podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ukraine-the-latest/id1612424182
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Russia’s Economy Really Is Crumbling Under Sanctions
— Read on foreignpolicy.com/2022/07/22/russia-economy-sanctions-myths-ruble-business/ -
FRIDAY 30 DECEMBER 2022
Morning News Notes:
- The corporate media is obsessed, obsessed with Santos. But this is what the country has become, a country of grifters, grifters who are admired and funded for the expertise of their grift. The Trump era attracts grifters and politics has become the most lucrative place not only to grift, but to protect oneself from accountability.
- The corporate media is also obsessed with the “crisis on the border” story. They join Fox News in reporting this “crisis” with no context, no framework in which to understand the problem. People are going to migrate. My partner and I are in this country because they left Ireland and Scotland looking for a better life. Wealthy countries have two choices. Either they develop the economies and the democracy in Latin and South America, or they deal with massive immigration. Unless you are willing to mine the border and post military on every inch (which I suspect the Republicans would love) you cannot stop immigration.
- In a similar vein, advanced western societies have no choice but to help defend Ukraine. I cannot for the life of me understand people who feel as if Ukrainians are disposable because helping to defend them might cause a rise in gas prices. What does that say about people in this country?
- This most recent attack is estimated to have been the largest since the beginning of the war. They are expecting a new wave of mobilizations in Russia. Russian soldiers are being told that they can freeze their sperm in case they are killed. They have also been promised debt relief and other financial perks.
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New York Times
- While Russia is estimated to have lost 100,000 killed and injured, Putin has signaled that he is prepared to accept many more.
- “Kyiv’s negotiating position has hardened.”
- In March, Ukrainian negotiators proposed adopting neutral status, that is, not joining NATO in exchange for security guarantees from other nations. They were prepared to have talks about Crimea, and the Donbas. Those terms are now off the table.
- In November, Zelensky presented a proposal calling for Russia’s full withdrawal including Crimea and Donbas.
- This proposal also included: an international tribunal to try Russian war crimes; Moscow’s release of political prisoners and those forcibly departed; compensation for war damages; steps by the international community to ensure the safety of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants and to provide for its food and energy security.
- France’s Macron has said “we must not humiliate Russia” and has called security guarantees for Russia an essential part of peace talks.
- (Note: This article does not mention the fact that Russia has violated all peace agreements in the past, nor the fact that Russia is the invading country. The both-sides headline is: “Hard-Line Positions by Russia and Ukraine Dim Hope for Peace Talks”)
New York Times
- The administration has started a broad effort to halt Iran’s ability to produce and deliver drones to Russia.
- Intercepted drones are stuffed with American made technology.
- Washington and London are warning that iran may be about to provide Russia with missiles.
New York Times
- A group of former FBI agents who had been placed on leave, calling themselves “The Suspendables,” sent a letter to Christopher Wray. They made accusations that the FBI had discriminated against conservative-leaning agents.
- They accused one agent of having a suspicious role in the Mar-a-lago search.
- Republicans are attacking the FBI and have seized on the letter. Jim Jordan has pledged to investigate the “politicization” of the FBI and the Justice Department.
The Guardian
- 33 rockets hit Kherson in a single day. This included a maternity ward.
- Kherson was liberated in November.
- Russian men called up to fight in Ukraine can freeze their sperm for free.
- The Kremlin may well need to mobilize more men. They are promising a number of perks such as a grace period on loan repayments and a halt on legal proceedings. Families, however, complain that there is no followthrough on these promises.
- Putin announced on Tuesday that Russia would ban the supply of oil to Western countries that have imposed a price cap.
- The assault on Bakhmut continues. There is little strategic advantage to taking Bakhmut for the Russians, but it is thought to have become a symbolic target for Putin, desperate to end the year with a victory.
- The Wagner Group is leading the Russian attack. The failure to take back Bakhmut has been seen as a blow for the leader of Wagner, Yevgeny Prigozhin and his political ambitions and also an embarrassment to Putin.
- Two of Wagner’s soldiers produced and distributed a video in which they criticized Russia’s army for a failure to supply gun crews with enough ammunition and saying that they (Wagner) were doing all the fighting.
- One of the soldiers accused the Russian army chief of staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, of deliberately obstructing the delivery of more shells “to let our guys die.”
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2022 Russian businessmen mystery deaths – Wikipedia
— Read on en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2022_Russian_businessmen_mystery_deaths -
MORNING NEWS NOTES
MSNBC
- The current situation is not sustainable for the citizens of Ukraine or for the Russians.
- John Heileman presents a “both sides” argument for Russia and Ukraine.
- The Russians have abducted 11,000 children from Ukraine.
- Commentator, former government official. We have to lay the pressure on in terms of compromise. (Note: Jesus). “Nobody likes to hear that word.”
AMVO
- “We will not have a country by the end of the Biden term.” Commentator talking about the border. Steve Cortes, former Trump Assistant. Cortes is recommending that the Republicans refuse to extend the debt limit.
FOX NEWS
- Endless blather about the border “crisis.”
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How the United States lost the faith of its citizens—and what it can do to win them back
— Read on www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/03/america-is-not-a-democracy/550931/ -
www.nytimes.com/2022/12/27/business/economy/biden-labor-unions.html
the president, by asking Congress to intervene and avert a strike, missed a rare opportunity to improve workers’ bargaining power in ways that could extend beyond the rail sector
Whether this group of workers has sick days or not on some level was not the issue,” said Kim Phillips-Fein, a historian at Columbia University who studies labor. “It was: What can people ask for and expect to win through collective action?”
That Mr. Biden did not take a stronger stand, she added, “suggested a political blindness to what was really at stake.”
Mr. Biden has “gestured in interesting ways in certain moments,” said Gabriel Winant, a labor historian at the University of Chicago. “But it doesn’t seem like he has the stomach to see the gestures through.”
Biden in this case revealed that I’m your friend, but I won’t risk anything for you,” said Joseph A. McCartin, a historian at Georgetown University who has written extensively about transportation labor disputes.
If Biden had intervened in a way that was more favorable and sympathetic to the rail workers, that would have been a sign of him really breaking with that model, and the model itself no longer seeming to fit the current moment,” said Ms. Phillips-Fein, the Columbia historian. “That it didn’t happen suggests the limits of his political imagination.”
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FRIDAY 23 DECEMBER 2022
MORNING NEWS Notes
- The Jan 6th Committee report came out last night. Most of what is being talked about today is what we already knew. Last night, all they could talk about was that the report hadn’t been issued. This morning all they can talk about is how extensive the report is. Nothing much about what’s in the report. Typical. Nobody can actually read through the report. It’s Christmas. What a population.
- Yesterday, they released the transcript of Cassidy Hutchinson’s interview with the Committee. What a sleaze of a lawyer she had. He has now taken a leave of absence from his law firm. She also went to her father (who is a Trumper) for help and he turned her down. That’s classic.
- Pooper is at the bottom of our bed, curled up in his brown heated bed, sniffing the air. The door to the upstairs patio is open, so he can smell his world. The cats have already been outside for their walk and back in for morning tuna, it’s too cold. Pooper has on his calming collar and has had his anti-depressant this morning. All is right in his world. A few years ago, he was outside under the hood of our car, five weeks old, hungry, alone. Now, he rules the house.
- Paul Gosar was evidently texting with Jan. 6 “Stop the Steal” groups while he was holed up in the Capital. Why is he not in jail?
- Fox News is claiming that churches all over the country are under assault by pro-abortion groups.
- Russia has increased the number of missile carriers in the Black Sea.
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WEDNESDAY 21 DECEMBER 2022
Well, it’s the week before Christmas and we have done nothing except put up a tree we haven’t decorated. The corporate media has already started the “feel good” stories, can’t have the masses remember that the country is falling apart on Christmas.
Zelensky is coming to the states and giving an address before Congress tonight. I am terrified. I hope the Republicans don’t even show up. I keep having these flashbacks of Samuel Alito saying “not true” during Obama’s State of the Union speech.
NBC
- McCaffrey: Russia has turned into an “aggressor nation.”
- Russia is strongarming Belarus to take part in a new offensive. This is a crucial time for Ukraine.
- Julia Ioffee: Zelensky was a “deeply unpopular” president at the first of the year. But, with the invasion he demonstrated that he was the man needed. He was especially needed to speak to the media and mobilize support for Ukraine. He demonstrated the spine to not run and also an understanding of social media and communications. A Jewish president has united a country that has had a troubled past with Jewishness. Ukraine is moving forward. Russia is not.
- The new aid package from the U.S. is $44 billion. This includes a Patriot Missile package.
- Biden has expressed agitation with Zelensky in the past about the pace of arming.
- MSNBC Reporter: Republicans see this (blocking funds for Ukraine) as a chance to “bring some of those dollars back home.” (Note: They are planning to bring those dollars back to their doners and themselves).
- (Note: Russia has said that it will move arms near the border with Finland in response to the moves to join NATO.)
- McCaffrey: The money being used in Ukraine is nothing compared with the money spent on Iraq and Afghanistan.
- Ioffe: It’s hard to know about the support for the war in Russia. You can go to jail for “discrediting” the armed forces. Who would tell a pollster in Russia what they really thought about the war? Putin’s hold on power is “stronger than ever.” Over a million Russians have fled the country, they are outside the country and that’s “great for Putin.” He is strongarming Belarus to allow weapons on their territory. Belarus has been resisting this.
- McCaffrey: There is no way Putin will seize the entire Black Sea area. “I had no idea the Russian army was that corrupt.” The Russians undoubtedly have a “spring offensive” coming.
- They are not even sure that Republicans will show up for this speech by Zelensky.
- How much opposition is there from the Republicans? The fact that Schumer has to say he’s not sure the Republicans will show up says it all. McCarthy is attending the speech.
Zelensky/Biden Press Conference
- Biden: Putin is escalating his attacks against Ukraine. This is the 300 day mark since the launching of the invasion.
- (Note: This quoting of a laundry list of numbers “ten.five billion gloves, etc” makes me crazy Who are they talking to? Who do they think listens to this, is impressed by this?)
- (Note: Biden cannot run again.)
- Corporate journalist question: “Mr. Zelensky, what is your message to the American people.” Boy, that was a thought-provoking question.
MSNBC
- “Life is becoming unbearable” former aide to Zelensky says about conditions in Ukraine.
- “The thing that scares me most of this so-called Ukraine fatigue.” Former aide to Zelensky.
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Alex Murdaugh’s story is a salty stew of wealth, power, corruption, vice and violence. And it’s found a global audience.
— Read on www.postandcourier.com/content/tncms/live/Wonder why this rich, connected white man will not face the death penalty? BECAUSE THEY NEVER DO.
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If you are poor, the chances of being sentenced to death are immensely higher than if you are rich. There could be no greater indictment of the death penalty than the fact that in practice it is really a penalty reserved for people from lower socio-economic groups
— Read on www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2017/10/death-penalty-disproportionately-affects-poor-un-rights-experts-warn -
Opus Dei Grows in U.S. – ABC News
— Read on abcnews.go.com/US/story -
“Opus Dei is an efficient machine run to achieve worldly power,” wrote investigative reporter Penny Lernoux in her book, People of God.
— Read on churchandstate.org.uk/2019/06/opus-deis-influence-is-felt-in-all-of-washingtons-corridors-of-power/
