March 1, 2022

Afternoon Update:

From the New York Times' live updates of Russia's war on Ukraine, also linked earlier today: "Africans who had been living in Ukraine say they were stuck for days at crossings into neighboring European Union countries, huddling in the cold without food or shelter, held up by Ukrainian authorities who pushed them to the ends of long lines and even beat them, while letting Ukrainians through.... Plagued by poor morale as well as fuel and food shortages, some Russian troops in Ukraine have surrendered en masse or sabotaged their own vehicles to avoid fighting, a senior Pentagon official said on Tuesday. Some entire Russian units have laid down their arms without a fight after confronting surprisingly stiff Ukrainian defense, the official said.*... The United Nations appealed on Tuesday for some $1.7 billion to aid millions of victims of Russia's invasion of Ukraine and address the escalating destruction of critical infrastructure.... About 100 diplomats, many from Western countries, walked out of a speech by Russia's foreign minister[Sergey Lavrov] at the United Nations Human Rights Council on Tuesday in protest over his country's invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine's ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva led the walkout, which left a largely empty conference hall...."

     * Marie: I heard on the teevee that a number of Russian soldiers thought they were going to Belarus for military exercises & had no idea they would be attacking Ukraine in a live war.

Yuras Karmanau, et al., of the AP: "Russian forces stepped up their attacks on crowded urban areas Tuesday, bombarding the central square in Ukraine's second-biggest city and Kyiv's main TV tower in what the country's president called a blatant campaign of terror. 'Nobody will forgive. Nobody will forget,' President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed after the bloodshed on the square in Kharkiv."

Maureen Breslin of the Hill: "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday received a lengthy standing ovation after delivering an emotional speech via video to the European Parliament calling for Ukraine to be granted membership to the European Union. 'I don't read from paper, the paper phase is over, we're dealing with lives. Without you, Ukraine will be alone. We've proven our strength; we're the same as you. Prove that you'll not let us go. Then life will win over death, Zelensky said to representatives of the 27 EU member states."

David McHugh of the AP: "The International Energy Agency's 31 member countries agreed Tuesday to release 60 million barrels of oil from their strategic reserves -- half of that from the United States -- 'to send a strong message to oil markets' that supplies won't fall short after the Russian invasion of Ukraine. The board of the Paris-based IEA made the decision at an extraordinary meeting of energy ministers chaired by U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm. She said in a statement that U.S. President Joe Biden approved a commitment of 30 million barrels and that the U.S. is ready to 'take additional measures' if needed."

Sarah Fischer of Axios: "DirecTV plans to drop RT America from its lineup in light of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a spokesperson said.... DirecTV rival Dish said in a statement earlier this week it's 'closely monitoring the situation.'" MB: Whatever that means.

Samuel Stolton of Politico: "U.S streaming giant Netflix has responded to the ongoing crisis in Ukraine by saying that it will not comply with new Russian rules to carry 20 [of Russia's] state-backed channels."

Greg Sargent of the Washington Post: While Donald Trump is now absurdly claiming that he stood strongly behind NATO & Ukraine, he did much more than just try to extort Volodymyr Zelensky by withholding military aid till Zelensky made up a story that would hurt Joe Biden. "In episode after episode, Trump aligned our interests with those of Russian President Vladimir Putin and against those of Ukraine, NATO and the West.... As early as 2017, Trump began voicing the conspiracy theory that Ukraine, not Russia, had interfered in the 2016 presidential election.... Trump pushed out Marie Yovanovitch in 2019, after his lawyer Rudolph W. Giuliani mounted a smear campaign against her.... Well before extorting Zelensky, Trump alarmed officials by freezing military aid to Ukraine that Congress had appropriated, but without meaningful policy justification.... [Trump] withheld a White House meeting from Zelensky.... [Trump] turned Ukraine policy over to Giuliani."

Montana. A-Hunting He Will Go. Joshua Partlow of the Washington Post: "On public land north of Yellowstone National Park late last year, Montana Gov. Greg Gianforte (R) shot and killed a mountain lion that was being monitored by National Park Service staff, after hunting dogs had chased it up a tree. The mountain lion hunt, which has not been previously reported, occurred on Dec. 28.... Less than a year earlier, Gianforte killed a Yellowstone wolf in a similar area that was wearing a tracking collar, prompting an outcry among environmentalists.... One person familiar with the incident told The Post that the mountain lion was kept in the tree by the hunting dogs for a couple of hours while Gianforte traveled to the site...."

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Putin's War Crimes

The New York Times' live updates on Russia's war against Ukraine Tuesday are here: "A large explosion struck central Kharkiv, Ukraine's second largest city, on Tuesday, directly in front of the city's administrative building, creating a huge fireball that appeared in a video to engulf several cars driving through an area called Freedom Square.... CCTV footage of the attack captured what appeared to be a rocket striking directly in front of the building. Video of the aftermath showed a large crater in the middle of the city's cobble-stoned central square."

The Washington Post's live updates on Russia's war on Ukraine Tuesday are here: "[In] Kharkiv..., thousands are without power and heat in subfreezing temperatures, local officials said, and residents were bracing for more shelling on Tuesday.... Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the attack on civilian areas in Kharkiv amounted to a 'war crime.'... The Russian military is continuing to advance on Kyiv in what a senior U.S. defense official has called an apparent attempt to encircle the Ukrainian capital, fueling concerns the Kremlin will adopt the same siege tactics there that have been seen in Kharkiv -- the country's second-largest city -- which was bombarded Monday with some of the heaviest shelling since the invasion began."

The AP's live updates are here: "More than 70 Ukrainian soldiers were killed after Russian artillery hit a military base in Okhtyrka, a city between Kharkiv and Kyiv, the head of the region wrote on Telegram.... The report could not immediately be confirmed."

Yuras Karmanau, et al., of the AP: "A 40-mile convoy of Russian tanks and other vehicles threatened Ukraine's capital Tuesday, the sixth day of the war.... After a first, five-hour session of talks between Ukraine and Russia..., Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ... said Kyiv was not prepared to make concessions 'when one side is hitting another with rocket artillery.' Six days into the invasion, the Russian military's movements have been stalled by fierce resistance on the ground and a surprising inability to dominate the airspace. Many Ukrainian civilians, meanwhile, spent another night huddled in shelters, basements or corridors.... The Kremlin has twice in as many days raised the specter of nuclear war and put on high alert an arsenal that includes intercontinental ballistic missiles and long-range bombers.... Video from Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-biggest city, with a population of about 1.5 million, showed residential areas being shelled, with apartment buildings shaken by repeated, powerful blasts.... The Russian military has denied targeting residential areas despite abundant evidence of shelling of homes, schools and hospitals."

Steven Erlanger of the New York Times: "When Russia launched its invasion of Ukraine with nearly 200,000 troops, many observers -- and seemingly President Vladimir V. Putin himself -- expected that the force would roll right in and the fighting would be over quickly. Instead, after five days of war, what appears to be unfolding is a Russian miscalculation about tactics and about how hard the Ukrainians would fight.... But the war was already changing quickly on Monday, and ultimately, it is likely to turn on just how far Russia is willing to go to subjugate Ukraine. The Russian track record in the Syrian civil war, and in its own ruthless efforts to crush separatism in the Russian region of Chechnya, suggest an increasingly brutal campaign ahead.... American officials say they fear that Russia may now escalate missile and aerial bombing of cities with major civilian casualties, [a senior Pentagon] official said." A related NBC News story is here.

Robert Burns of the AP: "In war, winning quick control of airspace is crucial. Russia's failure to do so in Ukraine, despite its vast military strength, has been a surprise and may help explain how Ukraine has so far prevented a rout. The standoff in the sky is among the Russian battle shortcomings, including logistical breakdowns, that have thrown Moscow off stride in its invasion.... A possible explanation for Russia's failure to do so is that President Vladimir Putin built his war strategy on an assumption that Ukrainian defenses would easily fold...."

Paul McCleary of Politico: "Ukrainian pilots have arrived in Poland to start the process of taking control of fighter planes they expect to be donated by European countries, a Ukrainian government official told Politico. The potential transfer of older Russian-made planes to be used in combat against Russian forces could be the most significant moment yet in a wave of promised arms transfers over the past 24 hours that includes thousands of anti-armor rockets machine guns, artillery and other equipment. It's not clear just yet what countries are donating the jets, but European Union security chief Josep Borrell pledged over the weekend that the EU would fund the transfer the fighter planes from multiple countries."

"Biden and Blinken Herded the Cats." Michael Birnbaum, et al., of the Washington Post: "... over just a handful of days, Europe has been shocked out of a post-Cold War era -- and state of mind -- in which it left many of the democratic world's most burning security problems to the United States.... The countries taking action against Russia stretch around the world.... But no region other than Europe has overturned its foreign policy orthodoxies in a heartbeat.... 'It's the end of an era,' said former Estonian President Toomas Hendrik Ilves, who was once dismissed by a Finnish leader as having 'post-Soviet stress' for his hawkish approach to Russia.... Policymakers and analysts described a months-long campaign by the Biden administration to share intelligence briefings, pressure powerful countries that they might need to make sacrifices, and coordinate among a disparate group of 27 E.U. member states." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: No matter how this war turns out -- and it's likely to turn out badly -- I'd recommend Biden & Zelensky for a joint Nobel Peace Prize (even though, admittedly, Zelensky has plenty of time to screw up).

Bryan Pietsch of the Washington Post: "Just a few years ago, Volodymyr Zelensky was playing Ukraine's president on television. Now, he's a real-life wartime leader directing his outgunned country in its fight against the Russian invasion. Though he says he has become the Kremlin's 'target No. 1,' he has earned the respect of much of the Ukrainian public by refusing to flee the capital. Instead he has walked the streets of Kyiv and urged Ukrainians to resist, while crafting a successful communications strategy that has won the hearts and minds of European leaders and voters. While acknowledging that Moscow has vastly superior forces it has not yet deployed, Western officials say Zelensky's leadership has firmed up Ukrainian resolve. Here's what you need to know about Zelensky." ~~~

~~~ A very brief look at Zelensky's career as an entertainer:

Maura Reynolds of Politico interviews Russia expert Fiona Hill, published in Politico Magazine. Hill looks at Putin's career & acknowledges that Putin will use all the weapons in his arsenal, including nuclear weapons & nerve agents.

Andrew Desiderio & Connor O'Brien of Politico: "Ukraine's ambassador to the U.S. pleaded with senators Monday night for a surge in military assistance and an escalation of sanctions on Moscow as her country braces for the fall of its capital city to Russian forces. The envoy, Oksana Markarova, told a bipartisan group of senators that the Ukrainian military is in serious need of supplies and equipment, including lethal arms, according to lawmakers who attended the closed-door meeting. Markarova told senators that Ukraine was close to running out of Stinger anti-aircraft missiles and Javelin anti-tank missiles in particular, both of which have proven to be pivotal as an overpowered Ukrainian military fends off Russian invaders."

Economic Times (India): "Hungary said on Monday it would not allow weapons to be transported through its territory after the European Union pledged military aid to Kyiv. Prime Minister Viktor Orban has sough to foster close ties with Moscow but Hungary has closed ranks with the rest of the EU on tough sanctions against Russia."

Barbie Nadeau, et al., of the Daily Beast, republished in Yahoo! News: "The Putin-backed president of Belarus has warned that World War III could be about to begin as he reportedly prepares his troops to assist with Russia's mass-scale invasion of Ukraine. President Alexander Lukashenko warned that the crisis in Ukraine could spark a global conflict, writing in a statement: 'Russia is being pushed towards a third world war. We should be very reserved and steer clear of it. Because nuclear war is the end of everything.'"

The Maldives Are Lovely This Time of Year. Brian Schwartz of CNBC: "Superyachts owned by Russian billionaires who have ties to President Vladimir Putin are on the move as the United States and its allies prepare further sanctions on their property following the invasion of Ukraine. Data reviewed by CNBC from Marine Traffic shows that at least four massive yachts owned by Russian business leaders have been moving toward Montenegro and the Maldives since a wide array of sanctions were announced in recent days by leaders from around the world, including the U.S. Treasury targeting Russia's central bank. The Maldives doesn't have an extradition treaty with the U.S., according to Nomad Capitalist."

Arjun Kharpal of CNBC: "Payment and credit card giants Visa and Mastercard have blocked [Russian] financial institutions from their networks in response to sanctions targeting Russia after its invasion of Ukraine."

The Week the Music Died. Javier Hernández of the New York Times: "Valery Gergiev, the star Russian maestro and prominent supporter of President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, was removed Tuesday from his post as chief conductor of the Munich Philharmonic after he refused to denounce Mr. Putin's invasion of Ukraine. And Anna Netrebko, the Russian diva who is one of opera's biggest international stars, saw her upcoming engagements with the Bavarian State Opera canceled, and the Zurich Opera House announced that she had withdrawn from her upcoming performances there. She too has ties to Mr. Putin, and was once pictured holding a flag used by some Russian-backed separatist groups in Ukraine.... [Mr. Gergiev's] international engagements began drying up last week, when Carnegie Hall and the Vienna Philharmonic dropped him from a series of performances. On Sunday, Mr. Gergiev's manager announced he was ending his relationship with his client."

Mark Ogden of ESPN: "Russia have been kicked out of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar by FIFA after the world governing body and the European association, UEFA, issued a joint statement to confirm that all Russian national teams and clubs have been suspended until further notice following the invasion of Ukraine."

CNN's live updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine Monday are here: "The United States has asked 12 Russian United Nations diplomats to leave the country due to their alleged engagement in '... espionage activites...,' ... the US Mission to the UN ... said in a statement... The UK's communication regulator is launching 15 investigations into Russia Today (RT), the Kremlin-backed news channel.... The International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands, will open an investigation into Russia's invasion of Ukraine as 'rapidly as possible,' [for war crimes & crimes against humanity,] ICC Prosecutor Karim A. A. Khan said in a statement Monday.... Norway will provide $226 million'in humanitarian assistance and military equipment to Ukraine.... A Russian military convoy that was outside of Ivankiv, Ukraine, on Sunday has since made it to the outskirts of Kyiv, satellite images show." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

The New York Times' live updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine Monday are here: "As Ukraine's second-largest city reeled under a barrage of Russian rockets that officials said killed dozens of people, a Ukrainian delegation met counterparts from Russia for several hours of talks on Monday in Belarus. The bombardment of a residential area of Kharkiv five days after Russia's invasion began signaled a possible intensification of the conflict.... British intelligence officials said that most Russian ground forces in Ukraine were massed more than 18 miles north of Kyiv, the capital, but were being slowed by fierce resistance from Ukrainian soldiers and civilian volunteers.... President Emmanuel Macron of France reiterated calls on Monday for an immediate cease-fire in a phone conversation with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, and urged an end to all attacks on civilians and essential infrastructure, according to the French presidency.... The European Union's representative to the United Nations, Olof Skoog, speaking at the General Assembly, condemned Russia for invading Ukraine and condemned Belarus for its involvement in Ukraine's war." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.) ~~~

~~~ From the Washington Post's live updates, also linked earlier: "The first talks between Russia and Ukraine over the invasion ended with agreement to continue talking in coming days. After almost five hours of talks in southern Belarus near the Ukraine border, the head of the Russian delegation, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, said further talks would be held in coming days after both sides consulted with their presidents.... Washington announced a further round of sanctions Monday, effectively prohibiting institutions in the United States from doing business with Russia's central bank.... Ukrainian officials say at least 11 people were killed and more were wounded in the eastern city of Kharkiv on Monday morning after Russia launched rocket strikes, targeting Ukraine's second-largest city with some of the heaviest shelling and street fighting since the invasion began Thursday. Suspected cluster munitions struck buildings in the city. Oleh Synehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, said Monday that 'dozens are dying' and that at least 11 people were confirmed dead." (Also linked yesterday.)

Even Switzerland Will Sanction Russia. Nick Cumming-Brice of the New York Times: "Switzerland, a favorite destination for Russian oligarchs and their money, announced on Monday that it would freeze Russian financial assets in the country, setting aside a deeply rooted tradition of neutrality to join the European Union and a growing number of nations seeking to penalize Russia for the invasion of Ukraine." (Also linked yesterday.)

Paul Krugman of the New York Times: "Before Putin invaded Ukraine, I might have described the Russian Federation as a medium-size power punching above its weight in part by exploiting Western divisions and corruption, in part by maintaining a powerful military. Since then, however, two things have become clear. First, Putin has delusions of grandeur. Second, Russia is even weaker than most people, myself included, seem to have realized.... [Putin] he apparently wants to recreate the czarist empire.... [Russia's] standard of living is sustained by large imports of manufactured goods, mostly paid for via exports of oil and natural gas.This leaves Russia's economy highly vulnerable to sanctions that might disrupt this trade.... Russia now stands revealed as a Potemkin superpower, with far less real strength than meets the eye." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: AND I might have described Russia as a medium-sized authoritarian oligarchy with more nukes than any other country on Earth. Therein lies the rub.

Michael Shear of the New York Times: "President Biden will use his first State of the Union address on Tuesday to claim credit for a robust economy and a unified global response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, even as he acknowledges the pain of inflation and the struggle between 'democracy and autocracy' around the world, administration officials said on Monday." MB: The U.S. is a medium-sized power in which roughly half of the political power rests with a corrupt, backward party determined to destroy liberal democracy and the Earth. And at least half of the people are too damned dumb or jaded to care.

Farnoush Amiri & Zeke Miller of the AP: "President Joe Biden on Monday denied executive privilege claims made by former Trump administration officials Peter Navarro and Michael Flynn in connection to the congressional probe into the attack on the U.S. Capitol. In letters penned by White House deputy counsel Jonathan Su, the Biden administration rejected the shield of executive privilege purported by Navarro and Flynn in response to recent subpoenas by the House select committee investigating the Jan. 6, 2021, attack."

Senate Anti-Woman Caucus Prevails. Carl Hulse of the New York Times: "Republicans on Monday blocked the Senate from taking up sweeping abortion rights legislation as Democrats sought to put lawmakers on the record on the issue in advance of the midterm elections and a coming Supreme Court ruling on access to abortion. Democrats fell 14 votes short of the 60 needed to bring the Women's Health Protection Act to the floor for consideration after the House last September passed it on a narrow party-line vote. One Democrat, Senator Joe Manchin III of West Virginia, joined all Republicans in opposition to beginning debate on the measure."

Emily Cochrane of the New York Times: "The House on Monday overwhelmingly approved legislation that would make lynching a federal hate crime, moving to formally outlaw a brutal act that has become a symbol of the failure by Congress and the country to reckon with the history of racial violence in America. Passage of the anti-lynching bill, named in honor of Emmett Till, the 14-year-old Black teenager brutally tortured and murdered in Mississippi in 1955, came after more than a century of failed attempts. Lawmakers estimated they had tried more than 200 times to pass a measure to explicitly criminalize a type of attack that has long terrorized Black Americans. This bill was approved 422 to 3, and was expected to pass the Senate, where it enjoys broad support.... Three Republicans -- Representatives Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Thomas Massie of Kentucky and Chip Roy of Texas -- opposed the anti-lynching bill."

Amazing. Scott Wong of NBC News: "GOP leaders in the House and the Senate on Monday denounced a pair of far-right Trump allies -- Reps. Marjorie Taylor Greene, R-Ga., and Paul Gosar, R-Ariz. -- for speaking at a gathering of white nationalists in Florida over the weekend. 'There's no place in the Republican Party for white supremacists or anti-Semitism,' Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a terse statement. House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told reporters for CNN and Punchbowl News that it was 'appalling and wrong' for the two lawmakers to attend the meeting in Florida and that he plans to discuss the matter with them. 'There's no place in our party for any of this.... The party should not be associated any time, any place with somebody who is antisemitic,' said McCarthy, who recently returned from leading a delegation of House Republicans to Israel. 'This is unacceptable.' Greene pretended she knew nothing about the group's leader, Nick Fuentes, who in introducing her praised Vladimir Putin & appeared to approve of Adolf Hitler. MB: But hey, how's a girl from rural Georgia to know? Most amazing: Kevin has finally come upon a bridge too far.

Adam Liptak of the New York Times: "Members of the Supreme Court's conservative majority on Monday questioned the scope of the Environmental Protection Agency's ability to regulate carbon emissions from power plants, suggesting that the justices could deal a sharp blow to the Biden administration's efforts to address climate change. The questioning during the two-hour argument was mostly technical, and several conservative justices did not tip their hands. But those who did sounded skeptical that Congress had meant to give the agency what they said was vast power to set national economic policy. Climate change was mentioned only in passing and only to buttress the point that an executive agency should not be allowed to tackle so large an issue without express congressional authorization." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Yesterday I asked if anyone could stop the Supremes from destroying Earth. That was a rhetorical question, and the answer, as I suspected, appears to be "nope." Theoretically, the Congress could stop the destruction. But Republicans. And corruption. And filibuster.

Michele Norris of the Washington Post: Don't take to heart the low expectations of your high school guidance counselor, kids, especially if you're Black AND female.

Jesus Jiménez of the New York Times: "Viatris, the drugmaker previously known as Mylan, announced on Monday that it had agreed to pay $264 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that alleged the company was involved in an illegal scheme to monopolize the market for epinephrine auto-injector devices known as EpiPens, which are used to treat severe allergic reactions. The proposed settlement, which needs to be approved by a judge, would resolve a legal battle that began after Mylan, in 2016, raised the price for a pack of two EpiPens to $608 from $100, the price since 2007, according to court documents."

Our Moms' Doctor Is Our Father. Jacqueline Mroz of the New York Times: "Over the past several years, more than 50 fertility doctors in the United States have been accused of fraud in connection with donating sperm, according to legal experts and observers.... Nearly all of the physicians who have been accused were discovered as a result of DNA tests taken by their offspring." For instance, David Berry, formerly of Rochester, New York, discovered through an Ancestry.com test & further research that his biological father was Morris Wortman, a fertility doctor who still practices in Rochester. "Mr. Berry learned that he had at least 10 half brothers and sisters through [Dr. Wortman].... Dr. Wortman was one of three physicians in Rochester -- all friends and colleagues -- who, starting in the 1960s, had secretly used their own sperm to impregnate women." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

The Pandemic, Ctd.

The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Tuesday are here.

Wow! Dan Keating of the Washington Post: "More than 140 million Americans have had the coronavirus, according to estimates from blood tests that reveal antibodies from infection -- about double the rate regularly cited by national case counts. The estimates, compiled by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, show that about 43 percent of the country has been infected by the virus. The study shows that the majority of children have also been infected."

Mariam Kahn of ABC News: "Masks will no longer be required in the House chamber when President Joe Biden delivers his State of the Union address Tuesday night, a major reversal in the politically controversial policy that reinforces his message that the pandemic is receding and America is getting back to something closer to normal. On Sunday, the U.S. Capitol's attending physician lifted a mask mandate for lawmakers inside the House chamber just two days before Biden's nationally televised prime-time speech."

Beyond the Beltway

Texas. Shane Goldmacher & David Goodman of the New York Times: "The Texas primaries on Tuesday will provide the first pieces of the 2022 midterm puzzle. The strength of the two parties' ideological factions. The intensity of Donald J. Trump's continued hold on the Republican electorate. And, for bullish Republicans, the earliest signs of how advantageous the political climate has become."

News Lede

New York Times: "A man believed to be meeting his three children for a supervised visit at a church just outside Sacramento on Monday afternoon fatally shot the children and an adult accompanying them before killing himself, police officials said. Sheriff Scott Jones of Sacramento County told reporters at the scene that the gunman had a restraining order against him, and that he had to have supervised visits with his children, who were younger than 15."

February 28, 2022

Afternoon Update:

CNN's live updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine Monday are here: "The United States has asked 12 Russian United Nations diplomats to leave the country due to their alleged engagement in '... espionage activites...,' ... the US Mission to the UN ... said in a statement... The UK's communication regulator is launching 15 investigations into Russia Today (RT), the Kremlin-backed news channel.... The International Criminal Court in the Hague, Netherlands, will open an investigation into Russia's invasion of Ukraine as 'rapidly as possible,' [for war crimes & crimes against humanity,] ICC Prosecutor Karim A.A. Khan said in a statement Monday.... Norway will provide $226 million in humanitarian assistance and military equipment to Ukraine.... A Russian military convoy that was outside of Ivankiv, Ukraine, on Sunday has since made it to the outskirts of Kyiv, satellite images show."

The New York Times' live updates on Russia's invasion of Ukraine Monday are here: "As Ukraine's second-largest city reeled under a barrage of Russian rockets that officials said killed dozens of people, a Ukrainian delegation met counterparts from Russia for several hours of talks on Monday in Belarus. The bombardment of a residential area of Kharkiv five days after Russia's invasion began signaled a possible intensification of the conflict.... British intelligence officials said that most Russian ground forces in Ukraine were massed more than 18 miles north of Kyiv, the capital, but were being slowed by fierce resistance from Ukrainian soldiers and civilian volunteers.... President Emmanuel Macron of France reiterated calls on Monday for an immediate cease-fire in a phone conversation with President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, and urged an end to all attacks on civilians and essential infrastructure, according to the French presidency.... The European Union's representative to the United Nations, Olof Skoog, speaking at the General Assembly, condemned Russia for invading Ukraine and condemned Belarus for its involvement in Ukraine's war." ~~~

~~~ From the Washington Post's live updates, also linked earlier: "The first talks between Russia and Ukraine over the invasion ended with agreement to continue talking in coming days. After almost five hours of talks in southern Belarus near the Ukraine border, the head of the Russian delegation, Kremlin aide Vladimir Medinsky, said further talks would be held in coming days after both sides consulted with their presidents.... Washington announced a further round of sanctions Monday, effectively prohibiting institutions in the United States from doing business with Russia's central bank.... Ukrainian officials say at least 11 people were killed and more were wounded in the eastern city of Kharkiv on Monday morning after Russia launched rocket strikes, targeting Ukraine's second-largest city with some of the heaviest shelling and street fighting since the invasion began Thursday. Suspected cluster munitions struck buildings in the city. Oleh Synehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional State Administration, said Monday that 'dozens are dying' and that at least 11 people were confirmed dead."

Even Switzerland Will Sanction Russia. Nick Cumming-Brice of the New York Times: "Switzerland, a favorite destination for Russian oligarchs and their money, announced on Monday that it would freeze Russian financial assets in the country, setting aside a deeply rooted tradition of neutrality to join the European Union and a growing number of nations seeking to penalize Russia for the invasion of Ukraine."

My Mom's Doctor Is My Father. Jacqueline Mroz of the New York Times: "Over the past several years, more than 50 fertility doctors in the United States have been accused of fraud in connection with donating sperm, according to legal experts and observers.... Nearly all of the physicians who have been accused were discovered as a result of DNA tests taken by their offspring." For instance, David Berry, formerly of Rochester, New York, discovered through an Ancestry.com test & further research that his biological father was Morris Wortman, a fertility doctor who still practices in Rochester. "Mr. Berry learned that he had at least 10 half brothers and sisters through [Dr. Wortman].... Dr. Wortman was one of three physicians in Rochester-- all friends and colleagues -- who, starting in the 1960s, had secretly used their own sperm to impregnate women."

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Putin's War

The Washington Post's live updates of developments Monday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here: "... Russian and Ukrainian diplomats were set to begin talks Monday on the Belarus border, according to the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.... The Kremlin had said it was willing to talk -- on the condition that Ukraine 'demilitarize and denazify,' making it clear it expected Ukraine's capitulation." ~~~

     ~~~ The AP's updates are here. ~~~

     ~~~ The Guardian's live updates are here: "Volodymyr Zelenskiy has appealed to the European Union to allow Ukraine to gain membership immediately under a special procedure, as it defends itself from invasion by Russian forces. 'Our goal is to be with all Europeans and, most importantly, to be equal. I'm sure that's fair. I am sure we deserved it,' he said in a speech shared on social media.... Talks between Ukraine and Russia have begun, the foreign ministries of both countries have confirmed. Ukraine has said its goal for the talks is an 'immediate ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops'. Its delegation includes several high-ranking officials, but not its president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, himself. The Kremlin has declined to comment on its aim in negotiations...."

The New York Times' live updates Sunday of developments in Russia's war on Ukraine are here: “President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine agreed on Sunday to talks with Russia 'without preconditions,' even as President Vladimir V. Putin further escalated tensions by placing his nuclear forces on alert." They will meet 'on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, near the Pripyat River,' Mr. Zelensky announced on his official Telegram channel." (Also linked yesterday.)

From the Washington Post's live updates Sunday (also linked yesterday): "Belarus is preparing to send soldiers into Ukraine in support of the Russian invasion in a deployment that could begin as soon as Monday, a U.S. administration official said Sunday evening."

This: ~~~

~~~ Then this Ukraine drone attack on the convoy: ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Seems like we ought to send Ukraine more drones.

Russia says it isn't targeting civilians, apparently unaware that civilians live in residential apartment buildings (the tower destroyed in the video is in Kyiv):

Sanctions Are Working. Mark Thompson of CNN: "Russia's currency crashed to a record low against the US dollar Monday as the country's financial system reeled from crushing sanctions imposed by Western countries in response to the invasion of Ukraine. The ruble lost more than 30% of its value to trade at 109 to the dollar at 2.30 a.m. ET after earlier plummeting as much as 40%. The start of trading on the Russian stock market was delayed, and then canceled entirely, according to a statement from the country's central bank.... The collapse in the currency prompted the Russian central back to implement emergency measures on Monday, including a huge hike in interest rates to 20% from 9.5%."

CBS News/AP: "In a dramatic escalation of East-West tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear deterrent forces put on alert Sunday in response to what he called 'aggressive statements' by leading NATO powers. The move means Putin has ordered Russia's nuclear weapons prepared for increased readiness to launch, raising the threat that the tensions could boil over into a nuclear war. In giving it, the Russian leader also cited hard-hitting financial sanctions imposed by the Wes against Russia, including Putin himself." MB: So it's, "If I can't have my ill-gotten billions, I'll nuke you." (Also linked yesterday.)

Annabelle Timsit of the Washington Post: "Twenty European countries have closed -- or have said they will close -- their airspace to Russian flights and flight operators, amid a coordinated pushback against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. About half of the countries announced the move on Sunday, ahead of an extraordinary meeting of European foreign ministers to discuss further measures to support Ukraine and punish Moscow. Other countries, including Estonia and Romania, had previously announced their intention to ban Russian flights.... Also on Sunday, Canada's minister of transport, Omar Alghabra, said: 'Effective immediately, Canada's airspace is closed to all Russian aircraft operators....'" (Also linked yesterday.)

Rick Noack, et al., of the Washington Post: "German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday announced a major increase in the country's defense spending, marking one of the most significant changes in decades to the country's post-World War II approach to security and possibly upending European defense policy. German lawmakers were still debating the plans as over 100,000 protesters assembled just a few meters away in front of the Brandenburg Gate to rally for peace. The scale of the protest -- one of the largest in years -- took authorities by surprise, and provided a visible display of just how deeply Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shaken Germans this week." (Also linked yesterday.)

David Lynch, et al., of the Washington Post: "As the leaders of the European Union gathered for an emergency summit on Thursday night, momentum was already moving toward imposing tough new sanctions on Russia.... But a handful of key leaders, notably including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, were reluctant to proceed with some of the harshest proposals. Then Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dialed into the meeting via teleconference with a bracing appeal that left some of the world-weary politicians with watery eyes. In just five minutes, Zelensky -- speaking from the battlefield of Kyiv -- pleaded with European leaders for an honest assessment of his country's ambition to join the European Union and for genuine help in its fight with the Russian invaders. Ukraine needed its neighbors to step up with food, ammunition, fuel, sanctions, all of it.... Before ending the video call, Zelensky told the gathering matter-of-factly that it might be the last time they saw him alive.... Just that quickly, Zelensky's personal appeal overwhelmed the resistance from European leaders to imposing measures that could drive the Russian economy into a state of near collapse." ~~~

~~~ Stephen Collinson of CNN: "Five days into Russia's brutal invasion of Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and his courageous nation have already done more to transform the West's policy toward Russia than 30 years of post-Cold War summits, policy resets and showdowns with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The Ukrainian leader's defiance has inspired and shamed the United States and the European Union into going far further -- and far faster -- in turning Russia into a pariah state than it appeared they were ready to go. By promising weapons and ammunition to Zelensky, 44, the West appears increasingly to be drawn into a possible proxy war with Moscow over Ukraine, even though it is not a NATO member that benefits from the bloc's direct mutual defense agreements.... The Ukrainian President's heroism has also touched people across the world and set off a torrent of smaller gestures of support.... Under the most extreme circumstances, Zelensky is ironically displaying the very values -- including a staunch defense of democracy -- that would qualify Ukraine for membership in both the European Union and NATO, a path Putin tried to close off with his invasion."

Miriam Berger of the Washington Post: "More than 400,000 Ukrainians have fled to European neighbors -- mainly to Poland, as well as to Hungary, Moldova, Slovakia and Romania -- since Russia invaded Ukraine on Thursday, a spokesman for the United Nations refugee agency said Sunday. Thousands more are still trying to get through the clogged borders, waiting in the cold for hours on end in cars or on foot with only minimal belongings. As of Saturday, there was a nearly nine-mile backlog at the crossing into Poland, with some people waiting for 40 hours in 28-degree temperatures at night.... What could become Europe's biggest humanitarian emergency since 2015 -- when more than 1 million refugees, mainly from Syria, Iraq, and Afghanistan, arrived and triggered a continentwide crisis over whether to accept or reject those fleeing -- is swiftly unfolding.... Meanwhile, the situation keeps getting more grave...." ~~~

     ~~~ Justin Spike of the AP: "The mass exodus of refugees from Ukraine to the eastern edge of the European Union showed no signs of stopping Monday as they flee Russia's burgeoning war, with the U.N. estimating that more than 500,000 people have already escaped." ~~~

~~~ "Racism and Islamophobia." Renata Brito of the AP: "... while the hospitality ... of countries like Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Moldova and Romania ... has been applauded, it has also highlighted stark differences in treatment given to migrants and refugees from the Middle East and Africa, particularly Syrians who came in 2015. Some of the language from these leaders has been disturbing to them, and deeply hurtful. 'These are not the refugees we are used to ... these people are Europeans,' Bulgarian Prime Minister Kiril Petkov told journalists earlier this week, of the Ukrainians. 'These people are intelligent, they are educated people. ... This is not the refugee wave we have been used to, people we were not sure about their identity, people with unclear pasts, who could have been even terrorists....'... The change in tone of some of Europe's most extreme anti-migration leaders has been striking -- from 'We aren't going to let anyone in' to 'We're letting everyone in.' Those comments were made only three months apart by Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.... Syrian journalist Okba Mohammad says that statement 'mixes racism and Islamophobia.'"

Christopher Miller of BuzzFeed News: "A group of 10 special operations forces veterans are staging in Poland and preparing to cross into Ukraine, where they plan to take up President Volodymyr Zelensky on his offer to 'join the defense of Ukraine, Europe, and the world,' according to a US Army veteran arranging their passage. The group, composed of six US citizens, three Brits, and a German, are NATO-trained and experienced in close combat and counterterrorism. They want to be among the first to officially join the new International Legion of the Territorial Defense of Ukraine that Zelensky announced Sunday, according to text messages reviewed by BuzzFeed News. Two former American infantry officers are also making plans to come to Ukraine to provide 'leadership' for the group, the Army veteran recruiter said."

Joanna Partridge of the Guardian: "Russian billionaires Mikhail Fridman and Oleg Deripaska have become two of the country's first leading businesspeople to speak out against Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Fridman, who is one of Russia's richest men [and was born in Ukraine, where his parents still live], controls private equity firm LetterOne and was a founder of Alfa Bank, Russia's largest private bank. In a letter to his employees he called for an end to the 'bloodshed'.... Deripaska, who said as recently as 21 February there would not be a war in Ukraine, has been on the US sanctions list since 2018 over his alleged links to the Russian government, which he has taken legal action to challenge."

Anthony Faoila of the Washington Post: "Even as he puts his nuclear forces on high alert and his troops close in on Kyiv, Russian President Vladimir Putin has reason to worry: His war on Ukraine appears to be backfiring. Unmasked as an unpredictable, even existential threat in the view of governments around the world, Putin has emerged as a dangerous symbol of tyranny, stoking the biggest European defense reassessment in decades. A reinvigorated NATO is emerging. Resurgent Western unity -- wounded under ... Donald Trump -- has enabled sanctions on Moscow that are some of the harshest ever imposed. With Germany suddenly off the fence in what is shaping up to be a historic realignment against Moscow, Putin faces new, as opposed to neutralized, security challenges in Russia's backyard.... Beijing is proving a more reluctant ally than Putin might have hoped, with Xi [Jinping] urging Putin to settle the conflict at the negotiating table."

Ben Collins & Jo Ling Kemp of NBC News: "Facebook and Twitter removed two anti-Ukrainian 'covert influence operations' over the weekend, one tied to Russia and another with connections to Belarus, the companies said."

Ellen Doherty of Axios: "Some liquor stores and bars in the U.S. and Canada are taking Russian vodka off their shelves in protest of President Vladimir Putin's military invasion of Ukraine." Related item about New Hampshire linked yesterday. (Also linked yesterday.)

Javier Hernández of the New York Times: "The Metropolitan Opera said on Sunday that it would no longer engage with performers or other institutions that have voiced support for President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia, becoming the latest cultural organization to seek to distance itself from some Russian artists amid Mr. Putin's invasion of Ukraine. Peter Gelb, the Met's general manager, said that the Met, which has long employed Russians as top singers and has a producing partnership with the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, had an obligation to show support for the people of Ukraine."

Amanda Carpenter of the Bulwark: "Never forget that ... Donald Trump led an organized campaign to withhold military aid and blackmail the Ukrainians. And that Republicans let him get away it." Only one Republican, Justin Amash, voted to impeach Trump, & only one Republican, Mitt Romney, voted to convict him. "The list of Republicans who alibied Trump's treatment of Ukraine is long and distinguished. They hope that their yellow and blue Twitter icons [in ostensible support of Ukraine] will make you forget that they excused it." ~~~

~~~ Martin Pengelly of the Guardian: "The Republican senator Tom Cotton refused four times on Sunday to condemn or even comment on Donald Trump's repeated praise for Vladimir Putin, the Russian president who ordered the invasion of Ukraine.... Cotton, from Arkansas, is a military veteran and foreign policy hawk with reputed presidential ambitions from the hard Republican right. His host on ABC, George Stephanopoulos, tried repeatedly to prise comment from him. Cotton was happy to condemn Putin and praise Ukrainian bravery -- and to criticise US allies in Europe." ~~~

~~~ Colin Campbell of Yahoo! News: "Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, said Sunday that 'it just makes me ill' to see people inside of the Republican Party praise Russian President Vladimir Putin as he wages war against Ukraine. Romney even went as far as to describe it as 'almost treasonous' to side with Putin."

~~~ MEANWHILE, in the U.K. John Harris of the Guardian: "The Russian president, [Conservative British PM Boris] Johnson says, is 'a bloodstained aggressor who believes in imperial conquest'; he has violated 'every principle of civilised behaviour between states'.... Johnson, indeed, sees himself as leading the charge, repeating the mantra that 'Putin must fail', and claiming that Britain is 'out in front'. All this might seem welcome, but it is also rather absurd. For a long time now, the Conservative party has been happily backsliding on its commitment to liberal values, and dismantling some of the basic structures of political scrutiny and accountability.... Conservative politicians have been happily accepting Russian money while averting their eyes from the Putin regime's meddling in British politics. Now, though, all of that must suddenly be forgotten...."

Ellie Silverman & John Cox of the Washington Post: "Fencing around the U.S. Capitol is being reinstalled in advance of Tuesday's State of the Union address, authorities announced Sunday, in a statement that also referred to potential protests in the city over the next two weeks. The decision was made 'out of an abundance of caution,' according to the Capitol Police, who have long been preparing for the possible arrival of trucks inspired by the 'Freedom Convoy' that occupied downtown Ottawa for more than three weeks to protest vaccine mandates." (Also linked yesterday.)

Alan Feuer of the New York Times: "When the first trial stemming from the attack on the Capitol opens on Monday..., prosecutors ... will present a broad portrait of the violent chaos that erupted that day and seek to persuade a jury that the pro-Trump mob that [defendant Guy Wesley] Reffitt is accused of joining struck at the heart of American democracy by disrupting the transition of presidential power.... Because it is the first to reach a courtroom, it will most likely set the tone for those that follow and serve as a kind of proving ground for the charges prosecutors have filed against hundreds of defendants." There is a question as to whether or not one of the charges against Reffitt -- obstruction -- can be used against him. The judge in the case, Dabney "Friedrich, has said she will strike the count before it goes to the jury if the government fails to prove its case."

Martin Pengelly of the Guardian: "Marjorie Taylor Greene and Paul Gosar, members of Congress who spoke at a white nationalist event in Florida this week, are 'morons' with no place in the Republican party, Mitt Romney said on Sunday.... Greene, from Georgia, and Gosar, from Arizona, spoke at the America First Political Action Conference, or AFPAC, organised by the far-right activist Nick Fuentes."

Book Report. Bill Barr: If Only You Could All Be More Like Me. Charlie Savage of the New York Times: "Former Attorney General William P. Barr writes in a new memoir that ... Donald J. Trump's 'self-indulgence and lack of self-control' cost him the 2020 election and says 'the absurd lengths to which he took his "stolen election" claim led to the rioting on Capitol Hill.' In the book..., Mr. Barr also urges his fellow Republicans to pick someone else as the party's nominee for the 2024 election, calling the prospect of another presidential run by Mr. Trump 'dismaying.' 'Donald Trump has shown he has neither the temperament nor persuasive powers to provide the kind of positive leadership that is needed,' Mr. Barr writes." Barr defends his own tenure and compares liberals to fascists & totalitarians. MB: I'm just picturing two insane over-the-hill sumo wrestlers -- one wearing glasses & the other with dyed orange hair -- fighting to the death. ~~~

     ~~~ Matt Zapotosky & Josh Dawsey of the Washington Post: "In the book..., Barr takes shot after shot at Trump, especially over his leadership during the coronavirus pandemic and his false claims that the election was stolen from him. Barr, who had a famous falling-out with Trump late in his presidency, writes that Trump's 'constant bellicosity diminishes him and the office,' and that in the final months of the administration, he came to realize that 'Trump cared only about one thing: himself. Country and principle took second place.'... Though he casts himself in his book as resisting pressure to take inappropriate steps, critics are likely to accuse him of offering a self-serving retelling of events to sell books and rehabilitate his own public image." MB: No kidding. ~~~

     ~~~ ** Jennifer Szalai of the New York Times writes a real book review: Barr's "'One Damn Thing After Another' is an intemperate culture-war treatise smuggled into a lawyer's memoir: a seemingly sober recitation of events that's periodically interrupted by seething tirades about 'militant secularism' and a 'Maoist' American left. He compares Trump's opponents to 'guerrillas engaged in a war to cripple a duly elected government' and calls the pandemic restrictions adopted by some states the most 'onerous denial of civil liberties' in American history, second only to slavery." Szalai's last graf is superb.

** Can Anyone Save Earth from the Supremes? Coral Davenport of the New York Times: "In the most important environmental case in more than a decade, the Supreme Court on Monday will hear arguments in a dispute that could restrict or even eliminate the Environmental Protection Agency's authority to control the pollution that is heating the planet. A decision by the high court, with its conservative supermajority, could shred President Biden's plans to halve the nation's greenhouse emissions by the end of the decade, which scientists said is necessary to avert the most catastrophic impacts of climate change.... The outcome could also have repercussions that stretch well beyond air pollution, restricting the ability of federal agencies to regulate health care, workplace safety, telecommunications, the financial sector and more." ~~~

     ~~~ Laurence Tribe & Jeremy Lewin in a Guardian op-ed: "... the matter the court is considering implicates -- and imperils -- the federal government's power to fashion flexible solutions not only to global heating but to all manner of complex problems. The stakes are higher still: by ruling on the case at all, the court usurps power constitutionally entrusted to government's politically accountable branches. Article 3 of the constitution limits federal courts to deciding concrete 'cases and controversies' about the rights of individual parties. Yet this 'case' involves neither a concrete dispute nor the specific rights of any of the challengers. Instead, it's akin to an exam question about the options theoretically available to a federal agency to address a grave problem. In answering that hypothetical question, the court will have arrogated to itself an unprecedented, open-ended power to reshape the nation's social and economic landscape -- far in excess of its legitimate authority, as the foundational case Marbury v. Madison put it, to 'declare what the law is'." ~~~

~~~ Brad Plumer & Raymond Zhong of the New York Times: "The dangers of climate change are mounting so rapidly that they could soon overwhelm the ability of both nature and humanity to adapt unless greenhouse gas emissions are quickly reduced, according to a major new scientific report released on Monday. The report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, a body of experts convened by the United Nations, is the most detailed look yet at the threats posed by global warming. It concludes that nations aren't doing nearly enough to protect cities, farms and coastlines from the hazards that climate change has unleashed so far -- such as record droughts and rising seas -- let alone from the even greater disasters in store as the planet continues to warm." The AP's report is here.

The Pandemic, Ctd.

The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Monday are here.

The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Sunday are here.

February 27, 2022

SNL Cold Open: "Ukrainian Chorus Dumka performs Prayer for Ukraine:

     ~~~ Marie: The last cold open that was this poignant was after the 2016 election, when Kate McKinnon (as Hillary Clinton) played a version of Leonard Cohen's "Hallelujah." Classy.

Late Morning Update:

The New York Times' live updates Sunday of developments in Russia's war on Ukraine are here: "President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine agreed on Sunday to talks with Russia 'without preconditions,' even as President Vladimir V. Putin further escalated tensions by placing his nuclear forces on alert." They will meet "'on the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, near the Pripyat River,' Mr. Zelensky announced on his official Telegram channel."

CBS News/AP: "In a dramatic escalation of East-West tensions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear deterrent forces put on alert Sunday in response to what he called 'aggressive statements' by leading NATO powers. The move means Putin has ordered Russia's nuclear weapons prepared for increased readiness to launch, raising the threat that the tensions could boil over into a nuclear war. In giving it, the Russian leader also cited hard-hitting financial sanctions imposed by the West against Russia, including Putin himself." MB: So it's, "If I can't have my ill-gotten billions, I'll nuke you."

Annabelle Timsit of the Washington Post: "Twenty European countries have closed -- or have said they will close -- their airspace to Russian flights and flight operators, amid a coordinated pushback against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. About half of the countries announced the move on Sunday, ahead of an extraordinary meeting of European foreign ministers to discuss further measures to support Ukraine and punish Moscow. Other countries, including Estonia and Romania, had previously announced their intention to ban Russian flights.... Also on Sunday, Canada's minister of transport, Omar Alghabra, said: 'Effective immediately, Canada's airspace is closed to all Russian aircraft operators....'"

Rick Noack, et al., of the Washington Post: "German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Sunday announced a major increase in the country's defense spending, marking one of the most significant changes in decades to the country's post-World War II approach to security and possibly upending European defense policy. German lawmakers were still debating the plans as over 100,000 protesters assembled just a few meters away in front of the Brandenburg Gate to rally for peace. The scale of the protest -- one of the largest in years -- took authorities by surprise, and provided a visible display of just how deeply Russia's invasion of Ukraine has shaken Germans this week."

Ellen Doherty of Axios: "Some liquor stores and bars in the U.S. and Canada are taking Russian vodka off their shelves in protest of President Vladimir Putin's military invasion of Ukraine." Related item about New Hampshire linked below.

Ellie Silverman & John Cox of the Washington Post: "Fencing around the U.S. Capitol is being reinstalled in advance of Tuesday's State of the Union address, authorities announced Sunday, in a statement that also referred to potential protests in the city over the next two weeks. The decision was made 'out of an abundance of caution,' according to the Capitol Police, who have long been preparing for the possible arrival of trucks inspired by the 'Freedom Convoy' that occupied downtown Ottawa for more than three weeks to protest vaccine mandates."

~~~~~~~~~~

Putin's War, Ctd.

The Washington Post's live updates Sunday of developments in Russia's war on Ukraine are here: "Russian forces pushed into Kharkiv on Sunday, sparking a battle for control in Ukraine's second-largest city that included heavy street fighting and back-and-forth rocket firing.... [Russian forces faced] fierce resistance elsewhere, including Kyiv, where the Ukrainian government maintained control as residents sheltered underground and air raid sirens sounded. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky squashed a Russian proposal for negotiations to be held in Belarus. Though the Kremlin said that Russian officials had already flown to the Belarusian city of Gomel for talks, Zelensky said he wanted to meet in a neutral location -- not in a country supporting Russia's attack. Zelensky accused Russia of attacking civilians and warned that Russian actions in Kyiv and other areas showed 'the sign of genocide.' He said Ukraine had submitted a complaint against Russia's actions to the International Court of Justice at The Hague."

The New York Times' live updates of developments Saturday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here: "Through intense fighting in the streets of Kyiv and other cities, Ukraine's defense forces and civilian volunteers resisted Russia's invasion for a third day, battling for control of the capital as international pressure mounted on Moscow and support for Kyiv's besieged government grew.... Russian forces bombarded Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, again on Saturday night, after a day of pitched fights around the city. Most of the more than 150,000 Russian troops who had massed around Ukraine are now fighting in the country, U.S. officials said.... Two large explosions shook Kyiv shortly before 1 a.m. The country's deputy interior minister had warned earlier of an impending airstrike.... Ukraine's defense forces, outmanned and outgunned, waged a ferocious resistance to the Russian invasion on Saturday, battling to keep control of the capital, Kyiv, and other cities. There was intense street fighting, and bursts of gunfire and explosions could be heard across Kyiv." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: So Long, Stoli. Even Chris Sununu does something right once in a while. From the NYT Saturday updates: "In New Hampshire, where liquor and wine are sold through state-run stores, Gov. Chris Sununu, a Republican, announced on Saturday the removal of 'Russian-made and Russian-branded spirits from our liquor and wine outlets until further notice.'"

Zeke Miller, et al., of the AP: "The United States, European Union and United Kingdom on Saturday agreed to put in place crippling sanctions on the Russian financial sector, including a block on its access to the global financial system and, for the first time, restrictions on its central bank in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine. The measures were announced jointly as part of a new round of financial sanctions meant to 'hold Russia to account and collectively ensure that this war is a strategic failure for (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.' The central bank restrictions target the more than $600 billion in reserves that the Kremlin has at its disposal.... U.S. officials said Saturday's steps were framed to send the ruble into 'free fall' and promote soaring inflation in the Russian economy.... Saturday's move includes cutting key Russian banks out of the SWIFT financial messaging system, which daily moves countless billions of dollars around more than 11,000 banks and other financial institutions around the world." The Washington Post's story is here.

AP: "In a significant shift, the German government said Saturday it will send weapons and other supplies directly to Ukraine.... Germany's chancellery announced Saturday evening that it will send 1,000 anti-tank weapons and 500 'Stinger' surface-to-air missiles to Ukraine 'as quickly as possible.' 'The Russian invasion of Ukraine marks a turning point. It threatens our entire post-war order,' German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said in a statement. 'In this situation, it is our duty to help Ukraine, to the best of our ability, to defend itself against Vladimir Putin's invading army.'" A Washington Post story is here.

Caroline Vakil of the Hill: "President Biden late Friday ordered the release of up to $350 million for military aid for Ukraine. Biden ordered for the money to be allocated from the Foreign Assistance Act 'in defense articles and services of the Department of Defense, and military education and training, and to make the determinations required under such section to direct such a drawdown.' Secretary of State Antony Blinken said in a statement on Saturday that it represented the country's third drawdown of money to Ukraine in the last year, totaling more than $1 billion." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Tara Copp of Defense One: "'Javelins will be in this next tranche as they had been in so many tranches in the past,' a senior defense official told Pentagon reporters on Saturday. The shoulder-fired, Raytheon-produced missile can be carried by one soldier and used to disable tanks and other targets. They are part of a package that includes weapons and armor to defend against the 'armored, airborne, and other threats it is now facing,' the State Department announced Saturday. In the days leading up to the invasion the United States flew planeloads of weapons and supplies into Ukraine, but stopped flying all manned and unmanned aircraft over the country once hostilities began, the senior defense official said. But the United States has other ways such as ground routes to supply Ukrainian forces, the official said."

Isabelle Khurshudyan of the Washington Post: "The Ukrainian Territorial Defense Forces, which is believed to have more than 130,000 volunteers, has been conducting weekend training sessions for months in preparation to help defend its turf from Russia. Now that the attack has started, Ukrainians across the country are mobilizing and turning to the Territorial Defense Forces to arm them and send them into the fight. Anyone between 18 and 60 can join.... President Volodymyr Zelensky tweeted Thursday, 'We will give weapons to anyone who wants to defend the country. Be ready to support Ukraine in the squares of our cities.' But arming civilians, many of whom have little training, risks exacerbating the violence in cities across Ukraine and potentially giving the Russian military more pretext to fire indiscriminately."

Dan Lamothe of the Washington Post: "Ukrainian border guards who insulted Russian forces this week in a recorded exchange that went viral may not have been killed, Ukrainian officials said Saturday, contradicting an earlier claim by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine said in a statement posted to its Facebook page that the guards may be alive, after Russian media reported that they were taken as prisoners from their base on Snake Island in the Black Sea to Sevastopol, a port city that Russia controls on the Crimean Peninsula." A Guardian report is here. (MB: And congrats to the Guardian for putting "fuck" in its URL for this story.)

Hannah Knowles & Emmanuel Felton of the New York Times: Since George Zimmerman killed Trayvon Martin ten years ago, "stand your ground" laws and how they're applied have "only expanded -- and grown 'more extreme,' some say -- since the death of another Black 17-year-old thrust it into the spotlight 10 years ago.... A growing body of research links stand-your-ground laws to sudden increases in homicide, including unlawful killings.... Stand-your-ground laws have now spread to most states in the United States, propelled by gun groups such as the National Rifle Association and lawmakers of both parties who say people under attack should not have to worry about a legal 'duty to retreat.'" See also the story linked below of a Florida man who was acquitted for fatally shooting a man who tossed popcorn at him after a verbal altercation which the acquitted guy started.

Barack Obama, Al Sharpton & Henry Louis Gates talk about the killing of Trayvon Martin ten years ago. New York Times video, with a column by Charles Blow. (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

~~~ Timothy Bella of the Washington Post: "A decade has passed since [George] Zimmerman fatally shot [Trayvon] Martin and claimed self-defense in a case that was among the first to set the stage for the nation's racial reckoning -- and that helped give birth to the Black Lives Matter movement. Yet, since the former neighborhood watch volunteer was acquitted of second-degree murder and manslaughter, Zimmerman, once described by GQ as 'the most hated free man in America,' has stretched his 15 minutes of infamy into 10 years of reprehensible headlines: arrests for domestic violence allegations, retweeting a photo of the 17-year-old Martin's dead body, reportedly selling the gun that killed the teen for $250,000." (Also linked yesterday.)

Jacqueline Alemany, et al., of the Washington Post on Trumpettes feuding backstage at the Elipse over who-all would speak at the Insurrection Rally. Turns out there's a Park Police recording of at least some of the dispute, and the January 6 committee finds that recording of interest. MB: Inconsequential, but sort of funny.

Donald Trump spoke at CPAC Saturday & told a pack of lies. Linda Qiu of the New York Times debunks some of the lies. ~~~

~~~ Colby Itkowitz, et al., of the Washington Post: "... Donald Trump gave his strongest indication yet that he intends to run in 2024 during a nearly 90-minute speech to supporters on Saturday night that also included continued praise of Russian President Vladimir Putin. 'We did it twice, and we'll do it again,' Trump told a crowd at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Orlando, falsely claiming again that he won the 2020 election."

The Pandemic, Ctd.

Carl Zimmer & Benjamin Mueller of the New York Times: "Scientists released a pair of extensive studies on Saturday that point to a market in Wuhan, China, as the origin of the coronavirus pandemic. Analyzing data from a variety of sources, they concluded that the coronavirus was very likely present in live mammals sold in the Huanan Seafood Wholesale Market in late 2019 and suggested that the virus twice spilled over into people working or shopping there. They said they found no support for an alternate theory that the coronavirus escaped from a laboratory in Wuhan." MB: Sorry, Li'l Randy.

The New York Times' live updates of Covid-19 developments Saturday are here. (Also linked yesterday.)

Beyond the Beltway

Florida, Where Assault by Popcorn Is a Capital Offense. Eduardo Medina of the New York Times: "A jury in Florida on Friday acquitted a retired SWAT commander [link fixed] who shot and killed a man more than eight years ago inside a movie theater after a dispute over cellphone use. A jury of four men and two women found Curtis J. Reeves Jr. not guilty of second-degree murder in the fatal shooting of Chad W. Oulson on Jan. 13, 2014, at a matinee showing of 'Lone Survivor' in a movie theater near Tampa. A defense lawyer for Mr. Reeves argued that his client had acted in self-defense when he fired on Mr. Oulson, who had tossed a bag of popcorn at Mr. Reeves, a retired Tampa Police Department SWAT commander."