Law, Power, and Justice

LIFE AND NEWS NOTES FROM A CHILDLESS CAT LADY WORKING AWAY BUSILY IN ONE OF THE SUB-BASEMENTS OF THE MINISTRY OF SNARK

19 JUNE 2025

UKRAINE (Telegraph Podcast, Ukraine the Latest, 6/19/26)

· Ukraine has taken the momentum after attacks on Moscow last night.

· Internet video shows Muscovites filming themselves and expressing shock. There are several airports closed. Russian land defenses are missing Ukrainian drones, even though drones are low and slow. Nobody knows why. It is possible that the Russians are using less capable forces in central Moscow or older munitions?

· There is a cooling of rhetoric between Belarus and Ukraine. There is speculation that this may be Moscow getting message out that Russia is ready to negotiate.

· Russians are claiming that a Ukrainian drone hit a bus. Ukraine is denying it.

· Britain is devoting additional funding to Ukraine.

· Laura Loomer (right-wing podcaster) admits falling for Russian propaganda about the war against Ukraine.

· Slava Ukraini (Battle cry for Ukraine)

SHORTS:

· Medication abortion will be available in Missouri for the first time since 2018. A judge determined most of the state’s challenged abortion regulations are unconstitutional (Missouri Independent)

· The Qatari 747 jumbo jet converted to serve as Air Force One, would deliver, says Trump “a level of luxury that nobody’s ever seen before.” “Qatar was so nice,” Trump told service members. “See, a normal president wouldn’t do this.” No, that’s certainly correct. (Washington Post)

· (ABC News). Two companies received no-bid contracts to repaint the Lincoln Memorial Reflecting Pool. The cost has now ballooned to more than $14.65 million. In addition to repainting the National Park Service paid $1.74 million to install a system to kill algae, using a similar no-bid contract. (Note: What is the gd, mf, reason for any no-bid contract?) Two companies that received contracts for resurfacing and filtration systems, the project is set to cost more than $16 million.

· (Reuters, 6/19/26) At least thirty people have died since the beginning of May at one camp for displaced civilians in northeastern Congo. This could indicate that Ebola is spreading fast. Many of the families refused testing the living or the dead at the camp. All had symptoms associated with Ebola.

Shorts: (6/19/26) New York Times

· Despite the cease-fire deal between the U.S. and Iran, it is likely that Netanyahu will continue military action against Hezbollah in Lebanon. (Note: Guest on Chris Hedges argues that it is unlikely that Netanyahu can stay in power if he stops attacking Lebanon).

· Thomas Friedman: “”Trump sold out America’s ally in the war, Israel, and the Arab Gulf states for the swing states of Pennsylvania, Georgia and Michigan….He had to stop the war now to get prices down by November….Do, Trump did what he always does: He abandoned all principle and all allies and put his personal interests above all other considerations.” “I am shocked by the outcome so far – by the sheer cynicism with which Trump and Vance have gone from damning Iran….to praising its leaders, and how this deal has left Iran stronger and all its neighbors more vulnerable to Tehran’s whims.”

· Friedman writes that a) “The deal not only puts off the question of the disposal of Iran’s near bomb-grade uranium to future negotiations – negotiations in which the Trump administration has already given up its military leverage….it clearly leaves open the possibility that Iran will be able to charge a toll in the future….” The agreement reads “no charge for 60 days only.” b) The deal is silent on any commitments by Iran to curb its development of long-range missiles and its support for proxies….it also makes the 60-day negotiation on Iran’s nuclear future contingent on Israel’s halting its military operations in Lebanon against Iran’s mercenary army there, Hezbollah….Trump and Netanyahu inspired Iran to develop a weapon of mass disruption, a chokehold on the Strait of Hormuz….we are cutting and running….” Trump said “missiles aren’t the problem.

Shorts: (Financial Times, 6/19/26)

· Cuba: Cuba has promised urgent reforms in the way it runs its economy under US pressure and the threat of US military intervention. This includes opening the door to private real estate development, “allowing private banks to operate and the sale of stakes in state-owned companies to private investors, including foreigners.” President Diaz-Canel admitted that the country’s economic problems were not all caused by US sanctions. A state Department spokesperson said; “These gradual “economic reforms’ are modest, long overdue and ultimately superficial smoke signals….” “The US pressure has deepened an economic crisis that took hold when the Covid pandemic devastated the island’s tourism industry.

Saturday 20 June 2026

SHORTS:

· (Reuters, 6/19/26). Poland is going to strip Zelensky of a top honor for naming an army unit after a nationalist group who massacred Poles during WWII.

· The NYT (6/19/26) is reporting that U.S. intelligence does not expect Israel to stop strikes on Hezbollah. The MOU is “deeply unpopular” in Israel. It fails to address Iran’s missile program, for one. My understanding is that if the Iranians have a highly effective system of missiles there is little Israel can do to attack with without being shot down.

· Sam Clemens, now known as Sam Clemens Cheyanne Johns Duggan has grown at least six inches longer since last night. I can’t believe it. He is going to be a sausage. From the time I get up to the time I open the door, he frets and paces and generally makes himself a nuisance wanting to go outside. He rarely eats his breakfast he’s so excited about going outside.

· (NYT 6/19/26) Trump plans to end AIDS funding for South Africa. The claim is that SA has failed to “repeal a law allowing for the expropriation of land without compensation, to exempt American companies from Black empowerment laws and not to align with US enemies such as Iran.

· There’s an exquisite soft green to te march this morning edged by a soft lime as it reaches the brown streak further out The egrets are up flying about choosing breakfast no doubt.

· The cats, especially Sam, are stir crazy to go out, but it’s only 6:30. We have had a ton of rain in the past week. The water is almost up to the bottoms of the small bridges.

· O.K. Sam is outside. I couldn’t deny him his primary job any longer. It’s amazing. This is a kitten we found screaming his head off in the pouring rain outside by himself, trying to steal our outside feral’s food (Willa). But, he is afraid of nothing, not rain, wind.

· MSNOW The Weekend (6/19/26) Israel was not at the table when this MOU was agreed to.

· There are no squirrels playing this morning in the live oaks. Maybe they know something we don’t.

· I am supposed to go to a Trump rally at 11:00. Wondering if it’s going to be raining by then. Who knows.

· Well, after days of heavy rain, the dock I slippery. I, of course, ignored all the evidence and went prancing down to the floating section. Fell flat on my butt and I couldn’t get up. Had to phone Mike. What are we going to do when he cannot just lean down and pick me up? Lord only knows.