April 8, 2022

Afternoon Update:

Josh Flesher & Ed White of the AP: "Two of four men were acquitted Friday in a conspiracy to kidnap Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in 2020, motivated by fury at the Democrat's tough COVID-19 restrictions early in the pandemic. The jury's verdicts against Daniel Harris and Brandon Caserta were read in the federal court in Grand Rapids, Michigan, in the case presided over by U.S. District Judge Robert Jonker. Jurors said they couldn't agree on verdicts again Adam Fox and Barry Croft Jr. Prosecutors described Fox as a ringleader of an anti-government group. Fox, Croft and Harris faced additional charges. The two most serious charges, kidnapping conspiracy and conspiracy to use explosives, both carry potential life sentences. Defense attorneys portrayed their clients as credulous weekend warriors prone to big, wild talk, who were often stoned. They said FBI undercover agents and informants tricked and cajoled the men into agreeing to a conspiracy." MB: I guess you can't convict right-wing white terrorists in upstate Wisconsin.

Katie Rogers of the New York Times: "President Biden on Friday basked in the confirmation of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, hailing what he called a moment of 'real change' in American history as he and his supporters celebrated the ascension of the first Black woman to the court. Flanked by Judge Jackson and Vice President Kamala Harris -- the first Black woman to hold her role and whom he called the first 'smart' decision of his presidency -- Mr. Biden said the judge's confirmation had changed not only his own trajectory but the course of American life itself.... In her remarks, Judge Jackson ... recalled substantive meetings with 97 senators and thanked them for their role in the nomination process, providing a graceful coda to hours of televised interactions with senators who had often acted emotionally as they questioned her." MB: "Emotionally"? How about with rancor, lies, character assassination, racism & misogyny?

Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) has had enough of Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Hypocrite):

     ~~~ Greg Sargent of the Washington Post: "Schatz ripped ...[Hawley] over his hold on a senior staffing nominee to the Defense Department, even as the United States is calibrating its response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.... [Hawley's] arguments are saturated in almost bottomless levels of bad faith. That's the real topic of Schatz's tirade.... Beyond this, Schatz noted that it's absurd to use these differences as an excuse to apply a hold, especially given Hawley's vote against a spending bill that contained billions in military aid to Ukraine sought by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. And Schatz derided the call for [Defense Secretary Lloyd] Austin to resign as ludicrous grandstanding.... 'Spare me the new solidarity with the Ukrainians,' Schatz said of Hawley.... 'Because this man's record is exactly the opposite.'" Sargent writes that Democrats don't call out Republican absurdities nearly enough.

Paul Krugman of the New York Times: "Vladimir Putin's war of aggression runs on the money Russia gets by selling fossil fuels to Europe.... Putin won't be definitively stopped until Europe ends its energy dependence. Which means that Germany -- whose political and business leaders insist that they can't do without Russian natural gas, even though many of its own economists disagree -- has in effect become Putin's prime enabler. This is shameful; it is also incredibly hypocritical given recent German history.... Germany has been warned for decades about the risks of becoming dependent on Russian gas. But its leaders, focused on the short-run benefits of cheap energy, ignored those warnings. On the eve of the Ukraine war, 55 percent of German gas came from Russia.... One member of the German Council of Economic Experts ... [said that] an embargo on Russian gas would be difficult but 'feasible.'... German industrialists refuse to accept economists' estimates, insisting that a gas embargo would indeed be catastrophic.... Unfortunately, Germany's political leaders, including Chancellor Olaf Scholz, have taken the side of the scaremongers."

You're Paying for Elon Musk's "Charitable" Gifts & PR. Cristiano Lima of the Washington Post: "After Russia launched its invasion, Ukrainian officials publicly pleaded for Elon Musk's SpaceX to dispatch their Starlink terminals to the region to boost Internet access. 'Starlink service is now active in Ukraine. More terminals en route,' Musk replied to broad online fanfare. Since then, the company has cast the actions in part as a charitable gesture. 'I'm proud that we were able to provide the terminals to folks in Ukraine,' SpaceX President Gwynne Shotwell said at a public event last month, later telling CNBC, 'I don't think the U.S. has given us any money to give terminals to the Ukraine.' But according to documents obtained by The Technology 202, the U.S. federal government is in fact paying millions for a significant portion of the equipment and for the transportation costs to get it to Ukraine. On Tuesday, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) announced it has purchased 1,333 terminals from SpaceX to send to Ukraine, while the company donated 3,667 terminals and the Internet service itself." Emphasis original.

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President Biden & Judge Jackson watched the confirmation vote together in the White House. New York Times photo. ~~~ Mike DeBonis, et al., of the Washington Post: "The Senate voted Thursday to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court, felling one of the most significant remaining racial barriers in American government and sending the first Democratic nominee to the high court in 12 years. Jackson, a daughter of schoolteachers who has risen steadily through America's elite legal ranks, will become the first Black woman to sit on the court and only the eighth who is not a White man. She will replace Associate Justice Stephen G. Breyer after the Supreme Court's term ends in late June or early July. Thursday's 53-47 vote represents the culmination of a six-week whirlwind confirmation process for the 51-year-old federal appeals judge." This is an update of a story linked earlier. Politico's story is here. (Also linked yesterday.) The AP story is here. ~~~

     ~~~ Carl Hulse & Annie Karni of the New York Times: "The vote was a rejection of Republican attempts to paint her as a liberal extremist who had coddled criminals. Dismissing those portrayals as distorted and offensive, Judge Jackson's backers saw the confirmation as an uplifting occasion for the Senate and a mark of how far the country had come.... At the Capitol, the galleries, closed for much of the pandemic, were filled with supporters on hand to witness the historic vote. The chamber erupted in cheers, with senators, staff and visitors all jumping to their feet for a lengthy standing ovation, when the vote was announced.... As applause echoed from the marbled walls, Senator Mitch McConnell ... turned his back and slowly walked out, as did most of the few Republicans remaining on the floor.... At the White House, Mr. Biden and Judge Jackson watched the vote together from the Roosevelt Room, embracing and taking selfies in front of a television screen displaying the final vote count." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: That doofus Rand Paul held up the vote for a good ten minutes while he was finishing his lunch or vacuuming his head rug or something. Update: It turns out the "real reason" Li'l Randy couldn't show up to cast his vote, according to Ari Melber of MSNBC, was just as ridiculous of the ones I made up: he wasn't wearing a tie, and well, the gentlemen of the Senate must wear ties in the chamber. Is in possible that every male Senate page & staffer roaming the halls of power dislikes Rand Paul so much that not one would lend him a tie? Is it possible Dandy Randy doesn't keep an extra tie or two in his office in case he dribbles Senate bean soup on the one he is wearing? Is it possible it takes Rand ten minutes to tie his tie? Or what? (Also linked yesterday.) Update 2: Hulse & Karni of the NYT (linked above) elaborate: "By Thursday, the outcome of the vote was not in doubt, but it dragged on for almost 30 minutes because Senator Rand Paul, Republican of Kentucky, was not present on the floor. Once he had arrived, Mr. Paul cast his 'no' vote from the Senate cloak room because he was dressed too casually to meet the jacket-and-tie dress code for the chamber." But maybe it's wrong to pick on Senator Randy for his attire. Here he was, quite a few years back, dressed for a teevee interview. ~~~

Not Photoshopped.

     ~~~ The New York Times live-updated proceedings here: "Vice President Kamala Harris, the first Black woman to hold the position and one of just 11 Black senators in American history, presided over the vote to confirm Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the first Black woman on the Supreme Court -- one historic figure presiding over the elevation of another. But no Black woman had the opportunity to vote for the barrier-breaking nominee: None is currently a member of the 100-person chamber, which includes three Black men.... ~~~

~~~ "Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky, the minority leader, used his floor time before the votes on Thursday to argue against confirming Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson.... 'alas, Judge Jackson was the court-packers' favorite pick for the vacancy, and she ... said she'd be thrilled to be one of however many -- one of however many.'... The context, which Mr. McConnell omitted, was that she pointed out that Congress, not the judiciary, decides how many seats should be on the Supreme Court.... 'I don't think it's appropriate for me as a nominee to comment on a political matter that is in the province of Congress,. she said.... She also noted that Justice Amy Coney Barrett had similarly evaded answering the question during her confirmation hearing in 2020, citing the same rationale. Several other Republican senators who are not expected to make floor arguments on Thursday -- like Richard M. Burr of North Carolina -- have also justified their decision to vote against her by raising alarms about her demurral when asked whether she would personally support expanding, or 'packing,' the Supreme Court." MB: What dickheads! (Also linked yesterday.)

Erin Doherty of Axios: "Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Thursday that he won't commit to hearings for a potential Supreme Court nominee if he's the Senate Majority Leader leading up to the 2024 election.... The Senate minority leader told Axios' Jonathan Swan that he won't 'put the cart before the horse,' but would expect President Biden to moderate if Republicans retake Congress." MB: Gosh, I'm sure Mitch will play fair. (Also linked yesterday.) More on Mitch linked below.

Anita Hill in a Washington Post op-ed: "The shameful spectacle of the Senate Judiciary Committee during the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Ketanji Brown Jackson makes clear: The confirmation process is broken and the panel must act to restore people's faith in it.... A confirmation hearing should be about learning how a person will judge, not how well she handles specious browbeating.... I know something about being mistreated by the Senate Judiciary Committee. During the confirmation hearing for Justice Clarence Thomas in 1991, I was subjected to attacks on my intelligence, truthfulness and even my sanity when I testified about my experience working for the nominee.... Critics of Justices Sonia Sotomayor and Elena Kagan were also allowed to lob racially and gender-tinged attacks during their hearings." MB: As long as there are Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, there will be a "shameful spectacle." (Also linked yesterday.)

Putin's War Crimes, Ctd.

The New York Times' live updates of developments Friday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here: "A Russian strike on a crowded train station in [Kramatorsk,] eastern Ukraine on Friday morning left at least 39 people dead and nearly 90 wounded, Ukrainian officials said, in what appeared to be a major attack on a main point of evacuation for thousands trying to flee before an expected stepped-up offensive in the region.... The mayor of Kramatorsk said there were 4,000 people at the city's railway station in eastern Ukraine at the time of the attack, and that most were women, children and older people.... Photos provided by Ukrainian officials showed people splayed on the ground, surrounded by scattered luggage and debris.... President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine warned in a speech late Thursday that the scale of devastation in the southeastern city of Mariupol, which has been bombarded for weeks, was likely to be even greater [than have been depicted so far].... On Friday, the European Union formally approved a new set of sanctions against Russia, including a ban on coal imports, as well as sanctions against high-profile Russians and two daughters of ... Vladimir V. Putin. It is the bloc's fifth round of sanctions since the war began.... The Kremlin's spokesman, Dmitri S. Peskov, said in an interview with Sky News on Thursday that Russia had suffered 'significant losses of troops,' which he called 'a huge tragedy.' It was a stark official acknowledgment of the scale of Russian losses." ~~~

     ~~~ The Washington Post's live updates for Friday are here: Re: the Kramatorsk train station massacre, "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of 'cynically destroying the civilian population,' amid battlefield losses, adding: 'This is an evil that has no limits.' The Russian Defense Ministry denied any involvement in the strike, calling the accusations a 'provocation' and insinuating that Kyiv was responsible. The deadly strike came as European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen traveled to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. She made the trip a day after the European Union approved a plan to phase out Russian coal by mid-August, a move spurred by global outrage after the brutal slaying of civilians in the Kyiv suburb of Bucha.... A British intelligence assessment Friday said Russian forces have now fully withdrawn from northern Ukraine into Russia and Belarus." ~~~

     ~~~ The Guardian's live updates for Friday are here.

Guardian & Agencies: "Dozens of people have died after rockets struck a train station in the eastern Ukrainian city of Kramatorsk that was being used to evacuate civilians to safer parts of the country, Ukrainian authorities have said. Pavlo Kyrylenko, the governor of the Donetsk region, said at least 39 people were killed and 87 wounded, many of them seriously, updating an earlier estimate of 30 dead.... Kyrylenko said thousands of people had been at the station when the rockets struck. 'The Rashists [Russian fascists] knew very well where they were aiming and what they wanted: they wanted to sow panic and fear, they wanted to take as many civilians as possible,' he said. He published a photo online showing several bodies on the ground beside piles of suitcases and other luggage."

Louisa Loveluck, et al., of the Washington Post: "Outraged by the grisly images emerging after nearly seven weeks of war, the U.N. General Assembly suspended Russia from its Human Rights Council, a rarely used penalty that comes as Western powers boost military aid to fend off a Russian assault on Ukraine's eastern provinces.... Ukraine is pleading for urgent weapons transfers as Russia sets its sights on the east after failing to seize the capital, Kyiv. Airstrikes continued Thursday, Ukrainian officials said, with Russia seemingly undeterred as its pariah status deepened with a new round of sanctions and expelled diplomats.... Declining to give specifics, [NATO Secretary General Jens] Stoltenberg said NATO is providing both Soviet-era and modern systems in preparation for 'a long haul' in Ukraine." ~~~

~~~ Richard Roth, et al., of CNN: "The United Nations General Assembly voted Thursday to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council after high-profile allegations of atrocities committed by Russian soldiers during the war in Ukraine. The voting result was 93 in favor, 24 against and 58 abstentions. A draft of the resolution says the General Assembly may 'suspend the rights of membership in the Human Rights Council of a member of the Council that commits gross and systematic violations of human rights.' The draft resolution adds that the council has 'grave concern' regarding reports of 'gross and systematic violations and abuses of human rights' and 'violations of international humanitarian law' committed by the Russian Federation during its invasion of Ukraine."

Isaac Stanley-Becker & Vanessa Guinan-Bank of the Washington Post: "Germanys foreign intelligence service claims to have intercepted radio communications in which Russian soldiers discuss carrying out indiscriminate killings in Ukraine. In two separate communications, Russian soldiers described questioning Ukrainian soldiers as well as civilians and then shooting them, according to an intelligence official familiar with the findings who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the matter's sensitivity. The findings, first reported by the German magazine Der Spiegel and confirmed by three people briefed on the information, further undermine Russia's denials of involvement in the carnage. Russia has claimed variously that atrocities are being carried out only after its soldiers leave occupied areas or that scenes of massacres of civilians are 'staged.'... The radio traffic suggests that members of the Wagner Group, the private military unit with close ties to ... Vladimir Putin and his allies, have played a role in attacks on civilians.... Reliance by Russian troops on nonsecure communication devices, including smartphones and push-to-talk radios, has left their units vulnerable to targeting, Western defense and intelligence officials say." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Here's the Der Spiegel story, in English translation. (Also linked yesterday.)

Dalton Bennett of the Washington Post: "In interviews with The Washington Post in recent days, local officials, fighters and residents of Izyum [in eastern Ukraine] recounted what they called the 'scorched earth' tactics of Russian forces that destroyed their home. Ukrainian military officials said the wholesale destruction of towns and villages seems to be a deliberate strategy as Russia tries to take full control of Donetsk and Luhansk, which make up the eastern Ukrainian region known as the Donbas.... Vladimir Putin has indicated that eastern Ukraine is now the primary target of Russia's war effort. Russian forces in the air and on the ground ... are mowing down entire towns in the east, killing and terrorizing civilians simply for the fact of where they live, as they push to take full control of the region.... Izyum was seized by Russian forces Friday and is believed now to be the primary military staging and launching point for their assault on what remains of Ukrainian-held territory in the region...."

Shane Harris, et al., of the Washington Post: "In the international game of spy vs. spy, Europe has dealt Russia a potentially crippling blow. Nearly two dozen European countries have expelled hundreds of Russian government personnel from embassies and consulates since Russia invaded Ukraine in late February and more recently was accused of war crimes against civilians. A significant number are probably spies posing as diplomats, according to U.S. and European officials. Russia depends on those operatives to gather intelligence inside the countries where they serve, so the expulsions could dismantle large parts of Moscow's spy networks and lead to a dramatic reduction in espionage and disinformation operations against the West, current and former officials said."

Jeanne Whalen of the Washington Post: "Prominent Russian newspaper editor Dmitry Muratov was attacked on a train Thursday, doused with a paint and acetone mixture that left his eyes burning, his newspaper said. The attack came just days after Muratov, a winner of the Nobel Peace Prize, was forced to suspend operations of the independent Novaya Gazeta newspaper until the end of Russia's war with Ukraine."

Mike DeBonis of the Washington Post: "The Senate on Thursday cleared a months-long partisan impasse over how to respond to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, sending multiple bills aimed at punishing Russia and aiding Ukraine to the House for final action. The direct impact of the bills on the course of the conflict is likely to be negligible. They largely reinforce moves that President Biden has already made to ban energy imports and remove trade preferences from Russia. But they represent a significant gesture signaling ongoing bipartisan interest in supporting Ukraine's quest to maintain its independence amid deadly aggression from its larger neighbor. While Congress delivered nearly $14 billion in military and humanitarian aide to Ukraine as part of a recent government-wide spending bill, it has not passed any stand-alone legislation pertaining to the conflict. Efforts to draft a sanctions bill before the invasion as a deterrent fell apart, and post-invasion legislation has not been much easier." (Also linked yesterday.)

Who Are Those Guys? Nicole Sganga & Robert Legare of CBS News: Arian Taherzadeh, 40, and Haider Ali, 35, "the two men accused of impersonating federal agents over the course of several years[,] will remain in jail pending a detention hearing Friday, a federal magistrate judge ruled Thursday.... Law enforcement sources told CBS News that investigators are looking into the possibility that the two suspects have ties to Iranian intelligence including to the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps, an elite component of the Iranian military that conducts special operations, or the Quds force. Prosecutors said Thursday that Ali told witnesses he had connections to the Pakistani Intelligence Service, which the government said it has not yet verified." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: According to the CBS News report, "The FBI claimed [the two men] used their false associations with the U.S. government 'to ingratiate themselves with members of federal law enforcement and the defense community' by providing gifts and favors to residents of an apartment building, many of whom were employees of the FBI, Secret service, and the Department of Homeland Security and Defense." So these actual federal officials either are not too sharp or knowingly accepted gifts from men impersonating federal officers. These fake officials did not fool the USPS, which came upon them by accident: "An investigation into the two men began on March 14, when a U.S. Postal Inspector responded to a D.C. apartment building for a report of an assault involving a U.S. Postal Service letter carrier." Related story linked yesterday.

Hugo Lowell of the Guardian: "The House select committee investigating January 6 appears to believe the Capitol attack included a coordinated assault perpetrated by the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys militia groups that sought to physically stop the certification of Joe Biden's election victory. The panel's working theory -- which has not been previously reported though the justice department has indicted some militia group leaders -- crystallized this week after obtaining evidence of the coordination in testimony and non-public video, according to two sources...."

Trump-Appointed Judge Rules for Insurrectionists. Josh Gerstein & Kyle Cheney of Politico: "A judge has restored a Texas woman's right to possess firearms just weeks after she was sentenced for illegally entering the Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021. U.S. District Court Judge Trevor McFadden issued an order on Thursday granting florist Jenny Cudd's request to lift a term of her probation that forbade her to own or possess any 'firearm, ammunition, destructive device, or dangerous weapon.'... The judge's ruling was a rebuke to prosecutors, who opposed the change, and it was the latest setback for prosecutors dealt by McFadden, who was appointed by ... Donald Trump.... McFadden's order came one day after he delivered the first outright acquittal of a Jan. 6 defendant, finding a former government contractor from New Mexico, Matthew Martin, not guilty on four misdemeanor charges. McFadden, who also served as the No. 2 official in the Justice Department under Trump before being confirmed to the bench, has openly questioned the priorities of federal prosecutors."

Chris Cameron of the New York Times: "The three offspring of a fox captured on the grounds of the Capitol have been euthanized because they were exposed to their rabid mother, city health officials announced on Thursday, in yet another tragic turn to the canine saga that has gripped Washington. 'Three fox kits were recovered from the den site of the female fox who tested positive for rabies,' the statement from D.C. Health said. 'Since the mother tested positive for the rabies virus and the kits could have been exposed during grooming or other means, they were no longer able to be safely rehabilitated and were humanely euthanized.'"

Elizabeth Dwoskin of the Washington Post: "Twitter plans to host Elon Musk for a question-and-answer session with employees after a week of internal outcries over his appointment to the social network's board of directors, according to company messages obtained by The Washington Post." MB: Please. Who thinks Elon Musk will give a damn about how he worries employees?

Trump's Various Crimes, Ctd.

DOJ Thinking of Taking Top-Secret Boxes Out of Basement Broom Closet. Matt Zapotosky & Jacqueline Alemany of the Washington Post: "The Justice Department has begun taking steps to investigate ... Donald Trump's removal of presidential records to Mar-a-Lago --some of which were labeled 'top secret,' people familiar with the matter said. The people, who spoke on the condition of anonymity..., said the probe remained in the very early stages.... The department is facing increasing political pressure to disclose its plans in the case. On Thursday, House Oversight Committee Chairwoman Carolyn B. Maloney (D-N.Y.) accused the Justice Department of obstructing her committee's investigation into the 15 boxes of records Trump took to his estate in Palm Beach, Fla.... In her letter [to the DOJ] Thursday, Maloney said her committee needed further explanation as to why the Justice Department was blocking its request for an inventory of the records." (Also linked yesterday.)

It's All Nancy's Fault (Except the Part That's Muriel's Fault). Josh Dawsey of the Washington Post: "... Donald Trump voiced regret Wednesday over not marching to the U.S. Capitol [link fixed] the day his supporters stormed the building.... 'Secret Service said I couldn't go. I would have gone there in a minute,' he said.... And he defended his long silence during the attack by claiming House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and others were responsible for ending the deadly violence. 'I thought it was a shame, and I kept asking why isn't she doing something about it? Why isn't Nancy Pelosi doing something about it? And the mayor of D.C. also. The mayor of D.C. and Nancy Pelosi are in charge,' Trump said of the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in a 45-minute interview with The Washington Post. 'I hated seeing it. I hated seeing it. And I said, "It's got to be taken care of," and I assumed they were taking care of it.'... In the interview, [Trump] struck a defiant posture, refusing to say whether he would testify before a congressional committee investigating the Jan. 6 assault. Trump said he didn't remember 'getting very many' phone calls that day, and he denied removing call logs or using burner phones." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Jacqueline Alemany & Theodoric Meyer of the Washington Post highlight the lowlights of Dawsey's interview of the Conde de Mar-a-Lardo: "Trump blamed Pelosi for the events of Jan. 6, falsely claiming she was in charge of security at the Capitol, on at least a dozen occasions during Josh's 45-minute interview with him.... 'The former president praised organizers of the rally, some of whom have now received subpoenas from federal authorities, and repeatedly bragged about the size of the crowd was on the Ellipse when questioned about the events of Jan. 6,' Josh reports.... '[Trump said] he had offered [Ivanka Trump and Jared Kushner] "privilege" [so they would not have to testify before the January 6 committee] if they wanted it. They declined, Trump said.'... He claimed Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban ... had called him this week and credited him for Orban's election victory on Sunday, 'After I endorsed him, he went up like a rocket ship,' Trump said." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Based on the number of scoops to his name, Josh Dawsey is an excellent, tenacious reporter. So why didn't he, or any of the few other actual reporters, press Trump on his lying, corruption and general lack of any moral compass? One would do that at the end of the interview, of course, and one would do it while showing as much respect as possible, but one would do it. Yet no reporter has dared confront Trump. So what if he never grants you another interview? Making Trump squirm, the way Jonathan Swan did Mitch McConnell (Aaron Blake post linked below), is part of a reporter's job, and the failure of any Washington reporter to do it is a sorry indictment of the state of "journalism" in the U.S.

     ~~~ Philip Bump of the Washington Post discusses the significance of some of Trump's claims. Interesting. ~~~

     ~~~ Yo, Merrick! Greg Sargent of the Washington Post: "A central feature of Trump's corruption is that he sometimes confesses to it in public.... Here Trump appears to blithely confirm he spoke to lawmakers during the insurrection, and suggests there was nothing wrong with those calls. Presto! All wrongdoing goes poof!... We need to know what happened on these calls. And this is why Trump's admission should increase pressure on [AG Merrick] Garland to criminally investigate.... Here it's crucial to note that [Kevin] McCarthy, [Jim] Jordan and others with direct knowledge of Trump's Jan. 6 state of mind are refusing cooperation with the House committee examining these events.... [NYU law professor Ryan] Goodman noted the vast disconnect between Trump's 'statement that there's nothing to hide' about the calls and the refusal of Republicans to disclose what happened on them, a disconnect that 'places significant pressure on the department to follow up.'"

Clean-up on Aisle 45*. Jonah Bromwich, et al., of the New York Times: "The Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, publicly discussed his office's investigation into Donald J. Trump for the first time on Thursday, insisting that the inquiry has continued despite the recent resignations of two senior prosecutors who had been leading it. Mr. Bragg said in an interview that his office had recently questioned new witnesses about Mr. Trump and reviewed additional documents, both previously unreported steps in the inquiry. But citing grand jury secrecy rules, Mr. Bragg declined to provide details on the new steps in the investigation.... It remains unclear whether Mr. Bragg and his prosecutors have found a productive new route in the investigation, which has already spanned more than three years. For Mr. Bragg, a series of interviews on Thursday as well as the release of a lengthy formal statement represent an attempt to quell the intense criticism he has faced over his handling of the high-stakes investigation into the former president." CNN's story is here.

Jonah Bromwich & William Rashbaum of the New York Times: "The New York State attorney general, Letitia James, filed a motion on Thursday asking a judge to hold Donald J. Trump in contempt for failing to turn over documents in her civil investigation into his business activities. The request by lawyers in Ms. James's office, which was filed in New York State Supreme Court in Manhattan, said that the former president had declined to turn over documents that the attorney general had sought in eight requests. The filing also asked the judge to fine Mr. Trump $10,000 a day until he turns over the materials. The filing cited a response from Mr. Trump's legal team arguing that the attorney general's requests were 'grossly overbroad, unintelligible, unduly burdensome' and did not 'adequately' describe the requested materials."

Momentary anguish and I walk away / To fall in love ten times a day -- from a poem by Donald Trump's lawyer

Hey, it must be poetry; it rhymes, dunnit? -- Marie Burns, literary critic ~~~

~~~ Trump's Judge-Shopping Outing, Ctd. Corbin Barthold of the Bulwark: "... a curious aspect of [Donald] Trump's latest legal publicity stunt, a civil racketeering action in which the former president alleges that Hillary Clinton, the Democratic National Committee, John Podesta, and James Comey, among many others, conspired to rig the 2016 election ... is that Trump's lawyer .... chose to file the complaint in Fort Pierce, Florida, [not in West Palm Beach, the division of the judicial district where Trump lives & where the two judges were appointed by Democrats].... Trump apparently wanted a judge appointed by Trump.... The attorney who signed the complaint has repeatedly been suspended from practicing law. At his website -- no kidding: www.legalbrains.com -- you will find a selection of his poetry.... MB: FYI, Fort Pierce is about 68-1/2 miles, via I-95, from Mar-a-Lardo. So definitely not as convenient as WPB, which is right across a little bridge that spans the Intercoastal Waterway. (Also linked yesterday.)

Addison the Amoral. Aaron Blake of the Washington Post: In an interview, Jonathan Swan of Axios made the usually-unflappable Mitch McConnell squirm. Specifically, in extended questioning, Swan asked McConnell to define his "moral red line," in this case to explain how he could condemn Donald Trump on the Senate floor in which he accused Trump of a "disgraceful dereliction of duty," and then, weeks later, say he would support Trump if he were the GOP nominee for president* in 2024: "... in an interview in which McConnell said he had real moral red lines, he didn't wind up saying where he drew them. Indeed, the exchange suggested he doesn't see any role for morality in this decision. That's the logical extension of saying you have an 'obligation' to support your party's nominee -- apparently, no matter what they've done, or might yet do."

The Pandemic, Ctd.

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

Alyssa Lukpat & Adeel Hassan of the New York Times: "A federal appeals court on Thursday reversed a decision that had blocked the White House from requiring federal workers to be vaccinated against Covid-19. In September, President Biden said that the vast majority of federal workers had to be vaccinated or they would face disciplinary measures. But a preliminary injunction, instated in January by a federal judge in Texas, stopped the Biden administration from enforcing that mandate. About 95 percent of federal workers were already in compliance with the mandate by the time the injunction was issued, the White House said. In a 2-1 vote, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit ruled that the judge in Texas, Jeffrey Brown[, a Trump appointee], did not have the jurisdiction to block the mandate."

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

Amy Wang of the Washington Post: "House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has tested positive for the coronavirus and is currently asymptomatic, her office said Thursday. Pelosi, 82, is the first in congressional leadership to test positive and the latest among a raft of Washington officials who have come down with the virus in recent days. 'The Speaker is fully vaccinated and boosted, and is thankful for the robust protection the vaccine has provided,' Pelosi spokesman Drew Hammill said. 'The Speaker will quarantine consistent with CDC guidance, and encourages everyone to get vaccinated, boosted and test regularly.'" CNN's report is here. (Also linked yesterday.)

Annals of "Journalism," Ha Ha Ha. Michael Luciano of Mediaite: "A full week has passed since the New York Times flagged a major new study showing that ivermectin does not work against Covid-19. Despite this, Fox News -- a network that spent about a year trying to convince its viewers otherwise -- has yet to report on this study, which debunks some of the most dangerous nonsense it has ever aired.... For much of 2021 and early 2022..., hardly a night passed without one of its hosts [including popular prime-time hosts Tucker Carlson and Laura Ingraham --] interviewing some kook citing bogus studies to feed garbage to the viewers."

Beyond the Beltway

Alabama. Rick Rojas & Tariro Mzezewa of the New York Times: "Alabama lawmakers voted on Thursday to criminalize medical care for transgender young people [link fixed] who are transitioning, adopting some of the nation's most restrictive language and threatening doctors and nurses with up to 10 years in prison.... On Thursday, Alabama lawmakers also advanced legislation that would require students to use restrooms and locker rooms for the sex listed on their original birth certificates. It also included an amendment that would restrict classroom discussions on gender and sexuality in kindergarten through fifth grade -- a version of what critics call a 'Don't Say Gay' measure that goes further than some other states.... Gov. Kay Ivey, a Republican, has not said whether she will sign the [medical restrictions] legislation.... The American Medical Association has assailed these kinds of measures as 'government intrusion into the practice of medicine that is detrimental to the health of transgender and gender-diverse children and adults.'" MB: If this bill becomes law, then there really is no such thing as a right to privacy in this country. (The U.S. Constitution does not specifically guarantee a right to privacy.)

Michigan. Zach Montellaro & Alice Ollstein of Politico: "Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer filed a lawsuit Thursday challenging her state's 1931 law banning abortion -- the latest move in a flurry of state activity preparing for the possible overturning of Roe v. Wade in a few months. The Michigan law bans abortion at any stage of pregnancy, with an exception for the health of a woman but not for cases of rape or incest. It has remained on the books for decades despite the 1973 Roe decision rendering it unenforceable and establishing the right to abortion nationally. But with the Supreme Court expected to rule this summer on Mississippi's ban on abortion after 15 weeks of pregnancy, both sides of the abortion debate anticipate that the justices will either completely reverse or significantly roll back Roe. That would allow pre-Roe bans in Michigan and a swath of other states to go back into effect and give states a green light to pass new ones...." (Also linked yesterday.)

Missouri Senate Race. Why Didn't State Authorities Investigate a Report of Domestic Abuse? Jonathan Shorman, et al., of the Kansas City Star: "Missouri state Sen. Jamilah Nasheed grew concerned enough about Gov. Eric Greitens' potential for violence in April 2018 that she sent a letter asking the Department of Public Safety to investigate rumors of an incident involving 'troubling behavior' at Greitens' private home. DPS Director Charles 'Drew' Juden wrote back the next day. He had contacted the Missouri State Highway Patrol, Capitol Police and law enforcement in Warren County, where the Greitens lived in the wealthy, largely gated community of Innsbrook.... The four-year-old exchange has taken on new significance in the wake of allegations by Sheena Chestnut Greitens, the former governor's ex-wife, that she and their children were victims of domestic violence. In an affidavit filed last month, Sheena Greitens said in late April 2018 Eric Greitens knocked her down and confiscated her cell phone, wallet and keys so she couldn't call for help or leave the Innsbrook home.... If Nasheed's letter was sent when it was dated, it was sent before Eric Greitens knocked her down."

Way Beyond

France Is Full of Nationalistic, Xenophobic Idiots, Too. Rick Noack of the Washington Post: "Leading candidates for the French presidency staged their final campaign rallies on Thursday, three days before a vote that appears increasingly likely to result in a tight runoff between President Emmanuel Macron and far-right leader Marine Le Pen. Macron is still leading in polls of voter intent, but the gap between him and Le Pen has shrunk to five or six percentage points, for both the first round and a presumed runoff between them. The finish order could pivot on voter turnout."

Pakistan. Christina Goldbaum of the New York Times: "Pakistan's Supreme Court on Thursday overturned Prime Minister Imran Khan's move to dissolve Parliament, setting the stage for a no-confidence vote widely expected to remove him from office and offering a major victory to opposition leaders, who said that Mr. Khan had attempted an 'open coup.' Mr. Khan, the international cricket-star-turned-politician, and his allies dissolved Parliament on Sunday, effectively blocking a no-confidence vote. The move plunged the country into a constitutional crisis and sharply escalated the political instability that has embroiled Pakistan for weeks."

Comments

[Akhilleus]

It’s all Nancy’s fault? What is? I thought it was just a group of polite, kindly, and respectful patriots visiting the Capitol. Is that not a thing anymore?

Oh. Okay. Never mind.

[P.D. Pepe]

Holy Cow! as they say in India's parts unknown. The news this morning makes me wonder whether God or that sacred Cow is just having one hell of a time screwing with humanity, while laughing hysterically. Reading what the fat man had to say in that interview (and boy, oh boy, do I agree with M.B. re: the reporter's lack to hold Fatty's feet to the fire) stunned me. Trump turns the whole of his complicity into a concerned bystander and blames Nancy. Again , he's the "unruly" child who just killed his puppy (because it wouldn't "sit" when ordered) but says it was his mother's fault for giving it too many cookies.

And then the story about the fake Federal Agents: You would think people would be on their guard regarding guys bearing gifts willy nilly. Didn't we heed the words of Dory Previn who warned us of sweet young things bearing gifts? In this case it was Mia Farrow who brought a bunch of daisies.

And there's the story of the little foxes and their Mom who had to be put down because they were rabid. . I couldn't help but think of those other Foxes––the ones who do us harm every chance they get. She muses on the connection here? Indeed I do!

And then there's the atrocities of this evil war which looms large here and throughout the world and I can't help remembering when Ukraine suddenly became a familiar word; "Do us a favor though" asked by a president who would withhold weapons unless––-it started the ball rolling and it has never stopped!

[Forrest Morris]

It's like Fatty is Catholic in the confessional. Every time he opens
his mouth he admits to more evil doings, but the priest is never
listening. Why is that? Ah, the priest is a trumpbot, like so many
judges and investigators all hearing his incoherent ramblings and
admissions but afraid to incite his wrath because they want to keep
their jobs and to hell with right and wrong.
Anyway, it's all Biden's fault.

[P.D. Pepe]

One of the best! Watch Sean Hannity make a complete fool of himself and the one he favors while dumping dirty on Biden.

https://www.huffpost.com/entry/sean-hannity-coded-messages-biden-trump-kimmel_n_624fe92be4b0723f8009e727

[Ken Winkes]

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/russia-denies-responsibility-for-missile-that-killed-dozens-of-ukrainians-at-train-station

I knew it. Mars Attacks!