SHORT TAKES ON THE DRIFTING WRECKAGE – AT 11:53 P.M. ET:

HOW SAD – FROM FOX:  Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer on Wednesday voted against a nomination by the Trump administration to fill a federal judgeship -- and signaled that it's because the nominee is white.  Schumer, D-N.Y., said on the Senate floor that the nomination of Marvin Quattlebaum, a white judge who is a partner at Nelson Mullins Riley & Scarborough in Greenville, South Carolina, “speaks to the overall lack of diversity in President Trump’s selections for the federal judiciary.”  Quattlebaum’s nomination, Schumer said, replaces two black judges from South Carolina whom the Obama administration nominated to fill the position — which The Post and Courier notes has long been vacant.  Chuck is running scared in a party that has bolted to the left.  He is seen as insufficiently radical.  If the Dems take over the Senate, I wouldn't be shocked if there's a move to oust Chuck and replace him with a leftist woman.

YOUNG ADULTS ACTING LIKE YOUNG ADULTS – FROM THE INDEPENDENT:   Young adults spend more than six hours a day "stressed out", a study has found.  A poll of 1,000 18-25-year-olds found money, appearance and career worries as well as fears about the future mean a large chunk of their time is spent feeling anxious or under pressure.  But one in 10 feel they have no-one to turn to discuss their concerns, leaving them to face their fears alone.   In other words, they feel like young adults.  It's a difficult, transitional time of life.  I don't see why anyone would be shocked by these findings.

SERIOUS? – FROM MARKETWATCH:   Weight Watchers has new branding and initiatives planned for 2018, including new food guidelines  Weight Watchers International Inc. says it will be shifting its focus from weight loss to overall wellness, and it has hired a new executive to help.  More people are joining Weight Watchers for “something more than getting into a size 8,” Chief Executive Mindy Grossman said on the company’s late Tuesday earnings call, according to a FactSet transcript. Rather, people want to feel healthy at any size or weight and are focused on wellness measures like blood pressure and cholesterol count.  “Today, healthy is the new skinny,” she said.  Uh, I dunno.  Weight Watchers may want a new mission, but that name sends a very definite message, and Blood Pressure Watchers doesn't have much of a ring.  Let's see how this works out.

March 1, 2018