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

PROGRESS – FROM FOX BUSINESS:  America is on its way to becoming the largest oil producer in the world.  The nation will surpass Russia, the current No. 1, by 2023, the International Energy Agency estimated on Monday. U.S. crude production is projected to hit a record of 12.1 million barrels a day in 2023, which would reflect an increase of roughly 2 million barrels compared with this year. Russia pumps about 11 million barrels of oil each day.  IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol, speaking at the CERAWeek by IHS Markit conference in Houston, said the U.S., Brazil, Canada and Norway will contribute to supply growth by non-OPEC nations, according to The Wall Street Journal.  The U.S. has experienced strong production growth in recent years as such energy giants as Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) have boosted their output from shale regions including the Permian Basin in Texas and the Bakken Formation in North Dakota. The IEA said U.S. oil will account for 60% of the 6.4 million new barrels produced daily between now and 2023.  Not many years ago, we worried about the supply of petroleum from the Mideast.  No more.  We are becoming energy independent, which is important to our economy and the strength of our foreign policy.

PEOPLE GET PAID FOR THIS STUFF – FROM FOX:   If you’ve ever wished someone a “Merry Christmas” or said “God bless you” when someone sneezes, you’ve committed an act of “Islamomisic microaggressions,” according to college librarians at a Massachusetts college.  The Anti-Oppression Library Guide at Simmons College in Boston is a collaborative effort among the school’s librarians, reported CampusReform.org.  “Islamomisic Microaggressions are commonplace verbal or behavioral indignities, whether intentional or unintentional, which communicates hostile, derogatory, or negative slights in relation to the beliefs and religious practices of Muslims,” the librarians argue. “They are structurally based and invoke oppressive systems of religious/Christian hierarchy.”  A spokesperson told Fox News the guide is not a policy of Simmons College.  The question is why Simmons would have librarians on such a low and corrupt intellectual level.

WHINING – FROM THE HILL:   CNN's Jim Acosta objected to his network not being called upon during Monday's White House press briefing, noting it was the third straight time White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders didn't take a question from the cable network.  “Sarah, this is the third briefing you have not taken a question from CNN. Do you expect the Justice Department to enforce all subpoenas, Sarah?” Acosta asked as Sanders left the podium.  Sanders continued walking out of the James S. Brady Briefing Room without looking back or acknowledging the question.   Acosta's attempt to ask a question was shown on CNN as the network went back to anchor Brooke Baldwin in New York.  “All right. Jim Acosta there at the end trying to get a question in," Baldwin said before reviewing the press briefing.  Acosta took to Twitter afterward to repeat the complaint and included the hashtag "courage," implying that Sanders was afraid to take any questions from CNN reporters in the room.  CNN has voluntarily made itself the almost official anti-Trump network, and yet still expects love and acceptance from the Trump White House.  CNN needs parenting.

March 5, 2018