Thank you for now making D.C. safer,” Tao said. “For us, for our families, for my parents, on behalf of my parents, and now my baby on the way. Thank you so much.” This is what passes for journalism these days at the White House, now that Trump’s staff has taken control of the formerly independent press rotation and started deciding on its own which news organizations get access to the President. The Kremlin press pool could not have played the moment any better.
Trump, like any narcissist who is handed a microphone before an adoring audience, can’t help but reveal. One thing this Cabinet meeting and other recent appearances have shown is a President who is openly riffing as never before about his unchecked reign. “Not that I don’t have the right to do anything I want to do,” he explained at one point, while elaborating on his plans to expand troop deployments. “I’m the President of the United States. If I think our country is in danger, and it is in danger in these cities, I can do it.” He also commented, as he had a day earlier, on critics who say he’s acting like a dictator with his police power grab. “Most people say, ‘If you call him a dictator then . . . if he stops crime, he can be whatever he wants,’ ” Trump said, before adding, “I’m not a dictator, by the way.”
Last week in Alaska, Putin described Ukrainians as “a brotherly nation” with “the same roots” — which must be liberated by violence from their own mistaken belief that they constitute a separate people.
The monks were using a very distant past to support their present rulers, to say that they were more important than their rivals in the Baltic region. Eight hundred years later, Putin is using their text, the Tale, to do the same thing on a far more extravagant scale. It supposedly means that Moscow must rule Kyiv — although Moscow did not even exist at the time of the ninth-century events recorded.
If it were true that Ukraine belongs to Russia in the 2020s because a Russian dictator knows a legend about a Viking in the 860s, then the tens of millions of people who actually live there would have no voice in their own identity: no choice but to accept the executions, the torture, the kidnapping of children.
FRIDAY NOTES FROM A CHILDLESS CAT LADY WORKING AWAY BUSILY AGAINST TRUMP, THE REPUBLICANS AND THE RUSSIANS AND EVERY OTHER PERSON WITH HATE AND GREED IN THEIR HEARTS IN ONE OF THE SUB-BASEMENTS OF THE MINISTRY OF SNARK
California has turned down Erik Menendez’s ploy to get himself paroled for the murder of both his parents in 1989. Some woman was being interviewed outside the courthouse bleating that in 1989, people didn’t understand that boys could be sexually abused as well as girls. I even think she was a member of the Menendez extended family. While this may be somewhat true, I do not think it is at all relevant in this case.
There are some news stories I can hardly make myself read. Much of the Epstein coverage falls into this category. But, this morning, when I turned on the computer and the news that sat there staring me in the face was that the financial award against Trump for civil fraud had been thrown out, made me feel nauseas. Sarah Kenzior is right, impunity is the crack cocaine of the powerful.
Speaking of impunity, several people connected to Eric Adams, but not Eric Adams, have been accused of handing out cash to reporters. The excuse that was made was that it is common to hand out cash in envelopes to reporters in China to thank them for attending the event. Nobody explained why those connected to Eric Adams believe they are in China.
The cats are out in their catio. We just completed it a few months ago and they love it. It is the place where they are most happy. I wonder sometimes if I did the right thing. I designed the perfect catio and now we never see them. Sometimes, I walk around going: “I want a cat. A cat. I need a cat. We have nine cats and I am alone.”
Both Texas and California passed redistricting bills. The fucking Texans. What a bunch of criminals. That Ken Paxton should have been locked up years ago. It’s just like Trump who should have been locked up decades ago. If we had a functioning criminal justice system for the rich, we would never have had to worry about the bastard. Also, on the subject the redistricting (cheating), the media is not explaining to people what this is all about and how serious it is. I would be willing to guess that most middle and working class people don’t even know what redistricting is, much less the implications of it.
Well, let’s see what else? The White House says we shouldn’t be so negative about slavery. The administration is going to align the Museum of African American history with Trump’s view of history. As Eugene Robinson said on Morning Joe, this would be “obscene.” Good guy.
Morning Joe is reporting that reading in this country has decreased by 40%. Jesus H. Christ. That really explains everything else.
The Democrats have the lowest approval rating since WWII. (See Article by Jim Messina).
The Trump administration FBI (private army) raided John Bolton’s home early this morning. It’s being reported that they are in search of classified information. Bolton recently criticized Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska. Kash Patel posted that nobody is above the law. Oh, what a joke. Nobody is above the law on the same day that Trump beat punishment for financial fraud.
Trump withdrew government security protection for Bolton earlier in his administration. They are now targeting Trump’s enemies, including not only Bolton, but Obama and others (MSNBC).
A judge has ruled that “Alligator Alcatraz” read immigrant concentration camp, can be shut down “for now.” The ruling was that no environmental review was conducted before building the concentration camp. The state of Florida tried to argue that it was a state facility and was exempt from the environmental requirements, but the court disagreed. If you look at the aerial shot of the bastard facility, it looks just like a Nazi concentration camp in the 1930s. The only difference is that there is a runway right in front of the camp instead of a railway line. It is creepy, so very creepy.
Childless cat ladies not only follow the news, they have stories about cats.
We have nine former feral cats and we once told our vet we were not going to have any more. His response was to laugh. “Once a feeder, always a feeder.” He said. And, he was right. For several weeks we have been feeding a small, thin ocicat-looking kitty who we have named Willa. Willa is the female version of her first name which was William Bondy (i.e., Billy the Kid). Then, we decided she was a she, ergo Willa.
The other night, we were looking out the kitchen window to see if Willa had come to get her food and there was a tiny orange and white kitten that looked very much like a cartoon character – big head, large forehead, enormous ears with long tufts of white hair leaping out of them, giving this tiny being the look of an orange and white Einstein. He was eating Willa’s food and when we saw Willa coming up behind him, we both assumed with exclamations of glee that Einstein was her kitten.
We had been debating how long to wait before we were going to have to trap Willa. We didn’t want to wait until she got pregnant and we found ourselves with a mother and four kittens again (it’s a long story). So, we had bought a trap and put it outside near where we fed her so she would get used to it, but we hadn’t tried to put food in it.
When we saw the kitten and Willa gently approaching on soft feet behind him, we assumed we were too late. But then, before we could even take in the situation, Willa pounced on the poor little soul and they went round and round in that circle of revolving fur that is a particular type of cat fight. We were astounded and immediately started yelling and running toward the garage door to go outside and break it up. Well, they both scampered off in different directions and we stood there terrified. Einstein, who is now called Samuel Clemens, was still in the palmettos. We knew this because he’s a talker and he voiced his plaintive complaints from somewhere deep inside the palmetto growth for several minutes. I felt so sorry for him. He was so very tiny. I think he is smaller than our youngest cat, Hiram Bernard, when we found him under the hood of Mike’s Jagiar. Mike disagrees, but heaven’s he’s small.
I tried to talk him out with as much sympathy as I could muster using a human voice and he talked back for a little while. Unfortunately, Mike and I decided that Mike should go around behind the palmetto clump, but this only panicked him and he bounded off toward the street. The last thing I wanted was for him to go across the street so we both retreated quickly just to vacate the area.
As Dr. Blount said: “Once a feeder, always a feeder.” We were in love. I even got up that night at around 3 AM, got a flashlight and looked in the front yard and the street for him. Nothing. It is terrifying to think of something that little out there alone in the dark. I do not for the life of me understand why we wind up with these barely weaned kittens, alone, in our front yard. That’s exactly what happened with Hiram. We have no idea where he came from.
Thursday, of course, we fretted and worried, went out to the palmettos and called “Sam, little Sam, Sammie” over and over. We put food where Willa eats (which of course almost immediately became overrun with tiny ants). I put more food out near the palmetto clump nearest the road. That also was almost immediately covered with bugs, this time enormous red ants. The last thing I wanted was for him to eat a red ant. So, all the food went in the trash. We called, we watched. Every time one of us went in the kitchen we were leaning forward straining to catch site of either Willa or Sam. Nothing.
Willa finally came and ate last night, but no sign of Sam. Kittens. Are they not the most precious beings in the world? I have seen videos of various chimps and other apes with pet kitties. Everybody, just everybody wants a kitty.
The possibility of a tête à tête between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky is dominating headlines. U.S.
— Read on www.themoscowtimes.com/
The Kremlin is once again buying time in order to continue its offensive,” Snegovaya said.
as President Trump presses Ukraine and Russia to make a deal to end their war, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia is pushing to capture as much land as possible along a frontline that stretches about 750 miles, almost the distance from Chicago to New York.
As ever growing swarms of surveillance drones make any movement on the battlefield dangerous, the Russians are sending in small groups of soldiers on foot who are harder to detect. They effectively sneak past the Ukrainian troops, regroup and then attack, repeating this cycle as they inch forward.
These groups gained some territory earlier this month, especially in the crucial eastern Donetsk region near the embattled city of Pokrovsk. Larger formations of Russian troops also outflanked some Ukrainian defenses with drones and sheer numbers, raising fears that the frontline could start to crumble as the most concerted effort at peace talks in three years gets underway.
Given that political negotiations and deals are starting to emerge, Putin is trying to use the short amount of time left to grab as much territory as he can,” said Col. Dmytro Palisa, commander of Ukraine’s 33rd Mechanized Brigade
The Azov brigade was recently moved to the Pokrovsk area, along with brigades like the 33rd and the 59th. Many soldiers have been fighting since 2022; some, since 2014. Despite a draft of all men from the age of 25 to 60, despite flashy billboard campaigns featuring soldiers riding giant cats, the Ukrainian Army is having difficulty recruiting new soldiers. Last month,Ukraineeven adopted a law allowing citizens over 60 to voluntarily enlist.
To understand what is happening in the war, look no farther than Donetsk, a focal point both on the battlefield and in peace negotiations.
Mr. Putin seemingly convinced the American president that Ukraine needed to give up the entire Donbas to Russia to achieve peace.
It is this area where drones and missiles are now pounding villages on a regular basis, destroying post offices and schools. It is where Russia has been unable to turn small gains on the battlefield into actual breakthroughs, despite suffering huge losses. And it is where Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump want Ukrainian soldiers to walk away, after an 11-year fight, in exchange for a peace deal.
Well, we are all waiting again this morning for news about the contours of the betrayal (yet another one) of Ukraine. Trump is evidently focused like a laser on the really important issues that are involved. His administration has asked what Zelensky will wear to the summit at the White House. Evidently, he wants Zelensky to wear a suit. What he wants is to humiliate Zelensky. There is a video on the internet showing a Russian tank moving to attack a part of Ukraine flying both Russian and U.S. flags. That’s where we are today folks. Thank the Republican Party.
Trump has already moved away from his demand for an immediate ceasefire which was not taken well in Ukraine.
The cats are downstairs, outside for their morning walk. It is the highlight of their day to go sniffing around the yard while Mike sits and watches them. If Mike goes back inside for coffee, they will come back inside to check on him. They are smart enough to know that having the “big dog” outside watching over them is a requirement.
My God, I don’t know why any of these people (David Ignatius) think security guarantees from the United States have any meaning. According to Ignatius, the worst would be that Trump pushes Zelensky to give up all of the Donbas, and the Europeans for all their tough talk, don’t stand up to this demand. Ukraine would be pushed to make concessions without getting anything in return. Scarborough asks what if Zelensky gets “rock solid” security guarantees, what will he give up. What an absurd question. The Ukrainians have already been given “rock solid” guarantees. They signed the Budapest Memorandum in 1993 where they were given security assurances by Russia and the United States and the United Kingdom. And, what did it get them?
To evaluate the effectiveness of the Budapest Memorandum, consider these points:
The agreement lacked binding enforcement mechanisms for signatories.
It did not provide military support or intervention guarantees.
Signatories failed to respond decisively during the 2014 Crimea crisis.
The memorandum relied heavily on diplomatic assurances rather than legal obligations.
It did not prevent the violation of Ukraine’s sovereignty by Russia.
The lack of consequences for breaches undermined its credibility.
9:20
Mark Hertling, Fmr. Military. Joe Scarborough is asking about what kind of security guarantees would assure Zelensky and the Ukrainians that they could live “safely” in their country.
A ceasefire would have given both sides time to think and create a breathing space for further negotiations.
This is Russia. There is the invasion of Crimea and Georgia. 2007 massive cyber attack on Estonia because they moved a Russian statue, They are still in Moldova. There has been nterference in the Romanian elections, then the invasion Donbas and Crimea.
The Russians are famous for breaking their deals.
2:30
The seven European leaders, Trump and Zelensky just posed for a photo. Nobody looked very happy.
The Russians occupy something like 19% of Ukrainian territory.
CNN, Cedric Leighton, Military Analyst. Zelensky may have to cede some of the land temporarily but preserve the notion that land cannot be taken by force. (Note: And how do you do that?)
Trump says they are going to call Putin right after the group meeting. (Note: I feel so bad for Zelensky. He seems so very stressed. I couldn’t do this). Trump is introducing people. Everything Trump does is a show. (They all look like they would rather be anywhere else in the world). Trump is commenting on how people look, their tans. He is expressing jealousy about somebody’s tan.
Trump says Russia “would accept” security guarantees for Ukraine. He is talking about “possible exchanges of territory.” Trump keeps talking about a tri-lat meeting. Trump is now offering to go to the tri-lat. (I bet they would love that.) Trump keeps bragging about how many wars he’s stopped. He is so unutterably insufferable.
The German Chancellor is asking for a ceasefire from the next meeting. He is saying that Putin should be pressured for a ceasefire. Trump: “In the six wars I’ve settled, I haven’t had a ceasefire.” (Note: He’s trying to cover up for the fact that Putin wouldn’t give him a ceasefire.
Meloni: Since you (Trump) we hadn’t seen any interest by Putin for a ceasefire. We need security guarantees. We start from the Article 5 model.
Macron: Security for Ukraine is security for Europe. We need a credible Ukrainian army, and commitment for security guarantees.
Law, Power, and Justice 