;)
May 11, 2022
Late Morning/Afternoon Update:
Alice Ollstein & Marianne Levine of Politico: "The Senate once again failed to advance abortion rights legislation Wednesday, in a largely symbolic effort Democrats mounted in response to the Supreme Court's draft opinion overturning Roe v. Wade. In a 49-51 vote, the Senate rejected the Democratic legislation, with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and all Republicans voting against the measure. While the outcome was no surprise and mirrored a similar vote on abortion protections the Senate took in February, Majority Leader Chuck Schumer suggested the court's draft opinion, published by Politico last week, had raised the stakes.... Both Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska), who support abortion rights, opposed the Democratic bill. They see that legislation as too expansive and are instead pushing a narrower alternative that would codify the Roe and Casey decisions the Supreme Court is expected to overturn." ~~~
~~~ The Ultimate in Mansplaining: How Women Are Like Sea Turtles. María Paúl of the Washington Post: "Standing [on the Senate floor] by a poster showing turtle hatchlings next to babies, Sen. Steve Daines (R) on Tuesday argued that under a bill proposed by Democrats, the eggs of sea turtles and eagles would have more protections than human fetuses.... The senator's analogy sparked outrage on social media.... 'When sea turtles are attacked something is actually done and people are held criminally responsible,' California Democratic congressional candidate Eric Garcia wrote. 'Women on the other hand are called liars and get their Human Rights taken away.'"
Kyle Cheney of Politico: "Attorney John Eastman urged Republican legislators in Pennsylvania to retabulate the state's popular vote -- and throw out tens of thousands of absentee ballots -- in order to show Donald Trump with a lead, according to newly unearthed emails sent in December 2020, as Trump pressured GOP lawmakers to subvert his defeat. This recalculation, he posited in an exchange with one GOP state lawmaker, 'would help provide some cover' for Republicans to replace Joe Biden's electors from the state with a slate of pro-Trump electors, part of a last-ditch bid to overturn the election results.... The exchange was part of a batch of emails obtained from the University of Colorado, where Eastman worked as a visiting professor at the time he was helping Trump strategize ways to remain in power. The emails were obtained via public records requests by the Colorado Ethics Institute, which sent them along to the Jan. 6 select committee last month.... The Denver Post first reported on the existence of the emails." ~~~
~~~ Marie: Eastman's plan is a bit complicated, but it all flows from this: just throw out the type of ballots that favored Biden. I don't know that it's against the law to plan an illegal act that is never executed, but for a lawyer to advise another person to break the law should at least cost him his license to practice. ~~~
~~~ Greg Sargent of the Washington Post: "Note that Eastman says, almost as an aside, that state legislators have the 'authority' to appoint new electors even if the popular vote totals don't justify it. 'Eastman's view is that the legislature has absolute power in terms of picking presidential electors,' elections expert Richard L. Hasen told me, even if that means 'ignoring the will of the voters' or 'the legislature's prior rules on how to pick those electors.'... 'This shows the country one more strategic booby trap that was improvised by Trump's team that can sit there for use by bad-faith actors in future elections,' [Rep. Jamie] Raskin [D-Md.] told me."
Martin Pengelly of the Guardian: "Democrat Joe Biden is 'the best person' to lead the US, the Republican senator and fervent Donald Trump supporter Lindsey Graham said in tapes released on Monday [on CNN] by the authors of a bestselling political book. The South Carolina senator was speaking on and shortly after 6 January 2021 to Jonathan Martin and Alex Burns.... A spokesperson for Graham told CNN: 'The Joe Biden we see as president is not the one we saw in the Senate. He's pursued a far-left agenda as president.'"
The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Wednesday are here.
Jonah Bromwich & Ben Protess of the New York Times: "Donald J. Trump was released from a judicial order holding him in contempt of court on Wednesday, ending an embarrassing two-week period for the former president.... A New York State judge, Arthur F. Engoron, held Mr. Trump in contempt late last month after finding that he had failed to comply with the terms of a December subpoena sent by the attorney general, Letitia James, requesting documents from his personal files. The judge ordered Mr. Trump to pay $10,000 a day until he complied, leading to a $110,000 penalty. On Wednesday, Justice Engoron withdrew the contempt order, but set a few conditions, including requiring Mr. Trump to pay the fine. The judge ruled that if Mr. Trump and his company did not meet the conditions by May 20, he would reinstate the contempt order and retroactively apply the $10,000-a-day fine."
Florida. Andrew Pantazi of the Jacksonville Tributary: "A 2nd Judicial Circuit Court judge struck down Jacksonville's congressional districts in a ruling against Florida’s redistricting process. Circuit Judge Layne Smith said, 'I am finding the enacted map is unconstitutional because it diminishes African Americans' ability to elect candidates of their choice.' He ordered the state to adopt a map that maintains an east-to-west version of Jacksonville's 5th Congressional District, stretching from Duval to Gadsden counties. The ruling came after a Wednesday hearing that saw plaintiffs argue that Gov. Ron DeSantis' congressional map, which eliminated Jacksonville's current Black ability-to-elect district, violated the state constitution. The governor's office said it will appeal the ruling." MB: Since the suit will likely end up in the Florida Supreme Court, which is dominated by wingers, it seems to me DeSantis will still win his voter-suppression game.
Rachel Siegel of the Washington Post: "While inflation remains painfully high, the pace of higher prices showed some signs of easing in April, as prices rose 8.3 percent compared with a year ago and 0.3 percent compared to the month before, the slowest increase since last summer. Data released Wednesday by the Bureau of Labor Statistics may give policymakers some nascent hope that soaring inflation may be starting to slow down, even as households continue to feel the pain. For example, March prices rose at a sharper pace, 8.5 percent compared to previous year.... The cost of shelter, food, airfare and new cars were the largest contributors to the April data." CNBC's report is here.
Dan Lamothe of the Washington Post: "... Donald Trump wanted to court-martial two prominent retired military officers for their perceived slights and disloyalty, his former defense secretary Mark T. Esper alleges in a new book.... Trump, Esper recounts in 'A Sacred Oath,' had developed a disdain for Stanley McChrystal and William H. McRaven, popular and influential leaders who, in retirement, criticized the president." MB: There are two reasons Trump considers any efforts to hold him accountable are "witch hunts": (1) he believes he can do no wrong; (2) he assumes others are as scheming & retaliatory as he is. So a double helping of paranoid narcissism with a side dish of projection.
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Peter Baker of the New York Times: "President Biden, on the defense for months over rising inflation, sought to convince Americans on Tuesday that he understood the pain they were feeling from rising prices and that his administration was taking steps to address higher costs for fuel, food and other goods. Mr. Biden delivered his remarks a day before another economic report [-- The Consumer Price Index --] was expected to show uncomfortably high prices.... Republicans have spent months blaming Mr. Biden for rising prices, viewing it as a winning issue ahead of the midterm elections.... On Tuesday, Mr. Biden tried to flip the argument, castigating Republicans for complaining about rising prices while offering 'extreme' policy ideas that he said would help the wealthiest Americans and big corporations rather than working families.... Mr. Biden targeted what he called 'the ultra-MAGA agenda.'..." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Video of the full speech is here.
Jeanna Smialek & Emily Cochrane of the New York Times: "The Senate confirmed Lisa D. Cook as a Federal Reserve governor on Tuesday, making her the first Black woman to hold that influential policy post. Her confirmation came after Vice President Kamala Harris broke a 50-to-50 tie in the Senate, moving the Biden administration one step closer to reshaping the leadership team at the central bank. Ms. Cook, an economist at Michigan State University who has researched racial disparities and labor markets, was nominated alongside a slate of other officials.... If those additional nominees are confirmed, Mr. Biden will have nominated or renominated five of the Fed's seven governors." ~~~
~~~ Ted Barrett & Ali Zaslav of CNN: "All Republicans opposed Cook, with several complaining that she is not qualified for the position, despite having a doctorate in economics and being a professor at Michigan State University." MB: As I was flipping through the dial Tuesday night, I heard David Gergen -- not exactly your far-left wacko -- say that he felt young Black women were the Americans who were saving democracy for the rest of us. And that, I would guess, is what frightens those Republican senators the most. Of course Cook is "unqualified," in their estimation. Why, you just have to look at her!
The New York Times' live updates of developments Wednesday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here: "With intelligence officials warning that Moscow is counting on a protracted war in Ukraine to drain the determination of the United States and its allies, Congress has forged ahead with overwhelming support in deepening the United States' commitment. The House voted 368 to 57 in favor of a $39.8 billion aid package for Ukraine late Tuesday, bringing the total U.S. financial commitment to roughly $53 billion over two months.... The Senate still needs to vote on the proposal. While Russia appeared to be nearing one of its stated aims, complete control of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, top U.S. intelligence officials said that would neither satisfy ... Vladimir V. Putin of Russia nor bring the war to an end.... Ukrainian officials acknowledged that Russia now controls 80 percent of the Donbas, as the region is known, but said they were managing to carry out successful counterattacks to push Russian troops back toward the border farther north." ~~~
~~~ The Washington Post's live updates for Wednesday are here: "Putin is readjusting his goals to go beyond capturing Donbas and is seeking to consolidate control of a land bridge linking Russia, Donbas and Russian-held Crimea to the south, [U.S.] Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said Tuesday.... The conflict is directly affecting gas supplies as Ukraine said it would stop the transit of some Russian gas running through its borders into Europe starting Wednesday morning local time, due to 'the interference of the occupying forces in technical processes.' The move could impede the flow of about one-third of Russian gas exports through Ukraine, the country's state-owned energy company Naftogaz said. That set up a potential dispute with Russia's Gazprom, which called a Ukrainian proposal to shift the transit of gas to another station in Ukrainian territory 'technologically impossible.'... The Finnish Parliament's defense committee recommended NATO membership. The country's official decision on whether to join the alliance could come as soon as this week." ~~~
~~~ The Guardian's live updates for Wednesday are here. The Guardian's "full report" is here: "Russian and Ukrainian forces appear to be settling into a gruelling and deadly stalemate in Ukraine's east, amid warnings from a senior US military official that neither side can win in the present circumstances."
Julia Ioffe in Puck: Vladimir "Putin's childhood taught him many lessons that shape his thinking and actions to this day: that might makes right, that existing hierarchies can only be changed through violence, that force is the only language that matters, that power is always a zero-sum game." MB: A long piece, and you have to "sign in." But interesting, in a horrifying way.
Josh Gerstein, et al., of Politico: "Justice Samuel Alito's sweeping and blunt draft majority opinion from February overturning Roe remains the court's only circulated draft in the pending Mississippi abortion case, Politico has learned, and none of the conservative justices who initially sided with Alito have to date switched their votes. No dissenting draft opinions have circulated from any justice, including the three liberals. That could explain why no second draft of Alito's majority opinion has been distributed, as typically the two sides react to one another's written arguments and recast their own." It's not known what CJ Roberts will do.
Ivana Saric of Axios: "Eliminating a woman's right to seek an abortion would have 'very damaging effects on the economy and would set women back decades,' Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said while testifying before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee on Tuesday.... 'Roe v. Wade, in access to reproductive health care, including abortion, helped lead to increased labor force participation,' Yellen said. 'It enabled many women to finish school, that increased their earning potential. It allowed women to plan and balance their families and careers. And research also shows that it had a favorable impact on the well being and earnings of children,' she added. Yellen noted that other research has also made clear that denying women access to abortions increases 'their odds of living in poverty or in need for public assistance.'" Includes video.
Libby Cathey of ABC News: "... Senate Democrats on Wednesday will force a vote to advance a bill that would enshrine abortion rights into federal law. The Women's Health Protection Act would codify the Roe v. Wade ruling while also banning requirements some states have put into place related to abortion care, such as waiting periods and mandatory doctor visits before the procedure. But without the 60 votes needed to overcome a GOP-led filibuster, the legislation is all but certain to fail in the Senate, sending Democrats scrambling for alternatives."
Amy Wang & Seung Min Kim of the Washington Post: "Sen. Robert P. Casey Jr. said Tuesday that he would support legislation that would codify Roe v. Wade into law, a dramatic shift for one of the few remaining Democrats in Congress with relatively conservative views on abortion rights. Casey, of Pennsylvania, said that he will vote yes to advance debate on the Women's Health Protection Act this week and that he will support the bill if there is a vote on its final passage. He added that the 'circumstances around the entire debate on abortion' had changed since the House last voted on the bill nearly three months ago.... The Senate is poised to vote Wednesday on advancing the bill, an effort likely to fail because of Republican opposition. Casey is the son of Robert P. Casey, who waged a battle as Pennsylvania governor against Planned Parenthood that ultimately led to the landmark 1992 Supreme Court decision Planned Parenthood v. Casey."
Laura Vozzella & Gregory Schneider of the Washington Post: "As abortion rights activists picketed outside the Alexandria home of Supreme Court Justice Samuel A. Alito Jr. on Monday night, Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin popped up on Twitter to say state police were nearby and 'closely monitoring' the protests. Then came the backlash -- from conservatives, who demanded that the new Republican governor order the troopers to arrest the demonstrators under a state law prohibiting picketing outside private residences -- even though it's up to local police, not state troopers, to enforce that law. 'Picketing or disrupting the tranquility of home is expressly illegal in the Commonwealth,' Jack Posobiec, a podcaster and promoter of the false claims known as Pizzagate, tweeted to his 1.7 million followers ... -- one of several such tweets from conservatives." ~~~
~~~ Marie: One young woman held a great sign: "Don't like me at your house? Get out [of] my uterus." ~~~
~~~ According to Sanjana Karanth of the Huffington Post, "Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) called the police on Saturday over a chalk drawing on a public sidewalk by her home that politely asked the Maine Republican to protect abortion rights by codifying Roe v. Wade. Police in Bangor, Maine, responded Saturday night to investigate the water-soluble message that asked Collins to support the Women's Health Protection Act, which effectively keeps abortion rights legal at the federal level in the event that the Supreme Court overturns the 1973 ruling guaranteeing abortion access. 'Susie, please... Mainers want WHPA --> vote yes, clean up your mess,' the message read, according to the police report. ... Bangor police spokesman Wade Betters confirmed to HuffPost that a complaint was made about the chalk message, saying it was not threatening and no crime was committed. He said the city's public works department washed off the chalk." (This and a related story also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Marie: I'm not completely convinced there is evidence that Collins is the "concerned citizen" who called the cops on the chalk artist, but it is highly likely. ~~~
~~~ Wait, Wait! UPDATE. Desperately Silly Susan. Pema Levy of Mother Jones: "A copy of the police report shared with Mother Jones confirms the complainant was Collins." Something is seriously wrong with that woman. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~
~~~ Arwa Mahdawi of the Guardian: "While some people were upset that five out of nine unelected judges (two of whom have been accused of sexual misconduct) have the power to take away women's bodily autonomy, CNN's legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin (who reportedly exposed himself on Zoom) had a meltdown over the impropriety of the leak itself. 'The idea that a decision of this magnitude could leak is really a shattering experience for the justices and the court,' he told viewers, breathlessly.... It seems that large swathes of the US have decided the most outrageous thing that has happened in the past week is that some of the peaceful protests sparked by the leaked Roe v Wade opinion have taken place outside the homes of the conservative judges involved.... Many of the people clutching their pearls about the protests making judges' personal lives 'miserable' (as the Washington Post put it) don't seem to be quite so bothered about how miserable it might be for a woman to be forced to give birth."
Dana Milbank of the Washington Post: "Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell has raised the possibility of a nationwide abortion ban if his Republicans gain control of government, but he promises that -- pinky swear! -- 'I will never support smashing the legislative filibuster on this issue or any other.' And I totally believe him! I've always believed Mitch McConnell." Milbank goes on to relate a long list of remarks McConnell made that -- surprise! -- turned out not to be true.
Katherine Tully-McManus & Eleanor Mueller of Politico: "The House voted Tuesday to allow close to 10,000 of its employees to bargain collectively and form unions, the biggest expansion of congressional staffer rights in three decades. The move comes amid a swelling tidal wave of grievances from staff, along with efforts by leadership and lawmakers to stem burnout and brain drain among employees who serve vital roles in the legislative branch, including serving constituents, conducting oversight of federal agencies and drafting legislation. The resolution codifies House employees' right to organize and bargain collectively, including aides in personal offices, district offices and committee staff. The measure expands rights already given to other workers in the Legislative Branch, including Capitol Police, the Library of Congress and professional tour guides.... The measure providing collective bargaining rights does not need Senate approval, as it only applies to operations within the House." The Washington Post's report is here.
Josh's Mickey Mouse Stunt. Brad Dress of the Hill: "Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) introduced legislation on Tuesday that would strip 'woke corporations like Disney' of special protections enabling companies to hold copyright material for decades. The Copyright Clause Restoration Act would limit copyrighted material to 56 years and apply the new rule retroactively, meaning Disney and other companies could immediately lose some copyright protections if the law were passed.... After lobbying from Disney, Congress passed a law in 1998 that extended copyright protections for corporations, giving them ownership for 95 years from original publication or 120 years from creation. The law was dubbed the Mickey Mouse Protection Act." ~~~
~~~ Arthur Delaney of the Huffington Post: Hawley's "measure would apply retroactively only for firms with a market capitalization above $150 billion that operate in the motion picture industry. Basically, companies like Disney.... A law punishing an individual entity could be unconstitutional." ~~~
~~~ Marie: GOP presidential hopefuls think the path to the White House is paved in stunts & Trumpy stunts. But Hawley, Cruz, et al., will never outdo Florida's Ron DeSantis, the now & forever top GOP stuntman. See news of the latest DeSantis stunt, linked below.
What a Moron! Bob Brigham of the Raw Story: "Donald Trump was not joking when he asked aides whether China had a 'hurricane gun' it was using America, according to a new report by Rolling Stone magazine." Trump asked the question several times from the beginning of his presidency* till some time in 2018. "'This patently boneheaded line of inquiry from Trump ... was merely one instance in an administration overflowing with Trump's rampantly absurd, conspiracy-theory-powered ideas and policy proposals, many of which were ignored or shot down, thus avoiding additional atrocities.' In 2019, it was reported Trump wondered about detonating nuclear weapons to stop a hurricane. That was the same hurricane season of the infamous SharpieGate scandal."
Edgar Sandoval, et al., of the New York Times: "[A baby formula] shortage has been a challenge for families across the country, but it is especially palpable at grocery stores and food banks in San Antonio, a Latino-majority city in South Texas where many mothers lack health insurance and work at low-wage jobs that give them little opportunity to breastfeed. Across the city, baby food aisles are nearly empty and nonprofit agencies are working overtime to get their hands on new supplies. The shortage became acute with a recall of a defective brand this year after at least four babies were hospitalized with bacterial infection and at least two babies died. But the recall has been exacerbated by relentless supply-chain woes and labor shortages.... Republicans have seized on the widening anxiety among parents to blame President Biden, arguing that the administration has not done enough to ramp up production.... The F.D.A. commissioner, Dr. Robert M. Califf, said in a statement on Tuesday. 'We are doing everything in our power to ensure there is adequate product available where and when they need it.'"
Matt O'Brien, et al., of the AP: "Elon Musk said he will reverse Twitter's permanent ban of ... Donald Trump should the Tesla CEO conclude his deal to acquire the social media company for $44 billion. Musk, speaking virtually at a Future of the Car summit hosted by the Financial Times, said Twitter's Trump ban was a 'morally bad decision' and 'foolish in the extreme.' He said permanent bans of Twitter accounts should be rare and reserved for accounts that are scams or automated bots." MB: Apparently the Professor Pangloss of Tech believes a 75-year-old man who has told multiple whoppers daily since he learned to talk can reform and use a Twitter account to impart truth & knowledge to the masses. (Also linked yesterday.)
AP: "Actor and activist James Cromwell has gone from 'Succession's' Uncle Ewan to real-life supergluin' -- pasting his hand to a midtown Manhattan Starbucks counter on Tuesday to protest the coffee chain's extra charge for plant-based milk.... Cromwell sat on the Starbucks counter wearing a 'Free the Animals' T-shirt and read a statement denouncing the surcharge for vegan milk alternatives. 'When will you stop raking in huge profits while customers, animals and the environment suffer?' he demanded as fellow activists streamed the protest on Facebook."
The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Tuesday are here: "Gun deaths reached the highest number ever recorded in the United States in 2020, the first year of the pandemic, as gun-related homicides surged by 35 percent, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported on Tuesday. 'This is a historic increase, with the rate having reached the highest level in over 25 years,' Dr. Debra E. Houry, acting principal deputy director of the C.D.C. and the director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, said at a news briefing."
Beyond the Beltway
Florida. Ryan Dailey in the Tallahassee Democrat: "Calling it a 'blockbuster day for freedom,' Gov. Ron DeSantis on Monday signed a bill that will require public-school students to observe 'Victims of Communism Day' on Nov. 7 each year. The new law, which went into effect immediately, describes the day as being geared toward 'honoring the 100 million people who have fallen victim to communist regimes' across the world. The law also gives DeSantis authority to extend observance of the day beyond public schools, as it requires that Victims of Communism Day 'be suitably observed by public exercise in the State Capitol and elsewhere as the governor may designate.' DeSantis signed the measure (HB 395) at the Freedom Tower in Miami, where Cuban refugees who fled to South Florida in the 1960s were processed as they arrived in the United States." Thanks to Akhilleus for the link. A Washington Post story is here. MB: There are so many things wrong with the Florida Dear Leader's new law that I can't begin to cover them. In yesterday's thread, Akhilleus made a good start, but by no means ran the gamut. ~~~
~~~ Marie: I myself was a schoolchild in Florida, and if we had had a governor like DeSantimonious, my mother and I would have ended up in the gulag. It so happened my high school saw fit to invite a Joe McCarthy sort of lady to give a speech to a large assembly of us impressionable teens. After listening for ten minutes, I walked out. My English teacher chased after me & ordered me to go sit back down. I told her I would not sit & listen to a string of lies that slandered decent Americans. The teacher called my mother down to the school to inform her why I was being expelled. My mother was one of those moms who expected her daughter to stick up for herself, but when I told my mother the parts of the anti-commie lady's speech I had heard, Mom too became enraged & ended up giving the English teacher a dressing-down. After my mother's speech, the teacher gave up on our family, and I didn't miss any school.
Nebraska Gubernatorial Primary Results. Reid Epstein of the New York Times: "Jim Pillen, a University of Nebraska regent backed by the state's powerful Ricketts political machine, has won the Republican primary for Nebraska governor, defeating a scandal-marred millionaire who had the backing of ... Donald J. Trump. The Associated Press declared Mr. Pillen the winner over his main rivals, Charles W. Herbster, a Trump-endorsed agribusiness executive who funded his own campaign and, in the race's final weeks, was accused of groping women, and Brett Lindstrom, a state senator who appealed to the moderate wing of the party." Politico's story is here.
Vermont. Eduardo Medina of the New York Times: "A Vermont man lured his mother on a fishing trip off the coast of Rhode Island in 2016, killed her and sank the boat in a scheme to inherit his family's estate, federal prosecutors said on Tuesday. An indictment unsealed in federal court in Burlington, Vt., on Tuesday, accuses Nathan Carman, 28, of Vernon, Vt., of murdering his mother, Linda Carman, while boating in September 2016 and making false reports to the authorities about what had happened on the high seas.... In 2013, as another part of his scheme, Mr. Carman grabbed his Sig Sauer rifle and shot and killed his grandfather, John Chakalos, who became wealthy by building and renting nursing homes and other real estate ventures, in Windsor, Conn., the indictment states. Mr. Carman was not charged with that killing, according to the indictment."
West Virginia Congressional Primary Results. Jonathan Weisman of the New York Times: "Representative Alex Mooney handily defeated a House colleague and fellow Republican, David McKinley, in a primary in West Virginia that again proved both the power of an endorsement by ... Donald J. Trump and the weight that right-wing ideology holds with Republican primary voters. Mr. Mooney, a four-term House Republican known more as a conservative warrior than a legislator, used Mr. Trump's endorsement to overcome a distinct disadvantage: The redrawn district he was running in included far more of Mr. McKinley's old district than Mr. Mooney's.... It was a thorough repudiation of Mr. McKinley's pragmatism, which led him to vote for the $1.2 trillion bipartisan infrastructure bill co-written by West Virginia's centrist Democratic senator, Joe Manchin III, and for the creation of a bipartisan commission to examine the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol." A Guardian story is here.
Way Beyond
Israel/Palestine. Raja Abdulrahim of the New York Times: "A journalist for Al Jazeera was fatally shot in the West Bank city of Jenin early Wednesday, the news network and the Palestinian health ministry said, blaming Israeli forces for her death. The circumstances surrounding the shooting of the journalist, Shireen Abu Akleh, a Palestinian American, were not immediately clear but it happened during clashes between the Israeli military and Palestinian gunmen in the city. Al Jazeera, citing the health ministry, said the journalist had been shot in the head by Israeli forces during a raid."
Russia. Valerie Hopkins & Misha Friedman of the New York Times: Maria V. Alyokhina, the leader of the dissident punk band Pussy Riot who has been jailed in Russia many times on trumped-up charges, escaped Russia "disguised ... as a food courier to evade the Moscow police who had been staking out the friend's apartment where she was staying. She left her cellphone behind as a decoy and to avoid being tracked. A friend drove her to the border with Belarus, and it took her a week to cross into Lithuania." (Also linked yesterday.)
U.K. A Slo-Mo Abdication. Ed Owens in a Guardian op-ed: "Due to her failing health, Queen Elizabeth II was not present at yesterday's state opening of parliament -- arguably her most important ceremonial performance in the calendar year. Last night's palace press release explaining that Prince Charles would stand in for his mother follows a pattern of recent similar announcements, the subtext of which is clear: the Queen is not well enough to fulfil the role expected of her.... The word 'abdication' has been taboo in the House of Windsor ever since Edward VIII gave up his role as king in 1936 to marry the woman he loved.... Other European royal families have embraced abdication as a positive way of passing on the responsibilities of monarchy to the next generation.... In Britain..., over the past decade, honours investitures, royal tours and other parts of the monarch's routine have been delegated to members of her family."
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