Author Archives: Bodger

Ah here.

Meanwhile…

Meanwhile…

Fight!

*bicycle bell sound*

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US President Joe Biden

This afternoon.

Via Insider:

The White House condemned “misinformation” after Fox News guests and hosts accused the government of buying crack pipes for people with addictions.

The Department of Health and Human Services launched a $30 million grant late last year for organizations to make drug-taking safer, including by handing out kits.

Fox News hosts including Tucker Carlson and Sean Hannity seized on the project on Wednesday, claiming the government was using taxpayer money to give crack pipes for free.

White House press secretary Jen Psaki scrambled to clear the record, telling reporters crack pipes “were never a part of the kit.”

Bongs for all.

Sez me.

And JohnnyNYC probably.

White House pushes back on Fox News reports claiming the government is buying crack pipes for people (Insider)

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Pat Kenny (left) with Ryan Tubridy at the 50th anniversary Late Late Show in 2013

This afternoon.

Via Irish Times:

Ryan Tubridy, Claire Byrne, Pat Kenny and Matt Cooper were among the main winners in the latest Joint National Listenership Research (JNLR) survey of radio audiences, with all four presenters consolidating and adding to their pandemic gains.

Newstalk said The Pat Kenny Show had become its biggest ever programme with 184,000 listeners, while Matt Cooper’s drivetime audience on Today FM reached its highest point in a decade, while there were gains too for Radio 1 after last year saw some slippage from the station’s Covid-19 crisis highs.

Um..

Ryan Tubridy’s ‘nice little distraction’ now number two Irish radio show (Irish Times)

The mainstream.

YOU love it.

RollingNews

This afternoon.

Via Fergal Bowers at RTÉ News:

The highest level of attendances at emergency departments on record has been seen in the past week, with 28,000 patients attending, according to the Health Service Executive.

HSE Chief Operations Officer Anne O’Connor said that many of those attending were older, sicker, more frail and stay in hospital longer.

Ms O’Connor said that the HSE hopes the peak is a temporary trend and a delayed winter surge.

The average daily trolley count for the past week is 333.

What could possibly be the emergency?

Anyone?

Record level of emergency department attendance seen in last week – HSE (RTE)

RollingNews

This afternoon.

Meanwhile…

Denmark’s Queen Margrethe and Spain’s King Felipe

Yesterday.

Two European royals have tested positive for Covid-19.

Spain’s King Felipe VI has tested positive for Covid-19 but is experiencing only mild symptoms, the Royal House said…

…It comes as Denmark earlier reported that Queen Margrethe had tested positive for coronavirus but is only showing mild symptoms.

Anyone?

Two European royals test positive for Covid-19 (RTE)

This morning

Aras an Uachtarain, Phoenix Park, Dublin.

Her Excellency, Claire D. Cronin, Ambassador of the United States of America and part-time Aer Lingus cabin crew member presents her credentials to President Michael D Higgins.

Ms Cronin was a Democrat member of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and her father was the son of an Irish immigrant from Inishowen, county Donegal.

Leah Farrell/RollingNews

New Summer uniforms for gardai launched last week

This morning.

They’re recruiting.

Via RTÉ News:

Budget 2022 provided for the recruitment of up to 1,200 gardaí and support staff this year and many of those recruited will be drawn from this competition.

The recruitment competition is the first held since new regulations were introduced, which includes ending the requirement for applicants to be proficient in two languages, one of which must be English or Irish.

Minister for Justice Helen McEntee has urged members of new Irish communities, women and people from minority groups to apply.

She said the Government and the Garda Commissioner are committed to increasing diversity and ensuring that all communities can see themselves reflected in the police service.

Recruitment drive for new gardaí launched (RTE)

Pic: Garda Press Office

Today’s UK Daily Mail

This morning.

‘Freedom Day’ in the United Kingdom.

Alternatively…

This morning.