There’s a flurry of commentary this morning arguing that new economic sanctions introduced by the EU, European states individually and perhaps soon the United States in response to yesterday’s events are too weak and show NATO and the EU are somehow going soft. I’d suggest some skepticism with these arguments and a bit more patience. History doesn’t have many one and done moments. Thinking every moment is Munich and Neville Chamberlain mostly makes people dumb. The U.S./EU/NATO powers here need to find a balance between having a response to yesterday’s events while yet keeping some deterrent in reserve for further escalation.
Continue reading “Don’t Fall for Slogans”A Dissenting View of US Policy toward Russia
I oppose Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to dismember Ukraine, and I support placing sanctions on Russia. But I am leery of the political process by which the United States and Russia reached this turn of the road, which could signal the beginning of a Cold War II. The process is sadly reminiscent of how the United States had previously come to a point in its foreign policy where it had no favorable options.
Continue reading “A Dissenting View of US Policy toward Russia”Cawthorn Frets He’s ‘Very Close’ To Getting Blocked From Running For Reelection
A lot of things happened. Here are some of the things. This is TPM’s Morning Memo.
Sad Trombone
Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-NC), an eager foot soldier in Trump’s attempt to overturn the 2020 election, told Fox News host Tucker Carlson on Monday night that a group of North Carolina voters who are trying to get him disqualified from running for office are “actually very close” to succeeding.
- Cawthorn accused the North Carolina State Board of Elections, which argued earlier this month that it had the authority to kick him off the ballot, of trying to “subvert the will of over 700,000 Americans.” You could argue that the North Carolina Republican isn’t being hypocritical here. After all, he tried to subvert the will of millions of Americans, not 700,000.
- Cawthorn’s lawyer is citing a congressional action that granted amnesty to Confederate soldiers to defend his client.
Putin Sends Troops To Ukraine
After Russian President Vladimir Putin gave a fiery speech claiming that Ukraine was “created” by Russia (you can catch up on our liveblog and TPM reporter Josh Kovensky’s translation of Putin’s speech here) on Monday, the Kremlin deployed what it claimed to be “peacekeeping” forces to the two Russian-backed separatist territories in eastern Ukraine.
- Putin recognized those territories, Donetsk and Luhansk, as independent from Ukraine. As the New York Times notes, the borders of those two regions claimed by their leaders spills over to areas controlled by the Ukrainian army.
- Officials at the EU and the UN plus NATO all swiftly condemned Russia’s actions.
- Biden has slapped sanctions via executive order on the separatist regions in response but hasn’t addressed Russia as a whole yet. Administration officials say that more sanctions will come today, according to the Washington Post.
Must Read
“For Ukraine’s Jews, the Threat of War Stirs Memories of Past Horrors” – The New York Times
Judge Smacks Down Trump’s Attempt To Dodge Jan. 6 Lawsuits
U.S. District Judge Amit Mehta has ruled that the ex-president does not, in fact, have “absolute immunity” that shields him from lawsuits from House Democrats and police officers over his incitement of the Capitol attack.
Capitol Police Prep For Potential Trucker Convoy Ahead Of Biden’s SOTU
The U.S. Capitol Police are “aware of plans for a series of truck convoys” to arrive in D.C. to protest during Biden’s State of the Union Address on March 1, the agency said.
- The USCP said law enforcement is working to beef up security ahead of the joint session of Congress for the SOTU, including potentially installing a fence around the Capitol again.
- The Metropolitan Police, the U.S. Park Police, the Secret Service and the D.C. National Guard are all coordinating with the USCP, according to the agency.
Trump’s PAC Didn’t Give Any Money To Endorsees Last Month
It may shock you to hear that in January, the ex-president’s generosity toward the GOP candidates who worked oh so hard for his blessing apparently stopped at his Save America PAC’s press releases, according to the PAC’s filings with the Federal Election Commission.
- His PAC didn’t give a cent to those candidates last month despite raking in $4.1 million (and ending January with $108 million in its coffers).
- In fact, the PAC’s only donated $350,500 to candidates since July.
Trump Has So Much Money, According To Trump
The former president would like you to know that his longtime accounting firm, Mazars US, definitely didn’t unceremoniously dump the Trump Organization because of allegations that Trump falsely inflated the value of his properties: The poor accountants were simply “broken” by “Radical Left racist” prosecutors. “Also, we’re loaded with cash,” Trump insisted.
Tulsi Gabbard To Speak At CPAC
You read that correctly: American Conservative Union Chair Matt Schlapp announced on Monday that former Democratic congresswoman and 2020 presidential candidate Tulsi Gabbard is speaking at this year’s Conservative Political Action Conference, which begins on Thursday (and which promises to be “#AwakeNotWoke”).
Gabbard’s palling around with conservatives took a bit of an awkward turn on Fox News host Sean Hannity’s show last night:
Queen Of England Has COVID-19
Buckingham Palace announced on Sunday that 95-year-old Queen Elizabeth tested positive for the coronavirus and has “mild cold-like symptoms.” However, she expects to keep up her “light duties.”
Australia Reopens Border For First Time In Two Years
As of Monday, Australia is welcoming international travelers again after shutting out most non-residents in March 2020. You can check out some really wholesome pictures of families reuniting in the land down under here.
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Weakness and Rage
A number of dangerous, disquieting and scary things happened today in the unfolding Ukraine Crisis. Russia is a revisionist, nuclear power. In today’s lengthy and bellicose speech, Vladimir Putin barely mentioned NATO. He focused on his long-attested belief that Ukraine is not a real country and is only separated from Moscow by historical accident and perfidy. Beyond wanting to bring Ukraine to heel he made broad and menacing statements that brought the whole post-Cold War settlement into question.
Scary stuff.
Continue reading “Weakness and Rage”Points to Consider
Here are a few possibilities to consider as Russian troops roll into eastern Ukraine.
Russia has shown in various ways in recent weeks that it fears the repercussions of a full scale invasion of Ukraine. Over the last couple weeks, Russia has been hung up on a binary choice: invade or begin a humiliating climbdown. This may be a way to create a third option: occupy and de facto annex the regions that have been under de facto Russian control for eight years, celebrate a great nationalist victory and wrap this crisis up. Declare victory and go home without the huge gamble of full scale invasion.
Continue reading “Points to Consider”A Big Day
In case you’re just catching up, yesterday there were reports that French President Macron may have brokered a Biden-Putin summit that would deescalate the crisis. That didn’t happen. Today President Putin of Russia gave a long speech in which he insisted that Ukraine is not a real country and is merely a phony state created by the decisions of the Bolsheviks a century ago. It’s a speech that will be studied closely as it openly and aggressively touted the revanchist, neo-Imperial vision which Putin has long been said to harbor but has never stated quite so openly. He then recognized the “independence” of the two separatist puppet states Russia set up in eastern Ukraine during the 2014-2015 crisis. The leaders of these puppet states then immediately requested Russian “peacekeepers” to come into their purported territory. It was a request Putin — surprise, surprise — rapidly acceded to.
So over the course of the day Russia has executed an invasion and what amounts to a de facto annexation of Ukrainian territory but without — so far — firing a shot.
White House Readies Sanctions After Putin Escalates Tensions In Fiery Speech
In a speech this afternoon, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced his recognition of the independence of separatist regions in eastern Ukraine, a move that increases the chances of a Russian invasion of Ukraine, beyond Russia’s already boiling-over aggression toward the country in recent weeks.
Putin’s move was met with swift condemnation by President Biden. Shortly after Putin’s announcement, the White House announced that Biden will impose new sanctions on trade and financing in the two separatist regions in eastern Ukraine that Putin recognized as independent.
Sidney Powell Sues Verizon To Block Phone Records From Jan. 6 Committee
Pro-Trump lawyer Sidney Powell is suing Verizon in an effort to block a subpoena by the Jan. 6 Select committee.
Continue reading “Sidney Powell Sues Verizon To Block Phone Records From Jan. 6 Committee”Capitol Police Ramps Up Security Ahead Of Potential Anti-Vax Trucker Protests During State Of The Union
Capitol Police said they are planning for “extra security” ahead of the State of the Union on March 1 in light of potential protests by anti-vax trucker protests that began in Canada and may spread to the U.S.
Continue reading “Capitol Police Ramps Up Security Ahead Of Potential Anti-Vax Trucker Protests During State Of The Union”Judge Rejects Trump’s Bid To Dismiss Lawsuits Accusing Him Of Inciting Capitol Insurrection
A federal judge shot down former President Trump’s claim of “absolute immunity” from multiple lawsuits accusing him of inciting the deadly Capitol insurrection last year.
Continue reading “Judge Rejects Trump’s Bid To Dismiss Lawsuits Accusing Him Of Inciting Capitol Insurrection”