Thursday, February 23, 2023

Wake-Up Call: Putin Rattles War Sabre

President Vladimir Putin said Russia will maintain increased attention on boosting its nuclear forces in an address to mark Thursday's Defender of the Fatherland public holiday and a day before the first anniversary of his invasion of Ukraine. Putin's comments follow his suspension of a bilateral nuclear arms control treaty with the United States. "As before, we will pay increased attention to strengthening the nuclear triad," said Putin, referring to nuclear missiles based on land, sea and in the air. Putin also said that for the first time, Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missiles - a weapon able to carry multiple nuclear warheads - would be deployed this year.

To shore up war support, Putin's  government has doled out cash payments to citizens in the country’s impoverished regions and shut down the few remaining media outlets that challenged the official state version of events. In stage-managed events lavishly covered by the state media, Putin maintains the image that the war is far away, rarely referring to it directly, highlighting economic successes, new welfare benefits and renovated clinics. That was the message of his state-of-the-nation speech this week, which blamed the conflict on the US and its allies but offered to hint of when it might end. Instead, Putin offered new benefits to veterans and their families, touting the value of combat experience as the “best school of life.”

➤BIDEN IS BACK: President Joe Biden has returned to the White House after a historic three day visit to Europe, which included stops in Poland and war-torn Ukraine, where he met with President Volodymyr Zelensky (inset). Shortly after 8.30pm on Wednesday, Air Force One landed at Joint Base Andrews, where Biden disembarked (left and right) without incident, but appeared to walk stiffly across the tarmac to Marine One. It came hours after Biden, 80, stumbled up the stairs of the presidential jet as he departed Warsaw. But upon arriving at the White House South Lawn, the president appeared more limber, jogging down the steps of Marine One.

➤UKRAINE'S PRESIDENT CHALLENGED WITH DOMESTIC ISSUES:  Ukraine’s domestic problems are challenging President Volodymyr Zelensky again His complications include corruption allegations against people linked to him, potential political rivals, strict broadcast rules and questions about Western aid. Zelensky‘s approval ratings are still high, but much of that support is conditional, according to political analysts. Outside Ukraine, there are other issues. The country’s grain exports have significantly slowed recently amid shipping delays and concerns Russia won’t extend a U.N.-backed deal to give grain ships safe passage after it expires March 19. Ukraine’s pro-Western neighbor Moldova fears it’s next on Moscow’s hit list. And gas prices are poised to rise again as Russian sanctions take effect.

➤RAILROAD ORDERED TO CLEAN UP OHIO MESS: The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Norfolk Southern to clean up the toxic mess caused by the derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, of one of its rail cars carrying a load of toxic chemicals. The order, which is effective today, comes with the threat of a $70,000 per day fine if the company does not clean up the site and pay for it in full. Residents of the Ohio town have reported a variety of health problems since the derailment on February 3rd. In East Palestine, Norfolk Southern CEO Alan Shaw apologized to local residents at a town hall meeting staged by CNN last night. “I’m terribly sorry for what has happened to your community,” he said. “I want you to know that Norfolk Southern is here, and we’re going to stay here, and we’re going to make this right.”


TRUMP VISITS OHIO TOWN: Donald Trump visited the small Ohio town reeling from the toxic fallout of a Norfolk Southern Corp. train derailment in the hope of capitalizing politically on residents’ anger about the initial response by the Biden administration. But the trip also highlights the ex-president’s rolling back of rules that former regulators say could have improved rail safety. Trump met briefly on Wednesday with officials and residents affected by the Feb. 3 accident and brought bottled water. The derailment spewed hazardous chemicals into the air and ground of the community of about 4,700 people near the Ohio-Pennsylvania border, forcing an evacuation as authorities intentionally vented and burned tank cars to prevent an explosion.

➤FEDS PROMISE HELP: Federal and state authorities and Norfolk Southern have pledged to to do whatever it takes to clean up the site and ensure residents’ safety, including setting up a health clinic and removing contaminated soil and water. But the accident spurred complaints that US Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg and other officials didn’t do enough to respond in the immediate aftermath of the accident. Tens of thousands of residents affected by the toxic train derailment in East Palestine will be offered free health checks amid fears of a looming public health crisis.  They will have their vital signs taken and be medically examined by a doctor to check for acute health problems. Mental health specialists and a toxicologist will also be available for consultation. The new clinic was opened by Ohio's Department of Health (ODH) in a church in East Palestine after trains carrying chemicals derailed in a crash three weeks ago and let off an explosion of toxic plumes.


TRUMP WAS RIGHT: IT'S A WITCH HUNT: The Georgia grand jury forewoman who laughed about bringing down the former president has a whacky Pinterest page with collections of pinned magic spells and all things witchy. Emily Kohrs, 30, has been on a bizarre media tour that is already causing headaches for prosecutors after she giggled during a televised interview with MSNBC when she said she 'kind of wanted' to subpoena Trump just to get the chance to swear him in. Many of Kohrs social media accounts have been deleted, but her Pinterest page remains with several collections of pins dedicated to Wicca and Witchcraft. 

 

Kohrs, the 30-year-old Atlanta-area resident who served for eight months as forewoman of the special grand jury, said in media interviews this week that the panel recommended multiple indictments in its report, the details of which a Fulton County judge had ordered sealed. Kohrs said that the list of recommended indictments “is not short,” that there would be no “plot twist” when the public finally gets to see the contents of the report and that regarding “the big name that everyone keeps asking me about” — presumably Trump himself — “I don’t think you will be shocked.”Several legal experts said they were surprised and concerned by Kohrs’s unusually candid commentary, which included evaluation of witnesses, tidbits about jurors socializing with prosecutors and a stated hope that the investigation yields charges because of how much time she and others invested in the case.

➤PILOT TOOK SELFIE: The Pentagon has released a selfie taken by the pilot of a US Air Force U2S Dragon Lady who was surveilling the Chinese spy balloon as it traveled across American airspace earlier this month. During the balloon's flight, it was regularly followed by US spy planes before it was eventually shot down over the South Carolina coastline. Prior to the picture's release, CNN reported that the selfie had achieved 'legendary status' within the US-Canadian North American Aerospace Defense Command and the Pentagon. The photo shows the shadow cast by the U2 plane across the top of the balloon's surface. Officials had said that the spy craft had reached altitudes of 60 to 70,000 feet during its mission. According to a report from The Drive, the U2S Dragon Lady is the only plane in the US arsenal that could achieve the necessary height to take a photo from above the balloon.

➤NIPSEY HUSSLE KIILER SENTENED TO AT LEAST 60-YEARS: A Los Angeles judge on Wednesday sentenced the man convicted of gunning down Nipsey Hussle to 60 years to life in prison after hearing testaments to the immense cost of the killing of the hip-hop star and neighborhood leader, and of the lifetime of mental illness, abuse and struggle of the man who shot him. Superior Court Judge H. Clay Jacke II handed down the sentence to Eric R. Holder Jr., 33, who was found guilty of the 2019 first-degree murder of the 33-year-old Grammy-nominated hip-hop artist outside the clothing store Hussle founded, the Marathon, in the South Los Angeles neighborhood where both men grew up in very similar circumstances.

➤SUSPECT CHARGED IN BISHOP’S MURDER: A suspect has been charged in the murder of Auxiliary Bishop David O’Connell, who was shot dead in his home east of Los Angeles last Saturday. Carlos Medina, the husband of the bishop’s housekeeper, is charged with the bishop’s shooting death, according to CNN.

➤TRUMP DAUGHTER AND SON-IN-LAW SUBPOENAED: Former President Donald Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner, have been subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury about the former president’s efforts to stay in power after he lost the 2020 election, according to a report in The New York Times. Both served in the White House. The subpoenas were issued by special counsel Jack Smith, who has also demanded testimony from former Vice President Mike Pence. Pence is fighting that subpoena.


➤BIDEN APPROVAL RATING IMPROVES: President Joe Biden’s approval rating has reached 46 percent overall, his highest marks in a year, according to a new PBS/Marist poll. His rating among Democrats was at 88 percent, and his approval from independent voters at 36 percent. His rating among Republicans ticked up to 15 percent, from 13 percent a month before.On the Republican side, 54 percent of Republicans and Republican-leaning independent voters said their party would have a better chance in 2024 if it nominates someone other than former President Trump.

➤MEGA WINNER CLAIMS THE PRIZE: The winner of the $1.35 billion Mega Millions jackpot on January 13th has finally emerged in Maine to pick up the prize. That is literally all that we have to report, because the winner remained anonymous, claiming the prize through a limited liability company. Maine is among the states that allow lottery winners to conceal their identities.

➤GATOR KILLS ELDERLY WOMAN: New video shows the terrifying moment an alligator lunged at a woman walking her dog by a lake in her Florida community, dragging her to her death. The horrifying nightmare captured on video obtained by Inside Edition unfolded in front of a neighbor who frantically called 911 as she tried to help the woman. But it was too late. Gloria Serge, 85, died after she was mauled to death by the 10-foot gator when she tried to rescue her beloved dog, Trooper, from the reptile's clutches on Monday. The pup survived the attacked, but the gator was later captured and euthanized. Serge's final moments were captured on a wildlife camera at the Spanish Lakes Fairways retirement community in Fort Pierce, Florida.

Daily Mail Composite 2/23/23
➤EX-BIDEN NUKE WASTER GURU SPOTTED WEARING ALLEGED STOLEN MERCHANDISE: Fashion designer Asya Khamsin, who is based in Houston, has accused President Biden's fired non-binary nuclear waste guru Sam Brinton of wearing her custom-made outfits that vanished with her luggage from the Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on March 9, 2018.Asya Khamsin tweeted the claim Monday sharing side by side photos of herself wearing one of her outfits next to a photo that surfaced of Brinton in what she believes is the same one. Her clothes were never found and the case was never solved. But then her one-of-a-kind designs suddenly appeared on Brinton in recent news reports, amid accusations of stealing luggage at other airports. So, she filed a complaint with the Houston Police Department in December. Brinton was let go from their Department of Energy (DOE) position after the multiple allegations last year.

🏈TENNESSEE TITANS CUT FOUR VETERANS: The Tennessee Titans have reportedly released four veteran players. They include offensive tackle Taylor Lewan, wideout Robert Woods, kicker Randy Bullock, and linebacker Zach Cunningham. In all, the cuts open up about $38 million in available salary cap for the Titans, according to Pro Football Focus.

🎾SWIATEK WALKS INTO THE SEMI-FINALS: Iga Swiatek, the world’s number one women’s tennis player, triumphed over Liudmila Samsonova 6-1, 6-0 in the Dubai WTA tournament yesterday. Swiatek then waltzed into the semi-finals after her scheduled opponent, Karolina Pliskova, dropped out due to an injury. Swiatek, who is the French and U.S. Open champion, is just 21.

🏀STEPH CURRY MIA FOR ANOTHER WEEK: Golden State Warriors star Stephen Curry will miss at least another week of play as he recovers from knee and leg injuries, the team announced yesterday. Curry has been out since being injured on February 4th. The Warriors are playing the Los Angeles Lakers tonight.

🏀VICTOR WEMBANYAMA IS STILL GROWING: Victor Wembanyama, the young French pro basketball player who is a favorite to be the number one overall pick in this year’s NBA draft, is still growing at age 19. He used to measure seven foot three inches, but he just put on a growth spurt and now looms seven foot five inches, according to ESPN. Shaquille O’Neal is relatively pint-sized at seven foot one. Wembanyama’s wingspan has also grown, from seven foot nine inches to eight feet. He currently plays for the French team Metropolitans 92.

📺ALL-STAR SNOOZER: Last weekend’s 2023 NBA All-Star game had the lowest ratings in the history of the event, according to data from Sports Media Watch. About four and a half million viewers watched the game. That’s even fewer than watched the 2022 game, which set a then-record low. Maybe the stakes are just too low? Even Nuggets head coach Michael Malone, who led Team LeBron, is on the record calling it “the worst basketball game ever played.”

➤WINTER STORM PLAGUES U-S: A brutal winter storm closed interstate highways from Arizona to Wyoming Wednesday, trapped drivers in cars, knocked out power to hundreds of thousands of people and prompted the first blizzard warning in Southern California in decades — and the worst won’t be over for several days. Few places were untouched by the wild weather, including some at the opposite extreme: long-standing record highs were broken in cities in the Midwest, mid-Atlantic and Southeast. The wintry mix hit hard in the northern U.S., closing schools, offices, even shutting down the Minnesota Legislature. Travel was difficult. Weather contributed to more than 1,600 U.S. flight cancellations, according to the tracking service FlightAware. More than 400 of those were due to arrive or depart from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport. Another 5,000-plus flights were delayed across the country.



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