Where’s the Beef?: A ransomware attack on the world’s largest meat processor forced the shutdown of nine beef plants in the United States yesterday and disrupted production at poultry and pork plants. The company, JBS, said the majority of its plants would reopen today. But even a single-day disruption at JBS could “significantly impact” wholesale beef prices, according to analysts at Daily Livestock Report.

  Russian hackers are suspected to be responsible.

  It is the second such attack in a month on a critical US industry. Last month, an attack on Colonial Pipeline on the East Coast triggered gas and jet-fuel shortages. The company admitted paying $4.4 million to free its computer systems.

  A White House deputy press secretary told reporters that JBS had told the Biden administration the ransom demand had come from “a criminal organization likely based in Russia.” Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Air Force One that, “The White House is engaging directly with the Russian government on this matter and delivering the message that responsible states do not harbor ransomware criminals,” she said.

  The US is somewhat at a loss for how to defend against these attacks and deal with them when they happen. One breach used software called SolarWinds traced back to the Russian intelligence agency SVR to infiltrate more than 250 federal agencies and businesses. Last week, the SVR was blamed for cyber-hijacking the company that distributes emails on behalf of the US Agency for International Development. 

Polar Freeze: The Biden administration yesterday suspended oil drilling leases in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, reversing the pro-oil President Trump and  acting on President Biden’s promise to protect the Alaskan tundra from fossil fuel extraction.

  The Arctic Refuge was established to protect migrating waterfowl, caribou, and polar bears.  Democrats and Republicans have fought over whether to allow drilling there for more than 40 years. In stopping the leases and drilling, Biden is leaving 11 billion barrels of oil underground. 

  Gina McCarthy, the White House domestic climate policy adviser, said,

“President Biden believes America’s national treasures are cultural and economic cornerstones of our country and he is grateful for the prompt action by the Department of the Interior to suspend all leasing pending a review of decisions made in the last administration’s final days that could have changed the character of this special place forever.” 

Recognizing Tulsa: President Biden spoke in Tulsa yesterday, becoming the first President to publicly recognize the massacre and destruction of the black Greenwood neighborhood 100 years ago.

  “For much too long,” Biden said, “the history of what took place here was told in silence, cloaked in darkness. But just because history is silent, it doesn’t mean that it did not take place. And while darkness can hide much, it erases nothing, it erases nothing.” 

  Biden said, “In Less than 24 hours, 1,100 Black homes and business were lost. They had insurance, many of them, rejected claims of damage. 10,000 people were left destitute and homeless, placed in internment camps. As I was told today, they were told, ‘Don’t you mention you were ever in a camp or we’ll come and get you.’” 

  “This was a massacre, among the worst in our history,” Biden said. “As soon as it happened, there was a clear effort to erase it from our memory, our collective memories, from the news and everyday conversations. 

   He said, “I come here to help fill the silence, because in silence, wounds deepen. As painful as this is, only in remembrance do wounds heal. We just have to choose to remember.” 

The Spin Rack: Appearing at a QAnon conspiracy rally, President Trump’s former national security adviser Michael Flynn suggested that there ought to be a military coup in the US. Answering a question about why the US couldn’t have  a military takeover like they have in Myanmar, the former American general said, “No reason, I mean, it should happen here. No reason. That’s right.” — Healthcare in Billy Bob land. West Virginia is giving residents who get a COVID-19 vaccine a chance to win a college scholarship, a pickup truck, hunting rifles, and a $1.588 million grand prize. — Florida’s Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis  signed a bill Tuesday barring transgender females from playing on the girls teams in public schools. “In Florida, girls are going to play girls sports and boys are going to play boys sports,” DeSantis said signing the bill at a private Christian academy that would not be subject to the law. 

Room at the Inn: With business slumping down the street from The White House, the Trump organization is looking to sell the lease to its luxury hotel in the old Post Office building on Pennsylvania Avenue. 

  Business at the hotel has been hit hard by the pandemic and the change of the guard in the White House. A lot of liberal, corporate, and international clients don’t want to book rooms or events at the hotel with Trump’s name on it. The Washington Post reports that revenue at the hotel fell by 62 percent last year, according to Trump’s government disclosure forms.

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