Law, Power, and Justice

Curmudgeonly Afternoon News Notes

MSNBC: Velshi

Russia

• Kara Murza was kept in an extremely small cell, in solitary confinement for two years.  His conditions were almost the same as Navalny’s.  He was allowed 90 minutes a day to have pen and paper, 90 minutes per day to walk around a small enclosure.  Other than that he had nothing to occupy his time, nothing.

Ukraine:

• Ukraine has attacked a second Russian bridge inside Russia. 
• Russians are still making advances in the Donetsk region.
• “It is a complete humiliation for Vladamir Putin.”  Kara-Murza. 
• Anne Applebaum: This war is over when the Russians think it is no longer advantageous to pursue it.  The invasion is intended to remind the Russians that the costs of this invasion will only rise.  “It’s time for you to change your mind.”  Change always follows a defeat for Russia.
  • Damage to Russian companies, Russia’s reputation, will be affected and at some point make the war not worth it.
  • The US election is also a factor.  The Russians think that Trump will help them.  Russian propaganda was intended to promote Ukraine fatigue among Americans.  They think he would be happy to see Ukraine fall. 
  • “played games on the internet.” 
  • Book: Autocracy, Inc.

Election 2024

Trump

• Trump is already undermining the election results.  This makes it virtually impossible for the Democrats to challenge any election fraud that is pulled off by the Republicans.  I think, in fact, that is what the whole “the election is rigged” narrative on the part of the Republicans is intended to do.  Biden has already said that if Trump “wins” he will go to the inauguration.  Biden has also said that trump will dismantle democracy.  Just think how stupid that is.  Biden is proposing to sit and watch a man who will dismantle democracy get sworn in to do it.

Project 2025

Arizona schooling

• Vouchers are subsidizing private school attendance for children who are already going to private schools.
• Private schools raised their tuition the same year the school vouchers were issued.
• School vouchers benefited religious schools.
• In some states, as much as 98% of public school vouchers go to religious schools.
• Private schools don’t have to admit students with disabilities and special needs.  When the voucher programs drain all the money out of the public schools, there will be no place to send special needs kids.  These private schools are allowed to choose their own students.
• (Note: There’s a big fat healthy BlueJay on the bird feeder.)
• Randi Weingarten: Teachers’ Union