevity to prayer and “No junk food.”

  She has survived not only the years, but also Covid-19. She also recommends her regimen of eating nine gin-soaked raisins a day.  She told The NY Times, “Fill a jar. Nine raisins a day after it sits for nine days.”

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