Sideswipe: February 24: The smearing of Joe Biden's Dog

Right-wing news outlet Newsmax critiqued Joe Biden's dog, 12-year-old German shepherd Champ. Host Greg Kelly pulls up a picture of the dog and says he "looks rough" and "needs a bath and a comb and all kinds of love and care". He goes on to reminisce about other White House dogs and wonders if this pooch is being properly cared for. Then he brings a couple of political commentators in, and one declares the dog looks "very unpresidential".

Muppets acknowledges its content has dated

Disney Plus began streaming the Muppet Show on Friday, adding a disclaimer warning viewers about insensitive cultural content. "This programme includes negative depictions and/or mistreatment of people or cultures," it reads. "These stereotypes were wrong then and are wrong now," but "rather than remove this content, we want to acknowledge its harmful impact, learn from it and spark conversation to create a more inclusive future together." In one episode Johnny Cash plays a guitar in front of a Confederate flag, and in another Spike Milligan appears in multiple national costumes, "including as a Chinese person with exaggerated front teeth and a long braid". Then there's Joan Baez speaking in an Indian accent after talking about Mahatma Gandhi. The disclaimer has prompted criticism and cries of "cancel culture".

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Coke uh-oh puffs for breakfast

Customs authorities in Ohio say they intercepted a shipment of cereal earlier month with a special frosting — cocaine. US Customs and Border Protection officers in Cincinnati reported finding 20 kilograms of cocaine-coated cornflakes that had been shipped from South America.

What's new with the global pandemic

1. Covid-19 preventive measures have curbed the use of board games in prison, so the affected inmates started playing chess against each other in their heads. Very Queen's Gambit.
2. "Can't wait till the pandemic is over, and there are 12 pop-up pubs in Dalston called the Vaccinated Arms." tweets @henrymance.
3. "Just had the AstraZeneca vaccine. Tasting notes: An unpretentious vaccine, best served chilled. Sour aftertaste of nationalism, but only for xenophobes. Everyone else will enjoy its generosity. Best paired with pork. Or fish. Or anything. If you can taste food, it's working," tweets @thewritertype.