Ides of March 2022

Late Morning/Afternoon Update:

The New York Times' live updates of developments Tuesday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here.

David Sanger, et al., of the New York Times: "President Biden will travel to an extraordinary NATO summit meeting in Brussels on March 24 and will also attend the European Union's summit meeting the same day, White House and European officials said on Tuesday. The high-stakes gathering is to discuss ongoing deterrence and defense efforts in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine." CNN's report is here.

Oliver Darcy of CNN: "Pierre Zakrzewski, a longtime Fox News photojournalist, was killed while reporting in Ukraine when a vehicle he was traveling in with correspondent Benjamin Hall came under fire, the network said on Tuesday.... Hall remains hospitalized in Ukraine, [Fox News Media CEO Suzanne] Scott said. Zakrzewski was a veteran war photojournalist who had 'covered nearly every international story for Fox News from Iraq to Afghanistan to Syria,' Scott said. Scott said that Zakrzewski had been reporting from Ukraine since February."

U.K. Mark Landler of the New York Times: "The British government said on Tuesday that it had imposed sanctions on more than 370 individuals it described as oligarchs, political allies or propagandists for ... Vladimir V. Putin..., a major new crackdown that brings it closer in line with the European Union on an issue that has long dogged Britain. The sanctions, announced by the foreign secretary, Liz Truss, include a travel ban and will freeze the assets of prominent Russians in business and government, including some of the wealthiest oligarchs and most senior officials in the Kremlin."

Amy Goldstein of the Washington Post: "As many as 16 million low-income Americans, including millions of children, are destined to fall off Medicaid when the nation's public health emergency ends, as states face a herculean mission to sort out who no longer belongs on rolls that have swollen to record levels during the pandemic." Marie: What a sad irony that the coronavirus, for all of the millions of Americans it sickened and the hundreds of thousands it killed, it made us -- for a brief time -- a better nation in terms of caring for the poor and the sick. Soon we'll be entirely back to being the cheap-assed nation we were, leaving the most vulnerable -- children and the sickly -- without enough support from the rest of us.

Jamelle Bouie of the New York Times: "... one of the key goals of the Constitution was to curb the power of the states and leash them to the broader authority of a new national government led by a powerful legislature and an unusually strong elected executive. A month before he arrived in Philadelphia as one of 55 delegates to a convention called to amend the Articles of Confederation, James Madison ... wrote a detailed critique of the existing American government, homing in on what he thought was its most glaring weakness: the states themselves.... [Madison's writings provide] a useful corrective in light of emerging theories like the 'independent state legislature' doctrine..., which rests on a states-centric view of the Constitution that falls apart on cursory contact with the history in question.... Remembering that the Constitution was written in significant part to weaken and undermine state governments is, I think, the first step toward asserting the power of Congress, not just over the states but over institutions, like the courts, whose power has run far ahead of our system's checks and balances." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Bouie is stating the obvious here, but it's a necessary statement because confederates don't know what we all learned in school: that the vaunted Founders wrote the Constitution to correct the weaknesses inherent in the Articles of Confederation, which established a form of government (or rather governments) that threatened the very concept of "one nation." Donald Trump if fond of saying, "We won't have a country any more if...," wherein the "if" clause gives him something he wants (like making him winner of the election he lost). But we would not have a country at all if the Constitution had not replaced the Confederation. Instead, there would be a bunch of more-or-less independent states, with only a few -- like maybe California, New York and Texas -- having anything like international power.

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Putin's War Crimes, Ctd.

The Washington Post's live updates of developments Tuesday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here: "The heads of three governments in the European Union -- the Czech Republic, Poland and Slovenia -- are set to travel to Kyiv to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.... The visit comes as fierce fighting rages across Ukraine, including in the besieged capital, where a suspected Russian missile attack on another apartment building Tuesday killed at least two people. Officials were once again struggling to get humanitarian aid to the besieged southern port city of Mariupol, which is surrounded by Russian troops. Videos captured blasts striking at least three locations in the heart of Kharkiv, Ukraine's second-largest city, on Monday night. A United Nations agency said more than 3 million people have fled Ukraine since Russia's invasion nearly three weeks ago." ~~~

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

John Ismay of the New York Times: "American intelligence officials have discovered that the barrage of ballistic missiles Russia has fired into Ukraine contain a surprise: decoys that trick air-defense radars and fool heat-seeking missiles. The devices are each about a foot long, shaped like a dart and white with an orange tail, according to an American intelligence official. They are released by the Iskander-M short-range ballistic missiles that Russia is firing from mobile launchers across the border, the official said, when the missile senses that it has been targeted by air defense systems. Each is packed with electronics and produces radio signals to jam or spoof enemy radars attempting to locate the Iskander-M, and contains a heat source to attract incoming missiles.... Photographs of the dart-shaped munitions began circulating on social media two weeks ago. They had stumped experts and open-source intelligence analysts...."

Ashley Parker, et al., of the Washington Post: "National security adviser Jake Sullivan issued a direct warning to his Chinese counterpart Monday about the potential consequences of any assistance that Beijing might provide Russia in its war with Ukraine, officials said, following Moscow's recent request for military equipment and aid. The seven-hour meeting in Rome between Sullivan and Yang Jiechi, planned several weeks ago, took on added urgency as Russia's war against Ukraine dragged into its third full week without any signs of winding down." ~~~

     ~~~ Kevin Liptak, et al., of CNN: "The US has information suggesting China has expressed some openness to providing Russia with requested military and financial assistance as part of its war on Ukraine, a Western official and a US diplomat told CNN, and is conveying what it knows to its NATO allies. It is not yet clear whether China intends to provide Russia with that assistance, US officials familiar with the intelligence tell CNN.... That leaves open a troubling possibility for American officials -- that China may help prolong a bloody conflict that is increasingly killing civilians, while also cementing an authoritarian alliance in direct competition with the United States."

~~~ Kyle Cheney of Politico: "Prosecutors say a 'documentary film crew' was present when Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes met for 30 minutes in an underground parking garage on Jan. 5, 2021. The details, revealed in a Justice Department court filing on Monday, provide new evidence of the encounter between the two groups, whose leaders played a key role in the breach of the Capitol the following day.... The new details suggest Tarrio played a more direct role than previously understood in orchestrating the events that occurred on Jan. 6, when top Proud Boys leaders were at the vanguard of a mob that overran police lines and threatened the presidential transfer of power." According to DOJ, Tarrio wiped all his phone messages, installed a new encrypted message app, and used the phones of associates to make some phone calls. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: So these guys were so sure they would be regarded as heroes that they allowed (or engaged) a film crew to record their meeting at the same time Tarrio was trying to make sure authorities couldn't trace his phone calls. How much sense does that make?

Jeff Stein of the Washington Post: "A bipartisan group of senators on Tuesday will release legislation calling for the Treasury Department to offer cash rewards for information that leads to the seizure of assets held by sanctioned Russian oligarchs, the latest attempt to escalate financial pressure against the Kremlin over the invasion of Ukraine. The proposal would give President Biden the authority to make an emergency declaration enabling federal authorities to confiscate -- and then liquidate -- holdings of Russian oligarchs or other financial elites linked to the Russian government. The bill would also allow the money raised by selling those assets to then be given to the Ukrainian government to assist in that country's reconstruction or finance its military. Typically, sanctions law allows the federal government to only freeze the assets of sanctioned individuals, not seize them."

The New York Times' live updates of developments Monday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here: "Negotiators from Russia and Ukraine met again on Monday for another round of talks aimed at finding a way out of the war, even as Russian forces broadened their devastating offensive and the Kremlin insisted that it would not pull back until 'all plans' for the invasion are fulfilled. Mykhailo Podolyak, a member of Ukraine's delegation, said Monday afternoon that the talks had taken a 'technical pause,' and would resume on Tuesday.... China dismissed U.S. allegations that Russia had asked it for military equipment and economic support.... Kyiv was hit by heavy artillery strikes on Monday morning, after days of severe fighting in the suburbs." (Also linked yesterday.)

Anton Troianovski of the New York Times: "A state television employee burst onto the live broadcast of Russia's most-watched news show on Monday evening, yelling, 'Stop the war!' and holding up a sign that said, 'They're lying to you here,' in an extraordinary act of protest against Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The woman, Marina Ovsyannikova, worked for Channel 1, the state-run television channel whose news broadcast she stormed, according to a Russian rights group that is giving her legal support. The group also released a video in which Ms. Ovsyannikova says she is 'deeply ashamed' to have worked to produce 'Kremlin propaganda.'... Ms. Ovsyannikova was detained after the protest and was being held at a small police station at Moscow's Ostankino broadcasting center.... The moment went viral online in Russia, despite the Kremlin's recent efforts to block dissent on the internet. Within hours, Ms. Ovsyannikova's Facebook page had more than 26,000 comments, with many people thanking her or praising her for her bravery in Russian, English and Ukrainian." ~~~

     ~~~ Update. Mary Ilyushina & Adela Suliman of the Washington Post: "A day after she burst onto a live news broadcast on Russian state television holding a sign denouncing the war in Ukraine, lawyers with human rights groups told The Washington Post they are unable to locate producer Marina Ovsyannikova, more than 12 hours after she was detained. The Russian Investigative Committee, the country's main government investigative body, has begun 'a pre-investigation check' against Ovsyannikova over allegations of breaking into the studio, Russia's state-run Tass news agency reported Tuesday -- which could be a first step toward eventual charges. Citing an unidentified source, Tass reported that she could also face charges of 'discrediting' the actions of Russia's armed forces." A Guardian story is here.

How to Rationalize a Greedy, Immoral Decision. The best thing I can do as an individual is show compassion for the people, my employees, franchisees and customers without judging them because of the politicians in power.... The vast majority of Russian people are very clearheaded and understand the dark gravity of the situation they're in. And, at the end of the day, they appreciate a good pizza. -- Christopher Wynne ~~~

~~~ Julie Creswell of the New York Times: "Papa John's International said last week that it was suspending all of its corporate operations in Russia, following in the footsteps of other high-profile American brands like McDonald's and Starbucks. However, the 190 Papa John's restaurants in the country are still open and selling pizzas. And they have no plans to stop. These Papa John's shops are primarily owned by Russians through a franchise agreement with a company controlled by Christopher Wynne, a Colorado native who has lived part time and worked in the country since the early 2000s. And even as the war with Ukraine continues and numerous global food brands and retailers suspend operations and stop selling goods in Russia, little has changed with his operation, said Mr. Wynne, 45."

Koch Is Bullish on Russia. Judd Legum of Popular Information: "Koch Industries, the conglomerate run by right-wing billionaire Charles Koch, has numerous ongoing business operations in Russia.... The limited public comments made by Koch subsidiaries operating in Russia indicate that their business activities have continued." (Also linked yesterday.) To put the Koch position re: Putin into proper perspective, see also Akhilleus' commentary is yesterday's thread.

U.K. Sky News: "Police with riot shields have entered a luxury property in central London reportedly owned by billionaire Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, after it was occupied by squatters. Police responded to the scene in Belgrave Square after squatters took over the property on Monday morning. A Ukrainian flag was hung from a window and a banner read 'this property has been liberated'. Mr Deripaska, a 54-year-old industrialist who founded the aluminium giant Rusal, was added to the UK government's sanctions list on 10 March, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The fate of his property portfolio in Britain remains unclear after the government said his assets would be frozen." (Also linked yesterday.)

BBC Panorama: "A BBC investigation has uncovered new evidence about the corrupt deals that made Roman Abramovich's fortune. The Chelsea owner made billions after buying an oil company from the Russian government in a rigged auction in 1995. Mr Abramovich paid around $250m (£190m) for Sibneft, before selling it back to the Russian government for $13bn in 2005.... The Russian billionaire was sanctioned by the UK government last week because of his links to ... Vladimir Putin. Mr Abramovich's assets have been frozen and he has been disqualified as a director of Chelsea Football Club."

Robert Costa, now of CBS News: "Senator Mitt Romney, of Utah, offered more than 200 Republican donors a stark message on the fragility of American democracy during private remarks on Monday night at a fundraiser in Northern Virginia.... Attendees described Romney, the GOP's 2012 presidential nominee, as delivering the remarks as a warning for the group, which included many longtime members of the Republican establishment, as the U.S. confronts Russia's invasion of Ukraine and as ... Donald Trump continues to exert power inside the Republican Party. Romney was the introductory speaker at a closed fundraiser for Republican Congresswoman Liz Cheney of Wyoming."

Burgess Everett of Politico: "Sen. Joe Manchin will oppose Sarah Bloom Raskin's nomination to the Federal Reserve Board, imperiling her already stalled bid to win confirmation. Raskin's nomination is stuck in the Senate Banking Committee amid a GOP boycott of a committee vote on her nomination, effectively blocking her confirmation from advancing to the Senate floor." MB: Raskin is married to Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.). (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ Emily Cochrane & Jeanna Smialek of the New York Times: "Mr. Manchin, a West Virginian who has close ties to the fossil fuel industry and has rejected much of President Biden's climate agenda, cited [Raskin's] statements on climate and energy policy, and pointedly noted that the board 'is not an institution that should politicize its critical decisions.'... The White House vowed on Monday to press ahead with her nomination, with a spokesman emphasizing Ms. Raskin's qualifications and outside support.... [But] Without [Manchin's] support, Ms. Raskin, a former Fed governor and Obama administration official, is unlikely to secure the votes needed to clear the Senate unless a Republican breaks ranks and votes to back her."

Alan Feuer of the New York Times: "A document found by federal prosecutors in the possession of a far-right leader contained a detailed plan to surveil and storm government buildings around the Capitol on Jan. 6 last year, people familiar with the document said on Monday. The document, titled '1776 Returns,' was cited by prosecutors last week in charging the far-right leader, Enrique Tarrio, the former head of the Proud Boys extremist group, with conspiracy. The indictment of Mr. Tarrio described the document in general terms, but the people familiar with it added substantial new details about the scope and complexity of the plan it set out for directing an effort to occupy six House and Senate office buildings and the Supreme Court last Jan. 6.... The plan closely resembles what actually unfolded when the Capitol was stormed by a pro-Trump mob...." ~~~

~~~ Katelyn Polantz & Hannah Rabinowitz of CNN: "The Justice Department said Monday that Enrique Tarrio, the leader of the Proud Boys, should remain in jail as he awaits trial, pointing to his leadership of the far-right group from afar during the January 6, 2021, attack on the US Capitol and pride in their destructiveness.... Monday's filing also revealed a new detail about an alleged meeting Tarrio had with Stewart Rhodes, the founder of the Oath Keepers, and others at a parking garage in Washington, DC, on January 5. Rhodes and other Oath Keepers are facing seditious conspiracy charges in a separate January 6 case.... A federal judge in Florida on Tuesday is set to decide whether Tarrio stays detained." ~~~

~~~ Kyle Cheney of Politico: "Prosecutors say a 'documentary film crew' was present when Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio and Oath Keepers leader Stewart Rhodes met for 30 minutes in an underground parking garage on Jan. 5, 2021. The details, revealed in a Justice Department court filing on Monday, provide new evidence of the encounter between the two groups, whose leaders played a key role in the breach of the Capitol the following day.... The new details suggest Tarrio played a more direct role than previously understood in orchestrating the events that occurred on Jan. 6, when top Proud Boys leaders were at the vanguard of a mob that overran police lines and threatened the presidential transfer of power." According to DOJ, Tarrio wiped all his phone messages, installed a new encrypted message app, and used the phones of associates to make some phone calls. ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: So these guys were so sure they would be regarded as heroes that they allowed (or engaged) a film crew to record their meeting at the same time Tarrio was trying to make sure authorities couldn't trace his phone calls. How much sense does that make?

MEANWHILE, Back at the Ellipse.... Danny Hakim & Jo Becker of the New York Times: "Ginni Thomas, the wife of Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, said in an interview published [in the Washington Free Beacon] on Monday that she attended the Jan. 6, 2021, rally at the Ellipse in Washington." ~~~

     ~~~ CNN's report, by Ariane de Vogue is here. Thanks to Akhilleus for the link. See also his commentary in today's thread; he seems, well, skeptical of Ginni's protestations, like this one: "Clarence doesn't discuss his work with me, and I don't involve him in my work."

Benjamin Weiser of the New York Times: "Federal prosecutors in Manhattan on Monday accused a Russian tycoon of scheming to make $1 million in illegal campaign donations to federal and state political candidates in the United States to gain favorable licensing decisions for a cannabis business venture. The prosecutors said the donations by the businessman, Andrey Muraviev, 47, were at the heart of an illegal campaign finance scheme conducted in the months before the 2018 midterm elections that also involved two Soviet-born businessmen, Lev Parnas and Igor Fruman, and two other co-defendants. Mr. Parnas and Mr. Fruman were allies of Rudolph W. Giuliani..., and assisted Mr. Giuliani in his efforts to undermine Joseph R. Biden Jr. when he was a leading Democratic presidential candidate.... Mr. Muraviev is believed to be in Russia and remains at large...."

The Pandemic, Ctd.

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

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

Dana Milbank of the Washington Post: "Now that the omicron wave is over, a couple of new analyses of state-by-state data both point to an inescapable conclusion: Living in states run by a Republican governor is dangerous to your health. Using data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, consultant Doug Haddix reported Sunday that since July 1 (when the lifesaving vaccine was widely available), the 14 states with the highest death rates were all run by Republican governors.... The states with the lowest death rates, by contrast, were all run by Democrats -- or, in the case of Vermont, Maryland and Massachusetts, by moderate Republican governors who had heavily Democratic legislatures and embraced vaccines and masks.... Florida residents were, since vaccines have been widely available, nearly seven times as likely to die from covid-19 as residents of D.C.... This raises a question: How does Ron DeSantis sleep at night?" ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Milbank is making the false assumptions that DeSantis has a conscience and is able to think of someone besides himself.

Beyond the Beltway

Idaho. Kate Zernike of the New York Times: "Idaho on Monday became the first state to adopt a copycat of an unusual new Texas law that relies on ordinary citizens to enforce a ban on abortions after about six weeks of pregnancy as a way of getting around court challenges to its constitutionality. The Idaho House, led by Republicans, approved the bill, 51-14, and sent it to Gov. Brad Little. Mr. Little, a Republican, has already signed a separate law restricting abortion that passed last year. The bill was the latest display of confidence from anti-abortion activists and lawmakers across the country. Both sides of the abortion debate anticipate that by summer, the Supreme Court could pare back or overturn Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that established a constitutional right to abortion."

Ohio. Jack Zuckerman of the Ohio Capital Journal: "Gov. Mike DeWine signed a bill into law Monday removing training, background check and permitting requirements to carry a concealed weapon in Ohio. When the law takes effect in 90 days, all Ohioans aged 21 and older who are lawfully allowed to possess a weapon will be able to carry it concealed on their persons. Prior law required them to undergo eight hours of training, a background check, and an application through their local sheriff."

News Lede

Washington Post: "A D.C. man whose family said he struggles with mental illness and sometimes lived on the streets was arrested Tuesday and charged in a series of attacks on homeless men that rattled vulnerable communities in the District and New York."

March 14, 2022

Late Morning/Afternoon Update:

Burgess Everett of Politico: "Sen. Joe Manchin will oppose Sarah Bloom Raskin's nomination to the Federal Reserve Board, imperiling her already stalled bid to win confirmation. Raskin's nomination is stuck in the Senate Banking Committee amid a GOP boycott of a committee vote on her nomination, effectively blocking her confirmation from advancing to the Senate floor." MB: Raskin is married to Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.).

Koch Is Bullish on Russia. Judd Legum of Popular Information: "Koch Industries, the conglomerate run by right-wing billionaire Charles Koch, has numerous ongoing business operations in Russia.... The limited public comments made by Koch subsidiaries operating in Russia indicate that their business activities have continued."

U.K. Sky News: "Police with riot shields have entered a luxury property in central London reportedly owned by billionaire Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska, after it was occupied by squatters. Police responded to the scene in Belgrave Square after squatters took over the property on Monday morning. A Ukrainian flag was hung from a window and a banner read 'this property has been liberated'. Mr Deripaska, a 54-year-old industrialist who founded the aluminium giant Rusal, was added to the UK government's sanctions list on 10 March, following Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The fate of his property portfolio in Britain remains unclear after the government said his assets would be frozen."

The New York Times' live updates of developments Monday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here: "Negotiators from Russia and Ukraine met again on Monday for another round of talks aimed at finding a way out of the war, even as Russian forces broadened their devastating offensive and the Kremlin insisted that it would not pull back until 'all plans' for the invasion are fulfilled. Mykhailo Podolyak, a member of Ukraine's delegation, said Monday afternoon that the talks had taken a 'technical pause,' and would resume on Tuesday.... China dismissed U.S. allegations that Russia had asked it for military equipment and economic support.... Kyiv was hit by heavy artillery strikes on Monday morning, after days of severe fighting in the suburbs."

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

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Putin's War Crimes, Ctd.

The Guardian's live updates of developments Monday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here: "Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskiy will virtually address the US Congress on Wednesday, 16 March at 1pm GMT, US Senate majority leader Chuck Schumer and House speaker Nancy Pelosi said.... More than 2,400 civilians have been killed in Mariupol since Russia invaded Ukraine last month, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said today.... Russian forces have damaged a high-voltage line connecting Ukraine's Chernobyl nuclear power plant to the power grid, Ukraine's state energy company Ukrenergo said. The head of Ukrenergo, Volodymyr Kudrytskiy, said the plant was relying on electricity from diesel generators after external power supplies to the plant were damaged again. The retired nuclear plant lost power early last week but supply was restored on Sunday, AFP reports.... A former Russian foreign minister has joined a call for all sides in the Ukrainian war to return to diplomacy and reduce 'the dramatically elevated risk' of a catastrophic nuclear war, Patrick Wintour reports. The appeal co-authored by Professor Igor Ivanov, the president of the Russian International Affairs Council, may be a sign that some in the Russian foreign policy establishment believe the risks of Russia pursuing a purely military solution to its grievances in Ukraine is a strategic mistake." ~~~

~~~ The Washington Post's live updates of developments Monday in Russia's war on Ukraine are here: "Talks are set to resume Monday morning between Kyiv and the Kremlin after a weekend of Russian attacks that raised fears of a widening of the war -- and unrelenting fighting that obstructed efforts to provide relief to besieged Ukrainian cities, including the port city of Mariupol. Ukrainian officials have projected a more optimistic tone for the talks than on previous occasions when negotiations between the two nations have ended without resolution. Ukrainian officials say Russia is 'starting to talk constructively' as their forces put up a fierce resistance -- but its position is firm: It wants an immediate cease-fire and Russian troops gone."

BUT. On the Road to WWIII. Amy Wang of the Washington Post: "A growing number of U.S. lawmakers ratcheted up pressure on President Biden on Sunday to increase military aid to Ukraine, including sending fighter jets and air defense systems that the administration rejected last week. The public calls from both Republicans and Democrats to answer Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's urgent pleas for air assistance come as the Biden administration declined an offer from Poland to deliver MiG-29 airplanes to Ukraine for fear such a move could be interpreted by the Russians as an escalation of the United States' role in the war.... [Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio)] argued that because Putin has already declared other forms of U.S. military aid escalatory, sending planes to Ukraine would not risk intensifying the conflict.... Speaking from near the Poland-Ukraine border on Sunday, Portman said the bombing of the military facility in western Ukraine was close enough to be heard on the Polish side.... Separately, 58 members of the bipartisan Problem Solvers Caucus on Sunday again urged the Biden administration to try to facilitate the fighter jet deal with Poland, as well as to provide Ukraine with other air defense systems, including drones and surface-to-air missiles." ~~~

MEANWHILE. Edward Wong & Julian Barnes of the New York Times: "Russia asked China to give it military equipment and support for the war in Ukraine after ... Vladimir V. Putin began a full-scale invasion last month, according to U.S. officials. Russia has also asked China for additional economic assistance, to help counteract the battering its economy has taken from broad sanctions imposed by the United States and European and Asian nations, according to an official. American officials ... declined to discuss any reaction by China to the requests.... Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, is scheduled to meet on Monday in Rome with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Communist Party's elite Politburo and director of the party's Central Foreign Affairs Commission. Mr. Sullivan intends to warn Mr. Yang about any future Chinese efforts to bolster Russia in its war or undercut Ukraine, the United States and their partners." (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Isabelle Khurshudyan, et al., of the Washington Post: "Local officials disappearing, public warnings that protests will be considered 'extremism' and signs of Ukrainian resistance anyway: This is what life looks like inside some Ukrainian cities now under the control of Russian troops, according to new photos and videos from those areas posted to social media.... Russia's advance through some parts of Ukraine may have stalled. But in the cities already captured, there has been popular pushback against what appear to be attempts at installing friendly lawmakers and quashing protests.... If [Vladimir Putin's] plan is to occupy Ukraine, then Ukrainians are showing that there will be significant resistance.... [President] Zelensky said Russian forces had captured the mayor of Melitopol, Ivan Fedorov, which sparked protests over the weekend.... Then on Sunday, Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, accused Russian forces of abducting Yevhen Matveyev, the mayor of Dniprorudne, a city of about 18,000 people in southeast Ukraine." ~~~

~~~ Isobel Koshiw of the Guardian: "Russian soldiers have shot people dead in the street as they took over Ukrainian villages, according to fleeing residents. Soldiers shot randomly at buildings, threw grenades down roads and went from house to house confiscating phones and laptops, witnesses said." The story relates a number of witness reports of atrocities, like this one: "So all of those houses along the main road from Bordyanka to Makariv were hit and some people died. Then they started to go house by house. They killed a teacher who was outside feeding her chickens."

Mstyslav Chernov of the AP: "A pregnant woman and her baby have died after Russia bombed the maternity hospital where she was meant to give birth, The Associated Press has learned. Images of the woman being rushed to an ambulance on a stretcher had circled the world, epitomizing the horror of an attack on humanity's most innocent. In video and photos shot Wednesday by AP journalists after the attack on the hospital, the woman was seen stroking her bloodied lower abdomen as rescuers rushed her through the rubble in the besieged city of Mariupol, her blanched face mirroring her shock at what had just happened. It was among the most brutal moments so far in Russia's now 19-day-old war on Ukraine." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Apparently, the woman & her new baby were among the "actors" the Russian embassy in London has claimed was a fake bombing. (Here's a Sky News story which reports Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov makes a similar claim.

Jeff Stein of the Washington Post: "Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Friday asked President Biden to broaden America's economic campaign against Russia, telling the U.S. president that more should be done to cut off Russia from international trade, according to two people familiar with the phone call. Zelensky has been grateful and supportive of the economic penalties announced by the Biden administration to date, such as a White House measure announced Friday to end normalized trade relations with Russia. But he also requested that Biden seek to close loopholes in the existing sanctions, significantly broaden the list of sanctioned Russian government officials and restrict Russia's access to international waterways, the people familiar with the matter said."

Michael Schwirtz of the New York Times: "Brent Renaud, an award-winning American filmmaker and journalist, was killed in Ukraine on Sunday while reporting in a suburb of the capital, Kyiv, according to Ukraine's Interior Ministry. Mr. Renaud, 50, had worked for a number of American news and media organizations in the past, including HBO, NBC and The New York Times. The Ukrainian authorities said he was killed in Irpin, a suburb that has been the site of intense shelling by Russian forces in recent days, but the details of his death were not immediately clear. Ukrainian officials said another journalist was wounded as well. At the time of his death Mr. Renaud was on assignment for Time Studios working on a 'project focused on the global refugee crisis,' according to a statement from Time executives." An AP story is here. (Also linked yesterday.)

There Are Russian Refugees, Too. Anton Troianovski & Patrick Kingsley of the New York Times: "Tens of thousands of Russians have fled to Istanbul since Russia invaded Ukraine last month, outraged about what they see as a criminal war, worried about conscription or the possibility of a closed Russian border, or concerned that their livelihoods are no longer viable back home.... Tens of thousands more traveled to countries like Armenia, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan which are better known as sources of migration to Russia. At the land border with Latvia -- open only to those with European visas -- travelers reported waits lasting hours.... The descent of Russia into new depths of authoritarianism has many Russians despairing of their future."

More Tucker, Please. David Corn of Mother Jones: "On March 3, as Russian military forces bombed Ukrainian cities as part of Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion of his neighbor, the Kremlin sent out talking points to state-friendly media outlets with a request: Use more Tucker Carlson. 'It is essential to use as much as possible fragments of broadcasts of the popular Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who sharply criticizes the actions of the United States [and] NATO, their negative role in unleashing the conflict in Ukraine, [and] the defiantly provocative behavior from the leadership of the Western countries and NATO towards the Russian Federation and towards President Putin, personally,' advises the 12-page document written in Russian. It sums up Carlson's position: 'Russia is only protecting its interests and security.'" (Also linked yesterday afternoon.)

Donald Trump Explains Invasion of Ukraine as a Demostration of Putin's Love of Country. Andrew Stanton of Newsweek: "... Donald Trump said there is 'a lot of love' behind ... Vladimir Putin's efforts to make 'his country larger' on Sunday as Russian troops continued to invade Ukraine. Trump discussed the conflict during an appearance on Fox News host Jeanine Pirro's radio show Sunday. He said he believes Putin's ultimate goal is to eventually rebuild the Soviet Union, and he went on to explain what he believes to be Putin's mindset. 'You say, what's the purpose of this? They had a country. You could see it was a country where there was a lot of love and we're doing it because, you know, somebody wants to make his country larger or he wants to put it back the way it was when actually it didn't work very well,' Trump said." Firewalled.

Zolan Kanno-Youngs of the New York Times: "President Biden promised to unravel the 'moral and national shame' of the immigration policies enacted by ... Donald J. Trump.... [But] the gulf between Mr. Biden's words and his government's legal arguments is testing the patience of some of his supporters, including top Democrats in Congress. They say the administration is not only moving too slowly on promised reforms, but also is far too willing to use -- and defend -- Trump-era policies in the meantime.... The tension has also resonated inside the White House, where senior officials have been anxious that unwinding the Trump-era border restrictions would open the United States to an increase in illegal crossings at the southern border and fuel Republican attacks that Mr. Biden is too lenient on illegal immigration.... Mr. Biden has indeed taken steps to roll back much of his predecessor's agenda on immigration...."

The Pandemic, Ctd.

Amy Wang of the Washington Post: "Former president Barack Obama said Sunday he has tested positive for the coronavirus, noting that his symptoms appeared mild so far. 'I just tested positive for COVID,' Obama said on Twitter. 'I've had a scratchy throat for a couple days, but am feeling fine otherwise. Michelle and I are grateful to be vaccinated and boosted, and she has tested negative.... It's a reminder to get vaccinated if you haven't already, even as cases go down.'..."

News Ledes

New York Times: "A gunman has been targeting homeless men sleeping in the streets of Lower Manhattan and Washington and has shot five men, two of them fatally, in recent days, the police in the two cities said on Sunday. The two police departments said in a joint statement that 'similarity in the modus operandi of the perpetrator, common circumstances involved in each shooting, circumstances of the victims and recovered evidence' led them and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to undertake a joint investigation.... The Metropolitan Police Department [D.C.] released a photo taken from a security camera that shows the man being sought in the shootings."

New York Times: "William Hurt, who became a hot Hollywood commodity with his performance as a hapless lawyer in 'Body Heat' in 1981 and within a few years had won the best-actor Oscar for the 1985 film 'Kiss of the Spider Woman,' in which he portrayed a gay man sharing a Brazilian prison cell with a revolutionary, died at his home in Portland, Ore., on Sunday. He was 71."

Marie: Not all the news is sad or bad today. It turns out that quarterback Tom Brady's retirement was remarkably shortlived; he will be back in the fall for the 23rd season in which I have never seen him at work. ~~~

~~~ New York Times: Tom "Brady, the 44-year-old quarterback who has won the Super Bowl seven times, wrote on his social media accounts Sunday evening that he would return to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to play his 23rd N.F.L. season."

March 13, 2022

Afternoon Update:

Edward Wong & Julian Barnes of the New York Times: "Russia asked China to give it military equipment and support for the war in Ukraine after ... Vladimir V. Putin began a full-scale invasion last month, according to U.S. officials. Russia has also asked China for additional economic assistance, to help counteract the battering its economy has taken from broad sanctions imposed by the United States and European and Asian nations, according to an official. American officials ... declined to discuss any reaction by China to the requests.... Jake Sullivan, the White House national security adviser, is scheduled to meet on Monday in Rome with Yang Jiechi, a member of the Chinese Communist Party's elite Politburo and director of the party's Central Foreign Affairs Commission. Mr. Sullivan intends to warn Mr. Yang about any future Chinese efforts to bolster Russia in its war or undercut Ukraine, the United States and their partners."

Michael Schwirtz of the New York Times: "Brent Renaud, an award-winning American filmmaker and journalist, was killed in Ukraine on Sunday while reporting in a suburb of the capital, Kyiv, according to Ukraine's Interior Ministry. Mr. Renaud, 50, had worked for a number of American news and media organizations in the past, including HBO, NBC and The New York Times. The Ukrainian authorities said he was killed in Irpin, a suburb that has been the site of intense shelling by Russian forces in recent days, but the details of his death were not immediately clear. Ukrainian officials said another journalist was wounded as well. At the time of his death Mr. Renaud was on assignment for Time Studios working on a 'project focused on the global refugee crisis,' according to a statement from Time executives." An AP story is here.

More Tucker, Please. David Corn of Mother Jones: "On March 3, as Russian military forces bombed Ukrainian cities as part of Vladimir Putin's illegal invasion of his neighbor, the Kremlin sent out talking points to state-friendly media outlets with a request: Use more Tucker Carlson. 'It is essential to use as much as possible fragments of broadcasts of the popular Fox News host Tucker Carlson, who sharply criticizes the actions of the United States [and] NATO, their negative role in unleashing the conflict in Ukraine, [and] the defiantly provocative behavior from the leadership of the Western countries and NATO towards the Russian Federation and towards President Putin, personally,' advises the 12-page document written in Russian. It sums up Carlson's position: 'Russia is only protecting its interests and security.'"

~~~~~~~~~~

Putin's War Crimes, Ctd.

In the name of God, let the cry of the suffering people be heard, and let the bombings and attacks stop. In the name of God, I ask you, stop this massacre. -- Pope Francis, St. Peter's Square, Sunday

The Washington Post's live updates Sunday on developments in Russia's war on Ukraine are here: "At least 35 people were killed and 134 injured early Sunday when a barrage of Russian missiles slammed into a military facility in Western Ukraine about 15 miles from the border with Poland, a NATO member. The Yavoriv military range near Lviv, also known as the International Peacekeeping and Security Center, has for years been used for exercises by NATO troops and Ukrainians, with Americans on-site as recently as February.... The airstrike came a day after the Kremlin warned that it viewed Western weapons shipments as 'legitimate targets,' heightening the possibility of a direct conflict with the West. A convoy of Russian military vehicles was still about nine to 12 miles from central Kyiv, and making limited progress because of Ukrainian resistance and mechanical issues...." ~~~

     ~~~ The New York Times' live updates Sunday are here: "The base outside Lviv that was attacked by Russian forces early on Sunday was a key link between Ukraine's armed forces and Western militaries before the war -- and has become an important logistics hub and training center for foreign fighters since Russia's invasion began. A Ukrainian military official said that up to 1,000 foreign fighters were training at the base -- the International Peacekeeping and Security Center, which is also known as the Yavoriv military complex -- as part of the new International Legion that Ukraine has formed to help fight Russia." ~~~

     ~~~ Marie: Sure looks as if Russia is asking for a hot war with NATO countries. ~~~

     ~~~ The Guardian's live updates Sunday are here.

David Stern, et al., of the Washington Post: "Russian forces continued to grind their way toward Ukrainian cities on Saturday, making limited gains in their attempts to surround Kyiv and capturing a minor city in the country's south. Despite mounting losses and stiff resistance from Ukrainian forces, Russia showed no signs of letting up, and ... Vladimir Putin rejected direct appeals from French and German leaders to de-escalate attacks. The humanitarian crisis is deepening across the country, with convoys of food and medicine still unable to reach hundreds of thousands of civilians trapped behind Russian lines in the southern city of Mariupol. Polish officials warned that they are running out of capacity to care for the over 1.5 million refugees who have streamed across its borders."

The New York Times' live updates of developments in Russia's war on Ukraine Saturday are here: "As Russian forces intensified their campaign of devastation aimed at cities and towns across Ukraine, including in the capital, Kyiv..., Volodymyr Zelensky accused Moscow on Saturday of terrorizing the nation in an attempt to break the will of the people. 'A war of annihilation,' he called it. Russian forces have not achieved anything resembling a strategic military victory since the first days of the war more than two weeks ago, and have turned to attempts to flatten whole sections of cities. Ukraine's military said on Saturday that all attempts by Russian forces to advance on any front had been stopped and that the Ukrainian forces had inflicted 'heavy losses in manpower and equipment.'" (Also linked yesterday.)

Eric Schmitt of the New York Times: "The White House has approved an additional $200 million in arms and equipment for Ukraine, administration officials said on Saturday, responding to urgent requests from ... Volodymyr Zelensky for more aid to stave off the Russian invasion. The latest arms package, which officials say includes Javelin antitank missiles and Stinger antiaircraft missiles, follows a $350 million arms package that the Biden administration approved last month. Altogether, the administration has authorized $1.2 billion in weapons for Ukraine in the past year, officials said."

Claire Parker, et al., of the Washington Post: "The United States and allies have surged weapons to Ukraine in recent weeks in the face of the Russian invasion. Images of destroyed Russian tanks on social media have drawn attention to one particular weapon: the Javelin missile. The U.S. and other NATO countries sent more than 17,000 antitank weapons, including Javelin missiles, overland to Ukraine via Poland and Romania in the span of less than a week this month, the New York Times reported.... Weapons experts say the Javelin could prove particularly effective against Russian tanks.... Here's what to know about how they work and the role they could play."

<>Eaun McGovern of the Guardian: "Vladimir Putin did not show a willingness to end the war with Ukraine during a call on Saturday with French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Olaf Scholz, a French presidency official said. Scholz and Macron called for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine during the 75-minute phone call with ... Vladimir Putin, a German government spokesman added. Their demand echoed a statement made by Ukraine's president, Volodymyr Zelenskiy, earlier on Saturday, who said negotiations must begin with a suspension of hostilities."

Marc Santora of the New York Times: The mayor of Melitopol, "Ivan Fyodorov, as his name suggests, is an ethnic Russian in a southern Ukrainian city where Russian is commonly spoken and where ties to Russia run deep. On Friday evening, Mr. Fyodorov had a bag thrown over his head and was dragged from a government office building by armed Russian soldiers, according to Ukrainian officials.... Since Russian forces captured his city in the first days of the war, he had encouraged resistance, earning him the support of the public and the ire of the occupying army. On Saturday, hundreds of his townspeople poured out into the streets in an expression of outrage and defiance, despite the presence of troops on their streets. 'Return the mayor!' they shouted.... 'Free the mayor!' But nearly as soon as people gathered, the Russians moved to shut them down, arresting a woman who they said had organized the demonstration, according to two witnesses and the woman's Facebook account. The episode is part of what Ukrainian officials say is a pattern of intimidation and repression that is growing more brutal." (Also linked yesterday.) ~~~

     ~~~ There is an updated & expanded NYT story here. ~~~

     ~~~ Update. Times of Israel & Agencies: "Russia has installed a 'new mayor' in the Ukrainian city of Melitopol, after its elected mayor was kidnapped by Russian troops. The city, now under Russian control, is strategically located between Mariupol and Kherson. The Russians took it over quickly during the invasion, but there have been protests since.... The area's regional administration said a former member of the city council, Galina Danilchenko, is now the mayor. She was previously a member of the opposition on the council.... New York Times correspondent Neil MacFarquhar tweeted that Danilchenko was immediately denounced by regional officials as a 'traitor.'"

War Babies. Andrew Kramer & Maria Varenikova of the New York Times: "Down a dusty stairwell, hidden from the shelling that has become the grim background noise of Ukraine's capital..., there are 19 [babies], sleeping or cooing in neatly arranged cribs, fed regularly from tubs of baby formula.... The babies were born to surrogate mothers, with their biological parents still outside the country. Because of the war, the citizenship of the newborns is unclear, as is the question of who their legal guardians are, since under Ukrainian law their biological parents must be present to confirm their nationality. There is also the question of how, or if, they can possibly be taken to safety. Elsewhere, expectant surrogate mothers are trapped by the fighting. Couples abroad have no idea how they will pick up their babies.... Ukraine is one of relatively few countries that offer surrogacy services to foreigners."

Radio Free Europe: "The bodies of Russian soldiers killed in battle in Ukraine are filling up morgues in Belarus, local residents told RFE/RL. Russian soldiers killed in battle are being brought by truck to the morgues and then sent back to Russia by train or plane, residents said.... 'The number of bodies was unbelievably large. People at the Mozyr station were simply shocked by the number of bodies being put on the train,; a local resident in Mazyr told RFE/RL. The morgues in Homel and Naroulia are also filled up, according to local residents."

Cathy Free of the Washington Post: In "three days and only five hours of sleep ... two Harvard teens, Avi Schiffmann and Marco Burstein..., [developed and] launched Ukraine Take Shelter, a [Web]site in 12 languages where Ukrainian refugees fleeing war can immediately find hosts with spare rooms, unused resort condos, mother-in-law apartments and school dormitories.... 'What we've done is put out a super fast, stripped-down version of Airbnb,' he said. In the first week, more than 4,000 potential hosts around the world, including in the United States, have offered a place to stay through Ukraine Take Shelter, said Schiffmann, noting that the number of hosts grows each day."

Hanan Razek & Ilya Barabanov of BBC News: "Social media channels and private messaging groups are being used in Russia to recruit a new brigade of mercenaries to fight in Ukraine alongside the army, the BBC has learned. The BBC has spoken to a serving mercenary and a former fighter with close links to one of Russia's leading mercenary organisations, who have shared details of the recruitment campaign. The serving mercenary said many veterans of the secretive Wagner organisation were contacted on a private Telegram group a few weeks before the start of the war. They were invited to a 'picnic in Ukraine'.... The message appeals to 'those with criminal records, debts, banned from mercenary groups or without an external passport' to apply. The message also included that 'those from the Russian-occupied areas of Luhansk and Donetsk republics and Crimea - cordially invited'."

Marie: I have been listening to experts lamenting that there is no easy exit from Putin's horrific war on Ukraine. Some have suggested terrible outcomes. I despair, as would anyone. Now, finally, someone comes up with a low-cost, life-saving solution. In yesterday's comments thread, RAS wrote, "Maybe we can send Rudy and the pillow guy to Russia to convince Putin that he has actually already won the war. It was such a massive success and everyone was so impressed by how big and strong Russia is now." In Russia's closed-loop propaganda media world, where millions of people already believe there is no war, RAS's sensible solution could work!

Ginni Thomas' Husband Worried Politics Could Taint Supreme Court. Martin Pengelly of the Guardian: "The US supreme court could 'at some point' become 'compromised' by politics, said Clarence Thomas -- one of six conservatives on the nine-member court after Republicans denied Barack Obama a nomination then rammed three new justices through during the hard-right presidency of Donald Trump. 'You can cavalierly talk about packing or stacking the court,' said Thomas, whose wife, Ginni Thomas, has come under extensive scrutiny for work for rightwing groups including supporting Trump's attempts to overturn an election. '... At some point the institution is going to be compromised.' Thomas was speaking at a hotel in Salt Lake City on Friday."

Beyond the Beltway

Florida. Steve Bousquet of the Orlando Sun-Sentinel: "Elections police. Thought police. Censoring teachers. Banning books -- then cynically calling it parental involvement. Welcome to America's culture war capital. This is no longer the Florida where you chose to go to college, launch a new career or retire. The place is virtually unrecognizable. After riding Donald Trump's coattails to the Governor's Mansion, Ron DeSantis has built a national cult following, but it comes at a steep cost to the rest of us. The Sunshine State has become a very mean place and it could get meaner." Firewalled. ~~~

~~~ Marie: While the Republican-controlled state legislature was busy passing anti-social bills at Governor Ron's behest, they couldn't seem to find the time to get together on an essential bill that could save lives. ~~~

~~~ Jon Schuppe of NBC News: "In the nine months since 98 people died in the collapse of a Surfside, Florida, condominium, state lawmakers have pledged to pass measures that could help avoid a similar disaster. On Friday, they failed. Negotiations between the Florida Senate and House of Representatives, both controlled by Republicans, broke down, with the two sides unable to agree on a bill that would require inspections of aging condo buildings and mandate that condo boards conduct studies to determine how much they need to set aside for repairs. The talks were undone by a disagreement over how much flexibility to give condo owners in the funding of those reserves."

Ohio. Amanda Holpuch of the New York Times: "For decades, Isaiah Andrews has maintained his innocence in the 1974 murder of his wife, unaware that the key to his exoneration was buried in the archives of the Cleveland Division of Police. The Cleveland police's decision to withhold crucial information in the case resurfaced on Thursday, when an Ohio court determined that Mr. Andrews, now 84, had been wrongfully imprisoned for 45 years. Mr. Andrews, who is sick and uses a wheelchair, has been free since May 2020. He was later found not guilty at a second jury trial in October, but the court had to declare him wrongfully imprisoned so he could seek damages from the State of Ohio." (Also linked yesterday.)

South Carolina Congressional Race. Lexi Lonas of the Hill: "Republican Rep. Tom Rice (S.C.) slammed former President Trump in a statement on Saturday following the former president's rally in South Carolina, calling him 'a would-be tyrant.' At the rally, Trump said Rice is a 'disaster' and 'total fool' and criticized the congressman for voting to impeach him following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. Rice was one of 10 GOP House members to vote for impeachment at the time. Rice's primary opponent, South Carolina state Rep. Russell Fry (R), who was endorsed by Trump last month, also spoke at the event. In a statement following the rally, Rice hit back at Trump, saying the former president was in South Carolina 'because, like no one else I've ever met, he is consumed by spite,' according to local CBS affiliate WBTW."

Way Beyond

Iraq. Qassim Abdul-Zahra of the AP: "As many as 12 missiles struck Iraq's northern city of Irbil on Sunday near the U.S. consulate, Iraqi security officials said. A U.S. defense official said missiles had been launched at the city from neighboring Iran. No injuries were reported. Officials in Iraq and the U.S. gave different accounts of the strike and the damage it caused.... [A] U.S. defense official said it was still not certain exactly how many missiles were fired and exactly where they landed."

Saudi Arabia. Reuters, via the Guardian: "Saudi Arabia has executed 81 men over the past 24 hours, including seven Yemenis and one Syrian national, on charges including terrorism and holding 'deviant beliefs', state news agency SPA said on Saturday. The number dwarfed the 67 executions reported in the kingdom in all of 2021 and the 27 in 2020. 'These individuals ... were convicted of various crimes including murdering innocent men, women and children,' SPA said, citing a statement from the interior ministry. 'Crimes committed by these individuals also include pledging allegiance to foreign terrorist organisations, such as Isis (Islamic State), al-Qaeda and the Houthis,' it added."